darling, I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream.

"You know, Shelbs, you're gonna have to talk to him eventually."
Shelby looked up from her shoes into the eyes of Bobby Singer. Just a few minutes ago, he had witnessed Shelby slap Dean in the face and run away crying after he mentioned the deal he had made with the crossroads demon.

One year. Shelby only had one year left with the love of her life. She understood why Dean did it. Hell, even she had sobbed uncontrollably when she thought Sammy was dead. But she never imagined this to be the way to bring him back. Never this.

Shelby stubbed out her cigarette and flicked the butt away before turning to face Bobby. "Am I being selfish because I really, really fucking hate that he did this? Jesus Christ! We could have found another way! There has to be another way but Mr. fuckin' Martyr has to go and sign himself away! FUCK!" Shelby punched the side of Bobby's house, cursing again when she felt her ring cut her.

--

Sam poked his head out the back door just in time to see Shelby punch Bobby's house. "Was that one meant for my face?" He chuckled sarcastically, stepping onto the porch. Shelby's shoulders sagged as she sat down on the lawn chair, her head in her hands.

"Sam Winchester, shut up. You know I'm in no way mad at you. I'm mad at your brother. Your stupid, loveable brother. Why couldn't I fall in love with a doctor or a cop or something?" She asked, wiping her eyes.

He took the chair next to Shelby and sat next to her. "Shelbs, you aren't selfish at all. I'm incredibly pissed, too." Sam bit his bottom lip and patted Shelby's shoulder. "Dean doesn't think things through sometimes. He sees an option and he goes for it, not thinking about what happens after until it's too late. But don't worry. Cause it makes me uncomfortable when you cry."

A soft sigh escaped Dean's lips. He hadn't planned on letting Shelby know. He had wanted to just spend his last year with her, enjoying everything that he possibly could. Somehow though, he had let it slip. He hated hiding things from Shelby. He could handle hiding things from Sam, to keep him safe. But he just couldn't not tell Shelby. She was his best friend, the love of his life.

Pouring himself a nice big drink, Dean leaned against Bobby's study table. He knew, now that Shelby knew he had made the deal, she would try doing everything to turn it around, keep him around longer. He just hoped she wasn't stupid enough to go see another cross roads Demon.

Shelby wiped her eyes before taking off her ring, slipping it in her pocket. "I guess I should go talk to him now...without violence." She bid goodbye to Bobby and Sam before heading into the house, stopping to wash her finger in the kitchen sink. Once she rinsed off the blood and stopped the pressure, she grabbed a band-aid and wrapped it around her finger. Shelby exhaled and padded out of the kitchen, searching through the house for Dean.

She found him in the study. "Hey," The young brunette spoke, leaning against the wall. "Can I come in? I promise no more physical violence...for now." Shelby gave him a slight smile.

He was already two drinks down. Turning when he heard Shleby's voice, I let out a sigh. No matter what happened with the two, he just couldn't stay mad at her. With a nod of his head, he sat his glass down on the table. "You mean no more physical violence unless I deserve it." He muttered, taking a step towards the female.

"Or you say something that pisses me off, or do something stupid... so you're good for at least an hour." Shelby laughed slightly and padded into the room. She didn't want to mention the obese elephant in the room-- Dean's deal. Because she'd turn into a crying, blubbery mess again and she didn't need that right now. Shelby needed to stay calm until she could figure out a way to get Dean out of his deal.

A soft chuckle escaped Dean's lips as he nodded, taking a few quick steps to cover the distance between the brunette and himself. "So I should just shut up and let you do the talking?" He asked, raising his eyebrows as he stopped in front of her. "I mean, you do say I'm always saying stupid shit anyway."

Shelby sighed and shook her head, heading over to make herself a drink-- whiskey, neat. "You know what I mean when I say you say stupid shit, Dean." She sighed, taking a giant swing. "I'm not the only one who should do the talking, Dean. We've gotten this far by both of us talking."

A soft sigh escaped his lips as he rubbed his face. "I know. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you first. But I'm not sorry I did it. He's my brother, Shelbs. I wasn't going to sit by and lose him. Not after everything we've been through."

Shelby nodded her head. "I know, Dean... and that's one of the many things I love about you. Even if it means getting yourself killed, you make sure the ones you love are taken care of." She sighed softly, patting his hand. "I just... I don't..." Shelby closed her eyes and exhaled, trying to calm herself down.

Sighing, Dean wrapped one arm around the female, pulling her into his chest. Planting a kiss to her head, he started to rub her back. "I know I should've told you. But I know you'd have said exactly what you told me. That we'd find another way. But there wasn't any other way, Shelbs. I looked. I tried everything before doing what I did. You have to, you need to know that."

Shelby stayed quiet, merely nodding her head and wiping her eyes on Dean's shirt. She KNEW there had to be a way to get Dean out of his deal-- and keep Sam alive as well.. She would find it, no matter the cost. "I know," Shelby sniffed. "It still makes me cry."

"I am sorry about all of this. I should've talked to you before going there. I've still got some time with you, though. And I'm going to spend every second of it, making this up to you. I promise." He knew he shouldn't have mentioned the short time left. But he didn't know of any other way to put it to her.

"I am sorry about all of this. I should've talked to you before going there. I've still got some time with you, though. And I'm going to spend every second of it, making this up to you. I promise." He knew he shouldn't have mentioned the short time left. But he didn't know of any other way to put it to her.

"You don't have to do anything special, Dean..." Shelby sniffed. "Just be there for me...and try not to get yourself prematurely killed."

A small smile formed on Dean's face as he nodded his head. "Of course. No dying till the hounds come for me. I promise."

Shelby's heart twitched at the mention of the house. Well, if I have anything to say about it, the hounds won't come at all. She thought to herself. The young brunette nodded her head and smiled. "That's what I like to hear."

Nodding his head, he pressed another kiss to her head. "So. We have two options. We can skip town, go for a nice, year long vacation. Or we could find another case and get to work. You get to pick."

((skip skip!!))

Shelby slipped out from beneath the snoring Dean and stood up, making sure that he hadn't woken up. She slipped on her moccasins and grabbed the required box before carefully opening the front door, dashing outside.

It had all been so simple, really. Shelby knew what she needed to do. She needed to make her own deal to get Dean free of his.

After what seemed like ages, Shelby reached the crossroads. She hastily buried the box and sat down to wait.

A soft laugh escaped her lips as soon as she saw who it was that was summoning her. Shaking her head, Alexia circled the brunette, raising her eyebrows in her direction. "You three just don't know when to quit." She muttered, laughing once more. "First the Winchester boys and now you."