Without A Trace >> Dean Winchester

18 | Pinky Promise?

Chapter 18 | Pinky Promise?

SHE STRUMMED HER FINGERS AGAINST against the chords, the harmonious notes playing. She hummed to the melodious notes she arranged herself. Composing music was something Clarissa was proud of. Almost finished, she was determined to finish the song- that's why she isolated herself inside her room with food and water by her side. Call her tactics weird, but that's how she actually gets her work done.

She haven't even noticed Dean entered when she felt weight press beside her on the bed. Clarissa snapped awake from her own dimension of music and blinked.

"Nice music you got there,"

She shook her head and looked away, mostly to hide the blush that was quickly forming on her cheeks. She laughed softly, "thanks, but it's nothing. My parents gave me guitar lessons when I was younger- I don't tend to waste what I've learned."

His lips formed to a shape of an 'o', nodding, "what's the song about?"

"No!! its embarrassing!"

Dean gave her a pout, but she wasn't falling for the charms he usually used on her.

She huffed, "I'll tell you when the time is right."

He groaned, ruffling her hair before collapsing into her bed, resting his palms on his forehead. "Why are you always so secretive about your songs?"

"My mind was blank when I decided to write a song long ago." She said, ignoring his question. She began to stare off at a distance, like her mind was elsewhere, "It's like nothing was flowing out of my writing senses like how it'd usually do. After coming back from purgatory, the ideas... they all came surging- faster than a water flowing down in a waterfall. It's amazing, really."

he then felt tears prick the back of her eyes, body getting warm all over, but hands getting chilled.

Being able to open up to someone was already a huge deal for her. You could tell that she wasn't one for being so open, neither was she someone to trust someone so easily.

She cleared her throat, attempting to not let her voice crack, "how did You know I was in Purgatory, Dean?"

Legs still hanging on the edge of the bed, he lied down, his palms rested on the back of his head. He was obvlivious to the wave of sadness that was currently over-taking Clarissa He didn't have a clue, since her hair was down, hence covering her face. As he rubbed the slight stubble on his chin, he hummed in thought.

"We had to squeeze a bit of information from Crowley," he casually says, "he escaped by the time you arrived here. I had no idea how he was able to do that, though. It's fortunate we held him hostage in an abandoned factory, not in the bunker. If he was able to brake free from the demon's trap in the bunker, he could've messed up everything."

She pretended to occupy herself from staring at her shoes as he continued,
"His minions must've sensed their king gone, and maybe he somehow summoned them. Dunno."

shoulders were drooped down, and she bit her lip. Dean noticing all this, asked, "you okay?"

"I-I mean... I'm sure Crowley told you this. I'm the Guardian of Land! I'm a monster! A creature!" She stood up, throwing her arms around, "Yet, neither you or Sam never mentioned that at all for the past few days-why? I don't deserve to be saved; don't you understand? All monsters should be killed. I'm just one of the many. I'm a freak, Dean. A freak!"

Dean widened his eyes at her outburst, staring at her unbearable form. Tears dropped down from her cheek as she attempted to hide her trembling hands behind her.

Dean stood and neared her, and using his thumbs, he wiped the tears away before grabbing her cold hands. "Peanut, don't say that! You're not a monster, do you hear me? Peanut?"

She avoided Dean's gaze, but he held her chin in between his fingers, tilting it towards him. "Look at me."

"Dean," She looked up to Dean's beautiful pair of orbs staring at her, laced with concern, "What did you do while I was in Purgatory?"

"Waited for you to come back." Dean replied.

Clarissa scrunched up her and nose and looked weirdly at Dean. She tried to keep a straight face but broke into a small smile. She slightly laughed and playfully punched him, "oh my god, Dean! You're so cheesy!"

"What!" He threw both his hands up, "it's true!"

He gripped her shoulders tightly, "you're not a creature, and you certainly are worth saving. Hell, even more than that! We were freaking scared when you disappeared without a trace!"

She looked up at him surprised, her lips parted open. She blinks, refocuses.

Dean internally punched himself in the face- Clarissa was in a fragile state; and raising her tone won't help solve anything.

Clarissa looked down, thought for a moment before hastily shaking her head, "Crowley will be finding you and Sam, using you both to get me. Just stay far away from me, or you'll both be killed!"

"Clarissa, we'll solve the problem about the Guardian of Land title you have, okay? We always do. Listen, Sam and I...we're always there for you. I'm really sorry you had to suffer though the pain of all those dark days. But hey, it's over. And you're here with us."

He whispered, "You're not alone."

Clarissa jolted forward, embracing Dean in a hug. He was caught off guard, but as he wrapped his muscular arms around Clarissa, he felt his flannel dampen. A choke escaped from her lips, attempting to disguise the sobs. He realised it was her tears and his heart clenched at this. The actual pain aching in his heart was only torturing himself more. It pains him to see her so weak when it was his responsibility to take care of her; watch over her.

After a few moments, Dean pulled away slightly, crouching a bit to reach her height as he looked at her with a smile. She cocked her head at this. Dean zipped opened the duffel that he brought with him and brought out a stuffed bear, handing it to Clarissa.

She took the stuffed bear and analysed it. It had beautiful golden-brown fur, a red ribbon was tied around its neck. The stuffed bear was simple, but it had a certain spark to it that Clarissa instantly felt connected to.

"I bought this bear for you."

She chuckled, "You know, I'm not really a stuffed-bear person."

"Y-you don't have to accept it." he stuttered.

"No, I'm treasuring it forever. Back off."

Dean scratched his head, baffled. He couldn't quite understand Clarissa much, but he was sure he was getting there.

Her eyes softened, "I'm naming him Mr. Boo."

He took a deep breath and smiled, "as long as you have Mr. Boo with you, I will always be with you. No matter what or who separates us."

His words caught the brunette by surprise. Has Dean always been the Peoria one, though? Not that it mattered, his eyes held sincereness, making Clarissa's heart almost fly out of her chest. This all felt surreal.

She held out her pinky, "promise?"

Dean linked his pinky with hers, "Promise."

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