Summary: Sam and Dean run into some trouble, Sam calls an old friend for help. More Hurt!Dean, Motherhen!Sam. And, of course, Lovely!Rachelle. Set in Season 2, a bit after episode 4: CSPWDT, I guess.

xXxXx

The Demon In Jersey

Sequel

xXxXx

Rachelle's POV

Rachelle let out a heavy sigh as she made her way down the hallway of the townhouse she shared with her best friend. Said best friend was currently hours away at her folks' place for Thanksgiving. The holiday was still a whole day away, but they had a tradition of baking all the sweets and such the day before since the arrival of relatives on the actual day tended to make things hectic and baking became a hassle.

She felt utterly and completely alone. Her own family only lived downtown so the commute was reasonable enough that she didn't have to stay the night. She was thinking about popping over tomorrow to help with the baking since the emptiness of the house was starting to give her unsettling feelings.

She made sure to keep all the lights on whenever nightfall hit, of course, she only did this whenever she was home alone, which usually only happened on holidays when Mer was with her family. As she turned into the brightly lit kitchen, she made her way to the pantry and searched around for something that sounded good.

Before she could decide between something quick and easy like mac and cheese, or the longer wait of a baked potato and grilled chicken, the phone rang. Turning on a heel, she made her way to the cordless wall-phone and looked at the caller ID screen. That was when she froze in shock. That number... it was one of the two numbers she'd memorized over two years ago, and always kept fresh in her mind. A number off a contact card she kept carefully protected in a plastic cover in her wallet.

It had reached the fourth ring when she snapped out of it and grabbed up the cordless, hastily pressing the Talk button before it could go to the answering machine.

"Hello?" She blurted, voice high from the sudden anxiety she felt.

"Y-yeah. Hello. Is Rachelle Williams there?"

She knew that voice. "S-Sam? I mean, yes, this is her."

A heavy sigh, like desperate relief crackled into her ear. "Yeah, it's Sam. I'm so glad you remember, I wasn't sure if..." He stuttered to a pause, like he was rethinking his words. "..if you'd even be living in Maine anymore, but I checked the phone directory and your name was in there, so I figured... I'm so sorry. I know this is really sudden, and I have a really huge..." A huff. "A gigantic favor to ask of you." He said, words leaving his mouth in a frenzy.

"Sam, Sam. Calm down. What's wrong? What happened?" She asked, pulse pounding in her ears.

"It's Dean," he said in a shaky voice, tone so urgent and panicked it caused Rachelle's heart to jump with fear.

"What?! Is he okay?"

"I - yeah - I think. I mean, he should be. He's messed up real bad, and we need a place to hideout. We're in some trouble and - and I understand if you don't want to deal with this - "

"No! It's okay." She said quickly, cutting him off. "I wouldn't mind."

Sam made a small noise that sounded like a breathless prayer. "Do you have a garage? Our car needs to be hidden."

"The Impala?"

"Yeah."

"Uhm, yeah. I live with a friend, but she's out for Thanksgiving so there's an extra space."

"Good, that's good."

They were on the phone a few minutes as she gave him directions to the house, then she was saying "be careful, see you when you get here," before hanging up after his quick "thanks, I will. See ya."

Rachelle took a step back and stared at the phone in a shocked daze. Did that really just happen? Was she really going to see Sam and Dean again after two years?

Snapping out of her daze, she focused on the task of setting up the pull-out couch in the living room. Mer's mom had given it to them as a house-warming present, even if it was previously used in the den of their home. It wasn't often that they used the unfoldable bed, but sometimes a friend or relative would stop buy and stay over. She guessed that was kind of the point of the couch.

Clenching her jaw, she paused in putting fresh sheets down and took a calming breath. It wasn't that she was scared of seeing Sam and Dean again... no... it was just the memories that were resurfacing after hearing Sam's voice. She was steadily remembering it all, every second of those few days.

Rachelle hadn't been sure she'd ever see them again after that day... and lord knows she considered dialing Dean's contact number a thousand times, but everytime she picked up a phone, she froze with doubt. The number was suppose to be called in an emergency... and what would she say? Hi. Are you okay? You are? That's great. Okay. Bye.

She sort of felt like that was where their story was suppose to end. And something deep in her whispered that they were strong, and they were capable. They'd be fine.

She finished putting the bed together, then grabbed an old blanket form the hall closet to spread over the comforter since she had a sinking feeling that blood was going to be present when Sam and Dean arrived.

Her nerves got the best of her, and had her racing around the house to prepare for the boys. She pulled out all her first aid type items, and even filled a bowl with hot water for cleaning any wounds. She had just finished rounding up a handful of rags to put on the table near the pull-out when she heard the garage door closing.

Rachelle didn't give herself time to think, just hurried to the front door and wrenched it open. Sam was coming down the walk from the garage, but that wasn't what grabbed her attention. Dean was hoisted over his shoulder bonelessly in a fireman's carry.

"Hey." Sam blurted nervously as he stepped up to the porch. He smiled gratefully when she wordlessly opened the door wider for him to come in.

"Uhm, I - I set up a bed in the living room. Just to the left there."

Sam nodded and made his way into the living room, Rachelle close behind after locking the door behind them. He carefully dropped Dean down onto the fold-out bed, then dropped to his knees and started digging through a big, black bag she hadn't noticed when he first came in.

"There's warm water and rags there, uhm... I had a bit of guaze and some peroxide..." She trailed off.

Sam nodded, but didn't look at her when he responded, too busy setting up what he needed. "Thank you so much, that'll help."

"What - How bad is it?"

Sam ran a hand through his hair and opened a square box, pulling out a needle and some thread. "We were doing a hunt in New Hampshire... a poltergeist. They can always be unpredictable... tricky." He squinted one eye as he went about threading the needle. Dean lay motionless on the bed covered in rivulets of dried blood, but his chest rose and fell. "I was in the living room, putting a hole in the wall for the last part of the cleansing spell when the-" He grit his teeth, trying to steady his shaking hand and finally got the thread through the needle hole. "-the bay window just explodes. So Dean comes out of nowhere and pushes me down. That's why he has all the little gashes, and there's probably glass all in him... damn it... and if that wasn't enough, when we're trying to find the damn bag that I dropped after the window combusted, this hulking vase comes soaring through the air. Manages to crack him on the head and send him slamming into the wall, and that's where he dislocated his shoulder."

Rachelle put a hand over her mouth in horror before taking it away to speak. "Shouldn't you take him to a hospital?"

"No, I mean... I'd prefer it, but I'm pretty sure he's going to be okay. He was a bit out of it when he woke up a few minutes later. I'd taken care of the last part of the spell by then and the poltergeist was history." Sam was quiet a second as he soaked the end of a rag in hot water, then went about cleaning the still weeping wound on the side of Dean's head. "He sobered up fast and answered all my questions fine... and we've gone through enough concussions to know if one's bad or not... and I don't think this one's bad. So I let him have some pain killers and put his shoulder back. That's when he passed out. He was probably more exhausted than in pain... he... he hasn't been sleeping well." Sam mumbled, not going any further.

Rachelle came to stand beside him, but looked away as he begun stitching. "I wish I could be more help."

Sam shook his head. "You've already done too much. To put this on you after so long..."

Rachelle put a hand on his shoulder. "Stop, Sam. Really, it's okay... I... I kind of wanted to see you guys again sometime... after what happened... certainly not like this... but I'd been hoping we might run into each other on accident or something." She said with a nervous laugh.

Sam cut the thread as he finished and smiled up at her. "I think we could've been good friends... if things were different. I wish they were all the time..." He finished his sentence like someone who'd seen more than one lifetime, and it made Rachelle ache inside. He was still so young, and yet he'd been doing this since he was a kid. The unfairness of it was baffling.

"Ughh... it feels like I just got poked in the head a lot..."

Rachelle watched as the years shed from Sam's face instantly, a dimpled grin lighting his features. "You did."

"Oh, good." Dean groaned, reaching up to rub a hand over his face. He opened his eyes then and blinked blearily, staring at Sam, then Rachelle. "...Rachelle?"

She smiled hesitantly and waved. "Hi."

Dean looked to Sam again. "You see her, too, right?"

Sam chuckled. "Yeah, Dean. She was awesome enough to give us a place to hideout... you know, after the cops showed up from all the noise."

"Aw man... we totally messed that job up..."

"Could've been worse."

"I guess." Dean said, not sounding all that convinced. He fixed his eyes back on Rachelle. "It's good to see you again...really good."

Rachelle grinned, and tried not to blush. "Good to see you, too. Despite the circumstances."

Dean flashed a lazy grin, and she suddenly remembered how it was her favorite expression.

He winced suddenly and swore. "What the fuck you doin', Sam?"

Sam held up a small piece of glass he'd dislodged from Dean's knuckle. "You're kind of full of 'em."

Dean sighed gloomily. "Why can't poltergeists haunt strip clubs?"

Rachelle snorted and Sam rolled his eyes.

xXxXx

Rachelle shook the little hot chocolate packet in one hand, trying to get all the powder and mini-marshmallows on one side of the bag so it wouldn't explode everywhere when she opened it. Her favorite mug was rotating in the microwave, the water inside of it beginning to steam. With the Winchesters in her presence once more, she couldn't find sleep. Hot chocolate was her last resort, but she knew it probably wouldn't coax her to sleep.

She took a deep breath and glanced again to the doorway, and even though she couldn't see the boys from the kitchen, it had become a nervous habit. Seeing Dean standing there on her next glance had her inhaling sharply and making a startled "oh!" noise.

Dean winced and looked apologetic. "Sorry. I was gonna say somethin', but I didn't wanna startle you. Looks like I kinda messed that up."

Rachelle took a calming breath and grinned. "It's okay. No harm done." She turned to the microwave, then looked back at him. "Uhm, I'm making hot chocolate... want some?"

Dean smirked lightly. "Got any liquor to mix with it?"

Rachelle smiled sheepishly and shook her head. "We don't have any in the house, just some cheap wine for special occasions. We usually save the heavier drinks for when we go out."

Dean nodded cooly, and shrugged with his good shoulder. "Guess I'll have it straight up, then."

Rachelle laughed softly, and pulled out another mug. "Does Sam want some?"

Dean tossed a look over his shoulder and smiled gently. "Nah. He's passed out."

She fixed her attention on his softly curved lips. It was near impossible to help. He had such a sweet smile, especially when it was directed toward his brother.

When she saw those lips curve deeper into something playful and charming, she snapped out of her stare and met Dean's amused eyes. A wave of embarrassment shot through her at being caught oogling him, and she looked away to hide her blush. She was pretty sure her mug was ready so she jabbed the release button and the microwave door popped open. Careful not to burn herself, she set the steaming mug on the counter, then filled Dean's mug with water and put it in the microwave.

Rachelle busied herself with mixing in her hot chocolate so she didn't have to look at Dean. Her heart was rabbitting in her chest and she felt like such a dork for being so worked up over him catching her looking. It's not like she'd never openly oogled a guy before, but she knew that with Dean, it was just different.

"So, the cat still around?" Dean asked casually, and even though it was a lot like a conversation starter, he honestly sounded curious.

Rachelle welcomed the new topic, and managed to throw him a small smile. "Uhm, yeah. Still has lots of years left in him. He does his disappearing act when guests show up, but maybe he'll come out for you guys."

The microwave dinged then and she pulled out the mug and mixed in another hot chocolate packet. Dean took the mug in his free hand when she brought it to him, heedless of the heat. His other arm was tucked into his zipped up jacket to keep weight off his sore shoulder.

He shifted uncomfortably all of a sudden and looked toward the front door. "Wanna get some air?"

Rachelle couldn't help smiling shyly as she nodded. "Sure."

They both bundled up since it was a chilly fifty degrees out and stepped quietly onto the porch steps before sitting down on the first step. Rachelle shifted a bit and then settled, letting Dean's good shoulder rest along hers, and though it was cold out, she felt anything but.

They were quiet for a minute or two, just sipping at their hot chocolate. Rachelle decided to speak up, curious about Dean and Sam's lives. "It must be pretty cool getting to travel around, huh? Just seeing other states."

Dean was silent a moment, staring out at the deserted street. It was nearly three in the morning, and there was barely any wind. It was peaceful. "Yeah... I mean... to tell you the truth, we must've been to every state on the map dozens of times... you kind of stop noticing differences." He smirked at her, but she thought she saw something dark in his eyes. "California is probably the coolest out of all of 'em, though. You pretty much got everything there."

Rachelle smiled and nodded a bit. "California it is, then."

Dean grinned over at her. "You goin' on a roadtrip or somethin'?"

She huffed a laugh, looking down at her house slippers. "I've been planning on it, and so far I always put it off, or something gets in the way, but you only have one life, you know? I want to... do it right... or something like that."

Dean went still beside her, whispered a soft "Yeah..." as he set his mug down.

Something about the way his shoulders dipped just a smidgen made her set her own mug down and put a hand on his arm, murmur a questioning, "Dean?"

She watched his features draw up, like his was trying hard to stop something from popping to the surface. There was a battle going on behind his green eyes, before his expression suddenly smoothed out and all that was there was sorrow. "My... my father..." He choked out, jaw working. "He...he..."

Dean dropped his head with a frustrated, almost angry sigh, hand scrubbing through his hair once.

Rachelle didn't need him to go on. She felt grief hit her so hard, she was momentarily stunned. "Oh, Dean..." She let out breathlessly. She couldn't explain why she felt his pain so keenly, but then he turned his head and looked at her, and she knew. Despair rolled off him in thick, black waves; hit her that much stronger when their gazes met.

Dean looked startled when the first tear rolled from her eyes, followed by another.

"I'm so sorry," she murmured tightly, and before she could stop herself, her arms carefully wound around his neck. She rested her chin on his shoulder and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. God! Why was she the one crying like this? She thought that maybe she should be embarrassed, but she couldn't feel it. Not with so much grief washing through her. It was just... Dean's eyes. When he'd looked at her... she'd never seen such haunted eyes... never known a sorrow that could go so deep.

After a moment, she felt his good arm wrap around her and pull her closer. His cheek pressed against her jaw, chin tucked at her shoulder, and then she felt a single drop of warmth roll down her neck. As soon as she felt the tear's warmth, Dean's hand fisted up the material of her thick hoodie and held on tightly.

Rachelle clenched her teeth tightly and swallowed back a sob as Dean's shoulders started to hitch lightly. He barely made a sound, just took shaky breaths every few seconds, but she could feel the hot tears that escaped his eyes one after another. Her heart felt like it was being rung painfully, and it baffled her how closely tied she felt to Dean, yet she barely knew anything about him.

She doesn't know how long they stayed like that, just holding onto each other and silently crying, but eventually Dean stopped shaking and his breathes grew smoother, the ocassional sniff sounding from both of them.

"I.." Dean mumbled suddenly, his voice shuddering deep inside her head. "I don't know what to do without him." He took a breath, tone going even quieter. "I'm so lost... He taught me almost everything I know... and then... and then he was just gone. Just like that."

Rachelle ran her hand soothingly through the hair at the nape of his neck, not feeling it right to say anything yet.

Dean leaned into her just a bit more, and went on tiredly. "Sammy... he means well... I know he does... but I... I just don't want to talk about it with him... you know..." Dean sniffed. "With those... those eyes that just remind me of him... and sometimes his voice... it hits the right pitch... and it's like bein' slapped in the face all over again.... He's dead..." Dean's voice grew more wrecked. "My father is dead..."

He held her tighter and she embraced him that much more closely.

"I wanna wake up... and I want this all just to be some really shitty nightmare I can forget..." Dean mumbled, regaining a steadier tone. "Dad'll pound on the door of our room and yell "Five minutes boys!" and then we'll be on the road again. Just me, and Sammy, and Dad... Us against the world..."

A soft silence settled around them for a few minutes before a gust of wind carried an empty soda can noisily down the road. He pulled away then, and she let him, watching silently as he wiped his hand across his face and took a deep breath to compose himself.

"I am so freakin' hungry." He breathed out abruptly.

Rachelle smiled tenderly and bumped his shoulder with her own. "How do grilled cheese sandwiches sound?"

Dean met her eyes and grinned lightly. "Pretty fuckin' amazing."

It was like going back in time when she saw the gratefulness behind those green irises, and she simply replied with her own quiet anytime.

She stood up and brushed off the seat of her pants; smiled down at him with a returning shyness. "Then you're in luck. I happen to make the best grilled cheese sandwiches this side of Maine."

"Yahtzee." Dean replied with that easy grin that drove her crazy.

xXxXx

Rachelle laughed softly as Dean split the halves of his grilled cheese sandwich apart, eyes delightedly tracking the way the cheese fanned out before breaking away to whichever side. "My compliments to the chef." Dean grinned before taking a hearty bite of one half. He closed his eyes like he was savoring the taste.

Rachelle smiled so hard her face hurt. It amazed her how innocent Dean could look, despite the life he led and the pains he'd been through.

She looked over as she heard heavy, shuffling footsteps. Sam appeared in the doorway, rubbing at his eyes sluggishly.

"Sammy!" Dean said around his mouthful, making Rachelle giggle. "You gotta try this."

Sam grinned sleepily and made his way over to plunk down into a kitchen chair. "Grilled cheese sandwiches?" He asked with amusement, looking over at Rachelle who beamed proudly.

Dean grinned and handed Sam the other half of his sandwich. Rachelle adoringly watched as Sam took it with a grateful smirk before sinking his teeth into a corner. After a bit of chewing, he met Dean's eye. Dean wiggled his brows and nodded like he was saying, "Good, right?"

Sam smiled deviously and used a hand to shield the view of his mouth from Rachelle, but not Dean. She raised a brow, confused until Dean's eyes went wide and he snorted suddenly. His hand flew up to cover his mouth, just in case, as he glared at Sam. "Dude, gross." He choked out with a scowl but his eyes showed the hidden smile.

Sam dropped his hand and smiled innocently over at Rachelle. He swallowed the rest of his sandwich before speaking. "Says the guy who talks with his mouth full."

Dean ignored him. "I didn't need to see your masticated food, Sam."

Sam snorted. "Big words today, Dean. Maybe that vase knocked something into place."

"I'm about to knock something into place." Dean threatened lamely.

"I take back my previous statement." Sam dead-panned.

Rachelle broke into tiny giggles and shook her head. "You guys are as bad as ever."

Dean looked sheepish and Sam smiled cheekily.

"Should I make more?" She questioned, looking between them.

"Yes, please." Dean replied, smiling nice and big. It took all her willpower not to smother him with hugs. He was seriously bad for her heart, they both were. Too damn adorable.

"Now he has manners." Sam snarked, then grunted when Dean stamped on his foot.

Rachelle turned back to the stove with a light heart as a violent version of footsie erupted under her kitchen table.

xXxXx

Dean held up a frozen turkey that had to be way over twenty pounds. He grinned like those fishermen in the pictures, standing next to their gigantic catch. "What about this one?"

Rachelle burst into laughter as Sam rolled his eyes hopelessly. "It's just us three, Dean, Jesus. That could feed a small army."

"So?" Dean said, pouting. "We could be a small army."

"No." Sam said sternly, crossing his arms.

Dean frowned harder. "Sam."

"No!"

Dean turned pleading eyes on Rachelle this time. She was wiping at her eyes, moisture having collected there from laughing too hard. Their trip to Walmart was turning into quite an entertaining adventure. It took some convincing, but Rachelle had insisted they stay around another day so she could make them a Thanksgiving meal, even if the actual day wasn't until tomorrow. It also happened to be five thirty in the morning, and she was officially insane.

Sam didn't give Rachelle time to respond as he strode over to Dean. "Damn it, Dean, put the turkey down before you hurt yourself."

"I just dislocated my shoulder, Sam. I'm not an invalid." Dean complained.

"Put the turkey down!" Sam spat out swiftly, reaching out to take the frozen hunk.

"No!" Dean snapped, yanking the turkey from his reach by turning away.

Rachelle huffed out a disbelieving laugh and hurried forward to stop them from killing each other.

xXxXx

"It smells so good. I hate waiting." Dean grumbled four hours later before knocking his knuckles on the kitchen table. "Hit me."

Sam rolled his eyes at a smirking Rachelle and tossed Dean a card. "Quit bitching or I'll put you out and me n' Rachelle will eat while you stare pathetically through the kitchen window."

"A window can't keep me out." Dean threatened, assessing the cards before him.

Rachelle gasped in mock horror. "Dean! You would break my window?"

Dean glanced over at her with a small smile. "Sam would pay for it."

"The hell I would."

"I'm going to put you both out." Rachelle muttered in amusement, waiting to see if she'd win this hand of Black Jack.

"Nobody's puttin' anyone out, so there." Dean mumbled tersely before boldly saying, "Hit me."

Sam tossed a card and cackled. "Bust!"

"Yes!" Rachelle said with triumph and scooped the handful of quarters toward her.

xXxXx

Rachelle woke a while later with her head pillowed on her arms which were crisscrossed over the arm of the living room recliner. Sam and Dean were immediately in sight as she blinked to clear her sleepy vision. Both boys had passed out sitting next to each other on the couch, their socked feet resting on the coffee table.

Rachelle yawned and smiled, watching the rise of fall of their chests. It was so odd how well the three of them got along... and after so long, too. It seemed unfair that she'd never truly be able to be friends with them... never truly get to know them.

She stood carefully and made her way into the kitchen to check on the turkey. Only thirty more minutes! She smiled to herself and moved to the pantry to pull out some potatoes, then set them by the sink and started peeling them.

It was Sam who appeared at her side this time, all sleepy-eyed, but looking much more rested. Rachelle wasn't startled this time, but maybe that was just because Sam was so tall, his shadow ended up giving him away. She was sure he could be plenty stealthy if he had to be. Knowing that he felt relaxed in her home, safe even, made her feel good.

"Need some help?" He asked softly.

Rachelle shrugged and nodded, saying "Sure," before handing over a couple of potatoes and getting out another peeling knife.

He took the knife, washed a potato, and then started peeling. The silence was companionable and easy.

Rachelle didn't know she was going to say something until it sprung up in her mind, but she felt like now was as good a time as any. "Hey, Sam..." She began, and he hummed back, curious. She studied the potato she was curving in her palm, peel still connected and spiraling off to the side. "I just wanted you to know... you're welcome here. You and Dean... anytime."

She glanced over and caught his eye. Sam had a thoughtful expression on his face as he nodded, then she looked back at her task so he was just in the corner of her eye again. "I mean it... if you're ever in trouble... like what happened yesterday. Feel free to give me a call." She huffed softly. "Even if you're halfway across the country... maybe there's something I can do."

Feeling like she'd said enough, she just focused on peeling while Sam stayed quiet beside her, then he bumped her gently with his shoulder.

"Thanks, Rachelle... it means... it means more than you know."

She grinned and bumped him back.

xXxXx

Dean groaned obscenely from across the table, another forkful of turkey making its way into his already stuffed mouth. "Sho...sho.. gud."

Rachelle laughed softly and Sam sighed.

"You choke and you're on your own, bro." Sam said with an evil little grin.

Dean just grinned back, chewing loudly. "S'ok... Rachelle wulh hulp me, righ'?"

Rachelle set her glass down after taking a sip and looked up in thought, pointer finger tapping her chin. "Hmm... maybe."

Dean gave her an indignant look."Twait-uh."

Rachelle and Sam snorted at the same time.

"Twait-uh," Sam mocked, pouting sadly at Rachelle, who giggled.

Dean threw a leg bone at Sam's head, but Sam lifted his arm in time to deflect it, only it bounced off his wrist and landed in his mashed potatoes.

Sam scowled and Dean cackled before he made a gasping sound right after. Then he was coughing loudly into his hand, eyes watering.

Sam sat back in his chair, looking smug. "Serves you right."

Rachelle was smiling and rolling her eyes as she patted Dean firmly on the back. He was coughing up a storm, but he still managed to flip his brother the bird.

xXxXx

Sam's POV

Later, as the sun was setting out the window and stomachs were full, Rachelle got a call from family and excused herself from the living room. Sam and Dean sat side by side on the couch, both on a second helping of cherry pie and working their way to a third.

Dean finished his last bite and sat back with an I-am-so-full groan.

Sam was still four bites behind so he let the comfortable silence settle around them, the TV a soft, background murmur.

It wasn't so much a surprise when Dean spoke up, it was what he said. "Think she'll adopt us?"

Sam smirked around his mouthful of pie. "Definitely," he chuckled after he gulped down his bite. "I mean, I'm a package deal, but she's so smitten by me I'm sure having you around won't be too bad."

Dean knuckled Sam in the side, making him grunt in disapproval. "Always with the violence." Sam said, exasperated.

"Always with the smart mouth." Dean countered in the same tone.

They fell into quiet again, until Sam broke the silence. "We could totally stay."

Dean huffed a laugh and played along. "Yeah, and where would we stay?"

Sam grinned. "Could buy a run down winnebago and park it out front. Live the high life."

Dean snorted. "Bet Rachelle would just love that."

Sam smiled a bit ruefully. "I bet she would." He didn't mean for it to sound so serious... or maybe he did.

Dean didn't say anything for a long moment, then he opened his mouth and muttered roughly, "Eat your pie."

Sam did.

xXxXx

Rachelle's POV

It was past midnight when the boys started getting their gear together. They'd both taken showers right before which had given Rachelle time to put all the leftovers in tupperware. Now she stacked them into Sam's arms, and he was grinning pretty happily. So was Dean, but it didn't quite remove the underlying sombreness in the air.

Teetering with his armful, Sam went out the front door and to the Impala, leaving Dean and Rachelle alone.

Rachelle smileed shyly when Dean turned to her with a charming smirk."Sorry to eat and run." He said with a little shrug.

Rachelle snickered softly and shook her head. "The world isn't gonna save itself, right?"

Dean huffed a laugh and rubbed the back of his neck. "Damn straight. Seriously need to find a new sidekick, though. Mine is way too bitchy."

Rachelle laughed loudly, came out of it to Dean smiling that completely knee-weakening smile at her. She felt her heart stutter and start to pound in her chest as he shifted closer. Then he was leaning forward and pressing his lips to hers. It was achingly sweet in its chasteness, and over way too fast.

Dean stepped away, looking bashful with his mouth curved in the cutest little smile. The moment reminded her a lot of awkward teens at the end of a first date.

Rachelle knew her cheeks were tinged pink, and there was a giant smile tugging at her lips. It seemed to bring back some of Dean's usual sureness, cause he smiled wider and threw her a wink. "Thank you... for everything. Be safe, okay?"

She nodded wordlessly, wanted to say 'you, too,' but her mouth wouldn't work.

Dean grinned brightly, the corner of his eyes crinkling in delight. "See ya." He said, softly, and then he was gone.

Rachelle was still gathering herself when Sam reappeared a minute or two later. He grinned and opened his arms for a hug, which she gladly stepped into. He lifted her off her feet for a second, making her giggle, before setting her down gently.

"God, I'm going to miss you guys." She can't help from gushing as she stepped from the embrace.

Sam half-smiled, and his eyes shone genuinely when he said, "We're gonna miss you, too." Then he sighed heavily with mock annoyance. "Dean'll eat all those leftovers in one night."

Rachelle laughed softly. "I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. He can put it away."

Sam grinned and rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes he can." The way he said it had Rachelle thinking of Dean's face on banned posters in all-you-can-eat buffets across America.

She caught Sam's eye and they both huffed reluctantly. This was a joint effort in stalling, and they knew it.

Rachelle gave him another hug, quicker this time. "Alright. Look out for yourselves... wear clean underwear, all that jazz."

Sam chuckled lowly, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets. "Yes ma'am." Then he was turning away and heading to the open door. He stopped at the threshold and gave a little wave. "Thank you so much. This was really great."

Rachelle smiled and felt her eyes sting with threatening tears. "Anytime, Sam."

He grinned then, really big and sweet, just as charming as his brother. He didn't say bye, just gave her a look that spoke volumes and disappeared.

She stepped up to the doorway and watched them back out, drive off down the street. They left like the first time, without looking back, and her heart swelled with all kinds of well-wishes as she tracked the Impala's shrinking figure.

The End.

A/N: Well, that's it for now. I am definitely considering doing another Rachelle encounter, especially for into Season 4. I think that'd be an interesting write. Who knows. Thanks so much for reading! Mega smishes for Enkidu07 again. I couldn't have finished this without your amazingness!