Cute & Perky Meets Dark & Broody (Phoebe, Dean)

[Lovely]

Name: Phoebe Halliwell Alias: Pheebs Likeness: Alyssa Milano Played By: Lovely

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Name: Dean Winchester Alias: Likeness: Jensen Ackles Played By: Tripp

[Lovely]

May 17, 2009
1:23am
Railyard//Warehouse

Cordelia Chase crept through the dirty abandoned railyard in her ever so stylish pumps, and classically attractive outfit which she wore with a certain confidence despite it seeming out of place with where she was and what she was doing. Well, she hadn't had time to change when Wesley rushed them off in a frazzle. The only real problem she had was trying to figure out which demon to protect and which to attack. She was pretty sure at the moment she was protecting the right one from the other less respectable one.

Cordy sighed as they snuck around, looking for Wesley, she heard a noise as of someone sneaking, it wasn't a heavy enough movement to be the other demon and so she expected to find Wesley as she came around the corner. Instead she came face to face.. well crossbow to face with 'Mr. 'tude' in leather' as she'd dubbed him within the few startled moments which followed. She didn't know what to do for half a second but didn't lower her guard or the bow, looking him over as he stood there a few feet away from her. "It's a nice jacket.. I'll be careful not to put a hole in it." She quipped, wondering what this guy was doing here, he did look as surprised to see her as she was to see him.

"Thanks... Are you going to put that down? Cuz it could get a little crazy," he smiled, hands out, looking helpless. He was just here in the warehouse.. on business.. and minding his own business... until he heard something on this side only to come around the corner at the wrong time. Who was nuts enough to be out here... in heels? Oh geezus, probably just a lame hooker.. with really nice legs he noted, on the way up in the once-over. Though.. hookers usually didn't carry crossbows. He shrugged and thought the next best thing... gotta be a demon... yup.

"I think it already is a little crazy.. you should go home.. or back to whatever tour bus you fell off of.." Her eyes rolled over him and she bit her lip, daaaaamn! She kept a firm grip on the bow and her eyes on him, the demon.. what was it called again? Something only Wesley could pronounce properly, moved behind her and she shifted to stay between it and this man, at least she hoped he was a man. "Stay back." She warned the demon, her eyes on Dean. "Stay behind me and everything will be fine.."

"Stay back? I didn't move." Hopefully she wasn't trigger happy, too. Sure, everything will be fine. Yeah, she had the crossbow... "You need that to be convincing? What's fine about carrying something like that in a place like this? I'm not convinced 'fine' is the word you're looking for lady."

She growled softly and sighed, rolling her eyes a little. "Not you.. the de.. the person I am protecting from.. the bad guys.." Damn it that just sounded stupid! "Oh whatever! I don't care if I upset your delicate senses of the unknown or if you think I'm a fruit! I am protecting a 'good' demon right now.. and you're in the way of me getting him.. her.. it.. I don't know what gender it is.. getting it out of here safely. Okay? Ok.. You need to be elsewhere." She gestured at Dean this time indicating she was meaning he needed to go. Behind her the demon shuffled out of the shadows and into a better view.

"You're kidding me," he perked up, ready to laugh and be that much more worried. Great, just what they needed... an underground rail runner for demons? "Yeah, well look, I don't buy it," he started, then the creature came into better view. Whoa. He glanced around a little.. no Sam. "Cuz I'm here after something that actually looks and acts like a demon. Not that you don't," he explained to the creature, hands up still, playing stupid. "Just, I had something a little more bad-ass in mind, so if you'll just excuse me..." He could try and get past them and hope Sam would help corral them both.

"Uh uh.. go the other way. I'm not stupid enough to let you get behind me. You're probably the other demon I'm protecting this one from.. knowing my luck you're vile and evil in a fine package." She motioned with the crossbow that he needed to back up. "This isn't the dark demon overlord of all things chaotic, bloody and gross that you're looking for... now move." She gave him a small 'do it now' kind of smile.

Well she did have it half-right. Dean smiled back, taking the compliment, but leaving the rest that he still wasn't buying and deciding to go back the direction she wanted him to anyway. That was the same direction she was trying to go and he had to admit as far as bait... wow. "Yeah right, sister. And Howard the Duck was a blockbuster hit."

She felt the small chuckle come out before she could stop it and she stepped slowly towards him, 'guiding' him to keep going with the threat of a good aim and sharp arrows. "Well at least you have wit on your side.. move it along.." She glanced back toward the demon as it followed them, but quickly brought her gaze back to the man in front of them, feeling the need to keep her sights on him and not just because he was nicer to look at.

"That's not my good side, though...," he chuckled, stopping to create a distraction with ... something.... ".. Shit," he muttered, patting his pockets.. empty. Nothing he had to throw or stall them with at the moment save for something up his sleeve. No time like now to get a little help. "SAM!!!!" God he better be in short range or this wasn't going to last very long. If she wasn't a demon, he kinda wanted to take his time with her.

Her finger hit the trigger and her aim was right on, if he hadn't moved just the right way, her arrow hit about an inch in front of his face as he turned. "Who's Sam?" Cordy took a step closer, pulling her cell out of her pocket to "Oh crap!"..she dropped it and chuckled nervously. "Well then.. I guess.. WESLEY!" She screamed for him, hoping he'd get his butt there quick before whoever Sam was showed up to kick her ass. She waited a moment and didn't hear anything from Wes. "No one is coming.. figures. Men are never around when you really need them!"

Dean stopped dead, looking at the bolt in the wall. Okay, she wants to play it that way? He pulled it out as a temporary protective weapon and hit the release, dropping the concealed blade in his sleeve to his hand. "Who's Wesley?" He replied with a snarky grin, diving at her to throw her off track and dodge around her.

"Hey!" He wasn't supposed to do that. She grunted as he threw himself into her, the bow went flying with a clatter to the ground where she couldn't reach it right now.The glint of metal caught her eye and she grabbed at his wrist to hold his hand away, her other elbow heading for the side of his face.

"Dean?" Sam came around the side of the abandoned rail car and saw the scuffle his brother was having with a.. rather pretty girl who wasn't swooning over him. "I don't think she's the demon!"

Caught, his hand dropped the bolt, but the other flashed back with the not-so-hidden blade. "Tell that to her! See, that's the thing about sidekicks... they gotta be dependable." He grinned again and tried to twist her around to hold her still. "You really don't want to damage this face."

"Oh I really do!" She was breathing heavy as he caught her and pulled her around, attempting to hit him with anything she can before he can get ahold of her fully.

Sam didn't feel as though he should jump in just yet and was content, alright very amused to watch them. He sort of smirked watching them, but also glancing around for the 'real' demon which was nowhere in sight as it had skittered off while his brother and this girl were struggling.

"Just take it easy, alright? You're not the demon and neither are we. Sammy, did you find anything?" Tries to keep tabs on both of her hands to hold her back, but not hurt her, yet.

"Of course I'm not the demon! Do I look like I'm the king of slimey slug demon things??" Cordy slammed the heel of her shoe into the top of his foot.

"If I had found it yet, would I be standing here.. being very entertained." Sam smiled a little and looked over the fiesty girl. "You have such a way with the ladies Dean, what you're usual charms didn't work?"

He grimaced only slightly at the pain that bolted up his leg... like a muthe-... "She's charmed enough, Sammy. Looks like we're babysitting for a bit while shirley temple here finishes her little song and dance. Let's go. That thing's in here someone. Wouldn't want anyone to get hurt."

Did he just say babysitting?? Her eyes narrowed and she brought her head up in a sudden a sharp movement -meaning to slam into his face. "Shirley Temple?? Oh god.. my hair is.. I knew I shouldn't have trusted that hairdresser!"

Her head clocked his jaw slightly and he shoved, trying to keep hold and keep from getting his nose broken. "Got more things to worry about than your hair. I'm assuming your sidekick is around close? When was the last time you saw him? If you're after the same thing we are, I don't think it's a good idea to leave him alone, do you?"

She huffed and grew still, then gave her winning yet sarcastic smile. "I'm sure if Wesley were in trouble, we'd all hear him screaming like a frightened school girl." She tried to yank away from him again. "Besides.. we're not after the same demon."

"How can you be so sure?" Sam was still trying not to laugh as he watched Dean have his hands full of the girl.

A loud clatter of a load being released from its crane thundered a row or two over, echoing off the hollow metal shells all around them. Running footsteps and a whistle followed.

"Couldn't be the same one, you're right," Dean agreed, giving Sam a glance as the sounds were heard. "She couldn't handle what we're after." He was getting a pretty good idea how much of a lie that was and hoped he didn't regret priming her reaction.

She laughed, sarcastic sounding and let it fall flat. Watching as Sam gave a slight nod to Dean and moved off to check on the sounds they had heard. "Right.. cause whatever you're after is worse than what little ole me has seen." With that she planted her foot, brought her elbow back and went down and forward in a move she hoped would throw him or at least dislodge her enough that she could get away from him. "Aww looks like your side kick left you all alone." Her eyes caught sight of where her bag had been dropped when she'd heard him coming and had tried to hide.

He doubled from the impact, but had been mostly ready for it, except that being winded part. In the moment it was knocked from him with her elbow, he let her go and took off after his brother. If she was serious, she'd follow or if she was smarter, she'd get the hell out.

"Hey.. where are you going?" She stood there a moment, offended that he didn't think she was the better thing to pay attention to. "Like I said.. men.." She gathered up her bow and her bag, slinging the strap over her shoulder as she headed around the rail car from the other side. She decided the crossbow was not efficent here and rummaged to find a couple knives that were easier to keep handy and pull to hand if she needed them quickly.

*******************
2:37am
A closed bar

The railyard ended up being a bust of sorts.. Cordelia was aggrivated by it, but there was nothing they could do but track and investigate and hope to find out what was going on with this bar they'd been hired to "despook", the first leads with the two demons at the railyard had not ended with the finality they had hoped for. Case was not closed even if the one demon had been destroyed. As they slipped into the bar from the front, she could hear movement and someone coming in through the side window. She got ready to defend or attack or scream if needed and watched until something started climbing in.

Once Sam's knife cleared the latch and he pulled open the window, a beam of filtered light swabbed the floor, Dean climbing in behind it, gun propped above the flashlight and stepping carefully with Sam right behind him. "Shhh shhh...," he stopped suddenly, waving Sam to stop as well, letting him sweep the doorway across from them with the light when he thought he saw something there in the shadows.

Sam was right on Dean's heels so to speak as they climbed through the window into the old pub, he came to a stop at his brother's signal and let his light sweep the shadows where Dean gestured. To his surprise he saw the pretty girl who'd given Dean a fight at the railyard standing there. "Uh.. Dean..?" He nodded, sure Dean would see what he did.

Cordy was able to see Dean from where she stood before he saw her, but that didn't help her when Sam shone his flashlight on her face. She squinted and kept her bow low, she'd be able to shoot but looked more defensive in her stance then aggressive. "You.." She almost pouted as she looked directly at the older brother.

Dean wasn't sure whether to be surprised or p-o-'ed. He looked up at Sam and back at her... he didn't believe it either way. "You...??"

"Cordy you know these guys?" Fred's Texas twang came from behind the bar where she'd been hiding as she peeked up over the edge.

"What are you doing here? Didn't you mess up our investigation enough back there?" Cordy whispered to the boys, mostly Dean as she lowered the cross bow so it wasn't pointed at them at all. "Yes me.. here.. you shouldn't be!" She waved at Fred as if to say I'll tell you later.

"Investigation? Dean?" Sam looked at his brother again, with a frown wondering what he knew about all this.

Dean shrugged, giving him a 'da hell should I know?' look, pulling his expression into a half frown. He wasn't exactly disappointed they were here, but they could get in the way. "Amateurs," he mumbled about the girls and their 'official' investigation.

"Soo you know her... she knows you... hugs all around!" The voice was booming, electric and friendly, coming from the side doorway.

"Lorne!!" Both girls said in unison, wide eyes and smiles, and giggles. "Oh my gosh.. Lorne! What are you doing here?" Cordy set her bow down and was heading to give him a big hug.

Fred was bouncing with her special kind of excitement as she hurried around the bar to also come and give their green friend a hug. "Lorne.. wow.."

Sam was dumbfounded and his mouth opened, but he didn't have words as he first took in the man with horns -obviously a demon! and then the girls adoring reactions to him. "Dean.. " He just gestured at the display, he no explaination.

"Who the hell are you?" Fine, he said it for the both of them. Dean's gun was still aimed with the light, wondering if either one was going to be very effective on this green thing with the horns.

He put his arm up to keep from being blinded and grimaced. "Girls, please, tell him to put that away. It won't do him any good here - you know the rules. No violence," he said as if shaking a finger at the young... poorly dressed.. man that was threatening him and the girls at the moment. He gladly returned the hug... both girls equally adored in return. "Or does he know he's threatening the "queen"?"

"The queen?" Fred asked after giving Lorne a kiss on the cheek, delighted to see him again. "I missed you so much, I'm awful glad you're here.. what are you doing here?"

Sam cocked his head to the side, watching the girls and the green man and then his brother. "Rules?" He was confused. "Who are you?" He repeated Dean's question but in a more curious way.

Cordy gave Lorne a kiss to his other cheek and whispered. "So the anti violence spell is in place already.. good." She pulled away with a smile and turned toward the brothers. "This is Lorne. The rules are there is no violence permitted in his place.. demon.. or human.." She gave a small laugh and flashed her smile at Lorne as if to say sorry, cause that's our fault.

Dean raised both eyebrows that immediately knotted back up again. Great, they were hosed if this thing decided to try to slaughter them all right now. He wondered if 'dinner time' meant the same thing as violence in this guy's estimation. The girls liked him and he'd only met the one that he already knew his face didn't like. In the dim light, the gray and purple ring in the shape of Cordelia's head wasn't visible at least. "Okay, so he's Lorne and you asked him a question. What... is he doing -here-?"

"Probably getting everything ready to open for business." Cordy answered in her simple matter of fact way. "Lorne owned a bar.. and it got a little bit destroyed a few times. Looks to me like he relocated.. I'm not singing." The last was said with a half turn and a smile at their friend.

"Don't worry, dollface, I'll do the singing tonight. My cousin.. a simple little ifrite with too many properties he acquired in ... well let's just say he put a new meaning in 'fire sale'... had this one sitting here waiting for me." He giggled a little at his joke whether the others got it or not. "So, we're not open yet, but come up and have a drink on the house. Don't mind me, I'm just getting things ready. Help yourselves."

"Dollface? Psh... yeah, she's an absolute angel," Dean scoffed. This guy seemed a little light in the ... hooves.. as if the demon part wasn't disconcerting enough.

She laughed at his joke, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as she giggled ."Oh goody!" Fred bounced and twirled away from Lorne, skipping off to introduce herself to the boys. "Hi y'all." She gave a wave even though she stood right in front of them. "I'm Winifred Burkle.. you can call me Fred though.. It's nice to meet you. So you all are friends with our Cordy, huh?"

Cordy just gave Dean a cool look and moved toward the bar, at least she could get a water or something for herself. As she moved she caught the shadow of the bruise on his face, it made her chuckle a little as she forgot about the water and sat down on a stool at the bar. "Do you need any help Lorne?"

Sam looked to Dean and to Lorne, then to Cordy and finally to the bubbly girl who bounced in front of them. "Hey.. nice to meet you." He was really thinking maybe he'd just lost his mind.. this was.. he'd seen alot of things in his life and this was weird even to him!

"Friends? Um.. nah, we just came for the triscuits. Dean.. this is Sam," he smiled, finding it strange that he gave their real names without a second thought... now why did he do that? He gave Sam another look and nodded toward the bar. "We're gonna need this."

"Of course they're friends, Fred. We're all friends here, aren't we? Listen, sugarplum," Lorne slid up by the leather-clad doubting-thomas and tried to set the record straight in the way only Lorne could, sliding his arm around the boy in a most friendly manner. He smiled through the blood-red slice of mouth. "In my place, you enjoy yourselves. So please... enjoy." It wasn't just a fact but also a bit of a warning not to cause trouble, especially when he hadn't even opened for paying customers yet. "Thanks for the offer sweetcakes, but don't worry your pretty head, I've got everything taken care of. Just sit down and relax yourselves."

Fred giggled at what Dean said, shaking her head a bit. "Aww you're funny. He's funny." She pointed that out to Sam with a smile as she twisted and squirmed in her cute 'can't stay still' way before she bounced off to check out what Lorne had done in the place so far.

Cordy watch as Fred giggled and flirted and Lorne got friendly with Dean, now if only Wes was there to enjoy it all. "I don't know Lorne, sit down, relax.. that's a pretty tall order. I don't know if I can do that.." She was half joking at least but she'd been wound up pretty tight with everything that went down recently.

Cordy sort of snickered as she saw that Lorne and Sam were sitting down to talk philosophy and law... while Dean 'sucked it up' with his beer, nursing his shiner from the back of Cordy's head. She looked at Dean again and sighed, getting up and moving around the back of the bar. "You want me to find and ice pack for your face?" She found one and set it down on the bar so he could take it if he wanted.

"Before or after kissing it better?" He winked at her. "No hard feelings right?"

"I can give you a matching set.." She winked back.

He quietly seethed, interested but backed off. "Oooooo see.. that's not nice."

"Now why would you ever think a girl with a crossbow is nice? .. silly boy."

"My kinda date..."

"It's not a date until the guy spends money."

"How much does another ice pack cost?"

"Probably more than you have." She gingerly took off her button down shirt, trying to see the bruise she had on her shoulder from wrestling around with him.

"You take plastic?"

"all forms."

"sweet... how about another round, huh?"

Cordy dropped her shirt over the bar, shifting the strap of her tank off a tender spot. and went to get him another ice pack and another beer. As she comes back around she sets them in front of him "You better be a good tipper." She teased, reaching up to let her hair down and repin it up.

"Oh, I'm a good tipper," he agreed, watching her hair twist in her fingers. "Sam, give me some change."

The clip secured in place and she just gave him a look about the change comment that said he'd eat the change if he thought that was all she was worth.

"Dean.." Sam gives him a look and waves him off, going back to the more interesting and intelligent conversation with the green, horned man.

She picks his beer and his ice pack up off the bar with a smirk and claims them as her own as she sits down on the stool.

He taps the bar with the card that says Simon Jones on it. "Hey... a paying customer here." He sighs and pulls up a chair next to her.

She holds the beer out of reach with a teasing smile. "See if this -was- a date I wouldn't be waiting on you.. you'd buy me drinks.. and I don't work here anyway."

"Shit... Well who does work here, anybody?" Hops over the counter and starts helping himself like she did.

He got her to laugh, which she hadn't really done since the last big battle. She missed Angel.. "I don't think they're actually open yet.." She turned to watch him, what a view.. She remembered the ice pack and brought it up to press against her shoulder, wincing a little.

"Customers are customers," he rattled, wiping out a glass with his sleeve and trying the draft to see if it was tapped yet. "Yeah baby, that's what it's all about," he smiled, happy as a clam that he was getting a cold one. Not as cold as the girl at the table, but he'd get over it. "Sorry about your arm. How's it doing?"

She gave him a winning Cordelia smile.. the one that lit up a room and made her eyes dance. "I think I'm going to live.. I've had worse, it's alright.. I'm.. sorry.. about your face."

"Had worse," he nodded back with a shrug. Sure it hurt, but it wasn't likely to leave a scar. Then he'd be upset. "The bolt missed, nobody got really banged up this time, it's all good. Nothing like a good brawl to get to know one another, right?"

Her chuckle was soft and she was nodding, thinking about too many things at once. "Right.. you know I know lots of stuff about you now.. like what you think of my hair.." She teased him about the comment he'd made earlier, calling her shirley temple.

"I didn't mean it like it was a bad thing," he frowned. "It might get in your way in a real demon fight is all. They like to set things on fire you know." It was only a half-hearted warning Dean sipped his beer and leaned back with an arm over the chair, checking the place out.

"Mmm thats why I wear it up.. but you know the length of your hair doesn't matter when they try to hack you into little pieces or blow the place up."

"Very true. I take it you get that a lot," he smirked over his drink. "We try not to be that conspicuous... usually. Shut up Sammy."

"Remind me not to come to California again unless I'm locked and loaded. I like the midwest, personally. At least out there we can tell the difference between a band of demons and Friday night party at the Viper room."

"You're like a cross between dirty harry and clark kent.. I'm not sure whether I should feel lucky or look for a phone booth and a damsel in distress." She grinned at him, she liked that he was straight forward and didn't seem to pull punches... he kind of reminded her of someone with his sarcasm and comments but she wasn't sure who.

"Phone booths aren't so bad," he teased. "Nice and cozy with the right company. Ain't that right, Sammy? Sam? *fwwweeet* Sam. C'mon over here and be social. It's impolite to turn your back on a lady."

"Dean you're not a lady.. even if the pretty girl lets you borrow her shoes.. I'm talking to Lorne. You're a big boy.. I'm sure you can handle the little lady.." He smiled at Cordelia, wondering why he felt almost akin to her even though he didn't know her. "Go easy on him will you? He's very sensitive.. I hate when he cries."

Cordy laughed again and finally picked up the beer to take a drink of it, only a sip though.

"b*tch," he muttered under his breath into the remaining foam on his glass. He was still in good spirits at least. "Guess that means you're stuck with me. They got any food around here?"

"Jerk." Sam mumbled out of the side of his mouth, turning back to his own conversation again.

"I don't know.. we may have to forage elsewhere to find something we'd eat." She looked at her beer and set the bottle down, she just couldn't stomach it at the moment. "You're not going to try to hack me into little pieces or blow me up are you?"

"Not today. So let me understand this. This is demon beer, but they don't eat real food? Heh, at least they got it half right. Where'd you have in mind to forage? I'm not the berries and seeds kinda guy."

"Demon beer? No that's regular beer.. and they do eat regular food.. some of them anyway.. but since Lorne isn't fully open yet.. I figure we could probably find a burrito stand or a place that has nice thick juicy burgers..?"

"You're singing my song, sister. Um, what did you say your name was, by the way? I don't think we've really been introduced. Nice crossbow, by the way."

"Cordelia... Chase." She smiled and offered him her hand in a much nicer greeting than she'd given him at first. She reached with her other hand to grab her shirt and the crossbow. "Thanks.. it was a gift from ... an old friend."

"An old friend? You say that like it was either a very long time ago or .. he..? ... was a dirty old miser that parted with a few nice things. More than a few. Dean... that's Sam. Winchester.. "

"He... Angel, wasn't a dirty old miser.." Her fingers stroked over the bow as she picked it up and then tucked her shirt over her other arm. "So Dean.. you hungry or what?"

[Lovely]

May 23, 2009
9pm
Local bar

Cordelia discovered Dean sitting in the bar listening to blues ... sad-slow-rambling-done-me-wrong songs... "Uh oh." She whispered to herself as she approached him, she reached to take the beer away from Dean... she teased him a bit. "You've definitely had too much, you cant listen to this stuff.."

"Heeyyy... whoawhoawhoa... I'm not done with that... just enjoying the song, man... can't you feel it? Walkin' on the tightrope.. hoohooohoo..."

"Ohhh yeah.. I can feel it.. and I can feel you." She smiled a little, leaning over him to try to put the bottle out of reach. "Sooo.. what's with the woe?" Her other arm is draped gently around his shoulders as she shifted, not quite in his lap, so he'd look at her.

He looked over his shoulder at the hand, taking a moment to register that it was hers and that she was somehow on both sides. "Not woe, whoa, like horses. Nevermind. Don't hold yours," he smiled up at her, trying to sneaky-reach his bottle back.

"You don't want that.." She warned and teased in a soft voice, feeling the shift of his arm to try to get his bottle without her 'seeing' it.

"Oh yeah, yeah I do," he insisted with a nod, though she had his attention otherwise. "You need one, too. Gonna be a long night."

"No.. no you don't.. I have something.. I'm pretty sure you'll like better.. and it tastes better too." A bit of her weight started to ease against his leg, she wasn't going to sit uninvited, but it didn't hurt to 'ask'. Cordy chuckled. "It's been a long night almost every night since I was 16 maybe.."

"Got that beat," he shook his head, sitting back and looking up at her and trying to focus on her closeness. He could say 'since he was six' but it didn't matter. "Um, okay..have a seat."

"It's not a competition.. I made my choice.." Her voice stayed low and her smile curved a little more as she settled in his lap. "See.. thats part of what I like about you, Dean.." She was sideways over his lap, her slim skirt just covering her thighs and her long lean legs ending on a pair of heels that helped show off the strength this beauty had developed in her calling.

"Part?" He was in between comprehending English and body language as telling him two different things. His brain tied up in a knot a moment. Why were they here again? Could he afford to be this distracted? Oh yeah baby. What's an hour between friends, right? He tossed out a cavalier grin. "What choice was that?"

She chuckled watching the confusion walk over his features to be replaced by that grin. "My choice.. to do.. what I do, to help people. There were so many times when I could have walked away from this kind of life.. but I couldn't do it. I couldn't be anything other than this. I like that you understand that, that you understand what this kind of life is like. That if my pager goes off and I run out in the middle of... anything, without an explaination. You know it was work.. You have any idea how hard it is for a girl to date with this kind of life?"

He nodded and leaned on the table a little. "I think I may have some idea. At least your work pages you. Beats the hell out of having to read the classifieds and police blotters for work... no pun intended."

"It's not like we don't read those.. but we figured the pagers were a little faster than searching all over town for each other if we need to go fight the evil.." She chuckled a little at the end and looked him in the eye. "I also like that I can just be me.. without having to worry about slipping up and talk to you about this without you thinking I'm totally nuts."

"There's an assumption," Dean winked. "I never said I wasn't nuts. But feel free to be juuuuust you," he could reach for his beer now and d*mn if it didn't make her a little closer as he tried.

"I never said we weren't nuts." She whispered it close to his cheek as he leaned for the beer. "You kind of have to be to stay alive."

His fingertips brushed the side of the bottle, nearly close enough, but not quite as he was distracted by her whisper. Now he was listening. "Guess that makes us what... both survivors? Or both nuts?"

She exhaled softly, the warmth of her breath flowing over his neck and she whispered more. "Makes us both here, strong, smart... and knowing the value of every day.. every minute we're alive.. because the next breath might be the last."

"Maybe yours, not mine," he shook his head with a small chuckle, reaching again for the beer. "Not as long as there's demons out there to hunt and Sam needs me." He couldn't explain the times he had found another breath after many instances that should have, by every right, been his last. His jaw clenched a moment at that thought. "Yeah...," he sighed and sipped his drink.

"Well.. my mistake then.." She leaned back, her jaw tipping up just slightly. She started to gracefully shift out of his lap. "I never said I intended to let it be or go down without a fight... there are too many people who need my help." Her fingers brushed the hair off her neck, revealing the scar from from a vampire bite.. a particular vampire who'd she actually been trying to help.

His hand reached for her arm. "I don't see you fighting too hard now," he pointed out gently, an apologetic glance and an offer for her to sit back down. "No harm no foul? C'mon.. I was just thinkin' out loud... stupid stuff."

She looked at him, a soft sad chuckle floating softly out. "The girl I used to be.. never had to ask.. there were always boys lined up, begging to stand in line to stand in line for a chance to walk in my shadow.. she was the richest, prettiest, most powerful girl in Sunnydale.. She wouldn't recognise the woman in front of you now.. That girl was nothing.. she was empty." Her fingers brushed his cheek. "I don't fight Dean.. not with people I don't need to. I believe if you find.. if you feel a connection, you don't waste time.. You enjoy every moment you have.. especially the ones that feel good."

Dean wouldn't say there wasn't a connection, but he was having a hard time saying there was. People who stayed got hurt, or killed. Those in passing were safer and all he could afford to consider before. "I am enjoying them, can't you tell?" He nursed the last drops in his bottle, trying to sound convincing. She probably knew better.

"Yeah.. I can tell." She laughed and shook her head, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "We all make our choices about what we're willing to go for.. and what we're willing to do for the things we want and need the most.. or to stay with what's safe and never go down a path that scares us." She smoothed her skirt down her thighs and tapped his bottle lightly. "Enjoy your beer.. I'm.. going down the path that leads outside."

Nice skirt, he nodded to himself as she slipped away... that reminded him.. "Chase... you better be packing something other than a crossbow. Sure it's effective, but damned slow."

"Winchester.." She stopped and turned around, lowering her voice for him to hear but not to carry beyond that. ".. don't worry about what I'm packing.. I've fought demons in evening wear."

"I bet you have," he seethed. D*mnit if he wasn't going to have to build his image back up again now. "It's more than style," he said, the tone of insult rolling off his words as he rolled off his chair to stand. He was far from drunk, but let her think otherwise. It was part of his plan.

"Of course it is.." She countered, her eyes narrowing just a touch as she wondered what he was up to. "It's class.. it's the entire package. The build up.. the action.. and the big finish."

"You -are- talking about demons right?" He chuckled and waited, the glass of the empty bottle weighed in one hand and the mental check balanced against the other... gun, blade, salt, stake... ready. She'd said which way she was headed. He'd go the other and catch up. "Gotta go use the little demonhunter's room... I'll be back," he said, staggering off.

"What if I'm not..?" She chuckled as he staggered off. "Take it easy Dean.. I'll see you later." She shook her head, too bad he was more drunk than she'd thought.. she really -needed- to take him home! Cordy sighed and turned, heading back towards the door and out into the street to head home.

Yes you will, he muttered inside a thought. The door down the hall swung on a noticeable hinge and thunked closed heavily. Inside, he was splashing cold water quickly over his face to concentrate and cool himself down. He ran the damp fingers through his hair then patted down pockets to check his inventory this time, including the clip and release on the blade at his wrist.

He was on her mind and she was having trouble shaking it off. Damn him.. and his muscles and those pretty eyes of.. UGH! She needed to stop thinking about him! Why did she have to fall for the broody handsome strong types, or ones who she couldn't even hope to be with? Like Wesley.. "Crap." She whispered out loud, falling? She didn't just think that did she? Her heels clicked on the sidewalk as she picked up her pace, trying to get away from her own thoughts. Suddenly she stopped and went still, not even breathing as she listened.

[Lovely]

May 29, 2009
mid-morning
Bon Temps Hotel

The crew was all together again and though not a typical family -they were chatting and teasing each other like only family can as they all set in to work on getting the hotel cleaned up. Fred and Cordy had both noticed the ratio of men to women and this had gotten the subject off on a rail and around to the girls having a lack of boyfriends.

Fred ended up leaving to go get them some breakfast and so she missed it when someone made a comment about "..the boys are just being themselves... wishywashy, non commital, self depricating slimes.. egotistical, but otherwise wishywashy.."

It made them laugh and Cordy brought up another point. "this true, but some of the girls just want a boyfriend.. like normal girls and abnormal girls get to have.." She pouted a little, they just didn't seem to get it.

Gunn was just chuckling. "But none o'y'all are anything normal any way you look at it."
"Not... that that's bad..." He stopped laughing and started cleaning.

"We still deserve boyfriends.. we may be freaks in our own ways.. but we're not hideous awful people.. we're human.. or mostly human.. and we need that connection just like the people we save."

"Whoa, who said anything about anybody ... "connecting" with anybody? I was just saying..that that... that you ladies are all pretty, um... exceptional and that these guys, they ain't worth your time, that's all."

"Speak for yourself, hotshot. If I wasn't worth the time, I wouldn't still be hunted after two hundred years. Some of the ones after me were even almost normal themselves," Angel nodded.

"The definition of almost in your book must be as fast and loose as someone's version of normal," Wesley quipped from behind the newspaper ads. "Are we looking for work or writing a soap opera? Anyone find anything worth following yet?"

"Thanks for caring about my pain Wes. When I don't show up for work one day, don't bother checking my room for the body." She sighed leaning on the counter, with her head on her hand. "I've been alone for four years.. the last real boyfriend I had was Xander. It's.. just getting very lonely."

"Then this must be the place. Someone hire a carpenter? Have hammer will tr-... holey... maybe I should have brought two," Xander said, hearing the echo of Cordelia's familiar voice in the lobby as he entered, Anya somewhere close behind. He looked around and wondered if he could un-enter... would any of them notice. "You said work, not overhaul."

"Xander!" Her smile was bright as she pushed off the counter and turned to him. "Ohh my god! It's great to see you... wow.. I actually mean that.." She shook her head, smiling as she approached him offering a genuine hug. "Overhaul is work, is it not?"

"We're not staying here.. are we.. Xander?" She stumbled in behind him, looking around with a frown. "Oh.. it's.. Angel.. and Wesley..and Cordelia.. and I don't know you." She pointed to Gunn.

"Don't start," Xander warned Anyanka through the small smile. How many miles had the discussion lasted already? "Work is... it's good to see you, Cordy," he said, returning the hug and not finishing his comment about feeling keelhauled into helping out on a lost cause. "Should he... you know... is everything okay.. .here... with you all... um, together like this?" He pointed out Wesley and Angel, wondering what the rest of the story was and why everyone seemed to be getting along.

"Who's starting, I'm not starting.. I'm stating.. saying.. hello. So hello.. gang." Anya waved and gave a totally forced smile.

Cordy laughed a little and turned into the room motioning towards the others. "Of course.. fine as it can be.. we're.. oh here.. card." She pulled the cinged card from her pocket and handed it to Xander. "Angel investigations.. that's us.. we're a team.. this is Gunn. He's part of our team.. and Fred is.. getting us breakfast.. she'll be back soon. You'll like her." She leaned in closer and gave him a questioning look. "Anya?" She whispered, not knowing why they were together.

"She'll be thrilled you remembered," Xander nodded, maybe answering more than he wanted to admit at the moment.

"Um.. right.. anyway.." She looked at him, not really understanding what or why he said what he did and didn't seem to hear anything else she'd said.

"Anya, you remember Cordy? That's Gunn and I guess we'll meet Fred soon," he said, trying to bring her in nicely and meet the others. He was ready to sit in a nice quiet corner for a few minutes and let the overwhelmedness sink in a little. "Oh, Cordy, you asked about Buffy and Willow... they um, wanted to take separate cars or the bus or something. Did they get here already? We um... had a couple detours on the way."

"Buffy and Willow are coming?... Super.. isn't that super? Wes.. Angel.. won't that be great?" She turned with her eyes a little wide and stepped back towards the desk, but then turned again and smiled at Anya. "Hi.. been awhile.. how are you?"

Anya hopped a little as she walked into the lobby more. "Oh good.. Xander and I are very happy.. I never had a chance to thank you. Without you .. I never would have been able to have so much sex with him."

"Um... soo.. hahah... um, great way to break the ice. Let's just um... yeah ice... actually... how about water, something... please? Long drive," Xander said, trying not to make anyone uncomfortable, especially himself now that it felt twenty degrees warmer in the sparse lobby.

Gunn chuckled. "Nice girl... poor guy," he muttered to Angel. "I got the drinks... water, water and water... on the house. Anything else while I'm up?"

"A stake.. if you could just stake me.. that would be great." She laughed as she turned around, nearly glaring at Wesley and Angel. She walked behind the counter where they were sitting and leaned to whisper to Angel. "You see that.. this is all your fault! Xander is having sex.. and I can't even get a date.. I'm blaming this on you! ..and maaybe Doyle but he's not here to take it out on.. so you better find a way to fix it!" She huffed and straightened up, turning to smile as Anya and Xander wandered closer. "So.. ahh.. how long have you two.. been.. um.."

"Having sex regularly? Almost four years now.. since the fall after Buffy blew up the high school." Anya offered with her usual peppiness and a smile. "I love Xander... and you can't have him back .. so if that is why you called him here. You can forget it. I may not have my powers anymore, but I will still fight you for him."

"Girls, that's great. Really nice of you, but heheeeey... look, we're all a team here, right? Aren't we? So... where do you want me to start hammering? I mean... you know... nails... fixing things, like doors. Got an extra stake? I'm not serious, don't take me seriously," he paused, a hand out toward the first of them that moved, not sure what they would do. This was just too weird to handle right now. "No fighting...Anya... don't you worry about that." He found the nearest empty seat, hoping it would sprout a hinged jaw and swallow him whole.

"Four years... ?" Angel nodded gently, thinking back on recent times with a faded smile. He wasn't sure that was entirely good news for the boy, knowing Anya's history. "Well..." What else was there to say to that?

"No nuts! Four... with him? Dude, right on," Dean piped up, hopping down and over the railing of the stairs at the last to join the crew. "Sorry, couldn't help overhearing. Niiiice to meet you," he offered Anya, with a smile he gave most new girls. "Strawberry blonde... very nice."

"Xander no offence but I'm not desperate enough to fight an .. Anya for you.. I'm very glad you two are happy.." Of course she wanted to crawl under the desk and never come back out again. Then watching Dean flash that smile at Anya, she did turn around pretending to shuffle through the papers for something so she didn't have to keep watching.

"You are very pretty, but I don't want to have sex with you." She smiled at Dean and patted him on the arm, pulling her hands back to fold behind her back as she sort of bounced on her toes again. "..It's good I'm no longer in the vengence business I'm sure I would have been called for you sooner or later." Seeing where Xander sat she moved over to curl in his lap, smiling adoringly at him.

"Pretty? Ouch... she's sharp. Nice to meet you anyway... I'm Dean. You'll meet Sam around here someplace, probably behind a computer or something knowing him. Going out to pick up some beer. Anyone want anything?"

Xander was done with arguments and slumped, leaving a lap for Anya to slide into though he didn't really mind now. "You just met him. Let him live. I'm sure he's good for something," he managed to sigh, hoping that she wasn't seriously going to try breaking anyone when they just arrived.

"A piano to drop on me from out of nowhere.." She sighed and pushed her chair back. "I think I need some air.. I'll be back in a minute." Cordy stood up, rubbing her temples as she headed for the door to step outside for a few minutes. Air would do her good and a minute to absorb it all.. and not have to scream.

"Cordelia, didn't you say you had a few things to pick up?" Wesley chimed in to Dean's offer, trying to get her out of her own slump and out of the awkward situation with Xander... the road to hell, paved with good intentions, but it was worth a try. "Dean, why not take her with you?"

"Wes... um, probably not a really very good idea," Angel muttered, waiting for something to scream, explode, catch fire or ....

"I definately need asprin.. " She stopped and turned back to them. "Sorry I just have this terrible pain.. and it's making me cranky and out of sorts.. a little asprin will fix me right up."

The temple rubbing and pain commentary was noticed from no less than two directions familiar with the signs. Dean stopped and came back a few steps, obviously more concerned about her than beer.

Angel stood and moved closer. "Just aspirin? Are you okay?" He watched, near enough to catch her if he needed. "Where's Gunn with that water? Did he get lost in the basement or something?"

"I'm fiiiiiine!" Her back arched and she jerked violently as if grabbed or thrown by something. Her hands clawed into her hair as she cried out. losing her balance as a harsh vision racked through her.

"Oh sh----...." Dean jumped back toward Cordelia, hoping to get her before she hit the floor or anything else. "Chase! damnit... Cordy, ... hey, it's okay..."

Angel was faster and closer, finding himself behind her and trying to keep her flailing gently controlled. "Wesley - get Gunn up here, now! Sorry folks, this'll take just a minute. Everythings... just ffiiiine," he said, clenching his jaw against the strength in the woman while trying to find the fine line to keep her from injury.

"What happened? What's going on?" Xander Harris, for one, was upset more than the others who seemed to know what was going on but not telling him.

Anya watched, nearly amused at the entertainment, seeing Cordy flail suddenly. She didn't laugh but watched with rapt interest wondering if something would burst out of her middle.

Cordy screamed and kicked, one hand clawing into Angel's arm and the other flinging out, if she could catch any part of Dean she'd also latch onto him. Her back arched in a manner that showed her body was lithe and flexible but that her vision wasn't a simple 'little' thing. It continued for a few more moments before she went slack and limp, if Angel wasn't holding her she'd be on the floor. She gasped, opening her eyes and trying to catch her breath so she could tell them what she'd seen.

Dean's arm was in reach enough to get tugged at but he pulled back. "Heeey now, I may need that. Does she do this often?" He looked at Angel and to Wes who seemed to know enough about it to stay back. "Too freakin' much like my brother. What did you see? Chase... you alright?"

Angel raised an eyebrow as the boy pulled away. What was it with him? "Often enough," he nodded, a half shrug about being used to it, but worried just the same. They appeared to be getting worse. "I gotcha Cordy," he said quietly, hoping she didn't have any aftershock that might make her forget who he was and try to smack the daylights out of him.

"Sensory input entirely like being electrocuted, or so I've been told from a reliable source. Too often, yes, and never pleasant. She's lucky we were here this time," Wes managed to explain albeit vaguely, pushing Dean aside to check her.

"Water, water and ww-what the hell just happened up here?" Gunn saw the gathering and Cordy in Angel's lap with Anya in Xander's looking like she was enjoying the show. "Should I have gotten some popcorn for y'all too? Is she alright?"

"Ooo.. do you have popcorn? Will she do it again? Perhaps we should have some in case?" Anya was still thoroughly transfixed with watching and how everyone reacted to it.

Cordy groaned a little, curling her arm over her abdomen where it stung as if her skin had been sliced open by the claws of the beast she'd seen, which in fact it had. "I'm... fine.. told you.. I'm fine.." She gasped out, trying to move and hide her pain and injury from the others. "You.. you have to go.. sewers.. near the park.."

"Sewers? OKaaaay, maybe I was a little hasty on the whole job thing, you know... that thought of maybe getting paid as a carpenter someday... could have been too big a dream. We really don't need to be in a town that has sewers... again," Xander said, wincing against the inevitable involuntary volunteering that was about to happen. He'd just spent how many hours in a small space with Anya as it was... with no sex to make up for the arguing and... "Popcorn's good. I could hold out for popcorn. You guys go, we'll just get settled in, how's that?"

Fred came in juggling sacks of food and drinks she and Cordy had pitched in to get everyone as a surprise. She left and probably over bought the assortment -not knowing what the brothers might want and since she'd left before the rest of the crew was on to them -they'd wanted it to be a nice treat. "Woah.." She exclaimed over her bags as she caught view of the group. "Uh oh.. I don't think I brought enough donuts to fix that.." She meant to make Cordy feel better, her visions were so hard on her.

"Donuts? You brought donuts?" Dean's eyes lit up momentarily at the thought of snacks but the commentary had him looking around the room. "Wait... where's Sam. I wonder if he knows anything about this. Sammy?!" He stepped out of Wesley's way to try and get at least a piece of donut while they were fresh. "You mind?"

"Gunn, give her one of those. Come on, let's get you in a chair. We've got to go. Sewers near the park. You take care of her, I've got the car," Angel said, looking outside. "On second though, Gunn, get the car." It was still somewhat too light out. He'd go underground and meet them.

"Hey!" Fred slapped at Dean's hands, setting the bags and cartons on the counters to free her hands up and giving Dean a stern look. "Those are Cordy's favorite.." She explained why he couldn't have that donut, but he could take another. "Oh.." She dug in a bag and pulled out a sandwich for him. "Cordy seemed to think you'd like this.. and here o.j... she said you needed something besides beer to nurish you."

"Wait.. hello.. anyone want to know what their going into the sewer for?" She chuckled and winced still trying to keep her tummy turned so they wouldn't see. Her hand was damp with blood and she knew she wasn't hiding it for long.

Sam rolled on the dusty floor and got to his knees, he'd never had a vision quite like that. Talk about intense and vivid -not like his others which were more like a dream, he'd really felt that one. "Wow.." He shook his head and slowly pushed himself upright, getting to his feet, he pushed his hair out of his face and took a deep breath. His steps were stumbling as he made his way to the stairs and started down, he was sore? This was.. he didn't know what to think of it, all he knew was they had to go help. "Dean?" He called, gripping the rail, he'd heard his brother call him.

"Xander don't be a sissy.. we're here now.. I like it.. they are all so.." She sighed, her eyes sparkling with interest and delight as she watched the others. "I mean even Wesley.. he's so.. did he get taller?"

"Down here, Sammy!" Dean hollered, holding up the bounty of sandwich and juice. He wasn't going to argue about the beer. Food was food! "Thank you sooooo very much," he smiled for Fred and tottered off with it. "Keys, let's go. But, I'm guessing... you knew that. Whadda we got... ghosts? Demons? Crazy aunt Millie with a sawed-off shot gun, what?"

"Taller? Um, I wouldn't know. I'm used to seeing him cowering around the corner I'm not cowering behind," Xander admitted, though he was getting the feeling that he'd enjoy himself once he got his feet wet again, even if that meant soggy shoes full of sewer muck. She was right - they were here and for all the strangeness of it, it all seemed warm and fuzzy like normal... like home. "I need sleep," he admitted quietly, shaking his head at his thought that this was, in any sense, normal.

Angel's eyes flared and he caught the edge of the chair Cordelia folded into. He looked down at her hand and reached to move it. He could sense it, smell it.. "Gunn! Towel and first aid kit. Jesus, Cordy... what happened?"

"Yes, I think we should know what we're up against," Wesley noted, already reaching for something to stop the bleeding while Gunn ran off for the kit in the office. "Manifestation from the visions? This isn't good."

"Not good? You're not kidding. I feel like I've been hit by a truck." Sam admitted coming down the stairs, the bruise on his cheek visible as he stepped out of the shadow. "It threw me across the room.. that's definately new." He looked at Dean, worried as they started fussing more over Cordy. He stole Dean's juice as an excuse to lean closer. "Is she okay? I mean this thing ..hurt and you know.. I'm not entirely normal.."

Anya felt like she was tingling. "Xander.. isn't this so exciting?" She shifted in the chair, she was less a part of this group than she had been of the scoobies.. but she had a strange feeling she might be more accepted here.

Cordy tried to smile her usual bright smile for Angel. looking up at him. "Thanks Wes.." She felt him more than saw him trying to get to her wounds. "It's like.. a giant.. demonic bear.. really.. big.. sharp.. claws.. sharper than a regular bear, longer.. it's teeth too.." Cordy rested her head back against the chair and laced her hand into Angel's, squeezing against the pain in her middle.

Fred's eyes widened and she grabbed the only thing she had close while Gunn went for the first aide kit -the napkins from their food. "Charles hurry!" She knelt down next to Wesley, offering him the pitiful paper napkins to start with. "Sorry.. we're not exactly stocked up yet.."

"Hotel without towels? What's up with that!? Okay, this'll have to do, sorry but it's kinda short order," Gunn said, leaping back out like he was cutting across the court for a dunk, landing next to Fred and Wes with a roll of TP and some sponges from the cabinet that were still wrapped. "Just don't ask and don't look, Cordelia. We'll get you good as new. Whatcha'lll standing around for? Lady said get to the park!" He was looking up from the make-do first aid gear at Sam, Dean and Xander.

"Too many hands spoil the sutures, I think. Winifred, I think she's in good hands with you two. I'll go with the others. I think I know what we're looking for. Boys... I'm coming with you!" Wesley excused himself from the close quarters with Fred and Gunn.

"You? You mean me and...?" Xander looked at the guys he'd just met... Dean and the tall guy he figured must be Sam since the name was shouted out and no one else was here. They didn't look like typical slayers, not even close. "What do they do? They look like roadies more than slayers or hunters. You want me to go with them?"

"You're going with them, Wes is coming with me," Angel said, slipping reluctantly from Cordy's grasp and letting Fred and Gunn work. He needed to get away from the blood. "Take care of her. Wes... crossbow. I'll take these," he said, getting a blade and some ancient other-worldly looking rifle. "Let's go hunt some bear. We'll meet you there."

"Xander is going? but.. but.. he doesn't have Buffy to protect him.. he can't go.. he could get hurt or killed.. and then who would I have sex with? Or snuggle with.. and who would chase those horrid bunnies out of the yard?" Anya stood up in a panic, it was her unique way of saying she cared, even if sounded all kinds of wrong.

"Oh speaking of hotel... I found a room I want while I was up there doing my sweep. You'll know which one by the face mark in the wall that resembles me." Sam laughed, pulling the keys out to toss them to Dean as he continued to drink the juice, eyeing Cordy again. He had alot more questions for her -later. "Yeah.. Angel.. careful with the weapons.. it's going after kids. They'll wander off from a picnic. This thing has disgusting yellow eyes.. do not look it in the eye."

"Right.. it's slow moving though and can't see well, that will be your advantage.. but it relies on smell and petrifying it's prey. You should bring the axes.. and do we have a chain saw?" Cordy winced again as Fred pressed on her abdomen and it made her sit up straighter. "Anya.. Xander will be fine.. he's been doing this awhile.. and he's braver than he lets on."

Dean shrugged, amused and accommodating. "Ax and chainsaw. We stocked up a bit since the last time," he said, not sure Sam knew he'd 'found' one and added it to the assorted goodies at their disposal. "We'll bring him back in one piece, I promise," he said to Anya, ready to escort Xander away as he palmed the keys and waited for Sam to be ready. "Room? Who said we're staying?"

"She's lying. I'm not braver, I'm really not. I like this shirt," he said, knowing that just the promise of coming back in one piece was likely to be broken now that someone said it out loud. He looked down at the shirt, the last time he figured he'd see it unstained, untorn and still covering his currently uninjured self. "Guess I'm going."

Angel took note of the comments and started off for the back hallway, checking the rounds and bolts he had available.

Wesley paused. "School children? It's like a circus in reverse," he said, nauseated at the thought of the innocent victims being lured by the 'center' attraction that would appear like a lumbering teddybear, until baring its fangs and claws... like what had cut Cordelia. "Let's hope it's slow enough not to get any more. Back soon...," he said, wondering if anyone really cared much if he came back sometimes. He followed Angel to the back to get to the sewer entrance in the alley.

"Now that's the Xander I used to hide in closets with!" Cordy teased him with a small smile, still trying to be braver than the pain wanted to let her be. "Hey Wes.. you.. umm.. better take good care of that crossbow.." Her eyes lifted to meet his if he turned. "I'm pretty fond of it, I'd like it back in one piece." She didn't mean the bow, and her message also held an underlying meaning for the person.. well vampire who'd given it to her. She turned back towards Sam and Dean and gave them a bit of a smile. "Be careful.. I'd really prefer you all come back in one piece."

Fred looked up as Cordy was talking to Dean and Sam. "Be careful Wesley.. " She called, not knowing if he heard her. "I guess.. we'll save all this food for later.. " She looked at the counter and then at Cordy's middle. "Charles.. this isn't going to work.. try to find something else. Please?"

Anya folded her arms and nearly glared at Sam and Dean. "You better.. if you do not.. I will be very vengeful!." She pouted and looked at Xander, dropping her head a little. "All the way from Sunnydale.. and.. well you better come back. okay."

Sam sighed and stepped beside his brother, giving him a look. "I just said I liked a room.. when did we get a chainsaw?" His eyebrow arched, challanging him back a little. "Cordelia.. stop bleeding and we'll be back soon, Fred the food smells great.. don't eat it all.. I think we'll have some hungry boys when we get back." He turned to head for the door.

"I got a chainsaw..," he repeated like it was no big deal, pilfering it from an open garage down the street. "I got the chainsaw, you can use the ax. You did great with it the last time," Dean added, patting his brother's arm and stepping ahead of him to get the door. "Xander... come on, man. Ain't got all day, let's go!"

"What's not working? Just need to get the stitches in and she'll be fine. You okay with layin' down, Cordelia? Anya... it's Anya, right? Clear off that space up there and help us get her up there flat."

Xander watched Gunn and Fred try to manage with suddenly too few hands but he was going to be left behind if he didn't hurry. Decisions, decisions... "I... um... wait, hold on! Anya, I gotta go, okay?" He settled for a kiss to her bowed forehead, taking Cordelia's comments from earlier to heart enough not to make her more uncomfortable. Anya on the other hand....

"Okay." Anya held his sleeve for a moment but let go as Xander walked away, she always worried about him but never felt enough a part of the old gang to truly help them -they all hated her. She turned and looked at Gunn with surprise and questioning. "You.. you want me to help?" She smiled and nodded. "Yes.. of course I will help you with Cordelia." She seemed eager and excited to be asked to help and hurried to clear the food and other items off the counter. "I 'll get her feet.. if you can get her shoulders." She offered coming back and kneeling near Cordy's feet.

"Okay.. Charles.. you got her? I'll keep the pressure here, she's bleeding pretty bad. Like razor cuts or something.. This is from a vision?"

Cordy sighed, it seemed they were moving her whether she wanted to or not. "Guys.. I'm going to be alright.. I .. really.. fine.. I'll just lay on the counter while you all play doctor."

"We got her. Okay. Alright is when your insides stay inside. Now hush and let the lady do her work," Gunn winked. Cordy knew better, tough girl or not, they took care of each other. "Whatcha need? More of those, more light, one of those bottles of sumpin-sumpin we can't pronounce that only Wesley knows what does or what?"

Xander's step was quicker and seemingly eager as he followed Dean and Sam out the door, realizing the souped-up junker was theirs. "You... you really drive that?" He chuckled. He couldn't complain, looking at the very similar beat-up four-door that was about the same age. He held up a finger and dodged to get something out of the back. "Just a sec... might need these," he said, prying open the squeaky door to grab a back pack full of stakes and a few miscellaneous and strangely familiar items. "Never leave home without it, I guess."

"Yeah yeah.. My insides are still mostly inside.. I actually..it's strange.. it's starting to hurt less." Cordy explained, letting them move her, that did hurt but in general where the slashes had happened seemed less painful.

Dean was speechless. What did he mean by 'that' and pointing to their best girl, the queen of the highway? He gave Xander a look and just walked off to console the ego of the black beauty Impala... maybe a little of his own ego. He'd been slapped already a few times and they hadn't even met up with the otherworld beast yet.

Fred nodded and waited to check Cordy's middle until they had her resting flat. What she saw made her gasp. "Charles.. you better look at this." The bleeding had stopped and it looked like the wounds were slowly knitting themselves shut.

Sam tucked his head down and tried to hide the chuckle at Xander's comment about the car and Dean's reaction to it. "It was our dad's car.. he gave it or sold it to Dean.. anyway.. I'm Sam." He put his hand out to Xander.

"Xander... Alexander Harris," he replied, looking at the hand like it was a tentacle at first. Realizing it wasn't, he shouldered his pack and grasped firmly in return. "Let's go get this thing. She brought fresh donuts."

"Don't ever say that again," Dean turned, muttering at the two of them. "She's sensitive. But, she's got speed which we need if we can avoid the one way streets. How do we get there?" He looked pointedly at Xander for his comments, but let them pass and then to Sam, waiting for his co-pilot to plot out the best course.

"Whatcha got Fred?" Gunn was digging around for more things to sop up the excess so they could see to sew up the cuts. Fred told him to look and he did, dropping another sponge on the counter and watching. "Is one o'y'all doing that? What did you give her?"

Sam tapped Xander's arm lightly in a friendly way. "Come on.." He turned to Dean with a slight teasing grin. "Well that depends.. do you want to get there before Angel does?" He'd noticed a bit of competition brewing between them, each seeming to want to be the heroic one and impress.. well a certain girl neither of them seemed to be making a sure play for.

"He's on foot. How fast can he be?" Dean's confidence in their wheeled wonder was as apparent as his lack of knowledge on the tall dark brooding man the headed off before them. "We'll get there first. Now, which way?"

"I'm not doing anything.. I have lost all my powers and have not had any time to try to do any sort of spell." Anya answered in her simple honest way as she peeked over Fred's shoulder ar Cordy.

Fred shook her head and looked at Gunn, her face puzzled at both this healing and at Anya's comments. "You know I can't do anything like this.. I had toilet paper, it wasn't magic tp was it?"

Cordy lifted her head, looking at them all with wide eyes. "Didn't do what? What happened? Do I have something gross? Is there worms or something crawling out of me.. it's hideous isn't it? I'm going to be horribly scarred aren't I?"

****************LATER****************

The time passed quickly or maybe they really weren't gone that long, either way Cordelia was 'fixed' up when the boys returned from their outing. She was wearing one of Xander's shirt's, well buttoning one up as she came out of the bathroom seeing the boys coming back into the lobby. She gave a small smile to Xander first as he was closest.

Xander looked at Anya and back and Cor "... um... do I want to know?"

"Xander.. her shirt was torn and all bloody. You did tell me to be nice.. did you not?"

"Sure.. nice. Are you still bleeding... Cordy?" He had taken two steps in and stopped, looking around at the lack of concern they'd left earlier. He turned back to be sure he hadn't stepped through some weirdness portal. "Y-you were injured, right?"

"HEeeeeey you're up! Good, good... um... where's the donuts? Any left?" Dean's eyes lit up with more relief than he let on as he came in behind Xander, his own shirt marked with the spray of something that decided not to 'dust' out when they finally cornered it. He was glad to see Cordelia up and around, but the shirt made him wonder. "You go shopping while we were gone?" He asked, noting just how nice the 'boyfriend' shirt look looked on her as he went to find the grub.

"Xander if you don't want me to borrow the shirt, just say so. I'll take it off." She muttered, thinking he was miffed that Anya had let her use it, but she and Anya weren't the same size up top and she wouldn't fit in Anya's shirt. Her fingers started undoing the buttons she hadn't finished doing up. "I'm up.. I'm fine.. told you all I was fine.. Plenty of food left.. we haven't even dug into it yet.. sort of distracted.. you wash your hands before you touch my donuts! I do not want demon slime or ooze in my mouth." She scolded at Dean, starting for the counter to intercept him before he put his hands in the food.

"Oh it was very neat.. she just.. sealed right up before we even got to operate on her. I was really hoping to watch them sew her up." Anya tried to explain, excited still and stepping closer to Xander. "I'm so glad you made me come here.. I like it so much better than Sunnydale."

"I... I um..." Xander was about to stop Cordy from unbuttoning then pausing to question the healing and again to defend the decision about making a former vengeance demon do anything she didn't well please herself in doing. His mouth closed and he curled inward, defeated. "It's fine. You can wear it. I'll just go.. um wash up, okay?"

"What, holy water isn't good enough for your donuts?" Dean teased, backing off from the bags with his hands up at a most inappropriate height as Cordy slapped after him. He lowered his hands.. and his eyes briefly. More than just his hands needed to be cleaned up at the moment.

The conversations through the back hallway sounded more one sided than usual. "... I mean, c'mon Wesley. It only gored with one of its fangs. You got it before you lost any vital organs. What's not to love about that?"

There was little response from the pale man who held his arm tightly bound in a tourniquet cloth. Whatever had happened, he could walk, but he didn't appear to be feeling well enough to do much else beyond make his way back to his desk.

"Thank you Xander!" She called after him as he went for the bathroom and she fended Dean off the donuts. She noticed the eye drop and decided to be slightly evil, fluffing the shirt out a little before starting to rebutton it, giving a quick glimpse at just why she couldn't wear Anya's shirt instead. "I'm eating all the creme filli.." She stopped mid thought and turned as Wes and Angel came back.

"Wes?" She was after their first aide kit and moving toward his desk while giving a look to Angel to give her details. "Fred and Gunn went after some more supplies.. I think they may be searching the basement to see what's stored down there.. Wesley, let me take a look at that."

"Basements.. fabulous," he said, looking washed out and distracted, possibly a little in shock. "I ... don't remember. Was it poisonous?" Wesley spoke quietly, feeling that Cordelia would tell him just how mortally wounded he was. He moved his arm forward but didn't release the pressure from the cloth yet.

"What? Oh... he got bit, but only one fang," Angel said, apparently amused by the bear creature they fought. He sounded invigorated... as much as an undead broody hulk could manage. He made 'fang' fingers on one hand and wiggled one. "Not really that impressive. You weren't kidding that thing moved slow. Wes just got in the way."

Dean followed Cordelia to take a look, again at the fashion show, but more to take a look at the wound. "Hm. Nice. Don't think he wants to hear this but... I think he'll live," he snipped.

Cordy left her buttons unfinished again, more concerned with the fact that Wesley was bleeding and more concerned than any of the others seemed to be about him. "It wasn't poisonous.. thank goodness." She reassured him. "How deep did it go in?" She turned her head to give both Dean and Angel a warning glare. "I don't really see either of you bleeding.. or clothes torn.. so did Wesley get in the way of you two playing? Why didn't one of you get him out of the way?" She took ahold of Wesley's arm and sat down on the desk, leaning to take a better look and lift the bandage to replace it with a fresh one. "Could one of you at least get me the antiseptic and gauze?"

Angel grinned a little and cast a look at Dean... playing? Right. "Actually, he was trying to get the bolt back that misfired and was on the wrong side from either of us. It was great timing though. The thing got hold of his arm, Dean got one side, I got the other... wham bam... no more bear. Had to shake him loose of Wes though. Not sure which screamed louder him or... um... yeah, gauze. I'll see what we have."

"Should be pretty clean... holy water and all," Dean shrugged. "Kinda deep but it wasn't ragged. He's had pressure on it the whole way back."

"We're gettin' mouse traps, that's all I'm sayin'," Gunn said, seeming to be in a hurry to get back to the others. He was carrying a box of miscellaneous supplies, but the choices were still dismal. "Looks like somebody cleaned up pretty good in the stock room, not a lot left behind, except mice. Waaaay too many mice."

"Or we could let Dean shoot them, like target practice." She glanced up to Gunn with the box and nodded in thanks for what little he had found and then winked at Dean. "So you cleaned his wound with holy water? Okay.. Just find me some gauze and we'll have him all patched up. Anyone else have any injuries I need to take a look at?"

Sam came in with a small bag that held a change of clothes for him and Dean if he chose to get out of his grubby stuff. He heard Cordy's comments about the rats and chuckled, shaking his head, girl was probably the only one he knew who could keep up with Dean's wise cracks and toss the comments out like that. He wasn't sure if his brother appreciated it, the way he should. "I'm going to get cleaned up.. Cordelia.. you look alot better.." His head cocked to the side as he regarded her, she seemed just fine now.

"Sure, if you want," Dean shrugged, frowning at the poor waste of ammo but if that's what it took... "Good way to kill the time since it looks like we're staying a while." He hadn't really discussed it with Sam since he'd mentioned the room earlier, but he was considering landing in one place for a little while wasn't necessarily bad. Maybe make it a sort of HQ of their own.

Xander returned, looking around at the odd exchange of glances and trying to duck all of them if possible. "Did you say mice? And staying? So ... we're all staying, here?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Gunn mumbled, digging through the box and reading labels on a few bottles that made him wince either being too hard to read or unable to read. "One big happy... is this stuff still good?" He held out one of the bottles for Cordelia or Angel to look at. Some was rubbing alcohol, some ammonia, a bottle or two of cleansers and a few that it was hard to say what they'd been in a former life before the dank and forgotten basement.

Wesley couldn't take the empty stare off the wound as Cordy waited to redress it. It stung from the Holy Water and despite the depth it didn't seem to hurt nearly as it should. It was cold, perhaps from the blessing effect against the demon's ... fluids... Wesley's face turned more green as he thought through the incident. "I'm not well."

"I was kidding Dean.. but you can help kill them if you want.. really.. I wouldn't mind at all, you take my place in the mice.. eegh, anyway.." She flashed a smile after shuddering the heebies about mice away. She turned back to Wesley and saw how his color looked, if he threw up.. "Okay.. just .. someone help me get him in one of the rooms. He needs to lie down or something while we find some better bandages." She slid off the desk and leaned down to put her arm around him.

Anya flitted around the other side of the counter, watching as eagerly as before and even looking as if she wanted to be of help. She grabbed one of the bottles of water Fred had brought back, thinking Wesley should have some once they got him in a room.

Sam looked at Dean and grinned a bit at what he said about staying, maybe he wasn't completely sour on that idea. They'd have to talk about it some but he was hoping.. there was something about these people and this place. It was somewhat like the road house but to him so much warmer, better, alive and.. he could learn so much from them. Besides it looked to have quite the supply of supernatural occurance to keep them busy.

*********************

The others had shuffled off to different places, Wes was trotted off to heave in a trash can in his own room once he was convinced he'd live and eventually be fine. Xander and Anya were off getting settled once she found a room she'd tolerate... Fred and Gunn headed out for real supplies in case there was another medical almost-emergency... Angel and Sam were entertaining each other for the most part. The 'yak yak yak' was heard in the background as they got into discussions. Sam eagerly taking notes.. "You're a wha-...?? ... okay... so tell me more..." The sound of his fingers flying on the laptop came next.. (typetypetypetype...)

Appeasing her request, Dean came back in after washing off and changing, showing his hands like a five-year old, back and front for Cordelia's approval before reaching after a donut in the bag. "Hey - who took the last one?!"

She looked at him -deer in the headlights- for half a second before shrugging and wiping the chocolate frosting from the corner of her lips. She chuckled and tried to look innocent, motioning that there was half of one left on the napkin in front of her. "Here.. I saved you some." If he'd been a minute later, that sucker would have been gone!

"Eh... finish it," he said, passing it off casually though he watched it like a mouse in a hawk's sights. He pulled up a chair, flipping it to lean on the back as he sat down, looking her over and wondering.. if she wasn't a demon, then how...? "Feeling better?"

"Only if you'll share, otherwise I'll feel really bad and that won't be better." She gave a smile, waving the donut in front of him as if flying it in her finger tips.

"No, it's really okay, you go ahead," he grinned. He was watching her smile as well as the donut. He needed answers first. "Nice, but no. It's really okay. So... Fred said you just.. um.. healed right up, huh?"

"Yeah.." She nodded slowly with a bit of a sigh. "Pretty.. wild huh..? I thought for sure I was going to be horribly scarred for life.. then just like that it started to close up and next thing we knew it was like it wasn't even there.." She set the donut down, not hungry anymore.

"Scarred, yeah," he nodded, partly agreeing and partly talking to himself. There were scratches and hints of smaller scars. That made no sense - why did that one seal and the others...? His eyebrow flashed up as he shook his head, unable to explain that in his own mind at the moment. She let the donut just sit there? Okay fine... He took it.

"Just before all that, though... you saw... whatever it was before all that, right? I mean, it's not every day you get to be in the room with a real psychic or anything...," he chuckled. He just rode in the car with one every day.

"Saw, felt, smelled.. tasted.. full body visions." She laughed dryly and sighed, standing up to pace the office a little, wrapping her arms around herself. "I don't just see.. I live it. I experience the visions as a full on assault of the body and senses. Usually from the point of view of the victims."

"Usually, huh? That explains it, it wasn't the first time," he nodded, taking one of the last two bites of the donut. "I don't get it. Why don't they give you something to stop them ahead of time?"

"What.. explains what and why doesn't who give me something to stop what ahead of time?" She turned from her pacing, stopping and facing him with a confused expression.

"Instead of trying to claw your eyes out and anyone else's that tries to help you... Wesley seems pretty smart. Why don't they try to stop the visions if they're that bad? Get them before they start? I mean, sure, it's helpful to save the world or whatever, but if it does that much damage to you... whatever happened to 'don't kill the messenger'?"

"They killed the messenger." She said quietly, her eyes going distant as she thought of Doyle and of what she'd been through since that fateful kiss.. right before he scacrificed himself to save them.

He'd taken the last bite then and it stuck with the confusion. "What?" He chewed thoughtfully a moment, watching her. "But you're not a ghost or anything, right?" She caught his arm and clipped his face with her skull... he was pretty sure she was as warm as she was solid.

"No.. I'm not a ghost.. this close. But I'm stubborn and I like to get my way.. there was a loop hole.. and I get to be alive and here.. and help people. I'm Angel's connection to the powers that be." She held up her fingers as if to show him how close she'd come, which by the tiny space between her finger and thumb -it was very close.

Dean chuckled to himself... liked getting her way, he mused. Hadn't seen any of that, had they...? He popped his bottle of water out of his pocket and looked at it, putting it back away... holy water... might need that. He stood from the chair and went in search of something to wash down the small bit of donut. "Thought he was already dead... how much closer does he need to be?"

"Yeah well you know the powers that be don't like sending messages directly to their heroes. They like using a sidekick.. it usually messes up the fighting if the hero gets the skull crushing visions right before it." She laughed a little and shook her head. "It wasn't supposed to be me.. I was a tiny unexpected glitch."

"Yeah, well here's to being a glitch," he smirked, finding an unopened water from Gunn's earlier basement run. He raised in her honor and popped the plastic seal. "Thing is, that doesn't tell me why you got the gut removal and Sammy got thrown into the wall. Seems for something trying to tell you something, that's a little heavy handed, don'tcha think?"

"You're not the one who recieves the messages.. humans were never meant to. Glitches.." She nodded, she didn't have anything to toast with but he really had no idea just how right he was. "Heavy handed.. they are the powers that be, to get a message here to us.. well thats some major mojo at work. Big power, loud voice kind of thing. Who would pay attention to it if they whispered?"

"Dunno. I don't hear anything from any power outside my own... thank god. I just know the signs," he gasped out a refreshed exhale from the water. It felt good to be on a job, even if it had been a short one with a definite ending. "So let me get this straight," he said, thinking about it all and piecing things together, hoping to make sense of it. "You see things... Sammy sees things... You get signs, he gets signs... you get cut up in pieces... he gets scars...and you don't. Powers that be... in your book and we're after a butt load of demons in ours... what am I missing?"

"I get scars.." She unbuttoned the bottom buttons on the borrowed shirt and opened it to reveal the scar in her side. "Xander got kidnapped by Spike.. Oz and I found him.. and Willow.. kissing. I ran out of the room and fell through the floor, down to the next level, right on a nice broken piece of pipe. See.. I get scars.." Her fingers ran over the mark.

"You were bleeding when we left...," his eyebrow flashed up, wondering if she'd even dare to show him more or if she'd slap him stupid. He wasn't leering. He wanted to know... "You get a western union telegram from a dancing bear demon that leaves you with a tip...or claw actually.. about the size of a letter opener... you're down, we leave, it's all about the demon and we get back... and you're fine? Sorry, but it makes a guy like me kinda wonder who you're working for. I dunno... something to make it look good, get us out of the HQ a while... where're Gunn and Fred?"

Her hands set on her hips and her eyes narrowed on him. "You know what Dean.. go to hell!!.. You have no idea! What you're implying.. that.." She motioned with a finger and turned around shaking her head. "I didn't chose this.. not at first.. it was put on me. It was a gift!" She laughed.

"At first I couldn't understand it.. why me? Why Cordelia Chase? Why was I suffering? Why not Angel or anyone? Why me? What did I do to deserve it? It took the visions all but killing me for me to learn the answer.. and you know what I found out? I didn't deserve it.. I didn't do a damn thing to deserve this! But somebody thought I was special, someone felt I was deserving of this great responsibility and gift.."

"Someone loved me.. he kissed me right before leaping off to his death in order to save all of us and he passed his visions to me with that kiss. That was the glitch.. I was never supposed to have them, he was never supposed to give them to me, but in a moment that all changed, because he loved me. We never even had a date.. I never even knew until it was too late." She sat on the corner of the desk with a sigh.

"When you ask who I might be working for as if I might be evil or something.. you don't insult me, you insult him. I'm a little protective of his memory." She folded her arms, leveling her gaze on Dean. "Fred and Gunn went off to get better supplies than toilet paper and sponges in case we have any other emergencies. I didn't kill them in some diabolical plot. But I don't think you really care where they are.. you want to know about me.. what I am, why I healed.. why I'm so beautiful and nearly irresistable.." She smiled at the last and her eyes lit up. "The last part is easy.. I was born gorgeous."

He was caught, but only a little. He looked away with a sheepish and stylish grin, chuckling quietly into his water. "Yeah... right," he muttered. "Okay, so I'm sorry, but you know... I kinda like to know if I need to sleep with one eye open and a knife in my hand, silver bullet in the other. I don't like surprises. You should know that about me already." He sat back down in his chair and leaned back on the rear legs. "So if these powers that be didn't want you to have it...you already got one dead guy on your team. What happened to lover boy?"

"He sacrificed himself to save me, Angel, and a boat full of people that were about to be incinerated.. he fought the good fight.. One soldier down and the day was saved.." Her eyes shimmered with tears that she looked away to hide. "I told you.. we never even had a date, I didn't know he loved me.. I mean I knew he liked me.. but just not that it was that deep.. I just figured he thought I was pretty.. " She shifted back on the desk and pulled her legs up to sit indian style, resting her arms on her knees. "About ten minutes before he died.. I found out that he was a half breed. Human mother, demon father.. he grew up thinking he was human, he didn't even know until he was an adult.. "

Cordy licked her lips and looked over at Dean. "So.. he died, I get the visions.. I'm totally human and the force of the visions start to kill me, brain damage, every vision destroys a little more for about two years.. they get more painful, more violent.. I went to doctors, said I had migranes.. they gave me pills upon pills upon pills.. I couldn't find anything that worked, they did catscans.. it was litterally killing my brain.. and on my twenty first birthday I got the vision to end all visions. It blew me across the room, I hit the weapons cabinet and then.. my body was laying on the floor and I was looking at it. Watching Angel, Fred, Gunn, Lorne, and Wes all frantically trying to help me.. and thats when I learned about why and how I ended up with the visions and I was given a choice. I could give up the visions and the powers would change one moment in my life and set my path on a different course, the one I was 'supposed to have'. Complete with fame, money, adoring fans and.. well everything I'd set out to have when I first went to L.A. The other option was keep the visions, go back to my life as it was and have them kill me. Everything I thought I ever wanted or die painfully by most likely having a vision blow the back of my skull out. Doesn't seem like it would be that hard of a choice does it?"

[Lovely]

June 6, 2009
2:30 a.m.

Dean snickered as he'd passed Faith's door, just as it shut for the second time. He'd about introduced himself to her other new 'friend' but he met the flat thudding sound instead. He raised an eyebrow and muttered, "At least someone's having a good night." His hand rubbed his neck as he kept going, down the stairs and out, cleaning up loose ends for the night before he tried sleeping, which wasn't happening easily with Sam in another room and his nerves on edge, especially knowing there was a vamp on staff he wasn't allowed to stake.. and a demon.. and hell, what was he even doing here?

He looked back up from the front lot, seeing Sam's light out and shook his head, getting in the car to find a late night station to gas up the Impala and keep her running... maybe keep himself running a while longer on a couple of ho-hos or a sno-ball. "Yeah, a slurpee sounds good," he muttered, pulling out of the lot and looking for the welcoming neon glow.

"God I hate these places," he muttered, pulling up to the pump and feeling the grease of the pimply-faced clerk all the way out here in the shadows. Of course the pump was pay-first after dark. When wasn't it either 'dark' or 'pay-first' in his world, he wondered.. about almost anything he touched anymore. The customary bell rang as he stepped in, taking a look around like he was staking out the place...

She'd spent the day out and about, exploring and trying to find out everything she could about where they had ended up. Having called Prue several times to check in, but still left in awe and confusion she'd avoided going home, if she could even call it that at the moment. Now it was late.. very late... her sisters would be worried but she was reluctant, wandering slowly home.. on foot no less. The neon sign was more welcoming at the moment than the familiar walls and furnishings which filled the Halliwell house.

With a sigh, she picked up her pace and hurried across the lot. She stopped a moment to admire the black Impala and then continued on to admire the rear of the guy walking in in front of her. It wouldn't hurt to get a drink or something, just so she could peek at him a little more.

"Twenty on pump.. ehr... the only one working out there," Dean mentioned, holding out a bill for the clerk so he could get pumping and get back. When had he eaten last? "Donuts," he muttered, checking his watch. It would about that time, it had to be. "Man, is there a good donut shop around here?"

The clerk looked at him blankly and blew a bubble of some bluish-greenish-gummish something. "You're not from around here, huh? Stuff don't open til 6. Unless you wanna hang around a couple hours."

"Um... No. Thanks," Dean painted a short grin in place and threw the bill down. "I'll get that in a minute. What kinda town doesn't have a donut shop? You guys got cops, right?" It wasn't the clerk's fault, but he had to blame somebody and Sam was sleeping. He turned around to find chips or a sandwich, maybe that slurpee. He didn't hear the bell ring a second time, so.. "Where did you come from?" He smiled, nearly walking over the girl behind him.

"San Francisco." She answered honestly and offered him a tired but flirty smile. Wow.. he was.. nearly worth being sucked through a vortex of some sort. "So.. couldn't help but over hear.. this is a no-donut town.. guess that answers the question I was going to ask."

"Six," the clerk repeated, looking at them like was trying to catch them doing something in the aisle, or just get a good view from his plastic box. "We do, but it's not open now."

"San Francisco... Good comeback, nice town," Dean nodded, trying to sound impressed, but he wasn't expecting to deliver a line here, not with pimple-boy watching. "Was that the only question you had? Maybe I can help?"

"That's really where I'm from." She shrugged, still smiling and glancing at the guy in his plastic booth. "Heh.. I think he pretty much told me all I really needed to know." She pointed behind Dean to the guy. "Umm hey.." She leaned around to address the clerk. "You know how long that big red house has been on Clifford street?" She wondered if he might be able to tell her what had been where her house was now sitting. "Nice place right on the corner?"

The clerk gave her the same blank look. Another bubble. "You been drinking? Clifford? S'an empty lot, lady. You want me to call you the cab?"

Dean chuckled. "-The-... cab? Oh man... this town sucks."

"Yeah, thought you might say that.. thank you." She waved to the clerk and gave an 'I hate my life' smile. "Umm is there an all nite diner? Something.. anything?"

Dean looked out through the bubbled tinting on the windows and didn't see another car. He didn't even really see any other lights except down a block or so on Bradbury. "Yeah, I think I know a place," he said, homing in on that thought and the thought of some nice company. He turned back to her with a warmer smile. "Anything... and everything seems to be just down the street... -the- cab ride away," he grinned again. "Let me get pumping and I'll give you a ride." Okay, that was a nightmare line... maybe she wouldn't notice... he grinned and tried to exit that one gracefully.

She bit her lip and looked at him, darn he was cute.. he was probably the demon who pulled them here. She should probably thoroughly check him out to be sure. With that pumping line.. yeah definite demon possibility. "I probably should say no.. but.. what the heck.. sure, thank you." Please walk out in front of me so I can see that tush again..

Damn he wasn't expecting a date and he wasn't about to turn this one down. The only cash he had left he owed Sam from the week before. Too bad, Sammy, it'll have to wait, or I'll have to explain to her about how I'm really not David Lee Roth, he thought, considering the last mock-up job he'd done on their fake plastic. "Oh you probably should, but I'm glad you didn't. Heck.. we might even have enough fun to spend time long enough to see the sunrise and the opening of the donut shop, hm? Dean," he offered a hand with the quip, hoping she wasn't going to flip him into the aisles and try to stake him like the last brunette he'd met in town.

She looked down at his hand and chewed her lip, hoping her hand wasn't going to get burned off by touching him. "Well here goes." She whispered, reaching to put her hand in his and lifting her gaze to his face. "Phoebe."

Plus, she wasn't holding a cross-bow, not that that was a bad thing. The killer deep-brown doe-eyes though were sharp enough, man. She seemed as reluctant and testing as he was.. no marks, no glowing things, just... "Nice... to meet you," he nodded.

"Likewise." She let go of his hand and breathed a sigh of.. almost relief, the vision was a delayed reaction and ran through her with a shiver, she played it off as just that. Chuckling and blushing she rubbed her arms and shook her head. "Wow.. that was.. wierd.. So that's your car, obviously.. yeah, ok." She turned to go out the door but glanced back at the clerk, something was funky about him, but she had other worries at the moment.

"Are you okay? Here," he said, offering her his jacket as they stepped outside for him to pump the gas if the attendant ever turned the thing on.

[Lovely]

"Oh.. yeah.. just a... chill." She finished softly, staring at him with a small smile as he offered her his jacket. He had to be a demon, no real guys did that.. but that would mean the premonition she'd had would be.. even more odd than it seemed already. She took the offer, and kept her eyes on him as she slipped the jacket on and he went to pump the gas. Phoebe followed, studying him and leaned against the car, while he pumped. "So... you're new in town?"

"Yeah, I must be. I'm still in it," he admitted, chuckling a little. There wasn't much to see or do by the light of day that wouldn't, couldn't take more than a week before getting old, he figured. He glanced up and started reconsidering that idea. "A couple weeks. Still learning my way around. I know a few cozy places," he grinned.

"Well.. a couple weeks more than me.. maybe you can show me around to some of the more interesting places you've found? Though maybe not right this second." She reconsidered the idea, not sure where he'd lead her in the middle of the night and not knowing just when or where her little vision took place.

"No? What's to be afraid of out here? Not afraid of ghosts, are you?" It was a fair question that a regular joe might only tease with. If she wasn't he'd be suspicious, and if she was he was going to start looking around in case she had a reason to be.

"Not any of the ones I know." She chuckled and looked up to the sky with a small sigh, she was such a bad liar and usually just blurted out whatever, which was why her sisters hated her being the one undercover. "I.. just meant it was already late, didn't want to keep you out even longer.. okay so maybe I do, but.. eh.." She looked over at him with a smile and an arched brow.

"Right, okay," he grinned, trying to figure that one out. She knew ghosts, did she? He glanced around anyway, wondering if she might have a few as close friends who might not like him taking her for a coffee. "I was already up.."

"Right.. you got me there." She chuckled and clasped her hands together in front of her. "Should I ask what had you up so late?"

The gauge slowed and the pump shut off. "Hey! He shorted me fifty cents... bastard." He glared back at the reflective tinting and gave a few choice hand signals and mimed out his displeasure that the pump stopped too soon, even though he doubted the kid was looking anyway. "Damnit," he sighed and gave her an apologetic look for his display. "Sorry. Yeah, I was in a fight with a de-..eyaah... my brother. Yeah, kinda gets me right here when we don't get along." His hand went over his chest and he winced. He'd forgotten and it still stung where he'd taken a pretty good kick from the demon, but he'd live.

"Ah.. yeah I understand that.. I have two sisters.. I hate it when we don't get along. Hopefully whatever it was with your brother will blow over." She offered him a smile and eyed him carefully, what she'd seen and what she thought he was going to say.. "So you guys moved here together?"

He secured the pump and flipped the plate back up. "Yeah, more or less. Not exactly moved, just stopped for a while. He kinda fell in love with the place," he said, not giving up that he'd done his own share of finding a few things to like and better. "It's only a block or two, but I'm not leaving her here. Hop in," he suggested, pointing to the other side of the car. If he went around her, he was going to keep walking and go back inside. He'd done enough fighting for one night.

"So it's a nice town then?" She asked, pulling her door open, careful of the pumps on her side and folded herself into the car, looking at the interior. It looked like a normal car, so that was a good sign.

[Lovely]

"Yeah... nice," he raised both eyebrows, a sure sign of sarcasm except for once, that's all he could think of to say about the town... that it -was- nice. So nice he'd noticed a lack of police most of the time, which probably accounted for the lack of donuts... and that kind of logic made his head spin. "From what I've seen so far..." but now he wasn't talking about the town.

"That's good.. very good." She said the second part softer, nodding and glancing around, with a slightly nervous smile. She rubbed her hands over her legs and looked over at him. Nice quiet town, who got sucked into a vortex and landed in a nice town?

Music usually soothed all, except Sam who hated his collection. The night was too quiet now that the job he'd done was done. He got in and noticed how Phoebe checked out the car. He gave an silently pleased nod that no insults were flung... things were off to a great start and his gears were turning as he restarted the car and the last AC/DC track on the tape, at least having the decency to turn it down a little. "... so we don't wake the dead," he gave a weak but telling grin.

"Yeah we probably don't have to worry about that.." She chuckled and gave a shrug. "I mean who doesn't like AC/DC?" She covered a bit and licked her lips. "Not usually music that wakes them anyway.." She murmured and tried not to act like a total freak.

He was about to go into his usual banter like he was talking to Sam. It seemed natural and his words caught just in time, hand in mid-gesture with no place to land except back on the steering wheel. "Yeah, I know what you mean." He did... really he did, but saying it sounded so lame.

"Do you.. well good.. ?" She licked her lips again and motioned around at the car. "It's nice.. not a full of yourself pretty boy 'I'm a big sissy' sports car. I like it."

"Thank you," he said, genuinely flattered, turning to give her a warm smile. The last time he had a pretty girl in the car, she vanished somewhere along the freeway without ever opening the door. No, he thought a moment, seeming distant as the memory kicked in, trying to think on the last one. "Oh yeah! Of course," he said out loud and chuckled a bit. The last one had been Cordelia, taking her back to the hotel from Lorne's bar. Now how did he forget that? "Sorry... just remembered something," he mumbled, trying to recover. "So.. diner... here... still open... aaaall night long it says."

"Ohh yeah that happens to me all the time." She waved her hands and let his small outburst pass as no big deal. "Yippie.. food!"

Did she say 'yippie' and 'food' ... together? Dean's eyes seemed to spin in a melted taffy of awe... a girl after his own heart...hopefully in a way other than as a midnight snack. His smile warmed more as he parked and got out to get the door for her. "This never happens," he shook his head, trying to figure out what kind of demon was at work on this one.

"What never happens? I know they don't have donuts all night but.. heh.. I hope they have huge thick burgers and fries!.. Sorry.. I'm hungry." The last word was said with a cute quirk as she got out on her side and looked over at him.

Going out on a limb he thought about it, "Mm... what about milkshakes?" It was a test, he waited for the reaction. Demons didn't usually go for ice cream. Scratch that... "Loki, damnit...," he'd forgotten that one and his enormous sweet-tooth, muttering under his breath.

"I love mi.. what?" She seemed to pale and held up her hand at him. "I knew it! You're a demon! or a warlock.. either way I knew you were too good looking! You're evil. Well bub you just messed with the wrong girl."

"Huh? What? Whoa... a what? You think I'm a... no no no, hold on... just wait a minute," he said, hands up, backing up. He knew this was too good, but she seemed to chime in on the same wavelength in the same direction. "I'm not what you're thinking, Phoebe... now back off!" He went from nice and sweet to straight shooter... damn he hoped she wasn't going to pull a cheap shot like Jo.

[Lovely]

His jacket was a bit big and she frowned as she tried to take on a fighting stance. "Darn it.. hang on.." She held up her finger as if she expected him to wait, while she shrugged the jacket off and then got into her stance, at least she hoped he would.

"I've done enough fighting for one night, thank you. I'm not what you think, but something tells me you just might know that. Maybe we should get back in the car and talk this out, huh?" It was her, the weird vibe he'd been getting that reminded him of several others.. he should have known. "Trust me. I'm serious here.. and don't mess with my jacket."

"I was taking it off so it wouldn't get messed.. I was going to keep it after I vanquished you." Her hands set to her hips and she pouted a little pointing to the diner. "No burgers?" Phoebe sighed and motioned to the car. "Okay.. but I can get cranky when I'm hungry."

"I don't think so... vanquishing or keeping.. not the jacket anyway," he tried to convince her with his smile and the warm mossy green glow of unusual sincerity that he did not want to fight with her. "Vanquishing only works on warlocks and demons... unless you have a good round of rock salt to use. No burgers... not until you lighten up, lady. C'mon. Give a guy a break."

"Heh I could break your arm? I'm kidding.. I'm getting in the car.. I'm listening.." She put her hands up in an 'I give' gesture and quietly got back into the car, waiting for him to join her and hoping her instinct was right about a guy for once.

"Yeah, maybe," he said about the breaking or the listening or the whatever. He was amazed when she actually did get in the car. He followed and slammed his own door shut. "Yeah, well that never happens either. Tell me and I'll tell you... what do you know about Loki?"

"No.. see I'm listening and you're talking.. I got sucked through a vortex from San Francisco and had a bookcase land on me.. so you go first." She smiled somewhat tensely and pointed to him. "If Loki is behind it.. well then it might be worse than we thought at first."

"Vortex? Let me guess... empty lot on Clifford that isn't empty now? Okay, so that makes more sense, but what doesn't is you, here, now. You're not kidding and you know about Loki." He wasn't asking, he could tell looking at her eyes. "I don't think he did it. He might have, but there.. Wait, you said it was a red house, right? shit. Well, maybe, but there's a few things missing still." Dean was going through his memory... all the weird happenings in that college town. "Stupid question... you haven't heard any reports about aliens in town, have you?"

"Umm no, no aliens.. the people here are kind of weird but.. not that weird." She sighed and twisted her hands together. "Yeah the not empty lot.. My house.. well my sisters and my house.. We thought someone was after the Book of.. are you positive you're not a demon or a warlock?"

He chuckled and shook his head slowly, his hands up where she could see them. "Positive. I'm not, I promise. I've already got a 'book of'... so don't tell me and your secret stays safe. It's good to know that we're on the same side, though." He sat back, watching her, hoping he was right about that.'

"Well if you're not a demon or a warlock here to destroy the power of three and you have your own 'book of'.. what exactly does that make you? I mean I fight demons and protect the innocent.. sort of family thing.. and you?" She watched his hands and his face and toyed with the sleeve of the jacket he'd been nice enough to give her, unless they were playing you, demons and warlocks weren't usually kind.

His head cocked a little as he looked around, trying to explain it better than she already did. "Same thing.. except with my brother where you've got the sister act," he shrugged a little. "That was the fight earlier tonight... with my brother... not -with- my brother. Waking the dead... you know? Look... do you still want that burger or not?"

Her eyes cast over him a couple of times and she reached for the door handle. "Oh.. I definitely want that burger now.. and a large milkshake!" Her tongue darted out of her mouth in a teasing gesture as the door opened and she was out of the car, walking towards the diner even as it swung closed behind her. "What a day this has turned out to be."

[Lovely]

*************

"So what's the oh so serious stare for?" She wasn't complaining she liked it.

"I'm not being serious, I'm just... I dunno... " he shrugged, twirling his straw lightly in his shake that was now mostly gone. He glanced up... how could her smile not be contagious. "A lot on my mind, enough to share apparently."

"Really?" She said in that slow way she had, tipping her head slightly to the side with her eyebrow arching up. "So.. does that mean you're going to share?"

Dean gave her a look and a stapled grin. "Think I already have. Ever get the feeling someone's been staring in your head when you don't want them to? Maybe I should clear up a little of whatever you think you saw, hm?"

She mopped up some ketchup with a fry and gave him a real and warm smile despite his painted on one. "You need to relax.. you're wound up very tight." She gestured with the fry and then popped it into her mouth.

He shrugged a little and tried to soften down a little, but he had his reasons, especially after the way she'd reacted earlier. "Let's just say I like to stay ready, okay?" He leaned over the few remaining fries, snagging one and talking quietly. "How is it, you know about all the things I do, or you do, but I've never heard of 'the three'?"

"Nothing wrong with that. I'm always ready!" She tapped her fingers together and grinned at him, her eyes lighting up. "But.. I'm not wound up so tight I'm about to explode. I'm sitting in an all night diner having a snack with a guy I was sure was going to try to kill me as soon as he turned around in that gas station."

Did killer smiles count for anything? He snickered quietly and nodded, "I could almost say the same for you. You seriously thought I would wait to throw you down if I was... I mean... well if I was going to fight you?"

"Well you wouldn't be the first demon or warlock to try to date one of us to get close enough to kill us." She shrugged and frowned for a moment before the smile returned. "The curse of being being born one of my sisters.. our lives are not boring at least."

"No time to be bored," he agreed and looked solemnly at the crumbs on his plate. He barely remembered chowing into the burger it was so good and so gone. "I do my best not to kill the cute ones."

"Well okay at least you have some standards." Phoebe laughed softly and waved to her fries, offering him some that were left as she munched and chatted. "This is kind of nice though.. I don't have to lie to you about what I am. That's always a bad way to start off any rel.. friendship."

Dean's eyes flashed up at the start of the dreaded word. Oh no no no... not going there, he said in his head, though he woudn't mind keeping the boredom away with her a little longer. "I don't exactly know, though, do I? You have a couple sisters and an important book... and you believe in spooks," he wiggled his fingers indicating creepy things. "You know what I'm not, but I won't assume what you are. Knowing and being are different."

Her index finger lifted and she pointed at him with a grin. "Ahh you have me there. Then again.. I may not have given you the finer details, but I haven't lied and I doubt I need to." She folded her hands on the table and chuckled. "You're really going to make me go first and be the crazy lady aren't you?"

"Ladies first," he grinned cordially, sitting back with a smug so-there addition to it. "It was your idea, so go right ahead," he insisted, rolling his hand in the air to get her started. He leaned forward a touch. "But for the record, I don't think you're crazy, okay?"

She leaned forward and touched her finger to the tip of his nose and smiled. "You haven't heard my story yet, either." She winked and sat back taking a deep breath and folding her hands on the table. "It's kind of nice that you don't already know who we are... refreshing in a way. Okay.. umm.. I'm part of a trio of sisters who were born to become.. ah sort of a destiny thing.. we were a prophecy.. three daughters born to the Warren line, who would each be gifted with.. powers.. and who would be the most powerful witches the world has ever seen. I actually got that right out of the book, so it's not me being smug. We were destined to fight evil yadda yadda.. and because of who we are and our destiny and powers and that we protect the innocent, it means that demons and warlocks and forces of evil try to kill us... a lot."

[Lovely]

He tried to ignore the touch on his nose as long as possible. That was just too cute and holly-hobbie for him at the moment, but the story was something all-too-familiar. "Destiny and demons, huh? Yeah well it is amazing I've never heard of you. Evil's been kinda busy lately though, kinda keeping the good guys on their toes and away from the reunion, you know? Us too, believe me. I'm trusting you with this like I trust nobody, but fair's fair. Technically, as a witch, I should count you as one of the bad guys, too, but I won't. For now. Destiny's taken a sort of weird turn for me and Sam lately, so maybe now's the time for an alliance or two. Yeah, I said that out loud, didn't I? Look," he pushed his basket away and leaned closer, not that there was anyone close to hear them anyway from the looks of it. "We live in the land of weird and that you're talking about it means that either you're a freak, and you don't seem to be.. I'm a freak, and I know that I am, but that's not the point... or we're probably all here for some really important reason that I could tell you more about, but not here and not right now. There's something I just gotta ask though. When you... when your house showed up, it didn't land on a little goth b*tch with striped socks and red shoes, did it?"

That bright smile faded a bit at his last comment and she let out a dry chuckle. "No it didn't and I'm not from Kansas." She reached to pull out her money for her share of the food and looked over at him. "...and if it had, I would be in a town that has donuts twenty four hours a day. "

"Nothing against Kansas. I'm from Kansas and it was a joke, okay? And they do have donuts there 24 hours a day and no crazy magicians that fly around in balloons. Just... well.. demons that mark babies and set fire to their nurseries. I think we need to go somewhere a little more... appropriate to talk about the rest of this, okay?"

"You're from Kansas?" She bit her lip and then nodded slowly. "Okay.. it was a joke.. okay.." Tapping her fingers on the table she stared at him for a long moment. "Where.. in this no donut town would you say is an appropriate place to talk about these things?"

She wasn't likely to buy into his suggestion, but it was really the only place. His head tilted, already dodging the reaction, "Well, I'm staying at a hotel with some friends who I think might need to know more about what you have to say. My brother is there, too."

She had to bit her lip very hard to keep from laughing or grinning and finally just let go and lowered her head for a moment to take a deep breath. "Hoo.. ookay. So you want to take me back to your hotel? Oh.. big leap, trust.. I can trust you.. okay.. You're not a demon or a warlock, are any of your friends going to try to kill me?"

"Only if you go in gung-ho with the 'you've messed with the wrong girl' spiel. You.. uh... might get a nasty glare or two but you're with me. You should be fine. If you don't trust me? Hey, that's great. I wouldn't trust me either, just running into some guy that talks about all this netherworld crap like he knows something. Maybe I do and maybe I don't, but I think you know I do. If you want to wait until daylight, bring your sisters, make it a happy do-gooder reunion, swell. We can use the help and I think you might want ours, that's all I'm saying." He left it to her to decide and pulled out the last of his cash that would cover them both. "Put that away. We'll go for beers when we're all friends. You can buy the first round."

She could almost hear her sisters telling her not to go, which only made her want to go more. "Okay.. I'll come with you. I mean.. I trust you and if what I see convinces me, then I can bring my sisters to meet your friends. They.. well, they're not always as open to people as I am.. especially guys. heh.. alright." She pulled her money back and put it away, looking up to him. "I'm the youngest.. they're a little over protective."

"Tell them 'thank you'," he said sincerely with a grin that made him look like his father for a brief moment. He tapped his wallet on the table as he thought a moment, finding he had nothing more to say. He slid it back in his pocket, leaving the cash and extra on the table. "Let's go."

She looked at him for a moment with an odd expression, not sure what he meant by 'tell them thank you' but the moment passed and a small smile returned. "Right." She got up. leaning to suck up the last of her milkshake quick before turning to head out the door. "Thanks.. for .." She hooked her thumb back toward the table, meaning the food and the company, she'd enjoyed the time with him.

[Lovely]

"Sure," he shrugged, hoping he wouldn't regret it. There were a few people in the place and Dean glanced at them on the way out, doing his best to hold the faces in his memory, not knowing who any were or where or when any would show up again. He didn't leave much to chance, and coincidence was a joke. Enough weird things had already happened since he and Sam showed up, it was beginning to feel like the whole town was on end and sliding into the evil darkness. "So... you like AC/DC? What else do you like?" Normal conversations, right?

They got to the car and she looked inside to see her bag sitting on the seat and she shook her head a little. Either she was really tired or she really did trust this guy. "Um.. in music?" She asked realizing he'd asked her a question and shrugging a little. "A wide variety actually.. a lot of alternative rock stuff.. classic rock.. hmm I guess pretty much rock music." She cleared her throat and got into the car. This was just beyond weird, Dean wasn't trying to paw her, kill her, or shove his tongue down her throat.. too bad this wasn't a real date, it would have been one of her nicer ones.

He got in and started the car as he thought about it a moment, choosing a little Led Zeppelin for the rest of the short ride.... 'and in the land of Mordor... I met a girl so fair... ' "Okay.. how about in other things?" He gave her a sideways look, shining, mischief-ridden yet still guarded with the same slight grin as he gave a little gun to the gas and slipped out of the lot.

"Oh that's a short answer.. everything that's not evil." She grinned and wiggled her shoulders a bit as she chuckled, watching him as he drove. "Okay.. seriously.. I have a degree in psychology and I am writer.. or trying to be.. not very sucessful yet. I've never been able to keep a job for long, the running off to fight evil apparently isn't seen as a good reason not to go to work.. which I can't tell any boss and they wouldn't believe me anyway. Oh.. martial arts.. I sort of picked that up with the whole trying to not end up dead thing. I took some classes and practiced a lot.. well it does come it quite handy. A flying kick to the face will take an array of demons down."

Dean turned with an odd glance. Was she always like this... wired and talkative? He wasn't minding, but it was a far sight different from having Sam in the seat next to him spewing all sorts of technical crap. He chuckled, shaking his head. "A flying kick only works on some. Depends on their body armor... shit like exoskeletons? You could lose a leg if don't aim right, but when it's you or him, who the hell cares about aim, just go and get down to business. So you've known about this calling all your life or did it just land in your lap one day?"

"Umm well sort of both.. we were born with our powers but our grandmother bound our powers to keep us safe. As long as we had no powers we couldn't be the charmed ones and our mother had been attacked by a warlock who was after our powers while she was pregnant with me. He knew about me, before she did.. and when my mother died, well Grams thought it best that we not have our powers." She looked out the window, suddenly quiet as she rubbed the back of her neck. "We were young enough that we didn't even remember having our powers.. and when our grandmother passed away a couple years ago, her death undid the binding and ... well here we are.."

"Yeah... welcome to hell on earth," he mumbled slightly under the music so maybe she didn't hear him. "Marked from birth for some greater purpose.. same song different dance. I've been doing this as far back as I can remember, so born into a life that's about as far from normal as Lawrence is from the beach." He gave her another odd glance and turned into the lot of the hotel. "This is it."

"Yeah.. destiny is just grande aint it?" She turned to look at the hotel and her mouth dropped open a little bit. "Oh.. you're staying here? It doesn't look open.."

"It's not," he said, grinding the brake into place. "Not to the public anyway. Look, I can still take you home or call 'the' cab for you if you don't want me to find out where the empty lot on Clifford used to be, no sweat, but I'm going in there and you're welcome to come in."

"Your last name isn't Bates by any chance is it?" She turned her gaze on him with a bit of a teasing smile. "It's okay.. I just.. you said hotel and I expected an open one." She lifted her finger for a moment and let a small sigh out. "Are people normally really skittish around you? You keep offering me outs and I just.. If I don't want to do something I'll say so. I'm not the shy type. I'm asking the things that come to mind when they do.. so I can be informed and to maybe get to know you a little better. I'm cautious because it's only smart to be, but I'm not that cautious and I'm not scared."

[Lovely]

"Great. Then come on." He grabbed something from beside his seat, bringing in some of his tools for the night. The trunk was closed and would stay closed, but the rifle was never far from reach, kept just out of sight from the occasional traffic cop and quick-mart shopper. "And no, it's Winchester, not Bates, but Bates is good, thanks. You've convinced me you trust me," he chuckled and got out.

"Winchester like the.. oh.. okay I'm a little scared now." She partially teased, but a gun? She wasn't bulletproof after all, what she wouldn't give for a little of Prue's power. She was almost pouting over that thought but slipped the strap of her messenger bag over her shoulder and motioned him to lead the way.

"Only a little? I'm losing my touch. Yeah, most everybody I meet's a little skittish, but then, if you're a demon, I'd expect you to be." If she was following, great. If not and she decided to try any witchy stuff on him, the rifle was ready and had already been reloaded. Great if she trusted him but something about this was too easy.

"Yeah I can relate.. it's kind of like my love life.. my dates hate it when I wont kiss them after finding out they are really trying to kill me, then we have to vanquish them.. they usually don't call me after that." She sighed a bit and pouted, shaking her head. "Tragic.. really.." She couldn't keep it up and ended up laughing a little. "But that should make you feel better, I mean if you had spikes coming out of your head or were trying to kill me.. I'd totally be scared, really." She patted his arm softly, as if consoling him, though she batted her lashes at him.

"I'm not that much of a freak. No spikes, thanks," he said with a little bit of disdain over metal spikes and pierced everythings that came to mind and made him cringe.

"That's good. I don't think spikes would look right on you anyway." She waved it off as if they were discussing outfits and followed him up to the hotel.

He agreed with a glance that he was still thinking about it and finding it completely the wrong for him, at least in this lifetime. "Thanks," he muttered, opening the door and holding the rifle low like it was nothing more ominous than the morning paper in his other hand, letting her walk in first. He made sure to talk loud enough that someone wouldn't think anyone who wasn't supposed to come was trying to. "Watch your step. Yeah, I think you'll like the place, even in the dark."

"Well you usually find interesting things in the dark." She offered with a shrug as she followed his directions and stepped carefully beyond the door way. There was a small glow of light from a lamp left on, enough for her to make out shapes.

Dean looked at the frame of the door carefully and around the step. He'd have to talk to the others about warding or at least dropping some salt down when they had the chance. He stepped in and closed the door quietly though it still echoed in the large lobby. His eyes were taking a moment to adjust, seeing some movement near the office. His hand reached forward to keep her still a moment, just a precaution. "Shh... " It was automatic, even though he expected at least one of the others to be up and around. He grasped the rifle a little tighter.

"Ohhkay.." She whispered and took a step back, spinning and scooting behind him, her hands gently grasping his waist. "You can go first."

"It's a hotel, Mr Winchester. Guests are usually expected. Please put that away before you hurt someone. Oh... good morning. I thought he was talking to himself. He does that for attention," Wesley grinned, approaching the couple and turning on another light for them to see by. "Oh my... I... " He looked at the girl hiding behind Dean now that he could see her and stammered, stunned.

"You... Wesley... her... not interested. What are you doing in the dark, man? I could have shot your head off for trying to loot the damned place. Are we all that piss poor you can't read by a regular light or are you playing Abraham Lincoln in the school play this year?" Dean locked the safety on the rifle and stepped aside for better introductions.

[Lovely]

Phoebe let go of Dean's waist once the two started up a banter of sorts and she slowly stepped around beside him, looking at him for a moment. "So this is one of your friends.. okay.. Hi.. Phoebe." She reached out her hand to Wesley and gave a bright smile. "Nice to meet you."

"Phoebe...?" Wesley repeated in a lost whisper as if he were speaking to ghosts... again. He was awed and took her hand gently. "You're... it's not... Halliwell, is it? Mr Winchester, what have you done?"

"Done? Whoa... hold on. Is this your long lost niece or something, cuz I didn't lay a hand on her. Well I would have since she threatened to kill me, but ... no ut-uhn...," he waved off and stepped around them as the space with them in it seemed to close around him a moment.

"What?.. Dean..?" She watched him step back and shook her head. "Nice.. real nice." Phoebe bit her lip a little as she looked back to Wesley and her smile came out again in a nervous expression along with a small chuckle. "As a matter of fact it is Halliwell.. um.. I don't believe we've met before.." She motioned between herself and the cute guy with the english accent. As often as they met people who knew them, it never stopped surprising or throwing her off a little when it happened.

"We have, but you wouldn't remember," Wesley said vaguely. He shook his head. "That is, I know you. You're not... you wouldn't know me, but that's not important." He looked at the closed door and back at Dean. "Where are the others?"

"Others? What others? Why, did Sam slip out somewhere? Cordy, Angel? Everybody out partying without me?"

Phoebe was confused and looked from one to the other watching them and wondering if they were going to fill her in or.. "Um.. hi again.. could we get back to the you knowing me but me not knowing you.. just for a minute.. who are you?"

"Someone very interested in why you're here. Wesley... Wesley Wyndam Pryce. It's...well it's sort of my duty to know who you are. I didn't mean to frighten you." He let go of her hand, stepping back then hissing at Dean, "Her sisters, you lunkhead. Are they alright?"

"Your duty? Great, well officer, gee, I didn't happen to meet her sisters at the gas station, just her, so I really couldn't tell ya. What are you talking about 'duty'? You read papers and act like a snob. What kinda duty is that?"

"Woah Dean... easy there killer. Not everything is what it appears to be.. or everyone.." She looked at Dean a long moment and then back to Wesley with a slight smile. "Okay now what he said, minus the insults.. what do you mean it's your duty?"

"Simply that, Miss Halliwell. Perhaps better explained with the title. I'm a watcher. I'm not sure your grandmother gave you that much information before she died, though... about us. A watcher, one who watches and guides, for those uninitiated," he offered to Dean in case he didn't 'get it' the first time.

"Why can't he read Playboy like everyone else," Dean muttered under his breath before turning to escort Phoebe the rest of the way in. "I think he's saying 'friend I am, I mean you no harm' or something. Come on in and sit down. The third degree is more comfortable on a leather sofa anyway. I don't suppose it's in your dutiful power to get the nice lady a drink?"

"Watcher? Uh.. well no Grams didn't tell us much before she died.. umm is it anything like a Whitelighter? That's kind of how Leo describes what he does.." She spoke to Wesley but followed Dean as he led her to sit on a couch, she offered him a smile as she curled down onto the leather.

"In a manner of speaking, yes. We're teachers, really, but something went terribly wrong. Not too many of us left, so... well, the rules have been bent with no one left to enforce them," he said with an air of sadness. He closed off the disturbing memory of Wolfram's nasty business and offered a grin in its place. "Certainly, a drink. What would you like?"

"Sometimes he even says things that the rest of us can understand," Dean said, trying to put together what the Brit was talking about this time. "Watcher, teacher, maybe he just thinks you're cute, I dunno."

Her eyebrow went up at Dean's comments and she licked her lips, looking between the two men. "Um.. what do you have? I'm good with a bottled water, if you have it.. "

Wesley's glare pierced out behind his glasses. He replied calmly, "I teach slayers their craft, Mr Winchester. Without someone to enforce the rules set down from the powers that be, I could teach witches to slay schoolboys for a song. Water?"

"Somebody hit a nerve," he grinned, scoffing slightly at the tone. Let him try. "Water's fine, thanks. I had a feeling she might want to talk to you guys exactly about why she's here, but since you brought it up, maybe you should start, Wes."

"That actually sounds like a good idea.. thank you." her voice softened a bit as she glanced up at Dean, he'd been snippy with Wes but he'd been trying to help her.. sweet. She patted the couch next to her scooting over a little so he could sit down next to her.

Wesley took a step and Dean darted down to the spot on the couch ahead of him. "No ice, thanks," he said, putting in the rest of his order and keeping himself as a shield between Wes and Phoebe until he had a better idea the nutty professor wasn't going to try and slay her for a song and dance either.

Wes stopped and glanced between the two. "Start thinking about how you arrived first. I'll need to know the details, please. I'll be right back."

She smiled a bit and nodded to Wesley, letting him go off to get their drinks. Taking in a deep breath she pulled her messenger bag open slipping her cell phone from the slot in the front. "I'm just going to call my sister really quick." She told Dean, and dialed.

Prue answered and she explained in very simple terms that she wouldn't be home for awhile, that she was looking into some information, and she'd call when she knew more. "What.. yes. Yes.. Prue, go to bed I'm fine. I just didn't want you to worry. Okay.. yes... I love you..." She hung up and slipped the phone away, rubbing her hands down her legs. "She's going to stay up and worry anyway."

"I know the type," he muttered, watching the phone and trying to catch information from the screen, but he didn't have a good angle. He'd have to trust that the call was legitimate and not some hotline to demon central, giving them a homing signal on their little operation. It seemed to lack that blood component at least. "Hm. Cell service but no donuts. Maybe there's still hope. Listen, before he comes back, I honestly don't know what all that was that he's talking about. Do you?"

"No, not really but he did compare it to something I do know a little about. So I kind of understand.. maybe.." The sighed chuckle was soft and light as she leaned back.

"What did you call it? I might be able to get some more information on the both of them when Sammy gets up. If you're here and Wes can't even figure out why, then something's up."

"Whitelighter.. he's.. kind of our guide.. sort of an advisor, a source of information.. sometimes he gives us 'work'. You know points us in the direction of the big bad or the innocent we need to protect."

"That's almost too Star-Wars for words," he muttered, trying to wrap his mind around anything that didn't say 'jedi'. "That and almost too much like... yeah, well I know that type, too." Something about all this was making him edgey, maybe that he hadn't tried to sleep yet and visions of blood and dust in his head weren't helping.

"I'm sorry it's a lot to take in.. I probably shouldn't have told you.. I just.. I spend so much time lying to everyone I meet and to come across someone who.. anyway It's too late now, I can't untell you. We're probably not going to get burgers together again, huh? Yeah.." She leaned and put her face in her hands, her chin resting in her palms as she looked straight ahead with a small sigh. "I should have known it was too easy."

[Lovely]

June 6, 2009
10am

With Faith conquering mankind in the room next to hers, it was no wonder Cordy was kind of b*tchy. Here she had Angel, Doyle, Dean, possibly even still Wes and Xander who all 'like and care and are attrached' to her, but still no boyfriend, not 'getting any'.. didn't even get flowers or dates...

Gunn spoke up. "Someone get flowers? There's no card," he called out, flipping the blank paper over and over, looking to see if any message would appear as he carried the delivery into the office.

"They are not for me.. probably for Dean." She mutters and doesn't look up.

"Ouch, hey, they shouldn't be mine. Usually don't get flowers after I've been slapped," he admitted, though he grinned, coming in right behind Gunn and walking behind her. "Morning sunshine. No donuts?" He looked but saw no bag, no newspaper, not much of anything to get his day going beyond a good ribbing, if Chase was up to it.

"I wouldn't get her started, Mister Winchester. She's already in a 'mooood'," Wesley warned.

"Who slapped you this time? Or did you not get her name?" She glanced up at Dean with a 'sweet' smile and then looked at Wes with an arched brow. "I am not in a mood.. I just didn't get much sleep.. does Faith's room really have to be that close to mine? Seriously all that grunting and bed squeaking.. I almost went to sleep in his room." She hooked her thumb back at Dean.

"Really?" He shot a look that held a surprised smile that he quickly hid. "You... could switch rooms any time. Hotel - lots of vacancies." He thumbed back behind himself to the stairs. "Didn't say I got slapped by anyone, just really meant... no one ever sends me flowers." He found an apple and leaned on the counter, beginning to nibble on it with a telling smile.

"I don't want to switch rooms.. I like my room.. I bought paint and.. shush.. she should move, I was here first and I don't.. squeak my bed all night with boy toys I pick up.. hey! maybe the flowers are for Faith.. too bad there is no name on the card cause I'm sure she didn't get his last night." She looked over at Dean again and smiled. "No one sends me flowers anymore either.. so if they aren't mine and not yours... hmmm Wes?"

"Allergic, so no. Thank you. You really think... ? Please, Cordelia. As if my feelings are ever a consideration, hm? Oh look... someone's selling a mule for only $50," he said, snapping the ads back up to closer inspection and ignoring the other two. "She might have on the first one, but I'm sure she didn't on the second," he mentioned off hand about Faith's visitors.

Gunn chuckled. "Wes's probably on to something there. I was up between shifts. Girl's busy, I'll give her that much. Wonder if we shouldn't start charging rates by the hour, here."

"You guys really wonder why I get just a tiny bit cranky sometimes?" Cordy smiled oh so sweetly. "Between head exploding visions and work and not sleeping thanks to princess grunt and spank.. you all should be happy you're still alive right now!" She laughed and gave them all 'looks'. "..and Wes.. I do consider your feelings.. " She pulled the paper down to look at him with a pout.

Wesley glanced up, pushing his specs up his nose as she pouted. "Thank you," he said quietly, though there was little else he could say. He'd tried and once was enough for him to realize her magic was one sided, or at least that's what she'd led him to believe. "Are you having another vision now?" His concern pulled the paper down into a haphazard fold onto the table as he moved to help her, just in case. In a strange way he was hopeful - they needed a paying assignment.

"Look, um why not ask the delivery guy who they're for, huh? Maybe they just didn't fill it out. Small town, everyone knows everyone? Okay, maybe not," Dean shrugged and moved off the counter. "And just maybe they were for you, huh? Could be a secret admirer," he added with another smile as he headed back to the stairs to find Sam.

[Lovely]

June 16, 2009
10pm
Caritas

"Dean.. I'm going to go have a drink with Dean.." She'd told her sister as she left the house and the look she gave told the other girl not to expect her home tonight. As Phoebe came into the bar she spotted Dean nursing his drink and not looking very happy. She pouted and walked over to slide up next to him. "And so perky and cute meets dark and brooding.." She tried to tease a little and get his attention.

"I'm not brooding. I'm just.. too sober," he explained as he lifted the glass to his lips, taking a sip to wash down something that had left him in a sour mood.

"Ohh that's better.." She rolled her eyes and tugged his glass from his hand. "Why are you so.. dark and brooding anyway?"

"Hey, I paid for that. It's not last call," he pouted as she slipped his glass away. He didn't fight her much, though his jaw clenched a little as he folded himself up on the bar and leaned, dipping into the bowl for a pretzel. "Nothin'.. just a rough night."

"I think it might be for you, cowboy.. besides..." She smiled batting her lashes at him as she leaned on his arm, trying to get him to soften up just a little. "..I have something that will make your night better."

His crunching stopped and his expression knotted a little. It was part flattery and part insult that she called him a cowboy. He'd been called worse. "Better? Okay, I'm listening." He slipped another pretzel in his teeth.

She just smiled and poked his arm, pointing to herself. "You're supposed to be looking.. oh dark and brooding one.. " She took a step back to reveal the outfit she'd chosen to try and catch his eye and oh so much more.. she wasn't dressed for demon fighting, she was dressed to kill! Though not fancy, just looking good and her assets displayed nicely.

Dean wasn't getting his drink back and the pretzels were dry. He turned to see what he was supposed to be looking at and his expression softened... surprised and a little intrigued, he was definitely paying attention. Did she look that good in the gas station and he didn't notice? He coughed on the pretzel a little and slid off the bar stool, looking around for the flaming horned wonder or the waitress at least for his tab to either offer her something to join him or... "What did you mean by it is for me? Are we going somewhere?" Oh god, please say 'yes'. He smiled a little, wondering... did he promise her a date or something or was this really the surprise of his life?

"We could be going somewhere.. do you want to go.. somewhere with me? We could just.. dance.." She offered him several appetizing choices as she halfway slipped off her jacket to show him more of the delights she was offering for his veiwing pleasure this evening.

He frowned and shrugged though his eyes lit up a little. "Here's good." Really, right here was just fine. He looked around again. He wanted a drink but at the same time he was thinking of something else entirely. He chuckled suddenly and brushed his lip. This was actually too good. "Okay... okay. What? This is a test or something right? Wesley... wooohoo...!? Wes... c'mon, this is a test, right?" He looked around for someone else now... Wesley, Cordy... someone he was sure was checking his weaknesses.

[Lovely]

Phoebe was smiling invitingly until he started looking around and calling for the others. "Um.. wow.. well.. I ah.. okay.. bad idea, right. You're not interested. You could just tell a girl you're not." She pulled the jacket back up over her shoulders, chuckling in a nervous way as she blushed and decided to take a sip of his drink to calm her nerves. "I'll just let you be.. sorry." She motioned to his drink as she swallowed her sip and tried not to just die right there of embarrassment.

He was chuckling nervously, nearly sure there was a camera nearby until her demeanor changed. It was an honest offer. His smile went wan and he sighed through it.."Aaaaa... I'm gonna go straight to hell now, aren't I?" He bit back the smile and looked at the floor, dredging up an apology if it wasn't already too late. "Okay... yes... I am sorry. Really. I didn't... I thought... what do you drink?"

"Something that will unconfuse me and explain what on Earth you just said." She let another small nervous chuckle out and gave him a bit of a smile, tipping her head to the side a bit. "I might need a map to find the meaning in there."

"Means... I was being a jerk," he said, a little more solemnly though not as dark as he was before she came in. He offered her something like what he'd had, though it was pretty strong. He didn't have a lot of cash left, but Lorne had been nice to him so far on the tab. "One of those? I think I owe you something." He looked around, a little more shyly whispering. "I don't dance."

Her face brightened again and she slowly stepped back closer to him. "Maybe you should.. dance that is.. might help.. you're getting a frown line." She pointed out with a brush of her finger near his mouth and a tempting smile of her own.

He chuckled again. "No. No, seriously, I don't dance. But I'll be happy to watch," he shrugged, realizing he turned to follow her finger as her hand moved. The touch seemed to pull him outside of his wall a little bit.

"Watch.. right I'm going to slow dance by myself?" She laughed and shook her head, her eyes lighting up as he opened up just a tiny bit. "It's really too bad, they say dancing is as close as you can get to making love with your clothes on.."

"Well see... now maybe that's the problem. If you've got your clothes on, you can't do it right." Simple logic for simple, imbibed minds, it made sense to him. "You really want me to .. in public?" He looked around again and felt he was going to be made fool of for it, but what the hell. She was cute, he liked her, she asked nicely, and he was feeling charitable. "Fine. Can't there be some... I dunno... Lynyrd Skynyrd, maybe some Rush or something... I can't do anything to this." He said, limbering up a little with a roll of his shoulders and a crack of his neck, trying to get a feel for the music he just didn't like.

He made her laugh again and she was just all bright and nearly sparkly the way she lit up when she laughed and smiled. "Aww.." He deserved something for trying, so she leaned a soft kiss to his cheek. "Don't you know it's like practice so you know if you move well together and might want to go on to the real thing sometime.." She teased him some more and held her hands out to him. "If you can find a song to slow dance to from one of them.. I promise I will repay you for submitting yourself to this music.. deal?"

He had to think hard on that one. "Tom Sawyer?" It was the slowest he could come up with at the moment, but he shook his head. "It's okay. I'll manage. I think..."

"Do you need me to show you how it's done?" She laced her fingers with his and turned so she was up against his chest, backing carefully and slowly to the dance floor. Her eyes would meet his if he looked down as she guided one of his hands to her waist.

Truthfully he didn't have a problem with the movements or the music. He just didn't like letting his guard down that long. He looked down into her eyes and decided to chance it. This was Lorne's place and it was supposed to be safe, right? He shook his head. "I'd like to show you," he said quietly.

[Lovely]

"So.. what are you waiting for?" She let go of his hand at her waist and reached up to slide her arms around his neck and muscular shoulders, resting them gently against the solid form, her eyes and expression invited him in..

"The right time.. the right place...," he offered, taking his usual glance around though his steps were fluid and hardly clumsy as he'd led her to believe.

With his movements being so fluid, it was easy to shift closer and curl more to him, her head tipped up to look at his face, a small smile still playing over her lips. "Dean.." She whispered softly, bringing one hand up to tenderly cup his cheek. "The time is now.. and I'm right here."

"I see that," he smirked but shut himself up, following the curl of her hand and leaning to kiss her. He wasn't about to pass up a good thing. He did wonder... being a witch, what it might do to him.

Her lips were soft and sweet against his and he'd feel her slight sigh of delight as she leaned up to the kiss. Right now she wasn't a witch, she wasn't some chosen destined person, she wasn't a charmed one.. she was just a woman being kissed by a handsome man.

"I think the song's over," he muttered after a long moment of being captivated by the kiss. He searched her face, then stepped back, tugging her to follow him.

"Is it? I hadn't noticed.." She murmured softly, following him as he tugged and they started to move off the dance floor. -WOW- what a kiss that had been..

Dean fished a couple bills out of his pocket in a good faith effort to pay the tab. Lorne knew where to find him if it wasn't enough. He turned around, making sure she was right there. He was ready to kiss her again, but something told him they needed to move off someplace else, quickly. "Promise not to kick the sh*t out of me. Come back to the hotel with me."

Phoebe looked into his eyes for a moment before she gave her answer. "I trusted you once before.. I think I can do it again." She offered him a smile as her fingers reached to lace with his again. She wanted to keep kissing him, something said privacy might be a good idea with the way his kiss was already effecting her.

Another thought came to mind. He was more astonished that the thought occurred to him at all... "Your sisters... they're not going to be calling out the national guard or something if... say... you're not home by breakfast?" The smile was almost as dangerous as the offer sounded.

Her eyes lit up even though she blushed a little. "Mmm no, I don't believe they will.. I think you're safe.. from the national guard anyway.." Her eyebrow arched up a little as if to say he might not be 'safe' from her, but in a good way of course.

[Lovely]

****************************************

It wasn't the National Guard rapping on the fogged-up windows with the flashlight, but Dean was astonished just the same that the law enforcement did actually exist in town. Of course, enforcing the little things like loitering and not worrying about hell hounds or whatever they really SHOULD have to worry about. Needless to say, commentary about 'concealed weapons' was met with as little humor asDean expected and he agreed - yessir officer a room for the night. Phoebe didn't seem to mind the suggestion. The power of suggestion was a fabulous thing.

Maybe too fabulous. Not even an hour after they'd gotten back, Dean was getting worried. Enough that he was nearly in a panic as he pounded on Sam's door, hoping to god he'd answer.

At least the sun was somewhat up when the pounding on his door began, Sam grumbled and rolled over. "Alright!.. Alright!" He called to the seeming urgent pounding. He stumbled to the door and yanked it open to find his brother standing there in what he assumed was only a sheet wrapped around his waist. Sam was a little aggrivated, wondering where the horde of demons was. "This better be good.."

Beneath the panic was the smile of a very baaaad man with a mission. He chuckled. "Oooooh... it's so much better than good, it's great, but man, I need your help. Big time. We uh... I ... um... you gotta help me out here Sammy. We're um... out."

The half sigh, half chuckle was partly disbelieving, partly annoyed and partly amused. "Oh man.. you are kidding right? You woke me up for.. Do you ever.. nevermind.." He grumbled and retreated into his room, rummaging around. Sam was not the player type and really only had that one emergency packet that guys carry in their wallet. He sighed and handed it over to Dean.

Dean's smile faded with the insult though he grabbed it out of his brother's hand, looking around the hallway. "One?!" He spat quietly, his jaw clenching. "What the hell am I supposed to do with just one? Can't you go to the store and get some for me? Like a box... a biig box, Sammy. Dude, c'mon she's a witch, a'ight? I dunno... I think she put a spell on me or something."

"What do you mean one? You want me to take it back?" He teased and reached as if to grab the precious little wrapper back from Dean. He was trying hard not to laugh at how 'wound up' Dean was, it was almost nice to see him squirm since he was always mister cool. Sam couldn't help the quiet laugh as he glanced down and shook his head. "Dean, that's not a spell. It's a hard on." His eyes flicked up as Dean's door opened and he caught sight of the 'spellcaster' herself coming out wrapped in the matching sheet to Dean's. Sam was snickering and grinned at Dean. "..and I can see why.."

Phoebe was curious, fearless, and not very shy so after waiting a few minutes for Dean to come back, she snuck out in the other sheet, to see what was going on. Her bright playful smile greeted the guy at the other door with Dean as she came up beside him. "Hey.. " Her word was breathed over Dean's shoulder as her slender fingers grasped his waist lightly.

The smile was back as he turned to kiss her. "Mm... hey yourself. This is Sam... my asshole brother," he whispered at first, keeping his hand out of Sam's reach as he turned from his sweet nothings to glare at him. "Sam...? C'mon... "

[Lovely]

"Hi Sam!" She greeted him brightly after getting the kiss from Dean, holding him with one arm and staying close to keep her sheet from slipping she offered her hand to Sam. "Nice to meet you."

Sam shook her hand with a grin, how in the world did his brother end up bringing home such a bright and friendly girl? She was a witch, if all witches looked like that.. "Right.." Sam arched his eyebrow at Dean and chuckled. "Yeah she did something to you alright.." Sam held up his hand as he went back in his room to try to dig up something more for them. "... hold on... think I got... um.. no... where did I put... hmm.... could be, no... that's not it.... hang on..."

Phoebe was giggling lightly as she curled against Dean, kissing and nibbling on his neck, ear, shoulder and being playful still as they stood there. Who could blame her with him all there and mmm yummy..

It was clear his situation wasn't going to ease up easily at this rate. Whatever she was doing, she could do for hours to him... "Definitely a good witch," he chuckled quietly, returning a few of the nibbles. He hollared into the room, "Dude, this is an emergency. What's WRONG with you?!"

Phoebe let out a soft peel of giggles into Dean's soulder as he nibbled back and then hollared at his brother.

From in the room as he searched, Sam called over his shoulder. "I'm sorry... I just don't have a secret stash of that kind of protection.. wait.. here.. I found another one! no.. no.. oh.. here we go, there now you have two.. have fun." He came back to the door and dropped a second wrapper into Dean's hand with a wicked grin.

"Hate you," he growled as he snapped the second plastic square into his hand, though his eyes showed a deep gratitude he'd repay later. It would have to do. "He just doesn't understand my pain.. come here you," he said, returning to teases and he scooped her up, careful of the sheet, to take her back to the room with him.

Phoebe gladly let him scoop her up and take her back to the room, as she nibbled his shoulder she looked up to mouth a 'thank you' to Sam and wave before they were shut in Dean's room again. Then of course her attention was all on him again.

Sam was chuckling softly, though he returned Phoebe's wave and nodded to her thanks. "Dean, keys.." He called before the door shut, he'd rather go buy them a case than be woken up again if Dean did need more and by the looks.. he needed alot.

The door was almost shut then swung open, the keys being hurtled across the hall at Sam's feet. "And get some donuts!" The door slammed again.

"What.. oh man.. you suck." He grumbled, bending down to pull the keys up into his hand and turned back to grab his pants and a shirt.

About 45 mins later there was be a knock on the door and it creaked open far enough for two boxes to be slid inside, one with donuts one with protection, then the door would closed again. The keys were sitting on top of the two boxes.

[Lovely]

June 18, 2009
3:30 p.m.
Somewhere in Bon Temps...

Dean had been listening to some of the dirty-laundry stories Gunn had mentioned and Faith had admitted to point-blank. He didn't know Faith that well but had a pretty good idea that between her and Buffy, they apparently knew half the West coast and he knew enough of the slayers' exploits already to almost be jealous if not simply in awe. Strong women and skin were on his mind a lot lately as it was and it was disturbing to find that the girls, although enticing in their casual desires, didn't turn his head away from Phoebe... or Cordelia. He was trying to take his mind off both of the brunettes long enough to get some work done and find them a new case, but couldn't shake either one out long enough. Talking to Sam usually killed any 'mood' he had though. Sam steered them through town to find the copy shop, museum, library and a few other choice locations they'd need from time to time during their stay and Dean was also trying to distract himself from Sam's driving. "So... We've got two Slayers. Which one do you want to take off my hands? Let me make this an easy choice. Which do you think is the bigger 'ho'?"

Sam turned to look at Dean with a disbelieving expression before turning back to the road shaking his head, he was kind of disgusted at the question. "You." He stated with a sour expression.

Dean grinned. He'd hit a nerve, hadn't he? "b*tch. I was just trying to be nice and share. What, you don't think they're cute? Faith, she's definitely cute... if you get to be on her first shift anyway."

"Like you're one to talk, at least Buffy was in love with most of them or thought she was.. and Faith hasn't had any shifts in a couple of weeks. Could be she turned over a new leaf.. maybe you should follow her example." He could not believe he just said that and it pissed him off more. "You just like to try out new pillows.." He took a deep breath and glanced at Dean again. "Jerk."

Dean's mouth opened, jawing at air as he tried to protest, but realized he couldn't. Not exactly. If Sam had paid close attention, he'd notice Dean hadn't exactly changed his pillows lately, though he was still thinking he might try fluffing one or two others. Damnit, this so wasn't working to get his mind off of Cordy or Pheebs... Pheebs... he'd known her long enough and well enough already to have her nickname ingrained in the thoughts as well. He couldn't deny any of it and shouldn't even try. He nodded and shrugged, looking out the window.

"And that's why you're an idiot." Sam commented on Dean's lack of one. Taking his silence to mean he wasn't denying any of it. Phoebe seemed nice and Cordy was nice but Dean didn't seem interested in more than just bagging either one as well as some others.. What was so wrong or hard about simply being with one awesome girl?

"Hey. Pleasures of the flesh? They're worth it, Sammy. Reduces stress and brings you back to humanity... once in a while. Besides it's about as close to luuuuuve as I'll probably ever see, so shut up and drive," he defended, though he wasn't sure that was true. He was never on edge like this.

"I disagree.. you can get that from one woman you know and a hell of alot more.. you'd see that too if you weren't.. " He faltered for a minute and had no other word but the one he'd just used. "..an idiot." He finished, wondering why this was bothering him so damn much, Dean was Dean and he wasn't going to change.

"Have it your way, Sam," Dean sighed, closing his brother out as he lowered his shades from the top of his head and resting back to get a small nap in before they reported back to the crew with nada.

"No it's more like you having it your way.. it's always your way Dean.. you never learn and you never change and you're just.. just.. a jerk.." Sam was quite aggitated it seemed and could it really only be over Dean's exploits?

He grinned and folded his arms over his chest, glancing over through the dark blankness of the glasses at the annoyance he piqued further. "Oh I learn a lot of things, Sammy. You just want me to tell you so you don't embarrass yourself with a chic... that is if you ever get that stick outta your a--......"

"Shut up.. Damn it Dean why do you have to be such an ass?" His hand gripped the wheel and his foot pressed down on the gas. "This isn't about me.. this is about you and you being to stubborn or too stupid to see when something amazing is in front of you.. maybe it's both.. but stop pretending like there's something wrong with me because I don't choose to be like you and throw away the amazing for cheap thrills, big boobs, or an hour that means nothing."

"Hey, that's cold. It all means something...," he defended. He pulled his glasses down to look down his nose at Sam as he lead-footed down the block. A light back handed slap to Sammy's arm was matched with a chuckle. "Just means I'm gettin' some and you're hard up."

He would have hit Dean if he wasn't driving, he jerked away from the light handed slap, his arm coming up in the movement but he let it drop. "Did you ever consider.. maybe I don't care about getting some? I don't want something that lasts an hour with a girl who's name I'm not going to remember in a couple days.. if you even knew her name."

"I got her name and I remember it," he sneered, leaning back against his seat, insulted. "And yeah I considered more than once that with all that touchy feely crap on top of that that maybe you just might be gay."

"Really.. what was her name? Nice girl?.. not that you care." He shook his head, his gaze focused on the road ahead. "Guess that's the trouble.. you don't give a crap about nice girls, or really good people.. you're just looking for wherever you can .. try out a pillow. I'm not gay Dean.. I just want something that last more than an hour."

"Hey dude... slow down... book store," he said, looking out the window and seeming to ignore the question as he pointed out the scruddy building with blacked-out windows and silhouettes of naked women stenciled on the sides of the door.

"I have an appointment.. sorry you can come back after you drop me off.. get some more cheap thrills." He didn't slow down and turned down another block.

"An appointment? With who?! Man, just two minutes to check out the latest Hustler? C'mooon... A'right a'right... look. Think about it. A town like this with all the activity we've heard about? What better place to front out an operation than one with boarded windows and the lowest of low coming in the doors at all hours?"

"Fine we'll check it out later, I don't have two minutes right now.. I'm already late." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Hustler will still be there.. don't worry."

"Late for... What? Who? Wait... vision? What're you seeing, Sam?" The book store and his theory about what might be running the shop was put on hold. "You okay to drive?"

"I'm seeing Cordelia kicking your ass for making me late.. " He started to chuckled and then grimaced, trying to slow the car down and pull over before -he couldn't see at all.

"You're meeting Cordy...-lia?" Dean choked only briefly, his hand bracing on the door as Sam pulled over. "Sammy? What... what is it? Stop the car."

The car pulled to a stop, with a bit of a jerk as Sam let go of the wheel to curl into the vision that seemed more painful than usual. He panted a little as it faded and he rested back against the seat, catching his breath. "Dean.. " He started and stopped, opening the door of the car to get out and get some air. "Oh god.. this is my fault.. I asked her to help.." He was muttering to himself as he leaned against the back of the car, his legs feeling weak.

Dean's door creaked open hardly fast enough for him to pour out and skim around the car to help Sam out. "Who...asked who to help about what? What did you see?"

"Cordelia.. I asked her to look into something for me.. this is.. We have to get .. Henry lane.. she's down in the basement of an abandoned wharehouse.."

"Sonuva--- You had to have her look into something in a warehouse alone? What's the matter with you?" He pushed his way around his brother to get a water bottle from the back seat. "Take this, I'll drive."

"Dean I didn't.. It wasn't.. " He stopped, no matter what he said or how she'd ended up there alone.. it was his fault she was there -she was trying to help him. "Damn it.." He took the bottle and slipped into the back seat -it was quicker than going around.

"Just get in. Henry street? Lane... lane... where the heck is the map?" He was slamming around cassettes and the stale burger wrappers on the floor for the courtesy map of the town they'd picked up at the post office.

He climbed over the seat, tossing the water bottle down and reaching to grab the map as it was uncovered. "Dean start driving.. I'll look.. " He was unfolding the map, scanning for a Henry lane. "Got it.. it's on the other side of town.. shit.. it will take a half hour to get there."

"Yeah, not with this lead foot. Hang on," Dean said, his jaw tightening and grinding as his eye searched the road for anything they might hit. He pulled out, spinning them in a squealing fishtail into the driving lane. "Helping you with what?!"

"Something.. I can't tell. You wouldn't understand.. She was just supposed to be.. I didn't know she'd go off alone to.. I asked her not to say anything but I.. Dean if .. if we don't make it there in time.. what happens to her.. it will be my fault."

"What, you two have little slumber party secrets now? Truth or dare? I think you better tell me if you think she's gonna get herself killed," he sniped, watching the road for the turns and lights. "Try me - maybe I might understand more than you think."

"Slumber party secrets? Dean please.. she's just.. she understands. I don't tell you everything.. there have been some.. It's Jess.. I asked her to help me find out if she's.. at rest, peace..or if her soul is.. I just need to know.. if it's really her I've been seeing."

Dean laughed off the nervous chill. Sam's visions freaked him out as it was, but that he couldn't shake Jess out of his head after all they'd been through was worse. "Seeing how? Seeing seeing or just having ... you know... dreams... nightmares and shit? Dude, we see a lot of things. What makes you think it's Jess?"

"Not dreams Dean, not unless I'm falling asleep in the middle of a conversation with you.. It's been a handful of times. I know what Jess looks like.. I know it.. I'm not crazy Dean.. but seeing her, makes me think I am. What if I'm.. if it is her.. what the hell is she doing here?"

"Hell may have something to do with it," he muttered, trying to come up with an explanation that it couldn't... shouldn't be Jessica. "Someone playing a crafty little trick on you? That ever cross that lawyer mind of yours that someone's putting the freak on you on purpose?"

He looked at Dean and nodded his head. "Yeah, as a matter of fact it did.. That's why Cordelia is trying to help me find out if Jess.. is at rest or appearing to me, or someone is doing some tricks, or if I'm just plain crazy."

"D... all of the above?" He grinned a little and tossed a look at Sam. He'd help find an answer somehow, but what kind of information did Chase uncover if it was going to kill her to know it? "So why the warehouse?"

"Where else would you have a secret meeting with.. well to be honest I'm not sure exactly what or who she was meeting with. She said sources.." He shrugged and held on as the next turn came up, "..Here.. go left."

"I don't know, Sam. Coffee shops? Phone booths? Book stores with boarded windows....," he rattled off, taking the turn sharply as Sam pointed it out, nearly slamming a milk truck that was casually parked half in the street. They dodged and swerved down the road. "Sources you don't trust show up in places like warehouses, Sammy. Please tell me she had more than that stupid crossbow with her...?"

"You know she's very fond of that cross bow.. I didn't see the cross bow in the vision.." He wasn't sure his answer was going to be very reassuring, and at the same time wondered if he was just imagining that his brother seemed more concerned than usual.

"Yeah she should be fond of a .38 at least, something faster," he muttered, wishing he'd taken a little more time to give her a piece or two to work with. He wondered if she had anything at all with her. "How about you tell me more about what you did see?"

He swallowed and looked at his brother a little nervously, he'd never quite seen anything like this. "um.. four or five.. demons.. sort of scaley lizard-man looking things, a little bulky but fast and they were attacking her.. She's alone, out numbered.. I mean she's good but against four or five that are bigger and stronger..?" He swallowed, saying things like the last wasn't going to help. "It was a trap.. they.. they set her up."

"And you didn't see that part before?" Dean challenged, shooting a look to Sam as he came to a stop at a light only long enough to make sure he wasn't going to cream some chowderhead on a bike or anything, pulling back out into a turn to dodge a block. The last thing they needed was the local badges on their tail.

"What I saw was her being grabbed from behind with a very big knife to her throat and another coming at the front." He said it quiet as if he didn't want to tell Dean that part, either.

"How much further is this place?" He growled and slammed the radio on to anything that would be louder than the scream in his head. Going around the block wasn't exactly the best shortcut but it bought them a few seconds. Strains of AC/DC squealed out of the speakers as the tires squealed around another corner.

He fumbled with the map a little as Dean tore around the corners. "About a mile.. one more right and to the end of the street." He had to raise his voice to be heard over the music that suddenly blared out of the speakers.

"Damned one-way streets. Gee do you think they saved us a parking spot? Five demons might be hard to miss, Sam. How much time do you think we have? Can we get in before... ?"

"They're not coming from above.. they are coming in from the basement.. the sewer.. We don't have alot of time.. but they believe she's alone.. they aren't expecting us." He quickly folded the map and tossed it on the dash.

He turned the music down only a little to hear himself. "I hope you're right mister I-didn't-know-it was-a-trap. Get the book. What's it say about these things?" He'd forgotten about dad's notes.

He sighed, pulling out the journal and flipping through it as quickly as he could, looking for a reference to the things he'd seen in his vision. "Oh hey here.. I think this might be them.. ohh.. yeah we should hurry."

"I got that part already. What do we need? We're a little short in the WhatWouldMacGuyverDo department, so I hope you have a plan. Looks like we're up," he nodded ahead at the end of the street they needed.

"No.. I don't think you did.. lets just hope we get there before they show up. Dad didn't have a name for them.. looks like bullets will wound them but unless we have some serious round -it's not going to take them down. We have an axe in the trunk?"

"I don't want to know what they're called, Sam. It's not like we're gonna invite them to a birthday party... well maybe yours. Of course we have an axe. How many do we need?" The car skidded slightly at the back with the weight of their gear as Dean slid into park at the side of the warehouse. "Door... which one?" He was out his door and opening the trunk before the engine fully turned off.

Sam left the journal on the seat and followed Dean to the trunk. "Two if we have them.. Dean.. there will be one with darker scales on his forehead and nose. That's the one we need to kill. We have to behead and dismember it. I'm thinking we should just get her out."

Dean paused only a moment, his hand on the fire axe. "Fine. You take this one and I'll take my chances. You get to pay for the laundry this week," he said, handing his brother the axe so he could check the cartridge in his gun.

He took the axe and gave his brother a look. "I promise we can come back, track and kill them all.. later -once we know Cordelia is out and in a safe place.. apparently these things cant get dates with their own kind. The ones Dad came across were preying on girls in their upper teens to mid twenties."

"Shifters or buttugly to start with?" He didn't look Sam in the eye. He stared at the rounds, running a thumb over the last one in the cartridge before sliding and locking it in. "Get her out first, then we'll worry about coming back. If we leave anything behind. Let's go."

"Not that they aren't ugly.. but it didn't say why, just that if the girls survived the initial attack they'd take them back to their lair and .. dump the mutilated bodies later after they were done with them." His hand tightened and he shifted the axe into a better hold.

"They're not taking anybody back to their skanky little hell holes this time, Sam. Are you ready or not?" Dean slammed the trunk closed and slipped his flashlight in one pocket, keys in another, keeping his gun in his hand and heading to one of the doors.

"I'm ready." He was feeling enormously guilty but he was ready. "Dean if anything happens to her I.." He shook his head, his lips going into their angry purse, only he was angry with himself this time. A heavy breath blew out and he followed Dean toward the side door.

"Tell me about it," he said, angry, worried, focused on finding a way in. The door they came up to was locked as it should be, leaving windows. "After you, you've got the axe," he said, pointing out the choices of busting the door or breaking glass.

"Let's just get to her." He muttered, swinging the axe and smashing out the glass in the window, they didn't have time to break down the door. Sam was quick to climb through, dropping down to the floor and ducking down as he looked around for signs and listened for sounds. Which he could hear, faintly the sound of a fight and he looked for access to the basement.

Down in the basement of the wharehouse, Cordelia stood in the semi dark waiting for the contact she was supposed to meet. She was not expecting there to be several or for them to be the lizard like demons Sam had seen in his vision. What she was supposed to be meeting was an entirely different kind of demon, one that could give her the information she needed for Sam. The source who had set up the meeting had double crossed her and sold her to the demons Sam saw in his vision instead of arranging the meeting with the real contact.

She hadn't exactly brought an arsenal with her, even leaving her crossbow behind as it wasn't something she could hide discretely. She had been wise enough to wear stylish dark blue jeans, boots -with a heel, and a grey long sleeve shirt. Cordy had a decent sized knife hidden under her pant leg, but when she saw the demons come in, she had a feeling like her 'little' knife wasn't going to be enough. She took a step back as three came in and started to fan out in front of her.

Two more had gone up around to come in behind her, but were on the ground floor when the boys busted in. They turned and one headed for the stairwell while the other came toward where Sam and Dean were coming in.

Dean pulled his sleeve around his hand to break out a fist-sized jagged tooth of glass and hang onto it, just in case, tucking it in his pocket in place of the flashlight he took out. He beamed it around in a few quick passes as he followed Sam, hoping to find an open stairwell, but expecting more doors. The hope faded as the light hit the stairwell they wanted and the movement of something on its way up. "Sam..!" He hissed and yelled.

His eyes followed the direction of Dean's flashlight and he nodded. "Well I guess that's where we're going.." He moved to find a spot where he'd be able to get the drop on the creature, though he didn't have much time or advantage -it knew they were there. The shouts of the other demons and the sounds of struggle grew louder as he got closer to the stairwell. He wasn't about to waste time and went at the demon, swinging his axe.

He didn't really have an idea of size, but understood they were fast. Hopefully not faster than bullets as far as slowing them down or distracting them went. While Sam got a swing in at the first, he was getting a better idea that just the gun wasn't going to be enough. These things had scales all over, pretty thick ones. He slithered his own way around to drop behind the one on the stairs and try to send a slug through it to slow it down for Sam.

The thing slowed but it didn't stop, the sound of the gunfire alerted the rest to their pressence if the second demon hadn't already. "Shoot it again!" Sam yelled, pulling the axe free and ducking as the demon swung at him, he pulled the axe up and swung for it's shoulder.

From below a definately non demon and female scream echoed as Codrelia fought against the others. Sharp claws had caught her arm but she'd managed to slip out of it's grasp, her knife in hand lashing out as best she could to damage them when they tried to grab her.

Another shot rang out as Sam had asked, uprooting a couple scales and hopefully wounding it enough for it to think twice before swinging at Sam again. Dean disappeared down another level as Cordelia screamed, skittering down the stairs to find her and hoping it wasn't some twisted version of MarcoPolo. He wasn't really going to wait for her to scream again. One down, how many to go, he wondered.

Sam continued to hack at the one he was fighting, noting that Dean went down the stairs after the scream was heard. The scream urged him to go more forcefully at this thing so he could get down to help Dean and Cordelia.

She wasn't going to keep four of them off of her for long, one would move and she tried to defend as another came at her from the other side. "Well at least you're not mucus demons." She muttered, attempting to find a bright side to her situation. She yelped as she felt hands or paws or whatever closing around her arm and she tried to jerk away. The grip was strong and solid and she spun with knife in hand to find out what grabbed her.

Beheading, he said? The one furthest back in the crowd got a deep slash on one side of its neck from the glass shard, enough to leave the chunk lodged where Dean couldn't pull it out for another swipe. Whatever fueled the things oozed out in creepy black-matter fashion over the glass and scales and Dean kicked the startled beast away, aiming for a shot to keep it down. Now that he had their attention... "Hey guys... how's it going?" The grin might have worked for tipsy sorority girls, but not for demons apparently. It disappeared into fancy foot work to draw their attention from Cordy enough to get her out of the corner.

Her blade stabbed into the eye of the one that grabbed her and it shrieked in pain. Of course that was a good and bad thing, she was out of the corner as it sent her flying into some wooden crates along the other wall. Her knife was knocked from her hand and went skittering across the floor.

One of the demons moved towards Dean while the other two went back for the girl who was slowly trying to get up.

"Just run! Go!" He hoped she could get up. The one on the floor met a foot against the glass, hoping that as he completed its pass through, it would send the demon into smoke and black vengeance. He looked at the severed pieces that sat there. "Crap. I need an axe," he grimaced, wiping some of the ooze off his face to see and take a shot at the new one coming at him. The gun went off and his attention turned quickly toward the crates. "Cordelia?!"

She could get up, just not quickly. Trying to shake off the stars and push the broken pieces of wood off her. Her long legs kicked the pieces away and she was on her feet, a slight staggered step as she got her bearings. "Dean?" She gasped, she hadn't had time to register he was there before the demon sent her flying after she'd stabbed it in the eye. She looked at Dean now, wondering where the heck he'd come from and thanking the powers for that stroke of good fortune. "Duck!" She yelled as the other demon swung a sharp clawed hand at his head.

He'd been well taught that if anyone yelled 'duck', don't ask. He dropped into a tumble to roll out of the path of whatever it was and look back to aim another shot from the floor. He made note of the markings, the darker scales Sam mentioned. The shot wasn't going to do it. He scrambled back to help Cordelia get her bearings and keep between her and the thing. "Get upstairs!"

She looked at him as if not knowing whether to glare at him for barking at her or kiss him for coming to her rescue. She moved and the thing shifted -following her movements. "I don't like the way.. right.. going upstairs.." She grabbed Dean's sides lightly, keeping him directly in front of her and tugging slightly to make sure he was going up with her. "C'mon.."

Upstairs Sam was hacking the demon to ensure it stayed down since it had gotten up once. He was panting a bit as his footsteps sounded at the top of the stairs, heading down to find Dean and Cordelia.

"I got it, just go," he said over his shoulder. It dodged to go after her and Dean shot, keeping the thing's attention on him. "Buuuttt ugly," he stated, not like he was trying to make a friend here. He scouted the floor for anything else to keep it from going up the stairs, opting for a piece of board from one of the broken crates that had a few unfriendly staples jabbing rawly out the end. Club in one hand, he swung and sent another shot to the creature's other arm. "Sam?!?"

She stopped backing away when she realized he wasn't coming with her. "Dean.. I can't leave you down here." This was her mess and she wasn't going to run away to leave him to face these demons on his own.

Sam heard his name called and his steps pounded down the stairs. "Dean!" He yelled as he came into view, axe in hand and seeing Cordelia behind Dean, thankfully in one piece.

The lizardy fangs and dark scales somehow looked angrier though it was hard to tell much difference as it slashed out at Dean, catching the staple in it's clawed hand and flinging the board away. "So much for that idea," he sighed, moving quickly out of reach again. Head and arms, covered in scaled armor.. just great. There had to be another axe in this place somewhere, maybe something as good as one. He hadn't seen one down here so far and launched himself up the stairs, ushering the other two with him. "This isn't going to do much. C'mon - anything up here, sharp, big, preferably close."

She spun as he suddenly started up the stairs and nearly knocked into Sam as she started to run. "Hey Sam." She pushed and turned him to get his butt up the stairs before that thing got to them.

Sam stumbled as Cordy shoved at him but he was quick to move and looked back over his shoulder as they 'spilled' out onto the ground floor again. "Dean!" He yelled, waiting for his brother to look so he could 'toss' him the axe. The leader wasn't giving up and was coming up behind them fast!

Cordelia pushed past Sam and kept going, there had to be something they could use up here.

The demon had the girl in his sight and his quick movements were meant to get him to her and past the others that tried to keep her from him.

Dean looked up past Cordelia's distracting and quickly dodging form as Sam yelled down. He reached up for the weapon as it was half-tossed-half-dropped to his grasp. He was up another step juggling the axe, gun and running to get one safely put away and the other solidly in his grip to turn and swing. The first was a clean miss, but a warning enough. The lizard king thing swung back and Dean dodged but still caught a claw across his chest.

They might have heard the shattering glass as her elbow smashed through it and she pulled another axe free from the emergency box on the far wall. She turned in time to see that the lizard thing had heard it and his head turned, even though for just a moment -the gaze directly on her. A serious chill walked over her. "Oh... oh crap." She held the axe in her hands and started back towards the boys and the lizard, trying to look more confident than she felt at the moment.

Sam saw the moment of distraction and pulled his own gun out, taking a shot to turn it's attention to him, giving the other two a chance to go at it with their weapons.

For whatever reason he hadn't expected it, the shot from Sam made him flinch. Instead of swinging, he leveraged himself to try and kick the thing back down the steps and gain them a moment to regroup. Damn lizard had a tail and it kept him upright. The thing grabbed Dean's ankle and pulled him down.

"Hey!" She sounded pissed and if her voice wasn't enough, maybe the blow of the axe was enough to make her point. Instead of going high where the armor like scales were, she swung under and up to drive the axe low into it's belly or if she was lucky it's male parts, she was taking a chance that it would work.

Sam groaned as the spray of dark lizard demon juice splattered over him and Cordy. Whatever parts she'd hit, the axe had done some damage. The demon let out a bellow and lashed out at her. Sam let off another shot toward it's shoulder and chest. "Dean.. you alright?"

"Peachy," he hissed out in obvious pain and trying to get back the breath that had been flattened out of him. He poked his head up carefully only to see the axe he'd held had slid out of reach down the steps a few feet. The creature was distracted enough by the holes and the splatter that drenched Dean where he lay beside the thing that kept moving up the steps. He spit out whatever hit his mouth and reached back to grab the lizard's foot in turn and keep it on the stairs. "Hey! Down here - lookin' for somebody?!" He yelled and gave a swipe to pull the lizard down with him.

"Dean!?" Both Cordy and Sam spoke it at once as he pulled the lizard down the stairs with him. "Is he insane?" Cordy asked Sam as she reached to help him up and follow the fight as it went back down.

Sam gave her a half smile and his eyebrow twitched up and down. "Yeah, he is.." He nodded and moved toward the top of the stairs, jerking back as the thing clawed and lashed out.

The gun at this close of range was bound to be painful for them both, but he rolled to dislodge it as the thing landed next to him and bring it close to the thing's head, neck, shoulder - something - and fire another shot, buying a moment to crawl after the axe.

Two sets of foot steps decended the stairs after the creature and Dean. They hadn't tumbled all the way down but far enough for Sam and Cordy to chase after. Sam fired another shot at the lizard to keep it at bay as he watched Dean crawling away.

With it knocked back a moment Cordy stepped in with a powerful swing, the axe slamming into the armour that protected the lizard's upper body. Scales ripped away and the blade hit softer flesh beneath. It wasn't enough to take off it's head, but it was no longer trying to rip Dean apart. It howled again, moving more slowly but still with enough strength to swing it's tail out to knock Cordy off her feet this time.

Dean clasped the end of the axe and pulled it up into his free hand. He was running out of shots in this clip and they were only tickling the thing it seemed. He put the gun out of harm's way again and got to his feet, clasping the axe firmly and going after the creature with more strength now that he had a second wind. It swung at Cordelia with its tail and he swung at one arm...

Dismemberment and beheading? Who knew, maybe the thing had more than one brain. Where the repeated gunshots had pierced the lizard's shoulder, the axe cleaved through finally, leaving it off balance and shrieking in pain.

Sam picked up on the idea and aimed the best he could to get a shot in or close to where Cordelia had weakened it's scales on it's upper body. He had more rounds left than Dean, as he'd not used his earlier. His next shot went at the other shoulder.

Cordy winced as she tumbled and expected to be minced but was relieved when Dean cleaved the thing's arm off. She grabbed the rail and pulled herself back up, one hand reaching to pull her axe up again. She waited till Sam took his second shot and she swung at the howling creature. She caught the weaked shoulder but not at the right angle to take the other arm off.

"Got it - move!" He didn't want to hit her in the process and waited only for her to get out of the way. There was another of these things laying headless but still armored and with both arms in the corner he remembered. "Sam - corner... down there!" He nodded to the bottom of the stairs, not wanting to get jumped as he swung at the shoulder again and got the arm.

As he told Sam about the other one, she moved to hand Sam her axe, he'd need it. Cordy stepped out of the way so he could get down the stairs before the demon got up. She also moved back to stay out of Dean's way, she'd gotten more than enough lizard crud on her, the boys had their share of it as well.

Sam jogged down the stairs, cautious of the creature as he approached in case it decided to jump up. He saw it twitch and started slamming the axe into it's shoulders to hack it's arms off before it got up.

Once the second arm was hacked it was losing steam in its fight but not its anger. It turned on Dean again and snapped out with strong jaws and jagged teeth. More reflex than anything he swung again at the head, hitting scales on that side, but knocking the thing out of his way to get past.

Sam's headless demon was a little easier for him to handle as it didn't try to bite him and swung blindly a few times but he was able to avoid being hit and continued to chop until both arms were seperated from it's body. "Dean.. where are the other ones?" His voice called as he looked around, there had been at least four, but he was sure it was five.

Cordy heard the noise with only enough time to turn her head to look before the angry and rapidly moving lizard demon sprang at her. She yelped, dropped back and tried to roll out of the way.

"No!!" Dean's answer to Sam was screamed out. He was already coming back up the steps but moving that much faster now to knock the other one away from Cordelia. He had no idea how fast the leader was moving behind him but he took the chance to swing as he jumped around Cordy at the thing's closest anything.

She rolled onto her knees and would have scampered away if it hadn't grabbed for her leg, clasping her ankle until Dean jumped at it and pulled it back a little. She rolled again and kicked the thing in the face as Dean tried to tackle? it.

Sam heard Dean scream out and he was coming up the stairs at a run, the leader was trying to charge at Dean and the other. With a grunt Sam swung at it's neck the axe sunk in but didn't go through. With what sounded a bit like a battle cry he charged at it, driving the blade deeper with the pressure and force of his momentum. The beast shrieked and gurgled as the axe went through.

Dean tumbled with the one that took his axe at its shoulder in a direction away from the others and into the stacks of debris it had been hiding behind. The piles tipped and scattered around them before Dean dislodged the axe and stepped back. He couldn't get a clean shot at anything through the junk.

Cordelia reached to get to her feet again with a sigh, she looked at Dean with a frown. "It's too early in the morning for this.. I am so definately taking you guys to breakfast... after another shower." She made a face and pulled at the wet shirt which was sticking to her skin.

Sam finally finished with the other one and came up the rest of the stairs, a few harsh cuts on his arms and tears in his shirt. He looked at the pile and at Dean, he puffed out a sigh. "Ready.." He shifted a piece out of the way, ready if anything jumped up.

Dean was catching his own breath and swabbed away a bit of blood from the scratch on his chest. It was mostly dry, but it stung, hopefully not poison. He nodded. "Ready," he said, holding the axe and ready to swing.

"Guys..?" She motioned to herself and that she was totally unarmed now, giving them a look as if to say you better give me something.

Sam looked at her and moved another piece, freezing as something moved beneath the pile. "There!"

Dean kicked off another piece and swung down, hopefully out of Sam's way. He'd hit something clean through to the floor beneath and let go of the axe, staggering back onto his butt to get his own head back on straight and clear Sam's path. Cordelia was muttering... "I'm sorry, did you say something?"

She had a hand gesture for him and folded her arms to watch the boys be all macho and leave her there to.. watch. She would have helped him up, but he was a big strong guy, he could get himself up.

Sam took a swing at what he hoped was the demon's shoulder, though he wasn't sure as he hit something but didn't hear any screams. "Damn it.."

With a roll of her eyes she stepped forward. "I have an idea, since I don't have an axe.. I'll move.. you guys chop."

"What's your problem? Some gratitude," Dean huffed, insulted but getting over it damned fast as he realized Sam wasn't getting the desired results. He was back on his feet and reaching for the axe. If he had to fight her to get at it, he might not think twice about it now.

"I'm trying to help you find it so you can kill it! What's your problem?" She turned to him for half a second and then decided to keep her eyes on the pile. "I am.. I have plenty of gratitude.. I was just waiting till we got out of here alive before I gushed.. unless you'd like me to swoon and kiss you while these things rip us to shreds?" She pointed to the piece she was about to move to let him know where to look.

Sam had to swallow hard not to laugh at the way she barked back a Dean, not taking his lip for a moment. He got ready to swing again, poised for 'his turn'.

"Funny way of showing it, that's all. They're not gonna win, you can trust me on that," he snapped back, digging into an arm full of debris to shift out of the way. Something wasn't right. "Sam, how many of these things did you say there were? None of them have dusted yet," he realized, looking around at the lizard crew strewn about. "I think we missed one."

"There were four downstairs." She answered and pulled a larger piece out of the way, moving in case something was under it and they needed to swing at it. "Okay.. this is alot of fun.." She said a little dryly and stepped back to toss the piece aside.

Sam was focused on the pile at first and slowly shook his head. "There was only one down there when I went, the one on the stairs.. this one.. there is one missing." The last was said as his head lifted and Cordelia let out a small squeak as she was grabbed from behind and lifted off the floor by the larger creature behind her.

"Sam behind yo-.. he-... THERE!" He didn't see where it emerged from but it had her and he was on the wrong side of a shitload of junk to get to her easily.

"I see it! What do you want me to do hit her?" He exclaimed trying to manuver a way to hit it without getting her. "Dean.. I'm open to suggestions." He trailed off looking at the way the thing held her, it must have picked up her knife from downstairs as it held it to her throat to keep her still. "Dean.." His voice lowered. "This is.. it.."

"It? What 'it'?" His gun... he rarely missed and sure as heck hoped he wouldn't this time. He pulled it back out and aimed carefully like he was going against any random hostage taker. "What am I supposed to do, Sam? Let it take her? I don't think so."

"My vision -it!" He hissed, shaking his head. "No.. you don't let it take her.." His hands tightened on the handle of the axe and he swung it as the other lunged from the pile -just as he'd seen it, except he and Dean hadn't been here in his vision. The axe connected with the neck of the one lunging and it's head seperated, flying off like a ball that had been kicked.

The distraction worked more on him than it seemed to on the lizard thing. They'd fended off all the others, so the vision wasn't quite the same, but this is where it had ended before, not the way any of them wanted it to. "You said these things do what... use them for food or... other stuff? I mean, is it gonna kill her now or wait a while?" His questions may have sounded stupid but it was a stall only to look around the thing and make sure there wasn't another way.

The gun was held steady as he asked and he went after it, step by step carefully around the debris but watching Cordelia. He'd try to take out the arm holding the knife first but the shot would be very close.

Cordy was trying very hard not to move with the knife held so tightly against her throat, she almost didn't want to breathe. Her eyes followed Dean as he moved.

Sam paused in his answer since he knew Cordelia would hear it too. "They don't use them for food.. they use them for something else.. Dean you do not want this thing to go anywhere with her and believe me she'll be really grateful for that."

It was strange seeing the situation from the outside this time, not being the one who held her. In a way he felt sorry for the thing if she bucked her head back into its jaw like she had to him the night they all met, the difference being the knife that kept her from moving much at all. "I don't think it's gonna get very far, do you?" His eyes held steady as if telling her 'don't move'... and he let the shot ring out hoping she'd only get scratched if cut at all as the shoulder was hit.

She was looking right at Dean and she felt as though her heart was going to slam itself right out of her chest it was beating so fast and hard. Her eyes stayed on him until he let off the shot, at which time they closed and her hand went up to try to keep the blade from slicing her neck as the creature jerked. Its hold loosened enough that she fell from it's grip and kept herself on the ground so she would be out of the way as the boys went after it. Her shirt was torn again and her shoulder stung, but she didn't check yet to find out the damage.

Sam abandoned hacking up the one he'd just beheaded and turned to help Dean take the last one down. The axe flipped and swung as soon as Cordelia was out of the way, he went right for the arm Dean had damaged with his shot.

Letting Sam take his turn at the thing, Dean spun down to check on Cordelia and help her out of the way. "You're good, we gotcha," he said, trying to be convincing enough until he saw the damage for himself, hoping not to see any.

She nodded to his words, nearly curling into him as he helped her to get out of the way, her hand resting on his arm as she reminded herself to breathe evenly. "Just go kill the crap out of that thing for me, will ya?"

Dean was getting Cordy out of the way, so Sam ducked and dodged, slamming the axe into the thing's shoulder again, it wailed and he was encouraged. Again, the arm seperated this time -thank goodness. These things did not go down easy, well all that grave digging was finally paying off -he was strong enough to keep at it.

"I think he's killing pretty much everything out of that thing," he said, looking up at Sam's swinging. Geeez he scared the crap outta him sometimes, making him really glad their fights with each other stopped at an occasional slug on the jaw.

"Yeah I think he is.." She watched over his shoulder for a moment then looked away. Sam seemed to have everything under control and would soon have little kabob pieces if he kept it up. "Does that mean I have to.. show my gratitude now?" She smiled despite how much certain parts of her hurt at the moment. Her hand tightened on his arm a little and she shifted closer to him.

"C'mon, let's see that demon smoked already," he said instead of really answering her though she moved closer and he didn't fight it. He didn't really mind holding her down that first time either until she clocked him.

[Lovely]

July 9, 2009
Afternoon
old closed down bar

She had walked around inside a little, waiting for him to show up to meet her. The place had been closed awhile and was dusty, but the structure was still good, tables draped with covers.. so that was a plus.. She almost forgot that he was supposed to meet her as she wandered envisioning the place open and all fixed up. It really didn't need alot of work, just some cleaning fix a bit here and there and bam.. the town once again would have a pool hall and bar.. which it totally needed.

"Reminds me of the Tunnel of Love ride at this old amusement park we cleaned up once. Except the hot chic there was a demon with this thing like Alien that came out of her forehead.. which I appreciated more than her hotness at the time. I was 9," Dean shrugged as if age was ever an excuse for immaturity. He sidled up beside Phoebe. "Guess it'll cost more than a penny for those thoughts, huh? What's this about? Any beer?" He looked around, scoffing the layers of dust and debris that couldn't mean anything tasty besides her could possibly be in this place. That thought struck hard and deep, realizing they were alone in the dark old 'shack' and the meters going off weren't on the EMF.

Phoebe giggled at the beer question and turned to lean up and greet him with a kiss as he came up close. "Mmm no beer yet.. " She murmured, distracted a moment by him right there and so.. hott. She cleared her throat putting her hand on his chest as if physically stroking his ego as she did so verbally. "Well you see, I need some advice and I thought you were the one to get it from. All the talking we've done, between all the .. mm not talking we've been doing.." She smiled as if she was thinking about doing some 'not talking' with him, right there. "I got the impression.. bars, pool hall places.. you kind of know as good as you know other things.. " She was winding her way around to the point, though looking at him, being alone here with him was distracting her. "I'm not so good with 9 - 5 jobs, bosses and all that.. and I happened to come across this place and well... I'm thinking about.. you know.. buying it.. I have to figure out how to come up with the rest of the money but.. well I thought I'd ask you what you think of it before I get too ahead of myself. You know? I mean I think it's.. what do you think? Is this place a dump not worth a penny or you think I might make a good go with it?"

"A good go with what?" She'd lost him enough when she stroked his ego with coming to him for advice that it took his ears a moment to hear the rest of what she was talking about. He chuckled and looked around again. "This place? You're joking. We've burned better places than this to the ground." He pulled on a piece of the peeling bar that broke off in his hand to prove his point. The raised eyebrow said it all... see?... He handed her the shred of formica and started to pace around the place, testing a floor board or two before one gave way nearly dumping him through to the cellar.

"Oh." She said quietly, her face fell and she sighed as she shifted her hands to rest in the back pockets of her jeans. "Well thanks anyway." She said softly, turning her back to him as she looked at the covered tables with a longing expression. She'd thought the structure of the place was still good and only a few things needed to be fixed here and there.. she hadn't noticed what he'd found. "Oh well.. it was just a thought.." She murmured quietly, more thinking out loud than talking to him.

Dean laughed as he pulled his foot from the hole and dusted off his knees. "What? That? Please, that's a good Saturday night - could happen any time. Actually.... huh, actuaaallly...," he paused taking a different perspective of it now... trap door, a few extra rigs, nice places to hide things, or hide from things if necessary...not entirely unlike the hotel, but without a vamp minding the shop. He turned to see Phoebe dug into her pockets and staring out into the darkness of the main room. He came up behind her to whisper over her shoulder, "Kinda rough.. almost like home."

She had been thinking he didn't like it and was sort of shutting down her idea when he came up behind her and whispered. She shivered a little with his breath on her neck and pulled her hands out of her pockets as she leaned back against him. "Mmm and what does that mean.. exactly. Is that a vote to go for it?"

"That's usually my vote," he murmurred against her, curling her into an embrace and nuzzling down into her neck. "Means the place has a kinda class I can ... I dunno... sink my own teeth into. Needs work, but hey, I think I might know a guy perfect for the job."

[Lovely]

Phoebe smiled excited for his 'yes' vote and by his attention as she curled into the embrace. "Yay!" She clapped her hands lightly and twisted around to reward him and share her joy in a depp kiss. "Okay.. now I just have to come up with the rest of the money.. but I'm willing to beg and sell everything I have... maybe some organs." She giggled, thrilled and hopeful and full of her usual spunk and energy which she was showering him in with kisses and nibbles.

"Whoa... the rest? Phoebe, you didn't shell anything... or sell anything already did you?" He wasn't upset as much as surprised, knowing that she couldn't possibly have that kind of money. Then again, neither did he and the whole dream was about to be washed away in a breath. "How much are we talking, here?"

She felt a small blush creep up in her cheeks and she stopped the nibbling kisses and eased back to face him. "It's really not that much, probably haunted or something.. $5,000.. I know I have at least half that in the bank.. I could max out my credit cards.. maybe borrow some from my sisters.. and if all else fails.. I could beg my long lost father for it .. if I can find him again.."

"No way." How cavalier of him to insist, it seemed but he wasn't keeping her from kicking in her own dough. He didn't believe the cost could be so low without an apocalyptic style explanation. "I wouldn't count on getting anything from a dad you can't find...," he started to say, realizing his own similar situation. "Nevermind, just no. I've got a better idea. Find some light and let's check this place out a little more."

"What do you mean no way..? How should I get the rest of the money..?" She asked him as she reached to take his hand pointing to a door behind the bar. "I believe the curcuit breaker is in there. They said the power was still on but the breakers were off."

The eyebrow raised again as she pointed and he took a step to lead the way. "Power's still on and the bank only wants 5 grand? You see anything wrong with this picture? I don't. What's a few things going bump in the night for that kinda deal?" For them, afterall, it couldn't be anything they couldn't handle.

Phoebe had no problem with him leading the way, if he wanted to take charge and let her hide behind his shoulder and be protective, well she just didn't have any complaints about that. Besides it was kind of nice not to be the one protecting, very nice having a guy who didn't want to hide behind her in her world. She smiled at those thoughts and his strong shoulder that she leaned against. "Of course I don't, which is why I was so into getting this place and.. besides 'bump in the night' is so our forte!"

It was true enough for him to shrug his agreement and test the door handle, ready to spring back from it if anything or anyone was waiting. Memories of smoke-like billows and more solid creatures with axes flooded through his mind in the brief moment before he pulled it open.

[Lovely]

July 19th, 2009
9:30 p.m.

Dean stared across the pool table at eye level, reaching up and rolling the 4 slowly over the surface. He disappeared again, the clicking of the ratchet keeping time to the old Boz Scaggs tune on the speakers that still needed balancing. He'd get to that next. He tested the lay of the table again, getting a straight roll that brought a proud smile to his face. He stood and set the wrench down. "Ready for a little nine-ball? Only curves I see now are..," he turned, talking to Phoebe about her curves, only to be cut short, finding a tall dark and unannounced man leaning at the end of the table. He didn't have that tell-tale precusory chilling fog to warn people, so he wasn't a ghost at least. "Geezus," Dean said, chuckling off the fact he was caught with his guard down. "Didn't realize we left the door open. Hey Phoebe? Who's this?"

He didn't say anything yet, or apologize for startling Phoebe's meat-headed friend. He grinned cordially instead and came around the table to meet her, his hands low and folded without any sense of threat. If Dean had an ounce of perception in him, he'd get the idea the man knew Phoebe - very well.

Phoebe turned from setting a box down on the bar and it was a good thing she'd set the box down before turning around because she would have dropped it. Her mouth opened in a small gasp and her eyes widened, she certainly hadn't been expecting this. Her being here and -with- Dean and Cole showing up could prove to be more than a little uncomfortable, it would be interesting to say the least. "Who is he? Ah.. my ex-husband. The source of all evil."

Cole looked away, respectful and appreciative that he hadn't been forgotten completely. He gave Dean a less-than respectful glance, however, summing him up and finding the package less than he'd expected. He seemed to chew on the thought like a bitter piece of gristle, trying to find the right words to voice his disappointment in his so-called replacement.

"Psh, right. Source of all evil? Him?" Dean didn't get that vibe from the man any more than he did from his brother. In fact, Sammy heebed him out more than this guy's pickled face... kinda. "No yellow eyes," he pointed out, which was enough to seal it for him.

She didn't move toward Cole but rather stepped away and tried to get closer to Dean and possibly pull him further away from her ex since he didn't seem to realize her meaning was quite literal and that Cole really was bad news. "I'm sorry I didn't mention the ex-husband part before."

Dean shrugged, watching her get a little more anxious than he'd seen her and it didn't just seem to be the awkward part doing it. "So you're a woman with a mysterious past. I knew that. Course.. that explains why the sex is so hott."

She kind of smiled and blushed and a moment later the expression faded to one that was wary. "You probably shouldn't talk about our hott sex in front of him." She warned and glanced at Cole again, wondering what he was doing here.

"What, you'd rather we show him?" Dean asked, confused. She was acting actually afraid and he wasn't sure why. He put himself between Phoebe and the stranger. "I'm kidding. Dean," he offered, reaching out a hand which usually diffused the weird and awkward, unless the guy really was evil. Dean braced himself for impact. "Nice to meet you."

Cole looked past Dean's shoulder, almost through him to speak to Phoebe. "If I'm interrupting, I can just come some other time, Phoebe." When you're alone... he wanted to say, but there was no need to be petty. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't... you know..," he glanced back at Dean. "Stooping."

[Lovely]

Phoebe glared at Cole from behind Dean, her finger up in the air as if she was about to lay into him but she didn't, she folded her arms and a tense smile showed on her face. "It's none of your business what I'm doing.." She pointed out to her ex and the smiled a little more genuinely as she glanced at Dean. "..and I'd say he's a step up."

"Oh good," he seemed actually satisfied to hear that, looking a little less displeased now. "Working your way back up to where you rightfully belong, finally. Next to me."

Dean pulled his hand back toward himself after it was completely ignored. Time for another tactic. He glanced back over his shoulder, catching both gestures and almost tasting the tension in her words. "Yeah, us little people on the ladder.. you know... making that crazy world keep spinning," he said, gesturing a little turning and invisible globe between them. He looked suddenly as though he'd remembered something and corrected himself, watching the man carefully now. Phoebe wouldn't act like this just for shits and grins.. and he wasn't grinning. "Oh.. that's right. It's love that does that, not minions. You familiar with that where you come from, Sparky?" He then muttered under his breath a little more about a dark-eyed, soul-less hellhound sonuvab*tch.

She was quick to bite back against what Cole said, it was like him to be so smug. "I don't belong with you. I belong with someone who loves me and isn't ...." She stopped for a moment and looked at Dean, realizing what he said before the muttering, did he love her? She turned her gaze back on Cole and finished her thought. "It's not your business!" A moment later she tossed both her hands up in frustration before wrapping them protectively around her middle. "Why am I even arguing it with you? We're divorced.."

"But it -is- my business," Cole countered. "I know where you really belong because of who you are, not what... that... is," he said, giving Dean another glance, still trying to find the word he was looking for. "He's powerless and you're not. I'm not. He can't give you what you really crave, Pheebs."

"That's not what she said last night. Look, Sparky, whatever you two had? She said it's over. There's the door," Dean pointed out, getting angry now because Phoebe was turning hedgehog on them both. "Be on the other side of it before I have to start counting. You know... it hurts my puny mortal brain to do things like that."

Of course Cole was pushing her buttons, something he could always do so well, rile her up one way or another. This was not good with Dean and Cole face to face.. "...Oh? just what is it I crave?" She demanded of Cole, her hand lifting to point in his direction. "..and don't call me Pheebs."

Cole stepped around Dean and his empty threats though he chuckled at the comment. Dean was right that it probably did hurt him to use his brain for anything more than hunting down fries and a coke. "C'mon Phoebe. You and me - that's power. The perfect kind of power. You remember it, don't you? How it tasted, how it felt?" The air seemed alive between the two of them for a moment as he held out the memory to her in his hand. Some of his strengths had returned since she'd last tried to vanquish him though not as impressive as they once were. His sudden appearance had obviously taxed him and he struggled to keep up the front. He hoped to find that soft spot she had for him still there and with it the hope to build his strengths more.

Dean backed away from the swirl of turbulent magick that flowed off the man. Okay, so maybe he was a demon after all. They needed a Solomon's seal on the ceiling - check! That was next on his list of things to do now. The speakers could wait. Probably putting one in each bathroom wouldn't hurt, either. The pulse of magick seemed to weaken quickly, but Dean wasn't going to take the chance. Demons weren't usually known for playing a straight hand. He reached for the nearest thing he could wrap his hand around for weaponry, given the wrench or a pool queue to choose from. He rolled his eyes as he smacked himself with the thought of all the grief he'd given Cordelia about packing and here he wasn't.

The draw to Cole was strong but it wasn't the same as the love which had blinded her to his dark side in the past, this was something created with the magic he used to stir up the memory he offered her. "I remember." She said softly, pulling her gaze from the swirl and up to his face. "I remember alot of things.. including how you'd lie to me to get what you want. How people I care about get hurt. How I was hurt.. how it felt to be tricked... to be betrayed." She shook her head and took a step back. She still had a soft spot for him but she was much better at resisting it.. at least this time. "Get out, Cole."

[Lovely]

Cole's hand curled up into a defeated fist. He didn't have another trick planned right now, not expecting she'd really put up a fight without her sisters backing her up, not in front of her friend like this. "He's wrong Phoebe. We're not ever going to be over," he grinned, turning to walk out the door instead of fading between planar positions which would have been more graceful and wouldn't have shown the falter in his step. He was more than drained, the small show had exhausted him.

Dean watched him go and set the pool cue back down on the table after a long moment, expecting the newly replaced windows to shatter inward or the walls to bleed or whatever demons did in this town when they got kicked to the curb. Nothing rattled except Dean's nerves and he tried to hide it. "What? Psh." He spat out, trying to act as if it was really nothing. Dean stepped behind the bar to grab the nearest bottle of anything to crack open and grabbed a glass. "What -did- he mean about that, huh? Where you belong? What, does he think he's the freakin' king?"

"Ah.. umm.." Pheebs scratched the side of her face near her temple with one finger in a sort of awkward gesture as she turned to face the bar and Dean. "Yeah.. he sort of.. is." She let out one of her quiet, not really amused laughs to cover the deeper nervousness she felt. "He just.. umm thinks I should be with him... and I don't agree.. hence the 'ex' part of ex-husband.."

He leveled a look at her though he didn't raise his head. "Sure. For an ex he doesn't seem to get the ex part that good. Must have had one hell of a pre-nup or something," he muttered, pouring his glass then grabbing a second and pouring one for her. "I'm not drinking alone. Here."

"Well.. I .. It wasn't exactly a mutual decision to get divorced... that was me.. it was what I wanted.. and he didn't.. he.. fought the idea.. but it was what I needed to do.. I thought he'd gotten that part, but.. I guess I was wrong." She approached the bar slowly, reaching for the glass with a hand that shook pretty noticably. Cole showing up.. it was just.. not good. She took more than a small sip when she got the glass to her lips.

His glance shot back up and he tried to peer deeper, looking for more than what she was saying. "Fought the idea? He doesn't seem like the kinda guy to just toss a few rounds of insults and call it a day when he fights. What, lawyer? Badass crazies with nunchucks and blond mullets? How not good is not good, Phoebe?"

"Heh lawyer.. funny.. He was an assistant DA for awhile.. " She sighed, blinking and shaking her head a little. "How not good.. oh.. well lets see.. before he fell in love with me and became obsessed with the idea of me being with him forever.. he was a half demon.. assasin who was hired to get close to and kill me and my sisters."

Dean laughed and leaned back, seeming a little relieved. "Really? Well, only a half demon? And here I was worried," he scoffed a little less confidently and took another sip. "Kinda redundant though... half-demon DA?"

She glanced up at him and watched him for a moment, there was a pain in her eyes that he wouldn't have seen before because she'd never shown that part of herself to him. "The DA thing was just a cover.. a way for him to meet us.. to get close.." She realized Dean was being sarcastic and that she'd missed it at first, she shook her head a little. "Yeah.. redundant.." Phoebe took another drink from whatever was in her glass, it was almost gone and she hadn't even tasted it.

"So the hocus-pocus thing is real, not smoke and mirrors. Great. But see, I'm laughing because he lost. He screwed up. You're here, your sisters, the house that wasn't there? Either he's the suck-ass half for a demon, or..." He paused and refilled both glasses, not finishing that thought, but finishing off the refill in a choking gulp.

[Lovely]

She was quiet for a long time, she seemed to be studying Dean but was stuck on a thought that he'd caused to spark in her head. "Unless he brought us here .. But why would he bring us here..? We thought it was the Nexus but.. he wouldn't.. he might.." She was shaking her head and really talking to herself for a moment, her fingers tapping against her lips and her eyes narrowed in thought. "If he did.. ooh I'm gonna.. aarhh.. he just needs to get it through his head that we're over. I am not going to get back together with him!"

"He'll get it through his head if I have to use the whole freakin' Salt Lake and shoot it up his ass," Dean huffed into the bottom of his far-too empty glass he then set down roughly on the counter. It was possible that their sudden appearance had some connection, but he doubted it. Reassuring her about it, however, could take some time. "He could have, but if he could do that, and you were all in the house together, why materialize it here? Why at all? He had you if he wanted you.... however sick and kinky that sounds."

Her focus shifted to Dean and he got a real smile from her along with a small laugh at his comments. It wasn't that they were so amusing, though the one about the Salt Lake was, it was the fact that he was even still there. It was a little amazing that Dean was talking about convincing Cole of the idea that she wasn't his anymore instead of running for the border so to speak. "Because everything he's tried hasn't worked? I don't know.. I just know it stopped being about trying to kill us and about.. me.. heh, that doesn't sound conceited at all does it? Anyway... I don't know.. it's just a thought I hadn't thought of until he showed up and you mentioned us being here. I don't know what he's doing here.. other than trying to wreck my relationship with you."

"Wouldn't be the first to try that gig," he grumbled, looking for another bottle to open that wouldn't chew up their profits too much. He pulled out a cheaper 'house'label of whiskey and cracked it open. "But it'll be the last. I'm not letting some demon punk show me up this time. Now, if it was just some show girl or the waitress down at the donut shop, maybe, but not you."

"Any stories you'd like to share..? since we're sharing here.." Her eyebrow arched up, but it was hard not to smile with how he said 'but not you' like she was special and it was as surprising to feel that way as it was to hear him say it. "Not me huh?" Her finger traced circles on the top of the bar as she glanced at Dean, almost shyly. "I gave up because of him.."

"But you didn't," he pointed out with a half-full glass, hoping not to have to open old war wounds just to prove a point. "If you gave up, you'd have flatlined me and called the cab that first night. Hell, you tried to flatline me anyway, but you didn't. I hardly call that giving up."

"Yeah.. well maybe you're different.. maybe.." She turned her head for a minute and then shook it, bringing her gaze back to him. "Not maybe.. you are different. You didn't let me flatline you." She almost laughed as she leaned on the bar. "You're right and you're wrong.. I had given up.. for awhile I was convinced I was all done with relationships and guys and love.. and sex. I just changed my mind after meeting you. You were all sexy in your leather jacket and those eyes and with the smile and the tight buns.."

"Well, hell yeah, I'm different," he boasted, drinking a toast to himself as she complimented him. "But giving up sex? That's just... he really is an evil sumb*tch if you gave up sex because of him. Glad I could help."

Tender moment over? It seemed so as she kidded and he went into less feeling casual Dean mode. "Yeah well he did some seriously twisted things." She shrugged but didn't go into details, moving on to a lighter comment. "..and I had to give up sex.. cause well the needing a man part and I gave up men.. Would you like to help some more?"

"Define seriously twisted. You -are- talking to a Winchester," he reminded her, although boasting about that had sometimes come close to getting him killed over far less than trying to impress a girl. "Forget definitiions... help with... you mean 'help' help or ... ," he grinned and pushed his glass aside, leaning across the counter.

"Mmm.. I mean.." She leaned toward him, reaching to grasp the front of his shirt lightly. "Help me.. help me.. I need you now.." She whispered the words with a hint of a giggle to them as she worked her way to his mouth for a kiss.

The feeling that there were still eyes watching them, especially the ex's, made him more self-conscious than usual. It was almost like making out in front of Sam, which usually didn't stop him but did make him hesitate a stutter. He tried to push the chill off and help her as much as she needed, or as much as he could with the counter's angles. He smiled against the kiss, "Could test that table, make sure it's level?"

"Oh... we could.." She held onto his shirt, smiling a little as she nibbled sweetly at his lips. Damn! he was so addictive.. "Mmmm we should.." She slowly started to back away, tugging his shirt a little and inviting him to follow as she let go of him and started sliding her straps off her shoulders.

Daaaaayum! His hand brushed down his face. If he wasn't dreaming... He watched her slide over to the table and stepped quickly up next to her. "Can't scratch the felt," he reminded her with a grin, putting his arm around her waist. They'd have to be a lot more bare than this or cover the table with something. He wasn't sure her craft would allow her to conjure up something like that.

"Well then we better make sure nothing gets scratched..." She reached to start helping him with discarding everything on him. "...except this itch..." Her fingers grazed up his sides and lifted his shirt with the motion. "...and it needs lots of scratching."

Once the shirt slipped free, he dove for a kiss between the distractions. "I'll scratch, believe me. Side pocket? Hm?" He suggested, his hands over her hips and working their way up like her fingers had on him. "I still can't believe... mmm... definitely my gain."

She wrapped her arms around him for a moment, kissing him until he broke away, her eyes full of delighted sparkles. He tugged her shirt as she'd done to his and she lifted her arms to help him as he slid it off, she was as eager for him as he seemed to be for her. "Any pocket you want.." She hummed, reaching for him again though one eyebrow cocked up in regard to his 'I can't believe..' comment.

"What? My gain, his loss? Stupid a.. nevermind, okay? Just.. mmm, just come here," he said, leaning his back to the table to hold her in front of him. Maybe it was that little bit of security, feeling something solid behind himself that he hoped ghost-ex wasn't going to walk through.

Phoebe smiled at his words, to hear him to say it meant so much to her. It was so different being with him than any other relationship she'd been in.. not that Dean like the 'R' word very much. "My gain.." She argued with a tender kiss, running her hands over his arms, needing to feel him and know he was real.

"You think so, huh?" His grin went crooked, a shy boy hiding behind it briefly at the thought of someone genuinely caring, something he hadn't known much of, not that he'd been anywhere long enough for the chance in his weird life. "Sure. Your gain, or it's about to be."

She tugged his lower lip with her teeth and smiled after letting it go. "I know so.. " She promised him, coming back to his mouth again for a deep kiss, her hands found their way down to undo his belt and jeans.

[Lovely]

August 4, 2009
3 p.m.


Sam looked at the journal, then the page that had fallen out, wondering where it had been to fall out now after all the abuse the book had been through when he wasn't even flipping pages. It was almost like the page jumped on its own. He folded the journal closed under his arm and picked up the paper, unfolding it to see it was a handwritten letter that made his expression pale. His lips moved around the words he read silently with a crooked grin. 'Dear John,' it apparently started, but that was the only similarity to anything humorous. He read on, ignoring Dean's babbling for the moment.

"... or something about symbols. You know like signs, headbangers or whatever? Sam? Yoohoo...? Come in Houston. Do we have a problem?" Dean was resorting to snaps and waves until he realized Sam wasn't even looking in the journal. He pulled the paper out of his brother's hands. "Passing notes in class, Sammy? I thought you were helping us look for a case, here." He started to look over the letter himself. He simply looked confused.

"Harbingers."

"What?"

"Harbingers, Dean. Signs and portents? Ravens, locusts, shooting stars... they're harbingers, not headbangers. Speaking of... what do you make of that? It just fell out Dad's journal - more like jumped out," Sam said, watching Dean's expression.

"Son of a b-... No. Noooo way. He did NOT do this. This is a hoax, Sammy," Dean said, pushing the paper back at his brother's chest. Harbinger, alright. He was doomed to hell and back at least twice if it was true.

Sam looked at the floor again for anything else and opened the journal again, curious what page it would show him. It was the middle where it often opened but poking out from a couple different pages were small sharp edges he tugged on revealing a couple of photographs. One was the kind done in strips from a carnival booth and the other was a wallet photo, bent and singed on the edge. There was no mistaking the smile in either picture. "A hoax? Really? These look pretty real, Dean. I think we'd know a mock up, but these are the real deal." He held the pictures up that were of Cordelia from her high school days.

Wesley's foot hit a box as he tried to remain casual behind the lobby counter. "Sorry to interrupt. Mail call," he said holding out an opened envelope. "This came addressed to you. I opened it by mistake." He couldn't look Dean in the eye at the moment.

"You opened my mail? I don't get mail. Nobody sends me anything to the real me, ever," Dean said, more than confused now and looking to Sam for help. He took the envelope and looked inside, pulling out a second page of the letter and a business card. He showed it to Sam. "Angel Investigations - we help the hopeless. Nope, no making that up. How'd that part get in the journal, Wes?" He wondered how much the man had snooped into this as he read the rest of the letter and looked at the attached form with it.

"I was dusting," Wesley replied, not wanting to incriminate himself further.

"I think it's really from her mom, Dean. She needs to see this. She'll hit the roof, but it's only fair. She needs to know," Sam said.

Since everything seemed to be happening as if on some silent timer for just the right moment, it shouldn't be surprising that the 'she' in question walked into the lobby. Cordelia was dressed in her one really nice outfit, hair and make up done, heels and all - she'd gotten a modeling job which was helping to fill in a few gaps with bills and supplies between the more important cases they found. She hadn't really told anyone about it but borrowed Angel's car to make the trip into the city and came back carrying a few heavy bags with food, first aide, and of course the clothes she'd gotten to keep. That part was way cool, but didn't excite her quite as much as it used to it, maybe she was just tired. "Wow.. what did I miss? You all look way too serious.. maybe you should try decaf?" She teased the three men as she hauled her bags up onto the counter.

Sam gave his brother the scolding, motherly look of insistence that he be the one to tell Cordelia about the letter and the rest.

"Cordelia...?" Wes had certainly noticed the outfit, but didn't want to be too obvious. Perhaps it wasn't new and he'd be foolish to point out his approval if it was 'some old thing' she had for years. "Let me help you with those," he dodged, paying attention to the bags instead to help her put things away.

"Us, serious? No, it was just a contest to see who could look more pensive. Angel still wins," Dean said, turning to silently yell at Sam whom he thought would be better at breaking the news to her.

After a few silent choice words and pantomiming, followed by the winning rock-paper-scissors throw, Sam made sure the papers and photos were all in Dean's hands despite the efforts to pawn the task off on him. The letter had been addressed to Dean, afterall.

He cleared his throat and looked at the slightly crushed collection of documents while Sam resumed his search through the journal for whatever they were looking up to start with. "Soooo...," he started, coughing a little with indecision of where to start. "Cordy, you used to live in L.A., right?"

Most of Cordy's things had been destroyed with her apartment back in L.A. so this outfit was one of only a few she had to her name, it was definitely not one she'd had for years. To be honest, the stuff she'd had in L.A wasn't old either, she'd lost pretty much everything when her father had lost everything to the IRS. "Thanks." She spoke to Wesley, giving him a smile and tapping one bag. "This all goes to the kitchen, it's not much but.." She shrugged at her meger offering, it was something at least. Cordy turned to Dean almost absently as she set the outfit aside from one of the two remaining bags, which left the first aid stuff to be added to their supplies. "Umm yeah.. L.A. for awhile and Sunnydale before that. Why?" She looked up to him and her expression shifted to questioning as she noticed how weird he was acting.

He folded the papers together carefully to try and put them back in the envelope without drawing attention to them yet. Slipping an ace in a cuff was one thing, but a copy of a birth certificate was a little more tricky. He shrugged as she looked up to see what he was doing. "You lived in Sunnydale a long time, right? Knew a lot of things about a lot of people, kinda the scoop on the whole town, that sort of thing?"

Sam glanced up from the journal. An eyebrow rose but nothing more indicated that he listened in as he began pacing as if really engrossed in the page in his hand.

Wesley took the bags earmarked for the kitchen and left them to their discussions for the moment.

At first she wasn't sure how to react to that but then chuckled and shrugged. "I guess so.. well more everyone I thought was important.. which was the popular and wealthy.. and cute rich college boys.. But if you need to know about someone from back there, I'll do my best to remember something.. I crushed plenty of geeks and nerds under my heels.."

As if specific names had been mentioned, both Dean and Sam turned toward the kitchen where Wes had vanished for the time being. Dean scowled at Sam as he realized they'd thought the same thing. Now he couldn't remember the name on the paper he'd just read and had to unfold it again. "Did you ever know a...," he said, pausing long enough to find and read the mother's name on the form out loud. "I mean, did she know your family or anything, maybe have some kind of curse or anything on one of your cousins, maybe, or did your folks ever go to her for some kind of service they never paid her for? Like, that she might be trying to cash in the karma on now?"

"What are you talking about? That -is- my mother! So, yeah.. I know her. What is this?" She reached to try to snatch the paper away from Dean, her smile half there as if she wasn't sure whether it was some sort of joke or if she should be upset. "Why do you want to know about her?"

Dean looked at Sam again for help, only to see him turn his back to begin pacing the other direction, though he only stood there like a wall now. Dean grimaced again and jumped as Cordy yanked the paper from him. "Hey! Fine, but you don't really want to look at that, trust me. I just want to know how your mom knew our dad."

Cordy gave a triumphant "haha!" as she got hold of the paper and looked at the date on it as she realized what it was, but not the names yet. "How am I supposed to know how she knew your dad, I was even..." Her words trailed off as she realized this was her birth certificate or supposed to be and her eyes moved over the names again and again trying to make them change. "This.. is not funny.." She spoke quietly, turning her glare on Dean as if he'd been trying to play a joke that went so very wrong. "Where did you get this?" She demanded, looking down at the names again, they were clearly printed, signed, and the official seal stamped into the document.. but it was lying! Thier father could not be her father.. her father was her father!

[Lovely]

September 27, 2009
11:40pm


The shock faded as the light around them dimmed. Dean lowered his arm from his face and looked up from the muddy ditch he and Phoebe had tumbled into across from the again-vacant lot. The absence of house and the residue of phenomenal energy made even his fillings tingle a little, or maybe it was just the shiner he was feeling starting to swell. He wiggled his jaw a little and checked himself for injuries, not that he had to check far. His back told him to move carefully and he was sure there was crack in at least one rib from the beam that came down. He settled for rolling over to sit and catch his breath, seeing Phoebe within reach. He saw the cut on her side in the same place where his ached. "Huh. Weird. That's so gotta suck for the real estate market in this town," he sighed, watching her more than the house now. "Do you hear a stereo? Maybe I'm just picking up FM. You doin' okay?"

Phoebe didn't even seem to hear him for a moment as she stared across the street at the place where her house had been.. she'd expected rubble.. something to dig through, something to hold onto even if it was broken. There was nothing, a patch of scorched earth and all trace of the manor gone, it was devestating. She was only half sitting up with a pained expression on her face but it was more emotional than having to do with her injuries. It was like she felt Dean more than hearing him and her gaze slowly dragged away from the lot and fixed on him. Her head shook slightly - she wasn't doing okay at all. What would have happened if Dean and the others hadn't shown up when they did? Where would she and her sisters be now.. would they even have survived? "It's gone.." She whispered in a voice that trembled and was bewildered, though at the same time she felt like she was tingling all over which was alot better than moments before when she felt like she was being torn apart.

"The music? Nah, I think I'm hearing Nazareth, now," he said, shaking his head a little more then glancing up to see how she was looking at him and the lot. He glanced to where her home had been. Granted it hadn't been there long, strangely appearing just like it had disappeared. No, not like it at all. She and her sisters were with it then. He could feel the beat that wasn't his heart, thinking it was the stereo still, but the tremble of her breath made it change. "Ok, now that's really weird. Yeah, it's gone, but you're not. I'm pretty sure the others got out safe, too."

"I'm not gone.." She seemed to only echo his thoughts for a moment but it was the shock of everything and the strange feelings that vibrated through her. "They did.. make it out.. It's.. weird.. I can feel it.. them.." She paused, trailing off as her eyes widened a fraction, her gaze roaming over him. She could feel him too, it took her a moment to figure who or what it was that wasn't her sisters and it was Dean. Normally she'd worry if telling him would freak him out but that thought didn't cross her mind tonight and lifted her gaze to try to meet his. Did he feel it too? "How are you feeling? Does your back hurt?"

"Like I got ran over by Brunhilda's gingerbread house," his said, shifting a little. Did he need to say his back hurt or did the sudden grimace as he tried to stand up say it for him? He didn't get far, stopping on one knee as he looked back across the road where he'd spun to a stop and parked. He smiled a little. "Aw, now would you look at that. Hardly a scratch on her." His hand went to his side, checking for blood and he sat back down to pull his shirt up on the side to see if he had a gouge like hers. Nothing. "You however..."

[Lovely]

Phoebe chuckled softly at his sarcastic answer, yeah he was mostly fine if he was spitting out wise remarks, if he wasn't she'd worry. She felt an ache in her own back but it was like it wasn't really her own pain, her hand went to her side and she felt the tear in her shirt. Her hand was damp with a light covering of blood but the gash didn't seem to be bleeding heavily. "Aww you're baby is fine... good damn car." She was happy the Impala was alright, he'd pout terribly if anything happened to it and she hated to see him pouting. "Eh.. it's not too bad.. hurts but.." She shrugged in regard to herself, looking at her hand again. "I think my pajamas are ruined."

"You don't really need them, do you?" He looked at the blood on her hand and sighed. "No, you're not alright and I'm not sure about me, either. Not jumping any fences for a day or two if I can help it. Do you see any of the others?" He pulled his coat off and the t-shirt under it, giving her something else to wear.

"I do if I'm outside.. once I'm inside.." She shrugged and smiled at him, trying to hide the wince and reaching to take the shirt from him. He may be a royal shit to most people but he was good to her, sweet even in the way he took his shirt off to give to her without even thinking about it. "Think we can use mine as a bandage?" She glanced down not sure how dirty it was, they'd landed in a ditch after all. Her gaze went right back up to look for the others who she saw getting to their feet or knees in various places, scattered around the outside of the lot like she and Dean were. "Looks like the troops are okay.. Is that Sam?" She pointed and bit her lip to keep back the groan, she needed to remember to be careful in how she moved, on that one side anyway.

"Yeah, ol' Sammie's too tough to let a little thing like an exploding house get him," he grinned, relieved more than he could say. "Imploding.. vanishing.. whatever. He's fine. Yeah, use that to stop the bleeding. You have a spell or anything for tetanus shots?"

She felt relieved that Sam was alright and from this distance didn't seem too badly injured, he was busy with the girl who'd recently joined the group or so it seemed. Phoebe smiled a little but it quickly vanished as Dean asked about tetanus shots and her eyes raked over him, looking for bleeding she might not have seen with his shirt on. "Why? Are you cut?" She forgot about her own pain for a moment started to shift toward him, to make sure he was really alright.

"No, I meant your cut. If we shred that to cover it or any others until we can get back. I .. I think I'm pretty much okay. Just a little... I dunno," he said, shaking his head again. He hadn't hit it, but the thoughts were swimming.

"Oh.. my.. I've had a tetanus recently enough.. I should be fine." She smiled a little and reached with her hand on her good side to brush her fingers over his cheek. She felt more connected to him right now than she ever had and she'd felt pretty close to him before tonight. "I'm glad you're alright.. just.. stirred up?" She'd shifted to look for injury on him and took advantage of the closeness to lean in and kiss him. It didn't matter to her that they'd just witnessed something amazing and horrifying, or that they were both banged up, he was still the sexiest man she'd ever met and she -had- to kiss him.

He chuckled a little and tried to hold on for a moment. "Stirred... good way to put it. D-...Did something else happen when that flash happened? I would expect being deaf or dazed, but... things are a lot clearer than that."

[Lovely]

She wasn't going far as long as it didn't hurt to sit close to him, maybe there was something to that saying of 'kiss it all better' as kissing him definitely made her feel better. "I.. well.. from what I can tell.. it was a.. power surge. Like.. our kind of powers.." She gestured to herself and licked at her lips, not sure she could tell him much more than that. "I'll have to look into it more to know all the details.. I think it was the power of the house itself being released or maybe shot into us.. Generations of our family have lived there and it was built.. it was a power surge." She chuckled a little and shook her head. "It's probably easier if I just leave it at that."

"Probably," he nodded, trying to keep her from going into the family history, though maybe she read the look on his face.. or something... and stopped. "Power surges... aren't those supposed to be bad?" He began looking at his coat now, checking for burn holes.

Phoebe watched him with an arched brow as he took her explaination and went in a different direction with it. "It's not a bad thing.. trust me. Well at first it felt bad.. but I don't feel bad now.." She reached to stop him from fretting over his coat and turn his attention back to her and the look in her eyes. "..actually I feel sort of tingly.."

Dean was apprehensive and she probably noticed how he dodged the topic a little. The surge had hit him enough to feel more than tingly and the thought of the power of generations and her house worried him, though he didn't feel bad or juiced up like he'd been hexed or anything. He felt pretty much like himself, but the hum and swirling thoughts compounded by the tingling that increased when she reached for him made him a little jumpy. He let her grab the coat and his hand, though, and his gaze traced up her arm. "No, it's not bad," he said. He just wasn't sure he understood it.

She stopped trying to get closer to him and stared into his eyes as his gaze drew up her arm. "You're a little freaked out.. huh? It was pretty intense but.. I'm fine.. promise." She let go of the jacket and brought her hand to his cheek, trying somehow to reassure him and help ease the feeling that was running through her in reaction to his worrying and jumpiness. She needed him and needed him not to be freaking out or distancing himself from her in fear of what she was and the power that surrounded her family or that she herself possessed.

He tried to hide behind the crooked smile and the glance that zoomed away to find Sam.. the car... anything that wasn't looking into his head right then. "I'm not freaked out," he said, but she was one of the few who could tell when he putting up a front. Her hand on his cheek kept him from looking too far away and the smile faded to an honestly haunted look. He reached up for her fingers. "Much."

She tried to smile for him but it just didn't shine the way hers usually would and her thumb brushed over his cheek. His fingers over hers helped to keep her grounded there with him rather than spiralling off into her thoughts, fears, and doubts. "It seems like I have a habit of doing that to you.. I'm sorry.." I don't want to lose you.. I love you. She added silently, wanting to kiss him again and almost feeling like she needed to to reassure herself that her complicated life wasn't going to drive him away.

He reached out to kiss her himself, feeling something in that moment that was beyond explanation, not that the rest hadn't been. It was a gentle pull that drew him to her to reassure her. "If we're going to start comparing bad habits, don't," he smiled, kissing her gently. "You didn't do this. It's just... I thought nothing left in this world could surprise me."

"Wasn't trying to compare.. just.." The thought was left to trail off as she kissed him back, her mouth nibbling at his as her own smile curved her lips in response to his. His smile changed his face and she loved seeing it there, not that he was less handsome when he wasn't smile. He was all over hot and she wasn't shy about her attraction to him. She lingered near him, teasing at another kiss but not giving in to it yet. "I don't want the surprises that seem to come with my life to be too much for you to deal with.."