Bound By Fire

1 A Knock In The Night

I never thought I'd end up on his doorstep. The cold wind whipped against my face as I raised my hand to knock, my breath catching in my throat. It had been months - no, years - since I'd last seen Dean Winchester, and if I was being honest with myself, I hadn't expected to need him again. 

But here I was. Alone. And scared.

It wasn't like I didn't have other options. But Dean was different. He'd always been there in the background, hovering on the edge of my life, ready to help when things got rough. Back then, I didn't know how to deal with him. His intensity. The way his green eyes seemed to see right through me. But now...I had no choice.

When the door swung open, the sight of him hit me harder than I'd expected. Dean hadn't changed much. He still had that rugged, careless look- like he'd just stepped out of a fight, or was about to jump into one. His hair was a little longer than I remembered, but his face had the same roughness I'd gotten used to, the kind that was both comforting and dangerous at the same time. 

"Stella?" His voice was rough with surprise.
"What are you doing here?"

I couldn't speak for a moment. Part of me wanted to throw myself into his arms, let him tell me everything would be fine. The other part of me was just... frozen

"I-I need your help, Dean." I finally managed to stammer, feeling ridiculously small under his gaze. My voice cracked at the edges, giving away more than I'd intended.

Dean's face shifted, from surprise to concern. He stepped aside and motioned for me to come in without another word. Typical Dean. No questions, no judgment. He didn't need to know the details yet. He just knew that I needed him. 

I stepped inside, trying to shake off the cold, though it had seeped so deep into my bones it felt like it would never leave. His place smelled like leather and old books and hints of his cologne- just as I remembered. The warmth of the room should've been comforting, but I couldn't shake the feeling of dread sitting heavily in my chest.

He led me to the kitchen, pouring me a glass of whiskey without asking. Dean's version of comfort. He handed me the glass, his fingers brushing mine for a brief moment. The contact sent an unexpected jolt through me, a reminder that even after all these years, there was something about him that still got under my skin.

"Start talking." He said gently, his eyes searching mine.

I took a deep breath, the whiskey burning down my throat as I gathered my thoughts. How could I explain it all? Where would I start?

" I don't know who else to turn to." I began, running a hand through my hair. "There's something...something following me. And it's not human."

Dean's face darkened, that hunter's instinct kicking in immediately. His jaw clenched slightly, and I could see his brain working, piecing things together. 

"It started small, at first." I continued.
"Weird noises, strange dreams... but then it got worse. Things started moving in my apartment. Shadows... voices. And last night, I swear it-" My voice caught again. I could still feel it, that dark presence lingering just out of sight. "It tried to hut me, Dean." 

His eyes flickered with anger, though I knew it wasn't directed at me. Dean was protective, always had been, but seeing it now... seeing that fire ignite in his eyes because of me... it stirred something inside me. I'd seen him in action before, but now it felt different. More personal.

"You're staying here." He said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Whatever this thing is, it's not getting near you."

I should've protested. I didn't want to be a burden, didn't want to drag him into my mess. But I didn't. Because deep down, I wanted to stay. Maybe I always had. There was a part of me that craved the safety he offered, the way he made me feel like nothing could touch me when he was around. 

I nodded, the tension easing just slightly. Dean sat down across from me, leaning forward with his elbows on the table. His presence alone was enough to make the storm inside me calm, just a little. 

"We'll figure this out." He promised.
"Together."

And as he said those words, something shifted between us. It wasn't just about the danger anymore. It was about him, and me. About the connection we'd never fully acknowledged but had always been there, lurking in the background, waiting for the right moment to surface. 

Maybe this was it. Maybe we were finally ready. 

As the night wore on, we talked- about the threat, about our pasts, about things I'd never told anyone. And the more I opened up, the more I saw him soften, his guard slipping little by little.

It was a slow, steady shift, like the beginnings of a storm on the horizon. Something was building between us, something that neither of us could quite control. And as much as I tried to focus on the danger that had brought me here, all I could think about was him.

Dean Winchester. The man I'd always needed, but never allowed myself to fall for

Chapter 2: A Storm Rising

I woke up in the middle of the night, heart pounding. For a moment, I couldn't remember where I was, but the familiar scent of Dean's place reminded me. I rolled over on the couch, feeling the soft fabric beneath me, and noticed the dim light coming from under his door. 

Dean was still awake.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should leave him be. He probably needed his space, needed to work through whatever plan he was forming to protect me. But something pulled me to him. The same something that had pulled me here in the first place. 

Quietly, I slipped off the couch and padded toward the door, pushing it open just enough to see him sitting at the table, hunched over his laptop, a glass of whiskey sitting next to it. The faint glow of the screen cast shadows on his face, making him look even more intense than usual.

"Can't sleep either?" I asked softly.

He looked up, a faint smile touching his lips. "Not with all this going on. You?"

I shook my head. "Too much on my mind."

"Sit with me," he said, patting the chair next to him.

And so I did. Not realizing that every moment we spent together was leading us toward something I'd never expected.

Something more.

To be continued...