Author's Note: I've actually had this chapter finished and beta read since last Thursday. Unfortunately, I have limited opportunities to post things, so I'm just now getting it up. Sorry about that. Anyway, this was originally the last half of Chapter 12, so things that may have seemed strange or unexplained might make a little more sense after this. Oh, and Liz sings again. I didn't mean for it to happen, but I listened to the Young Guns II Soundtrack and the thought of someone singing one of those songs about or to Dean and the subsequent funny in my head was just too much to not include the scene. Thanks for humoring me. The song is "Never Say Die" by Jon Bon Jovi.
Chapter Thirteen
"I can't be in charge of anything to do with Jo!" Liz told Bobby. She hurried into his office and shut the door hard behind her.
Bobby looked up from the plate of steak and potatoes he was eating at his desk. "What's wrong now?" he wondered wearily.
"Do you ever do anything but eat and plan jobs?" she asked, a touch of amusement in her voice.
"Yeah, I deal with drama in my hunters' lives," he replied dryly. "What'd Jo do to tick you off now?"
"Other than my husband?" Liz replied sassily. She sat down with a sigh. "I'm being very nice to her, but inside I want to poke her eyeballs out."
Bobby shrugged. "Makes sense to me, Liz. The woman's been having an affair with your husband."
Liz wrung her hands agitatedly. "I need to rise above it. We need to be on the same page and get along because we need all the help we can get. If we're all fighting, then Tom automatically has an advantage."
Bobby shook his head. "Liz, you're being stupid. Ignoring how you feel about Jo is not going to make us stronger. It's just going to make it that much worse when you finally do deal with all those feelings."
Liz looked torn. "It feels like I don't have the right to be upset. Dean thought I was dead."
Bobby rolled his eyes. "You're human, Liz. It doesn't matter whether you 'have the right' to feel a certain way. You can't help if you do. It's okay that you feel possessive and jealous. You need to deal with it, though."
"I'm not jealous of her!" Liz said a little too quickly and a little too strongly.
Bobby made a disbelieving face at her. "Really? So if Dean and Jo found a quiet little corner and decided to relive a few memories, you…"
"…would kill him," Liz finished. "He wouldn't have to worry about Tom because I'd finish him here and now."
Bobby smiled. "But you're not jealous."
Liz glared at him. "Shut up," she pouted. She crossed her arms angrily. "Fine. Okay. Whatever. I'm jealous. And it's natural to feel the way I do and all that. Will you please take responsibility for all assignments relating and pertaining to Jo? I can't trust that I will be disinterested when it comes to her."
"You'll be fine," Bobby insisted.
"Okay," Liz replied, "but if I assign her to a four-month detail in Uzbekistan, you have no one to blame but yourself."
Bobby laughed. "Deal."
XXX
"Hey, Sam," Dean greeted as Sam came into the kitchen. Dean was nursing a beer at the table in his quest to not be wherever Liz was.
Sam grabbed himself a beer and sat down across from Dean. "Hey."
"I haven't seen you much lately."
Sam shrugged. "I figured you and Liz might need some time to…" The words stuck in his throat. "…get reacquainted."
Dean snorted. "Yeah, right. I've been avoiding her like the plague half the time and bumbling like an idiot in front of her the rest of the time. I think not being alone with her is the best thing that can happen for me right now."
"You say that, but you don't mean it," Sam argued. "You know as well as I do that you're still crazy in love with her."
"You going to their makeshift bar tonight?" Dean asked to change the subject.
Sam shrugged. "Probably." He listened for a moment. "It's quiet around here with everyone down at the barn setting up, huh?"
"It'll end soon enough," Dean predicted.
"It's kinda nice."
Dean shrugged. "I guess. I'm so used to the noise that it seems like something's wrong when it's quiet."
"It's nice," Sam insisted. "Lauren likes the quiet."
Dean made a face. "Speaking of the devil, where is she?"
"She's at a conference," Sam replied. He tried to keep the worry from his voice, but Dean could tell he was upset.
"When's she getting here?"
Sam gulped a swig of beer down. "She said her job was more important than our little fantasies. She said she wasn't going to take the chance of screwing up her shot at the promotion she's wanted over some little green men that Bobby and you dreamed up. She said I could do want I wanted, but that she thought it was more important to keep my job than to keep appeasing you."
Dean snorted in disgust. "Because you appease me so often," he said.
Sam shrugged. "That's just what she said. I tried to tell her that this was different, but she was quick to recall that incident a couple years ago when we had everyone on lockdown and it turned out to be nothing."
"You know, you don't make me like her any more when you tell me these stories," Dean replied.
"I know," Sam said. "Try to see her side, though. She doesn't fully know what it is we do, and I only give her partial information. She doesn't think there's anything to worry about."
"Do you?" Dean wondered.
Sam nodded. "I think there's a lot to worry about. If she doesn't come home by next week, I'm going to get her and bring her back."
"Did you lose your job to come here?"
"No," Sam reassured him. "My hours are pretty flexible because my boss feels indebted to me for doing an exorcism last year on his daughter."
Dean started. "I didn't know about that. You should have called me. I could have helped."
"It wasn't a big deal," Sam insisted. "I let Bobby know what I was doing, but I didn't want to bother you because you seemed like you had enough to deal with at the time."
"Meaning what?" Dean asked defensively. "You think I can't do the job?"
Sam shifted uncomfortably. "It's not that, Dean. It's just…if you were going to help, I needed you to be sober. I couldn't be sure that you could promise that."
Dean clenched his jaw angrily. "You—"
"There you are!" Katy said. She came into the kitchen and tugged Dean's arm until he stood. "I've been looking for you everywhere! The party's starting, and you guys have to come. I think Alex is going to get Liz to sing. At least, he said he would try. And several of the girls are going to sing. And everyone else will be there. And—"
"We'll be there," Sam interrupted.
Katy crossed her arms in front of her. "No, you'll come now."
Dean rolled his eyes. He grabbed his beer and finished it off in one last swig. "Fine, we'll go now."
They followed Katy to the barn, realizing as they entered that they were some of the last ones to arrive. The tables were pretty much filled. Katy waved at them to follow her. She weaved through the crowd to a table at the front and sat down. There were two open seats for Dean and Sam, and after hesitating for a moment, they sat in them.
Dean glanced around, looking to see if Liz was somewhere in the barn already. He saw her on the other side of the room sitting with Alex and Cassie. She met his gaze when he looked at her, and he quickly jerked his head so he was looking at Sam.
Liz kept staring at Dean. When Alex leaned near her ear and asked her if she was ready to sing, she jumped.
"You scared me, Alex," she told him, trying to calm the sudden racing of her heart.
Alex cocked an eyebrow. "So are you ready for your singing debut?"
Liz hesitated. "No one wants to hear me sing," she insisted. "And besides, it's been years since I last sang even a note."
Alex grinned. "The teenyboppers want to hear you sing, and I promised them that I would get you to. Apparently, Dean has regaled them with tales of your siren song so much that they can't wait to see if you're as good as he says."
Liz looked terrified. "I just told you I haven't sang in years! There's no way that I am going to live up to whatever he's told them"
Alex had her where he wanted her, even though she didn't know it. "So you're just going to let everyone think that you were too scared to sing one little song? That doesn't speak too highly of you as a leader."
Liz rolled her eyes. "I don't give in to emotional blackmail."
"I want to hear you sing," Cassie chimed in. "I didn't even know you could, but now that I do, I want to hear you. I'm sure Dean wants you to sing, too."
"Oh, fine," Liz said finally. "I can see no one's going to leave me alone until I sing. Might as well get this over with."
Alex smirked. "So what you meant to say was that you don't give in to my emotional blackmail. Cassie is another story entirely."
"Oh, shut up, Alex," Liz told him playfully.
Alex laughed as he followed her to the microphone and logged onto his laptop. He handed Liz a sheet of lyrics then started setting everything up.
Liz scanned the sheet and laughed. "Is this what you want me to sing?" she asked amusedly.
"Yeah, is there a problem?"
Liz shook her head. "You said you had Dean in mind when you chose this?"
Alex nodded. "What's so funny about that?"
"Dean reminds you of a Bon Jovi song?"
Alex looked confused. "So?"
Liz grinned. "You know how you want Dean to like you?"
Alex nodded.
"You don't have to worry about that anymore. It's not going to happen."
"Why? I was being funny."
Liz tried to keep her amusement in check. "I'm not sure he'll get the funny," she told him.
"Should I choose something else?" Alex wondered.
Liz shook her head. "It'll be fine. Start the music."
Alex took the microphone and used it to get everyone's attention. "I know there were some doubts out in the crowd that I would actually come through and get Liz to perform. But, like most women, she couldn't help but succumb to my natural charm."
Liz took the microphone away from Alex. "We need waders tonight, guys," she said into the mike. She stuck her tongue out playfully at Alex when he scowled at her. She laughed as he winked at her then she turned back to the crowd with a good-natured roll of her eyes. Her playfulness fell away and she gulped as she looked at the sea of faces staring back at her.
"So," she began, "you need to know two things: Alex picked this song out with Dean in mind, and I haven't sang in over five years and the thought of doing it now terrifies me."
Alex laughed and took the microphone from her again. "Yeah, well, I haven't sang in front of anyone in all of my thirty-three years, and I'm singing backup for you. I've got you beat, so suck it up and sing."
Liz shrugged. "Fine," she replied.
"Good." Alex hit a button and the sound of music filled the air.
Liz picked up on cue:
As we stood there older than the men
And younger than the boys (that's right)
We were as still as the wind
That blows on a hot August night
And you were lonesome
As a jukebox
But deadly just the same
I could be as gentle as a newborn
Then spit into the eye of a hurricane
Liz started out a little woodenly, but she soon got into the swing of things. A childhood of performing came back to her, and she started really hamming it up and getting the crowd into it.
And we knew how to laugh
And we knew how to cry
Yeah, we sure knew how to live
But we don't ever
Never say die
Never say die
I guess you'd say we had a pact
These words we knew so well (that's right)
Alex looked at her as he chimed in with the echo. He was trying hard to keep from laughing until he noticed the bruising on Liz's neck. The smile fell from his face and it was all he could do to stay focused enough to finish the song. Liz didn't notice Alex's change of humor, so she kept on singing as if nothing had happened.
Still they remained unspoken
And we'd take them to the fiery
Gates of hell
Once I was afraid of love
But when it's your brother
Those things change
'Cause love is just another word
For trust
So hear me when I say
Never say die
Never say no
You got to look them in the eye
And don't let go
When it's your own blood you'll bleed
And your own tears you'll cry
When you're brought up to believe
That it's the strong who survive
Never say die
Yeah, we could run like lightning
Through the pouring rain
And we'll be standing like a soldier
Who comes marching home again
Liz collapsed in giggles when the instrumental section started. She got her laughter under control but then caught sight of Dean's glare burning a hole into Alex, and she broke down again. "I can feel the love," she told Alex, nodding toward Dean.
Alex tried to laugh with her, but it was a halfhearted attempt. He didn't miss a cue, though.
They ask what it is that I want written
(They ask what it is that I want written)
On the gravestone where I'll lie
(On the gravestone where I'll lie)
Tell them it's just my bones
That died there
(Tell them it's just my bones that died there)
So save the tears they'll cry
(So save the tears they'll cry)
My spirit is still riding
Somewheres in this night
When it's these three words that come to me
As I kiss this world goodbye
Never say die
Never say no
You got to look them in the eye
And don't let go
When it's your own blood you'll bleed
And your own tears you'll cry
When you're brought up to believe
That it's the strong who survive
Never say die
As the music was fading, Liz started laughing again. "Thank you! Thank you!" she told the crowd as they applauded. She turned to Alex. "It was a lot of fun. I'm glad I did it."
"I'm glad you're glad," he replied almost angrily. He grabbed her arm and dragged her to the side of the room to a place where not many people were mingling. "What happened to your neck?" he asked.
Liz unconsciously covered her neck with her hand. "Nothing," she said defensively.
Alex clenched his jaw angrily. "If Dean did something to you, Liz…"
"He didn't."
"But if he did, you could—"
"He didn't!!"Liz insisted.
Alex put his hands on his hips. "Well, who did, then?"
Liz squared off with him. "None of your business."
"Liz—"
"What's going on?" Dean interrupted, drawing both of their attention to him.
Alex got in his face. "Did you do that to Liz?" he demanded.
"Did I do what to Liz?" Dean asked confusedly.
Liz shoved between the two men. "Alex, stop! Dean could kill you without even trying. Maybe you should consider that before you get in his face."
"It doesn't matter, Liz. If he hurt you, I'm gonna—"
"For the last time, Dean didn't hurt me! What do I have to do to get that through your skull? You're starting to piss me off, Alex."
Dean noticed the bruises and pushed Liz's head to the side so he could inspect them better. "What happened, Liz?" he asked. "Who did that?"
Liz met his concerned look with a determined one. "I'm fine," she insisted. "I can take care of myself."
Dean stared at her. "Okay."
Alex exhaled a disbelieving laugh. "Unbelievable," he muttered and stomped off. Neither Liz nor Dean stopped him.
"What's going on?" Dean asked. "That's a pretty nasty bruise."
Liz sighed. "Roy did it. I didn't want to tell Alex because Roy's his dad. He has to deal with enough crap because of that."
Dean's eyebrows shot up. "Alex came from that asshole? I mean, don't get me wrong, Alex is annoying, but he's a hell of a lot better than Roy."
"Of course he is," Liz agreed. "I'm sure you can imagine what kind of a father Roy was. Alex didn't have a very fun childhood."
Dean watched her closely. "So that's why you have such a soft spot for the guy?"
Liz looked annoyed. "That's one of the reasons."
Insecurity flooded Dean's face. "You didn't...There's nothing...Nothing happened between the two of you that I should worry about, did it?"
Liz pushed away the resentment she felt at the question. "No," she reassured him. She reached out to brush her fingers across Dean's cheek, but he flinched away from her.
Roy appeared in her peripheral vision. "Trouble in paradise?" he asked with a smug smile.
Liz clenched her jaw and rounded on him. "I've had enough of you today. Leave me alone."
Roy laughed. "No."
Liz lost it and punched Roy in the face. "Stay out of my business, you son of a bitch!"
Roy reared back his fist to return her assault, but Dean caught his hand and twisted it behind him. "You don't want to do that," he told him calmly.
Roy scowled. "You had better unhand me, boy," he said, tugging against Dean's grip.
Dean twisted Roy's arm a little harder then turned him loose, shoving him away. "And you'd better cool your heels and leave Liz alone. While you're at it, leave Alex alone, too. He's a decent person. He doesn't need you screwing him up anymore than I'm sure you already have."
"Raise your own kids," Roy spat at him. "Oh, that's right, you don't have any."
"I think it's time to sleep it off, Roy," Bobby interjected. He stepped in the middle of the three of them. "What's going on here?" he asked.
"Your buddy there choked Liz," Dean explained angrily.
Bobby turned Liz's head to the side so he could see the evidence. "You should have told me about that, Liz," he scolded.
Liz shied away from Bobby. "It's not a big deal. He was pissed at me for drugging him and leaving him in Europe. I figured that was the end of it. I didn't tell you because I can handle myself and you have other things on your plate right now. Bigger things."
"I'm not too busy for this, Liz. He hurt you and that needs to be addressed."
Liz rolled her eyes. "Stop acting like this is some Lifetime movie of the week where I'm the victim of domestic abuse. Roy may be an ass, but he's a good hunter. We need all the help we can get, and regardless of what he did to me, he's on our side. If I had come to you with this, you would have kicked him out, and we just can't afford that right now."
She turned to Roy. "If you ever touch me again, I'll leave you to the mercy of Dean," she said loudly enough that the whole room could here it. "Trust me: you'd be better off with me."
"Of course I would," Roy replied. "Dean's your little lapdog, doing whatever you say without question. You don't have to explain yourself or anything to him."
"You should walk away from me right now," Dean told Roy through clenched teeth. He made sure Roy walked away then turned to Liz. "He's got a point, though, Liz," he told her. He was talking loud enough that most of the room could hear him. Those who couldn't quickly pushed in closer. "You came back here just expecting everyone to accept you back into the fold like nothing had happened. I think we've all been curious about what you, my dear, darling wife, have been up to for the past five years. I know I sure have. I got to thinking earlier about something Tom said, and I realized that you have to tell me if I ask." He ignored the pleading look Liz was giving him. "What have you been doing the past five years? Tell me. I command you to."
The pleading look fell away and a defeated one took its place. "I was helping Bobby make contacts across the globe."
Dean shook her a little. "I know that already! Why? I want to know why. Why did you leave and pretend to be dead? Answer me! Now!"
"No," Liz replied defiantly.
"No? You have to tell me what I want to know. Your brother said…"
"My brother says a lot of things," Liz interrupted, turning on her heel. She pulled her arm out of Dean's grasp and headed for the door. "I'll be in my room," she called over her shoulder.
Dean started after her, but Bobby stopped him. "Boy, if I were twenty years younger, I'd kick your ass for doing that to Liz. I've half a mind to try anyway."
Dean shook off Bobby and continued after Liz. When he made it outside, he realized she must have run part of the way to the house as she was almost to the door. He broke into a run and was only a few steps behind her as she headed down the hall to the room she was staying in. She was shutting the door as he reached it, and he stuck his foot in between the door and the doorjamb so it couldn't close all the way.
"I have some questions that you're going to answer," Dean said.
"Is that right?"
"Yes," he said, forcing his way into the room.
Liz turned angrily towards him. "What do you want to know, master?" She spat the last word at him.
Her spite didn't faze Dean. "I want to know why you left. And I want to know why Linda is really here. Why is your brother after her?"
Liz stared at him for a long moment then sighed. "Honestly, we don't know. We think he wants the children. We don't know why. He's been kidnapping a lot of children with special abilities, so we think he may be after Isabelle because she's empathic. We're just guessing at the motive, though. We also think that Tom wants Sam and me so that he can try to make us breed and give him his chosen one. Now that he knows that Sam is your surrogate, we figure that there will be an assassination attempt on you any day now."
"That still doesn't explain why you left. Tell me why you left!"
"I can't."
"You have to. I'm ordering you to."
"You don't understand. I can't tell you. There's a spell on me that won't let me tell you why I left. Only Bobby can free me where I'm allowed to tell you."
Dean clenched his jaw angrily. "Like I'm going to believe that," he said. "Tell me why you left!"
Liz ducked her head and looked up at him. "I'll tell you anything but that," she offered quietly.
Dean's face twisted into a cruel look. "Anything, huh? Okay. Did Alex try to screw you when you were his partner?"
Liz glared at him. "I think we're done here," she said. "Leave." She shoved her way around him.
She had barely taken two steps before Dean started after her. "We're done when I say we're done, Liz!"
Liz quit walking away but didn't turn around. "What else can I do for you, master?" she asked sarcastically.
Dean stalked toward her, grabbing her roughly as he pressed his hands to her temples to connect their minds. As soon as he made the connection, he was violently expelled from Liz's mind.
He stumbled away from her. "What the hell, Liz!?!" he exclaimed angrily, rubbing his temples against the pain blossoming behind his eyes. He grabbed her again and shoved her against the wall. Her back hit hard, knocking the breath out of her. She grunted as the air left her body then gripped Dean's forearms as he held her in place.
"I will get you to tell me why you left," he promised. He slammed her back against the wall several more times.
Liz put her hands on his chest and shoved. "Screw you, Dean!" she yelled spitefully as she tried to get away from him.
He batted her hands away from his chest and pressed her back against the wall, trapping her with his body. He leaned to where his lips were brushing her ear as he told her silkily, "Good idea, Liz."
Liz's eyes widened, and she shoved him away. He caught her around the waist and tossed her onto the bed without another word. She tried to scramble away from him, but he grabbed her foot and dragged her down the bed. She kicked at him, and he caught her foot and held it, holding her in place as she struggled to get out from under him. He managed to straddle her before she could break free, but she continued to fight against him. After a minute or so, the fight left her, and she settled onto the bed.
Dean had calmed, too. He didn't move off of her, but he loosened his grip some.
Dean fingered the silky fabric of her shirt then played with the two buttons at the top. "How much did this cost?" he wondered.
Liz raised an eyebrow in curiosity at the change in subject. "I don't know. $150. Maybe more."
Dean jerked off one of the buttons. "Oops," he said without remorse. He had a self-satisfied smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Liz sighed. "Are you trying to make me mad? 'Cause I can just sew that button back on."
Dean smirked at her. He gathered the delicate fabric in his hands and jerked until it ripped down the middle. "What about that? Can you fix that?"
Liz glared at his smug look. "I'll see what I can do," she replied with fire in her eyes.
There was a charged moment where they just stared at one another then the moment was over and their lips were tangling, hands pulling at clothing.
Dean gave her a hard look. "Are you going to tell me to stop, Liz?" he asked scornfully.
Liz thought about it for a brief moment then shook her head.
"Good." His tone was harsh, but his hands shook as he ran them down her side. She was still wearing the skirt from earlier in the day, so he pushed it around her hips. "You look ridiculous in these clothes," he told her. A wry smile snuck onto his face. "They're convenient, though."
Liz was tugging at the buttons on his jeans. "Yours aren't."
"I got it," he told her, moving her hands aside so he could jerk the buttons open. He undid his pants and shoved them down around his hips.
Liz grimaced in pain as he entered her without foreplay then closed her eyes and sucked in a breath as she tried to adjust to him.
Concern momentarily outweighed any lingering anger Dean felt. "Did I hurt you?" he asked regretfully, stilling his movements.
Liz opened her eyes and focused on his face. "I'll live," she replied, sliding her hands to his temples to help him make the connection between their minds.
He stopped her. "Are you okay? I…" He cleared his throat against its sudden rawness.
Liz nodded. "I'm okay," she assured him. "I'm okay."
Dean wasn't convinced. "You sure?"
Liz nodded slightly.
Dean wordlessly tugged his shirt off and tossed it to the side but didn't bother with pushing his pants the rest of the way off. He brushed the hair out of Liz's eyes then kissed her. When he pulled back, he looked contrite. "I'm sorry, Liz. I got a little carried away."
Liz smiled. "I don't mind," she said. She grabbed behind his neck and pulled their bodies closer.
Dean kissed her and felt it all the way to his toes. His heart clenched, and he slowed the kiss for a brief few seconds, relishing the feeling of holding Liz. Liz sucked in a breath as Dean broke their embrace, and she watched him, her pupils dilated so much that her eyes were almost black. Dean didn't think, just connected their minds.
He had forgotten what it was like to be in Liz's head, especially while they were having sex. It made all the sensations coming from her increase tenfold. For a moment after he got inside her head, he was frozen by the intensity with which he could feel Liz's lust and pain, but he pushed that aside and ferociously went after the information he wanted.
He found what he wanted, but there was a block around it keeping him from getting at the memory. Dean butted against the block time and again, frustration rekindling his anger. Soon he was putting every bit of energy he had into breaking through the barrier in Liz's mind. He gathered up as much energy as he could muster and butted against the block as strongly as he was able. He succeeded only in once again breaking the connection between their minds.
When he became aware of his surroundings, Dean realized that his entire body was shaking. He rolled off of Liz and sat up. She grabbed him by his hair to keep him from crawling off the bed.
"Don't you dare try to leave," she said. She sat up and straddled his lap. "Don't you dare."
She gave him a sloppy kiss while they fought with one another for several moments, each trying to get the upper hand. Finally, Dean picked her up and dumped her back onto the bed. She gasped as he surged into her again, then ran her nails down his back leaving angry red welts in their wake. Dean made a strangled noise in the back of his throat and gripped her hips hard enough to bruise. His thrusts were sharp and angry, and it didn't take either of them long to find their release.
Libidos sated, they lay beside one another trying to get their breathing and heart rate back under control. Dean got up after a few moments and put on his shirt. Liz watched him while he redressed then rolled onto her side facing away from him. She pulled the covers up around herself and curled into a ball.
Dean hovered uncertainly by the bed for a moment, then climbed back onto it. He scooted to where he was not quite touching Liz and tried to decide what to do next. He made up his mind and wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in close to his body.
At first, Liz remained rigid in his embrace, but soon she grabbed Dean's arm and hugged it to her. She stayed that way for a moment, savoring the feeling of being in Dean's arms again, then shoved Dean away.
"Please, leave," she said.
Dean sat up and stared at her. "What?" he asked, surprised.
Liz rolled to face him. "I just need to be alone to process everything. It's been five years since I've had sex, and that was a little…" she struggled to come up with the right word, "…overwhelming." Her eyes pleaded with him to understand.
Dean was clearly confused, but he nodded and started to leave. "I've got to walk the perimeter for a while anyway," he said.
Liz seized his arm before she realized what she was doing. "But Bobby said he wasn't putting you on the security rotation," she said frantically. She caught herself and forced her hand to drop back onto the bed. "Be careful." The fear was strong in her voice.
Dean nodded once. "I will," he promised. His words were gentler than his body language, which was angry again as he climbed off the bed.
Liz sat up, panicked. She quickly pushed aside the thought of how silly she must look with her ruined shirt hanging limply at her side exposing her beige, very unsexy bra and her skirt still bunched around her hips. She grabbed Dean and pulled him into another hug. Dean kept his hands at his side, not resisting her but not returning her desperate embrace, either. The air was ripe with a thousand unsaid things.
After a moment of her clinging to him, Dean cleared his throat and pushed Liz away firmly but gently. "I've got to go, Liz," he said softly.
"I want you to," she reminded herself.
Dean nodded once. He started toward the door, thought better of it, and turned and pressed his lips to Liz's. It was a short kiss—their mouths stayed closed—but the feeling behind it electrified them both. Dean pulled their lips apart, pressed their foreheads together for a second, then was gone.
Liz stared at the space Dean had occupied then slowly removed her destroyed shirt and the rest of her clothing and burrowed under the covers of her bed, not bothering with a nightgown. She thought she would toss and turn, but the events of the night caught up with her and she was asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.