Worlds Collide

Chapter Nineteen

Because of You

Over the next few weeks, a lot happens, most of which I knew would happen. Dean becomes increasingly more violent and angry. Sam and Dean track down Gadreel, but end up trading him for Cas after Metatron had captured him. Cas decides to lead an army of angels.

Kevin and I also start going on dates, just short trips to watch a movie or eat a meal together. I'm still surprised he managed to convince Sam and Dean to allow that. They've become less strict on my lockdown, I hope this means that I'll be going hunting soon. I've been tempted to go on my own hunts, I have all the training after all, but I don't want to screw things up with the brothers. We're in a good place, though Dean will snap sometimes, but that's the mark's influence.

Kevin and I become closer as the days progress and I eventually open up to him about all that has happened, leaving nothing out. He's very compassionate and understanding. After that, I find myself feeling happier than I have in a while. I didn't realize how much of a burden and barrier that information was. With the air cleared between us, we grow impossibly closer.

Somehow, Kevin convinces the brothers to let us go to a zoo. I fly us to the Smithsonian Zoo and we make so many great memories, including a romantic kiss that a random person ends up capturing and sends it to us from their phone. We end up taking many pictures of both the animals and each other. It gets late, so I fly us home.

The brothers had texted to let us know they'll be back late tonight, so we go ahead and go to bed. I wake up and find a message on my phone. Apparently, they left on another case not long after returning. I open my gallery and look at all the pictures I took.

I smile when I come to the picture of Kevin and I kissing in front of the panda exhibit. It was just a simple, short romantic kiss, but the picture portrays the love we feel for each other. They had also taken some as we pulled back, looking at each other lovingly. Seeing the tenderness reflected in our eyes makes me realize just how lucky I am.

"That's one of my favorites." Kevin says, making me jump.

"I didn't realize you were awake." I comment as I try to calm down my racing heart.

He rolls over and grabs his phone and starts messing with it. "This is my favorite that I took." he says as he hands me the phone. The picture is of me. I'm not paying attention to the camera as I gaze happily at the baby panda that was running around. "You look so happy and care-free." Kevin remarks, taking his phone back.

"Animals tend to have that effect on me. When I was on the run, I often stopped to play with some of the stray dogs I came across. When I had that awful boss at the park, the animals are what kept me going for so long." I ramble.

"Sam and Dean only allowed the trip because they knew how much animals mean to you." Kevin tells me. "They remembered how happy you were when they took you to the zoo that one day."

"I think they might finally be realizing that I can handle my own too. They've really laid off on my lockdown." I muse.

"Took them long enough. You've proven it multiple times, but they're just overprotective. I think you swearing off alcohol after the last incident helped your case." he replies, pulling me against him, my head on his chest.

I really freaked him out with that. After I told him everything, he finally understood the times I broke down. He made me promise to talk to him if I ever need to instead of turning to the sauce. I took it a step further and swore it all off. I hate what I do when I drink too much and I don't want to risk it. I'm perfectly happy with soda. When I told Sam and Dean, they were ver y supportive, a bit too supportive. They hid the alcohol and never drank in front of me. I finally got it through their thick skulls that I'm not a recovering alcoholic and that it holds no temptation for me. Things went back to a comfortable normal after that.