No Strings Attached

Day 267

            "You said you had something to tell me? On the phone?" Elena finally turns toward him, her eyes hopeful for a distraction. Dean freezes, his fingers stiffening around hers.

            "Nothing. That was nothing," Dean stammers, praying she'll drop it. That is not the distraction she needs right now. "Not a big deal."

            "Tell me," Elena pushes, mustering all her strength to squeeze Dean's hand as he had done moments before.

            "It's really nothing. It's not happening, so there's no reason to talk about it. You're more important." To make his point, Dean leans forward and presses his lips to her hairline, closing his eyes as he does so. When he leans back, he sees fresh tears on Elena's cheeks. "Sweetheart..."

            "I've never seen him so angry before," she whispers, shivering. "He hates me. Damon hates me." A choked sob is ripped from Elena's chest as she leans into Dean. He doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her hair and rubbing her back.

            "He doesn't hate you. No one could ever hate you," Dean breathes, swallowing thickly.

            "You weren't there. You didn't hear the things he said to me," Elena sobs, shaking in Dean's arms. "I didn't... I didn't even know what to say. And then I started defending you, defending us, and it just got worse. What are we doing, Dean? Why are we together? I mean you have Lisa and I have... had Damon. What are we doing?"

            "Lena, I don't... I don't that's a good idea right now," Dean murmurs, leaning back to look her in the eye. "I think there are a lot of conversations to be had about what we are and what we'll be going forward. Now that Damon knows..."

            "You're right," Elena says, shuffling away from him slightly. "We shouldn't talk about this." Sighing, Dean runs a hand down his face before looking back at her.

            "We're gonna figure this out," Dean assures her, pulling her back into his arms.

. . .

            The room is quiet, the air full with the smell of coffee and motel shampoo. The air conditioner buzzes softly in the corner, randomly spluttering and spitting out a quick rush of cold air. Elena's clothes are still in a pile on the floor and their empty coffee cups sit on the nightstand.

            Dean and Elena are on the bed, lying on top of the sheets facing each other. Elena finally dozed off, Dean's fingers lulling her to sleep as he traced her features. Not wanting to wake her, Dean tucks his hand under the pillow and simply watches her sleep. They lay there for hours, the sun fully rising and dipping into the afternoon before Elena lazily blinks open her eyes.

            "Are we horrible people?" Elena's voice is full of sleep, her muffled tone barely reaching Dean's ears. Sighing, Dean takes in the expression in her big eyes before shaking his head.

            "No, we aren't horrible people. We just handled the situation in a horrible way," Dean explains softly. Nodding, Elena snuggles back down into the pillow. Dean thinks she's fallen back asleep and for several moments they lay there in silence.

            "Are we in love with each other?"

            It takes Dean a moment, but he nods.

            "Well what are we gonna do about it?"

            "Run away with me," Dean says suddenly, sitting up on the bed. He's wide awake now, his heart pounding inside his chest. He knows it sounds absurd, but now that the idea has taken root in his mind, he can't shake it.