[h2]Esme[/h2]
 Esme watched Dean as he reacted to her scolding and what she had said next. She caught Duke’s movements from the corner of her eye like he was getting ready for a show to unfold before his eyes. She then listened as Dean began to talk, taking in his words, causing her to sigh and shake her head. Did he really think she could be charmed or manipulated that easily by someone? When Duke spoke, Esme leaned against the fence post, looking at the ground,  and let the two hash it out, taking it all in. When Duke called out Dean about being afraid he was going to run off with her, she looked up, watching Dean as he answered. ‘Lier.’ she thought. How could he possibly think she wouldn’t fight, even in her state, if Duke had tried such a thing? She knew Dean was super protective of her, but this was wild. It showed her another side of Dean, making her feel like she would have to walk on eggshells whenever Duke was around. She sighed heavily as Duke turned the conversation to her. She caught the glimmer of mischief in his eyes as he looked at her.

Esme uncrossed her arms and turned her back on both boys, then rested her arms on the fence and leaned against her arms with a sigh through her nose before looking out across the yard. “Start over, huh?” she started, her tone holding no emotion. “I’m half tempted just to call it done and take Duke up on his drink offer. Leaving your ass here.”  She held her gun, looked down at it briefly, and released the safety. “You’ve already started digging yourself a hole that’s going to be hard getting out of.” she told him. She straightened and took aim at a mannequin and fired twice, the first shot hitting the heart and the second hitting between its eyes. “You’ve made it clear you think I can be easily manipulated and charmed by someone I’ve just met and that you think I can just be whisked away.” Esme had planned to go along with Duke, making a joke out of everything, but the more she thought about it, the more upset it made her. It felt like Dean didn’t trust her, or he was just letting his intrusive thoughts get the better of him. Esme took another shot, hitting a pan dead center this time. 

Setting the safety on her gun, she leaned against the fence again, looking at the ground. “I’m not a child, Dean. Even in this shape, I can take care of myself. I know you’re concerned and want to protect me, but I’m more than capable of taking care of myself…. I wish you could trust me in that.” Esme lifted her head and looked at all the targets in the yard. She softly shook her head. “Do you honestly think I’d ever do anything to hurt or worry you purposely?” she asked him. Running her left hand through her hair, she looked toward the garage, wondering if she should just go and hang out with Bobby in the garage for a while or just go inside and lock herself in the guest room. Both options sounded pretty nice at the moment. With all the bickering and Dean’s over-protectiveness for her toward Duke, she felt that rest would be hard to come by.