Tied up
"Aww…what's wrong sweetie? Not afraid of me are you?" the shapeshifter asked, inching closer to Grace who was crawling backwards on all fours.
"Get away from me you freak," she spat out, looking around the room for any means of escape.
"Tsk tsk tsk…such bad language…" it said as it got in front of Grace and kicked her in the stomach.
Grace felt the air in her lungs escape through her mouth as the heavy boot collided with her.
"Where's Dean?" she demanded harshly, grasping her stomach.
"Somewhere…he could be here, out in a ditch somewhere, maybe dead?" it shrugged dismissively, walking away.
Grace lunged at it. "You better hope he's okay," she threatened, grabbing the shifter around the neck. "Or I swear to god, I will kill you."
It easily plucked her off and threw her into the table, making it fall and crash into many pieces.
"Fuck!" she yelled in pain, rolling off the wood to take the pressure off of her now injured back.
"Oh dear…didn't your mother ever teach you any manners?" it mocked. "Oh wait…she's dead. Your daddy too by the looks of it."
Grace choked back a sob as she stood up, ready to fight.
"Come on," she said with determination. "Come and get me."
The shapeshifter smiled wickedly and ran for her. It punched her in the face, sending her sprawling on the floor, but she never gave up.
Grace kicked down her feet, jumping up quickly, and kicked the shifter between the legs. Falling to its knees, it doubled over in pain which gave Grace the opportunity to punch it several times. Its head snapped back with the blows but it resisted the pain and grabbed Grace's arms, lifting her up into the air and threw her back down on the floor.
"Ahhhh!" she moaned in pain. Her back which had just settled down from the last hit, was once again disturbed. She was sure she was going to have bruises on her back, at least.
The shifter stormed up to her, now very frustrated, and slammed her back into a wall.
"Ahhh!" Grace thrashed as it repeatedly slammed her injured back into the hard plaster.
"Not so strong, are you now Gracie Lee Winchester?" it whispered in her ear.
"Don't call me Gracie!" she yelled, kicking the shifter in the stomach and forcing it to let go of her.
"Oh no you don't!" The shifter ran towards her again and after grabbing a nearby lamp, knocked her out cold.
Grace landed on the floor with a thud.
------------------------------
"Hey Sam," Amanda waved.
Sam got up, surprised that she was here and hugged her. "Hey you…"
"You haven't been waiting here too long have you?" she asked, hugging him back.
"No, not at all," he smiled. "Did you get anything out of Steven's parents?"
"Nah, we got nothing. Nothing that indicated Steven would want to kill himself. You?"
Sam shook his head no. "I got nothing either."
There was a still silence where they both just stood and held each other. Finally, Amanda broke it.
"Did you want to go for a walk?" she asked looking up at him. God he's a giant. A beautiful giant. My beautiful giant.
"Yeah sure," he answered, looking down and smiling. The two walked, hand in hand, into the forest of trees which were joined together with a pebble path.
--------------------------------
"Ah, there we are."
The shapeshifter had just finished tying Grace up to one of the bed posts with some rope.
"Huh?" Grace asked, still fading in and out of dizziness.
"What? No more snarkiness from little ol' Grace?"
Grace moaned at the pain shooting up her spine as she shook her head.
"Aww…how cute," it mocked. "Sit tight Gracie…we're going to have some fun."
"I said…Don't. Call. Me. Gracie." she said coldly, each word with a shake and tug on her bound wrists.
"You're the one tied up Gracie," it said making sure to accentuate the word 'Gracie'. "I can call you whatever you want."
"What do you want with me?" she asked. "I didn't even go looking for you."
"When I heard the Winchesters were coming I just couldn't resist…" is said as it leant forward and kissed Grace hard on the mouth.
"Mpphhh…" came Grace's muffles screams and yells as the shifter continued assaulting her body.
"So sweet…" it finished, pulling away.
It walked outside to prepare for Grace, while she was left inside all alone, frightened for her life. Dean was god knows where right now, and Sam and Amanda weren't expecting her to pick them up any time soon. She could be dead by the time they come back.
Grace sat, tied up on the floor by the bed, sobbing.
------------------------------
Splash.
"Hummhhh?"
Swoosh.
"What the? Where am I?"
"You're in a bathroom you asshole."
Dean finally worked up enough energy to open his eyes. As soon as his sight breached the barrier of his eye lids, he was met with blinding white light. Damn these brighter-than-needed fluorescent lights.
The door slammed closed after the man who had called him an asshole left.
Sitting up from where he was laying inside an open cubicle, he braced his right hand on the wall and pushed up from the floor.
"God, this place smells like ass," he cringed. "Why didn't I notice before? Ugh."
Stepping out of the cubicle that sported a foul odour, Dean staggered forward to the mirrors and dropped his hands forward onto the sink.
Breathing heavily, he looked around trying to recall what had happened earlier.
Man…who the hell hit me. Dickhead was nuts. Freaking flashy eyes.
"Wait a minute…"
Dean stood up straighter as realisation hit him.
"Shit," he yelled, quickly running out of the bathroom, knocking over a man who had just entered in the process.
"Oww, man!" the guy yelled, cursing at Dean for being reckless.
Not even bothering to apologise, Dean zoomed out the door, knocking over even more people, and ran for the car.
The car…
"Fuck! The car!"
Dean looked around rapidly for anything he could use. Skimming the parking lot, his eyes landed on an old Honda parked away from the others.
"Bingo." Running up to it, Dean smashed the window with his elbow and jumped in after unlocking the driver's side door.
Opening the front compartment, he ripped the wires apart and began quickly touching them together, trying to make a spark.
He smiled in relief when he heard the engine start, meaning he had successfully hot-wired a car once again, and pulled out to the motel, it being his best lead. He had no idea where the others were so right now, the motel would be his best bet.
"God…this thing better not do stupid shit with my face on. ARGH!" he yelled, slamming his hands on the steering wheel angrily. It better not have hurt Grace, Sam or Amanda.
While only knowing Amanda for just over a week, him and Amanda had bonded and become pretty close friends. He certainly didn't need a shapeshifter ruining everything they had built.
Looking at the time and seeing it was nearly evening, he stepped on the gas and prayed everything would be alright until he arrived.
---------------------------------
"So…" Amanda started.
"How are you liking hunting with us so far?" Sam finished with a small smile.
The two were currently walking along a small trail in the big park. It was a lovely place filled with lots of fresh air and a relaxing atmosphere. Children were riding on their bikes, teenagers playing sport, families having picnics. Amanda could only hope that once all the hectic hunting started to relent a little, she and her partner would be able to settle down in a place like this. She wasn't sure if it would be Sam but she certainly hoped it would be.
"Well, putting aside all the hardcore researching and fighting with nasty little monsters, I like it. I think it's an interesting career after going through the boring job of waitressing. The bonus is, I get to be with you. I mean, that's why I came in the first place, isn't it? I don't know what it is with you Sam Winchester, but I'm beginning to love you very, very much," she grinned widely.
Sam snaked a long arm around her waist and pulled her into a gigantic teddy bear hug, giving her the biggest kiss he could muster up, not caring that they were in a public place. He was with Amanda so he wouldn't give a damn if the whole world was watching them on television.
"Well Amanda something Durante, I think that means I have to love you too then," he joked.
Amanda hit him in the arm as they continued walking.
"Have to love me, my ass. You love me because you want to and you know it," she smirked. "Oh, and by the way, my middle name's Moore."
"Amanda Moore Durante," he grinned. "Beautiful name."
"Damn straight." With that last statement, Amanda grabbed the back of Sam's head and kissed him once again, Sam leaning into her embrace and warmth.
----------------------------------
"Aww Gracie, you're not crying now, are you?" the shapeshifter mocked with a pout, cocking its head to the side. "Awww…"
"Shut up, you son of a bitch."
"Oh!" it gasped with a hand over its mouth. "You should be nicer to me." The shifter grabbed Grace's head and twisted it on a painful upward angle. "Like I said before, you're the one tied up."
Walking away and shoving Grace's head back down in one swift movement, the shifter walked up to the duffel bag it had retrieved from the trunk of the beloved impala.
"Ahh…what a beauty."
Grace looked up from her pained state to the shifter. In its hand, was one of Dean's very sharp and very dangerous knives. One small slice of it could render a huge cut and have you bleeding for hours, if not more.
"Whoa, put that down big guy. Don't want someone like you playing with a dangerous toy like that."
"Well I don't know exactly how dangerous this is," the shifter said looking at her tauntingly. "Guess you'll be my test subject."
Grace whimpered as she failed at escaping from her bonds and the shifter got closer.
Bending down on one knee, the shifter placed the knife in the middle of her chest and began dragging it downwards applying pressure, effectively making a long cut which immediately started to bleed, soaking her white tank top in red.
"Oh dear, it is a sharp knife isn't it."
Tears welled up in Grace's eyes but she refused to cry. Crying in front of the enemy meant weakness. Weakness meant defeat. And even if it was the last thing she did, she was not about to admit defeat.
"Sure is," she groaned.
The shifter then repeated the action but this time on both sides of her arms.
Grace whined at a high pitch as pain tore through her whole upper body. She could feel the blood dripping down herself and the smell was making her sick.
"Let's see…what do we have here?"
The shifter unbuttoned the blue jeans she had put on when they were leaving for the bar, and pulled them down her hips.
Trailing the knife softly up and down her legs, it pushed down on the knife every once and a while, leaving small cuts all over her.
"Nughhhh…" she whimpered with a small cry. The shapeshifter continued torturing her with Dean's knife even after she begged it to stop.
She knew this wasn't Dean, but she couldn't help but think how she would react when she saw the real Dean again. If she saw him again.
Would she be scared of him? Blinded by the painful images from the last hour? Or would she welcome him with big arms, glad to have him there to protect her?
I guess time will tell.
------------------------------------
"God. Drive faster Dean. Drive faster!"
Dean pushed himself and the car to the limit, hoping to get back to the motel faster.
With the traffic, it had taken him nearly half an hour just to get off the main road and closer to his final destination.
Pushing the car to 110kmph (A/N: Roughly 70mph for you Americans), Dean sped his way down to the long road just around the corner from the hotel.
Wee-woo-wee-woo. (Sounds stupid but whatever!)
"Oh shit. Siren."
Dean looked back into the rear view mirror and audibly sighed and groaned as he saw blue and red lights flashing behind him.
"I so do not have time for this shit!" he cursed.
The policeman pulled him over and walked over to his window.
"Step out of the car please sir," he asked from outside into Dean's half opened window.
"I'm sorry, I can't. There's an emergency and I need to hurry. My girlfriend's in trouble and I need to help her," he said with urgency apparent in his voice and face.
"Sir, you do realise how fast you were driving, right?" Dean nodded. "This is a suburban area. You can't drive this fast out here, boy."
"I know sir, but please, you gotta let me go. Give me a speeding ticket or a fine or whatever, but please just let me go," he pleaded.
The policeman nodded. "I normally don't do this and would normally hold you but I'll let this go since you sound like you're in a lot of trouble."
The man quickly tore off a ticket and handed it to Dean through the window.
"Drive safe now."
With those last words, Dean sped off to the motel, once again speeding but not going as fast as he was before.
"Young men," the cop shook his head.
Skidding around the corner, Dean came to a halt once he reached the motel parking lot.
"God, please let them be okay," he pleaded softly to himself.
Quickly ransacking the trunk for his favourite gun and some silver bullets, he slammed it shut before ramming his shoulder into the door, effectively knocking down.
The sight he was greeted with made him want to cry.
Grace lay, nearly unconscious, on the floor near their bed moaning softly in pain. She was now loosely tied up from all her pulling and had huge amounts of sweat on her body, plastering her hair to her face. She had blood, cuts and bruises all over her. His little Gracie looked so fragile and weak.
"Oh Gracie…"
When Dean finally tore his eyes away from the horrific sight, he found himself looking at the shapeshifter who had taken his face and used it against his baby.
"Hello Dean," it greeted.
"I am going to kill so. Nice and slow. Just the way you've been torturing Gracie," he said menacingly, walking closer to the creature.
"Yeah, that was fun… Do you know after she let that shield of hers fall down, every time I cut her she would beg me to stop? Beg for you to come help her?" Dean said nothing. "Aww…big brave Dean Winchester wasn't there to help his girlfriend," it taunted. "How sad!"
"Shut up you mother fucker!" Dean yelled as he shoved the shifter into the wall with his forearm on its neck.
"What? Something I said?" it grinned.
Dean grabbed the shifter by the collar and threw it into an already dented wall. Must've thrown Gracie around pretty hard.
Seeing this only fuelled Dean's anger. Pulling out his silver gun, he aimed at the shifter and was about to pull the trigger when it suddenly jumped up and made Dean lose his aim.
It swatted its hand quickly at Dean's, knocking the gun onto the floor.
Staring at the now lost object, Dean didn't see the punch directed at his jaw. He flew back a couple of steps at the impact.
"You pack a good punch."
The shifter grinned and ran to punch him again, but this time Dean was lucky enough to catch his fist and flip him over his back, sending the shifter crashing onto the floor.
"You'll never win Winchester," it snarled, wiping some blood off its mouth with the sleeve of his shirt.
"Don't be so sure of that."
Bang.
In the time the shifter was occupied, Dean had been able to crawl over to retrieve his gun. He shot the shifter in the heart, and it fell to the floor dead.
Bang. Bang.
"Just for good measure," he reasoned with himself.
Dropping his gun and running over to the bed where Grace was tied at, Dean undid the rope and let her collapse in his arms.
"Oh baby…" Dean held her close to him, stroking her soft brown her away from her face. "Let's get you all fixed up."
Placing her up on the bed, Dean ran to one of their duffels to fetch the first aid kit.
Sitting down by her side and placing her lying in his lap, Dean began cleaning up all of her cuts with a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide, bandaging them up as he went along.
"Looks like this one needs stiches, sweetie," he said softly, frowning at the thought of hurting his girl.
"I hate stiches," Grace pouted. "Do you know how disgusting it feels when they get pulled out?" she cringed.
Dean nodded and began preparing the needle. Directing her to look away and to think of happy thoughts – naked Dean wink wink – Dean inserted the needle and began pushing it through skin. Poking it up and to the surface, he doubled over and tied it off. Repeating the process three more times, he was able to slap on a piece of gauze which would keep it safe from being torn.
After he had completed his task, he looked over her one more time, sighing at the twenty or so bandages covering her body.
"Should've never let that thing get me…" he frowned. "If it weren't for me you wouldn't be like this," he finished softly, continuing to stroke her hair.
"Dean," a small voice whispered.
Dean looked at her face to see Grace's eyes flutter open. At that moment, they were the most beautiful things he had ever seen.
"Hey," he whispered back just as quietly. "You're awake."
She nodded. "Yeah…"
"Are you okay?" he asked, grasping her much smaller hand tightly in his to reassure himself that she was okay.
"I am now that you fixed me up. Damn that knife was sharp," she tried to lighten the mood.
"I should make it blunt shouldn't I?" he smiled playfully.
"Absolutely. Next time the bad guy wants to tie me up and use me for meat cutting practice, he won't be able to because Dean Winchester's knife will be blunt."
"Yeah but what about when we're hunting?" he kissed her lightly and pulled away, teasing.
"Mmm…screw knives. You Winchester boys do just fine with your guns," she smirked, kissing him back.
"You know…" he started, peppering small kisses all over her face. "You said you would make it up to me…"
Grace looked at her boyfriend in confusion before it clicked. Oh right…the music…damn I hoped he'd forget.
"Okie dokie. Time to claim your prize Winchester."
Dean smirked his charming smirk and leaned Grace back on the bed.
He kissed her passionately and his hands were roaming, as were hers.
"Oww!"
Dean quickly sat up, apologising profusely because he had hurt her.
"Guess we should do this when I'm not all carved up, huh?" she concluded.
"Yeah," he nodded understandingly.
It was now sunset so Dean tugged on Grace's hand to get up.
"What?" she asked.
Dean never answered, just pulled her along outside after he had thrown some clean clothes on her.
Once they reached the parking lot, Dean sat her down on the hood of his car and he joined her.
"Look." Dean pointed to the beautiful sunset just ahead of them. The sky was mixed in a flurry of pink, orange, yellow and red.
"It's beautiful Dean…" she said in awe.
"Yeah. Just like you," Dean said playing with a strand of her hair. Pulling her chin towards him, they kissed softly while the sun set and the day became night.
--------------------------------
"Think we should call Grace now? Walking in the dark isn't so much fun Amanda," Sam laughed.
"Okay then."
Slipping her phone out of her pocket, Amanda pressed number 3 on her speed-dial for Gracie.
"Hello?" a masculine voice answered.
"Dean?" she looked at Sam with her eyebrows raised. "What are you doing answering Grace's phone? You two aren't in bed are you?" she asked panicking.
"Do you think I would answer the phone at all if I were in bed with her?"
Amanda rolled her eyes and Sam knew his brother had just made a stupid comment.
"Didn't think so. Anyways, what are you calling for?"
"Just calling to get Grace to pick us up. We're at the park across the street from Billy's parent's house."
"Hey, she can't really do that right now."
"What, why?" she asked, worry in her voice.
"A shapeshifter got Gracie. She's got quite a few cuts and bruises on her, Amanda."
"Oh my god. Are you ser- Okay. We'll call a cab. We'll be there in ten."
Amanda hung up her phone and began calling another number.
"What is it Amanda? What's wrong?" Sam asked looking at her.
"Grace. She was attacked by a shapeshifter and she's injured according to Dean. I gotta call a cab." Sam nodded.
Not too long later, Sam and Amanda were in the back of a taxi and were making their way to the motel. All the way there, both were harassing the driver to drive faster.
After getting noting but threats of being thrown out, the two ended up paying the driver $100 if he was able to get them there in two minutes. Not surprisingly, the man took it and got them there in 1 minute, 45 seconds.
Barging inside, Sam and Amanda quickly ran over to the bed where Dean had set her down to rest.
"Hey sweetie, you okay?" Amanda asked softly. Grace weakly nodded. Although her cuts and bruises would heal, she was still feeling a little out of it after losing quite an amount of blood, not to mention the beating she had taken.
"Hey, you'll be alright pumpkin," Sam gave her a small kiss on her forehead, petting her hair softly.
"I know. Got the three of the most awesome people looking after me. How couldn't I be," she smiled.
"So where is this sick bastard that did this to Grace?" Sam asked, suddenly angry.
Dean pointed to the floor behind the table he was sitting at. Sam followed the gesture and his eyes landed on Dean #2 who had blood seeping out onto the front of its shirt.
Asshole, Sam thought.
"Hmm. You gonna take it out back and burn it?" Amanda asked.
"Are you volunteering?" Dean smiled.
Amanda sighed. "No. But if you're not doing it then I guess I will be."
"I'll help," Sam thankfully offered. What kind of boyfriend would he be if he let his girlfriend drag a huge body out to the back of a motel and burn it all by herself? Not a very good one.
-----------------------------------
"Damn, that was hard work," Amanda groaned as she wiped the sweat from her brow.
"Yeah, try digging a grave," Sam laughed, rubbing his hands together, ridding himself of the ash from the body and fire.
Amanda scrunched up her nose in distaste and stormed off with her tongue poking out of her mouth.
"Oh it's not that bad, you drama queen," Sam laughed.
"Are you kidding me?" she asked amused, crossing her arms across her chest and leaning back on her left hell, right foot hanging over her left.
"What?" he said as innocently as possible with a straight face. "It's not."
"Do you really like the sweet, fresh smell of old man?" she asked, gagging at the thought.
"No…." Sam started slowly, scratching his chin with his thumb and index finger. "But I like the smell of old woman!" he finished brightly.
Amanda shook her head, sighing and began walking back to the front of the motel.
"Why do I bother…" she asked herself, smoothing her palm roughly down her face.
"Okay, okay, I'm kidding baby." Sam quickly ran to follow and enveloped her in a massive hug around the waist, lifting her up into the air.
"Saaaammm!!!" she squealed, slapping at Sam's arms, trying to make him let go.
"What?" he asked teasingly as he began tickling her sides causing Amanda to kick and writhe against him.
"Please…" she barely got out, still trying to wrench Sam's hands away from her, while catching her breathe.
"Please what?" he pushed on, smirking at her.
She paused for a moment, looking down. "Please stop tickling me…" she said quietly, pouting pathetically at him.
As soon as he saw this, Sam relented with a huff and set Amanda back down on the brown gravel.
"One day that isn't going to work on me Amanda," he said trying to sound stern although the corners of his lips began to tug up, no matter how hard he tried.
"Right…" she nodded in mock belief. "Keep thinking that Winchester and one day you just might believe it sweetie."
With a pat on his shoulder and a small smile, Amanda swivelled around and trotted towards the direction of Dean and Grace's room.
This time, Sam did nothing to stop her and instead, stood mouth gaped.
He pouted. "She did not just walk out on me!" he whined childishly.
------------------------------------
"Hey guys," Amanda greeted cheerily as she closed the door to the room with her foot.
"Why are you so smiley? Sam work his magic on you?" Grace teased.
I wish. "Nah, just a little tiff with Sammy outside," she smiled.
Dean swatted Grace in the arm. "What do you mean Sam's magic? Sammy's got nothing on me," he pouted, rubbing his head adorably against her arm like a puppy.
Grace smiled at him and put her arm around his shoulders, stroking his spikes with that hand.
"So what was the shifter's motive again?" Sam asked abruptly, out of breathe, as he ran inside, slamming the door.
Everyone looked at him strangely after he had broken the calm silence.
"What?" he asked, oblivious to it all.
"Nothing…" Amanda sighed from the table she was leaning on.
"Well it went after me because I was with you guys and it 'just couldn't resist'," Grace shipped in with a roll of her eyes.
"And the sports guys?" Sam asked, walking to stand behind Amanda, a little to the side because of the table.
"It was probably after fame or something…used the body to get some attention after killing the real guys…" Dean finished.
"Psshhh…losers."
"You guys burned it right?" Grace suddenly asked, looking up as if she had just remembered.
"Yeah of course," Sam and Amanda answered in unison, nodding.
"Good. Don't need a dead body floating around in the middle of nowhere."
"Only you Dean. Only you," Grace smiled. Dean stared at her confused before he finally understood after a few seconds of hard thinking.
"Oh shut up." Dean rolled over to where Gracie was laying and ruffled her hair. Bringing a hand up to her head, Grace straightened it back out again neatly and sent Dean an evil glare.
"Don't touch my hair Dean."
Silence.
"Dean?"
More silence.
"DEAN FUCKING WINCHESTER!!!" Grace yelled, sitting up and whacking Dean in the face with her hand.
"Oww!" Dean yelped cradling his hand to his soon-to-be swollen face. "Gosh, take it easy, woman!"
"That's what you get for ignoring me buddy," Grace snorted turning away.
Dean sat still for a few moments, unsure of what exactly to do while Amanda and Sam giggled softly in amusement before Dean gave them the shut-the-hell-up-or-else-I'll-kill-you glare.
"This'll be a long night…" Sam whispered, to which Amanda nodded.
-----------------------------------
"Umm…could be have dinner now?" Sam asked softly, not wanting to make any sudden noise.
Dean and Grace were currently in the middle of a fight. Grace was situated on one of the beds armed with a pillow, while Dean stood in front of her, on the ground, with a pillow of his own.
Both stood still, not wanting to make the first move this time around. Swinging down would give your opponent the opportunity to strike an unguarded area of your body.
"Please?" Amanda asking, whining a little. Sam slung an arm over her shoulders and pulled her towards him, resting her head in the crook of his shoulder.
"Don't worry babe," Sam soothed, rubbing his cheek along the crown of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair. "I'll make 'em stop."
Sam jumped up from his position on the other bed and ran to stand between the two armed fighters.
Holding his hands up on either side of him, stopping both people, he shouted, "Dinner?!"
Grace and Dean stopped looking at each other for a second and began diverting their attention to Sam. Taking a few seconds to register what he had just said, both nodded in agreement.
"Okay, it's good we have that all settled-"
Thwack!
Swoosh!
"Hehehehehehe…" Dean and Grace both started giggling like little children.
Amanda stepped back into her own little corner hoping to avoid the action. Winchester wars were dangerous.
"Owwww!" Sam screamed, gritting his teeth, palming the back of his head.
Looking up, he saw Dean and Grace both holding their pillows up after having striked him.
Once more, the two brought the pillows down on poor Sam's vulnerable head and began repeating the action several times.
"Please…please. Come on! I just- Dinner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Dean stopped at the mention of food while Grace suddenly became aware of something.
"Amanda? Where's Amanda?"
All heads turned to look at the corner she was hiding in. Grace advanced on her and began giving Amanda the same treatment she gave not so little Sammich.
Amanda had tried defending herself but it was all no use. Grace was psychotic and crazy when she was armed with pillows.
"Gracie…"
Grace turned around, stopping, and looked at Dean who had thrown his pillow onto the bed and was now walking towards her.
Stopping in front of her he ran his hands up and down her arms. "You wanna stop before you hurt someone sweetie?" he smiled.
Looking up at him, she gave a small nod and threw her pillow over his shoulder, letting it land next to Dean's.
"So, dinner?" she asked quietly, leaning her head against his chest.
Dean nodded and wrapped an arm around her back, pulling her closer to him.
"Where did you guys want to eat?" Grace asked, turning around b still in Dean's tight embrace.
Sam shrugged. "Anywhere, I don't mind. Amanda?"
She too shrugged. "I'm with him," she pointed.
"Gee, that narrows it down," Dean said while rolling his eyes.
"Oh shut up," Amanda shot back, sticking her tongue out at him. "What do you suggest then, Mr. I'm So Smart?"
Dean stood, crossing his arms defiantly. "The diner."
Sam laughed softly. "Did you want to specify that, Dean?"
Dean looked hardly at Sam.
"We'll just go to the one across the road," Grace stepped in, helping her Deanie out.
"Yeah, that one."
Both Amanda and Sam smirked. "Whatever."
Shrugging on their jackets over their jeans and shirts, the four stepped out into the cooling air and started walking across the parking lot.
"Damn it's pretty cold out," Dean commented, checking both ways before crossing the street, the others following.
"Yeah," Sam agreed. "I hate cold weather."
Amanda began smiling after seeing Sam's small pout. He was looking down on the ground as he walked but nonetheless, she could see the pout.
"Hey," she said to him, swatting his arm and causing him to look up. "Stop pouting."
"What? It's true. I hate the cold…" he said mumbling the last part.
"I'll keep you warm," Amanda grinned. "Don't you worry."
Sam seemed to lighten up a lot more after her comment and held her around the waist as they approached the diner.
On the outside, the white paint was cracked and had seemed to start painting. The neon sign hanging just below the roof was half broken; many letters of the name in darkness after the bulbs had either burst or just died from use. The building itself looked as if it were about to tumble but seeing as it wasn't wobbling just yet, the four entered.
The first thing they saw inside was a big jukebox machine sitting on the side of the diner, to the right of the door. On the other side of the diner were all the booths, and straight ahead was the counter and kitchen.
"Hmm…" Dean hummed, eyebrows raised. "Not too bad…for a diner."
"Oh you're just picky," Grace teased, sliding into the booth beside him, Sam and Amanda taking the other.
"I am not," he defended, frowning.
"Yeah. Definitely not Dean," she mocked.
Dean frowned even more. "Oh leave me alone…" he pouted.
"Whatever babe," she laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
Dean scowled. She is not getting away with that.
"So…" Amanda started leaning back onto Sam's open left arm.
"What are we getting?" Sam finished, sliding down a little in the seat to make up for his…tallness compared to Amanda's 5'7 frame.
Grace shrugged. "Waitress!" she yelled, waving down one of the ladies behind the counter.
Not too long after, a woman in her late twenties approached them, notepad open, and pencil ready.
"Hi, what can I get you?" she asked cheerily, eyeing Dean immediately.
Grace scooted closer to him, as if in protective mode, and started glaring the blonde bitch.
Dean was of course, oblivious to the extra attention he was receiving and smiled back at the waitress which made Grace fume.
Luckily Sam saw and placed a large hand on her arm, coaxing her to calm down. They really didn't need to get kicked out by one of the waitresses.
"I'll have a steak and mashed potatoes, thanks," Sam ordered, hoping to pull her attention away from his thick-headed brother.
Looking over for a split second, she jotted it down with her pencil and asked, "Peas or carrot?"
Sam contemplates his choices for a few seconds. "Peas…" he finally decided. She once again nodded and turned her full attention back to Dean almost immediately.
"Uh…I'll have a grilled chicken and salad," Amanda ordered next, hoping to achieve the same result as Sam had.
"Okay, what about you handsome?" she asked, making googly eyes at Dean.
"I will have…" Dean started, looking over the menu carefully, biting his lower lip with his teeth in thought. "I'll have a t-bone steak, no vegies," he finished, smirking.
The waitress giggled and began blushing as she wrote it down on her order sheet.
"Anything else I can get you?" she asked leaning forward. "And I mean anything, you know…" she trailed off.
Grace had reached the point of beyond anger and frustration, and started breathing heavily like she was Darth Vader behind his creepy mask.
"Yeah, I'd like to order please!" she yelled, standing up, nearly knocking Dean off the side.
"Whoa, jeez!" Dean yelled in surprise, grasping the edge of the table with his fingers, and hoisting himself upright.
"Oh no! Are you okay?" the waitress cooed, reaching her hands out and was now all over him.
Darting her hands away from his face, he replied a polite, "I'm fine thanks."
"HEY!"
The waitress turned around to be met with a pair of menacing death glares coming from Grace.
"What? Can I help you?" she asked rudely, obviously not getting the idea that she and Dean were in a relationship.
"Yeah. I'd like you to get off of my boyfriend and take my freaking order!" she screamed in the waitress's face.
"Boyfriend?" she asked surprised. "You sure weren't acting like it, honey! You damn near knocked him off the table!"
"Yeah…" Grace started sarcastically, really ticked off. "And that was AFTER you practically started having mind sex with my boyfriend!!!!" she flailed her arms around, frustrated.
"No I wasn't," she dismissed, bringing her hand up to her face and looking at her trimmed nails.
"Uh…yes you were!" Grace demanded, slamming her hand on the desk.
Cue Sam and Amanda to the rescue!
"Hey, hey, hey. Grace sweetie, calm down," Sam soothed, pulling Grace back down into her seat and away from the ignorant waitress.
"Sam," she grit out. "This bitch is pissing the shit out of me," she yelled, making sure the waitress could hear her loud and clear. "If she doesn't keep her manicured hands away from Dean, I'll scratch her eyes out!" The waitress let out a snort.
"What? Don't think I will, princess?" she challenged, raising her eyebrows. The truth was, Grace really did want a reason to be able to attack her.
"Ha! No way. Not a little thing like you," she laughed, throwing her head back.
"Oh boy…" Sam sighed. Shit was about t hit the fan.
"I'm sorry?" Grace asked, making sure she had heard correctly.
The waitress once again ignored her and turned to face a now very aware Dean. "So…can I have your number? Or…did you just want to come back to my place?"
"That bitch…"
Grace jumped out of the booth, over Dean's legs, and pounced on the waitress, bringing them both to the floor.
They tackled for what seemed like hours to the three onlookers, even though it had only been mere minutes. There was a lot of hair pulling, slapping, punching, kicking, wailing and screaming.
They had attracted the attention of the whole diner until Amanda gave out a shout for them to look away and that there was nothing to see. But did those bulgy guys listen? No.
Dean and Sam had finally risen up from their seats and were currently pulling the two apart. Amongst all the scratching and clawing the two had done to the air separating them from each other, the boys finally got them apart and Sam placed the waitress on the floor, far away from their table and from Grace.
"What on earth is all this commotion?!" the manager demanded, grasping the waitress's arm tightly.
"She attacked me!" she immediately yelled, pointing accusingly at Grace while narrowing her eyes.
"She was coming onto my boyfriend!" Grace yelled back. "You should've seen her! Like a barfly with women. Her being the barfly and Dean being the women!"
Dean muttered a 'hey!' but it was lost, due to all the ruckus.
The manager scratched his hairy arm and answered, "Nancy, get in the back! I'll talk to you later. Thought I already explained the 'no coming onto customers' rule," he drawled, having a strong Texan accent.
Nancy opened her mouth to protest before the manager shut her up and shooed her away with his hand. She mumbled a string of profanities before making her way through the doors and into the kitchen.
"I am terribly sorry," the manager apologised, walking up to Grace and her companions. "My name's Bill, and as you would probably have guessed, I'm the manager here. Nancy has…Nancy has a problem controlling her hormones. She's all over fine looking men like yourselves," he said, gesturing to both boys.
"Oh it's okay. I know what it's like to see such lookers in a place like this," Amanda smiled. Hey, I met Sam in a diner.
Bill smiled. "Tell you what, dinner's on me for all the trouble she's caused you. It'll be coming out of her pay check don't worry 'bout a thing." he smiled. "Did you need anything else?"
"Oh, I didn't get to order," Grace spoke up, lifting a finger in the air.
The manager picked up the discarded notepad and pencil from the desk and took down Grace's order of grilled fish and steam vegies.
"Alright, your food'll be delivered shortly. Hope you enjoy the rest of the night," he nodded courteously, walking back into the kitchen, where Nancy stood waiting, with the order form.
"I changed my mind," Dean said suddenly. "This is an awesome diner."
Amanda laughed and shook her head. "You're just saying that because we're getting free food."
"Yeah, why else?" he chuckled, and stopped after seeing Grace's frown. "And don't you worry Gracie. Ain't no waitress taking me away from you," he said, pulling her onto his lap and pushing her head to lie on his chest.
"I know that Dean. But it upsets me that you didn't even notice she was fully flirting and coming onto you. What's even worse is that you flirted back," Grace admitted, looking into Dean's beautiful green eyes, wetness beginning to well up in her own.
"Oh sweetie…" he pulled her up and hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry. You know I don't mean to, right?" he asked, making her lean back so her could see her face.
"Yeah I know Dean, but it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt babe."
Dean nodded and buried his face in the crook of her neck while she leaned her cheek against him, as if a silent understanding had passed through them both.
"Aww…" Amanda whispered quietly, looking up at Sam. "They're adorable you know that?"
Sam chuckled at the concept of Dean being "adorable".
"Yeah," he sighed. "They are."
Sometimes he wished he could act that way with Grace. They had always been best friends as teenagers, and it hurt him when she would always coming crying to him. Crying to him about Dean. About how he was like the most wonderful person in the world and how she couldn't have him. Somedays, he would really wish she felt that way about him. Pining for him. Wishing she could be with him. Not Dean. He never treated women right, so who was to say he would start now?
If Dean was ever to break Grace's heart, Sam would be there for her in a heartbeat. Sure, he cared for Amanda, maybe loved her, but there was no guarantee that if Grace was free, he wouldn't go to her. I mean, he had known her nearly his entire life, so sure, she had definitely grown on him.
Amanda smiled at the cute couple in front of her and leaned in closer to Sam, as they had inched away after the fight had broken out.
"Think we'll be as cute, Sam?" she asked randomly, laughing.
Sam shook his head at her. "Maybe."
"You don't contr-- No! No she did it I didn't-- I wasn-- She-- That little bit-- No you can't fire me I'm-- BILL! You can't do th-- Just wait till I te--"
All four turned their heads to the kitchen door and raised their eyebrows at the screaming match Nancy and Rill were currently having. Something about Nancy being allowed to do whatever she wanted, and how it was all Grace's fault so she shouldn't be fired, and bleh.
"That bitch got what she deserved," Grace smiled in triumph. "That's what you get for messing with my boyfriend!" she yelled happily.
Dean chuckled a long manly chuckle which rumbled through his chest as he smiled widely. "That's my girl."
Moments later, a very pissed off and crying Nancy burst through the double metal doors and came to stand in front of the four's booth.
"I hope you're happy. Just because you couldn't learn to share, I got fired!" she yelled.
"Uh hello? Share? Do you see me ever sharing a guy in my life? I don't think so! Can you see yourself sharing Dean if he were your boyfriend with me? I don't think so!!!" she blatantly stated.
Nancy huffed and stormed off in her tiny little high heels that looked like they would snap at even the lightest pressure. Gee…that would be fun to watch.
Another waitress came through the doors not long after, balancing four plates on two trays.
"Here you are. Sorry for the delay," she apologised smiling, and set the dishes on the table.
Oh this waitress is much friendlier. And she didn't even try hitting on Dean! YAY!
"Bill was busy yelling at Nancy so we were a bit short on staff. Enjoy your meal," she said as she picked up the two trays, holding them on the side in front of her lap and walked away.
"Why could've we have her as our first waitress?" Grace asked pouting. All three laughed. "What?" More laughing. "She was nice!!"
Dean shook his head. "Whatever squirt."
Dean grabbed his plate and began digging into his steak, as did Sam after emptying the contents of the steak gravy sauce onto their pieces of meat. They both nearly near moaned, as they crunched down on the tender meat and gravy sauce.
"Dude…" Dean drooled. "Delicious."
Sam nodded, not even bothering to answer as her shoved, mouthful after mouthful into his mouth.
The girls sat, a little off their appetite, as they watched their partners practically inhaling their food.
"Uhh…you wanna slow down there, guys?" Amanda asked warily.
Both shook their heads no.
Grace and Amanda sighed as they too began eating. No point in arguing in a fight that couldn't be won.
The girls cut their chicken and fish with etiquette as they ate small bites at a time, chewing with their mouths closed. The completely opposite to the boys.
We do so don't know them.
Once the girls had finished their meal with a wipe of a serviette, after the boys had gobbled up theirs quickly after they had been served, all four leaned back into their seats, satisfied.
"Three words. Best. Diner. Ever." Dean said smiling, rubbing his stomach happily.
"Yep. We should stay in Michigan for longer. There aren't any cases if I close my eyes and don't see them," Sam stated hopefully.
The girls rolled their eyes.
"Ooh…let's play with the jukebox!" Grace squealed, clapping her hands. "Gimme a quarter Dean."
Digging through his pockets, Dean flipped her some coins as she ran to the machine.
"Hmm…" Grace thought out loud as she skimmed through the selection of songs. "Oooh!" she squealed as she found one she was interested in.
Popping in some coins, she pushed button 14 and strode back to the table, waiting for the song to start.
"What'd you pick sweetie?" Dean asked. Grace shrugged and simply told him to wait and find out.
Walkin' down this rocky road,
Wondering where my life is leading,
Rollin' on…to the bitter end.
Finding out along the way,
What it takes to keep love living,
You should know…how it feels my friend.
"Nice choice babe. Bad company," he smirked. She nodded and grinned.
Ooh, I want you to stay…
Ooh, I want you today…
"I'm ready for love!!" she sang.
Ooh baby, I'm ready for love…
"Ready for love!"
Ooh baby, I'm ready for love…
Yeah…
Ohhh, for your love…
Dean smiled as Grace continued singing the song 'Ready For Love'. She wasn't a bad singer but she wasn't necessarily a good one either. But it was great to see Grace be free and sing as she pleased. Dean liked it. The other two…maybe not so much. The guys in the diner? They seemed to like it too. Or maybe they were just hoping for a drunken, karaoke bar table top dance.
Loud scoff. Like that would ever happen on Dean's watch. Unless they were the only two in the building then…that would be okay.
Now I'm on my feet again.
Better things are bound to happen.
All my dues…surely must be paid.
Many miles and many tears,
Times were hard but now they're changing,
You should know…that I'm not afraid.
Ooh, I want you to stay…
Ooh, I want you today…
I'm ready for love!
Ooh baby, I'm ready for love…
Ready for love!
Ooh baby, I'm ready for love…
Oh I'm ready for love!
Ready for your love…
(A/N: Just couldn't resist guys. *grins* Hope some nice mental images flickered through your head as you heard the song LOL)
Grace stood up from her seat and spun a complete 180, plopping herself down on Dean's lap.
"Hello," she waved.
"Hi?" he replied, a little confused.
"Okay don't worry," she laughed. "You might pull something."
He pouted. Cocking her head to the side, Grace let out a tiny smile and stroked Dean's slightly stubbled cheek, hoping to rid him of his pout. Sure, it was cute, but she didn't like it when Dean was upset or complaining about something.
"Mmmph…" he whined softly, pushing his cheek into the palm of her hand.
"Aww…" she cooed, plopping her face down on top of his, foreheads touching.
"Meanie."
Grace leant back and gasped in mock offense, as she slapped him hard on the arm.
"Oww! Jesus," he growled, looking down at the arm of his leather jacket. "Don't hit me, woman!"
Dean reached out to Grace's waist and began mercilessly tickling her. She cried out for him to stop, but Dean continued his assault for a couple of minutes at least.
Grace breathed in and out rapidly as her heartbeat had definitely sped up. Don't only from the tickling but just being so close to Dean in general. Once her mini panic attack had subsided, she leant forward and bit Dean on the nose.
He looked up at her, gob smacked. "Did you just bite me on the nose?"
She had the same expression on her face. "Did I? Hmm."
"Unbelievable," he sighed, prodding her in the side once more.
Grace let out a tiny yelp but quickly regained control of herself.
"Should we leave now?" she asked, resting her head, once again on his chest, breathing in the scent of his leather jacket and the smell of cinnamon wafting into her nose.
Dean nodded and gestured across the table to Sam and Amanda that they should leave.
"Sam."
Silence.
"SAM!"
Sam jolted in his seat out of surprise, shocked to hear such a loud noise so suddenly.
"There you are. You spaced out for a bit sweetie," Amanda smiled, combing her fingers across his shaggy, brown hair.
"Sorry," he said quickly, rising from his seat and taking Amanda by the hand.
"Come on, let's go."
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The four returned home roughly five minutes later since it was only a short walk across the street.
Amanda and Sam retreated to their bedroom when they arrived and Dean and Grace went into theirs.
Arching his back, Dean turned on his side lay comfortably on the mattress. Letting out a sigh of satisfaction, Dean shut his eyes and slid his hands under the pillow to support his head.
Dean heard the water in the bathroom turn on and knew Grace was having a shower. Hmm…I'll let her do it by herself, just this once.
Not too long after, Grace opened the bathroom door, steam rushing out along with the bright light.
"Dean?" she asked, walking over to the bed, wrapped in a towel.
"Hmm?" he replied, rolling over to open one eye to look at her.
"Where are my clothes?" Grace began shifting from foot to foot, maybe from the coldness. "I left them right there," she said, pointing to the desk where their duffels should have been.
Dean sat up groggily. Damn I was so close to falling asleep. "It's probably in the other room," Dean said, yawning and flopping back down onto the pillow.
"Okay." Grace stepped away the bed and made her way to the adjoining doors. Twisting and pulling on the door knob, she stepped inside as silently as she could. Sam and Amanda might be sleeping so she didn't want to wake them.
"Shit!" Grace yelled, immediately covering up her mouth as if it would capture the loud sound, as she accidentally tripped over something on the ground.
"Hmm?" a male voice asked through the darkness.
"Hey Sam," she whispered sheepishly. "Sorry. It's dark and I…I just couldn't see. I was just looking for my clothes. They don't seem to be in my room."
Sam shifted on the bed before he swung his long legs over the side of the bed and strode over to her.
"This it?" he asked, holding up the object she had tripped on.
"I can't exactly see Sammy. It's…kinda dark!" she laughed softly, Sam joining in.
He walked up towards the door and flipped on the light, turning the switch so it was only dim and not brightly blinding.
"Better?" he asked turning around, and for the first time catching her attire.
Grace blushed at Sam's heated gaze and quickly held up the bag, exclaiming that it was what she was looking for.
Sam averted his eyes and stared awkwardly at the wall until she was gone.
"Thanks," she muttered quietly, as she slunk back next door.
Sam leaned his back against the wall and slid down after switching off the light, dropping his face in his hands. I did not just check her out…
Sam sighed frustratedly and nearly knocked the table over in anger as he made his way back to bed.
Great one Sam. She'll really like you now.
Throwing his head back onto his pillow, Sam huffed and turned on his side, trying to sleep.
----------------------------------
Walking into her room, Grace dropped her towel and began putting on some clean sleep clothes. That consisted of black shorts and a white tank top.
Shuffling her feet on the ground, Grace climbed over the foot of the bed and made her way under the covers, curling into Dean's side.
"Hey…" he whispered. "You okay?" He turned to lie on his back and brought Grace to lay her head on his chest, slinging his left arm over her shoulder and onto her chest.
"Fine," she whispered just as quietly.
She didn't think she would tell Dean his brother was checking her out moments earlier. She was sure it was just a one off thing. I mean hey, she could recall checking him out not too long ago. She knew she was at least pretty, so she was used to it when guys looked at her in a not-so-brotherly way. But Dean, obviously, wouldn't take the news so well.
"Hmm…go to sleep," he murmured, placing his chin atop her hair and drifting off.
Soon enough, Grace followed suit.
-------------------------------
"Sam?" Amanda asked, sitting up just short of her pillow.
Sam's head turned as he heard his name being called out. Seeing Amanda awake, he turned fully to face her.
"What's wrong?" he asked, not entirely sure of why she was up. Maybe she had heard his little accident with the table earlier, and wanted to make sure everything was okay.
"I'm fine Sam. It's you. What's happening? I mean with me and you? You and Grace?" she asked, sighing sadly.
"What do you mean? We're fine," he said in denial, shaking his head.
"Well you didn't sound too find before. Seriously Sam. Sounded like you and something in our room were having a war!"
"Sorry Amanda…" he apologised, snagging a hand across her waist, before she pushed it back off her.
"Sorry for what? Sorry for picking fights with inanimate objects? Sorry for you having this weird "secret" attraction to Grace? Sorry that it might just ruin our relationship?" she asked, pawing off many things from the top of her head.
"Ruining our-" he started, shocked. "Ruining our relationship? What are you talking about? And Grace? What?"
"We can all see it Sam. It's so blatantly obvious. You like her. You know. She, of course, knows after what just happened. I know. Basically everyone but your thick-headed brother of yours knows. I'm sure he hasn't noticed just yet." she sighed again.
"Amanda…" he pleaded. "Come on. Grace and I will never happen. Don't worry."
"Just because you two apparently won't be together, doesn't mean it makes the situation any better," she whispered. "If you like her Sam, then I don't really see the go ahead. For us. For all I know, I could just be some sort of substitute for Grace. I could be with you, but all the time, you could be thinking and wishing that I'm her."
Sam closed his eyes, not knowing what else to do. His not-so-secret attraction had come and bit him in the ass.
"Amanda," he breathed in. "You already know so there's no point in me trying to deny it. I like Gracie, I do. But I can never be with her so long as Dean is here because I love my brother and would do anything for him, and I can't be alone forever. I need someone, Amanda. Someone like you. You're just as great as Grace, Amanda. You are. I'm not with Grace, I'm with you. I'm not with some other woman out there Amanda. You," he finished, trying to convey all of his emotions in just one breath.
A million thoughts began running through Amanda's head. "But I can never be with her so long as Dean is here..." Does that mean he's only with me because he can't be with Grace? That he isn't dating her, only because of his brother? That if Dean weren't here, he would rather be with Grace than me?
"Sam…" she whispered, grasping onto his hand as if it were her lifeline. "We'll give it a go okay. We'll see where this takes us. But if I find you falling for Grace while we're, you know, together, it'll be over Sam. We'll be over."
Even with all the thoughts of insecurity coursing through her head, she knew and hoped Sam would at least try to forget about Grace and give their own relationship a go.
Sam nodded, just glad to have a chance with Amanda again. He might not have known it now, but deep down he really did love Amanda. He just had to forget about his in-the-past relationship with Grace and bring it all out.
"I love you Sam," she said softly, resting her head on his bicep.
Sam paused for a moment, willing himself to tell her the truth. "…I love you too, Amanda. More than you'll ever know. " Sam pulled her snug against him and buried his face into the crook of her neck, putting tons of butterfly kisses all over it.
Amanda giggled and squirmed away but due to Sam's tight grasp around her waist, couldn't.
"Goodnight Sam!" she playfully announced in her ordering tone, telling him their playtime was over, and that sleep was to begin.
"Fine," he mumbled, stopping his hard grasp on her, but still held her loosely.
"Night Sam."
"Night."
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