Previously on Supernatural...

Sam smirked as he quietly pulled on clean clothes and left to scrounge up coffee and breakfast. That's one way to forgive each other, I guess, he thought with a chuckle.

Sitting across the street within a "borrowed" Camry, the Winchesters trained their binoculars on the interior of Christopher's Luxury Showroom. In the backseat, Baby squirmed uncomfortably. "This is all sorts of wrong," she said. "Me sitting in another car. It's not natural. Can't I wait outside?"

"No," Dean said shortly from the driver's seat. "Quit your bitching."

In the passenger seat, Sam rolled his eyes. This was the most they'd spoken to each other since they left the hotel. He didn't know what had transpired when they woke up, but when he returned with breakfast, Dean had been on the computer doing research, Baby was sitting on Sam's bed looking very upset, and neither would explain what had happened.

Quite frankly, Sam doubted that they would. Stubbornness seemed to be another characteristic his brother and Impala shared.

"Okay, so what's this Christopher Braxton's deal?" he asked to break the tense silence.

Baby flipped open her notepad to check her facts. "He opened this showroom opened four months ago. From what Sammy found out, all the out-of-town cars have been bought by single men who live in and around Valence. Several have made multiple purchases. Replacing the ones that die with newer models." A rumble in her throat betrayed the anger simmering just beneath the surface. "Whoever's changing the cars is probably working out of there."

"Kinda dead in there now, huh?" Sam remarked. The only people inside were a pair of dark-haired gentlemen admiring the Porsche on display and a woman wearing red behind the front desk.

"Guess the market base for a sexy Transformer hasn't expanded too much," quipped Dean. His binoculars suddenly trained on the buxom lady. "What about the lady in red? Is she one of them?"

"Yeah, she's a car," Baby said shortly.

"Wonder what make and model she is."

"Are you serious?" asked Baby. "She's a baby. Can't be any older than a two thousand."

Dean gave a low whistle. "She's got more curves than a cyclone. Maybe a Camaro?"

The rumble of Baby's revving engine forced Sam to clear his throat loudly to cover up the sound. "Maybe she has information about the transformations that the others don't, seeing as she works here," he said. "Baby, how about you head inside?"

"Great idea. Stay in the car," she said curtly. "I'll be right back." She climbed out of the Camry and slammed the door shut, the force jostling the brothers and cracking the back windowpane slightly.

Removing the binoculars from his eyes, Dean shook his head with a confused frown in place. "What the hell's her problem?"

"Maybe if you didn't drool over the newer model she wouldn't be angry at you."

"What, I can't just look and appreciate?"

Sam could only give him a flat glare of You have got to be kidding me before raising his binoculars to watch Baby's back.

Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, Baby strutted into the showroom. She was still simmering from Dean's comments about the red-clad car. She knew he had a wandering eye for women, but now he was looking at other cars? Was she not good enough for him anymore?

Doesn't he...love me anymore?

The thought made her insides hurt in bad ways. Pasting on a congenial smile, she went up to the red-clad girl behind the desk and said, "Hi, I'm new in town. Some of the ladies told me I should be asking for Christopher?"

The curvaceous woman smiled. "Finally. You must be the new girl."

Ex-CUSE me, the Legos in my lungs are older than you, babycheeks, Baby thought darkly. "That's me. I'm Paula."

"Rachel. You need to talk to those men over there," said Rachel, pointing across the showroom at the gentlemen who was admiring the other displayed vehicles. "The portly man is a valued customer, and the other is a potential new buyer."

Baby glanced over and shivered. Something in her core warmed up, like her heating system was suddenly working at full-blast. Shaking it off, she strode towards the indicated men. The remaining anger she felt at Dean helped put a confident sway in her hips to make them notice her.

Apparently it worked. When their eyes landed on her, the way they looked at her made her inner engine hum pleasantly, causing a smile to form on her lips. "I'm told that you gentlemen are in the market," Baby said in greeting.

"That we are," the portly man nodded. He had dark brown eyes and a few gray hairs sprinkled in his dark locks. "I am Arthur, this is my friend Sebastian."

Sebastian was a lean, wiry fellow with soft blue eyes. He bowed slightly in greeting. "And you're called...?"

For some reason, Baby felt an instinctive urge to tell him the truth. Magic. There's magic in here, she reminded herself. She barely managed to force her mouth to say, "Paula."

"Paula?" Arthur tutted with his tongue. "Huh. Small."

"Excuse me?" she asked, puzzled at his reply.

"In Latin, Paula means 'small'," Sebastian explained. "A very plain, common name."

Baby bristled at his high-handed statement. "You're very rude, you know that?"

He held his hands up in apology. "Forgive me. I'm liable to trip over my own tongue when faced with a beautiful woman."

The clumsy flattery made Baby blush as her inner engine hummed again. This man reminded her very much of how Dean stumbled through his words when he was flustered.

"I, on the other hand, am looking for someone to fill a vacancy," Arthur said, drawing focus back to him. He made a point of looking her up and down with leery eyes, obviously resting his gaze longest on her chest and legs. Apparently pleased with what he saw, he leaned forward to say, "I think someone like you would be perfect for me."

She took a step back to put space between them. When I get out of here, I'm asking Dean for a bath. This guy's slimy. "Sorry, I'm already spoken for. But I'm flattered, really."

"Perhaps I can negotiate with your owner."

"He won't deal."

"I can be very persuasive."

Baby took another step back, her eyes narrowing slightly. She had a fair idea of how strong she was, but she couldn't just ram into this man. If she broke a rib, it'd be hard to explain how she did so when she appeared to be half his weight.

Thankfully, she heard her salvation arrive from behind. "There you are, Paula." A muscled arm slipped around her waist and tugged her against a sturdy chest. "What did I tell you about wandering off like that? We're going to be late."

"Sorry," she said, leaning against Dean with a smile. "If you'll excuse me gentlemen, I really must go now." She let Dean guide her out of the showroom, whispering, "I told you to wait in the car."

"You looked like you were in trouble. Did they try anything with you?" he asked, a scowl in place on his face.

"What does it matter to you?"

"Nobody hurts you. Not while I'm around to do anything about it."

And there was that full-blast heated feeling again. Unable to completely stop her blush, she settled for nodding to Rachel as they passed the front desk.

For some reason, the woman was giving her a dark, hateful glare. It felt like a laser was cutting through her frame. Dean glanced over and mumbled, "Huh. Didn't think cars could get jealous."

"Is that what that look is?" Baby asked. "But why would she be jealous of me?"

"Well, let's face it sweetheart. You've got a hot rod of an owner."

The crack made her grin. "Modest much?"

"You said it yourself." His hand dropped from her waist once they were outside, and she couldn't help wishing that it didn't. "So what did you learn?"

"Those two are definitely in the market. The fat one's looking for a replacement, and he made a pass at me."

"What?"

"Yeah, apparently I'm desirable. I told him I was taken." The urge suddenly came upon her, and before Baby could stop herself, her hand impulsively sought out Dean's. His fingers seemed to perfectly fit the spaces between hers, and for the first time since waking up that morning, the Impala felt complete.

Dean tugged his hand free and sharply asked, "What was that for?"

"I - I'm sorry." She didn't know how to explain herself. In truth, she was still stunned at her actions. "I - I need to go for a walk."

Dean took a step after her. "No, Baby you can't - "

"I can do whatever I damn well please. Why don't you go back inside and talk to Rachel?" Baby snapped, feeling her engine run hot with anger. "Betcha she'll talk to you if I'm not there to - how do you put it? Cramp your style?"

"That's not - "

She waved her hand to cut him off. "Just forget it. I'll take Sammy with me." Angrily shoving past Dean, the young woman headed back to the Camry as Sam climbed out of the smaller car. With a jerk of her head she took off down the street, knowing he'd catch up quick enough with his giant stride.

A large hand closed around hers. She looked up at Sam and gave a weak smile. "Sorry about that, Sammy."

"He's not sure how to act around you, Baby. It's tough on him too." He shrugged. "I know that's not an excuse, but Dean's trying. He really is."

"I know he is. I - I just want to solve this case and go back to being a car. That'll solve everything," Baby said. "Everything can go back to being how it was before."

Sam looked like he wanted to disagree, but instead he said, "How about we walk through town and see if any more local cars know anything?" Baby smiled and nodded in response, and together they continued down the street hand-in-hand.

But despite Sam's warm grip on her fingers, Baby couldn't help wishing it was Dean's hand holding hers.

Aaaaaand they're mad again. Geez.

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