Lies We Tell ~ Dean Winchester

V.

><><
Erin

It was nearly midnight when we pulled into a sleezy roadside motel outside of Deadwood. I hadn't slept again. I just sat in the back of the car and let the bass resound through my bones as I worked to achieve some kind of equilibrium. I fought through my usual meditation techniques but most of them weren't working with the guys so close.

I had used my gift more times in the last twenty-four hours than I had in the last three years combined, and it was becoming difficult to lock it away. It was difficult to get a true sense of time riding around in the back of the car, but Deadwood was almost seven hours from my house. I vaguely wondered where we were headed, but not enough to ask. I was in trouble and out of my depth. I needed these Hunters and I was determined to be the least intrusive as possible. I could still feel the seething distrust rolling off of Dean so I kept my mouth shut. I understood it might take some time for him to be comfortable with what I could do, and I was thankful he hadn't left me on the side of the road as soon as he found out. Sam seemed strangely comfortable around me. Jack hadn't  prepared me for a Hunter to be accepting of my gift, but the only emotions coming off of Sam were curiosity and concern.

Dean parked in front of the office and we all piled out. Dean stretched, groaning loudly. Sam headed to the office and I moved to follow him.

"Sam's got it," Dean said side stepping in front of me.

I looked up at Dean and scowled as I was hit by his exhaustion and a hint of annoyance, but the distrust had faded.

"I can pay for my own room," I assured him.

Dean crossed his arms over his chest. "No way sweetheart, I can't protect you if you stay in a separate room."

"So the three of us are staying together?" I asked, swallowing nervously. I hadn't picked up on anything from them that made me think they had any nefarious intentions, but we hadn't known each other for twenty-four hours yet.

Dean flashed me a smirk. "Like one big happy family," he was smiling but it didn't seem like he was overly eager to share a room either.

I exhaled sharply, but I was too tired to argue. Sam came back with a key and they moved to get their bags. They moved together with a silent efficiency that only came from doing this together hundreds of times. Most Hunters were solitary. Jack had spent most of his life in motels just like this. Sam had his bag and Jack's bug-out bag. Dean had a green canvas army bag in one hand and before I could reach for my backpack he looped it over his arm. He slammed the trunk and headed to the room leaving me to follow.

The room was small and although dated it was clean. Dean motioned for me to take the far bed, away from the door and the window. He tossed my backpack on the mattress and turned his back on me. Clearly he was used to people following his orders without question and I didn't have the energy to argue. I laid back on the mattress with a groan.

The brothers looked at the other small double bed. They were both over six feet and there was no chance of them both fitting. Without a word they launched into a game of Rock. Paper. scissors. I sat up, cross legged and watched in fascination as Dean lost all five times by playing only scissors. Dean swore and Sam's small smile of victory made me chuckle.

Sam turned on the bedside lamp and Dean clicked off the overhead light. Dean snatched a pillow off his brother's bed and dropped it on the floor between the two beds with a tired grunt.

He dropped his leather jacket over the back of a chair. He shrugged out of his flannel shirt, leaving him in a shirt that hugged his chest and biceps. He looked up and caught me staring, a pleased smirk stretched his face and he flashed me a flirty look. I noticed for maybe the first time how good looking he was and I quickly looked away. He clearly knew how attractive he was and his ego didn't need any of my help.