Invisible String

Professional boundaries

The drive back was painfully silent, no one knew what to say but everyone knew what they wanted to say. I wanted to ask what it was they were after and why. They wanted to ask me how I knew how to handle myself like that despite not being a hunter. They wanted to ask why I wasn't a hunter despite being so handy and being surrounded by them. I wanted to help them with their injuries despite them not being serious.

"Bobby taught me... just in case." I figured I would answer one of the questions that were on their mind but I also knew wouldn't be too weird to open about. 

They seemed slightly confused at first until they realised I was answering their unspoken question. Sam replies, "well.. I'm glad you were prepared.. just in case, you saved our asses."

There's an awkward pause as I contemplate if I should ask or not. "What was it?"

They look between each other for a second, clearly taken aback that I had asked. They didn't seem upset that I was being too invasive or it was the wrong thing to say in this situation. it was something else but I couldn't quite tell what. "You really don't know what that was?" Dean replied, he didn't seem like he was being rude, he just seemed genuinely surprised that I would ask.

"I really don't.."

"That was a demon." Sam replied and I realise why they seemed so surprised that I didn't know, that was something that hunters bumped into almost everyday and they seemed to be under the impression I have a lot of experience in seeing the supernatural. Despite the research and all the deliveries I do, I had very very little field experience. I had seen about four ghosts and that was it.

"I don't do much of this sort of thing.. or well anything the last couple years."

They nodded in understanding but they had that same sad look on their face that people always get when I tell them that. I wasn't sad or isolated, I was just doing what I liked and that happened to avoid a lot of time alone. I didn't want to argue it though, that always made it worse, people always would think I'm in denial or there's some big traumatic event that makes me isolate myself.

The rest of the drive back to the motel is silent and I notice when we get out of the car that Dean has a slight limp and Sam just seemed overall tense. I hoped they weren't more hurt than they let on, that never worked out well for anyone. 

When we get inside, they both start treating their own injuries without even addressing them or asking for help like it was just normal for them to do this. I notice Sam was wincing as he was stretching to reach a cut on his side. 

"Let me help.."

Sam looks slightly confused at my request but lifts his arm so I could get to the cut. I crouch next to the bed that he was sat on the edge of and start to clean it carefully, he occasionally winced but I knew what I was doing and I knew this was as light as I could do this while still doing it correctly. I had helped countless people with wounds way worse than this. It was common for hunters to show up at Bobby's for help with life threatening injuries instead of going to hospitals because they were a bunch of stubborn idiots. 

I start to bandage it carefully, brushing my fingers over his skin as I was doing so. He was warm and toned, I hadn't realised the intimacy of what I was doing until I heard Dean coughing and I quickly moved my hand away to keep wrapping it but in a more professional manner this time. they both laugh quietly and I blush but none of us say anything further although I knew Dean probably would have wound me up a bit more if I hadn't just saved them both. 

"There.. that should heal nicely, it's not too deep." I knew they already knew that but I wanted to fill as much of the silence as possible. It seemed to be constant. "You should both rest though.. that all seemed pretty intense." 

"Yeah, you're right." Dean agreed, Sam seemed like he wanted to argue, it was strange to see Dean being the mature one for once. "We can celebrate with a big breakfast tomorrow and we'll drive back with you to Bobby's."

"Oh.. you really don't have to, I'm sure you're busy."

"No, Dean's right, we haven't seen Bobby in a while and we have no cases so maybe he has something for us."

"Right.. well, I'm sure he's going to be happy to hear that, he talks about you guys a lot, I think he worries." They both looked kind of taken aback by that and I realise it probably wasn't my place to say that. After an awkward pause, I realise they don't want to talk anymore. "Night.." 

They both looked like they wanted to say something but they didn't, so I head into the bathroom to change into pyjamas before coming back out and getting straight into bed. They were talking quietly, it seemed like they were having a disagreement but I knew they didn't want me to be a part of it and honestly neither did I. This was between them. I could hear them talking quietly but no distinct words that would give me an understanding of what they were saying. I had a feeling I overstepped but I wasn't even sure where or what I had said exactly that they didn't like. 

Again they looked at me like they wanted to say something but they again look away and start getting ready for bed. I get into bed and lay on my side so I was facing away from them. I thought about how comfortable they were changing in front of me while I went off and hid in the bathroom. If I were to just turn over I would be able to see what I had assumed were very toned guys. I knew I shouldn't be thinking of them like that so I push down the thoughts and hope they don't notice the red tint to my ears. 

They were attractive but no way a girl like me should be so pathetic that they start thinking about that about guys she just met. They were hunters and we all had a job to do, this wasn't about messing around. 

I try to assure myself it's just because I don't get out much and don't hang out with many guys but I knew that wasn't it. I did plenty of jobs helping out hunters and I never thought about them this way before.