Chapter Nine: Not Without a Fight
Between the bottle of wine and her favorite Chinese dish, Bonnie was buzzing. It didn't help that Dean was charming the hell out of her with those golden green eyes and full lips. He was animatingly telling her a story of when Sam was caught in a time loop and the hundred and three different ways he died, which she would have found hard to believe if he wasn't the one telling her.
"I got hit by a car, electrocuted, had a piano fall on me," he grinned when Bonnie clutched her stomach with laughter. "And Sam's personal favorite, death by taco, bringing the grand total to a hundred and three. Oh uh, hundred and five if you count the times I actually died. I gotta say, getting ripped apart by hellhounds was one of the ones I wish I couldn't remember." He laughed it off, but she could tell it still cut him deep. "What about you, any crazy near-death experiences?"
Bonnie chuckled, placing her wine back on the coffee table. "Plenty. But I've only died twice." She faced him, tucking her legs under her, getting comfortable. "I wouldn't say they were quite as traumatic, but I have some stories." She smiled, a bright flash of her teeth.
He gave her his full attention. "Well, let's hear'em." He waved her on, good naturedly. He would gladly sit here and let her tell him her whole life story if she wanted to. He realized that he'd never had this before; a connection with a woman that went further than the bedroom, especially talking about hunting.
"Okay, well I spend freshman year of college as a ghost. That was fun. And the only way to bring me back was if I became the anchor to the other side. Basically, straddling this world and the afterlife. Every supernatural being that died had pass through me to cross over." The thought still made her skin crawl. "And that was no cake walk. But when the other side came crumbling down, I went with it. So did Damon."
"To the prison world, right?" Dean was starting to piece together her life as she told him, and he couldn't help but admire how strong she was. The challenges she faced, the bravery she had; he was impressed. It did occur to him that she spent four months there…with a vampire. With Damon, specifically, and his mind couldn't help but wonder how they spent that time.
She seemed surprised he remembered; she only mentioned it briefly in passing to him and his brother. "Yeah." She smiled. "I also did a spell using hellfire that shut the gates of hell, so…" she added nonchalantly.
Dean's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "That was you?"
"You heard about that, huh." She flushed a little, her nose scrunching in a way he found adorable.
He laughed. "Yeah! There are a few demons I exorcized that don't have very nice things to say about you." He remembered one mentioning the witch bitch in Virgina; never would he have thought it was Bonnie.
"I can imagine." she chuckled. She took a moment to look at him and bask. "Do you every think about what it would have been like…if you stayed?" she asked him hesitantly.
"All the time." He answered quickly and unabashedly. "You know, I've never had a normal life. But every time I thought about what it would be like, you were the one I pictured it with. I don't know how, but you stuck with me Bon…" The words came out husky, and a little insecure, something Dean wasn't familiar with. Fifteen years later and she still made him nervous.
"You stuck with me too." She breathed, before her eyes dropped to his lips. In a bold move, she leaned in capturing his lips with hers, slow and soft, and it felt like coming home after being eons away.
Dean pulled her closer, allowing her to straddle his hips and deepen the kiss further. One hand cradled her face while the other coasted down her back, slipping under her shirt and holding her tighter to him. He could feel her trembling under his fingertips and she clenched her thighs around him, eliciting a moan from deep in his throat. This was different from their last kiss; it wasn't demanding or desperate. And much different from the night in the impala; tentative and unsure. They knew who they were now, and there was confidence exuding from both of them as they moved against each other with certitude.
She panted as she pulled away, and Dean took the opportunity to kiss the silky column of her neck. Bonnie's eyes were clouded with lust and desire when she looked down at him, slowly slipping off his lap while never pulling her gaze from his. He was looking up at her, lips parted, and captivated when she grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. No words needed to be said as she led him up the stairs to her room, and Dean's hands never stopped their exploration of her; resting on her hips, pausing on the landing to yank her flush against him, and bury his nose between her neck and shoulders. He hummed in approval at the gasp that left her lips at his firm grip.
Time lost meaning; she had no idea how long they spent locked her room, tussling naked between the sheets, relearning each others bodies and relishing in the different moans and gasps they extracted. Bonnie felt pleasantly numb, laying in his arms as his fingers gently combed through her hair where her head rested on his bare chest. She could hear the steady thumping of his heart, and it nearly lulled her to sleep.
"Bonnie…?" The deep timber of his voice was whispered against the crown if her head.
"Mhm?" Her eyes stayed closed, but a sleepy smile pulled on her lips.
"What if I did stay?"
Her head snapped up to look at him, stars in her eyes. "Really?"
The happiness in her tone was a relief, and he graced her with an elated smile. "Yeah. I mean, I'll still have to travel for cases, but it would be nice to have someone to come back to." He swallowed the tightness in his throat. "Who knows, maybe you can even come along for the ride." He wouldn't tell her that he'd fantasized about her riding shotgun in Baby, her hand out the window and her bare feet on the dash…he wouldn't even be mad at her for it.
Bonnie sat up, holding the sheet to her chest. Her hair curtained her face when she looked down on him. "I would love that." She bit her lip and his gaze was immediately drawn to it. "You sure Sam won't mind? I wouldn't be cramping your whole 'brothers on the road' vibe?"
Dean brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and she nuzzled into it. "He won't mind. May have to get separate motel rooms though…that could be awkward." He chuckled when she giggled, giving him a playful shove. "Having a witch around will come in handy…and I gotta say watching you in action is pretty damn sexy."
"You haven't seen anything yet." She teased with a sultry squint of her eyes, and he felt himself harden again. "I'm parched; you want something?" she asked slipping out of bed, completely unashamed of her nudity.
Dean lolled his head to the side, watching her adoringly as she slinked into a purple silk robe that fell just under the curve of her ass. "A beer would be awesome. Hey." He grabbed her wrist yanking her back to fall into the bed with a squeal. He stole a heated kiss that made her stagger back to her feet with a drunken laugh. "Don't be long."
"Okay." She squeaked out, a flush tinting her cheeks. She was walking on cloud nine as she skipped down the stairs, replaying the night over in her head as she floated around the kitchen humming a lyrical tune. She scurried back towards the stairs, two beers between the fingers on her right hand when the hair on the back of her neck stood up and a gust of wind followed. Bonnie paused, turning slowly to see Damon standing in her foyer. "Damon…" she breathed, unsure of what to say.
His eyes were glaring up the stairs. "He's still here, isn't he?" His tone was deep and dangerous.
"It's not a good time." She whispered uncomfortably.
His glare fixed on her. "I came here to apologize. To talk about earlier. But I guess you're…tied up." Damon snapped fiercely taking in her state of undress; her nipples poking through the thin silk, and her toned thighs peeking from under the hem.
"What do you want from me, Damon?" Mindful of her volume, she hissed back, anger rising. "You come in here, acting like I owe you something when you were the one that walked away first. There was a time when I would have fallen for it; the possessiveness, jealousy, the 'this is our chance' speech…but not now." He blinked, surprised by her hushed outburst. "It's too late."
He looked crestfallen. "Bonnie…" he pleaded, stepping closer and reaching for her. "I know you don't mean that."
Bonnie backed away. "I'm sorry. You have to go." She uttered quietly, tightening her robe around her with her free hand.
"Bon? All good down there?" Both of their heads snapped to the voice from upstairs; one panicked the other sneering.
"I'll be up in a second!" She called back up, hoping he didn't come investigate. "Please go." She urged to Damon, pushing him towards to door.
Damon stopped it before it closed, a heavy palm holding it in place. "This isn't over." He promised, but it didn't hold its usual edge. Instead, his tone was gentle a vow that he wasn't giving up on her.
When he disappeared off her porch, Bonnie closed the door behind him silently, resting her back on it and looking skyward as she let out a deep breath. How had she gotten herself into this mess? Bonnie barely had one guy catching her interest, now she was stuck in some crazy Vampire/Hunter love triangle? She scoffed a laugh at herself. This was a mess Elena would have found herself in.
She made her way back upstairs, and the second she lay eyes on the handsome man naked in her bed, all her worries dissipated.
…
Hope walked into the parlor room of the school to find Damon a bottle deep in Kentucky bourbon, slumped in a high back chair. "Well, you look like trash." She smirked, barbing with him in their usual banter.
"I feel like it." He grumbled back.
Hope reeled back, surprised that he didn't clap back like he usually did. Everyone was meeting here soon, waiting for Castiel's update on the Lucifer situation. She came to stand in from of him, and crossed her arms. "What's up with you? You're broodier than usual."
Damon brought the last of the amber liquid to his mouth. "Don't want to talk about it."
She nodded in understanding. "Bonnie." He snapped his gaze up to her. "She's the only one that can get your panties in a twist like this." She sat on the chair across from him, crossing her legs. "So…what happened?"
He narrowed his eyes. "Who are you Dr. Phil? What part of 'I don't want to talk about it' did you not get?"
"You're mad at me. I get it." Her lips twisted as she looked down at her hands. "I said some things. Things I shouldn't have said."
The vampire released a heavy sigh. "You meant it though. And you were right." He conceded in defeat. "She didn't choose me. And it's my fault."
She bit down on her lips. "I'm sorry. I was really rooting for you two. Look Damon, I know we aren't friends or anything and my opinion probably doesn't matter to you but, if you love her…" He fixed her with wild look in his blue eyes, wondering if he was really that transparent. "You shouldn't let her go without a fight."
A few seconds later, people started filing in; Caroline and Ric, then Matt with Sam not far behind, and finally, Bonnie and Dean, having a hushed conversation he didn't bother listening in on. Damon forced himself to his feet, moving to the other side of the room, as far as he could be without being obvious. Instead, he busied himself at the wet bar, while Ric closed the rolling doors behind them. The vampire could smell them all over each other, and it was enough to make his blood boil. And while she wasn't rubbing it in his face by holding his hand or leaning into his side, it was clear to him that they were tethered by some invisible thread, never more than a foot between them as they settled in.
"Alright Cas…" he looked up. "We're all here. Whaddya got?"
Nearly everyone jumped at the angel's sudden arrival except Sam, Dean and of course Damon, who barely bothered to acknowledge his presence at all. "Hello Dean."
Caroline blinked. "That will never not be weird." Cas had pulled a Houdini on her more than once in her trip to the past, and it always caught her off guard.
"Thank you all for coming. All the angels in heaven are grateful for your assistance." He uttered evenly, glancing around the room. Damon scoffed, rolling his eyes as he poured another drink.
Bonnie did her best to ignore the response. "Whatever we can do to help."
"What did you find out?" Sam asked in concern.
"Lucifer has found a vessel. It won't hold him for long; he'll be searching for his permanent host." His eyes drifted to Sam before averting his gaze.
Ric frowned, crossing his arms. "And what does that mean exactly?"
"Angels, unlike demons need consent from the body they possess. Arch angels, Lucifer specifically, have a host here on Earth that is a perfect genetic and celestial match; a vessel that he can maintain permanently." He explained.
"Well, what happens if he doesn't find his vessel?" Caroline asked, a frown deepening her brow.
Cas turned to her. "He will. But he will burn through multiple others before he does."
"Wait, 'burn through'?" Matt piped up. "Burn through how?"
Dean shot him a sympathetic look. "The people that get possessed by angels…they don't usually survive."
"But we can stop him before it gets to that." Sam brought the attention back to Castiel. "Do you know where he is?"
"Missouri."
"Well…" The younger Winchester started. "Let's hit the road then." He stated in a 'what are we waiting for' tone.
Castiel's eyes darkened ominously. "I strongly suggest against it. Dean, can I have a word with you?" Dean just looked at him expectantly. "In private."
Dean and Sam exchanged curious frowns. "Uh, yeah…sure." He offered Bonnie a reassuring smile, resting his hand on her shoulders as he followed Castiel into another room. The angel touched a hand to his shoulder, and they both found themselves outside on the other side of the school.
"We should be out of the vampires earshot here."
Dean took a moment to sort out his surroundings. "What's going on? You're acting all dodgy."
A quizzical frown pinched his brows. "Dodgy?"
"You know, dodgy, cagey, shifty…"
"I'm not familiar with these words."
Dean rolled his eyes. Sometimes talking to Cas was like talking to a baby in a trench coat. "You're acting weird Cas, like you know something we don't. And what can you say to me that you can't say in from of Sam?"
"It's imperative that Sam stay as far away from Lucifer as possible." He avoided the question by delivering the calamitous warning.
"Why?"
"Sam is like a beacon. He may already be on his trail." Castiel continued, ignoring Dean's inquiry.
Dean blinked holding up a hand. "Wait, hold on...what are you talking about? Why would Lucifer be looking for Sam?" his voice was rising in panic.
"Dean…" the angel began regretfully. "Sam is Lucifer's true vessel."
The hunter's face lost colour, and a muscle feathered in his jaw. "What?" He hissed darkly, stepping forward intimidatingly. "And you've known that this whole time, and you haven't told us why?"
"I was only recently made aware of it myself. Zachariah has also been…dodgy, as you so put it. I fear he hasn't been as transparent with me as I first thought." His eyes narrowed in pensive thought.
Dean was pacing the ground running his hands over his face. "He's not getting Sam, Cas. I will kill him with my bare hands and die trying before I let him possess my brother." He threatened menacingly, and he meant every word. "Why is it always, Sammy?" he whispered more to himself.
"That's not all." Dean glance at him sharply, and Castiel continued. "The apocalypse is meant to begin when brother meets brother in battle. In this case, Lucifer and Michael."
The Winchester's eyes widened. "Michael? The arch angel Michael?"
"Yes. When Lucifer rises, Michael must strike him down and restore order here on Earth. But in order to do so…he must also find his perfect vessel." Castiel added lowly.
Dean stared at him. "Why are you looking at me like that? Cas, tell me you're not saying what I think your saying?" He demanded, his voice raising with each word. The look on the angel's face said it all. "Tell me I'm not supposed to be the one to kill my brother, Castiel!?" He never used his full name.
"I wish it weren't so." He stated sympathetically. "But it is written."
"No, no! Not happening! I won't say yes to Michael, and Sam won't say yes to Lucifer, so I don't care what is written, it's not happening!" He bellowed. He watched the conflict wash over the angel, and he eyed him warily. "Are you with us? Can we trust you?"
Castiel stepped towards him. "I have always been considered an outcast among my peers. With every opportunity to do the right thing by their standards, I fail. This, my mission, pulling you from Hell was meant to be a chance to redeem myself in their eyes." Dean frowned, wondering if the angel would abandon them to handle this on their own. "I suppose another disappointment won't make a difference." He straightened, holding his head high. "Yes. I'm with you, Dean."
Dean released a relieved breath. "Thank you, Cas. I won't let you regret this."
…
Bonnie could hear everyone talking around her, but she was watching Damon, who kept to himself, quietly drinking in what used to be his favorite chair. He had his focus on a heavy book in his lap but he seemed to feel her eyes on him, and looked up. There was no avoiding it now, she knew she had to talk to him…but not here.
She walked past him, up the two steps and through the doorway to the hall, and he was quick to follow her, snapping the book shut and gracefully lifting his feet off the ottoman and rising to full height. She was waiting for him, arms crossed and guarded. "I'm surprised you're here…after the way we left things last night." She finished looking down at her feet.
"We had a fight. It's not the first time, and it won't be the last. But this is business." He responded in a neutral tone.
She looked up at him, impressed. "That's...awfully mature of you. I was expecting you to make this difficult."
Damon backed her against the hallway wall, trapping her and brushing a strand away from her face. "Oh I don't intend to make this easy for you, Bon-Bon…or your new boyfriend. You should know by now that I don't give up when I want something." His eyes dropped to her lips. "You being the one I want." He breathed inches away from her face.
Bonnie swallowed, trying to avoid the ocean pools looking down at her. Her palms pressed against his chest, desperate for the space to regain control of his proximity. "Damon, please…we can't."
Damon huffed, stepping back with an irritated glare. "Why? Because of him?" he frowned. "You've known him for what, five minutes?" he snapped back. They had history; years of it. Not all of it good, but that's what made what they had so special. They overcame so much to get here and she was willing to throw that all away for a guy she knew over a decade ago?
She looked skyward exasperatedly. "I wouldn't expect you to understand."
"Try me."
Bonnie took a moment to collect her thoughts. "When I met him, I was just living in Elena's shadow. I was the quiet one; no one even looked at me twice. But Dean…he saw me. Being with him, even if it was short lived…it made me confident, it made me find myself." She fixed him with a pointed look. "And I was always his first choice. Even now."
Her words hit him like a blow to the chest. She thought she was his second choice? That he only wanted her because Elena was no longer an option? For some reason that made him furious. "Is that what you think? That I only want to be with you now because Elena is out of the picture?" She shrugged cooly. "You have no idea how wrong you are. Don't you get it, Bonnie? Kai forced me to choose…you or Elena, and you are the one standing in front of me, not because it was what Elena wanted but because I couldn't stand the thought of losing you…again." He was closing the distance between them again, and this time she didn't stop him. "I was willing to let you shove a stake in my heart, because if that's how I go out, I wanted it to be you. All my life, all I've ever done is what was in my own best interest but you made me selfless. You make me want to be a better person, not because I should but because I want to! Doesn't that count for something?"
She reached out for him holding his hand in hers tightly. "Of course it does. You've come a long way, and I'm honored that I got to be a part of it. But Damon, this…us." Her brows slanted sadly. "The time has come and gone. I'm sorry." She slipped passed him her heart aching.
Damon let her walk away dejected, but then something in him snapped. He didn't let her get far, speeding behind her and grabbing her arm firmly, forcing her turn back to him. "I'm not letting you go without a fight." He vowed; his eyes wild like blue fire.
"It's not a competition, and I'm not a prize to be won." Bonnie yanked on her arm, but he didn't budge. "Let go of me." There was shock in her tone, when she glanced up and caught the intensity on his face. "Damon…" she chided.
"No…" He pulled her closer, desperate eyes flitting over her face. "Not this time. No more running." He cradled her cheeks gently, his thumbs brushing the soft skin there. Taking in a calming breath. "I love you, Bonnie. I have loved you since you jumped into my arms all those years ago. I never wanted to let you go." She closed her eyes, and a tear fell, hr lips twisting as she struggled keep her emotions at bay. "Just let me hear you say it, just once. So I know I'm not completely crazy." He begged, hope shining in his eyes.
When she looked at him, her eyes were glassy and heartbroken. "I did. I did love you, Damon." She pulled his hands off her face slowly, and her words made him happy and miserable all at the same time. "I'm so sorry." She sobbed forcing herself away from him, and down the hall away from the others, a trembling hand covering her mouth.
Damon was left in the hallway, staring off blankly, and when Bonnie was gone, his fist went through the wall.
…
AN: Oooohh DRAAAAAMA! Things are going to start getting messy! How do we think Damon is going to handle this? And what will Dean do when he finds out?
I really enjoyed writing both sides of this chapter; the Dean and Bonnie sweet interactions and the tense Damon and Bonnie drama.
Obviously, the way things play out in this story is not necessarily the way they played out in Supernatural, so forgive the liberties I've taken to mold this to my story.
I would love to hear what you think! - Vanessa