standing in your flame

"You're going to make me blush!" Eva said with a laugh but she nudged her sister gently, always grateful to have her there by her side. She made a joking face, though, to Dean's words. "You don't know if we're lightweights yet. You're underestimating us already. Shame on you." Smiling jokingly, she leaned back in her seat and nodded. "Go on, though, find the whiskey, let us rejoice in surviving the shitstorm that was our 21st birthday."

Sam blinked with the mention of it. "Really? Law?" he asked with a small grin, "I was doing law, too, before all of this came back into my life." He motioned mostly to his brother, then, jokingly, of course. He smiled, though, as he watched Callie. "I'm sure you're brilliant and amazing yourself." And he wished more than anything that he'd get the chance to know her more. Still, he nodded to Dean's words as he stood up. "Uh, yeah, right, we'll be back before you know it." He grinned to Callie, then, watching her before he led the way out of the diner.

Blinking in surprise as the boys got up, Callie turned in her chair to watch the boys leave, before turning to her sister in amusement. "They're so sweet." Callie laughed, shaking her head. Four hours ago, they were nearly sacrifices to a God they'd never known, and here they were now, in a diner, talking to the real life equivelent of the Ghostbusters. "Okay, is it stupid if I'm crushing on Sam cause he studied law? Dean seems to be into you." Callie teased her sister relentlessly.

Dean grinned and nudged his brother. "Alright, operation great birthday gift is a-go." He commented. "Alright, what would you get someone as amazing as Eva?" He mused to himself, looking to Sam for advice. "Sam, you've had a long term girlfriend before, what do you suggest?" Dean asked, smiling at the thought of Eva's face when he presented her with a sweet token for a milestone birthday. All he wanted, all Dean could ask for, what to ensure Eva was safe and happy.

Eva grinned slightly as she watched them leave before she looked to her sister. "Yeah? You always were into the nerdy guys," she teased lightly, shaking her head, "And I'm pretty sure Sam's into you with that 'Callie sure is something' comment." She smirked teasingly but blinked. "Oh, no, nope, don't start." Laughing, she leaned back in her seat. "You're only saying that because you don't want me to tease you." She hummed for a moment, though, and chewed on her lip. "But, I can't really deny that Dean seems pretty freaking amazing."

Sam blinked with his brother's words, peering at him for a moment, though he looked amused. "Well, you can never go wrong with jewelry," he assured with a nod, though he was surprised his brother seemed to want to put effort into a gift, so much so that he'd ask for Sam's advice. "In fact, I'm planning to try to find a necklace for Callie. I want to find something that suits her, something that's as beautiful as she is, but that could be worn all the time rather than for special occasions." But, more than anything, he wanted to find a necklace that would surprise Callie, one that she would love.

Callie laughed at the remark about nerdy men. "Shut up!" She shoved Eva gently. "Please, Eva, he's been staring at you with goo goo eyes the whole time we've been with them. The way he protected you back in the farm? The way he's trying to learn more about you?" Callie grinned. "He seems to really think you're something special." Callie grinned, loving the fact her twin had someone genuine and caring showing an interest in her. "You always did like the James Bond type." Callie teased back, turning serious for a moment. "I don't want them to go." She sighed, feeling safe with the boys.

"I mean, they both have awesome names. Really Heavenly names." Dean frowned, an idea coming into his head. Grabbing Sam's arm, he dragged him to the nearest jewelry store. "Alright, come find me once you've found something." Dean instructed. Thinking of Eva, he envisioned her in his head, smiling, and he couldn't help the smile that appeared on his own face. Searching for the bracelet he had envisioned, Dean found what he was searching for, grinning when he saw it. Calling over an assistant, Dean pointed to the bracelet, hoping that Eva would love it.

"Oh, please, Sam protected you, too!" Eva said with a laugh, "And his gaze constantly gravitates towards you and he literally seems to be hanging onto your every word!" She grinned, nudging her sister again, too amused to help it. "He likes you~" she chimed in a sing-song voice. But her grin softened and she smiled to herself. "Well, I can't deny the James Bond thing. Oh, or James Dean. Is it bad that my original dream guys are both James?" She laughed to herself but settled into her seat, chewing on her lip with a small grin. "I don't want them to go, either." Not just because she was starting to really like Dean, but because she could see how much her sister was falling for Sam already. Her sister deserved so much happiness.

Sam blinked, following his brother in, though he was quick to part to search through necklaces. "Celestia... Celestia..." he muttered to himself. "So... Celestial would suit her... Something celestial." With the decision in mind, he quickly focused his attention on searching through necklaces, moving from case to case, though he paused when he found one that caught his attention. It was perfect. Calling over an attendant, he quickly pointed to the one he'd chosen and it was taken out before long and put in a nice case and, when he informed the attendant that it was a birthday gift, she went the extra mile to put a ribbon around it, setting it up neatly. Grinning, he thanked her and paid quickly.

Callie shoved Eva once again, giggling as she hid her face to save herself from the embarrassment. "I hate you." Callie squeaked. "No, but your new dream guy is Dean." Callie retorted, shaking her head at her own lame comeback. "You two would make a brilliant couple, and Dean isn't a tool. Make the most of them being around, I guess." She exhaled, picking at the rest of her burger before pushing the plate away.

Dean watched as his chosen bracelet was put in a beautiful box, complete with a baby blue ribbon. Dean seemed proud of his own choice and he paid with the forged card, quickly leaving the store and meeting with Sam. "Did you choose something?" Dean asked, clearly nervous about his choice of gift. He wanted to leave Eva with a lasting impression - not that he wanted to leave Eva at all, his heart seemed to beat faster at the thought of her.

"Mm, kind of still fits the James Dean thing, what with the Dean name," Eva joked lightly, grinning with amusement at herself. Shifting, she reached to eat the last few fries she had before she peered over at her sister. "You and Sam would be perfect. The perfect nerds." She grinned, nudging her sister teasingly. "Kidding, of course. But with how great you are, you need somebody just as great and, so far, he seems to fit the bill." Hearing her sister's last words, though, she nodded. "It just sucks that they probably won't be around for long."

Sam looked to his brother when he finally came out and, with a small grin, he held up the small box. "I did, and it's perfect," he said with a firm nod, "I'm really hoping she likes it." Suddenly, he could feel a slight nervousness build up in him. What if she didn't like it? At least it could still be seen as a thoughtful gift, right? Shaking his head to rid himself of the thoughts, he smiled to his brother. "So, uh, we should go get that whiskey to give them, too, then we can go back to them." And, while he knew that they'd have to leave soon after, he wanted to relish the time he'd get to spend with Callie and make sure she enjoyed what was left of her birthday.

"You have a theme in men and I'm concerned for you." Callie laughed loudly, covering her mouth with her hand. "I'm a proud nerd." Callie chuckled, shaking her head. "Yeah, yeah, Sam does fit that bill." Callie exhaled. "I mean, I guess we could always give them our numbers and just, hope they keep in touch?" Callie offered, straightening out her t-shirt. "But they seem to lead a really busy lifestyle." She frowned, setting herself up for disappointment.

Dean nodded in agreement. "I just feel bad that we have to leave tonight." Dean commented, looking down hearted. "This is the first real thing I've felt in a long time, Sam, and I just feel like I'm running from it." Dean frowned, kicking a stone in the street as he entered the 24 hour store. Waiting in line, Dean saw the 10pm news playing on the television behind the cashier - everything the girls had predicted had come true, the towns crops were dying at an unpredictable rate and it was considered disastrous and apocalyptic. Dean raised his eyebrows, before asking for the finest bottle of whiskey the joint had to offer. Paying again with the forged card, Dean took the bottle and regrouped with Sam outside. "Alright, ready to woo the girls off their feet?"

"At least it's a Dean and not a James!" Eva defended with a laugh, though she grinned to her sister, happy to see that her sister seemed genuinely interested in Sam. "Well, holding out for hope is better than just giving up, isn't it?" Humming in thought, she shifted, reaching for a napkin for each of them and, after sliding one of the napkins to her sister, she called the waitress over to borrow her pen and held it up to Callie. "We'll never know how things could turn out if we don't try."

"Yeah... Yeah, I know what you mean," Sam said quietly in response, sighing quietly, "I could really see myself falling hard for Callie, man. There's just... Something about her that really just feels right." And he hated that, after tonight, he may never see her again, and that that feeling would be lost. He didn't want to lose it and didn't want to lose her and didn't want to lose the possibility of what he could have with her. As he ran through these thoughts, he waited for Dean but smiled and nodded when his brother returned. "More than ready. Let's go." A small grin formed on his lips as he led the way back, eager to see how Callie would react to the necklace.

"He's still a Dean, with a James Bond attitude!" Callie argued back. "You're so smart," Callie rolled her eyes jokingly at her sister, taking the pen from Eva and neatly writing down her number, completing it with an adorable doodle of a heart at the end. "Think that's too much of a hint?" She joked, handing Eva the pen back gently, nervously awaiting the return of the boys. "Today was too much of a close call to not live in the moment." Callie concluded.

Dean led the way back to the diner, Dean stayed silent for the most part of the walk, wanting to think of ways they could keep in contact with the sisters. Seeing the girls laughing among each other. Dean walked in, hiding his box behind his back. "Alright, we're back with some whiskey, and uh, something else." He started nervously. "Your 21st birthday kinda sucked for you both, and Sam and I figured that you both deserved something to end it on a high." Dean cleared his throat as Sam sat next to him. "So, go ahead and open your gifts." Dean handed Eva the box, the baby blue ribbon tied so neatly, it would nearly be a shame to ruin it.

Sam followed Dean into the diner, contemplating on how to explain the gifts, but Dean seemed to beat him to the punch. He smiled, hopeful that this wasn't overstepping any boundaries, and he nodded as he sat down by Dean, sliding his box, with a nice violet ribbon on it, to Callie. "Besides, it is your 21st birthday. There's no way we could just let you girls go without any presents or just have an awful milestone birthday in general," he said gently, his gaze focused on Callie completely as his smile softened and he took her in for a few long moments. "And I really genuinely hope that you end up liking your gift. I thought it'd suit you perfectly." He just hoped she'd feel the same about it or that she'd even mildly like it. A part of him wanted to impress her but, more than anything, he wanted to make sure she got a gift that she actually liked when the day had been an overall rollercoaster through hell for her.

Eva laughed. "Maybe they need a huge hint," she joked but took the pen to write her own number down, along with her full first name - mostly so that she could not the "i" with a heart. She hadn't done that since middle school, but she was trying to casually get the message across. She'd just set the pen down when she heard Dean's voice and she blinked, looking over at him, though she began to grow confused with his words, until she saw the box. "Dean, you didn't have to," she managed out with shock, staring down at the box for a long moment, though her heart swelled with the sight of it. Swallowing down her nerves, she carefully removed the ribbon, trying her best to get it off without untying it because it was so damn cute, before she managed to open the box and she stared at the bracelet inside with surprise. "Oh, my God, it's gorgeous."

Callie blinked in surprise, looking at Sam. "Thank you," she smiled, delicately opening the ribbon before opening the box itself. Her smile grew as she looked at the necklace. "Oh my god," she laughed in surprise, looking back up at Sam with a smile that couldn't possibly grow wider. "Are you serious?" She asked. "Sam, this is - this is beautiful, thank you." She leaned forward to press a sweet kiss to his cheek, lingering for a moment. Lifting the necklace from it's box, she admired it, suddenly realising it tied in with Celestia. "Oh, you clever man." She shook her head, clearly loving the gift. "Help me get it on?" She asked Sam, just wanting an excuse to get nearer to him.

"You like it?" Dean smiled, having been clearly nervous. "We just wanted you both to have a good end to a bad day." Dean shrugged, suddenly a little more bashful than usual. Helping Eva clip the bracelet around her wrist, his smile grew. "It looks amazing on you." He confessed, before his gaze went to her face, her eyes, how damn beautiful she looked in that moment, almost ethereal and certainly perfect. "And," Dean put the bottle of whiskey on the table with a laugh. "For the lightweight, birthday, shining twins."

Sam smiled and shook his head as he watched her. "You don't have to thank me," he assured her, though he was beyond happy to receive her gratitude, especially when it came in the form of a kiss on his cheek. For a long moment, he stared at her, just taking in her pure joy, a grin forming on her features as he wished that he could see that look forever. He never wanted to forget it. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he nodded. "I'm really glad you like it so much." And, when she requested him to help her put it on, there was no way he could deny her request, especially since he wanted to get closer to her. "Of course." With a small grin, he stood up and moved behind her, gently moving her hair away from her neck, though he took his time, wanting to be as close to her as he could for as long as he could. Taking the necklace gently from her hands, he carefully latched it around her neck and smiled once it was on her. "There." Moving back to where he was in front of her, he smiled as he took in the sight of her with the necklace on. "Perfect."

Eva gave a quiet, shocked laugh. "Like it?" she asked before offering a small grin in response, "I love it, Dean." Her eyes examined it while Dean helped her put it on and she twisted her wrist back and forth to get a better look at every piece of the bracelet, completely mesmerized by it. Hearing Dean speak again, she shifted, climbing out of her seat to move to hug him tightly, so very grateful for such a wonderful gift. "Thank you, Dean," she told him happily before pulling back to examine him for a long while, her eyes running over his features, committing him to memory before she realized she'd probably been too close to him for too long and that she could definitely feel her cheeks warming. Clearing her throat, she quickly pulled back and returned to her seat, eyeing the whiskey. "So, you guys came through with the alcohol?" She grinned.

Callie found herself subconsciously leaning into Sam as he helped her with the beautiful necklace. Missing his warmth once he sat down, Callie bit her lip. "You're perfect," she replied with a chuckle. "Sam, I - I can't thank you enough." She spoke softly, wanting to reach over and kiss him again, wanting to take his hand from across the table. Deciding against it, Callie shook her head in amazement, trying to contain her joy. "What a perfect end to today." She touched the crescent moon that belonged to the necklace, clearly adoring the gift.

Dean grinned happily as Eva wrapped her arms around him, but too quickly, pulled away. Dean stood to his feet, hugging Eva tightly, silently reassuring her she wasn't too close, protecting her from dangers not present, wanting to commit the feeling to memory. "It was my pleasure. Happy Birthday." Dean smiled, pulling away and sitting back down. "Hell yes we came through with the alcohol," Dean grinned, opening the bottle and grabbing their Cola glasses, only putting a shots worth of the amber liquid into their glasses.

Callie looked at the whiskey. "Oh no," she laughed, shaking her head in fake dismay.

Sam blinked, taking a moment to take in what she'd said, a small smile forming on his lips. "You don't have to thank me, really. I just... Want the rest of your birthday to be good. You deserve it." And, he was so glad that she loved it so much, that she thought it was perfect, that the gift seemed to make her so happy. "Happy birthday, Callie." Smiling as he watched her, he couldn't help but to take in just how happy she looked, the way her eyes shone with that happiness. After everything she'd been through today, he wanted to make sure that the rest of her birthday went well, that she enjoyed it. Looking to the glasses, he pulled his to himself, arching a brow as he eyed Callie. "You ready for this?"

Eva's heart swelled with the feeling of his arms around her and she could feel herself caving into his touch, into the warmth he provided, her expression softened. "Thank you, Dean," she told him quietly, offering a smile once she was sitting back down, her eyes running over his features for a long moment, just taking him in, memorizing everything she could about him. Clearing her throat, she laughed with the sight of the alcohol in the glass and reached for hers, staring at it. Leaning over it, she took a whiff of it and made a face, nearly coughing with how strong it smelled before she settled back in her seat. "So, uh, bottom's up or whatever?" she suggested.

Callie smiled at Sam, biting her lip as she ducked her head, following his lead and pulling her glass towards her. She looked at the amber whiskey inside, looking a little uncertain. At the count of three, Callie knocked it back, pulling a face as she swallowed her shot. "Oh, gross!" She laughed, pushing her hair from her face as her throat burned slightly. "I think I'll stick to my Cola, thanks!" She laughed, shaking her head, her hand instinctively going to the crescent moon on her necklace again.

Dean smiled down at her, having no other choice because of their height difference. "Bottom's up... one... two... three... go!" Dean grabbed his glass and knocked his shot back. He'd never tasted whiskey this good before, but he didn't falter at the strength of it, clearly used to it. "Man, that's good stuff." Dean commented, putting his glass back down onto the table, not quite ready to take Eva or Callie home yet, just wanting to spend more time with Eva. He felt her pull him in, and all he wanted was to get closer - Dean hadn't felt this content in a long time, and he was sure that the more time he spent around Eva, the more happiness would come.

Sam took the shot the moment his brother counted it down, swallowing it down in a quick gulp. He let out a noise with the taste, nodding along to his brother's words. "Yeah, it is pretty good," he agreed, though he chuckled gently with hearing Callie's words. Watching her, he smiled slightly and nodded. "That's alright. At least you crossed the milestone." He grinned teasingly, arching an amused brow. "Though, you do get used to it over time. Not that I'm encouraging alcoholism or anything, but just in case you want to try out other things in your coming years, since you get all those years to live now." But, seeing the way she touched her necklace, he smiled to himself, glad to see it, glad to see that she seemed attached to the necklace already.

When Eva took the shot, she coughed, making a face with the taste as she patted at her chest. "Yeah, okay, never doing whiskey again," she decided, laughing at herself. "Thanks for it, though. It was at least worth the experience." Smiling to herself, she leaned forwards, resting her arms on the table, her bracelet clinking against the table top, and she watched Dean for a moment. "You guys can have the rest of the whiskey. Save it for a rainy day, maybe." She grinned jokingly, happy despite the day's events.

Callie laughed. "I've gotta agree with Eva on this one, I'm never doing whiskey again." Callie nodded along with Eva's words. "Yeah, take it home, save it for the next time we meet." Callie winked at Sam, remembering Eva's words about holding out hope. "Oh, uh," Callie picked up the napkin that she had written her number on; folding it up and gently handing it to Sam, her cheeks reddening slightly. "In case, you, you know, wanna keep contact or something." She shrugged, wondering if she was coming on too strong.

Dean laughed. "That's a good point. We should save it for the next time we cross paths, and we can laugh back on this day and be like, hey, remember when you two were killed by some scarecrow God?" Dean joked, admiring how well the bracelet he chose suited Eva, how it seemed to match how brilliant she truly was. "Alright, is there anything you two wanna do for your 21st birthday?" Dean smiled. "Anything you've always wanted to do."

Sam couldn't help the grin that formed on his lips when Callie mentioned meeting again and, while he wasn't sure if it'd be a reality, he couldn't help the surge of hope that filled him. "Yeah, I think we'll do just that," he decided with a firm nod, "We'll keep it safe for then. Maybe you'll have a taste for whiskey by then." His grin broadened with the thought, then broadened more when Callie gave him a napkin. Opening it, he saw the number and the heart doodled at the bottom, feeling his hope growing, and he nodded quickly. "I'll make sure to keep in contact." Shifting, he pulled out his phone to put the number in, then sent a text to her so she'd have his number, too.

"And then you'll be asking us to do the twin trick again," Eva hummed out with amusement, grinning broadly as she watched him. The thought that there was even a remote possibility of them seeing each other again gave her more happiness than she really thought was possible. Peering over, she saw that her sister was giving Sam her napkin and she perked up a bit, pulling out her own, though she fiddled with it a little nervously for a moment. "Um... I don't really know. I guess, I'd give you a gift in return." Shrugging, she shifted, holding out the napkin.

Callie's phone vibrated and she smiled, saving Sam's number into her phone with a heart next to his name, not letting him see. "I highly hope I don't get a taste for whiskey," Callie laughed, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. Studying the youngest of the brothers, Callie found herself drawn to him through his eyes. He was so expressive and his eyes resembled a field of sunflowers, and Callie just couldn't understand how one person could be so beautiful. Pulling her gaze away, Callie glanced at Eva and Dean with a proud smile.

Dean smiled and accepted the napkin, unfolding it. He smiled as he saw Eva's name and number, smiling wider as he saw a heart over the i in Evangeline. Dean pulled out his phone, saving her number with a happy face next to her name, for Dean to remember the feeling he got when he looked to her. Dropping Eva a quick 'hi' via text so she had his number, Dean kept his phone back into his pocket. "We should probably get you girls home." He exhaled heavily, not really wanting to, but not wanting to expose them both to a life of hunting, motels, fast food and alcohol.