A.N.: Hey everyone, remember this story? ;) Heh heh. I know, I know- I'm the slackest slacker who ever slacked! Sorry! But anyway, here's some more. And don't forget, this is still in the middle of season 2, before the FBI came into the picture.

"Great. And I'd already made it perfectly clear to Drew that I didn't want to stay at her home."

Dean's brows went up. "She already asked you to stay there?"

"Yeah- when they first let me out of jail. She claimed she wanted us to work together to find you two."

Dani felt a little surprised to hear that Sam had been invited to stay at her home. Drew wasn't exactly generous about those kinds of things, but then again maybe she had really wanted to have Sam close at hand while they searched for her and Dean. But she felt a small chill down her spine when she considered the more likely scenario- Drew had some kind of hidden agenda running in the background. And the more she considered her sister's words the morning she'd been kidnapped, and the fact that her own "powers" seemed to be changing and growing stronger, the more she worried about Drew's motivations these days.

She tried to clear her head of her worries, at least for the moment. "Look, I don't know what's going on here... Or even why you guys are really here. We've established that you want to protect me, but I really don't understand from what. And I'm guessing you're not actually Bounty Hunters?"

Sam smirked at Dean. "Bounty Hunters?"

Dean shrugged. "It was as close to the truth as I could get."

Sam nodded. "True enough. As close to the truth as we've ever come, anyway. At least in the beginning."

"So what is the truth then?" Dani sat down on one of the motel beds and looked at them both expectantly.

Dean swallowed heavily, his throat suddenly dry. This would be the point when the woman he cared so much about would start to think he was a dangerous nutcase. It had happened before, and he remembered all too well how how painful it had been.

And he was pretty sure it was going to be worse this time.

Dani looked up at him, her big brown eyes full of trust. "Please, just tell me."

Sam eyed his brother in question and Dean sat down in a chair across from Dani. He nodded almost imperceptibly and Sam began.

She stared into the mirror, flushed and angry.

Drew felt as if time was running out. Nothing had gone the way she had expected... or the way she'd planned. She wasn't used to being so emphatically disappointed, not to mention the lack of control she felt right now. It was all just entirely unacceptable.

At first the change in plans had seemed a mere inconvenience, but slowly she'd come to see that she was actually being pushed out of the game; someone was taking her place.

The mirror slowly cracked as she glared into it.

No one is taking my place. Over my dead body.

Shards of the mirror snapped away from the wall and flew with deadly precision into the far wall.

Or over theirs.

For the moment, everyone was staring quietly in different directions, all lost in their own thoughts.

Sam had finished the story just moments before, but he'd been unable to gauge Dani's reaction at all. Her expression revealed nothing of what was going on in her mind after hearing the Winchester family history, followed by a sampling of "life on the road with Sam and Dean".

Dean was looking gloomily towards the curtained window, as if he was afraid to look at her, and Sam once again felt sympathy for his big brother. He remembered how things had gone down with Cassie. At first Dean said she'd thought he was crazy, but even after she'd come to believe him, and even call on him for help, she still hadn't been able to accept it. There'd been no room in her life for Dean's messed-up world.

Truth was, that's why he'd never told Jessica about any of it either.

But Dani was different. She was a part of this whole messed up deal, whether she wanted to accept the truth it or not; she and her sister clearly had a part to play somehow. Sam just hoped she could believe them now, before it was too late.

"So... ghosts and... demons?"

Sam's head turned back to Dani. "Yeah, 'fraid so. Amongst other things. But demons are the worst."

"And you use fake names..."

"Yeah. Like I said, we're wanted by the police in a few places. That's why we're 'Corbetts' here. We try to stay under the radar, but that's not always possible. " He sat back and sighed heavily. "The police, they think we're..."

"Killers." Dani whispered the word, and then it grew quiet in the small room once again. Dean leaned back in his chair and ran his fingers through his short hair, still not looking at her, but she could feel the tension emanating from him. She wanted to tell him she understood, that it would be alright, but she just wasn't sure at the moment. In fact, she didn't think she'd ever be sure about anything ever again.

Sam watched Dean's shoulders grow even more stiff and frowned. "Dani, you can be honest with us, you know. We've heard it all before. People always think we're nuts... and then they have a run in with the things we hunt and it's a whole new ballgame." He sat beside her on the bed and was relieved when she didn't flinch or try to move away. "Honest to God, I'd be a hell of a lot happier not confiding in you about any of this, but... You have some sort of psychic ability too. And like I told you, there are others like us. And then there's the visions- you're in my visions, and I think maybe you're in danger-"

Dean rose swiftly and squatted in front of her, hands on his knees."Dani, even if you think we're nuts... You gotta know by now that we'd never do anything to hurt you. I would never do anything to hurt you. Not if my life depended on it." His eyes were also pleading with her to believe him, and she tried to swallow back her frightened tears.

"Even if you think I'm crazy, please... please just let me protect you. That's all I want to do." He moved his hands to hers, his eyes imploring her. "Please."

A tear finally broke loose and slipped down her cheek and Dean's heart felt as tight as a fist. And then she leaned forward and put her forehead to his, eyes closed tightly. "I'm scared, Dean."

He wrapped his arms around her and held on to her for all he was worth, his own eyes welling up. "I know you are, Dani. I know." His fingers stroked her back softly. "But I promise you I'll look after you. I won't let anything happen to you, I swear."

Sam smiled sadly as he watched the two of them. Dean had spoken the truth: they'd do everything they possibly could to keep her safe.

But he had a terrible feeling that in the end, it wouldn't be enough.

The gate closed behind the Impala and Dean drove up the lane, parking in the drive circle in front of the large house. Sam climbed out of the car, once again impressed by the size of the place.

Dani climbed out of the backseat and passed Sam his knapsack as Dean reached in and grabbed his own. Then he stood up and smiled at her across the roof of the car. She smiled back, but he could see it was a little strained and it caused a small ache in his chest. She was trying so hard, but he knew she was still unsure about what they'd told her- unsure about them. And he couldn't deny that hurt a little.

But he could hardly blame her.

They went through the front doors and Dani was relieved to see that Drew was nowhere in sight. The housekeeper appeared from nowhere and Dean's smile brightened, even if it was a bit forced. "There she is- the love of my life."

The housekeeper rolled her eyes but she was smiling nonetheless. "I've freshened up some rooms for you boys."

Dani led them upstairs to their rooms and Dean looked into his, grinning at his brother and tried to act like his old self, even if he wasn't entirely feeling the part. "Finally, my own room. It'll be nice not to have to listen to your snoring for a change, Sammy."

Sam looked put out. "I don't snore!"

Dean winked at Dani and she laughed. "Well, if you guys want to sleep or shower or anything right now, please feel free. Or there's a living room just down the hall and down the stairs at the end if you want to watch some TV or something."

Sam nodded. "Thanks. But we don't want to get in your way here, seriously. We-"

"Don't worry about it, Sam. I'm glad you're here. Really." Her smile was small but genuine. Dean felt a different kind of pressure in his heart this time, and he let out a small breath of relief.

It's a start.

Drew was absent during dinner which made it all the more pleasant, and Helen had been in her glory, being able to cook a full meal for an extremely appreciative audience. She rarely got to show off her cooking skills since Drew was not usually home long enough to bother with food.

The threesome sat in the living room moaning at their full stomachs. Dean carressed his belly, a lethargic grin on his face. "I think I could safely die a happy man right now."

Sam nodded. "Honest to god, that was probably the best meal I've ever had in my entire life. And the pie..."

"Oh, the pie." Dean practically moaned the word

Dani was feeling the most relaxed she'd felt all day. It was probably just because she was incredibly full but she didn't care. She just wanted a moment's peace from the craziness of the last couple weeks.

Sam and Dean hemmed and hawwed about getting up and doing some research or a little organizing, but in the end they all found themselves slackly layed out on the sofas watching movies.

Dean watched his brother out of the corner of his eye and wondered how long it had been since Sam had been allowed to just relax and enjoy himself. His kid brother had managed to have a life for a while- a real life. He couldn't even really imagine what that was like.

He looked over at Dani trying to keep her eyes open and wished that all of their lives ahd been different.

"Yeah so, that movie pretty much..." Sam stretched his arms over his head.

"Sucked?" Dani yawned the word.

"Aw, it wasn't that bad." Dean grinned. "You two just need to learn to appreciate the simple things." Two pairs of eyes looked at him skeptically and he put up his hands in defeat. "OK, it sucked."

Sam yawned for the umpteenth time, but didn't miss how Dean's glance lingered just a little longer than normal on Dani. He decided it was time to make his exit. Not that he minded- he was beat. "Well, I'm going to go take advantage of that awesome looking bed up there. Thanks again, Dani."

She tried to reply but it was smothered by her own yawn. She laughed. "I don't think I'm too far behind you. Have a good sleep, Sam."

The tall man lumbered off down the hall and disappeared from sight.

Dean smiled at Dani, but when she smiled back the tension still lurked behind the scenes. He wished he knew how to get things back to how they'd been before, but he knew they were well past that place now.

"Listen, thanks for everything, Dani. This is a lot more than Sam and I usually get to experience. I mean, you saw the No-Tell Motel where we would have been staying. It means a lot to us that you're letting us stay here." He moved over to sit beside her, but he looked at his feet as he spoke. "It means a lot to me."

It was obvious to Dani then just how aware Dean was of her discomfort. She clearly hadn't been hiding how weirded-out she was very well. "Dean, I'm... I'm sorry I've been acting odd today. I just-"

"Dani, stop." He looked at her now. "I'm amazed you even let us stay here after everything we told you today. In fact, I can't believe you even let us through the front doors." Then he seemed to think about it, and started to laugh lightly. "Actually, that's not true. You've been pretty damned amazing through this whole thing."

She smirked. "I don't know about that. There were times..." She shrugged tiredly.

"Yeah well, there are times for all of us. And that's even for those of us who don't fall down a couple times a day so..."

She started to laugh and his heart practically expanded while he watched a little of the sparkle re-appear in her eyes. His own eyes lingered on hers as he smiled back. And then the heat between them was instant and palpable. Dani was once again all too aware of the magnetic man sitting beside her, and she couldn't look away. Dean swallowed as he watched the transformation, his own body responding in kind.

And then he looked away, clearing his throat before standing up in front of her.

As she looked up at him in confusion, he seemed equally uncertain as he spoke. "Dani, I... we're both beat. I think I'm going to turn in. Although I might need you to lead me back down that maze of a hallway. I'm not sure where I'd end up otherwise."

She swallowed heavily, still confused but trying not to show it. "Yeah. Of course. Follow me."

She stood quickly and moved towards the hallway, hoping her disappointment wasn't too obvious to Dean. He followed behind her, just as disappointed. But he knew it would be a bad idea to let his desire for her overwhelm them both right now. It was too soo after they'd revealed the other side of the world to her; the darker side. She was obviously still reeling from the craziness of it all. He wanted her so bad it was killing him, but it just wouldn't be right... He couldn't take advantage of her at such a vulnerable moment. He wouldn't do that to her.

They reached the door to his room and she lingered there, smiling timidly. "Well, goodnight. Sweet dreams."

"You too. I'll see you in the morning. I'm really looking forward to breakfast."

She laughed softly and he wanted to pull her hard against his body. But he didn't. She nodded slightly and then turned away and headed down the hallway.

Dean closed the door and then leaned his head against it.

Fuck.

Dani slipped into the t-shirt she slept in and sat on her bed, feeling rejected. She looked down at her bruised knees and scuffed toenail polish and sighed.

I'm a mess anyway. Even if Dean had wanted me...

She climbed under the covers and switched off her bedside lamp, wondering how she'd ever get to sleep.

A sleepless hour later, Dani climbed back out of bed and made her way through the darkened bedroom to her bathroom. She got some water and headed back towards her bed, but stopped when she noticed a shadow moving in the hall outside her door. She didn't move for a moment, afraid that one of the things that Sam and Dean had been warning her about had come calling.

When the shadow didn't pass by again, she crept back into her bathroom and grabbed the hardest item she could find- her blowdryer. She moved quietly to her bedroom door and opened it a crack. She peeked out but saw nothing. Her heart pounding in her ears, she opened the door a little wider, clutching the hair appliance tightly. She looked to the left and seeing nothing quickly looked right... and jumped back with a small screetch, dropping the blowdryer to the carpeted floor. Dean stood leaning against a wall, smirking at her.

"Nice weapon. Gives new meaning to 'blowing someone away'."

She clutched her heart as she recovered, and then laughed as the fear seeped out of her body. "You scared the hell out of me."

He had the decency to look chagrined. "Sorry. I just... I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd just..."

When he trailed off awkwardly, she tried to finish his thought for him. "Check up on me?"

He nodded, grinning sheepishly. "Yeah."

"Um, thanks."

"All part of the service."

"Right. The service. That's, uh... excellent."

"Yeah. Um..."

"Yeah." She looked at the wall beside him for a minute, beyond uncomfortable now. "Um, Dean?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you planning on staying out here all night?"

"Well, I... Maybe."

"Oh. OK. That's... That's, uh..." She straightened her shoulders a little. "You could... uh... you could... come inside. If you wanted... to."

He held his breath for a moment, and when he responded it came out in a rush of air. "Oh, yeah... I..." He put his hands in his jeans pockets again. "I better... not."

Defeated beyond all belief, she realized it was time to give up. She tried not to sound too deflated. "Right. OK, then. Um... goodnight. Again."

Watching her shoulders sag was too much for him and he reached out for her arm. "Dani, I... I'm sorry. I just... I don't..."

"It's OK, Dean. I get it." She smiled gently. "I guess I just... misunderstood. I thought maybe you... that you had some... uh... some feelings, maybe... for... for me. But I get it now, so don't worry." She shrugged slightly. "It's OK."

Dean moved between her and the open doorway, blocking her escape. She gasped at the sudden intensity of his gaze.

"You really think I don't have feelings for you? While I'm standing here, holding it all in... I can't think of a single, solitary moment in my life when I've wanted something more than I want you."

She swallowed thickly. "I... you do?"

"I think you know I do."

"Then why...?"

"Because you're confused and scared and... you probably don't even know what to make of me anymore. I couldn't... I can't do that to you... Not when you probably don't even know if you believe me, or if you can even trust me." He couldn't bring himself to say the words: I probably even scare you a little now.

His eyes were on fire, but there was something else there too. She could see that he was hurting inside and it caused her more than a little anguish.

"Oh, Dean... I... It's true that I don't know what to make of all this. I honestly don't know what to believe in anymore. And I'm scared; I'm really, really scared." She shook her head helplessly, but then she stepped in closer to him and he found himself holding his breath as she continued. "But I'm not scared when I'm with you. I know I can trust you. No matter what, I believe in you. That's something that hasn't changed." She reached up and put her hand on his cheek. "You're the one thing I do know to be real in this whole screwed-up mess, and I don't know what I'd do without you." Her fingers moved gently against his face as she smiled softly. "I can't... I can't imagine my life without you in it anymore, and I don't want to."

Swearing under his breath, Dean pulled her into his arms and both of them moaned as his lips crashed hungrily down upon hers.