[h3] Dean and Duke [/h3] 

Dean watched Esme’s facial expressions, trying to read what stages of her anger she was in at that moment. She could be hard to read, but he was also getting to know her faces, all too well. When she finally sighed and explained that she believed him, Dean released a huge sigh, releasing Duke’s mouth. 

Her comment about their smell caused him to pick up his shirt, and sniff it, his nose curling at the horrible smell. They really did reek, but there was only one shower, and what if Esme was gone before he got back, and he didn’t have a chance to check on her, or pick her brain? He wanted to see what she was thinking after all this, why she was so angry. He wanted to make sure she wasn’t too hurt, or hadn’t made any mistakes that had her in a bad mental space. For once, he cared about a woman he hadn’t known long.

As if reading his mind, she reassured him that she wasn’t leaving. He wanted to believe her, especially since she looked worse for wear. But, a pang in his stomach told him that she might actually run off. Like he pushed her away, or scared her away with his lack of care…for himself.

“There’s only one shower and I’m not showering with Dean. But I ain’t stayin’ out here alone with you either.” Duke spoke up, causing Dean to harshly slap the back of his head, ruffling his bloody blonde hair. Duke grabbed the back of his head and swung around to look at Dean, his eyes wide and hurt, “Ow dude!”


“You boys stop the two year old squabblin’ and go clean up. There’s a half bath in the basement. You know that. It ain’t a shower, but you know how to use a bucket and some towels, don’t ya?” Bobby chimed in, glaring at both boys in front of him. He raised his eyebrows to drive home the point, and Dean and Duke turned to each other.

“Winner takes the shower.” Duke held out both his hands for ‘rock, paper, scissors’ with a bright smile. Dean eagerly set his own hands up and leaned toward Duke. They counted, and finally laid out their signs, Duke holding scissors and Dean holding rock. “No! Best two out of three!”

“Nope! Winner gets the shower. And I’m the winner!” Dean gleefully chimed, walking around the chair and to the linen closet. He pulled a couple of towels and stopped at the bathroom door, looking back at Esme. “Please…don’t leave.”

Duke reluctantly stood from his chair, holding both his hands in front of his face at Esme, and also raided the linen closet. As he passed Esme to head for the basement stairs, he stopped and looked down at her, “Sorry we met under these circumstances. I really ain’t as bad as I probably seem to you right now.”

“Duke!” Dean yelled from the bathroom, causing Duke to roll his eyes, and stroll past her to the basement.

Bobby shook his head, and stepped around his desk. He walked up to the chair that Duke had been sitting in, moving it back to its place in front of his desk. Then he stooped, and picked up Duke’s hat, holding it in his hand with a sigh, “His head ain’t screwed on right…but he is one of the good ones, once you get attached to him.”