[h2]Esme[/h2]
 Esme looked deeply into Duke’s eyes as he looked into hers, seeing his face go blank as a tear rolled down his cheek before he nodded at her words. Her features softened as he spoke, then broke down in front of her. She sighed softly as Duke reached out, slid his hand through the hair on the side of her head, and then touched his forehead to hers. As she stood there, she gently took her hand from his cheek, reached up, removed Duke’s hat from his head, and tossed it on the truck's dash. Esme then raised her hands, placing one on his cheek and the other on the back of his head. “There you go. Just let it all out, " she said soothingly, stroking his hair softly. “I’m here. I got you.” It took everything she had not to break down with him and not wince at the pain growing more painful in her chest and heart. It tore her up inside seeing him this upset and crying this hard. He had always tried to keep from breaking down in front of her, which was something she couldn’t ever remember seeing him doing but had heard it from behind closed doors a time or two in the past. 

Tears escaped her closed eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Esme wanted to take away all his pain and his guilt. She wanted to hop into the truck and drive off with him, away from everything that was a reminder of what happened. Other than being there for him and using her empathy, she didn’t know how else to help him through all his pain and guilt. A thought finally crossed her mind as she held Duke’s head against hers. Not only did she have to worry about Duke going off the reservation and Dean, but there were also Bobby and Natalia to worry about. Esme didn’t know how they would all bounce back after this loss. Thankfully, they were all together and could get through it together. Most of her worry was on Duke and Dean. Duke would possibly bolt when the numbness wore off, but when it came to Dean, she wasn’t sure what he might do. Other than taking his frustration out on someone in the group. That was just something they’d all have to deal with when it happened. After a few long moments of letting Duke have a good cry, Esme pulled back just enough to kiss his forehead. 

“I think it’s time we get everyone home.” she spoke softly against his forehead. Esme kissed Duke’s forehead again, then the bridge of his nose, before pulling her face away. She took this moment to finally look over at Mika’s car parked behind Duke’s truck. She swallowed hard, and her stomach knotted as she looked at the car. Everyone but Sam had gotten in. As she looked at Sam, she could see how disassociated he was. “Sam?” she called over to him. “We need to get everyone home.” She knew he wasn’t driving after seeing Anna in the driver’s seat, but she wanted him to feel like he had control over a little of what was going on and maybe give him that push he might need to get into the car. Looking at Sam momentarily, Esme turned her gaze back to Duke and brushed some hair from his face. “Alright, My Love. Scoot over so I can get in.” She tried to keep her voice even but knew she didn’t do a great job of it. Once Duke scooted over, she pulled the keys from the door and climbed up in the truck.

After she was in and shut the door, she placed the key in the ignition and started the truck, then used both hands to wipe away the tears from her cheeks with a sniffle. Turning towards Duke, she reached over, took his hand in hers, and gave it a loving squeeze as she looked at him softly. “We’ll be home soon.” she said as she placed her other hand on top of his. She looked into Duke's face and scanned it, sighing heavily, followed by another sniffle. Esme wanted to say something comforting to him, but she wasn’t sure what else she could say that would get through to him at the moment that wouldn’t sound like she was repeating herself. The main thing she wanted him to know was that she was there for him and that he didn’t have to go through all this pain alone. He didn’t have to bottle up his emotions and push them down. Esme also wanted to pull him toward her, force him to lay down in the seat with his head on her lap and rest on the drive home, but something told her he’d fight her on that or he’d lay down but stare at the roof of the truck and let his mind wander back on what happened.