When Realms Collide

"What the absolute fuck were you thinking?!"

I sighed as I heard Dean's voice echo down the hallway as he made his way to the bathroom. I could hear Sam trying to calm Dean down, but I knew it wasn't going to work. Especially once Dean caught sight of my newest additions to my scar collection, four new furrows into my rib cage. The Werewolf had raked me with its claws during the fight. And damn it, some were gonna need stitches. A simple bandage would have to do until I could get it taken care of since Dean and Sam were on their way down the hall and I wasn't going to have time to stitch them before I had to deal with Dean's shit. Just another night and just another fight, right? If only I knew how wrong I was.

"Damnit Ariane! I told you not to go on that Hunt. You could have been killed. Why do you always have to complicate things by never doing what you're told?" Dean came in shouting and looking pissed off. His glare intensified as he saw my bandages. "How fucking bad are your wounds this time?"

His hazel-green eyes were staring furiously at me, waiting for my answer. His chiseled jaw was tight and I watched as he ran his hand through his short dark-brown hair. I paused for a moment and just stared. He was a handsome bastard all the time but when he was mad… he took hot to a whole new level.

"Hi Dean… Sam." I sighed. "Sorry Dean, I wasn't aware that I was a child that needed your permission to do anything. Last I checked we were Hunters and we're supposed to be partners. So why the hell wouldn't I go on the Hunt? You were busy and you had Sam with you. And not that bad, just need a few stitches is all."

"Hunting is too fucking dangerous. You need to stay here and let us handle it. I don't want you getting hurt like this!" He gestured to my newest wounds. "You can't handle this on your own." He tried to stare me down as he crossed his arms in front of his chest with a huff.

I arched my eyebrow at him and my tone was full on sarcasm. "Oh really. Let's take a count of how many times you and Sam were hurt and I've had to patch you up. Or how many times each of you has died and come back, cause you know, that's not normal. And I wouldn't get hurt as often if I wasn't by myself. You have each other's back. You refuse to go out with me or allow Sam to go, so I have no one but myself to rely on. So of course I am going to get hurt. I've never died. And I have every right to do this, the same as you. I've lost people close to me and I know the risks and I am willing to accept that." My voice dropped. "Why can't you believe in me?"

Sam tried to head Dean off to try to cool the fight down. "Ariane, it's not that we don't believe in you. Dean knows you are capable and can take care of yourself, it's just that he cares about you and doesn't want to see you hurt. He wants to protect you."

I looked at Sam's eyes, blue with a touch of hazel in the middle. I saw the pain and the worry in them. His boyish good looks normally kept me sane but tonight was just the last straw. Tonight, I wasn't biting my tongue and just accepting what Dean had to say. I've never been the shy type, but I always held back when it came to them. But not anymore. Tonight, I was having my say too. 

"That's bullshit Sam and you know it. If he cared so much and didn't want me hurt, maybe he would come with me or give me some kind of backup instead of leaving me to fight on my own." I looked at Dean. "Because, Dean, you conveniently forget that just because I decide to stop hunting Monsters doesn't mean they will stop hunting me. They have my scent, and they know who I am. Same as you. Do you really think that if you tried to give it up that the Demons would stop coming after you or anyone you're with?" He glared at me "Exactly. So better to take the offense instead of just sitting by waiting to be slaughtered."

"Will you stop hunting?" Dean asked quietly, his jaw clenched tightly.

"No."

"Then get out. If you won't listen to me and do what I tell you, then get out of my life and don't come back. I don't need you." Dean turned away. 

Sam looked at him horrified and stunned. "Dean..." he said, "you don't really mean that. I know how much you really care about her. And she has new wounds. You can't send her out now. It's like putting out a sign saying 'Free Meal.'"

"Yeah Sam, I do mean it. I can't sit here and watch her go out and keep risking her life every night while trying to prepare my heart to find out she isn't coming back. I can't do it anymore. I can send her away now and I will. I'm done." He looked at me with empty eyes. "Get your things and leave. Now. You're a big bad Hunter so I'm sure you'll be fine, right?"

I watched with wide shocked eyes as he left the room, slamming the door behind him. I looked at Sam with tears starting to form in my eyes. I willed them away and nodded. 

"Fine. So be it. I believed him when he told me he cared for me, would always be at my side, always with me no matter what. I was a fool to believe that crock of shit. No one ever stays. No offense to you Sam, but when it comes to Dean, it will always be you that he risks it all for. You are going to be the only one he ever really loves beyond your parents." I went to leave the room. "It's been nice working with you, Sam. Say bye to Cas for me. And please, don't come looking for me. You won't find me. And honestly, I don't want to be found. I am done with him and all his hypocritical bullshit."

I heard Sam stuttering as I walked out the door and down the hall to my room. I closed the door and leaned against it and just let the tears fall. I had truly believed Dean had cared for me. I thought I had found someone who understood and would stay with me for once. But it was a lie. I was alone, as I always was. As I always would be. No one ever cared for long. Something about me was broken, seeming to make me unlovable.

I packed the few things I had that meant anything to me and some clothes. I took one last look around and said goodbye to the room where I had felt like I had finally belonged, like I finally had a home. I went down the hall to the main door, opened it, and walked out, never looking back.