Flirting with Disaster (Tessa, Dean)

[Lovely]

Name: Dean Winchester Species: Human, Hunter played by: Tripp likeness used: Jensen Ackles

_________

Name: Contessa Denueve Aliases: Tessa, Tess Age: 25 Species: Human, Hunter played by: Lovely created: 2009 Likeness:Charisma Carpenter

[Lovely]

April 28, 2009
8pm
Conneticut

Several days had passed and she'd missed their rendezvous point. Not only missed it, but hadn't even grazed the paint, in a manner of speaking. The seal hadn't been scratched, not even touched from what he could see and that meant one of two things - either she was on the up and up, made it in and out of the trap and proved herself human, at least at for now - or something had happened and she never showed up.

Dean was betting on the last while Sam was trying to get him to give up and accept that she was a girl who happened to be both pretty and smart. "That doesn't make her a demon, Dean. It makes her your worst nightmare, but not a demon."

"She's not a nightmare, Sammie. Not even close. Check this out," he said, pointing with the half-eaten and cold burger while he watched through binoculars into the windows across the street. It was her, definitely her. "French maid's a damn good look on her, huh? With those legs?" He admitted that much was true and whistled through his teeth. Something still wasn't setting right. "Yeah, the only thing that checks is that kid at the country club said Marco Polo shirt there missed his tee time the last two days. She's not that happy to see him that much. She can't be," he clarified, putting the burger down and watching closer.

Contessa was dressed the part she seemed to be playing out with the man in the house with her, it didn't seem like she was just acting out some fantasy for her guy. He made a request of her which was answered with a robotic smile and her saying in a sweet voice. "Yes Dear." She leaned to kiss his cheek and then went into the kitchen, when she came back into the room she was carrying a tray of appetizers. She bent with the tray to serve him, still smiling and acting like some old television wife from the fifties.

Half a sip into his drink it nearly sprayed out his nose as he saw the unmistakable display of robotic affection. He zoomed in a bit more, looking for black voids in her eyes or the guy's in the chair. The close up only helped him repeat the 'whoa..' under his breath as he focused on quite a bit more. "Yeah I am sooo taking a golf club to that droid's metal head," he muttered. "What does he think she is?" He was angry as much as he was envious, shrugging a little and watching closely now. Definitely not his nightmare, apparently, if the anticipation and lick of his lips was meant for her and not their stale food.

"Dude, you can't just sit here watching her through the window... that's wrong. -That's- wrong," Sam pointed out, reminding Dean that normal women didn't act like that in this century.

"What do you think's on those crackers? Do you think it's cheese? I think it's cheese," Dean said, licking his lip a little.

"Wh... I don't believe you! That's a clear sign of possession, Dean!"

It was cheese and other things, all expertly prepared by the seemingly perfect woman who served them to a man she'd broken up with weeks before. She'd gone to get something from her apartment for a case she was on and now she was here acting like some drone and perfect lovey dovey housewife. Gone were the things that made Contessa, Tessa and in their place were things that made her something else. Her hair was perfect and smooth, held in a wide head band, she wore a dress that looked like it was off a television mother from the fifties, she even wore a strand of pearls and a small gold necklace that hung beneath the modest collar of her dress.

Dean lowered the binoculars a moment, then looked again. "Maybe if she put on fishnets with that little apron..."

Sam backhanded him and pulled the binoculars from his eyes. "She's not supposed to be wearing an apron, Dean. This is 2009."

"Sweet...! Hey! Gimme those. If she's taking off the apron, I'm watching. Did you see the legs on her?"

"Possession? Demon? Spell? Something... hello? You said she's a hunter. Tell me that's normal," Sam protested.

Contessa had a smile on her face that somewhat resembled her normal one, but it lacked any real emotion or warmth or even the sarcasm that would be present when she was slinging smart remarks at Dean or .. it was usually Dean when she was around him. She was wearing heels, an apron, she had cooked and cleaned and now doted on the former ex as if she were the perfect little dear. Her movements were automated and if they could hear her voice it sounded different, still hers but as if she didn't really know what she was saying or why. The normal little touches that made her who she was were gone, the natural curl and muss of her hair, the sparkle of mischief and warmth in her eyes, the ring of her laugh and the way she tended to tilt her hips when she sassed.

The man who was with her seemed to be acting like this was normal and he was completely happy, content with the woman who was waiting on him hand and foot. Literally as she knelt down in front of him with a plastic smile to take his shoes off, and politely answered "Yes dear." to his every request.

Sam lowered his own binoculars, immitating the movements of Tessa's mouth to figure out what she'd said. "Yes.. dear?? C'mon... Dean, that's so not normal."

Dean was busy watching her kneel and smile and pamper the guy in the chair, whistfully wishing himself in that place and able to see down that deep neckline under the too-tidy collar. He sighed. "What? Is that what she said? Awesome, I could live with that. You're right.. it's not normal, but it's damn hott."

The man in the chair reached to run his fingers along Tessa's cheek, she barely reacted other than to sit there, perfectly still and allow him to do it. His smile faded slightly and he watched her for a long moment before he suggested she come up into his lap. Just as obediantly and automated as before she rose and placed herself into his lap. The kiss that followed was just as cold and lacking of the passion Dean would know was inside her, her lips barely moved and it appeared like a screen kiss from a very old movie.

"Now -that's- not normal," Dean said, himself, taking another glance as the kiss was delivered. Something was very not-right about this except the fact that dude in the chair had to be the golf-club swinging, seltzer sipping ex being cold, boring and obviously blind. "Where's the journal? What's it say about ... I dunno what is that.. a reverse love spell or something?"

Sam was already putting things in his pack and digging for tools. He handed Dean the book. "You look, I'm going down there closer, looking for sulphur, symbols, wards... you know... something useful? Oh, and wipe the drool off your shirt." Dean looked down and Sam started laughing as he lifted his pack and slunk off. "Dude you are so whipped."

[Lovely]

His hand slid over her thigh and she sat still, she didn't move into the touch or shift closer to him or sigh or smile or do anything that she might normally do, she stared almost vacantly out into the room. He either didn't notice or didn't care about the way she was acting, he continued with his attention, kissing her neck. Whatever he said in her ear garnered another "Yes Dear." and she stood up, he rose behind her and started to undo her dress, shifting his kiss to the deep V that began to open.

Dean brushed off his shirt and jacket that were still dry and lowered the binoculars now to start searching through Dad's journal, flipping frantically under the flashlight's gleam. He closed the book again quickly and shut the light down, not wanting to draw too much attention to the car. He pulled his things together and followed Sam down toward the building, cursing something to himself about 'yes dear this'.

There were remnants in the trash, outside the back door, of the ingredients that had been used to cast this particular love spell. The key piece was the delicate chain and charm attached to it that hung around Tessa's beautiful neck. Carl smiled as he gazed at the present which had brought them together so happily, his fingers swept over it and he lifted it up a bit. "Do you like the necklace Contessa?" He asked her, glancing up at her face and then down over the rest of the girl who belonged with him and to him now.

"Yes Dear." Tess replied, she wasn't even looking at him as she spoke, she smiled but it was empty, and she stared ahead like a good little robot. "I should clean up before we go to bed." She suggested like a perfect drone, still smiling.

"Of course. Don't take too long." Carl winked at her, chuckling to himself as he watched her turn, bend to pick up the tray and then head into the kitchen. He was humming as he jogged back to the bedroom, loosening his tie and kicking his shoes off. "Mmm Carl you are one lucky guy."

Meanwhile Contessa was in the kitchen, putting away the leftovers and cleaning everything just perfectly. She still acted as if she was in some robotic, automated state. Some part of the girl was there inside this shell, with the pleasant expression etched on her face, a single tear slid down her cheek. She hadn't touched her dress, not noticing that it was left partially undone and open or perhaps not refastening it because -he- had unbuttoned it and hadn't told her to close it up.

Sam was scouting out around the back while Dean came up the side near the windows that peered into the kitchen. She was right there and he watched carefully, keeping himself down out of the light where suspicious neighbors hopefully wouldn't see his shadow. Somehow the cops worried him the least right now. Whatever was powerful enough to daunt her willpower like this was some kick-ass spell. Much as he liked the idea of being waited on like this guy, this just wasn't Tessa. Her back was turned and he slipped past the window to try the handle of the side door, turning it slowly, carefully and hoping it wasn't locked.

The door wasn't locked and would open without a squeak, the house was newer and everything in it seemed near perfect, much like the housewife that Tessa had been turned into. Carl was busy in the bedroom preparing for what he thought would be a wonderful and perfect romantic tryst. Tessa continued her clean up, wiping the dishes and putting them away. At home her dishes were usually paper or piled up, being a hunter meant she wasn't home too much and tended not to focus on housework when she was.

[Lovely]

The door popped open and Dean frowned, surprised and worried more, shrugging off the seeming innocence of the situation. In the 50's, sure, people could leave their door unlocked all the time when things were perfect and strange guys that carried guns and knives didn't come into your kitchen looking for hex bags and strangely colored concoctions. This wasn't the 50's and she wasn't leaving the kitchen, or really noticing yet that he was even there. Dean slipped inside and shut the door behind himself, glancing out to see if the guy with the remote control was still in the other room before trying to get her attention. "Psst... hey...," he called out to her, snapping his fingers in the air in front of her like it might make her 'come to'.

She continued to scrub the dishes for a moment even after his fingers were snapping in front of her face. Finally she blinked and her hands stopped moving, she stared at his fingers for another few seconds before slowly turning in his direction. Her expression was confused as if she just didn't know what to make out of the disturbance in the routine. The tear that had slipped free had been joined by a few others and her cheek showed a thin damp line that she didn't appear to know was there. "Hello..?" Her eyes showed the inner struggle more as they shone out at Dean.

"Geezus... we gotta get you out of here. I think. I don't know if you're sealed in here or not," he said, determined to help her but afraid that if he did it wrong... he didn't want to think about that. He looked around the room again and back at the door, looking for symbols or anything out of place beyond her actions and the stellar performance happening in the other room. He swore he heard the hints of Isaac Hayes or some kind of boom-chicka music that was going to make even his stomach churn.

There was a pause as if she was trying to think about what he said but it was blocked somehow. There were no wards to keep her in the house, Carl hadn't been that thorough in the spell, it had been a quick and desperate act but one that was powerful enough to turn a strong hunter into a delicate housewife. "We do? Oh.. is something wrong?... something is wrong.." The last was softer as if she knew something was out of place but not what it was. "Should we get Carl?"

"We do and no, not Carl. He's... he's um... taking care of the rest and it's dangerous to stay in here," Dean decided, looking at her and back at the room again. "Gas... there's a gas leak." He reached for her hand to pull her out through the door and leave her with Sam... if he could find Sam... then he'd deal with Carl one on one.

"Oh my!" She looked properly shocked and concerned, as if the house might explode dramatically at any moment. She smiled demurely at the handsome man who came to the rescue, just the right touch of flirting while remaining chaste. Somewhere deep down inside the real Tessa was sickened but this autotron that had taken over her body thought it was just divine. Her hand slipped into Dean's and she stepped toward him, not even questioning who he was or how he knew there was a gas leak, she was willing to simply walk out of the house with him.

"Oh.. my? Oh tell me you did not just say that. I feel like I've fallen into Leave it to Beaver land. You own any ruby slippers? Nevermind... you might, forget I asked. This way, out into the nice fresh air...," he said, taking her out through the door quickly, hopefully before Carl noticed she was gone.

Carl was a little too into himself at the moment to notice that Tessa left with Dean, he was in the bedroom dancing in the mirror - practicing and winking at himself. He was confident that he had it made and his plans were fool proof.. of course he was the fool to believe that.

[Lovely]

"Ruby slippers? No... but I do have these fantastic red heels.. Carl thinks they are too racy but he let me keep them when he got rid of my old stuff. I think I pouted just right.." She babbled on about shoes, which was something the old Tessa did adore but the way she did it now was so fluffy and bubbly. "But Carl knows best, I mean I didn't even have a proper dress or cardigan. I had all these short skirts and dark colors and the lingerie! My goodness one would think I was some kind of.. harlot!"

"C'mon..," Dean scoffed, guilt ridden. "Who would think you're a hh-harlot...? Ahem.. Nobody would ever think that. I was joking about the shoes. Do you... do you feel strange? Dizzy... um, different... now than before? I mean like before today. Has anything strange happened? Seen things, heard things, maybe ate some new kind of sushi?"

"But I had panties with no.. crotch!" She exclaimed in a whisper as if she was completely shocked by it and that it was something truly terrible. She cleared her throat and bit at her lip. "Strange besides all the odd things I seemed to collect before and the way I dressed..? I feel ... I'm not sure, perhaps a little light headed but... kind of that way you get when you really need a breath of fresh air and then you get one. That's sort of how I feel. Do you think the gas made me sick?" She sighed and turned as if to look around her a bit, she seemed a little lost. "I feel like I'm forgetting something.. something important. Is it someone's birthday? I feel like I was supposed to go see someone but.. I don't remember." Tessa almost ignored his other question for a few moments, and then she smiled. "Not odd but.. very nice." She reached to the necklace and held up the charm to show Dean, it wasn't your ordinary jewelry store variety. "Carl got me this.. isn't it gorgeous?"

Necklace? The thing looked completely out of place with the rest of her outfit - way too much odd-looking bling. Ding! Dean glanced back to her nearly-vacant expression and pulled his cuff down on his hand to set the bauble on and not touch it. "Hey, that is something," he gushed, albeit falsely. "Is that ... an inscription or something? I can't quite read it. Can I see that?" Right, like she was going to hand her jewelry to some strange guy in a leather jacket? The real Tessa would trust him at least as far as she could throw him - at least a few feet.

"Oh sure.." She reached to the clasp but then stopped and Dean might figure it was because she thought better of giving her necklace to some strange man. "I.. I'm not supposed to take it off.." She made a bit of a face as if the idea didn't quite set right somewhere within her. Tessa blinked and her fingers reached down to the charm itself. "He said not to take it off.. I don't think Carl will like it very much if I do."

"Awww, c'mon. I just want to see what sweet thing he put on it for you," Dean insisted, ready to resort to plan B and snap it off the chain in his clumsiness. Was it the charm or the markings or both? Damnit, Sam had the journal and he coulnd't really look up something like that in front of her.

Tessa seemed skittish, not the act she'd put on when they first met that night in the cabin in the woods or the sarcastic - oo I'm so scared-, she was genuinely nervous that she'd upset the 'vanilla' man inside the house. She actually glanced toward the house and then to Dean again. "Oh..okay.. just please, hurry.. and don't tell.. promise?" She reached to the clasp again and gently undid the chain so he could get a closer look at the inscription. A wave of dizziness made her sway and she reached to grab his arm. "Dean.." She said his name softly, using it for the first time since he'd gotten her attention in the kitchen.

[Lovely]

The charm was dropped into his sleeve-covered hand and pulled further away as she reached out for him. "About time," he grumped, looking back at the door and around the walkway for anything else that wasn't going to like the fact she wasn't controlled anymore. "What did he use to cast it? We need to make sure he's done playing with this crap."

"Gimme a minute." She winced somewhat and her other hand lifted to her head as her true self rushed to the surface with the release of that control, causing her a few moments of confusion and a bit of a head ache. "Maybe in the trash.." She gestured toward the garage, keeping her grip on his arm for now. ".. this is his place.. he was at mine when I got there.. we may have to check there."

"Great, that's just great. I think Sam's inside cuz we were looking here first. I just need to check something though. What do you think about fishnets?" He took the swing, hoping she was still too disoriented to swing back just yet.

"With the right garter and heels they would look fantastic with this getup. Something with an ankle strap." She answered honestly without thinking much on it, then she glanced down at her open dress and nearly growled. "You were just going to let me walk around like this?" She asked, not really angry with Dean, but with the man inside who'd undone the buttons and everything else he'd been doing.

"Welcome back," he chuckled and shrugged, looking her over appreciatively enough. "I didn't mind it, but maybe you should change. I'm not sure what kinda of slime or whatever it's going to take to break this and keep him from doing it again."

"Right.." She started to turn and paused, swinging back around and stepping toward him to catch him in a kiss much like the one they'd shared that first night by their cars. "Thanks." She whispered softly when she finally pulled away.

"Feel free to thank me later, too," he suggested quietly, his winning smile breaking through for a moment. "We gotta go give Sam some back up and keep the witch doctor from cutting bait."

"Mmm I definitely think you deserve alot of aargh for this." She winked at him as she stepped back and started to button her dress again. "Lets make this quick, I can't wait to get out of this dress." She didn't have a change of clothes handy so she'd have to wait until they could go to her place. A frightened girlish scream pierced the air, coming from within the house and Tessa held up her index finger. "I think Sam found him."

Dean's thoughts were scattered for a moment at the thought of a whole lot of aargh. "Me either. I mean, right," he glanced up toward the roof and the sound of the scream. If they heard that, the neighbors probably did, too. "Time for the cavalry to ride in... before the freakin' cops show up."

Her stride was determined and her posture kind of rigid, there was a mix of anger, focus on the job, and hurt in her as she headed back into the house. "Carl.. honey did you find one of those big spiders again?" She yelled out as she was opening the door, it was for the neighbors' benefit and hopefully no one would worry enough to make that call. On the way through the kitchen, she grabbed a knife from the block on the counter, since she didn't have hers - it was probably with her clothes. For Carl's sake, it better be with her clothes!

[Lovely]

Dean followed, keeping an extra step back when the cuttlery was pulled from the drawer. Of course she was upset being made into Carl's puppet girl, but hopefully she wasn't going to cut anything off that didn't really deserve it, like a demon. The ruse of the spider would probably work if the neighbors really knew Carl, but if the real fireworks started, who knew? "Do you think he knows you broke out of it? What kinda temper does he have?"

She spun to face Dean, her expression was less than happy, but again it wasn't really directed at him, she realized she had a rather good sized knife in her hand and lowered it. "Heh.. I could kick his ass with my hands tied behind my back and standing on one foot, why do you think he turned me into docile robowife? and would it be wrong to cut out his liver for that?" The last was an attempt at a joke, she even smiled but the hurt was clear in her eyes - she felt violated and betrayed.

"Not for a demon, but for just a regular guy playing out of his league, maybe a bit. A small bit. Maybe an icecream scoop would be better? Just... keep it pointed that way and watch out for sudden movements."

Her head tipped to the side slightly and she bit at her lower lip. "You don't think he's a demon.. do you?" She had been under the control of the charm or spell on the charm so she couldn't really be sure about the things she remembered. It was like a warped dream, only it was real and Carl had been planning to.. If Dean hadn't showed up.. Tessa didn't want to think about because she really would remove Carl's liver! "Right.. I'll just knock some teeth out." She kept the knife in case and turned to go down the hall, listening to the sounds in the bedroom. It was quiet but not that eerie too quiet, which was a good sign.

"Teeth is a good start," Dean mumbled, watching her stalk off, glad to have her back... maybe. His mouth was a little dry and Sam was a little too quiet after that scream. He had to be dismantling something or looking something up or he'd have been packing up and pulling them out with him.

Carl was sitting on the floor in front of the dresser, his forehead resting on his hands which were propped against his bent up knees. He wiped tears off his cheek and sniffled a bit, his expression was remorseful and irritated at once. He kind of looked like someone ran over his puppy, his cheek showed a mark of being punched but he hadn't put up much of a fight. The spell had been a desperate act on his part, one he didn't fully understand and at first he hadn't really believed would work. When it did, he just went along with it, thinking he was damn lucky and totally happy to have the girl back, he'd believed that this warped fantasy would actually work out.

Contessa stopped just inside the door to the bedroom, looking at Carl with disgust and then to Sam who was reading something. She assumed whatever instructions Carl had followed to do the spell. If she spoke to Carl, she was going to stab him, her breath was a little heavy and uneven as she stared at Carl in anger. "Take this please." She held the knife out to Dean, handle first. "I need to find the stuff I was wearing when I got here... he really did get rid of the rest of my clothes."

This was a bad thing? Crotchless, Dean reminded himself of what she'd said and cursed quietly on her behalf, taking the knife carefully. "Alright. You do that, we'll take care of Carl for you. Right Carl? Whatcha finding, Sam, anything?"

[Lovely]

Sam held up a cheap notepad, dog-eared and covered with coffee rings…amongst other nasty looking stains that he didn’t want to dwell on too much. “I found this…oh and I found Carl too!” He tipped his head to the side and looked at Tessa, glad to see that she seemed to be almost herself again. “Even you wouldn’t squeal that loud I bet. I only slapped him, but that squeal earned him a punch. Anyway…back to this…”

He dropped the notepad on the sofa he was slouched on, wordlessly inviting either of them to pick it up. “It’s all in there. His sordid little plans, even some dirty little fantasies written into the margins. Tess, you have crap taste in men I gotta say. This one makes even Dean seem normal! Looks like he was planning this for quite a while…might even be a few little hints in here that he was intending on having quite a harem.”

He shuddered a little at just how creepy this guy was. Demons and vampires and things like that, he could almost get, but some humans just plain worried him. This one was right at the top of his worry list right now. “So…” he directed his question to Dean, “what we gonna with him? Any suggestions? Sensible suggestions Dean!”

Tessa stopped looking for her clothes and turned to stare at Sam, the shock was pretty clear on her face. Mister totally boring vanilla ex-boyfriend had sorid little plans and fantasies and wanted a harem!? Her face flushed a little and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the edge of the closet door. "He did.. did he? Hmm.. that's.. so interesting. Dean can I have that knife back for a second?" She smiled sweetly, though it was fake sweetness and she was totally pissed off!

Sam shook his head, laughing a little even though he knew the situation wasn't at all funny. Dean was probably pissed because he hadn't come up with idea! He frowned again, wondering just why he and Dean were so very different. He was appalled by the idea of using women like this but his mind showed him some disturbingly clear pictures of a very happy Dean, lying on cushions and surrounded by a harem of his own. He glared up at his brother from the sofa then dragged himself to his feet. "So, any ideas on what we do with him. I mean, this isn't totally like the things we normally deal with. I agree the guy needs a lesson in how to treat women, but other than that..."

He left the sentence unfinished, hoping that either Tess or Dean would have an idea because this one was stumping him a little.

"Just a second, I'm still working on the harem thing," Dean said whistfully, raising his hand to shush his brother a second longer and closing his eyes to distantly consider another life that would allow such a thing to happen to him. He smiled with a shake of his head a moment later, sad that it could never happen, but amusing to think just the same. He reached for the notes from Sam and slipped back into work-mode. "That, and that you actually punched him for squealing like a girl. Gotta love that. And no, you can't have the knife," he finally said, realizing Tessa's intent with it that had nothing to do with skewering spiders... rats, maybe. "Carl's an okay guy, just needs a little help from Magic Users, Assholes And Harems Anonymous. I think we just turn him loose. You know, find his little shop of horrors, burn his notes, walk him outside of town and leave him in his gym shorts to walk home alone. Hey, that's about as practical as it gets. Just keep him from doing it again. Although, finding out who gave him the spell to begin with might not be a bad plan."

"Give me the knife and I'll get it out of him, along with his liver!" She muttered, mostly to herself as she turned back to the closet to hopefully dig up her own clothes. Contessa had never felt so violated, harem aside.. the spell, being controlled like that, and the fact that Carl was about to have sex with her while she was under the spell and his control. The thought twisted a tight knot in her stomach which relaxed a little as she found her bag and the clothes she'd been wearing when she got back. At least it was one outfit that wasn't as sickening as the one she was wearing.

Carl looked up at the men and then over to Tessa, he had screwed up big time and was worried about what they'd do to him. Sure he tried to act tough and had his big dreams and fantasies all written down that this guy was reading and they were discussing but for the most part Carl was usually kind of wimpy. He sighed softly and looked at the floor. "If I tell you who gave me the spell and the stuff to do it.. will you let me go?"

[Lovely]

Her aggrivation with Carl and his stupid harem idea nearly made her forget that Dean and Sam were still in the room as she stared unzipping her dress again and then pulling it down off her shoulders after she tossed her bag with her real clothes on top of the dresser. "Let you go? Ohhh .. no deals, you little..." Tessa shrugged the dress back up, leaving it unzipped as she lunged toward Carl. "You better tell me right now who gave you the spell that did this to me!"

[Deleted]

Sam’s eyebrows shot up when Tessa began stripping her dress off and he began to hurry over to her, intending to pull the straps back onto her shoulders. To his relief, she did it herself. “Just as well you did that Tess, you’re in a room with two perverts…granted one’s worse than the other…” A quick smirk and sideways glance at Dean before he continued talking. ”But you maybe wanna get changed in the bathroom. Your dirty little ex here would enjoy the show and Dean…well, Dean wouldn’t have the inner strength to look away.”

He could imagine the daggers flying from Dean’s eyes into the back of his head, not for what he called him but for stopping the impromptu strip show. He left Tessa to make up her mind on what he’d said and turned his attention back to the man he punched.

“Tessa really really wants to cut you into little pieces and I gotta say dude, I’m inclined to let her. So let’s cut out the whining for deals. From where I’m standing, you’re not really in a position to be making deals. Sam leaned down, resting his huge hands on Carl’s knees and squeezing. Hard. “How about you start telling us everything you know? Right from the very beginning.” He smiled, pure evil. “We have all night.”

[Lovely]

"Oh." Tessa stared at Sam a moment before smiling a little, he was such a gentleman. "You're right.. I'll just go.." She pointed toward the other room and picked up her bag, giving Carl a deep glare as she walked by him. She refrained from kicking the stupid shit but was very tempted to do so. Once her back was to him and Sam, she started smiling again, Sam was laying into him and it was totally awesome! She left the boys to 'talk' and went into the bathroom to get changed, she took the time to check over all of her clothes in the bag to make sure nothing was stuck to them or in a pocket, that shouldn't be there.

The dude was nuts and probably evil too! Why else would any guy not let Tess get undressed in front of them? She was friggin hott! Carl pressed himself back against the side of the bed as Sam leaned down in his face. "Chill.. alright? Sheesh.. I'll tell you!" He was pale and it was pretty clear he was scared of Sam, the other guy he wasn't sure whether to be afraid of or think he was cool. "I got the spell from this woman.. her name was Bell..la, yeah that's it Bella.. I have her card in my wallet. But I'm not sure if it's fake. She was in a shop downtown at the same time I was and she approached me.. Dude, you gotta believe me. I wouldn't have.." He looked toward the doorway where Tess had disappeared and he shook his head, sighing. "I didn't want to lose her.. the whole harem thing was just.. I didn't really mean it. I just wanted Tessa." He wiped his hand over his face. "I met Bella at her hotel. She gave me the instructions and the supplies."

[tripp]

"I hate you," Dean sneered quietly under his breath, directing the comment at Sam as he watched Tessa's unzipped back disappear out of view.

He kept watching an extra moment, but once her distraction was over, his attention slowly adhered to the rest of the situation which was suddenly, burningly uncomfortable when the familiar name was mentioned. His fingers were still grasped around his sleeve with the charm wrapped in it and he truly didn't want to have anything to do with the charm or accidentally skewing the focus of its power if it was the same Bella they knew and loathed behind it's creation. "She just told you how to make this? She didn't give you any kind of warnings or downside to it, did she?" Of course she didn't, not when she was getting paid! He uncurled his fingers a little, dropping the charm on its chain into view for Sam to look at and decipher. He set it on the pile of notes out of Carl's reach, then straightened his shirt and collar, trying to fight the urge to spit nails. He then squatted down next to the man who was about to get pumped for information, giving Sam a glance to hold off hurting the guy too badly - he'd rather save the real pain for Bella. "Which hotel and when? How much did you pay her?" Not that it mattered what Carl had shelled out, but maybe if they found her, they could take it back out of her for their troubles - and get Tessa some of her own clothes back. His intention was noble, even if the means weren't quite.

[Lovely]

Carl looked exhausted himself as if they'd been grilling him for hours rather than moments, breaking the spell off Tessa seemed to have it's affect on the caster as well. His hand wiped over his brow which was damp and his dull gaze turned to Dean. "The Montgomery.. Room 13.. two days ago." His voice was almost slurred and he let his head loll back against the bed. "Just wanted Tessa.." He started repeating it over and over in a whisper.

[Lovely]

April 28, 2009
10pm
Conneticut
Follows: Perfect

What more did he have to say that Sam wasn't going to say eloquently with the tip of a knife to Carl who was still muttering about how sorry he was about the whole thing? There would be time to track down the purveyor of the components and that he would leave in Sam's capable hands, too, while his own took care of more important things. Tessa needed to be far away from the goon before she killed him, herself. Dean took the moment once she returned from changing to help her gather what she needed, things that could be washed of whatever essence they still carried, then took her home.

"So... This is it," he mentioned, looking at her door, then her, wondering if she was too freaked out to let him come in with her and make sure it was safe... or she would insist on it. He grinned a little, hoping for the second.

Tessa hadn't had anything to gather from Carl's place, what little she'd found in the closet to change into was all she had there - that was really hers. Dean had taken her back to her place and they stood outside the door of the condo, her keys held in her hand as she stared distantly. She was shaken.. more than she wanted to admit, it was far different being the victim than it was being on the other side of the case as a hunter. There was a pause between his comment and her reply, she slowly lifted her gaze to his face, her smile faint. "Yeah.. this is it.. Will you stay tonight? At least come in.. for a little bit?" She didn't want to sound desperate but in a way she was, she didn't want to be alone and Dean was one of the only people she felt she could allow to be near her right now.

That was a jump from a direction he wasn't expecting, that she'd ask him to stay? His head ticked a little as if he didn't think he'd heard her right. "Um. Sure," he shrugged, not trying to sound too eager though the 'hot damn' probably registered in the curl of his smile. He looked around the landing and the street. "Yeah, we better get you inside at least."

She caught the way his smile curled and his eyes lit up for that second before he tried to cover it and act 'cool', Tessa chuckled almost under breath and finally brought her hand up with the keys to the lock. The familiar click was heard and she twisted the knob, slowly pushing the door inward and peering in. It was as if she didn't recognise her own home, which is some way was true.. Carl had been here, gone through her things, even gotten rid of some of them and it was evident in the open drawers, doors and scattering of some personal items. All things considered it wasn't a huge mess and looked more like someone had been looking for their keys before rushing off on errands. It was the principle of the thing, the fact tht he'd violated her and her home. She licked her lips and reached to her hip out of instinct, looking for her gun. "Just in case.." She commented quietly to him as she pulled it free and took a few slow steps into the condo.

Dean reached for her hand and the gun she drew. "Um, just in case, maybe you better not ... right now," he suggested, not sure her state of mind was good to attach to a full chamber. He tried to coax the gun from her hand and go in first with the same idea, however.

Tessa stopped as Dean reached, feeling the warmth of his fingers over hers against the cool gun. She nodded and let go of the pistol so he could take it, though she was thinking something different in his reason for doing so. Her thoughts were on the spell and the possibility something might trigger her to go into that state again, it would be best to let Dean go first and for her to be unarmed. The last thing she wanted or they needed was for her to go crazy stepford and have the gun to help her. "Right.. go ahead." She murmured quietly as he tried to go around ahead of her, she hated this.. hated not being the one charging in, hated being the one who needed to be saved.

"Remind me to write that down later," he teased, being told he was right about something, anything. Dean stepped in, not overly worried since Carl was still getting the third degree from Sam or recovering from it enough that he wasn't likely to come back here, soon. His associates that gave him the hocus pocus to begin with were another story and weren't likely to be after a side-show like Carl, not when there was a charmed girl on the other end of the spell they'd sold him. Something seemed too easy about that and it wouldn't be the first time one of their group was targeted in an ugly mystical way. His other hand waved behind him for her to stay close, but stay wary. A peek around a corner and an open door next and he was fairly convinced the place was empty, but he put on the show with a little extra flair for her.

[Lovely]

"I'll tattoo it on your ass.." She teased him gently allowing a little more of a smile to show as she whispered to him and then let him go on into the condo. She followed after him when he waved his hand to signal her, moving cautiously into the room behind him. Tessa watched him more for a moment than the house around them, studying how he moved and his reactions to things. It was her house and though she felt unsettled because of what had happened with Carl, she didn't get the feeling anyone was in there besides them. She came up behind Dean and gently placed her hand on his shoulder, nearly leaning against him.

He was jumpier than he realized, not expecting the sudden weight of a hand on his shoulder. He turned with a start, but not enough to turn the gun on her. "Jeez, Tess, could you watch yourself?" He sighed and turned the butt of the gun out for her to take it back. "Fine. We're the only ones here, but watch for anything weird... um, you knew that."

Her eyes narrowed as he snapped at her a bit and given her current state of emotions it wasn't all that surprising that she took it a little harder. Her jaw tightened and her chin lifted a slight bit, she nearly yanked the gun out of Deans hand, angry -yes, but she made sure the barrell pointed down at the floor. "Well excuse the hell out of me.. Don't worry, I won't touch you again." Her voice was clipped but in away if felt good to be able to be angry or aggrivated at anything. She shifted to move around Dean and walk into the kitchen, her eyes leaving him to dart around the room, looking for anything .. odd. She didn't find anything other than the slight mess and she put the gun away for now.

"Great," he sighed again, not sure why it bothered him that she said it with such finality. Did she really want him to stay? "Sorry," he offered, following her to the kitchen, keeping an eye out for the large knives. "Not a bad place when you get past the rifled-by-my-psycho-boyfriend look. Think there's anything important missing?"

She was a little surprised that Dean even bothered to say he was sorry and she looked over her shoulder at him as she closed a cupboard door. "You mean besides my panties?" She half laughed and shook her head but then paused and started to chew at her lower lip. "I don't think Carl knows enough to have any of my books or research mean anything to him.. I don't remember him even bothering with it." She sighed as she bent down to pick up a coffee mug that had been knocked to the floor, it wasn't broken when she lifted it but a moment later it exploded off the far wall after she hurled it. "It is a bad place if someone like me can't even be protected from a sniveling whiner like Carl!" She didn't yell but delivered her words from behind clenched teeth, her hands curled into fists and her breath a little heavy and uneven.

Dean's arm was up protecting his face as he noted the sudden movement and ducked from the sound. He shouldn't have been surprised. Could he really blame her, either? If she valued her things, though, he wondered if he should try to get her away from the breakables. "Oooookay, maybe we should find you a nice quiet corner for a little time-out," he said, teasing about her tantrum, but knotted with concern as he reached out for her.

She turned her gaze toward him her expression was furious as were her actions a moment before but her eyes met his with tears shining in them and looking so lost. "I think under the circumstances I have every right to have a tantrum.." He was reaching for her and she stepped toward him, suddenly wrapping herself tightly against him. "The bedroom is down the hall, last door at the end.. the things in there are less breakable.. and alot softer if thrown."

"Damn, I hope that's not the spell talking or I'm going to have to get me one," he said, meant to tease, but he let her curl close and wasn't letting go. "Tessa, I'm sorry. You can throw whatever you want... unless you need some suggestions."

She didn't laugh at his teasing though she knew that's what he was doing, it was a little too fresh for her to find it funny. Her fingers curled tightly into his shirt rather than in plain fists and she let her head rest against his shoulder for a moment. "Suggestions might be good.. otherwise I'll throw everything." She truly felt like she could wreck the whole place right now but somewhere inside she knew she'd likely regret it later, even if only because she'd have to clean it all up.

"Which sounds better? Throwing a few punches? I can take it... or," he offered himself and his shirt she was already abusing, or the choice of the kiss he set on her temple, something a little softer for both of them to throw around.

"I don't want to hit you.. not tonight.. maybe another time when you're the one who has pissed me off.." There was a small light chuckle, not quite up to her full sassing abilities but it was an improvement at least. Her eyes had closed at the tender kiss to her temple, she hadn't expected that from him but she definitely liked finding out that he too had a softer side. She turned her head, brushing her cheek lightly along his as she 'searched for' and then found his mouth for a full on kiss, much like the one she'd laid on him the night they met.

The fishnets had started it and the smile had kept it going, but now the kiss was over the top and the desire he'd had while watching her display wasn't staying well contained. Sam wasn't here to pester him and Carl wasn't anywhere in sight - no one was - and no burning cabin was going to stop him this time. He turned her toward the door she'd described. "Softer is definitely good," he murmured after a moment, looking around the place again to get his bearings.

[Lovely]

***** A Few Hours Later *****

The room was lit only by the glow of her alarm clock and a bit of moonlight that peeked in from around the curtain which left the room in shades of blue and shadows. Tessa was pleasantly worn out by the last couple of hours and Dean's special skills in helping her 'express' herself, yet she still felt somewhat restless from the events of earlier in the evening. She'd dozed off tangled with Dean but had awoken a few minutes ago and couldn't fall back to sleep. She didn't want to wake him, he looked so cute sleeping on her pillow, his arm draped over her, hand resting against her hip. Her fingers lightly brushed down his arm and she kissed his shoulder as she shifted away and then up out of the bed. Ice cream sounded like a good idea, since at this time of night any loud noises of breaking things would disturb the neighbors who would likely call the police and that was a headache she didn't want to deal with. Ice cream was quieter, safer, and something she could share with Dean if he woke up. She wasn't even sure if he liked ice cream but given how he was with other food, she figured he wouldn't complain. Tessa stretched and rolled her shoulders, not bothering with a robe or any other clothes to cover her, she was perfectly comfortable making the trip to the kitchen and back as she was.

Dean stirred a little. He wasn't normally a light sleeper, but normally he had his knife under his pillow, his gun in reach and Sam to help block the door in a pinch. His rest was burdened by that realization and as soon as Tessa's warmth faded beside him, he lifted his head.. not that he could see much at the moment. He squinted at the empty space and turned to find her, muttering groggily as he tried to push himself up. "What's wrong? Everything okay?"

She smiled and turned back to lean over him with a tender tugging kiss, finding him more irresistible now that they'd connected physically. "Nothing.. just trouble sleeping.." She murmured back, tempted to simply climb back into the bed and curl up against him, he definitely looked good in her bed. "Was just going to grab some ice cream.."

"Like that?" He smirked, able to see her well enough leaning over like that. Nice view, he had to admit, and nice everything else... really nice. He felt sore in places he hadn't visited in a while and that made him smile a little wider and reach after her. "Two spoons? Hell one, I don't care. Sounds good."

"Mmm like this.." She reached below the level of the blankets to run her fingers over his bare skin, he was warm and inviting and damn he'd be good with a side of ice cream. "Be right back." She slowly dragged her fingers back up as she stepped away and turned herself toward the kitchen.. letting him watch her go through the door and down the hall. Tessa liked the way he smiled and looked at her when she'd leaned over him and she couldn't help the small smile that played on her lips, thinking of him watching her walk away. It thrilled her in ways no one ever had before, maybe it was because he was another hunter and a damn fine one at that. It was likely so much more, the fact that he cared enough in the short time they'd known each other to come looking for her, to stay with her and take her mind off what had happened.. to offer to let her punch him.. layers.. damn him for having so many delicious layers.

She could rock him to sleep like that anytime, he decided, watching her slip out of the room in her bare finery. -Yes dear- he echoed and agreed to himself that he wouldn't mind watching that a lot. As always, it didn't take long for him to shift his gears and wonder about Sam when there wasn't a plan in motion. He hadn't called, Dean noted, looking at the blank clock on his phone and no missed calls. He wouldn't worry. He promised he wouldn't and would let Sam handle Carl. It was only Carl... what was there to handle? Pipsqueak... loser... Dean's mind rattled off a series of other terms almost like he was counting sheep and waiting for Tessa to come back. Icecream... hmm... such a nice thought and so many ways to enjoy it, he thought.

The container was cold and lightly frosted on the outside, Tessa let out a little "oo!" as she held it against her chest with one hand and pulled the door closed behind her with the other. The shiver rippled through her with the chill and left behind a pleasant visual effect for Dean to see as she came back to the bed, shifting the spoons into her other hand and holding one out to him. "Fudge swirl.. Hope you like it." She leaned one knee on the bed, leaning in for more kisses as she slipped halfway beneath the covers beside him.

"I like watching it melt," he suggested, taking the spoons then pulling her down next to him to help clear his mind of other things. "Might not even need these."

She was what melted first, his tug had her gently sliding down against him, holding the icecream in one hand as her other sought his warm skin again. Before she had a taste of the icecream, she decided on another taste of him, her mouth brushing his and then coming back for more.