Family Remains

"Yeah You Smell"

"Welcome to New Orleans," Dean announced.

I parted my closed eyes and sat up in my seat in the back of the Mustang. Sadly, the Impala has yet to be fixed because Dean is adamant about fixing it himself.

Men.

"Home of beautiful woman, delicious food, and beautiful woman in bikinis during a wonderful time of year called Mardi Gras," Dean said, a small chuckle and a happy tone to his voice.

"One," Sam said, looking at Dean and glancing at me.

Taking advantage of my spot in the back, I reached forward and slapped him upside the head. He made this weird sound and looked at me in the rear-view mirror, giving me an apologetic smile.

"You're girlfriend is in the backseat," Sam continued, laughing lightly as he did. "And two, Mardi Gras is in February."

"I know that and so?" Dean said, looking over at his brother.

"It's May," Sammy finished.

Dean sighed and I gave him a look that he did indeed see in the mirror as he looked back at me.

"I didn't mean it, babe," He said, a small smile.

"Uuhh huh," I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

Sammy looked back at me and grinned, knowing I wasn't taking what Dean said heart because I knew he didn't mean it and I'm used to it. He knew that I was just messing with him, and I'll do it for as long as I can manage to hold it.

"Ash," Dean said.

I looked out the window, watching the passing buildings, "ignoring" him.

"Ashley, come on," He whined. "Babe."

It took everything I had not to crack a smile or burst out laughing at how Dean sounded. I glanced over at Sam, noticing he was pink cheeked so he must be holding back his laughs too.

I heaved a giant sigh, totally to add the effect for Dean's benefit, and still watched out the window. Dean sighed and looked back at the street, driving towards the motel that Sam had looked up while we we're driving.

Pulling up a ratty old place, Dean went to check us in while Sam and I waited by the car.

"You sure like to torture him, don't you?" Sam asked, a smile on his face.

I grinned and shrugged, my hands in the pockets of my sweater.

"Depends on why he needs to be tortured," I said.

"He really does love you," Sam said, suddenly completely serious.

My smile dropped as the word from the Shapeshifter came to mind.

He doesn't love you, sweetheart. Never has and never will.

"You don't doubt that do you?" He asked, taking a step towards me.

I bit my lip and looked down at the ground, shuffling my feet.

"Ash," Sam said, touching my arm lightly.

"What," I said, my voice cracking slightly.

"I know how Shapeshifters can be," He said quietly. "They're manipulative and will use your secrets against you."

"They weren't my secrets, they were Dean's," I said, looking up into his dark brown eyes.

"Yes," He said. "And what was it he used against you?"

I didn't answer.

"He used something that contained the both of you and it got to you didn't it?"