[h2]Esme[/h2]
Esme saw Duke’s smile fall a bit when she told him he could talk to her as well. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t wonder what had flashed through his mind at that moment to take his smile away, but she didn’t press it. She had also noticed the deep scars on his back as they had gone into the RV. She had seen scars like them before and knew they had to be from a monster they dealt with in their line of work. But seeing as they just met, she felt it wasn’t her place to ask about them. That conversation would probably come in time. When he answered her in a tease, she laughed again. “You think so, huh?” she laughed a bit more. Dark and edgy side? That’s one of my specialties.” she teased back.  She watched him as he tossed all the guns into his duffel, then threw the handles over his shoulder. She couldn’t hold back her laugh at his comment about Dean. “Isn’t that the truth.” she replied as he walked past her. That was one thing that hung in the back of her mind as she thought about going inside to grab her stuff. 

Esme turned and followed Duke out of the RV, catching a glimpse of his scared back before she turned to close the door behind her. She slowly descended the steps and followed him out to the covered carport and to the back door. By the time she walked in the back door, Dean and Duke were talking, and Duke was at the fridge grabbing two beers. She stood there holding in a laugh at how Dean was reacting to Duke running around without a shirt on around a stranger. She took it that it was odd for him to do so. When Dean addressed her, she gave a warm smile at his narrowed eyes, then walked over to Dean as Duke rolled his eyes and left the kitchen. Esme placed a hand on Dean’s, a smile still resting on her lips. “Yes, Dean. I’m perfectly fine.” she told him as she gently squeezed his hand. “I don’t doubt that you did tell him to give me space. You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t.” She gave a soft laugh as she looked at him. “But there comes a time when too much space can become a bad thing.”

“He’s just trying to help me work through all the emotions from last night.” She gave Dean’s hand another squeeze as she rubbed her thumb over the top of it. “But if you’re that worried about me. You are more than welcome to join us out there.” she told him, making it clear she was going whether he went or not. Esme then placed her free hand on his cheek, leaned in, and kissed his other cheek. “I really am okay, Dean.” she whispered. She kissed his cheek again before pulling away, then looked into his green eyes. “I’m going to go grab my stuff and give you a chance to think it over.” Esme gave him another warm smile before she kissed his lips sweetly, then pulled away to go grab her stuff.