Nightmares...

Onyx's Note:: I just want to say thank you to everyone who's been following along (even you lurkers out there :D) and I'm sorry for the lack of updating in the past. Life has been kind of a crazy whirlwind, and even though this is My First EVER Supernatural FanFiction, it's still in the works (due to having to stop because life decided to take me on one helluva ride lol). Anyhoo, it gets better...lots of adorable twists and turns...and you'll see what I mean once you've read this chapter. ;) And on that note, Enjoy!

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“Hey…since I’m in the mood for sharing.” Cat started, noticing how both delicious young men were hanging on her every word. “You guys want to know about the wolves?”



“We’re always in the mood to listen to a pretty girl speak.” Sam chimed and chuckled at his own words.



Dean just gave him a raised brow on the other side of the table and rolled his eyes. “Go ahead Cat, we’re listening.”



“Now this is going to seem really nuts, so I’m going to need an example.” Cat stopped and let out a soft howl, one that made every hair along Dean and Sam’s body stand completely on end. She knew what must have been going through their heads, but she didn’t really care. If they were ever going to really believe her…she was going to have to go for good old fashioned shock treatment.



After the sound echoed softly into the cool night air, a ruckus could be heard throughout the house when all five wolves made it out onto the patio and all sat back on their haunches, in a semi circle in the grass not more then a few feet away.



“Alright kids…drop the act.” Cat announced softly and watched as the wolves seemed to just blink at her. “Guys it’s okay…they need to know I’m not lying.”



Dean and Sam shared a glance and Dean started to make the crazy sign with his hand when a very deep, baritone of a voice growled into the air causing him to freeze in place.



“If they had any kind of honor, they’d believe a lady when she told them the truth.” Dean’s mouth was completely dropped when Riddick stepped forward and sat down again, just a foot ahead of the other wolves. “What kid? Gotta problem?”



Sam had to rub his eyes. “Did you…he…just talk?!” He blurted out softly, sobering at the very sight of the massive black wolf physically opening his jaws and literally speaking with a very deep growling voice. “I…I’m not that drunk am I?”



Riddick set his eyes on Sam and gave that wolfish grin. “Nope, sorry kid. You heard right, ‘cuz this ain’t no parlor trick.” He craned his head to Dean and narrowed his electric blue eyes, “it’s the real thing.”



Dean’s mouth hung open, his eyes wide with shock. “He even sounds like Riddick…” He said in a whisper of disbelief and was startled at the deep full bellied laugh echoing from Riddick’s jaws, his head thrown back as though about to howl.



“And no Dean…” Came an older woman’s voice, one he recognized immediately as he glanced to Riddick’s right only to see that Ripley had a sparkle to her dark brown eyes. “Cat didn’t poison the whiskey.”



“Whoa, wait a fuckin’ minute here!” Dean barked and jumped to his feet so quickly he nearly knocked his chair over. He was visibly shaken by what he was experiencing and shot his eyes at Cat, pointed at her and said. “Wolves don’t talk…and they sure as hell don’t sound exactly like the characters they’re named after!” He looked very comical as he pointed from the wolves back to her and then just put his forehead in his hands.



“Hey, stay frosty Dean. We’re not a threat to you.”



Dean’s hand dropped as he looked up, not wanting to, and saw that it was Hicks speaking. He knew the moment he heard him say, stay frosty. “Cat…you’ve got a lot of explainin’ to do…but before we do that…” Dean grabbed his chair and carefully sat back down, his eyes never leaving the wolves. “I’m gonna need some of that whiskey.”



“Drink up Dean, you’re gonna need it.” Cat replied softly and found their reactions rather entertaining.



Dean popped the top off the whiskey, and downed three gulps. He ignored the terrible burn ripping through his stomach as he set the bottle down with a slight clang on the table, his hand clenched tightly around the neck. “Alright…explain.”



Sam furrowed his brow and motioned to Dean for the whiskey and Dean answered by pushing it over the table toward him. Before he could rethink his actions, Sam took another two gulps of the Jack Daniels and dropped it back on the table, his face contorting from the fire in his throat.



Cat sighed, knowing this was going to be a long story. “Lea and Angel over there, can’t speak human tongue. But they can understand us. Those two are born of wolf decent.” Lea and Angel, hearing their names, trotted up to her, tails wagging and laid out near her feet.



“And…” Sam looked to the wolves, addressing them as people. “You three are…something else?”



“We are flesh and blood manifestations of her spirit guardians.” Ripley stated in her soothingly calm tone of voice and added with a slight hint of humor, “too bad I’m stuck in this form, I’d kill for a cigarette.”



“Yea no kiddin’.” Hicks added and shared a look with Ripley; an obvious show of affection between them.



Cat looked at Dean’s expression and couldn’t hold in the laughter anymore. The giggles flowed freely from her smiling lips at the dear in headlights look dawning across his handsome features. He looked like he was close to pissing himself at the way Hicks and Ripley acted like they’d been married for years.



It was all too fucking weird to him. Here were three wolves that sounded and acted exactly like characters from movies! Hell they even shared a slight resemblance through the color of their fur and eyes. “This just doesn’t make a damn bit of sense…” Dean thought aloud and shook his head, his brain close to a meltdown.



“How’s it possible? I’ve never heard of any spell or incantation that even remotely stems to this level of manifestation. You’d have to be some kind of powerful Shaman to achieve this…right?” Sam asked and watched as Cat bit the left side of her bottom lip, her forehead creased.



“Wow, this kid’s got more then two brain cells fightin’ for dominance.” Riddick chimed in a dark tone and got a glare from Cat. “I’m impressed.”



“Cut it out Riddick.” She snapped at him and he furrowed his furry brow.



“Easy there princess, it was a compliment.” The black wolf replied in a slightly cocky growl. Riddick let his eyes fall on Sam, “bet you’re dying to know how we’re here, huh pretty boy?”



Sam was a little stunned at everything that was happening, but he figured to go along with it… Besides, he had dealt with some pretty crazy shit in the past. So what would make this any different? “I’m very interested, yes.” He replied carefully, a little unnerved at the sheer velocity of Riddick’s human voice…that didn’t seem all that human.



“Well we’ve been around for a very long time, since Aiden here was born. She didn’t give us any real form until she watched Aliens and then Pitch Black. And you don’t want to know what I first looked like…" Riddick mused in a dark tone that Dean caught as suspicious. The wolf looked to Dean, “you know what a Xenomorph is?” Dean nodded slowly, and then his eyes widened drastically. Riddick smirked, “exactly.”



“We…have been her surrogate parents…Hicks and I.” Ripley added and gave Cat a warm glance, filled with pure and unconditional love.



Sam followed what they were saying and looked to Cat, who’s eyes were averted as she took another drink from her coke. “Hey Cat…think it would be okay if I watched these two movies?”



She looked to him and canted her head at the question. “You have no idea what a Xenomorph is…do you?”



Sam grew an expression that could only be described as a little boy that just got caught lying about flushing his goldfish down the toilet. “No…I don’t.”



Cat shot Dean an accusing look, grabbed the empty coke can from the table and threw it at his head. It barely missed him and caused him to jump.



“What the hell was that for?!”



“All this time, you haven’t sat down and had Sammy watch these movies?” Cat said with a disappointed tone and shook her head. “You selfish bastard.” She teased as she just smiled at him. “Depriving him of the classics…for shame.”



Dean tried to give her an angry look but had a slight curve at the edge of his lips as he leaned down, picked up the empty can and threw it back at her, completely missing her on purpose. “Yea well, don’t get mad at me. It’s Sammy’s fault he never watched the classics. Too busy with his computer.”



Cat looked to Sam, who had a confused look on his face when out of nowhere she flicked his ear and caused him to wince. “Hey!” He spat with a slight pout and rubbed his ear. “Be careful…I’m fragile.”



“Fragile my ass!” Cat laughed and flicked him a few mores times before he finally fell into a fit of laughter and started smacking her hand away from the assault on his ear.



“Dean! A little help here!” Sam laughed and just couldn’t get himself to keep a hold of her. Every time he’d latch his large hands on her wrists, she’d manage to clench her small hands in a very unnatural fashion, slipping easily from his grasp.



Dean let out a laugh and just shook his head. “Hey man, you’re on your own.” He mused and then an idea dawned across his face. “Oh Cat, he’s really ticklish on his sides and the back of his neck.”



Sam shot Dean a look of death. “Traitor!” He barked in defense and suddenly felt her small fingers tickling the back of his neck, causing him to literally squirm in his chair. “Oh you are in so much trouble!”



“Shit!” She squeaked and before he could retaliate Cat was on her feet and started to book it onto the grass, toward the back of her property while Sam shot up and was hot on her heels as she made her way into the darkness. Cat knew he could out run her with no problem, but he didn’t know the grounds as well as she did…especially in the dark.



Dean had taken in the backyard earlier in the day when he finished his third sandwich. It was like some kind of fortress as the fence of wood and brick towered into the sky as high as the house itself. While massive and obviously ancient oak trees lined the inner walls as though warning any and all that were foolish enough to approach. The area within the backyard itself, was large enough to park at least Ten ‘67 Impala’s with enough room to still be able to have a group of people on the grass. When Lewis bought the house, he wanted his space…a lot of space. Which eventually became a home to a pack of wolves and various other nocturnal animals.



Dean smirked to himself as he took another drink of his coke and eyed the wolves looking off into the darkness as Cat and Sam’s laughter danced into the air. “You’re not gonna follow them?” He asked softly after swallowing the cold soda.



Riddick shook his head, “naw, she’s okay. It’s that brother of yours I’m worried about.”



“Sammy? He’s harmless.” Dean replied and watched as Riddick craned his head to him, this time his eyes were glowing.



“That’s obvious, but he doesn’t know the grounds like Aiden does. One wrong turn, he’ll trip over a root and be ass over elbows before he knows what hit’em.” The wolf replied with a smirk in his voice and saw Dean wear a smirk.



“Now that…” Dean trailed off, the smirk growing into a devious grin. “Would be a Kodak moment.”



* * * * *



With the grace of a feline, Cat dodged back and forth until she spotted a familiar shape in the surrounding darkness and dove behind it, got into a crouch and leaned her back against the thick bark of the ancient tree. She closed her eyes and willed herself to ease her breathing. After a moment of concentration, her breath was as silent as the world around her when she honed in on Sam’s bare feet crushing against the lush grass just ten feet from the very tree she had hidden behind. As though becoming apart of the devouring shadows around her, she kept perfectly still as Sam edged closer, slowing in his movements.



Sam stalked forward carefully, knowing that if he wasn’t paying attention he’d end up scraping or bruising something…especially since he was only wearing a t-shirt and his boxers. Keeping his breathing as quiet as possible, he got the feeling he was heading in the right direction when the outline of a massive tree filled his sight. She’s gotta be back there… He thought with a smile pulling at his lips and decided to move to the right of the tree, changing direction.



Cat furrowed her brow when she sensed his presence shift. Opening her eyes, she stood crouched on her hands and feet; her knees bent in a way that caused her muscles to restrict, ready to spring at any given moment. Very carefully, Cat peeked out to where Sam had originally been approaching from. Not seeing or hearing him anywhere she slid back into her hiding place and caught a strange feeling to her right. Without a second thought she pushed herself off the ground and used every ounce of power from her lower body to propel herself through the air until she physically slammed into her objective…



Sam didn’t even get the chance to let out a sound as a shape darted out from in front of him and he was suddenly flat on his back, the wind completely knocked out of him.



“Oh shit, are you okay?” Cat laughed with a hint of concern dancing in her voice. “Sam?” She looked at his face as he coughed and heaved, struggling to get the air flowing again.



“Yea…” He replied in a gruff voice, coughed a few more times and just looked up into the outline of her face. “Just wasn’t expecting you to pounce me.”



Cat sighed and stood up, her legs on either side of his hips. “You know, for Hunter, you’re instincts kinda suck.” She teased and offered him her hand, which he took gratefully with both hands, and before he could get his footing, she jerked him upright.



Sam flew up but sadly, lost his balance and fell to the ground, landing right on top of Cat. They hit the earth with a soft thud, and started laughing hysterically at their moment of grace. “And you were saying?” Sam managed between laughs as he looked down into her smiling face, visible from the light from the patio that bled between the trees around them.



“Shut up!” She retorted and smacked him on his chest as he held himself off the ground with his hands on either side of her laughing form, his bent knees to the right of her legs.



“What? You didn’t warn me!” He chuckled in defense as she rolled her eyes at him. “How was I supposed to know you’re a lot stronger then you look?”



Cat just smiled and shook her head at him, “incase you haven’t noticed by now, I have a big ass and thick thighs. I just used my lower body and the momentum to pull you up. But of course, you’re about as graceful as an elephant on a tight wire…damned lightweight.” Cat giggled and became calm at the sight of him studying her eyes. Please don’t use the alcohol in your system as an excuse to try and kiss me…don’t care how disgustingly adorable you are… Kissing me would be a very bad idea… Because I don’t think my reaction would be the one you want… Cat thought within her secret depths at the intensity of his expression.



Sam was silent for a moment as he searched the amber depths of her cat like gaze. The thought finally hit him that he was alone with her…basically pinning her to the ground. His face became serious as he swallowed the small lump of anxiety in the back of his suddenly very dry throat and sat up. “Here.” He said softly and gave her his hand, which she took and allowed him to help her onto her feet.



“Thanks…” Cat replied barely above a whisper as his hand slipped from hers and went directly to her back, where he gently began wiping away leaves from their time on the ground. “Oh it’s okay…”



He cut her off. “No, don’t wanna hear it.” Sam chuckled and removed some leaves and a few random twigs from the messy bun on the back of her head.



“Aw damn it.” Cat growled and undid the rubber band from her hair and shook her head, allowing her wild mane of flames to freefall down her back. Placing the rubber band between her teeth she went to pull her hair up when Sam’s hand to her right hand made her stop.



“Don’t…” He protested in a low almost husky voice and watched her raise an inquisitive brow. Sam had to find an excuse…and fast. “I…I’d like to see what it looks like down.” Okay, so the poor guy had his honest filter on. But when it came to Cat, honesty was always a plus.



“Oh,” her voice was muffled as she dropped her arms and took the rubber band out of her mouth and slipped it onto her left wrist. “Okay, fine with me.” She said with a shrug and smiled. “Now turn around.”



Both brows shot up at the comment when she just gave him a look and he immediately got what she meant. Sam let out a slightly embarrassed laugh, “right.” And turned his back to her.



Giving his back a look over, she made a point to get all the leaves from his shirt and just for shits and giggles…gave him a quick slap on the ass for good measure. “That’s for not watching Aliens.”



Sam whipped around and put his hands on his hips. “You sure? Or did you secretly just want to touch my ass?”



Sam’s comment threw her off guard and her jaw dropped, a smile still dancing on her features. “Where would you get a silly notion like that?” She shot back with ease and closed her jaws in a sly grin. “Or maybe you wanted me to touch your ass.”



“I see what you’re doing…” Sam chimed, dropped his hands and started walking toward her, causing her to instinctively back up.



“Oh you do, do you?” Cat murmured defiantly, a crease in her brows as her footsteps met the ground in silence, sensing the presence of a tree behind her. “And what would that be?”



The most devilishly seductive smile ate at his lips and caused her chest to flutter at the very sight of it. Sam saw the reaction in her eyes and ran his tongue slowly over his lips, distracting her long enough until she was suddenly backed up against the tree. “Check mate.”



In a flash the humor melted from her eyes, replaced with an expression that Sam couldn’t place. Her face had become solemn, almost as though she were stone as she stared at him with an emotionless gaze. This drained the fun out of him causing concern to ripple through his blood.



“Cat…you okay?” She was completely rigid, her mind suddenly far away as Sam tried to reach her with the gentle tone of his worried voice. “Aiden…hey,” his words trailed off into the air around them as he brought a hand to her face, his finger gently brushing along the left side of her jaw line. “Aiden I’m not going to hurt you.”



Cat’s eyes sparkled back to life and revealed a tortured spirit hiding just beneath the surface. She looked terrified.



“Hey, you okay? You had me scared for a second there…” Sam explained in a low voice, his right hand now resting on her left shoulder.



“No…I’m fine.” Her arched brows furrowed as she said the words, almost not believing them. “I’m sorry.” She apologized in a broken tone, cleared her throat and brought a hand to her face, acting as though she was rubbing her temples when she was actually hiding her gaze from him. She just couldn’t look at him…not with the way he was peering so deeply into the endless abyss of her shattered soul.



“Stop saying that.” Sam replied and wore a very worried expression. “You don’t need to keep apologizing when you haven’t done anything wrong…”



“I know,” She dropped her hand away from her face in defeat, slumped back against the base of the tree and tilted her head to the left, closing her eyes. “I know…I can’t help it.” Cat concluded with a sigh as she opened her eyes and averted her gaze to the ground, unwilling to meet his eyes.



Sam hated the thought…but had to say it. “Are you…afraid of me?”



The very sound of his tortured voice brought her eyes to his within the instant it hit her ears. “What? Oh gods no.” She stated with a look of compassion on her face. “Why would you think that Sam?”



“Well, the visions…and the way you responded to me when I backed you up against the tree…”



Cat shook her head and took his hand away from her shoulder, holding it in both hands. “Sam I want you to know something.” She said softly and looked up into his guilt ridden eyes… It almost appeared as though his heart was breaking right in front of her. “I’m not afraid of You, understand? I’ve always been weary around men, no matter how cute they are.”



Sam gave a small smile at her compliment but swallowed as a sting started to enter his eyes. “Damn…that whiskey was a lot stronger then I thought…” He exclaimed in a chuckle and shook his head. “To be perfectly honest, I’m never this assertive with women.”



“That’s why it’s called liquid courage. I’m also being a lot more playful and open if you haven’t noticed…” Sam nodded and she gave a smirk. “If we would have been stone sober, this wouldn’t have happened…”



Sam’s eyes shimmered with curious confusion when she gently tugged at his hands. Not sure what she was planning he leaned down to her, almost awkwardly until their lips were a mere breath away from each other. He was about to ask what she was doing when very carefully, she left a soft kiss on his lips.



Breathing in the essence of him, his scent a blinding presence swarming her blood she allowed him to tease her mouth with flutter like half kisses, causing the nervous tension in her stomach to erupt into chaos. Just for a moment, she let herself drown in his pedal soft lips. It was amazing, as though the world and everything in it had been swept into a blissful silence, giving them just this one small moment of peace from the pain that followed their every day lives.



When she sensed his heartbeat increase and felt his breath become sharp bursts of primal desire…she broke the kiss…and found herself panting.



There were no words as they rested their foreheads together, hearts racing, breath quick…hands held as though for dear life. Both hadn’t planned on this happening. Hell Sam was just as surprised as Cat. After a pause to get their bearings back, as if linked, they pulled back to look each other in the eyes.



It was Cat that spoke first. “Thank you…”



Sam canted his head to the side slightly at the purr of her voice and blinked. “For what?” He asked in a breathless whisper and watched as she struggled with herself to respond.



“…for understanding…and not judging me.” Cat managed to say and let out a rush of anxiety filled air, pushing it out of her lungs.



He knew right then and there that the kiss she had given him, had been her way of thanking him. A beautiful smile stretched the valley of his lips as he leaned forward and pressed a kiss on her forehead and whispered, “you’re welcome.”



Cat reveled in the feel of human affection before she snapped out of the tender moment and backed away. “Before this gets out of hand…”



Sam nodded, perfectly aware of their situation…and his level of intoxication, when a thought struck him. “Hey, where’s Dean? Knowing him, he would have come out here looking for us by now.”



“Just so he could rub it in our faces that he caught us making out?” She chimed and Sam gave a knowing laugh. “Well, how about I sneak through that patch of trees over there and see if I can spot him?”



“Want me to wait here?” He asked, his eyes swimming with a silent longing as he held her gaze.



“Only for a second, ‘kay?” She said with a sweet, reassuring tone and didn’t wait for a response as she crept off in the direction she indicated earlier to Sam. Cat was a little unnerved at how the patio was completely void of life and caught the slight hint of echoing laughter coming from inside the house. “Coast is clear, you can come out now hot stuff.” She called over her shoulder and walked out onto the grass, a crease in her brow.



Sam appeared to her right and had the same expression on his face. “Where’d everybody go?”



Cat’s voice dropped an octave. “I have a feeling Riddick and Dean are bonding.” And with that said, she started toward the house with some ferocity in her gait.



By the time Sam had caught up with the fast little vixen, she was unmoving as she stood in the kitchen peering out into the living room; arms held firmly across her chest. He didn’t even need to ask when he saw what she was glaring at.



Dean was sitting on the floor, the bottle of Jack just a few sips shy of empty with the large black wolf Riddick sitting right across from him, a small glass with only a line of the dark liquid at the bottom. Sam couldn’t believe what he was seeing…his own big brother had gotten shit faced with Cat’s guardian Riddick. He’d never thought he’d see the day, when Dean found a drinking buddy that happened to be an abnormally large wolf with an attitude a kin to his own. Things just couldn’t get any stranger then that.



Cat stood there for a few minutes, waiting to catch the two drunks attention. When they were just too involved with whatever the hell they were laughing about, she made her presence known. “Riddick, what did I tell you about drinking my whiskey?”



The laughter immediately died as their glazed eyes rolled in her direction. It was more then clear that Cat was not a happy camper.



“We wurr just shootin’ the shit.” Riddick’s voice boomed with a slurred tone as Dean leaned forward, an incredibly stupid smile plastered across his face.



“Well therr ya’arr, Sammee!” Dean exclaimed, slurring as he spoke in a very happy tone and staggered onto his feet, swaying back and forth as he walked toward them, reminding Cat of Jack Sparrow as he stood in front of his taller younger brother and ungracefully, slugged Sam playfully in the shoulder. “I’m drunk.”



Sam just held the grin inside and nodded, “I can see that.”



Dean blinked and grew a scowl as he looked to Cat, realizing that she was standing there. “Why aren’t you guys drunk?”



“Because we only drank enough to get buzzed, not sloshed.” Cat replied in an even tone, restraining the small fire burning in her chest. “After running around like a bunch of big kids, it quickly went through our systems.”



“Uh huh…” Dean swayed a little and used Sam to keep himself upright. “Yurr no fun.”



Sam could sense the anger starting to radiate from Cat’s intense gaze and patted Dean on the back. “Come on Dean, let’s get you to bed.”



“Whoa now, I’m not *yawn* tired.” Dean protested with a yawn and gave Sam an extremely cheesy grin as he, very sloppy mind you, patted Sam on the head. “I’m so proud of ya Sammee…”



Sam’s face was straining to stop the onslaught of laughter rising up in his throat as he swallowed back the urge and started walking Dean toward the stairs. “I know Dean.” His voice cracked for a second but his big brother was pretty tossed at this point and hadn’t noticed.



Cat watched as Sam took his slurring and very happy drunk of a brother upstairs to his room and once they were out of sight, she walked toward Riddick and just gave him a look. “What the hell were you thinking? You know what that shit can do to you.” Her voice was laced with a dark worry, one filled with the concern of his very well being.



Riddick growled deeply in his chest, stood up on all fours, started to lean sideways and managed to bring himself up onto the couch without falling off in the process. “Stop worrying so much Aiden.” Even though he was pretty drunk, he still sounded sober. “I just need some sleep.”



She shook her head and sighed. “You throw up in this house and I swear to the Goddess Bast your ass will be outside for a week.” Cat grumbled while picking up the mess they left her; which was a small glass and an empty bottle of Jack. “G’night fur ball.” She added softly, the anger leaving her voice as she went into the kitchen and set the objects next to the sink.



The soft tapping of claws caught Cat’s attention as she looked to the floor and saw Ripley gazing at her with motherly concern. “Everything okay honey?”



“Did you see Riddick?” Cat asked in a low voice and saw Ripley nod.



“Hicks is making sure he doesn’t do anything stupid during the night…” Ripley replied and grew an odd emotion in her lupine eyes. “I wanted to mention that…you handled the situation with Sam very well.”



Cat’s eyes widened and she felt her blood hit her face with a vengeance. “You saw?”



“Yes I did, and no I didn’t tell the others.” Ripley said simply and gave her a look of understanding. “You know I wouldn’t do that Aiden. Besides, you two had been drinking and were playin’ grab ass. Not a big deal.”



Cat left out a soft, embarrassed laugh. “Thanks Mom…I appreciate it.” She finally allowed herself to call Ripley mom again, now that she knew the brothers were upstairs.



“You’re welcome honey. Now give me a hug before you get your ass to bed.”



Cat shook her head smiling, crouched down and wrapped her arms around the dark brown wolf in a loving hug. “Night Mom.” She said softly as Ripley gave her a very small lick on her cheek, and nudged her with her cold nose to start toward the stairs. “Alright I’m going.” Cat giggled and started walking to the stairs.



Once at the top, just entering the hallway she paused for a moment when she saw that the door to Sam’s room was cracked. Holding her breath, she tried to move as silently as possible toward her bedroom, just got the handle turned when a voice caused her to exhale.



“Going to bed?”



She turned her gaze and saw Sam leaning half way out of his room…completely and utterly bare from the waist up. “Uh, yea…” She had to clear her throat at the way the beautiful lines of his chest made her breath quicken. “What happened to your shirt?”



“Dean…didn’t quite make it to the toilet in time.” Sam explained, partially self conscious but still buzzed enough not to let it bother him. “He’s still in there right now.” He indicated at the sound of poor Dean heaving in the small bathroom in Sam’s room.



“We’ll he be okay?”



Sam shrugged as if it was nothing new. “Who Dean? Oh yea, he’ll be fine. He’ll probably sleep in ‘til about five in the afternoon tomorrow and then bitch about having a hangover.”



Cat gave a hint of a smile and leaned against the frame of her now open door. “Sounds like this is a normal occurrence with him. That’s gotta suck for you because you’re the one that gets stuck taking care of him.”



“Doesn’t bother me too much. He’s my brother, it’s in the job description.” Sam replied and stepped away from his room and leaned against the wall, just five feet from where Cat was standing. “Besides, he'd do the same for me.”



“Really?” She murmured, slightly surprised and took a few steps toward Sam until she was only within a foot from his shirtless self. “I would have pinned him as being too much of an ass to give a shit about anyone other then himself.” Cat was just joking, and Sam also knew that…but it was her way of getting Sam to talk a little longer…to delay the moment…



“He’s really a good guy, he just doesn’t show it to most people. Sometimes I have to drill him until he finally blows up on me and tells me what’s wrong.” Sam explained, enjoying the fact that she wanted to stay in his company just for a little longer. “Dean is actually very sensitive, he just has a funny way of showing it.”



“Sounds like he’s been through a lot.” Cat said softly, thinking about how that reminded her, of herself. “That’s why I had to drink earlier…at first I just wanted to drink until I was nice and tired, but then you joined me right when I was relaxed and more at ease. I’m a lot like your brother in the sense that it’s hard for me to let people in when I first meet them.”



“You won’t…” Sam’s voice became no more then a whisper as he closed the distance between them and looked down into her big eyes. “…regret any of this tomorrow…will you?”



Cat just couldn’t help the warm smile that had spread across her face at how innocent and adorable Sam suddenly seemed. “No honey, I don’t believe in regrets.” She replied softly, took his hand in hers and gave it a quick squeeze…



“Sam! Sammee? You still here?!” Dean’s wail broke their attention and Sam gave an apologetic look.



“It’s okay Sam, go take care of your brother.” Cat smiled and started to walk away when she stopped and looked back at Sam, “by the way…I was completely sober when I kissed you.” With that, she vanished into her room and closed the door behind her.



“I’ll be damned…” Sam thought aloud and went back into his room to take care of his big brother.



-End Chapter Eight-