Reckless [Dean Winchester]

19. Sleep Deprived

"No more games, can't starve my pups any longer. Time's up, Maxi. Pleasure doing business with you."

One hound doesn't lead the charge; the entire herd of them descends on me. I don't have time to prepare, I don't have time to think.

I'm done for the moment my body hits the ground.

***

I jump at a loud noise, and a lot happens at once.

I scream at the top of my lungs and (foolishly) try to cover myself up as Dean has knocked the bathroom door wide open. He's got the demon-killing blade in hand, and I'm looking around wildly to find something to cover with. In my haste, I've sloshed some water out of the tub and onto the floor. Son of a bitch.

"What the fuck, Dean?" I screech, wincing as I hear the water hit the floor. "Knocking would have been just fine!"

"You weren't answering the door."

"You're impatient."

"I've been calling your name for five minutes."

"I didn't hear you. Why didn't you just open the door?"

"You locked it."

"I did?" I don't remember locking it.

"Yeah, you did." His face pulls into a frown. "Sam and I haven't seen you all day. We thought you were avoiding us or something. We only just split up. And now I've found you here..." He's having a hard time pulling his eyes off my vulnerable body.

"Eyes elsewhere, Winchester." I cross my legs and use my arms to cover my breasts. I only splash more water out of the tub in the process. "Could you maybe make yourself useful and grab me a towel, and some clothes?"

"What am I, a maid?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to parade around naked in front of you and Sam." I sniff. "Please, Dean."

He doesn't say a word, but he leaves me alone in the bathroom. I keep the water in the tub, feeling as though it's the only protection I have against prying eyes. I feel a rush of heat fly through my veins. This is the second time Dean's found me like this in the bathroom. Well, the first time was an accident. This time is different.

I begin to think Dean is purposely being a douchebag after fifteen minutes, but he surprises me and comes back with a towel and clothes. I reach for the towel first.

"You want to tell me what's going on with you, Max?" he asks.

"Really? You want to interrogate me, when I'm the one not undergoing trials to close Hell?" I cock my head. "I think you need to straighten out your priorities."

"You were screaming, Max. Like somebody was killing you in here."

"I...I was?"

"Yeah."

I look around abashedly. "Let me get decent first, and then maybe we'll talk about it, okay?"

"I'll be in the kitchen."

I wait until Dean is fully gone, and the door is shut, before I climb out, rub myself down, and dress. As I dress, I see that the door is moving slightly. I huff. He probably broke the lock. But I can't remember locking it.

All the clothes turn out to be my size, except for the flannel. I have a tank top underneath it in case the flannel is too much. It's hard to guess who it belongs to, as Dean probably grabbed the first things he could find.

I'm definitely feeling energized now. I don't think I can avoid Dean this time. If he heard me screaming, he'll want to pester me until I tell him. He's pestering the wrong person. After this, I'll have to steer him Sam's way so Sam can get his dose of parental advisory instead of me.