It didn't take long for Evie to pass out in the backseat of the Impala. She was emotionally and physically exhausted, the night's events taking their toll on her. It was late, and the music playing softly in the background and the gentle hum of the engine lulled her to sleep. She had curled up in the backseat, using a jacket she found there as a pillow. Her breathing was slow and steady, her features relaxed as she slept peacefully. Sam couldn't help but smile fondly as he glanced back at her sleeping form. Then he realized she was using his jacket as a pillow. His heart did a weird flutter at the thought.

"Poor girl's exhausted." Dean comments, keeping his voice low so he didn't wake her. "Tonight was rough for her. It's a wonder she didn't call us sooner."

"I know," Sam replies with a heavy sigh. "I hate that she went through that. I hate that we didn't see the signs."

"She hid it pretty well, Sam." Dean points out, shaking his head. "Besides, Evie's a stubborn one. She wouldn't have reached out to us, anyway. You know how she is." He hated it that Evie had was like that always so determined to handle things on her own. But Dean admired her strength, even though it made him worry sometimes.

"Yeah, I do." Sam sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I'm just glad we got to her in time." He looked back at her again, his heart aching for her. He hated seeing her hurting, hated knowing she had been suffering alone.

"She'll be okay," Dean assures him, sensing his brother's distress. "She's a tough one. And now that she's away from that a-hole, she'll have the chance to heal. To move on with her life."

"Yeah," Sam agrees, his gaze flickering back to her sleeping form. "She's strong. She'll be alright. I hope." He muttered the last part, not wanting his brother to hear.

Dean did, though, and shot him a look. "Hey, stop worrying so much. You're not responsible for her, you know."

"I know," Sam mumbles, averting his gaze. "I just...Worry about her, I guess."

Dean chuckles, shaking his head. "Yeah, I can tell." He pauses, his expression turning serious. "You care about her, don't you?"

"Of course I do," Sam replies, a bit defensive. "She's my best friend."

"Uh huh," Dean smirks. "And?"

"And nothing," Sam huffs, glaring at his brother. "I just want her to be okay, that's all."

Dean arches a brow, unconvinced. "Right. That's why you're constantly looking back at her, like some lovesick puppy."

"Shut up, Dean." Sam grumbles, his cheeks heating up. "I just care about her well-being, that's all."

Dean chuckles softly. "Sure, Sammy. Whatever you say." 

Sam rolls his eyes, his gaze returning to the road. He hated when his brother was right. But he wasn't lovesick, was he? He just cared about Evie, that was all. Besides he was dating Jessica. He was happy with her, and she made him feel things he never thought were possible. She was kind and sweet, and everything he had ever dreamed of. And yet...

He couldn't help but notice the way his heart swelled when he was around Evie. The way his skin tingled when they touched. The way his stomach fluttered when she smiled. The way his breath caught in his throat when she laughed. And the way his pulse quickened whenever their eyes met. No, he couldn't think about that now. He was with Jessica, and he was happy with her. She was the love of his life, the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with...Right? He sighed and leaned his head on the window, closing his eyes. But even as he drifted off to sleep, Evie was all he could think about.

****

A few hours on the drive, Dean had noticed Evie started stirring in the back, as if she was having a bad dream. Sam was passed out, his head against the window. He wasn't sure if he should try to wake her up before they reached the next town. He glanced at Sam, debating whether to wake him or let him rest. Evie's discomfort seemed to increase, her brows furrowing as she shifted uneasily. He decided not to wake her up now but check on her when she did wake up.

Little did Dean know, he was right. Evie was having a nightmare. In her nightmare she was back with her abusive ex and he was yelling at her, his voice loud and harsh. She felt trapped, suffocated by fear and helplessness. The scene played out vividly in her mind, as if she was reliving those terrifying moments all over again. As the nightmare intensified, Evie's breathing became more erratic. She tossed and turned in her sleep, caught in the grips of her subconscious torment. Images flashed before her eyes — his angry face, the sound of his fists pounding against the wall, the feeling of being cornered and defenseless.

Dean glanced back at her again, sensing something wasn't right. He debated waking her again, but he didn't want to startle her. Instead, he gently called out her name, hoping to rouse her from the nightmare without startling her too much.

"Evie," Dean said softly, his voice carrying through the car. "Evie, wake up. It's just a dream."

Evie's eyes fluttered open, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. She looked around, disoriented and still caught between the haze of sleep and the lingering fear from her nightmare.

"It's okay, Evie," Dean reassures her, his voice calm but concerned. "You're safe. You're with us."

Tears pricked her eyes as the nightmare finally released its hold on her. She felt a sob building up in her throat, but she fought the urge to cry, not wanting to break down in front of them. She took a few deep breaths, trying to steady herself. She rubbed the back of her hand across her face, wiping away the tears that threatened to spill. She glanced around the Impala, the familiar sight helping her calm down. Dean was watching her, his green eyes filled with concern. And Sam, well he was still sleeping peacefully in the passenger seat. She envied his ability to sleep so soundly, wishing she could do the same. She paused when the jacket she realized the jacket she used as a pillow was on her lap, her brow furrowing. That wasn't her jacket. She glanced at the front seat, realizing it was Sam's. She felt her cheeks heat up and her heart did a little skip.

Dean notices the faint blush on her cheeks and chuckles softly. His face softens after looking at her again. "Bad dream?" He asked gently.

She nodded, unable to find her voice. Her heart was still racing and her body felt shaky and drained. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to collect herself. She didn't want them to worry about her. They had enough to deal with already. But then her heart did a little flip at the fact that Dean was showing concern for her. She knew he had a gruff exterior, but he was actually really sweet when it came down to it. She appreciated him checking in on her, especially after her nightmare. But she wasn't ready to talk about it yet. The memories were still too raw and painful. So she just offered him a small, grateful smile and changed the subject. 

"How much longer until we reach the next town?" She mumbled. 

He was quiet for a moment, contemplating whether or not to push the issue. Finally, he decided to let it go, sensing she wasn't ready to talk. He checked the time on the dashboard. "It's gonna be a while. Maybe try to get some more rest." He suggested, hoping she could relax.

"Okay." She whispers, shifting in her seat and pulling Sam's jacket back up to use as a pillow, taking a deep breath, and inhaling the familiar, comforting scent. She tried not to dwell on the fact that it smelled like Sam, and how nice that was. Her eyelids were heavy and her body felt weighed down, like there was an invisible weight pressing down on her. "Thank you, Deany."

Her voice was quiet, almost not audible over the hum of the engine and the music playing softly in the background. But he heard it. His heart warmed at her words, and he couldn't help but smile, looking at her through the rear view mirror. She was the only one who usually called him that. He always acted like he hated it, but in truth, he liked the way it sounded. It was endearing, and only she had the privilege of using the nickname. "What for?"

"Everything." She mumbled sleepily. Her eyes fluttered closed, and within minutes, she was fast asleep, the nightmare forgotten.

Dean shook his head, the smile on his face softening. He watched her for a moment, making sure she was sleeping soundly. Once he was satisfied, he turned his attention back to the road. He was glad she was able to find some peace, even if it was just for a little while. He knew they had a long journey ahead of them, both physically and emotionally. But seeing Evie sleep peacefully, even after the nightmare, gave him hope that they would make it through together.

****

The next time Evie woke up, first thing she realized was that it was day time. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, illuminating the interior of the Impala. Second, she was starving, her stomach growling. And third, as she sat up straighter and tried to wake herself up more, she noticed they were in a different town. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and glanced out the window. It looked like an old town and she noticed they were parked at a gas station. Dean was gone, she assumed he was inside.

"What time is it?" She asked, her voice rough from sleep. She looked over at Sam, who was still with her in the car. He had woken up before her, waking up when they arrived at the new town.

"Early in the morning the next day." Sam replies. "Dean went to get some something to eat. I stayed behind, didn't want to leave you alone." He admitted, giving her a shy smile.

She smiles back, her heart warming at his thoughtfulness. "Aw, how sweet," Evie teases, grinning at him though her cheeks flushed. "Always looking out for me, aren't you?"

Sam chuckles softly, rubbing the back of his neck with a hint of bashfulness. "Well, someone's gotta make sure you're okay, right?"

"That's true," She grins, leaning forward and playfully nudging his arm. "Besides, you know I'll always take care of you, too."

He smiles fondly at her. "I know you will. You always do."

They share a smile, their eyes locking for a moment. They were still staring at each other when Sam is the first to snap out of his gaze, turning to the box of tapes Dean kept. "Anything in mind you wanna listen to?"

Evie shakes her head, her lips curling into a grin. "Nope, whatever you pick is fine with me. I wasn't lying when I said I like your music taste."

He returns the grin and looks bac at the box. "Man, Dean really needs an upgrade," Sam complains, rifling through the box of tapes. "These are so old."

"Well, what did you expect?" She chuckles, watching him as he goes through the tapes. "This is Dean we're talking about. He's a creature of habit. You know how he is."

Sam laughs, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yeah, I know. But come on, this is getting ridiculous. We need something new."

Evie's eyes light up at his words, an idea forming in her head. "Well, maybe we can remedy that," She offers, sitting up straighter in her seat. "We're in a new town. Let's go see what we can find."

"Dean will probably be upset if we're not back when he comes back." Sam reasoned, though he is clearly intrigued by the idea.

"He'll live," Evie counters, rolling her eyes and unbuckling her seatbelt. Her gaze fell on his jacket now on her lap and her face flushes. "Also, thank you for letting me use your jacket as a pillow." She handed it back to him, smiling shyly.

"It's no problem." He smiled, taking his jacket and putting it back on. He opened his door and climbed out of the Impala, Evie following suit. She beamed when she noticed a record store nearby, close enough they could walk to it. They were lucky that there happened to be one in this town, since they needed a way to replace Dean's outdated cassette tapes.

"Let's go!" She grinned, taking his hand and leading him toward the store. Sam followed willingly, his heart swelling with affection. He loved the way her eyes lit up whenever she was excited about something. He knew she went through a lot lately and he wanted to make her happy, give her any happiness he could. He would do anything to keep her smiling, to hear her laughter, to see her beautiful smile. And so, he went along with her, letting her drag him to the record store.

As soon as they walked into the store, Evie felt like she was in heaven. She was immediately drawn to the rows upon rows of cassette tapes neatly organized by genre. The old-fashioned charm of the store, with its wooden shelves and cozy atmosphere, appealed to her deeply. Sam followed closely behind her, amused by her enthusiasm.

"Wow, this place is awesome," Evie comments, looking down at the box with a grin. "There's so much to choose from. This is going to be difficult. Times like this I hate being indecisive."

Sam chuckled at her enthusiasm, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I'm sure you'll figure it out," He said reassuringly. "You've got a knack for finding the perfect songs, Eve." He nudged her arm playfully.

She blushes at the compliment, her eyes never leaving the box of cassette tapes. Her heart skips a beat at hearing the familiar nickname. He only called her that while Dean only called her Eves, which she had no problem with. But Sam...It was different with him. He always made her feel special, like she was the most important person in the world to him. It made her heart melt and she wondered how she had been so lucky to have a friend like him.

After some deliberation, she finally settled on a few cassettes. "How about these?" She asked, showing them to him.

He looks down at the tapes in her hands and grins, nodding his approval. "Looks good to me. You have good taste."

She grins, feeling pleased with herself. "Great!" She got a couple more different ones and led him to the counter, paying for the cassettes. They made their way back to the Impala, both feeling satisfied with their purchase. When they reached the Impala, Evie spotted Dean approaching.

"Hey, where did you two go?" Dean asks, arching a brow and giving them a questioning look. After noticing the cassette tapes in the bag, he rolls his eyes. "Seriously? You went and got cassette tapes?"

"Yup," Evie replies cheerfully. "We agreed you needed an upgrade."

Dean scowls. "I hate it when you two gang up on me," He grumbles, though there is no real malice in his voice. He can't help but smile at her infectious grin. "So what did you get?" He's curious, even if he won't admit it.

She just smirks, climbing into the Impala and pulling one out to put in. Dean looks at Sam, who shrugs, clearly having no idea either. Then the music begins, the sound of guitars filling the car. Dean's jaw drops, and Evie grins proudly. She can't resist laughing at the look of disgust on his face. "I'm sorry, is this not to your liking?"

"What the h** is this crap?" Dean exclaims, his eyebrows raised. "This is the worst thing I've ever heard."

"What?" Evie smirks. "Come on, you don't like it?"

Dean scoffs. "H** no, I don't like it."

"You're such a stick in the mud." She rolls her eyes, still grinning. "Brittany Spears is a national treasure." She reached over to turn the song up more to piss Dean off even more. The sound of 'Oops I Did It Again' grew louder, and Sam couldn't help but laugh.

"I hate both of you so much," Dean grumbles, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I was nice enough to get you something to eat but now I'm reconsidering."

"Relax, Dean," Sam chuckles. "We got you some others you would like more. Eve just insisted on starting with this one."

Evie sticks her tongue out at Dean, giggling when he glares at her. "You said you got me food? Gimme." She beams when Dean handed her favorite soda and road trip snack to her from the bar he held. "'Cause of your generous gift, you can play whatever you want next." She reassured Dean, popping open the can of soda and taking a sip, sighing in content at the delicious taste of it. 

"Thank God," Dean mutters, grabbing one of his favorite tapes to play instead. "I couldn't stand listening to that anymore."

"You're such a drama queen." Evie rolled her eyes, her eyes shining with amusement.

Dean glares at her. "Shut up and eat your food or I'm taking it back."

"Okay, okay, geez, Deany. No need to get testy." Evie retorted with a small chuckle, opening the bag of chips and taking a bite. Dean had gotten her favorite and she was touched. It was a sweet gesture and it showed he cared, even if he pretended to act like he wouldn't admit it. Sam looked between the two with amusement while Dean continued to grumble as he started the car and buckled up. 

They spent the rest of the drive singing along to music, eating, and just enjoying each other's company. Evie couldn't believe how drastic her life had changed within a couple of days. Two days ago she was with her abusive ex boyfriend and now she was driving across the country with the two Winchesters. She was still shaken up from the events and with her nightmare, but she was doing better. With the help of Sam and Dean, she was beginning to heal, and she felt stronger than she had in a long time. They made her feel safe and loved, and she knew that she would be able to get through this, as long as she had them. 

A/N gotta love some extra sam & evie moments cause i love them so much