If anyone has any thoughts on Alice/Dean, I'm all ears. Too much?

Lucifer

Here we go. Don't look at me like that. I didn't cause that...and obviously, Alice wasn't aware that she could cause that, either. It seems we are both learning as we go. How sweet.

I didn't even upset her (certainly not to that degree), purposely. Honestly, I don't want to harm the girl at all. That being said, I do unfortunately need to kick it up a notch. I'm not happy about this, so save me your grief.

She's a conundrum. She only draws more and more questions. She is not the girl who had one talent and one talent alone, when she first entered the bunker. And now...just how powerful is she capable of becoming?
Sam (such betrayal), and Castiel have...seemingly made her bloom. Is that possible? That cannot continue to happen. And in case you've forgotten; it's like Jack all over again. It should've been me molding him. Me.

What, no sympathy for the Devil?

I was not expecting the ginger witch at the warehouse. Just like they aren't expecting me to have a helper of my own; she's the reason I can see through Alice's eyes right now, hear what she hears, instead of just her own thoughts.

I am at least mildly amused when the boys get home.
Alice, still on the counter, half-clothed, with Dean's eyes and hands fawning over her...okay, searching for glass, whatever…I get my kicks where I can.

Sam, Castiel, and my "son" make their way down the stairs, hands full of bags, which drop at once when they see what's happening in the kitchen.
Jack is much the quiet observer. Seems like a consistent trait. He is off to the side, concerned, listening, all while trying to be respectful and not look at Alice's body. Boy is so decent, its nauseating.

Sam and good ole' Cas hurl questions at Dean in tandem.
"How did this happen? Why was she alone? Where did the glass come from?"

Cas finally asking, "why didn't you call me to try to come heal her?" Sam shoots him a look, making me curious.

Dean, clearly not having an easy time with the conversation, replies, "I didn't really have time to think about that! And sometimes you can't help her, Cas!"

Ah, there it is. I know it must consume him. To his angelic core…

Castiel says nothing. Instead, he walks to Alice, looking her over with a frown before gently touching her forehead.
It doesn't work. It worked in the warehouse, but not here. Intriguing...

He exhales, kisses her, says he's sorry. He will figure it out.
"No sorry", she says, eyes loving. "I am sorry".
Sam asks Jack to try. I must say, the suspense is killing me.
No dice. My boy can't perform, either. He looks crestfallen. Aww, too bad.
Well, this is just tremendously good news for me...

Sam approaches Alice. She looks at him and says "Sam...Dean was taking such good care of me".

Any anger at his brother faded. He turned to him and thanked him. That was all it took. One sentence from our girl.

Dean was disgusted with himself but wasn't sure why. You spend a little time with these boys, and they become so easy to read, if you're paying attention. It really does them a disservice. Dean carries more self-hatred than anyone I've seen. It is such a waste of time.

"Here, let me take over. I'm sure you can use a break.", Sam says quietly to his brother.

This is interesting. Dean remains where he is, at Alice's side. He hesitates, looking at her closely. Sam notices this.

With one hand in Sam's, Alice reaches her free one out to Dean. He takes it quickly, and she uses this to tug him-his forehead against hers, which he kisses after lingering briefly. She closes her eyes. It looks intimate. It feels intimate. When the hell did this start? For Dean to respond to her this way…well, its kind of batshit crazy. I don't think Alice was even expecting that tender, lingering response from him. You know…I don't think Dean himself expected to have that reaction.

Sam is just watching. He hasn't let go of her hand and she hasn't let go of his. His brow is furrowed carefully.

Dean finally dismisses himself, after pointing out a few bits of glass he hadn't gotten to yet.

Sam kissed her hand before saying "that was new…".

Alice swallows. "Yes, it is. And I don't really know what to say or what is going on with that…but nothing will change between us. Nothing will ever change between us." She's looking into his eyes. It's kind of sickening.

She continues. "You are so wonderful…about everything, about the imprint…and about how I was so intensely drawn to you, too. You're so good, Sam. I need to know that you believe me. I need to know you'll never worry or question my love for you."

"I won't", he says. "I can feel your energy, just like you can feel mine…", he brushes her hair back affectionately. "We need to finish up here."

They are quiet as he goes over her with the tweezers and alcohol, until Alice remarks "hey, this is like the first day Cas brought me back here, and you cared for me."

"It is", Sam smiles.

Sometimes Alice freaks me out with her purity. …even as she is "with" two men, and you know Dean will follow suit. I don't get it. Girl is as genuine as they come.

I chuckle to myself. She really is gonna make the best Mom.

Dean

The older brother sets a tumbler of whiskey on his nightstand. He sits down and runs his hands through his hair roughly. Draws his legs onto the bed and leans his head back, trying to make sense of the day. Make sense of his interactions with Alice, and god forbid trying to let himself feel the emotion she draws out of him.

Those concerns were at the forefront of Dean's mind, but behind them was the fact that they have so much more to learn about her. She doesn't know the scope of her own power or her triggers, yet. He realizes she must be frightened by today's incident, not to mention getting cut up…to shield Dean. He sighs, taking a long sip of his drink. It burns his throat in a satisfying way.

She takes care of all of them in any way she can. There is a gentleness to her that he can't recall ever experiencing before, and while Dean hates to be fussed over…somehow when it comes to Alice, he doesn't mind at all. In fact, if he is honest with himself, he almost savors it.

He thinks about the few women he has loved in his life. Of course, Charlie filled his mind first, and probably always will. Their relationship was also different than any others, platonic as it was, it went deep. The love was strong. She had lost her life trying to protect them, and when she was gone he lost a part of himself he couldn't register was there. His chest ached with memories, followed by a knowing dread that Alice would not hesitate to give her life for any one of them.

Jo and Ellen…also giving their lives to give the boys a fighting chance. Their bravery. Jo…how he regretted throwing cheap pick up lines at her, and the always witty way she would shut him down. She was quick, smart, pretty, and a force to be reckoned with. Their first kiss was their last and he will never forget.

He thought of Lisa and Ben. How his love for her and the kid wasn't enough to beat out being a hunter. How Lisa couldn't understand. She deserved better but he couldn't give it to her. Having Cas wipe their memories of him was the kindest thing he could do.

These relationships and how he felt today with Alice are so obviously different. It demands attention and understanding; something that was alien to Dean. And the situation with Sammy and Cas…none of this could get any weirder yet he felt no inclination to push it away. It floored him. The only thing that deeply worried him was Alice ending up like Charlie or Jo…he wanted to find out everything she was capable of, so they could strengthen it. So they could protect each other. Somehow, she needed to be untouchable.

He was nursing his third glass when Alice quietly knocked on the door. "Come on, Ali", he called gently, knowing her tentative knock.

She entered, wearing a plain gray t-shirt of Dean's , black shorts, and pink slipper socks. She would look quite cozy if not for the bandages scattered on her skin and the little cuts that didn't necessarily need covered. He looked her over with tender eyes as she sits on the bed.

"I'm sorry about today…I had no idea I could make that happen." She could tell he didn't know what to say. She told him the jist of the trigger, leaving out certain details that might make him feel partially responsible. He studied her face before assuring her everything is okay. It wasn't her fault. He was only thankful he was there to help.

"Hell, you're the one whose all cut up. I'm fine, because of you", he added. She smiled softly, fidgeting and rocking her leg back and forth. She was rattled too, he knew. Not only about the incident, but about them. He handed her the bottle and she took a considerable drink. She closed her eyes and took another.

"I was just an orphan…", she said quietly. "Now I feel I have…everything".

"Funny thing is, Ali-in one way or another, we were all orphans." He leaves her latter comment alone, as he knows being with them is dangerous.

She thought for a moment, of all their stories; where they came from. "Maybe that is why we are…the way we are…the way I can't help but love…", her voice quivers on the last few words. She laughed self-deprecatingly and tipped the bottle back.

Dean didn't know what to say to this, either. Part of him wanted to lean in and kiss her. Another part of him, to his detriment, was suddenly giving him pushback. Thoughts of Alice with Cas and Sam, how strange it all was. He took another drink. He'd had a lot, even for him, but he was still feeling enough to wonder if the alcohol was affecting his thoughts. Corrupting them. His head had seemed so clear, before. Now, he even thought about the time a witch used a spell to make him fall in love with her…he needed time to figure out what was actually happening. Right…?

Alice takes another sizable swig in the silence. She feels it swimming in her head just like the booze. She looks at Dean and rests her hand on his knee. Absent-mindedly, she starts making little circles on his skin with her thumb. She frowns when she realizes she is making him uncomfortable.

"Is something wrong?', she asks. "Did I do something?".

Dean groans, frustrated with his new conflict. "Its not you, Alice. Well, I guess it is, but you haven't done anything wrong. I just…I wasn't built for this. I don't know if I can handle the intensity; or the fact that you…kind of belong to all of us. I mean, you know what I mean. I'm sorry."

Alice is silent for some time, now using his knee much like a worry stone. "…I understand. Of course I understand…I am sorry, too. I never want to make you feel…well, anything negative."

More silence. "Should I go, Dean?", she asks, her voice quiet, removing her hand from him.

"I don't think I really want you to, Alice…but yes."

She nods softly, feeling tears well in her eyes, as she fears all the progress made between them may be broken. She wants to say something but doesn't. She walks to the door and closes it ever-so-gently.