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xtremeroswelliaSeries: Two Guys, a Girl and a Chevy Impala
Title: Fic 7: Throw Me Somethin' Mista (5/5)
Authors: Clarksmuse and X_tremeroswellian
Rated: This part is NC-17.
Pairings: Chloe/Dean, Sam/Sarah
Disclaimer: Yeah, we don't own anything. Except our computers. :P Don't sue. Thanks.
Chloe was awake bright and early the next morning, before the sun had even fully risen. Pressing a soft kiss to Dean's lips, she slipped out of bed and quickly showered and dressed in clean clothes, her mind already forming a plot. She left Dean a note on the table and silently left the room, going next door and knocking very softly on Sam and Sarah's door.
Sam had been awake when he heard the soft tapping at the door. Truth of the matter was, he had not slept at all. He spent most of the night, watching Sarah sleep fitfully in his bed, wondering why she was even there with him. Freak of nature, he thought, letting that roll around in his mind until he thought he'd go crazy. He stood and shuffled to the door, pulling it open. He seemed to know it was Chloe before he even grabbed the doorknob. However, he couldn't look at her. "Hey," he said flatly.
"So since Sarah and Dean are asleep, you get to play my bodyguard and come get coffee with me," she said cheerfully.
"Yeah, your demonic bodyguard," he said, still looking at the floor. Nevertheless he grabbed his coat, and with one last longing glance at Sarah's sleeping figure, shrugged it on. "Lead the way," he muttered.
The words made her wince inwardly, but she didn't let it show. She missed the look of surprise on his face when she linked her arm through his and led him toward the stairs. "I saw a Starbucks down the road. You like latte's right?"
He pulled the door shut, wondering why she could handle touching a thing like him, but he didn't try to pull away. "Anything with caffeine," he whispered. "Let's walk. I guess it's a nice day out."
They walked down the steps together and headed out of the lobby. She didn't let go of his arm at all as they slowly walked down the street. Even though it was so early, there were still people already out and about, though not as many as there would be in a few short hours.
Sam ignored most of what went on around them as they walked the four blocks to the Starbuck's coffee shop. He was barely conscious of Chloe walking next to him, though he did notice she still held onto him. "Why are you doing that?" he asked out loud, more to himself than to her.
"Doing what?" she asked, glancing up at him. She knew exactly what he was talking about but she wanted to hear him say it.
His desolated sigh reverberated in his mind and soul. He moved away from her, breaking their contact. "Touching me. Why do that when..." He closed his eyes for a second at the rush of self-loathing, of the thought of his demonic self.
Chloe gazed at him for a moment and then reached out and took hold of his hand. "When what, Sam?" she asked quietly, not a hint of fear in her green eyes.
He reluctantly looked her in the eye before gazing down at her hand in his. "I'm a demon, Chloe. Why even be around me?" He tried to pull his hand out of hers as they reached Starbucks, but his mental state was such that he had no strength left in him to really fight.
She ordered two large lattes from the guy behind the counter and when they were ready, she handed one to Sam, carrying her own in her free hand and taking a sip before leading him farther down the street and toward the docks rather than back toward the hotel.
Sipping on his latte, he remained lost in thought. He couldn't bare the idea that he was... less than human. That he would one day be as evil as the likes of Max, the guy who had similar powers but was crazy as a fruitcake. He'd certainly take his life before it got to that point. Never mind Dean, who might be willing to do it.
He was curious, though, as to why Chloe was still there, holding his hand. "Never answered my question," he replied in mid-sip.
"Why I am touching you?" she asked, gazing out over the water as she took a sip of her latte. "Because you're my friend, Sam."
He leaned against the pier and stared at the boats traveling up the Mississippi River. And suddenly wished he was on one of them. "Even though I'll probably turn evil and slit your throats one night?" His words shocked him and shook him to the core. Sarah. He couldn't be around her, no matter what she might have told him.
Chloe rolled her eyes and turned her head to look at him. "I'm about as worried about that as I am as the earth opening up right now and swallowing us whole."
"There's places where the world actually does that," he automatically replied, his intellect kicking in as a way to keep him from acknowledging what she was telling him.
"God, you're as thick-headed as Dean sometimes," she grumbled, a hint of annoyance in her tone.
A slight smile briefly crossed his lips. "Thanks... I think." He looked down at his coffee before glancing at her. "I know what you're trying to do, Chloe. I appreciate it, really, but... I'm just gonna have to deal with this myself."
"Well, that's too bad, Sam. Cause it's not gonna happen," she said firmly, turning her head to look at him.
The determination in her eyes shocked him a little. It wasn't unlike what he saw in Sarah's last night. "Gee, gang up on me, why don't you?" he grumbled, a hint of teasing behind the complaint.
A smile tugged at her lips. "Look, in some very strange way, I sorta understand what you're going through. And I think I can help."
A bitter smile covered his face and he looked away. "How can you help me? How can Sarah... or Dean, for that matter?"
She placed a hand on his knee. "I have a friend back home in Smallville and he's...not exactly human." She gazed at him, willing him to look at her again. "It was a struggle for him too, but he got through it."
Sam looked at her, surprise all over his face. "You've... done this before?" he asked, perplexed. He wondered, though... he thought he knew who she was talking about.
Her eyes were filled with warmth. "Yeah. And you know what? He's a good person. He has a good heart." She looked at him meaningfully.
He knew what she was telling him, that he, too, had a good heart. In the last twelve hours, though, he had begun to wonder if that was true. He loved his brother and Chloe. Felt so much more than love for Sarah. But couldn't demons love, in a way? Was what he felt for the people in his life the real thing, or was it all a lie? "I don't know," he protested quietly.
"Well, I do," Chloe said without hesitation. "I know. Sarah knows. And Dean knows. And you're just gonna have to learn to trust the three of us, Sammy." *
"I do trust the three of you," he replied with a hint of hardness in his voice. "It's me I no longer trust. I don't know what's real anymore." He looked away from her and shut his eyes.
"We're real. You're real," she said quietly. "The rest...we'll figure it out. All of us --together. And just for the record, I feel completely safe with you."
He moved away quickly. "Don't say that," he rasped. "What if I hurt you and Sarah? Do you think I could live with myself if I did? How can I feel... love for her if I'm destined to be evil?" He spat the words out, unable to keep them back anymore. That was the root of the problem: he might feel goodness inside him, but that could all be false.
She gripped onto his arm, not letting him move too far away. "You're not gonna hurt us, Sam." Chloe gazed at him intently. "And deep down you know that." Her voice was soft.
"No, no, I don't know that," he demanded, tugging at his arm. "Not anymore!"
"If you didn't know it somewhere inside of you, you would have made me wake Dean up to go with me to get coffee." There was a faint smirk on her face because she knew she was right.
He downed the rest of his coffee and threw it away, disgusted that she was right. Hell, he hadn't done anything but watch Sarah sleep. And had he hurt her? "You're right," he whispered, his back towards her. "But there will come a day when... I won't be that good anymore." He was just as sure of that as he knew Chloe was of the goodness that hid within him.
Chloe gazed at him for a long moment, then wound her arms around him, resting her head against his back. "You're wrong, Sam," she whispered. "But we'll work on that."
Sighing, he turned and put his arms around her. "I hope so," he whispered, putting his chin on the top of her head while he held her loosely.
She looked up at him, her eyes bright.
"Hey, save those cow eyes for my brother," he replied with a sudden grin. "They aren't gonna work on me." The smile faded, but there remained a glimmer of something. Sam didn't dare acknowledge it, however.
Chloe grinned at him. "So you won't give me a piggy back ride back to the hotel?" she teased.
"Hey, you never asked," he replied, bending down and gabbing her, helping to lift her onto his back.
Her eyes widened in surprise and she chuckled, winding her arms loosely around his neck. "Gitty up," she said with a grin.
"Shut up," Sam laughed, ignoring her swat against his shoulder as he walked them back to the hotel. Though he felt a little better, had that reassurance from the people he loved most, there still lingered the fear of the future. And he could only hope that Dean would fulfill his promise when the time came.
* * *
Feeling like she'd helped him lighten the load a little as they arrived back at the hotel, she smiled when she spotted Dean in the hallway. "You know if the hunting thing doesn't work out, you'd make a great horse, Sam," she teased, letting go of him and letting her feet touch the floor again.
Sam smiled a little as he straightened himself. "Maybe I could work for one of those rodeo circuits," he muttered playfully.
"No way, dude," Dean butted in with a smirk. "You hate clowns." He bent down and kissed Chloe good morning.
Chloe kissed him back, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed Sam's cheek, meeting his eyes briefly, a soft smile on her face. She turned back to Dean. "I guess you found my note?"
Dean watched Sam nod and head towards his room, most likely to rouse Sarah if she was still sleeping. "Yeah, I got it. Figured you two needed some alone time," he smirked with a knowing grin.
She wound her arms around his neck and gazed at him intently. "Come on, let's go inside." She nodded toward the room.
His eyebrows shot up. "Ready for round two?" he stated, a sensual smile on his face that didn't quite reflect in his eyes. Picking her up, he watched as she opened the door. They walked in and he kicked it shut behind him.
"Actually I kinda thought we should talk." Her voice was soft and she gazed at him intently.
He nodded solemnly, putting her down on the edge of the bed. "Yeah, I know," he replied. He sat down beside her, running a hand over his face. "How is he?"
"Very uncertain about what it all means. Scared that he's....gonna hurt the three of us," she told him. She was quiet for a moment, hesitant. "I think I can help him."
"How?" he asked, a frown on his face. He had never been more worried about another human being in his life as he now was about Sam. He knew his brother wouldn't hurt any of them: why did he doubt himself?
"Well for one...I think I can help him fine tune his powers. Or try, at least," she told him. "If he's got control over his abilities, they won't scare him as much."
Her words made Dean freeze. His face was one of confusion and surprise. "Whoa, wait a minute," he protested, standing up and looking at her warily. "Don't tell me you're some kind of psychic coach or something. I get that Sam needs to learn to control his freaky mind thing, but I always thought he'd do that on his own." *
"No offense, but I don't think we're gonna have the luxury of waiting. And no, I'm not a...psychic coach." She gave him a wry look. "But, I do know a thing or two about...special abilities and helping someone discover them and..." Her voice trailed off and she looked at the floor.
Gently grabbing her chin, Dean lifted her face to he could look into her troubled eyes. "We talking about someone I know?" he asked, cursing his lack of tact and inappropriate sarcasm.
She flinched a little and pulled away from him. "You know we are."
He took her arm, preventing her from getting away from him. "Hey, I never said it wasn't a good idea. My sarcasm's..." He shook his head in defeat when he saw the look in her eyes. He let go and stood up. "So, how did you help out Clark? If you wanna tell me, that is."
Chloe was silent for a moment. "Clark...had his memory wiped out once. He didn't even know he had powers. I wasn't even sure what all he was capable of, so it was mostly...trial and error."
"Wow," he said, impressed that she could handle a guy like that. "I take it you had to deal with more than just the 'I'm invincible' angle?"
A short chuckle escaped her. "Understatement. There was super-strength, super-speed, x-ray vision and my personal favorite--shooting fire from his eyes when he was...uh...excited."
Dean turned around and gave Chloe a funny look. "Great, nothing like having a horny alien who can turn you into toast with a look." Damn, he wished he could do that, he thought suddenly.
"Trust me. It was never directed at me," Chloe said quietly.
His gaze softened as he watched her look at everything but him. "That dude's got blinders on, because if I had that power, you'd be toasty and well done."
She smiled a bit, still not looking at him. "Only because you met me first," she said under her breath.
He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated that he'd yet again done or said something to upset her. "Why do you think we stopped that day you were stranded on the side of the road?" He took a step towards her, fire in his eyes.
Sighing softly, she reluctantly looked up at him, not responding.
"Dammit," he muttered, closing the distance between them and picking her up, holding her close to him as he sat down on the bed and put her into his lap. "Hey, look at me," he demanded softly.
"I am looking at you," she said just as softly, her hands resting on his shoulders.
"No, I mean, *look* at me," he insisted, cupping her cheeks with his hands. "I know you still have your hangups with Clark, but I meant it when I told you I love you. Why do you still doubt that?" He stared at her intently, wanting her to understand this so they could get back to helping Sam.
"I don't," she said quietly. "I know you love me."
He frowned. "Then... how can you help Sam with his visions and stuff?"
"I said I could try. I wanna do a little research first, though."
"Okay. Guess I'll let you do that." He reluctantly pulled her out of his lap and set her down beside him.
"Dean, I think...we should get outta this town," she said quietly.
He thought about Gordon and nodded. "I agree. I'll go see if Sam and Sarah are willing to get moving." He started for the door.
Chloe watched him head away, biting her lower lip. "Dean?"
"Yeah, babe?" He turned and looked at her.
"Are we...are we okay?" she asked hesitantly.
Her question surprised him, so he leaned back against the door. "Sure we are, Chlo. Why do you ask?"
"Just checking." Her voice was soft.
He moved towards her again, his eyes intense with determination. "Which means you're doubting," he grumbled, pulled her to him and planting a hot, wet kiss on her surprised open mouth.
She melted against him almost instantly, sliding her hands around to rest on the back of his neck as she returned the kiss.
His hands went to her hair as their mouths moved together, almost as if they wanted to devour each other. He cradled her head as he kissed her, his body becoming hard with need again. "You keep doing that," he panted after several moments, "and we'll never get out of here."
Swallowing hard, she reluctantly pulled away. "And we really need to get out of here." She unconsciously licked her lips.
Dean followed her, kissing her lips again. "Yeah, we need to leave," he rasped between kisses.
She groaned involuntarily, pulling him closer to her. "We do..." When he nibbled on her lower lip she shut her eyes.
Her response was slowly doing him in. Literally. He slowly moved from her lips and grazed his lips down her cheek, resting at her neck and kissing her there. "Chloe," he murmured, the desire for her evident in his voice.
Seemingly of their own will, her hands slid under the material of his shirt, sliding up his back and feeling him growl softly against her neck. The noise made goosebumps cover her skin.
He wanted more of that, needed her touch on his naked skin. "Keep doing that," he groaned, slipping his hands under her shirt and stroking the soft skin of her lower back.
Lowering her lips to his neck, she quickly yanked the shirt off over his head, resting her hands against his bare chest.
He moaned in the back of his throat at the sheer lust in her eyes. And when her hands moved down towards his jeans, he grinned wickedly, anxious to be rid of their clothes. "Not exactly... prepared for this," he whispered as he felt her unbutton his jeans.
"You mean, we're out of...?" Her fingers paused on the zipper.
He actually felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment when he nodded and looked away.
Her own cheeks flushed a little, both from arousal and embarassment. "I uh...I am on the pill now," she admitted.
His eyes widened, eyebrows shot up. "Since when?" he asked, slowing unbuttoning her blouse while he stared into her eyes.
Her blush deepened. "That last town we were in...when I disappeared for a few hours."
A knowing smile crossed his lips. "Always wondered what had happened to you," he replied, leaning down and kissing her again, fingers itching to rip her shirt from her body.
She returned the kiss, her hands once again sliding down his chest and toward the zipper on his jeans as he pulled open her own shirt, revealing her lacy bra beneath.
He helped her tug his pants and boxers off, completely unashamed to be naked in front of her. In fact, his eyes hadn't moved from the bra she was wearing. "Looks like you were expecting this," he grunted, attacking her jeans with the same fervor she'd shown him.
"This happens to be my favorite bra," she informed him with a faint smile.
Gently pushing her back onto the bed, he leaned over her and smirked. "Guess I'll be seeing it a lot, then," he whispered, moving over her and kissing her again.
"I think you've already seen it a lot," she teased.
"Not nearly enough, Chloe." He buried his head between her breasts and stroked her body to a feverish pitch just before entering her in one swift movement. Their collective groans mingled with the fast, almost desperate rhythms their bodies created.
She whimpered as he pressed deep within her and she wound her legs around him, threading her fingers through his hair and pulling him down for a kiss.
He felt the thrill of her climax shoot through him, felt her stroking him, spasming around him. He picked up the pace, her peak causing him to come too quickly. With a jerky thrust, he let himself go, groaning loudly as he did.
Panting for breath, she laid her head back on the bed, closing her eyes. "God."
"Yes?" he teased, completely breathless as he moved off her and laid next to her, eyes closed though a satisfied smirk remained on his lips.
A short chuckle escaped her. "It's a good thing I love you."
"It's my looks, I know," he lazily commented, a low chuckle in his chest.
"More like...your heart."
Touched, Dean pulled her to him, cradling her body to his and gently stroked her arm with his fingers. "You do see me," he whispered in her ear, warmed by the thought that she accepted him completely.
She rested her palm over his heart. "You let me," she said just as softly, pressing a light kiss to his chin.
He sighed, content to keep her locked in his arms forever. That couldn't happen, though, especially not with Gordon still on the loose. Reluctantly, he placed a quick kiss on her forehead. "Gotta go, love."
"I know." She drew in a breath and pulled the blankets around herself shyly as she watched him dress.
He smiled at her embarassment. "Not like I haven't see you naked, you know." He grinned as he watched her eyes slide over his still mostly naked body.
"I know," she said with a faint smile. "You know, you were right about something..."
His eyes lit up. "That'd be a first," he muttered to himself as he pulled up his jeans. "About what?" he asked her, wishing he had x-ray vision to see beneath those covers she kept over her curvy body.
"You are a damn fine man," she said with a lazy grin.
Dean's grin oozed with confidence and cockiness. "And I'm with a damn fine woman. Could it get any better?" He tugged at the hem of the bedspread, trying to pull it off her.
She chuckled, holding onto it tightly in a playful game of tug-of-war.
He growled and pulled harder, seeing the glint of amusement in her eyes. "Don't make come in there after you," he warned.
"Ooh, come get me tough guy," she teased.
He yanked the covers off her, revealing her naked body and smirking. "Glad to," he whispered, a predatory gleam in his eyes and he moved towards her.
She giggled and reached for the sheet.
&&&&&&&&
Sam was dying, and there was nothing she could do about it. The tears streaked down her face as she cradled his head, the blood oozing from the wound in his chest. "Sam," she cried, knowing he was beyond hearing her or anything. "I'll always love you. I can't live without you."
She suddenly felt a hand gently shaking her, rocking her out of the nightmare, Sam's name still on her lips. She woke to see Sam crouched in front of her, eyes concerned. She felt the tears on her cheeks and wiped them away. "Sam?" she whispered, wondering about the time.
"Hey, are you okay?" he whispered worriedly, his hand lingering on her arm.
She put her hand over his and sat up with her free hand. "Fine, I'm fine. Just a bad dream, I guess." She used the bed sheet to wipe her face, shaken to the core that she could lose Sam somehow. That he'd die and she'd be forced to go on without him. She didn't meet his eyes, though her hand stayed on his. "What time is it?"
"Still pretty early. Not quite seven thirty," he told her, not convinced she was really okay. "You uh...you wanna talk about it?"
She turned sad, despairing eyes towards him. "Not really, Sam. I'm more concerned about you. How... how are you?" she asked, pulling him towards her.
He hesitated a moment before sliding his arms around her. "I'm fine," he said quietly.
"Good," she said softly, knowing he was anything but. Her arms went around his waist as she leaned into him. "I dreamed about you," she whispered after a moment.
Sam flinched, not wanting to know what that dream had involved. "Oh yeah?"
She sighed. "Yeah." Her arms tightened around him, thankful he was alive. And in one piece. She looked up at him, more unshed tears in her eyes.
"Sorry," he said quietly, lowering his gaze to the floor.
"About what?" she asked, touching her hand to his cheek. "It was just a dream. You're alive... and I won't have to watch you die." She choked on her words. It was the one thing she never wanted to see, because she knew... she'd die without him.
"You dreamt about me dying?" he asked in surprise, glancing up once more.
She nodded, biting back the tears. "I watched you die in my arms. It was... It hurt. So badly."
Sam gazed at her intently. "I just...assumed it was..."
She smiled sadly. "No, Sam. No. You're a good man. *My* man... if you still feel that way, I mean." She gazed at him, intent that he understand how much she needed him, no matter what he was going through.
He closed his eyes, not understanding how she and Chloe could have so much faith in him knowing what they did. "I love you. That hasn't changed."
Sarah slipped out from underneath the covers and moved closer to him, burying her face into his chest. "It never will, either. What we have... it's too good for you to be evil."
He drew in a breath, slowly wrapping his arms around her. And hoping like hell she was right.
She sniffed and pulled away from him. "Did you sleep last night?" She looked at the other bed and noticed it didn't look mussed. She frowned as her eyes pulled back to him.
"Not really," he admitted.
"Figured as much," she replied, looking away. She stood up and smoothed her rumpled clothes down. "I want you to know we're all going to help you with this, Sam. But I'll bet... we should probably leave New Orleans."
"Yeah. You're right. It's only a matter of time before Gordon..." He cut himself off, moving to the closet and grabbing his things.
She stood in the middle of the room, watching him pack, her heart sinking. "I shoulda hit him harder," she whispered almost inaudibly. "Should have killed him."
"Don't say that." He looked back at her, his eyes filled with intensity.
"Why not?" she asked, meeting his eyes and holding it. "What gives him the right to do what he did? To you? To Chloe and me? What if he tries to go after you again?" She took a step towards him. "I am not going to let anything happen to you!" Her possessiveness scared her, but it was true. She'd die trying to help him dig into what he really was... *if* he truly was part demon.
"Sarah." His voice was soft. "He's still a person. And you...your heart is far too beautiful to just take someone else's life."
Reaching out, she touched his chest, just where his heart gently thudded under her touch. "Gordon's a monster of the human variety... and your heart's just as beautiful," she whispered. "There's no way you're even a bit demon."
Sam swallowed hard. "Well, according to my dad...and Dean...you're wrong about that."
She gazed at his pained, uncomfortable look and wondered. Truly, for the first time, she thought his brother and father were wrong. She just didn't know how. "Even if I am, I want you anyway," she whispered before turning away and towards the door.
He looked down at the floor for a moment, before watching her leave the room. "Me too," he whispered after she'd shut the door.
Sarah quickly went into the adjoining room and unlocked it with her key. Slipping inside, she had intended to simply pack her things and get back to Sam. Seeing Chloe and Dean playing tug of war with the comforter, both in varying stages of undress, was enough shock for the day. "Oh God," she said loudly, promptly turning her back on the scene.
"Shit," Dean shouted, jumping in front of Chloe to shield her from Sarah's eyes. "Hey, anyone ever teach you to knock?"
"Anyone needed to remind you that I have a key?" she called, her back turned.
Her face flushing with embarrassment, Chloe quickly rolled off the bed, grabbing her clothes and tugging them on and tossing Dean's at him. "Get dressed," she hissed.
"I'm dressing," he protested, yanking on his shirt and jeans. "Dammit, I should have locked the door."
"Ya think?" Sarah asked, biting her lip to contain her laughter. It took her a few tries, but she was able to get out, "So, we leaving this place or what?"
"As soon as possible," Chloe said wryly, shaking her head a little and moving toward the closet to get her things.
"Yeah, now would be good." Dean kissed Chloe one last time quickly and walked quickly towards the door. "You can look now, Sarah," he smirked as he left.
Flushing several shades of red, she turned and grabbed her bag. "I'm so sorry, Chloe. I didn't know... I meant, Sam's getting his stuff packed and..." She felt too tongue-tied to say anything else.
Her own face still red, she just shook her head again. "It's okay. I'm sorry. This is your room too."
"It's kinda more your and Dean's room," she replied frankly, stuffing her things into her bag, uncaring how she looked at the moment. "You know, I don't have a problem sharing a room with Sam. I mean... I think he needs me right now."
Chloe's expression immediately shifted at the mention of the younger Winchester. "How's he doing?"
"Aside from scared and unsure of himself?" she asked, looking at her friend. "Chloe, I have to tell you... I don't think he's what Dean and their father thinks he is." She was hesitant to tell her this, but she had to tell someone.
She tilted her head to the side. "What do you mean?" she asked, her mind already starting to turn over what few facts they had.
She zipped up her bag and went to the mirror, a little surprised to see her pale face standing out against her mussed hair. "I know Dean's father had told him Sam was half-demon," she replied, smoothing her hair to braid it. "I just... I *know* he's too good for that, ya know? I can't explain it. Gut reaction, I guess." She watched Chloe's reaction carefully from the mirror.
She looked down at the floor. "That was my first reaction too," she admitted in a whisper. She met her friend's gaze in the mirror. "What are you thinking?"
She frowned and turned around. "I'm not sure. I know research will be involved, but I have to ask... how did their father know Sam was half-demon? Was he born like that?"
"I don't know." Winding her arms around herself, her eyebrows furrowed. "I don't think their dad told Dean how he knew, actually."
"Crap," Sarah said out loud, putting her hand to her cheek. "I thought... that might be a place to start." She looked up at Chloe. "Will you help me out? I know you love Sam, too, Chloe, and I know you want to help him."
She met Sarah's eyes with matched intensity, nodding slightly, sharing an unspoken agreement to learn the real truth--no matter what the cost.
Title: Fic 7: Throw Me Somethin' Mista (5/5)
Authors: Clarksmuse and X_tremeroswellian
Rated: This part is NC-17.
Pairings: Chloe/Dean, Sam/Sarah
Disclaimer: Yeah, we don't own anything. Except our computers. :P Don't sue. Thanks.
Chloe was awake bright and early the next morning, before the sun had even fully risen. Pressing a soft kiss to Dean's lips, she slipped out of bed and quickly showered and dressed in clean clothes, her mind already forming a plot. She left Dean a note on the table and silently left the room, going next door and knocking very softly on Sam and Sarah's door.
Sam had been awake when he heard the soft tapping at the door. Truth of the matter was, he had not slept at all. He spent most of the night, watching Sarah sleep fitfully in his bed, wondering why she was even there with him. Freak of nature, he thought, letting that roll around in his mind until he thought he'd go crazy. He stood and shuffled to the door, pulling it open. He seemed to know it was Chloe before he even grabbed the doorknob. However, he couldn't look at her. "Hey," he said flatly.
"So since Sarah and Dean are asleep, you get to play my bodyguard and come get coffee with me," she said cheerfully.
"Yeah, your demonic bodyguard," he said, still looking at the floor. Nevertheless he grabbed his coat, and with one last longing glance at Sarah's sleeping figure, shrugged it on. "Lead the way," he muttered.
The words made her wince inwardly, but she didn't let it show. She missed the look of surprise on his face when she linked her arm through his and led him toward the stairs. "I saw a Starbucks down the road. You like latte's right?"
He pulled the door shut, wondering why she could handle touching a thing like him, but he didn't try to pull away. "Anything with caffeine," he whispered. "Let's walk. I guess it's a nice day out."
They walked down the steps together and headed out of the lobby. She didn't let go of his arm at all as they slowly walked down the street. Even though it was so early, there were still people already out and about, though not as many as there would be in a few short hours.
Sam ignored most of what went on around them as they walked the four blocks to the Starbuck's coffee shop. He was barely conscious of Chloe walking next to him, though he did notice she still held onto him. "Why are you doing that?" he asked out loud, more to himself than to her.
"Doing what?" she asked, glancing up at him. She knew exactly what he was talking about but she wanted to hear him say it.
His desolated sigh reverberated in his mind and soul. He moved away from her, breaking their contact. "Touching me. Why do that when..." He closed his eyes for a second at the rush of self-loathing, of the thought of his demonic self.
Chloe gazed at him for a moment and then reached out and took hold of his hand. "When what, Sam?" she asked quietly, not a hint of fear in her green eyes.
He reluctantly looked her in the eye before gazing down at her hand in his. "I'm a demon, Chloe. Why even be around me?" He tried to pull his hand out of hers as they reached Starbucks, but his mental state was such that he had no strength left in him to really fight.
She ordered two large lattes from the guy behind the counter and when they were ready, she handed one to Sam, carrying her own in her free hand and taking a sip before leading him farther down the street and toward the docks rather than back toward the hotel.
Sipping on his latte, he remained lost in thought. He couldn't bare the idea that he was... less than human. That he would one day be as evil as the likes of Max, the guy who had similar powers but was crazy as a fruitcake. He'd certainly take his life before it got to that point. Never mind Dean, who might be willing to do it.
He was curious, though, as to why Chloe was still there, holding his hand. "Never answered my question," he replied in mid-sip.
"Why I am touching you?" she asked, gazing out over the water as she took a sip of her latte. "Because you're my friend, Sam."
He leaned against the pier and stared at the boats traveling up the Mississippi River. And suddenly wished he was on one of them. "Even though I'll probably turn evil and slit your throats one night?" His words shocked him and shook him to the core. Sarah. He couldn't be around her, no matter what she might have told him.
Chloe rolled her eyes and turned her head to look at him. "I'm about as worried about that as I am as the earth opening up right now and swallowing us whole."
"There's places where the world actually does that," he automatically replied, his intellect kicking in as a way to keep him from acknowledging what she was telling him.
"God, you're as thick-headed as Dean sometimes," she grumbled, a hint of annoyance in her tone.
A slight smile briefly crossed his lips. "Thanks... I think." He looked down at his coffee before glancing at her. "I know what you're trying to do, Chloe. I appreciate it, really, but... I'm just gonna have to deal with this myself."
"Well, that's too bad, Sam. Cause it's not gonna happen," she said firmly, turning her head to look at him.
The determination in her eyes shocked him a little. It wasn't unlike what he saw in Sarah's last night. "Gee, gang up on me, why don't you?" he grumbled, a hint of teasing behind the complaint.
A smile tugged at her lips. "Look, in some very strange way, I sorta understand what you're going through. And I think I can help."
A bitter smile covered his face and he looked away. "How can you help me? How can Sarah... or Dean, for that matter?"
She placed a hand on his knee. "I have a friend back home in Smallville and he's...not exactly human." She gazed at him, willing him to look at her again. "It was a struggle for him too, but he got through it."
Sam looked at her, surprise all over his face. "You've... done this before?" he asked, perplexed. He wondered, though... he thought he knew who she was talking about.
Her eyes were filled with warmth. "Yeah. And you know what? He's a good person. He has a good heart." She looked at him meaningfully.
He knew what she was telling him, that he, too, had a good heart. In the last twelve hours, though, he had begun to wonder if that was true. He loved his brother and Chloe. Felt so much more than love for Sarah. But couldn't demons love, in a way? Was what he felt for the people in his life the real thing, or was it all a lie? "I don't know," he protested quietly.
"Well, I do," Chloe said without hesitation. "I know. Sarah knows. And Dean knows. And you're just gonna have to learn to trust the three of us, Sammy." *
"I do trust the three of you," he replied with a hint of hardness in his voice. "It's me I no longer trust. I don't know what's real anymore." He looked away from her and shut his eyes.
"We're real. You're real," she said quietly. "The rest...we'll figure it out. All of us --together. And just for the record, I feel completely safe with you."
He moved away quickly. "Don't say that," he rasped. "What if I hurt you and Sarah? Do you think I could live with myself if I did? How can I feel... love for her if I'm destined to be evil?" He spat the words out, unable to keep them back anymore. That was the root of the problem: he might feel goodness inside him, but that could all be false.
She gripped onto his arm, not letting him move too far away. "You're not gonna hurt us, Sam." Chloe gazed at him intently. "And deep down you know that." Her voice was soft.
"No, no, I don't know that," he demanded, tugging at his arm. "Not anymore!"
"If you didn't know it somewhere inside of you, you would have made me wake Dean up to go with me to get coffee." There was a faint smirk on her face because she knew she was right.
He downed the rest of his coffee and threw it away, disgusted that she was right. Hell, he hadn't done anything but watch Sarah sleep. And had he hurt her? "You're right," he whispered, his back towards her. "But there will come a day when... I won't be that good anymore." He was just as sure of that as he knew Chloe was of the goodness that hid within him.
Chloe gazed at him for a long moment, then wound her arms around him, resting her head against his back. "You're wrong, Sam," she whispered. "But we'll work on that."
Sighing, he turned and put his arms around her. "I hope so," he whispered, putting his chin on the top of her head while he held her loosely.
She looked up at him, her eyes bright.
"Hey, save those cow eyes for my brother," he replied with a sudden grin. "They aren't gonna work on me." The smile faded, but there remained a glimmer of something. Sam didn't dare acknowledge it, however.
Chloe grinned at him. "So you won't give me a piggy back ride back to the hotel?" she teased.
"Hey, you never asked," he replied, bending down and gabbing her, helping to lift her onto his back.
Her eyes widened in surprise and she chuckled, winding her arms loosely around his neck. "Gitty up," she said with a grin.
"Shut up," Sam laughed, ignoring her swat against his shoulder as he walked them back to the hotel. Though he felt a little better, had that reassurance from the people he loved most, there still lingered the fear of the future. And he could only hope that Dean would fulfill his promise when the time came.
* * *
Feeling like she'd helped him lighten the load a little as they arrived back at the hotel, she smiled when she spotted Dean in the hallway. "You know if the hunting thing doesn't work out, you'd make a great horse, Sam," she teased, letting go of him and letting her feet touch the floor again.
Sam smiled a little as he straightened himself. "Maybe I could work for one of those rodeo circuits," he muttered playfully.
"No way, dude," Dean butted in with a smirk. "You hate clowns." He bent down and kissed Chloe good morning.
Chloe kissed him back, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed Sam's cheek, meeting his eyes briefly, a soft smile on her face. She turned back to Dean. "I guess you found my note?"
Dean watched Sam nod and head towards his room, most likely to rouse Sarah if she was still sleeping. "Yeah, I got it. Figured you two needed some alone time," he smirked with a knowing grin.
She wound her arms around his neck and gazed at him intently. "Come on, let's go inside." She nodded toward the room.
His eyebrows shot up. "Ready for round two?" he stated, a sensual smile on his face that didn't quite reflect in his eyes. Picking her up, he watched as she opened the door. They walked in and he kicked it shut behind him.
"Actually I kinda thought we should talk." Her voice was soft and she gazed at him intently.
He nodded solemnly, putting her down on the edge of the bed. "Yeah, I know," he replied. He sat down beside her, running a hand over his face. "How is he?"
"Very uncertain about what it all means. Scared that he's....gonna hurt the three of us," she told him. She was quiet for a moment, hesitant. "I think I can help him."
"How?" he asked, a frown on his face. He had never been more worried about another human being in his life as he now was about Sam. He knew his brother wouldn't hurt any of them: why did he doubt himself?
"Well for one...I think I can help him fine tune his powers. Or try, at least," she told him. "If he's got control over his abilities, they won't scare him as much."
Her words made Dean freeze. His face was one of confusion and surprise. "Whoa, wait a minute," he protested, standing up and looking at her warily. "Don't tell me you're some kind of psychic coach or something. I get that Sam needs to learn to control his freaky mind thing, but I always thought he'd do that on his own." *
"No offense, but I don't think we're gonna have the luxury of waiting. And no, I'm not a...psychic coach." She gave him a wry look. "But, I do know a thing or two about...special abilities and helping someone discover them and..." Her voice trailed off and she looked at the floor.
Gently grabbing her chin, Dean lifted her face to he could look into her troubled eyes. "We talking about someone I know?" he asked, cursing his lack of tact and inappropriate sarcasm.
She flinched a little and pulled away from him. "You know we are."
He took her arm, preventing her from getting away from him. "Hey, I never said it wasn't a good idea. My sarcasm's..." He shook his head in defeat when he saw the look in her eyes. He let go and stood up. "So, how did you help out Clark? If you wanna tell me, that is."
Chloe was silent for a moment. "Clark...had his memory wiped out once. He didn't even know he had powers. I wasn't even sure what all he was capable of, so it was mostly...trial and error."
"Wow," he said, impressed that she could handle a guy like that. "I take it you had to deal with more than just the 'I'm invincible' angle?"
A short chuckle escaped her. "Understatement. There was super-strength, super-speed, x-ray vision and my personal favorite--shooting fire from his eyes when he was...uh...excited."
Dean turned around and gave Chloe a funny look. "Great, nothing like having a horny alien who can turn you into toast with a look." Damn, he wished he could do that, he thought suddenly.
"Trust me. It was never directed at me," Chloe said quietly.
His gaze softened as he watched her look at everything but him. "That dude's got blinders on, because if I had that power, you'd be toasty and well done."
She smiled a bit, still not looking at him. "Only because you met me first," she said under her breath.
He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated that he'd yet again done or said something to upset her. "Why do you think we stopped that day you were stranded on the side of the road?" He took a step towards her, fire in his eyes.
Sighing softly, she reluctantly looked up at him, not responding.
"Dammit," he muttered, closing the distance between them and picking her up, holding her close to him as he sat down on the bed and put her into his lap. "Hey, look at me," he demanded softly.
"I am looking at you," she said just as softly, her hands resting on his shoulders.
"No, I mean, *look* at me," he insisted, cupping her cheeks with his hands. "I know you still have your hangups with Clark, but I meant it when I told you I love you. Why do you still doubt that?" He stared at her intently, wanting her to understand this so they could get back to helping Sam.
"I don't," she said quietly. "I know you love me."
He frowned. "Then... how can you help Sam with his visions and stuff?"
"I said I could try. I wanna do a little research first, though."
"Okay. Guess I'll let you do that." He reluctantly pulled her out of his lap and set her down beside him.
"Dean, I think...we should get outta this town," she said quietly.
He thought about Gordon and nodded. "I agree. I'll go see if Sam and Sarah are willing to get moving." He started for the door.
Chloe watched him head away, biting her lower lip. "Dean?"
"Yeah, babe?" He turned and looked at her.
"Are we...are we okay?" she asked hesitantly.
Her question surprised him, so he leaned back against the door. "Sure we are, Chlo. Why do you ask?"
"Just checking." Her voice was soft.
He moved towards her again, his eyes intense with determination. "Which means you're doubting," he grumbled, pulled her to him and planting a hot, wet kiss on her surprised open mouth.
She melted against him almost instantly, sliding her hands around to rest on the back of his neck as she returned the kiss.
His hands went to her hair as their mouths moved together, almost as if they wanted to devour each other. He cradled her head as he kissed her, his body becoming hard with need again. "You keep doing that," he panted after several moments, "and we'll never get out of here."
Swallowing hard, she reluctantly pulled away. "And we really need to get out of here." She unconsciously licked her lips.
Dean followed her, kissing her lips again. "Yeah, we need to leave," he rasped between kisses.
She groaned involuntarily, pulling him closer to her. "We do..." When he nibbled on her lower lip she shut her eyes.
Her response was slowly doing him in. Literally. He slowly moved from her lips and grazed his lips down her cheek, resting at her neck and kissing her there. "Chloe," he murmured, the desire for her evident in his voice.
Seemingly of their own will, her hands slid under the material of his shirt, sliding up his back and feeling him growl softly against her neck. The noise made goosebumps cover her skin.
He wanted more of that, needed her touch on his naked skin. "Keep doing that," he groaned, slipping his hands under her shirt and stroking the soft skin of her lower back.
Lowering her lips to his neck, she quickly yanked the shirt off over his head, resting her hands against his bare chest.
He moaned in the back of his throat at the sheer lust in her eyes. And when her hands moved down towards his jeans, he grinned wickedly, anxious to be rid of their clothes. "Not exactly... prepared for this," he whispered as he felt her unbutton his jeans.
"You mean, we're out of...?" Her fingers paused on the zipper.
He actually felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment when he nodded and looked away.
Her own cheeks flushed a little, both from arousal and embarassment. "I uh...I am on the pill now," she admitted.
His eyes widened, eyebrows shot up. "Since when?" he asked, slowing unbuttoning her blouse while he stared into her eyes.
Her blush deepened. "That last town we were in...when I disappeared for a few hours."
A knowing smile crossed his lips. "Always wondered what had happened to you," he replied, leaning down and kissing her again, fingers itching to rip her shirt from her body.
She returned the kiss, her hands once again sliding down his chest and toward the zipper on his jeans as he pulled open her own shirt, revealing her lacy bra beneath.
He helped her tug his pants and boxers off, completely unashamed to be naked in front of her. In fact, his eyes hadn't moved from the bra she was wearing. "Looks like you were expecting this," he grunted, attacking her jeans with the same fervor she'd shown him.
"This happens to be my favorite bra," she informed him with a faint smile.
Gently pushing her back onto the bed, he leaned over her and smirked. "Guess I'll be seeing it a lot, then," he whispered, moving over her and kissing her again.
"I think you've already seen it a lot," she teased.
"Not nearly enough, Chloe." He buried his head between her breasts and stroked her body to a feverish pitch just before entering her in one swift movement. Their collective groans mingled with the fast, almost desperate rhythms their bodies created.
She whimpered as he pressed deep within her and she wound her legs around him, threading her fingers through his hair and pulling him down for a kiss.
He felt the thrill of her climax shoot through him, felt her stroking him, spasming around him. He picked up the pace, her peak causing him to come too quickly. With a jerky thrust, he let himself go, groaning loudly as he did.
Panting for breath, she laid her head back on the bed, closing her eyes. "God."
"Yes?" he teased, completely breathless as he moved off her and laid next to her, eyes closed though a satisfied smirk remained on his lips.
A short chuckle escaped her. "It's a good thing I love you."
"It's my looks, I know," he lazily commented, a low chuckle in his chest.
"More like...your heart."
Touched, Dean pulled her to him, cradling her body to his and gently stroked her arm with his fingers. "You do see me," he whispered in her ear, warmed by the thought that she accepted him completely.
She rested her palm over his heart. "You let me," she said just as softly, pressing a light kiss to his chin.
He sighed, content to keep her locked in his arms forever. That couldn't happen, though, especially not with Gordon still on the loose. Reluctantly, he placed a quick kiss on her forehead. "Gotta go, love."
"I know." She drew in a breath and pulled the blankets around herself shyly as she watched him dress.
He smiled at her embarassment. "Not like I haven't see you naked, you know." He grinned as he watched her eyes slide over his still mostly naked body.
"I know," she said with a faint smile. "You know, you were right about something..."
His eyes lit up. "That'd be a first," he muttered to himself as he pulled up his jeans. "About what?" he asked her, wishing he had x-ray vision to see beneath those covers she kept over her curvy body.
"You are a damn fine man," she said with a lazy grin.
Dean's grin oozed with confidence and cockiness. "And I'm with a damn fine woman. Could it get any better?" He tugged at the hem of the bedspread, trying to pull it off her.
She chuckled, holding onto it tightly in a playful game of tug-of-war.
He growled and pulled harder, seeing the glint of amusement in her eyes. "Don't make come in there after you," he warned.
"Ooh, come get me tough guy," she teased.
He yanked the covers off her, revealing her naked body and smirking. "Glad to," he whispered, a predatory gleam in his eyes and he moved towards her.
She giggled and reached for the sheet.
&&&&&&&&
Sam was dying, and there was nothing she could do about it. The tears streaked down her face as she cradled his head, the blood oozing from the wound in his chest. "Sam," she cried, knowing he was beyond hearing her or anything. "I'll always love you. I can't live without you."
She suddenly felt a hand gently shaking her, rocking her out of the nightmare, Sam's name still on her lips. She woke to see Sam crouched in front of her, eyes concerned. She felt the tears on her cheeks and wiped them away. "Sam?" she whispered, wondering about the time.
"Hey, are you okay?" he whispered worriedly, his hand lingering on her arm.
She put her hand over his and sat up with her free hand. "Fine, I'm fine. Just a bad dream, I guess." She used the bed sheet to wipe her face, shaken to the core that she could lose Sam somehow. That he'd die and she'd be forced to go on without him. She didn't meet his eyes, though her hand stayed on his. "What time is it?"
"Still pretty early. Not quite seven thirty," he told her, not convinced she was really okay. "You uh...you wanna talk about it?"
She turned sad, despairing eyes towards him. "Not really, Sam. I'm more concerned about you. How... how are you?" she asked, pulling him towards her.
He hesitated a moment before sliding his arms around her. "I'm fine," he said quietly.
"Good," she said softly, knowing he was anything but. Her arms went around his waist as she leaned into him. "I dreamed about you," she whispered after a moment.
Sam flinched, not wanting to know what that dream had involved. "Oh yeah?"
She sighed. "Yeah." Her arms tightened around him, thankful he was alive. And in one piece. She looked up at him, more unshed tears in her eyes.
"Sorry," he said quietly, lowering his gaze to the floor.
"About what?" she asked, touching her hand to his cheek. "It was just a dream. You're alive... and I won't have to watch you die." She choked on her words. It was the one thing she never wanted to see, because she knew... she'd die without him.
"You dreamt about me dying?" he asked in surprise, glancing up once more.
She nodded, biting back the tears. "I watched you die in my arms. It was... It hurt. So badly."
Sam gazed at her intently. "I just...assumed it was..."
She smiled sadly. "No, Sam. No. You're a good man. *My* man... if you still feel that way, I mean." She gazed at him, intent that he understand how much she needed him, no matter what he was going through.
He closed his eyes, not understanding how she and Chloe could have so much faith in him knowing what they did. "I love you. That hasn't changed."
Sarah slipped out from underneath the covers and moved closer to him, burying her face into his chest. "It never will, either. What we have... it's too good for you to be evil."
He drew in a breath, slowly wrapping his arms around her. And hoping like hell she was right.
She sniffed and pulled away from him. "Did you sleep last night?" She looked at the other bed and noticed it didn't look mussed. She frowned as her eyes pulled back to him.
"Not really," he admitted.
"Figured as much," she replied, looking away. She stood up and smoothed her rumpled clothes down. "I want you to know we're all going to help you with this, Sam. But I'll bet... we should probably leave New Orleans."
"Yeah. You're right. It's only a matter of time before Gordon..." He cut himself off, moving to the closet and grabbing his things.
She stood in the middle of the room, watching him pack, her heart sinking. "I shoulda hit him harder," she whispered almost inaudibly. "Should have killed him."
"Don't say that." He looked back at her, his eyes filled with intensity.
"Why not?" she asked, meeting his eyes and holding it. "What gives him the right to do what he did? To you? To Chloe and me? What if he tries to go after you again?" She took a step towards him. "I am not going to let anything happen to you!" Her possessiveness scared her, but it was true. She'd die trying to help him dig into what he really was... *if* he truly was part demon.
"Sarah." His voice was soft. "He's still a person. And you...your heart is far too beautiful to just take someone else's life."
Reaching out, she touched his chest, just where his heart gently thudded under her touch. "Gordon's a monster of the human variety... and your heart's just as beautiful," she whispered. "There's no way you're even a bit demon."
Sam swallowed hard. "Well, according to my dad...and Dean...you're wrong about that."
She gazed at his pained, uncomfortable look and wondered. Truly, for the first time, she thought his brother and father were wrong. She just didn't know how. "Even if I am, I want you anyway," she whispered before turning away and towards the door.
He looked down at the floor for a moment, before watching her leave the room. "Me too," he whispered after she'd shut the door.
Sarah quickly went into the adjoining room and unlocked it with her key. Slipping inside, she had intended to simply pack her things and get back to Sam. Seeing Chloe and Dean playing tug of war with the comforter, both in varying stages of undress, was enough shock for the day. "Oh God," she said loudly, promptly turning her back on the scene.
"Shit," Dean shouted, jumping in front of Chloe to shield her from Sarah's eyes. "Hey, anyone ever teach you to knock?"
"Anyone needed to remind you that I have a key?" she called, her back turned.
Her face flushing with embarrassment, Chloe quickly rolled off the bed, grabbing her clothes and tugging them on and tossing Dean's at him. "Get dressed," she hissed.
"I'm dressing," he protested, yanking on his shirt and jeans. "Dammit, I should have locked the door."
"Ya think?" Sarah asked, biting her lip to contain her laughter. It took her a few tries, but she was able to get out, "So, we leaving this place or what?"
"As soon as possible," Chloe said wryly, shaking her head a little and moving toward the closet to get her things.
"Yeah, now would be good." Dean kissed Chloe one last time quickly and walked quickly towards the door. "You can look now, Sarah," he smirked as he left.
Flushing several shades of red, she turned and grabbed her bag. "I'm so sorry, Chloe. I didn't know... I meant, Sam's getting his stuff packed and..." She felt too tongue-tied to say anything else.
Her own face still red, she just shook her head again. "It's okay. I'm sorry. This is your room too."
"It's kinda more your and Dean's room," she replied frankly, stuffing her things into her bag, uncaring how she looked at the moment. "You know, I don't have a problem sharing a room with Sam. I mean... I think he needs me right now."
Chloe's expression immediately shifted at the mention of the younger Winchester. "How's he doing?"
"Aside from scared and unsure of himself?" she asked, looking at her friend. "Chloe, I have to tell you... I don't think he's what Dean and their father thinks he is." She was hesitant to tell her this, but she had to tell someone.
She tilted her head to the side. "What do you mean?" she asked, her mind already starting to turn over what few facts they had.
She zipped up her bag and went to the mirror, a little surprised to see her pale face standing out against her mussed hair. "I know Dean's father had told him Sam was half-demon," she replied, smoothing her hair to braid it. "I just... I *know* he's too good for that, ya know? I can't explain it. Gut reaction, I guess." She watched Chloe's reaction carefully from the mirror.
She looked down at the floor. "That was my first reaction too," she admitted in a whisper. She met her friend's gaze in the mirror. "What are you thinking?"
She frowned and turned around. "I'm not sure. I know research will be involved, but I have to ask... how did their father know Sam was half-demon? Was he born like that?"
"I don't know." Winding her arms around herself, her eyebrows furrowed. "I don't think their dad told Dean how he knew, actually."
"Crap," Sarah said out loud, putting her hand to her cheek. "I thought... that might be a place to start." She looked up at Chloe. "Will you help me out? I know you love Sam, too, Chloe, and I know you want to help him."
She met Sarah's eyes with matched intensity, nodding slightly, sharing an unspoken agreement to learn the real truth--no matter what the cost.
