"Last call," Nicole called out, her eyes going directly to the man at the far end of the bar.

He wasnt a regular but she had seen him once or twice. He ordered a lot of beer and didnt speak to anyone. Not completely unusual except for in a small town everyone talked at the bar.

One of her usual customers handed her a fifty as she stoo behind the anciet metal register totaling up his bill.

She had to smack the machine on the side to get the drawer to pop open.

Her eyes slid down the bar, the man hadn't even moved.

"You need a new register," her customer said.

"Yeah, but i like this one. Charlie left it for me." She said with a shrug.

She dealt out the change handing it to the fire chief who stood across the bar.

"Will you be alright getting home?" He asked, his eyes also falling on the odd customer.

"I will be fine, I promise."

He watched her a second then gave a slow nod.

He slipped a 20 dollar bill into her tip jar and the turned to leave. She knew him in social circles that Liberty constantly dragged her too.

Liberty had it bad for one of the newer firemen and spent so much time stalking the firehall that Nicole has bumped into the cheif more than once.

He was quite a bit older than her and Liberty and thought the constant flirting with his men was ridiculous. He was quiet, gentle and usually came to the bar only for a burger and fries.

Taking a ride with him would have been safe. He would have gotten her home and not expected a blow job for his trouble.

She starts to wipe down the bar top hoping the stranger would take the hint but he didnt seem too.

Slowly she worked closer to him, when he turned to look at her something deep in her stomach twisted.

"Its closing time, sorry."

He stared a long minute then reached in his pocket, pulling out a fifty dollar bill he offered it to her.

When she reached for it he pulled it away.

"Twent for the beer, thirty if you let me give you a ride home."

"Oh, no. Thats okay. I will be here late."

"I can wait, I am a patient man when I see something I want."

His eyes roamed openly over hee body and she took a step back.

"My boyfriend...Will pick me up."

"Boyfriend?"

"Yeah."

He glanced around the bar, checked his watch and then gave a small disbelieving shrug.

"Been here all day didnt hear you mention one."

"He...Hes a cop." She lied quickly.

He watched her and she backed towards the cash register and the small baseball she kept there.

"Sure," he replied.

She yanked her phone from under the cash register and quickly with fumbling fingers sent out a text to Dean.

"Is it too late to get a ride home? There's a customer here....I dont think he wants to leave."

Her message immediately said delivered and she waited praying for a response her stomach dropped when no reply came.

She glanced back at the man who was lighting a cigarette and slowly finishing his beer.

"He's on his way," she offered her voice shaky.

"Okay. I will just stay until he gets here."

She shakily slid her phone into her front pocket. Her hand gripping the bat under the register.

She took a deep breath and released the bat, turning to the bottles behind her making sure they all had lids tightly screwed on and loading a plastic bin with dirty glasses.

The door open just as she returned from back room.

Dean stepped inside, wearing his street clothes but his gun was still strapped to his side.

Her knees felt weak and she nearly sobbed with relief seeing him. His eyes went to the man at the bar.

"Honey, glad you made it." She said rounding the bar.

She tossed her arms around his neck squeezing him close. He didnt respond to her hug.

"I told him I have a boyfriend," she whispered into his ear quickly.

"Yeah uh....sorry I'm late."

He released her and she hustled back behind the bar. Dean took up a seat on a barstool close to where she was working and she glanced again at the man."

"Hey, uh, my boyfriend is here."

"Yeah, I see."

"So, thanks for waiting with me."

He slid from his stool walking towards the pair and she didnt miss the way Dean tensed, ready for a fight.

He stopped and looked Dean up and down before laying a twenty on the bar.

"Sorry if I over stepped my bounds," he said.

"No. It's okay."

She took the twenty and opened the register.

"You're a lucky man, best keep an eye on her or someone might steal her up," The man said.

She froze and watched Dean make a fist so tight hid knuckles began to Crack on top of the bar.

"I will."

The stranger gave her one last long look before leaving.

As soon as they door closed Dean moved to lock it behind him.

She suddenly felt completely exhausted, shaken, and uneasy.

She sank down to the floor behind the bar, taking a deep but shaky breath.

"You okay?" Dean asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I probably over reacted to be honest."

He glanced at the locked door and shook his head.

"I dont think you were. Has he been here before?"

"Once or twice, he never talks to anyone."

"Let me take you home," he said gently, reaching out his hand.

She took his hand and let him pull her to her feet.

"I should wipe down the floors and do some dishes."

"Do it tomorrow."

"Yeah, okay. Let me close down the register."

She walked to register giving it a few solid hits until the drawer opened. She filled the blue envelope used to make bank deposits and printed the receipt of the nights transactions to stick inside.

"You need a new register."

"Nah, this old girls got character."

She grabbed her keys and followed him to the door, shutting of the lights and locking the door behind them.

She walked across the parking lot the balmy warm air instantly making her feel suffocated. She saw his cruiser sitting nearby.

"You brought the cop car?" She teased.

"Yeah, I didn't have time to move it and get the truck from the garage."

"I don't think I've ever rode in a cop car before."

He walked to her side opening the back door and motioning with his head.

"Do you want the full experience?"

She froze, her breathing hitched. Then she shook her head and laughed. Surely he was kidding and not trying to insinuate anything other than a ride home.

"I uh...I think I'll pass," she said.

He closed the door then opened the front passenger.

"Get in then."

She climbed into the car he closed her door walking around to the drivers side.

He climbed in and she noticed the way he hesitated to put his weight on his left leg.

"Are you hurting again?" She asked carefully.

"I'm fine."

"I'm sorry I dragged you out this late."

"I'm glad you did, if you didn't..." He fell silent as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"He may have been harmless, and I dragged you here for nothing."

"He wasn't and it he had laid a hand on you...if he hurt you, I don't think I could handle it knowing I should have been there."

She fell silent, Dean had always looked out for her, the same as he did his sister's. As a child it only deepened the affection she carried for him but now she felt foolish.

She tucked her long black hair behind her high ear, the ends tickling her bare thighs where her shorts weren't covering.

He parked on the street in front of her house.

"Thanks, Dean."

"Dont mention it."

"Tomorrow, I can come around get your breakfast maybe help with that growing pile of laundry."

"Don't be there too early it's my day off."

"Fair enough."

She opened her door and he spoke before she could get out.

"I'm driving you to work tomorrow, and home. No arguments."

"My car should be done tomorrow," she said.

"Fine, we will drive it then."

She bit her lip but gave a small nod, he wasn't going to change his mind anyway.

She closed the door aware he sat in his car until she was inside her house and the light inside were on.