Written by: gooberlanes13

Edited by: KariGorsuch

I frowned down at our kneecaps touching. She was sniffing and shaking, her tough outer shell seemed to be cracking, but I knew better - it wasn't a break though. It was a setback. Like me last night.

"So," I began softly, placing my hand on her knee and watching as one of her hands immediately took it in a tight squeeze. "How about you tell me what happened? You know it's just me and you out here..."

Bri frowned, her eyes scanning our surroundings, and I shot her a small, reassuring grin.

"...it's stupid," she muttered, trying to put on her usual stone face. Her tone was the one she used to trick everyone else, but it never worked on me. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not." I shot back, squeezing her hand. That earned me her eyes. "Tell me."

She hesitated, but eventually sighed. "I woke up freezing last night, and Sam was awake. He offered the bed." I nodded, listening as she gestured vaguely. "So, because I was freezing, I took it - but Sam just... scooted over, and we -"

"- You cuddled?!" I interrupted, barely containing my excitement. Her glare shut me up fast. "Sorry. Go on."

Bri chuckled at my enthusiasm before as she cleared her throat, "This morning, I woke up trying to figure out if I should get up or stay there-"

"- Their body heat is amazing, isn't it?" I added, earning a quick nod from her before she continued.

"But when he woke up. Whether he was fully awake or not, I don't know. He kissed the back of my neck -"

"- Like a pop kiss or a muah kiss?" I asked, trying to stay focused despite my growing curiosity and excitement.

"A pop, Eve." Bri clarified, smirking slightly. "Anyway, I flinched, and he immediately called it a 'slip-up'."

"A slip up?" I repeated, my jaw dropping as I whipped my head toward her. "What the fuck does that mean?"

"Now I've got Jared's voice in my head telling me I'm just a mistake all over again," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I mean, calling it a 'slip-up'? Like it wasn't worth even a second of thought? God, I knew better than to even think of hoping for more, but it fuckin' stings, you know?"

I winced at the mention of Jared. "That guy was an absolute waste of skin, Bri. He didn't deserve you. And Sam-" I stopped, pulling her into a tight hug. "I'm sorry Sam triggered this whole domino effect."

Bri pulled back, shaking her head. "It wouldn't sting so bad if he wasn't so damn... nice. Gentle, warm, gentleman- like-"

"- You're right." I said suddenly,standing and pulling Bri to her feet. "Let me try something..."

"What? Eve, what are you-" Bri asked as I dragged her back inside the hotel room.

I barged into the room and immediately shoved Dean out of my way. "Move it, Dean!"

Dean flopped back onto the bed, arms flailing. "What the hell?!"

I ignored him, walking up to Sam, who was occupying the only chair in the room.

"Let me ask you something," I said, leaning onto the arm of the chair. Bri stood frozen in the doorway. "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

Sam, nervous and confused, allowed his eyes to flicker from my face to Bri's - over my shoulder - and to his Brother's, as he whispered, "S-Sam Winchester?"

"Are you?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "Are you fucking sure - because you seem like a little Bitch to me."

Dean snorted, rising from the bed and stepping towards Sam and I. "Okay, hold on-"

"Shut it, Dean!" I snapped, pointing a finger at him. "This isn't about you."

Sam looked completely lost. "What are you even talking about?"

"You don't get to call her-" I motioned toward Bri, who had finally stepped into the room and closed the door. "- A 'slip-up'. Do you have any idea what that does to someone? Words have consequences, Sam. I'd think someone like you would know that."

Sam started to speak, but I cut him off. "She's not a mistake. She's not some passing thought. She's amazing. And you need to figure your shit out before you hurt her anymore than you already have."

Sam frowned, his face scrunching up in confusion and guilt. "I didn't mean it like that-"

"Doesn't matter how you meant it. The boy that claimed to love that woman right there, promised forever, promised everything- took everything from her. His promise of forever- her confidence, her trust." I leaned over the chair, forcing him to lock eyes with me. "You're the first guy she's even remotely shown interest in- in the past 2 years."

Sam looked stricken, his face shifting between guilt and something softer. " I didn't mean it like that," he repeated quietly. "It came out wrong. I- I panicked."

"Oh, you panicked. You PANICKED and you HURT HER." I mocked, leaning back and throwing my hands up. "That makes it so much better!"

Sam leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, rubbing his face with his hands. "You're right," he muttered, his voice low but steady. "You're absolutely right, Eve. I screwed up. I wasn't thinking, and I hurt her. I..." He looked up, his gaze darting between me and Bri. "I didn't mean to- I swear I didn't."

"Y'know, this is all very touching and all, but if this is how long it takes you two to have half a conversation, we're gonna need a second hotel room." Dean smirked, crossing his arms next to me. "Seriously, just kiss or yell or something, because the rest of us aren't equipped for this slow-burn soap opera."

When the silence persisted, Dean opened his mouth to say something else, but I turned and placed both hands on his shoulders before shoving him back firmly. His eyes widened in surprise as he flopped down with a muffled "oof."

"Stay there," I said sharply, pointing a finger at him. "And for once in your life, shut up."

Dean raised his hands in mock surrender, a smirk twitching at the corners of his mouth. "Fine. Just trying to lighten the mood. You're scary when you're bossy, y'know that?"

"Good. Stay scared," I shot back without looking at him, turning my attention back to Sam. Bri stood still, just inside the room, her body stiff and eyes on the floor. She wasn't looking at Sam anymore.

Sam's voice wavered, pleading with her. "Bri, please... I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you, I-"

"Stop," Bri's voice cracked, but she quickly steadied herself. She lifted her chin, forcing herself to look Sam dead in the eyes. "I'm done with apologies. They don't mean anything when they come too late."

Sam flinched, but Bri held her ground. She crossed her arms tightly, her expression a mix of pain and frustration. "You're not the first guy to make me feel like I don't matter," she said quietly, but each word carried a painful weight. "Jared's words... they didn't just come from nowhere. They've been with me for so long that I can't just erase them because someone else comes along and acts like they care."

She paused, dropping her eyes to the floor, her hands tightening on her arms as she steadied her breath. Sam stayed silent, his gaze fixed on her. She could feel his presence, the sincerity in his eyes, but it wasn't enough. Not yet.

"You think it's just a slip-up," Bri continued, her voice steady but cold, her eyes still on the floor. "But to me, it's another reminder that people who say they care will always hurt me in the end." She looked up finally, meeting Sam's gaze with unflinching resolve. "I don't need your apology, Sam. I don't need you to make this better. I need you to understand that I don't trust anyone anymore. And I don't expect you to fix that."

Her eyes welled up, but she blinked the tears back forcefully. "I've been through too much to let myself believe in any of this. In anyone."

"You don't get it, Bri. I wasn't trying to hurt you. I just... I don't know what I was thinking." Sam's face was filled with guilt and regret. He ran a hand through his hair, looking like he was grasping for something—anything—to make it right. "But I understand now. I do. And I'm sorry for that."

Bri's gaze hardened, her body still tense. "Sorry doesn't cut it anymore."

"You don't get to decide how I feel," Bri continued. "You don't get to be the one to determine if we're okay or not. You don't get to act like a kiss on the neck was some accident and expect me to just... forget. I can't forget. Not this time."

Sam's eyes softened, but Bri wasn't finished.

"I've been through more than just that asshole, Jared," Bri said, her voice barely above a whisper now. She looked away for a moment, as though the weight of her own words was too much to bear. "There's stuff that still haunts me. Every time I let someone in, I get a little weaker, and I'm not... I'm not sure I can keep doing this. Letting people in. Letting them hurt me."

Her breath hitched as she turned away from Sam, fighting to hold herself together. The vulnerability in her voice wasn't something she ever let show, and yet it was pouring out now—raw, unfiltered.

"I can't let you do that to me, Sam. I can't let anyone do that to me anymore."

I stepped forward then, my hand resting gently on her back in support. Bri stiffened for a moment but then leaned into the comfort, the weight of her emotions starting to seep out. It was all too much for her to carry alone.

"Sam, I'm done with the games," Bri said, her voice quiet but resolute. "You're either here for me, or you're not. But if you're not, then we're done before we ever could be anything. And that's okay. I'll be okay."

The room was thick with tension when Dean finally broke the silence. "Nice hoodie." He smirked, tugging briefly on my arm, catching my attention from the uncomfortable moment unfolding between Bri and Sam.

"What?" I shot back, looking from him down to the sleeve he was tugging on. "Oh, this? It was just lying around." I shrugged, trying to avoid looking too pleased with myself as I turned my attention back to Bri, who had turned to watch the next episode of The Bickering of Dean and Eve.

"Lying around in my bag?" Dean grinned, tilting his head and appraising the hoodie. His eyes then shifted to my face, clearly noticing the hint of a smile trying to break through my defences.

"You know, possession's nine-tenths of the law, Winchester," I smirked, meeting his eyes, letting my gaze flicker briefly down to his chest before clashing back up to his eyes. "Guess it's mine now."

Dean's eyes twinkled with amusement as he shook his head, laughing under his breath. "You're unbelievable."

It wasn't long before we were packed and ready to go, the weight of the upcoming hunt hanging over us. Dean had just dropped a duffle bag on the bed, and I watched him as he dug through it, pulling out a box that jingled with a familiar metallic sound.

As he began repacking the duffle, I peeked inside the box, spotting the silver bullets.

"These are so cute." I held one up, inspecting it closely, barely an inch from my face. "Did you polish them yourself?"

Dean didn't even look up at first, but I could hear the exasperation in his voice. "You know, some people appreciate craftsmanship."

I raised an eyebrow and hummed softly, lowering the bullet as he looked up. "Some people also test their theories before going in guns blazing..." I met his gaze dead-on. "...You sure these aren't pewter?"

Dean shot me a side smirk, clearly ready to keep this little back-and-forth going. "You wanna test one out? I'll let you borrow my gun..."

I gasped, dramatically fanning myself with one hand. "Aw, you trust me with your baby?" I teased, a grin playing at the edges of my lips.

Dean's face shifted into a slight glare, but the amusement behind his eyes didn't lie. "I'm touched," I added, biting my lower lip as I held his gaze.

Dean shook his head, leaning against the table with his arms crossed. "Nah, I just figured if anyone could screw up a werewolf hunt, it'd be you."

I scoffed, tossing the bullet back into the box with a laugh. As I rose and moved to brush past him, I stopped short, my eyes locking on his. "Careful, Winchester. That ego of yours might get you bitten someday..."

Dean faltered for a second, his face tightening as he swallowed hard, likely imagining himself in a dangerous scenario. He cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "Not if I shoot first."

Before I could respond, Sam and Bri walked in, duffle bags slung over their shoulders, ready to head out.

"Okay, you two..." Sam smirked, glancing between me and Dean. "...are we ready for this?"

I glanced over at Dean, who was now tilting his head in a teasing, sarcastic manner. "I don't know, Eve..."

I didn't even hesitate, moving toward him with slow confidence. Our eyes collided, and that familiar heat rose again, but this time, I was the one in control. I slid my hand down his chest, watching his expression shift as his eyes flickered down to my touch.

I paused just short of leaning in for a kiss, letting the tension simmer between us, but then quickly released him, snatching my Sig off the table in one fluid motion.

I flashed the gun in his face, winking at him. "Hey," I barked back as I turned, picking up a duffle bag and high-fiving Bri as we started toward the door.

Dean stood frozen, still staring at me, his voice trailing after us. "That's...not cool..."

I couldn't help but smirk, Bri by my side as we left the room, ready for the hunt ahead.

This was it.

Us vs Them.

And it wasn't just about the werewolves.