Written by: gooberlanes13

Edited by: KariGorsuch

"...he did what?!" I gasped, I spun around from closing the door to our room, frozen.

"He fought me..." Bri clarified, gesturing with her hands widely my eyes followed her gestures. "...literally fought me."

"What the fuck...talk about stubborn." I shook my head moving from the door, pulling my hair up into a ponytail as I dropped onto my bed, crossing my legs. "Jesus, maybe you two have a lot more in common than you think."

"Maybe. Or maybe he just needs to let me be." Bri shot flatly, pulling her legs to her chest to lean against the headboard, but she didn't fool me. I could feel her longingness for him and her heart ache at the memory.

"Ugh," I rolled my eyes, moving to put my back against my headboard. "Come here." I beckoned her over. Reluctantly she followed my gesture and laid down, head down at the bed and her feet on my lap. I began giving her a foot massage. I continued, "I've been stuck in the office all day, and missed all that?"

"You did." Bri growled, glaring at the ceiling, but I watched as her expression softened at a thought, that was soon voiced. "At least he had a shirt on this time..."

"Dean has a habit of losing his shirt and then proceeds to walk around the house looking for it..." I mentioned, switching one foot for the other. "...it's nice to see, but I'd rather have him make a move than to just keep parading it around me."

Bri sat up on the bed, pulling her legs in to sit Indian style as I gave a sharp exhale.

"Dean's still doing it to you?" giggled Bri, shaking her head. "Sam does it almost every other day. He'll take a shower and come out with nothing but the towel on - acting all confused like "Where's my shirt?" she mocked as we both chuckled out loud,

"Don't tell me, the towel pulled just low enough where if a wind blew in the right direction, you'd get the full show?" I asked, causing Bri to flop on her back laughing so hard she was chuckling silently.

"Dean does that too." I laughed, fighting to catch my breath. "So, I've resulted in walking around in just a t-shirt and panties. I pick and choose when though, because poor Bobby would get caught in the crosshairs."

"I haven't thought of that," Bri giggled, clapping a few times while pointing at me. Her chuckles barley elligible.

I was laughing so hard I snorted, causing both of us to erupt in another roar of laughter as there was a knock at the bedroom door. One of us managed to catch our breath long enough to yell, "Yes?!"

The door creaked open to reveal an amused Sam and a curious Dean, the very topics of our conversaiton.

"Shit, were we too loud?" I smiled over Bri's laughing figure, catching Dean's eyes, which were already locked onto mine as they came into view.

"Uh...no. We just want in on the joke." Dean shot tilting his head to assess our laughter.

"Oh Dean, you two are the joke." smirked Bri, triggering another eruption of laughter to be shared between the two of us as Sam and Dean exchanged confused looks before slowly pulling the door shut.

The laughter died down moments after the door clicked shut and we held each other's knowing gaze for a bit before anyone broke the silence.

"You have to keep in mind, Bri..." I sighed, adjusting the pillows and leaning against the headboard. "...he's not trying to control you, judge you or take pity on you..."

"...I know..." Bri groaned, drawn out, dramatically falling back onto her own bed, flinching at the jolt to her back. "...it's just uncomfortable."

"Some of the things we need to do to face in life aren't always comfortable. Sometimes getting pushed outside our comfort zone is the key to our happiness..." I spoke, earning a side eye from her. "...I sound like a fucking fortune cookie - I know - but I'm right...and you should humor him."

Bri fell quiet as she exhaled sharply before untucking her own bed and sliding under the blankets and sheets for the night. A knowing silence hung over us as I reached over and snapped the lamp off in between our beds.

"Eve..." Bri's voice cut through the darkness.

"...Bri..." I retorted, glancing over, as if I could see her through the pitch black room.

"...Dean asked me how to talk to you the other day." Bri's voice was faint now, just above a whisper.

"So be on the look out?" I asked, beaming up at the non existent ceiling, catching myself smiling and biting my lower lip at the thought of Dean truly being interested in me.

"Be on the look out." Bri agreed before we both fell asleep for the night.

A few days later, I was lost in a sea of books, muttering to myself. "Relevant, Sketchy and Rare..." I paused, jotting the titles down on neon sticky notes I found at the bottom of Bobby's desk. "...Okay...alphabetical -"

"- Freakin' Adorable." Dean's voice cut through my concentration, causing me to turn and give him a double take.

"Hey!" I smiled, pointing at him."You remembered a shirt today!"

For once, he didn't try to hide his amusement. His face broke into a chuckle as he leaned against the doorframe, watching me hobble from the desk to the shelves. "Look at you, up and about on your own. Need any help?"

"What do you know about organization?" I smirked, stopping to tie my hair up in a ponytail. I shot him a sly smile as I glanced over at his lingering figure. "I've seen your backseat, Winchester -"

"- not yet you haven't." Dean shot back, his words making my cheeks flush. I turned back to organizing the books.

"The place looks so much better already..." he added, taking a few steps into the room.

I paused, giving him a skeptical look. "What is it, Dean? You didn't come in here just to compliment my organization skills."

Dean nodded silently and moved to lean against the desk, "So, we've been here for a while now, and we still haven't had that talk we said we would..."

"Oh yeah!" I chimed, rereading a title twice before placing it on a shelf, "By all means," I gestured for him to go on, but then spun around too quickly, colliding with his chest. "Oh!" I gasped, almost losing my balance. He caught me by the waist before I could fall over a pile of books.

"Um..." I swallowed hard, trying not to blush at his touch. "...what was it you wanted to talk about?"

His eyes locked onto mine, a hint of something playful in them. "...the fact that we've slept together, without having sex." His voice had a low hum, sending a shiver down my spine. "We've almost kissed..."

"...Yeah, it would have been our first kiss if someone didn't chicken out." I smirked, trying to move past him, but his grip on my waist lingered just a little longer. I broke free, nervous but amused, and limped over to the desk. "What about it?"

"Does the topic of me and you make you nervous?" Dean's voice was close, almost a whisper. I froze, feeling the heat from his body just inches away. His presence made my hair stand on end.

"Uh, nope." I shot back quickly, trying to focus on the books again, but it was hard when he was so distracting. "How's the Mustang coming along?"

Dean chuckled softly under his breath. He straightened up but leaned on the chair. "She's almost done. New tires are on, and she's almost done buffering out the spray paint off."

He glanced toward the entryway. "Has Bri come to see you today?"

"Uh, no. She was already out there when I woke up this morning," I glanced up at him, then purposely rose to brush past him. We were chest to chest for a brief moment, and I could feel the warmth radiating off him. I smiled faintly, then continued to organize the books in my arms. "Why?"

"She and Sam are talking about heading out tonight if the Mustang behaves." He elaborated, sitting in the office chair and propping his boots up on the desk. He smirked at me as I walked over, making me dodge around him and raise his boots off my pad that had my organization notes on it.

"Bobby's going to kill you when he sees your boots on the desk." I smiled, moving back toward the bookshelf to check the order. "Anyway, I'm sure Bri was going to tell me when she was finished with the car."

"I'm sure." Dean nodded, shifting in the chair to make himself comfortable. "I had a proposition for you..."

"...is this a sexy proposition?" I teased, watching as Dean immediately dropped his hands from behind his head and swung his legs off the desk. I chuckled at the sudden shift in his demeanor. "What is it, Dean?"

"Have you looked into that Vamp activity in Casper, Wyoming?" Dean asked, pulling a folded newspaper from his back pocket and dropping it onto the desk. I limped over, picking it up and flipping through it, scanning headlines and subheadlines. "It'd be nice to not go by myself, if you're feeling up to it... it'd be our first mission."

I grinned into the newspaper, peeking over the edge at him. He was eyeing me in a way that made my stomach flip. Closing the newspaper I set it back on the desk and leaned in slightly. "That's not what you came to talk to me about," I said, smirking before grabbing another stack of books and heading back to the shelf.

"No, it's not..." Dean admitted with a sigh, stepping around the desk. "But it's a start."

I was mid-struggle, trying to push a book onto a higher shelf, when it wobbled precariously. Before I could react, Dean reached up and steadied it, sliding it into place.

"See?" He said with a grin, glancing up at the shelf and then back down at me. "I can be useful."

"Never said you weren't..." I replied, smiling sweetly before turning to limp back toward the desk. Before I made it, Dean gently snatched my wrist, his touch sending a wave of heat through me. I froze, glancing back at him as he held my gaze.

"Oh, you wanted to actually talk about that?" I asked, my voice softer than I intended.

"If you don't mind..." His grip shifted from my wrist to my hand, and he turned to fully face me. "Please?" His usual rough tone was softer now, tinged with something vulnerable, almost desperate.

I exhaled sharply, caught in the intensity of his eyes. Setting the remaining books on the floor, I turned back just in time to catch him looking somewhere else- his gaze snapping back to meet mine a moment later.

With a small giggle, I tugged him closer and hoisted myself onto the desk, letting my legs dangle. Dean smirked at the shift, approaching me with a calm, deliberate ease. His eyes flicked to mine, playful yet steady.

"How can I help you, sir?" I teased, my voice light but my heart pounding. "Where do you want to start?"

"I wanted to say a few things before we get into this..." He said softly, glancing around as though ensuring the house was still empty. I could see the wheels turning in his mind as he searched for the right words.

I tilted my head, studying his expression. His face was unreadable, but something in his eyes softened as he stepped closer. Slowly, he spread my legs, positioning himself between them.

My voice caught. His jeans brushed against my thighs, sending a jolt through me. His smirk deepened when he noticed my reaction.

"Dean..." I started, my voice barely above a whisper.

He leaned in, his voice low and warm as he whispered, "I'm glad I went to Morrie's to grab that beer."

"So am I," I replied breathlessly, heat rising in my cheeks. "But, Dean, you don't have to-"

"- but I do." Dean interrupted firmly. Before I could slide off the desk, his hands were on my waist, pulling me closer. The movement caused his jeans to brush against the most sensitive part of my body, and a quiet moan escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Dean froze for just a second, his expression shifting into a slow, knowing smile as he watched me squirm.

"You're making this so hard," he groaned, his voice low and gravelly.

"- what am I doing?!" I chuckled, glancing down at the narrow space between our bodies. The urge to arch my back, to give in to the burning ache growing between us, flickered through me, but his eyes locked onto mine, pinning me in place. My laughter shifted into nervous giggles, heat rushing to my face as I fought to keep my composure.

Dean's lip's quirked, and his soft chuckle joined mine, our tension easing just enough to let us breathe. The sound of our shared amusement filled the quiet office, but neither of us looked away, the weight of the moment still holding us in its grip.

"You're so damn distracting," he muttered, shaking his head with a helpless smile, his gaze never leaving mine. "Maybe one day, I'll actually get to finish what I start."

"Maybe." I mocked lightly, my grin tugging wider at the playful glare he shot at me. He watched my eyes trace his button-down, then his jeans. Only for him to take my chin and force my eyes back up into his.

"When that day does come..." Dean's voice softened, his words almost a promise as he released my chin. "I'll make sure you're ready to hear it."

"And when it does, I'll listen." I replied with a smile of my own as I bit my lower lip, my voice barely above a whisper.

His forehead pressed against mine, his closeness completely disarming me. My pulse thundered in my ears as I closed my eyes for just a moment, savoring the warmth and calm he brought with him.

The moment between us lingered, thick with unspoken words and a hazy, unfulfilled promise that painted vivid, sweaty scenes in my mind. But it was short-lived.

The sharp bang of the front screen door opening and slamming shut broke through the quiet, jolting us apart like guilty teenagers caught in the act.

Bobby appeared in the doorway, his eyes darting between us with a suspicious squint. "Uh... the Mustangs done," he announced, his tone flat but laced with unmistakable curiosity.

He paused for a beat, clearly weighing the situation, before deciding against any further commentary. With a gruff nod, he turned on his heel and disappeared back out the door.

Dean and I exchanged knowing looks, his lopsided smirk softening into something warmer. Leaning in, he gently took my chin again and pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek, the brief contact igniting a flutter in my chest.

Without a word, he stepped back, letting me slide off the desk, my boots landing on the floor with a soft thud. His gaze lingered on me for just a moment before I turned, leading the way out to the garage.

The low, familiar rumble of the mustang greeted me like an old friend, its steady purr filling the space and grounding me. Bri was leaning under the hood, tinkering with something. Sam leaned against the counter, his arms crossed while he watched Bri with a look I couldn't quite understand.

"- It's a 3 hour drive, we can make that today if she's ready for a trip."

"Leaving so soon?" I chimed, taking a small running start and hopping on Bri's left side, causing her to jump and almost drop a tool. "She sounds beautiful!"

"Beauty is up and running, just need to tighten a few bolts and we'll be ready to roll." Bri elaborated as she handed me a flashlight and I held it, pointing it in the direction she needed. Bri did a double take on me as Dean shifted around the Mustang, admiring my work. "Why are you glowing?"

"Glowing?" I echoed, rolling my eyes at her question. "Whose glowing?"

"You are." She smirked, hopping, bumping me a little. "Did Dean -" Bri paused, connecting some sort of dots. "- Did Dean follow my advice and talk to you?"

"...and then some." I winked, pointing to my cheek as Bri's jaw dropped and her eyes widened in excitement. "So a 3 hour drive with Beauty," I shifted, changing the subject. "Do you think she's ready for that?"

"I know she is." Bri smiled, finally shutting the hood. "I know you wanted to work on this too -"

"- are you kidding?" I chuckled, nudging her slightly. "I got to organize that office for the week...and I'm almost done..."

"...just got a little distracted?" Bri teased as I smiled brightly shifting my gaze over Bri's shoulder, biting my lower lip as my eyes found Dean's. He was talking with Sam and studying my every move. When our eyes collided, he gave me a short wink, causing me to blush again. "Eve..."

"Yeah?" I forcefully ripped my eyes away from Dean's magnetic gaze to find Bri's eyes.

"...don't fall too fast." Bri whispered, triggering a serious frustration to take over my face, as I tugged on her arm and pulled outside the garage, as Dean and Sam took a closer look at the Mustang.

"What?" I giggled, hoping that I didn't hear what I thought I did.

"I said," Bri sighed, glancing over her shoulder towards the garage opening. "Don't fall too fast."

"Why do you - why?" I blinked rapidly, unsure of whether to take this advice. Is it intertwined with doubt for me or doubt for Dean?

"Listen," Bri leaned against the garage wall as she gestured. "You tend to forgive fast and fall faster, you have this huge heart that tends to get too attached too fast." Bri pressed her lips into a fine line with a small sigh. "I'm not saying this to -"

"- be mean." I finished her sentence, nodding slowly. "What did he say?"

"What did he say?" Bri echoed, confused.

"What did Dean say to you that made you worry enough to say this?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Nothing, Eve..." Bri frowned at my tense stature. "...he just asked me how to talk to you..."

I paused, staring at her.

"...I'm giving you this advice because we're about to be away from each other for a while." Bri elaborated further. "I won't be around to...to -"

"- guide me." I smirked, uncrossing my arms and sliding my hands into my back pockets.

"...protect you." Bri corrected, hoisting herself off the garage wall to step closer to me.

"I don't need protecting Bri," I growled, rolling my eyes. "You don't want people going out of their way to protect you, why would you think I would?"

"- Eve that's not what I'm saying." Bri's face dropped as she tugged at my stiff arms, still restrained in my back pockets, and after the third tug I gave in. She pulled me into a tight hug as I hugged her back. "Any chance you're trying to pick a fight to make this easier?"

"Shut up." I choked, feeling a knot forming in my throat and my eyes becoming blurry as I tightened my grip around her.

"It'll only be for a little bit," Bri attempted to defuse my stature. "Given the situation, Sam wants to be the one to talk to my Uncle, and Dean has that Vamp case that would be perfect to help train you, while this will train me."

"Well," I grumbled, pulling out of the hug - glaring at her. "It is your Uncle."

"Yes." Bri nodded slowly as we made our way back towards the garage opening. "Besides, maybe...just maybe, something serious will happen with you and Dean. You can tell me all about it when we get back."

I shifted uncomfortably as we appeared back at the opening to the garage as Dean reached in and killed the engine as the boys' attention shifted to us.

"Eve, you alright?" Sam asked, pulling Dean's attention from the interior of the Mustang to me. "You're shivering..."

Bri took in my shaken demeanor as Dean stepped around the front of the Mustang, his gaze tense but concerned.

"I don't know," I sighed, holding my head as my equilibrium began to shift. "I'm dizzy..." I muttered, losing balance tipping onto Bri's shoulder.

"Walk us through it -" Dean's demanding alpha stance appeared on the other side of me, wrapping his arm around my waist whereas Bri's was around my shoulder. Sam brushed off the work bench as they sat me down.

"We were just talking about how we're splitting up..." I sighed, holding my forehead as Dean disappeared long enough to grab a water bottle out of the shop fridge and dropped next to me before passing it to me. "...I just...I just don't like this...I've got a bad feeling..."

Bri frowned down at her friend and bent down to get eye level with her. She took my face in her hands, "It'll be alright, I promise."

With that being said, I rose, still catching myself on Dean's shoulder as I pulled her into another tight hug. "I put notes on the address in your glovebox," I whispered in her ear, holding her a little longer. "Please, call Dean if you need anything -"

"- Please, get a phone." Bri whispered back, causing me to chuckle before we parted.