Back Woods

Chapter Four

Rising to her feet, Tess smiled whole heatedly at the retreating back of Carl, who was running towards the dust storm of approaching vehicles. Hearing a reverberating alarm, echoing throughout the quarry, her eyebrows furrowed quizzically and she two made her way towards the commotion. As she drew nearer, she smiled again, on seeing the excitable, grinning face of Glenn, who was situated happily behind the wheel of a red, supped up Dodge Challenger. His childlike grin erupted his whole face and he waved happily to her out the window. Shaking her head, she tauntingly waved back. As soon as Glenn opened the door and resurfaced out of the vehicle, he was met with an onslaught of yells from every direction.

"Where's my sister?" Amy questioned anxiously, her fingers clutching nervously to her shirt. 

"Where are the others?" Dale asked.

"Turn it off!" shouted, the authoritative tone of Shane, who was fumbling with the hood of the car, "what are you trying to do, draw in every geek for miles?"

Rolling her eyes, Tess strode forward, and unsheathing the hunting knife from her belt, she dove into the front seat of the car, ripped out a collection of wires from beneath the wheel and sliced through one that bought the screeching sound to a halt. Without a word, she rose her eyebrows at the questioning gazes of the crowd around the vehicle and shrugged.

"Why am I not surprised that she knew how to do that?" Shane murmured his arm thrusting angrily, motioning in her direction. As he turned away to continue his onslaught towards Glenn, Tess rose her hand and rose her middle finger in his direction, which was seen by Dale, as he tilted his head downward and lifted his eyebrows in disappointment at her.

Fumbling, Glenn was doing his best to answer everyone's questions at once, Dale coming to his rescue at once, seeing how flustered he was becoming. Before, he could continue, a large, white van pulled up the road, kicking up dust behind it. Relieved at its sighting, Tess could not help a breath leave her lips. From the truck, came the volunteer scavengers: Andrea sprinted towards her sister and threw her arms around her joyously, tears springing to her eyes; Morales approached his family, who surrounded him, latching onto every part of him; and Jacqui and T-Dog emerged from the truck bed, their arms thrown around each other. Folding her arms, Tess craned her neck, searching for the bald head of her brother.

"How did you get out?" Shane questioned.

"New guy," Morales declared, his finger pointing towards the truck, where a lone shadow still sat in the front seat, "hey helicopter boy! Come out and meet everyone!" 

Hearing the door of the van groan open, Tess watched as a stubbled man, wearing a tanned police uniform, emerge from the van. His head tilted downward and his eyes downcast, the man slowly brought his head upward, before stopping abruptly. His hands fell from their settlement on his hips and his eyes filled with disbelief as he bought his arm upward, his eyes glimmering with unshed tears. A sharp intake of breath sounded beside her and she could hear the unmistakable sound of Carl's voice as he called out in a shuddering voice: "Dad! Dad!"

Tess' throat constricted slightly at the sadness in the boys exclamation, before Carl's slight frame sprinted desperately in the man's direction. Everyone watched with mouths agape as the man fell to his knees and enveloped the boy into his arms, nestling his head into his neck as his body was wracked with sobs. Watching the sentimental moment briefly, Tess' gaze shifted to Shane, who was staring with widened eyes, his hands brushing the hair back atop his head, his eyes lidded with guilt. As if he could feel her eyes piercing through him, Shane stared back at her, his eyes narrowing daringly.

Whilst this was occurring, the newcomer stood with Carl still in his embrace and walked shudderingly towards Lori, one of his hands reaching out lovingly towards her. Tentatively, Lori took the last few steps towards him and met his embrace, her head nestled on his shoulder top, she locked eyes with Shane. Exiting his father's clutches, Carl stepped back and wiped the tears from his eyes. 

Looking towards Tess, he smiled smugly, "Told you he'd find us,"

Each onlooker laughed and were beaming at the boys' happiness. 

"That you did buddy," Tess retorted, reaching out to ruffle the hair atop his head. Relishing in the annoyed look that transported itself onto Carl's face at his now ruffled and unkempt hair, that he tried desperately to flatten. 

Standing to her feet, the corner of Tess' lips curled upwards into a small smile as she watched Carl trip excitedly on his way to the gathering group, him being enveloped and cocooned within his mother's embrace as soon as he arrived.

Watching the scene, her gaze became unfocused as she thought of simpler times.

3 year earlier

Tess sighed contently, playing with the cooling metal of Dean's rings on her bare mid drift. His digits hovered and caressed her tanned skin, leaving a delicate, warming trail. Staring transfixed at the ceiling, she could feel his intense stare gazing over her.

"You're so beautiful'" he whispered hoarsely. Turning her head, she blinked stunned at his unblinking, intense stare and the seriousness of his expression. Smiling to herself, she grasped the tangled duvet from around her legs and pulled it upward, covering her naked form. Twisting, she turned to face him, her arm tucking underneath her head like a pillow. Pulling her hand from the sheets, she raised it, her knuckles, trailing over the stubble growing on his jawline, following the trail upward into his hairline, where she played with the loose strands.

"You are," she breathed.

Raising his own hand, he tipped her chin upward to meet his gaze, their eyes locked, full of adoration.

"You are more," he cupped her cheek, brought her face closer to his own and their lips met, moulding together in a sweet kiss. Withdrawing his lips, Dean placed his forehead onto her own, his breath fanning over her face.

"I'm gonna marry you one day,"

Grinning, Tess threw her arms around his neck. Bringing his lips to hers one more.

"You bet your ass you are," she mumbled, her lips brushing over his. Smiling, full toothed smiles, their lips met once more in a passionate kiss. Dean threw his muscled arms over her petite waist and rolled her onto him. She let out a squeal with their lips interlocked. His arms snaked, trapping her form close to his, her body moulding into his own. She could feel the rising of both of their chests with every breath.

Placing her hands on either side of his head, she pulled her lips away from his own, giggling at the small groan that left his lips at the loss of contact. She ran her fingers through his hair, pulling some of the longer pieces away from his forehead.

"You want all of that?" she questioned seriously, deep in thought.

Frowning, Dean rose himself on his elbows, raising his upper body from the mattress. With one arm, he snaked it round her hips, pulling her up with him. Lifting her knees in front of her, Tess wrapped her legs around his waist, sitting confined on his lap.

Seeing her forlorn expression, Dean cupped his hands onto her cheeks.

"Hey," he whispered, moving a tendril of hair from her face, trapping it behind her ear, "I want all of it with you," . Tess grinned slowly, her lips curving upward towards her ears. Cupping his cheeks with both of her hands, she leant down and delicately brushed her lips with his own. Dean responded adoringly, wrapping his arms around the curvature of her waist, as his lips moved in sync with her own, both of them smiling into the kiss. Ending the kiss together, they embraced, Dean cupping the underside of her jaw as she rested her forehead against his own. 

"I'll hold you to that Winchester,"