Chapter Four: Inseparable

The next morning, Dean knocked on Everly's door and walked in holding a cup of coffee for himself and a hot apple cider for her, smiling when he saw that she was already up and sitting in the window sill.

"I had a dream last night!" she greeted him with a blinding smile, getting up and crossing the room, motioning for him to come and sit with her at the table.

"Uh.. Congratulations?" Dean asked, handing her the warm drink.

"I think it was a dream about you, but it was fuzzy," Everly explained. "I don't think I've had a dream in a long time… Maybe Castiel knocked something loose?"

"Wanna tell me about it?" he prodded, taking a sip of his coffee, watching a blush color her cheeks and the tips of her ears as she glanced down at her drink.

"N-not really," Everly mumbled quietly, and Dean raised an eyebrow out of curiosity.

"C'mon, Ev, was it a good one?" Dean continued to dig, and she groaned, running a hand over her face.

"There was pie. Huckleberry, I think?" she finally spilled. "You looked so elated, and seeing you that happy made me happy too."

Dean grinned, remembering when she had introduced him to her mother's famous huckleberry pie. It was probably the best pie he'd ever had in his entire life.

"Cas'll be here soon. He said he had to pick something up before coming. Not sure what that's about," Dean said with a shrug. "Anything you wanna know about before he gets here?"

Everly glanced up at him from her drink, the rosy blush still present on her cheeks as she asked, "Did we go on other dates in high school?"

The question didn't surprise Dean anymore, he honestly looked forward to it. Something in him was always pleased when she asked about their relationship- that even without her memories, she wanted to know about them.

"Oh sweetheart, after that night at the drive-in, we were inseparable," Dean told her with a devious smile, thinking back on the memories. It had been his best three months of his young life, honestly.

"D'ya wanna come over after school?" Everly asked Dean as they walked from lunch to their next class, U.S. History. According to Shauna, they were officially an item now, and despite Everly's glares and Dean's eye rolling, they both knew it was true.

Other classmates whispered about Everly and the new kid, and word got around that they had been spotted together outside of school. Dale Bridger had seen them coming out of a photo booth at the arcade over the weekend, and it was apparently all anyone could talk about.

They'd taken it in stride, and Everly had put the photo strip up on the inside of her locker door.

"I gotta make sure it's okay with my brother," Dean answered without even thinking, knowing that he had to check that Sam would be alright on his own for a bit before making any plans.

"Cool, let me know. And you know, Sam can always come too. He and Rich seem to get along," Everly said with a shrug.

It was true- Everly's sophomore brother had found a fast friend in Sam after having met in the library, where they now spent their lunches together. Sammy wouldn't shut up about Rich and all of the book recommendations he got from him.

"You sure you want my kid brother hanging around?" Dean asked, uncertain with the offer.

"I don't mind at all, Dean. He's your brother, and he seems like he's a good kid. He and Rich could… keep each other entertained," she winked at him, and Dean felt his chest tighten.

"Well when you put it that way… How can I say no? I'll ask him if he wants to tag along after school," he flashed her a grin in response, his heart racing when she took his hand and tugged him closer, so their shoulders touched as they walked side by side.

Was this what being like a normal teenager was like? Or was it just the effect Everly had on him? Either way, Dean didn't care. He would do whatever he could to keep feeling the way he did in this very moment, his fingers laced with hers, soft skin grazing his. He could smell her perfume faintly, some floral thing that had been a gift from one of her aunts over the holidays. He had memorized the shape of the bottle that sat on her dresser in her bedroom, wondering if he'd be able to find it somewhere once he was back on the road with his family.

Dean didn't want to forget the way she smelled, how her eyes sparkled in even the dimmest of lighting, or how she would say his name whenever he was messing around with her, 'DeAAANn!'.

He didn't want to forget anything about her.

The four teens walked into the Manning residence after school that day, and Rich immediately pulled Sam down into the basement, where his comics and video games lived. Everly laughed at her over-eager brother, who was mumbling something about how excited he was to have a friend that was into the same stuff he was before she turned to Dean.

"Wanna go upstairs?" she asked, "My parents are at work. Mom won't be home 'till 6, at the earliest. Dad's… working late."

Dean nodded dumbly, and Everly grabbed his hand and pulled him up the stairs, down the hall and to the last door on the right.

Everly flipped the lights on and tossed her backpack on her desk chair, turning around to face Dean.

"Well, welcome to my room, I guess," she said with a wave of her hand. "Sorry it's kinda messy."

Dean looked around and saw that her room wasn't really that messy. Her lavender painted walls were covered with photos of friends and band posters, from classic rock to Green Day and Nirvana, and her queen sized bed was covered with floral sheets, the tiny flowers he didn't know the names of rumpled and unmade from when she got up in the morning. There were plants scattered on any available surface and one even hung from the ceiling, its long strands with full leaves spiraling toward the ground. A few shirts littered the hardwood floor, and a deep purple rug was under most of her bed.

"It's nice," he mused, not used to being in a space like this. The room was hers, she didn't have to share it with her brother, and it was permanent. There were two other doors, one was slightly open and looked like it led to a bathroom, and the other must've been to a closet.

"Thanks. Would you mind taking off your shoes, though? I should've asked downstairs, but I forget sometimes," Everly asked, slipping out of her own Vans as she spoke.

Dean nodded and quickly toed off his sneakers, setting them beside the door along with his backpack.

There was a small radio on Everly's bedside table, and she switched it on, smiling as a Beatles song filled the air. Shrugging off her jacket, she climbed onto her bed, inviting Dean to do the same.

"You sure you're okay with this?" Dean asked as he sat on the edge of the bed and faced her. He was 100% okay with whatever was about to happen, but needed to make sure she was too. This was all going to be on her terms, and he wasn't going to push her into anything she didn't want to do.

Everly leaned forward and used her fingertips to gently lift his chin so she could press a kiss to his lips, then smiling when she pulled away.

"Of course I'm okay with this. I wouldn't have invited you over if I wasn't."

That was all Dean needed to hear. He had Everly on her back in an instant, covering her in heated kisses that he had been dying to give her. He felt her hands in his short hair, tugging at the nape of his neck and pulling him closer, and he heard her moan softly when he hit a spot close to her ear. He immediately doubled his efforts, wanting to hear that sweet sound again.

Their after-school make-out sessions went on for weeks.

Hidden away in her bedroom oasis, they kissed and fondled, hands slipping under clothes or taking them off, nails scraping over warm, soft skin without abandon. Other times they slowed things down and talked between sweet pecks and gentle touches. Her parents were none the wiser, Everly's mother always coming home from work to find the pair watching TV in the living room, a respectable distance between them, but their fingers intertwined and secret smiles passed back and forth when no one else was looking.

It was the fourth Friday after Dean's first time coming over when Everly had an idea.

"Hey, would you mind if I took a photo of us?" Everly asked suddenly, pushing lightly on Dean's shoulder and rolling him off of her.

"For your wall?" he nodded to her collection of Polaroids, and she grinned.

She hopped off of her bed and grabbed the instant camera off of her dresser.

"We can take two- one for me, one for you," Everly said in a sing-song tone, wiggling the camera teasingly.

"Okay, okay, fine," Dean gave in. "Twist my arm why don't you."

"I knew you were a softy," she laughed, joining him back on her bed and cuddling up against him, holding the camera out in front of them at arms' length. "Look cute!"

The flash went off and Dean mumbled, "I always look cute."

Everly grabbed the photo and set it to the side, looking up at Dean and giving him a bright smile as she took another picture.

"How about one more?" Dean asked, taking the camera as Everly took the developing photo to set aside with the other one.

"If you insist," she mocked him, only for Dean to press a sloppy kiss to her cheek. Everly instantly closed her eyes and shrieked, but heard the flash go off, and the sound of the film running through the Polaroid. "Dean!"

His laughter filled the bedroom and Everly opened her eyes to see him eagerly waiting for the picture to develop. She looked at the other two, noticing that they had actually turned out well.

She leaned over him and grabbed a Sharpie off of her nightstand, writing Ev + D '97 on each of them, followed by a little heart. Everly handed her favorite of the two to Dean, and he in turn snatched the Sharpie out of her hand, writing something on the one he had taken before showing it to her.

Whole Lotta Love

Everly rolled her eyes, "A Zeppelin song? You're a sap!"

"Not a sap!" Dean snapped back, "I was gonna let you keep it, but if you don't want it-"

"No, no, I do want it," Everly practically whined, grinning triumphantly when he handed it over. She kissed him quickly, mumbling, "Thanks, Dean" against his lips before leaning against his chest.

"Anything for you, sweetheart."

"Do you still have them? The photos, I mean," Everly asked, wondering what they looked like. Wondering what Dean looked like as a teenager.

"I've got mine, and a bunch of the others we've taken over the years. They're always in my bag, go with me everywhere," Dean told her quietly, not wanting to seem soft or sentimental. "Yours… I'm not sure. I can bring some of them, if you want?"

Everly lit up and said, "Yeah! I'd really like to see them, if you don't mind."

Dean nodded and said he'd bring a few from the motel the next time he came. He'd have to sort through them and take out some of the more… risquéones he'd collected. The ones that showed more skin and intimate moments he didn't want her to see unless she really remembered that the images shown in the photos had happened.

Someone knocked on the door and Castiel walked in, a paper bag in his right hand. He closed the door behind himself before moving into the room, greeting the pair with a slight nod.

"Good morning, Everly. Dean," Cas looked at each of them as he spoke. "Sorry I was late. I had difficulties finding one of the items I wanted to bring."

Castiel set the bag in Everly's lap, looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to open it. Dean watched anxiously, wondering what Cas could have possibly brought her.

Everly cautiously unfolded the opening of the bag, peering inside before reaching a hand in and pulling out a small succulent, an aloe, Dean recognized immediately.

"A plant?" she asked, turning it in her hands and admiring the decorative planter it was in.

She set it aside and went back into the bag, this time pulling out a book. It was Stephen King's Misery. Everly thumbed through it curiously, asking if she had read it before.

"It was one of your favorites," Dean answered, "You told me once that it ruined your life, it was that creepy."

The novel went next to the plant, and she pulled another item out of the bag. This time it was a plastic container with a slice of pie inside.

"It's huckleberry," Castiel explained before Everly could even ask. "That one took me a while to find."

"Not that I don't appreciate this, but why did you bring me this stuff?" Everly asked as she took another trinket out, this time a card game called Uno.

"These are all things that I saw yesterday while I was looking through your mind. I saw an apartment filled with plants, shelves full of well-worn books, nights spent playing board games. I saw you helping your mother make huckleberry pie," Cas told her, shooting a glance at Dean before continuing. "I thought that surrounding you with things you once knew might be comforting."

"I- thank you, Castiel," she mumbled, and Dean could tell that she wasn't sure what to say to the angel that seemed to be so devoted to helping her without actually knowing her. Since when was Cas considerate of peoples' comfort?

"Please, you can call me Cas. There will be no formalities or barriers between us moving forward," he told her as kindly as he could. "We're going to be spending a lot of time together, and I'm going to be handling your deepest and most private memories. I would like for you to think of me as a friend."

Dean bristled at this, not liking the way it sounded despite the fact that he knew there was nothing sinister or weird behind it. But he was just Cas being Cas, an awkward angel that had no idea how to talk to people.

"There's one more thing in there," Cas nodded to the bag, and Everly raised an eyebrow before reaching in and pulling out a plush toy rabbit in a tiny blue sweater.

"Peter Rabbit?" Dean asked, watching Everly run her delicate fingers over the stuffed animal. He remembered seeing one just like it in her bedroom, and knew that she'd had it since she was little. Cas must've seen it in a memory.

"It's so soft," she said with a smile, holding it tight. "He's adorable."

Everly put the toy on her bedside table next to the book and the aloe plant, then folded the bag up neatly and put that on the table too.

Cas grabbed the chair that sat at the small desk in the room, setting it beside the bed and glancing at Dean before focusing on Everly, taking a deep breath.

"Are you ready to begin? When will a nurse be in to check on you?" Castiel asked, not wanting to be interrupted.

"We've got three hours," Dean beat Everly to the punch, answering before she could even think about it.

"Let's get started then," Everly nodded at Cas, who nodded back and reached out with his right hand, touching her forehead with two fingers, taking her hand with his left.

Dean could only sit there and watch, keeping an eye on the door in case anyone decided to interrupt. His mind began to wander, as it tended to do when he wasn't focused on anything when he was around Everly.

"This is the best pie I've ever had in my life, Mrs. Manning," Dean told Everly's mother as they sat in her kitchen, at a rectangular dining table that had fresh flowers in an old vase in the center.

"You don't have to tell me every time you have it, Dean. And how many times do I have to tell you, call me Gina," she told him as she served him another piece of huckleberry pie. "Ice cream?"

"No thank you, I'm more of a purist," he said with a shake of his head, and Everly laughed as she scooped herself some vanilla ice cream.

"You're a good boy, you know, both you and your brother. Tell ya what, why don't you take the rest of the pie home with you?" Gina offered, and Dean's eyes lit up like he had just won the lottery.

"R-really? That'd be great. Thanks, Mrs. Ma– I mean, Gina," Dean corrected himself.

He glanced at the clock on the oven and grimaced, noticing that it was getting late. He and Sam had stayed for dinner and dessert, which was unusual for them to do, and he knew there was a chance that his dad would be back soon. He'd been gone for almost two days, tracking whatever was causing problems in the town and the towns nearby.

"You and Sam want a ride home?" Everly asked, having caught his worried gaze.

"Oh, it's getting late, isn't it?" Gina fussed, "Let me just pack up this pie and then you can get on your way home. It's a school night, after all."

"We'd love a ride, Ev," Dean nodded, not used to being babied like this. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been treated with such care by a motherly figure. Not since his mom died.

Once Dean had his pie, he got Sam from the basement and Everly got the keys to Gina's car, promising her mother that she'd drive safe and be back soon, then she drove the brothers to the motel Dean had finally told her they were staying at.

Dean saw the Impala in the parking lot and fought back a wince, knowing he was in deep shit for not being there when Dad got back. He sent Sam off to the room and stayed in the car with Everly, telling his brother he just wanted to say bye to his girl.

"Thanks for everything, Ev. Dinner, the pie. All of it. Your mom's great, you're great…" Dean rambled, and she stared at him, confusion clear on her pretty, freckle spattered face.

"Are… Are you breaking up with me?" she asked quietly. "In my mom's car?"

"No, no, no!" Dean started backtracking, holding his hands up in defense before reaching out with his right hand to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing back and forth across her soft skin. "I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate it. I might get an earful from my old man about staying out, but it's not gonna stop me from seeing you. You got that?"

Everly nodded once, and he could tell she was relieved. Dean flashed her a smile and leaned forward, kissing her as gently as he could. She pulled him closer by the collar of his jacket, kissing him back with a bit more fervor, before finally letting go of him.

"I got it. See you at school tomorrow," Everly smiled, waving as he got out of the car.

Dean waited until he saw the Cadillac leave the parking lot, then made his way to the motel room and took a deep breath before unlocking the door and walking inside.

Sam was already posted up on the couch, his gangly frame taking up most of it as he watched cartoons. Dean smiled to himself as he moved into the kitchenette and grabbed the giant container of salt and lined the entryway with it.

The bathroom door opened and his father walked out, looking freshly showered since his hair was still a little damp. Dean nodded at his dad, then put the salt back on the counter, and the pie along with it.

"Where have you and your brother been?" John asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared his son down.

"Sam and I were just over at some friends' house from school- the Mannings. They're siblings, one's my age, and the other is a year above Sammy," Dean explained casually. "I checked them for signs of possession, ghosts, the basics. They're fine."

"How many times do I have to tell you, no matter where we go. Stay in the motel," John stressed, and Dean fought the urge to roll his eyes. "You're supposed to protect Sam, and how are you doing that by not coming back here, where it's safe? Anything could happen out there-"

"It's not like we're going out and hunting, Dad. We're hanging out with friends-"

"And I told you not to talk to anyone," John cut him off angrily, and Dean knew he had to stand his ground.

"How can you expect us to not talk to anyone?" Dean shot back. "We've been here for weeks. You come and go, and it's just me and Sam. We go a little stir crazy sometimes."

"You'll do as I say, do you understand me, boy?" John stared down at his son, who was staring back just as fiercely. Their height difference was decreasing with every passing day, and one day Dean knew he'd be the one staring down at his dad.

"Yes, sir," Dean hissed through clenched teeth.

There was no way his dad would keep him from seeing Everly, or Sam from hanging out with Rich. They had a good thing going here, and he was going to enjoy it for as long as he could.

"Now, I've got a lead on the thing I've been tracking, and I'm gonna go see if I can trap it and find out where the rest of 'em are. If I'm not back in a few days, you know the drill," John said as if they hadn't just argued moments before.

"Yes, sir," Dean nodded, his gaze now on the floor.

John said goodbye to Sam, then gave Dean a knowing look before grabbing his bag and heading out the door.

"Did me hanging out with Rich get you in trouble?" Sam's timid voice cut through the air, and Dean turned to look at his younger brother.

"No, Sammy," he smiled back in response, shaking his head as he reassured his baby brother. "You didn't do anything wrong. Neither of us did."

Dean frowned as he pulled out of that memory, but then remembered that he didn't listen to dear old dad and took Sam with him to the Mannings as often as he could. He had been sure that Gina had gotten sick of feeding two more teenage boys, and that Everly grew tired of him being her shadow, but they never complained. If anything, she had wanted to spend more time with him. They even ditched a few classes to go to the movies and make out in the back row.

He watched Cas do… whatever it is he was doing, hoping he was doing the right thing. All he wanted was to do right by Everly, since he had royally screwed things up between them.

Noticing that it was getting close to time for a visit from one of the nurses, Dean called out to Cas, who nodded minutely and seemed to wrap up what he was doing before pulling his fingers away and letting go of Everly's hand.

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes, looking at Castiel before turning to look at Dean. She stared at him for a few moments, then glared at the foot of her bed.

"I don't remember anything," she grumbled angrily.

"You won't, until I repair everything and then heal your injury. Think of it as a dam, or a wall," Cas explained, and Dean couldn't help but notice how gentle and patient he was with her, something he definitely wasn't when it came to him and his brother. "It would be a lot more painful for you if I lifted that barrier and then worked on putting your memories back on the right path."

"Oh," Everly said in almost a whisper. "I- I didn't mean to sound ungrateful. Thanks, Cas."

Dean could see the tears welling up in her eyes and he knew she wasn't gonna be able to keep them at bay much longer. It took a lot to get her to cry, but when she finally would let go, it sometimes took a lot to get her to stop.

He quickly stood up from his chair and moved to the edge of the bed, putting a hand on her back and rubbing gentle circles into her sweatshirt.

"I- I don't know why but I just.. I want to cry. I feel useless, and you two have been so helpful," Everly shook her head, "I'm sorry."

Dean wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, rolling his eyes up at the ceiling in a silent prayer that Castiel definitely heard, but chose not to say anything about.

"It isn't your fault, Ev," Dean consoled her. "We'll get through it, one day at a time."

His phone began to ring and Dean swore to himself, using his free hand to pull the device out of his pocket to see that Sam was calling.

"I gotta take this. You'll be okay with Cas, yeah?" Dean asked Everly, only leaving her side once she nodded in confirmation. "I'll be right back."

Dean stepped out into the hall and made his way down towards the vending machines, "Hey Sam, what's up?"

"Where are you, Dean?" Sam's voice filled his ear. "You've been gone for days."

"I texted you that I had business to take care of," Dean told him easily, trying not to let his annoyance leak through his calm facade.

"Seriously? What business do you have that I don't know about?"

"It doesn't involve you, so don't worry about it."

"Dean, if you went on a hunt without me, I kinda need to know where you are and if you're safe."

He rolled his eyes, "I'm not on a hunt. It's personal stuff, okay?"

A familiar nurse walked into Everly's room and he sighed, hoping Cas wouldn't be weird without him there to supervise.

"I— I gotta go, Sam. I don't know how long this is gonna take, but just.. let me deal with this by myself," Dean finally said, hoping Sam would lay off.

"Fine," Sam huffed. "But you have a lot of explaining to do when you get back."

Dean muttered a quick goodbye before hanging up and heading back into the room, just in time to hear the nurse, Matt, say something about her brother wanting to come for a visit.

"Rich is in town?" Dean asked, and Matt turned around to nod.

"He's passing through and called to see if Everly here was accepting visitors. I told him she already had two, so I'd check in with her and call back," Matt motioned between Dean and Cas.

"Rich is.. my brother," Everly said slowly. "Dean talked about him. I'd like to see him."

Matt nodded, saying he'd get everything arranged before taking his leave and leaving Everly alone with Cas and Dean.

"Did I do the right thing?" she asked, looking up at Dean for confirmation, and he couldn't help it, but he hesitated.

If Rich saw him here, it wouldn't be good. It'd been a while since he'd seen the guy, but the last few times they were face to face, things didn't go so well.

"He's your family, of course you did," Dean finally answered with a small shrug. "D'you wanna get back to it, or are you done for the day? Cas, how does the timing on this thing work?"

Castiel's gaze narrowed at him in response.

"I'd like to ease into it a bit, see how Everly reacts to the process," Cas replied, turning his attention to her. "I'll be back tomorrow to see how you're feeling, and we can continue then. Is that alright with you?"

Everly nodded, a bright smile on her face as she thanked Cas again.

"Dean, I'm staying in room 221 at that motel you sent me to. I'd like to speak to you once you're back," Cas said on his way out of the room, and told him that he'd see him later.

"So… How do you know an angel?" Everly asked curiously, drawing his attention back to her.

Chuckling, Dean answered, "It's a very long story. We weren't friends at first- he… Definitely was on the opposite side. But he came around, and he's a great guy- angel, I guess."

"He's very… Serious," she mimicked the angel's low tone, setting her lips in a straight line and furrowing her brows. "Is he always like that?"

"Most of the time, yeah," Dean said with a shrug, "You do a good impression. I bet he'd get a kick out of it."

"Something tells me he wouldn't."

"You're not wrong," he laughed, running a hand through his short hair as he moved to sit in the window sill. "How are you feeling?"

Everly told him she felt fine, but Dean took that with a grain of salt.

"Earlier, you hesitated when I asked if I was right to let my brother come here," she said, "You know him, right?"

"I haven't seen him in a while, but yeah, I do," Dean confirmed.

"You'd tell me if he shouldn't come by, right?"

Everly trusted his judgement, even without knowing him. She was putting her life in his hands, despite the fact that he was basically a stranger and all she had was his word that they knew each other.

That trust meant more to Dean than even he ever really realized.

"I would, Ev. But it's not you I'm worried about him seeing, it's me."