Thanks to Dean's hurt ankle, Sam and Lexi didn't get any alone time over the next few days. John decided to stay put for a while, and they hardly left the motel room. They would steal a few kisses while John was in the shower, but Dean would never let them get far.

"Get a room," Dean said.

"We have one," Sam said. "Get out of it."

"You gonna tell that to dad?"

That quickly ended the verbal sparing.

When Dean's ankle was better, John was ready to go. They drove to Washington state to investigate a series of weird deaths. As usual, Sam and Lexi were dropped off at the library. After several hours of research, they had little to go on, but they were both hungry. So, they caught the bus back to the motel where John had booked a room on the way into town.

"You wanna have pizza delivered?" Sam asked.

"Works for me."

Sam called and put in the order. Lexi was lying on top of her bed with her eyes closed, and Sam just stared at her for a moment. He took slow steps over to her and sat down on the edge of the bed, facing her. When Lexi felt the movement, she looked at him and smiled. Sam took her right hand in his left, and bent down to kiss her. He took his time getting to her lips, feeling a nervousness he wondered if he should still feel.

Lexi squeezed his hand, so large as it folded around her own. She brushed aside a lock of Sam's hair as his face hovered over hers. Their lips finally met with a clash. Sam devoured her as his free hand began to roam over her body. First up her arm, then down her side. When his hand made a detour to her breast, she stopped him.

"Wait," she said, her voice breathless and soft.

Sam pulled back, his own breathing heavy. "What's wrong?"

Lexi sat up. "Too fast."

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't even realize... I just wanted to touch you. I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay," she said as she smiled. A light blush rose into her cheeks. "I wanna touch you, too." She let her hand slide down his arm. "I just don't want this to be rushed."

Sam nodded. "I understand."

Lexi leaned in for another kiss. Their hands ended up in each other's hair. They stayed wrapped in each other's arms until the pizza came. They ate quietly, both of them still thinking about their make out session.

A year later, Sam and Lexi were still going at it. Sam talked more about them going away together, and leaving hunting for good, but Lexi would always change the subject. She still wasn't sure if that was what she wanted. She had come to see John, with all his flaws, as family. The family her own father wanted her to have.

Sam and Lexi grew more and more intimate as time passed. Hands roamed to new places, and kissing involved more than lips. Sam seemed to love the area where her neck met her shoulder. His teeth grazed over the spot several times.

The sun had just set, and both of them were still in their street clothes, but they lay on the bed. Sam was lying to her side so that his body was partially covering hers as they kissed. He pulled back a bit, staring into her eyes as his hand found the top button of her shirt. He slowly worked it open, waiting to see if she would protest. When she didn't, he moved to the next button. They kept eye contact until Sam had her shirt completely undone. He pulled the shirt open, running a hand up her side before returning his lips to his favorite spot.

They were so caught up in each other, that neither of them heard the door open. Dean walked in and covered his eyes.

"Son-of-a..."

Sam was quick to pull Lexi's shirt closed. They sat up and Lexi buttoned back up.

"I thought you two would be gone 'til late," Sam said.

"Dad wanted to eat first. He dropped me off and went for food. You two are lucky it was me who came in and not dad. I wish I could say the same for me. My eyes, man."

"Shut up, Dean." Sam looked back to Lexi and put a hand on her leg. "You okay?" he whispered.

"I'm fine," she said with a smile. "I think I may need to take a walk, though."

"Yeah, me too... more like a run." Lexi laughed, making Sam beam a bright smile. "Let's go," he said.

He took Lexi's hand and helped her off the bed. Dean plopped down on the other bed and turned on the television.

"I'd make it quick," he said. "Dad'll be back soon."

"We'll be back," Sam said.

They walked around the parking lot holding hands, just trying to work off some of the energy and tension that had built up. When John pulled in, they walked back to the room, with a little more distance between them, and he was waiting for them.

"What are you two doing?"

"We just wanted to get out of the room for a while," Sam said. "We took a walk around the parking lot."

John gave them a questioning look, but he went inside without another word. Sam blew out a breath and snuck one more quick kiss before they followed John in.

Sam and Lexi cooled things off a little, realizing how close they came to being caught by John. It was embarrassing enough that Dean had walked in on them. Lexi would have been mortified had it been John.

Another birthday passed, this time with a small recognition from Sam. He had worked her birth date out of her, and had a cupcake for her with a lone candle. The months passed, and Sam still talked about college. He had been accepted to two of the ones he had applied to.

"It's like it's real now," he said as he lay with Lexi in his arms. "I'm going to college. I actually got scholarships."

"You'll still need a job," Lexi said.

"That's easy."

"Sam... are you sure this is what you want to do?"

"It's all I've ever wanted to do. I don't want to be a hunter."

"Your dad's gonna flip."

"Yeah, I know."

"When will you tell him?"

"I'll have to tell him tonight... that's when I'm leaving."

Lexi sat up. "What? Why are you just telling me?"

"I just decided today. We're almost nineteen, we can be on our own."

"Sam, I told you I'm not sure I wanna go. How could you just make a decision like that."

"I thought you'd come with me. And if I stay, I'll just get sucked back in. I have to go... now. Fall semester will be starting."

Lexi moved to the edge of the bed, putting her feet on the floor. "I don't believe this," she whispered to herself.

"Lexi, you knew this is what I was planning."

"I don't know. I guess I thought you were just dreaming... I didn't think you'd really leave."

Sam moved to sit next to her and ran a hand up and down her back. "Come with me."

"I can't. Not like this. John will be..."

"Pissed."

"That's an understatement."

They sat quietly for a few minutes before John and Dean walked in. John took one look at Lexi's face and knew something happened.

"What's wrong?" John asked.

Sam hesitated as he stood. "I was just telling her that I've decided to go to college."

John scoffed. "We talked about this, Sammy. You're not going."

"I am, dad. I already got a scholarship... I'm leaving tonight."

"What?" John spun around and his voice was quiet, which actually scared Lexi more than when he yelled.

Dean saw the look on Lexi's face and moved toward her, not sure if he should reach out to her. He just wanted to be there if things took a bad turn.

"I'm leaving tonight," Sam repeated.

"You're abandoning your family." Now John was yelling.

"I'm going to school!"

Lexi stood and ran outside. She knew this wasn't going to end well, and she didn't want to witness it. Dean followed her.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Not really." She paced back and forth for a minute until the raised voices carried out through the closed door. She walked out behind the Impala and leaned against the trunk. "I just can't believe he sprang it on me like this."

"He's not going anywhere. He's talked about college before."

"He's going, Dean. Trust me."

"You going with him if he does?"

"No... I can't."

"Why not? Nothing's holding you here."

"John is... my dad is. I can't go."

The motel room door opened and they saw Sam freeze at the sound of John's booming voice.

"You walk out that door, don't bother coming back."

Sam stared back at his dad, and walked out, closing the door behind him. He walked out to Dean and Lexi with his bag in his hand.

"You're really going," Dean said softly. Disbelief covered his face.

"I have to, Dean."

"No, you don't. You want to."

"What's wrong with wanting to?"

Dean just shook his head and went back inside. He knew he would be the one to face John's wrath, and he wasn't proven wrong. As soon as he walked through the door, John was yelling.

"Did you know about this?"

"Not at all. I found out when you did."

"Don't lie to me, Dean."

"I'm not."

Back outside, Lexi couldn't stop a tear from falling.

"Please stay."

Sam just shook his head. "No turning back now. Come with me."

A cab pulled up and the window rolled down.

"Sam Winchester?" The driver read the name from a piece of paper.

"That's me. Can I have a second?"

"Meter's running."

Sam nodded and turned back to Lexi. "Come with me."

"Stay."

"I can't."

"Neither can I."

"So, what about us?"

"I think we just want different things for the big picture. Maybe it's better if we just make a clean break."

Sam nodded as he hung his head. "I'm gonna miss you."

"I'm gonna miss you, too, Sam."

Sam took her face in his hands and gave her one last kiss. She watched as he got in the cab and it pulled away, until she could no longer see the spot of yellow in the distance.

She could hear John still yelling inside. She felt bad for Dean. He would have to handle an angry John for a while, and he hadn't even done anything wrong. When she walked into the room, John calmed down a little. She went straight to the bathroom, went through her nightly routine, and went right to bed. She turned her back to the room, but sleep didn't come easily.

Not for anyone.