The house was quite. Dean hadn't entirely realized how accustomed he was to the dull buzz of traffic, low murmur of strangers, and hum of often rundown appliances filling the background. All of that was largely missing at Mae's. He made his way down stairs, barefoot. He wasn't really sure the last time he'd spent so much time barefoot. Or wearing anything other than jeans and layers. It could be easy to get used to this, to a casual comfort.

But then he tuned into the living room and the photos of her broken house, her broken body flashed before his eyes once more. That typically think line of tension between her lives felt impossibly thick right then. How could she be comfortable here? How could she not see...all of that?

He saw her wiping down the kitchen table. Again, he found way she was able to do all of these normal, regular house things so naturally mystified him.

"Where's Sammy?" Dean hoped his voice sounded more normal to Mae than he thought it did.

She didn't turn back to look at him. "He was feeling pretty wiped out, so he went back downstairs. I think he took a shower and went to bed. You can check on him if you like."

Dean shook his head, trying to see her the way she was now. Healthy, healed, intact. He knew it would fade in time. It wasn't the first time he'd seen her injured. It likely wouldn't be the last time. He closed his eye a moment. "Nah, let him rest. You okay?"

She paused her cleaning and looked at him over her shoulder, confusion evident on her face. "Yeah dude, you left us alone for like 30 minutes. I can handle you being mad, okay?"

"I..." He had almost forgotten his initial reason for going upstairs. Somehow, it felt so long ago. He crossed from the stairs to the dining room. "I know that. Still, I'm sorry for...losing my cool. I've been pretty hard on you about this whole thing. I wasn't wrong but I could have handled it better."

She let the cloth drop to the table as she turned around to meet him face to face. "Yeah. It's been... a lot lately. But, thank you. I guess your life would be a lot easier if we just followed your orders, right?" Her lips quirked into a tight smile for a moment before it dropped.

He frowned but reached out to stroke her bicep. "C'mon, don't be like that. I'm being serious here."

Pressing her lips together, she straightened as his hand traveled down to take hers. "Sorry."

"You know, I don't want you to just follow my orders. I'm not your-we're a team, okay? You and Sam seem to be right too. As annoying and...counter intuitive as it is sometimes, maybe we need to take the time to reconsider things sometimes. I just want things to be simple again."

"Maybe things were never simple, everyone just kept that hidden from us."

Dean seemed to consider that again, frowned, and sat heavily in the nearby living room chair. "Well fuck."

"Yeah." She raked her hand through his short hair before leaning down to kiss the top of his head.

He looped his arm around her waist, guided her to turn halfway so her back was against the arm of the chair, and then pulled her down, and into his lap. The way it made her squeak was equal parts delighted and bewildered and the sound thrilled him. "Dean!"

Mae didn't protest sitting in his lap this time. There wasn't anywhere for her to go, and she settled with him in the plush chair. He pressed his lips to her throat, feeling her pulse quicken a bit at the contact. He closed his eyes and sighed, the warmth of her body and softness of her skin brought a measure of peace to him. He didn't want anything but to hold her close and keep her safe from any harm that may come her way.

He pulled away from her a bit. "You have great legs Red."

"Thanks." She kicked both legs up, wiggling her feet back and forth slightly. "Guess which one is wooden."

Dean smirked as he reached up to her ankle, pushing the elastic cuff of her sweatpants on one leg down to her knee. His hand moved back up her bare leg to the ankle and down again, savoring her warm skin. "Impossible to tell. My compliments to the carpenter." He shifted so he could place a kiss to the side of her knee. "I really do love you Mae."

"Seriously, are you alright? You're acting really weird. Don't tell me you got possessed." She teased, draping her arm over his shoulder.

He frowned. "I don't know Mae. It been a shitty few weeks, you know? It's nice to be here, all together and just...be for a while. I'm...maybe not happy but...I like this."

With a hand cupped to his cheek, she ran her thumb over his lips. "You're just kinda bouncin' around like crazy here, emotionally speaking. I don't know if you're going to be upset or sweet or just horny. I don't know what you want from me."

Dean's arms looped around her waist. Mae was right and he wasn't ready to tell her why, not entirely. She deserved some sort of explanation, even if it wasn't a complete one. He'd tell her he found out what happened to her. Eventually.

"I don't want anything right now that I don't already have. I just...don't...I don't want to lose you."

"I know that." She said softly. "Nothing has changed on that count. So, what's up?"

"Just-let me get this out. Please? Forget all the demons, ghosts, and weird creatures you and Sammy makes friends with. I don't want to lose you because of me, because I pushed you away or tried too hard to keep you close. Its felt like this whole last year, everything turned upside down. Everything I thought I knew about...everything, you know? Some of it broke me." He swallowed hard, "When I'm with you, sometimes I think maybe things are coming back together. I'm almost afraid to say it out loud but I even feel... optimistic. And you know how dangerous that is, right?"

She nodded, letting her fingers play along his hairline at the back of his head.

"Whatever the hell this thing is between us, I like it. But it makes me..." He shook his head. "I don't know how to do it Mae. I know how to hunt with you. I know how to fuck you. But I don't know the rest."

The smile that ghosted over her lips didn't reach her eyes. "I can't say that I do either, not really."

"I bet you know more than I do. You were married a while."

"That definitely shouldn't be our standard for success." Her eyes shifted down, not focusing at anything in particular. "I wasn't good at the non-sex side of marriage. And I never should have married Dan. I loved him and I thought if I just tried hard enough... what we had would fix me. It couldn't. So, no I don't know how we do this right."

His hold tightened, as he tried to be reassuring. "Why did you get married, if you knew better?"

"Back then, I was just in love, Dean. Whatever is broken in me...didn't feel as sharp, as hard, because someone... saw me the way he did. I hoped maybe if...I hoped I could I make myself into who he thought I was." Mae cleared her throat. "But hope is overrated. Sometimes, things just are. And we have to learn to live with that."

"Is that how you feel about us? That we just are?"

Mae looked back up at him now, tears barely welling in her light eyes. She pressed a hand to his chest, "Yeah. That's not a bad thing. Don't we see each other for what we really are? I don't need to pretend with you about who I am. Don't we have enough to deal with in our lives without worrying about... "

He leaned in to kiss her, a surprising desperation in the kiss. Mae responded in kind, wrapping her arms around his neck, holding him close. They broke apart, breathless. Eyes closed, she rested her forehead against his. "Dean?" She asked quietly.

"Hmm?"

"I love you too."

He smiled at her, feeling the weight of the world lift off his shoulders for a moment. They didn't need to get into anything else. A few more hours, maybe even days of peace, fun, relaxation would be good for him, maybe her. "Okay, what do you smell like?"

She still didn't open her eyes yet. "I don't know. Probably you, maybe sweat."

"No it's like...spicy but sweet but herbal."

Her eyes opened slowly as she pulled back. "Oh, just something for cleansing after possession. Don't worry about it."

"But what is it?"

"Herbs. There's an oil you apply to your head and then an herbal bath. A shower works in a pinch."

He looked at her hair, which didn't appear oily at all. "So you used it?"

"On Sam, yeah. I'll probably use it later too, just to be safe."

"What about me?"

Her eyebrows knitted together as her forehead creased in confusion. She opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a bemused, "You-you weren't possessed?"

"Don't you don't want to protect me too?" The question was serious but there was something playful about it.

She rolled her eyes. "You want me to do you then?"

"Always."

He let her up, somewhat disappointment by the loss of her warmth and weight. His hand stayed on her hip as she walked by him until he lost contact with her all together as she crossed to the table. Leaning back in the chair and twisting, he watched her pick up the small bottle from the table.

Dean felt a shiver run down his spine as her hand touched the back of neck. he felt her breath on his skin. He closed his eyes as she unscrewed the dropper lid and ran a line of the oil down the center of his head and then a line on either side of that. He could feel the oil move a bit along his scalp as he heard her recap the bottle and step away, setting the bottle back on the kitchen table.

He breathed in deeply, the scent of the herbs and oil filling his senses. It was strong. This wasn't the herbal concoction Mae usually smelled like. This had a medicinal undertone to it. Not completely unpleasant but not the secret he was looking for. He started to open his eyes when he felt her step up behind him again. Her hands stoked gently along the side her his neck to the back.

As she massaged the oil into his scalp, Dean let out a soft groan of pleasure. Her fingers worked in slow, firm circles, and he couldn't help but melt into her touch. She didn't stop at his scalp, however. Her hands moved to his neck and shoulders. Mae's hands worked their magic, easing the knots he hadn't realized were there.

She had always been good with her hands, but this was different. It was like she was putting everything she had into the touch, like she was trying to heal him with her hands alone. "That feels amazing," he murmured.

"You like that?" she asked, her voice low and husky.

"Yeah." He said softly. He couldn't quite recall this kind of ease, casual intimacy. It wasn't sexual. There wasn't anything he had to do for her or to her to earn her tender touch. She gave it freely. If he thought about it too much, he knew he wouldn't keep it together. "Hey, is my head supposed to be tingly and freezing right now?"

"Yes. That's the mint. You're the one who wanted me to do you too."

"I didn't know it felt like this. I just," he paused, feeling suddenly awkward, "wanted you to touch me."

She walked around the chair, wiping the oil from her hands into her own hair. She braced her hands on the arms of the chair, leaning in. Mae kissed him softly. "If you wanted me to rub your head, you could have asked. Don't worry, we'll wash the oil out soon."

Dean nodded and cupped the side of her face to pull her back in for a deeper, longer kiss. "So you want me to put this goop in your hair too?"

"I can take care of it."

"That wasn't the question. Do you want me to do it for you?"

She shrugged. "Sure."

"You sit."

They swapped positions. As he walked passed her and to the kitchen table to retrieve the bottle, he leaned down to kiss the top of her head. When he stepped up behind the chair, Mae tilted her head back to make it easier for him to put the oil on her scalp. Dean couldn't resist the urge and leaned over her shoulder to kiss her there, trailing his lips down to her collarbone. She shivered under his touch and he couldn't help but smile against her skin.

He shook himself out of the moment and picked up the bottle, unscrewing the dropper lid. Dean ran a line down the center of her head, then one on either side, mirroring what she had done to him. He also closed the bottle. Before he moved to place it back on the kitchen table, Mae spoke.

"Here," she extended a hand to take the bottle from him, checked to see that it was tightened and leaned forward to place it on the coffee table.

Mae leaned back into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed as he worked the oil into her hair. His fingers worked into her hair, spreading the healing mixture along her head and into the red strands. She thought it felt good, the tingling spreading into her skin. Mae relaxed into his ministration, allowing herself to become lost in the sensation.

Just like she did for him, he massaged her neck and shoulders. He felt her relax in his grasp and he smiled, pleased he could show her the same kindness and appreciation that she had given him earlier.

With both hunters now sufficiently anointed with the oil, Mae prepared the satchels of herbs for the bath. For good measure, she turned the heat off the soup since Dean wasn't hungry. Mae took him by the hand, leading him upstairs. Behind the closed doors of her bathroom, she sat on the ledge of the tub, tossed the herb bags in and turned on the hot water, testing it with her hand a few times until it reached her desired temperature.

As the tub filled up with hot water and the herbs released their medicinal scents, Mae stood and stripped off her tee and bottoms. She turned to look at Dean, who was still dressed. Catching his eye, his eye, a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Come on," she said, taking his hand and pulling him towards her.

Dean pulled her towards him, pressing her hips against his and letting his hands linger on skin. Mae's hands wrapped around his neck as she leaned in to kiss him. His arms circled around her waist, pulling her closer until they were flush against each other. Their lips moved together, tongues tangling in a slow and practiced dance.

Mae pulled away from him and backed towards the tub. She stepped into the bath first, sinking into the hot water. He gazed into her eyes, the intensity of their connection palpable.

"Well? Are you going to join me or not?" she asked with a playful smile.

Dean didn't need to be asked twice. He smirked and quickly undressed, revealing his toned, muscular body to her. Mae bit her lip at the sight of him. He stood before her a moment as she admired how his well-defined torso tapered down to his hips. His thighs were tight and muscular, powerful. His grip was sure as he pulled off his shirt. His chest and arms were thick with muscles, not from targeted weight training but hard and heavy work that went along with the job. Knowing made her attraction feel even more primal.

He stepped into the tub, the hot water rising to caress his calves. He hissed a bit as he sank into the scented water. "Jesus Mae, are you trying to boil us alive?"

"Oh it's not that bad."

"It's insanely hot."

"It's relaxing."

"If you like vacationing on the surface of the sun."

"Baby." She muttered but turned on the cold water to help bring down the temperature. "The heat helps make sure the herbs infuse better."

"I don't think we'll be less possessed if you boil my balls though, Red."

She laughed. "You'll live. You just wanted me to rub up on you and get naked with you. You don't even need this."

As the water ran slowly, Mae settled across from him and picked up one of the bags of herbs floating with them. She ran it over his chest, caressing body with it gently but thoroughly as she started to wash his body. Her eyes focused on his body and the motion of her hand in a routinized manner. He watched her face, a little pink now from the heat of the water, and he longed to kiss her but didn't want to stop what she was doing.

Mae moved from his chest and shoulders, down his arms, and along his hands before returning to his chest and moving down his stomach, over his sides, along each leg and foot. "Turn around," She said softly.

It was a large bath tub but it did require some careful maneuvering to keep from splashing water all over the floor. Once he was facing a from him, she washed his back with the herbs. The heat felt particularly good as she washed the oil off his neck and shoulders. He didn't fight or hide the smile when her lips pressed a kiss to the side of his neck.

"You ready for me to wash your hair?"

He nodded.

"Lean back a little." Dean felt her shift behind him, letting him settle between her long legs. She squeezed the bag of herbs over his head, placing a careful hand against this forehead to keep the water from running down his face. Then, once again, he felt her shift, heard a soft click of something and then a few moments later her hands returned to his head, working the shampoo into a lather. She took longer and was more thorough than he would have been. She moved again, this time grabbing the hand shower head, turning the water on and letting it run until it was warm enough. She guided Dean's head back enough to rinse the shampoo out of his hair.

Dean closed his eyes, savoring in her touch. He wasn't sure if the exhaustion of the past few weeks, her exquisite attention or the heat of the bath, he could have fallen asleep right there. He let himself ease back against her chest. Her body yielded slightly until he came up against her firm musculature. Vaguely, he heard her turn off the water and set the shower head to the side. Then her arms slipped up under his and her fingers laced together over his chest. He hadn't had the worst of it the past few days. He was sure he didn't need this kind of care or attention, certainly not more than Mae or Sam. But the quiet of her presence and closeness of her body was seducing him to rest. He smiled and murmured softly, "Switch with me before I fall asleep."

A/N- I swear, I have a plan for finishing this story but I couldn't stop once I started on this chapter. So, enjoy schmoopy almost final chapter.