"Hey Dean, get this," Sam whispered the same day, only a little later, handing Dean his tablet, "This could be a case, what do you say?"
The older one took it and looked at the police report photos while Sam played with the sleeping Josie's hair. She had fallen asleep and slid into Sam's side. Unsettled, Sam tried to push her over to Dean, but he didn't mind at all, just enjoying the sight of Josie. She really had been through a lot, in part because of him, and seeing her so peaceful pleased him.
"Looks like a werewolf," Dean speculated, zooming in on the photo, of the ripped open ribcage with the heart missing.
"The victim lived in Josie's hometown," Sam informed him, and Dean faltered for a moment.
"You don't think it's the same werewolf that killed Andy, do you?" asked Dean, looking sympathetically at Josie.
"It's possible, but maybe we should make sure before we tell Josie about it," Sam said thoughtfully, feeling something stir on his shoulder.
"Tell me what?" she mumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
Hectically, Dean hid the tablet in the sofa seat and put a pillow on it.
"That you're incredibly cute when you sleep, you really could be an angel," the hunter quickly talked himself out of it, looking at Sam helplessly.
"Sure, and I'm supposed to believe that! You're planning something again and I'm not supposed to know," the brunette pouted, crossing her arms.
"It's about your birthday," Sam lied, causing Josie's eyes to widen.
"You're planning something for my birthday?" she beamed, looking to Dean, who seemed slightly stumped.
He just played along and nodded. Dean had completely forgotten that Josie's birthday was in a few days, thankfully Sam remembered. The huntress was content with that and didn't inquire further, even though she was burning to know what the brothers were up to.
That same night, Sam left to track down the werewolf. Dean stayed with Josie so she wouldn't suspect anything.
"Hey, what do you want for your birthday?" inquired Dean, leaning against the doorframe of her room.
"So what I always wanted was a dwarf pony," she teased, waving him in.
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"No pets in the bunker, that's the rule!" he replied calmly, lying down on her bed.
"I don't really want anything. I'm fine here with you and I'm glad for every day I don't die," she expressed honestly, resting her head on his stomach.
"But that doesn't help me find a present for you".
"You do know how to make women happy," she murmured playfully.
"With dwarf ponies?"
"You got it" she laughed and scrambled up to him where she nuzzled her face against his neck "Dean you really don't have to get me anything, and it's not 'girl talk' for woe is me either! I'm just glad to have the old Dean back, and if you can get through these nightmares I'll be all the happier. I'll settle for you taking me out for burgers and fries," the brunette whispered sincerely, "And then when I'm stuffed you'll carry me to bed."
"And then we get naked?" he teased her with a mischievous smile on his lips.
"Dean!" she admonished him, playfully slapping his chest.
"What? It was worth a shot"
"Oh I know what I want," she grinned, rising so she could look him in the eye, "A stripper! In a police uniform!"
He blinked in disbelief and shook his head with a sigh.
"No way, you're getting a burger dinner from me, settle for that!" he immediately rebuffed.
"Damnit, it was worth a shot, after all," she scoffed.
"Uh huh, screw you," Dean grumbled softly, pulling her back against him.
He didn't want to imagine her pining over someone else, but neither did he want to make an idiot of himself. So he had to come up with something else to surprise her, because just taking her out to dinner seemed sleazy to him. In his eyes, she deserved all the world.
"Are you still thinking about what to get me?" asked Josie after a while of silence.
"No I'm just thinking about where to get a police outfit and a pole," he replied seriously with his eyes closed.
"What?" she stumbled, not sure if he was serious, "You would really...?"
"Who said the outfit was for me?" he smirked, opening one eye, "You fell for it, didn't you?"
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"I wouldn't have put it past you, but you'd have to work on the six pack, you're getting a dad bod, the fast food is starting to set in"
"Now you're being mean!" he gave indignantly.
"Sorry," she mumbled meekly and kissed him on the cheek to make up for it.
Dean was about to say something but Josie's lips were already on his. Slightly taken off guard by her approach, he replied and broke away from her with a questioning look.
"No strippers, no stupid sayings, no huge party. I just want this for my birthday, okay?" she whispered quietly against his lips.
The hunter was at a loss for words, so he just nodded, wondering if this was reality right now.
"What is it, are you spending the night here tonight?" she wanted to know and actually already knew the answer to that.
"How could I say no to that?", Dean rejoiced, while his heart was still racing in his chest.
