Chapter Twenty-Five
Amie decided she only slept well when she was sleeping with Dean. After they had left the bathroom and returned to the bed, she had fallen asleep almost instantly, Dean's arms around her. She'd been sure she would lie awake, her mind consumed with what she had told him. But instead she had slept soundly, no dreams, no memories. And she didn't wake up until the sun was streaming through the motel window.
She stretched, trying to quietly slide out of Dean's grasp. Instead he pulled her closer, tightening his arms around her waist.
"Where do you think you're going?" he mumbled, his eyes still closed.
"I was trying to escape from you. You're heavy and you're making me hot," she answered, as she put her hands against his chest and pushed. "So let me go."
Dean laughed, rolling her onto her back and pulling her under him. "I don't think so," he said, his tongue sliding up her neck until he reached her mouth. His hand moved down her side, under the waistband of her shorts.
"Dean!" Amie heard Sam yell. "I thought I told you to behave yourself!" Sam threw a pillow at them from his bed, a look of disgust on his face.
Amie laughed at Dean's look of mock horror. He raised his eyebrows, tilting his head to the side, a smirk on his beautiful face. "I guess I have to be good. Bummer." He rolled off of Amie, releasing her.
"What time is it?" she inquired, grabbing Dean's arm to look at his watch. "I need coffee." She stood up, crossing the room to sit on the couch. She dug through her bag, looking for clean jeans and a t-shirt.
Sam pushed himself off of the bed. "I'll go get it. Give me a minute. Then you two can be alone." He snagged a shirt from the top of his bag on his way to the bathroom.
Dean hooked a finger at Amie, gesturing for her to join him on the bed. She giggled and shook her head. He laid his head down on the bed, smiling at her.
"Just wait," he promised.
Amie smiled to herself. She loved it when Dean was like this, joking and playful. She had seen it so rarely over the couple of years she had known him. But right now, the worry lines were wiped from his face and his green eyes sparkled. She hoped that she was the reason he was like this; that their relationship was finally the something good he needed in his life. The something good they both needed.
Sam came out of the bathroom, trying—but failing—to look irritated. He looked between Amie and Dean, smiling a knowing smile. He grabbed the keys to the Impala, winked at Dean and without saying a word, walked out the door.
"So, what was that wink for?" Amie asked innocently.
"Well, if you would come over here, I could show you," Dean sat up, arms open, waiting for her.
But Amie was enjoying this game too much. "Oh, really? I think you showed me quite a lot last night." She smiled what she hoped was her most innocent smile.
"Well, maybe I'll just go over there." He moved to the edge of the bed, tensed as if to pounce.
Amie's eyes darted around the room, looking for an escape. But because Dean was a hunter, he was scary fast and he would anticipate any move she made. There was no where she could go. She had just decided to make a run for the bathroom when Dean shot off the bed, tackling her to the couch. She squealed and laughed as he pinned her underneath him.
"Hmmmm, just where I want you," he teased as he sucked at her neck. His hand slipped under her shirt, moving toward her breast.
"Oh no you don't," she laughed, grabbing his wrist.
"Aw, come on, don't be like that," Dean pouted. He twisted to his side, keeping a tight hold on Amie, putting her back against the couch. His face turned serious. "Look, about last night…."
Amie put a finger against his lips. "You don't have to say anything Dean, really." She took a deep breath. "I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to this. You and emotions, not a good pair. You know, that's the Winchester way." Despite the words coming from her mouth, Amie wished it was different. She had laid her heart out on the table and finally told Dean she loved him; could anyone blame her for wanting something, anything in return?
Dean played with a strand of her hair, refusing to meet her eyes. "Just know that I'm trying, okay? I want to…well…I just…I just need time. Time to get my shit together. Can you give me that?" he pleaded.
Amie nodded, pulling his face to hers so she could kiss him. "Whatever you need, Dean," she whispered. "I love you." She let him pull her close, his chin resting on the top of her head, his arms around her waist. She would give him all the time he needed, as long as she could stay with him.
"I really hate sitting in the backseat," Amie whined.
Sam smirked at her over his shoulder. "Tough. If I have to put up with you and Dean being all gross and disgusting, than you have to put up with the backseat."
"Hey," Dean protested. "I am not gross or disgusting. And neither is she."
"When I say gross and disgusting, I am referring to you two constantly wrapped around each other, like I found you when I got back with the coffee," Sam reminded them, a pained look on his face.
Amie didn't know what he was so upset about. It wasn't like they'd been having sex when Sam got back. Yes, they had been on the couch, legs and arms intertwined, and yes, Dean's hand had been under her tank top, and yes, they had been kissing, and okay, Dean had been a little, well, excited, but that was it.
Dean laughed. "Dude that was nothing! You're lucky you didn't walk in the bathroom last…."
"Dean," Sam cut him off. "Seriously? Talking about you two having sex is like, I don't know, talking about Garth having sex."
"That's just gross," Dean looked ill.
"Well, that's how I feel around you two. You're always grabbing her ass…." Sam sputtered.
"Hey," Amie smacked Sam on the shoulder. "Watch it!"
Sam glared at her, but continued speaking, "…or sticking your tongue down her throat, or any one of a million things that I don't want to see you doing. I deserve the front seat if I have to put up with that all the time."
Amie laughed. She knew Sam wasn't really that upset. But he had been cooped up with them for several days and it had been difficult for them to keep their hands to themselves. Maybe he did deserve the front seat. But she was going to make him pay for it. She leaned forward, putting her lips right against Dean's ear.
"Hey, gorgeous" she murmured in Dean's ear. She dropped a kiss right behind his earlobe and wrapped her left arm around the seat, resting it on his chest. Dean grabbed her hand and planted a kiss on the palm.
"Hey, baby," he said, laughing.
Amie heard Sam make a gagging noise, but she saw him smiling out of the corner of her eye. She knew that he was very happy that she and Dean were together. He had told her as much one night over beers while Dean slept.
"You're good for him. You know that right?" Sam said to Amie, taking a long pull from his beer. "I haven't seen him like this since Lisa."
Amie looked at Dean, sleeping on the couch, his mouth hanging open, snores echoing through the room. She couldn't help but smile. "What? You haven't see him overprotective and overbearing in a while? I feel so special."
Sam leaned forward, a serious look on his face. "No, I haven't. And he's like that because he is afraid of losing you. That means you mean something to him. So give him a break."
"Alright, alright, I'll try," she replied. "So, what do you really think about us? Are you okay with it?"
Sam smiled. "I am ecstatic. It's nice to see him happy. To the extent Dean can let himself be happy, anyway. And you know I've always liked you. You're perfect for him. He needs someone who won't take his crap. I'm glad he is letting himself do this. Be with you, I mean."
Amie returned Sam's smile. "Me too, Sammy, me too."
Amie was just getting out of the shower when she heard Queen's Another One Bites the Dust coming from the other room. It was her phone. She figured she'd let it go to voicemail and check it later. She was actually enjoying a few minutes by herself, away from the boys, and she was in no hurry for the real world to sneak back in. As it was, she'd practically had to hold her gun on Dean to get him to give her some time alone. He still felt the need to hover protectively, despite being back at the bunker.
He'd stayed in her room, his eyes following her as she unpacked her clothes and put her weapons away. After she'd finished unpacking, he had tried to coax her into the bed by kissing her, his hands roaming everywhere on her body. She'd had a hard time resisting him, but she was desperate for a few minutes to herself. The only way she could get him to leave was by promising to find him after she had showered and changed.
After she finished getting dressed, she grabbed her phone. The blue light in the corner was flashing, indicating she had a message. She didn't recognize the number, but that wasn't really a surprise, considering the lifestyle she led. Hunters changed phone numbers like some people changed their underwear.
Amie quickly dialed into the voicemail system, curious as to who could have called her. It was most likely Garth or another hunter needing help.
"Amie, hi, it's Bill Washington. Umm, not sure if it matters to you or not, but I think I've got a lead on the werewolf that killed Frank and Joseph. It's, well, it's a pureblood and there's a chance it might be the alpha. I'm going after it and I figured you'd want in on it. I'm in Burlington, Colorado and I think it's in North Platte, Nebraska. Call me back, soon. I'm heading out in a few hours."
Amie's hand started to shake before the message was over. She had spent more than three years trying to find the monster that had killed her husband and son. There had occasionally been leads, but nothing had ever panned out. She had told every hunter she knew that she was after a werewolf, but not just any werewolf, she was after a pureblood werewolf. It had never occurred to her that it might be an alpha, but it was certainly a possibility. If there was even a small chance that this was the werewolf that killed her family, she had to be there. But first she had to tell Dean that she needed to leave.
She found him in his room, reclining on his bed, watching TV. She stopped in the doorway, admiring the view. He must have taken a shower, because his hair was damp. He was wearing a pair of gym shorts, his chest bare. He looked gorgeous, as usual. Amie waited for him to see her before she went in.
"Hey," he smiled as soon as he saw her. He grabbed the remote and turned off the television. "What are you waiting for? Come here."
"I need to talk to you," she said. "It's important."
"Okay, what's up?" he asked, a hesitant smile on his face.
Amie stepped into the room, leaving the door open. She didn't go sit by Dean like he'd asked, because she didn't want to get too close, otherwise Dean would distract her and this conversation would go nowhere.
"I have to leave, Dean. Just for a few days. I need to go tomorrow, or the next day at the latest." She stared at the floor, not sure she could look Dean in the eye.
"What do you mean, you have to leave?" Dean asked quietly, confusion and anger clear in his deep voice. "Where the hell do you think you're going to go?"
Amie quickly explained the message Bill Washington had left her. "I have to go, Dean, please try to understand. This might be my only chance."
Dean crossed the room to stand in front of her. He spoke quietly, with an almost scary calm to his voice. "Bill Washington is an idiot, Amie, an utter and complete idiot. The man has never had a successful hunt in his life, let alone a successful lead. It's probably nothing. I will not allow you to…."
Amie interrupted him. "You won't allow me to what, Dean? Leave? Like you have any say over what I do! You don't own me!" Amie punctuated each with word with a finger to Dean's bare chest. "You can't keep me here!"
"Yes, I can. You aren't going anywhere. So, just forget about it." Dean grabbed her upper arms. "You are staying in the bunker. I'll call Garth, maybe he can go help…."
"That is not the point! You can't possibly be that thick!" Amie yelled, pulling her arms from Dean's grasp. "I have to be there. I have to do this. I have to be the one to kill it!"
The volume of Dean's voice rose with each word he spoke. "No, you don't! You could be the one to get killed. This is a pureblood werewolf we're talking about. They are more powerful than any you've ever gone against. And if it really is the alpha, it will be nearly impossible to get out alive. I am not letting you go. It is far too dangerous. You are staying here. If I have to lock you in your goddamn room to keep you here, I will."
"I am not staying here! I am not your prisoner!" Amie was screaming, the words pouring from her mouth. "If there is the smallest chance that this is the werewolf, the one that killed Frank and Joseph, than I have to go. There is nothing in this world more important to me than finding and killing the monster that killed my family. You will not stand in my way, Dean Winchester! I swear to God you won't!"
"Yes, I will!" Dean bellowed. His face was red with anger, his fists clenched at his sides. "You will stay here! I will not allow you to leave! Don't ask again!"
Amie took two steps back from Dean, her voice suddenly dead calm. "I am not asking your permission to do this, Dean. I don't need it." She quickly wiped the tears from under her eyes.
Dean grabbed her hand, trying to pull her to him. "I won't let you do this. I can't let you do this," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
"Why Dean?" Amie implored. "Because you love me so much?" She stared into Dean's face, waiting. When he didn't say anything, she pulled her hand from his grasp. "That's what I thought."
She turned on her heel and calmly walked out. She passed Sam at the door, a concerned look on his face. She just shook her head and turned toward her room. Once inside, she shut and locked the door.