Convalescence

Anxiety

Samantha is over with the twins to visit Christopher and meet his lovely new girlfriend, when Dean's phone rings, which makes the whole thing a hell of a lot more awkward than he was anticipating. While he wouldn't say him and Samantha were necessarily on bad terms - though, their history is full of bitterness and anger - they're certainly not cordial enough that he feels comfortable taking a call from his own girlfriend, in front of her. 

 "Oh, uh," Teri's brilliant grin flashes up at him and he smiles politely at his guests. "I have to take this - excuse me, I'll only be a minute." 

Dean carefully removes himself from the conversation, keeping his phone just out of Samantha's view - always with her nose in his business, even when it didn't concern her. Christopher just offers him a knowing grin as he makes a getaway to the kitchen. Samantha's eyes flick between them, the makings of a petulant fit practically oozing out of her pores, obviously wanting to be let in on whatever secret Dean and Christopher are keeping from her. 

Her petulance only intensifies and her eyes narrow suspiciously when Dean's soft voice carries from the kitchen; "Hey." a brief pause and then, "Hey, whoa, sweetheart, what's wrong?" 

Samantha thins her mouth into a tense line and attempts to focus her attention on Christopher and his girlfriend. Elijah adores his brother but Isabella was more about Uncle Dean. Uncle Dean, who is currently soothing a crying woman over the phone, if his side of the conversation is any indication. 

" - okay, okay. I know, sweetheart, this isolation bullshit is getting to all of us." Dean doesn't realize how much his voice carries - Samantha can hear every word from the living room, even with her back to the doorway of the kitchen. "How 'bout I pack a bag, grab a bottle of wine, and be there in an hour?" pause, "Yes, I know but traffic's not a bitch, right now, so an hour. Less if I don't have to stop for gas but I'm pretty sure I need to. Okay. Right, now, no more tears. That's my girl. I'll be there as soon as I can." 

The conversation ends soon after that and Dean steps into the living room, only acknowledging Christopher and his girlfriend, Sara. "Something's come up, I've got leave for a bit. You good, here?" 

"Sure!" it's Sara, with a bright smile, and a huge black lab draped across her knees. Bella's already made a new friend. She reaches up to cuff the back of Christopher's head with her hand, "I'll make sure this one stays in line." 

"I know you will, Sara." Dean smiles at his son's girlfriend, before turning to his son. "I'll probably be back tomorrow. This whole isolation thing..." 

"Is she alright?" Sara inquires softly. 

Christopher winces. 

Shit. 

He does not want to be in the middle of one of his parents' spats, not now, when he just got home and his girlfriend is with him. It's not that they were keeping it a secret from Samantha, but the less she knew the better, so while she could know that Dean may or may not be involved with someone, beyond that, they all thought it best to leave her in the dark. 

"She will be, I think." Dean nods, "I gotta go get some stuff. Make sure he doesn't eat the whole pantry while I'm gone." 

Sara giggles while Christopher pouts and crosses his arm, pretending to be mad. Dean leaves her to deal with his son, finding her far more patient with his antics than he'd ever been, and goes to pack a bag, unaware of the jealous blonde steaming on his couch. 

When he returns with a bag and a bottle of wine, Sara is giggling hysterically, hugging the black lab as close as she can while Christopher tries to get in between them, pleading with Bella to give him his girlfriend back, before finally giving up and deeming both his girlfriend and the dog traitors.