Differentiate (D.W.)

Chapter One

For as long as she'd known him, Dean was always the protective type. Even when the two were nothing but a casual fling whenever he'd roll through town. After some time, even though Melina knew so little about him, she developed feelings for him. There was just something about him that made her need more than just a night between the sheets every now and then. In the beginning, they both wanted nothing more than that, but it wasn't long after the fact that her little heart ached for more. Of course, Dean was reluctant at first when she confessed her feelings to him. He never wanted to put her in harm's way, but he couldn't deny that he felt something for this girl too. Feelings aside, he knew he needed to do the best thing and keep her safe. Melina didn't see Dean for a long time after that. Almost a year to be exact, because he just couldn't face her. If he did, he had no doubt that his heart would sucker in and he'd make the mistake he knew that he couldn't. After some months, the girl worried about Dean, it wasn't like him to not show up for so long and it caused her mind to race quite often, thinking that maybe something had happened to him. There came that thought that told her that Dean wasn't stupid enough to let something happen to him or Sam, but she just couldn't help but think the worst sometimes.

After not seeing Dean for so long, Melina hadn't really felt much like herself at all. She didn't see her friends as much as she would like to because she would just zone out and continue to wonder if the man she fell so deeply for was still out there somewhere. Every night, she'd get off work and head straight home. "Home" for her was a decent motel room. Not great, but decent. See, Melina wasn't really into the whole idea of having some big home when it was just her. The door handle sticks, so like always she was forced to jimmy it until it came open with the room key. The woman flipped the light switch. "Hey, doll." a low voice chimed, startling her and causing Melina to drop her keys as you looked in the direction from which the voice came. That was it. She couldn't believe what she was seeing as her eyes locked in focus with a set of green ones that were just all too familiar. The words "You son of a bitch." softly escaped her mouth as she stood in disbelief. "Well, not exactly the greeting I was hoping for," Dean responded smugly as he removed his hands from the pockets of his jeans. Melina quickly walked toward him and shoved his right shoulder. "A whole year. You've been gone a whole fucking year and you couldn't even call?!" She shoved the man once again, this time with both hands harshly coming in contact with both his shoulders, knocking him back a step. "Mel, please-" he began before the small woman pushed him once more. "You didn't say a word to me, I thought something had fucking happened to you, asshole!" Obviously, Melina was hurt, but somehow it felt as if a weight was lifted off her shoulders because she finally knew he was okay.

"I understand you're pissed off and you have every right to be, but please. Just let me explain." Dean pleaded softly. "You have two minutes." Her voice was stern. She couldn't show him any vulnerability. "You know better than anyone that I had to go. I wanted more than anything to drop by and see you sooner, but I couldn't risk putting you in harm's way when we were going after that yellow-eyed bastard." He stated plainly as he reached up and cupped the dark, soft skin of his former lover's left cheek with the palm of his hand. Though she had to admit that she had missed the warmth of his touch, he wasn't going to get out of this one with it. "Don't give me that shit." The short girl replied in a distraught tone as she smacked his hand away. "You were just afraid of letting your guard down for someone and you were too much of a coward to admit it." Pushing past him, the dark-haired woman walked over to the bed and sat down, putting her face in her hands. She could tell by the way he sighed, that hurt his feelings and though she hated to hurt him, maybe he deserved such harsh words."Melina. I'll admit I have a hard time letting people past the walls I've built up, but you have to believe me. I stayed away to protect you." His tone was almost in a begging state. The man sat next to Melina and wrapped his left arm around her shoulders. "Did you ever think that maybe I can take care of myself?" Agitated, she shrugged his arm off of her and lifted up her head to turn and look at him. Those deep green eyes almost caught her in a trance, but she wasn't going to fall for them again. "You need to leave, Dean," she stated raspingly, watching a frown spread across his face. "But sweetheart-" he spoke before he was abruptly interrupted. "Don't 'sweetheart' me. Just leave."