He Will Be Loved

Chapter 5: Life After You

Summary: Five years have passed since Reader told Dean to move on without her. This chapter covers what her life has been like during the gap in time.

Warnings: Fluff, Stranger Danger, Violence, Heart Break, Longing, Hunting

Word Count: 2,978

Gif Credit: Roror (Pinterest)

A/N: This was a quick chapter turnaround for me! I already have a majority of chapters for the second half of the story done in rough draft form, so edits will happen and chapters will be published when ready! Buckle up Buttercups because here we go!

Chapter 5: Life After You

After that night, it took you a year to start to feel "normal" again. You hopped from job to job at first until finally finding a sense of belonging at a dog boarding/training/adoption facility. You had coworkers, but each of you were assigned a different station everyday. Meaning, you didn't have to talk to anyone but the dogs. Dogs were loving and playful, and they never looked at you judgmentally when you told them about the life you used to live. Eventually, you connected with one of the rescues and decided to take him in. A german shepherd, and you named him Loki.

He was found in an abandoned house along with his four other siblings, whimpering over their mother's body. Apparently the owner of the house must have left them all there to starve, and she had fed them and kept them alive until she couldn't anymore. He was the only pup of the litter that shied away from visitors. He retreated to the corner when kids and adults came to the puppy pen for adoptions, and his demeanor just kind of called out to you.

One day after close, you visited the puppy pen. He was the only one of the litter left, all his siblings happily adopted. You stepped into the enclosure, expecting him to retreat, but instead, he sat down in the center of the room and cocked his head at you. You took a step forward, but he took a step back.

"Okay, bud. I get it." You slowly sank to the floor, sitting up against the wall. "You've seen some shit. Watched your mama die. Your siblings leave you. You have your guard up, and you don't know that you can trust getting close to anyone ever again..."

He took a step forward, cocking his head at you once more.

"Me too, buddy. Me too," you sighed, leaning your back against the wall.

Suddenly, in a furry blur, he lurched forward and ran into your arms. He licked your face and whimpered as his tail wagged uncontrollably.

"Ah, so someone finally got through to him." Your boss scared the bejesus out of you, causing you to jump.

You turned to look up at him with the dog in your arms. He smiled down at you over his spectacles, offering you a hand. You grabbed it and he pulled you to your feet.

"I had a feeling you two were meant for each other." Your boss nodded to the puppy in your arms. "You've both had a rough beginning, but together, you can help each other heal. I want you to keep him, Y/N. No charge."

"Are you serious?" You asked, shocked.

"As a heart attack," Your boss teased. "You two deserve to feel some happiness."

From that day on, Loki was your best friend. You brought each other out of your shells, teaching each other what it was like to trust someone again. He came to work with you every day, playing with other dogs in the outdoor pen, and attending training classes in the afternoons. He was such a good dog, and he grew so quickly! By one year, he was a fully grown wall of energy and muscle, and about that time, you decided you were ready to go hunting again. You took to training him on your own at home. What certain monsters smelled like, how to alert you when something was getting too close, and how to attack threatening forces.