[h2]Esme[/h2]
When Esme went to turn, after pulling away from Dean, she stopped and turned back as what he said sunk into her mind. A warm smile graced her lips as she looked at him. “I’ll keep that in mind. I’ve dealt with my fair share of bolters.” she told him. “That’s why it took me a bit to warm up to you fully.” She gave a little laugh to lighten the air. Plus, just the little time she had been around Duke, she felt that he was someone who would run off without warning and stay away for long periods of time. Dean’s warning only drove home what she had assumed. She then walked to the kitchen doorway and stopped, looking back at him. “I hope you do decide to join us….. And don’t think of it as hovering. Think of it as…. Spending time together and having fun on this rare day off.” Without another word, she left Dean in the kitchen and went to collect the guns she wanted to use. She had left her duffle with her weapons at the base of the stairs, from not having the energy to take it anywhere else the night before.

Esme unzipped her duffle, pulled out a smaller bag, and unzipped it. She then removed a few pistols, bullets, and knives from her duffle and placed them in the smaller one. Once satisfied she had what she wanted, she zipped up both, grabbed the smaller bag, and headed for the front door. Each move she made, she had been careful not to aggravate her sore muscles. Esme opened the door, ready to step through, but stopped to look back through the house. “Don’t keep me waiting too long.” she teased. She then walked through the door, closing it behind her. Walking to the steps, she looked out over the yard, seeing Duke in the distance at the range. She then slowly made her way down them and out to the range to meet up with Duke. She walked a little slower than she normally would but eventually made it. Esme took a deep breath and slowly let it out as she stood there, collecting herself for a moment. The walk over took a little more out of her than she thought it would, but she wasn’t about to admit that to Duke or Dean when and if he showed up.

“I actually made it. Can you believe it?” Esme joked. “I could tell he was tempted to stop me.” She laughed softly, then went over to where Duke had placed his duffle, set her bag next to his, and unzipped it. “So, you already know what I’m blowing off steam about. Is there anything this is helping you release, or is it just something to do to pass the time and talk to me?” she asked him, pulling out a pistol from her bag.