Really pleased with this one! Has a couple lines I rather like. Enjoy :)
Sam was pacing when they got back to the room.
"You guys okay?" He asked immediately as Dean carried Ji-a's sleeping form through the narrow doorway.
"She'll be fine," Dean replied, "She disobeyed me to come make sure you were alright."
"So you…" Sam trailed off.
"Yeah," Dean said, laying Ji-a on the dingy duvet.
"Do you want me to go?" Sam asked, "So you can…"
"No, you need to see this," Dean replied as he started pulling of Ji-a's sodden clothes.
"Excuse me?" Sam asked.
"This is the second time she disobeyed me because of you," Dean explained, "I want you to see what happened as a result. So you don't do it again."
"But…" Sam started, but Dean didn't let him finish.
"I told you not to try that psychic exorcism crap," Dean snapped, "You didn't listen. She got worried and it could have gotten her killed. Not to mention all the shit that could have happened to you!"
"I'm sorry," Sam ducked his head.
"Help me get her undressed," Dean instructed. He pulled Ji-a's sleeping body up against his chest and slipped the straps of her jumpsuit over her shoulders, nodding for Sam to get it the rest of the way off. The wet fabric clung to her body rather than falling to the floor.
"These bruises," Sam hissed when he saw the marks, "From you?"
"She has to learn," Dean said simply, one hand cradling the back of Ji-a's head and the other around her back.
"I guess…" Sam trailed off.
"You're the one who told me to teach her the ropes," Dean said.
"You're right," Sam agreed, "And she's doing great. So clearly it's working."
"Memorable for sure," Dean agreed, "Hoping it's memorable for you too."
"Huh?" Sam stood up with Ji-a's dripping-wet jumpsuit in his hands.
"I've had to spank her what three times now?" Dean said, "And two of those were because of you. Because you gave her conflicting instructions and then because you had to go ahead and straight up defy me with the Ruby stuff."
"I didn't…" Sam was getting defensive now.
"No," Dean insisted, "Don't start that. You know what you did. Look at the damage it's done."
Dean gestured at Ji-a's bruised flesh.
"And then don't fucking do it again," Dean snapped.
"You're right," Sam agreed, "And I'm sorry."
"She's freezing," Dean noted, "I'm gonna get her a hot shower then we're going to bed. You should do the same. Do not call Ruby while I'm in there."
"I won't," Sam assured him, "Promise."
Dean picked Ji-a up again and made for the bathroom.
"Dean," Sam called.
"Yeah," his brother paused.
"I'm sorry."
"You should be."
Dean crawled into bed beside Ji-a. She'd roused in the shower. And she hadn't thrown up this time. Just cuddled against him, mumbled apologies, and asked if he could get the mud out of her hair.
She was warm now and at least mostly dry. He'd managed to get her to swallow a couple of Aspirin and a dose or two of NyQuil before she fell back asleep.
Dean pulled off her t-shirt, leaving her sports bra, and took off his own undershirt. Skin to skin should help her feel a bit better and hopefully keep her asleep the whole night. She'd more than earned the comfort. He tucked her under his arm with her head on his chest, pulling her close.
She roused a bit at the movement, cuddling against him.
"Can I ask you something?" Ji-a mumbled into his chest.
"Depends," Dean replied, "What are you asking?"
"Why hasn't anyone gone off at Ruby for not wearing flat shoes?" Ji-a asked.
Dean chuckled.
"For one thing, Ruby never listens so it wouldn't matter if we did," he said, "For another, Sam doesn't exactly order her around. And as for why I've never said anything? Well, I would vastly prefer if she bit the dust - so the more reckless choices the better. Maybe a broken ankle would keep her off our butts for a couple of weeks."
Ji-a hummed and drifted off again. Dean trailed his fingers gently across her shoulders, feeling knots under the surface of her skin.
A few moments later, Sam emerged from the bathroom and furrowed his brow.
"What?" Dean snapped.
"Nothing," Sam said, "I just…I haven't seen you without a shirt since hell."