Chapter 27

"It was when Lilith was breaking seals," she explained, Rose's head on her shoulder as they sat on the back porch steps, "one of them was bringing back people we knew as ghost and having them come after us."

"And I threw you out a window," she whispered.

"Yeah," she said gently, "but that angel I told you about, Cas, brought me back."

"Maybe he's right Kit," she began, "Maybe Dean's right and this is going to go south. I don't want to hurt you again."

"Rose I let you die," she whispered, "Please don't say you don't want to hurt me because let's be honest at the end of the day I was still alive."

"You always did have that self blaming thing going on," Rose said with a sniff and sat back up, "You should really stop that."

She somehow managed to chuckle, "I wish I could."

"You know even though he's sort of a douche," she began teasingly, "Dean's super hot."

Addy rolled her eyes," Trust me it gets old."

"So what exactly is going on between the two of you?" she asked in genuine concern, "I'm picking up some super strong vibes there and I'm guessing it's not a witchy thing."

She sighed, "Well right now we're pissed at each other."

"Why?"

"It's a bunch of things just all spilling over at once," she tried to explain, "but I think it's mainly just…I want to say I love him. I really do and I know he loves me but I don't know. Maybe it's what happened with Sam or Lucifer or you know just me and all my problems past, present, and future but I can't do it."

"Deep shit," Rose said knowing exactly how to make her laugh and she did, "but I can tell he really cares about you. The only reason he's being a dick to me is because he's afraid I'll hurt you."

"I know he cares but the thing is…we're both so broken and when we're with each other it gets better at the same time it gets worse because we call each other out on it. There's no lying to each other. There's no telling each other we're okay when we're not and I'm not sure I like having someone know me that well."

"I get that," she said with a nod, "but at the same time isn't it freeing? Not having to hold all that inside you at once."

"Yes, it's an amazing feeling, " she confessed, "but he's just so…maddening."

"Yeah I gathered that. Serious sexual tension there."

She punched her arm, "Shut up."

"Oh come on anyone can see it," she said, "Even when he's mad at you it's like all he wants it to fuck you to get you to shut up."

"I forgot how big a mouth you have," she said, burying her blush in her hands.

"Is he a good kisser?" she asked, nudging her, "And I swear if you tell me you haven't kissed him I will call you're BS."

"Yes, he's a good kisser," she admitted, "And other things…"

"Now we get to the good stuff," Rose said and they both laughed loud enough that Dean could hear them from the kitchen. He looked through the window and saw the look he hadn't seen in Addy's eye in a long time. A look of pure happiness.

SUPERNATURAL

Addy entered the kitchen going to go get beers for her and Rose to see Dean and Karen in an intense conversation.

Addy was about to turn and leave when Karen said, "I was just leaving Addy."

She gave a knowing look before retreating upstairs.

They settled into deafening silence as she debated what to do. She finally decided on quietly marching to the fridge without acknowledging him.

"So now you're ignoring me?" Dean asked, getting up and putting his plate in the sink.

"Would you rather have me yelling at you?" she asked casually as she put the two beers on the counter and went for the bottle opener.

"Do your worst," he said and she turned to him with a blank expression.

"You're an ass."

"No objections," he replied.

"What right do you have to tell me that I'm wrong?"

"I don't," he agreed.

"Yeah you're damn right you don't," she continued, "You sure as hell shouldn't be lecturing me on loved ones back from the dead because you…wait did you agree with me?"

"I did," he said simply.

She blinked at him, "Huh?"

"I don't have any right to tell you you're wrong for not questioning this," he said and she stared at him in disbelief.

"Oh…um…okay…thanks," she said.

"You didn't let me finish," he replied and he put his hands on either side of her so she was trapped between the counter and him as he stared into her eyes, "I said I didn't have any right but you have to understand that if there is any threat to you no matter what or who it is I'm going to make damn sure it can't touch you. You can kick, scream, and shout at me all you want but at the end of the day the only thing I want is to protect you. And if it makes me a bad person that I care less about what you want and more about your safety then so be it. Do you understand?"

"You don't have to ask me like I'm an idiot," she said, trying to sound sarcastic but it came out wrong.

"Addy," he repeated, coming impossibly close to her, "Do you understand?"

She nodded and added, "I'm not letting you hurt Rose."

"I know," he said and gently caressed her face, "I know."

She searched his eyes. She was so confused by this. He was being sweet but almost menacing at the same time and God help her it turned her on.

"Did you find anything about…about what's going?" she asked, using all she had to just keep her eyes on his.

"I don't want to talk about that right now," he said with a small smile.

"I should get back to Rose," she said, clearing her throat.

"I'm sorry about everything."

"What's gotten into you?" she asked as he continued stroking her cheek.

"It's just something Karen said," he said quietly, almost embarrassed, "When you love someone you're job is to bring them peace…not pain."

She gave him a small smile, "We're kind of good at both."

"And I don't think I'd want in any other way."

As she expected he kissed her and everything that was wrong between them was right.

His lips left hers and began a rhythm of moving down her neck and whispering, "I'm sorry."

Why was it every time they kissed they lost control? She'd never felt this so deeply before. The undeniable need to be near him and to have him holding her, touching her. He effortlessly lifted her onto the counter and gently spread her legs so he could stand between them as his fingers messaged her thighs.

"If this is how you apologize we should fight more often," she said breathily as he chuckled and trailed his hand up her shirt. She sighed in pleasure and pulled him closer as his lips brushed her ear, "We should…"

"Stop," he finished, still touching her bare skin with his calloused fingers down her spine.

"Yeah, that," she replied, burying her face in his neck and kissing his jaw.

"I would if I could," he whispered and then took a deep shaky breath, "The only way I can keep my hands off you is if you aren't here."

"Then I should leave," she offered, beginning to move off the counter but he kept her in place with his arms around her body.

He pulled back to look her in the eye and said, "If I had you to myself for a whole day I wouldn't stop until you couldn't remember your name."

"We're supposed to be arguing," she tried to reason, chewing on her lower lip.

"I guess that's how this works," he said with a lopsided, "One second we're fighting and the next-"

"We're about to rip each other's clothes off," she said with her own smile, "Because I have no problem with that."

He grinned wider and went to kiss her again.

"Hey Addy did you get the-" Rose began, entering the kitchen and stopping mid sentence when she saw the extremely compromising position, "Oh God, I am so sorry."

Addy quickly hopped off the counter and Dean stepped away from her, both of them not looking at the other.

"I was just about to give you your beer," Addy said, attempting and failing to sound casual.

"Sure you were," she replied with a dramatic wink and grabbed her beer, staring at them as she took a sip and then walked off saying, "You two are so damn obvious."

"I should…" she began, scrambling her brain for a good excuse.

"You should stay here and hope to God no one else decides to major in cock blocking," he said and she snorted a laugh.

"Suffering from blue balls?" she asked, unable to help herself as she bit her lip to keep from laughing hysterically.

"Wanna be my naughty nurse and prescribe me my medication," he countered.

"So I guess I'd be the one opening wide and saying ah."

He looked at her in shock and she smirked," You're kind of a tease you know that?"

"Says the original," she countered and then quickly brought herself back, "I promised Rose I'd be come-"

"Too bad I won't be."

She hit him on the shoulder and he caught her hand and pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"You know this probably won't help your blue balls."

"Stop talking and let me keep kissing you," he said just as his cell rang. He gave her a wink, releasing her and answered it, "Woah Sammy calm down. What the hell happened?"

From the look on Dean's face she knew it was nothing good.

SUPERNATURAL

"You cannot be serious," Dean whisper yelled at her.

"Addy that old woman ate her husband and tried to eat me," Sam said frantically.

"I don't care," she growled back, "Bobby told you two to leave. Now go."

"You don't seriously think I'm leaving you alone with a ticking time bomb do you?" Dean asked in disbelief, "Who do you think Rose'll come after when she starts getting the munchies?"

"Bobby already told you," she argued, "That old woman was crazy dead or not."

"Addy, you and Bobby aren't seeing this straight," Sam said, trying a more gentle approach, "This is going to go bad. These…things-"

"Things," she repeated, "Did you just say thing?"

"Yeah, he did," Dean said coldly, "Rose is a thing. She's supposed to be dead."

"So am I," she yelled, "All of us are and she's not a thing. She's my best friend who died because of me and now she's back and I have a second chance to save her. I gave up on her once. I'm not doing it again! So get out or Bobby won't be the one shooting you."

With that she stormed off and she didn't relax until she heard the engine of the Impala retreating.

SUPERNATURAL

"So what's the movie this time," Addy said, putting on a calm façade as she sat down next to Rose on the couch with a bowl of popcorn.

She didn't answer and instead said gravely, "Kit I know what's happening."

"Nothing's going on," she said with a shrug and looking to the TV," It's just Dean being difficult. So what movie-"

"Kit!" Rose yelled and she turned to her, "Something's very wrong with me. I can feel it. I'm so hungry."

"I'll get you something to eat than," she said, beginning to get up but Rose held her hand to keep her in place.

"Kit look at me," Rose said and she turned to her with sad eyes, "You know what you have to do."

She shook her head as tears spilled over, "Nothing's wrong with you. You're fine. We'll figure this out. We'll make you better."

"You always were stubborn," she said and wrapped her arms around her as she cried, "I figured this would happen, but it's okay."

"I can't," she sobbed, "I can't."

"You have to," she whispered, "I'm sorry but you have to. I won't let myself hurt you."

"Addy," Bobby called in a panic from the kitchen.

She got up and ran inside, Rose behind her to see Karen collapsed on the floor. Addy dropped next to her.

"I'm okay," Karen said, coughing furiously.

Addy touched her skin and she was warm to the touch, "You're burning up. Let's get you in bed."

"Oh, I'm okay. I just need something to eat. And I'll be fine. Really," she insisted, still coughing as Bobby and Addy exchanged an alarmed look.

"Come on let's get you in bed," Addy repeated, helping her up.

SUPERNATURAL

As Bobby sat at Karen's bedside, Rose lay with her head in Addy's lap as she gently stroked her hair with her fingers.

"You know I'll never ever forget what you did for me," Rose whispered as Addy tried to ignore her hot skin, "I mean I had friends but I never had anyone that I could consider family. You gave me that. You and your mom gave me people I could really and truly love. I'll never forget that."

"Yeah well you're you," Addy said quietly, "You're easy to love."

Rose chuckled which turned into a painful sounding cough.

"Take it easy," Addy said, gently shushing her, "It's okay. Everything's okay."

"I was never mad at you for what happened to me," Rose said in a strained voice, "I never had to forgive you because there was nothing to forgive. It wasn't your fault. Tell me you know it wasn't your fault."

"I know, Rose," she said with trembling hands, "I know it wasn't. Don't you worry about anything. It's all going to be okay."

"Addy there was this man who came to me," she whispered and Addy listened with wide eyes, "He was so pale and thin, like a skeleton or something. He told me to give you a message. I didn't want to tell you, Addy. It's too horrible."

"No, it's okay Rose," she whispered, "Tell me. You need to tell me."

"He said his friend is coming for you," she said with fear, "It won't be long before you break and…and…he'll be there when you do. Addy don't let him get you. Don't break."

"I won't," she lied, "Don't you worry. I won't."

"Don't let me turn into one of those people eating zombies," she pleaded, "That's so gross."

Addy couldn't help but chuckle. Even to the end she still had her personality.

"I won't," she promised, "I swear everything's okay."

"You're the best," she said with a lazy smile and Addy jumped as she heard a gunshot. Bobby had done it and now it all became too really.

A sob escaped her throat as she carefully maneuvered Rose so she could get up and kneel by her. She grasped her hand as she sobbed and then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Dean staring down at her and Bobby behind him.

"Addy you know what you have to do," Bobby said and she shook her head at him.

"He's right," Rose whispered, "Kit, please. Before I hurt you."

Dean had a gun in his hand and gently she took it from him.

"Take care of her would you?" Rose asked, looking to Dean.

"You got it," Dean promised.

"I have to do it," she whispered. Dean kneeled down with her and took her hand with the gun in it. He aimed it at Rose's temple for her.

"Just pull the trigger and don't look," he whispered.

"It's okay, Kit," Rose whispered, closing her eyes, "Love you."

Addy looked into Dean's eyes as she whispered back," Love you too."

She pulled the trigger and then dropped the gun as Dean pulled her close, cradling her head so she couldn't see.

"We need to get going," she said, standing up without turning to look, "There are others."

"Addy maybe you and Bobby should sit this one out," Dean said.

"No," she said sternly, turning to him but careful not to look at Rose's body, "I need this."

"Let's just get going," Bobby said and they paused as a noise made them all freeze.

Dean went to investigate as Addy picked up the gun she'd dropped from the floor, her head still turned so she didn't have to look.

She followed after him into the salvage yard where all is but too quiet for it to be normal.

Suddenly, one of the zombies tackles Dean to the ground and Addy shoots it in the side and it doesn't slow it down.

"Addy go for the head shot!" he screamed, fending it off.

She pulled the trigger, the bullet going through its head and Dean shoved it aside as he stood up.

"Addy behind you!" he yelled and she turned to see several of them running towards them.

"Time to go!" she said and pulled Dean along as they ran into the house, firing behind them.

They finally came to the door and Bobby stood with a shotgun aimed behind them. He fired just as one was about to Addy and they fled into the house, closing the door behind them.

"Got any more ammo? I'm low," Dean asked Bobby.

"Yeah, we got plenty. Just run back past the zombies. It's in the van, where we left it," Bobby snarked.

"Bobby I know this isn't the best time but a simple no would've been great," Addy said.

"What are they all doing here, anyway?" Dean asked frantically.

"I think I get it," Bobby said.

"What?" Dean asked as they heard the sound of windows and roofs breaking, "Well I'm out."

"Agreed," Addy said, grabbing the back of Bobby's chair so they could follow behind Dean into a closet.

They all follow inside as Dean flicked on the light and zombies pounded on the other side of the door.

"Kind of a tight fit, don't you think?" Bobby asked as Dean was painfully aware how close Addy was to him.

"Not the time, Bobby," she whispered, Death's message for her playing in her head as Dean held her so close she could feel every inch of him.

"It's all right. They're idiots. They can't pick a lock," Dean said just as the knob began to move and she shot him a look.

"Don't you ever get tired of being wrong?" Bobby asked.

"I'm making this stuff up as I go. Sue me," he said, looking to Addy who met his eyes, "Trust me we are not about to die like this."

"Damn right we're not," she whispered just as the door opened and zombies came for them just as Sam barged in with the sheriff and screamed to them, "Get down!"

They all ducked and Dean shielded her as they fired until all of them were on the ground dead.

"Are you okay?" Sam asked when it was all done.

Addy exchanged a look with Dean as they stood up together and Bobby wheeled out of the closet.

He pulled her close and as she let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.

SUPERNATURAL

Addy and Bobby watched as Karen and Rose burned side by side on a funeral pyre. The town was zombie free but it was a hell of a cost to pay.

Sam and Dean walked up to them and Bobby said, "So, thinking maybe I should apologize for losing my head back there."

"Bobby, you don't owe us anything," Sam said gently.

"Hey, look, you loved her. I get that," Dean said, glancing at Addy who kept her eyes on the fire, "At least you got to spend five days with her, right?"

"Right. Which makes things about a thousand times worse. She was the love of my life. How many times do I got to kill her?" Bobby asked and she could hear the despair in his voice.

"Are you gonna be okay, Bobby?" Sam asked.

"You boys should know... Karen told me why Death was here," Bobby said and Addy took a sharp breath.

"What do you mean?" Sam asked.

"I know why he took a stroll through a cemetery in the sticks of South Dakota. He came for me."

"What do you mean, you?" Dean asked in alarm.

"Death came for me. He brought Karen back to send me a message," he said gravely.

"You? Why you?"

"Because I've been helping you, you sons of bitches. I'm one of the reasons you're still saying no to Lucifer, Sam."

"So this was like a hit on your life?" Dean asked.

"I don't know if they wanted to take my life or... my spirit. Either way, they wanted me out of the way," he said and she saw him grip the wheels on his chair so tight she was afraid they might break.

"But you're gonna be all right. Right, Bobby?" Sam asked and he didn't answer.

"Rose had a message for me too, "Addy said, finally speaking up, "He said his friend is coming for me. It won't be long before I break and he'll be there when I do."

"You're not going to," Dean said, clenching his jaw in that way he had.

"I just shot my best friend in the head," she whispered, "I think we can all establish that my mind is nowhere close to where it should be on the sanity level."

"Doesn't mean you'll break Addy," Sam said and she glanced at him.

"Damn right it doesn't," she replied and turned back to watching it burn.