You smiled, but were quickly distracted by the pang in your stomach. Being possessed was hardly a pleasant thing, but it was definitely memorable. You remembered the demon entering you, the feeling of its damned “soul” bumping into yours, the stress as you watched the Winchesters struggle by the actions of your own hands. Blood soaked through your shirt from your fight with Sam and Dean, the cut deep enough to make you weary, but not enough to keep you down.

           “She’s hurt,” Sam whispered to himself, rushing to you just in time to save you from your own weak knees. Your faces were mere inches apart, and you prayed to whatever higher being there was that you didn’t faint.  

           “Hmm,” you purred, feeling as your eyes drooped. “You must be the pretty one everyone always talks about.”

           Sam laughed, gathering you entirely in his arms with ease. “That’s probably Dean, but I’ll take it.”

           You looked to the shorter brother and back to your current knight, feeling a resounding injustice in that fact. “I don’t know about that.”

           “Ouch,” Dean huffed, trailing behind Sam and you. “If you weren’t obviously delirious, I might be offended.”

           You smiled softly, your vision blackening more and more. “I just have a thing for hair, is all.”

           The words just escaped your lips before your vision went entirely black, your body going limp in Sam’s arms. The last thing you heard was Sam’s panicked tone before going into a deep sleep.

__

           You woke up in a simple bedroom, the blankets tucked around you softly, the open door letting a very dim light in from the hallway. You tried to sit up, but immediately gave up that plan. Your head was swimming, your entire body weak. Fighting monsters wasn’t new to you, but there was something seriously disconcerting about being possessed. The feeling of hopelessness, the complete lack of control, the disgust at what your own body was doing; it was a lot to just brush off. Then your mind wandered to what it usually does when you think of hunting; the Winchesters. They had been possessed and beaten and sent to hell, and were still standing. If they could do it, so could you.

           The thought comforted you, until you remembered that they were the last people you’d seen before blacking out. Confused, you rubbed at your eyes with a slight moan, reaching one arm out in hopes of finding a light. Your hand felt up a night stand, reaching until finally you clicked on the table side lamp. You blinked at the sudden influx of bright, turning your head away to recover. You were hurt more than you had thought. Gentle footsteps sounded down the hall, but you were much too weak to care.

           “Oh,” the voice said, stopping at the door frame. “You’re awake. How’re you feeling?”

           His voice was unbelievably gentle, his expression one of complete concern. You blinked, attempting to clear your vision. He held a tray in his hands, the flannel of his shirt rolled up his arms and his hair wildly pulled back. He was disheveled and worried, yet entirely beautiful. You mustered what you could of a smile.

           “I’m alright. Glad to see you instead of some demon.”

           Sam laughed softly, placing the tray on the stand beside you. “At least I’m a bit better than those.”

           Looking at him strangely, you began to question him, but he cut you off before you could.

           “I brought you some soup. It’s just the canned stuff, but it’s all we had and I didn’t want to leave you here to go get something better.” He shuffled slightly, tugging his hair out of its ponytail nervously. “You’re at our bunker. We have some…connections that, uh, can help heal you.”

           “The angel, I’m guessing?” You raised an eyebrow. He nodded, that lovely smile of his shining at you.

           “Yeah, Castiel.” He sat down at the foot of the bed as you scooted to a sitting position, placing the tray on your lap. Gently and slowly, you placed a spoonful of chicken noodle to your lips. Sam cleared his throat.

“Well, I guess we should properly introduce ourselves. I’m Sam, and that was my brother Dean you saw before. Him and Cas are out looking into the source of the brothel.”

You nodded, taking in another spoonful before responding. “I’m Y/n.”

Sam took out his cellphone, quickly placing it on your tray as well. “I’m sure you’ll want to call your family and let them know you’re okay.”

You looked at it for a moment, a feeling of dread in your gut. “Uh… well they didn’t know I was going to hunt, so it’s probably for the best I don’t make them worry. I don’t live with them anyway, so they won’t notice for a while.” The words left a bitter taste in your mouth, making you push the entire tray away for fear of getting sick. Or, even sicker, that is.

“Alright,” Sam said, that note of worry returning. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

You shook your head, but panicked as he started to leave, tray in hand.

“Wait!” you called out. He stopped without thought, turning back on his heel to face you. “I…Can you stay? Please? I just really can’t be alone right now.”

Sam’s eyebrows crinkled at your words, yet he placed the tray back down returned to his place at the foot of the bed. You shook your head, patting the area beside you.

“C’mon,” you smiled. “If you’re going to be stuck in here with me, you might as well get comfortable.”

He smiled back, again obeying your request.

“Hey Sam,” you murmured as he finally relaxed.

“Yeah Y/n?”

“Thank you so much for helping me. I…I really need it right now.”

He rested his head against the bedframe gently, stretching out his legs beside yours. “No worries. It’s not bad for me to get some rest either.”

           You looked around the room, noticing very little of Sam within it. There was the closet filled with flannel, and the gun resting on top of a dresser, but other than that it could have been any average hotel room. The bed was comfortable, but hardly lived in. You wondered if the Winchesters ever really got to sleep.

           “Is this where you live, or do you just pass through here?” you asked softly, afraid to entirely disturb the peaceful silence.

           “We hardly stay at any place long, but this is the closest thing to a home base besides the Impala,” he responded, his tone hushed, mimicking yours.

           “Don’t you ever feel…lonely?”

           Sam was silent for a moment, nothing but the sounds of breathing filling the room. After a bit, he finally responded, still in that soft tone.

           “Yes and no. I mean, I have Dean and Cas, and they’re family and always will be. But sometimes…I don’t know. I just wonder sometimes if there’s more out there, you know?”

           You nodded, your eyes tearing up slightly. ”Yeah, I get it Sam.”

           “What about you? I mean, by the sounds of it, you seem to have people to go back to.” His question was sincere, he could have no idea how much it stung.

           “I suppose,” you finally muttered, letting your eyes close. “I think I’m gonna nap. Would you just stay till I’m asleep?”

           He nodded, patting your leg gently. “I’ll stay as long as you want me.”

           You opened your eyes long enough just to see him blush at his forward statement, before letting yourself drift off, with a strangely content smile on your face.

__

           Weeks passed quickly in the bunker, Sam leaving your side only when a hunt called. You healed without incident with Castiel aiding you, though you still felt the resounding discomfort of having a demon once inside you. You bonded with all the boys, began to care for all of them individually, in different ways. You felt for Dean, understood his mindset, wanted him to find some peace someday. You doted over Cas, feeling a strange sense of motherly instincts over the sometimes-naïve angel. Most of all though, you bonded with Sam.

           You learned how he liked his coffee in the morning, watched how he would gently flick each page of the book he was reading, listened to his off-key humming that he thought no one could hear. He was sweet and soft and warm and the closest thing to sunshine you would ever be able to touch. You wanted his safety at all costs, prayed he could find happiness, and most of all…you loved him.

           It felt strange ever thinking it, but it was true. Somehow, within a matter of a few months, he had become your main reason for living. In that way more than anything, you could relate to Dean. Strange as it may be, you had become a part of the backwards family, yet could never fully let yourself belong with them. It felt so wrong to add yourself in with these people who completely opened their arms to you, when you had never offered up any true information about yourself. It was a crime and a sin, yet the thought of leaving was unbearable.

           The same thoughts swam through your mind on repeat, but you brushed them off as you made breakfast. The boys had just gotten home from a four-day hunt, and were particularly exhausted. You decided they deserved a little pampering; besides, if you were going to live there rent free, you might as well help them out.

           You made up Sam’s coffee in his favorite way, copious cream and scant sugar, and began your way towards his room. You finally managed to convince him to take his bedroom back, seeing as you were no longer in need of a comfortable bed to get well in. It took a lot of back and forth and stubborn statements, but finally you were able to get your way.

           You stopped just outside his door as you heard a soft conversation going on. Ever-so-quietly, you peeked in. Sam lied in bed with Dean sitting near his feet, mirroring you and Sam on your first night at the bunker. Sam rubbed his eyes, shaking his head at whatever Dean had just said. You knew you shouldn’t be creeping, yet you couldn’t pull away.

           “Sam, it’s not like you’re forcing her to be here. She’s choosing to stay. Is that not enough of a hint?”

           “I don’t know, Dean,” Sam refuted. “We’re definitely not ‘part-time’ hunters. I don’t want to drag her deeper into this if it’s not what she wants.”

           “That’s what comes with being with us. She’s heard the stories, she knows.” Dean shook his head, sipping the pure black coffee he had gotten himself earlier. “I say you go for it. I gag each time you look at each other, which is a good sign for you.”

           “You think she feels the same?” Sam asked genuinely, his eyes wide and hopeful.

           “Jesus, you’re dense,” Dean muttered. “Obviously, she does.”

           Your stomach was filled with both knots and butterflies. Finally, you could take it no longer, and knocked lightly at the door. Both the boys startled at your sudden presence.

           “I brought you coffee.” You held up the cup, giving a half-hearted smile. “Hey, Dean, you mind giving us a second?”

           “No problem, sweetheart,” Dean consented, grunting as he stood up. “I think I’m going to spend a little time in bed myself.”

           You smiled sympathetically at Dean as he passed you, the hunt taking a larger toll on him than he was willing to admit. Once he was gone, you entered into Sam’s room silently, shutting the door behind you. You placed the coffee on the stand beside him. Gingerly, you spread out next to him.

           “Thank you,” Sam said shyly. You nodded. “Listen, Y/n, I don’t know what you heard but if anything made you even slightly comfortable I’m so sorry-“

           “No, no, no,” you assured, placing your hand over his mouth before he could continue. “It’s just… I need to tell you something Sam.”

           Sam looked at you seriously, his brow furrowing in the typical Sam manner. “What is it, Y/n? Is everything okay?”

           You swallowed. “Do you remember the night we met, when I said I was there to protect my family?”

           Sam nodded.

           “I was lying. It was all a lie. And so was the whole ‘part-time’ hunter thing. I’m more like a wannabe-retired-hunter.” You sighed, rubbing your face roughly, garnering as much strength as you could to continue. “My family died a few years ago in a hunt. It was demons, a whole bunch of them. I don’t know if they just didn’t notice me or what, but I was the only one who lived.”

           “Y/n,” Sam’s voice was thick with emotion. “I’m sorry-“

           “I’ve done everything these past few years to get the same fate as my family did, even burning off my god-forsaken anti-possession tattoo. So, when I went out that night to ‘protect my family’ against those demons, I wasn’t protecting anybody. I didn’t even want to protect myself, at the time. I wanted to leave my house that night and never come back.” You chuckled to yourself. “In a way, I guess I got what I wanted, just not how I planned.”

           The room was heavy with silence as you both digested what you had said. You felt a huge weight off with the secret revealed, yet your stomach was sick with the thought of what may come next.

           “I guess what I’m saying is, there’s no way you could ruin my life Sam. There’s no way you could drag me into the world of hunting, because I’m about as deep into it as one can get. The only thing you can do is make my life better, less lonely, and you have done that more than I will ever be able to express or thank you for.”

           “Y/n,” Sam finally murmured.

           “Yeah Sam?”

           “Can I tell you something?”

           You closed your eyes, bracing for the worst. “Yeah, whatever you need to say.”

           “I’m in love with you.”

           You remained tense for a moment, before the words finally sunk in.

           “What? Sam, I’ve been lying to you for the entirety of our time together. I don’t deserve love, and certainly not from you.”

           “We were strangers, how could I expect you to tell me your whole life story on the first night? Y/n, I don’t care what skeletons are in your closet or what past you’ve had. All I know is I’m falling in love with you, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I can’t help it.”

           You grinned slowly at him, a shocked laugh erupting from your lips as the words finally began to hit home.

           “Oh, Sam,” you whispered, wrapping your legs gently around his waist until you were straddling him. “I love you.”

           With a feeling of joy completely foreign to you, you grabbed Sam’s face in yours and brought your lips together, his warmth sending shivers through your body. You let yourself drown in the moment, forgetting the secrets and the hurt and the past, letting the safety and comfort of Sam’s arms around you and lips on yours be the only thing on your mind. After a few moments, you pulled a way, your breathing slightly efforted.

           “Guess this means we don’t have to fight over the bedroom anymore,” you teased. Sam rolled his eyes, laughing as he pulled you back in for another kiss. For the rest of the night and every night after, his arms never ceased from wrapping around you, his love always there, even in your darkest moments.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Forever Tags:  @jarnesbrnes @spnashley @aprofoundbondwithdean @mrswhozeewhatsis @mysupernaturalfics @waywardlullabies @teamfreewill-imagine  @lucifer-in-leather @sunkissedsam @chaos-and-the-calm67 @purgatoan @stardustsam @secret-stashes @supernatural-jackles @peppermintbisexual @winvhesters @nerdwholikesword @frenchybell @feelmyroarrrr @obsessedwithmisha @thinkwriteexpress @wanderingcas @diestiel @kittenofdoomage @fandommaniacx @trinityjadec @hanny-banannyyy  @nothingtoworryaboat @growningupgeek @d-s-winchester @mysteriouslyme81 @jensen-jarpad @deathtonormalcy56 @jpadjackles @mogaruke @satans666thdaughter @bobbysingerismybaby @keepcalmandcarryondean

Sam Tags:    @captain-princess-rose @ophcelia @thing-you-do-with-that-thing

Michelle’s Sam Tags: @mrswhozeewhatsis @vintagevalentinexx @theficlibrarium @blushingsamgirl @bowtiesandapplepie @itsemmyb @ezauraemmaline @matteson-crazed @castielspahdehrah @beriala @charliesbackbitches @crzcorgi @ellen-reincarnated1967 @gryffindorable713 @gryffindorable713 @deerlululucy @walkingencyclopediaoffandom @mrsjohnsmith @manawhaat @growleytria @thegleegeneration @samtomydeanwinchester @sinceriouslyamellpadalecki @i-never-said-a-pilot @thewinchestielboys @supermoonpanda  @sis-tafics @amaranthinecastiel @fandommaniacx @meganwinchester1999 @kittenofdoomage @samanddeanwinchester67 @prettyxwickedxthings @ferferelli @lilyoflothlorien @myfand0msandm0re @olitzisbae @iridianuniverse @the-morning-star-falls  @shortandlongstories @strange-inhumanity-blog @ackleslaugh @noisilyyoungpuppy @fangirling-instead-of-working @hellbentcrowley @eyes-of-a-disney-princess @roxy-davenport @chrisatplay @kayteonline @spnsimpleman @faith-in-dean @kreborn17 @mamaimpala @for-the-love-of-dean @winchesterfiesta @zanthiasplace @sleep-silent-angel @thing-you-do-with-that-thing @gadreelsforbiddenfruit @trenchcoats-and-bees @curliesallovertheplace @jencharlan @not-so-natural-spn @skybinx-blog @thebunkerismyhome @feelmyroarrrr @winchesters-princess @beachy2014 @fandom-book-nerd @leatherwhiskeycoffeeplaid @tia58 @sunriserose1023 @jelly-beans-and-gstrings @jotink78 @everyday-supernatural-af @notnaturalanahi @howmanytuesdaysdidyouhave @supernatural-jackles @babypieandwhiskey @mysaintsasinner @chelsea-winchester @spn-fan-girl-173 @wheresthekillswitch @shelovesallthethings @iamreadinginsecret @revwinchester @klaineaholic @deanwinchesterforpromqueen @supernaturalismalife @pinknerdpanda @inmysparetime0 @hexparker 

Fluff

Fife by @lipstickandwhiskey (Reader x Sam) - I loved this! It’s definitely realistic because I think the Winchesters would often think the police departments were dumb and/or lacking, and Sam’s reaction and lines at the very end made my Sam!girl heart beat a little faster. Great job!

Pretty Darn Nice by @lipstickandwhiskey (Reader x Sam) - Ahhh, this was so amazing! I love when people write Sam getting the comfort he needs (because I’m convinced he needs it and never gets it), so this made me smile. And to see that you wrote it and tagged me up at the top made me feel just as loved as both Sam and the reader felt in your story!

For the Best by @d-s-winchester (Reader x Dean) - You write Dean so well! The ending for this made me all happy inside, even though there were little tiny bits of angsty feelings sprinkled around throughout the fic. Great job!!! Please keep writing!

Now You Don’t by @plaidstiel-wormstache (Reader x Sam) - I love Now You See Me, so I was really excited to read this after I saw the description! I think you incorporated all the magic stuff really well, and the whole explanation of what the reader did on the hunt was genius!

Imagine Cas Reciting Poetry to You When Your Mind is Troubled and You Can’t Sleep by @kaz2y5-imagines (Reader x Cas) - This made me so happy inside. Not only did you use the gifs of Misha so, so well (because those gifs are enough to make anyone happy), but your Cas just makes me feel so safe and happy!

The Guest of Honor by @revwinchester (Reader x Sam) - This was amazing and super fluffy! Thanks for tagging me, because I loved the overall idea of it and you wrote it so well on top of that. The reader’s personality compared to the atmosphere of the party and her family made me want to laugh, and Sam’s little freak-out about not being good enough for her was true to his character. Great job!

Locksmith by @mysupernaturalfics (Reader x Dean) - While I don’t read smut, I know that the second part of this includes it. If that’s something y’all read, I would recommend it because this part of the miniseries was AWESOME. All I can say is that I would definitely be locking myself out of things more often if I knew Dean was coming to my rescue. Everyone’s emotions in this were so easy to feel myself; you wrote it really well and I’m sure the second part is just as amazing!!

This Car (His Name is Riley) by @writer-picks-the-music (Reader x Dean) - This was so, so cute! I love dogs a lot, and this made me smile. Dean’s definitely a sucker for whatever would make the reader happy, so watching him interact with Riley at the end made my heart melt. Bonus points for having Sam with Riley, too!

She Can Hear You by @not-moose-one-shots (Reader x Sam) - I’m always so fascinated by fics including deaf characters, so this was awesome to read! You did a great job portraying the reader’s excitement at getting her hearing back, and all the comments from Sam were soooo cute.

Portrait by @just-another-busy-fangirl (Princess!Reader x Prince!Sam) - This was short and sweet, and I loved every word of it. It was absolutely adorable and I’ve always loved medieval AUs, so this was perfect! I’m so glad I found it!

Wet Paws by @trexrambling (Reader x Dean) - I don’t know why there are lots of dog one shots lately, but I am not complaining. This was so, so, so cute!! The puppy sounds paws-itively (hahahhaha) precious, and the beginning with Sam was so true to his character. This was fluffy from top to bottom and I adored it!!

Dive by @kaz2y5-imagines (Reader x Dean) - This was sooo incredibly romantic/cute, despite the little bits of angst due to Dean’s thoughts and pining. Nonetheless, I loved it! Listening to the song made it even better, too. (Also, I loved the bartender! He cracked me up.)

In-Between

Alone in the Woods by @whispersandwhiskerburn (No Pairing) - This was so ingenious! The concept was really weird when I read the description, but you wrote it so well and I just kept wanting to learn more about the world they were in! I also loved the incorporation of the song; it’s such a good song and one of my favorite songs from musicals. If you ever wrote a sequel or drabbles about this, I’d love to read them!

Unexpected Part 2 by @hanny-writes-spn (Reader x Sam) - I loved this! You wrote everything so, so well, and I could really feel everything that the characters were feeling. Sam would be such a great dad, ugh. I agree with the reader on that.

Dear Theodosia by @saxxxology (Reader x Sam) - I love your Sam writing, I can’t say that enough! The ending of this was perfect, and I loved every word of it. You somehow managed to make me want to listen to Hamilton, which I’ve never wanted before. Great job!

Imagine Getting a Call Out of the Blue From Sam and Dean Calling in a Favor by @kaz2y5-imagines (No Pairing) - This was great! The little things like Sam ignoring Dean and the fact that the reader kept commenting on Dean’s lack of tact made me smile.

I Wanna Take Care of You by @jotink78 (Reader x Dean) - It’s not common for me to read a lot of fics about readers with epilepsy because there aren’t a lot out there, so brownie points to you for writing one! It can be hard to write about things like this (I’ve tried several things myself), and I think you did a really great job! This was interesting to read and Dean’s reactions to everything were spot on. 

Shots Fired by @torn-and-frayed (Pharmacist!Reader x FBI Agent!Dean) - This was great! I loved how Dean was prepared for it all, and the ending fluffy parts made me all happy inside. I hate to hear that most of that stuff has happened to you, though!! It made me so frustrated because the customers were being dumb, I felt for the reader!!

Prison Break - Part 2 by @torn-and-frayed (Reader x Dean) - I loved this! The first part was amazing enough, but this was such a great way to end it! (If this is even the end; I wouldn’t be opposed to more parts.) I loved the fluff at the end, as well as how you showed them bonding when she was in isolation. The angst in the middle was also so, so well written!!

Taken (Part 12) by @writingbeautifulmen (Reader x Dean, Reader x Sam) - This series is so amazing, and this part was so beautifully written that I had to read it a few times just to take it all in. I loved how you showed both Sam and Dean’s different reactions to John’s death, plus how the reader interacted with them based on that! This was so, so good!!

Angst

Betrayed by @percywinchester27 (Reader x Sam) - This was heartbreaking! I loved it though, and I made sure that after I was caught up with the episodes I went back and read it. I love your writing and this was no exception to your wonderful-ness!

Easy Peasy by @lipstickandwhiskey (Reader x Dean) - I loved what you did with the drabble I submitted! This was such an original way to use it (it’s definitely not what I would’ve done), and I loved the way you had Sam acting as a mediator. 

Broken Ribs, Burned Feet, and a Hell of a Lot More by @saxxxology (Reader x Sam) - This was awesome! You wrote the stuff about Sam so well, and it broke my heart to hear everything about Sam’s torture. You’re such an amazing writer!!

Series Works

Links in the series section are always to the masterlist, or if unavailable, the latest post will be linked.

Somewhere, Someday by @jotink78 (Reader x Sam, Reader x OC) - This series is crazy! It’s definitely something that could be triggering so make sure you read the warnings, but I’m so intrigued by it. I love the way you’re writing how the reader is feeling and how she’s changing over time... It’s so crazy and it terrifies me as much as it makes me want to read more.

The New Princess by @curliesallovertheplace (Reader x Prince!Dean) - I love this series and I was so excited when I saw you’d posted a new part! It’s so exciting to see their relationship forming, and Dean cracks me up. He’s such a rebel prince and that makes me happy. I’m so glad you’ve kept all his little characteristic nuances in your writing; he’s adorable and charming and I love the way you write him!

If It Can Bleed by @imadeangirl-butimsamcurious (Reader x Dean) - This is such a cool idea! The reader’s character is amazing and I can’t wait to learn more about her personality/characteristics/abilities, as well as her past. Plus, the relationship between her and Dean is not only complex, but it makes me happy inside! I hope everyone ends up okay, please keep writing and tagging me!

Escape by @lipstickandwhiskey (Reader x Dean) - Oh. My. Goodness. I love this series so much! The whole ***spoilers*** psychic thing along with the warning signal for it makes me so curious about the reader, and I can’t wait to see how her and Dean’s relationship develops!!

Just Another Case by @whispersandwhiskerburn (FBI Agent!Reader x Mechanic!Dean) - The pairing itself got me interested in this, but now I can’t wait to read more! The reader’s characterization is amazing and feisty, and Dean is staying absolutely true to character. Plus, I’m a sucker for SamJess. This oughta be good!

Cry Wolf by @moonlitskinwalker (Sister!Reader) - This is such an amazing series!! I can’t wait for more parts, the cliffhangers are killing me! I hope it doesn’t get too angsty, but I won’t complain if it does. Your writing floors me every time, and I’m always excited when I see that you’ve updated!

Non-Reader Works

The Winchester Triplets - “What if Dean thought he should be doing... The Talk?” by @littlegreenplasticsoldier (Dad!Dean) - This cracked. me. up. I loved it so much and I think I was crying because I was laughing so hard. This was amazing and I’m glad you wrote these little stories!

Hanged, Drawn, and Quartered by Foolscapper (on AO3) (Sam) - This was so, so good. It’s solely focused on what makes Sam who he is, and I loved the way that it explored that. It’s really unique and definitely something I’ve never seen before. If you’re a Sam!girl, especially one who likes angst, I would highly recommend this!

Beelzebub Has a Devil Put Aside for Me by @chestercbennington , @spnxbookworm , and @winchesterpooja (on AO3) (Sam) - This fic was also super unique and such a twisty mix of AU and canon! It incorporated the relationship between Lucifer and Sam about the apocalypse really well. If you like angst and are a Sam!girl, I’d recommend you read this one, too.