When It All Falls Down

one

Cori preferred to hunt alone.

She could list a hundred reasons, but it all really came down to one.

Dean Winchester.

The last time she'd seen him, she shot him. No, that wasn't the first time, but she wanted to damn sure make it the last. They fought. Again. No making up this time. Hot, rough sex in the back of the Impala or some seedy motel room.

No, she was done.

He called her irresponsible. She called him a dick. He told her she was ungrateful. She told him to fuck off. Round and round they go. Too many damn years and Cori was tired as hell.

No more.

Dean Winchester could go to Hell.

She closed the Camaro's trunk and leaned against the car. It was too hot already in Laredo. And the sun was barely up. She checked her phone, two missing person cases. Vampires were suspected.

Fuckin' vamps. Cori hated them. Disgusting. Dirty. Messy. God damn, she didn't want to deal with more, no after the last time. But that's why they'd fought, wasn't it? She knew what she was doing. Dean got in her way.

And she'd gotten bitten.

Blood everywhere. The pain in her side increasing. She was sweating. Seeing double. Her vision slowly going fuzzy. 'Stay still,' he panted, leaning over her. He looked and sounded panicked. Worried. It scared the hell out of him.

He worked and worked, making sure she was okay. Bringing her back to life, quite literally. She didn't thank him, instead insisted that it was his fault. He yelled, she threw a bottle at his head. He called her childish, she shot him in the leg.

She left, didn't look back as the bunker disappeared in her rear view. She was done, ignoring the screaming pain. Not in her side but in her chest. It always ended this way. 'Fuck and fight,' she called it. But this time it had been goodbye.

Checking her watch, she sighed heavily before climbing into the driver's seat. Key in the ignition, Zeppelin came blasting through the speakers, giving her the clarity that she needed.

They were too alike.

Fire and ice. Oil and water. Two dominant personalities, fighting for that alpha spot. Neither could back down. She couldn't remember how long they'd done this dance. She tried to push it to the back of her mind, focus on the task at hand. But it was useless.

It was always useless.

Fuckin' Dean Winchester.

That voice in the back of her mind. Always reminding her of what to do, how to do it. Reminding her that he was the only reason she was still alive. Not your typical hunter. Something else.

He should have killed her.

He knew it. But he knew he never could have. No, she had something over him. Every instinct said she was prey. Angel, demon. Before he even knew what it meant. Yet he couldn't stay away from the beautiful brunette.

She had ice in her veins. It killed him. Part of him still ached. Dreamt about her. Wondered where she was. What she was doing. If she was okay. But she was, he was sure of it. It was like he could feel her.

"Looks like vamps just outside of Austin," Sam said, pulling him from his thoughts. He mumbled a response, buttoning up the flannel and reaching for his boots. Another day, another monster.

"Let's roll out."

AC/DC blasted from the Impala's radio, Dean too focused on the road as they drove into the small town. It was eerily quiet. People had gone missing. The town was suspicious of every stranger.

"Agents Lee and Peart," Dean announced to the sheriff, holding up the badges and the man gave him a confused look. "Already has an agent around this mornin'," he said, eyeing down the two men, "she from your department, uh, an agent Nicks?"

Dean swallowed, looking at Sam. They knew. He should have figured she'd be around. Another chance at vamps. She hated them, but loved to take them out. And she was damn good at it, when she wasn't getting herself bit.

He wondered briefly how she'd look. She always looked stunning no matter what. She never believed that, but Dean could hardly tear his eyes away. She was perfect in his eyes. Wild, passionate. They fought like devils and made love like angels.

Funnily enough, she alone was a little bit of both.

The engine was still running as she pulled out her weapons, tucking the Buck knife into her boot and reloading both pistols. She knew in the back of her mind that this was stupid. The ghost ache of the scar on her hip was a reminder.

Maybe today would be the day.

She'd meet her end, finally go home. If her fucking mother would let her. She scoffed to herself at the thought. Gabriella, that damn angel. She didn't care for Cori, not really. Cursed from the beginning, she left her to fend for herself.

No, she didn't want to claim her. Why would she? A child with a demon. And not just any demon. The thought made Cori's blood boil. She didn't want to think about that. Not now. Get in, kill vamps, get out. Do your job and get back on the road.

And hopefully, Chuck willing, avoid the Winchesters.

She pulled the key from the ignition and tucked it into her pocket. She cocked the gun and took a breath. Time to do or die. Her feet were light, trudging through the woods, hoping to find the house before long.

She froze, footsteps in the distance. Vamps? Hunters? Something worse? She turned, carefully and aimed her pistol. Shoot first, ask questions later, right?

"Don't shoot," came the voice through the clearing and she rolled her eyes, not lowering her weapon. "Give me one good reason not to shoot," she said, her Texas drawl coming through strong in her annoyance.

"Go ahead," Dean said, holding his hand up, "but if you do, you draw 'em out, Sweetheart." She sighed, lowering her gun and headed back towards the house. "Call me Sweetheart again, Dean, and I won't hesitate to shoot ya."

He chuckled from behind her, moving closer. "I believe it." She turned, meeting Sam's eye and he gave her a small smile. "Brought the Moose, I see," she joked a bit and Sam laughed. It was nice, for a moment.

Like old times.

"Heard about your run in with my dad," she told Dean, her voice barely audible and he scoffed. "Yeah, that turned out real well, didn't it." She turned and looked at him. "What did you expect? Rainbows and puppies? That the mark would be some great thing? He was Cain for fuck's sake."