SPN/SV Fic: Sweet Surrender (6/6)
Sweet Surrender (6/6) -- Dean/Chloe SPN/SV crossover
Title: Sweet Surrender
Authors: clarksmuse and xtremeroswellia
Fandoms: Supernatural/Smallville
Characters: Dean, Chloe, Sam, Clark, Lex, Dean/Chloe pairing
Rating: R to NC-17
Spoilers: General spoilers for the latter half of both SV and SPN
Disclaimer: Still don’t own any of these characters. Please don’t sue.
Feedback: is love and totally needed. It’s our crack that keeps us writing.
"Are you sure we can stay here?" Dean asked dubiously, looking around at the quaint decor of the small farmhouse, wondering is this Clark Kent was as down-home country fried boy as his home seemed to suggest. He held Chloe in his arms, sitting with her on the couch, while Sam gazed out the window, the lookout for them.
"It's fine. They're like my second family," she whispered almost inaudibly, her eyes closed.
He shuddered. "And you said you loved this guy?" He tried to keep the sarcasm to a minimum while he stroked her hair gently.
"I said it was complicated," she corrected him, resting her head against his collarbone, her body still trembling.
"Isn't love complicated?" he asked quietly, more a rhetorical question that anything. He noticed Sam looking at them, a smart smile on his face. Dean glowered at his younger brother, then closed his eyes.
"Chloe, sure you wouldn't be more comfortable in a bed or something?" Sam asked quietly.
"I'm all right." Her voice remained soft. She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. "Aren't you glad you guys came to this freak show town?"
Dean stiffened a moment, glancing down at her. He had no idea how to answer that question, though he tugged her closer to him, letting her head fall against his chest.
"It's actually one of the nicer places we've been to," Sam remarked, cocking an eyebrow in his brother's direction.
Dean smirked back. "And hey, I got a pretty girl in my arms to show for it, so where's the bad?"
She shook her head a little. If she hadn't been so tired, so emotionally drained, she might have smiled at their remarks. As it was, she struggled to hold back tears she felt building. Without realizing it, her fingers curled around the collar of Dean's shirt, clutching onto it tightly.
He felt wetness on his arm and knew she was crying. He also acknowledged that the second she was asleep, he was going to track down Lex Luthor and beat him within an inch of his life for what he had done to her before either of the Winchesters had entered her life. Dean glanced at Sam, then plopped a small kiss on the top of her head.
Sam winced a little but nodded. He didn't know if there was anything he could do to prevent Dean from doing anything rash.
She knew she was being desperate, clingy and she hated herself for it. She barely knew the man despite the weird connection and attraction they shared, but he made her feel safe in a way that even Clark never had. Her body shuddered involuntarily and she tried to get a hold of her emotions before they got out of control.
His arms squeezed her gently. "Hey, it's over," he whispered in her ear. "Get some rest, Chloe."
She buried her face against the crook of his neck, letting out a slow breath before her body began to relax.
Several minutes passed before he thought she was asleep. When he heard her breathing even out, he glanced up at Sam. "Can you watch her?" he whispered urgently.
"Dean." He looked pained.
"Don't give me that look," he complained, slowly and reluctantly moving Chloe out of his arms. He placed her head gently on the pillow he'd leaned against and stood up.
"Don't do anything stupid."
He smirked. "Aw, come on, Sammy. I never do that." He pulled his keys out of his pocket and headed for the back door.
"Yeah. That's exactly why I'm worried," he grumbled under his breath.
He cast one last look at the woman sleeping on the couch, his eyes furrowed and pained. "Take care of her for me," he uttered, his eyes growing hard as stone. He marched out the door, not giving his brother a chance to talk him out of it.
&&&&&
Lex stood in the middle of his study alone, frowning as he stared at the pool table, then leaned down to make a shot.
"You know, I could kick your ass at pool," Dean replied, leaning against the door jam, anger flashing across his eyes. His face remained a mask of neutrality, however, when Lex straightened and turned to look at him coolly.
"Somehow I doubt that." He raised an eyebrow.
Smirking, he waltzed into the room and grabbed a pool stick. Gazing at the table, he leaned down, carefully executing a bank shot that put two solids in the side pockets. "Wanna bet on that?"
A faint, amused smile touched his lips. "Why not? I have nothing to lose."
"Right, because a weird, insane billionaire doesn't have anything to lose." He leaned against the pool stick, meeting Lex's cool gaze with the same sense of amusement.
"I have everything I need," he said coolly.
"Including the freaks you kidnap and torture on a regular basis?" He immediately thought about Chloe but shoved it aside. Beating this guy at his own game might be impossible, but why use the mind when fists could work just as well?
"It's not about torture, Dean. It's about saving the planet." He gazed at him evenly. "Are you aware that as we speak this planet's been invaded?"
He snorted and glared at Lex. "What the hell is this, Invasion of the Body Snatchers?"
"More like invasion of extraterrestrials," he responded without humor.
Dean took the end of the pool stick and tapped Lex's bald head with it, chuckling. "I think that green rock has gone to your head, because you're living in a dream world."
"Am I?" His gaze was level, even. "I'm almost positive your girlfriend's close friend Clark Kent is one of them."
He shrugged, non-plussed. "I wouldn't know and couldn't care less." He took a step towards the other man and sized him up. "The fact of the matter is, you're a fruitcake and deserve to be taken down for what you've done." He slapped the pool stick on the table in emphasis.
"We're not that different," Lex mused.
Dean's fists balled tightly. "What?" he growled.
"You hunt down evil things. I pay people to hunt down evil things."
He didn't know how Lex knew what he and his brother did for a living, but he didn't care. The man obviously considered him a threat, or else he wouldn't have done his homework. He took another step towards Lex and smirked. "But the things we hunt down are actually evil. Like you, for example. You're an evil sonofabitch." And I'd take you down if it meant making Chloe happier, he thought.
"You're entitled to your opinion," he said smoothly. "The fact is, Chloe's no longer human. She has much more potential now than she ever had before. She should be more than happy to step up to the plate and do her part in protecting the human race."
"Shut up, Luthor," Dean hissed, his voice dangerous, his eyes glittering with hatred. "She's got more humanity in her pinky than your whole fucking body... and if you so much as touch her, I'll make good on my threat."
"I'm unimpressed with your threats, Mr. Winchester. Now why don’t you run along?" he suggested.
"Not before I give you this," Dean replied casually, cocking his right arm back and clocking Lex in the face, his knuckles meeting his nose hard. He felt the crunch of bone beneath his fist and watched as the other man fell to the floor.
Lex's eyes darkened as his hand went up to cover his broken, bleeding nose.
"Stay the hell away from her, Luthor," he threatened again, leaning over Lex's sprawled body on the floor. "Or you'll have more than a broken nose to worry about." He smirked briefly, happy to have done some damage, then straightened and headed for the door.
&&&&&
Chloe woke up with a start, confused at first when she realized she was on the Kent's sofa. When she spotted Sam a few feet away in the recliner, she sat up quickly, looking for Dean.
"He's not here," Sam said softly, glancing up at her when he saw her move. He looked at the terror in her eyes and tried to smile. Deep down inside, though, he was afraid. Dean could be locked up in Lex's dungeon, for all her knew.
"Where is he?" she asked in alarm.
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, not sure if he should tell her. "Just get some rest. He'll be here soon."
She rose to her feet, not liking the fact he was avoiding her eyes. "Sam. Where did he go?"
"Wait, Chloe." He shot out of his seat and put a firm hand on her arm. "He's gone to see Lex, okay? And he'll be here soon. You need to rest."
Her eyes widened. "What? He went to the Luthors'? Alone?"
Sam bit back a smile, amused by her concern for his brother. "Yes, alone. And if you knew Dean, you'd know he can handle himself." Okay, so some of that was stretching the truth, but she didn't need to know that. Not now, when she was frantically trying to pull out of his grip.
"Listen to me." Her voice was clipped. "You have no idea what the two of them can do. What they can get away with. We have to go find him right now."
Sam frowned and tightened his grip on her. "Chloe, hold on a second, okay? Dean's --"
"-- right here," came a voice from the kitchen door. Dean strode in, triumph written on his face. His eyes sought out Chloe's immediately and his lips turned upward into a blinding grin. "Looks like you missed me."
She quickly headed over to where he stood and smacked him in the shoulder. "What the hell were you thinking?"
He pulled back, feigning hurt against his shoulder. "About how cool it'd be to burn down the Luthor mansion?" he asked innocently, unwilling to confess he'd been thinking of her the entire time.
Sam turned his head and coughed back his laughter.
"Oh God, what did you do?" she asked with wide eyes.
"If my guess is right," Sam replied, chuckling softly, "he probably beat the crap out of Lex."
Dean nodded and grimaced at Sam. "Broke his damn nose, that's it." He turned back to Chloe, saw the intense terror in her eyes, and frowned. "What? I can't defend your honor or something?"
"Oh, Dean." She raked a hand through her hair. "He's gonna come after you. Both of you."
Dean shrugged it off casually, though he knew she was right. "Guess you'll have to come with us, so we can fight him off together." The words flew out of his mouth, and while they sounded crass, he realized with a start that he meant it.
Sam's eyes widened with surprise. Dean wanted her to go with them? "Uh, Dean..." he started, nodding towards the other side of the room.
Chloe stared at him in wide-eyed shock, unable to respond.
"Dean," Sam repeated more forcefully. "We need to talk." He walked across the room, crossing his arms and waited.
With a sigh, Dean slid around Chloe, her feminine scent still in his nostrils as he approached his brother. "What, dude?" he asked, frowning. "We can't leave her here."
"Well, we can't take her with us," he responded, shaking his head and looking at Dean like he was nuts.
"Why the hell not?"
"Uh, because what we do is incredibly dangerous!"
He turned and looked back at her. "I think she can handle it, Sam," he replied honestly. "Besides, Luthor's got plans for her. I think he's gonna take her again, and I can't leave here knowing she's in danger..." His words slowed at the gleam of irritated understanding in Sam's eyes.
"Have you told her?" His voice was quiet.
He glowered a little under his brother's intense gaze... and shook his head.
A smirk tugged at Sam's lips. "You should."
He snorted quietly. "Don't go there, Sammy. She's going with us."
He was silent for a moment, his gaze flickering over to where she was pacing the kitchen floor nervously.
Dean sighed in frustration and walked towards the blonde, not sure who to deal with first. Both Chloe and Sam seemed against the idea: a sinking feeling settled in his stomach when he reached out and touched her shoulder, feeling her stiffen beneath his touch.
She looked up at him wordlessly, searching his eyes for some kind of clue on what was going on in his mind.
He cleared his throat loudly, meeting her gaze and holding it. "Okay. Awkward," he whispered when she said nothing. Maybe this wasn't the brightest suggestion he'd ever made, but it didn't stop his wanting it. "So... uh, what do you think?"
"Are you serious?" she whispered, shaking her head.
He blinked, a little shocked at her question. "No, it's all about the shock value," he retorted wryly. "Apparently I got what I wanted." His arm fell to his side and he looked away towards Sam, who was giving him that 'you need to tell her' look.
"Dean, why?" Her eyebrows furrowed with confusion.
Sam smiled at his brother and nodded, prodding silently.
Sighing and looking down, Dean whispered, "Why not? Wouldn't it be fun for a change? And we could keep you safe."
She gazed at him intently, contemplating what a life on the road would be like with these two guys. Waking up every morning unsure of where they were going next or what they'd be doing. The reporter in her found the idea utterly fascinating. Her heart found the idea frightening. "I'm sure it would be fun," she said softly.
His jaw ticked tightly as he glanced over at Sam, who was still staring at them. Clearing his throat again, he turned back to Chloe. "Damn straight. Besides... you'd be with me." His voice was low and almost hoarse from the effort it took to speak. Telling women how he felt had never been his strong suit, not when it really mattered.
Chloe hesitated a moment, then reached out and touched his arm.
The small movement startled him, and he looked into her warm, green eyes. Something clicked in his mind: he wasn't sure, but he wondered suddenly if she loved him too. "I love you, okay?" he whispered inaudibly. "I want you with me. Sam and I will protect you from anything."
The breath hitched her throat at his confession as she gazed at him. "Well, this is...different," she whispered, a smile tugging at her lips.
He snorted. "Like I said, it's the shock value." He stepped away from her and ran a hand through his short hair. "Sorry I mentioned it."
She quickly grabbed his arm again, surprise on her face. "No, that's not...I just meant...it's different because...the guys I fall for...never fall for me," she whispered.
Surprise registered on his face. "Wait," he said with a happy smirk, "You... fell for me?"
Sam, having heard his brother's remark, shook his head. His brother could be really dense when it came to women.
"Duh," she responded with a soft chuckle, reaching up and cupping his face in her hands, kissing him on the lips.
The second her lips touched his, Dean groaned and wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her against him tightly. He deepened the kiss, conveying unspoken words of love and need for her. That as long as she was with them, she would never come to harm.
"I love you too," she whispered, her fingers tangling in his hair.
Dean sunk his face into the crook of her neck, allowing the force of her words settle into his heart. He smiled, brushing his lips lightly against her skin.
Sam coughed loudly. "Uh, guys?" he asked, amusement resounding in his voice.
Dean looked up at his brother, not letting Chloe go. "No, we don't need a room, Sammy," he retorted, leaning into her ear. "Not yet, anyway."
She couldn't help but smile, her arms wound around him just as tightly and unwilling to let him go. "I'll go with you," she whispered.
"Good," he replied, squeezing her to him, his lips grazing her earlobe again, "because I sure as hell don't wanna stay in this... town. It's too freaky, even by my standards."
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize you had a limit to your freakiness," she teased lightly, eyes filled with mischief.
Leaning back to look at her, Dean smirked. "Baby, you don't know how far that goes... yet." He leaned in to steal another kiss when Sam interrupted him with another loud cough. "Hey, get a cough drop for that," he called, faking irritation.
Sam shook his head and grinned. "If you two are finished... we should probably go." He headed for the kitchen door, thinking about making a trek out to the Roadhouse for information on Lex Luthor. He had a feeling they would need it.
Chloe watched him go, then looked at Dean once more. Somehow, she had a feeling she wouldn't miss Smallville too much.
Title: Sweet Surrender
Authors: clarksmuse and xtremeroswellia
Fandoms: Supernatural/Smallville
Characters: Dean, Chloe, Sam, Clark, Lex, Dean/Chloe pairing
Rating: R to NC-17
Spoilers: General spoilers for the latter half of both SV and SPN
Disclaimer: Still don’t own any of these characters. Please don’t sue.
Feedback: is love and totally needed. It’s our crack that keeps us writing.
"Are you sure we can stay here?" Dean asked dubiously, looking around at the quaint decor of the small farmhouse, wondering is this Clark Kent was as down-home country fried boy as his home seemed to suggest. He held Chloe in his arms, sitting with her on the couch, while Sam gazed out the window, the lookout for them.
"It's fine. They're like my second family," she whispered almost inaudibly, her eyes closed.
He shuddered. "And you said you loved this guy?" He tried to keep the sarcasm to a minimum while he stroked her hair gently.
"I said it was complicated," she corrected him, resting her head against his collarbone, her body still trembling.
"Isn't love complicated?" he asked quietly, more a rhetorical question that anything. He noticed Sam looking at them, a smart smile on his face. Dean glowered at his younger brother, then closed his eyes.
"Chloe, sure you wouldn't be more comfortable in a bed or something?" Sam asked quietly.
"I'm all right." Her voice remained soft. She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. "Aren't you glad you guys came to this freak show town?"
Dean stiffened a moment, glancing down at her. He had no idea how to answer that question, though he tugged her closer to him, letting her head fall against his chest.
"It's actually one of the nicer places we've been to," Sam remarked, cocking an eyebrow in his brother's direction.
Dean smirked back. "And hey, I got a pretty girl in my arms to show for it, so where's the bad?"
She shook her head a little. If she hadn't been so tired, so emotionally drained, she might have smiled at their remarks. As it was, she struggled to hold back tears she felt building. Without realizing it, her fingers curled around the collar of Dean's shirt, clutching onto it tightly.
He felt wetness on his arm and knew she was crying. He also acknowledged that the second she was asleep, he was going to track down Lex Luthor and beat him within an inch of his life for what he had done to her before either of the Winchesters had entered her life. Dean glanced at Sam, then plopped a small kiss on the top of her head.
Sam winced a little but nodded. He didn't know if there was anything he could do to prevent Dean from doing anything rash.
She knew she was being desperate, clingy and she hated herself for it. She barely knew the man despite the weird connection and attraction they shared, but he made her feel safe in a way that even Clark never had. Her body shuddered involuntarily and she tried to get a hold of her emotions before they got out of control.
His arms squeezed her gently. "Hey, it's over," he whispered in her ear. "Get some rest, Chloe."
She buried her face against the crook of his neck, letting out a slow breath before her body began to relax.
Several minutes passed before he thought she was asleep. When he heard her breathing even out, he glanced up at Sam. "Can you watch her?" he whispered urgently.
"Dean." He looked pained.
"Don't give me that look," he complained, slowly and reluctantly moving Chloe out of his arms. He placed her head gently on the pillow he'd leaned against and stood up.
"Don't do anything stupid."
He smirked. "Aw, come on, Sammy. I never do that." He pulled his keys out of his pocket and headed for the back door.
"Yeah. That's exactly why I'm worried," he grumbled under his breath.
He cast one last look at the woman sleeping on the couch, his eyes furrowed and pained. "Take care of her for me," he uttered, his eyes growing hard as stone. He marched out the door, not giving his brother a chance to talk him out of it.
&&&&&
Lex stood in the middle of his study alone, frowning as he stared at the pool table, then leaned down to make a shot.
"You know, I could kick your ass at pool," Dean replied, leaning against the door jam, anger flashing across his eyes. His face remained a mask of neutrality, however, when Lex straightened and turned to look at him coolly.
"Somehow I doubt that." He raised an eyebrow.
Smirking, he waltzed into the room and grabbed a pool stick. Gazing at the table, he leaned down, carefully executing a bank shot that put two solids in the side pockets. "Wanna bet on that?"
A faint, amused smile touched his lips. "Why not? I have nothing to lose."
"Right, because a weird, insane billionaire doesn't have anything to lose." He leaned against the pool stick, meeting Lex's cool gaze with the same sense of amusement.
"I have everything I need," he said coolly.
"Including the freaks you kidnap and torture on a regular basis?" He immediately thought about Chloe but shoved it aside. Beating this guy at his own game might be impossible, but why use the mind when fists could work just as well?
"It's not about torture, Dean. It's about saving the planet." He gazed at him evenly. "Are you aware that as we speak this planet's been invaded?"
He snorted and glared at Lex. "What the hell is this, Invasion of the Body Snatchers?"
"More like invasion of extraterrestrials," he responded without humor.
Dean took the end of the pool stick and tapped Lex's bald head with it, chuckling. "I think that green rock has gone to your head, because you're living in a dream world."
"Am I?" His gaze was level, even. "I'm almost positive your girlfriend's close friend Clark Kent is one of them."
He shrugged, non-plussed. "I wouldn't know and couldn't care less." He took a step towards the other man and sized him up. "The fact of the matter is, you're a fruitcake and deserve to be taken down for what you've done." He slapped the pool stick on the table in emphasis.
"We're not that different," Lex mused.
Dean's fists balled tightly. "What?" he growled.
"You hunt down evil things. I pay people to hunt down evil things."
He didn't know how Lex knew what he and his brother did for a living, but he didn't care. The man obviously considered him a threat, or else he wouldn't have done his homework. He took another step towards Lex and smirked. "But the things we hunt down are actually evil. Like you, for example. You're an evil sonofabitch." And I'd take you down if it meant making Chloe happier, he thought.
"You're entitled to your opinion," he said smoothly. "The fact is, Chloe's no longer human. She has much more potential now than she ever had before. She should be more than happy to step up to the plate and do her part in protecting the human race."
"Shut up, Luthor," Dean hissed, his voice dangerous, his eyes glittering with hatred. "She's got more humanity in her pinky than your whole fucking body... and if you so much as touch her, I'll make good on my threat."
"I'm unimpressed with your threats, Mr. Winchester. Now why don’t you run along?" he suggested.
"Not before I give you this," Dean replied casually, cocking his right arm back and clocking Lex in the face, his knuckles meeting his nose hard. He felt the crunch of bone beneath his fist and watched as the other man fell to the floor.
Lex's eyes darkened as his hand went up to cover his broken, bleeding nose.
"Stay the hell away from her, Luthor," he threatened again, leaning over Lex's sprawled body on the floor. "Or you'll have more than a broken nose to worry about." He smirked briefly, happy to have done some damage, then straightened and headed for the door.
&&&&&
Chloe woke up with a start, confused at first when she realized she was on the Kent's sofa. When she spotted Sam a few feet away in the recliner, she sat up quickly, looking for Dean.
"He's not here," Sam said softly, glancing up at her when he saw her move. He looked at the terror in her eyes and tried to smile. Deep down inside, though, he was afraid. Dean could be locked up in Lex's dungeon, for all her knew.
"Where is he?" she asked in alarm.
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, not sure if he should tell her. "Just get some rest. He'll be here soon."
She rose to her feet, not liking the fact he was avoiding her eyes. "Sam. Where did he go?"
"Wait, Chloe." He shot out of his seat and put a firm hand on her arm. "He's gone to see Lex, okay? And he'll be here soon. You need to rest."
Her eyes widened. "What? He went to the Luthors'? Alone?"
Sam bit back a smile, amused by her concern for his brother. "Yes, alone. And if you knew Dean, you'd know he can handle himself." Okay, so some of that was stretching the truth, but she didn't need to know that. Not now, when she was frantically trying to pull out of his grip.
"Listen to me." Her voice was clipped. "You have no idea what the two of them can do. What they can get away with. We have to go find him right now."
Sam frowned and tightened his grip on her. "Chloe, hold on a second, okay? Dean's --"
"-- right here," came a voice from the kitchen door. Dean strode in, triumph written on his face. His eyes sought out Chloe's immediately and his lips turned upward into a blinding grin. "Looks like you missed me."
She quickly headed over to where he stood and smacked him in the shoulder. "What the hell were you thinking?"
He pulled back, feigning hurt against his shoulder. "About how cool it'd be to burn down the Luthor mansion?" he asked innocently, unwilling to confess he'd been thinking of her the entire time.
Sam turned his head and coughed back his laughter.
"Oh God, what did you do?" she asked with wide eyes.
"If my guess is right," Sam replied, chuckling softly, "he probably beat the crap out of Lex."
Dean nodded and grimaced at Sam. "Broke his damn nose, that's it." He turned back to Chloe, saw the intense terror in her eyes, and frowned. "What? I can't defend your honor or something?"
"Oh, Dean." She raked a hand through her hair. "He's gonna come after you. Both of you."
Dean shrugged it off casually, though he knew she was right. "Guess you'll have to come with us, so we can fight him off together." The words flew out of his mouth, and while they sounded crass, he realized with a start that he meant it.
Sam's eyes widened with surprise. Dean wanted her to go with them? "Uh, Dean..." he started, nodding towards the other side of the room.
Chloe stared at him in wide-eyed shock, unable to respond.
"Dean," Sam repeated more forcefully. "We need to talk." He walked across the room, crossing his arms and waited.
With a sigh, Dean slid around Chloe, her feminine scent still in his nostrils as he approached his brother. "What, dude?" he asked, frowning. "We can't leave her here."
"Well, we can't take her with us," he responded, shaking his head and looking at Dean like he was nuts.
"Why the hell not?"
"Uh, because what we do is incredibly dangerous!"
He turned and looked back at her. "I think she can handle it, Sam," he replied honestly. "Besides, Luthor's got plans for her. I think he's gonna take her again, and I can't leave here knowing she's in danger..." His words slowed at the gleam of irritated understanding in Sam's eyes.
"Have you told her?" His voice was quiet.
He glowered a little under his brother's intense gaze... and shook his head.
A smirk tugged at Sam's lips. "You should."
He snorted quietly. "Don't go there, Sammy. She's going with us."
He was silent for a moment, his gaze flickering over to where she was pacing the kitchen floor nervously.
Dean sighed in frustration and walked towards the blonde, not sure who to deal with first. Both Chloe and Sam seemed against the idea: a sinking feeling settled in his stomach when he reached out and touched her shoulder, feeling her stiffen beneath his touch.
She looked up at him wordlessly, searching his eyes for some kind of clue on what was going on in his mind.
He cleared his throat loudly, meeting her gaze and holding it. "Okay. Awkward," he whispered when she said nothing. Maybe this wasn't the brightest suggestion he'd ever made, but it didn't stop his wanting it. "So... uh, what do you think?"
"Are you serious?" she whispered, shaking her head.
He blinked, a little shocked at her question. "No, it's all about the shock value," he retorted wryly. "Apparently I got what I wanted." His arm fell to his side and he looked away towards Sam, who was giving him that 'you need to tell her' look.
"Dean, why?" Her eyebrows furrowed with confusion.
Sam smiled at his brother and nodded, prodding silently.
Sighing and looking down, Dean whispered, "Why not? Wouldn't it be fun for a change? And we could keep you safe."
She gazed at him intently, contemplating what a life on the road would be like with these two guys. Waking up every morning unsure of where they were going next or what they'd be doing. The reporter in her found the idea utterly fascinating. Her heart found the idea frightening. "I'm sure it would be fun," she said softly.
His jaw ticked tightly as he glanced over at Sam, who was still staring at them. Clearing his throat again, he turned back to Chloe. "Damn straight. Besides... you'd be with me." His voice was low and almost hoarse from the effort it took to speak. Telling women how he felt had never been his strong suit, not when it really mattered.
Chloe hesitated a moment, then reached out and touched his arm.
The small movement startled him, and he looked into her warm, green eyes. Something clicked in his mind: he wasn't sure, but he wondered suddenly if she loved him too. "I love you, okay?" he whispered inaudibly. "I want you with me. Sam and I will protect you from anything."
The breath hitched her throat at his confession as she gazed at him. "Well, this is...different," she whispered, a smile tugging at her lips.
He snorted. "Like I said, it's the shock value." He stepped away from her and ran a hand through his short hair. "Sorry I mentioned it."
She quickly grabbed his arm again, surprise on her face. "No, that's not...I just meant...it's different because...the guys I fall for...never fall for me," she whispered.
Surprise registered on his face. "Wait," he said with a happy smirk, "You... fell for me?"
Sam, having heard his brother's remark, shook his head. His brother could be really dense when it came to women.
"Duh," she responded with a soft chuckle, reaching up and cupping his face in her hands, kissing him on the lips.
The second her lips touched his, Dean groaned and wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her against him tightly. He deepened the kiss, conveying unspoken words of love and need for her. That as long as she was with them, she would never come to harm.
"I love you too," she whispered, her fingers tangling in his hair.
Dean sunk his face into the crook of her neck, allowing the force of her words settle into his heart. He smiled, brushing his lips lightly against her skin.
Sam coughed loudly. "Uh, guys?" he asked, amusement resounding in his voice.
Dean looked up at his brother, not letting Chloe go. "No, we don't need a room, Sammy," he retorted, leaning into her ear. "Not yet, anyway."
She couldn't help but smile, her arms wound around him just as tightly and unwilling to let him go. "I'll go with you," she whispered.
"Good," he replied, squeezing her to him, his lips grazing her earlobe again, "because I sure as hell don't wanna stay in this... town. It's too freaky, even by my standards."
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize you had a limit to your freakiness," she teased lightly, eyes filled with mischief.
Leaning back to look at her, Dean smirked. "Baby, you don't know how far that goes... yet." He leaned in to steal another kiss when Sam interrupted him with another loud cough. "Hey, get a cough drop for that," he called, faking irritation.
Sam shook his head and grinned. "If you two are finished... we should probably go." He headed for the kitchen door, thinking about making a trek out to the Roadhouse for information on Lex Luthor. He had a feeling they would need it.
Chloe watched him go, then looked at Dean once more. Somehow, she had a feeling she wouldn't miss Smallville too much.