No Chicks Allowed

No Chicks Allowed

A Supernatural story by Milisa @440MXS_wife

A new entry in the second wave of the #SPNWishList fic and art challenge! Please welcome Milisa, a new author, responding to the prompt: "Tales from the Dean Cave."  This one lets you, the reader, become the star of a sweet, romantic tale of misunderstandings and life in the bunker. Enjoy!  -- Jennie

Sam and Dean were trying to maneuver a large box down the stairs without breaking its contents.

Dean had recently discovered an empty room in the bunker and decided to turn it into his "man cave."
At first, you were excited, because he looked so happy, and that's all you’ve ever wanted for him. You’ve had a secret crush on Dean for as long as you can remember, but there's no way you’d ever tell him. You’d pretty much convinced yourself that chances were pretty high that he only thought of you as his best friend, or worse, his little sister.

This past week, the “cave” was all Dean could talk about, including all the stuff he was going to have in the new room. His vinyls and turntable, a bar, mini-fridge, small cabinet for snacks and of course, the large flat screen for watching movies or playing video games. You got the feeling he wanted it as a secret clubhouse of sorts, one where “no chicks” are allowed.

You kept dropping hints about wanting to hang out in the new room. Each time, though, he used a different reason to dissuade you from the idea. It was too drafty in there, he’d said. Not enough room for a lot of chairs, he’d said. You don't have the same taste in movies or video games, he’d said. Finally you’d both had enough.

"Dean, I don’t see why I can’t hang out with you once in a while in the new room! There’s only so many times I can keep reading the same books, and I’ll get bored with nothing to read,” you said. “You don’t seem to want me down there at all, Dean. Is that what I'm getting?”

“Exactly. There are all these other rooms in the bunker, why don’t you take one of them and make it your clubhouse? Just stay out of mine, and everything will be just peachy!” he shouted as he and Sam prepared to take a new flat screen TV down to the “cave.”

“Fine! Who wants to see your stupid clubhouse anyway?” you yelled. After a while, you decided to get up and follow the boys to take a look at the room for yourself. They made their way down to the “Dean Cave,” as he’d started to call it, with the new TV. You tiptoed after them and, partway down the stairs, you overheard Sam and Dean’s conversation.

“Dean, that was kinda harsh. Why can’t she come down here and hang out with us sometimes?” Sam asked.

“Aww, Sam, not you too. Look, I just want a place where I can escape to. Somewhere that I don’t have to see her everywhere I go!” Dean replied.

And there it was. Confirmation of exactly what Dean thought of you. He didn’t seem to have any feelings for you whatsoever, not even friendly. Tears springing to your eyes, you ran back up to your room, closing and locking the door behind you.

****

Dean fumbled for words as he tried to explain himself to his brother.

“She’s everywhere, Sam. I can’t get her beautiful face out of my mind. She’s so wonderful. Kind, caring, selfless, not to mention a great hunter. Sexy as hell, too. I’m afraid one of these days, I’m going to slip up and do something stupid, like grab her and kiss her. Then, when she doesn’t feel the same, I’ll have lost my best friend. At least I can come in here, listen to my vinyls, play some Call of Duty, just something to get my mind off of her,” he explained.

At that moment, Sam’s phone rang, with the caller ID showing Cas’ name. He answered it, and from Sam’s side of the conversation, it sounded to Dean like they might have a case. Oh well, I can finish decorating when I get back, he thought. “What’s Cas got going on?” he asked.

Dean listened to Sam explain the facts of the case, a vamp’s nest that needed taken care of. “Hey, let’s just the two of us go. Cas will meet us there… No sense in dragging her with us. Not for something this simple,” Dean suggested.

“Yeah, probably. I’ll go tell her. What, two, three days?” Sam asked.

“Sounds about right,” Dean confirmed.

****

Sam walked down the hall to her room and noticed that the door was closed. He tried the knob, but it was locked as well. Hmm. He knocked on the door, heard it being unlocked. She opened it enough to see it was Sam, but kept her head down. “What do you want, Sam?” she asked.

“Cas called me just now about a vamp’s nest problem, but it’s not a big deal. Something just the three of us guys can handle by ourselves. Shouldn’t be more than two, three days, tops.

“You’ll have the whole place to yourself while we’re gone,” Sam finished.

“Okay,” she said softly. “Wait, whose decision was it to leave me behind?” she asked.

“Um, Dean said us guys could take care of it, no need to drag you with us for something this simple,” Sam explained.

“Figures,” she muttered under her breath. Sam looked at her in surprise at her remark. “Leave it alone, Sam. It’s nothing.

“Have fun with the guys,” she said as she abruptly closed the door.

****

You couldn't believe they left you behind. No, Dean decided it would be best to leave you behind. You were sure he thought he was doing you a favor, letting you have the whole place to yourself. One thing’s for sure, you think: You’re going to get some cleaning done while they’re gone. So much easier when they're not following behind you, messing things up again after you’ve just cleaned.

Two hours later, you had cleaned the main living area, the library and the kitchen. By this time, you were getting hungry. After a quick check of the pantry and fridge, you decided to do a supply run. Up and down the aisles you walked, checking things off your list as you put them in the cart.

You wandered over to the aisle with the chips, crackers and other snacks. You put some cheese crackers, some gummy bears and a couple of bags of potato chips in the cart. Then you went to the liquor department and picked up Dean’s favorite kind of beer. Might as well get him stocked up for all this time away from me. Wouldn’t want him to starve to death while he’s avoiding me, you thought.

You brought the groceries into the kitchen, which was no small feat, considering how much you’d bought. By the time you put away the regular food items, you started feeling a little tired. You decided to take the supplies down to the “Dean Cave,” put them away and hightail it out of there. Wouldn’t want to get caught where I’m not wanted, you thought. Then, I can take a shower and go to bed. Hopefully the guys will be home in the morning.

The crackers, chips and gummy bears went into the cabinet, while you put the beer in the mini-fridge. You took a good look around and were amazed at how cool the place was. There was a pool table in the corner, and two really plush leather recliners, front and center, facing the TV. A gaming system was hooked up, ready to be played.

You ran your hand over the leather of the recliner and decided to test it out. You sat down, reached over for the handle and kicked out the foot rest. You closed your eyes and marveled at how comfy the chair was. You told yourself you were only test-driving that baby for a few minutes, but the tiredness caught up with you, and you gave in to the exhaustion.

****

Sam and Dean finished the hunt early, since there was really nothing to it.

Dean walked down the spiral staircase, half expecting her to be waiting at the bottom. Although, after what Sam had told him about her reaction to their hunt, Dean figured he’d be lucky to see her at all.
He went down the hallway to her room to clear the air with her about what had been happening the past few days. Her door was open, but she wasn’t inside. He called out to Sam to ask if she was in the kitchen; he said she wasn’t.

Dean was starting to get worried, until he saw the glow from the lights in his cave. He crept down the stairs, not knowing what to expect when he got there. The door to the cabinet wasn't fully closed, so he looked inside. She had put some snacks in there for him. He saw the empty cardboard that used to hold beer, so he peered into the mini-fridge. Twelve amber bottles were neatly arranged, getting chilled. That sweet lovin' woman, he thought.

Sam had wandered down to the cave, so Dean showed him the cabinet and mini-fridge. “I still don't know where she is, though,” he said. Sam chuckled and pointed at the recliner where she was sleeping.

She looked so peaceful, her chest rising and falling with every breath. Dean reached over and brushed a lock of hair away from her forehead, which caused her to stir and her eyes to open. Shock registered on her face as she realized she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar, so to speak.

The foot rest was down in a flash, and she bolted out of the chair and back up the stairs.

“Wait!” Dean called after her.

****

Crap! You’d never meant to fall asleep! You guess you were just so tired from all that you’d done for the day, that the buttery leather chair relaxed you.

You heard Dean calling after you, but you weren’t going to stop until you reached the door to your room. If there was one thing you didn’t need right now, it was a lecture. One about respecting other people’s private spaces and not going where you clearly weren’t invited.

Dean finally caught up with you and tried to take hold of your arm, but you pulled it from his grasp. “What, Dean, what? So, fine, you caught me in your precious ‘Dean Cave.’ I've been working my ass off today, cleaning while you were gone. Then I went on a supply run, and I’m so annoying that I even got some snacks and beer for you. That way, you can hide out in here, where you don’t have to see me," you huffed.

“What are you talking about, ‘where you don't have to see me’?” Dean asked.

“I heard you say that to Sam as you were taking the TV downstairs. I was only going to sit in your recliner for a few minutes. I never intended to--”

And he cut off your rant with a kiss.

It was slow and tentative at first, as if testing the waters. Then, as he dove back in, it was as if somebody had turned the intensity dial up to about 11.

“Whoa,” you breathed. “What was that for?”

“How else am I going to get you to stop talking for five seconds, so I can tell you I’m sorry?” Dean said. “You must have heard me say something about hanging out in the cave. That it was so I didn’t have to see you all the time.” You nodded, confirming everything he just told me. “I can see why you’d be upset after hearing something like that.” More nodding from you.

“But, sweetheart, what you didn’t hear is why. I didn’t want to see you everywhere. It’s because I love you, and I can’t get your beautiful face off my mind. You’re my first thought when I wake up in the morning, and my last one before my head meets the pillow.

“I've been so afraid of being around you. I was afraid I’d do something stupid to mess up our friendship if you didn’t feel the same way. That would just about be the end of me, I think,” he finished softly.

Your head was reeling from Dean’s heartfelt confession. “Sweetheart, please, say something,” he whispered hoarsely.

“After what I’d heard, I didn’t even think we were friends anymore. I’m so glad that’s not true, because it would break my heart as well. All I’ve ever wanted for you is to be happy. Whether it’s with some other girl, or just playing video games with Sam until your eyes bug out,” you chuckled. “I love you, too, Dean. I have for a long time, but I’ve been afraid to tell you.”

Dean wrapped his strong arms around you in a warm embrace. “What a pair we make, huh?” he remarked, his hand caressing your cheek. “Two legit bad-ass hunters who take on all kinds of monsters. But what we’re really afraid of is love.”

You smiled as you looked into his mossy-green eyes. “I’m not afraid anymore, Dean. Now that I have you, I can conquer the world.” You brought your hands up to his neck and gently tugged him down for a soul-searching kiss.