The Stars | Aaron Hotchner

Chapter 38: The Eclipse Part Two

The three of you were finally pulling up to the motel that Sam had checked into, though unfortunately, you would all be in the same room.

You and Dean shared a wonderfully eclectic love of music, so you didn't even have much time to think about your date ideas as you kept singing along to the songs that he put on. You had started trading recommendations after you reconnected with him, surprising each other with undiscovered songs from favorite artists or finding a new band altogether, or even listening to the classics if either of you sent over a repeat.

On the ride over, you were trying to figure out how to make it up to Aaron, for missing your Valentine's date. You had landed on the idea of doing phone sex, but a FaceTime call, as you drew from your previous date. However, seeing as Sam and Dean were going to be in the same room, the idea of that happening was non existent. There was also the possibility of him not being available, so that was also a hindrance.

Fortunately, you came early enough the rest of the day would just be time to rest, so you let the date ideas ruminate in your head as you caught up with Sam and Dean. You also used the time to figure out a game plan and sleeping arrangements.

By the time dinner rolled around, you knew what you were going to do.

You and the Winchesters went out to eat dinner, stopping at the local diner for a bite to eat. It was uneventful for most of the meal. Except the one part where Dean was trying to flirt with all of the waitresses, and they all ended up giving you their numbers. Maybe it was out of spite, but a few saucy winks told you otherwise. You made a show of pocketing all of them, not so subtly bragging at Dean as Sam struggled to breathe from laughing so hard in the background.

Dean, of course, spent the rest of the dinner pouting. Until you ordered a slice of cherry pie for yourself that he ended up stealing bites from. That was your intention from the start, so you didn't even act offended when he tried to "sneak" some of your dessert.

As you piled back into the car, you took the back seat to stretch out, and because Sam was definitely pouting when he had to sit back there, even though he was the one to pick it. Unless Dean had told him to be back there in the first place...

Judging by Sam's victorious grin at his brother, he had been forced into the back, but seeing him in the front reminded you of the real reason you got in the back. Convenience.

"Hey Dean," you leaned forward between the two brothers, "Can you guys, maybe, pick up some supplies?"

Dean, of course, caught on to the euphemism for period supplies and the need for some time alone. Sam was adorably confused, as he hadn't heard that particular code before, but didn't ask as Dean nodded and popped in a tape, turning up the volume and heading back to the motel.

You didn't know that it was a mixtape Dean had made for after you had first met when you were still kids, when he had been too afraid to give it to you because you knew what it would mean. He still hadn't had the courage to tell you about it, let alone give it to you now. Not when he knew that what could have been was a long time ago, and that the fact that you had another guy in your life.

But it was okay, he'd accepted that he would be putting your life in danger if he got too close to you, and that after that one school year, he probably wasn't ever going to see you again. You'd always hold a special place in his heart, but so much shit had happened in his life that he didn't hold out hope for love in any capacity.

Then that one case happened, only a few years ago, and you were back in his life and as much as he tried to avoid you, you kept nagging for him and Sammy to come back and stay in touch. And well, he just couldn't refuse, not when you still cared so much for him, despite the terrible shit he'd done.