Bright Eyes

The night hadn't gone as smoothly as anyone had hoped. Since Ashley had gone to bed before Dean, she was curled up into herself. Dean was so touched by how she looked, so he let her be. Sam was working on herb inventory, so he had stayed up a bit longer rooting around in the Impala's spare wheel well.

Dean had slept alright for an hour or two, until his dreams turned rotten. A pair of bright eyes were looking down into a black box, but as the point of view changed Dean saw himself back in that box, that cage in Hell. He must had been tossing and turning because there were 2 small hands on his shoulders and it had caused Dean to panic before he had even opened his eyes. Out of instinct Dean had flipped the owner of those hands and pinned them between the bed and his sweaty body.

"De" the thing under him whimpered and fought against his brute strength, but that voice was so meek and familiar-Ashley!

"Oh god, Ash I am so sorry" Dean said throwing himself off the bed as fast as he could and collapsed onto the floor in between the two beds.

"Its fine shows I need to brush up on a couple things" she sighed as she scooted to the edge of the bed opposite the one dean was leaning on. Dean remained there, stone faced so Ashley slid over to the edge and curled up facing him. She couldn't remain awake for much longer and fell asleep facing Dean and arm hanging off the side of the bed inches from Dean's barefoot.

Dean hoped and prayed that she would roll over in sleep, but never did. Her eyes were swimming behind her closed eyelids. How long until those bright eyes of hers go out and she loses her spirit. Will they stay out like their mother's did, or come back to life like his did? When she started to moan and kick in her sleep, Dean could see the darkness she feared, so he reached out and touched her hanging hand. That one touch had calmed her back to peace.

"Ugh, we are definitely a screwed up redneck family" Dean laughed to himself.

"Yeah, god we are screwed up" Sam answered walking in the door and laying eyes on the tangled bed sheets "got to sleep together to keep the dreams away."

"Yeah" Dean said climbing back into bed and stripping off his sweaty shirt.

"I uh, found a job" Sam said shaking the confusion from his face.

"What?"

"Campers going missing around the woods by the swamps here."

"Alright, we start digging tomorrow" Dean said dropping the sweaty cloth at the foot of the bed and laying back on top of the tangled mess of sheets.

"Sure thing" Sam said taking off his shoes and checking to make sure Ashley was really asleep before he stripped off his jeans and threw on a pair of shorts before lying on his own bed.

Dean now knew the impact of sleeping away from Ashley had on them both, so ever so slightly he wrapped an arm over her left side and hooked his hand under her side. Once he had her hooked, he lifted up slightly and dragged Ashley back towards him. Once Dean had Ashley settled and was sure she wouldn't wake up, he lied down on his back and made sure his side was touching Ashley's.

Dean felt Ashley move away from his side and it woke him up.

"Where you goin'?" Dean mumbled and grabbed Ashley's arm as she tried to escape.

"Couple metaphysical shops" she whispered back over her shoulder.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked dropping his grip on Ashley.

"Ha, yeah I do mind" she said laughing and standing up. "You can't go from hating me to being glued to my hip! I still need my time Dean, especially since I have to sleep with your smelly ass."

"Right, yeah. Sam found a case so we'll be gone when you get back" Dean said feeling slightly hurt, but understanding where she was coming from.

"Alright, I'll catch you later then" Ashely said walking out the door with a big smile on her face.

Today was one of the few days when Ashley felt like a normal girl. She was going shopping for things she loved-crystals, herbs, and cards. The list Sam got her was filled with the necessities. Ashley had decided that the new bags would have something special for each owner. Sam would get lavender in his bag to calm down his mind; he was always over thinking the simple things. Dean would get gardenia in his to help his mind heal from the trauma it is filled with. As soon as Ashley walked into Esoterica Occult Goods, the smell of sage hit her nostrils. Ashley was interrupted when her cell rang, it was Sam.

"Yeah" she answered in the typical Winchester greeting. Sam had figured out what the Son of the Bitch was and they needed help to kill it. "Alright, I'll be back in an hour, I just got one more stop." Sam had said they would meet at her next stop in an hour.

Ashley had picked up everything they needed, including a few rare herbs she came across and was waiting outside when she saw the Impala come around the corner.

"So, what is it this time?" she asked sitting down in the car.

"Wendigo" Dean said handing a sandwich and drink back to her.

"Awesome."

"Yup, so you ready to kill this evil Son of a Bitch?" Dean said throwing a cocky grin back at her through the rear-view mirror.

"Hell yeah!"

AN: Hope you all enjoyed let me know what you think!