There are No Harmless Lies – Part 2
Just a continuation of the last chapter! This is an important read to gain some closure.
Please review and comment if got a moment. Help keep me motivated lol.
Ellie snapped her head back towards the broad mass of the Hunter's tall toned body that now stood towering over her small petite frame in a daunting display of intense authority. His broad back blocked the dim glow of the two wall lamps behind him leaving the front half of the gruff Hunter vailed in an unnerving shadow that darkened his hard features and made the outlines of his muscular stature more prominent and distinct. The sheer presence of the man was overwhelming and Ellie, unable to help herself, instinctually took a quick and nervous step back, her wide brown eyes flashing with alarm as she jerked her left shoulder back automatically rotating her body to the side.
"You wanna get mouthy with me, young lady." Dean reproached in an unnervingly calm tone that had Ellie's nerves jitter wildly in trepidation, his guttural vocals sinking deep into her chest making Ellie's heart race.
"That's fine." Dean claimed with gruff curtness, his brows furrowing into a deep scowl of strong censure making Ellie visibly swallow a wade of saliva down her dry throat knowing it was anything, but 'fine'. "I got no problem pulling you back over my knee for round two and you can scream and holler all you want about how I don't 'need' to be spanking you." Dean offered in severely stern tone, letting that very probable option hang in the air for brief moment, deliberately allowing the young teenager stew on the notion as he continued to glare down at her purposefully. Ellie subconsciously reached back and glided her finger tips across her heated left denim pocket feeling her limbs stiffen in dreadful apprehension believing the man's words wholeheartedly.
"Or you can find some respect and tell me exactly why you have a sore ass right now. Do you have preference or do I need to choose for you?" Dean prompted in a briskly firm tone of unnerving resolve, giving her the generous opportunity to curb the deliberate defiance and humble herself. However, if she wasn't able to do that, he was more than prepared to flip her back over his knee for a serious refresher course on the importance of respect and humility and, if it came to that, the irritated Hunter was not going to be nearly as lenient. She was either being willfully stubborn in pushing back against his authority or she didn't listen to a damn word they said. While neither one was favorable, for her sake, it was best she had been at least been listening.
Unable to bear the intensely harsh glower Dean was shooting down at her, Ellie lowered her gaze to the floor feeling heat burn her complexion with embarrassment as a sharp guilt cut into her for being such a difficult child. Did she always have to get the last word in? Was it stubborn pride? A need to push back to make herself feel better? Plain stupidity? Ellie really didn't know. All she knew was she certainly had a preference and did not want Dean to choose for her. The soreness in her backside along with shame that was weighing in her gut that the Hunter just imposed upon her utterly crushed her pride driven defiance.
"It-It's cause I lied and l-lying is never okay. It's disrespectful and-and dangerous, especially concerning a Hunt." Ellie summed up in a contrite meek manner becoming humbled immensely quickly showing the Hunters she was well aware of the lesson and that their words did, in fact, have an impact on her. Her throbbing backside was constant reminder of what the Hunter was capable of doing in just a few short minutes and Ellie had no desire to revisit the lesson as she got the message loud and clear.
Dean raised his eye brows slightly on his forehead somewhat surprised at her solid summary. It was good to know she was at least paying attention to their words. He just hoped she took it to heart because he was done being patient with her deception and if she forgot or needed a reminder, he had no problem revisiting this lesson for as long as it took. He was going to give her the best chance at survival and honesty on a Hunt was pivotal. There was no way to sugar coat it. He cared about the kid and he made up his mind to ensure it would not happen again.
Keeping her attention cast down to the tops of her socked feet, Ellie fluttered her leg back and forth in a nervous manner as she expelled some jittery energy.
"I wasn't trying to be disrespectful." Ellie mumbled trying to express it as innocently as she could, attempting to show the man it wasn't her intention to piss him off with her stupid words. While it may not have been her conscious intention, and despite wanting to believe she was just standing up for herself, Ellie knew she was being defiant as she was selfishly attempting to gain back some dignity and pride, something she was severely lacking in at the moment.
Dean's hard eyes continued to glare down at the kid as he ran his tongue across the inside of his right cheek doubting very much the intelligent girl was as dense as she was claiming to be.
"Let me give it to you straight, kid." Dean expressed flatly dipping his head down slightly leveling a hard and steady gaze down on her as he bent his torso forward making Ellie tilted her head at a sideways glance to peer up at him. "Lie to me or Sam again and, next time, not only will I turn you over my knee, but I'm gonna take a page out of my old man's hand book and pull out the soap." Dean informed bluntly hoping the threat would be enough of an incentive for her to choose honesty, but he had no problem resorting to it if that's what it took. His old man saw fit bestow that unpleasant punishment only a few times in his younger years. Whether it was for lipping off, swearing or lying, he had to admit, he thought twice.
Shock washed over Ellie's features as she jerked her head up parting her lips and sucking in a small stream of hot air feeling her chest rise slightly prepared to explicitly protest, telling the man how horribly unfair that was and that he was not her uncle. Ellie had not had the pleasure of that horrible punishment in several years, although it was only a couple times, her recollection of it wasn't pleasant to say the least. A licking and a getting her mouth washed out for lying seemed outrageously unfair to the young teenager, especially since she knew she was going to have to lie to them again sooner or later. It was a horrible notion to come to terms with, however, a shrewd hesitancy halted the breath in her throat. Learned caution reminded her, she needed to watch her words as her sore backside throbbed underneath her jeans reminding her of where her smart mouth got her in the first place. So, thinking about her backside and the desire to shows the Hunters she could be respectful, Ellie forced out the long steady breath through her nose pressing her lips together in a tight pout as she wisely restrained herself from expressing things she would regret. However, despite keeping her lips sealed, Ellie was unable to keep the frustrated sulk that lay upon her defeated features, her russet eyes glistening up at him from under her ballcap with accusing hurt. Why was he being such a tyrannical hard ass?
"Don't give me that look, kid." Dean admonished sternly his brows creasing downwards into a scolding frown growing tired of her the pitiful and dirty looks she was giving him, like he was asking her to cut off her left leg rather than just stop lying to them.
"I'm done being lied to. You got it?" Dean urged gruffy in a grave tone of firm resolve suggesting he wasn't going to budge an inch on the issue as his hard face displayed a serious and pointed regard towards the teen.
The ends of Ellie's red tinted lips twitched downwards slightly in response to the man's stern resolve that was written all over his hard masculine features showing Ellie just how intensely serious he was. Ellie huffed out a short puff of air through her nose as she jerked her head away from the man feeling her unsteady emotions begin to build up under her skin, working hard to bury the unwanted pain deep into her heavy chest.
"You gonna give me a 'yes, sir' or am I gonna to have to show you how serious I am about this?" Dean challenged impatiently not appreciating her silence as an acceptable response. If she was still willing to be defiant about this, Dean was preparing himself to drive the message home some other way.
Now what the hell was that supposed to mean?! Ellie felt her limbs grow tensely rigid with severe unease, her russet eyes flashing slightly with alarm as her mind concocted all the possibilities of the man's implication, none of them being pleasant. Not wanting to find out the meaning, Ellie opted to swallow her pride. She was in enough trouble as it is and was in no position to be uncooperative.
"Yes, sir." Ellie accepted in a defeated tone.
"Terrific." Dean punctuated flatly before abruptly moving to walk around the young girl's small frame to which Ellie, immediately, rotated herself to the side keeping her sore bottom away from the man's reach.
Dean squatted down at the foot of the bed where his black duffle bag lay and began rummaging through his clothes until he came across what he was looking for. With the orange tinted cylindrical bottle clasped in his grip, the man raised himself into a standing position and immediately tossed it towards the teenager who had turned around to watch him curiously. With quick reflexes Ellie caught the small medicine bottle against her chest, the raddling of the long white pills clashing against the sides of plastic container coming to swift halt.
"Take two of those for your headache." Dean instructed briefly as he gestured an idle finger towards her making Ellie nod her head once in agreement and acceptance before walking past Dean towards the bathroom that was situated conveniently right across from the queen beds.
"And my butt ache." Ellie mumbled carelessly under her breath, because she was a teenager and her hormones had not leveled out into a rationality of simply putting a shock in it, believing now that her butt hurt worse than her head, finding it hard to let go of the bitterness towards the man who added to misery tonight.
Dean pivoted his body sharply taking a swift single step behind Ellie pulling his arm back and popping a sharp crack to the center of her sore seat making Ellie arch her lower back and yelp as she was propelled across the threshold of the small bathroom doing exactly what the man intended.
"Ow! Hey!" Ellie complained feeling her nerves endings burn and sting at the firm spank that seeped into her sore skin. Ellie shot her hand back placing a protective palm over backside splaying her slim fingers wide subconsciously trying to cover as much surface area as she could before rotating her small frame half way around. Ellie arched her neck upwards and back to look at the man whose large stature was a dreadfully uncomfortable half step behind her, the top of her navy ballcap nearly brushing against the man's broad chest. Wordlessly Dean jabbed a pointed finger over top of her arching head towards the sink as if to say 'do what I say and do it quickly'. Getting the message loud and clear, Ellie swiftly surrey in that direction to comply.
With Dean's dauntingly large and watchful presence looming in the reflection of the wooden framed mirror, Ellie swiftly set to open the cylindrical bottle of pills pulling two thick chalky textured pills out of the orange tinted container. With the two white pills cupped in her right hand, Ellie set the cylinder bottle down on the pale-yellow vanity top before pulling up the clear, center set, ocular knob sending a small rush of water out of the old fossette. Ellie placed both of the chalky white pills behind her teeth and under her tongue as she bent her body over, feeling a small, understandable, ping of anxiety hit her chest as the man who just spanked her stood only inches behind her throbbing backside. Feeling the thick denim fabric of her jeans chafe and pull tautly against her sore cheeks as leaned forward over the pale-yellow vanity and off-white sink, Ellie angled her lips to the running stream of cold water sucking in a large gulp making her freckled cheeks puff out slightly. A chalky bitter taste swirl around her taste buds making her forcefully swallow with urgency as she swiftly leaned back up straightening her posture.
Dean reached out and patted a firm palm once between her shoulder blades forcing her to automatically gulp and swallow again. Despite the pills already descending down her throat, it seemed Dean wanted to make certain she had swallowed them which, in turn, made Ellie inwardly cringe with guilt and frustration. He didn't trust one damn thing she did and, the sad part was, she couldn't even blame him. Ellie coughed and smacked her lips together a couple times at the bitter taste that linger slightly against the sides of her mouth and on the surface of her tongue.
Ellie turned her small body around to face Dean, partly because she wished to get out of the tight confining space of the small bathroom that had them practically toe to toe, but also because that 'get moving' spank he had just given her had the girl rightfully wary of her sore bottom being directed anywhere in his general direction. Ellie expected him walk out of the bathroom seeing as she had completed her task, but it seemed Dean was not satisfied.
"Open your mouth." Dean ordered briskly in a curt tone as he stared down at the young teen, his brows frowning at her in critical distrust.
Ellie's face visibly dropped in offense, her brown eyes blinking up at him innocently. "I swallowed them." Ellie insisted, a slighted whine entering her tone feeling the heavy weight of frustration and remorse her continual dishonesty brought her.
Dean just frowned deeply at the girl, his hard masculine features holding not a shred of belief. Until he could come to trust the deceptive teenager, Dean required solid proof that his orders were followed as her word did not mean much to him as she, unfortunately, shown herself to lie and lie often. And Dean just knew she was not above hiding the pills in her mouth if the stubborn teen got it in her head that she did not want to take them.
Ellie let out dramatic and heavy sigh feeling her heart sink with discontentment as she complied parting her lips and opening her mouth for the man to inspect that she didn't, in fact, lie about every damn thing. Dean grabbed ahold of her slacked jaw firmly tilting her chin up towards him as he dipped his head down and extended his neck forward slightly, his sharp green eyes scanning the pinkish confines of the teenager's opened mouth. Ellie could feel the lingering heat from his calloused palm radiate onto her cool face, undoubtably the palm he whacked her bottom so harshly only a few minutes ago, reminding her of the man's unremitting fortitude to be a hard ass.
"Lift up your tongue." Dean ordered, his baritone voice deep, flat, and brief making Ellie fight back the urge to whine in dismay.
Ellie scrunched up her face into a pouty grimace, but obeyed, nonetheless, touching the tip of her tongue to the roof of her mouth displaying the underside to Dean's searching and mistrustful eyes.
Satisfied she had swallowed the pills; Dean released his hold on her jaw before giving her a curt nod of clearance that was formal and miliary-like.
"Bed." Dean commanded calmly, but briskly firm, jerking his head towards the opened door in a gesturing order for her to move as he stepped his broad body to the side opening up a pathway for the teenager to walk by him and do as he asked. With her eyes cast away from the man, Ellie swiftly maneuvered herself to the side, sidestepping her way across the threshold. Although completely unnecessary for the plenty space he had given her, to Ellie, it was essential insurance to keep her bottom safe from any descending 'get going' swats Dean would be obliged to give. Once Ellie's socked feet left the slick brown tiles of the bathroom and hit the firm stiff carpeting, she hurried her steps towards the bed finding herself relieved to be out of the man's intensely overwhelming presence. Dean turned his attention briefly back into the small bathroom as he ran his palm down the side of the inner wall flicking the light switch off and darkening the bathroom.
Ellie, immediately, went to her side of the bed pulling off her ballcap and plopping it on top of her duffle bag before sliding her weary body under the cool covers ensuring to position herself onto her stomach. Keeping her head turned towards the decretive divider and away from the grumpy man that was going to be sleeping next to her, Ellie pulled the covers over top of herself feeling the cooling contrast of the of the sheets lay over her heated backside.
It wasn't long before the light from the wall lamps between the two beds, that was illuminating a soft yellow glow onto the small room, was flicked off leaving the room darkened with only the small rays of morning sunlight shining through the breaks in the curtains. Ellie felt the mattress dip and rock slightly as the weight of the muscular Hunter's large build settled onto the bed making her laying frame stiffen in discomfort. The covers shifted slightly across her sore backside as the man adjusted the blankets over himself.
Whether her young heart just had all it could bear or, now, that the watchful eyes of the Hunters were off of her, Ellie finally felt her troubled heart give into the sorrow of all that had occurred. Ellie pulled the white sheet and brown center blanket past her neck and across her feminine jaw line in a protective and comforting manner. Gripping and twisting the sheets within her small fist as she closed in on herself feeling unstoppable tears well up in her brown eyes.
No, no, no.
Ellie's muscles tensed rigidly as she tried desperately to hold everything inside and push all of the heavy burden deep within her chest, but no matter how hard she tried, the pain seemed to be just too overwhelming and, without her permission, began to seep and bleed its way to the surface of her soft young skin. Within seconds, Ellie's throat became painfully raw as the tears she held desperately in her eyes blurred her vision. The young girl felt repressed sobs knock within her chest as her body begged urgently to release the sorrow. Ellie pressed her lips tightly together as she gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut feeling two tears cast down the sides of her rosy freckled cheeks, attempting with all her might to keep it together and not feel the agonizing pain of her emotions.
Yet, no matter how much she wished to bury the hurt, her body seemed to absolutely refuse to allow it. She was going to crack soon and she knew it. With the blanket tight in her fist, Ellie gently lifted the covers off just enough to allow herself to slid the bottom half of her slim frame off the bed, letting her socked feet hit the dense fibers of the carpet. The young teenager pressed her palms into the mattress as she straightened herself up into a standing position careful not to create too much of a disturbance against the mattress, not wanting to bother Dean who she, desperately, hoped had passed out by now. Frantic to find solitude, the troubled teen hurriedly tipped toed long strides towards the small bathroom where she intended turn on the fan and cry her troubles out in private.
Dean, who was laying on his back, pressed his palms into the mattress and scooted his butt backwards until his board back rested against the headboard into a sitting position. Despite Ellie's wishes, the man was wide awake and vigilantly alert to Ellie's every inch of movement.
"Ellie." Dean's deep voice rang out halting the girl only two steps from the bathroom threshold. Feeling anxiety spark sharply in her chest, Ellie muscles tensed and flinched embarrassingly harsh at the unexpected voice that cut into the dead silence. Ellie found herself grit her teeth in aggravation fighting the urge to stomp her out of pure frustration feeling a bitterness grow and burn in her gut at being caught at her most vulnerable. She was so damn close. Why couldn't he just leave her alone? Hadn't he had enough of her?
"Sir?" Ellie leveled out in a composed tone, but noticeably forced into an indifferent manner as she kept her back towards the man, grateful for the darkness of the room as her eyes were filling with emotional tears once again.
"What are you doing?" Dean inquired in a commendably calm, but deep tone that held an edge of wary suspicion as his attentive eyes laid fixedly on the small outline of her turned back.
"Going to the bathroom. Is that okay?" Ellie asked, a clear bite of irritation in her defensive tone, trying her best to keep her voice polite, but it was proving to be immensely difficult not only because she was on the edge of breaking down, but his overbearingness was intensely overwhelming at the moment. He was intently watching her every move and while she understood the obvious reasons, she just couldn't help, but feel overcome with annoyance and frustration as she desperately needed to cry.
There was a long beat of silence that had Ellie's muscles tense with grave fear and unease. Please, please, just let me go.
"Yes…" Dean's deep voice permitted smoothly allowing Ellie a wave of relief as she took another hurried step towards the door, but that relief was abruptly cut short. "…but leave the door open." Dean ordered notably calm, but in dreadfully serious tone. If she wanted to take a piss, she could, but if she wanted to do anything else, Dean was not going to allow it. She could do her business in the privacy of the dark where his eyes would be politely averted, but if she was going in there to stubbornly suffer on her own like Dean was almost certain of, or worse, resort to some harmful coping methods, that was not going to happen. They had just finished a terrifying and trying Hunt and Dean wasn't entirely certain how the young teen planned to handle the burden of that, but one thing was for sure wasn't going to do it alone. She had remained amazingly stoic up till now and it was honesty shocking Dean, forcing an even deeper concern for her as he was waiting, hoping, for her to let go of her stubbornness and just allow herself to cry, scream, grieve or whatever she needed to do. Dean felt ever subtle shake and jolt of the girl's body on the other side of the mattress and, little did the teenager know, the Hunter was fully aware of her struggle.
Appalled offense shot through Ellie's veins heatedly searing her nerves with a hurt ridden anger as she whirled her body around to face the cruel man. Her arms stiffened straight at her sides as she balled her fist tightly shaking in irate confoundment and distress. Apparently, spanking her wasn't enough for the hard ass tyrannical Hunter, he had the audacity to take away her privacy too.
"Why the hell should I leave the door open?!" Ellie accused harshly in shocked abhorrence, her voice sharp and bold feeling the tears that she held in her eyes blur her vision further as the pain consumed her tired body. "Am I not allowed privacy? Do you want to see me take a piss?" Ellie riled grievously upset at the lack of regard she was being shown, but mostly because she was absolutely crushed as the man had just unfairly snatched away her one opportunity to cry in private. How dare he take that from her? Not only had she endured a horrible night and freaking spanking too boot, but she wasn't even given the right to cope the way she wanted to, the way she knew how, which was, in private, alone, where no one could witness her weakness. How could one be so cruel? Resentment boiled up in her chest driven by a deep encompassing pain that was rapidly rising to the surface.
"What if I had to take a shit? Would you let me close the door then?" Ellie spat spitefully leaning her torso forward slightly in an belligerent manner as she squeezed her fist at her sides even tighter, embedding her nails into the soft flesh of her palms, masking the intense fear and pain with directed anger at the overbearing Hunter. Not that she had to take care of business as the terrible night scared the piss and shit right out of her. She was to overcome with hurt to care about the crudeness of her questions or the rude deliverance of her words. In her young teenage mind, he was being outrageously unfair and she wasn't going to bend to his unjust command and she sure as hell wasn't going to willing expose her pain to them. This was her business. Her affair. Her problem and she did not want the outrageously intrusive Hunter prying into her private emotions.
Sam, who was wide awake hearing every heated word, rolled over on his bed reaching a long arm over the nightstand and swiftly flicked on the center wall lamps. Light cut against her blurry eyes sending a soft illuminating glow to all corners of the small motel room.
Ellie inwardly gasped feeling her chest cave in harshly as her limbs grew intensely stiff, the exposing light sending a horrible insecure fear to every square inch of her young body. Ellie's scowling face instantly faltered as her mouth parted a touch, a shocked paleness crossing over her careworn expression looking helplessly vulnerable and just plain scared like she had been caught doing some heinous act. Ellie's bottom lip trembled involuntarily making her press her lips together in a feeble attempt to hide it. The glistening tears that she held so desperately in her hurt filled eyes finally spilled over and cascaded down her rosy freckled cheeks, her russet brown eyes never blinking once as she stared at the men dismally spent.
A swift and painful blow knocked into Dean's chest harshly as his attentive eyes took in the vulnerable little girl in front of him. The sharp lines of his stern expression softened a touch eyeing her with a steady solemn awareness. Without the protection of her ballcap, Dean could see every inch of the teenager's unmasked pain that riddled her young face with a helpless vulnerably that she clearly wished hide. The young girl appeared absolutely horrified as both the Hunter's eyes laid upon her as her pain and fear was exposed to them like an open book for them to read. Although, Dean was waiting and hoping for that numbing stoic mask of her's to disappear, he did not anticipate the shocking pain it caused him to witness it. It cut him straight to his core not just because of the intensity of his care for her, but he could practically see the shadow of his younger himself reflecting in the young girl's wary despondent eyes.
Ellie turned her head to the side casting her eyes to the dark grey carpet unable to look at the men.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Ellie grieved out in a sorrowful and dejected tone, pain and vulnerability cracking into her desperate words as she wished she could just crawl into a hole as misplaced embarrassment and insecurity began to consume her. She might as well have been standing there stark naked as that's how it felt.
She was supposed to be tough and brave, be able to hold it together no matter what, not only because it reassured the people she cared about, but cracking under the emotional distress of the Hunt made her feel fearfully weak. And the very idea of weakness scared the living hell out of the young teenager. She needed to believe she was strong, capable, and enduring in this harsh world, if not, she was as good as dead and, no matter how much the little girl wished to detach herself from the notion, she simply did not want to die.
Unfortunately, Ellie had experienced the trauma of many Hunts before, perhaps more Hunts than any young girl her age ever should, and Ellie came to learn the aftermath of many of them were not always pretty. Sometimes she would have to cry out the pain of the trauma. Other times, she would be up all night jittery with intense and overwhelming anxiety, like she was hyped up on excessive amounts caffeine from her body's defensives still on high alert, never recovering from fight to stay alive. There were a couple times where she would even have to throw up from the burdening and intense stress a Hunt could bring upon her young body. However, more often than not, exhaustion would eventually take its toll and she would simply pass out, but, occasionally, when she couldn't, she would have to resort to sedating medication or, once, she was even desperate enough to down a shot of her uncle's whiskey to help knock herself out. Of course, without his knowledge as she would essentially be dead. Other times, she would go completely numb and not feel anything, and how she wished this was one of those times, but, sadly, it wasn't.
Without taking his intense eyes off of her for a second, Dean grabbed the edged of the center brown blanket and top sheet flinging the covers off of his legs before shifting his body off the mattress into a standing position in between the two beds. His board back covering the wall lamps behind him as he stood there with his posture straight appearing stoically poised, his masculine featuring lined with an intensely solemn expression. However, there was an unrecognizable softness glinting in his green eyes as he regarded her purposefully and directly like she, all of a sudden, was the only important thing in the room.
"Cause despite what you think, you're not alone, kid." Dean expressed calmly, but there was a firmness to his tone that held a compellingly strong resolve that almost made Ellie inclined to believe him as she felt her heart physically lurch in response as he evidently suggested she had them to rely on, opening up the idea that she could come to them in her times of need.
"Now, come here." Dean ordered surprisingly gently, his deep vocals rumbling in his chest soothingly as he lifted up his arm and casually wagged two fingers towards himself in a beckoning motion for her to come to him before letting it fall back at his side.
Despite the rush of warmth she felt in his reassurance, Ellie found her defensive heart pushing against it as learned experience taught her to keep her carefully built walls protected and spare herself the pain of the inevitable disappointment and heartache that was sure to come later on. It always came.
"Why?" Ellie countered with mistrust, her dark brows furrowing deeply as the last time he told her to come to him she got her ass spanked. Not that she thought he was going to receive a second licking, but it was said out of a slighted bitterness she was holding towards the Hunter. And while that was partly true, the main reason was the insecure fear of being vulnerable with the man she was certain would eventually lose his care for her.
"So, I can hold you and you can cry it out." Dean calmly explained in a direct and blunt manner, his deep voice rumbling out smooth and confident.
Ellie pressed her lips together stubbornly feeling frustration build up against her emotional nerves.
"I don't want to cry it out and I don't need you to hold me like some baby. I just need a minute to myself. I'll be fine. Now, can you just leave me alone for one freaking minute?" Ellie begged desperately, a hard frustration lined her words as she pushed back against the comfort being offered knowing that if she opened herself up to get close to these men in that way, she would just wind up getting hurt because she knew Hunters protected their family and their family alone. When it came down to it, she would be cast away and she simply couldn't bear the pain it would bring upon her young heart. She was just tired of hurting so damn much. Besides, she was still desperately clinging onto the notion that she needed to hide her emotions so she would be looked upon as capable and reliable when the time came for more Hunts. She fiercely wanted to believe that once she got over this emotional barrier she would 'fine' again and everything would be hunky-fucking-dory.
"No, young lady. Now, come here." Dean ordered a bit of firmness coming back into his deep voice. He was done waiting for her stubborn ass to let go and accept the fact that she needed a damn hug. He gave her plenty of time to come to terms with it on her own, but it seemed the willful girl needed a firmer approach. It was flat-out unhealthy what she was attempting to do and while Dean understood it, wholeheartedly, as he tired the same things and even worse as a child, that did not mean he was going to allow it. She needed let herself feel whatever the hell she was feeling before she could move on and overcome it. Not to mention he had just whupped her for lying and, if Dean was being honest with himself, he needed just as much as Ellie did.
"Please, Dean?" Ellie begged desperately, a whiny tone creeping into her young voice in a last stich effort to get the man to reconsider and allow her to do what she wanted, but it seemed the steadfast man was determined to disappoint her.
"Now." Dean punctuated firmly in a sharp tone that cut right through Ellie's stubborn core feeling her body shatter in contradiction of both grave disappointment and forced relief as two more tears dripped from her subdued eyes sliding down the sides of her lightly freckled cheeks. Confusing emotions consumed her young mind as she tried to make sense of all that she was feeling, but, in the end, she found her tired-self defeated.
Ellie dopped her gaze to the carpet hanging her head low in sad acceptance and, before she even realized it, her heavy reluctant limbs began to slowly trudge towards Dean, looking like a kicked puppy that was being sent to the gallows. With her eyes still directed towards the carpet, Ellie settled her feet only a few steps away from him feeling her body closed in on itself as she slumped her shoulders inwardly in a shy manner.
"Christ, kid. You'd think I was gonna to spank you again." Dean admonished gently shaking his head as he looked down at the top of her head, taking in her downtrodden posture that was deflated in a defeat, utterly baffled at her intensely stubborn push back against a little comfort. Although not entirely comfortable with it himself, as he never fully excelled in the sharing and caring of feelings, the fact remained that she was a little girl, who needed reassurance and damn clear reality check that she was not alone. While he had the urge to pass the hugging and touchy feeling stuff to his brother, who seemed to have a talent for words and expressing his feelings, Dean was aware of the fact that she needed his reassure, since she seemed to think hiding out in the bathroom was preferable than coming to him, which surprisingly offended him in a way. Although, he supposed he didn't really give her much incentive, he probably was not her favorite person at the moment since he was the reason for her smarting ass. However, Dean was not trying to win a popularity contest with her, he was trying to keep her alive and if that meant getting tough on her and she resented him for it, well, so be it. He, sadly, was prepared to bear that burden if it came to it.
With her head dipped down and her attention still directed at the man's black socked feet, Ellie stood in front of the man awkwardly stiff as she gripped and fiddled with the fabric of her light washed jeans at her sides feeling a grave discomfort of insecure fear consume her.
Dean found himself sighing out a hallowed breath through his nose feeling an encumbering heaviness weigh against his heart.
"Alright, stubborn girl, come here and let me hug you." Dean ordered calmly, his baritone voice rumbling soothingly and softly against his vocal cords, as he grabbed a hold of her forearm and tugged her towards him before wrapping his toned muscular arms around the vulnerable girl's small frame in a warm tight embrace.
Ellie's flushed cheek pressed against the solid muscles of his broad chest feeling her body fill with a shocking warmth as an instant and powerful relief of comfort consumed her. Ellie found herself turning her neck until her forehead and nose pressed against his solid sternum as she lifted her slim arms up and wrapped them around the man's mid-section returning the embrace feeling herself accept the man's desire to give her the affection, something she secretly craved and desperately needed despite her insecure push back. There was something within the man's warm deliverance of the hug that seemed to seep within the young girl's being traveling down to her core giving her a profound sense of security and reassuring relief. Ellie rubbed her forehead and the bridge of her nose back and forth against the man's strong chest once taking in the familiar scent of the Hunter, finding comfort in the woody musk, leather and gun oil that seemed to linger on the man, before pressing her cheek back against the muscles of his sturdy chest. It was then that Ellie let go and allowed the repressed sobs she had kept locked in her chest to be released, finally vocalizing her pain. She didn't cry loudly, but within the quiet room, it carried and the sounds of her pain could be heard clearly.
Dean breathed out a troubled sigh from his nose as he closed his eyes feeling a burning pain bleed and spread within his chest. Although, there was a relief from the kid allowing herself to feel, that did not mean it did not hurt his burdened heart to hear a child cry from distress, a child who he was finding he cared about far more than he ever expected, to such an intense extent that it was shocking the shit out of him. Dean secured his bare toned arm along the length of her shoulder blades gripping his large palm around her slim shoulder as pressed her further into his body in a protective and tender manner. He found himself rubbing a soothing palm in a circular motion around the center of her back as he leaned the side of his head downward gently resting it on the top of her small cranium.
"I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything." Ellie hitched between sobs as she turned her face into Dean's sternum once again rubbing her tears and snot into the black fabric of Dean's black cotton t-shirt. Ellie sniffled lightly as she attempted to get her tears under control. "I'm just tired and-and scared. Ellicott did something to me and it really hurt. I-I said all of those awful things, I shot you both. I lied because I thought it would make things better, but it didn't, all it did was make you even more mad at me and now on top of everything my butt hurts. Tonight was just h-horrible and I wish it never happened. Why'd you have to spank me for lying too?" The words were pouring out of Ellie like a bucket as all the emotional pain that had been consuming her were being released onto the man who gladly took it all.
Dean closed his eyes once again feeling the shards of Ellie's pain filled words hit his burdened heart. Despite hating giving the kid a spanking and wishing he could have spared her from the extra discomfort on her already troubled mind, for whatever reason, Dean still found himself not regretting it. Unfortunately, they weren't in a Brady Bunch Sitcom and the world they lived in was not all beers and skittles, it was hard, unforgiving and just plain cruel, and no matter how unfair it may seem, the supernatural world was not going take into account the fact that Ellie was just a little girl. Her survival was in their hands and while punishing the girl was no picnic for either party involved, in Dean's mind, a little discomfort now, was sure as hell better than dead later. The man was determind to do whatever was in his power to give her the best chance at making it in this dangerous world and, unfortunately, the path she was taking in lying to them was a dangerous and unacceptable game to be playing, and if good spanking got the willful girl even to think about honesty next time, well, he would count that as a win in his book.
"Cause I care, kid." Dean responded honestly in a calm, almost gentle manner that held a strong level of simple openness to it.
Ellie felt her chest blossom with an unexpected radiant of warmth as she pressed her body tighter to the man's solid frame gripping fist full of his black t-shirt from behind his back. He cared. Those simple words seemed to sink into the girl's heart and make a home there. While Ellie still held onto the notion that it wouldn't last, right now, he cared and that was enough to making the weight of everything more bearable. The ache that encompassed her backside seemed to subside as the bitterness of being whupped was overshowed by the man's open care for her.
The girl's sobs soon died down into sniffles and Dean released her from his warm embrace placing his two heavy palms on her slim shoulders as he gently pulled her away at arm's length.
Keeping her head down, Ellie sniffled as she ran the back of her hand under her nose ridding her of the watery left-over snot that had trickled down her nostrils that Dean's shirt front did not catch. With her other hand Ellie quickly swiped her fingers across one cheek than the other ensuring she had removed the evidence of her intense sob fest which she was now feeling embarrassed and a little awkward over. However, it seemed the man who stood above her didn't mind in the slightest, in fact, there was a slight relief to his weary eyes as he looked down at her.
"Go give Sam a hug so we all can get some damn sleep." Dean ordered gesturing to the side towards his brother who gladly got out of bed to give the teenager some added reassurance that he too cared.
Ellie nodded in response as she moved to walk around the foot of the far queen bed where Sam met her. Ellie fidgeted with her hands in front nervously twisting and fiddling with her fingers feeling an awkward embarrassment come over her knowing he had witness her openly crying, hanging her emotion out there like a billboard advertisement. Ellie tilted her head up to look at the tall Hunter who gave her a warm and encouraging smile. Sam hazel eyes regarded the girl with a soft affection as took in her flushed pink complexion and red rimmed russet brown eyes that were hooded with wariness. Her dark brown braids that were messy and loosened by the tribulations of the night dangled past her shoulders swaying a touch at her fidgety movements. Without the coverage of her beloved ballcap, her oval shaped face and feminine youthful features stood out more prominently making her look like the young thirteen-year-old she was and Sam could help, but favor that. He felt he could see her more clearly taking away some of the stoic and maturing affects Hunting could give a teenager.
Sam spread his long toned arms out towards her and Ellie all, but rushed two hurried stepped into the man's broad chest who happily pulled her against his solid frame embracing her warmly with a simple, but strong affection. Ellie wrapped her arms around the man's mid-section pressing the side of her cheek against the lower portion of his broad chest taking note of the 4-inch height difference.
"I feel like a baby." Ellie muttered off-handedly surprising herself that she even cared to comment and shine a light on her immaturity and weakness. However, if she was being honest with herself, the young teenager was just subconsciously testing the waters to see that her excessive acceptance and desire for comfort wasn't ridiculous or off putting to the two Hunters. Hunters were not known for their sentimental nature.
"What you encountered was disturbing and very scary and it is nothing to brush off so lightly, Elena." Sam informed in calm, but serious manner, the rumbling sounds of his soothing voice vibrating against her flushed cheek. "There is no shame in needing to cry. Believe it or not, it's natural and healthy. We know you're a tough kid, but never feel like you can't come to us. Like Dean said, you're not alone. And honestly, we would be more concerned if you didn't cry." Sam explained pointedly trying to bring light on the importance of releasing emotions in a healthy way rather than attempting bury them. Although, it was a common and understandable coping mechanism used by many Hunters and often seen as necessary at times to get you through the trauma, it was gravely burdening and not something a thirteen-year-old girl should be practicing.
"You and Dean ain't crying." Ellie pointed out as she pulled her cheek away from the man's chest craning her head to look upward at Sam's face, while still keeping her arms securely around his mid-section, not ready to give up the hug just yet. However, before she could even take in the man's expression, Dean's sharp voice rang out making her jerk her attention towards the center walkway between the queen beds where he stood.
"Jesus Christ, kid." Dean admonished, a slight bite of annoyance entering in his tone. "You are a thirteen-year-old little girl. I don't know why the hell you keep thinking you're freaking an adult." Dean informed finding it damn frustrating that the kid couldn't grasp the fact that she was not adult, let alone just barely a teenager.
"We don't expect you to have the temperament of someone twice your age, kiddo, and neither should you." Sam informed leveling a seriousness in his calm tone making Ellie draw her attention back up to the man who was looking down at her with a gentle sternness as he attempted to explain the reason in a straight forward manner which, he was coming to find out, Ellie seemed to respond better to.
"Dean and I have seen a lot more than you, but that still doesn't mean even we don't cry sometimes." Sam enlightened attempting to show her that 'crying' wasn't reserved for weak people nor did it exclude Hunters. Sam knew all too well that hunting often numbed and desensitized you from the countless horrors witnessed by the nature of the gig, but Hunters, like citizens, were human and human's cry.
Ellie's lips parted slightly as she blinked her brown russet eyes up at him with an innocent realization glinting within her youthful expression. She had never truly witnessed Hunters crying. Citizens and children, of course, but never Hunters. From Ellie's experience and young perspective, Hunters were hard and rough characters with an uncanny and commendable ability to remain composed and level headed in dangerous and stressful situations. Ellie hadn't even witnessed her uncle shed a tear in all her thirteen years of life, not even when her step dad died and that was his brother.
Sam lips twitched up into a small sympathetic smile at her innocence appreciating it for what it was worth. She was a tough little girl, there was no doubt about that, but she was, still, just a little girl.
"Alright, if you both are done with your 'chick flick' moment, I'd like to get some sleep." Dean announced a bit grumpier than he intended, but the man was beat tired and he desperately needed some rest and recovery after tonight. They all did.
"Alright, jerk." Sam countered lightly before tilting his head down and absentmindedly planting a small kiss on the top of the young girl's hairline. Ellie felt herself suck in a short stream of air at the unexpected small kiss she was granted. Although it seemed Sam did it on impulse and in a casual, somewhat distracted manner, Ellie found herself taken back by the small display of simple affection. It safe to say she was not kissed very often and while her uncle saw fit to do the same every now and then, it was, sadly, few and far between, that she received that type of affection from anyone.
Completely clueless to the girl's bafflement, Sam released his hold on her and grabbed her slim shoulder before rotating her frame around to face the other direction giving her a light and encouraging push in between her shoulder blades setting her feet into motion. It seemed once the initial surprise wore off from being kissed, Ellie found her lips hooking up into a small shy smile of simple contentment. It was nice. Unexpected and a little bit awkward, but nice.
"Bitch." Dean retorted back before wadding up his black t-shirt he had just taken off and chucking it at his brother in sibling jest which Sam quickly caught and immediately hurled it back at him.
The shirt simply plopped against the side of Dean's bare bicep and cast to the floor in between the two beds as the tired man slid his heavy body onto the mattress and under the covers. Dean reached up to flick off the double wall lamps that sat above the bedside table before turning to look over his bare shoulder at Ellie who had settled herself on her stomach pulling the covers over herself. Once Ellie had stopped shifting and Sam had settled himself onto his bed, Dean flicked off the light sending darkness back onto the room once again. The exhausted Hunter adjusted the back of his head on the cool pillow as he interlocked his fingers together resting them on top of the covers along his broad chest as he shut his eyes that were burning with weariness.
"Uh, Dean?" Ellie's small voice hesitantly piped up against the silence.
Dean slowly blinked his green eyes back open feeling a grave annoyance cave against his chest. He was going to kill this kid.
"What?" Dean asked trying his best to keep the grumpiness out of his voice, but not succeeding in the slightest.
Not missing the clear irritation in the man's tone, Ellie licked her dry lips nervously as she stared at the decretive divider across from her trying to muster up the courage to ask the men the burning question that had been sitting in her mind for quite some time now. And while Ellie knew it was probably best to just let it go, it was weighing annoyingly heavily on her curiosity and Ellie found her inquisitive-self unable to bear it. She just had know.
"How-How did you know I was lying?" Ellie dared to ask feeling her body tense with anticipation, not bothering to turn her head around to face the man directly as she hoped wouldn't be too irritated at her for asking. It was just a question after all and, as far as Ellie could tell, there was no harm in just telling her. Right?
Despite the ping of annoyance Dean felt at being kept from sleep and Ellie's nosy question, the Hunter found the sides of his lips twitching up slightly regardless as he slowly closed his eyes again. At least she was consistent.
"With my psychic powers, kid." Dean deadpanned dryly not having the will, the energy, nor the desire to inform the teenager on how he knew what he knew. As far as Dean was concerned, she didn't need to know a damn thing except to not underestimate his ability to see past the bullshit nor his proficiency to spank her bottom red for blatant dishonesty.
Despite the absurd notion, Ellie's jaw dramatically dropped open in offense feeling a small knot of worry tighten her chest nonetheless leaving her curiosity frustratingly unsatisfied. Ellie's brain whirled with the possibilities, but none left her even remotely convinced. Unless he also encountered Ellicott? But when the hell did that happen? God, she knew she shouldn't have asked.
"Now, go to sleep. That's an order, not a suggestion, young lady." Dean's deep voice declared an edge of impatience rising in his tone which luckily Ellie's mind registered loud and clear, the dull ache in her backside providing a strong motivation to not test the grumpy man. Ellie closed her weary eyes and before the little girl even had a moment to contemplate further on the curious notion, exhaustion took over and, much to the Hunter's satisfaction, she was fast asleep.
TBC
Well, I hope you enjoyed that chapter. I know I'm not the best at writing the 'comforting' aspects, but I just can't do sappiness, it, unfortunately, makes me cringe.
I would appreciate reviews, comments, suggestions, critiques, etc. It would be a big help to me.
Next chapter – 'Mr. Winchester'. Stay tuned.
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Thank you for reading!