Broken Things (A Supernatural FanFic)

Chapter 23: Not Looking For A Handout

            Dean held the cooled down beer in his hand as he swung effortlessly on the porch swing that still creaked under his weight. He pressed the bottle to his lips and savored another long sip of the bitter liquid. Everyone was in bed. Even Cas decided to spend the night and was laying in a couch they pulled down near the entrance of the bunker that Emily was sleeping in. Dean sighed. He was still on edge about how this was all going to play out. They were no longer hunting lone demons and monsters to say a few lives here and there. They were talking about Lucifer and the lives of the entire human population.

            “Late night beer?” Came Emily’s voice from the doorway to Bobby’s house.

            Dean turned with a little jump and saw her silhouette in the dark. She had on a large teehsirt and some lounge pants. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun. He couldn’t see her face but he knew she was staring into his eyes. He nodded and looked down at the beer bottle.

            “Just relaxing some nerves.” He mumbled under his breath.

            “Want some company?” She asked almost like she was afraid he would say no.

            “More than anything.” He smiled despite his loner persona.

            He heard her small footsteps then felt the swing shift under her weight as she sat down beside him. he felt her arm brush against his bare arm and his got some chills up his spine. He looked to the side to see her bring her legs up and press them against her chest. She wrapped her arms around her knees and looked out into the darkness.

            “Sorry about passing out earlier. I know I am kind of a pain in the ass.” She whispered.

            Dean looked out into the darkness too. “If Cas is right about you, you aren’t a pain in the ass. You are our savior.”

            She snorted. “Me? A savior? Have you been paying attention at all this past week?”

            He smiled and chuckled a little. “Yeah, I have. And I see a woman who is growing into powers that I can’t even fathom.”

            She paused. “I am scared, Dean.”

            It was the raw fear in her voice that made his heart ache. He turned and saw that she was curled into a ball. He reached his arm over and sat it across her shoulders. She scooted toward him and seemed to melt into his side. He held onto her arm and kept her close to him. he felt her chest expand and fall against his side and he felt almost at peace.

            “It’s okay. I am here for you.” He whispered to her.

            “I am scared that whatever is attacking is going to kill you. It is going to kill you, Sam, Bobby, Cas, and everyone. I get this pit in my stomach when you say his name. I have this ball of blackness that doesn’t leave when I think about him.” Her voice was shaking and Dean soon felt her body shaking. “I don’t want to feel this. I want it to go away.”

            “I know. I can’t understand what you are feeling, but I know you want it to go away. I wish I could make it, but you were chosen. And they wouldn’t choose you if they didn’t think you could handle it. You are going to make it through this and you are going to save us.” He didn’t know if he was being comforting but he wanted nothing more than to put her mind at ease.

            She was silent and her body relaxed again. “Thanks, Dean. That really helped.”

            He looked out into the yard and saw the gentle motion of the night breeze before it hit his face softly. “This place is like home to me.” He said it aloud without realizing it. “I just feel so safe here, even knowing about all the demons and monsters. It is like my own slice of heaven.”