Chapter 8

I sit up from my couch and rub eyes. What the hell just happened? That was just a dream? How? Why?

I slowly got and wondered to my bedroom to go see what Bianca needs. As I opened the door, Bianca was sitting on my bed with both of the dogs. I climbed into the bed with them. Then Bianca smiled and I asked her what's up.

"Just wanted to know what the plans were for the day and if we should stick together or if should split up." She asked.

Uhmm…did you want Sam or Dean?" I asked, "Also by splitting up we can more stuff done. Hopefully."

"I'll take Sam. Dean seems like a handful. Sorry." Bianca laughed.

"It's fine. It should be interesting then." I smiled but wondering how I'm going to look at him.

"But, your coffee is in the bathroom. We should start getting pretty. Come on Nikkay!" She giggled and bounced towards the bathroom.

I laughed and kissed Opeth's big head then got up to go to the bathroom. When I got to the bathroom, I could smell the coffee. Making me smile. Then I took a sip and started straightening my hair. Then I did my make-up. As I started getting dressed I told Bianca about my dream. She patently waited for me to finish and tried to understand it too.

"Man…I have no idea what to say. Maybe it could be a sign or a vision. It could be because you're stressed and hungry." She started, "Try not to freak our. I'll look into it for you and see if this has happened between a hunter and vampyer before." She smiled.

"Thank you man, I just have no idea what it could mean. I just wish my maker would answer me." I mumbled as I slipped on my combat boots.

When we got to the bedroom door, I told her to get Stefan to get the hunters ready and I'll meet them on the patio. She nodded her head and went to go get the hunters. I took a deep breath and went to go get a to-go cup of coffee. This time, with Baileys. As I stirred my coffee and tried to get the lid on, my dogs started to whine. I looked at them and told them that they will get to eat soon. Then I made my way to the patio with a pair of whiney dogs at my feet. When I stepped outside, I put on my sunglasses and took a breath of the mountain air. It was a beautiful hot summer day and the mountains helped kept the day cool at least.

I walked over a bit of a path that leads to a corner of the house where the patio was set up with a roof. It helped keep it nice and cool, especially on those really hot summer days. When I got there and looked up to see Bianca. Stefan, Elena, and the hunters all sitting around the dining table I had out there. I smiled at Bianca and Sam. Then when my eyes set on Dean, I couldn't help but blush. Something about him made me flutter inside. If I had a heart, it would be skipping beats. I shook my head and went to sit down beside Bianca then go over todays plans.

"Good morning everyone. How was your sleeps?" I looked towards the hunters.

"The best I've had so far." Sam replied with a smile, and Dean just made a grunting noise.

"Okay. Well…I guess todays plans are that you guys are going to help out with the chores today. That will maybe go to about dinner then we can all talk about the vampyers or have free time." I stopped to take a breath, then went on, "So, yeah. Bianca, you're taking Sam then?"

"Yepp. Are you sure?" She gave me a look.

"Yes. I'm sure." I turned to Dean, "Alright, then you're coming with me." I finished with a smile.

"Do you want someone to come with you?" Stefan said standing up, "I'll go grab Eric-?"

"No!" I said in a strong voice, "I am 10x stronger than Eric and Dean put together. So you can go with Bianca if she wants you too. That's final." I stood up right in his face.

Stefan sat down and grumbled. Bianca asked him in a quiet voice to come help her out and he agreed with a sour tone. I just rolled my eyes and dismissed everyone. Dean and I to the shed/dog house I had built for my dogs. We quickly fed the dogs and headed to the stables. When we got there, I started to explain what needed to be done. Then asked him if he had been around horses before.

"Not much." Dean grumbled in a low voice.

"Okay…well I'll show you how to muck the first stall than afterward you can do the rest. Then after you can help me brush and clean the horses. Sound good?" I asked him giving him a thumbs up. He nodded and we got to work.

About an hour later, Dean was done mucking out the stalls and adding new shavings down for bedding. It was perfect timing because I just got done cleaning and refilling the food and water buckets. I just smiled and pointed towards the tack room and told him to grab some combs and brushes. I walked over to the stalls and to grab my Belgian mare, Mara, first. She was the gentle, but she does have her swings.

As I was tying her lead, Dean turned the corner and stare at her. I guess he hasn't seen a horse as big as her. The thought made me chuckle and Dean looked at me then Mara, then began to hand me the brush. When I grabbed it, our fingers brushed for just a second and then there went a shock down my spine. He pulled away quickly as if he felt it too. I didn't realize that I was holding my breath, so I let it out and turned towards Mara. I quickly explained where she liked and didn't like being touched, he nodded and walked over to her right side to start. After a few minutes of quiet and overthinking, I decided to start a conversation.

"So, how old are you and your brother?" I asked, hoping not to be awkward.

"Sammy is 24 and I'm 29." Dean said quickly.

"I see. Sorry. I'm just trying to make small talk. It's painfully quiet in here." My voice was weak, "You can ask me anything too" I smiled at him.

"Okay. How did you get all this land?" He emphasized with his arms.

"Some time ago. Before you were born. I was having a tough time and I was running around the forest. I stumble across an old logging cabin, it was rotting away and there was nothing around here around that time too. So I used my connections and got a lot of land. Then I started building my safe place. But I do have lots of houses, apartments, hotel suits booked just for me, and hideaways." I explained while I putting away Mara, then grabbing Cheech.

"I see. Why don't you drink human blood? I mean it's like crack to you vamps" He said hastily.

I looked at him, put my head down, and answered him in a small voice, "Because I don't need too. Animals do fine when I need it. Humans may be annoying, but they don't need to be killed. Some vampyers, including me, want to live a normal life and mind our own business." I finished worried that he might not actually believe me.

"Oh…uhmm…" He hummed.

"So…when and/or how did you and Sam get into hunting? So you guys hunt everything or just supernatural beings?" I asked hoping to change the subject.

"Everything, and just want to help people and kick ass." He chuckled. Even his chuckle was wonderful. I smiled and went towards to next horse.

After about an hour, we finished up and washed up in the sink. It was about lunch when I looked at the clock. So I suggest that we should go get some lunch, he agreed and we started towards the house. When we got to the backyard area, I could smell the barbeque. I looked over and Dean was smiling. So we started walking a little faster. As we got closer, I could see Bianca, Sam, and Stefan sitting on the patio. Stefan was barbequing and Bianca and Sam were sitting down drinking Cokes. Bianca called my name and waved with emphasis, then she jumped up and ran to grab us some Cokes. Just as she opened the backdoor, both of my dogs came barreling out and straight towards me. They started to slow down because they were wagging their tails so fast. They were whining and howling, being the babies they were. I kneeled down to give love to the babies. As I was giving Lobo a belly rub, Opeth waddled over to Dean, giving him the biggest puppy dog eyes ever. She was working hard to get some love. Dean looked down at her and gave her a strange look before slowly kneeling down to scratch her stubby ear.

"What kind of dogs are they? Where did you find them?" He asked in a low voice.

"Lobo here is a husky crossed with a timber wolf. Her mom Zero, my old dog, went missing for about 5 days. I thought the wolves got her but, she gave birth to 5 or pups and went off again. But they were huddled up in the stables when Bianca found them. It was during the winter time too. So I gave 3 to good homes with vampyers. We seem to keep up with them better, then I gave one to a reserve for wolf hybrids. Then I kept Lobo for her personality and plus she was the runt of the group." I kissed Lobo on the nose.

"Then Opeth, she was saved for a Pitbull fighting ring. She wasn't the strongest but she never lost either. But when I was her she wasn't in good shape. I was taking Lobo to get spade, then she the vets told me that she was trying to get out, she was crying, and howling. Every time they would try to take Lobo out she would try to make contact with Opeth. But I told them that they should meet and if anything were to happen I could handle them."

"Which I know is risky but they knew I could handle them too. So they take Lobo and I to a meeting area, then brought her out. As soon as they brought Opeth in and let her go, she went over to sniff Lobo and I. Then the two of them cuddled up together and went to sleep. Then I took her right then and there." I finished smiling.

"Wow…that's…a lot." Dean looked down at Opeth and scratched her belly.

I just smiled as we got up and walked to the patio. When we got there, Dean went to sit beside Sam. They talked and both of them looked at me and smiled. I tried to ignore it and go sit beside Sam, Bianca's voice rang out from inside the house declaring that was her spot. I rolled my eye and thought of course she would be sitting there. Then I got up and went to go sit beside Dean. As I sat down, Dean looked over at me and gave me a little smirk. While I was waiting for my drink, I pulled my phone out to try to distract my thoughts. But, I could feel Dean's body heat radiating from his arm which was close to my mine. I peeked at him thorough my eyelashes to look at his arm; his arm was strong, tanned and his hands were rough looking.

That's when Bianca put my drink down, making me jump then I just stare at the drink. She, Sam, and Dean laughed at my reaction. I just made a face then Bianca went to sit down. When she got everything sorted, she asked us what we did this morning.

"We fed the dogs first then went down to the stables. Dean mucked the stalls and put down new bedding as I washed and refilled their water and food buckets. Then we brushed them and cooled them down with water. What about you guys?" I asked as I sipped on my Coke.

"We fed the goats. Then we went to feed the peacocks and chickens!" Sam spoke quickly, "It was amazing! The peacocks were cool so see up close. After, were going to feed the lizards and the boa!" Dean mad a funny face.

"Nice. Maggie is actually really nice. Don't let her size fool you." I chuckled, knowing that Bianca didn't tell him that we use live rabbits.

"Burgers are done if you guys are hungry." Stefan yelled from the barbeque.

Dean got up and was the first one over there grabbing food. There was a little table set up with fries and salad (Bianca's doing). I just grabbed a burger and some fries and went to go sit down. As we were all eating it got really quiet. I just scanned the table, vampyers and human sitting around getting along. A smile came across my face and I took another bite of my burger.

After everyone was done eating, we chatted for a bit, then I offered to clean up and Dean offered to help. Sam gave him a strange look, but Dean didn't seem to take notice or care. So, he and Bianca started towards the reptile room. As I was stacking dishes and grabbing forks, I thought since it was nice we could go horseback riding. After I put the dishes in the dishwasher and Dean put the cans on the counter near the garage door. I turned around to find him staring at me; his beautiful emerald eyes staring deep into mine. It took all I had not to walk over and kiss him.

Uhmm…do…Did you want to go horseback riding?" I choked out.

"Sure Nicole." He smiled. He made my name sound like a song. I nodded then we headed towards the stables.