Valenchesters ✓

Long Years Bring Guilty Tears

(Warning: I've never baked a pie before so...)

(ZEE POV)

The months just got longer and longer. It felt like they were slowly turning into years and you kept up the normal routine. Research, work on a case, more research, more cases, take a few minutes to relax with Eddie, research, case, repeat.

Eventually it'd been three years since the last time I saw Dean. And I was fine by that. I am fine by that.

Eddie started to grow concerned over my health, physical and mental, but as usual I shrugged it off with an "I'm fine."

I wasn't wrong. I felt fine, looked..  decent, hardly ate and slept.

Maybe it was a little concerning, but it's my life for now.

I'd just gotten back from another hunt, I had one hand on the wheel while I clutched my side with the other. Blood was staining my flannel, jeans, hand, and seats.

I flashed my eyes open to stay awake mumbling curses when I felt myself losing consciousness due to the lack of blood.

I was only a few minutes away from Bobby's. A little longer.

Just a little longer. I sped into his driveway and groaned both from pain and just from facts when I saw none other than the Impala itself.

I didn't care where the hell I parked, I just turned into the driveway, repeatedly hitting the horn, fluttering my eyes to keep conscious. I peeked and squinted at the door and mumbled a damn it when I saw Dean rush out the door, he stopped, looked at my car, and ran right over.

He opened the drivers side door and gagged when he saw me. My whole right side was tore up, blood just everywhere and you could see a small amount of my ribs. I'm surprised I wasn't dead. Dean nearly choked on his words, and he looked at my side then at my face.

"Z Zee?"

"H hey Dean. Been awhile." I smiled, my eyes stained with tears from pain, and from the heat of the moment.

He mumbled an Oh My God before gently picking me up bridal style and I hissed in pain when he touched my side by accident.

Dean carried me inside, and everyone was in there, along with  Castiel and Kalmiya.

Everyone was tense and silent when the saw me and Dean gave Sam glance and he rushed for first aid and whiskey to clean it out.

Dean lay me down on the couch, sqautting on his knees and grabbing my hands, squeezing tightly. I gently turned my head to the side, my lip quivered from all the pain and I was crying and sweating.

"Why didn't you tell us? Tell me."

He asked and his voice started to crack. I felt horrible. Even worse than I had those three years ago.

"I couldn't. Didn't want to. Dean I've been doing this alone for three damn years you really think I'm gonna stop now?"

"And look where that got you."

I sighed and groaned, laying my head back.

"Where's Alice?"

"At the store with Valery. We needed to resupply."

I nodded slowly, and there was an odd moment of silence until Sam came in with the supplies. I closed my eyes and breathed heavily as both Sam and Dean cleaned and stiched me up.

Sam bit his hand on my shoulder as and ruffled my hair in a playful sort of way and I chuckled before he walked off to god know's where.

Dean was still holding my hand and I looked down at him, discovering he was asleep. I smiled, laying my head back and I started to close my eyes but nearly jumped when the door started to unlock and open. Alice walked in carrying four full bags of supplies, opening the door with her foot, the keys in her mouth. Valery followed after her with a bag in each hand.

The gasped when they saw me and I shushed them and pointed at Dean.

They nodded and put down the supplies, restocked, and went separate ways.

I got some shut eye, and when I woke up a few hours later, Dean was still asleep. I stifled a smile and quiet laugh, slowly nudging him up, making him nearly jump and yawn.

"Huh? What?"

"You fell asleep for quite awhile hotshot."

He stretched and looked around the room.

"I did?"

"Mhm."

He shrugged and got up, walking off somewhere.

I realised now more than ever how stupid it was of me to leave. I tried to get up off the couch, wincing, but I'd made it. I limped to the kitchen and pulled out everything I knew I'd need. I felt like if I owed him anything it'd be baking him a pie. I couldn't really hobble around a store very well anyway.

I finished mixing everything together and let out a smirk of victory as I popped it in the oven and hissed when I felt a surge of pain from my knee to my hip. Exactly where the werewolf clawed me.

I decided moving wasn't gonna be the best case scenario so I just stood there for a good thirty minutes until I heard the timer go off and I hobbled to the stove, pulling it out and smiling.

I turned around to put it on the counter and came face to face with a starry eyed, smiling Dean.

"Did you really have to do that?"

I smiled and nodded, handing it to him. He looked at the apple pie and then back at me, setting the apple pie on the counter and giving me a hug.

I was shocked fkr a second, then returned it and I didn't let go. I never wanted to. Tears filled both our eyes as we hugged and hugged.

I slowly let go, and whispered an I love you. He smiled and said "I know."

He began stuffing his mouth with pie, and I laughed. Damn Crowley was right. He really does look like a squirrel.

There was small silence, until it was broken by the click of a camera and we turned to see Valery, Sam, and Alice with a camera laughing and giggling.

I rolled my eyes and started to walk off, ruffling Dean's hair and getting a glare as I walked off.

I'm never going to leave again.