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[broken_brushes]

As much as I hated to admit it, I needed a break from baking. I'd been spending hours at a time in the kitchen everyday since the bachelor auction, and was getting the feeling that if I didn't take some time away soon, I would start hating something I normally really enjoyed. So, I'd skipped my normal evening in front of the oven, had carried a

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[weary_head]

"Problem?" Dean asked, leaning his shoulder against the wall behind her. His face split in an impressive yawn. It wasn't exactly late, but Dean was tired, and at the moment Shari was all that stood between him and his bed.

[broken_brushes]

Excellent. Dean was totally bribe-able, not to mention that he kind of had an obligation to walk me home, as my pseudo-brother figure.

"Hey," I greeted, and turned to offer him one of my best smiles. The sort that said I was just beside myself in excitement to see him. "I don't suppose there's any way I could convince you to walk me home, is there?" I asked, rocking forward on the balls of my feet. "I would be willing to pay you in delicious cake."

[weary_head]

A fan of female smiles in general, Dean returned the smile without suspicion. "I like cake," he said. "Also, pie." She didn't have to pay him in either, but what Shari didn't know couldn't hurt her, or Dean's chances at pie.

"Don't you live somewhere beachy?"

[broken_brushes]

"On a boat, actually," I reminded Dean, and gave the front of his shirt a gentle tug. "In the lagoon. It isn't far, but you know... It's dark and I'm a poor, defenseless girl in need of someone dashing to make sure I get home safe."

Thank God I was a good actress, that's all I'm saying.

[unchosen_son]

Sam had been out because it seemed like out was better than in, what with the clone issue and Dad acting sort of...different. And then there was still the residual feelings from Ginger's funeral, but even so, when he saw Shari, he managed a smile and a mild wave, approaching in the dark. "You okay?" he asked warily. "It's a nice night out here."

[broken_brushes]

"Is that... no. It couldn't be. A smile? On Sam Winchester?" I awed in mock amazement. "And speaking to me in actual sentences, too. Well, now I've seen everything."

Smirking, I hopped over the threshold. "How about you walk me home, and we can get to the bottom of this anomaly?" I suggested with a cant of my head.

[unchosen_son]

Sam couldn't help another smile on top of the last one, but this time it was rueful and he knew he deserved that. "Sure," he agreed with a courteous nod. "Which way you going?" Because he was out for as long as it took to get his mind to settle. "I'm flexible. Really."

[broken_brushes]

"To the boat." I nodded in the direction of the lagoon, and started walking down the pathway. He had long legs, he'd catch up.

"So, I'm just going to skip the song and dance and ask what's up," I continued, and offered Sam a knowing sideways glance. "Because something obviously is."

[texas_forever]

Wandering up the stairs from the laundry room, Tim spots Shari down the hall. Looks like she's about to be leaving, but as Tim makes his way down the hallway, he notices that she's just standing there, like she's expecting someone or... something. Maybe just breathing in the air, he's not real sure.

"Hey," he says, bypassing the rec room to walk up behind her. "You okay?"

[broken_brushes]

I whipped around to face him. "Tim," I said, and I don't know why I was so surprised to see him. Maybe because the last time we'd really talked, I'd told him I loved him and he took it the wrong way, and then I'd freaked out and jumped off the dock and...

Yeah, that was probably why.

"Hey," I added, and pushed my bangs from my eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just, you know." I motioned to the open door behind me. "Trying to figure out how I'm going to get home."

[texas_forever]

Tim looks from her to the opened door and back again, brows furrowing as a frown tugs at his lips. His gaze drops to her legs and he's only more confused, slowing to stop just behind her.

"You havin' trouble walkin'?" he asks, genuinely not understanding what the problem is.

[broken_brushes]

"Oh, that's funny, Riggins," I replied with a slight roll of my eyes. "It's more like it's dark and people have been killed, and... I'd just rather not walk alone," I quietly added, and dropped my gaze, fidgeting. He was going to offer now, and then I would be walking home alone in the dark with Tim Riggins.

This was such a bad idea.

[xiii_pullo]

Pullo was about to leave the Compound himself, and stopped when he found the doorway blocked by a petite blonde.

He didn't say anything at first, only peered past her.

"Something out there, love?" he asked when he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.

[broken_brushes]

Well hello, giant hulk of a man.

I blinked up (Way up) at the guy. "I don't know, and that's kind of the problem," I answered, seeing no reason to lie about it. "It doesn't seem like a good time to be walking alone at night, you know?"

[xiii_pullo]

Finally, a woman with some sense! Pullo knew the women of the island liked to make their own decisions. They did as they pleased, and that included going out at all hours without a thought to their own protection. And look where it had gotten two of them.

"Aye." Pullo unsheathed the sword at his hip, a cocksure smile on his face. "I'll walk you, then, how about?"

[broken_brushes]

"Whoa, okay," I began, and held both palms forward. "Hold up a minute there, Inigo Montoya. I appreciate the offer, I do. Really." Even if it was a little insane. "But I don't know you, and for all I know, you'll use that to chop me into tiny pieces on the way. So, like... maybe try that again but with less sword."

[red_ponytail]

Bill was headed outside, over to his tree though he'd probably end up sitting on the beach staring out at the ocean. Today was a bit better than yesterday, and he knew that each day would get better in degrees, but it seemed like a fucking long process.

He reached the door of the compound and found Shari there, looking as though she was unsure whether she wanted to go outside or not. "Hey, Shari," he said, coming up behind her, and managed a small smile. "All right?"

[broken_brushes]

I looked up at the familiar voice, and offered Bill a smile. "Hey, Bill. Yeah, I'm good." I shrugged, and glanced briefly back outside. "I don't suppose I can appeal to your sense of chivalry and convince you to walk me home?" I asked with my best puppy dog eyes. I wasn't nearly as good at it as Jimmy, but they usually got me what I wanted.

[red_ponytail]

He followed her gaze outside, not needing to ask why she was hesitant to walk to her boat alone. "I can walk you home," he said, tone friendly but without its usual cheerfulness. "No convincing needed." He held the door open for her to go through, then followed her out, sticking by her side as they headed down the path.

[broken_brushes]

"Thanks," I replied as I stepped out and started down the path towards the lagoon. "I never used to worry about walking alone before," I admitted as I looked up at the night sky. "It's kind of scary to think about, now, you know?" I could have been one of those girls that had been killed, and then I'd have to hang around and figure out a way to clue the living in about who killed me. Been there, done that.