Her phone woke her up and she glanced at her clock before reaching for it.

Seven in the morning only one person would call her that early.

"Hello?"

"Daughter, it is good to know you're still among the living."

"I'm fine mom," she borrowed deeper into her blankets.

"Will you be home for your father's birthday?"

"I don't know."

"Running from the reservation will not solve your problems, it will not change who you are."

She rolled her eyes, this speech was on she heard so often she could almost recite it herself.

"I'm not running. I'm happy here."

"Rain brings blessings has asked for you yet again."

"Tell him I said no. I won't marry him, I am not moving back there."

"Is this about that white boy? Still?"

"No, it's about me."

"You belong here Sparrow, with your people."

Her breath caught at the use of her native name. She loved her mother and she wasnt ashamed of her heritage but living on a reservation forced into an arranged marriage was not the life she wanted.

"My name is Nicole."

"I suppose that is what your white family calls you."

"They love me." Nicole said firmly.

"We love you, you don't belong in their world and that boy will never see you as anything but his native whore."

Her mother's words stung, it wasnt true but it still hurt.

"He doesn't....Dean isn't like that."

"He uses you as a slave. Cooking, cleaning, caring for him. As if its your duty as his inferior."

"Mom, I can't talk about this right now. Ive only been asleep a few hours."

"Very well, but please come home for your father's birthday."

"I will think about it," she lied.

Her mother hung up and she tossed her phone into the bed beside her, pulling the blankets up over her head.

As a child, as a teenager she had struggled with her identity and where she belonged. Her mental health had been a Rollercoaster only Liberty, Dean and their parents made her feel seen. Only they had made her feel like she was more than a simple Indian.

Her parents hated them for it, convinced that the family was forcing her to abandon her heritage.

Her father had decided when she was barely fourteen her fate was to marry Rain, her opinion did not matter.

She spent as much time as possible with Libert avoiding Rain until she was old enough to sneak away in the middle of the night. She made a mistake when she turned twenty three, she called her mom on her birthday.

Her parents hadn't forgotten the promise of marriage they made, and they never forgot her devotion to Dean and Liberty.

She tossed and turned in the bed for nearly two hours trying to sleep but unable too. Finally, she got up and got dressed and headed to Dean's house.

************************************

Dean was already awake when she got there pacing his kitchen, she noticed his grip never leaving the counter, his leg giving out every so often.

"Have you slept at all?" She asked.

"Maybe an hour," he admitted.

He braces both arms on his kitchen counter letting them support his weight and leaning forward. She could see how exhausted he looked.

"Dean," she moved closer.

"Don't just...don't touch me. Okay?"

"I'm not."

"It just makes it worse."

"Let me go run you a hot bath, you can soak and I can get you some food. Do you have anything to take for the pain?"

"Yeah, I think so...I only use it in emergencies. It knocks me on my ass."

"I think this might be an emergency."

She watched him clenching his jaw debating what she said before finally giving a nod of acceptance.

She hurried to the bathroom starting the hot water needed for a soak she grabbed several towels laying them out on the floor for him and rolling one for behind his head.

She entered the bedroom and saw his bed was still made, she pulled the blankets back and then gathered him a paid of drawstring pants, boxers and shirt.

When she returned to the kitchen he somehow looked even worse.

"Come on," she called gently.

He hesitated before following her to the bathroom.

"I'm sorry, about this." He said softly.

"It's not your fault."

He didnt reply as he eased to sit down on the closed toilet.

"Do you need help?" She asked.

"No, fuck. No just give me awhile."

"Okay, I will go make lunch."

He gave another somber nod and she hesitated at the door. She knew Dean well enough to know ontop of the pain this mentally took its toll.

"Dean..."

He glanced up at her with a tired sigh.

"It really doesn't change anything. You're still you."

"Thanks Nicki."

She left him alone, closing the door behind her before choking back her own tears.

Her entire life Dean had been the untouchable unbreakable boy she adored and seeing him in agony unable to sleep and barely able to function some days was heart breaking.

The first few weeks after his injury she could remember the blank stare he wore, sitting on his parents couch staring out the window. For awhile she worried he would never speak again that his depression would win.

He healed physically and mentally but those days never fully left her mind.

She made him a sandwich and some soup, hoping it was enough to keepchis medicine from making him ill.

************************************

When he exited the bathroom she thought he looked a little better. His color was more normal, his hair was wet and slicked back from his face.

"Go ahead to the bedroom, I will be right there."

He bypassed the kitchen without a word.

When she entered the bedroom he was propping his leg up onto a pillow.

She was handing him a tray with his lunch when her phone rang. She checked the caller ID and immediately shoved it back into her pocket.

"Everything okay?" He asked.

"Just my mom, she wants me to go back for my dad's birthday."

"And you're not?"

"Fuck no."

"When is it?" He winced as he adjusted in the bed.

"Two days."

"I'll go with you, if you want."

She laughed as she helped him fluff some pillows behind his head.

"Yeah, my mom will love that."

"I've never done anything to that woman, I don't know why she hates me."

"It's nothing personal," she said honestly.

"Feels like it."

She set a glass of water and one pill on his tray.

"Take that and get some rest. I will be back."

**********************************

Dean slept most of the day, which allowed her time to think as she cleaned up his small house.

She finished off laundry, cleaned the floors, and any other odds and ends.

She was wiping down the kitchen counters while dinner cooked when he came down the hallway. He looked better and was moving a little easier.

"Something smells good," he said.

"I made roasted chicken."

"That sounds amazing. Are you going to stay and eat?"

"I should get to work, I have a lot to do before I can open."

He glanced at the clock, he was partly to blame for her having work already, he convinced her not to finish cleaning up.

"Eat with me. I will come help you get ready to open.

"Dean, you don't have to do that."

"I know, I am taking you to your dad's birthday too."

"Oh, no...I dont think you should."

He shrugged taking a seat at the kitchen island.

"Really, Dean...I cant ask you to do that."

"You're not asking and besides...I also need a favor. This will be good practice."

"Practice for what?"

"When we go to that wedding and you pretend to be madly in love with me."