Author's note: Wow. This chapter went on forever! It's probably the longest chapter of my entire story. I was going to try and break it up , but I just didn't have the heart to. I also thought it would be nice to have a little Dean and Shane interaction. So there you go. Enjoy.

Music Selections: 'Touche' by Godsmack, 'U + ur hand' by Pink, 'You shook me all night long' by AC/DC, 'Crashed' by Daughtry, 'Land of confusion' by Disturbed.

Disclaimer:Don't own Supernatural or any of the music I suggest.

Chapter 13: A Conversation Between Friends

When Shane and Sam finally emerged from the bathroom, they noted that the room was empty. Deciding to go out for some fresh air themselves, they put on their shoes and went for a walk. As they were walking down the main thoroughfare Shane noticed Dean standing alone, staring blankly at the window display before him.

Easing herself from beneath Sam's arm, she held out her arm for them to stop.

"Why don't you continue on and try to find Taylor? I wanna talk to Dean for a moment." Shane said silently so as Dean wouldn't hear.

Nodding, he placed a light peck on her lips before crossing the street and continuing on in the direction they had been walking before. She had already told him about her little discovery as well as saw for himself when they had woke up that morning.

Walking up next to him, Shane hooked her thumbs into the pockets of her jeans and stared at the display as well.

"You look lost, Pilgrim." Shane said conversationally.

"How so, Pocahontas?" Dean said, after starting slightly, recovering the unaffected smirk

"Dean, you've been staring into that window for over five minutes. Sofas and recliners aren't that fascinating. Something's on your mind. And I have a feeling it has to do with a certain sister of mine. Goes by Taylor." Shane teased, winking at the end.

"Did you just read me, Shane? It was nothing. It's been awhile since I've hooked up with anyone and she was a warm body. That's it, nothing more." Dean replied, face set in a serious expression.

Shane shook her head, suddenly serious.

"No, it isn't. And she isn't just a "warm body" as you so eloquently put it. She wouldn't have ended up in your arms if she really didn't want to. And if your "biological needs" are so unbearable, we're not holding you back from getting a piece of ass. But know this: all girls want to be loved and protected once in a while. To feel safe. Even girls like me and Taylor, who can kick the ass of pretty much anything. Sure, we're all independent to the extreme. But in the end, we don't wanna be standing there all alone. We want to be gathered up in a lover's arms and just let go of everything that's dragging us down. So if you don't think you can be that kind of man for Taylor, don't expect me to stand around and watch you tear her down or hold her back." Shane finished emotively, her arms crossed around her chest.

"Damn, Shane. Relax. It's not like I called her a whore or anything." Dean said, surprised at her outburst.

"Just think about what I said." Shane replied before stalking off in the direction her boyfriend had taken minutes before, leaving Dean to mull over her words.

ooonoooo*ooouoooo*ooomooaooo*

When they had all arrived back at their room, they sat around and watched a movie on TV. A few hours and two and a half movies later, the group hadn't moved other than to make snacks or to go to the bathroom. The room was now dark.

Munching on some popcorn he had made, Dean held the bowl out to Taylor.

"Want some?" Dean asked absentmindedly.

She blinked a few times in surprise before replying.

"Yeah, sure." Taylor replied warily, unsure as to his true intentions. He could end up dunking it over her head for all she knew.

Rolling his eyes, he sat the bowl down between them and returned his attention to the movie. He'd let her take what she wanted, when she wanted to.

As the third movie ended and Shane moved to find another one, Dean leaned over to Taylor.

"Wanna get outta here? Perhaps go play some pool?" Dean asked.

Looking over to Shane, Taylor asked in mindspeak, "Think I should go?"

"Go on, get outta here." Shane said out loud, making a shooing motion with her hand.

Grabbing her cell phone and some cash, she stuffed both into her back pocket before rising and heading to the door.

"Let's" Taylor said as she opened the door and walked out. Dean followed close behind.

ooosooo*oooeoooo*ooowooo*ooonooocoo

After driving around for awhile, they found a fairly populated bar/game room a few blocks over from their motel. Walking over to the bar, they each ordered a drink and leaned against the bar to survey the crowd.

Leaning over to talk into her ear, Dean said, "Fourth table to the left, closest to the back wall."

Taking a swig of her Smirnoff, she looked in the direction Dean had indicated. Looking them over, she replied, "No contest. C'mon Dean, I said I needed a challenge."

"We also need cash." Dean retorted rationally. It was a good thing no one could hear them over the thumping music. "And they look like the type to piss it all away in a game of pool."

"Alright. Lead the way." Taylor said, sighing dejectedly.

"And remember," Dean added as they wove their way through the crowd, "You need to play dumb to start."

She rolled her eyes before replying.

"Dean, don't worry. This isn't my first time hustling. I know what to do." Taylor drawled, plastering a smile on her face.

As they neared the pool table in question, Dean rolled his shoulders around and cracked his knuckles before he reached out and snagged Taylor closer to his side.

"Mind if we join you? All the other single tables are taken and I don't feel like putting out for the 10-spot tables. I'm trying to teach my girl here the finer points of playing pool." Dean queried jovially to the one closest to him. He looped his arm around Taylor, who smiled up at him as if he were the greatest pool player of all time.

After she did this, she looked over to the two men, playing the puppy dog-eyes expression for all she was worth.

"Please? I'd love to see how an actual game is played out. I'm sure you guys are some of the very best-est players around." Taylor gushed, laying the sugar on thick.

Seeming to bask in the attention, the man on the other side of the table replied.

"Well, of course you can, darlin'. Phil and I were just about to start a new game. Weren't we, Phil?"

"We sure were. Come on, first game's on us." Phil said, leering down on Taylor as he put the quarters in the slot and pushed them in. Taylor cringed inwardly in disgust and she felt Dean's arm tighten around her waist protectively.

Smiling in response, the two turned in tandem and walked over to the wall to pick up a cue stick.

"This had better be over quick. I can't play dumb for long around those slime balls. They make my skin crawl when they look at me." Taylor muttered into Dean's ear.

Dean squeezed her waist reassuringly.

"You know I've got your back, Taylor. Just don't punish them too harshly. We have to make this believable and with as little trouble as possible." Dean said encouragingly.

Enjoying the feel of his arm wrapped around her, she leaned into his side slightly and rested her head on his shoulder as they walked back to the table. As they neared the table, they noticed that the balls were spread out haphazardly about the table. Apparently, the goons had started the game without them.

"We thought that we'd break, considering we paid." Phil said once Dean and Taylor had returned to the table. "It's your shot. Stripes" he finished, gesturing to Dean with his cue stick.

Letting go of Taylor reluctantly, he perused the table looking for an easy shot. Taylor moved to sit down on the stool on the other side of the table against the wall. The other dumpy looking guy, Phil's friend, was already seated on the other.

"I'm Earl." he said once she sat down.

"Fascinating." Taylor replied, reminiscent of Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider persona. She honed in on the game as Dean took a shot and sunk it. Playing the part of the dumb girlfriend, she clapped enthusiastically and cheered. "Way to go, baby."

He winked in her direction before turning back to the game.

"You know, you could be a little more helpful doll, and tell me your name." Earl said.

"Hope." Taylor replied, supplying the name she always used when hustling. I 'hope' you back off, jerk, she thought as he leaned onto the table separating them.

"How serious is it with the pretty boy over there?" he asked.

"Very." Taylor replied concisely, keeping her responses to the one word variety. She didn't think his brain could handle much more.

"Think I could change your mind?" Earl asked, sending a leering grin her way. It only made her stomach turn.

Before she could reply, Dean stepped up to rescue her.

"Your turn, bud." Dean said, standing behind her, a barely civil expression on his face.

Taylor sighed in relief when he got up and went away. She then leaned back into Dean's embrace as his arms circled her waist.

"Thank you." Taylor said.

"I missed on purpose. That guy was getting a little too close to you for comfort." Dean said, watching the game.

"Tell me about it. You weren't the one he was coming onto." Taylor said with a forced shudder, grinning as Earl missed a simple corner shot. She rose and took the cue from his hand.

"We're up, babe." Taylor said in a sugary sweet tone. Grabbing his hand, she led him to the table.

Holding the cue stick awkwardly, she fumbled around a bit before looking to Dean.

"Like this?" Taylor asked in her dumb blond tone, holding it totally wrong on purpose. Dean smiled inwardly. He'd totally crack up laughing if it wouldn't have blown their ruse. He walked over to her and stood right behind her.

Putting his body flush against hers, he took hold of her hands and placed them in her usual playing position.

"Here. Just like this." Dean said, his breath tickling against her ear.

She shivered as he guided her to her first target, an overly easy shot to the opposite corner pocket.

He released her hands as she took the shot. It went straight in. She whooped in response.

"What now?" Taylor queried innocently as Dean took a step away from her to put some distance between them. That had been a little more intense than he'd expected it to be.

Moving around the table, he looked for another simple shot to keep up the act a little while longer.

"Right here." Dean said, finding one and pointing to the striped ball sitting just outside of the pocket on the opposite side of the table. It was more difficult than the last and would be pushing their act, but it was the easiest shot left open on the table.

Taylor moved to stand beside him and shifted around a little, leaning down over the table and sticking her butt out, looking for the appropriate angle. Admiring the view for a few seconds, Dean then glanced over at the two jerk offs. They were eating it up. She finally took the shot and sunk it, no problem.

Standing upright, Taylor said, "You know what, babe? I think I'm starting to get the hang of this. Let me pick my next shot."

"Alright." Dean replied, standing back from the table as she moved around studying the table. As he watched her, he knew they'd have to lose at least one game before he could suggest raising the stakes. Taylor looked up at him then, asking without words if she should take the shot. He shook his head no.

She sent the cue ball careening around the table, clicking a few balls but not sinking any.

"Shoot." Taylor exclaimed, and to be cute, she stomped her foot as well.

Dean rolled his eyes and moved over to collect her.

As Phil walked up to the table and took a shot, Dean muttered to Taylor, "It's gonna be a long night."

ooowoooo*ooooocoo*oooxoozooo*

Three games and $150 dollars later, Dean and Taylor had thrown off the act and began playing to their fullest abilities. As Dean watched Taylor sink the second to last ball on the table aside from the eight ball, he realized that they actually worked together very well. The two dumbasses hadn't even realized what hit them until it was too late.

As Taylor leaned over and shot the eight ball into the pocket, she looked up at him standing on the other side of the table and winked at him, sinking it. Now $250 dollars richer, Taylor rose as Dean collected the money from Earl.

"It's been fun, you guys." Dean said, smirking.

As Taylor made her way to Dean, Phil smacked her on the ass.

"That fine ass knew what she was doing all along. I think you owe us an apology, in a more horizontal position." Phil spat out, running his finger down her arm.

Dean was immediately beside her and jerking Phil's hand from her, prepared to fight.

Before a knock-down, all-out brawl could break loose, she stood between the two, halting their progress. She looked to Dean, her hand resting lightly on his chest.

"I've got this, Dean." Taylor said quietly.

He nodded and took a step back, a faint smirk on his lips. But the feral glare still lurked just beneath the surface. She then turned back to Phil.

She was going to enjoy this.

"Phil." Taylor crooned, stepping towards him and lightly resting her hand on his wrist. He relaxed and leered down at her, thinking she was accepting his proposal. That's when she twisted his arm around behind him and jerked it upwards, forcing him to his knees. He cried out in surprise and pain.

When Earl made a move to help his friend, Dean stepped up to him and held his arm out in front of him, palm up.

"Don't even think about it." Dean said before lowering his arm. Keeping a watchful eye on the friend, Dean glanced back at Taylor to see how she was fairing.

"If I ever catch wind of you threatening women like you just did me, I swear, I'll come back and make sure you could never follow through on that threat ever again." she said, putting emphasis on the last two words. Taylor heard Phil audibly gulp. Smirking a half-smirk in Dean's direction, she then brought her other arm up and bent it.

"Consider this a parting gift." Taylor finished, bringing the back of her arm down sharply on the side of Phil's head, knocking him senseless.

As he fell to the floor when she released him, Taylor then proceeded towards the exit, the crowd parting as she passed.

Dean smiled a half-smile at Earl, tipping the brim of a non-existent cowboy hat with his thumb and index finger as a salute before following after her.

When he walked out the door, he found Taylor leaning against the wall right next to him. She was laughing.

"Oh my God! That was so much fun." Taylor exclaimed as she stood up from the wall and began walking towards the car. Dean fell in step beside her.

Grinning as well, he said, "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. Here's your cut." He handed her half of the winnings.

"You know what?" Tayor said as she took the proffered money, "We made a pretty good team back there. We should do this again sometime." Glancing back over her shoulder, she continued cautiously, "Just not here."

Sneaking a furtive glance at Taylor, Dean said quietly, "Yeah, we should."

Smiling, Taylor skipped ahead the last few steps to the car and waited for Dean to join her. Yeah, she wouldn't mind at all pretending to be his girlfriend; to feel him pressed up beside her and have his arms wrapped around her.

As they each climbed into the car, Taylor looked back over at Dean as he started the car and drove away from the bar. Nope, she wouldn't mind in the least.

oooroooo*ooonoooo*oooxoooeoo

A/N 2: Was it too much? I tried to rework Shane's conversation with Dean because that's not how I originally planned it. Her angry spew was actually the inspiration for this whole scene. And it may have not been very obvious, but Dean did take Shane's advice to heart. That's why he asked Taylor to play some pool. Also, I'll try and include some more Shane/Sam in the next chapter since I've been ignoring them just the slightest bit. Until next time…