[h3] Duke [/h3]

Duke looked down at Esme’s hand as she pulled it away from him, furrowing his brow in confusion. He couldn’t fathom her not at least wanting to talk to him about this. But then she said the word ‘no’ and Duke blanched, his head yanking back as if the word had slapped him in the face. He watched her face intently, searching for any sign where he had said something wrong.

“Esme I’m not…” Duke attempted to defend himself, cutting his words off as she continued accusing him of lying to her. He didn’t feel like he was lying, not really. He felt like he was protecting what could be some very delicate feelings toward him. 

‘I can’t be friends with someone who lies to me’

That was the gut punch. He zoned out a bit after that, hearing Dean’s name. Of course she would bring up Dean, as if Dean hadn’t lied about a handful of things. Most likely, half the things she knew about him were lies. He reached his hand out, just as she disappeared into the kitchen and Duke let out an exasperated sigh, growling to himself through gritted teeth.

“You alright, kid?” Bobby called out from seemingly nowhere. Duke flinched, turning around with his fists balled up as Bobby walked up, wiping his hands on a shop towel. Duke lowered his fists and sighed, awkwardly scratching the back of his head.

“Jesus Christ, Bobby. How long have you been watchin’ us?”

“Oh. I ain’t watching you. This metal awning echoes, boy. I heard everything, including you offering a girl to…what was it again? Sit on the tailgate and talk about your feelings. I think it’s all adorable and everything, but what’s going on, Jason?” Bobby started with a smile on his face, but when Duke reacted badly, and then a little more badly with his body language, Bobby’s expression turned more to concern.

“It’s Duke.”

“Yeah. Alright. I’m sorry. What’s going on…Duke?” Bobby corrected himself, stepping a little closer as Duke threw up his hands. He wanted to spill the feelings and get them off his chest but he didn’t even know where to start. 

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to try and make the best out of her bein’ here, you know? I’m back and I thought she could use a friend. But it seems like a lot changed while I was gone.” Duke muttered sadly, and dropped his eyes to his feet. Which caused Bobby to shake his own head, his expression softening as he tried to think of a way to comfort the kid.

“I would say so. They’re stuck at the hip, now more than ever. They work all their cases together. They sleep in the same bed. It’s a little more…advanced than when you left.” Bobby explained, his voice gentle.

“Yeah. I can see that…”

“So that’s why you had a real hard time letting that girl walk into that house to her boyfriend. You…in your ramblin’ little brain…” Bobby started, before smirking sadly, “That heart of gold has feelings for a girl. Well…ain’t that something.”

“It’s not like that. I just want to get to know her, okay? She’s…I can’t get her out of my head…” Duke started and Bobby held up a hand, pointing at the kitchen door before gesturing toward the bay where his car sat, hood up.

“Lets go grab a couple glasses of whiskey, alright? No need to complicate things.”

[h3] Dean [/h3]
Dean turned the shower off, his ear perking up as he heard the bedroom door open and close before he could step out. He assumed it was Esme and shrugged it off, before stepping out of the shower and drying himself off a bit, “Esme?”

He wiped at his hair for a second and then wrapped the towel around his waist, tying it off and then stepping out of the bathroom. The second he stepped out, he saw Esme laid back on the bed, her hands on her stomach. He sighed, stepping off and closer to the bed. Duke had obviously not been very receptive to whatever it was she had tried to say.

“Sweetheart? You okay?” Dean asked, walking over to gently sit down on the edge of the bed. He narrowed his eyes as he looked over her face, and noticed how pale she was. Reaching across, he carefully placed the back of his hand against her cheek, and then her forehead. “Really…what’s going on?”