A tiny twitch at her lips indicated the small amount of banter eased a little more tension and worry- mostly in her eyes- but the truth of it was the age difference between them really didn't matter to her. It wasn't even a blip on her radar in the grand scheme of things.
Especially after he placed his old jack knife in her hand, and said those words.
Claire's insides twisted hard and completely without warning. It wasn't the first time Dean had put a weapon in her hand and wished her Happy Birthday. The fact that the Dean next to her didn't remember was just as bittersweet as the memory itself. Her fingers closed around it- tightly. Trying to will away the sudden flare of heat behind her eyes.
When he went on, she found it a little easier to think. The emotional fog had cleared, if only a fraction, but it was enough to get her head around what he was saying. Neither one of them were exactly experts at putting their emotions into words, for shared reasons. Humor was their protection from hurt as much as avoidance was.