[Phantom Traveler]
As the door opened, Dean awoke and slipped a hand under his pillow for a weapon. He glanced at Natalia to see her fast asleep and angled his body in front of hers.
He turned to see Sam entering, carrying coffee and pastries.
"Morning, sunshine," Sam greeted, kicking at Natalia's bed, but she didn't wake.
"What time is it?" Dean asked groggily.
"Uh, it's about 4:45."
"In the morning?"
"Yep. Get Nat up."
"Dude, you know how she gets."
"Dean..."
Dean shook Natalia awake and she groaned, covering the pillow over her head. "No, Dee. Sleep."
"Come on, kiddo. I'll get you a chai tea latte."
"With soy?"
"With soy."
Natalia groaned and sat up before rubbing her eyes. "Sammy, you get any sleep?"
Sam nodded. "Yeah, I grabbed a couple hours."
"Liar," Dean said. "'Cause I was up at three, and you were watching a George Foreman informercial."
"Hey, what can I say? It's riveting TV."
"When was the last time you got a good night's sleep?"
Sam shrugged. "I don't know, a little while, I guess. It's not a big deal."
"Yeah, it is."
"Look, I appreciate your concern-"
"Oh, I'm not concerned about you. It's your job to keep my ass and Nat's alive, so we need you sharp."
Sam just shrugged and Natalia eyed him suspiciously. "Be honest, are you still having nightmares about Jess?"
Sam crossed the room, sat on the other bed, handed a coffee to Dean and tea to Natalia. "It's not chai latte, but it's better than nothing. Yeah. But it's not just her. It's everything. I just forgot, you know? This job. Man, it gets to you."
"You can't let it," Dean told him. "You can't bring it home like that."
"So, what? All this it... never keeps you two up at night?"
Natalia shifted in the bed. "Um, sometimes I get nightmares."
Dean brought Natalia's head to his shoulder and shook his head and Sam asked, "Never? You're never afraid?"
"No, not really," Dean replied.
Sam reached under Dean's pillow to pull out a large hunting knife and held it up as evidence.
Dean took the knife back. "That's not fear. That is precaution."
"All right, whatever. I'm too tired to argue."
YOU ARE READING
Point of Know Return
Mystery / ThrillerNatalia Millie Winchester never knew her mother. She's been surrounded by male figures since she was three months old. Her life was far from normal. Instead of having tea parties and sleepovers, she learned to use a gun and to always be wary in the...
