Splitting the Group

The morning's dull orange glow seeps in through the sheer curtains, off white fabric softening the warm light as if cradling the girl's curled body as she sleeps. Laying in one of the spare beds Dean insisted she used while she stayed with them, (y/n)'s form is completely covered by an old navy blue blanket, fabric pulled until it rests just beneath her ears. She looked peaceful, soft features illuminated by the faint light pouring out from the window. At least, that's what Sam had thought when he had walked into the small room.

"(y/n)?" He calls out to her softly, light eyes carefully watching her sleeping form as she buries her face deeper her pillow. Sam couldn't help but notice how normal she looked just then. With her messy (h/c) hair falling in her face and her soft lips pulled slightly apart as she mumbles something he can't quite make out, he finds himself smiling fondly. She was a Phoenix, he knew that, but she looked just so incredibly...Human. He also couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was, but that was a thought for another day. Walking towards her until he's towering over her smaller form, he reaches out a hand.

"Wake up, sleepyhead-" fingertips barely able to sink themselves into the fabric of the blanket covering her shoulder, he's suddenly grabbed by the wrist and flipped onto the bed. With his back now sunken into the hard mattress, Sam stares up at the girl now straddling his waist, blue eyes wide as he takes in her shaken form. With her hand clad in a thick leather glove, she hovers her tense fingers over the skin of his neck, frozen in shock as she meets his gaze

"Sam?" She breathes out his name shakily, retracting her hand slowly from his windpipe. He chuckles nervously.

"Good morning?" He watches as she quickly throws herself off of his body, sitting awkwardly on the side of the bed as he pushes himself up with his hands. She runs a hand through her tangled hair, trying her hardest to control her erratically beating heart

"Sorry..." She mumbles quietly, slightly embarrassed at what just happened ,"I'm still getting used to not having to constantly be on edge when I sleep."

"It's alright, (y/n)" Sam reassures her quickly, offering an understanding smile when she meets his kind gaze ,"speaking from experience, it's a hard habit to beat. Why do you wear gloves though?"

She's hesitant to answer, afraid of what he'll think if she explains what she just blindly tried to do to him. Slowly yanking the leather gloves from her fingers, placing them on top of the nightstand next to her, she sighs

"A Phoenix can turn flesh to ash with just the touch of a hand-" (y/n) watches nervously as he listens to her, light eyes widening slightly ,"-the gloves prevent that from happening, especially during a wake-up freak out situation like this..."

"Well-" Sam lets out a breath of relief, playful smile tugging at his lips much to the girls surprise ,"-as morbid as that is, I'm thankful that you're looking out for us"

"You're not mad?"

"Mad at you for caring about our well being? Of course!" He teases her lightly, standing up from his spot on the bed and reaching out his hand ,"Come on, Bobby needs help with some research."

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Seated next to Bobby with Sam on the other side of the older hunter, (y/n) scrolls through the article Sam had emailed her, (e/c) eyes focused completely on the graphic pictures provided. Noticing Bobby's beer bottle being empty, she reaches down in the cooler next to her chair and pulls out a full beverage, fingers easily snapping off the cap. She hands the drink to him and chuckles lightly at the way he shows his gratitude through a quick nod. The group is then plunged into another comfortable silence, hands tapping at the keys of their laptops as they continue their research. Suddenly, the front door swings open to reveal Dean, paper grocery bag in hand as he makes long strides into the kitchen

"Hey, there, gunga din-" Bobby greets casually, motioning to their little research group ,"-buck up"

"So, it looks like we got some bad news for a change-" Sam begins, turning (y/n)'s computer slightly to face him so he can reread the article he sent her ,"-Stockville, north Kansas. Most of the high-school swim team got mangled to death in their locker room."

"Cop-talk on the wire's kind of garbled, sayin' it looks like some kind of wild-animal attack" Bobby adds, moving from his spot at the table to a wooden bookshelf behind (y/n) and Sam. Dean walks over, hands resting themselves on the frame of (y/n)'s chair as he leans in to read her screen

"They keep saying that whatever attacked them must have been about the size of a linebacker-" (y/n) explains as she scrolls through the graphic pictures for Dean to see. He nods thoughtfully in response, green eyes focused as she continues to show him the information

"It's a lead, Dean" Sam's voice is quiet, eyes hopefully as he stares up at his brother. Dean scoffs lightly

"All; right, but if you think you're going out on a hunt-" Sam quickly interrupts him, already guessing what Dean was started to say

"No, I know-" Sam reassures his brother, disappointment evident in his voice ,"-I'm not...But you are."

Dean is about to protest, a scowl slowly creeping across his face, before Sam is talking again. (y/n) can tell that he's trying his best to get Dean to understand, not wanting to argue or fight with his brother right now

"Look, Bobby's running the hub, I'm 5150'd, which leaves you to follow this thing up. You can even take (y/n) with you if you think you need a partner"

"Sam, you're in the middle of a psychotic break-"

"It's a couple hours' drive, Dean, and it could be a Leviathan thing"

"No, if you think I'm leaving you here alone..."

""Hey!" Bobby defends himself, slightly offending at Dean's words ,"What am I, chopped brains on toast? I can eyeball the kid and if you're really that worried, leave (y/n) here. Go."

"Bobby..."

"Work off some of these nerves on something useful."

Dean seems to be unsure how to respond, hands finding themselves resting at his hips as he stares at the group. Through his deep green eyes, (y/n) can tell he is trying to suppress his growing concern for his brother, fingers nervously playing with the fabric of his coat.

"Fine-" He finally says, moving to head back out of the front door he had just come in from ,"-(y/n)?"

"Yeah?" the girl is slightly taken aback upon hearing her name leave his lips, (e/c) eyes meeting his face as he motions to the door he swings open

"Coming, Tweety?"