𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃 || 𝑑. 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑐𝘩𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟

𝐢𝐢. 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭

SILENCE FALLS OVER DEAN AND I after our short conversation. I notice a black cord around his neck, a metallic golden amulet hanging from it which catches my attention when he breaks eye contact.
My chin is resting in my palms the moment I overhear Sam and mom talking about something.

"Ellen, what is that?" Sam points at something behind the bar.

"It's a police scanner. We keep tabs on things, we-"

"No no, the the folder." Sam corrects her and my curiosity gets the best out of me. I try to act like I'm not listening when I'm actually absorbing every snippet of the conversation. I throw a glance at Dean, who seems to be listening in too.

"I was gonna give this to a friend of mine. But take a look, if you want." Mom hands Sam the folder and shrugs her shoulders, leaving the three of us alone.

"Dean come here, check this out," Sam gestures for Dean to come over and points at something marked in red on the papers.
Dean rises from his chair, his palms which rested flat on the table a moment ago supporting him.

"A few murders, not far from here, that were caught wind of. Looks to me like there might be a hunt," Sam speculates and turns his head to face his brother.

Emptying my beer, I make my way to the brothers, peeking over Dean's broad shoulders.
The folder has some newspaper clippings attached to the front with headlines marked in red.

COUPLE MURDERED
CHILD LEFT ALIVE

"So?" I can't help but notice Dean's long fingers tapping on the wooden counter.

"So, I guess we should check it out." Sam states and slides the folder to Dean.

"I'm in-" I let the two know out of the blue once I managed to take my eyes off Dean's hands.

Both Sam's and Dean's heads turn in my direction at the same time and they look at me, confused or perhaps surprised.

"You're what?" Dean cocks a brow, glancing over his shoulder to check if I'm serious.

"I'm in," I repeat myself with a firm voice, my arms crossed over my chest.

Dean chuckles, shaking his head with an expression of disapproval written on his face.
"Yeah, not gonna happen sweetheart."

"That wasn't a question sweetheart." I roll my eyes, talking back to him with the same attitude.

"Whatever, you're not coming." Dean leans towards me, his broad shoulders shielding me from the light.
The smell of his leather jacket mingles with the faint scent of cologne as he's looming over me.
The unnecessary proximity causes heat rushing to my cheeks, Dean's piercing gaze making it worse.

"Dean maybe she could help. It's her hometown after all," Sam interferes, clearly noticing the heated tension between his older brother and I.

"Thanks Sam." I force myself to drag my eyes away from Dean to offer Sam a genuine smile, hoping me blushing goes unnoticed.

"Alright then," Dean agrees with a low voice, the expression of disapproval slowly fading, morphing into something else.

_________

The 67 Impala zooms down the wet road since it has been raining for the whole ride.
Dean drives, Sam sits on the passenger seat having the research open in his lap and I'm seated on the backseat of the car.