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Chapter 26

"Thanks for making dinner, Esme. Sorry I wasn't able to help," Scarlett said as she helped the woman clean up the kitchen. Esme shook her head as she filled up the dishwasher.

"Nonsense. I had no trouble. You still don't look well, Ms. Rayer. I would suggest taking some rest. Would you like me to make some tea for you?" Esme asked. Scarlett thanked her as she accepted the offer and made her way to the backyard where Seth and Dean had shifted to. The two were seated at a table near the pool, a bottle of red wine on the table between them and each of them nursing their own glasses. Seth took notice of her and sent her a smile, patting the chair next to him.

She took her seat and a silence fell over the trio as they looked up at the clear skies. Every now and then a warm gust of wind would rush towards them and Scarlett would tighten her scarf.

"Your tea. I'll be leaving now, Ms. Rayer, anything else I can get you?" Esme asked as she handed a mug of tea to Scarlett.

"That will be all, Esme. Thank you so much," Scarlett replied.

"What time would you like me to be here tomorrow?" She asked.

"Between noon and one should be good," Scarlett told her and Esme took her leave after sending her a nod.

"Good night Mr. Ambrose, Mr. Rollins."

Scarlett loosened the scarf for a drink and it was Seth who reached towards her and tugged it off. Her muscles tensed but Seth's gentle fingers tangling with hers and his supportive smile had her worries melting away. This was Seth; the man who knew about her nightmares and still kept mum. She could trust him.

"Been three days since you got here and Esme's treating you like you're the boss," Seth remarked before laughing. Her eyes widening, she looked at Dean, hoping that it didn't offend him, but she found a look of amusement mirroring Seth's on his face. Letting out a sigh of relief, she took a sip of the hot tea and hummed in appreciation at the flavor.

"I wish I had more time off. I would've spent it with you guys," Seth said heaving a sigh then pouting adorable as he stared down at the wineglass he was holding.

"You're together for two weeks and I'm only here until Monday," he continued. But at his words, Scarlett's back went rigid and her grip on her mug tightened, her eyes focused on the water in the pool reflecting the night sky. She felt Dean's gaze on her but couldn't find the courage to look at him. Seth didn't even know of her dilemma, how would she leave without him knowing?

"Let's not talk about going anywhere. You just got here. What do you want to do tomorrow?" Dean asked, effectively steering the topic towards a lighter subject and Seth delightedly focused on making plans for the next day.

"That club downtown, the one we went to when you and Ren…ah…when Roman and I were here last time," Seth stumbled over his words and corrected himself when Dean sent him a scathing look. Instinctively, both men glanced at Scarlett for any reaction but she remained silent as she looked at the pool.

"Club's aren't really my thing," she said softly. Fingers touched her hands and she looked to the side to find Seth looking at her as he tugged at her. She set the mug she was holding down onto the table and allowed him to hold onto her hand in silence, not knowing what to make of it. Scarlett's eyes found Dean and the dark look on his face surprised her. She followed his gaze and found it fixed on her and Seth's linked hands. Eyes widening, Scarlett dared to think if he was bothered by her closeness with Seth.

"Since Dean is hell bent on making this an educational tour, I'll be your knight in shining armor," Seth said beaming at her. Tearing her gaze away from Dean, she gave him a questioning look.

"I want to take you dancing," he said simply.

"What?" Both Dean and her chorused before they glanced at each other. Her tone had been one of surprise while his had been darker.

"I want to take you dancing," Seth repeated as if it was the most obvious thing.

"Seth, clubs aren't my thing," she repeated. Why didn't he understand that she didn't like clubs? Hadn't she just said?

"Clubs aren't the only place people go to dance, baby," he replied, giving her hand a squeeze.

"Seth," Dean's tone came as a warning and the two of them looked at him. Seth shrugged before he returned his attention to her, but Scarlett couldn't look at him. Her gaze was fixated on Dean as his expression morphed into one of fury. Seth said something but she didn't hear him. The way he was looking at Seth, Scarlett marveled at how the other man hadn't disintegrated into ash.

"Scarlett?" Seth snapped his fingers in front of her gaze an she blinked before looking at him.

"Huh?" She said dumbly.

"I said be ready at 8 tomorrow. I'm taking you for a night you'll never forget," he said grinning widely at her. She opened her mouth to argue but Seth got onto his feet and made his way back inside. A hush fell over Scarlett and Dean. She was watching him but Dean refused to look at her.

"Dean-."

"Have fun tomorrow," he snapped before he got onto his feet and stormed back into the house. Scarlett stared at the seat he'd been occupying and felt her heart constrict. Something about the anger shown on Dean's face had unnerved her and Scarlett's thoughts whirled. Vitani pawed her thigh and she looked down at her most trusted companion.

"I don't get him, Vitani. Every time I think I have him figured out, he begins acting differently and I realize I don't know him at all," she muttered. Why was he making things so difficult for her? Her temple throbbed and she reached up to rub the dull pain.

"Damn it, Dean," she groaned before she eased Vitani off her lap and gathered the wine bottle and glasses onto the tray Esme had left behind. Carrying it inside, Scarlett slid the door shut once Vitani was inside and quickly washed the glasses. All the while, her head whirled with thoughts of Dean's anger, more importantly, the cause of his anger.

Scarlett stopped in front of his door once up the stairs and argued with herself whether she should ask him if he's okay. Reaching a hand out, she knocked tentatively. A few seconds went by before the door was thrown open and she was met with Dean's angry gaze.

"What?" He asked in a clipped tone.

"I…uh…I…Ar-."

"If you don't want to talk then don't knock on the damn door," he growled at her, cutting across her.

The moment Dean said those words he immediately regretted them. Her eyes flashed with hurt before they were wiped clean and she looked at him blankly.

"Good night," her voice sounded mechanical and she turned her back to him. Dean's hand shot out and he gripped her wrist, pulling her into his room and slamming the door shut.

"Dean!" She gasped as she felt her back hit the door he'd just slammed shut and his hard body pressing against hers.

"Damn it, Scar!" He groaned before he took a step back and wrapped his arms around her waist tugging her into his arms. She went rigid in his arms and Dean tightened his grip on her, his nose burying in her hair. He'd never meant to hurt her, hell, he wasn't even upset with her.

"Scar," he whispered, inhaling her scent deeply. He'd never given too much thought to her scent. She smelled like sweet pea with a hint of something more exotic that screamed her. It was a unique scent and he inhaled it more, drawing her close to him.

The next second, Dean found himself being pushed away from her and she stumbled away from him, breathing heavily. She was staring at him in disbelief and Dean swore he saw something akin to longing flash through those eyes. Her chest heaved as she breathed heavily.

"Don't. Please," the plea in her voice was evident and Dean didn't understand what it was that she was pleading for.

"Scar," he said, reaching towards her. She flinched and shrunk away from him, turning to the side and her arms wrapping around her torso protectively. Dean immediately pulled back and stared at her in shock.

"Stop doing this to me, Dean. You touch me one second and the next you push me away. Just stop," she said after a few moments before she pulled the door open and slipped out of his room.

Dean stared at the spot she'd stood moments ago before he let out a groan and fell back into his bed, holding his head in his hands. What the fuck was he doing? Dean stood up and stalked out of his room to Seth's. He threw open the door and stalked inside to find Seth sitting comfortably on the bed.

He looked up when Dean entered and set down his phone that he'd been playing on. Seth sat up and his brows knitted in concern when he noticed Dean's tensed shoulders and the anger blazing in his eyes. Seth yelped and jumped out of the bed when Dean pulled his fist back and swung it forward towards the wall. A loud, sickening crunch signaled some broken bones and Seth grabbed Dean's shoulder and pushed him down onto the bed.

"I'm fucking things over, Sethie," Dean said. Seth froze as he heard Dean's words. His tone was utterly defeated and Seth swallowed, his brain going on high alert and thoughts shifting to Scarlett.

"Did Scarlett do something?" Seth asked, refusing to believe his instincts that Dean was snapping because of something Scarlett did. She couldn't, could she? Seth's mind was buzzing as he weighed out the possibilities. His thoughts were confirmed when Dean glared at him.

"She didn't do anything. I screwed things over. Like always," Dean growled. Seth stared at Dean. What was he talking about?

"What are you talking about? Dean, please let me go get some ice for your hand," Seth said worriedly.

"What the fuck is happening to me, Seth?" Dean asked helplessly. Seth saw his knuckles turning red and purple and he tore out the room down to the fridge. When he was rushing upstairs he slammed into Scarlett, who was coming out of her room, causing her to lose her balance and fall down.

"Shit! Sorry Scar!" He yelled as he rushed past her with an ice pack. He reached the door as Dean swaggered out. His gaze fell on Scarlett who was lifting herself onto her feet and he quickly made a beeline towards her.

"Scar, you okay?" He asked. He stopped a couple feet away from her when she looked up at him.

Ice melting in the towel paper he'd haphazardly wrapped it in, Seth watched the exchange with curiosity. Scarlett and Dean were staring at each other intently. Dean's hands were twitching as if he wanted to reach out to her and she was standing with her shoulders hunched, almost as if she was protecting herself but her eyes were locked on Dean.

Seth's eyes widened as realization hit him like a ton of bricks. A wicked grin flared across his face and he sauntered over to Dean, taking a hold of his wrist and pressing the ice to the wound. Dean let out a low hiss and looked down at his hand while Seth surveyed Scarlett's reaction. She reacted exactly like he'd expected her to react.

"Dean! What happened?" She gasped, rushing forward to him. She took his hand in hers to examine it and then looked up at him. The scars on her face resembled an intricately designed tattoo but they did nothing to hide the sheer worry on her face. The grin on his face only widened further.

So Seth's finally realised what's going on, I wonder how his dance date with Scarlett is going to end up like.

In truth, I've been writing like crazy and so I've written up to like 5-6 chapters hence why I didn't update sooner. But now that I have more to work on, I'll update sooner.

Hugs and kisses!

- K.