[h2]Esme[/h2]
 By the time Dean got out of the shower, Esme was nearly asleep on the couch. When Dean sat on the couch beside her and brushed his fingers through her hair, she inhaled deeply through her nose and rolled her head towards him. She was going to open her eyes until she heard Duke’s voice chime in from the kitchen. “Really? After everything, you want to call me cute.” she thought. She didn’t want to be that person, but would be tonight. She didn’t want any more tension between her and Duke tonight. Esme felt the glare Dean and Bobby shot Duke for his comment, forcing her to keep from smiling as she pretended to be asleep. She listened to the back-and-forth between the three, all while trying to stay still and keep her eyes closed, especially after Duke’s outburst at being called Jason. “Jason? His name is Jason? Where did the name Duke come from?” she thought. By the time the thought left her mind, Bobby had gotten Duke to agree to go to bed, which she was ready for. She was ready to crawl into bed, rest, and forget about everything that had happened that long, terrible day. 

Esme heard Duke get up and walk towards the kitchen, then rolled her eyes at his grumble as he walked out the back door. “Well, that was kinda sweet.” she thought. When Dean turned to her and sighed, brushing his fingers across her forehead, and spoke sweetly, she gave a little groan and rolled her head slightly away from him. She wanted to see what he’d do if she appeared sound asleep. Would he try to wake her again or carry her to bed? She didn’t have to wait long for her answer. As she felt him stand, it was clear he planned to carry her. She kept herself relaxed, which wasn’t hard with how tired and sore she was as he slipped an arm behind her and under her legs, then hoisted her up into his arms. When her head rolled against his cheek, and he kissed her head, she couldn’t stop the smile that came to her lips. He was just too sweet. Esme continued to smile as he carried her past Bobby’s desk, then up the stairs. Thankfully, her back was to Bobby when they passed. She had gotten out of having to walk up the stairs. 

She knew she could have probably asked him to help her up, but it was more fun this way. Once she heard the door open, she forced her face to relax, but her smile returned, and her eyes opened as soon as he laid her down on the pillows as if she’d break. “I’m not that fragile, you know?” she teased in a soft, tired tone. She shifted a little against the pillows, wincing as pain shot through her sore body. Her smile faded as her mind drifted to what happened downstairs, causing her to sigh heavily. After all the yelling she did, he was so sweet to her. “Dean…. I’m…. I’m sorry about earlier. You didn’t deserve that.” she said softly, looking away from him. “I had two cases today, and one didn’t go according to plan because the information I was given wasn’t accurate. Which I believe was done purposely.” she told him with a heavy sigh. “My anger and irritation got the better of me, and I ended up taking it out on you and Duke.” Esme closed her eyes tightly, leaned her head back into the pillows, and ran a hand through her hair, feeling terrible.

She then brought her hand to rest on the side of her face. “It’s been weeks since I last saw you, and that’s what you come into after a day of dealing with Vamps. I’m a horrible person.” she mumbled into her hand. “No wonder you felt the need to say don’t leave.” As she lay there, Esme felt she needed to make it up to him somehow, but what could she do? It had to be something that genuinely showed how sorry she was for raging at him and that she wouldn’t do it again.