So I'm on a roll with these chapters, this one's pretty long. I keep forgetting to say this, but shout out to all those who left a review, it may not seem like it but it really does make my day to read them! Also, I'm sorry for any pain these last couple chapters have probably caused you. Enjoy!

Note: I don't own any characters except Ashley.

Freezing cold. That was the first thing I registered as my mind slowly woke up. My whole body had a dull pain radiating through it, shooting bolts of sharp pain whenever I moved. I cautiously opened my eyes. I don't know where I expected to be, but it wasn't here. I was in a cold, damp room. The walls were dark and grimy, there was nothing around to give away were I might be, and there were knifes and tools for carving neatly hung up on grates throughout the room. I struggled to get up off the floor, and a door flew open as Dean walked through. Only, it wasn't Dean. His eyes were pitch black and he had a devilish smile on his face. "Hey! Look who's up!" I backed up, the only door was the one he was standing in front of. "What's the matter? Come give your boyfriend a hug," he held his arms open. "You're not Dean."

"Ah, but I am. Just because I'm in his meat suit, doesn't mean I can't still hear what he wants to say. Or rather," he smirked, "what he doesn't want to say."

"What are you talking about?" I glared at him. "With me in here, I can tell you what he thinks, but he isn't telling you," he started pacing around me. "Like how no one cared about you in your world, and no one cares about you here, either."

"Shut up, he doesn't think that," I growled. He chuckled next to my ear, "whatever helps you sleep at night."

"He doesn't!" I shoved him back. His jaw tightened and his arm snapped forward. I staggered back, holding my throbbing cheek, as involuntary tears spilled out. "No wonder he thinks you're such an annoying, deadweight." I stood up straight, "what else?" He grinned, "he tells you he loves you and he'll never leave you, just to get laid." I couldn't stop my sharp intake of breathe. "Wait, you didn't actually believe him, did you?" I tried to glare at him through my tears. "Oh, you did!" He laughed, "God, you're so pathetic. You actually thought he could fall in love with someone like you?" I didn't know what to do, I couldn't move, he was slowly cutting away at everything I had left to cling onto. But he was right, wasn't he? I was stupid to think that Dean would ever fall in love. Even if he did, it would never be with me. "And he's wasting his time, anyways. We both know how uneasy you get whenever you think about getting a room with him. How you can never be what he wants because you've only had sex, how many times? Once? Twice?" I squeezed my eyes shut, it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. "No one wanted to be around you before, to give two shits who you were, to care about you. It's no different here. Once again, a guy is pretending to care about you so he can get laid and move on. He doesn't care about you, not really." I didn't even realize I had dropped on the ground until the damp floor started to seeped through my jeans. "Look at me," he sneered, "I'm not done." I curled up into a ball, wishing I was anywhere but here. I cried out as his boot slammed into my stomach, "I said look at me!" I pulled my knees up to my chest, sobbing so hard I could barely breathe. He kicked me again, my cries echoing throughout the empty room. "Please," I sobbed, "Dean, please stop."

"Ashley! Hey!" I opened my eyes, still curled up painfully tight. It was dark, and Dean's face was hovering in front of mine. I immediately scrambled back, but he held me in place. "Woah, woah. Calm down, okay? What's wrong?" I noticed his eyes were stunningly green again, and before I could say anything, I was sobbing. I reached out towards him and he pulled me into his chest. I wrapped my arms around his neck, ignoring the pain that shot through my side as I lifted my arms. "Angel, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"N-No," I sobbed, pulling myself impossibly closer to him. "Shhh, it's okay, relax." He rubbed my back gently as my body racked with sobs. "Take a deep breathe. Tell me what's wrong," his voice was soothing. "Y-You were t-there and you s-said–" I could barely talk, and I sobbed even harder as I remembered. "Hey, hey, calm down. Were you dreaming?" I tensed up, but I still shook uncontrollably. Was I dreaming? I honestly couldn't tell. "I d-don't know," I whispered, terrified. What if it was real? What if he really said all those things? What if he meant it? I felt sick to my stomach and I was shaking violently. "Okay. Hey, that's okay. Do you remember what happened?" I shook my head, I couldn't remember anything. "You got hurt. You were talking to me on the phone, remember?"

"T-Then?"

"Then you passed out and you just woke up, crying." He paused to let it sink in, "Did you have a nightmare?" I was about to say yes, but if he was possessed, he wouldn't remember anything. "I d-don't know, Dean. I don't know," I was sobbing again. "Shhh," he murmured into my hair, "it's okay, take deep breathes. Calm down." Tears continued to seep out as I ran my hands across his chest and arms, making sure he was here, that he was real. I trailed them up his neck and through his hair. Over his cheeks and eyelids. Down over his lips and collarbone. He lay there patiently, watching me trace over all his features. I slid my hand down his arm and slipped it into his, taking comfort at the warmth. Soon, I had stopped crying, and I lay there next to him as he cradled me against his chest. "Go to sleep," he whispered, "you're tired." I shook my head, I wasn't taking my eyes off him anytime soon. He didn't object, he just pulled me closer into his chest. "How's your side?"

"It hurts," I murmured. "I'm sorry, baby."

"S'ok," I slurred, I was too numb to argue. "How are you?" Tense. Tired. Broken. "Fine."

"Do you want anything?" I thought about that for a moment. My muscles were tense and tired and I still had blood all over me, a hot shower sounded perfect. "Shower."

"Do you want me to help you?" I looked up at him to see if he was joking. His face was serious, he wasn't going to do anything. I nodded and he sat up with me. I winced as pain swept through me. He must have seen my face, because he leaned down and gently scooped me up into his arms. I didn't have any strength to protest and I let my head drop against his chest. He closed the door and set me on the counter. I leaned against him as he took off my shoes and socks. I tried to take off my jacket, but yelped quietly in pain as I stretched my side. "Hey," he grabbed my hands, "let me help you." I nodded and let him carefully peel off my layers of clothes. I tensed as he lifted up my shirt. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want to look at it," I shut my eyes. "Look at me, then." I slowly opened my eyes and met his huge green ones. "Better?"

"Better." He smiled and my heart swelled. I pushed his jacket off and he hesitated, "Angel, are you sure? I don't have to."

"I know, I'm sure." He tilted my chin up and searched my eyes. "Okay," he smiled slightly, "Hey, I love you." He leaned down just before his lips met mine, giving me an option. I froze, did he mean it? Or did he want something more than a shower? He gave me an option to back out of the shower and now he's giving me an option to back out of the kiss. I didn't think it was a trick, and I did trust him. I pushed down my fear and leaned into him. His lips melted onto mine as he kissed me slowly. He didn't push, his lips light against mine, and he pulled away sooner than I'd have liked. "Okay?" I nodded, grateful for the question. He put his hand on my uninjured hip, "shit, Angel. You're freezing." I shuddered, realizing how cold I was. I whimpered as he stepped away to flick on the shower. "I know," he wrapped his arms around me, "but I'm not going anywhere, ok?" I dropped my head on his shoulder as he rubbed my back. "You still want me to get in with you?"

"Yes, please," I mumbled against his neck. He laughed quietly, "you need to get off so I can take my clothes off, then." Normally I would have blushed, but I was too numb and tired to care. I lazily leaned back and noticed the only thing I was wearing was my shirt. He lifted me off the counter and I leaned heavily into his side as my body lit up with pain. "Can you stand?" I tried to put more weight on my legs, quickly realizing it was a bad idea as my knees gave out. His arm quickly shot out to catch me. Panicked, I looked up at him. What was I going to do if I couldn't even stand? "Hey, calm down. It's just because you've been sitting for so long."

"It hurts, Dean," I whimpered.

"I know, baby," he pressed his lips to the top of my head, "believe me, I wish I could make it go away."

"Can we get in? It's cold."

"Yeah, we can get in," his voice was tight. I looked up at him as he quickly wiped his eyes. "It's okay," I stroked his cheek, "I'll be fine. You're doing great, you're keeping me together. I love you." It was true, if he wasn't here I don't know what kind of shape I would be in. His warm arms and quiet assurances were the only things holding me together. If he falls apart, so will I. He closed his eyes and tears seeped out. My cold cheeks stung as hot tears slid down them. "Dean, please," I was being completely selfish but I needed him, "you have to be strong, you're the only thing keeping me together. I need you, please." He opened his eyes, they were full of sadness and surprise. "Please," I was shaking now, afraid that we were both gonna break and wouldn't be able to pick each other up. "Shhh," his voice was uneven, "you're right. You're gonna be fine, we'll both be fine."

"It's n-not fair to make you h-hold me up," I was sobbing again. "You're there for me all the time, it's my turn, now. You're not making me do anything." I clung to him as tight as I could, sobbing into his chest. "S-Sorry," I managed to choke out. "You didn't do anything wrong, Angel. I promise."

"C-Can we g-g-get in?" I was sobbing so hard, it surprised me that I could get out a sentence. "Of course," he murmured. He gently pulled off my shirt and helped support my weight as we climbed into the shower. I sighed as the hot water ran over the tense muscles in my back. "T-Thanks."

"Anytime," he whispered in my ear. "I love you," I said, again.

"I love you, too. I always will." He kissed my forehead. "Feel better?" I hummed happily and kissed his chest. "Good," I heard his smile.

O.o

By the time we had clambered out of the shower, I was fighting to keep my eyes open. He put on his boxers and helped slide his shirt on me. He scooped me up, again, and I sleepily dropped my head on his shoulder. "Tired?"

"Mmhmm," I mumbled. "Get some sleep, you need it." I tensed up, I didn't want to go back to sleep. There was no way I could handle that nightmare again– if it even was a nightmare. "Don't wanna," I said quietly, hoping he wouldn't hear me. He sighed, "you need to sleep."

"I can't. I can't do it again, Dean."

"Was it really that bad?"

"Yes," I whispered into his neck. "Do you wanna talk about it?" He set me down on the bed and slid down next to me. "Not really."

"Well, you're exhausted and you're gonna fall asleep any minute." He locked eyes with me, "Tell me, please? I want to help." I took a shaky breathe. He wanted to know, and he wanted to help. Why not tell him? I looked anywhere but his face as I talked. I fidgeted with the hem of his shirt I was wearing as I told him all the things that the demon version of him said. I intently studied the bed sheets as I told him how I had been kicked and punched. He didn't interrupt or try to stop my nervous fidgeting, he sat there patiently and listened. When I was done talking, I twisted the cloth of the shirt nervously and waited for him to say something. I didn't dare look at his face, to have him start laughing or making fun of me for how pathetic I was. But he went minutes without talking and I risked a glance. His eyes were slammed shut and tears were staining his cheeks. "Dean?" He opened his eyes to look at me. "I'm so sorry, Angel." My heart sank, I didn't want this. I didn't want him to feel sorry for me, to make him cry. "Dean–" he pulled me into his chest and pressed his forehead against mine. "Don't," he said, "I don't care what you say, you didn't deserve that. I'm so sorry, baby."

"Dean," I was crying, again. "Ashley, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." I curled up against his chest and cried with him. "None of it's true, you know that, right?" I closed my eyes under his gaze. "Hey," he touched the side of my face and I opened my eyes, "right?" I looked down at the bed. "Listen to me, okay?" His face had fresh tears sliding down his cheeks, "I would never say any of that, I love you, so much. I'm not just saying that to get laid. Don't you ever leave again, because–," he choked back a sob, "because I don't know what I would do without you." I lay there in shock, did he really need me as much as I needed him? "Promise me," I looked back up into his eyes as he spoke, "Promise me you'll never leave again." I curled my hand around the back of his neck and brought his lips to mine. I put everything into it that I couldn't say in words. Showing him how much I loved him, needed him, missed him. "I promise. I promise I'll never leave. I missed you so much, and I love you," I murmured against his lips. "I missed you, too," he let out a bitter laugh. "What?"

"When you left," he trailed his fingers down my spine, "I was gonna go after you right away, but Sam said to wait, that you'd come back. So I did, I waited. But I sat around for hours, and then I couldn't do it anymore, Angel. I went out to look for you and," I wiped away his tears as he sobbed. "And if I had just left sooner–"

"Hey, this isn't your fault," I ran my fingers through his hair.

"Yes, it is. I yelled at you and made you leave, I got you hurt. I was trying to protect you and you got hurt."

"Dean, this isn't going to be perfect. We're both gonna get hurt."

"I know," he sighed sadly. I moved my head onto his chest and curled into his side. "You're warm," I mumbled. "Are you okay to sleep?" I slipped my hand into his, "promise to stay?"

"Always."