Lies We Tell ~ Dean Winchester

XX.

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Erin

When we got to Bobby's the house was dark as expected. Despite the fact that Bobby's house had some of the strongest warding I had ever seen, he still cleared every room. There were wards and traps at every window and door, but he poured fresh salt lines just to be sure. I wasn't going to argue with him. I was feeling a little insecure as well.

While he finished securing the house I went into the kitchen. We hadn't stopped the rest of the way and it was nearly dinner time. I opened the fridge, wrinkling my nose at the old takeout leftovers I found on the top shelf. I dug around and came up with enough stuff to make a pasta dish. Dean came back into the kitchen just as I was adding the noodles to the boiling pot.

"What are you doing?" Dean asked in confusion.

"Painting," I deadpanned without missing a beat.

"Liar," he snorted and I tossed a teasing look over my shoulder at him. He was watching me closely.

I turned the heat down on the water so it wouldn't boil over and cracked open a few cans, pulling some spices out of the cupboard so I could make homemade spaghetti sauce. It wouldn't be fabulous, Bobby's kitchen left a lot to be desired, but it would taste better than the road food we had been living on all week.

After all we had been through I knew I could use a little comfort food. I was guessing Dean would feel the same. I pulled out some slices of bread and added butter and some garlic salt and tossed them in the oven to toast.

Dean was watching me, his hip cocked against the counter.

"Dean," I said after a few long moments of silence. "About Yellow Eyes-" I began. I wasn't exactly sure how to broach the subject again, but I had to say the words. I had to make Dean understand that it couldn't go on like this.

"He isn't going to get anywhere near you," Dean said absolutely resilient.

"Dean," I said again and he glanced towards me. I pressed my lips together and made a decision. I took a step into his space and reached down for his hand, lacing my fingers with his. "I can't hide forever, especially not if he keeps killing people."

Dean's jaw tightened. "You're safe."

I realized in that moment that maybe sleeping with Dean had been a mistake, but not for all the reasons I would have thought. The protective energy running through him had grown and was strong enough now I could feel it like static electricity in the room.

"I'm hiding," I said exasperatedly.

"But you're safe," he repeated and I could tell by the set of his jaw and the hardness in his eyes that it was truly all that mattered to him in this moment. He cared so much sometimes it took my breath away.

"Jack hid me away from the world," I told him. "And it did no good, it just got him killed. I don't that to happen to you. I don't want to have to hide anymore," I told him firmly. "We need a plan."

Dean exhaled. "We'll make one. I promise. Let's just, take a second and catch our breath okay? We'll make a plan in the morning. Okay?" He pushed again, raising his eyebrows as he waited for me to agree with him.

It irked me that he just expected me to go along with him, but in all reality he still had way more experience than I did. "Okay," I agreed with a sharp nod.

Dean exhaled and pulled me into his chest. The movement surprised me, and I stumbled a little. Dean caught me with his arms around me as he held me against him. I laid my cheek against his chest and listened to his heart beat. His hands had only touched my clothes, keeping my cut off from his emotions unless I tried hard. But he raised a hand, bringing it up against the nape of my neck, burying it in my hair to make sure I could feel him. His strong fingers were warm against my scalp and I closed my eyes and just let him hold me for a minute.