Tessa froze, staring at James like he'd just started speaking a foreign language. To say she was shocked would be putting it mildly. In all her years as a reaper, no one had ever asked her out—not once. It just didn't happen. Reapers weren't meant to form connections with the living, much less go on dates. But here was James with a crooked smile on his face, asking her out for coffee as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
James noticed her stunned silence and raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Don't tell me you've never been asked out before."
Tessa blinked, trying to regain her composure. "Not as a reaper," she said softly, her voice unusually hesitant.
"Well, there's a first time for everything," James replied with a shrug. "So, what's your answer? Don't tell me there's some cosmic rule saying reapers can't date humans."
Tessa hesitated, her lips parting slightly, but no words came out. After a moment, she murmured, "There's no rule against it… because there's never been a need for one."
James shrugged again, clearly not bothered. "So what's stopping you? What's your answer?"
Tessa's confidence seemed to waver as she looked away, her usual self-assurance replaced with uncertainty. Finally, she said quietly, "Let me think about it." Before James could say anything else, she disappeared, leaving him staring at the empty space where she'd stood.
James chuckled softly and shook his head. "At least she didn't say no," he muttered. But the humor quickly faded, and his smile disappeared as his thoughts returned to his mother. He'd hoped Tessa might know something about her, even if it was a long shot. But that hope was gone. Not even a reaper could tell him where his mother was—or if she was still alive.
He let out a heavy sigh and flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind raced with ideas about what to train next. Sam and the team still hadn't returned from their trip to Rockford, Illinois, and the days stretched on.
---
Two weeks passed in quiet routine. James stayed in the hospital and focused on training. During this time, his Essence Sense ability advanced to Level 2, and the improvement was clear.
The ability's range expanded, allowing James to sense people and supernatural beings from much farther away. He could also feel their emotions now—fear, anger, sadness, hope, and determination. It was helpful but also overwhelming at times, as the raw emotions of those he sensed hit him like waves.
James's precision also increased. Before, he could only tell that someone or something was nearby, but now he could pinpoint their exact location. This made it easier to detect threats before they showed up and to locate allies or energy sources when needed.
James sat on his bed, still trying to process how much his Essence Sense ability had improved. The range was bigger now, and he could even sense people's emotions. It was a little much sometimes—feeling their fear, anger, or sadness hit him all at once like a wave. His precision had also gotten sharper. Before, he could only tell if someone was nearby, but now, he could pinpoint exactly where they were.
As he was mulling over his new abilities, the door to his room suddenly flew open, and three familiar faces walked in. James raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Don't you guys know how to knock?"
Dean grinned, but it was Ash who didn't skip a beat. "How you feelin' now, big guy?"
James let out a long sigh. "I'll feel a lot better once I'm outta here."
Sam leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "We talked to the doctor. You're getting out tomorrow morning. All clear."
James' whole body seemed to relax. "Thank God. I'm over this place."
Dean clapped his hands together, clearly in a better mood. "Perfect timing. We're hitting up Vegas tomorrow. Sammy, you, me, Ash...and no lame excuses. We're gonna hit the casinos, have a blast."
James raised an eyebrow. "And what about finding your dad? Isn't that your top priority?"
Before Dean could answer, Ash cut him off, his usual grin in full force. "Oh, they already found their dad, all thanks to Dr. Badass over here." Ash gave Sam a dramatic bow, making Sam roll his eyes but smile anyway.
Sam nodded, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, we found him. He's off hunting for a weapon, the Colt, that could help us take out the demon that...well, you know. He said he'd call us if he finds anything, but he wants to handle it on his own for now."
James noticed Sam's face darken just a little, and he decided to lighten the mood. "Well, I'm glad he's alright."
James then asked, "So what's this weapon he's looking for?"
Sam answered,"The name of this weapon is Colt. It's a legendary revolver that's been around for centuries. It's said to be able to kill almost anything, even demons. My dad's been on a hunt for it for a while now. We think it's the key to taking down this demon we're dealing with."
Dean chimed in with a smirk. "It's not just any gun—it's a freakin' game changer. If we get our hands on it, we might actually have a shot at taking down the demon and putting an end to all this madness."
James already knew most of that from watching the show, but it was nice hearing the confirmation. He nodded, his curiosity piqued. "Sounds like it could be useful.
Sam gave a half-smile and then pointed at James. "Don't try to change the topic. You're coming with us to Vegas. No 'I'm too tired' or 'I'm not in the mood.' I'll drag you there if I have to."
James chuckled and stood up, stretching his arms. "It's been a minute since I've had any real fun. Fine, I'm in."
The next day, James was officially discharged. He grabbed his things and walked outside to meet the others. Dean was leaning casually against the Impala, looking like he was ready to race someone.
"Let's hit the road, baby!" Dean called out, tossing James a granola bar with a smile.
The drive to Vegas was filled with laughter, loud rock music, and Dean telling everyone his "Vegas insider tips." By the time they got there, the city was glowing with lights, like something straight out of a movie.
Vegas was exactly what James had imagined—loud, flashy, and buzzing with energy. They checked into a hotel, then wasted no time hitting the casinos. Dean was in his element, swaggering over to the blackjack table like he owned the place, while Ash was surprisingly good at poker. Sam stuck to the slot machines, mostly just to get the free drinks. James found himself at the roulette table, grinning at how easy it was to get lost in the excitement.
As the night went on, they were having a blast—laughing, joking, and enjoying being away from all the hunting and supernatural chaos. For a few hours, they were just people in a city full of people, not hunters or survivors.
But, of course, it couldn't last forever. Dean's phone buzzed, and he immediately stepped away from the group to take the call. The shift in his demeanor was instant. When he came back, the fun was over.
"That was Dad," Dean said, his voice more serious. "He needs us to check out some vampires in Berkeley. They might have the Colt."
James crossed his arms, looking at Dean. "When do we leave?"
Dean rubbed his chin, his expression serious now. "First thing in the morning. So get some rest while you can. It's about to get real."
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