InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "bahahahahh"

Tess of the Endless (oneofmynames) wrote in colligo_threads,
@ 2010-11-07 21:08:00

Entry tags:

dean winchester (end!verse), tessa

WHO: Tessa (open)
WHAT: Working
WHEN: LateSunday night/early Monday morning
WHERE: The park
WARNINGS: death of an npc?

Tessa drifted through the early morning shadows in the darkness that comes just before the dawn. Dressed in dark colors, the fog itself seemed to wrap itself 'round about her like a cloak, and her footfalls were nearly silent even in the stillness.

She had an appointment to keep. A date with destiny. Or, well...Destiny's Sister, so to speak.

It had arrived in the form of a post-it note, stuck to her inside of her door--which had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. A joke, perhaps, thanks to her pretended rival with George? The post-it bore a name, an address, and time-stamp; but Tessa had already known before reading the note where she would be at that precise moment.

She glided soundlessly into the park, where a man and his dog were loping along the jogging path. There was no one else around that she could see, but a peek through the veil between this life and the next told Tessa that this was her man. To Tessa's mild disappointment--because it meant that Dexter's jobs were out of her jurisdiction--External Influences (accidents, suicides, and murders) were George's department, which meant Tessa and the Boss covered everything else.

Tessa was betting on Natural Causes. Not that there was anyone around to take her up on that bet, but her hypothesis was proven when the running man suddenly clutched at his left arm, the dog's leash falling from nerveless fingers as the man crumpled to the ground in a massive, myocardial infarction.

As the man's body spasmed and grew still, Tessa knelt beside him, her eyes glazing over as she gently drew his soul from its former shell. If anyone had been watching, and could have seen what went on in the ether-world, they would have seen a woman in white leading the jogger toward the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. If anyone was watching with the naked eye, they would see Tessa groping a dead body, while calling 911.

After all, she had to dispose of it somehow. The question was...what to do with the canine?

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butiwaswrong
2010-11-08 09:56 pm UTC (link)

Dean didn't see thew whole thing. He wandered around the curve on the path just in time to see the man hit the ground. He stood back, jogging in place as he watched. So sue him, he was curious, and this was a rare opportunity. He slowly eased the movement of his legs, until he stood still. By then Tessa was knelt over the man, cell phone in hand.

Dean waited until she'd disconnected the call before he moved toward the pair of them, and the dog. Dean did not like dogs. Ever since his encounter with the hounds, Dean felt apprehensive around canines. This one was no exception. It was on a leash, but with no one holding the leash, the leash made no difference.

The dog spotted him and surged forward, barking wildly. Dean lurched back, arms up in surrender. "Whoa. Hey there. Whoa. Nice doggy." Dean stood very still, and and when Tessa looked his way he smiled a little smile. "Hi." He moved his fingers to wave.

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	oneofmynames 2010-11-08 11:50 pm UTC (link)
	Tessa looked up as the dog began barking, raising an eyebrow as she saw who it was the dog was greeting. Or fending off. "Hello, Dean," she said, snapping her fingers. "Heel." The dog obeyed, and Tessa reached down to ruffle its fur, taking up the leash as she did. "Good boy." She smiled back at Dean. "You're up late. Or should I say early?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

butiwaswrong
2010-11-09 12:09 am UTC (link)

Dean shrugged. He stole a glance at his wrist, and the time. He didn't figure a comment was necessary. Tessa may not know him intimately, but she knew him well enough to know he didn't sleep on a normal schedule. That much had been true the first time they'd met, which seemed now like a lifetime ago.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets, gaze flickering to the dog warily, as if he anticipated an attack. "Looks like you made a friend," he stated, steely gaze shifting to look her in the eye.

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oneofmynames
2010-11-09 12:22 am UTC (link)

She nodded. For all she knew, Dean didn't sleep. At all. But certainly not on a normal schedule, and certainly not without help in the form of some hard liquor. She supposed it came with the territory. Tessa may have faced death every day, but she wasn't the one who had to do the actual killing.

She glanced down at the husky, who looked up at her with its mismatched eyes. Some Native American lore called dogs with heterochromia like that Spirit Dogs. No wonder he made Dean nervous. "What am I going to do with you?" she asked. The dog just wagged its tail. Tessa turned her attention back to the hunter. "Have you been watching long?"

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butiwaswrong
2010-11-09 12:32 am UTC (link)

"Long enough to see the guy drop dead from a sudden heart attack." Dean pulled one hand out of his pocket to rub his face. "And you called for help as soon as it happened, but we both know you were too late to save him." Not everyone had a fast track to cheating death. Dean shook his head. He didn't want to think about the first time he'd met Tessa.

"What are you going to do with the mutt?" Dean asked. The mutt in questioned seemed to be eying him. It was the blue eye that fraked Dean out the most. He could swear the dog was looking right at him, or right thought him. Maybe right into him. It made him uneasy and he took a step away, trying to angle it so Tessa stood between him and the dog.

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oneofmynames
2010-11-09 12:41 am UTC (link)

Tessa pursed her lips, glancing down at the corpse. She was never going to be there in time to save him. Or anybody else, in all honesty. It wasn't part of her job description. Dean? Well, he'd had extenuating circumstances.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with him. Her?" Tessa shrugged. She wondered how Dean would have felt if the dog had two blue eyes. "Maybe when the paramedics get here, they can see if the guy had family who'd want to reclaim it."

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butiwaswrong
2010-11-09 12:47 am UTC (link)

"Yeah." Dean nodded. He shrugged, and his hands went back in his pockets, so that his shoulders came up in a defensive posture. "Good luck with that." Though the words were laced with sarcasm, he was sincere. At least she didn't offer the dog to him, he'd have to decline. Surely she knew dogs were not his animal of choice.

"Medics should be here soon." He tilted his head, listening. He didn't know if Tessa would prefer he leave the scene, he had no idea what went on when she called for back up on a dead guy. She'd already done her part of the job. Maybe she'd just as soon walk away before the paramedics got there.

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	oneofmynames 2010-11-09 12:55 am UTC (link)
	Tessa caught the gesture and took a couple steps away, bringing the dog with her. "This is why I usually work in hospitals," she muttered, as sound of the emergency vehicle approached. "I just. Didn't want to leave a corpse out where those kids could find it." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	butiwaswrong 2010-11-09 01:03 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah." Dean led the way off the beaten path. He had no interest in answering questions about what he saw, what he didn't see. He didn't exactly approve of of Tessa bringing the dog, but he didn't say as much. The dog wasn't a House, obviously, and as long as it didn't get too close Dean would just pretend it wasn't there. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

oneofmynames
2010-11-09 02:02 am UTC (link)

Tessa followed, keeping enough distance that Puppy couldn't get too friendly. She may not have wanted to leave the dead guy where his remains could be found by passers-by, but she didn't want to leave the dog to run into traffic, or worse. It had tags on its collar--she'd deal with tracking down the next of kin later.

"So this is your second term here, huh? That's got to suck."

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butiwaswrong
2010-11-09 02:11 am UTC (link)

Dean shrugged, followed by a sigh. "The worst part is..." He let his voice trail off. His eyes closed and he scrubbed a hand over his face. "Crowley gave me my job back, but that's about the only thing that's not completely fucked up." He didn't know what to do with Sammy or Cas and Jade or hos other self or any of it. He'd been pulled away right after his three week rendezvous with Claire, before he'd really made progress with Sam. Cas and Jade seemed to have tried to straighten out their lives, and Dean felt left behind, somehow.

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	oneofmynames 2010-11-09 03:10 am UTC (link)
	"Wait a minute." Tessa did a double take. "You work for Crowley? Now that's a shocker." It made her wonder if there was something going on, or if Colligo was just that small of a city that Dean couldn't get away from the crossroad king. "I'm sorry," she said, "I guess I'm just...still getting acclimated." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

butiwaswrong
2010-11-09 10:06 pm UTC (link)

"Security," Dean stated, then clarified. "At the casino." He made an unaffected face. "Paycheck buys the beer." And really, that was what mattered. Drinking got him through the day. Maybe he wasn't any better than Sam, in the addiction category, but at least he wasn't drinking demon blood, and he could convince himself his addictions didn't hurt anyone but himself, even if that wasn't exactly true.

"It takes time," he nodded, acknowledging Tessa's statement. Getting acclimated to life in Colligo took time, and patience and a strong will not to go crazy. And, Dean would throw beer on the list too, because beer was the one thing that got him through the day. Other than that, he figured what didn't kill him would only make him stronger.

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oneofmynames
2010-11-10 12:45 am UTC (link)

Tessa considered this, then nodded her assent. "I guess I can see that," she said, "And if there's anyone who can spot trouble--or a card counter--it would probably be you." She didn't say that he could probably spot someone who'd had too much to drink as well, because as cold as she might come across in her line of work, she wasn't cruel.

"So what's so special about beer anyway? I can't even remember the last time I had one." If she had ever had one. She wasn't exactly human, now, was she? And she certainly wasn't usually corporeal.

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	butiwaswrong 2010-11-10 01:03 am UTC (link)
	"We should do something about that," Dean suggested. He nodded, his expression one of deep thought. "Most places won't serve beer this time of day. Guess you'll have to meet me for dinner. or come back to my place." He waggled his brow at her. They had history, she'd seen him dead and gone, more than once. He couldn't bring himself to act shy around her. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oneofmynames 2010-11-10 01:16 am UTC (link)
	"Ever the charmer, aren't you?" she parried, smirking at him. She'd never really thought she'd see the day when Dean would actually want to be anywhere near her, knowing what she was, but she couldn't say she minded. "Lucky for you, I just came off my shift at the hospital, so I suppose your place it is." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

butiwaswrong
2010-11-10 03:46 am UTC (link)

"Sounds like a plan," Dean nodded. He found he didn't mind Tessa's company. Ever knowing who and what she really was. Maybe that was part of the charm. He'd cheated her out of doing her job countless times. They had a history, if not a relationship. He respected her, and he knew her job wsn't an easy one. She wasn't human, and didn't experience pesky emotions the way humans did, but he knew she was affected by her job, by the man she'd just taken to the other side.

"Except." He paused in his step and eyed the dog at the end of the leash Tessa held. He drew his gaze back to Tessa and shook his head. "Gonna have to find somewhere to dump Fido."

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	oneofmynames 2010-11-10 04:02 am UTC (link)
	She nodded, having seen that one coming. "If you don't mind a bit of a detour, I can drop him off at my place, and track down the family later," she suggested, "I'm just in the next building over from you." Leave it to a reaper to keep tabs on her favorite Houdini. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

butiwaswrong
2010-11-10 06:38 pm UTC (link)

"That should work." Dean would be glad to be rid of the dog. He had pointedly avoided looking at the animal the whole time they were walking. He found Tessa herself to be a decent distraction. Since she wasn't trying to reap his soul, he actually found her attractive, and he thought he might want to spend more time with her, get to know her better.

"You're that close, we might even make a habit of it."

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oneofmynames
2010-11-10 09:24 pm UTC (link)

Tessa smiled, keeping said dog on the far side of her body, away from Dean. She knew he was just looking at her to distract himself from his phobia--or at least that was what she told herself--so it didn't bother her that he was fixating just a little. Besides, after all the times he'd run away from her, there was just the slightest chance that she might actually enjoy the attention.

"I'm not sure if I should be flattered, or if you're just that desperate," she teased.

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	butiwaswrong 2010-11-11 01:09 am UTC (link)
	Dean laughed. It was a rare sound, and he barely recognised it. But there it was. Then he remembered the dog trotting along with them, and he didn't feel like laughing any longer. "Not desperate." He shook his head. "Definitely not desperate." She could read into his insistence however she liked. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

oneofmynames
2010-11-11 01:35 am UTC (link)

Tessa just sighed. Dean was many things, and she would have been surprised if he would ever admit--at least to her--that he was desperate. Especially not when he already knew just how little she was permitted to 'interfere.'

"Well, then, I'm flattered that you've finally gotten over your first impression of me," she said, "And I'm sorry if I freaked you out, back then."

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	butiwaswrong 2010-11-11 02:03 am UTC (link)
	"To be fair, Tessa," Dean said, relaxing a little because it was obvious the dog was staying as far away from Dean as he could. Maybe he knew Dean didnt' like him. "You were trying to kill me. Not exactly the best first impression." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oneofmynames 2010-11-11 02:20 am UTC (link)
	"You were dying," she said softly, her fingers ruffling the dogs fur again. She didn't quite feel she had permission to be so familiar with Dean just yet. Too much history. "I was trying to save you from becoming a vengeful spirit." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	butiwaswrong 2010-11-11 02:51 am UTC (link)
	"Seems like you might have missed the mark, despite the effort." Dean shrugged. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "And my dad was a damned fool to make that deal." It hadn't been fate, it had been part of the plan, laid out before Dean had even been born. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oneofmynames 2010-11-11 03:12 am UTC (link)
	Screw it. She reached out and touched his arm, just briefly. She may not have to deal with pesky human emotions, but it still frustrated her to no end to know that they knew that they knew better and still made their deals with the dark things. "I'm sorry, Dean." She didn't know what else to say. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	butiwaswrong 2010-11-11 03:53 am UTC (link)
	"It is what it is." Dean shrugged. He couldn't change the past. And hell, he'd done the same thing, a year later, to save Sammy after Sammy was already dead. "I stopped b eating myself up over it a long time ago." Around the time Sam said yes, Dean changed his way of thinking about everything. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oneofmynames 2010-11-11 04:12 am UTC (link)
	She nodded, letting her hand fall to her side. He'd made the same deal John had, who'd made the same deal Mary had made, who'd made the same deal God knew how many others had since the beginning of time. She was suddenly very glad they were getting closer to the apartments. "The promise of beer is starting to sound better and better." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	butiwaswrong 2010-11-11 09:29 pm UTC (link)
	"Yeah it is. Dump the dog." Dean nodded toward the apartment complex. "I'll wait out here for you." He had no interest in going up to Tessa's apartment if that meant taking the elevator up with the dog in such a small space. He'd just wait outside, and when Tessa came back, they'd walk over to his building. Without the dog. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oneofmynames 2010-11-11 11:58 pm UTC (link)
	She nodded, ducking inside the building long enough to take the pooch up to her room, and then met Dean back outside and head to his place. Things had been so much faster when she hadn't been confined to a body. Sure, she could have projected over there in a heartbeat, but that would have defeated the purpose. (Reply to this) (Parent)