Hey guys! I know I've been gone a while (please don't kill me) but it's been hard for me to find time to write lately, what with school and all. I also realized the other day that I never really thanked all of you for sticking with this story for so long! When I go back and reread the earlier chapters, I literally just sit there and cringe and wish I could burn it. But I guess that's bound to happen to anything that you write for the first time. Anyways, hope everyone likes the chapter, enjoy!

Note: Something about Ashley?

I opened and closed my mouth repeatedly, trying to say something– anything. "Look, we're gonna be fine, okay? We're gonna leave and go somewhere safe."

"Wait, what? Who said anything about leaving?"

"Ashley," he scoffed, "You can't be serious. When demons just show up overnight all around us, no one needs to tell me to get you the hell out."

"Get me out? What about Sam? Hell, what about you?" He frowned, "Sammy can take care of himself, it's you I'm worried about."

"Dean–"

"Look, I'm not gonna let you get hurt again. I'll call Sam to meet us and then we're getting out of here. End of discussion." I huffed angrily as he got up and started getting dressed while he held the phone against his ear with his shoulder. "Sam, we have to leave, now. Come meet us and..." I tuned out his voice as I started picking up my clothes and getting dressed. As soon as the phone snapped shut, I folded my arms across my chest and glared at him. His jaw clenched as he met my gaze for a second, then he turned and began throwing things in the duffel bag. "So, that's it? We're just gonna leave?" I heard his loud, annoyed huff from across the room not even caring that I was just pissing him off and making things worse. "Yep," his voice was sharp and abrupt, obviously trying to keep from saying any more than he had to. He walked around the room, gathering what few belongings we had. "You're not even gonna listen to me?"

"Nope." He stalked towards the bathroom, glaring at me when I stepped in front of him. "Why not?"

"Move," he growled as his eyes grew darker. I faltered slightly, recognizing the warning in them, but didn't move. I trusted Dean with every bone in my body and no matter how pissed he was, that wasn't going to change. "I said, move." Even though he clearly had the height advantage, I stood up against him, fuming. "Yeah, I heard you the first time. But I'm not moving until you at least listen to me." He sighed and crossed his arms, his eyes still blazing. "I know you're worried, but there's still a hunt here, Dean." I paused, trying to judge his reaction. He just held his gaze with mine, all the muscles in his body tense with anger. "And like it or not, if they wanted us, they could have already come and gotten us by now. So-"

"That's exactly why we're leaving," he snapped, somehow seeming even angrier, "They're either setting a trap, which is bad enough. Or they have orders to wait for us, which means they want us alive for something. They want you alive, Ashley. And I'd rather go back to Hell, than let those black-eyed bastards get anywhere near you!" I just stared at him with wide eyes, did he really mean it? Would he rather go back down into Hell– the very place responsible for his nightmares– than let a demon get it's hands on me? He seemed to realize what he just said, his expression softening as he looked at me, and then tensing as he flushed with anger again. "No, no I-I mean... Dammit!" He slammed his hand against the door frame, sighing as he let his forehead fall against it with a sharp thud. His voice was quiet when he finally spoke again, tight with pain and anger. "I'm trying to keep you safe. Please, please just trust me on this, Angel."

"I do, Dean," I took a step forward and brushed my fingers over his cheek, causing him to turn and look at me, "I know you'll keep me safe, I trust you." He shook his head slightly as he backed away from my touch, "You're not supposed to say that. You're not supposed to trust me– not after everything that's happened. I'm supposed to be strong. I'm supposed to be protecting you, but I can't. I'm not the perfect hunter you think I am– people get hurt around me, okay? I mean, hell, you already got hurt just for knowing me. Don't trust me, because the people I try to help end up dying, and it's my fucking fault!" Almost instinctively, I raised my hand to cradle his cheek as I kissed him. I felt his hard-set jaw waver, and then slowly relax under my fingers as he started to move his tongue with mine. His fingers tightened around my waist for a split second as I broke away, silently pleading to be close. "Asking me not to trust you is like asking me not to love you," I murmured softly, "And that's just not going to happen." I heard his sharp intake of breathe and looked up to meet his gaze. "Don't," his bottom lip trembled slightly as he closed his eyes, "Just-just don't."

"Dean–"

"Dammit, Ashley!" He pushed me with just enough force to make me stagger back a step, opening his eyes to reveal them filled with unshed tears. I felt my heart sink as I realized he was trying to use anger to block out his pain. "You shouldn't trust me, and you shouldn't love me. Don't you get it? You don't deserve me– you deserve someone better. Someone who knows what he's doing. And that's not me." Without even thinking, I stepped against him, my arms locking around his neck. His arms immediately snaked around my waist, making me smile slightly. He'd fallen for me, hard, and he didn't even realize it yet. "Listen to me," I kissed his temple lightly, "Anyone who's lucky enough to have you, deserves you, Dean."

"Then why do I feel like I'm not good enough? Why am I scared?" He hesitated, "Why do I feel like I should run away and stay at the same time?"

"Because this is new to you. This isn't something you have experience with and know how to do– it's new territory for you, Dean. And like it or not, you've fallen for me, and I think you're starting to realize that."

"Then why do I feel like this?" He moaned into my neck, "If I care about you, then why do I feel like I suddenly need to run?" I ran my fingers through the hair on the back of his neck, trying to comfort him. He was so damned confused, and I felt like I wasn't doing nearly enough to help him. "It's instinct for you, babe. You built up your walls so high to keep people from seeing how much your hurting inside, and you just let me walk right past them. You're doing it right now, you're letting me in. It scares you how close I am to you, and you're instincts are telling you to get the hell out because you aren't used to people caring about you."

"I don't want to leave," he murmured, "I love you, Angel." I hugged him tighter, "I know– I love you, too. I love you so damn much, it hurts, Dean." He pressed his lips to the top of my head, saying nothing. I found myself wishing for the millionth time that we could just stay here like this. Not worrying about anything, just allowing ourselves the simple joy of being held and being so close to the each other. But instead we had demons on our asses, and I sighed as I realized there really wasn't another alternative besides running. I suddenly had a nagging feeling– like I was missing something majorly important. Dean had said something when he was on the phone... Dammit, what was it? I tensed with realization, "Oh." my voice sounded distant, unrecognizable as my own. "Hey," he pulled me back, "You okay?" I took a deep breathe, preparing myself. He was most definitely not going to like this. "When you were on the phone," I spoke carefully, "You said they were looking for something– the demons, I mean."

"Ashley–" I could see the glimmer of recognition flash across his eyes. "They're looking for me, aren't they? That's why you want to leave." He tilted my chin up, skimming his thumb over my bottom lip as he searched my face, "We don't know that yet, Angel. They could just be after me and Sammy– I mean, when aren't they?" I smiled weakly, faltering as I made the connection. I gripped his arm as fear started to churn in my stomach, "Dean-"

"Ashley? What's wrong?" I looked up at him, eyes wide as I started to sway from lightheadedness. My breathe caught in my throat as I tried to speak, only adding to my panic. "Hey, hey! Listen to me," he put his hands on either side of my face, his gaze never leaving mine, "Listen, you're gonna be fine. Breathe, okay? C'mon, Angel." I tried to match my breathing with his as he took long, slow breathes. After about a minute or so, my breathing returned to normal and Dean was studying me with a worried expression. Not only did I have a panic attack years after I thought it had stopped, but I had had two on the same day– something was definitely off. I pushed that thought back to the ever-growing list of things to worry about and focused on what I just figured out. How did I not see it earlier? God, I was so damn stupid. "Dean, it's me– they want me."

"No they don't, we don't know that–"

"Yeah, actually I do." He blinked, clearly surprised, "What?"

"When I-," I hesitated, mentally flinching at the painful memories, "-When I left... and ran into that demon, he didn't just stab me for no reason. He knew who I was. He said that Cr– his boss heard I knew the future and he wanted to know what was going to happen. They want me, Dean, they've always wanted me."

"No, no no no no," he moaned as he pressed the palms of his hands against his eyes. He turned to walk a few steps, eventually sinking down against the wall– his head bowed with his fingers pulling at his hair. "Angel," his voice was tight with emotion as I walked over to him, "Please, I'm really trying not to throw something right now." I sat down next to him, saying nothing as I leaned over and kissed his cheek lightly. I felt his gaze on me as I rested my head against his shoulder, ignoring it as I talked, "Y'know, you're probably worrying that you won't be able to protect me– to keep me safe. But I know that I've got the best hunter in the world sitting right here next to me, no matter what he thinks of himself, and I trust him more than anything. And I'm just worried that he'll end up doing something stupid, like get himself hurt, trying to protect me."

"Anything for my angel," he said softly as he kissed the top of my head. I looked up at him, eyes widened slightly with surprise and a smile teasing my lips. "I'm your angel, huh?" His phone buzzed just as he opened his mouth to speak. He glanced at the screen, then hopped up off the ground, pulling me up with him. "Sam's waiting outside," he announced as he tossed the last of our stuff in the duffel. "Don't avoid the question, Winchester," I teased. He turned as I walked up behind him, catching my mouth with his. I slowly opened my eyes as he pulled away, meeting a pair of dazzling green eyes and a heart-stopping smile. "Don't think I've forgotten you haven't answered me," I murmured, shaking off the trance that was put off from the pair of green eyes that I absolutely adored. "Aw c'mon, Angel," he whined lightly. I trailed my fingers down his arm and looked up at him through my lashes, trying to mimic Sam's puppy-dog eyes. His eyes immediately softened, showing his defeat as he groaned. "Maybe," he looked down as he muttered, "I think you're my angel because you put up with me. Because you think I'm a better man than I think I am. Because you love me." He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck nervously before meeting my gaze– his eyes swimming with emotion, "Maybe I think you're my angel because you saved me. You saved me, Angel, and I'm a better man everyday because of it."

"Dean," I breathed his name against his lips, not entirely sure how to respond. So I kissed him instead– my tongue sweeping over his bottom lip, savoring the sweet taste. His hands rested on my hips, turning me to pin me between him and the wall. Rough, warm hands slid under my shirt and across my hips. I felt the smile on his lips as he swallowed my moans, his lips finding their way down my neck. He let out a fierce growl as I felt the vibrations in his pocket against my leg. "That your phone, or are you just happy to see me?" I chuckled lightly. He glared at me as he fished the phone out of his pocket, "What the hell, Sam? I told you we'd be right out. Yeah, I know– you don't think I fucking realize that?" His tone was sharp and bitter as he snapped at Sam, his jaw tight with tension as he hung up. I trailed my fingers down his arm and looked up into his eyes. He closed his eyes under my gaze and flexed his jaw, shutting me out. "Hey," I put my hand on his chest, "What's wrong?" He shook his head as he opened his eyes, "Nothing, I'm fine."

"Don't bullshit me, Dean. Do you honestly think I believe that?" He just sighed and shook his head again. I leaned up and kissed him softly, watching as his eyes fluttered open a moment after I pulled away. "What's going on, Dean?"

"I just don't want to lose you," his voice was barely audible, "There's just so many of them, and I don't want to lose you, Angel." I stepped forward and hugged him, his arms wrapping around my waist as he buried his face into my shoulder. "You're not going to lose me, Dean. I'll stay with you for as long as you want me." He hugged me tighter, "Always."

"So where are we going?" His face lit up with a grin as he leaned back to look at me, "Bobby's."