At Least I Won't Die Alone

Eeeek! I'm so excited that you all are interested in the story. I worked hard to edit this chapter quickly for you all. I hope you enjoy! Please continue to review and let me know thoughts, it's great motivation. Special thank you to those who take the time.

This dives more into Ellie's thinking. There is angst and talk of death in this chapter. Talk of spanking/corporal punishment. Swearing.


The drive to the motel was not even ten minutes, but to Ellie it seemed like eternity as the whole ride left her in a bundle of nerves and stress. The tension was so heavy she could practically feel it pressing against her jittery body. The two Hunters didn't speak a word to her nor even look back in her direction acting as if she was not even there which Ellie was finding to be far worse than if they would just yell at her or at least say something. However, neither of them gave her that relief and continued to leave her in apprehensive silence letting her squirm.

Ellie felt a rawness scratch at her throat, but stubbornly swallowed it refusing to show the Hunters, who wanted nothing to do with her, that they had any kind of effect on her psyche. The horrible feeling of disappointment in losing her opportunity to find her uncle pressed against her heavily, but she wasn't going to cry like some baby or cower with a multitude of apologies. She had her reasons for leaving and she was convinced they were rightly justified. She attempted to push down her feelings of guilt and embarrassment building up a protective barrier of defense around her troubled heart.

Once they made it to the cheapest most rundown motel they could find it seemed, Dean pulled up to the front registration office making sure to guide Ellie's every step with his iron grip clamped around her bicep. It was clear Dean did not trust her as far as he could throw her which Ellie ultimately understood, but it did not make her any less uncomfortable. The angry Hunter did not even let go of her bicep when they entered the registration office where all eyes seemed to cast on her. He was holding onto her like some naughty toddler who was going to wonder off making Ellie feel awkward and horribly embarrassed, especially when a young girl her age managed to meet her eye for a split second. Heat was spreading across her freckled cheeks as she kept her head dipped down, the shadow of her hat hiding her face. She itched to tell Dean she could walk by herself, but wisely concluded that that would be a dumb, not to mention catastrophic, idea. Ellie knew Dean was teetering on the edge of his temper and did not want to provoke him into doing anything that would really embarrass her. Having full faith that Dean would have no problem doing just that, she endured the shame reluctantly.

Ellie partially wished against her luck that a room would not be available for them. Although, being in the car where the heavy tension was agonizing, it absolutely trumped being alone in the motel room with the two angry Hunters where they could freely display their displeasure out of the eyes of the public. She dreaded what she had provoked within them by running off and borrowing the Impala. Just how angry had she made them? If she was being honest with herself, the prevalent possibility of being punished took on a dominant role in her nervous adolescent mind. However, she stubbornly tried to convince herself that it just her annoying nerves getting to her. Like they said before, she was not their 'blood' or their family. He didn't have the right or the gull to do it…she hoped.

It wasn't until Dean opened the motel room door, did he finally let go of her arm giving the back of her shoulder blades a firm shove forcing her into the room. Ellie stumbled in slightly taking a few steps before turning around and giving the Hunter a pouty accusing glare as she rubbed a palm over her bicep from where his firm grip held. It didn't honestly hurt; it was just growing numb and uncomfortably stiff under his unyielding hold. Plus, she did not appreciate the embarrassment that came with being drag by the arm like a toddler. She was thirteen and, in her opinion, didn't needed to be treat so babyishly.

"Look I know you're pissed…" Ellie began bravely in a forced steady tone of fake confidence as she pushed her palms out to the sides of her in an idle gesture. She foolishly hoped to calm the Hunter's temper and perhaps invoke a civil conversation where they could just talk things out rationally. In her adolescent mind, she was attempting to act maturely, but unfortunately for Ellie, it seemed to have the opposite effect she was aiming for.

"Pissed?!" Dean bellowed in disbelief, his deep baritone voice booming through the small motel room making Ellie physically flinch in on herself instantly regretting her choice of words.

Dean was shocked at her blunt observation and arrogant deliverance of her words about his current mood. She had no clue just how badly she screwed up and the irked Hunter was only too obliged to fill her in.

Dean swung his black duffle bag across his body flinging it carelessly onto the cheap plastic table that sat just to the left of the motel door, all the while, never taking his fixed eyes off of the young teenager for even a second. Ellie's eyes briefly cut to the small table that raddled and wobbled in protest on its uneven legs as Dean's heavy bag banged on top of it before immediately darting them back to the enraged Hunter.

"I am beyond pissed." He informed her fiercely as he marched out of the door way towards the young girl. His strong and imposing physic was stiff and ridged as he laid his steal toed boots heavily on to the thin carpet. Feeling a spark of alarm ignite and swell within her chest, Ellie gave into her body's warning instincts and took several retreating steps back. Ellie's shoulder angled back slightly to one side as she quickly backed away, like the force of his brisk advance was physically driving her shoulder back making herself a smaller target, all the while, not daring to take her alarmed eyes off him for a second.

Ellie's retreat was abruptly halted when the back her heel hit the base of the far queen bed. The young girl instinctually glanced over her shoulder to see what she had bumped before snapping her attention back to the angry Hunter who now stood, shockingly, only a few feet from her. Ellie's heart nearly plummeted into her gut at the imposing sight.

His large muscular build loomed over her small, just barely five-foot, slim frame forcing Ellie to crane her neck upwards. His broad shadow casted over her in the dim light of the motel room making her dreadfully aware of the sheer size difference between the two of them. Showing it to be abundantly clear who was the child and who was the adult reducing the bold teenager to feeling like nothing more than a little girl who was in, for lack of a better word, deep shit.

Ellie visibly swallowed the knot of saliva down her dry throat feeling her knees become unexpectedly weak as she bent them and sat her bottom down onto firm mattress.

Ellie fought stubbornly to keep a brave stoic expression on her face to display to the Hunter that she was not affected by his intimidation tactics, if that's what it was, but it was proving to be exceedingly difficult and she was not succeeding like she hoped. Her pale-stricken face was utterly betraying her as her round doe-like eyes took in the hard scowling lines of his very angry and intimidating expression.

Ellie was, honestly, a bit flabbergasted at just how intensely upset Dean was demonstrating to be. It's not like she was their family or anything and his precious car was perfectly intact. However, that seemed to matter little to the enraged man.

"You stole my car! My freaking CAR! Boosted my baby like some Honda Civic just so you could go on a reckless little joyride which was not only incredibly stupid, but insanely dangerous. What the hell were you thinking?!" Dean declared harshly, his voice hot and heavy with frustration feeling an undeinable anxiety course through his heated veins.

"I don't know if you've forgotten about this little problem, but you've got demons on your ass, kid. Demonic deranged blood-thirsty lunatics that would gladly torture a teenage girl just for kicks." Dean expressed furiously as he leaned forward towards the kid in a combative manner, his baritone vocals booming deeply in his heavy chest feeling his tense muscles bulge and twitch in agitation and distress. The very idea of demons capturing the young girl made him feel physically sick, envisioning the horrors she could endure from her idiotic and needless stunt. And what made it all the worse was the possibility of such things occurring on his watch which was downright unforgivable to the highest degree to the burdened man's heart.

Ellie felt her heart lurch in her chest fear gripping onto her nerves as she straightened her posture taking in a breath of trepidation. Demons were foul things and Dean's descriptions of their cruelty made the teen surge with terror at the notion of being tortured by such evil. The blunt reality was petrifying if she were to be caught, but what Dean didn't know was her blood valuable to them. However, that did not exempt her from being tortured by them her for their sick pleasure like Dean so dreadfully pointed out.

"They-They don't know where I am." Ellie noted in an unsteady voice having trouble finding ease in her own attempt to reassure herself. The fact that they did not know her location gave her far less comfort than she wished finding the silver lining of her initial thought become very dim against Dean's blunt and horrifying descriptions.

Dean's frown deepened at her remark; a grave expression crossed over his firm features.

"You do not know that for sure." Dean proclaimed in a composed, but deadly serious tone making Ellie's heart skip a beat at his heavy words. "And it does not matter either way. You do not risk it. Period. This is your life were talking about and it's not to be played around with like some freaking game of Russian roulette." Dean declared biting off his words strongly and heatedly utterly exasperated by her idiotic actions and willingness to put her life in the hands of chance.

Dean took a looming step forward invading Ellie's personal space making her physically lean back. Her brown eyes big and wide as she studied the ridged outlines of his features that were chiseled in a severe scowl. She was beginning to agree that he wasn't just pissed, he was downright enraged.

"You will never, ever, do something like this ever again. You understand me, kid? Not ever." Dean professed in a deeply stern tone punctuating his words sharply with intense resolve.

Ellie dipped her head down hiding her face under her ballcap feeling a blush of inescapable shame spread across her cheeks as she cast her gaze to the side of her onto the ugly floral pattern of the cheap thin comforter finding it more bearable to look at then the Hunter's displeased face. Although, Ellie didn't want to fully admit it, his strong words were having a profound effect on her. And despite her reasoning for taking off, what she did was sounding undeniably stupid and irresponsible to her own ears leaving her with a sickness that festered in her gut.

The man was looking at her as if she had committed the ultimate sin when in fact she was just trying to get back to her uncle where she belonged. However, that was all beginning to sound more and more unreasonable to her young mind as Dean's words began to seep into her troubled heart. An undeniable guilt was pressing on Ellie's tight chest feeling her teenage emotions swarm with turmoil and distress as she tried to make sense of all that she was feeling.

Ellie saw, out of the corner of her eye, Sam's tall broad frame appeared just to the side of Dean only a few feet from where he stood. Ellie scrunched her face into a pitiful grimace under the safety of her ballcap and nearly groaned at his imposing presence. All she needed was two angry Hunters glaring down out at her again. Dean's presence was daunting enough, but adding Sam's disapproving glare furthered her discomfort to newfound heights which seemed almost unbearable to the young teenager. Her courage was dissipating annoyingly quickly with these two men which was both baffling and frustrating. Why was she so effected by them?

"Why did you take off, Elena?" Sam asked bluntly with a severe tone of disapproval making Ellie's heart crack and swell with guilt and distress shocking the young teen at her emotional reaction to such a simple question. God, if she thought Dean's yelling was bad enough, the grave tone of disappointment in Sam's composed tone was surprisingly gut-wrenching. As much as she wished not to care for their approval of her, the fact remained that she simply did and she just couldn't help it. Despite her fierce desire to protect her stubborn heart, it was essentially breaking under their intense condemnation.

Ellie found herself immaturely shrugging her shoulders, a silent gesture signifying she did not want to reveal her reasoning. She knew it was a rude and unacceptable response which instantly sparked an undeniable anxiety tingling at her nerves. She was taught manners and respect; she was just stubbornly selective in who she displayed it to.

"Do not shrug your shoulders at me, young lady. You look at me and you answer me respectfully." Sam demanded sternly, his voice tense. Ellie sucked in a breath feeling her eyes widen in alarm at his sharp severe tone that was highly out of character for the calm and reasonable Hunter, but, again, it seemed her actions had a deep effect on him as well.

Did she really bring out this much anger in them? Ellie was finding herself confused and a bit shocked at their intense emotions towards her taking off. Of course, she knew they would be upset, but they were obviously far more than that, they were downright frantic acting like she was their relative or something. Like they actually cared about her to a far greater extent than they should. Although, she guessed she could be collateral damage they couldn't afford with her uncle.

Ellie swallowed attempting to gain her composure before masking her face into stoic expression of indifference and detachment as she bravely tilted her head up to look at the tall imposing Hunter. Her brows were frowning firmly, but there was clear distress and hurt behind her innocent brown eyes that she simply could not hide.

"To find my uncle…sir." Ellie answered honestly keeping her voice as bold and as confident as could attempting to show the Hunters she was assured in her choice and not ashamed of her actions. All the while actively ignoring the prominent biting guilt that sat in her chest as she strained to convince herself it was unwarranted.

Dean's hard green eyes squinted at her brazen addition of 'sir' to the end of her confession mocking Sam's command for a respectful response. Although, it was essentially respectful, it was just barely acceptable and Dean found her backtalk in dreadful poor taste agitating his already irked nerves. She took off and stole his baby. She was in it, shit deep, and his patience and tolerance for her teenage attitude was edging on slim to none. Either she needed to rectify her mouth or he would do it for her.

Although the Hunters were already well aware of her reason for leaving, her bold confession told them she did it unashamedly, impulsively and thoughtlessly which did little to calm their rising tempers and concern.

Sam closed his hazel eyes letting out a heavy sigh feeling a headache pinch at the end of his temples not missing her bold application of 'sir' and unashamedly declaration of her actions. Sam opened his eyes giving her stern look of disapproval, the dim motel light casting a shadow over his firm brow line hooding his hard hazel eyes.

"Your uncle left you with us for a reason, Elena." Sam began firmly in calm manner, but there was an undeniable biting edge of irritation and gravity that was prevalent in his tone showing he wasn't the least bit at ease. He may be commendably composed, but he was immensely frustrated and in no way untroubled by the events of the day.

Ellie being the smart young girl she was picked up on that, not missing his use of her full name. Whether that was to get her attention or to show her how agitated he was, Ellie did not know. But whatever his reason, Ellie felt an annoying familiar sting of anxiety at hearing it all the same.

"We don't know all the details, but he obviously knows you are not safe with him right now. You think he would be real happy with you going MIA on us? Risking your life? You think he would be too happy if you even managed to find him? And that's a big 'if', kiddo." Sam questioned trying to put a firm rationality in the teens mind attempting to highlight the foolish blunders of her impulsive actions. Even if she did manage to find him, Sam knew Caleb would be livid at not only her, but them as well. She ultimately was their responsibility now and the sharp sting of regret weighed heavily on him for giving her an opening to take off.

Ellie felt her muscles constrict with tension at Sam's very valid reasoning being acutely aware that her uncle would not only be infuriated with her, but wholeheartedly condemn her actions to the highest degree. Not wanting to even think about the licking she would get for her troubles, but in the end that carried no weight against being by his side and comfort of knowing the only family she had left was safe.

"No, sir." Ellie admitted glumly her eyes fixed on a snag in thin grey carpet off to the side of her right boot before raising her head daringly as she attempted to give the Hunters a bold and determined expression. However, unfortunately, on Ellie's youthful face, it appeared more like a defiant pout of stubbornness.

"…but I don't care." Ellie declared adamantly, a hint of distress and sullenness lining her urgent tone. "I still have to try. He needs me. He's my uncle. The only family I have left and I'm not going stop and forget about him just because things get a little dangerous. It's always dangerous." Ellie expressed in a strong compelling tone, her dewy brown eyes wide with fearful urgency and need, imploring the Hunters to at least understand her plight.

Embarrassed and distressed Ellie turned her attention away from their judging eyes, a grave sadness pressed heavily against her tense body feeling a pain of hopelessness invade her troubled heart.

"And-and if I die…well at least I won't die alone." Ellie mumbled in a disheartened tone, surprising herself at her revealing words. She said it on impulse, almost instinctively, without giving her words much thought or reflection, letting her emotions take hold exposing far more than she wished to share.

Despite these feelings being dreadfully petrifying and bitterly painful, there was undoubtable truth in her telling words. Not that she wanted to die, of course, she didn't, the very thought horrified her. However, the fear and the danger of death knocking on her door so closely made it a potent and prevalent thought in her young mind. Although, dreadfully unfair, dying was, tragically, a grave possibility for the young teenager. But what was far worse than dying, was dying alone without the one she loved by her side. A sad and tragic concept for the young girl to grasp, but it was there nonetheless. She was, at its essence, a scared little girl who was grasping onto the only thing she had left and that was her uncle who was absent and in danger.

It was heart wrenching and embarrassing to feel this way and she did not want the Hunters' pity or dishonest concern making her want to just run away again.

Dean's green eyes visibly widened; his eyebrows rose high on his forehead feeling his mouth part slightly as a look of disturbed shock paled across his face. He blinked his eyes rapidly in bafflement a few times still trying to absorb the little girl's troubling and severely unacceptable words. He didn't know if young teenager really understood the full gravity of her statement or even grasp a concept so disturbing, but that mattered little. She said it and that was enough to send an upsetting chill down Dean's spine.

"Excuse me?" Dean demanded in disbelief unable to believe what he was actually hearing coming out of the teenager's mouth.

That was incredibly deploring words to hear coming from a thirteen-year-old. Dying should be the furthest thing from her young mind. Of course, hunting was a dangerous job and life and death was prevalent topic, Dean understood that, but to go as far as saying suggesting she was ready and willing to die alongside her family like a sacrificial martyr was an appalling and outrageous prospect for a little girl to even fathom, let alone believe. Hell, she shouldn't even be thinking about such things let alone saying them which gave Dean a distressing feeling in the pit of his gut at just how dire her situation with these demons really was.

And perhaps most disturbing to the Hunter was the fact that she expressed almost a willingness to die. Whether or not that was the full truth was irrelevant, she had expressed it and her actions of running off recklessly, alarmingly, depicted it. And that disturbed Dean to the point of bitter torment cutting him sharply and forcefully to his core. It was dreadfully saddening and just wrong on all levels, no matter how he squared it. She should not express dying so lightly like it was bound to happen next Tuesday and when it did, it was all fine and dandy because she got to die with a loved one. This was immensely unacceptable to Dean to the degree of fierce determination to set the records straight and prevent it from happening at all cost. God, what the hell was going on with this little girl?

Sam heart instantly drop into his stomach looking just as stunned and disturbed as his older brother. A sharp and sudden coldness hit Sam's core feeling himself grow deeply upset and troubled at the teen's intolerable words. A look of grave offense crossed over his paled features like what she had expressed was a personal insult to him which, in a way, it was because, unbeknownst to Ellie, he, inevitability cared about the young teenager.

Is this really what it came down to? That she thought of herself as expendable and that dying was something to express so lightly? If so, it was unbelievably unpalatable and Sam would not stomach such a notion coming from a thirteen-year-old child. If she thinks that type of thinking was acceptable, she was dead wrong and an urgency build up within Sam to promptly alter that type of harmful thinking. God, what brought on this despairing attitude?

Sam and Dean heads turned to glance at each other silently condemning her words both looking shocked and deeply disturbed.

Ellie felt her body rise with a growing distress at their silent abhorrence to her honest words. Ellie immediately began to build walls of defense over her troubled heart. Why are they even shocked? They grew up in this dangerous profession, they know the risks and the consequences. Wouldn't they want to die with their loved one too when the time came? Embarrassment and shame flushed her cheeks as she shifted her bottom awkwardly on the firm mattress in fidgety agitation and discomfort.

"Don't-Don't even try to act like you care." Ellie proclaimed reproachfully in tone that was not nearly as hard as she wished it to be. Despite her desire to keep her words firm, there was hesitancy in her voice with an impending sadness that was innocently harrowing.

"I am not your kid or your blood, I'm not-I'm not even your friend or family. I'm just some lost puppy you got stuck with, right?" Ellie asked boldly and accusingly as she lifted her head up directing her attention specifically towards Dean who frowned deeply at her. However, Ellie kept her eyes on him challengingly and brazenly masking the underlining hurt of feeling unwanted. Ellie narrowed her eyes ever so slightly at the man. She was just dead weight, annoying baggage to the overburdened Hunters and she didn't want their pity nor their fake concern.

"You weren't supposed to hear any of that." Sam interjected in a calm dismayed tone of disappointment.

Ellie snorted humorlessly pressing her lips to one side in a small sneer as she looked away from them bitterly. "Yeah, well, you whisper too loud." She deadpanned curtly.

Ellie sighed heavily trying to regain some courage and composure before turning back to look at them.

"Look, I know you don't want me with you." Ellie expressed in a strong level tone of awareness feeling her heart cave in slightly at her words. "Not that I care, I get it, you got your own problems to deal with. Just don't pretend like you care about me or what's going on. It's insulting bullshit." Ellie proclaimed assertively leaning boldly forward in a forced combative manner, putting on a strong front hiding the fact that her heart was bruising painfully at the feeling of rejection and dreadful loneliness.

"I know I'm just some 'debt' you need to pay off my uncle with. I'm not an idiot. So, you both can just drop the fucking dramatics already." Ellie declared boldly in a challenging and brash manner allowing the pain in her heart to dictate her sharp words blindly feeling her teenage emotions and hormones take hold. Not even caring that she had cured and sassed with a high degree of disregard as her words seem to just fit under the circumstances.

Dean's eyebrows rose high on his forehead as he tilted his head forward, his sharp green eyes flashing with appalled abhorrence. Dean's fingers stiffened rigidly splaying widely apart at his side before running his digits down his itching palms restraining himself from yanking the brazen and disrespectful teenager off the bed and bend her over his knee right then.

Dean could hardly believe the kid's audacity. Not only was she dreadful off the mark on their honest concerns for her, which was highly offensive in itself, but her language and disrespect was grossly intolerable. Where did the kid get a mouth like that? And after all that she did, she still had the gull to sass and backtalk? It was outrageously unbelievable to the grown Hunter and he found himself unable to stomach it.

Dean knew he was not known for his politeness at her age, in fact he was cocky, rude, and downright belligerent at times. Far from the model teenager as he carried the same burdening mistrust of this hard life. He of all people understood her strong willed and combative persona came from a clear place of pain and fear. However, it did not make it any less shockingly distasteful to be on the receiving end of the teenage angst nor was it tolerable or excusable by any stretch of the imagination.

He knew he was not her family or even a known acquaintance for that matter, but the fact remained, he and Sam were all she had at the moment. She was their responsibility and she damn well was going to respect that. It didn't, rightly, matter if she liked it or not, she had to respect it because if she didn't, she was not going to survive and that was just an unacceptable notion.

The lines in Dean's hard expression deepened and a dark shadow passed over his features as he dipped his head down leveling his intense glare at her. Ellie's brown eyes widened timidly as she took in the Hunter's daunting features feeling her body go jittery with alarm. The young teenager visibly gulped feeling herself close inward slightly, the vigor of his glare having a physically effect on her.

"Now you listen to me very carefully, young lady, cause I only plan on saying this once." Dean expressed in a dangerously deep and daunting tone that made Ellie's chest constrict with tension not daring to deviate her eyes from him for a split second.

"You are not some 'debt' to us and your life is not something to be bartered with. If I ever hear you refer to yourself as a debt again, I will lose my shit and you will lose the privilege of sitting down." Dean reproached gruffly with an intense gravity of warning feeling his teeth git and his jaw muscles clench in frustrated aggravation as he pointed a combative finger towards the young girl.

Ellie ran her teeth over her bottom lip in a nervous manner feeling her body swarm with anxious nerves before averting her eyes away from him in fear of revealing the hurt that was building up intensely inside of her.

"You may not be our 'blood' or 'family', and you can believe me or not on this, that's your choice, but we sure as hell care. And don't you ever, ever, tell us to 'drop the fucking dramatics'. You think I'm dramatic now? Keep pushing me, kid, and I'll show you a side of me that could win a fucking Oscar." Dean declared his voice rising with an angry frustration, his tone forceful and dangerously intense.

"You are not just some duty to us. You are a little girl whose life matters. Period. That's it. A little girl who needs some serious reminding of just that." Dean expressed with a grave resolve his deep voice steady and forceful.

Ellie felt her heart hammering in her heavy chest fighting the rawness that was building up in her throat along with her mask of indifference that was slipping into a troubled frown.

"I'm thirteen years old, training to become a Hunter." Ellie defended adamantly, unable to keep the distress she was feeling out of her worried voice as she attempted to remind them that she was no civilian's child who had the luxury of being treated so weakly or preciously for that matter. She was a solider in training, practically one already, and she wasn't normal and should not be treated as such. She knew of the evils of this world and had a duty to uphold, defend and protect those who were clueless and defenseless. She had a responsibility, like any Hunter, to rid the world of the nasty evil as much as she could or as much as she was allowed. She may be young, but she took that obligation seriously, an obligation that was pounded into her molded mind since as long as she could remember, and wasn't about to change her mind just because things got scary; she was better than that. Braver than that.

"I'm not just some fragile little girl who doesn't know her ass from a hole in the ground. I know what's out there, I've seen it, fought it, helped kill it…" Ellie pointed out vigorously with confident passion in her voice edging with a frustrating desperation to be heard or at least understood.

"We're not saying you are fragile or unskilled, Elena, but you are a little girl." Sam interjected sternly making Ellie turn her attention up towards the tall Hunter who appeared gravely disappointed in her response.

"Thirteen years old is far from adulthood and nowhere near old enough to go off on your own and make decisions in the Hunter world. I don't care how much you think you know about Hunting, how well you trained or tough you think you are. You are a child and what you did was reckless and very dangerous and flat-out unacceptable." Sam expressed firmly his voice hard and powerfully stern, displaying a ridged authority and intolerance towards her behavior. To him, she was walking a very dangerous line and her way of thinking was outright intolerable to the point of drastic.

"And you're gonna learn that playing 'adult Hunter' is not going to fly with us, young lady. You just earned yourself one hell of a spanking for this stunt you pulled. And I am going to make damn sure you understand just what I mean when I say your life matters." Dean expressed with ridged firmness running his fingers up his eager palms holding onto what little restraint he had left.

Ellie felt all the air leave her lungs as her mouth parted in shock. A pale look of dreadful apprehension crossed over her young features wiping away any boldness she once held in her expression making her look like the thirteen-year-old little girl she really was.

The young teenager felt her veins surge with the familiar adolescent fear that came with being physically chastised. Although, she had been spanked by her uncle on numerous occasions over the years, never had she been punished or disciplined by anyone other than her kin. Not to mention lickings were no small thing and not to be taken lightly by any stretch. They were serious punishments and hurt tremendously in addition to being horribly embarrassing. Despite being thirteen years old, it never seemed to stop her uncle if he felt her actions warranted it. The Hunting world was harsh and life threatening and there wasn't the luxury of leniency under the hard and unforgiving conditions. Therefore, the discipline often matched the tough and dangerous world.

Despite, Dean giving her swats to her backside and his numerous warnings and implications on the subject, it didn't make his declaration of giving her an actual spanking horrifyingly shocking to the young teenager. Even though in the back of her mind she suspected it, a childlike hope kept her wishing against the reality that he would perhaps not have the grit to follow through with it as he was simply not her 'blood' as Sam so accurately put it yesterday. However, it seemed that did not matter to the angry determined Hunter seeing her as their responsibility entirely which, apparently, included whopping her backside which was frightening unfortunate to the young girl filling her with an abundance of shaky nerves.

If Dean's hard swats were any indication of how hard or vigorous he would dish out the punishment, Ellie wanted no part of it. Not to mention the large muscular build of the imposing Hunter was physically daunting to the young slim teenager. He was grossly taller than her uncle and far more rigidly toned and Ellie suspected with not much doubt that he could wail the tar out of her without much effort if he so pleased. And, with his edgy temper at present, she just knew he was going to bring absolute hell on her backside. Although, she did not expect abuse from the man, at least she had that bit of trust from her gut towards the man, she did not expect much mercy or understanding as she practically enraged him by her actions.

What did he even plan on doing? Putting her over his knee? What if he had paddle? Although, it was highly doubtful the two grown Hunters just happen to have a paddle in their possession, Ellie couldn't help, but let her frantic adolescent fears lead her to that possibility.

Oh, God, what if spanked her with her with her overalls down? Her uncle sometimes wacked her over her underwear which was not unusual within her kin, but in front of these men that would be embarrassingly catastrophic. The humiliation would be unbearable and devastating to the young prideful teenager and she knew she would just never recover from it. The fear of the unknown was filling her with an abundance of frantic concerns.

"But I… " Ellie began to argue in a panic, desperate to spare herself, but was instantly cut off.

"No." Dean declared in immensely stern and sharp tone, his baritone voice cutting deep into her making her heart stop in her chest.

"The only thing that should be coming out of your mouth right now, kid, is an apology or better yet, a 'yes, sir'." Dean growled at her firmly feeling his temper edge with impatience as he restrained himself from ripping her off the bed and giving her a couple smarting swats. He was done with hearing excuses and listening to her arrogant attitude. What little patience he had left was dangling by a fraying thread.

"You wanna argue with me? I'm still debating taking my belt off. Don't give me a reason, kid, you're in far more trouble than you realize." Dean gritted harshly making Ellie almost gasped in dread at the threat of his belt. Getting spanked was a horrifying prospect in itself, but getting a belt whopped across her ass was horrendous. Ellie's eyes quickly dropped down to the Hunter's waist band, a sliver of the black leather was just peaking on the side of his lean hips under his black t-shirt and army green button up. Ellie immediately darted her worried eyes back up to Dean's scowling face.

"Now, you just sit there while you still can while I try to not to kill you." Dean ordered sharply in a gruff and agitated tone that sounded on the brick of bellowing. And with that, he briskly turned away from the young teenager and began to march in the opposite direction. His muscular back was stiff and ridged as he treaded tensely to the open motel door finding the pressing need for a beer and time to cool down his hot temper. He knew if he stayed in her presence even a moment longer, he would lose his patience and tolerance with her and she would see a side of him that was not be very pleasant to say the least.

Ellie's heart plummeted feeling like a heavy rock in her gut. It was adamantly clear he would be unmoved by any of her words. In fact, it appeared that nothing would break his firm resolve to punish her and that was hopelessly crushing to the young teen.

Ellie snapped her attention up towards Sam who was watching Dean's retreating frame disappear outside the motel room. Feeling her eyes laying heavy on him, Sam turned to look back down at Ellie who had a pale stricken look of dread on her face. Her innocent brown eyes wide in fearful anticipation of what was to come, looking at him almost in pleading desperation in a last stich effort to gain aid and clemency from him. However, Sam who had been sick with agonizing worry all day, was having none of it. The tall Hunter dipped his head down slightly rising his eyebrows unsympathetically giving her a look that clearly read she had no one to blame, but herself and she would receive no aid from him. As far as Sam was concerned, her fate was sealed as soon as she took off and her disturbing words and brazen attitude only pushed Sam to believe the girl not only deserved to be disciplined, but needed a serious reality check. He was honestly, feeling the itch from his own palm.

Without a word Sam turned and left the young teenager to sit on the bed and think about what was said on her own for a bit. Sam was not worried about leaving her own her own for a moment to think believing it would do her some good to contemplate her situation and reflect on her actions. They wouldn't leave her for long that was for sure.

As Ellie watched the tall Hunter walk away from her, she felt an undeniable hurt swelled up in her chest at Sam's cold dismissal towards her plight. However, that was not unaccompanied by an annoying shame towards her actions. Why she hoped for any sympathy was beyond her. She was in so much trouble and unwanted tears of frustration began spring up in her eyes, but she quickly swallowed and blinked them away. There was no way she was going to cry over a stupid spanking and give into weakness. Sniffling once she ran the back of her hand under her nose briskly. She'd be damned if she would give the Hunters the satisfaction of seeing her cry proving their point further about her being nothing more than a little girl.

Within less than thirty seconds, Sam came back in with the rest of their bags and Dean was right behind him with a small green cooler in his arms. Ellie watched as Dean place the green cooler on the contrasting dull yellow kitchen table. The man pulled out the long neck dark bottles of beer and began placing them into the fridge along with two bottles of blue Gatorade that caught Ellie's eyes distinctly. Ellie's brows frowned slightly as she wondered if they were for her as she was the only one who drank them. They got her Gatorade? Were they that certain they were going to find her? Which posed the burning question in her mind – How did they find her? It couldn't have been on chance?

Sam made use of the small restroom which sat to the left of the kitchen before walking back into the open area and leaning his backside on the edge of the kitchen table. The front of Sam's body lined up directly across from where Ellie sat making her shift her bottom awkwardly on the bed in an uncomfortable manner. Ellie didn't know if he purposefully squared his body across from her in order to intimidate her or keep an eye on her. However, Sam didn't seem the slightest bit interested in her at the moment as his eyes were cast down on his Treo phone appearing to send a message.

Ellie expected them at any moment to address her again and order her to bend over or something, but as the minutes ticked by painstakingly slow Ellie become more agitated and restless. Confusion and impatience began to take hold as her nerves build up annoyingly at just sitting there waiting for the impending punishment Dean so adamantly declared upon her. The men were going about their mundane tasks not once bothering to look at her or even knowledge that she was in the room. They were essentially ignoring her very presence like she was in time out which, fundamentally, was exactly what it was which bit at her irritation and uneasiness even further. Just how long were they going to make her sit there and squirm?

Ellie scooted her body more to the side of the bed just so she wouldn't be directly in front of Sam's large imposing frame. Not sure they would even care or notice her moving since they had not even glance in her direction since they chewed her out, but it seemed they were very much aware of her then she initially thought.

"Do not move, Elena." Sam ordered suddenly in a deep stern tone making Ellie's limbs tense and freeze as she snapped her attention towards him a bit surprised by his instant reaction to her movements. She was just readjusting so she wouldn't have to be directly in front of the man, trying to gain some sort of comfort and control over her shitty situation, but, ultimately, Ellie knew she was testing a boundary. She didn't plan on actually getting up, but it appeared moving only a few inches around the bed was indeed a problem. Ellie scooted her bottom back to the foot of the queen bed keeping her eyes cast down as she gripped onto the edge of the mattress rocking forward a bit awkwardly.

"You move again and you're going to be standing facing the wall." Sam warned in very daunting and convincing tone that set Ellie in a state of total confidence in the man. Ellie let out a frustrated and defeated sigh dropping her shoulders forward before groaning and leaning back putting her weight on her palms as she slumped her body into a foiled posture. She did not plan on moving as she had no desire stand at attention facing a wall like some toddler which would be upsettingly humiliating for the prideful teen, not to mention boring as hell. She concluded sitting on a mattress was a hell of a lot better than standing and staring at a wall.

Sam ignored her agitating sighs and groans and went back to finishing his message to Bobby.

Dean, who was on the other side of the table busying himself with unpacking his cooler, was very much aware of the teenager's nervousness and frustration at being made to wait. However, it held little weight against him, as he had no problem letting her squirm and anticipate her punishment while he attempted to calm his aggravation and compose himself enough to deal with her. As far as he was concerned, she deserved every aspect of feeling nervous and saw nothing wrong with a healthy dose of the fear of the impending consequences.

Despite having time to compose his temper, it was doing far little then he expected. The little girl had provoked a grave fear and anger within him that was damn near overwhelming and seemingly impossible to get over. His stern green eyes squinted at her slouched position on the bed feeling his jaw muscles clench slightly before working to unpacked only the essentials for the night. He did not plan on staying in this motel room long. First thing in the morning they were leaving.

Dean snatched his duffle bag off the entry table and marched over to the empty bed where he disposed of it letting it plop roughly onto the firm mattress unable to keep the biting aggravation he felt out of his movements. Ellie flinched slightly before turning her head to the side to look over at him carefully. She eyed Dean discreetly under her ballcap as he pulled out his Silver Colt, ejecting the magazine before sharply slapping back in the chamber. Ellie felt her body stiffen uncontrollably as Dean briskly marched around the foot of the adjacent bed in Ellie's direction before sharply turning and walking between the two beds passing by her like she wasn't even there.

Ellie turned her shoulders slightly to glance behind her watching him place the custom Colt on the center nightstand, a repeated ritual Ellie was coming to notice the Hunter did every night. Ellie kept her head down as her eyes discreetly followed his movement as he walked past her back into the kitchen area where he snatched open the small fridge and got out a long neck stout, all the while never looking at her, not even sparing her the courtesy of a glance or acknowledgement that she was fretfully waiting. It had only been ten minutes, but to Ellie it felt like an hour. She just knew the cruel Hunters were doing this on purpose to make her squirm.

Her body was becoming jittery with impatience and nerves feeling her leg bounce up and down as she expelled some worked up nervous energy. Unable to stand it any longer, the irritable teen had worked herself up into a frenzy and found herself opening her mouth on a foolish impulse.

"How long are you going to make me sit here?" Ellie blurted out accusingly with a bit more attitude than she was intending, but it seemed her teenage frustration had got the better of her restraint.

Ellie kept her eyes to thin grey carpet not feeling brave enough witness their reactions to her daring question.

"If you're going to spank me, just do it already." Ellie declared far too boldly then she was feeling currently as her chest blossomed and swelled with dreaded anticipation at her brazen and undeniably stupid words. She did not want to spanked, of course, but she also did not want to sit there and wait for it which was seeming far more torturous than it was worth.

Dean smack his half empty bottle of long neck beer on the cheap linoleum table top firmly feeling her cocky words set the end of his aggravated nerves on fire. She just couldn't seem to keep her mouth shut.

The sharp sound of the thudding bottle against the linoleum hit Ellie's ears making her limbs become fiercely tense as she flinched embarrassingly harshly effectively skyrocketing her anxiety tenfold. It was shocking just how instantly one could regret opening her mouth. What the hell was wrong with her? Did she have a death wish?

Sam sighed heavily shaking his head in firm disapproval at her inability to show any respect for her situation or to them.

Dean set his feet into motion as he laid his heavy boots into the thin carpet towards the teenager with long and purposeful strides.

She's ready to get her ass beat, well that was fine by him.


TBC

Well, probably not the best thing to say Ellie.

Please comment and review. It helps to know your thoughts about the story.

Thank you for your interest. More to come.