July 8th-10th, 2005
The next morning dawned before Lorelai was ready. Her normal distaste for the early hours was amplified by what the day ahead of her was sure to bring, and Lorelai suspected that if it weren't for the smell of the coffee Dean had wisely begun brewing before he'd tried to rouse her wafting through the small room, she would have stubbornly burrowed her head back into the pillows and refused to move.
"C'mon, we should get over to the morgue. And we gotta talk to the latest vic's girlfriend before she blows town," he cajoled, passing her a mug before slipping into the bathroom. Lorelai grumbled but pushed to her feet and started going through the motions of her morning.
The local morgue was a bit of a joke, but for once Lorelai didn't mind. She was much more comfortable examining dead bodies than she was with the inevitable trip they'd be taking out to the lake after all.
Lorelai followed the coroner, a balding man in his fifties with wire-rimmed glasses and a severe expression, back to the body. Dean was right behind her, his presence somehow managing to be both calming and exciting at the same time.
"Here's your guy," the coroner muttered, opening one of the steel doors along the wall and pulling out the slab Kevin Sinclair, pale and bloated, was resting on. "Drowned, just like the others. Damn shame."
The tone of his voice made it clear he thought Lorelai and Dean were wasting their time, but Lorelai ignored him, snapping on a pair of latex gloves with practiced ease.
"Thanks," she said, stepping around him to get closer. The coroner observed them for a moment before shaking his head and turning tail. Lorelai leaned in close, her eyes scanning the body methodically. She could feel Dean watching her work, and when her eyes passed over him on their way to the nearby cart loaded with tools, she noticed there was a mix of admiration and amusement playing across his features.
"I gotta tell you, Lor, I'm not sure if I should be turned on or unnerved at how comfortable you are around dead bodies," he quipped, his voice low enough that only Lorelai could hear. She glanced up, her hands paused over some of the contusions noted in the coroner's initial report and a wry smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"Didn't take you for a thanatophile," she retorted before turning her gaze back to the stiff. Dean snorted.
"What's it looking like?" he asked, ignoring her. Lorelai shrugged – it wasn't anything she hadn't expected.
"Definitely not your normal, run-of-the-mill drowning victim. Take a look at this."
"What've you got?"
Dean crowded in behind her and she tried to ignore the heat of his body while she carefully tilted the victim's head to give him a better view.
"See these marks here?" she asked, pointing to a series of small, crescent-shaped indentations. "And all of the bruising…"
"Like something was holding him down," Dean finished, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah, I see it."
Lorelai reached for the forceps on the cart and Dean stepped back to give her space. Two minutes later she was carefully pulling a small, iridescent object out from the victim's throat, holding it up with a grim expression.
"Bingo."
Dean frowned, reaching out to take the forceps from her hand, bringing her finding closer to his face. It was indisputably a scale, larger than anything found naturally in the lake and the coloring seeming almost otherworldly.
"Well that ain't from any fish I've ever seen," Dean said, and Lorelai hummed her agreement, already pulling off the gloves and tossing them towards the trash can. Normally she would have done a more thorough examination, but at the end of the day they had what they needed, and no one was expecting an autopsy report from her.
"Nope. Consistent with a water wraith though." Dean sighed and passed back over the forceps.
"Yeah," he agreed. "We should definitely talk to the girlfriend. Might give us some insight on where exactly this thing's hunting grounds are. There's miles to search around that lake."
Lorelai hummed again, already moving to gather their things.
"Let's go then. Sooner we wrap this up, the better."
They made their way out of the morgue, nodding to the coroner as they left and Lorelai trying not to focus too hard on what the rest of the day would likely have in store. As they stepped into the sunlight, she squinted, the brightness a stark contrast to the sterile fluorescents they'd just left behind.
"You got an address for the girlfriend?" Dean asked, fishing his car keys out of his pocket. It hadn't even been a question whose car they were taking when they'd left that morning. She doubted her rental would be touched until Dean left town. Lorelai nodded, pulling a small notepad from her jacket.
"Yeah, she's staying at a motel not far from here. Apparently, she's checking out later today."
They climbed into the Impala, the familiar creak of the doors a comforting sound to Lorelai's ears. As Dean started the engine, the low rumble filling the air, Lorelai found herself stealing glances at him. His jaw was set in determination, green eyes focused on the road ahead. She couldn't help but admire the way he seemed so at ease behind the wheel, like the car was an extension of himself.
The drive to the motel was short, filled with comfortable silence punctuated by the occasional comment about the case. When they pulled into the parking lot, Dean killed the engine and turned to Lorelai.
"So, what's our play here? Fish and Wildlife?" he asked, already reaching for his fake badge. They'd gotten into the morgue posing as students doing research for a paper. Lorelai smiled and shook her head.
"That is exactly what I was thinking. Makes sense for the drownings and shouldn't raise any eyebrows."
"You got a badge?" he asked, and Lorelai reached into her pocket, fishing out one of the fakes Bobby had helped her make after she'd shown him the enchanted one she had from MACUSA and he'd insisted it was too good.
"Right here. Agent Benson." Dean grinned, a hint of pride in his eyes.
"Awesome. Where's Benson from?" Lorelai shrugged.
"Amelia Benson was my stepmother – Katie's mom. I use it as an alias a lot – nice and generic, easy for me to remember…"
As they approached the room number they'd been given, Lorelai noticed Dean's demeanor shift subtly. His shoulders straightened, his stride became more purposeful, and a look of calm authority settled over his features. Without a word, he stepped slightly ahead of her, taking the lead as he knocked on the door.
The door opened, revealing a young woman with red-rimmed eyes and disheveled hair. "Can I help you?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
Dean stepped forward, his voice gentle. "Ms. Reeves? I'm Agent Plant, this is my partner, Agent Benson. We're with Fish and Wildlife. We were hoping we could ask you a few questions about what happened to your boyfriend."
The woman's eyes widened slightly, but she nodded, stepping back to let them in. "Of course, come in."
As they entered the small room, Lorelai couldn't help but notice the half-packed suitcase on the bed, clothes strewn about haphazardly. The air was thick with the lingering scent of grief and stale coffee.
"We're so sorry for your loss, Ms. Reeves," Dean began, his green eyes filled with genuine compassion.
"I've already talked to the police," the woman added as Dean guided her to sit at the small table by the window. Lorelai hung back slightly, observing the interaction with a mix of admiration and something else she couldn't quite name. Her voice waivered slightly. "I don't know what else I can tell you.
"We understand this is difficult, ma'am," Dean said, his expression softening and his voice gentle but authoritative. "We just want to make sure we have all the information we need to prevent something like this from happening to anyone else."
The woman nodded, twisting a tissue in her hands. "We... we were just camping. It was supposed to be a fun vacation, you know? Kevin loved the outdoors."
As she spoke, her voice wavering, Lorelai found herself impressed by Dean's patience and gentle prodding. He asked the right questions, his tone never pushing too hard, always giving Ms. Reeves the space to collect herself when needed.
Lorelai was impressed and content to take a backseat role, making mental notes of anything that seemed relevant but mostly watching Dean work. This was a part of the job she could get through fine when she had to, but it didn't come naturally. She tended to be overly direct, not having the patience Dean was exhibiting.
"Did you notice anything unusual that night?" he asked. "Any strange noises or disturbances in the water?"
Ms. Reeves frowned, her brow furrowing in concentration.
"I... I'm not sure. It was late, and I was half asleep. But I think... I think I heard singing?" Lorelai and Dean exchanged a quick glance.
"Singing?" Lorelai prompted gently, speaking for the first time since they'd entered the room.
The woman nodded, her eyes distant. "It was beautiful, but eerie. Like nothing I've ever heard before. I thought I was dreaming at first, but then Kevin... he got up. Said he was going to check it out." Her voice broke on the last word, fresh tears welling in her eyes.
Dean leaned forward, his voice low and soothing. "You're doing great, Ms. Reeves. Just a few more questions, okay?"
As Dean continued to guide the conversation, Lorelai found herself watching him more than the grieving girlfriend. The way his shoulders were set, the gentle timbre of his voice, the occasional reassuring touch to Ms. Reeves' arm… it was somehow different than the way he'd managed to coax her through some of their more difficult conversations and yet reminiscent in a way that reinforced the fact that he had a softer nature buried beneath the gruff exterior and dry humor he presented to the world.
By the time they wrapped up the interview, Lorelai's mind was buzzing with new information, and as they made their way back to the Impala, she found herself stealing glances at Dean, a warmth settling in her chest that had nothing to do with the midday sun beating down on them.
"You okay?" Dean asked as they climbed back into the car, his brow furrowed slightly in concern. Lorelai nodded, offering him a small smile.
"Yeah, just... processing. You were really good in there, you know." Dean shrugged, but she caught the hint of a pleased smile tugging at his lips.
"Yeah, well, practice makes perfect, I guess. Not exactly the kind of skill I'm proud of needing, but..." He trailed off, his eyes fixed on the road ahead as he pulled out of the parking lot.
"Still," Lorelai insisted, "it's impressive. You've got a real talent for it. It's never been my strong suit." For a moment, so fast Lorelai almost missed it, Dean's eyes flicked to her, a mix of emotions swirling in their green depths. But then the look was gone and he snorted, a smirk tugging at his lips instead.
"Yeah, that sounds about right. So, lunch? I'm starving." Lorelai chuckled, grateful for the shift in mood.
"Sounds good to me. I saw a deli not far from here."
Lorelai found her thoughts drifting back to the interview while they drove. She'd always known Dean was good at what he did, but seeing him in action like that, so gentle and patient... it stirred something in her she wasn't quite ready to examine too closely.
The deli was a small, unassuming place, but the smell wafting out as they approached was mouth-watering and Lorelai's stomach rumbled, suddenly overly aware that they'd skipped breakfast. They ordered sandwiches to go, Dean insisting on paying despite Lorelai's protests.
Back in the car, Dean turned to her, his expression growing serious. "You know we gotta go check out the lake now, right?" Lorelai sighed, resignation settling over her like a heavy blanket.
"Yeah, I know. Let's just get it over with," she grumbled.
It was about a half hour drive out to the actual lake, during which Lorelai tried to steel herself for what was to come. It wasn't that she never went near water - hell, Lytton had been on an island, so she'd grown up walking on beaches and hanging out by the shore. Even when she'd gone to Hogwarts in the later part of her schooling there'd been the Black Lake. But the idea of knowingly and willingly signing up to face down a monster that thrived in an environment she was so uncomfortable in... it set her nerves on edge. She hadn't actually been in the water since the Gringotts breakout when she was eighteen and they'd jumped off the dragon into the water. Even with the swimming lessons Fred had forced on her two years prior to the incident, Lorelai still wasn't sure she'd have made it out if it hadn't been for Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
The lake eventually came into view, its surface deceptively calm and serene. Lorelai took a deep breath, reminding herself that she was a professional, dammit. She'd faced down dark wizards and creatures that would make most people run screaming. She could handle this.
They parked the car and got out, the gravel crunching under their feet. Dean grabbed a bag from the trunk, filled with various weapons and supplies they might need. Lorelai watched him, grateful for his solid presence beside her.
"Ready?" he asked, his eyes searching her face. Lorelai rolled her eyes, that instinct to deflect impossible to shake.
"Yep."
They made their way down to the shore, Lorelai's eyes scanning the area for any signs of the creature. The water lapped gently at the rocks, a peaceful sound that did nothing to calm her nerves.
"So," Dean said as they walked, his voice low, "what exactly are we looking for here? More scales?" Lorelai frowned, her mind racing through the lore she'd studied.
"Well, water wraiths tend to leave a sort of... residue. It's oily, iridescent. Kind of like the scale we found, but more... slimy." Dean nodded, his eyes already scanning the shoreline.
"Got it. Anything else?"
"They're territorial," Lorelai continued, grateful for the distraction of reciting facts. "So if we can figure out where its lair is, we might be able to narrow down its hunting grounds."
They spent the next hour combing the shoreline, searching for any signs of the creature's presence. Lorelai kept her distance from the water's edge as much as possible, her muscles tense with the effort of appearing calm and collected.
It was Dean who spotted it first - a faint, shimmering trail leading from the water to a cluster of rocks. "Lor," he called, his voice low and urgent. "I think I've got something."
Lorelai made her way over, careful to keep her footing on the uneven ground. As she peered at the spot Dean was indicating, she felt a mixture of triumph and dread.
"That's it," she confirmed, her voice tight. "Good eye."
They followed the trail, which led them to a small, hidden cove that was completely inaccessible without going in the water. The rocks here were slick with the creature's residue, and Lorelai could feel the hair on the back of her neck standing up.
"Guess we found its house," Dean muttered, his eyes darting around the area. From where they stood Lorelai could make out what looked suspiciously like a pile of bones washed up amidst the rocks. She nodded, trying to ignore the way her heart was pounding.
"Yeah, this fits the pattern. All the victims were taken from this general area."
They spent a few more minutes examining the cove, but it was clear they'd found the right area. On their way back they took time to make mental notes of the terrain and potential hiding spots. If she weren't so anxious, she probably would have been more wary of how in sync they were – how seamlessly they were able to move around each other and anticipate each other's needs – but as it were, she just found it a comfort she wasn't willing to turn down. And when Dean suggested they take a break to eat their sandwiches and strategize a few minutes later, she didn't object.
They settled on some large, flat rocks a safe distance from the water's edge. As Lorelai unwrapped her sandwich, she found her appetite had diminished somewhat – a true miracle given that she normally had an iron stomach – but she forced herself to eat anyway. She knew she'd need her strength later.
"So," Dean said between bites, "what's our next move? We know where this thing's hunting, your notes said we could gank it with silver…"
"But we'll need to lure it out first," Lorelai finished, swallowing hard. Dean nodded slowly.
"Yeah. I'm thinking we should probably camp out here tonight," he said, his tone casual but his eyes watching her carefully. "These things are usually more active at night. We might have a better chance of catching it if we're here when the sun goes down."
Lorelai felt her stomach drop slightly at the suggestion, but she knew he was right. She'd expected this when she was setting everything up the day before.
"Yeah, that makes sense," she agreed, trying to keep her voice neutral. Dean, of course, saw through her and raised an eyebrow.
"You sure? You don't sound thrilled about the idea." Lorelai shrugged, attempting to play it off.
"What can I say? Camping just ain't my idea of a good time," she said, which was absolutely true. "But it's fine. We've got to do what we've got to do."
Of course, it wasn't her favorite because she'd had enough camping to last a lifetime and the activity only served to bring back memories of that year on the run – cold nights, constant tension and bickering, fear of not knowing what was happening back home, the hopelessness that settled in when their progress slowed… Dean didn't know about the war though, because he didn't know about magic. It wasn't a big deal, and certainly didn't have any importance to what they were dealing with, but it was another secret she had to keep and Lorelai felt that starting to gnaw at her too.
Dean accepted her explanation, adding to the guilt she was wrestling with.
"City girl through and through, huh?" he teased, the amusement clear in his eyes. "Don't worry, I'll protect you from the big bad mosquitoes." Lorelai rolled her eyes, but she was grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood.
"My hero," she deadpanned. "I don't suppose you've got camping gear stashed in that trunk of yours?" Dean shook his head.
"Nah, not this time. You?" Lorelai snorted while Dean took another bite of his sandwich.
"Please. The closest thing I've got to camping gear is a rain jacket. I've got a credit card, though," she said, fishing her wallet out of her pocket and waving it at him. Dean laughed.
"Well, I guess we're going shopping then. There's gotta be an outdoor supply store around here somewhere."
As they finished their sandwiches and began to pack up, Dean caught Lorelai's eye. His expression grew serious.
"Listen, Lor. I know you're not thrilled about this, and I appreciate you being willing to stick it out. But I need you to promise me something."
"What's that?" she asked, frowning. Dean hesitated for half a beat but ultimately held steady.
"If we're gonna do this, I need you to stay as far back from the water as possible," he told her, his voice firm. "Let me handle anything that happens in or near the lake. I know you can handle yourself, but with your... thing about water, I don't want to risk it. Deal?"
Lorelai wanted to argue, to insist that she could handle herself. But she knew he was right. If something went wrong, her fear of water could put them both in danger. She nodded reluctantly.
"Deal."
Dean's shoulders relaxed slightly, and he gave her a small smile. "Alright then. Let's go get ourselves some camping gear."
With their plan in place, they headed back to town to gather supplies. Lorelai definitely didn't relish the thought of spending the night out on the shores of the lake, but there was a small part of her that couldn't deny the idea of spending the night with Dean at least softened the blow.
In the end, they had to venture outside of the small town she'd holed up in, but the camping store they found was at least well-stocked and they quickly loaded up on everything they'd need for the night ahead. And by the time they made it back to the lake and set up camp, the sun was beginning to dip low on the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink. Dean found a spot that gave them a good view of the cove where they'd found evidence of the wraith but was far enough back from the water to ease Lorelai's nerves. Lorelai resisted the urge to pull out her wand and set up the wards that had become oh-so-familiar the last time she'd done this.
As night fell, they settled into the tent to wait, keeping their voices low as they talked.
"So," Dean asked, "how's life in New York? You and Katie get into any trouble recently?"
They were seated side by side, thighs pressed against each other, and Dean's arm draped around her shoulders. She could almost have convinced herself that they were just a regular couple, spending time together and enjoying the summer weather. Her head lolled to rest against him and she smiled.
"Katie's actually in London staying with our older brother and visiting the rest of the family, so I've been flying solo. She won't be back until the sixteenth."
"No shit," Dean remarked. "I guess that explains how you were able to come out here." Lorelai nodded, her fingers tracing patterns on his thigh.
"Mmmhmm. I'd say I'm jealous, but I think I'd rather take on five of these fucking water wraiths than spend that much time with my sister-in-law."
Dean chuckled, and pressed against him the way she was Lorelai could feel it rumble in his chest.
"Damn. No love lost there I guess?"
"Trust me, Jane's the worst. Even Nolan doesn't like her, they're miserable together… he just doesn't have the balls to do anything about it. Anyway, apartment's been feeling empty with Katie over there… and even if I don't like this case, it was a good excuse to see you."
Half a laugh slipped past Dean's lips, and then he was tilting her chin, maneuvering his own head to kiss her.
"Y'know, you don't need an excuse," he murmured when they broke apart, his forehead leaning against hers. "I like you enough that I'd just be happy to see you too."
They both knew that she was the problem in that equation, that she'd been the one that had been making it so they needed the excuse. The words were still nice to hear though, a reminder that whatever she was feeling wasn't one sided, and Lorelai wondered if maybe she should stop fighting so hard. She was still convinced this whole thing would crash and burn, but until it did maybe she could let herself enjoy whatever moments they could find in the meantime.
"I'll try to remember that," she agreed, tilting her head to brush her lips against his a second time. She felt rather than saw his smile before she settled back against him the way she had been before. "What about you, though? You and your dad were just in West Virginia?"
"Yeah, yeah," Dean said. "No big shakes, just a salt-and-burn. He took off to help a buddy out with something snatching people out of their houses in the middle of the night down in Birmingham."
"You didn't wanna go with him?" she asked, and Dean shrugged.
"Didn't sound like a three-person job. Besides, someone had to finish up with the spirit."
They fell into an easy conversation from there, swapping stories and trading gentle barbs. As the hours ticked by, Lorelai found herself continuing to relax despite the circumstances. There was something about Dean's presence that just… settled her.
It was nearing two in the morning when they heard it - a haunting, ethereal melody drifting across the water. Lorelai felt her blood run cold, every muscle in her body tensing.
"Dean," she whispered urgently, but he was already on his feet, gun in hand.
"I hear it," he muttered, his eyes scanning the darkness while he peered out from the tent. "You ready?" Lorelai nodded, her own weapon at the ready.
"Let's do this."
They moved silently towards the water's edge, every sense on high alert. The singing grew louder, more insistent, and Lorelai could feel its pull even from where she stood.
Suddenly, there was a splash, and a figure emerged from the water. It was vaguely humanoid, but its skin shimmered with an otherworldly iridescence, its blue eyes glowing creepily in the darkness.
"Now!" Dean shouted, and they sprang into action.
Lorelai fired, her silver rounds finding their mark. The creature shrieked, a sound that sent shivers down her spine. It lunged towards them, its movements unnaturally fast.
Dean dodged to the side, drawing its attention. "Come on, you ugly son of a bitch," he taunted, firing off another round.
Lorelai circled around, trying to flank the creature. But in her focus on the wraith, she didn't notice the slick patch of residue on the rocks. Her foot slipped, and she went down hard, her gun skittering away.
The wraith's head snapped towards her, its eyes gleaming with predatory intent. Lorelai scrambled backwards, her heart pounding in her ears. For a split second, she thought about her wand, safely tucked away in her boot. If only she could use it...
But before she could make a move, the creature was on her. Its cold, slimy hands wrapped around her throat, immediately limiting her air supply. She flailed, trying to loosen the thing's grip or get a hit in of her own, but its arms were too long and its grip was strong, and the lack of oxygen was effecting her quickly.
In the distance, she heard Dean shout her name, footsteps sounding somewhere outside her field of vision. But it was too late. The wraith tossed her as if she weighed nothing, straight towards the water, and as she hurtled through the air, Lorelai knew she was in trouble before she even landed.
The cold water was a shock to her system, disorienting her. She thrashed wildly, trying to keep her head above water and find a way to draw breath. But then something grabbed her ankle below the surface, and before she could do anything it was dragging her down, deeper and deeper. She dimly registered that there must have been more than one of them – something she hadn't even thought to consider.
Her lungs were already burning though, and her last coherent thought was that she was going to die before the world faded to black around her.
Consciousness returned to Lorelai in fragmented bursts, like shards of a broken mirror slowly piecing themselves back together. The first thing she became aware of was the burning in her lungs, followed by the ache that seemed to permeate every inch of her body. Her eyelids felt heavy, but she forced them open, blinking against the harsh light that assaulted her vision.
As the world came into focus, she found herself staring up at Dean's worried face. His green eyes were wide with concern, his brow furrowed in a deep frown. Water dripped from his hair and clothes, creating small puddles on the ground beneath him. His hands were on her shoulders, and she could feel the slight tremor in his grip.
"Lor?" His voice was hoarse, tinged with a mixture of relief and lingering fear. "Can you hear me?"
Lorelai tried to speak, but her throat felt raw and constricted. She managed a weak nod instead, wincing at the movement before coughing. Dean's shoulders sagged with visible relief, his grip on her shoulders loosening slightly.
"Thank God," he breathed, his thumb rubbing small circles on her skin. "I thought... fuck, Lor, don't scare me like that again."
She wanted to reassure him, to tell him she was okay, but the words wouldn't come. The world around her started to blur again, darkness creeping in at the edges of her vision. The last thing she saw before unconsciousness claimed her again was Dean's face, etched with worry and something else she couldn't quite place.
The second time she woke, it was to the soft hum of an air conditioner and the faint scent of cheap motel soap and gunpowder. She blinked slowly, her eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering through partially closed curtains. This time, the fog in her mind cleared more quickly, and she realized she was back in the motel, tucked into bed with several blankets piled on top of her.
Her senses sharpened slowly, and Lorelai became aware of a weight on the bed beside her. She turned her head slightly, wincing at the soreness in her neck, to find Dean slumped in a chair pulled up to the bedside. His head rested on his arms, which were folded on the edge of the mattress and even in sleep, there was an obvious tension in his shoulders.
Lorelai shifted, trying to push herself up into a sitting position. The movement, small as it was, was enough to rouse Dean. He lifted his head, blinking away sleep, before his eyes landed on her. The relief that washed over his features was palpable.
"Hey there, sleeping beauty," he said, his voice rough and gravelly with sleep but warm with affection. "How're you feeling?"
Lorelai opened her mouth to respond, but her throat felt raw and dry. Dean quickly reached for a glass of water on the nightstand, gently helping her sit up before bringing it to her lips. She drank gratefully, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat.
"Like I got hit by a fucking truck," she finally managed, her voice hoarse. "What happened?"
Dean's expression darkened slightly. "Turns out there was more than one of those sons of bitches. I got the first one, but its buddy decided to use you as a chew toy." His hand found hers, squeezing gently. "You scared the hell out of me, Lor."
The gravity of what had happened began to sink in, and Lorelai felt a chill run down her spine that had nothing to do with her recent swim. This was far from her first near-death experience, but it had been a while. The last time had been the car accident, the one she still didn't know how she'd survived. There was no doubt in her mind that this time around, if Dean hadn't been there…
"Thank you," she whispered, her eyes meeting his. "For saving me." She felt small, and there was a certain amount of embarrassment creeping in, but Dean's expression softened, his thumb tracing circles on the back of her hand.
"Always," he replied simply. "After all, what're partners for?"
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Finally, Dean cleared his throat, shifting in his seat.
"You should try to eat something," he said, reaching for a styrofoam container on the nightstand. "I, uh, got some soup. Figured it'd be easy on your stomach. Hang on, I'll heat it up."
He was on his feet in an instant and Lorelai couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips.
"Dean Winchester, playing nurse. Who would've thought?" Dean rolled his eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it.
"Yeah, yeah. Don't get used to it, sweetheart."
The increasingly familiar guilt crept back in as she watched him move. There was a Pepper-Up potion in her bag that would have her back to a hundred percent in minutes, but she didn't have a way to use it and explain what it was without giving away what she was. So she swallowed, settling back against the pillows, and let Dean fuss.
When Dean was back at her bedside a minute later, helping her sit up more fully and situating the container in her lap, she noted that she at least didn't mind healing the slow way.
The rest of the day passed in a haze of rest and quiet conversation. Dean rarely left her side, alternating between tending to her needs and regaling her with stories from past hunts. His presence was a constant comfort, grounding her in a way she hadn't experienced in a long time. The nap she ended up taking, curled into his side while he held her, left her feeling content and as good as any potion would have.
And by the time evening came, Lorelai found herself feeling significantly better. The soreness in her muscles had eased, and her head no longer felt like it was stuffed with cotton. She was sitting up in bed, idly flipping through channels on the ancient television while Dean sat next to her, a bowl of popcorn between them and a beer on each of their nightstands. It was during a commercial break that Dean broke the comfortable silence they'd fallen into.
"So, I've been thinking," he began, his tone casual in a way that immediately put Lorelai on alert.
"That's dangerous," she quipped, earning herself an eye roll.
"Ha ha," Dean deadpanned. "Seriously though. I, uh... I caught wind of a possible chupacabra case down in Georgia while you were sleeping." Lorelai's eyebrows shot up.
"A chupacabra? In Georgia? That's a bit out of their usual stomping grounds, isn't it?" Dean shrugged.
"Yeah, but stranger things have happened. Anyway, I was thinking... my dad's still in Birmingham, and well, you don't have to rush back home, right? With Katie still in London and all?"
Lorelai's heart rate picked up slightly as she began to see where this was going.
"Right," she said slowly. Dean fidgeted with his napkin, not quite meeting her eyes, seeming uncharacteristically shy.
"So, I was wondering if maybe... if you wanted to, that is... you could come with me? Check it out?"
There was a moment of hesitation, a split second where Lorelai's instincts screamed at her to make an excuse, the alarm bells going off again, telling her to put some distance between them. But as she looked at Dean, at the hopeful expression in his eyes that he was trying so hard to hide, she felt something inside her shift.
Fuck it, she thought. What was the point in fighting this anymore?
"Yeah," she heard herself say, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, I'd like that."
The brilliant grin that spread across Dean's face was worth any doubts she might have had. He reached across the table, taking her hand in his once more.
"Awesome," he said, his thumb tracing patterns on her skin. "We'll head out once you're feeling up to it. No rush."
As Dean launched into a discussion about the details of the case, Lorelai found herself only half listening. She was too caught up in the warmth of his hand in hers, the way his eyes lit up as he talked, the easy comfort of his presence.
She knew, logically, that this was dangerous territory. That letting Dean in like this, agreeing to travel with him, was only going to make it harder when things inevitably fell apart. But in that moment, watching Dean gesture animatedly as he explained his theories about the case, Lorelai couldn't bring herself to care.
For once, she was going to let herself have this. Whatever 'this' turned out to be.
The next morning found them packing up the Impala, Lorelai's few belongings joining Dean's in the trunk after they dropped off her rental. She sent Nick a message while Dean finished loading their bags, letting him know the wraith was taken care of but she was taking care of another case before she came back. His response was short, but she wasn't fooled – she knew when she got back he was going to want to talk. That, however, could be future Lorelai's problem. For now, she was just going to stay in the moment.
When they climbed into the Impala a few minutes later, the familiar rumble of the engine coming to life, Lorelai felt a sense of anticipation building in her chest. Her words from May echoed in her head… Fine is good. Fine is safe. They'd been something of a mantra to her over the last four years.
This, however… this was daring to hope for more than fine, and Lorelai was going to do it because she was tired of fighting what she wanted… but she wasn't convinced yet that she wouldn't come to regret it. She had enough regrets in her life already.
Dean pulled out of the motel parking lot, classic rock playing softly from the speakers. As they hit the open road, the sun rising in the rearview mirror, Lorelai allowed herself a small smile. Whatever happened, she at least knew how to live in the moment, and the moment was good.