Convalescence

Forever

He watches from the doorway, where he's draped his six foot frame, the falter of her hands over the bowl of cherries, she's pitting. He watches the angry vice of her grip, squeezing the cherry pitter, the frustration in red, trembling hands swiping at the tears in her eyes. 

More of the same trembling, only this time, Kristy, up for a drink of water, is witness to it, looking at Teri over Dean's shoulder, before looking up at him, obviously concerned. Dean just motions for her to remain quiet and let Teri finish her task. She'll give into whatever is bothering her soon enough. 

But, she can't continue. The tears pour, and the cherry pitter drops into the bowl. Kristy takes Dean's place in the doorway as he rushes to her with a soft, "Whoa, sweetheart, hey!" as his arms slide around her sobbing frame. "Hey, c'mon. What's goin' on?" 

"I had a dream," is all Teri manages, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She presses her face into her neck, letting him rub her back and gently sway in hopes of soothing her, consoling her in some way. She takes a minute to compose herself before looking up at her husband. "I had a dream about you." 

"Okay?" he murmurs, a little confused, now. 

"It was - god, Dean, it was a nightmare." Teri sighs, sinking deeper into his arms. "You were trapped, I couldn't save you, and no matter what I did, how hard I tried, you were always just out of reach." 

"I'm fine, sweetheart, I'm still here." Dean soothes softly, rubbing her back. 

"But, that's not the - we weren't married, I never told you how I felt, and when I had to let you go..." Teri closes her eyes against the memory, hoping to avoid remembering the vivid regret she'd felt in her dreams. "I had to live with regret and I - Dean, that was almost real, for me. I almost had to live without you knowing how I felt." 

"What?" 

"I was scared for so long, Dean, that you would find someone else, that I'd lose my chance." Teri confesses softly, trying her best to ignore the knot still pulsing in her stomach. "I was scared that I'd have to live the rest of my life without you." 

"It was just a dream, sweetheart." Dean murmurs, swaying them, once again. No particular rhythm. Just an easy, gentle movement to keep her calm. "I'm not with anyone else, and I never will be. I'm yours, baby." 

"I know but..." 

"Sometimes, dreams can feel a little too real. And, they remind you of what almost was." Dean seems to understand, and brings his hands up to her face, thumbing the tears from her eyes. "But, you don't have to live with regret, okay? It wasn't real." 

"I just hate the thought that it could have been." Teri sniffles, pressing her face into his neck. "I hate that I - " 

"We both did, okay? Neither one of us were exactly open about it." Dean points out, trailing a hand across her shoulders. "But, that's all over. It was just a dream, baby. Just a dream. It doesn't mean anything. I love you." 

"Promise?" she looks so child-like and vulnerable, staring up at him with big, teary brown eyes. 

"I made that promise the day I vowed to be your husband 'til death do us part." he murmurs, tilting his head down so only she can hear him. "And, I will make that promise for as long as you need me to, okay? That promise doesn't come with conditions." 

From the doorway, Kristy watches the scene unfold. They appear to have forgotten she's even there, but that's okay. This is clearly a moment they need for themselves, a moment to reaffirm what Teri's dream had frightened her into believing could disappear at any moment, what Teri had once feared would never be. 

So, she watches Dean soothe his wife, brush the tears from her face, and kiss her fears away before helping her put away the fruit and the cherry pitting tool. They bid her goodnight and head for their bedroom while she retrieves the drink of water she originally came for. It's on her way back to bed that she hears them giggling and she knows. 

That is the kind of forever that always finds a way.