Dean was right. This was a good surprise. He's had a pretty good streak going, not that I'd explicitly tell him that. I steal a glance at him from where he sits on my right. He cleans up nicely, wearing a navy suit that brings out the color in his eyes and he's tried to tame his hair. He really made an effort tonight.

I can tell that my dad is both confused and impressed by him. All the questions about the car and New York. He's fishing for information trying to figure out who Dean is to me.

My mom is absolutely smitten with him and his manners just like I knew she would be. Dean's turned on the charm.

This is what the world he is trying to leave behind looks like. It's lavish and beautiful, but it's also extremely impersonal. Everyone else in this restaurant looks like they're merely tolerating other people's company. I get why he doesn't want to be a part of it. However, the fact that he brought us here means the world.

Cass totally knew we were coming here. I knew she was in on the plan tonight when she offered to let me borrow her dress; it's a little shorter on me than it would be on her because I'm a little taller than she is, but it's a beautiful dress. I love that it also covers my scar. I don't like showing it because I hate to have it out, flaunting the fact that no matter how many temporary fixes I have, it doesn't matter.

"So how did the two of you meet?" Mom asks smiling brightly at him. Usually that smile is only reserved for me and Ruth. Guess Dean is included in our little posse now.

"It was that fire I was in at my old job; not a big deal at all." I say quickly and Dean gives me a weird look.

"Lace I carried you out of a burning building; you almost-" I reach under the table and pinch his leg hard trying to get him to stop talking. I didn't tell them how if Dean hadn't found me I would have probably died.

"She almost what?" Dad asks, looking at me with an expecting look.

"I almost broke my ankle, but I was fine." I say and that's when I realize that my hand is still on Dean's thigh. I remove it hastily trying to get the blush on my cheeks under control because I probably shouldn't leave my hand there.

"Is that true Dean? You carried Lacey out of a burning building that she happened to omit from when she explained how she went to the hospital for an ankle injury." My mom asks, staring pointedly at him and I can see his mind moving a mile minute. He looks very unsure of what to say.

"Uh, I think I want to stay out of this." He says tapping his fingers on his knee rapidly.

I shake my head, "No. You don't get to ask him about that because all Dean did was save me. I might have downplayed the extent of what happened because I don't want you to worry more than you already do."

Mom stares at me in shock now and I brace myself for all the yelling that I'm hoping they won't do in this really really nice restaurant that has the best food I think I've ever tasted. "Thank you for saving her."

Well that wasn't what I expected her to say. Dad looks quite shocked as well and he takes a sip of his wine.

"It's no problem at all. I like to think I gained a lot that day," He says, taking a drink of his water.

I look at him, carefully noting the difference in his words than usual. Dean's typically a flirty guy, I've gotten used to it. I mean the nickname Barbie should say something.

He's not confusing this for something else is he?

Another course later, my mom asks the question I know she's been waiting all night to ask. "Dean, are you seeing anyone right now?"

I rub my temples, "Mom, that's a personal question."

Her jaw drops and she motions at him to my embarrassment, "Lace look at the boy. He's got a nice face and a sparkling personality so I think it's a great question."

I look at my dad helplessly, "Can't you do something?"

Dad shakes his head chuckling, "You know I can't make your mother do anything."

"It's okay, I don't mind answering. I um... was seeing someone for a while but we just broke up. We want different things." He says trying to stay neutral. I've been around him enough that it isn't okay he has to answer this. There's a tightness to his smile that isn't normally there and I wish I'd thought to warn my parents not to mention any kind of relationship talk.

Mom doesn't get it though. She never gets it because she always insists I talk about how I'm feeling and that keeping things in is only going to hurt you in the long run.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Do you think you'll get back together in the future?"

Oh I so wish I could kick her under the table, but she's sitting across from Dean and I'm sitting across from my dad.

Dean's fingers have resumed tapping under the table and instead of changing the topic, I rest my hand on top of his, feeling how warm his hands are, squeezing slightly for support. He finds his words quickly, squeezing back. "I don't know. It's a bit more complicated than I wish it were, but I don't know the answer to that."

He might get back together with Paige? Since when? Last I knew, he was repulsed by the idea of her. Dean traded in the freaking car that Maddox gave him because he couldn't stand the idea of it! What is going on? I've got to be missing something here.

"Life can be complicated. Do what makes you happy. Life's too short to do anything else." Dad says, looking at me as he says this and I pull my hand back, but Dean's leg is still pressed against mine. It's all I can really think about.

Do I tell them about Chase? How I'm seeing someone and he's a great man, kind and considerate, and so incredibly smart.

"You sound exactly like your daughter. She's quite the optimist." Dean says and I duck my head to look at the food that isn't as appetizing as it was before the conversation.

I'm an optimist because I'd rather not spend what time I have left angry at everything, but right now I am angry. I'm angry because how can he go back to her after everything?

He was dancing on the kitchen table with a bottle of tequila last Sunday because of Paige and Maddox. My heart feels like it's going to explode right out of my chest.

I stand up abruptly, walking away faster than I should be in my shoes. I'm Bambi in anything other than flats. What is wrong with me?

I press a hand to my chest, trying to get my heart rate to slow down before I quite literally have a heart attack. I round a corner where I'm pretty sure I saw the bathrooms on the way in, ignoring the fact that more than a few people are looking at me.

The bathroom is empty and I brace myself over the sink, trying to take deep breaths when the door opens behind me. "Are you okay?" Dean asks, clearly worried as he looks me over. He grabs my wrist, placing a finger on my veins to take my pulse.

Firefighting includes an EMT class. Rapid irregular pulse is a sign of so many things. He's going to find out.

I pull my wrist out of his grasp and back up, trying to take a deep breath. "I'm fine. Go back to the table; my parents are going to come looking for us if we're both gone." I say, turning away from him, trying to take a solid breath of air.

"Lacey, what's going on? We were having a good conversation and then you just got up and left. Are you okay?" He repeats the question and all I want to do is blurt out the truth. It's not fair. It's not fair I can't tell him that I'm going to leave him like everyone else does.

My eyes close tightly as I nod, "I'm okay. I just need a second. This is the women's restroom, you can't be in here."

"Was it something I said? I just need you to tell me so I can try and fix it."

The dress feels constricting, I need Dean to go away. "Go away Dean." You can't fix everything.

His hand lands on my shoulder and I whirl around feeling lightheaded at the sudden movement, "Absolutely not until you tell me what's going on."

"You're going to go back to her. After everything she's put you through the last week? You're going back to her."

Confusion warps his face, "This is about that stupid question your mom asked? I didn't say I was going to get back together with her. I said I didn't know."

I poke him in the chest with my finger, "Exactly. You should know. Paige cheated on you with your brother and the answer should be 'No, we're not going to get back together.' But that's not what you said."

"It's not that simple!"

I struggle to take a deep breath, "Except it is."

Just like I predicted, the door opens to reveal my mom with a worried look on her face. "Are you alright? Is it-"

"No, it's not that. I'm fine. I just need a second."

Dean doesn't let go of where he's holding me and he's trying to read my face. I really hate it when he does that.

"Dean why don't you go back to the table, I've got this," She says firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.

He looks unsure, clearly not done having the conversation we've started, but I am. I don't want to argue with him over this when my parents are here. Dean can date whoever he wants to date. Yet, he still leaves and I let out a sigh of relief.

"Are you actually okay Lace? You look a little pale," Mom says, grabbing my wrist to take my pulse the same way Dean tried to, except I let her. She takes a close look at my face, "Sit on the ground, now."

"Mom, we're in the bathroom, I don't want to sit on the floor. I'm fine."

"Now Lacey. It's one thing for you to need a transplant, but it's another for you to blatantly ignore symptoms. Sit your ass down on that ground right now."

She's using her nurse voice and there's no arguing with her when she does and I sit down against the wall.

I feel like I'm a little girl again and she's taking care of me. They've always taken care of me.

"You like him," Mom says, handing me a cool paper towel to set on my forehead.

"I do not. I'm seeing someone else. One of his coworkers."

My mom sits down on the ground next to me, "I know you. I saw the way your face changed after Dean said he didn't know if they would get back together. You like him a lot."

I take a deep breath, finally calm enough to take one. "I'm upset because she cheated on him. I'd like to add it was also with his brother. Dean deserves better than her. I don't like him, I like Chase." I clarify and she brushes my hair back.

"He doesn't know does he?" I push my tongue against the roof of my mouth and fall silent. She wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me close, "Oh my sweet girl. That man is in love with you. I think it might be a good idea to tell him, but I understand if you don't want to."

I blink back tears before they can fall, "I don't think the bathroom floor is the right place to have this conversation."

"It's never the right time or place.You have to take the chances you have; that man is a chance Lace."

I can feel my heart rate slow down to normal and I clear my throat. "We should go back out there and finish dinner. I know it might not seem like it, but Dean pulled a few strings to make tonight possible."

"Are you okay enough to go back out there?"

Not really, but I don't have a choice.

"Yeah, let's go."

*********

We'd dropped my parents off at their hotel since it had gotten late by the time we finished dinner. The only sound in the car was a few coins rattling in the cupholder as I look out at the sights that have become so familiar to me. It helps that I'm exhausted and don't have the energy to speak. There was a lot of excitement tonight and I'm wiped.

Part of me wants me to reach over and turn the radio on to fill the silence, but I can't. I don't know what to say. I have no business telling Dean who he can and can't be with. It's not my place at all.

He's right though. Dean didn't say he was going to get back together with Paige; he said he didn't know. I do stand by my statement that he should know, but not everything is black and white. I like to think of things that way, but Dean considers the grey are in-between.

"Can we talk?" Dean asks tentatively and I look over at him to see how stressed he is. His eyebrows are furrowed and his jaw is tensed.

"Thank you for dinner tonight. You didn't have to do all that. My parents had a great time," I say calmly, avoiding his question because I don't know what he wants to talk about. The fact that he practically witnessed me having a cardiac episode or that I'm pissed he potentially could get back with Paige.

What a stupid thing to be upset about.

"Lace."

I stubbornly cross my arms, knowing I'm acting like a brat right now. I shouldn't be because he went so above and beyond tonight when he's only my best friend. "That's my name, don't wear it out."

He huffs impatiently, "Why are you upset?"

"I'm not."

"Oh but you are. I know you and you're upset about something. What happened?"

I'm so sick of everyone telling me how well they know me. My mom, Dean, Ruth, everyone. They don't know how mentally draining this week has been. This is the week I found out I'm going to die soon and there's nothing I can do to stop it. But they apparently know me and everything.

I look at him feeling a surge of energy rush through me, "You don't know me quite as well as you think you do."

He looks at me in shock and I feel kind of guilty for snapping at him. "Maybe I don't, but I'd like an explanation for whatever flip switched in you tonight."

"There wasn't a switch. I don't know what you want me to say Dean."

Thankfully we're at my apartment building and Dean parks the car. I get out quickly because the tension in the car is going to kill me if my heart doesn't give out first.

I know Dean is following behind me because I can hear his footsteps, but he waits to say anything until we're back in my apartment. Cassidy's door is shut and I'm guessing she isn't here. I don't see Boo either so she must have taken him with her.

"Can you please just have a simple conversation with me?" Dean asks sounding quite exasperated while I take off my shoes.

"Talk about what? What do you want to hear? How pissed I am that you're going to go back to Paige who slept with your brother? How I'm mad because you deserve so much better than her! You're going to do whatever you want regardless of how I feel about it which is what you should do. It's your life Dean, don't let my opinion get in the way of it."

Dean stays silent and pull his suit jacket off. I know that I liked seeing Chase in a button up, but seeing Dean in one is different. I've spent so much time with him the past few months that seeing him as anything other than my best friend is...weird. He looks good and it's distracting.

"So what exactly are you trying to say? I'm a little confused here." He says, running a hand through his hair, effectively messing up the curls.

"You're not the only one confused. I mean you're my best friend. I just...I don't know," I say defeatedly because my mind is all over the place right now. I should just go to bed before anything is said that can't be taken back.

"Goddammit Lacey, I don't want to be your best friend!"

My jaw hits the floor and I throw my hands in the air, "Then what the hell-" My words are cut off because Dean's mouth covers mine, his hands tangling into my hair, and I fall into a hole I don't know if I can climb out of.