Behind Bars

As her father followed Dean Winchester towards the farmhouse, Valerie was told to stay behind, out of safety. She reluctantly agreed, watching as they disappeared into the gathering darkness. The crowd was growing restless, and the air was thick with tension. Valerie wandered over to the cruiser, leaning against it as she waited for her father to return. The minutes ticked by, and the silence was oppressive. She checked her phone, but there were no messages or calls. As the night wore on, Valerie began to feel the effects of the cold. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering, and decided to take a walk to the nearby station to see if she could find a bathroom. The corridors were dimly lit, and the only sound was the hum of fluorescent lights. As she walked down the hallway, she noticed a cell door was open, and a figure was slumped against the back wall. Dean Winchester. He looked bored out of his mind, his eyes gazing blankly into space. Valerie's footsteps slowed, and Dean's head jerked up, his eyes locking onto hers. "Hey," he called out, his voice low and rough. "Where are you headed?" Valerie hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "Just the bathroom," she said finally, gesturing down the hall. Dean raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to let me out of here, are you?" Valerie shook her head, feeling a pang of guilt. "I don't think that's up to me." Dean snorted, pushing himself off the wall. "Fair enough. So, what's the holdup? Your dad and I were in the middle of a conversation." Valerie shrugged. "He said something about needing to investigate further." Dean's eyes narrowed. "I bet he did. Well, I'm stuck in here, and you're...not. That's just great." As they talked, Valerie found herself glancing at Dean, wondering what he was doing in a cell. She felt a flutter in her chest, and quickly looked away, trying to compose herself. "I should get going," she said, turning to leave. Dean's voice stopped her. "Wait. Can you at least tell your dad I'm not going anywhere?" Valerie nodded, smiling wryly. "I'll let him know." As she continued down the hall, she couldn't shake the feeling that Dean Winchester was more than just a curious stranger. And she had a feeling that she was about to find out just how much.