Through The Dark
Can I request a Eddie Diaz x reader you work together and maybe make it similar to the Maddie plot where you get kidnapped and really injured but he finds you
I hope this is what you were after! I certainly enjoyed writing it. Thanks for requesting it.
Through The Dark
Edmundo 'Eddie' Diaz X Reader
4.1k word count
Summary When your kidnapped from the 118 Eddie becomes a man with a mission and nothing will get in his way.
The day started like any other at the 118.
The sun was already beating down on the asphalt as Buck and Eddie moved around the fire truck, prepping equipment with the easy rhythm of long practice. Eddie was double-checking the hoses while Buck swung open compartments, tossing a football lightly between his hands during every free second.
Across the bay, Hen and Chimney leaned into the back of the ambulance, rattling through their stock. The familiar sound of supplies clinking together echoed off the walls: saline bags, bandages, splints. The station hummed with the usual lazy energy of a morning before the inevitable chaos hit.
But there was something… off.
It was Hen who noticed first, her hand freezing over the trauma kit.
"Hey," she said, turning to Chimney with a slight frown. "You seen Y/N?"
Chimney paused mid-count, brows furrowing. "No. I figured she was already here. Y/N’s usually first in."
Eddie, overhearing, called over his shoulder, "Maybe she’s just running late?"
Buck spun the football in his hands. "Late for Y/N?" he said. "Nah, that's like... against the laws of physics."
The team exchanged glances. A strange, unspoken tension crept into the air.
Hen wiped her hands on her cargo pants and grabbed her radio. "Y/N, you copy?" she said, pressing the button. Static answered.
"Maybe she’s in the showers?" Buck offered, already moving toward the living quarters. "I'll check."
The firehouse, usually alive with movement and banter, suddenly felt too big, too quiet. As Buck jogged down the hall, a gnawing sense of worry tightened in his chest.
Something wasn't right.
And they were about to find out just how wrong things really were.
Buck came jogging back into the bay, shaking his head. "Nothing. Showers are empty. Locker room too."
Hen pulled out her phone, scrolling quickly to Y/N’s contact. "I'm calling her," she said, pressing dial. They all stood still, waiting, listening — but no ringtone echoed through the station. No hurried footsteps. No laugh.
Just silence.
Eddie wiped his hands on a rag, but it didn’t help. His palms were already clammy. His heart hammered against his ribs in a way that had nothing to do with work.
Where are you, Y/N?
He knew he shouldn’t panic — not yet. But he couldn't help it. He had been in love with her since the day she showed up at the 118, nerves visible but determination stronger. And since then, he'd hidden it. Buried it under years of jokes, teasing, pretending he was just another teammate.
Now all that restraint was crumbling. Fast.
"I'm checking Bobby’s office," Eddie muttered, already moving.
Buck and Chim followed without hesitation, Hen right behind them.
Bobby looked up from behind his desk as they pushed in. "Something wrong?" he asked, concern already flickering across his face.
"Have you heard from Y/N today?" Eddie demanded, sharper than he intended. His fists clenched at his sides.
Bobby’s frown deepened. "No. I figured she was out back, doing equipment checks. She clocked in last night for the overnight. Why?"
Eddie felt his stomach drop. She had been here. Something had happened.
Buck glanced at him, unease written all over his face. "She wouldn't just leave without telling someone."
Hen crossed her arms tightly across her chest. "This isn’t right, Bobby. Y/N would never."
Bobby grabbed his radio, his whole posture shifting from casual to urgent. "Alright. No assumptions. Full sweep of the station first. If we don't find her, we escalate."
But Eddie wasn’t waiting. His mind was already spinning worst-case scenarios, panic clawing at his chest. He barely heard Bobby giving orders, barely registered Buck calling after him.
He had to find her. Because this wasn’t just about a missing teammate.
This was about the woman he loved — and he was terrified he might already be too late.
…
The search of the station turned up nothing. No signs of Y/N — no note, no discarded gear, no hint of where she might have gone.
Bobby ordered Buck and Eddie to check her apartment while he and the others coordinated with dispatch. It wasn’t standard protocol, but none of them cared. Y/N was family — and families didn't sit around and wait.
Buck drove, Eddie riding shotgun, his knee bouncing with restless energy the entire way. Neither of them spoke much. What was there to say?
When they pulled up outside her building, Eddie was already unbuckling, practically jumping out before Buck even fully parked.
"Maybe she overslept?" Buck offered weakly, jogging to keep up as Eddie charged up the front steps.
"Y/N doesn't oversleep," Eddie snapped, pounding on her door. "Y/N’s the one who wakes us up."
He knocked again, harder. "Y/N! It's Eddie and Buck! You in there?"
No answer.
Buck tried the doorknob — locked — then looked down. No packages, no keys, no sign she'd come back after her shift.
Eddie's stomach twisted painfully.
He was about to suggest they try the manager for a key when Buck’s phone buzzed. He yanked it out of his pocket.
"It’s Hen."
Buck answered on speaker. "Hen, tell me you found something."
"I did," she said quickly, breathless. "You need to get back here. Now."
Eddie stiffened. "What is it?" His voice was rough, desperate.
"I found Y/N’s radio." Hen’s words were grim. "Stuffed behind the lockers. Like someone was trying to hide it."
Buck cursed under his breath.
Eddie felt like the floor tilted beneath him. Y/N would never ditch her radio. It was her lifeline. She treated that thing like it was a part of her body.
"I’m grabbing it now," Hen said. "Get back here. Something’s wrong."
Buck was already moving before the call disconnected, sprinting back to the truck.
Eddie stayed frozen for a second longer, staring at Y/N’s door. Something had happened. Something bad.
And he was running out of time to save her.
Buck barely waited for Eddie to slam his door shut before peeling away from the curb, tires screeching against the asphalt. Eddie gripped the dashboard, jaw clenched so tight it hurt.
Neither of them spoke on the way back — didn’t need to. The air in the cab was thick with fear.
When they pulled into the station, Eddie was out before the truck fully stopped, sprinting through the bay doors.
Inside, it was a whole different scene.
Bobby was at the center of it all, his expression grim. Standing beside him, already in uniform and radiating authority, was Athena.
Eddie’s heart twisted tighter. If Bobby had called in Athena, this was no longer a missing teammate situation — this was an active investigation.
Athena spotted them and came over immediately. Her voice was calm but firm, the kind of calm that made Eddie even more nervous.
"Bobby filled me in," she said. "Hen found Y/N’s radio hidden behind the lockers. That’s enough for me to start a formal missing persons report."
"She wouldn’t leave without her radio," Eddie said hoarsely. He could hear the tremble in his own voice and hated it.
Athena’s gaze softened just slightly. "I know. Which means we treat this like foul play until we know otherwise."
Bobby stepped forward. "I’ve already locked down the station. No one in or out unless they’re part of the investigation. Dispatch is rerouting calls to the other houses."
Hen appeared beside them, holding a clear evidence bag with Y/N’s radio inside. The sight of it made Eddie’s stomach churn.
"There’s more," Hen said. "The clip on the radio is busted. Like someone ripped it off."
Athena nodded tightly. "Alright. First step — we canvas the station again, top to bottom. If Y/N left anything behind, a message, anything, we’ll find it."
"I want to help," Eddie said immediately, stepping closer, like he could physically force the universe to let him do something.
"You will," Athena promised. "But I need you sharp, Eddie. You, Buck, Hen, Chim — you know this station better than anyone. Look for anything out of place. Anything."
Eddie nodded, forcing himself to breathe.
Buck clapped a hand on his shoulder, grounding him. "We'll find her," he said under his breath. "We have to."
Eddie didn’t trust himself to answer. Because in his gut, he already knew — this wasn’t going to be simple. Someone had taken Y/N.
And he was going to tear the city apart if he had to, just to bring her home.
The station, usually filled with chatter and movement, was dead silent except for the sound of footsteps and the low crackle of Athena’s radio as she coordinated with patrol units outside.
Eddie, Buck, Hen, and Chimney split up, each taking a section of the building.
Eddie’s heart was hammering so loudly it drowned out everything else. He moved methodically — locker rooms, rec room, the kitchen. Nothing looked out of place, but he knew better than to trust appearances.
He found himself drawn back toward the bunkroom, where they all slept on long shifts.
He pushed open the door carefully.
The beds were neatly made, just like always. Sunlight filtered through the blinds in dusty beams.
Eddie scanned the room, every instinct on edge.
And then — something.
Barely visible under the edge of Y/N’s bunk, tucked up near the wall — a scrap of dark fabric.
Eddie crouched, reaching for it carefully.
It was a piece of Y/N’s uniform shirt. Torn, like it had been caught on something. And just beside it — tiny scuff marks on the floor, like there had been a struggle, quickly hidden.
"Eddie!" Buck’s voice echoed from down the hall. "You find something?"
"Yeah," Eddie called back, voice tight.
Buck came running, and Eddie held up the torn fabric.
Buck’s face went pale. "That’s hers."
Eddie nodded grimly. "Someone grabbed her here."
He could barely get the words out. Rage and fear warred in his chest, almost choking him.
Buck looked around the bunkroom, his eyes narrowing. "If there was a fight, maybe she left something else behind. A clue. Something we missed."
Eddie crouched lower, studying the baseboards, the bedframe — anything.
That’s when he saw it — carved into the underside of the wooden bed slat, just barely scratched deep enough to be visible:
5A
Eddie stared at it, his mind racing.
"What is that?" Buck asked, crouching beside him.
"Room number?" Eddie guessed. "Locker? Storage?"
They both exchanged a look — knowing time was running out.
Without waiting for backup, Eddie bolted out of the bunkroom, Buck on his heels. They had a firehouse to tear apart — and a message from Y/N to decode.
And Eddie swore to himself — he wasn’t leaving without her.
Eddie didn’t stop moving as he charged back into the main bay, "5A" burning into his brain like a brand.
"Bobby!" he called, waving the others over.
Bobby, Athena, Hen, and Chim all converged immediately, tension crackling in the air.
"We found this," Eddie said, holding up the torn piece of Y/N’s uniform. "There were scuff marks near her bunk — and this—" he pointed to Buck, who pulled up a photo on his phone of the carving under the bed slat, "5A."
Athena leaned in, frowning hard. "5A? What's that mean?"
"I don't think it’s inside the station," Eddie said, breathing hard. "Y/N had seconds — if she could scratch that in, she must have known where she was being taken."
Bobby’s face was grim. "5A... it could be a vehicle. A plate number. A storage unit. An apartment."
Athena was already moving, radioing her team. "Start pulling street cam footage near the station. Look for anything suspicious around shift change. A van, a car, anything with a 5A on the plates."
"There's a side alley," Hen said suddenly, snapping her fingers. "By the maintenance exit. Cameras don’t reach it. If someone wanted to grab her without being seen..."
"They’d use that," Eddie finished, already sprinting toward the maintenance door.
They burst outside into the narrow alley. The sun beat down on the concrete, harsh and unrelenting.
It looked empty — no obvious signs of a struggle.
But Eddie’s instincts screamed at him to look closer.
Buck scanned the ground. "Wait—" he pointed. "Tire tracks. Fresh."
Athena crouched beside them, professional but clearly rattled. "Two sets. One small, one larger — like a truck or a van."
"And here," Eddie said, pointing to the brick wall. It was faint — almost nothing — but a set of scraped marks, like someone had been dragged, boots scraping desperately for purchase.
Buck swore under his breath.
Eddie turned a slow circle, trying to breathe through the rising panic. Y/N was gone. She was outside the station — taken.
But she hadn’t gone quietly. She’d fought. Left them clues. She believed they’d find her.
Eddie clenched his fists, every muscle in his body vibrating with rage and fear.
"We get that footage," Athena said, already dialing. "We pull traffic cams. Every feed in a five-block radius. We find that van."
"And when we do," Eddie said, voice low and shaking with the force of it, "we're bringing her home."
No one argued.
Because they all knew — nothing, nothing — would stop him.
Back inside the station, Athena coordinated with officers across the city, barking orders into her radio. Bobby paced like a caged animal. Hen and Chim ran through street cam feeds on a laptop, scrubbing footage frame by frame.
Eddie stood frozen in the middle of it all, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides, heart hammering so hard it hurt.
It’s not enough. We’re too slow. She’s out there. Alone.
Buck noticed, stepping up beside him. "Hey. Breathe, man. Athena’s gonna find something."
But Eddie shook his head, frustration boiling over.
"I can’t just stand here!" he snapped. His voice echoed across the bay, making everyone glance up.
Athena shot him a sharp look — but Eddie didn’t care. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, just knowing Y/N was scared, hurting, maybe worse, while he stood here doing nothing.
He scrubbed a hand through his hair, pacing in a tight circle. Think, Diaz. THINK.
"5A." "5A." The number kept spinning in his head.
And then — like a fist to the gut — he remembered.
Weeks ago. Late-night conversation after a rough call. Y/N sitting across from him, laughing softly, looking tired but beautiful. Talking about how she hated her ex-boyfriend — the manipulative jerk she'd finally left for good.
"I used to live in Unit 5A of the building we were at," she had said, rolling her eyes. "Worst six months of my life."
Eddie froze, blood running cold.
"5A," he whispered.
Buck frowned. "What?"
"Her ex’s apartment," Eddie said hoarsely, turning to face him. "She lived there with him — Unit 5A."
Realization hit Buck like a freight train. "You think he took her?"
"I don’t think," Eddie growled. "I know."
Without waiting for permission, Eddie snatched the keys off the hook and headed for one of the station SUVs.
Buck was right behind him. "Let’s go."
Bobby started to call after them, but Athena caught his arm. "Let them," she said quietly. "They’re her best shot right now."
Buck drove while Eddie rattled off the address from memory — he'd made her laugh so hard that night mimicking her ex’s dramatic, whiny voice.
Now it felt like acid in his mouth.
As they weaved through traffic, Eddie’s hands shook in his lap, rage and terror fighting for dominance.
Hold on, Y/N, he thought fiercely. Hold on. I'm coming.
…
The city’s noise seemed miles away as Eddie and Buck raced toward the apartment building. Every second felt like an eternity. Eddie’s heart pounded in his chest, and his hands trembled, his thoughts drowning in one singular focus: finding Y/N.
When they reached the building, Eddie was out of the SUV before it even stopped, running toward the front door with Buck on his heels.
They didn’t knock.
Eddie slammed his fist into the doorframe of the apartment before stepping inside, his eyes scanning the dimly lit space.
The man was on the couch, his scruffy face pale with panic as he scrambled to his feet. His hand reached toward his waistband.
"Where is she?" Eddie’s voice was a growl, low and dangerous. "Tell me where she is right now."
The man froze, eyes flicking nervously between Eddie and Buck. "I—I don’t know what you’re talking about."
Eddie’s eyes narrowed, and in one fluid motion, he grabbed the man by the collar and slammed him back against the wall.
"Don’t lie to me," Eddie hissed. "She’s here. You took her."
Buck stepped up, placing a hand on Eddie’s arm. "Easy, man. Let’s just—"
"Shut up!" Eddie snapped, not looking at Buck. He wasn’t listening. He couldn’t, not with Y/N out there, alone, scared, hurt.
The man looked terrified but slowly backed up, hands raised in submission. "Okay, okay. She’s back there," he stammered, nodding toward a hallway at the back of the apartment. "I didn’t—didn’t. I just didn’t want her to leave”
Eddie didn’t wait for the rest of his confession. He was already pushing past him, running down the narrow hallway, his chest tight with fear.
When they reached the last room, the sight that met Eddie was enough to stop him cold.
Y/N was sitting against the wall, her legs drawn up to her chest. She looked so small. So fragile. Her clothes were torn and stained with blood. Her face was bruised, her lips cracked and swollen, one eye nearly swollen shut. Her arms were marked with deep red scratches and faint bruises. Every part of her seemed broken — physically, emotionally.
Eddie’s heart shattered at the sight of her, his whole body instinctively reaching for her. "Y/N," he whispered, his voice catching as he dropped to his knees in front of her. His hands gently cupped her face, trembling with barely contained fear. "Oh, god, I thought—"
Y/N’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze unfocused at first. But when she saw Eddie, a flicker of recognition passed through her, and her lips trembled as she whispered his name.
"Eddie..." She tried to speak, but her voice was weak, barely audible.
"Shh," Eddie breathed, gently pressing his forehead to hers. "You’re safe. We’re gonna get you out of here, I swear. I’m not leaving you."
She tried to push herself up, but the effort was too much. She collapsed back against the wall, exhaustion and pain too much for her to bear. "I—I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with pain. "I... I couldn’t... I fought... but—"
Eddie’s eyes were fierce, his grip tightening around her hand. "You did fight, Y/N. You’re here. You’re alive. You did everything you could, okay? You hear me?"
She closed her eyes, a single tear slipping down her battered cheek as she nodded weakly.
Buck appeared behind Eddie, stepping back into the room. "Athena’s on her way."
Eddie nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in his throat. He pulled Y/N into his arms, careful of her bruised body, his heart breaking all over again at how fragile she felt in his hold.
"Hold on, Y/N," he whispered into her ear, his voice barely more than a hoarse breath. "We’re getting you out of here."
She leaned into him, but the pain was obvious in the way her body trembled. "Please," she whispered, barely audible. "Don’t leave me..."
Eddie held her tighter, desperate. "Never again. I’m not going anywhere without you."
Eddie carefully lifted Y/N into his arms, cradling her close, and despite the pain she was in, she rested her head against his chest. Her breath was shallow, her body trembling from the shock, but Eddie held her like she was the most fragile thing in the world, moving quickly but gently.
Buck grabbed the man, now cowering on the floor, and yanked him up by the collar. "You’re not getting away with this," Buck growled, shoving the guy toward the front door. "The cops are on their way. They’ll deal with you."
Eddie didn’t look back. His focus was entirely on Y/N.
Her head rolled slightly to the side as she looked up at him, her gaze unfocused. "I didn’t think... I thought you wouldn’t find me... I didn’t know if I could hold on..."
"Hey," Eddie said softly, his voice breaking, a quiet desperation beneath his calm exterior. "You’re here. You’re alive. We found you." He started to walk out of the apartment, his heart a twisted knot of relief and guilt. She shouldn’t have gone through this. I should have protected her,
The moment they stepped outside, Buck turned to him. "We need to get her to the hospital, Eddie."
"I know," Eddie said, already heading for the SUV, his footsteps quick but careful as he moved through the dim hallway.
At the hospital, everything happened in a blur.
Nurses rushed to Y/N’s side, pulling her from Eddie’s arms and onto a gurney. The beeping of monitors, the urgency in their voices — all of it echoed in Eddie’s mind, muffled, as he stood frozen at the foot of the bed. His chest felt tight, like someone had shoved a weight into his lungs.
He watched them work on her — cleaning her cuts, bandaging the bruises, stabilizing her, but through it all, Eddie couldn’t shake the image of her battered, broken form sitting on the floor in that apartment. The pain she’d endured. The fear in her eyes when she first saw him.
The hospital staff finally left, giving them a moment of quiet. The room was dim, the sterile scent of antiseptic lingering in the air. Eddie took a seat beside her bed, his body tense but his hand gently brushing against her uninjured one.
"Y/N," he whispered, his voice low and rough. "I’m so sorry. I should’ve—"
She turned her head slowly, eyes fluttering open. Her face was pale, but her lips curled into a weak, painful smile. "You found me," she murmured. "I knew you would."
Eddie’s throat tightened. He hated seeing her like this, hated knowing that she’d been through hell — and he hadn’t been there. He hadn’t been able to stop it.
"I should’ve been there sooner," Eddie whispered, his hand gripping hers, as though holding on to her might make up for the time he lost.
"Hey," Y/N said softly, her voice barely audible. "You found me. That’s all that matters."
Eddie shook his head, a mixture of relief and guilt churning inside him. "It wasn’t enough, Y/N. You shouldn’t have had to go through that. I should’ve protected you—"
Y/N squeezed his hand, her grip surprisingly strong despite her injuries. "Eddie, listen to me." Her voice was still shaky, but there was a determination in it that made his heart skip a beat. "You didn’t let me down. You never could. You kept looking for me, and that’s all that matters. You’re here. You saved me."
He stared at her for a long moment, his chest tight as he tried to swallow the emotions flooding him. Saved her. That was the word she used. But she had saved herself, too — she'd fought, she'd held on.
Eddie could feel it then — the crushing weight of everything he’d been keeping inside for so long. The way his heart seemed to crack open, pulling him closer to her, making him realize just how much she meant to him. He could never put it into words, not in this moment, but he knew.
He knew that he’d been in love with her for so long, it hurt.
Y/N slowly reached up, her fingers brushing against his cheek, her touch soft but grounding. "Eddie," she whispered, her voice still hoarse. "You don’t have to say anything. I’m here. You’re here. That’s enough."
Eddie nodded, his throat tight, his emotions threatening to spill over. He wanted to tell her everything. He wanted to hold her until this whole nightmare felt like it was finally over. But instead, he simply leaned down, resting his forehead against hers, his eyes closing for a brief moment.
"I’m here," he repeated, his voice barely audible. "And I’m not going anywhere."
Hours passed, and Y/N was sedated, resting in a peaceful sleep under the watchful care of doctors and nurses. Eddie stayed by her side, not caring about the world outside the hospital room. Buck had stopped by, giving him a brief, understanding glance before leaving them alone.
But Eddie couldn’t leave. Not now. Not after everything she had been through.
And when she woke again, her hand reached out for him, her fingers trembling.
Eddie took her hand gently, pressing it to his lips. "I’m not leaving you," he promised again, and this time, he meant it in a way that felt deeper than before.
Y/N looked up at him, her eyes filled with exhaustion but trust. She smiled weakly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t want you to."
And that was enough.
More Posts from Metalmonki and Others
Supernatural, Hunting, Living and Love (Revisited)
Dean Winchester x fem!reader
3k word count
summary While exploring a haunted house your friend told you about, you have a chance encounter with a pair of brothers who give you a crash introduction to their world.
fluff, idiots in love, friends to lovers
warnings mention of grave desecration (this is illegal don't do it!)
Note So I remembered my Mibba log-in and found this embarrassment of a story along with a long list of other equally embarrassing stories. I decided to challenge myself to edit and rewrite the stories and post them here. I will also include a link to the original story so you can read it in all it's cringy glory. This was a story from 2009 that I wrote with 2 friends of mine that we never completed. Once I have decringed the story I will finish it here. Enjoy I guess.
Original / Next Chapter
For some dumb reason, I had decided it would be fun to check out the creepy abandoned house down the road from my friend Linsey's house. At the time, it had seemed like a great idea. Everyone was always talking about how the house was haunted. The neighbourhood rumour was that the father had annihilated the last family to live in the house. But, of course, there was no proof of this. Linsey refused to go anywhere near the house and had chosen to stay home. I, however, convinced my friend Theresa to join me for this stupid adventure. Things had started out okay. Getting entry to the house was easy enough. We pulled out our phones, giggled, and recorded as we walked through a place frozen in time, joking about how this would make us Facebook famous. After we made our way to the second floor, things changed. The air upstairs was icy cold compared to the blistering heat outside. A large bang came from downstairs. Theresa noped out and took off from the house, to my best guess. All I know is she took off running down the stairs before I even had a chance to process the bang. Instead of following, I froze. I stood in the doorway to what looked to be a bedroom staring wide-eyed at the staircase, trying to gain the courage to run downstairs.
"Quick in here," said a voice breaking me from my trans.
I ran towards the voice. I saw two guys, clearly brothers, hiding in the small closet in the room. I squeezed into the closet with them. I took a moment to look at them in the light of a flashlight one of them was holding. The one I guest to be the older one had short dark blonde hair and a small amount of stubble. I guessed him to be around 6’1’; meanwhile, the one I took to be the younger brother had longer, fluffy light brown hair and was clean-shaven. He was easy 6’4 pushing 6’5. You know what they say the older sibling is always the shortest sibling.
“What are you doing in here?” The shorter one asked.
“I was exploring with my friend. We just heard the rumours about the place being haunted and wanted to check it out,” I said, throwing my arms about in frustration as much as possible in the small space. “What are you doing here?”
“Uh, exploring just like you,” The tall one said, looking nervously between his brother and me.
“Oh, that’s a lie. You are a terrible liar. What are your names?" I asked as the older brother snickered behind me. "I'm Dean, and this is my brother Sam," said the older one. "I'm Y/n," I said. “Now, what are you really doing here?” I asked looking between them.
“Hunting a ghost”, Dean blurted out.
“Dean” Sam looked at him, frustrated.
“What? She walked herself into this. She should know what's going on. We can’t get her out of here safely otherwise” Dean pointed his open hand at me. “Uh, hello right here. Would you care to explain” I huffed, putting my hands on my hips.
Dean sighed, getting frustrated looks from Sam, but he explained everything. It sounded like the ramblings of a crazy man, or men in this case. Dean explained that people had been reporting getting attacked and followed home. Some people had even been reportedly killed in the house. This was nothing I had ever heard before nor had it come up in my research. Truthfully, my research was a 20 minute google search. I wasn’t from the area and wouldn’t know about the place if it wasn’t for Linsey. We lived 5 suburbs apart, so there was no reason for me to be anywhere near this house. Dean explained what they do and how they ended up in Sydney, Australia. I would have said he was lying and crazy, but he seemed honest. He truly believed everything he was saying. And it felt like I should give him the benefit of the doubt.
“Okay, so if everything you're saying is true, what do we do?” I asked
“You don’t do anything. We need to figure out where the body is and burn it,” Dean said pointing a finger between himself and Sam.
“The whole family who lived here last is buried in the local cemetery in a family tomb,” I said like it was common knowledge.
“Wait, how did you find that out?” Sam asked
“I googled it”, I shrugged. “I just want to know if the rumours were true, so I googled. Their burial place was like the first google result” I shrugged.
“Rumours?” Dean asked
“That the father murdered his whole family,” I said. “I couldn’t find anything, but they all died in this house the same night.”
“So, there is a chance daddy dearest ganked them all,” Dean said
“Well, that’s what the police were thinking, but they didn’t have enough proof,” I said
“Well, looks like we need to burn dear old Dad”, Dean smirked at Sam.
“First, we need to get out of the house,” Sam said
The whole time we had been standing around talking I could feel a cool breeze from what was supposed to be the solid wardrobe wall behind us. I turned to face the wall of the closet and ran a finger along the seem where I could feel the air. I pressed along the wall praying it was in fact what I thought it was, a hidden door. Thankfully it popped open, revealing a hidden stairs case. Most likely a servant staircase. I silently cheered and led the way down the stairs. At the bottom was a door that led into the kitchen, and in the kitchen was a backdoor. Once we were somewhat safe in the yard, I let Dean and Sam lead the way to wherever they were going. They walked out into a back alley behind the house. Sitting in the alley was a beautiful looking 67 Chevy Impala. I giggled to myself before hearing another person squealing from the other side of the car.
"Theresa" I questioned, peaking around the car. "Y/n," she said, running over to me pulling me into a hug. "Are you okay?" I asked looking her over. "I'm fine," Theresa said. "Thank god," I sighed. “Where the hell did you go? And why did you abandon me?”
“Outside, duh, I ran out through the kitchen and then was going to run down the alley to Linsey’s, but I spotted this beauty. Can you believe there is another one identical to yours?” Theresa squealed “Oh and yeah so sorry about leaving you behind, autopilot you know”.
“No, I can’t”, I smiled “Also your forgiven just don’t do it again”.
“Okay, enough with the weirdness”, Dean spoke up. “Who is she, and why is she looking at baby?”
“Oh, this is my friend Theresa the one I was exploring with.” I said, “Theresa, this is Sam and Dean. Who is baby?” Dean waved a hand at the car like it was obvious.
“Oh great, so she was in the house too,” Sam said completely ignoring everything else.
“Well, Theresa looks like you're coming with us,” Dean said, hoping in the car.
“Can we go get my car before we take off?” I asked while getting into the car.
“Where is it?” Dean asked.
“Parked out the front of the house,” I said.
Dean sighed, put the Impala in drive and drove around the front of the house. As soon as we rounded the corner, Dean spotted my Impala. He smirked and chuckled, almost surprised that I had the same car as him. We pulled up in front of my car just long enough for Theresa and me to jump out of Deans car and into mine. Dean motioned out his window for me to lead the way. The late afternoon sky bled into twilight as we reached the cemetery. A thrill, tinged with defiance, shot through me as I saw the locked gates. Nighttime visits were strictly forbidden, and the council was none too happy about the recent wave of skateboarders and trill seekers. But the gate seemed to be a normal hindrance to the boys. With practiced ease, they vaulted the gate, their laughter echoing off the ancient stones. I scanned the perimeter, spotting a hidden gap in the fence, and followed them through, a hint of apprehension mixed with the excitement.
I walked the boys over to the family tomb. The tomb was opened, the door clearly having been broken in a long time ago. They asked us to wait outside while they set to working inside. The boys had a worn duffle with them, out of which they pulled out salt, petrol and a crowbar. The family had been placed in their coffins into the wall with a limestone name plate marking each person’s final resting place. Dean managed to pry the nameplate for the father off the wall exposing the coffin which was quite decayed. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t impressed by Deans strength. Sam covered the casket in petrol while Dean covered it in salt as best they could through the small opening. Once the casket was covered as it could be, Dean threw a lit matchbook into the hole. The coffin burst into flame quickly heating the small mausoleum.
“Well, that should be all done,” Dean said. “But to be safe, we should return to the house and check. You two, however, will go to our hotel and wait for us.” Dean tossed us the keys
I caught them in one hand turning them over to read the hotel name off the tag and chose not to argue. I nodded at him and headed back towards the cars. Theresa and I drove straight to the hotel. I was silently ruminating over the day’s events while Theresa was hardly managing to sit still and rambling on about Sam. We found their room and let ourselves in. The room was basic, 2 queen beds, a lounge, table, chair and tv on one of those hotels’ typical built-in stands. The first thought through my head was I hope to God we don’t have to spend the night because I was not one to share a bed with a complete stranger and the lounge looked uninviting.
“Hay, which do you think is Sam's bed?” Theresa broke me from my thoughts.
“I don’t know. Why do you want to know?” I asked confused.
“I don’t know, I just want to lay on Sam's bed. He so cute, uh, I think I’m in love,” Theresa swooned, dropping into the chair.
“Oh, dear god, woman, you fall in love too quickly.” I rolled my eyes.
“I can’t help it. Did you see him? That man clearly looks after himself.” Theresa giggled.
“Yeah, and so does Dean, but you don’t see me swooning over him. I really don’t get you sometimes”.
I flopped onto the bed, squeezing my eyes shut against the relentless drone of Theresa's voice. Every syllable about Sam felt like a grating record needle stuck on repeat. All I craved was escape, the sweet oblivion of a normal life. Finish my acting degree, build a portfolio, disappear into the anonymity of a bustling city. A sharp rap on the door jolted me awake. Theresa, mid-sentence, pivoted toward the sound. Her smile faltered for a fleeting moment before she plastered it back on and cautiously cracked the door open. A hushed exchange followed, punctuated by muffled figures I couldn't quite see. Relief washed over me when I saw Dean and Sam enter the room. Their presence was a familiar anchor in this storm of emotions.
“You comfortable on my bed?” Dean asked a smirked on his face as he shed his leather jacket onto the foot of said bed.
“Very. I was having a nice little nap before you so rudely woke me up” I stretched out on the bed.
“Well, sorry, ma’am.” Dean laughed, giving a goofy salute.
“On to more serious things, we saw scorch marks at the house indicating that we may have gotten rid of this thing, but we would like you to stay here overnight just in case” Sam looked between us. Definitely the serious brother, I noted.
“Oh yeah, and where are we supposed to sleep?” I raised an eyebrow at him.
“You girls, take my bed. I’ll sleep on the couch,” Dean smiled.
“Are you sure?” I asked not wanting to be rude.
“Not the first time I slept in a chair won’t be the last” Dean shrugged “It’s kind of part of the job description”.
“You have a job description?” I joked.
“Not really we kind of just making it up as we go” Dean shrugged giving me a wink.
Theresa, ever the optimist, quickly engaged Sam in conversation. Her laughter, a welcome sound, filled the room. It was a stark contrast to the turmoil within me.
"Alright everyone, hold that thought," Dean boomed, his voice a welcome interruption. His stomach let out a loud rumble, punctuating his statement. "We all must be starving after that little...adventure. I'm gonna hit the shops for some supplies. Anything in particular tickle your fancy, y/n?"
“Buyers choice” I smiled at him, he winked back before leaving the room.
I rolled my eyes playfully as Theresa bombarded Sam with questions. Their easy banter was a testament to her ability to move on. "What happened, happened," she'd always say. Maybe she was right. Dwelling on it wouldn't change anything. I wrapped myself in Dean's blanket, the scent of his cologne and laundry detergent a strangely comforting reminder of normalcy. The weariness in my bones finally won over my racing thoughts, and I drifted back to sleep, the gentle murmur of conversation a lullaby in the background.
“Just making yourself right at home now, aren’t you?” Dean chuckled, walking in the door, startling me awake again.
“I’m tired. It’s been a long day, and part of me is hoping this is all a bad dream,” I groaned looking at the ceiling.
“Sorry, sweetheart, this pretty face is as real as it gets”, Dean shot me a cheesy grin. “Now get up and eat. Grubs getting cold.”
Dean dropped four bags of McDonalds on the table and almost immediately went to complaining about the tiny size of the burgers here and he had to order an obscene amount of them just to fill himself up. Sam just shook his head clearly; this was a complaint Sam had heard a few times too many. I on the other hand just pointed out that he could have gone to any of the fish and chip shops he had gone past on his way to McDonalds and brought a single burger like 4 times the size of the McDonalds ones. Dean being oh so mature put on a high-pitched voice mocking what I had said before murmuring shut-up and starting on the first of a stack of 6 burgers he had brought himself. I begrudgingly pulled myself out of the bed and made my way to the table. Dean had ordered burgers for me and Theresa and a salad for Sam. I gave Sam a questioning look as he murmured something about it being the healthier choice before walking away. Sam and Theresa went back to his bed where they continued their conversation while Dean and I ate in silence. I had taken a seat on the lounge and occasionally glanced up at Dean who would just smile at me with a mouth full of food. I would also catch him watching Sam and Theresa a small smile etched on his face like he was happy to see his brother happy. When Dean had finished the last of his burgers he stood up and started walking towards the bathroom.
“I’m going to shower and get ready to turn in it’s been a long day” Dean rubbed his face in exhaustion.
“Okay well Theresa did you want to catch a movie or something?” Sam asked looking at Theresa.
“Sure” Theresa bounced of the bed and practically ran at the door.
I followed Sam and Theresa out of the room so I could get the spare clothes out of my car that I carried around in there. It became a habit I picked up running from audition to audition to have a go bag in my car with anything in it I might need. I went back into the room and took the chance while Dean was in the bathroom to quickly change into a comfy pair of shorts and a loose shirt. I sat back on Dean's bed, but instead of laying down, I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the carpet as I continued to think about everything. Theresa seemed so comfortable and at home with the boys, but I just wanted this whole thing over. But the more I thought, the more I felt like I would never be able to go back to things as they were. Knowing what could be out there, I would always be a little on edge. If ghosts were real, then what else possibly existed? Vampires? Werewolves? What about all the silly kid stories like Bloody Mary and Candyman? Could they be real? I wanted to pretend that none of this had happened, but it’s not exactly something you can forget like a footnote. Like yeah, that shit happened, but let's just pack up and move on. At some point during my inner struggle Dean had finished his shower and made himself comfortable on the lounge. It wasn’t until Dean cleared his throat that I was snapped out of my thoughts.
“Okay, I’m not going to be able to sleep with you sitting on the edge of the bed like that. It’s kinda creepy. What's on your mind, kid?” Dean asked, sitting up on the lounge.
“Kid? I’ll have you know I’m 22, not exactly a kid anymore” I tried to joke looking over at Dean, noticing he was in nothing but a black t-shirt and black boxer briefs.
“Okay, sweetheart, doesn’t answer my question, though”, Dean smirked.
“How am I supposed to go back to life as it was knowing ghosts, and who knows what else is real?” I looked back at the floor. “What exactly does exist Dean? Vampires? Werewolves? Demons? Angels?” I rattled off a list of things randomly looking back up at him.
“Yeah, those and more” Dean chuckled dryly. “As for moving on the simple answer is you don’t. You just go on and try to live as normal as possible, knowing people like Sammy and I are out here hunting these things to keep you safe. Hopefully, that helps you sleep a little better at night.”
“Can you talk to me while we go to sleep?” I asked sheepishly.
“Of course, sweetheart”, He groaned as he laid back on the lounge. I finally laid down on the bed. Both of us staring at the ceiling as we talked.
“You never told me your last name,” I said it was a random question but anything to keep the conversation going and my mind busy.
“Winchester and yours?”.
“Y/l/n”.
“Well, now I know who to look up next time I’m in town”, Dean chuckled.
“How old are you anyway I mean clearly you’re the old sibling”
“Not too old to hit on a hottie like you” I could feel Dean's eyes on me as he spoke.
“Smooth Winchester” I tried to laugh, but it just sounded like an awkward giggle.
“31”
“You’re a real ladies' man, aren’t you, Dean Winchester” I smiled to the ceiling, getting taken by his charm.
“Yeah, well, when you have my lifestyle, you don’t exactly have the option of settling down, so you take what you can get.”
“No judgement here”
Dean and I laughed for what felt like hours. Under his tough exterior, he was adorable. I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t be sad to say goodbye tomorrow. My eyes could no longer fight to stay open, and I drifted to sleep listening to Dean singing Highway To Hell. The following morning, I woke to find the room completely empty. I got up and changed into something else from my go bag. Nothing fancy, just plain black jeans and a white tank top. I pulled on my boots and headed outside to check for the cars. My car was sitting where I parked it right before the door. Dean's car was gone, though. I pulled out my phone and rang Theresa guessing she was with them. I mean where else would she be, she couldn’t exactly get home without me. Rather than answer the phone she shot me a text message. Busy talking to Sam, we’re just down the road at the all you can eat. I rolled my eyes allowing myself to have a genuine laugh at her. I knew the place she was talking about. It was only 2 blocks away so who knows why Dean decided to drive. I left my car where it was and made the 5-minute walk. I felt a lot better than I had the night before. As much as it felt weird to put my trust in strangers, I really did trust Sam and Dean. Once I was outside the restaurant it didn’t take me long to spot them. Dean gave me a goofy wave through the window while sending me a ‘, please save me’ look. I giggled making my way into the restaurant and over to their table. "Hey guys," I said as I took a seat at the table. "Hey, sleepy head," Dean gave a big cheesy smile. "Hey", Theresa and Sam said in unison. "So, whose food can I steal," I said, tummy grumbling looking between the plates. "I made sure we paid for you too, you know just in case you decided to grace us with your presence” Dean smirked giving me a wink. "Thank you, such a gentleman" I gave him a wink back before heading to the food.
Dean followed me over with his almost empty plate. I could hear Sam call after him “Dude seriously are you still hungry”. I chuckled and shook my head at the brothers. Dean came to stand beside me as we loaded up our plates.
“So,” Dean said, putting way too much bacon on his plate “, I guess after this, we go our separate ways,” He said more of a statement than a question.
“I guess so”, I smiled at him. “But hey, you said you’d look me up next time you were in town, so don’t be a stranger now, you hear.”
“Yes, ma’am”, Dean chuckled “Just promise me you’ll go back to your normal life”.
“I promise” I smiled at him.
We had an excellent breakfast filled with conversation about what came next for Sam and Dean. They were headed back home to the US now the job was done. It seemed like this was goodbye forever. We finished our breakfast, and Dean drove us back to the hotel. Theresa and I packed up our things before giving them a heartfelt goodbye. We hopped in my car, going home back to life before the Winchesters. But we knew things would never be the same, not now. Some small piece of me hoped I would see the Winchesters again.
Supernatural, Hunting, Living and Love (Revisited) Part 4
Dean Winchester x fem!reader
3.6k word count
Summary A break in the case happens and you question if you want to be around the Winchesters anymore.
fluff, idiots in love, friends to lovers, slow-burn
Warnings mention and description of death
Original / Previous Chapter / Next Chapter
We wrapped up breakfast with my mum, and while Sam and Dean handled the dishes, I hurried the guys out the door to fetch the Impala before my mum could offer them anything else. As usual, she was all smiles and charm in front of others, and it took everything I had not to snap. Once we had our bags, we set off towards the car yard, hoping this time we'd finally get the Impala back.
The boys chatted ahead of me, oblivious to my inner turmoil. They sensed something was off but knew better than to pry. I had already made up my mind: I’d help them finish this case, then dive into the next one. I planned to start my research as soon as I had some alone time. I figured we’d wrap this case up in a couple of days, and I already had a strategy for digging into the next one.
At the car yard, Dean darted off to find the Impala. It took him far less time than it had taken Sam to retrieve the car earlier. Dean and Sam began stowing their weapons and gear in the truck. I tossed my suitcase onto the back seat and climbed in to wait. As I did, I spotted a t-shirt on the floor. Curious, I picked it up. It looked like one of Dean’s shirts. I brought it to my nose, confirming it was his. Before I could stop myself, I unzipped my bag and stuffed the shirt inside, quickly zipping it back up. The truck’s cab shielded me from view, so neither brother saw what I’d done.
I had no idea why I took Dean’s shirt. It wasn’t like having something of his would help me get over him—in fact, it might make things worse. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I deserved it. After everything he’d done, I felt entitled to something of his. He’d never miss it, and it was unlikely he’d even notice it was gone. No harm done, right?
The trunk slammed shut with a resounding thud, and Sam and Dean climbed into the car. We drove the 40 minutes back to the hotel. When we pulled up, I grabbed my bag and made a beeline for my Impala. I had the keys, so there was no need to go into the hotel room. Tossing my suitcase onto the driver’s seat, I slid into the driver’s side just as Dean stopped at the room door and looked at me.
“Where are you going?” Dean asked.
“Research,” I replied curtly, revving the engine and speeding out of the parking lot.
I headed straight for the library. I needed to investigate the deaths at the pool without the distraction of the Winchesters. I parked my Impala in the library lot, grabbed my research notebook, and headed inside. The library was already bustling, and I had to wait in line at the reception desk for what felt like an eternity, though it was probably closer to 20 minutes.
When it was finally my turn, I plastered on a bright smile and used my sweetest voice.
“Hi, I’d like to book a computer and access any information you have on the Blacktown pool,” I said.
“Can I ask why?” the receptionist inquired.
“I’m working on a paper about places that seem to have persistent bad luck and exploring why some places fare worse than others.”
“That’s an interesting topic. Are there any other locations you’re interested in?”
“No, just the pool, thank you.”
“Alright, here are the login details for one of our computer cubicles. I’ll have someone bring you the rest shortly.”
“Thank you,” I said, accepting the paper with a smile.
I walked to the designated cubicle, sat down, and entered the login details. A timer appeared on the screen, indicating I had one hour of computer time before I’d need to log in again.
Determined not to waste any time, I dove into researching the deaths at the pool. Knowing we were dealing with a spirit, I figured the best approach was to compile a list of everyone who had died there. A quick Google search yielded 47 names. I scribbled them all into my notebook, ready to dig deeper when a guy around my age approached with a stack of papers and books.
“I pulled everything we have on the pool and made copies of old newspaper articles for you,” he said, handing over the materials.
I thanked him for his help and returned to my task, narrowing down the list to 30 names based on the idea that the spirit would likely see itself as a burden. Given how long the hauntings had been going on, I wasn’t surprised by the lengthy list. As the computer timer ticked down, I wrapped up my research and returned the books to the desk. I drove back to the hotel in silence, taking the longest route I could manage to avoid running into the others.
When I finally pulled into the parking lot and parked next to Dean’s Impala, I saw Dean examining the side of the car intently. I grabbed my notebook and approached him. Sure enough, there was a noticeable dent on the side, just as Sam had described. The damage didn’t seem too severe—the dent could be fixed, and the scratches looked like they would polish out.
“The damage doesn’t look too bad,” I said, breaking the silence.
“Yeah, luck of the draw,” Dean replied, crossing his arms. “It’s nothing I can’t fix once we’re back at the bunker. Where have you been?”
“I was researching. I think I found our spirit. What’s the bunker?” I asked, turning to look at Dean.
“The bunker is a safe house for hunters, covered in sigils and wards, basically impenetrable by anything we hunt,” Dean explained, looking down at me. “Let’s go get Sam, and you can show us what you’ve found.”
Dean unfolded his arms and headed into the hotel room. I followed, casting one last glance at the Impala—yet another thing I felt responsible for. Inside, Dean plopped onto his bed, and Sam sat at the table, typing away on his laptop.
“Put that thing away, Sammy. Y/N here thinks she’s found our spirit,” Dean announced. Sam looked up with a raised eyebrow.
“Hey, don’t get too excited; you might pull something,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
“What did you find?” Sam asked, clearly unimpressed by my attempt at humor.
“Well, I made a list of everyone who died at the pool and narrowed it down to those the spirit might consider a burden, which leaves us with 30 names,” I said.
“How did you decide who to include on your list?” Sam inquired, his tone almost interrogative.
“From the first death, a young girl who slipped and impaled herself on a pole, there was nothing suggesting she was a burden—no health issues, mental health problems, or family issues. I ruled her out, just like the 82-year-old who had a heart attack and the 14-year-old who broke his neck while showing off,” I explained.
“Okay, I get the point. Have you figured out which of the names on your list is our spirit?” Sam asked, clearly frustrated.
“I’d start with the first person on my list. Not just because they died first, but because the article about them quoted their mother saying, ‘Even though I am heartbroken at losing her, I also feel a sense of relief knowing that she’s no longer burdened by the health issues she had to deal with in her short life.’ Sounds like a recipe for a vengeful spirit to me,” I said, crossing my arms with a smirk.
“Sounds pretty solid to me,” Dean said, glancing at Sam.
“Well, there’s only one way to know for sure,” Sam sighed in defeat.
“Salt and burn the body. One problem, though—the family had her cremated,” Dean said.
“Then something else of hers must remain. A hair, a fingernail, something,” Sam suggested.
“So, what if we split up? You guys check the burial plot, and I’ll search the pool?” I offered.
“What did you find about her death?” Sam asked, his curiosity piqued. “Do you know how she died?”
“According to the reports, she wasn’t technically at the pool when it happened. She was walking past with her family and tried to scale the fence around the pool. At that time, the top of the fence was covered in barbed wire. She managed to reach the top before falling. The portion of the fence she climbed had a post without a cover. In her fall, she impaled herself through the stomach on the pole. She was still alive when they removed her but died on the way to the hospital from extreme trauma and blood loss,” I explained.
“Is the pole still there?” Dean asked.
“I don’t think so. From the records, it was all torn down and replaced about a year ago during a major remodel. But if we’re lucky, the old fencing materials might still be in the area,” I shrugged. “If you two check the pool for the old fencing materials, I’ll look into the burial site.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Dean said, standing up to get his keys.
My keys were already in my hand, so I quickly headed out of the room and into my car before either brother was ready. The less time I spent with them, the better. I drove out of the parking lot and headed toward the burial site, which was more of a hole in the wall than a traditional cemetery. I had my notebook open with the location of the girl’s ashes noted. I glanced at it occasionally, muttering the row and plot number aloud to make it seem like I knew exactly what I was doing. Distracted, I almost drove past the cemetery gates.
I parked as close as I could, took one last look at my notebook, and climbed out. The girl’s ashes were kept in a large, purpose-built building. Inside, everything was white marble, making the place feel cold and eerie. Every footstep echoed off the walls, the sound almost painfully loud. I walked to the back of the building where the older ashes were stored. From what I’d read, these had been kept in brick walls until the cemetery upgraded to something nicer—probably to justify higher prices for plots.
The back wasn’t as well-lit as the front, likely because fewer people visited. It didn’t take long to locate the nameplate for the girl. Each nameplate had a small window above it with an urn and personal items. From what I could see, nothing in the window seemed significant—mostly notes and pictures. Feeling frustrated, I decided it was a bust and headed back to my car.
I hoped the Winchesters were having better luck. As soon as I was back in my car, I sent a text to Dean letting him know the cemetery had yielded nothing. I locked my phone and tossed it into the passenger seat, hearing the almost immediate ping of his reply but choosing not to look. I didn’t want to return to the hotel or my mother’s place. I only had one other place to go.
I put the car in drive and sped out of the cemetery, navigating the familiar streets toward my old refuge. My haven away from my mother’s turmoil. I didn’t even have a chance to stop the car before a familiar, hyperactive face appeared, bounding out the front door. Theresa bounced around and screamed in her driveway as I parked.
“Y/N, you’re back!” Theresa squealed, tackling me in a hug.
“Theresa! I didn’t expect you to still be here. I honestly thought I’d have to ask your parents for your new address,” I smiled, hugging her back.
“Oh, this is my place now. Mum and Dad moved further out of the city,” Theresa shrugged. “Anyway, where have you been traveling? How much of the world have you seen? I want to know everything!”
“Ah, about that… how about I come inside and fill you in?” I suggested.
Theresa grabbed my hand and pulled me into her house. We settled on her couch, and for hours, I poured out my story. I told her how, instead of seeing the world, I’d taken up hunting. I recounted the monsters I’d encountered and the current case at the pool. I mentioned the Winchesters’ return and how, once the case was done, they’d be gone. I even spilled everything about Dean, breaking down over him. Theresa held me close, letting me cry. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen me like this; for years, it had just been the two of us.
After I finally pulled back, Theresa asked, “How do you know Dean isn’t just telling Sam what he wants to hear?”
“Dean’s a player. He admitted it himself. I don’t want to be the girl he strings along while he’s working cases,” I said.
“Y/N, I saw the way he looked at you last time they were here. If love at first sight had a look, that was it,” Theresa giggled.
“Taz, honestly, I don’t want to risk my heart. Like Sam said, hunters don’t get happily ever afters. Maybe it’s best if I learn to be cold now,” I sighed.
“Well, I can see I’m not going to change your mind, and I know arguing this with you is pointless,” Theresa shook her head. “Now, about this case you’re working on—have the boys found anything yet?”
“How should I know? My phone’s in the car.”
“Then go get it, woman!” Theresa squealed.
I reluctantly got up from the couch and made my way back outside. As I approached my car, I could already hear my phone ringing. With a sigh, I walked over to the passenger side. I cringed visibly when I saw the over 40 missed calls and nearly 100 messages from Dean. They were mostly frantic texts of “Where are you?” and “God dammit, woman, answer your phone.” Just as I was about to call him back, my phone rang again.
“Yes, Dean?” I answered.
“Oh, thank God!” Dean practically shouted. “Where have you been?”
“I was catching up with a friend. Did you find anything?” I asked, trying to keep the focus on the case.
“Now is not the time for social calls.”
“Did you find anything?” I repeated, ignoring Dean’s comment.
“Yeah, we found the pole. All the old fencing material has been moved to a scrapyard. I don’t think we’re getting it out of there,” Dean said. “But there are traces of blood inside it. I know we can’t be certain it’s hers, but I don’t want to take the chance that it isn’t.”
“Okay, give me a minute. I have an idea.” I pressed the phone to my chest and yelled back into the house, “HEY, TAZ!”
“That’s my name,” Theresa called back as she came jogging out.
“Is your brother’s ute still in the backyard?” I asked.
“What do you think?” She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
“Can we borrow it?”
“If we can get it to start.”
“Okay, did you hear all that, Dean?” I put the phone back to my ear.
“What’s a ute?” Dean asked.
“A truck,” I said. “Since you know a thing or two about cars, do you mind coming around to help us start it?”
“Yeah, just text me the address,” Dean sighed.
I hung up and texted Dean the address. I knew it wouldn’t take him long to get here, which bothered me a bit. I didn’t want to say anything because Theresa was clearly excited to see Sam. I sighed and sat on the steps outside Theresa’s house, waiting for them. All we needed to do was get the pole, burn the blood, and then Sam and Dean could leave. I kept reminding myself of that. I also had a small window of time to practice ignoring my feelings. After all, Dean was probably going to be the last guy I found myself crushing on. Yeah, that’s all this was—a crush. I’d get over it. What was that thing my mother always said? “You don’t love them; you lust after them. There’s a difference.” Yeah, that was it. I just needed to act like he was a friend, and eventually, that’s all he’d be—a friend.
I heard the Impala roar into the street, much like my own car would have. No wonder Theresa knew I was back before I even got in front of her house. Theresa began shaking me, squealing with excitement as the car pulled into the driveway. I stood to greet the Winchesters. Dean parked his Impala behind mine and climbed out, removing his flannel shirt as he went. He tossed it behind him, revealing his black t-shirt.
I stepped back and let Theresa take the lead. She quickly guided the boys through the house and out to the backyard. I sat back down on the front steps and waited. The sounds of Sam and Theresa’s conversation drifted through the house—Sam laughing at something she said, and Theresa’s infectious laughter in return. It seemed like Sam was enjoying himself, unlike Dean, whose presence I was trying hard to ignore.
I zoned out the sounds from inside and instead focused on the half-dead grass covering Theresa’s front yard. I began to daydream, retreating to a fantasy land I hadn’t visited since I was a teenager. I imagined a world where I had never met Dean Winchester and never fell into this life. In my fantasy, I was somewhere peaceful, far away from the complications of the real world.
Objection! Part 4
Rafael Barba x fem!Carisi!reader
3.2k word count
Summary All you wanted was to be a lawyer like your big brother Sonny. So what happens when you get a job working under the famous ADA Rafael Barba
slow-burn, colleague to friends to lovers
Previous Chapter / Next Chapter
I kept a steady pace as I navigated the crowded sidewalks, my breath visible in the cool morning air. 7:24 AM. Twelve blocks to go, but I was determined to get to the precinct on time—if not early. Today, I had to show up sharp, like the professional I aimed to be.
A quick glance at my watch made me quicken my stride. I wasn’t just going to make it; I was going to be early. Prepared. Polished. Ready for anything. By 7:55, I rushed through the precinct doors. In the elevator, I took a moment to smooth myself down, hoping to hide any trace of the near sprint across New York.
Stepping into the bullpen, I nearly tripped over my own feet. Rafael emerged from Olivia's office, laughing at something, Olivia walking beside him.
“Morning, y/n. Nice of you to join us,” Rafael greeted me with an easy smile.
“Good morning, Rafael. I thought you said to meet at 8?” I asked, glancing at my watch.
“I did. And you're right on time,” he said, his grin widening. “We’ve got a perp waiting in interrogation. Let’s not keep him waiting.”
Before I could ask any questions, Rafael placed a hand on the small of my back, steering me toward the interrogation room. Inside, he motioned for me to take a seat, then sat down beside me. Across the table, I recognized Rita Calhoun. The man next to her, clearly the suspect, shifted nervously in his chair, eyes darting between the three of us.
The look on his face could only be described as pants-shitting terror.
"Who’s this? A new detective eager to get their toes wet or…"
"ADA Y/n Carisi," I cut Rita off before she could finish. "I’ll be assisting ADA Barba and SVU for the foreseeable future."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rafael smirk.
"Not related to Detective Carisi, I hope," Calhoun glanced between Rafael and Olivia, a smirk tugging at her lips. "We all know he unfairly detained my client. This could be seen as a cover-up."
"Your client walked out of his room into the common area during a search, holding a sizable bag of cannabis. I fail to see where Carisi went wrong," Rafael replied, leaning back in his chair, his smirk widening. "But let's not dwell on the past. All we want is information on your roommate. If the information’s good, we can look past the drugs."
Rita looked at each of us, searching for confirmation that we agreed with Rafael. I took the file Olivia had placed on the table, slid it toward the man—whose name I still didn’t know—and hit record.
"You can start by stating your name, the date, and that we’ve reached an agreement," I said, offering him a reassuring smile.
He glanced nervously at Calhoun, swallowed hard, and began.
"M-my name’s L-Lester Hollis. It’s the 15th of January, 2013," he stammered.
For the next two hours, Lester spilled everything he knew about his roommate. Anthony Cutler, a man with a disturbing fondness for young girls. And Lester, it seemed, had a fondness for spying on people. If it weren’t for the drug dealing, he might’ve made a decent detective. The information he handed over was more than Olivia had expected; she stood in the corner, stunned by the sheer amount he laid out for us on a silver platter.
When Lester finally ran out of things to say, he glanced between us, still just as terrified as when we began.
"I-I-I don’t know any more, I swear," he stammered, eyes pleading with me.
"I believe you," I said, leaning back from the table, still processing everything I’d just heard.
"So... am I free to go?" He looked nervously between Rita and the rest of us.
"Calhoun, why don't you show your client out," I said, turning to Rita. "And don’t forget—make sure he’s available for trial."
Rafael smirked as Rita stood, pulling a shaky Lester to his feet. Olivia followed them out, still in a daze from the flood of information.
Once the door shut behind them, Rafael turned to me, smiling. "I must say, y/n, I’m impressed. You're the first new lawyer I've seen go toe-to-toe with Rita Calhoun so confidently."
"Did I do something wrong?" I asked, a twinge of panic rising.
"Not at all. In fact, I admire your bravery—it’ll serve you well. Just be sure you don’t over reach or get too overly confident."
He stood, motioning for me to follow him out of the room. "For now, we've got to head to Rikers. Olivia’s perp from yesterday needs a visit, we’ve got court at 1, and after that, we’ll go over the new cases Carisi left for us."
I nodded, falling in step behind Rafael as he strode confidently out of the precinct.
…
Sonny’s P.O.V
I shuffled nervously at my desk, tapping my pen against the surface. I’d seen y/n come in, only to be immediately pulled into interrogation by Barba and Liv. My eyes stayed glued to the door, waiting for them to come out. Ten minutes turned into an hour. One hour into two. I could hear Amanda and Amaro talking nearby, but their words barely registered.
When the door finally opened, I jumped in my seat. Rita walked briskly across the room with Lester in tow, Liv following close behind. Lester looked terrified—definitely not a good sign. The fact that Barba had stayed behind with y/n only made the knot in my stomach worse.
I was about to get up and head toward the interrogation room when Barba finally emerged, y/n walking quickly beside him, grinning from ear to ear. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding and turned back to my half-abandoned report, trying to focus.
“Gee, looks like I might be out of luck with that one,” Amaro chuckled from his desk across from me.
“God damn it, man. Always taking my money,” Fin groaned, standing up to slap a $20 bill into Amaro’s outstretched hand.
"Wait—were you betting on whether you could sleep with my sister?" I snapped at Amaro before I could stop myself.
"Actually, he was betting on whether she’s crushing on Barba," Amanda chimed in with a knowing smile. "And from the way she was looking at him..."
“Barba? My sister?" I scoffed, crossing my arms. "No way. Sure, she admires the guy, but he’s got like 15 years on her.”
"Denial’s not just a river in Egypt," Fin chuckled.
…
Y/N’s P.O.V
I sat quietly, my fingers laced together on my lap, as Rafael conducted the interrogation. We were inside the cold, sterile walls of Rikers, the oppressive weight of the place settling over me. The inmate sat across from us, his hands cuffed, a mix of desperation and calculation in his eyes. I had been briefed, but not in enough detail to know the full extent of the charges. That lack of certainty kept me from speaking, from throwing my voice into the tense negotiation. I wasn’t about to risk making a deal if the information didn’t live up to the inmate’s demands—and there was a lot on the line.
From what I could gather as the conversation progressed, the man was angling for a reduced sentence and a transfer to a more secure cell. In return, he dangled the promise of a list—a list of men and women involved in a child trafficking ring, exploiting kids for cheap household labor. The thought of it made my stomach churn. The details were grim, and I could feel my pulse quicken with every word that passed between him and Rafael. But I forced myself to remain composed, knowing this was just the beginning of what I’d have to deal with in this line of work.
Rafael, as always, was unfazed. His posture was relaxed, his expression unreadable as he leaned forward, elbows on the table, engaging the inmate with a calm, almost disarming professionalism. His focus was clear—he wasn’t interested in the middlemen or low-level traffickers the man was offering. Rafael wanted the head of the ring, the person running the entire operation. The way he methodically steered the conversation in that direction, never losing his patience or control, was impressive to watch.
But the inmate, shifting uncomfortably in his chair, insisted that he didn’t know who ran the operation—only who to contact when someone wanted to request children. The idea that this could be a known process, with specific contacts for placing “orders” like they were talking about goods instead of lives, made my skin crawl. I could feel the disgust rising in me, a sick feeling coiling in my gut. I wanted to speak, to call out the horror of it all, but I knew that wasn’t my place, not yet. I was here to learn, to observe, and to support Rafael in whatever way he needed. For now, that meant silence.
As the interrogation dragged on, I found myself studying Rafael more than the inmate. He didn’t flinch. Not once. His questions were sharp, deliberate, cutting through the inmate’s evasions like a scalpel. He pushed, but never too hard—just enough to keep the man talking, to pry open the cracks in his defenses. And while I sat there, fighting the urge to fidget or let my expression betray the revulsion I felt, Rafael remained a picture of control. It amazed me. How did he do it? How did he manage to listen to this kind of filth without letting any of it get under his skin? I imagined it was something he had learned over years of practice—years of dealing with the worst humanity had to offer.
Meanwhile, I could feel the disgust written all over my face, my clenched jaw, the tightness in my chest. I wasn’t as good at hiding it, not yet. Maybe I never would be. But I knew this was something I’d have to learn. If I wanted to make a difference, if I wanted to be the kind of lawyer who could stand in these rooms and fight for justice, I couldn’t let the horror of it all show. I couldn’t let them see how much it affected me.
Still, it was hard. Harder than I expected.
The exchange finally ended without a clear resolution. The inmate remained insistent—he didn’t know the head of the operation, just the contacts. Rafael leaned back in his chair, his expression still unreadable, as if the conversation hadn’t rattled him in the slightest. For him, this was just another day on the job, another piece of the puzzle to be fit into place.
For me, though, it was a stark reminder of what this job would demand. Not just the legal knowledge or the courtroom battles, but the emotional endurance. The ability to look evil in the eye and not let it break you.
As we left the interrogation room, the weight of the situation lingered with me. Even after we’d passed through the heavy steel doors of Rikers, the silence between Rafael and me felt thick with unspoken thoughts. I stayed quiet, still processing everything I’d heard, still trying to understand how to do this—how to keep myself from being consumed by the disgust, the anger, the frustration.
Rafael didn’t speak either as we climbed into the car. But as we drove toward the courthouse, his voice finally broke the silence, soft yet firm.
"I know you're probably thinking about a hot shower and scrubbing your skin raw," Rafael broke the silence, his voice soft. "Your skin’s crawling in disgust, but... this is the job."
He glanced at me, and I met his eyes.
"I know," I said, offering a small smile. "And it's a job I want to do—to the best of my ability. I’m not running away."
"Good," Rafael smiled back. "Because out of all the lawyers I've worked with, you're the first one I truly believe deserves to be here. You're going to do well, I know it. Which is why I want you to take over as first chair today."
My heart skipped a beat. "Oh no, Rafael, I can’t—especially not against Buchanan."
"If you can stand your ground against Calhoun, you can handle Buchanan." He gave me a reassuring nod. "I have faith in you."
We pulled up in front of the courthouse, the taxi coming to a halt amidst the chaos of flashing cameras and reporters. Rafael climbed out first, stepping onto the curb with his usual confidence, then offered me his hand. I took it, feeling the reassuring warmth of his grip as he helped me out of the car. The sight of the courthouse steps, now swarmed with media, made my stomach tighten. Buchanan was already in the thick of it, standing tall in front of the cameras, his smarmy grin plastered across his face as he used this case to grandstand, soaking up the attention like a seasoned showman.
Seeing him surrounded by microphones, using a case as serious as this for his own ego, sparked something hot inside me—anger, maybe something more. I stole a glance at Rafael, who, of course, noticed. He shot me a knowing smile, as if he could sense the fire building in me.
Buchanan always played dirty, but this—turning the courthouse steps into a circus—felt like a new low. My jaw clenched. Today, I would make sure he lost. Spectacularly.
Rafael placed a steady hand on my back, guiding me up the stone steps. The media, sensing our arrival, immediately swarmed toward us, the noise escalating as reporters shouted for statements, their cameras flashing like a storm. I could hear them calling Rafael’s name, asking about the case, but he waved them off with a practiced nonchalance. He never let them faze him, and I admired that calm. We kept moving forward, cutting through the chaos, when Buchanan spotted us.
His eyes lit up with curiosity as they flicked over to me. He leaned into his performance, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Barba! Who’s this beautiful woman you’ve got on your arm? Have you gotten such a big head that you need an assistant to keep you in line now?"
The reporters snickered, and Buchanan laughed at his own joke, like the slimy opportunist he was. I felt the heat rise in me, but instead of letting it rattle me, I channeled it. I turned on my heels, straightening my spine.
"ADA Y/n Carisi, Mr. Buchanan," I said, my voice clear and firm. "And I look forward to taking you down a notch in court today—with ADA Barba as my second chair."
A ripple of surprise passed through the media. The cameras and questions instantly shifted from Barba to Buchanan, now the one under the spotlight, as reporters scrambled to get his reaction. They pounced, asking if he knew anything about me and whether he was prepared to face off against a fresh ADA. Buchanan’s smirk faltered just a touch, but Rafael stood to the side with his signature cheeky grin, clearly enjoying the shift in power dynamics.
"See?" Rafael chuckled, falling in step beside me as we continued up the steps. "I told you—you can handle Buchanan."
"The man’s a slimeball," I muttered, shaking my head, though a smile tugged at my lips. "He’s good at his job, I’ll give him that, but still a slimeball. I’m actually looking forward to putting him in his place today."
"I have no doubt you will," Rafael said with a knowing smile, opening the courthouse doors for me.
The cool, quiet air of the courthouse washed over us as we stepped inside, a stark contrast to the chaos of the media circus outside. It was time to get to work. The case ahead of us wasn’t complex—small enough that the media frenzy around it seemed excessive, but we both knew Buchanan loved playing to the crowd, no matter the stakes.
We walked side by side into the courtroom and took our places at the assigned table. Across from us, Buchanan sat with his defendant, the confidence practically dripping off him. I could feel Rafael’s eyes on me, his silent support clear. He leaned back in his chair and gave me a look that said, You’ve got this.
When Judge Donnelly entered the room, I felt a surge of relief. I knew her reputation—fair, tough, and not one to suffer grandstanding lightly. I hit the jackpot. She would detest Buchanan’s cocky demeanor, and from what I’d gathered about the case, she’d likely be sympathetic to the victim. All I needed to do was present a solid argument, and I was confident we could sway the jury.
Judge Donnelly settled into her chair, her sharp gaze sweeping across the room. “Mr. Barba, I see you’re taking second chair today,” she said, arching a brow in Rafael’s direction.
“Yes, your honor,” Rafael replied with a nod.
“And who’s taking lead?” She looked over at me, her gaze expectant.
I straightened in my seat, feeling a mixture of nerves and determination. “ADA Y/n Carisi, your honor,” I said, injecting as much confidence into my voice as I could muster.
Judge Donnelly eyed me for a moment, her gaze steady and appraising. “Don’t get cocky now, young blood,” she said, her tone firm but not unkind. She then turned to Rafael. “Mr. Barba, do you trust her to prosecute this case?”
“I do, your honor,” he said, flashing me a supportive smile.
She nodded. “Alright then, let’s get this show started.” She leaned back in her chair and motioned for me to begin.
And so, the battle began. I rose to my feet, heart pounding but adrenaline fueling me. I launched into my opening argument with passion, presenting our case to the jury. I made sure to emphasize that while the victim was a sex worker, that didn’t make her any less deserving of justice. No one deserved to be assaulted. I highlighted how we could prove, without a doubt, that this wasn’t the first time the defendant had committed such an act.
Buchanan, predictably, went low. He pushed his tired argument about sex workers being unreliable witnesses, claiming the victim had only pressed charges because his client hadn’t paid the agreed amount. It was despicable, and I could feel my frustration mounting every time he opened his mouth. But I stayed focused, refuting his points and driving home the evidence. The jury wasn’t buying his argument, and it became clear, as the hours passed, that Buchanan had lost them.
By 6 p.m., the jury returned with a verdict: guilty.
A wave of triumph washed over me. In the heat of the moment, I almost threw my arms around Rafael, but I caught myself just in time, opting instead for a firm handshake. Our client, however, wasn’t as restrained. She hugged both of us tightly, tears of relief streaming down her face before practically running out of the courtroom, finally free of her nightmare.
Rafael and I gathered our things and headed back to his office. It was late, but despite the long day, I was still buzzing with energy, the adrenaline pushing me forward. We had more cases waiting, and I was eager to dive in—at least until the high wore off. Then, I knew I’d want nothing more than to head home and collapse.
Tag List!
@geeksareunique @pinkladydevotee
Supernatural, Hunting, Living and Love Part 11
Dean Winchester x fem!reader
1.6k word count
fluff, idiots in love, friends to lovers
warnings none
Original / Previous Chapter / Next Chapter
For 6 weeks we avoided each other. Only leaving our rooms to get something to eat or drink. Groceries where dropped off on a weekly basis, Dean was always waiting by the hatch when the drop off happened. I would sit by the top of the stair case to listen in to the brief conversation that took place, it was always the same. “Are you going to let us out yet?”
“Have you worked it out yet?”
“Fat chance of that happening”
“Then no”
For the next 2 weeks I tried to talk to Dean. Clearly waiting them out wasn’t going to work and honestly at this point I would rather be honest about how I felt and risk rejection then keep playing this game. At least this way I could tell Theresa I had tried. Surely they couldn’t keep me here if Dean was the one not playing by their rules.
My first attempted at talking to Dean was when our weekly delivery came. I waited for him to make his way down stairs then I followed behind him. Once the groceries had been delivered the hatch closed I tried to talk.
“Dean I don’t think waiting them out is working” I mentally slapped myself for pointing out the obvious.
“Clearly but we don’t have a better plan” Dean didn’t even look at me as he picked up all 8 bags of groceries in one go heading to the kitchen.
“We could talk it out like adults” I sighed.
“Hate to tell you sister but I have 10 years on you and a whole lot more life experience then you, you’re barely an adult” Dean still refused to look at me dumping all 8 bags on the counter top.
“9 years and I’ve been an adult at longer then you think”
“9 years” Dean rolled his eyes and walked off.
“Where are you going?” I called after him.
“To my room”
My second attempt, third and fourth attempts where all met with eye rolls as Dean walked away from me. It was becoming clear that the only way Dean was going to have a conversation with me is if he was trapped with no escape. Dean had made it a habit of going for a shower at the same time every night. He wouldn’t risk leaving the shower if he knew I was in the room. Or at least I hoped so. I had smuggled a butter knife back to my room one night after I had made myself dinner. I had then waited patiently for Dean to have his dinner and went to test the butter knife on the lock of the bathroom door. As I had hoped the butter knife was the perfect thickness to help me turn the lock on the door. I hid it in my room and waited for him to head to the shower. That night however Dean didn’t go for his shower as normal. He ate and went back to his room. I gave him an extra half an hour just in case he was busy with something for had forgotten. But when I heard the light switch in his room, I had guessed he had gone to bed. I wandered out into the hallway just to make sure he had gone to bed. The light that was normally visible under Deans door was off. Making plans to try again the next night I ducked back into my room long enough to grab my towel before heading to the bathroom myself. I dropped my towel on the bench before running a bath. I was exhausted from days of trying to talk to Dean. Not physically exhausted but emotionally exhausted. All I wanted was a nice long hot soak in the tub. Once the tub was full, I stripped down and submerged myself in the water. I took a face washer and submerged it in the hot water before laying it over my face. I took a deep breath, laid back and let myself relax.
“You’re looking pretty comfortable there” Deans sudden presence startled me.
“DEAN WHAT THE HELL!” I screamed grabbing the shower curtain dragging it in front of the bathtub to cover me.
“I’m sorry where you not trying to do this exact same thing to me?” Dean chuckled closing the toilet seat cover to take a seat on it.
“Well yes but only to get you to talk to me” I squealed.
“So talk”
“I…uh…I…”
“Oh so now you can’t talk” Dean chuckled again “Look it’s clear this avoiding each other plan isn’t working”
“And what do you suggest we do now?” I raised an eyebrow while looking at the shower curtain now hanging between us.
“I honestly don’t know” Dean let out an awkward chuckle “For once in my life I don’t actually have a plan”
“We could always try being honest”
The room fell silent. I watched the droplets of water slowly falling from the tap waiting, internally pleading for Dean to break the silence.
Dean shifted uncomfortably, his silhouette rubbing the back of his neck. His silhouette looking away, then back to me. I could almost see the gears turning in his head, the urge to argue or deflect swimming just beneath the surface. But instead, he surprised me.
"Being honest?" he echoed, as if testing out the words. "You really think that could work? I mean... after everything?"
I kept my gaze steady, resisting the urge to look away. "We’ve tried everything else, haven’t we? What do we have to lose?"
Dean let out a breath, his shoulders slumping as though the weight of everything we’d been carrying was pressing down harder than ever. The silence returned, but this time it felt heavier. I glanced at the tap again, watching the droplets hang in the air before they fell, one by one.
Finally, he stood up, pacing the small, dimly lit room. "You don’t just be honest” he muttered. "That’s not how it works."
"It might not," I admitted. "But pretending we’ve got it all under control isn’t working either. We’re running out of moves, Dean. This could be the only one left."
He stopped pacing, staring at me. The room was filled with a mixture of frustration and fear. “What if…What if we tell the truth and it just... makes everything worse?”
I swallowed hard. I hadn’t let myself fully think about that possibility. But now that it was out there, spoken aloud, it hung in the air between us like a dark cloud.
“Then we deal with it,” I said, my voice steady despite the doubt creeping into my chest. “At least we won’t be running anymore.” I whispered the last part.
Dean turned away from me, staring out the window again. His jaw tightened, the muscles in his back visibly tensing under his shirt.
"You’re really ready to do this?" he asked quietly.
I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I thought about everything we’d been through, all the lies, the half-truths, the fear that followed us wherever we went.
“Yes,” I said finally. “I’m ready.”
Dean nodded, his back still to me. “Alright,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Then we do it.”
He turned back to face me, his expression hardened with resolve. “But if this goes south…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but he didn’t need to. We both knew what was at stake.
Dean stood there, his chest rising and falling with the weight of his breath. The tension between us thickened as the silence stretched on. I was about to say something—to break the spell that had settled between us—but before I could, Dean crossed the room in a single, swift movement.
Before I could respond he had moved the curtain out of the way. His hands gripped my arms, not harshly, but with a firmness that caught me off guard. “If this goes south…” he started again, but his words faltered. His gaze, intense and searching, locked onto mine, and in that split second, I could see the conflict, the hesitation, and the unspoken emotions simmering just beneath the surface.
Then, without another word, Dean pulled me into him, his lips crashing against mine. The world seemed to blur at the edges, all the tension and fear melting away in the heat of that moment. His kiss was desperate, almost like it was the last lifeline he had left. It was raw, full of all the things he couldn't say out loud—the fear, the uncertainty, and something deeper I hadn't expected.
For a second, I froze, my mind racing to catch up with what was happening. But then, instinct took over, and I found myself kissing him back, my hands tangling in his shirt, pulling him closer. The world outside didn’t matter anymore—the looming threats, the uncertainty of what lay ahead. All I could think about was the way his hands held me, like he needed this as much as I did.
When he finally pulled back, both of us were breathless, and I could see it in his eyes—he was as terrified as I was. Not just of what we were about to do, but of what this moment meant.
“I’m sorry,” Dean said, his voice hoarse. He let go of me, stepping back slightly, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean—”
“Don’t,” I cut him off, shaking my head. “Don’t apologize.”
He opened his mouth to say something else, but I could see the uncertainty in his expression, the conflict still brewing beneath the surface. This was new for both of us, and neither of us knew what to do with it.
For a long moment, he just stood there, the weight of what had just happened hanging in the air. But despite everything—the danger we were facing, the uncertainty of the future—I couldn’t help but feel that maybe, just maybe, we were finally being honest.
So just sitting around working on the next part of The Dating Odyssey when I got distracted by a TikTok notification telling me Sam and Colby had posted. This then led to almost an hour of me just spinning in circles on my computer chair thinking about how Sam and Colby are currently in Australia and how I would love to meet them and then daydreaming about meeting them and becoming friends with them which gave me another story idea. So onto the already long list it goes. I need friends and a social life...
Meeting the Firefam
Eddie x reader
~1600 words
Warnings: epileptic reader. Hopefully accurately portrayed.
You parked in front of the station and turned off the ignition. Taking one final deep breath, you pushed the door open and stepped out. You didn't know why you were so nervous. Meeting Eddie’s coworkers shouldn't seem so frightening.
What if they hated you? What if they told him to break up with you? You knew they were more like family to him than just coworkers. Their opinions mattered a lot. You had only been dating him a little over a month but you had fallen hard. You really couldn't imagine your life without him and Chris and even Carla.
You needed them to like you.
Making your way inside, you quickly spotted Eddie as he approached. You greeted him with a kiss before he pulled you into a hug.
“Hey, you. How was traffic?” He asked.
You shrugged. “Normal. Slow.” Eddie knew it was your least favorite part about LA.
“I think lunch is almost ready. You ready to meet everyone?”
“No.” You wrapped your hands around his bicep as he started walking toward the trucks.
He leaned over and kissed your temple. “I told you they’re going to love you. You have nothing to worry about.” He pulled you along with him towards Buck and another firefighter beside the truck.
Buck smiled when he spotted you. “Hey, Y/N. Glad you finally decided to come have lunch with us.”
“Hi, Buck. Someone has been persistent.” You looked at Eddie just in time to catch his shrug.
“Y/N, this is Ravi.” Eddie introduced.
Ravi lifted his hand for you to shake. “Nice to finally meet you.”
“You too.”
Eddie pulled you away towards the stairs that led to the loft. You couldn't help but look around at everything. “This is a beautiful building.”
Eddie nodded. “I agree. It's my favorite station in the city.”
You had barely made it to the top of the stairs before you were being engulfed in hugs. “Oh, uh, hi.”
Eddie chuckled. “This is Hen and Chimney.”
“We are so excited to finally meet you. Eddie here won't shut up about you,” Chimney said.
You glanced at Eddie, catching him trying to hide his blush. “I don't talk about her that much,” he argued.
“Constantly,” Hen mouthed at you with a grin.
Next, Eddie led you over to the kitchen. “And this is Cap.”
The man in front of the stove wiped his hands on a dish towel before reaching out for a handshake. “It's Bobby.”
“Nice to meet you. It smells amazing in here.”
Bobby smiled. “Well, thank you. This will be done in a few minutes. Eddie, can you grab everyone down stairs?”
“On it.” Eddie pointed to the couches. “You can make yourself comfortable over there.”
Within ten minutes, everyone was getting settled at the table. Eddie took your hand to pull you up from the couch. As he pulled out a chair for you, you suddenly felt your left arm go numb.
“Oh no.” You mumbled. You reached out towards Eddie as your knees buckled and the world around you disappeared.
Eddie was quick to catch you before you could hit the ground. “Woah. Y/N?” When you didn't open your eyes he slowly lowered you to the floor. Seconds later you were convulsing violently. Eddie couldn't help but to just stare at you in shock.
Chim was on the floor beside Eddie a second later. “Eddie, we got her.”
“I'll grab a med kit,” Hen announced as she ran for the stairs.
Chimney kept you rolled on your side. Bobby stepped closer to pull Eddie away. “They need room to work.”
Eddie tried to resist. “I should help.”
Buck stepped beside his best friend to keep him out of the way.
Bobby stepped towards you and grabbed your foot, pulling off your shoe. “Medical alert. Epilepsy.” He pointed at the shoelace tag as he looked towards Eddie.
Eddie shook his head. “I didn't know. Why didn't she tell me?”
Hen returned with a monitor and med kit and Chim filled her in. “Epilepsy. Let's just give it a minute.”
Eddie pushes past Buck and sat down on the ground by your head. He whispered soft reassurances in case you could hear him.
Chim pulled a pulse ox monitor out of the med kit and clipped it on your finger.
“She's barely breathing,” Eddie pointed out. He knew that was common with seizures but still couldn't help the mild panic he felt.
“That's normal,” Hen reminded him. She started to attach an oxygen mask to the tank she’d carried upstairs just in case.
Next, Chim started to attach cardiac leads to your chest. Once he'd finished, they waited for the seizure to stop.
“That's five minutes,” Bobby pointed out.
Hen and Chim sighed as they locked eyes with each other. “Alright, let's push Ativan,” Chim said.
“I'll start an IV,” Hen announced. “Eddie can you hold her arm?” He did as asked, trying to hold your arm as still as possible without hurting you. “I'm in.”
Chim pushed the meds he'd drawn up as soon as IV was secured. It took about another twenty seconds for the seizure to finally stop.
Everyone let out a relieved breath. Eddie pushed some hair back behind your ear.
“Let's get her loaded up and to the hospital,” Chimney broke the momentary silence.
Hen nodded. “I'll go radio dispatch and get ready.”
Within five minutes you were loaded into the ambulance with Eddie and Chim beside you as Hen shifted into drive.
“Ugh.” You groaned a few minutes later. “N-no hospital,” you mumbled out fighting your grogginess.
Eddie ran his hand over your head. “Yes, hospital.”
You huffed, frustrated you can't get the words out to explain. “E-epi–”
“We know about your epilepsy, we found your alert tag,” Eddie interrupted. “Sweetheart, your seizure lasted almost six minutes. Hen and Chim had to push meds to stop it. You have to go in.”
Your eyebrows rose in surprise. Suddenly you were glad you'd been with them for lunch and not alone at home. You knew he was right and allowed yourself to relax. “Tired.”
Eddie pressed a kiss to your knuckles. “That's the medicine. You can sleep.”
You nodded as your eyes drifted closed. You weren't sure you could have stayed awake even if you'd tried.
A few hours later, you were finally settled into a room after being poked and prodded. They had run all kinds of tests trying to figure out what might have caused the long seizure.
“Anything I can get for you?” the nurse asked.
You shook your head as you shifted in an attempt to find a comfortable position. Every muscle was sore.
“Okay. I'll let your visitors know they can come in now, if that's alright with you,” the nurse says as she walks toward the door.
“Visitors? Plural?” You ask surprised.
“You have a whole herd of firefighters waiting out there for you,” she explains.
“Oh, wow. Could you just send Eddie in for now?”
She smiles kindly. “Of course, honey.”
Eddie pushes the door open not five minutes later. He pulls up a chair and takes your hand in his, careful to avoid your IV line.
“Hi,” you greeted
“Hi. How ya feeling?” He asked.
“Kinda like someone put me through a blender.”
He chuckled and nodded. “You scared me. I'm just glad Bobby noticed your medical alert tag.”
“I'm sorry,” you sighed. “This is definitely not how I planned to tell you about my epilepsy.”
He locks eyes with you. “So you were planning to tell me.” He looks annoyed or maybe hurt that you hadn't already told him.
“Eventually.” You drop your gaze to the bed. “It's not exactly an easy conversation. It's caused a few break ups over the years.”
“What do you mean?” He looks genuinely confused.
“I'm too much to deal with. No one wants to deal with seizures,” you try to explain. “And you already have to deal with sick people all day at work. I'm sure the last thing you want to do is deal with the same at home.” You sniffle. “I'll understand if you want out now.”
“Y/N,” Eddie said, placing a finger under your chin to make you look at him. “I love you. This could never change that. Any guy who dumped you because of this is an asshole.”
Tears rolled down your face before you were suddenly sobbing, relief washing over you in waves.
Eddie moved quickly to sit beside you on the bed. Pulling you into his side and shishing you softly.
You had been so worried about telling him for so long. “I-I'm sorry. I should have told you.” You sniffled harshly. “I should have known you'd accept this part of me.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. I know now. That's all that matters.”
Eventually you calmed down but you were beyond exhausted. “Hey, isn't everyone still out there waiting?”
“Yeah.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I'll text them that you're okay and let them know they can head home.”
Placing a hand over his screen, you shook your head. “No. I want to see them.”
“You need to rest,” he argued. “They can come back tomorrow or we can go to the station if you're discharged.”
“Just a quick visit. Please? Fifteen minutes.”
Sighing, he stood from where he was still perched on the bed. “Ten.”
“Deal.”
Supernatural Hunting Living and Love Part 7
Dean Winchester x fem!reader
2.5k word count
fluff, idiots in love, friends to lovers
warnings mentions of blood
Original / Previous Chapter / Next Chapter
I slept for ages. If I went off the alarm clock next to my bed, I had slept for well over 24 hours. I probably would have slept longer but the sound of my sliding door opening followed by Deans voice woke me right up.
“What do you have there Sammy?” Dean asked.
“Y/N hasn’t eaten in 2 days, so I was just bringing her something” Sam said from directly outside the door. My stomach growled at the thought of food. It was true I hadn’t eaten anything since Theresa’s house.
“Oh, so your best buddies now?” Dean asked.
“What is your problem?” Sam sounded like he was getting angry with his older brother.
“Nothing it’s just interesting that the girl you had a huge problem with your suddenly being super nice to”.
“Yeah, well you love her Dean and I’m not going to change your mind on that, so I figured it’s better I just accept it then keep this stupid fight going” Sam sighed.
“Turns out it was just a phase” I could hear Deans smirk in his voice.
“Dean? Are you…”
“Sam seriously guess I was just thinkin’ to much with my downstairs brain” Dean laughed.
“Your sure?” Sam asked voice laced with uncertainty.
“Yes, I’m sure”
My heart broke with each word Dean spoke. If he truly felt that way, then why was he still hear looking after me? Why hadn’t they just left when they dropped me here? I heard Sam opening the door again, so I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. I heard Sam approach and the mattress beside me sink as he sat on the edge of the bed. Sam placed a hand on my shoulder and began to softly shake me. I groaned and pulled the covers over my head, pretending to have been woken up.
“Sorry you’ve been asleep for ages, and you need to eat something” Sam chuckled holding out the food.
“Thanks Sam” I tried to sit up, failing miserably “Uh a little help” I giggled nervously.
Sam chuckled before placing the food on my bedside table. He slipped an arm around my waist and hoisted me into a sitting position. He tucked two pillows from my bed behind my back to keep me comfortable. I grabbed the food from the bedside table and began tucking in. It was anything special literally tomato soup from a can with a couple of toasted cheese sandwiches. But still I dug into it like it was the last meal I would ever eat. Sam chuckled and shook his head.
“Okay well I’m going to head out for a little while”.
“Going to see Theresa?” I gave a cheeky smile.
“Uh yeah” Sam smiled rubbing the back of his neck.
I waved my hand at the door dismissing him. Sam just chuckled and put his hands up walking out the door. I sat in silence eating my soup and watching the door half wanting Dean to come in and half wanting him to stay away. Once I had finished eating, I placed the tray with bowl and plate back on the bedside table. It was in that moment that I realised I desperately needed to go to the toilet. Not wanting to call Dean in I tried to sit myself on the side of the bed. It took a lot of strength to lift myself on one hand given that even the smallest amount of pressure on my arm pulled the stitches that lined it causing me to grit my teeth in pain. By the time I have myself seated on the edge of the bed fresh blood had begun to bleed through the once white bandage that circled it. I forced myself to stand wobbling on the thick cast around my foot and ankle. Luckly the cast stopped before my knee making it slightly easier to walk. With the assistance of the bedside table and the wardrobe that lined the wall between the bed and the bathroom door I was able to hobble my way to the bathroom. I didn’t even think when I finished on the toilet, I flushed and wobbled over to the sink to wash my non-cast covered hand. The whole time I could hear Dean banging on the door and jiggling the handle asking to be let in. I sighed, looked at myself in the mirror and flicked the lock on the door allowing him to come in.
“What do you think your doing?” Dean looked furious.
“I’m going to the toilet” I motioned to the toilet.
“You should have asked for help” Dean moved to grab my arm.
“I’m not helpless Dean, I can get from my bed to my bathroom” I emphasized my. Dean looked down rubbing his forehead. He went to speak but let out a small gasp instead.
“You’ve busted your stitches” Dean gently grabbed my arm.
“I’ll live” I pulled my arm away. I made my way back to my bed while Dean stormed back out into the kitchen cursing under his breath. I got back into my bed without any trouble. I was sat on the edge of the bed deciding what to do when Dean came back, first aid kit in hand.
“Let me see your arm” Dean grumbled.
“What are you going to do? Play doctor?” I smirked at him.
“I know a little something about stitching wounds” Dean smiled at me “So will you let me see your arm please?”
I held my arm out to him. He sat beside me and slowly began up wrapping it being care not to pull on the sensitive wound below. Once my arm was completely unwrapped Dean laid it across his lap. He opened the first aid kid which I recognised as the one from the boot of the Impala. He pulled out a bottle of rubbing alcohol, a needle and sutures. He poured a small amount of the rubbing alcohol over the wound. He pulled out the torn stitches and sewed in the new stitches. I could see the look on Deans face, it was a face I had seen multiple times.
“I know that look” I looked over to a photo on my tv unit.
“What look?” Dean looked up at me briefly.
“Look at the freak” I looked back to Dean “It’s okay I’m use to it, hell the girls at school use to cut me just to see how quickly the cuts would heal” I shrugged.
“I’m sorry” Dean never took his eyes off my arm.
“Knowing what you know, would you say I could be one of the things we hunt?”
“Knowing what I know? Not a chance. Could you be some sort of medical anomaly? Definitely” Dean smiled.
“Oh, anomaly big word for you Winchester” I laughed at him.
Dean finished restitching my arm. He took a new bandage from the first aid kit and wrapped my arm up again.
“There all better” Dean smiled at me. “Now can I help you with anything or are you going to stay in bed”.
“Can you help me over to the computer?” I motioned to the computer in the corner. Dean scooped me up in his arms causing me to squeal. I wrapped my arms around his neck to keep myself from falling. Dean just chuckled and walked over to the computer desk. He placed me on the computer chair and swung me around to face the computer.
“So, what are you going to do?” Dean leaning on the desk next to me.
“I’m stuck here your not so I figured I’ll send you to a couple other cases in the area” I booted up the computer and logged in. I explained to Dean that I had started keeping an online journal that only I could access. Having it online made it easier to keep cases sorted and anything I learnt along the way a key stroke away. A lot easier then that paper journal they carried around. I pulled up a case from just over an hour away. Easy to drive there and back in a day, Vamp nest. I had it lined up as a quick clear out on my way to the big vamps nest up north. Dean seemed impressed, he smirked at me and said something about hitting the road. He left the room with a final warning for me to take it easy. I heard the jingle of keys and the sound of the external sliding door. I turned back to the computer and started looked for other cases to keep Dean busy and out of my house.
And so, the next 2 weeks went by like this, me presenting Dean with a new case the second he was in the door, Sam going back and forth between helping Dean and spending time with Theresa. I just wanted to get back on my feet and away from the Winchesters. Sam and Dean would often talk at night as they were getting ready for bed in the lounge room. More of the same, Dean was sure he had no feelings for me, Sam was sure he was lying. Sam spoke of the spark he had with Theresa and how he was thinking about asking her to return to the US with them. Dean had now taken Sams position and was insistent it was a bad idea. There were times where Dean was around, and I would see him looking at me. He had this look, it was as if he was hurt over what happened, as if he was blaming himself. He was at fault in one way, but he wasn’t completely in the wrong. I had chosen to go back to the pool, I knew I was getting myself into trouble, but I did it anyway it wasn’t all his fault. If the boys weren’t here, I probably still would have gone back to the pool.
When the day finally came around for me to go back to the hospital to see how things were healing, I was nervous. Part of me hoped everything was healed so they boys could just leave but at the same time I hoped I had a little longer left to heal so I could keep the boys around for a little longer. As the days dragged, I felt myself fighting between wanting them to go and wanting to plead with them to take me with them. Something felt right with them, felt right with Dean. Dean pulled us up in front of the hospital and went to get a wheelchair. Sam had come with us for whatever reason. He stood by my open door and told me all about the things he done with Theresa. He had been taking the opportunity to live a normal life, he had taken her to the movies, they’d played at the arcade, everything a normal couple would do. I was happy for him. Dean came back with a wheelchair and insisted on lifting me from the car to the wheelchair. He then pushed me into the hospital while his brother followed behind. I directed him to the outpatient care clinic. We checked in with the receptionist and took a seat in the waiting room. We didn’t have to wait long at all. A doctor came and had a nurse roll me away to x-ray. He made the boys waiting for me in the waiting room. Once the x-rays where taken, the nurse rolled me back into the waiting room and told me that the doctor would be back with me shortly.
It took the doctor 45 minutes to get back to me. Dean rolled me into the doctor’s office taking a seat beside me while Sam went and stood in the corner. The doctor glanced between the two brothers before looking at me.
“Well I don’t know what to tell you but if I had to quess I would say your injuries where not as bad as the ER doctor and surgeon first thought” The doctor turned on his chair to face me.
“What makes you say that?” Sam jumped in before anyone could say anything else.
“The x-rays show that the ankle and wrist fractures are well on their way to healing something I wouldn’t expect to see if they were in fact fractured as bad as the original x-rays show” The doctor looked to Sam. Sam shot a concerned look at Dean. I knew exactly what he was thinking.
“So what does that mean for me?”
“I’d say in 4 weeks we could look at taking both casts off, of course I would want to do another x-ray first”.
“Wow that’s great news” I smiled.
“For now I would like to check your stitches then you can be on your way”
I nodded and held my arm out to the doctor. He slowly set about unwrapping my arm. When the bandage was completely off he pulled back the gauze. A surprised gasp left his lips and his eyes went wide.
“I, uh, I can take the stitches out if you want the cut looks almost completely healed so I don’t think you need to keep them in” The doctor tried to cover his surprise. I nodded and the doctor went around collecting what he needed to remove the stitches. Sam excused himself from the room. I looked over at Dean knowing exactly what Sam was thinking in that moment. Dean said he would go talk to him and left too leaving me with the doctor who had returned and started removing stitches from my arm.
…
I followed Sam out of the hospital back to the car where I found him rummaging through the boot. He stood up and looked at me holding Dads Journal.
“Sam it’s not what you think” I said walking over and taking the Journal.
“Then what Dean, we both know she shouldn’t have healed that quickly” Sam pointed a finger back at the hospital.
“If I tell you, you cannot tell her”.
“Tell me what? What do you know?” Sam crossed his arms across his chest.
“She’s part Angel Sammy”.
“Part Angel?” Sam chuckled and looked away from me.
“I’m serious”.
“Do you have any idea how crazy you sound…”.
…
“Do you have any idea how crazy you sound…” Sam spotted me and stopped talking. He nodded at me and moved to climb into the Impala.
“What’s his problem?” I asked hobbling up beside Dean on a crutch I was now able to use.
“Just freaked out by your fast healing is all” Dean smiled at me.
“You told him I’m not anything you hunt?” I asked.
“Yeah, not sure he believes me thought but he’ll get over it” Dean open the door and climbed into the Impala. I opened the backdoor of the Impala and slid in tossing the crutch on the floor. At least I didn’t have to wait to much longer to be rid of the Winchesters.
Supernatural, Hunting, Living and Love (Revisited) Part 3
Dean Winchester x fem!reader
6.5k word count
Summary The part in which you begin to question if Dean actually has feelings for you or is just stringing you along. Also you prove your a kick ass hunter through the power of research.
fluff, idiots in love, friends to lovers, slow-burn
Warnings mention and description of death, s-assault, talks of people with disabilities in a negative light. Your disability doesn't make you a burden! You are amazing, you are loved!
Original / Previous Chapter / Next Chapter
I cried for what felt like an eternity, held tightly in Dean's arms. At some point, he had moved us over to sit on his bed, never once letting me go. When I finally pulled myself together enough to move away from him, I could only manage to stare at the ground in front of the bed.
"Never seen a dead body before?" Sam asked gently.
I nodded, still unable to speak, my voice too shaky to trust. The room fell into a comfortable silence. Dean stood up from the bed and began moving around, retrieving his bag from a random corner. He pulled out a Metallica shirt and brought it over to me.
"You can borrow this for now, so you don't have to go out to your car to get your own clothes," he said, handing me the shirt.
I accepted it and walked off to the bathroom to change. I hung my wet swimsuit over the towel rack and made my way back to Dean's bed. The boys nodded in acknowledgment as I crawled under the covers, hoping that if I lay there long enough with my eyes closed, sleep would eventually come. But my mind had other ideas.
As I tried to sleep, I overheard the boys talking.
"This has really shaken her, Dean," Sam said softly.
"I know, Sammy. I wanted to keep her out of this life. We're supposed to save people, not drag them into our kind of crazy," Dean replied, frustration evident in his voice.
"Come on, man. She chose this for herself. She had the opportunity to walk away, but she decided to take up this life. There's not much we can do about that."
"I just want to make sure she's somewhere I can keep an eye on her. I want her to be safe," Dean said, his voice tense.
"You can't expect her to just pack up and leave, Dean. What's gotten into you, man? You've never acted like this."
"She's... I don't know... she's different."
"You're in love."
"Dude, don't even go there," Dean snapped, ending the conversation.
The room fell silent, and eventually, I drifted off. When I woke up, it was dark outside. The cheap alarm clock next to the bed read 4:30 a.m. I sat up and looked around the room. Dean was asleep on the lounge, and Sam was in his bed. I felt too restless to sleep, so I quietly tiptoed across the room to grab Sam's laptop from the table. I took it back to Dean's bed and started going over the information Sam and Dean had gathered while I was asleep. It seemed they hadn't gotten much further than I had.
I knew burying myself in the case wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I needed to stop whatever was happening from hurting anyone else. But since we had all arrived at a dead end, it meant we needed to look at this from a different angle. I closed Sam's laptop and snuck out to my car to grab a change of clothes. I quietly slipped into the bathroom, changed out of Dean's shirt, retrieved Sam's laptop from the bed, and slipped quietly out of the hotel room. Rather than take my car and risk waking the boys, I decided to walk. I just wanted food and free Wi-Fi, and there was only one place I knew where I could get both: McDonald's.
I walked the six blocks to the nearest McDonald's, ordered more hash browns than should be legally allowed, and took a seat in a back corner while I waited for them to be ready. I opened Sam's laptop and began going over all the information again. I pulled up the details on all the victims and the pool, rereading everything. My hash browns arrived, and I ate them while pouring over the information, but nothing stood out. Twelve deaths now, and there seemed to be no connection between them—different ages, races, genders, religions. Not a single overlap, and nothing that stood out as a reason why these people.
Even when I removed deaths that could reasonably be discounted, like the first death or the boy who apparently slipped down the stairs and the twins who drowned in the wave pool, the puzzle still didn’t add up. It was frustrating. I groaned and sank back into the highly uncomfortable plastic chair. I took a glance around the now busy McDonald's, then checked the time in the bottom right-hand corner of the laptop. 6:23 p.m. My eyes widened as I realized I'd been sitting in the same spot all day. I hurriedly packed up the laptop and went to retrieve my phone, confused as to why Sam or Dean hadn’t been trying to call me all day. My hands rummaged through my pockets, coming up empty. I dumped out my messenger bag, finding nothing. Shit. I mentally cursed.
I quickly shoved everything back into my bag before sprinting into the parking lot, hoping I had simply left my phone in the car. A quick glance, however, showed no sign of my car. Right, I walked here. I groaned, rubbed my hands over my face, and began the walk back to the hotel. Dean was probably thinking I'd done something stupid, and Sam probably thought I stole his laptop. I mean, technically, I did, but I was going to return it, and I never intended to be gone all day.
The walk back to the hotel seemed to take twice as long as the walk to McDonald's. But when the hotel finally came into sight, I quickened my pace. I came to a quick stop, however, when I heard arguing in the room.
“I’m telling you, Dean, she might not come back,” Sam yelled. “And she probably took more than just my laptop.”
“Oh, so you think she took your laptop and God knows what else but left behind her phone and her car that cost way more than anything we own?”
“I mean, how well do we really know her, Dean?”
“If I may intercede, could it not be that she is somewhere researching the case and that time ran from her grasp?” A third voice I didn’t recognize chimed in.
“What…do you mean time got away from her?” Dean asked, baffled.
“Is that how you say it? If so, that’s what I meant to say,” the voice responded.
“Hate to say it, Sammy, but I agree with the angel,” Dean said.
I reached out and knocked on the door, not wanting to barge in while tempers were clearly high. The room fell silent. Heavy boot steps made their way towards the door. There was a moment of silence before a quiet "Thank God" could be heard from the other side of the door. The door swung open to reveal just Dean and Sam in the room. I was certain I had heard a third voice. I stepped quietly past Dean into the room. From the look on Sam’s face, I could tell Dean must have made some gesture behind me directed at him. I glanced toward the bathroom, expecting to see the third person, or at least for the door to be closed, signaling someone was inside. But to my shock and confusion, the door was open, and the bathroom was empty.
“Who were you talking to?” I asked, looking between them, confused.
“We weren’t talking to anyone,” Dean said, glancing over at Sam. “Maybe you heard the TV,” he motioned to the TV that was on but muted.
“Anyway, where have you been?” Sam asked, changing the subject, though he was clearly still mad at me.
“I went to McDonald's to use their Wi-Fi and continue researching. I was up at 4:30, and I didn’t want to wake you,” I explained, looking over at Dean, who had moved to sit on the end of his bed. “Sorry I took your laptop without asking, Sam. I left mine behind at my mother’s when she kicked me out.”
I handed Sam back his laptop. He took it without so much as a thank you and immediately began checking it over. I wanted to scoff and roll my eyes but knew that would only piss him off more.
“So, did you find anything?” Dean asked.
“Nothing. I even tried removing the deaths that could reasonably be written off as accidents, and even that didn’t resolve anything. I am, however, confident that we’re likely dealing with a vengeful spirit,” I said.
“And how did you reach that conclusion?” Sam scoffed, tossing his laptop on his bed.
“We’ve ruled out burial grounds and anything sacred. Then, if you look at location and the fact that all the deaths were witnessed and nothing supernatural was seen, it leaves a very short list. Of that list, I felt that a spirit was the most likely,” I explained, keeping my eyes locked with Sam.
“Why a vengeful spirit? Why not a water sprite?” Sam asked with a smirk.
“Seriously, Sammy? A fairy? Have you ever, in all your years of hunting, found any reliable concrete evidence that fairies are real?” I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms, met with silence from Sam. “That’s what I thought. Spirit it is.”
Dean sat on his bed, a smirk plastered on his face, clearly amused. “So if that’s the case, then I guess we should head back to the pool and ask more about these deaths,” Dean said, clapping his hands together.
Sam silently huffed and made his way to the door. Dean muttered something along the lines of "he’ll get over it" before moving to the bathroom. I heard the shower turn on while I stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. With nothing else to do for the night and both boys otherwise occupied, I retrieved Dean’s shirt from the corner where I had tossed it that morning and got ready for bed. I was just chilling on the bed, enjoying a nice stretch and yawn when Dean stepped out of the bathroom in nothing but his towel. The boy really knew how to make a girl blush.
“Sorry, the room was quiet, so I just thought you’d, you know, left,” Dean said awkwardly.
I opened and closed my mouth a few times, unable to form a proper sentence. Dean seemed frozen in place too, his expression unreadable. My eyes wandered over Dean’s chiseled chest. It was clear he worked out—a necessity in his line of work, but it still caught me off guard. Before I could stop myself, I was standing in front of him, my hand reaching out to trace the contours of his chest down to his stomach. His skin was marred with old scars, and I felt the muscles twitch beneath my touch.
Dean placed a finger under my chin, gently lifting my head so our eyes met. The intensity in his gaze made my heart race. Neither of us moved for several moments, locked in a silent standoff. When it became clear neither of us was going to break away, Dean began to close the distance between us.
“I brought dinner,” Sam suddenly announced, walking in the door.
Dean and I jumped apart, startled, as Dean made a beeline for his clothes, quickly pulling on a shirt before heading back into the bathroom. I silently cursed Sam for the interruption. He glanced awkwardly between the now-closed bathroom door and me, clearly realizing he had walked in at the worst possible moment. Sam didn’t say anything, and I took a seat at the table as he began to silently dish out the fast food he’d bought. Dean’s and my dinner was burgers, while Sam had opted for some kind of salad. Dean emerged from the bathroom moments later, fully clothed. He grabbed his burger and fries and left the room, mumbling something about going to see a friend.
Sam and I ate in silence before he went to shower. I retreated to Dean’s bed, pulling his shirt up over my nose to breathe in his scent. The comforting mix of sandalwood, leather, whiskey, and gasoline filled my senses, but I was jolted back to reality when Sam suddenly exited the bathroom and started talking.
“What’s happening between you and Dean?”
“I...uh…what do you mean?” I stammered, caught off guard.
“After we left last time, Dean kept talking about you. He was hoping we’d see you again, but at the same time, he was hopeful you’d listen to him and take his advice,” Sam said as he sat on his bed. “He clearly loves you, but I don’t think having you around is best for Dean.”
“If there was anything between Dean and me, it would be none of your business,” I snapped, my anger flaring. “I love Dean. I’ve felt myself falling for him from the moment I met him. I hoped you guys would come back, but I accepted that you probably wouldn’t. Besides, who are you to say what’s best for Dean?”
“I’m his brother,” Sam yelled, his voice filled with frustration. “Having you around is distracting him, and in this line of work, distraction guarantees death.”
Sam’s outburst scared me, and all I could muster was a quiet “Goodnight, Sam” before curling up in Dean’s bed. Sam stormed out of the room, and moments later, I heard the roar of Dean’s Impala as it drove off. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I cried myself to sleep in the now quiet room.
When I woke the next morning, Sam and Dean were already discussing their game plan for the day. I sat up in bed, listening to their conversation before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. After getting dressed, I packed my swimsuit into a bag and slung it over my shoulder. Dean grabbed his car keys and asked if I was joining them in his car or if I’d be driving my own. I chose to go with Dean to save on gas. The less money I had to spend, the better.
We drove in silence until we reached the pool. The parking lot was nearly empty. Dean found a spot close to the entrance, parked, and turned off the engine. He asked me to go in ahead of them to check if the police were still around. I made my way into the building, scanning the area from the reception desk. There was no crime scene tape, and no signs of police presence.
“Sad, wasn’t it?” a voice said from behind me.
“What?” I asked, turning to see a woman standing beside me.
“Didn’t you hear about the suicide two days ago?” she asked.
“Oh, they ruled that a suicide?” I replied, trying to sound casual.
“Yeah, they said the girl had been sexually assaulted a couple of weeks ago, and that was apparently her breaking point. Poor thing.”
I nodded in agreement as the woman walked off towards the pools. I headed back outside to inform the boys, who were now dressed in their suits and digging through the trunk. I wasn’t going to question when or how they had changed. I grabbed my bag from the back seat and filled them in on the details of the recent death. Dean and Sam exchanged a knowing look before we all headed back into the pool. I paid to swim while Sam and Dean flashed their badges, continuing their story about investigating on behalf of a victim’s family.
As Sam and Dean went off to speak with the staff, I wandered around the pool area, trying to piece together anything that could help with the case. I checked an information wall in the reception area, but it said nothing about the incidents. I walked around to the locations where the previous accidents had occurred but found nothing out of the ordinary. Frustrated, I was about to head back to Sam and Dean when I overheard two familiar voices that made my blood run cold.
“I swear she was here the other day with two hot guys.”
“Oh my god, I always knew she was such a slut. You watch—soon she’ll be pregnant and won’t have any idea who the father is.”
“Look, there she is.”
“Hi, Rachel. Jordan. Do you work here too?” I asked, panic slowly creeping in.
“Yeah, what of it? It pays well,” Jordan replied, crossing her arms.
“Oh, okay. I-I was just going to go for a swim while I wait for my boyfriend to finish up.”
“Boyfriend or boyfriends?” Rachel snickered.
Not wanting to continue the conversation, I quickly turned and fled. I had been outside in a general seating area, but I made my way back into the main swimming complex. I spotted Sam talking with a lifeguard near the wave pool, but I didn’t want to face him after last night, so I hurried on, continuing my search for Dean. It wasn’t until I saw him speaking with the man behind the snack counter that I realized how badly I was shaking. Dealing with my high school bullies had rattled me more than I wanted to admit.
I changed direction and headed for the changing rooms instead. I needed to calm down before continuing the investigation. If there was one thing I agreed with Sam on, it was that distractions could get me killed. I made my way to the sinks and splashed some cool water on my face, staring at myself in the mirror as I tried to push down the anger and fear that were consuming me. Fear of the bullies and anger at myself for still not having the courage to stand up to them. After a few deep breaths, I dried my face and headed back out to the pool area where I had last seen Dean.
A quick glance at the snack counter told me he was no longer there, starting my search for him all over again. Luckily, it didn’t last long. I spotted him in the adults-only area above one of the 25-meter pools, which had sun chairs and a spa. Unfortunately, he was speaking with them. I sucked in a deep breath and walked towards the area, steeling myself. I walked up beside Dean and laced my fingers with his, standing silently by his side as I listened to their conversation. Dean was asking questions about the other accidents that had occurred at the pool, but at the same time, he was absentmindedly rubbing circles into my hand with his thumb. It was incredibly distracting, and I found myself staring at our hands, lost in thoughts about last night.
"Here’s a question: How does someone as unattractive as her end up with someone as handsome as you?" My head snapped up to see Rachel giggling at her own comment.
"Yeah, it just doesn’t add up unless you’re only with her because of her money," Jorden chimed in.
"Or maybe because she was easy to get into bed," Rachel added with a laugh.
"Shut up, both of you," Dean said sharply, turning to face them. "Y/N is the most beautiful, amazing, intelligent, sweetest person I’ve ever met. God knows I don’t deserve her, but here she is right next to me, and that makes me one hell of a lucky bastard." He said this with a look of intense sincerity before turning back to me with a smile.
I was stunned into silence, my cheeks burning with a deep blush. Clearly, Dean’s words had left them speechless too, as they quickly excused themselves. Dean watched them leave before turning back to me.
"So, did you find anything?" Dean asked, clearing his throat awkwardly.
"Oh, uh, a woman told me that the death the other day has been ruled a suicide and that the girl had been assaulted about a week ago," I said.
"Assaulted? Did she mention if the friend who was with her here was also there then?" Dean asked, a sudden realization crossing his face.
"No, she didn’t. Why?" I asked, puzzled.
"I think I know what’s going on. We need to find Sam," Dean said urgently.
Dean, still holding my hand, led me out of the adults-only area. He scanned the pools and seating areas before dragging me up the ramps toward the reception. Dean’s determined stride must have looked intimidating, a grown man pulling what appeared to be a teenage girl. I felt the eyes of the onlookers on us as we reached the reception and practically sprinted to Sam, who was talking to someone at the desk.
Sam looked at our interlaced hands with a questioning expression before Dean, realizing we were still holding hands, awkwardly let go. He rubbed his hand on his suit jacket before shoving it into his pants pocket and waited for Sam to finish his conversation. Sam thanked the receptionist and led us to a more private corner.
"I think I’ve figured out what’s going on here, Sammy," Dean said before Sam could speak.
"Well, fill us in," I said, both exhausted from running and impatient.
"I’m pretty sure our spirit is viewing these people as burdens on those closest to them," Dean explained.
"Care to elaborate?" Sam asked, crossing his arms.
"One lifeguard mentioned that the American victim’s mother said they were here to see a world-class behavioral specialist to help calm down the kid. Another lifeguard told me that one of the victims fell over the railing from the spa area to the concrete below—she was in a wheelchair, and she died instantly," Dean said.
"And the assault—she would have been depressed," I whispered.
"So what? That doesn’t bring us any closer to figuring out who the spirit is," Sam said. "It could be someone who felt like a burden or someone who saw others as a burden."
"Then we need to look at all the deaths and figure out who fits the pattern and who doesn’t. We know it has to be someone who died here," I said, looking between them.
"Then let’s investigate each victim more closely," Dean agreed.
Sam and I nodded, and we all headed to the parking lot. As we stepped outside, Dean was rummaging for his car keys, Sam was absorbed in his phone, and I was staring at the ground. None of us paid much attention to the parking lot until Dean looked up, his face contorted with anger.
"What the hell?!" he exclaimed. Sam and I turned to see the empty space where the Impala had been.
"Oh dear, was that your car?" A familiar voice came from behind us.
"You bitch!" Dean shouted, storming toward Jorden.
"I’m sorry, but the car was illegally parked," Jorden said, unfazed by Dean’s rage. She maintained a smirk as Dean nearly confronted her.
"Baby was parked perfectly!" Dean yelled in her face.
"Well, not when I came out," Jorden said with a dismissive shrug, turning on her heel and walking back into the building.
"Come on, I know the way to the impound lot," I sighed, leading the way.
Dean walked beside me, while Sam trailed behind us, his gaze burning into the back of my head. I had no idea what his problem was. All we needed to do was finish the case, and then they could go back to the U.S., where they wouldn’t have to see me again—assuming no more cases came up here. The walk to the impound lot took nearly 45 minutes, during which Sam’s intense stare and Dean’s monologue about his car made the time drag. I stayed silent, plagued by the thought that if I hadn’t been here, Jorden wouldn’t have targeted Dean, and Sam wouldn’t be so worried.
"Oh, thank God," Dean said suddenly, breaking my reverie.
"Oh, we’re here," I said, looking at the impound lot sign in a daze.
"Hey, Sammy, why don’t you go get the car, and I’ll wait out here with Y/N?" Dean said, his voice tinged with concern.
Sam scoffed, rolled his eyes, and walked into the lot. I watched him disappear among the rows of cars, some crushed and piled high. Dean observed me watching Sam, and once he was sure Sam was out of earshot, he spoke.
"What’s going on with you?" Dean asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Huh? What? N-nothing is wrong," I stuttered.
"Don’t even try it, short stack. You’ve been silent since we left the pool. So are you going to tell me what the problem is, or am I going to have to make you talk about it?" Dean’s voice grew serious.
"Honestly, it’s fine. It’s probably just in my head," I tried to smile.
"Oh no, you’re not getting out of it that easily," Dean said firmly. "Now spill."
"It’s just that I feel like I’m the problem," I sighed. "Everything that’s happened today could have been avoided if I weren’t here. Hell, everything that happened last night might have been prevented too if I think about it." I hugged myself awkwardly.
"Okay, first off, you are not the problem. You’re far from it," Dean said, uncrossing his arms and pointing at me. "Secondly, I never want to hear you call yourself a problem again."
“Well, Sam seems to think I’m a pretty big issue, and Jorden only did what she did because of me,” I said, my voice breaking as tears began to fall. Before I could stop them, Dean had me wrapped in his arms. One arm was around my back, his thumb gently rubbing my arm, while the other hand cradled my head against his chest. He kissed the top of my head and rested his chin lightly on it.
"I’ll talk to Sam," Dean said softly. "And as for those girls, I think they’d have been snobby no matter who was here."
I nodded, resting against Dean. It felt like an eternity before Sam returned. Dean released me, and we put some space between us. We talked about Jorden and Rachael, recounting their high school antics. I admitted how I still felt like a failure for not standing up to them. Dean, however, pointed out how he’d noticed the envy in their eyes whenever they saw me. He even mentioned how he’d make it obvious he was checking me out, just to see them squirm with jealousy. I chuckled at that, wishing I could’ve seen their faces.
Sam arrived with four bags of stuff but no Impala.
“Where’s Baby?” Dean asked, his anger palpable.
“Sorry, Dean. They’re right about to close. I paid the fine, and they said we could pick up the car in the morning,” Sam explained.
“Son of a bitch!” Dean cursed. “Did you at least check for damage?”
“Uh...” Sam looked nervously between Dean and the pavement. “The passenger side is dented. It looks like they pushed it with another car. Sorry, Dean.”
“SON OF A BITCH!” Dean yelled.
I quickly placed a hand on Dean’s arm to get his attention. “It’s okay, Dean. We can go to my mum’s place for the night. She won’t be home anyway, and we can come back first thing in the morning to get Baby and assess the damage then.”
“I’m gonna kill them,” Dean’s voice trembled with anger as he tried to calm down.
I took Dean’s hand in mine and began leading him away from the impound lot. Sam asked how far the walk was and how I could be so sure my mum wouldn’t be home. I told them it was about a 20-minute walk—a distance I knew well from my teenage years, dealing with my car being impounded for various reasons. My mum worked abroad most of the year, managing a large baby and children’s business. She was rarely home, spending her time between London and Sweden. I’d been looking after myself since I was 14, often hosting friends like Theresa to avoid feeling too alone.
By the time I finished explaining, we were at my mum’s house. I led them down the steep driveway to the side gate. It was unlocked, so I lifted the metal latch and walked into the small backyard, which hadn’t changed since my last visit. I entered through the sliding door into an open living room, kitchen, and dining area, with a staircase leading upstairs.
“Those two lounges are pull-out sofa beds,” I pointed to the metal sofas that looked like they were from the '80s. “I’ll be sleeping through that sliding door, which is my old room. The door next to it is a bathroom with another sliding door into my room.”
“Oh, I have to see your room,” Dean said with a laugh.
He went straight for the sliding door, pushing it open and stepping inside. His immediate burst of laughter drew Sam in, and I followed, feeling embarrassed by the state of my room. The pink and purple walls, the fairy bedspread, and, most mortifying of all, the life-sized cutout of Gerard Way taped to the ceiling above my bed.
“Are you sure you have the right house?” Sam laughed. “I mean, come on—fairies?”
“It was a phase,” I huffed.
“Sam, did you see the poster on the ceiling?” Dean laughed.
“Oh, get out, both of you,” I said, waving my arms around.
The boys left the room, still chuckling. I locked the sliding door and the bathroom door, craving a moment of peace and a hot shower. I rummaged through my cupboard, found an old band shirt I used to sleep in, and headed for the shower. As the hot water washed away the day’s stress, I allowed myself to relax. Afterward, I dressed, dried off, and climbed into bed. In the silence, I heard Sam and Dean speaking softly in the lounge area.
“She’s a distraction for you, Dean,” Sam’s voice was hushed but intense.
“That doesn’t give you the right to upset her. Besides, once we’re through this case, we can go home, and you can go back to pretending she never existed,” Dean replied.
“But you won’t. You’ll always wonder if she’s okay, if she’s alive,” Sam said. “This is why hunters don’t get happily ever afters.”
“Don’t worry so much, Sammy. Once we’re home, I can hit up a few bars, get laid, and get her out of my system. It’s worked in the past; why wouldn’t it work this time?”
I couldn’t listen anymore. I looked up at the poster on my ceiling and cried, letting the tears come until I fell asleep, just as I had on so many nights in that room.
“You know she’s different, Dean,” Sam said.
“Oh yeah? How would you know that?” Dean asked.
“You love her. It’s obvious,” Sam shrugged. “After we were here last, you kept bringing her up. You literally got every form of social media to track her down and see what she was up to. You were worried about her then, but now that you have her number, what happens if she doesn’t message or call you? What will you do?”
“You know what? I’m done with this conversation,” Dean said, turning his back to Sam, trying to get some sleep.
Suddenly, I was jolted awake by a familiar voice yelling from the lounge room. “Who the hell are you? Why are you in my house?”
It was my mother. I jumped out of bed and raced into the lounge.
“Mum, it’s okay. They’re my friends,” I said, stepping into the room.
“Y/N, what are you doing here? I thought you were traveling and had no intention of ever coming back,” Mum said.
“We just needed somewhere to crash for the night while Dean’s car gets fixed. We’ll head out in the morning. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d be home.”
“I wasn’t. I just flew in early this morning from London. Are you going to introduce your friends?” Mum asked, gesturing to Sam and Dean.
“This is Sam and that’s Dean. They’re brothers,” I said, pointing to each one.
“Are you sleeping with them?” Mum asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Mum! Seriously, why would you ask that?” I almost shouted.
“Sorry, ma’am, we’re just friends. Travel buddies,” Dean spoke up, trying to defuse the situation.
“Oh, American. I see. Figures you’d end up with someone American. It was always going to be that or someone British,” Mum shrugged.
“Seriously, Mum,” I sighed.
“What? I’m just stating the facts. Would you boys like breakfast before you all rush off? God knows my daughter can’t stand me, and now that she knows I’m home, she’ll be dying to leave as soon as possible,” Mum said dramatically.
“That sounds great, thank you very much,” Sam said with a smile.
I sighed and went back to my room to change. I grabbed another old band shirt and a pair of ripped skinny jeans, then packed a suitcase with items I should have brought earlier—my laptop, extra clothes, and my jewelry box. I placed the suitcase next to the boys’ duffle bags and headed upstairs to the kitchen.
Sam and Dean were already at the dining table, chatting and laughing with my mum, who was busy cooking pancakes. I sat silently at the table, listening to their conversation. Dean seemed to be getting along great with my mum, which only made the previous night more painful. I knew I was falling for him, but if he planned to leave, return to the U.S., and pretend I never existed, why make a big deal about not letting me out of his sight? Why go out of his way to comfort me?
“Okay, breakfast is ready,” Mum said cheerfully.
“Oh, this looks amazing, Miss Y/L/N. Thank you,” Dean said, taking the plate of pancakes from my mum and placing it on the table. The boys began to dig in, enjoying what was probably their first home-cooked meal in a long time. The conversation with my mother continued effortlessly, and I couldn’t help but notice how convincingly Dean lied about how we met, what they did for a living, and why they were in Australia. It made me question if everything he’d told me was a lie. Maybe I needed to be more like Dean and just move on after this case was over.
Supernatural, Hunting, Living and Love Part 12
Dean Winchester x fem!reader
2k word count
fluff, idiots in love, friends to lovers
warnings none
Original / Previous Chapter / Next Chapter
That night, I found myself in Dean's bed. After finishing my bath and changing into my pajamas, I made my way down the hall to his room. He was lying sprawled out across the bed, relaxed in nothing but a black t-shirt and boxer briefs. Taking a steadying breath, I lay down beside him, feeling a little out of my element but strangely comfortable.
Dean wrapped an arm around me, his fingers absentmindedly weaving through my hair. I found myself inching closer, resting my head on his chest, my hand splayed over his stomach, feeling the slow, steady rise and fall as he breathed. Just as I started drifting off, I felt the soft rumble of his laughter under my cheek.
“This is freakin’ weird,” he murmured, half amused, half uncertain.
I yawned, my own voice drowsy. “Tell me about it.”
A silence settled over us, but it was comfortable—almost warm, even with the lingering strangeness of sharing a bed. He shifted, pulling me a little closer, and his breath brushed against my hair.
“Guess we’ll have to get used to it,” he said softly, almost to himself.
There was something in his voice, a hesitance or a quiet vulnerability that surprised me. Dean wasn’t usually the type to dwell on emotions or look too closely at things that made him uncomfortable. I wanted to ask what he meant, but his fingers resumed their soft, steady rhythm through my hair, and I found myself sinking further into the quiet safety of his embrace.
Eventually, Dean’s breathing evened out, and I realized he’d fallen asleep. I stayed awake a while longer, listening to the reassuring beat of his heart beneath my cheek.
The next morning Dean and I were up and pacing at the hatch waiting for the groceries to be delivered. Sam, Theresa and Bobby had stopped answering our calls weeks ago. Hell, I was convinced we could be dead and they probably wouldn’t come checking on us. The creaking of the hatch sent both of us running to be the first one at the hatch.
Sam stood on the other side of the hatch, arms crossed, eyebrows raised in disbelief. "You two done yet? Or do I need to leave you in there another week?"
Dean glanced at me, a mix of frustration and reluctance clear in his eyes. He’d never been good at talking about feelings, and being forced into it? That was a nightmare. I felt his hand twitch slightly, the tiniest hint of tension under his cool exterior.
“We’ve dealt with it, okay?” Dean called out, his voice taking on that half-annoyed, half-pleading tone he used when he was trying not to lose it. “Just open the damn door.”
Sam’s skeptical laugh filtered through the small space. “I’m not buying it, Dean. You’ve been dancing around this for months, man. What makes you think I’ll believe you after a couple of weeks stuck together?”
I sighed, stepping closer to the hatch. "Sam, it’s not about the time we’ve been locked up. We talked. We... figured some things out." I glanced at Dean, who gave me a small, almost imperceptible nod. "We know where we stand now."
Sam's footsteps moved closer, and his voice dropped lower, more serious. "And where’s that?"
Dean shifted uncomfortably beside me, running a hand through his hair. "We're good, alright? You can let us out now."
"Yeah?" Sam’s voice was filled with suspicion. "So, what’s the plan then? Gonna keep pretending nothing happened, or have you two finally admitted you’re crazy about each other?"
I blushed at Sam’s bluntness, but before I could respond, Dean stepped forward, his jaw tightening. "We’re done pretending, Sam. Now, can you let us out or do I have to kick this door down?"
A long pause followed. I could practically hear Sam’s wheels turning as he debated whether we were telling the truth or if this was just another one of Dean’s deflections.
Then, finally, the sound of keys rattling echoed through the hatch.
"Alright," Sam said with a sigh. "But if I find out you’re still avoiding this… next time, I’m locking you in for a year."
The hatch creaked open, and the sunlight streamed in, hitting us both like a slap to the face. Dean shot me a sideways look, one corner of his mouth twitching up into a smirk.
"See?" he muttered, nudging me lightly. "Told you we’d get out."
I smiled back, rolling my eyes but feeling the weight of everything that had just happened. Maybe we weren’t entirely done figuring things out, but one thing was for sure—we weren’t pretending anymore.
As we stepped through the door, the sudden brightness of the outdoors made me squint, but Dean’s hand in mine kept me grounded. His grip was firm—steady. For all the tension and frustration that had built up over the days, that simple touch felt like an anchor.
We looked around, expecting to see Bobby or even Theresa. But to our surprise, it was just Sam, leaning against the Impala with his arms crossed, watching us with that annoyingly knowing expression.
Dean’s eyes narrowed. “Where’s everyone else?”
Sam shrugged, pushing off from the car. "Just me here. Bobby and Theresa are waiting back at his place. Figured they’d leave me to deal with you two first.”
Dean huffed, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "Of course they did." He gave me a look, half-exasperated, half-amused, then started toward the Impala, pulling me along with him.
“You sure this isn’t some other test, Sammy? Locking us up wasn’t enough for you?” Dean teased, though his voice had a sharp edge to it.
Sam just raised an eyebrow. "Get in the car, Dean."
With a sigh, Dean let go of my hand long enough to open the passenger door for me, his fingers brushing mine again as I slid into the seat. There was a certain comfort in the familiar scent of the leather, the faint smell of gun oil and coffee that always clung to Dean’s car. It felt like slipping back into something safe, even though we both knew things between us had shifted. Maybe for the better, maybe not, but we’d figure it out.
Dean climbed in beside me, slamming the door shut with more force than necessary. Sam, of course, got in the backseat like it was his right to act all high and mighty.
As Dean started the engine, the low, familiar rumble of the Impala washed over me, sending a shiver of nostalgia down my spine. It was almost as if nothing had changed—except, this time, Dean’s hand found mine again, even as he steered the car down the gravel road.
Sam didn’t miss it. His gaze flickered to our joined hands, but he didn’t say anything. Just smirked that knowing smirk of his.
The ride to Bobby’s was quiet. I could feel the tension in Dean’s shoulders, the way he gripped the wheel a little too tightly. Maybe it was because we were driving back into reality, back to where things were messy and complicated. We’d had time in the house to confront some things, but the real world? That was another story.
After what felt like an eternity, the Impala pulled into Bobby’s driveway. The old house stood like a sentinel, the weight of all the memories, good and bad, hanging in the air. Theresa’s car was parked off to the side next to my Impala which one of them had clearly driven here, and I could already see her and Bobby waiting on the porch.
Dean cut the engine and exhaled slowly, his fingers still intertwined with mine. He glanced at me, his expression a mix of reluctance and resolve. "Ready for round two?" he asked quietly, though his voice had a teasing edge.
I smiled softly, squeezing his hand. "As long as you are."
Dean’s mouth curved into a smirk, and he leaned over, pressing a quick kiss to the top of my head before we climbed out of the car. Sam was already out, walking toward the porch where Bobby and Theresa stood waiting, arms crossed, looking like they had their own set of questions ready to go.
Whatever came next, Dean and I were in this together now. And maybe, just maybe, we could handle whatever round two had in store.
As soon as we stepped out of the Impala, Bobby and Theresa descended on us like we’d walked straight into an interrogation room.
Bobby’s gaze was sharp, arms crossed over his chest as he stood on the porch, his eyes flicking from me to Dean and back again. Theresa, standing beside him, had her hands on her hips, her expression unreadable but clearly sceptical.
“Alright,” Bobby started, his voice gruff but laced with that tone that let you know he wasn’t buying any crap. “You two better not think you’re off the hook just because you’ve been let out. Sam might’ve let you out, but I need to hear it from you.”
Dean gave me a quick side-eye before stepping forward, but before he could say anything, Theresa cut in, arms dropping to her sides as she took a step closer. “Are you really done pretending? Or is this just some act to get out of that house?”
I could feel the weight of their stares. Dean had tensed up beside me, his jaw clenched, clearly not in the mood for another round of questions, but we had to deal with this.
“We’ve worked it out,” I said, speaking up before Dean could snap back with some sarcastic comment. “We’re not just playing along. We know it probably seems like that after all this, but it’s… different now.”
Bobby narrowed his eyes, clearly not convinced. “Different how? You’ve been avoiding this for years, and now all of a sudden, a few days locked up together, and you’ve figured it all out? I ain’t buying it.”
Dean let out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "We’re not saying everything’s magically perfect, Bobby. It’s not. But we’re done running from it. Done pretending like there’s nothing going on."
Theresa folded her arms, her expression softening just a bit as she tilted her head at me. “And you? Are you done pretending? Because this only works if you’re both all in.”
I felt Dean’s hand brush mine again, a small, subtle reassurance as I looked from him to Theresa. “Yeah, I’m done pretending. We both are. It wasn’t easy, but we talked. And we’re going to keep talking. We know where we stand now.”
Theresa studied us for a long moment, her eyes lingering on our joined hands. “You better,” she finally said, her voice gentler but still firm. “Because if I find out you’re back to ignoring each other, I’ll lock you both up myself. And believe me, it won’t be as nice as Sam’s version.”
“If I had my way all you would have gotten was a blanket on the floor and a pot to piss in” Bobby grunted in agreement, stepping forward with his no-nonsense look firmly in place. “You got a lot of history between you. I ain’t saying you gotta figure it all out today, but you better not go back to pretending none of this exists.”
Dean nodded, his expression softening just a bit. “We’re not going back to that. We’ll deal with it—together.”
The silence that followed was heavy, but there was a shift in the air, like Bobby and Theresa were finally starting to believe us, even if only a little.
Theresa sighed, letting her arms fall to her sides as she exchanged a look with Bobby. “Alright,” she said, her tone a little warmer now. “We’ll hold you to that. Just… don’t mess this up.”
Dean smirked, a bit of his usual confidence sneaking back in. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Bobby shook his head, but there was a flicker of approval in his eyes as he muttered, “Well, let’s hope you’re telling the truth this time, or I’ll find a way to make sure you never leave each other’s sight.”
Dean squeezed my hand, and I squeezed back, a silent acknowledgment that we were both ready for whatever came next. We weren’t done dealing with everything between us, but for the first time in a long time, we were on the same page. And that was enough—for now.
The Dating Odyssey pt.1 (Stranger Things Guys X Reader)
Eddie Munson/Billy Hargrove/Steve Harrington/Jim Hopper/Jonathan Byers x fem!reader
8.8k word count (just a little carried away)
summary You moved to the little town of Hawkins, Indiana for a fresh start. What you didn't expect was to end up having 5 dates in one weekend.
fluff, idiot reader, reader who can't say no, choose your own adventure-ish
Steves Ending / Eddies Ending / Jims Ending / Billy's Ending / Jonathan's Ending
The guy in the video store, the metal head guitarist in the band, the photographer, the lifeguard and the chief of police. Hawkins just seemed to breed hot guys. It didn’t help that all five had asked you the pretty new girl in Hawkins on a date. And you in your bumbling awkwardness had agreed to the five dates. You now sat in your apartment having a meltdown trying to find a solution to your problem. You had never done anything like this before then again you hadn’t had this many guys hitting on you before. At least you had the sense to make all the dates on different days. But in such a small town the chances of the other guys finding out you had been on another date was super high. The best course of action at this point would just be the tell them all right? Be straight-up honest and hope for the best. You threw yourself onto your bed with a groan bringing your arm up to cover your eyes. All you had wanted to do was move to a small town where life was cheap, work as a teacher and travel during your spare time. Just you and your cat for the rest of your life. Mr. Fancy Paws was the only man you needed in your life. At least that is what you would have told yourself before moving to Hawkins. You sat up with a sigh and reached out for a notebook sitting on your nearby computer desk. You took the pen attached to the cover and opened it to a blank page. The video store guy's name was Steve and he wanted to have dinner and watch a movie at his place. The metalhead Eddie wanted you to go to his show Saturday night. Jim the chief of police wanted to take you out for a romantic dinner. The lifeguard Billy wanted you to join him for a private swim at the pool. And Jonathan the photographer wanted you to join him for a hike and photograph some animals and other nature shots. At the end of the day, it wasn’t like any of them had asked you to be their girlfriend so it shouldn’t be a problem if you had just one date with each of them. After that, you could decide if you liked any of them or wanted to go on an additional date with any of them. Steve's date was for Friday, Jim's was for Sunday night, Jonathan's Sunday day and Billy's today was Thursday. It was going to be a busy few days. You sighed and threw the notebook on the bed, before dragging yourself to your closet. You pulled out the only swimsuit you had. A plain black one-piece. You tossed it on your bed and went about getting ready. No makeup because duh, hair pulled back in a messy bun. You slipped on your old beat-up black Converse, grabbed your swimsuit from your bed and stuffed it into a bag adding in a towel with it. You grabbed your car keys and headed for the pool. You arrived 30 minutes after the pool closed just like Billy said to. He told you he would leave the light above the side door on and all you needed to do was knock on said door and he would let you in. You took a few deep breaths and approached the door. You knocked lightly and Billy opened the door. He stood before you shirtless with nothing but his red lifeguard shorts on.
“Hi Billy” you smiled
“Hi y/n” Billy looked you up and down while chewing on a piece of gum “Ready for a late-night swim?”
“Am I” You smirked
You followed Billy through the now-empty building to the pool. You took your swimsuit from your bag and ducked into the changing room briefly to change. When you came back out Billy was floating around in the pool. He seemed different to what you’d heard people say about him. You’d only been in town 3 weeks but you’d heard from all your female co-workers and plenty of others about how flirty he was, how he’d probably slept with all the girls in Hawkins. Yet the Billy you had met was different. He was sweet, a little flirty and seemed generally interested in you but maybe that was just how he pretended to be. Billy meanwhile was fighting his own internal battle. As he floated he thought, that when he first saw you walking out of the family video he saw you as another conquest the new hot-looking girl in town. Then the day you walked into the pool he saw his opportunity. As he stood by the pool, the warm sun shining down on his skin, he couldn't help but steal glances at you. The way you moved through the water, your effortless grace and confidence, was mesmerizing. It was at this moment he realised that you were more than just another conquest. He felt he may actually be falling for you.
Finally, he gathered the courage to approach you. "Hey," he said, his heart racing, it never raced before. "I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me sometime?"
Your eyes lit up, and a smile spread across your face. "I'd love to," you said, your voice soft and sweet. "How about we meet at the pool tomorrow evening and go for a swim together? And then we can see where the night takes us?"
His heart swelled with excitement and anticipation. "That sounds perfect," you said, feeling a surge of joy and hope. "I can't wait." And as he looked at you, he hoped that this was just the beginning of a beautiful romance, one that would be filled with laughter, adventure, and endless love.
You broke Billy from his thoughts when you swam up beside him. He brought himself upright in the pool and smiled at you. He quickly looked down to the water and scratched the back of his neck. For some reason, all of Billy's confidence was lost on you. He could normally flirt his way into any girl's pants but you were different. Good different. He didn’t feel the need to flirt with you. He didn’t want to just hit it and be done with you. He actually wanted to put effort into you. He wanted to keep you around but had no idea where to start.
“So Billy” You broke the silence. “Is it true what I have heard about you around town?”
“And what would that be?” Billy tried a flirt grin but it was probably more of a grimace
“That you just flirt and act nice to get in a girl's pants?” You smirked
“Oh so you heard all about that” Billy sighed “Look I won’t lie yeah all that’s true but you're different, I actually want to get to know you, Most of the girls here in Hawkins are shallow and easy for the 6 years I’ve been here I haven’t met one decent chick until you. You’re the kind of girl that I could picture the rest of my life with and I’ve probably just scared you away” Billy splashed a fist into the water
“You know you’re not like how they describe at all but your description of them is spot on. Like one of the girls I work with at Hawkins High Carol, she is the absolute worst. She’s the English teacher and she comes in dressed like she’s going to a fashion show, face full of makeup, with a mean girls I peaked in high school attitude”
“Oh my gosh, Carol Perkins works at Hawkins High? And here I thought she left to become an actress or something” Billy laughed “I mean not that I’m one to talk I’ve been working here since high school and if I’m not here I’m working in the local garage I don’t really have much else to do or any other life plans. I didn’t exactly pay attention in school you know”
“You know Carol? Oh god don’t tell me she's one of the girls you dated?” Not that I’m much better you thought.
“No way. She was literally one of the ones I turned down. Contrary to popular belief I haven’t slept with every girl in town” Billy smiled “You know this is probably the most honest conversation I have ever had with anyone”
“Well thank you for being honest with me” You smiled back.
You and Billy just floated for a little while enjoying each other's company in a comfortable silence. After a few minutes you glanced across to Billy, he seemed to be back deep in thought. You saw this as an opportunity. You sink beneath the surface of the water and sum up next to Billy who was still blissfully unaware. Once you were by his side you grabbed him quickly around the waist and dragged him under. Billy flailed and kicked clearly taken off guard. You quickly surfaced bursting into laughter while Billy wiped his hair from his face and caught his breath. His heart was racing but he wasn’t mad. He quickly scoped his hands through the water sending it flying into your face. You gasped and looked at him shocked before splashing back. Before long the pool was filled with the sounds of laughter and splashing water. Hours passed, and you felt like old friends, you were so comfortable with Billy. You really didn’t want the night to end but you knew if you didn’t you’d likely be too tired for your movie night with Steve the following night. The clock above the pool told you it was getting ready to tick over to 10:30. You looked into the water for a little while trying to work out how to end the date. With a sigh, you looked up just in time to see Billy dive from the diving board. You smiled and giggled.
“10 out of 10 perfect form” You clapped for Billy
“Thank you I only do that every day” Billy chuckled nervously
“As much as I love our date I need to get home” You sighed
“Really? It’s still early” Billy said
“I know but I’m meeting with a friend tomorrow for a movie marathon and the last thing I want is to fall asleep” You lied thinking on your feet
“Well your friend sucks but I should probably be getting the pool closed now anyway” Billy smiled as you continued to laugh and chat as you hopped out of the pool and walked towards the changing rooms. You showered and changed back into your clothes. You walked back to the side of the pool where Billy was pulling the cover over it. You waited patiently for him to be done. When he was done he walked you out to your car locking the door behind him.
“I really enjoyed tonight y/n Thank you” Billy smiled
“I should be thanking you, This is the most fun I have had in quite a while.” You smiled up at him
“Can we do this again?” Billy asked “I would really love to spend more time with you”
“Maybe we’ll see I’m busy over the next few days but I have your number so I will definitely give you a call okay” the smile never leaving your face
“Okay” Billy nodded opening my car door for you “Oh and y/n one last thing”
You turned to face Billy. He leaned in quickly capturing your lips in a soft sweet kiss. His calloused hands found their way to cup your face. You could feel his moustache tickling the top of your lips. You didn’t pull away rather you leaned into the kiss. The kiss seemed to go on for hours but was most likely no more than 5 minutes. Billy backed away dropping his head he gave you a goofy sideways smile and walked off towards his car. You stood and watched as he drove off. Your heart was beating a mile a minute. You still had 4 more dates to get through and yet you were hooked on Billy. This was going to be harder than you thought. You hopped in your car and drove home. Once safely back in your apartment, you let out a small squeal. You changed into your PJs and climbed into your bed. You curled up and replayed your date with Billy over and over. If all your dates went this well how would you ever be able to choose. It didn’t take long for you to fall asleep thankfully because you were super exhausted.
You woke up with your alarm at 6 a.m. You dragged yourself out of bed, showered and got ready for work. You got through the day by thinking about your date with Steve that night. You’d heard that he was an asshole during high school but then after a fistfight with Jonathan, he matured and had been a real gentleman ever since. Steve was the first guy to ask you out and you were so glad when he did. You had made it a weekly habit when you arrived to go to the video store to get a movie on a Friday night. Honestly, it was just so you could talk with Steve. Normally when you arrived the video store was a ghost town so you could have Steve all to yourself. You could ask movie questions, collect information on him and just enjoy this friendly acquaintance you made. You had plans to ask Steve out but you had chickened out when you’d walked into the video store last Friday. Steve thankfully had been thinking the same thing you were so he asked you out. If only you had known then what was to come. I mean you weren’t complaining they were all majorly attractive guys but going on a date with all of them on the one weekend was just pure madness. You wondered what Steve's house was like. Given that he was working at Family Video you assumed that he was living in a small unit after all what else could he afford with a job like that. And what movie would he pick for you to watch? Probably one of the latest blockbusters no doubt. The day quickly came to an end. You were in the staff room finishing off your paperwork for the weekend when Carol came up to your desk.
“So I heard you went on a date with Billy last night?” Carol smirked
“I may have why?” You asked
“Well does Steve know about your date? I mean your going on a date with him tonight right?” Carol's smirk got bigger
“How did you know that?” You asked worry taking over
“Well they are both old friends and I wouldn’t want either one to find out about this” Carol crossed her arms
“What do you want?” You asked getting grumpy
“Could you please mark all these essays for Monday?” Carol faked a sweet smile while dropping a pile of at least 100 essays in front of you
“S-sure” You looked wide-eyed at the large stack in front of you
“Thanks you such a good friend” Carol winked and walked away
You had literally worked overtime just to make sure your weekend would be empty and now you have gone and accepted this. There was no way you would be able to go through with your plans and do all these essays. You sighed grabbed the pile of paperwork and headed to your car. You tossed the paperwork on the passenger seat and started up the car. Once you were safely back at your apartment you took the pile of paperwork and dropped it on your kitchen bench. You sighed and moved into your bedroom to get ready for your date. You pulled out your most comfortable pair of jeans and a nice black blouse to wear and headed for the shower. Once you were freshly showered you grabbed your keys from the kitchen bench and took one more look at the pile of papers before heading out the door. You drove to Family Video where Steve said he would meet you at the end of his shift to pick out a movie and grab some snacks before heading back to his house. When you got to Family Video Steve still had 30 minutes on his shift. You sighed as you walked up and down the aisle trying to decide on a movie. Steve had already created a stockpile of snacks in his locker out back. He has apparently been working on the perfect movie night since he got to work that morning. Even his co-worker Robin had been impressed with his efforts to make your date perfect. She had never seen him so concentrated on any date before. Robin signed out as you were walking in, it was Steve’s night to close and being that it was 8:30 the place was basically empty. The only other people there when you got there were a couple of high school seniors you had in your science class, Dustin, Lucas, Will and Mike. As soon as you walked in they started gloating to Steve about how amazing you were ‘the best science teacher ever’. Steve confidently gloated back about how he was having a date tonight with the best science teacher ever. Needless to say, the boys were awestruck. When they left you’d asked Steve how he knew them. Apparently, he was their unwitting babysitter and best friend. He’d known them since middle school and they were the closest thing he had to family.
At some point, you had gotten distracted from the movies coming to a stop in front of some random romantic comedies. You had started thinking about that pile of paperwork abandoned on your kitchen bench. You were never going to be able to complete it with all your dates and you knew if you tried to rearrange the dates you would most certainly get caught out. If you could somehow forgo sleep then maybe just maybe you could get the paperwork done. Each essay only appeared to be about 4 pages long so hopefully quick and easy.
“Beetlejuice? What’s that even doing in romantic comedies?” Steve’s sudden appearance made you jump “It’s a comedy. It’s pretty good too is that what you want to watch?”
“I, uh, I actually haven’t seen it so maybe” You shrugged
“Okay if there is one thing I know it’s a distraction and you are very clearly distracted so what’s the hold up? If it’s me and you don’t want to go on a date then just say so and we can go our separate ways” Steve gave a small smile
“No it’s not you, it’s nothing, it’s work-related” You smiled
“Anything I can help you with?” Steve asked
“No it can wait, so Beetlejuice so good is it?” You asked taking the movie from the shelf
“Well yeah it’s like borderline horror movie, creepy, weird, funny” Steve ran a hand through his hair
“Then let us get it” You smiled
“Okay great just let me check it out, grab my stuff and close up and we’ll get out of here” Steve took the movie and headed to the front.
“Sounds great to me” You gave a small smile
You made your way to the front of the store and went out to wait in the parking lot. As you waited a familiar van pulled up in front of the store. You had a small panic attack as the van came to a complete stop and Eddie hopped out followed by Dustin.
“Okay now hurry up, The Master must return to his dungeon” Eddie crossed his arms and leaned against the van
Dustin shouted out an okay before racing into the store. He said a rushed hi to you as he ran past leaving you alone in the parking lot with Eddie. You would have just gone to hide in your car but Eddie had already spotted you and was waving you over. You closed the 100-meter gap between you and joined Eddie beside his van.
“Hi sweetheart what brings you here?”
“Oh um I stopped in to get a movie like every Friday and I made the mistake of telling Steve I haven’t seen Beetlejuice yet so now he is forcing me to go to his house and watch Beetlejuice with him” Not completely a lie
“Really? Harrington? Did you tell him we’re dating so he keeps his hands off you?” Eddie smirked
“We’re not dating Eddie we’re simply going on a date tomorrow night, one date then I’ll decide if your worth” You smirked back “Although I may need to take a rain check on that” you sighed
“Why? What’s going on?” Eddie became concerned
I’m an idiot. You thought “I have somewhere near 100 essays to grade by Monday morning all because I didn’t have the balls to stand up to Carol over some stupid secret she thinks I’m hiding”
“Well, there is an easy solution. A way to get the essays graded, get revenge and still have our date” Eddie had a mischievous grin
“Well please don’t hold back” You crossed your arms and looked at him
“Mark the essays and give all the kids A’s, By the time she realises it’ll be too late to do anything without dobbing herself in” Eddie had the most evil grin
“You Mr Munson are an evil genius I love it” You smiled
“Anything to make sure our date goes ahead”
At that moment Dustin came back out of the store with Steve in tow. Steve paused to lock the door while Dustin hopped back into Eddie's van. Eddie gave you a small wave and headed back to the driver's side of his van. Eddie and Dustin drove out of the car park as Steve approached you.
“So are you going to follow me to my place?” Steve asked
“Yep lead the way,” You said jumping into your car
You followed Steve to his house. As you drove you noticed you were heading to a part of town that you had never been to before. The houses you drove past were large and expensive looking surely beyond the salary of the video store employee. Steve pulled into the driveway of one of these houses. You parked behind him and walked up to the front door where Steve stood waiting for you.
“There is no way you can afford to live here,” You said
“Yeah well, it’s my parent's house, They never home anyway so what’s the point in moving out if the people who own the place are never here and they don’t make you pay rent” The way Steve spoke made it clear his parents he would something he would rather not talk about.
“Sounds like the greatest hook-up ever wish I lived rent free” You tried to make a joke
“So you know Munson?” Steve changed the subject leading you into the lounge room
“Well yes and no,” You said “I met him at a bar a couple days after I got here, his a random acquaintance”
“He's not a bad guy, he keeps Dustin out of trouble and out of my hair” Steve smirked
“Oh yes your bestie Dustin, I want to hear all about that”
Steve motioned to a bar seat at the container in the kitchen. You took a seat and watched as Steve started removing pots and pans and many random ingredients from the assortment of cupboards around the kitchen. Steve began cooking what looked like his take on Spaghetti Bolognese while telling you the long tail of how he and Dustin became unlikely best friends. It was a little unbelievable at times but Steve showed you his scars and his story made sense for the scars you’d seen on Eddie's neck and arms, and why you’d seen Dustin walking around with a slight limp. Steve made you promise not to tell the others that he had told you. Apparently, it was an unspoken agreement to just pretend like none of it had happened. Steve sat down beside you and placed a plate of pasta in front of you.
“Spaghetti a la Harrington” Steve smiled at you
“Why thank you it looks amazing” You smiled
“I wonder how Dustin would react to us right now” Steve smirked
“Ah if that boy is anything outside of school like he is in school then he would be yelling at the top of his lungs and saying something like Are you kidding me right now”
“Yeah that sounds like the Henderson I know” Steve chuckled
“You know your no the asshole pretty boy I thought you would be” You bumped your shoulder against Steves
“Well you're not the boring school teacher I thought you’d be” Steve bumped you back
“Nice Harrington” You giggled
You continued to eat and talk. Steve told you about Billy, Eddie, Jonathan and Jim as well as several people they all knew. It was the definition of a small town. Steve had given you many things to panic about with this new information. They all knew each other so what if one of them said something to the other and they all turned on you. Or worse still what if someone said something to Joyce and she came screaming at you the school for going on a date with both her son and her ex. At some point, you must have stopped listening to Steve to follow your trail of thoughts. That was until Steve started snapping his fingers in front of your face with a highly freaked-out look on his face.
“Oh thank god you are still with me” Steve let out a sigh “What were you thinking?”
“Sorry, sorry I just had an internal panic” You blurted out before you could stop yourself
“Panic? About what?” Steve asked clearly concerned
“Promise not to get mad?” You asked moving slightly away from Steve
“Why would I?” Steve said confused
You took a deep breath and began to explain to Steve the mess you were in. At some point, Steve had stood up and began pacing the kitchen. One hand was constantly running through his hair while the other was sitting on his hip. Things were quiet for a few minutes before Steve placed his hands on the kitchen island counter and dropped his head.
“I’m glad your being honest with me but I would have liked to know all this before we started this date”
“I’m sorry” You whispered
“I’m not saying I want to end this date because it took me way too fricking long to work up the courage to ask you out but I gotta ask why? What in the world possessed you to say yes to all the dates?”
“I honestly have no idea, I was just caught so off guard with so many guys asking me I kinda just said yes without thinking then when it all did set in I couldn’t figure out how to back out of them all” You dropped your head
“So do you even want to be on this date with me?” Steve asked sounding slightly annoyed
“Yes, you’re the only one I wanted to go on a date with and I was glad when you asked me out because I was too chicken to ask you out”
“Well at least I have that going for me right now” Steve smirked over at you “How about we start fresh, pretend none of this was ever said?”
“Fine by me”
You and Steve finished eating and continued to chat about the others and about Steve. Once you were done Steve took your plates, placed them into the sink then guided you out to the lounge room. He fiddled with the TV for a short while putting on the movie before settling down next to you on the lounge. He pulled you into his side allowing his hand to snake around your waste. You allowed yourself to curl into his side. Steve spoke excitedly all through Beetlejuice pointing out little details. He almost lost it when you pointed out that Lydia looked a lot like a younger version of Joyce. He even said he would have to point that out to Joyce. When the movie concluded you were way too tired to drive home. You voiced this to Steve who happily suggested you stay the night. He dragged you to his room before racing off. When he returned he was carrying pillows and blankets. He made a bed on the floor before turning to his cupboard. He stripped down to his boxers before pulling on a pair of sweatpants. He threw another pair at you along with one of his shirts before making himself comfortable on the floor. You turned away from Steve and quickly got changed into the clothes he provided for you. Once you were dressed you turned off the light. You tiptoed quietly over to Steve. Once you were by his side you crouched down and gave him a kiss on the cheek before quickly jumping into his bed. Steve sat upright and looked straight over at you as you giggled from your spot on the bed.
“What was that for?” Steve said
“Think of it as a thank you for everything tonight” You smiled at him
“You’re welcome”
Steve laid back down facing the bed. You lay down in the bed facing Steve. The two of you fell into a peaceful silence, looking at each other until you drifted off. Steve, however, stayed away a little longer unable to believe the beautiful girl whom he looked forward to seeing on a Friday night was here asleep in his bed. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t a little heartbroken by you agreeing to a bunch of dates but for tonight he had you and he enjoyed every minute of it. Steve drifted off staring at your peaceful sleeping face. He woke up before you the next morning. He hopped up and stretched from his night on the floor. He looked at you still sleeping on his bed and smiled. He crept over to you, bent down and kissed you on the head allowing his lips to linger for a few seconds. He stood and walked from the room making his way to the kitchen. He decided that even if you couldn’t be his forever he would make the time you did have together amazing. He moved quietly around the kitchen preparing breakfast for the two of you. Steve wanting to get everything right and not knowing what your favourite breakfast food is pulled out a selection of cereals, cooked-up pancakes, bacon and eggs, toast and baked beans. He brewed up a pot of coffee and poured a couple of glasses of orange juice. Steve was just finishing up the bacon when you walked into the kitchen rubbing your eyes. Steve took you in, his shirt hanging loosely from your shoulder, his sweatpants making you look like a toddler who wanted to play dress up in their parent's clothes. To Steve you were adorable.
“Morning sleeping beauty, didn’t know what you would like to eat so I made basically everything” Steve motioned with one hand while the other rested on his hip
“Good Morning, you really didn’t need to do all this through”
“But I wanted to” Steve motioned for you to take a seat on the bench.
Steve placed a plate in front of you and you began filing it with the stuff in front of you.
“Not really a cereal person I take it?” Steve smirked
“Not really, I guess it comes from my Mum forcing me to eat cornflakes every day,” You say screwing up your face at the memory
“Fair enough, so what's your plan for the day?” Steve asked
“I have about 100 essays to mark before I head out to watch Eddie’s band” You could audibly hear Steves's heartbreaking
“And how exactly are you going to mark that many essays in a day?” Steve tried to ignore the Eddie part of your day
“Well actually Eddie helped me with that one, you see They aren’t my essays to mark” You explain your situation to Steve and Eddie's solution to the problem
“You know that sounds just like Munson also sounds like he might be getting some person payback with that one too” Steve smirked
“Oh?”
“Carol used to bully Eddie when we were all at school together, when we graduated and he didn’t I know she got worse with the bullying” Steve sighed
“Wait I assumed you were older than Eddie given that you graduated in ’85 and Eddie in ‘87,” You said shocked
“Eddie redone senior year 3 times,” Steve said like it was public knowledge
“Wow poor Eddie”
Steve just nodded in agreement. You ate the rest of your breakfast changing subjects to music and movies. Once breakfast was done and dishes washed and put away you returned to Steve's room to get dressed. Part of you wanted to just call the other dates off you were already so torn between Billy and Steve and throwing the others in seemed like a bad idea. But at the same time, you didn’t want to have to admit what you’d done. No, instead you decided to suck it up and go through with the dates. You collected your things and went to say goodbye to Steve before heading home. As you reached the bottom of the stairs Steve stood waiting for you.
“Let me at least walk you to your car” Steve smiled sadly
“Thank you for everything Steve I had an amazing time” You smiled as you approached your car
When you reached the side of your car you turned to give Steve one last smile before hopping into your car. Steve quickly slipped his arms around your waist. He pulled you into his chest. His lips captured yours in a passionate kiss. Your fists balled up in his shirt. Your heart racing once more. If they were all going to take your breath away then however would you be able to choose just one of them. Steve stepped back dropping his head to look at the driveway.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have” Steve looked like he was about to cry
“No it’s fine” You smiled
You brushed your fingers down the side of Steve's face before hopping into your car and heading home. Steve stood in the drive long after you were out of sight. All he could do now was hope you came back to him.
Back in your unit, you began sorting through the pile of essays. It should be simple just take your red pen write an A in the corner, circle it and move on to the next. You took a deep breath and began marking. One thing was for certain if this blew up in your face Eddie Munson would be no more. It took you no more than 30 minutes to pretend to mark all the essays and put them back into your bag for Monday. With your now gained free time, you decided to outfit plan not only for tonight but for tomorrow with Jonathan and Jim. If you planned today that would leave you more time tomorrow to shower and recover between dates.
At around 4 you decided it would be a good idea to get ready to go on your date with Eddie. You had picked out a pair of fishnet stockings, a short black skirt, an old Judas Priest shirt, knee-high black boots and a black leather jacket. Remnants of your youth that you had wanted to throw away many times but never could. You changed before slipping out onto the street. The bar Eddie was playing at The Hideaway wasn’t all that far from your unit. You enjoyed the short walk to The hideout before making your way cautiously inside. Once inside you found yourself being called from the stage. Eddie stood on stage waving to you. You walked over waving back.
“There's my princess” Eddie jumped off the stage showing off “Hi Eddie” You rolled your eyes smiling
“Uh introductions” The guy on drums shook his drumsticks in the air
“Oh right, y/n meet Garath, Jeff and Sam the other members of Corroded Coffin” Eddie pointed to each man on the stage
“That is such a metal band name” You grinned
“Only the most metal name for the most metal band” Eddie bragged
“Oh that’s yet to be seen” You smirked crossing your arms
“By the time we’re done, you're going to be begging for more sweetheart”
Eddie leaned so close to you that could feel his breath on your face. The scent of cigarettes, mint and that awful cheap axe body spray filled your nose. You became intoxicated with so much so that when Eddie leaned back making his way back on the stage you almost immediately had withdrawals from it. You stood proudly in front of the stage waiting for them to begin playing. After half an hour of warm-ups, the real performance began. Eddie was amazing up on the stage, the whole band was. It was like they were born to be on stage. It was no surprise that Eddie had failed senior year as much as he had. It was clear that he never had an academic future he was also supposed to be an entertainer, a creative free soul. You enjoyed every second Corroded Coffin played and were sad when it had to end. The band wrapped up and started to pull apart their things. You climbed up on the stage in an attempt to help them.
“Anything I can do?” You asked
“Here go open my van for us princess” Eddie handed you his keys pointing to a stage door.
You went the direction he pointed finding his van with ease. You opened the back doors sat on the back and waited. As you waited a group of girls your age or a bit younger appeared from around the front of the van.
“Oh look girls another wants to be trying to steal our boys” One girl looked you up and down
“I’m sorry who are you?” You asked trying to be polite.
“That is none of your business,” another said
“Look I’m sorry but Eddie invited me out to watch Corroded Coffin play If I’m stepping on toes I don’t mean to” You slipped out of Eddie's van moving back towards the stage door
“Hay Sweetheart what's taking you so long” Eddie jogged up beside you he took one look at the girls and tensed “Are these girls giving you trouble babe” Eddie slipped an arm around your waist pulling you to his side
“We’re just talking Eds” The first girl spoke up again
“Well I think it’s time you leave, My girl here is tired and I’d like to get our stuff packed up and get home” Eddie fake smiled at them “Thanks for coming out though”
“Oh come on Eds don’t be like that” The girl took a step towards you
“I’m asking you to leave” Eddie pushed you behind him
The girl came right up to Eddie practically pushing up against him. She walked her fingers up his chest, grabbed the collar of his shirt and tried to pull him in for a kiss. Eddie pushed her back. She shot you daggers before storming off. Something told you this wasn’t the first time she’d tried something like that.
“Sorry about that” Eddie turned smiling at you
“What was her problem?” You asked
“No idea All I know is she's a few dice short of a set” Eddie made a goofy face
You couldn’t help but giggle at Eddie. Eddie smiled proud of himself for making you laugh. Eddie took your hand and dragged you back into the Hideout. He kept you close by his side as they loaded their equipment into his van. Eddie then locked up before dragging you back inside.
“So did you enjoy the show” Eddie asked taking a seat at the bar
“Did I ever” You smiled “It was amazing Eddie”
“Told you most metal ever” Eddie wore a shit-eating grin
“Wipe that smile off your face Munson”
Eddie threw up his hands in defence. He ordered drinks and the two of you began talking. Despite appearances much like Steve had said Eddie was a great guy. He was sweet, charming, and funny but a bit rough around the edges. You came to learn that when Eddie wasn’t rocking out with his band he was working at a local mechanic which was quite surprising. He shared his dream to get out of Hawkins and travel the world with Corroded Coffin. Apparently, they had been discussing hitting the road for a few months. Touring the states and picking up gigs along the way to support their travels. What better way to get discovered Eddie had said. It sounded wonderful. Eddie asked you lots of questions about yourself like what had brought you to Hawkins. You were so mesmerised by Eddie that you completely forgot to keep an eye on the time. It wasn't until the bartender told you that it was the last call that you looked at the clock. 12:30. Shit.
“Eddie I have to go I should have been in bed by now,” You said
“Why got something important on in the morning?” Eddie questioned
“Well uh yes actually I’m supposed to be going on a photography trip with Jonathan Byers” You answered honestly
“As In a date,” Eddie suddenly seemed hurt
“No just as friends, Photography was something I had done before I came here and Jonathan said he knew a good spot for nature shots” You half-lied
“Oh okay sounds boring to me” Eddie's smile came back
“It's actually quite fun” You played hurt
“If you say so Princess” Eddie smirked downing the rest of his drink
Eddie offered you his hand pulling you to your feet. He opened the door and threw his arm out while bowing motioning for you to step out. Once outside he slid his arm around your waist and asked you to guide the way to your car. You told him you walked so he offered to walk you home. He held you by the waist all the way home. Once you reached your unit Eddie the gentleman, held your door open for you before kissing, bowing and taking his leave. You giggled and watched as he practically danced back down the street. Eddie too had made your heart race. You made your way inside. Changed into your pyjamas and flopped onto your bed. You fell asleep thinking about Eddie and all the fun you could have on the road. No obligations to tie you down, chasing fame. It would be wonderful, a new town every night. Sleeping out of the van, exploring the places less travelled. You were ripped from your dream by your alarm going off at 6 a.m. You groaned as you ripped yourself from your nice warm bed. You walked into the kitchen and made yourself a coffee. You were going to need a lot of coffee to get through today. After pouring yourself a cup of coffee you began to brew the pot again to fill your thermos. You also filled up your drink bottle with cool water. You had an hour to be ready before Jonathan would be on your doorstep. He had organised to pick you up to save you from getting lost looking for the trailhead you’d be taking. You pulled out your camera gear and the outfit you had picked out for today. You jumped into the shower to remove as much of the alcohol and cigarette smoke smell from last night. Thankfully you weren’t hungover and you could thank Eddie and the never-ending conversation for that. You were dressed and packing your hiking bag when Jonathan knocked on your door. You finished stuffing your stuff into your bag and slung it over your shoulder before opening the door.
“Hay Jonathan” You smiled at him
“Hi” Jonathan smiled looking at the ground
So Steve was right when he said Jonathan was the shy, quiet guy you thought. You followed Jonathan to his car and climbed into the passenger seat. The trip to the trailhead was filled with awkward small talk. It was obvious that Jonathan was trying his best to make sure you were comfortable but it was also obvious that he didn’t have much experience with girls. It was kinda cute honestly. Jonathan finally got you to the trailhead. He offered to carry your bag. He pulled on your backpack before throwing his camera bag over his shoulder. He led the way into the trail. You were a complete beginner when it came to photography but Jonathan from what you had heard had been a photographer for a long time.
The air was crisp, carrying with it the earthy scent of moss and leaves. Rays of sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow on the forest floor.
As you walked side by side along a narrow path, your camera slung around your shoulder, and the tranquillity of the surroundings enveloped you. The gentle rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds added to the serenity of the moment. Rays of sunlight gently kissed the vibrant foliage, creating a stunning interplay of colours that seemed almost surreal.
You paused by a tranquil stream, its crystal-clear waters meandering through the heart of the forest. It was the perfect spot to capture the delicate beauty of nature. Your date watched in awe as Jonathan set up his camera on a tripod, adjusting the settings with precision. With the press of a button, the shutter clicked, capturing the essence of the babbling brook, the sunlight glinting off the water like scattered diamonds.
"Wow, you're really talented," you exclaimed, admiration evident in your eyes.
Blushing, he smiled and gestured for you to join him. "Why don't you give it a try? Nature is the best subject to capture."
You took the camera hesitantly. You focused the lens on a delicate wildflower growing by the stream's edge. The soft petals seemed to beckon you closer, and you crouched down, framing the shot just right. A gentle breeze ruffled the flower's petals, and you snapped the photo, capturing a moment of perfect imperfection.
Laughing softly, you looked at each other. "I can see why you enjoy this so much," you said, your voice filled with wonder.
Encouraged by your enthusiasm, Jonathan continued your exploration, guiding you to hidden spots where the forest's beauty was magnified. The vibrant colours of a butterfly's wings, the intricate patterns of a spider's web glistening with dewdrops, and the grandeur of ancient trees stretching towards the sky – each moment was an opportunity to freeze time and capture nature's artistry.
As the morning turned into afternoon, you found yourselves perched on a moss-covered rock overlooking a tranquil meadow. A breathtaking backdrop for your final shots of the day.
"Thank you for this amazing experience," you whispered, your eyes fixed on the horizon. "I've never felt so connected to nature before."
Jonathan smiled, his heart swelling with contentment. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Nature has a way of bringing people closer together."
Soon you packed up your camera, cherishing the memories you had created together. The forest had been your canvas, and your shared moments were the masterpieces that adorned it. Your walk back to the car was spent chatting and getting to know each other a bit more. Jonathan was a really sweet guy but you could see how Steve found him to be an easy target in school. He was much like Eddie in that he was the odd guy out, the loner. Yet part of you wished that others had gotten to know him more. Jonathan told you about his and Steve's mutual ex Nancy. You’d seen Nancy around the school a few times picking up her brother Mike. How Jonathan ended up with Nancy you’ll never understand, She really didn’t deserve him or Steve. Once back in Jonathan's car, he drove you back to your apartment. He walked you to your door.
“Thank you for joining me today” Jonathan looked between you and the ground
“I loved every moment of it” You smiled at him
“Well I better be getting home” Jonathan smiled at you
He quickly leaned into you and kissed you on the cheek before waving awkwardly and walking away. You couldn’t help but stand at your door and giggle for a moment before making your way inside to shower and change. A small part of you was thankful your dates were coming to an end but you were also dreading the choice you would have to make when all was said and done. You pushed that thought to the back of your mind and began getting ready for dinner with Jim. He had told you that he was taking you out to a fancy restaurant so you needed to dress semi-formal. You chose your nice dress and a pair of nice heels. You sighed as you looked at yourself in the mirror. You opted to drive to the restaurant because heaven forbid you had to walk in those heels, especially after walking all day you might just die. Jim was waiting outside for you when you pulled up.
Underneath the soft glow of candlelight, you found yourselves seated at a cozy corner table in a charming restaurant. The ambience was warm and inviting, the murmur of conversations and the gentle strains of a violin creating a soothing symphony in the background. The air was infused with the enticing aroma of delectable dishes being prepared with love and care.
As you looked across the table, the dim lighting played beautifully on Jim's features, casting a gentle halo around him. His eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and anticipation, and the soft smile on his lips made your heart flutter.
The waiter arrived, presenting you both with a menu of culinary delights that promised to tantalize your taste buds. You exchanged glances, sharing a playful moment of deliberation as you decided on your choices. The anticipation of the meal mirrored the excitement of your budding connection.
As you engaged in conversation, your words flowed effortlessly, each topic leading to another as you uncovered shared interests and experiences. Laughter punctuated the air as stories were exchanged, creating an intimate bubble where only the two of you existed, cocooned in the enchantment of the evening.
The first course arrived, a delicate symphony of flavours and textures artfully plated before you. You savoured each bite, your taste buds dancing in delight as you indulged in the culinary masterpiece. The conversation continued to flow, seamlessly weaving between lighthearted banter and more intimate exchanges, creating a bond between you.
As the main course was served, you noticed a brief pause in the conversation, a moment where your eyes locked and the world seemed to fade away.
Dessert arrived, a decadent conclusion to the evening's culinary journey. The sweet flavours danced on your palate, a perfect mirror to the sweetness of the moments you were sharing. The final bite was taken, and you both leaned back in your chairs, content and fulfilled.
As the evening drew to a close, the waiter discreetly presented the bill, and you both exchanged glances once more. With a gentle smile, your date reached across the table, their fingers brushing against yours in a tender gesture. "Thank you for such a wonderful evening," Jim said, his voice soft and sincere.
You smiled back, your heart warmed by his presence. "The pleasure was all mine," you replied, your voice carrying the weight of unspoken emotions.
As you left the restaurant, the night air felt crisper, more alive. The stars above twinkled as Jim walked you out to your car. You turned to smile at him when you reached your car.
“Well this is me” You smiled
“Thank you again, I haven’t had a night quite like this in some time” Jim smiled
“And again the pleasure was all mine” you smiled “It's good to know the sheriff isn’t such a bad guy”
“Well that depends on who you ask, Take Munson and Harrington for example, they probably think I’m the worst”
“They think you’re a hard ass I can tell you that much” you giggled
“Well it’s late and I don’t want to keep a pretty thing like yourself out in the dark” Jim moved slightly closer.
He kissed you softly on the cheek, told you to drive safely and walked back in the direction of the restaurant. You drove quietly home only completely panicking once you were safely inside your apartment. As soon as your heels were off and you flopped on your bed your head swarned with thoughts. The biggest being who do you choose?
-
imissaaronhotchner reblogged this · 4 days ago -
mushroompuppygirl liked this · 4 days ago -
loganskittycatears liked this · 5 days ago -
inejismywife liked this · 5 days ago -
ilovesteveharrington95 liked this · 5 days ago -
wolfarrowepz liked this · 5 days ago -
luvflwergirl liked this · 5 days ago -
dontknow446 liked this · 5 days ago -
novastarkavengers liked this · 5 days ago -
lluckyblue20 liked this · 6 days ago -
disneynerd789 liked this · 6 days ago -
it-is-indeed-lmao liked this · 6 days ago -
anajoies liked this · 6 days ago -
allebasisworld liked this · 6 days ago -
luzie035 liked this · 1 week ago -
hanquokkasfrontteeth liked this · 1 week ago -
spoildbrazt2000 liked this · 1 week ago -
leave-me-be-plz liked this · 1 week ago -
mackchelette liked this · 1 week ago -
casualvoidphilosopher liked this · 1 week ago -
riskyraiker liked this · 1 week ago -
vicjohnson liked this · 1 week ago -
siremii liked this · 1 week ago -
wyatterp9621 liked this · 1 week ago -
animegeek222 liked this · 1 week ago -
simplemind-simplematter liked this · 1 week ago
-
carolvs20 liked this · 1 week ago -
tina-chris liked this · 1 week ago -
tomhollander96 liked this · 1 week ago -
kyeack liked this · 1 week ago -
jaybaby2211 liked this · 1 week ago -
foggypaperdragon liked this · 1 week ago -
peachtxa liked this · 1 week ago -
edge-just-edge liked this · 1 week ago -
furiousheartpoetry liked this · 1 week ago
-
lflores2008 liked this · 1 week ago -
thunderbee17 liked this · 1 week ago -
kpoulin liked this · 1 week ago -
dungeonmistress95 liked this · 1 week ago -
yallgotkik liked this · 1 week ago -
chrisxlifeline reblogged this · 1 week ago -
chrisxlifeline liked this · 1 week ago
-
02wrldz liked this · 1 week ago -
loner0907 liked this · 2 weeks ago -
paigemolly3 liked this · 2 weeks ago -
dragonflies1363 liked this · 2 weeks ago -
addysteampunk424 liked this · 2 weeks ago
-
hockey91-lover liked this · 2 weeks ago
31 . Aussie . She/They . Demi-PanA place for my random stories.
97 posts