Too Much Good Stuff Out There To Ignore

Expecting 9/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 06:51:32 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Expecting
CHAPTER - Yellow Eyes Plans 9/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
SUMMARY - Dean and Sam's lives have always been different and with Dean's pregnant girlfriend joining them life’s going to get a lot more interesting.
WARNINGS - AU story. Draft - all mistakes are my own
BETA - N/A
A/N - My version of season 2 episode ‘All Hell Breaks Loose part 1’ .
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER NINE - YELLOW EYES PLANS

Night had fallen all too quickly and Sam had thankfully convinced everyone to barricade in one room with a line of salt along the doorways and window sills. Sam sat in one corner on a bench against the wall and kept an eye on everyone. Jake was standing by the main door, holding a knife tightly in his hands. Clearly his experience in the army prepared him for long stake outs as he was more awake than anyone. Poor Andy had collapsed minutes ago. He was sleeping by a large wooden table with his arms folded under his head. Ava sat at the same table silently crying over the news that her fiancé was dead. Sam watched her for a moment and wanted to go over and comfort her some more but she had wanted t be alone so he stayed where he was.

Sitting beside Sam, was Pepper, still wearing his jacket with her head resting against the wall. It had taken him ages to convince her to go to sleep. She was physically and emotionally exhausted. Something wasn't right with her but Sam didn't know what that was. All he knew was that being in this place had made her extremely emotional and that was causing her some discomfort. Or at least that’s what he thought was causing it.

Sam was struggling to keep his eyes open. Fighting the need to sleep with the need to stay sharp and keep watch over the others. Sleep seemed to be winning the battle though because Sam's eyelids began drifting shut for longer periods of time. When his head lolled slightly he re-opened his eyes to see the Yellow Eyed Demon standing smuggling behind Jake.

Sam tensed up, "Jake! Behind you!" He yelled, but Jake didn't even make eye contact with him. Sam frowned, a million thoughts running through his head. Maybe he'd gone crazy; maybe Jake was possessed, maybe...

"Howdy, Sam." The Demon smiled.

Realization dawned on Sam. "I'm dreaming."

"What do you say you and I take a little walk?"

Sam hesitated and looked back at Pepper, still sleeping against the wall.

"Don't worry, Sam." The Demon waved a hand slightly. "You're still sleeping. You won’t really be moving from that spot."

Reluctantly Sam stood up and followed the Demon outside.

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Sam slowly followed the Demon down the front steps of the house and in to the middle of the street.

"You're awfully quiet, Sam. You're not mad at me, are you?" The Demon joked.

Sam came up right behind the Demon and growled, "I'm gonna tear you to shreds, I swear--"

The Demon cut him off with a deep chuckle. "When you wake up, tiger, you give it your best shot."

"Where's my brother?" Sam demanded

"Quit worrying about Dean. I'd worry more about yourself."

"Why?" Sam spat. "You gonna kill me?"

He stopped walking and stepped back with his arms out daring the Demon to take his best shot. Not the smartest idea he's ever had but not like he had any other ideas. The Demon turned and smiled slightly.

"I'm trying to help you. That's why we're talking." He explained. "You're the one I'm rooting for."

Sam frowned, "What's that supposed to mean?" He demanded.

"Welcome to the Miss America pageant. Why do you think you're here?" Yellow Eyes asked. "This is a competition. Only one of you crazy kids is gonna make it out of here alive."

"I thought we were supposed to be--"

"--Soldiers in a coming war?" Yellow eyes interrupted him. He grinned before continuing, "You are. But here's the thing: I don't need soldiers. I need soldier. I just need the one."

"Why?"

"Well, I couldn't just come out and say that, could I, Sam? I had to let everyone think they had a fighting chance. But what I need is a leader."

"To lead who?"

"Oh, I've already got my army." The Demon replied vaguely. "Or I will soon, anyway."

"You son of a bitch!"

"Honestly," The Demon continued, not fazed the slightest by Sam's outburst. "I'm surprised you hadn't guessed. I mean, why do you think so many children flamed out already? Max Miller and Andy's brother, what's-his-name-- They weren't strong enough. I'm looking for the best and brightest of your generation."

"My generation?"

"Well, there's other generations, but let's just worry about yours."

"Is that why Pepper's here?" Sam demanded, a new sort of rage filling him. "Is she supposed to be another generation of psychics?"

The demon chuckled and shook his head, "That's make things more simple but no, she's not."

"Then why is she here? What the hell as she got to do with any of this?"

"Payback. After everything you and your family have put me through - especially Dean, killing my children - Getting one of you to settle the score seemed a little poetic."

"Settle the score? You..." Sam frowned until it dawned on him. "The baby, you know about the baby? How?"

"Please, Sam, there’s not much about your life that I don't know." Yellow eyes smirked.

"So, why bring her here? If you wanted to kill her or the baby you could have tried it already."

"True. But it's a little more complicated than that. Personally, I can't touch them." Yellow eyes held a hand up before Sam could demand more questions. "But we're getting sidetracked. Sam, I wanna give you the inside track. You're tough. You're smart. You're well-trained, thanks to your Daddy." By now the Demon was standing directly in front of Sam, whose height didn't bother him even as he looked up to get eye contact. "Sam--Sammy--you're my favorite."

"You ruined my life." said Sam, his voice eerily calmer. "You killed everyone I love."

"The cost of doing business, I'm afraid." Yellow eyes shrugged slightly, with no remorse, though Sam didn't really expect any from a Demon. "I mean, sweet little Jessica -- she just had to die."

Sam's jaw clenched tightly at that. He knew that he had no way of attacking the Demon so he remained still and listened.

"You were all set to marry that little blonde thing, become a tax lawyer with two kids, a beer gut, and a little McMansion in the suburbs. I needed you sharp on the road, honing your skills. Your gifts."

"What about my mom?"

"That was bad luck." Yellow eyes admitted.

"Bad luck?" Sam repeated.

"She walked in on us. Wrong place, wrong time."

Sam's confusion deepened. "What does that mean?"

"It wasn't about her. It was about you. It's always been about you."

"What?"

"Well...okay. You caught me in a charitable mood. I'll show you."

Before Sam could react, the Demon snapped his fingers and suddenly everything around them changed. They were no longer in the middle of the town standing in the dusty road, but in a small dark room. Sam's eyes adjusted until he saw a dark figure standing over a baby in a crib.

"Look familiar?" The Demon asked. "It should."

Sam tensed and went to move towards the crib but Yellow eyes held a hand up.

"Relax, Sam, this is just a hi-def instant replay. Enjoy the show."

Sam watched on hopelessly as his mother, looking just as she must the day she died, she walked in to the room groggily.

"John?" She mumbled, half asleep.

"Mom!" Sam yelled to grab her attention. To warn her about what was about to happen.

"Is he hungry?" Mary asked.

"Shhh" The figure over baby Sammy shushed.

Mary shrugged and turned around, muttering "Okay" as she disappeared.

"Wait, Mom. Mom!"

"What did I just tell you, Sam? She can't hear you. This isn't real."

Sam turned his attention back to the crying baby and dark figure. He became horrified when the figure cut its wrist and let the blood drip in to the baby's mouth.

"What the hell are you doing to me?" Sam asked.

Yellow Eyes sighed, "Better than mother's milk."

"Does this mean I have demon blood in me?" Sam demanded but the only answer he got was a deep chuckle from the Demon. "Answer me!"

Suddenly, Mary rushes back into the room causing the figure over the baby to turn, flashing his yellow eyes at her.

"It's you." She gasped.

"She knew you" Sam said with a deep frown.

Unable to stop it, Sam watched as his mother tried to save him but got thrown against a wall for her efforts.

"No! No!" He started screaming in protest.

"I don't think you wanna see the rest of this." Yellow eyes snapped his fingers once again.

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Sam's eyes snap open and he was back in South Dakota with Jake and Andy standing over him and Pepper still sleeping beside him. Jake was shaking his shoulder.

"Sam, wake up! Ava's missing." Jake told him.

"What?" Sam asked.

He stood up causing Jake and Andy to step back.

"How long has she been missing?"

"I don't know. I just my eyes for a couple of seconds and when I opened them again she was gone." Jake replied. "Come on, we gotta go look for her."

"Ah, yeah, right." Sam nodded. "Andy, can you do me a favor and stay here with Pepper?"

"Um, what if something happens?" Andy asked

"You'll be fine, just don't leave this room and don't break the salt barriers." Sam replied. "Okay? And if she wakes up let her know that I'll be right back."

Andy gave a quick nod and Sam glanced down at Pepper one more time before he and Jake ventured outside.

"I'll take the barn and hotel." said Jake. "You take the houses."

"All right." Sam quickly agreed. Meet back here in ten minutes, okay?"

"Okay."

Jake turned and headed in one direction while Sam headed in another.

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Sam was just about to break into one of the houses when he heard Pepper scream his name out in a loud panic. He turned and ran, nearly tripping down the old wooden stairs on his way. When he ran in to the room that should have been protected he stopped in his tracks. Pepper was on the floor leaning over Andy's body which was covered in blood and claw marks.

"Pepper!" Sam's yelled

She looked up at him, tears spilling down her face. "Sammy!" She cried. "I -- I don't know what happened. I woke up and Andy was screaming with that Demon on him. I threw some salt but I don't know where it went."

Sam's eyes darted around the room for a second before returning to Pepper and Andy. Sam knelt down on Andy's other side. It was then that he noticed Pepper's hands, one pressing against the deepest cut on Andy's chest and the other against his neck.

"Is he dead?" Sam asked.

Pepper violently shook her head. "No. I've got a pulse. It's weak but...Sammy, we need to get him to a hospital."

Sam nodded. Getting Andy to a hospital wasn't really something he could do right now and Pepper knew that. Sam frowned and looked around the room one more time.

"How did this happen? This place was completely salted."

"I...Sammy, where’s Jake and Ava?" She suddenly asked.

"Ava's gone missing. Jake's out looking for her." Sam replied in a rush. "I'm sorry; I thought you were safe here. I--"

"--Sammy, please just get us out of here." Pepper pleaded desperately.

Sam wanted so badly to be able to do that for her but there was nothing he could do about it. He was about to tell her something, maybe lie and tell her that they were getting out now, when he heard a noise from the next room. He tensed up and looked out in to the hall.

"Pepper, I'm gonna go see what that is." said Sam, hating himself as he said the words. If he left her and something happened to her he would never forgive himself. Hell, neither would Dean. "I swear I'll only be a second and then I'm coming right back."

"I know." Pepper nodded.

Sam stood up and left the room as soon as he could because the sooner he left the sooner he could get back.

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"Ava?!" Sam yelled.

Ava was lying on the floor, a bit of blood on her clothes. She looked up at Sam with tears shining in her eyes.

"Sam! What happened?" She asked, while pulling herself off the floor.

"Ava, where were you? We were looking for you."

"I just went to get some water from the well." She explained. "I was only gone maybe, like, two minutes! I was on my way back when...I don't know what happened."

"You shouldn't have gone outside. Ava, we have to stay here..." Sam glanced over her shirt where the blood was and saw that there was no rip in the fabric, nor were there any cuts or bruises anywhere on her.

"Ava, whose blood is that?" He asked while pointing to her shirt.

Ava glanced down before looking back up at Sam. "I don’t know, maybe the Demon--"

"--That's Andy's blood isn’t it?" Sam demanded.

"What? You think that I--'

"--I'll tell you what I think: five months. You're the only one with all that time you can't account for. And that headache you got? Right when the Demon got Lilly." Sam accused. Suddenly everything was beginning to fall in to place.

"What are you trying to say?" Ava cried

He looked at her and shook his head slightly.

"What happened to you?"

"Nothing!"

Sam continued to stare at her until finally she gave in, letting the fear in her face get replaced by a slight smile. She took in a breath and let it out again.

"Had you going though, didn't I?" She asked, while wiping away her fake tears. "Yeah. I've been here a long time. And not alone, either. People just keep showing up. Children, like us. Batches of three or four at a time."

"You killed them?" Sam asked "All of them?"

Ava shrugged, "I'm the undefeated heavyweight champ."

"Oh, my god."

"Don't think god has much to do with this, Sam."

"How could you?" He demanded.

"I had no choice. It was me or them." She explained, as if that made it all okay. "After a while, it was easy. It was even kind of fun. I just stopped fighting it."

"Fighting what?"

"Who we are, Sam. If you just quit your hand-wringing and open yourself up, you have no idea what you can do" Ava replied then smiled. "The learning curve is so fast," Ava clicked her fingers. "It's crazy, the switches that just flip in your brain. I can’t believe I started out just having dreams. Do you know what I can do now?"

"Control demons" Sam replied.

"Ah," She drawled slightly. "You are quick on the draw." Pausing slightly to place her hands against her temples."

Sam quickly turned around to where a window sat open. Black smoke beginning to drift in to the room from outside and Sam knew that it was a demon coming to do Ava's bidding.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, Sam." Ava shook her head ever so slightly. "But it's over."

Sam spun back around just as Ava tightly closed her eyes to concentrate. Sam bent down and luckily found an old copper pipe on the floor. He picked it up, ready to defend himself and turned back to the smoke. About half a second later, he hear a slight snap and turned around just in time to see Ava's body drop to the floor and Jake's hands slip from her neck. The black demon smoke disappeared out the window once more.

Sam stared at Ava's body and then looked up at Jake, who was also looking at Ava. Jake seemed shocked that he could just snap her neck like that. Sure, Ava wasn't an innocent in this; she had been killing people for months. Sam wanted to ask Jake if he was okay but he knew that their time was running out. He needed to get them all out of here.

"Thanks," Sam nodded.

"Yeah..."

"We've gotta get out of here." Sam glanced down once more at Ava. He dropped the pipe and moved out of the room with Jake right behind him.

He rushed back to Pepper, who was still holding on to Andy. Sam knelt down beside her and placed a hand on her back.

"Pepper, we have to go." He told her.

"W-what?" She asked, shifting her eyes from Andy. "What happen to Ava?"

"She, um..."

"She's dead. She killed Lilly." Jake replied, maybe so Sam wouldn't have to say it.

Pepper let out a breath and squeezed her eyes shut. A single tear rolling down her cheek. Sam knew that she wasn't shedding tears for Ava but from the pure emotional stress that all of this was putting on her.

"C'mon" Sam said gently. "We need to get out of here."

Sam tried to help her up but for some reason Pepper wasn't budging.

"Please, Pepper, we can't stay here any longer."

"What about Andy?" She asked. "We can't just leave him here."

"Isn't he dead?" Jake asked

Pepper's head snapped up to glare at Jake. "No." she replied forcefully. "He's still breathing...slightly..."

Sam looked at Jake. They both knew that with the extent of Andy's wounds and the fact that he was barely breathing meant that there was nothing they could do for him. He was dead he just hadn't taken his last breath yet.

"Pepper, we have to leave him. I'm sorry there’s nothing we can do for him now." Sam told her as gently as he could.

Pepper turned looking at Andy. After a few seconds she slowly nodded, finally agreeing to leave their friend. With Sam's help she got to her feet and wiped the remainder of Andy's blood from her hands on her top. Sam grabbed her hand and began pulling her away from Andy's body. The quicker they were out of here the better. For him; for Pepper and more importantly for the baby.

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Dean drove the Impala along a road close to the edge of some woods and he wasn't exactly following any speed limit either. John and Bobby's warnings to go a little slower (so they didn't all die) fell on deaf ears. All Dean cared about was getting to Pepper and his brother, whether that meant getting there in one piece or not.

At the speed he was going, Dean nearly didn't see the massive tangle of tree's that were blocking the road. Thankfully though, Bobby pointing it out and the Impala came to a sudden stop. As John and Bobby got out of the car, Dean let out a frustrated breath, feeling as though the whole universe was on some sick mission to keep him from getting to his family.

"Looks like the rest of the ways on foot." said Bobby after he'd inspected the trouble on the road.

He and John moved around to the back of the car ready to grab whatever weapons they could. Dean quickly joined them and unlocked the trunk. Each of them pulling out shotguns and saw'd off’s. Dean checked that his gun was fully loaded before he closed the trunk back up.

"Let's go." He said and didn't wait for a response as he took off.

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Sam still held on tightly to Pepper's hand as he lead her out of the house and out in to the middle of the town, while trying to think of the best way to get the hell out of there. Sam needed to get Pepper away from this place as he had noticed that her breathing had changed and was becoming more rapid. He thought it was just because she was emotional, panicked and scared about... well everything.

Jake was following behind them not saying a word.

"I think we can make it out of here now." Sam said as he squeezed Pepper's hand to comfort her.

"But the Acheri demon..." Jake began

"No, no, no." Sam quickly replied. "Ava was summoning it, controlling it. It shouldn't come back now that she's dead. We've gotta go."

Behind Sam and Pepper, Jake shook his head and came to a stop.

"Not 'we', Sam." said Jake.

Sam and Pepper turned back around to face him, with Sam frowning deeply.

"Only one of us is getting out of here." Jake went on. "I'm sorry."

"What?" Sam demanded.

"I had a vision. That Yellow-Eyed Demon or whatever it was, he talked to me. He told me how it was."

"No, Jake, listen. You can't listen to him." Sam began desperately

"Sam, he's not letting us go. Only one. Now, if we don't play along, he'll kill all three of us." said Jake.

Sam unconsciously moved a stepped so that his body was between Jake and Pepper's while Jake continued.

"Now, I like you, man. I do. And you seem nice," Jake added looking over Sam's shoulder to Pepper.

"Then don't talk about killing us!" Pepper snapped, with one hand over her stomach.

"Look, it's not something that I want to do." Jake quickly replied. "But do the math here. What good's it do for us all to die? Now, I can get out of here. I get close to the demon, I can kill the bastard."

"You come with us, we can kill him together."

Jake shook his head, "How do I know you won’t turn on me?"

"I won’t." Sam said, looking him straight in the eye.

"I don't know that."

"Sam isn't the one talking about killing you or the pregnant woman." said Pepper.

"Pepper," Sam said, tugging on her hand. The last thing he needed was for her to provoke Jake in to doing something everyone would regret.

Sam watched Jake for a long moment. Then he reluctantly let go of Pepper's hand and held his hands up in a sign of surrender. Then he reached in to his pocket before pulling out his knife.

"Okay, look." Sam said while giving Jake a clear look at the knife and then bending down to slowly place it on the ground. "Just come with us, Jake. Don't do this. Don't play into what it wants."

There was a long pause where Sam and Pepper waited on baited breath to see what Jake would do. Sam was trying to think of the quickest way to get Pepper as far away from Jake as possible if Jake did not listen to them. It would be better to figure all that out if Jake wasn't sporting incredible strength.

Slowly, Jake bent down to the ground just like Sam had done and placed his own weapon beside the knife. Sam let out a breath of relief as Jake came back up to stand. At least that was one less thing he'd have to worry about.

"Okay." Sam smiled.

Sam relaxed a little too soon though, because while one minute Jake was looking calm, the next thing he swung his arm Sam under his jaw. The impact of the punch was so strong that it caused Sam to fly across the field. He bumped into Pepper's side causing her to fall to the ground hard with a loud cry, before he crashed into an old wooden gate and landed on the ground.

Sam winced in pain but tried to push it aside as he struggled to get up. He looked over and saw Jake approaching him, kicking a broken bit of the fence out of his way. It was then that Sam remembered hitting Pepper and glanced around for her. He saw her lying on her back a few feet away from Jake. Sam could express how glad he was that Jake was coming towards him and not Pepper. He had a better chance to defend himself than she did and if he could keep Jake busy than maybe Pepper and her baby could get away. As long as Jake's full attention was on Sam, there was a chance.

Suddenly Jake was standing over him, and Sam looked at Pepper one more time, hoping that she'd be okay. Pepper awkwardly rolled onto her side and sat up just enough to see Sam on the ground. Tears where flowing down her face.

Jake moved quickly over to Sam, ready to attack but Sam was ready and lifted his leg, kicking Jake in the stomach three times. It didn't cause much damage though but it did give him enough time to scramble to his feet while Jake stumbled backwards slightly. One thing that was constantly running through Sam's mind was keeping Jake as far away from Pepper as he could. This thought distracted Sam as it gave Jake the opportunity to punch him in the shoulder. Sam cried out as the force from the blow turned him around. Then Jake hit him in the back and Sam cried out once more and fell back to the ground, clutching his arm which was more than likely broken.

Sam quickly made it to his feet before Jake could move towards him. Everything after that happened pretty fast for Sam to think of anything. Jake went to punch him but Sam moved out of the way and Jake ended up punching the fence. His hand got caught which gave Sam a chance to really fight back. Grabbing hold of Jake's shoulders, Sam started kneeing him as hard as he could in the gut and chest. Then when Jake did manage to get his arm free he was a little wobbly. He stumbled and nearly fell over, and before he could right himself, Sam kicked him with all the strength he had. Jake crashed into the fence and broke another part of it, landing a short distance up from where Pepper laid.

Jake had hit his head when he fell so Sam had a few extra seconds as he tried to regain focus. While Jake very slowly moved, Sam walked over to their abandon weapons and picked up Jake's iron rod and just as Jake managed to get to his feet, Sam swung the rod with his good arm and knocked Jake back down. Jake's head lolled to the side and then stilled.

Sam stared down at him, breathing heavily as he tried to get his anger under control. He clutched the iron rod tightly in his hand and raised his hand ever so slightly as the thought of bringing the rod down across Jake flashed through his mind. Then just as quickly he threw the rod to the side. He wouldn't become a killer, at least not like that. Demons where one thing but human, especially an unconscious one did not deserve to die.

Behind him, Pepper cried out in pain and Sam turned and all but ran towards her. When he reached her, he dropped to his knees beside her and grabbed her with both arms (ignoring the pain of his broken one) helping her to sit up.

"Hey, are - are you okay?" He asked in one long breath while looking her over with a worried eye.

She shook her head violently, tears still spilling down her face.

Sam panicked. He didn't know what to do. Pepper seemed to be in a lot of pain and he had no idea if the fall had done any damage to her or the baby. Plus Sam had no idea how he was going to get them out.

"SAM!"

Sam and Pepper both looked at each other with wide and daring hopeful eyes as they heard the sound of Dean's voice drifting towards them. Sam helped Pepper to her feet, while trying not to wince in front of her as the movement put strain on his injured arm. Besides she looked like she was in much worse pain anyway. They turned around and saw, Dean, John and Bobby walking towards them.

The three men all visibly relaxed when they saw Sam and Pepper alive.

"Dean!" Sam yelled and a huge weight lifted from his shoulders.

Sam felt Pepper relax against him for the first time in hours and he felt more relieved than he could ever remember feeling in his entire life and smiled when his brother, father and Bobby walked towards them.

Behind Pepper and Sam, Jake regained consciousness and reached out, picking up Sam's knife and staggering to his feet. Dean was the first to see him and raised his gun.

"Sam, look out!" He yelled.

Sam turned around and saw Jake lunge at him. He pushed Pepper out of the way and heard her cry out once more. Sam tried to fight Jake off with his good arm but with Jake's super strength he wasn't having much luck. John, Bobby and Dean all broke out into a run as they tried to come to Sam's aid. Then a sudden shot was fired and Jake stumbled backwards before dropping the knife. Sam spun around and saw John standing off to his left with the barrel of his gun smoking, and then he turned back to Jake who was clutching his side and making a run for the woods.

"Tha--" Sam began but was interrupted when Pepper cried out in pain.

Sam turned back around and hadn't realized that when he had pushed her away from Jake, that he'd pushed her to the ground once again. Dean was at her side in an instant. His gun laying forgotten in the dirt where he'd dropped it. Dean roamed his hands all over her, checking for wounds of any sort since there was blood on her clothes.

"Oh god, are you okay?" He asked in one long rush.

"No!" She yelled back.

"Why - what?-" Dean started to ask.

Bobby came up behind them, "-Pepper, did your water break?" He asked

"What?" Dean asked, turning his head sharply to Bobby.

Pepper nodded and cried out again, reaching out for Dean's hands. Dean took her hands in his and squeezed them as tight as he could. Trying to comfort her, even though inside he was beyond freaking out.

"But, it's too soon. Right? This is bad." Dean said.

John stepped up and placed a strong hand on Dean's shoulder.

"Everything is going to be okay." John said with his stern that's-an-order voice. Hoping to ease his son's stress.

Dean mutely nodded but couldn't bring himself to believe it just yet.

"Dean," Pepper whispered.

Dean sighed and moved closer against her, leaning his forehead against hers.

"Yeah?"

"Can you do something for me?" She asked

He closed his eyes and briefly brushed his lips against hers. "You name it."

"Can you get us out of here?"

Dean made a short sound that was somewhere between a sigh and a laugh. He pulled back and gave her his famous grin. He kissed her once then let go of her hands to move to her side. He helped her to her feet and with the help of Bobby, who had moved to her other side, they helped her to walk.

John had picked up Dean's gun and held it with his own as he came over to Sam to help see if he needed help. Sam was glad for the offer and took one gun of John, holding it in his good arm before allowing John to place the same arm over his shoulder.

"Things are going to be okay. Right Dad?" Sam asked quietly so that Dean, Pepper and Bobby couldn't hear him. Thought they were moving a hell of a lot faster than they were so there really was no chance they'd hear anyway.

"You're damn right it will." John replied.

Because if anything did go wrong John wouldn't know what to do. He didn't think that his boys would know what to do and they shouldn’t have to.

"I'll tell you one thing though." John lightly began, trying to offer his youngest some form of hope. "It's gonna be a hell of a tight fit back in the Impala."

TBC

Next Chapter - Welcome To The World

Behind Bars - Video

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:51:10 GMT

Song Title/Vid Title: Behind Bars
Vidder: ShadedColouredLights
Artist: Joel Turner with Rebekah Lavauney and The Mordern Day Poets
Category: AU, Angst
Characters: Dean, Sam, Ellen
Pairings: None
Warnings: Contains clips from 4x10
Summary: The Law finaly catches up with Dean and he gets sent to jail. Things are not going too well for him as he is being hassled by both the gaurds and his fellow inmates. Sam and Ellen try to help him but Dean refuses their help because he doesn't want to appear weak. Both Sam and Ellen are finding hard to just sit back and watch this happen while Dean just wants to do his time and leave, but will he be able to survive before his sentance is up?
Extra info: Dean in jail=Dark clips, Sam/Ellen=Light clips, Dreams/Wishes=White/Light clips
PLEASE WATCH IN HIGH QUALITY

YOUTUBE

Expecting 8/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:51:04 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Expecting
CHAPTER - Gone 8/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 6563
SUMMARY - Dean and Sam's lives have always been different and with Dean's pregnant girlfriend joining them life’s going to get a lot more interesting.
WARNINGS - AU story. Draft - all mistakes are my own
BETA - N/A
A/N - My version of season 2 episode ‘All Hell Breaks Loose part 1’ .
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER EIGHT - GONE

Dean pulled the Impala up to the front of a small cafe that was thankfully still open at such a late hour. The local 80s' rock station playing on the radio and a light drizzle of rain falling outside. They were on their way to Bobby's as Pepper was coming close to her due date and spending two weeks lounging around Bobby's would be a welcome break for both Dean and Sam. The idea was to drive straight to Bobby's. Even though it was late, Dean could handle the long drive but they were all hungry so a few minutes stop wasn't gonna hurt them.

As Dean stopped the car, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of cash before handing it to Sam.

"Hey, don't forget the extra onions this time, huh?"

"Dude, I'm the one whose gonna have to ride up front with your extra onions." Sam replied. When Dean grinned, Sam rolled his eyes and got out of the car.

"I'll be back in a minute." Pepper said from behind Dean. "Gotta pee."

Dean pulled a face, not really needing to hear about her bathroom habits. Pepper leaned over awkwardly towards Dean and kissed him quickly before slowly getting out of the car, her largely pregnant stomach make her movements less graceful than normal. Sam opened the car door for her and offered her a hand as she got out of the car.

"Hey, see if they've got any pie." Dean shouted as he leaned over a little.

Sam gave him a glare before shutting the Impala doors. Pepper laughed and led the way towards the cafe, Sam following behind her.

"Bring me some pie!" Dean shouted after them. "I love me some pie." He mumbled to himself. Grinning, he turned the radio up a few more levels and watched Sam and Pepper move around the cafe through the windows.

Dean couldn't stop grinning and leaned back against the seat. He was happy there was no denying that, not that he'd want too. They hadn't faced any dangerous Hunts in months, Dean knew exactly where everyone who was most important to him was, and most importantly he was going to be a father in just over two weeks. For once life was pretty damn sweet.

Suddenly the radio crackled and static filled the air. The grin faded from Dean's face and he sat up before fiddling with the dials on the radio. That didn't seem to work because the entire thing just turned off. Something was wrong; Dean could feel it in the pit of his stomach. He looked up at the cafe. There was no sign of Sam or Pepper, or anyone. As fast as he could, Dean got out of the Impala and raced into the cafe.

One of the cafe customer's was face down in a puddle of blood at a booth. It looked like whatever was here didn't leave any survivors. At that thought an overwhelming sense of dread filled every bone in Dean's body. He pulled out his gun from behind his back and held it in front of him at the ready.

"Sam?" He yelled, looking around.

Behind the counter are the cafe employees, all on the ground with their throats cut and blood along the ground.

"Pep?" He yelled and raced into the female bathroom. He was afraid of what he would find in there. As he opened the cubical doors he found himself muttering "Please. Please. Please" over and over again. However he came up empty.

Walking back out to the main area, Dean moved to the back door. He opened it and looked out into the dead of night. No sign of Sam or Pepper. There wasn't even a sign of a struggle.

"Sam!" He yelled hoping that his brother was simply behind a tree. Knowing that wasn't the case. He closed the door and tried to collect his thoughts. If he panicked he wouldn't be able to find them. Before the door could close though, Dean noticed something underneath his hand. He frowned for a second until he inspected in closer then with wide eyes and a new sense of fear he muttered, "Sulfur."

Dean ran back outside towards the car, frantically looking around for any sign of Sam or Pepper but coming up with nothing. This was bad. This was very, very bad.

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Sam opened his eyes and blinked a few times. It took him a few moments to realize what had happened. With a deep frown he stood up and looked around, a panic rising inside of him when he saw that not only was he not in the cafe anymore but that he couldn't see Dean or Pepper either. He grabbed his cell from out of his pocket and silently cursed when he got no reception.

He tried to find some sort of clue to tell him exactly where he was but all he could see was that he was in some kind of old abandon town. It looked like something from one of those old Western movies Dean watches on TV.

Sam began checking the nearest buildings for any sign of Dean or Pepper. Out of nowhere he heard movement coming from the distance around the side of the building, hoping that it was Dean but also knowing that there was an even larger chance that it was going to be something else, Sam grabbed a nearby plank of wood. Ever so slowly he made his way closer to the sound. He jumped back startled when Andy Gallagher appeared.

"Andy?" Sam asked, dropping the plank of wood.

"Sam!" Andy shouted, just as confused as Sam. "What are you doing here?"

"I don't know" Sam replied honestly, wiping his hands on his pants.

"What am I doing here?!"

"I don't know"

"Where are we?!"

"Andy, look, calm down."

"I can't calm down!" Andy said in a panic. "I just woke up in freaking Frontier land!"

Sam paused for a moment, trying to get his grip on what was going on before he asked, "What's the last thing you remember?"

"Honestly?" Andy began, "My fourth bong load. It was weird. All of a sudden, there was this really intense smell. Like, uh..."

"Like sulfur?" Sam asked.

Andy nodded shortly, "How did you know that?" He asked

Sam ignored him as his mind filled with images of what had happened to him. One minute he was grabbing pie for...

"Dean." Sam muttered, not realizing it.

"Your brother-" Andy said suddenly. "Is he here?"

"I don't know where he is. I don't know if he's--"

Sam was suddenly interrupted by a large ear piercing scream coming from a nearby building. Immediately, Sam rushed off towards the sound, Andy quick behind him for the protection more than anything. The screaming continued as Sam and Andy came closer.

"Hello?"

"Help me! Help me, please!" The woman screamed

"Okay, I'm here." Sam tried to assure her as he looked at the locked door. "We're gonna get you out, all right? Just hold on a second."

"Please!" The woman cried.

Looking around quickly, Sam found a large rock and picked it up. He used it to break the lock keeping the woman inside. Once the lock was broken, Sam removed it, "All right, one second." he said before thrusting the door opened.

"Ava?" Sam asked, out of all the people he would have thought was behind that door, Ava Wilson wouldn't have been one of them.

"Oh my God! Sam!" Ava all but screamed before throwing herself into Sam's arms.

"So, I guess you guys know each other." Andy said from the side.

"Yeah," Sam nodded.

Ava pulled back, looking completely lost with tears in her eyes.

"How did you--I mean, how did I get--"

"Ava, have you been here this whole time?" Sam asked carefully.

"What whole time?" Ava asked confused. "I just woke up in there, like, half an hour ago."

"Well, you've been gone for months." Sam regretfully told her. "My brother and I have been looking for you everywhere."

"Okay, that's impossible, because I saw you two days ago."

"You didn't. I'm sorry."

"But...that makes no sense. That's not--" Ava tried to process this. Suddenly she gasped in horror, "--Oh my god! My fiancé, Brady!" She cried. "If I've been missing for that long, he must be freaking out!"

Sam looked away, unable to tell her that her fiancé was dead. "Well..."

Ava looked around in a panic then stopped when she finally noticed Andy, looking at them a little sheepish.

"Hey. Andy." Andy introduced himself with a half wave. "Also freaking out."

Ava stared at him for a moment before turning back to Sam and asking, "Okay, what's happening?"

"I don't really know yet. But I know one thing; I know what the three of us have in common." Sam replied.

While he tried to look calm and reassuring, inside his stomach was doing flip-flops. If the three of them were in the same place at the same time together then that meant that the YED's plans were starting to take place, and Sam still didn't know the full meaning of what all this meant.

"Hello? Is anybody there?" A voice called out.

Sam frowned and looked up, "Maybe more than three."

Running, Sam led them around the side of another building in the direction of the new voice.

"Hello?" Sam called out, still running.

He stopped at the front of the building when he saw a man in army clothing and a young, scared looking woman.

"Hey!" Sam exclaimed. "Hey, you guys all right?"

"I think so." Replied the man

"I'm Sam."

"I'm Jake."

"Lilly" said the woman.

"Are there anymore of you?" asked Sam

"No" replied Jake.

"How did we ever get here?" Lilly asked. "A minute ago, I was in San Diego."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I went to sleep last night in Afghanistan."

"Let me take a wild guess," Sam said, interrupting Jake and Lilly. "You two are both twenty-three?" He asked. When they nodded he quickly gestured between himself, Ava and Andy. "We all are. And we all have abilities."

"What?" Jake asked.

"It started a little over a year ago? You found you could do things? Things you didn't think were possible?" Sam tried to explain and when both Jake and Lilly nodded slowly he knew that he was right. "I have visions. I see things before they happen."

"Yeah. Me, too." Ava added.

"Yeah, and I can put thoughts into people's heads. Like make them do stuff." Andy said, smiling slightly and Sam envied that he could feel so content with his abilities even if they were there for some evil purpose. "But don't worry; I don't think it works on you guys."

"So, you go, 'Simon says give me your wallet', and they do?" Lilly asked Andy, not amused by his story. She turned to Sam, "You have visions? That's great! I'd kill for something like that."

"Lilly, listen, its okay." Sam tried to sooth and calm her down. The last thing they needed was for one of them to go off in a panic.

"No. It's not. I touch people, their hearts stop." Lilly replied, slightly angry. "I can barely leave my house. My life's not exactly improved. So, screw you. I just wanna go home."

"And what, we don't?" Jake asked.

"You know what," Lilly snapped at Jake. "Don't talk to me like that--"

"--Hey, guys, please." Sam loudly said. "Look, whether we like it or not, we're all here, and so we all have to deal with this."

"Who brought us here?" Andy asked

Sam paused and looked around before answering, "It's less of a 'who'. It's more of a 'what'."

Ava looked confused. "What does that mean?"

"It's a demon."

"I'm sorry, a what?" Ava asked.

"I know --" Sam began but was cut off when they heard something moving inside the house before them.

"What the hell was that?" Lilly demanded.

"Maybe there are more of us." Andy suggested.

Carefully, Sam led the way into the building, weary that it could be something other than a fellow psychic. Heading towards the back room where the noise was coming from, Sam carefully picked up a piece of broken chair and opened the door. Andy and Ava trailing along close behind him with Jake and Lilly further back. Sam froze when he saw what was making the noise. When the image of what he was seeing finally sank into his head he dropped the broken chair and ran.

"Pepper!" He all but yelled.

Looking awkwardly around the large room, was Pepper, pregnant as ever, and with unshed tears in her eyes.

"Sammy!" She cried in response before throwing her arms around his neck. "Oh thank god!"

Sam held her close. He hadn't realized how much he was worried about her until he saw that she was okay and if she was okay then maybe, just maybe Dean was too. Sam held her more tightly and pressed his face against her neck, which was a little hard to do with her large stomach but he didn't care. Finally though, Sam realized that Pepper was there, and that she wasn't involved in this.

He pulled back slightly, still keeping his hands on her shoulders. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"I, um, I think so." She replied slowly. "What happened?"

"I'm not sure. What's the last thing you remember?"

"I was...I was walking in to the bathroom and then the next thing I know, I was here." She replied. Her eyes grew wide with panic, "Where's Dean? Is he okay?"

Sam sighed and shook his head, "I don't know." He replied almost miserably even though he was trying not to think of any bad outcomes for his brother. Seeing the fear spread through Pepper's face he quickly added, "But we'll find him. Okay? I promise."

Pepper closed her eyes and nodded.

"So, I guess you know her too?" Andy asked from behind them.

Sam, finally remembering that the others were there, let go of Pepper and turned around.

"Yeah," Sam nodded. "This is Pepper. And Pepper this is, Andy, Ava, Jake and Lilly." He quickly introduced everyone to Pepper.

"Alright, so, Sammy what are we all doing here and where exactly is here?" Pepper asked.

"Well I'm not sure, but I think that we're here because of the Demon."

"What Demon?"

"The, um, yellow eyed one."

"Yellow eyed...?" Jake asked.

"Ah, yeah." said Sam. "I know it's hard to grasp but it's true."

"So, why did it bring us here?" asked Pepper. "What's the point?"

"I wish I knew that but, we seem to be here because we all have special abilities and we're all twenty-three--"

"What do you mean we?" Pepper demanded in a quiet tone so only Sam could hear her. "I don't have any abilities. I've never had any. And unless my birth certificate is wrong I'm not twenty-three either."

"I know." Sam said quickly

"So why the hell am I here?"

"I don't know." Sam honestly replied. He had been wondering the same thing.

"Hey, do you wanna fill the rest of us in on what's going on?" Ava asked Sam.

Sam looked around at everyone for a long moment before he nodded.

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Dean, Bobby and John were leaning over the hood of the Impala looking at a map of the state. Both John and Bobby were trying to remain level headed as Dean's panic increased with every passing minute. They were all worried about Sam and Pepper but of course Dean had more to loose. Not only was his brother missing, but his girlfriend and his unborn child. Plus with Pepper's due date so close, they were all a little jittery though Bobby and John were trying not to show it.

Dean had called Bobby and John shortly after Sam and Pepper had gone missing and after hours of searching and coming up with nothing they did the only thing that they could. They started again. After meeting up together, they decided to travel in the Impala together.

"This is it" Bobby said, gesturing to the map. "All demonic signs and omens over the past month."

"Are you joking?" Dean demanded. "There's nothing here!"

"Exactly"

"Well, come on, there's gotta be something. What about the normal, low-level stuff? You know, exorcisms, that kind of thing."

"That's what I'm telling you, there's nothing. It's completely quiet."

"Well, how are we supposed to look for Sam and Pepper?" Dean asked in frustration, as he turned away from the map. "What, do we just close our eyes and point?"

"Dean, we're doing all we can." said John. "You need to calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down, Dad." Dean said, a little loudly but not quite shouting. "We're completely blind and the longer we stay here doing nothing the more change that..."

Dean's cell rang at that moment, thankfully, because John didn't think he could handle hearing what could be happening to his son and by the look on Bobby's face he was thinking the same thing.

"Ash, what do you got?" Dean asked suddenly, clearly not in the mood for any chit chat.

"Okay, listen, it's a big negatory on Sam and Peppy." Ash replied.

"Oh, come on, man!" Dean yelled. "You've gotta give us something. We're looking at a three thousand-mile haystack here."

"Listen, Dean, I did find something." Ash replied quickly.

"Well, what?"

"I can't talk over this line, Dean."

"Come on," Dean said before letting out a frustrated sigh. "I don't have time for this!"

"Make time, okay? Because this--" Ash paused and Dean could hear him saying something to someone beside him before he continued. "--Not only does this almost definitely help you find them, this is...it's huge. So get here. Now."

Ash hung up and Dean sighed before placing his phone back into his pocket. He was torn between ignoring Ash and just continuing to look and actually getting the information that Ash had. Eventually, Dean knew that it was going to be easier for them in the long run if they found out what Ash knew.

"I guess we're going to the Roadhouse." Dean told them. "Come on."

Dean didn't wait for a response as he got into the Impala. John and Bobby shared a quick look and joined Dean.

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"So, we're soldiers in a demon war to bring on the Apocalypse?" Jake asked.

Sam had just finished explaining what was going on and of course Jake and the others weren't really buying it. While Sam was convincing the others, he kept a close eye on Pepper, keeping her close by. They had all gone outside to talk and since it was still raining Sam had given Pepper his jacket.

"When you put it like that-" Sam began, with a half sigh.

"And we've been picked?"

"Yes" Sam nodded.

"Why us?"

"I'm not sure, okay but look, I just know--"

"Sam, I'm sorry." Ava said suddenly. "Psychics and spoon-bending is one thing, but demons?"

"Look, I know it sounds crazy, but-"

"It doesn't just sound it." said Jake.

"I don't really care what you think, okay." Sam snapped. He was starting to get fed up with their attitudes and if he was ever gonna start sorting this out he was going to need everyone’s co-operation. "If we're all gathered here together, then that means it's starting and that we've gotta--"

"--The only thing I've gotta do," Jake said suddenly. "Is stay away from wackjobs, okay? I've heard enough. I'm better off on my own, FYI, so are you."

"Jake, hold on." Sam called out but Jake ignored him and walked off. "Jake!"

"Sammy, just..." Pepper sighed. "Leave him for a little bit. It's a lot to processes."

"Yeah, I know. But we need to stick together. Jake, thinking that we're all better off alone is the wrong way to think."

"I agree" said Andy, putting up his hand. "I'm sticking close to you, Sam."

"Me too." added Ava.

"Looks like you're in charge, Sammy." Pepper said with a small smile.

"Great," Sam muttered. He sighed and barely shrugged. "C'mon, let's go find Jake."

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Sam and Jake joined the others just outside of the building were Sam had saved Jake from a demon attack.

"So, what was that thing?" Jake asked

"That thing...I'm not sure, but I think it was an Acheri." Sam explained. "A demon that disguises itself as a little girl."

"And how dangerous are they?" Pepper asked eyes slightly wide as one hand splayed over her stomach.

"Ah, well, we've been up against far worse." He replied

"Oh good, that makes me feel so better." She quipped back sarcastically

"Sorry." and Sam really was. He wanted to be able to reassure her that she was safe but uncertainty was a bitch. "I wish I knew where we were."

Sam turned and saw Andy looking a little out of it.

"Andy, are you with me or what?"

"Give me a minute." Andy replied, stunned. "I'm still working through, 'Demons are real'."

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Eventually after some exploring, Sam and the others found their way to the middle of the town in front of a large rusty bell hanging from a wooden structure. Sam took a few minutes to look at the bell as something jogged his memory.

"I've seen that bell before." Sam thought out loud. "I think I know where we are now. Cold Oak, South Dakota. A town so haunted, every single resident fled."

"And here’s me without my camera." Pepper sarcastically commented.

"Swell. Good to know we're somewhere so historical." added Ava, in a false cheery tone.

"Why in the world would that Demon or whatever put us here?" Lilly asked

"I'm wondering the same thing" Sam admitted.

"You know what?" Lilly suddenly said a little jittery. "It doesn't matter. Clearly, the only sane thing to do here is get the hell out of Dodge."

Lilly turned and started walking away. She only got as far as a couple of steps before Sam called out to her.

"Wait, hold on. Lilly, the only way out is through miles of woods."

"Beats hanging out with Demons." Lilly pointed out with her back still turned on Sam and the others

"Lilly, look, we don't know what's going on yet." said Sam. "I mean, we don't even know how many of them are out there right now."

"Yeah, he's right." said Jake and Sam was happy that he was finally getting on board. "We should--"

"--Don't say 'we'!" Lilly shouted as she finally turned around. "I'm not part of 'we'. I have nothing in common with any of you."

"Okay, look, I know--" Sam began, trying to find the right words to comfort her.

"You don't know anything!" Lilly snapped. She paused, taking in a breath before admitting, "I accidentally touched my girlfriend."

"I'm sorry." Sam said after a very long stretch of silence.

"Whatever. I feel like I'm in a nightmare, and it just keeps getting worse and worse."

"I've lost people, too." Sam told her gently. Briefly thinking about his mother and Jessica. "I have a brother out there right now that could be dead, for all I know."

"Sammy!" Pepper exclaimed behind him.

He turned to her and felt like he'd been punched in the gut when he saw the look on her face. He had forgotten that she was behind him, and he hadn't meant to say that Dean was or could be dead, though that was one scenario.

"I'm sorry." He quickly apologized. "I didn't mean to say..." he paused and shook his head then turned back to Lilly. "Look, we're all in bad shape. But I'm telling you, the best way out of this is to stick together."

There was another long pause as everyone watched Lilly and waited for her reaction. Finally, she sighed and shook her head slightly, simply giving in because she had too and not because she wanted too, or because she agreed with Sam.

"Fine."

Sam nodded, knowing that any co-operation was better than none.

"Thank you." Sam replied.

"So, ah, what do we do now?" Andy asked Sam.

"I guess, we should...maybe arm ourselves." Pepper suggested slowly, looking at Sam. "So we're ready incase more Demons come."

Sam nodded and looked around. He turned and headed in the direction of one building, singling for the others to follow him.

"You think there'd be any weapons here?" Jake asked

"Well, not any that you're thinking of." said Pepper.

"We're looking for iron, silver, salt..." Sam explained.

"Salt is a weapon?" Jake asked, confused.

Sam shrugged, "It's a brave new world."

"Well, hopefully there's food in your world," said Andy. "Because I'm frickin' starving."

Sam turned to and shared an amused smile with Pepper before they both walked into another building. No one noticed Lilly trailing behind looking back and forth towards the woods.

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The Impala drove down the empty road towards the Roadhouse, with Dean driving a little faster than was necessary. Not that John or Bobby were ever going to tell him to slow down of course. In fact if John and Dean had swapped places and he was driving while Dean was riding shot gun, John would probably speed as well.

They drove around a corner to the Roadhouse and were all shocked by the sight before them. The Roadhouse, was all but burnt to the ground, with no survivors in sight. Dean stopped the car and took a look around, a stunned expression across his face.

"What the hell?" Dean asked.

He shared a look of slight horror with both his dad and Bobby before the three of them got out of the Impala. They spread out and looked over the rubble. Bobby knew that this sight had to be bringing up some nightmarish memories for John.

"Oh, my god." Bobby sighed, as he took in all of the damage.

"You see Ellen?" Dean frantically asked.

"No." John replied from around the back of the bar.

Bobby shook his head. "No Ash, either."

Dean paused, trying to fight the feeling of guilt that bubbled through him. He couldn't help but feel like this was all his fault and if they couldn't find Ellen or Ash then... He looked down as something caught his eye. On the arm of an extremely burnt corpse was a large silver watch, and Dean immediately recognized it as Ash's.

"Oh, Ash," Dean let out a breath, and John and Bobby headed towards him. "Damn it!" He shouted.

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Sam and the others had split up in one on the abandoned buildings, searching for anything they could use for to defend themselves. Sam had lost sight of Pepper, but knew that she wouldn't have gone far and he found her in one of the house's rooms bent over an old chest. Just as she was about to bend down and open the lid, she grimaced in pain.

"Hey," He called out and rushed to her side. "Are you alright?" He asked with a deep concern for her and the baby.

"Yeah," She replied with a small, forced smile. "I just thought there'd be something useful in that chest."

Sam glanced at the chest then back up at Pepper. He nodded and bent down, while she stepped back. He opened the chest and after rummaging through it he found a knife. It wasn't silver but it'd do. He quickly put the knife in his back pocket before standing back up.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked again. "You sounded like you were... in pain."

Pepper paused and rubbed her belly. "Well this thing makes it hard to bend down."

"But you've never been in that kind of pain before." Sam said with a deep frown.

She sighed, "Maybe I'm just...I don't know, stressed. I mean I'm trying to understand what's going on here and not freak out at the same time. I still don't know why I'm here. I just," She sighed and shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes. "Sammy, I can't get my head around all this."

Sam did the only thing he could think of. He opened up his arms and gave her a quick reassuring hug. It wasn't much but he could tell by the way that she relaxed that it meant more than any thing he could have said. Sam pulled back as Pepper sniffed loudly.

"Pepper," Sam began with a deep sigh. "I'm really sorry that you have to be here. If I, if I knew a way to get you out then I'd do it in a heartbeat. No matter the cost but--"

"--I know." She nodded.

"I promise, though, I am going to look out for you. Okay? Nothing's going to happen to you." Sam said, as he offered her a small smile. He then gestured to her stomach and added, "Or my little nephew. Not while I'm here. I won't let it."

She smiled and used one hand to wipe the tears away from her face.

"Nephew?" She asked. "It could be a girl you know."

"But I got money riding on it being a boy." Sam replied then laughed. Pepper joined him and they shared a laugh for a minute before Sam sobered up once again. "I mean it Pepper, you're important and not just to Dean but to me as well. You're one of the only friends that I have anymore. And more than that, you're...You're family."

Pepper looked like she was about to cry again, but instead she stretched up on tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss upon his cheek.

"Thank you."

Sam nodded. "Besides," he began. "Image what Dean would do to me if he found out that I didn't take care of you." He joked but Pepper frowned and looked more scared than he had ever seen her. "What?--"

"--Sammy what if," she licked her lips briefly, "What if Dean is...I mean what if the Demon...I don't think I'd be able to do this without him."

"Hey, even if something did happen and knowing Dean that is very unlikely--"

"--But you said yourself--"

"--I know what I said, but I don't believe that he's dead. Not anymore, anyway. I think that I'd...I don't know, feel it somehow." Sam tried to explain. "But if something did happen, you wouldn't be alone."

Pepper sighed and nodded. "These pregnancy hormones are getting me all out of..." She trailed off when she noticed Ava standing in the hall, massaging her head like she had a migraine. "Whack. Hey, Ava are you alright?" She asked.

Sam turned to see Ava before walking towards her.

"Yeah, I'm just..." Ava began. "I don't know, a little dizzy."

"Are you sure it's not some kind of--" Sam began to ask but Ava quickly stopped him.

"What? Some kind of freaky vision thing? No, more like I'd kill for a sandwich. I haven't eaten since...well, who knows?" Ava shrugged, offering Sam and Pepper a smile. "It must be worse for you though." She said, waving a hand towards Pepper. "Being pregnant and all."

"No, I'm okay." Pepper slowly replied.

"Ava, are you sure you're all right?" Sam asked

"I'm fine. Except for every single thing that's happening." Ava admitted.

"You guys!" Andy yelled excitedly from another room. "I found something!"

Sam led Ava and Pepper the short distance towards the kitchen, where Andy had been. Andy met them half way as he stood in the door way with two bags held above his head. Jake rushed over to see what was going on.

"Salt!" He exclaimed proudly.

"That's great, Andy." Sam smiled approvingly. "Now, we all can..." Sam trailed off noticing that they were one person short. "Where's Lilly?"

Everyone looked around them, as if expecting to see Lilly behind them or off in a corner.

"Lilly?" Ava called out, waiting for an answer.

Sensing that something had gone wrong, Sam yelled "Lilly!" and prayed that the woman was simply upstairs or at the back of the house.

Everyone froze when they heard the distinct sound of a giggling child and knowing about the Acheri just made their blood curl at the sound. Sam gestured that they should all go outside and check. They walked out around the side of the house and froze at what they saw. Lilly was hanging by a rope from the water tower completely lifeless.

Pepper gasped and turned around, walking off not being able to look before leaning against the wall with her head turned to the side, while the others watched Lilly's body.

"Oh, my god! That's officially - Sam!" Ava cried, freaking out over seeing Lilly. "She's dead! She's dead!" She turned around to look up at Sam. "You said we were chosen for a reason. That is not chosen!" She snapped, pointing back towards Lilly. "That's killed! Okay, we have to get out of here."

Ava tried to move past Sam, but he grabbed her arms to keep her still.

"Stop." said Sam.

"Yeah, I second that emotion." Andy nodded.

"Not sure that's an option." Jake said, from behind Andy.

"What?" Ava demanded in confusion.

"Lilly was trying to leave." Sam explained. "The Demon's not gonna let us get away that easy. We've gotta gear up for the next attack."

"Oh, gear up?"

"Yeah." Sam nodded.

"Okay, well, I'm not a soldier. I can't do that!" Ava replied loudly.

"Well, if you wanna stay alive, you're gonna have to." said Sam. He looked up at Lilly one more time, sorry that he couldn't help her but knowing that he couldn't dwell on it. Not when there were four other people counting on him.

"Let's go." He said.

Ava walked past him and rushed back inside, walking past Pepper who still couldn't bring herself to look at the body.

"I'll get her down." Jake told Sam.

Sam nodded before they all headed back to the doorway. Jake walled off in search of something that would get him up to the water tower while Andy lingered close to Sam, and Sam reached a hand out to Pepper's shoulder.

As soon as Sam had touched her, Pepper turned and walked into his arms. Sam hugged her tightly once again, wondering how her hormones were handling all of this.

"You know," Sam murmured in to Pepper's hair. "I was just thinking about how much Dean would help right now."

Pepper nodded and stepped out of his embrace.

"I'd give my arm for a working phone."

"You know, you may not need one." Andy suddenly said. When Sam and Pepper both frowned he quickly continued. "I've never tried it long-distance before, but to you have anything of Dean's on you? Like, something he touched?"

"Um, well maybe." Sam replied. "Pepper, check my pockets. There should be receipt that Dean signed."

Pepper quickly searched through the pockets of Sam's jacket. She let out a triumphant 'Ha' when she found what she was looking for.

"Will this do?" She asked and handed the receipt over to Andy.

"Yeah." Andy nodded. He paused when the signatures he saw was different to what he had expected. "D. Hasselhoff?" He asked

"Yeah," Sam shrugged. "That's Dean's signature. It's hard to explain."

Andy and Pepper shared an amused look.

"All right." Andy smiled.

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Dean, John and Bobby walked over the rubble that use to be the Roadhouse and headed back to the Impala. Dean was all but fuming in anger and frustration. They had lost more time coming here and still they had no leads on Sam and Pepper.

"This is..." Bobby began but was unable to come up with the right words that would calm Dean down.

"What the hell did Ash know?" Dean demanded. "We've got no way of knowing where Ellen is. Or is she's even alive." He walked around until he stopped by the hood of the Impala, just by his door, facing John and Bobby on the other side. "We've got no clue what Ash was gonna tell us. Now, how the hell are we gonna find Pep and Sam?"

"We'll find them." Bobby said sternly, jaw set.

Just as Dean was about to say something, maybe argue with Bobby, he clutched his head instead. Pain flashed across his features.

"Dean?" John asked voice deep with concern.

Dean kept clutching his head. The pain getting worse. Flashes of random images crept in to his inner vision. Images of Sam, of Pepper, and of a giant bell. With one hand on the car and the other still holding his head he blinked a few times before shaking his head as the images faded away.

"What was that?" Bobby demanded softly

"I don't know." Dean replied honestly "A headache?"

"You get headaches like that a lot?"

"No. Must be the stress." Dean chuckled, because really he had no idea what that was but it hurt like a bitch. "I could have sworn I saw something..."

Dean trailed off and wiped a hand over his face. Gathering the few drops of sweat that had gathered after that sudden headache.

"What do you mean?"

"Like a vision? Like what your brother gets?" John asked.

"What? No!" Dean snapped

"We're just saying--" Bobby began

"--Come on, I'm not some psychic." Dean snapped.

He turned and briefly looked at the burnt ruble, trying to come up with some sort of rational explanation of what had just happened to him. He didn't even get to argue that seeing visions was a Sam thing, before he was hit with another set of images. The same ones as before only stronger this time, as was the pain that came with them.

Dean grunted in pain and collapsed onto the hood of the Impala. One hand gripping his head while the other fisted on the hood. John and Bobby were quick to race to his side.

"Dean? Dean!" John shouted, gripping tightly onto his son's shoulder.

Bobby, who was on Dean's other side, grabbed his other shoulder. "Are you with us?" He asked.

Dean opened his eyes and blinked while he tried to catch his breath.

"Yeah, I think so." Dean muttered. Shaking his head slightly while leaning against the car for support. "I saw Pepper and Sam. I saw them."

"It was a vision." Bobby confirmed.

"Yeah. I don't know how, but yeah." Dean briefly nodded. He pushed off of the car and sucked in a breath, "Whew. That was about as much fun as getting kicked in the jewels."

"When you saw them did they look all right?" John asked

"Um, yeah, I guess." Dean replied

"At least their together." John pointed out. "Sam's not going to let anything happen to Pepper."

Dean nodded, "I know."

"What else did you see?" Bobby asked.

"Uh...there was a bell."

"What kind of bell?"

"Like a big...big bell with some kind of engraving on it, I don't know."

"Engraving?" Bobby asked

"Yeah," Dean sighed, still trying to clear his head. He felt very sorry for Sam if this was how all of his visions had felt like.

"Was it a tree?" Bobby suddenly asked. "Like, an oak tree?"

"Yeah." Dean slowly replied. "Exactly."

"Bobby, what is it?" John asked.

Bobby looked them both square in the eye.

"I know where they are."

TBC

Next Chapter - Yellow Eyes Plans

Notes - Okay so I know this is the first time I am writing about Andy but lets pretend that the boys met him and all that stuff in ‘Simon Said’ still happened and Pepper stayed in a motel so Andy never met her. I really hope that this story works with him only coming up in this chapter.

Expecting 7/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:44:40 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Expecting
CHAPTER - Truth With Paint 7/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, Ellen Harvell
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 4699
SUMMARY - Dean and Sam's lives have always been different and with Dean's pregnant girlfriend joining them life’s going to get a lot more interesting.
WARNINGS - AU story. Draft - all mistakes are my own
BETA - N/A
A/N - See chapter one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER SEVEN - TRUTH WITH PAINT

Bobby packed up the last of his things from his bedroom and let out a long low breath before standing up straight and admiring his handy work. The entire room was completely bare, apart from himself and the boxes. All the large furniture, like his bed and his cupboard had been moved weeks ago. The room seemed larger somehow and Bobby had been surprised that he had so much stuff in there to begin with.

Clearing out the entire room had taken longer than he had expected, and not just because he had more stuff than he first anticipated, but because he kept getting interrupted. After 3 days of only just getting rid of his clothes and bed, Bobby knew that he needed help and that was when he had called John. Normally the senior Winchester wouldn't have been his first choice with something like this but John was in a similar boat to Bobby and he knew that John would appreciate being involved in a project like this.

With another sigh, Bobby got one last look at the room before he turned around and headed towards the kitchen to join John who was likely drinking some coffee.

Almost a month ago Bobby got a delivery that turned out to be a crib for the baby. Pepper had purchased it while on the road and had it delivered to the house. After moving it down to the basement with the rest of the baby things, Bobby spent half the night thinking over what the living arrangements were going to be. He knew that Pepper, Dean and the baby were going to stay with him but he didn't think they'd stay when the place looked so...un-domesticated, and he also knew that neither of them had enough money of a house of their own.

He'd remembered all of the times that Pepper had visited him as a little girl and how much fun she'd always had. The place had been nicer then. Cleaner with a well kept garden outside. This had always been Pepper's home and Bobby knew that it should be the same for his future Great-Grandchild. Bobby was already planning on leaving the house to Pepper in his will anyhow, just that now he'd have to add in the Winchester family. Obviously once the place was fixed up and Pepper and the baby moved in so would Dean, and with how close the two brothers were there was no doubt in Bobby's mind that Sam would also want to stay close.

It took a lot of thinking and contemplating on his part but finally Bobby had come up with an idea that would hopefully suite everyone involved. He was going to move out and give the house to Pepper. This meant clearing out his bedroom for the nursery. His room was the second biggest (Pepper's being the first) and it was directly opposite Pepper's. The spare bedroom would stay as is because Bobby knew that it would be quite a while before either himself, John or Sam decided to go anywhere else was the baby was born. There were some fairly decent priced apartments not far from here that would be perfect to live in, though with the junkyard out the back it wasn't like Bobby wasn't gonna spend most of his days here anyway.

When Bobby had called John for help on doing something for the baby, John couldn't get to Bobby's fast enough, and he hadn't even known what was going on. When he arrived and Bobby explained his plan of course John agreed to help but his expression continued to show just the tiniest bit of...regret, thankfully it soon faded but Bobby knew in the back of John's mind it would always be there. Bobby had known how hard John had worked trying to raise his boys and Hunt at the same time, and knows that there are so many mistakes that were made along the way that his friend regretted although he'd never admit them in so many words. You'd have to be a complete idiot not to realize that John Winchester wanted to right a lot of his wrongs with this child. No matter what Bobby's opinion might be of John (and that was changing everyday) He'd never try to push him from the baby's life. For one thing, Pepper would hate him if he tried.

So the news of Bobby's great gesture had to sting a little bit. John could barely give his boys a proper home when they were growing up. Always moving from town to town on the tail of the next Hunt. At least his grandchild was going to have a safe and stable home, but it still reminded John of something he couldn't give his family.

One of Bobby's terms of the plan was that it would be a surprise for Pepper and Dean, which meant not telling Sam either. As far as they all new, Bobby was just going to set up the baby things in Pepper's room and leave the rest of the house as is. It would be the perfect gift to give Pepper before she went and had the baby. John agreed because it really would be good to see the look on Dean's face when he found out that he finally had a real home to call his own.

As the weeks past it took a while to get started. John kept getting interrupted by Hunts, as did Bobby who also had to keep working out back. Cleaning the entire house seemed to be the most difficult and time consuming out of everything but it really was Bobby's own fault for letting get out of hand in the first place. Oh and there was of course the little interruption of having to deal with the Trickster a couple of weeks ago. They had been sorting out Bobby's books that scattered the living room when Pepper had called. That was why John had gone as well seeing as how he'd been at Bobby's anyway.

Bobby walked into the kitchen to find John standing over the table, a mug in one hand and an old book in the other before placing it in to another box sitting on the table. While they had been clearing up all of the books they made sure to keep track of the ones that might come in handy soon, and kept those ones out. Everything else got boxed until they figured out what to do with them.

"Coffees jus' been made?" Bobby asked as he entered the kitchen.

John nodded and picked up another book from a small pile beside him.

"Finally finished upstairs?"

"Yeah, just have to start moving everything out and in to the shed for now." Bobby replied. He poured himself a strong coffee then sat down in one of his kitchen chairs.

"Well I'm pretty much done here if you wanted to start doing that now?" John suggested. "May as well get started so we can get the painting out of the way."

Yes, there was going to be painting involved in their surprise after all you can't leave a baby's nursery a dull creamy color. How is that fun? Though it had been quite a while since either of them had actually picked up a paint brush, let alone used it, but Bobby wasn't about to hire some strangers to do it. They'd make do after all how hard could it be?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John was covering the floor with plastic while Bobby collected the paint cans, rollers and brushes from downstairs. They were both a little nervous about how it would turn out even though it was very unlikely that Dean and Pepper would care about a dodging paint job, and the baby sure as hell wasn't going to give a damn.

Bobby placed the two paint cans down in front of the right hand side wall before kneeling down and using a screw driver to take the lids off, revealing a light yellow and light purple colors. John finished covering the glass on the window then made his way over to Bobby. He frowned as he looked over Bobby's shoulder into the paint cans.

"Why two colors?" John asked. "Thought you decided on yellow."

"Yeah, for the main color. The purple's for the boarder."

John raised one brow very high and stared down at Bobby. "We're doing a boarder? What the hell for?"

"Because," was Bobby's simple stern answer letting John know not to say another word about it.

Truth was while Bobby was picking up the paint and waiting in the cashier line he glanced through a home renovation magazine and an article on painting bedrooms stuck in his mind, so he ran and got another can of paint. This baby was turning him into a softy.

After setting the paint up, Bobby stood back and grabbed one of the brushes.

"Well, come on Winchester, grab a damn brush."

John nodded and bent to retrieve the second brush. Together they started on the first wall, slowly changing the wall from cream to yellow.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was when they were just about to start on the boarder that John's cell rang and momentarily paused their actions. It was rare that either one of them would get a phone call that wasn't about a Hunt of some sort and when Sam's name came up in the caller ID, John figured that it was time to stop painting.

"Sam," John said answering his cell "What's up?"

"No a lot." Sam replied and there was a hint of a smile in his words. "You busy?"

"Ah no. I'm just at Bobby's." John replied a little skeptically.

"Bobby's? Why are you at Bobby's?"

"I needed a book for a Hunt. What's going on Sam?"

"Well I was just -- Oh hang on can you put me on speaker, I need to talk to Bobby as well."

Bobby watched as John became quite puzzled at whatever it was that Sam was telling him. John lowered the phone and put it on speaker then held it out in front of him while Bobby moved closer to hear better.

"Sam, what's going on?" Bobby demanded.

With the way John was looking, and the fact that Sam needed to talk to the both of them, Bobby had a gut feeling that this was about the baby.

"Right, well you guys know how Pepper had an ultra sound the other day?" Sam began, keeping his voice light so that the elder men wouldn't panic.

"Yes." said Bobby, with a nod even though Sam couldn't see him.

"And how she and Dean decided that they didn't want to know what they were having?"

"Right..." said Bobby

Of course they knew this. It came in the random updates that they both received from Pepper, who was intent to keep both of them in the loop with what was happening with the baby. Mostly because they were both going to be apart of her family now. Bobby knew that it was Pepper's decision to not find out the sex of the baby and Dean was just going along with it.

"...And?"

"Well I just thought we may as well have some fun with it." replied Sam. "I started a bet."

"A bet? A bet about what?" John asked.

"The sex of the baby, though right now everyone's saying it will be a boy."

"Who's betting?" asked Bobby

"Um, Ellen, Jo, Ash and myself." Sam replied. "And now hopefully you guys. So, boy or girl?"

"Do Dean and Pepper know that you're doing this?" John asked, "Do they know that you're making money off their baby?"

"Of course they do." Sam was quick to reply.

"And they're okay with it?"

"Kind of... Pepper doesn't care but Dean's being a bit weird about it. He thinks it’s wrong or something. So are you in or not?"

Bobby slowly smirked, "Alright but I think it's gonna be a boy anyway so there’s not really a point is there? Not if everyone says it'll be a boy."

"Well--"

"--It's gonna be a girl." John stated suddenly.

Dean and Pepper had the most beautiful baby girl in his dream and John had no doubt that they'd have one in reality. Not that there was anything wrong if this baby did end up being a boy but deep down in his gut John knew that he was getting a granddaughter.

There was a pause while Sam got over how quick and serious John's answer was.

"You sure Dad, cause you'd be going against 5 other people" Sam asked.

"Trust me, Sammy, your brother's having a girl." John replied. He couldn't help the small smile that crept upon his face as the image of that baby from his dream popped into his head. "How much is everyone putting in?"

"Hundred."

"Sounds alright. Really hope it's a boy though," Bobby smirked. "I'm taking you're money Winchester."

John let out a small laugh and shook his head. "We'll see."

"Great. So another boy and one gi--"

"--STOP BETTING ON MY CHILD!" Dean yelled angrily in the back ground.

"Oh relax, Dean." came Sam's calm voice, though it sounded further away so John and Bobby knew that he was talking to Dean, away from the phone. "It's not like we're betting against the baby."

There was another pause, this one longer than the last and John and Bobby glanced at each other while they tried to hear what was going on the other end of the line. When Sam's voice came back over the line he sounded a little rushed.

"Look, gotta go. I'll call you back."

Then the line went dead. Bobby and John both burst out laughing. John shook his head and placed his cell back into his pocket. They picked up their brushes once again and started on the wall.

"You know, Dean's not so bad." Bobby commented after several moments.

John turned to him and frowned, wondering if Bobby was going to start attacking Dean in some way.

"Not so bad?"

"I was just thinking out loud. You know I like your boys, John, think of them as my own family." Bobby replied. "I just couldn't really get my head around Dean being with Pepper, and having this baby."

"Well neither could I" John slightly lied

"No, it's different for you." Bobby sighed, "Just be thankful you never had a daughter. You get more stress than with boys. And it's worse when you find out they're dating a Hunter."

"I guess that’s why you attacked Dean that night you found out about the baby."

"Yeah, I know I could've handled that a little better."

John nodded.

"How do you think Dean will go?" Bobby asked slowly, voicing his worry for Pepper's well being even though he did trust Dean. "At being a father?"

John stopped and thought for a second. He knew what he wanted to say. That Dean was going to be a great father, but he knew that Bobby would need a reason for this and simply saying 'he'll be a good father because I've seen him as one' wasn't going to cut it.

"He'll do the best that he can, Bobby." John answered softly. "I'm not saying that he wont mess up along the way though, but he will put this baby first. That I can promise you." John sighed and looked down becoming a little overwhelmed because while he did believe all of this, it was the first time he had really voiced it. "You'd only have to look at him now to see how protective he is of the kid and it's not even born yet."

"He always was protective of Sam when they were young." Bobby agreed.

Slowly John looked back up at Bobby and they both shared a look of understanding before finishing their painting.

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The next day the room was ready for them to start moving in the furniture. Bobby kept everything in the basement so when they went down to start collecting things the place looked like an actual baby shop. There was a crib that needed to be put together, a change table, bassinet, a small cupboard and chest, a rocking chain, plus a handful of large fluffy toys, and that was just half of what was there.

John moved over to the crib and picked up the box. Hopefully it wouldn't be as hard to put together as the boys' one had.

"I'll start on this upstairs." John said, "I might need some help with..." He trailed off when something in the corner caught his eye. He lowered the box back to the ground and headed towards the object.

It was a soccer trophy. Sammy's soccer trophy, and as John got a better look there was also Dean's hand made gun, and a handful of other things that John recognized from his storage container.

"Bobby, what the hell is this stuff doing here?" John asked, but his surprise made it sound more like a demand.

Bobby was busy moving the bassinet off the change table when John spoke. He turned around with a small frown before he saw what John was talking about.

"The boys dropped them off months ago." Bobby replied with a half shrug. "What's the problem?"

"All this stuff came from my storage locker."

"The one in Buffalo?"

"Yeah. I didn't think Dean and Sam would find any of it important enough to keep."

"I don't think they did. When Dean gave me the box he said something like 'Pepper wants these things' I guess she took them from your locker. Is that a problem?"

Yes. "No." Not really.

Bobby went back to what he was doing and John took a few minutes to look over the very few childhood memories that his boys had, and hadn't known about until he sent them to Buffalo. Yes he was a little annoyed that Pepper would take it upon herself to take these things but a larger feeling inside of him was telling him that it shouldn't matter. It wasn't as if she'd taken anything dangerous out of the locker and really he couldn't bring himself to be truly mad at her. After all she was carrying his granddaughter and she did seem to bring a certain joy into Dean's life that John had never seen before.

Eventually John went back to the crib and carried it up the basement stairs.

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Hours later after Bobby had given up on the crib, because the instructions were too damn hard to follow even for a man like Bobby who could read Latin and a whole range of other languages. John refused to give up and let the thing win so he stayed in the nursery while Bobby headed downstairs for a beer and a break.

Bobby was relaxing against his sofa, finishing off his beer when there was a knock at his door. He stood up and panicked because if it was Pepper and the boys then he'd have to explain the state of the house and that would ruin the surprise.

He got up and moved towards the door. As he opened it he let out a breath of relief when he saw Ellen standing before him holding a box filled with more things for the baby.

"Hey, Bobby." Ellen smiled.

"Ellen, good to see you." Bobby stepped back and allowed Ellen to enter.

She carried the box into the living room and placed it down beside the sofa. She took a moment to look around and the semi clean house.

"How's the clean up going?" She asked

Bobby shrugged, "we're getting there. Luckily it'll be worth it."

"Yeah." Ellen nodded. "Anything I can help with?"

"Plenty of stuff, but nothing we can't handle. Except that stupid crib upstairs."

"Let me guess," Ellen began with a slight smirk. "You have to build it yourself?"

Bobby nodded and took a swig from his beer.

"I can take a look at it if you'd like." She offered. "Is it in the nursery?"

"Yeah, but, John's upstairs trying to figure it out."

"Oh..."

Bobby of course knew that something had happened between John, Ellen and Ellen's husband Bill, and he knew it had something to do with Bill's death but he wasn't sure on the details. No one knew that really happened except for Ellen and John and neither of them were ever going to share. It had happened years ago and they hadn't spoken directly to each other since. They barely even spoke about each other and after a while Bobby had given up trying to mediate any meeting between the two. If they didn't want to see each other they didn't have too. That was until Pepper became pregnant.

"You should go up and talk to him." Bobby suggested.

"Ah, I should really get back-"

"-C'mon Ellen, you two are gonna have to sort this out. You can't keep avoiding each other forever."

"We've managed so far." Ellen replied.

"Yeah, but now Pepper's having a baby and the two of you have got to at least try to get along. Especially if you want to be a big part of this child's life 'cause John is the grandfather. And if you two are always fighting--"

"--We're not fighting. It's just..."

"Complicated?" Bobby asked, but shook his head. "Yes I know that. Look, just go upstairs and try to sort this out. For Pepper and the baby."

Ellen sighed and closed her eyes for a few moments. She knew that Bobby was right, this had gone on for far too long and life was too short to hold on to these things. She opened her eyes and nodded before heading towards the stairs. This talk John was well overdue. Ellen had stopped blaming John for Bill's death years ago but she could never tell John that, because he never gave her the chance. He felt like he was to blame and that man could carry guilt like no one else could.

Bobby watched her go and hoped that she and John would finally sort this out.

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John was crouched on the floor in front of the half built crib, instructions in one hand and a piece of crib in the other. He looked from the instructions to the crib and back again with a frown on his face. Either he was just out of touch of they had started making cribs more complicated in the last twenty plus years. When he heard footsteps behind him he assumed that it was Bobby.

"Finally decided to help?" He asked. When there was no response he turned slightly to see what was wrong and was surprised to see Ellen. "Ellen? What...what are you doing here?"

"Dropping some things off." Ellen replied. "John we need to talk."

"About what?" John asked. He stood up, thankful to be off the floor but preferring to be there then having the conversation he knew was coming.

Ellen moved closer into the room and stood square in front of him. "Tell me what happened the night Bill died."

"You already know what happened." He sighed. "I was reckless and I--"

"--Don't give me that John." Ellen snapped. "I know that the story you've been telling people isn't the truth, at least not the whole truth. So tell me what happened."

John shifted his gaze to a random spot on the wall behind her, trying to think of something, anything that would get him out of this conversation that she was so intent to have. She deserved to hear the truth, he knew that but the lie was just easier.

"Bill and I were on a Hunt. Some...Hell spawn. We thought we had it cornered so I went for it but, turns out it was quicker than us and Bill... well the thing latched on to him as if it didn't care where I was or what I was doing." He finally chanced a look at Ellen, and she was staring intently at him. "I tried to stop it but it wouldn't move or stop."

"It killed him." Ellen quietly said with a half nod.

John shook his head, "No." He sighed. "It just tore him up. Wounded him pretty badly. Most of his insides where..." He trailed off, wanting to spare Ellen the gruesome image of just what her husband had looked like when he died. "...Anyway, we were so far from the cars and hours away from the nearest hospital, or just any help at all. Bill knew it too but he didn't want to admit it."

"Didn't want to admit what" Ellen asked on baited breath.

John averted his gaze once more.

"That he was dying. All he wanted to do was see you and Jo again. He kept begging me to save him but it was too late. He was already dead he just hadn't taken his last breath yet." John scrubbed a hand over his face and through his hair. "Bill just kept begging me to do something so I did the only thing that I could. I pulled out my shot gun and...I shot him, in the head. I killed him not the Hell spawn."

When John looked back at Ellen, she had her eyes turned up to the ceiling, trying to blink away the tears that were threatening to spill down her cheeks. He didn't know what she had hoped to achieve by starting this conversation but he knew that she hadn't found it.

"You should have told me that." She whispered

"Told you what?" John asked confused. "That I killed your husband? You already knew that. You just didn't know all the details."

"You're not responsible for his death, John." Ellen shook her head finally met his eyes.

"Of course I am!" John shouted a slight hint of anger in his voice. Not anger towards Ellen but towards himself. Years after and he still couldn't let go of his guilt. "I should have been better prepared, heck I should have at least try to get him some help but no I just took the easy way out. I took a husband away from his wife. I took a father away from his daughter"

"No. You did what you could." She replied firmly. "You did what anyone would have done. If Bill's injuries were as bad as you say then the best thing would have been to.....You did the right thing.”

"Yeah." John huffed in disbelief.

"John, you need to know that I stopped blaming you years ago. I don't hate you for what happened. I miss Bill, I won't deny that and it still hurts sometimes but... Life’s too short to worry about whether or not you could have done more."

It was several long minutes before either of them said anything.

"Why now?" He asked. "You could have found me years ago if you needed to hear the truth but you didn't so why now. What changed?"

"To be fair, John, you could have come to me and told me but you didn't. And after a while..." Ellen shrugged. "It became easier to pretend like I didn't need to know or that I didn't need to hear the truth from you."

"And what changed?" He asked again.

"This baby. Dean is your son and Pepper; well she's like a daughter to me. I wanna be a part of this child's life and as Bobby pointed out it's going to be very difficult to do that if the two of us can't be in a room together."

John nodded, wondering why he hadn't thought of that. This baby was changing so much about their lives and it wasn't even born yet.

"So what happens now?" John asked

"Well, we just give it some time. We don't leave the past behind us but we don't let it rule what we do either. This baby can be a new start for us."

John's lips curled up ever so slightly in the faintest of smiles that Ellen matched. Their friendship was far from fixed and back to normal but it was a start.

"Okay."

TBC

Next Chapter - Gone

Notes - That’s my version of what happened to Ellen’s husband. I had to make it something like that for Ellen and John to work in this story. I hope it was a good take on it.

Expecting 6/10 - part 2

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:22:11 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Expecting
CHAPTER - Hello Mr. Trickster 6/10 part 2
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 4207
SUMMARY - Dean and Sam's lives have always been different and with Dean's pregnant girlfriend joining them life’s going to get a lot more interesting.
WARNINGS - AU story. Draft - all mistakes are my own
BETA - N/A
A/N - See part one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

Dean and Sam walk into their motel room after investigating Curtis' claims about being abducted. Pepper is lying on one bed, her back resting against a pillow as she slept.

"This still doesn't make a lick of sense." Dean whispered so as not to wake Pepper. He didn't know how long she'd been sleeping and knew that it was getting hard for her to sleep during the night so he didn’t want to wake her. "But hey, at least there's one connection."

"Between what?" Sam asked in the same soft tone.

"The victims." Dean replied. He took off his jacket and sat down in an old looking arm chair. "The professor and the frat guy--they're both dicks."

Sam walked over to his bed and picked up his back, pausing to look at Dean briefly he asked, "That's a connection?"

"You got anything better to go on; I'd love to hear it."

Sam sighed and went back to his back. Beside him on the other bed, Pepper began to stir. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times before they rested on Dean.

"Hey," She said and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "How'd it go?"

"Like we expected it would." Dean replied. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm alright." She stood up and walked towards Dean. "Too bad I couldn't be there to hear Alien boy's story." She smirked.

"I thought you wanted us to do that so that we could leave you alone?"

"I'm aloud to change my mind." She replied. When Dean went to say something her hand shot down and covered his mouth. "One word about hormones and mood swings Dean and I swear to god I will burn all your cloths and buy you a new wardrobe entirely of pink and sequenced things."

She paused and gave him a stern look to emphasis that she was not kidding before she moved, and without removing her hand, sat down on his lap. Dean grunted slightly under her hand because while he sort of enjoyed having her there she had become a lot heavier due to the baby and it was getting a lot harder to be comfortable under her. Not that he'd ever tell her that of course. Pepper finally removed her hand as she settled against him, resting her back against his chest and her cheek against the side of his throat. Dean's hands move up around her stomach. He hoped that he'd be able to feel the baby kick as he hadn't yet, though neither had Pepper so he wasn't missing out yet.

By the bed, Sam was still going through his bag while getting a little annoyed and frustrated in the process.

"Where's my laptop?" Sam asked suddenly.

"I don't know." Dean shrugged.

Sam continued looking, throwing pillows and blankets off of both beds. Dean turned his face slightly towards Pepper's and kissed her hair.

"Wanna hear my awesome theory?" He asked her.

"Yes, share with me your wisdom."

"I think that both of are victims are getting, what some people think they deserve."

"Really? And why do you think that?"

"Well, think about it. A philandering professor gets a dead girl, a pledge master gets hazed--"

"--I left it in here." Sam interrupted, pointing to his bag.

Dean turned towards him and frowned. "Well, you obviously didn't." He turned back and continued telling Pepper about his theory. "I mean, these punishments, they're almost poetic. Actually, it'd be more like a limerick, but still..."

Pepper closed her eyes and laughed slightly just as Sam marched his way over to them and stopped a few steps away from them, still looking annoyed but now he was also looking a little angry.

"Okay. Hilarious." Sam said which stopped Pepper’s laughter. "Where'd you hide it?" He demanded.

"What, your computer?"

"Yeah. Where'd you hide it?" Sam asked again.

"Why would I take your computer?"

"Because no one else could have, Dean." Sam exclaimed angrily. "We keep the door locked; we never let any maids in."

Dean smirked. He found it hilarious how Sam could get so wound up about things like this. He knew that he shouldn't find it funny but god help him he does.

"Looks like you lost it, Poindexter."

Pepper closed her eyes once more and shook her head, feeling like the boys were going to have another fight very soon.

"Dude, you know something? I've put up with a lot from you." said Sam.

"What are you talking about?" Dean asked. He smiled and added, "I'm a joy to be around." He paused and looked down at Pepper, rubbing his hands along her stomach. "Right."

"Yeah you're a thrill to be around." She mumbled sarcastically with her eyes still closed.

"See." said Sam.

Dean frowned and turned back to his brother.

"Okay so what specifically is the problem?"

"Well...your food in the fridge for started." replied Sam

"What's wrong with my food?"

"It's not food anymore Dean!" Sam shouted. "It's Darwinism!"

"I like it." Dean frowned.

"Yeah and it makes Pepper sick, so I have to clear the damn thing out every other night." Sam replied as he used one hand to gesture towards Pepper and the other towards the fridge.

Dean frowned more deeply than before and nudged Pepper slightly until she sat up and looked at him.

"I didn't know that." He said. "You never told me the food was making you sick. I would've gotten rid of it straight away if you did."

"I know, but..." Pepper shrugged. "I'd told Sammy, and I know how you like what you eat and it's just a pregnancy thing. Your food isn't normally that bad."

"You still should have told me. After all I am the Daddy." Dean finished with a smirk and rubbed her stomach again. "Not Sam."

"Hhm" Pepper began and looked from one Winchester man to the other. "I don't know. I’m still waiting for the DNA results on that one.”

"That's not funny."

She smiled and nodded.

"Dean, all I ask from you," Sam began. Still pissed about his missing laptop. And although he felt a little guilty at how hurt Dean had looked just now when he realized that he knew something about Pepper that his brother didn't, he still couldn't forget how frustrating Dean was making his life. "The one thing is that you don't mess with my stuff."

"You done?" Dean asked in a sigh.

"You know, how would you feel if I screwed with the Impala?"

Dean sat up suddenly and with a bit of difficulty what with Pepper still on his lap. He moved around and shot a sharp warning look towards his brother.

"It'd be the last thing you ever did."

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By this time everyone had moved around the room. Dean and Sam now sat on opposite sides of the small dining table with a beer each. Bobby was pacing in front of them, taking in all of the...information they threw at him. He'd really be happier if they simply stuck to the aspects of the hunt but if they needed to let off steam by telling them about their fights then so be it. John was leaning against the sink opting to go without the offered beer until they figured out what was going on. While Pepper sat in the living area in the old arm chair. She was reading a book of baby names that Bobby and previously bought for her. She was no longer interested in hearing about things that she'd witnessed, although she wasn't against giving her opinion every now and again.

"Did you take his computer?" Bobby asked Dean.

"It serves him right, but no."

"Well, I didn't lose it." Sam snapped back. "'Cause I don't lose things."

"Oh, that's right. Yeah, 'cause he's Mister Perfect." Dean shot back.

"Okay enough." John said loudly. Even though both boys were well into adulthood they still listened to their father...sometimes anyway.

"Great, two words and you get them to stop." Pepper muttered from her seat. "I should have called you days ago."

"You know, Pep, it's not like you've been helping the situation." Dean told her.

She put her book down and stood up, turning to glare at Dean.

"Dean, I am not here to play mediator between you and your brother." She snapped. "If you two have issues then you can sort them out yourselves."

"But that doesn't stop you from interfering--"

"--Just, tell us what happened next?" Came Bobby's loud interrupted question.

He needed to get the subject back on track for two reasons. One, he didn't want to witness another fight and have to wait while they sorted themselves out. Two, he didn't think he could handle Dean and Pepper getting into a fight before him. He was likely to take Pepper's side no matter what the fight was about and if Dean said something he should, then chances were Bobby would have things to say to him in Pepper's defense. That would only bring John into it and none of them really had the time.

Sam sighed before he began to tell the rest of the story. He told them about the last victim which led Dean to tell them about finding the Impala with the air let out of the tires and confronting Sam about it.

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Sam was sitting down reading a book and Pepper was in the bathroom when Dean burst into the room.

"You think this is funny?" Dean demanded.

"Depends." Sam replied slowly and turned to face his brother. "What?"

"The car!" Dean yelled.

"What about the car?"

"You can't let the air out of the tires, you idiot!” Dean shouted in anger. "You're gonna bend the rims!"

"Whoa, wait a minute," Sam began, shut his book and stood up. "I didn't go near your car."

"Oh, yeah?" Dean huffed in disbelief before he pulled out Sam's money clip from his back pocket. "Huh. Then how’d I find this?"

Sam was puzzled for a moment because he didn't remember losing his money. Of course he wouldn't put it past Dean to steal his money when he wasn't looking.

"Hey, give me back my money."

"Oh, no. Consider it reparations for emotional trauma."

Dean held the money in his hand and walked over to his bed, taking off his jacket and throwing it onto the bed. Sam quickly moved towards him and reached out for the money clip.

"Yeah, very funny." Sam said as he lunged for the clip. "Now give it back."

Dean was too quick though and pulled the clip out of Sam's reach just as the heard the sound of water running in the bathroom before Pepper came out, looking a little worried.

"What's going on?" She asked, after taking a long look at the scene before her.

"Your boyfriend's stealing my money." Sam told her.

"No. I'm simply collecting for the damages that he did to my car." Dean snapped.

"Sammy, you did what...what?" Pepper asked in confusion.

"I did not touch your stupid car, Dean!" Sam yelled.

"Right, so I guess your money just magically wound up near the tires then did it?"

"Dean, I have had it up to here with you." Sam began, raising his hand just above his head.

"Yeah, right back at ya." spat Dean.

"Oh God," Pepper breathed and walked into the kitchen.

Neither Winchester noticed her departure or see her grabbing her cell from the kitchen table. Instead, Sam tried to take the clip back from Dean, but of course Dean wasn't going to give up that easily and because they are both just as stubborn as each other they end up falling onto the bed together, Dean with his arms stretched out in front of him and Sam with his arms reaching around Dean's back.

"Get off me!" Dean yelled.

"Give it back!" yelled Sam over Dean's voice.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Okay, I've heard enough." Bobby said rather loudly.

"Anyway, you guys showed up about an hour after that." said Dean.

"I'm surprised at you two. I really am." Bobby began and Sam and Dean both looked down avoiding eye contact with the elder hunter. "Sam, first off--Dean did not steal your computer."

Sam's head shot up and he gaped at Bobby. Dean started looking very pleased in his own seat.

"But I- there--" Sam began to protest.

"Shh!" Bobby snapped, before turning his attention to Dean. "And Dean, Sam did not touch your car."

"Yeah!" yelled Sam.

"And if you two bothered to pull your heads out of your asses, it all would've been pretty clear."

"What?" Dean asked.

"What you're dealing with." said Bobby.

Sam and Dean both thought for a moment, fidgeting in their seats.

"Uh..." Sam sighed.

"I've got nothing" said Dean

"Me either." added Sam

Bobby sighed and shook his head. "You've got a Trickster on your hands."

Dean snapped his fingers before proudly admitting, "That's what I thought."

Sam and Pepper (who was now sitting between the boys and in front of John) both turned and frowned at Dean.

"No, you didn't!" They both exclaimed.

"But I've gotta tell you ---you guys were the biggest clue." Bobby explained.

"What do you mean?" Sam frowned.

"These things create chaos and mischief as easy as breathing. And it's got you so turned around and at each other's throats, you can't even think straight."

Sam sighed, finally realizing what had been going on for the past few days.

"The laptop."

"The tires."

"It's probably been onto you guys since you got here." said John. "They can pick up on Hunters like that."

"Have you ever faced one, Dad?" Sam asked, turning around slightly to look at John. "There isn't anything in your journal about them."

"No I haven’t dealt with one myself." John replied. "I only know what I've read in books."

"So, what is it?" Dean asked "A spirit? Demon? What?"

"Well, more like demigods, really." said Bobby. He continued and began counting on his fingers. "There's a Loki in Scandinavia, there's Anansi in West Africa-- dozens of them. They're immortal, and they can create things out of thin air. Things as real as you and me. Make them vanish just as quick."

"You mean, like an angry spirit or an alien or an alligator?" Dean asked.

Bobby nodded, "The victims fit the M.O., too. Tricksters target the high and the mighty. Knock 'em down a peg, usually with a sense of humor. Deadly pranks, things like that."

"So is death the intention of these...pranks?" Pepper asked

"Not all the time." said John. "I guess it depends on the person. For instance your frat boy. Obviously being humiliated was worse than dying. Or so it must seem to the Trickster."

"Okay, well what do these things look like?" Dean asked

"Lots of things." replied Bobby. "But human, mostly."

Dean turned slightly in his chair to face Sam, who did the same thing. After all this was their hunt so any decision or theory was going to be shared between the two of them before anyone else.

"And what human do we know who's been at ground zero this whole time?" Dean asked.

It took Sam a moment before realization dawned on him, "The janitor"

"Well let's go get the son of a bitch." said Dean as he quickly stood up from the table.

"Wait, hold on. Dean you can't just go after this guy guns a blazin'" said Pepper. "You need to have a plan."

"She's right, son." John nodded. "We need to think of something and we gotta be smart about it."

"At least the odds are in our favor" Dean said with a slight smirk. "He doesn't stand a chance against all four of us."

Sam paused for a moment before he sat up straighter. "Maybe we should make him think he does."

"Huh?"

"Think about it, Dean. I mean we already know that he's smart, he's been playing us for days, so if he thinks that he's going against all four of us then he'll find some way around it."

"Yeah?" Dean slowly asked.

"Well if we make him think that he's just getting you and me, or just you then the rest of us can catch him with his guard down." Sam explained proudly.

"Okay but we'll have to work out exactly what we're going to do before we head out. Alright?" said John.

Dean, Sam and Bobby all agreed. They sat down and came up with a quick yet thorough plan.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was late at night, which was lucky because it meant that no one saw the four men rush down the front steps of Crawford Hall, looking as if they'd just started a fire. The quickly made their way towards the Impala cheavy and truck parked outside.

"Hey, Dad. Bobby, thanks a lot, we really couldn't -" Sam began as he and the others nearly ran to the Impala.

"Hey, save it." Bobby replied, stopping Sam's mid sentence. "Let's just get the hell out of Dodge before somebody finds that body."

"Yeah." Sam nodded.

Sam and Dean moved to the Impala, with Dean of course going to the drivers’ side, while Bobby and John headed to Bobby's truck that was parked right behind the Impala.

Sam paused after he opened the passenger door and looked over at Dean.

"Look, Dean, um...I just wanna say that I'm...um..." Sam began but couldn't really put into words what he wanted to say.

Luckily Dean understood and smiled slightly. "Hey. Me, too"

Bobby, who was already in his truck waiting for John, leaned out of the window and gave Sam and Dean a look of slight annoyance.

"You guys are breaking my heart." He said, and then shook his head slightly. "Could we please just leave?"

"Best if someone calls, Pepper." John said with the ever slight smirk from watching his sons. "That way we can leave quicker. No point in staying longer than we need too."

"Fine," Bobby nodded in agreement. "I'll call her. Let's just hurry up."

Dean smiled for a moment and then paused and looked back at Bobby.

"Hey, Bobby?"

"What?"

"When you call, Pep, could you maybe not mention the conjured up half naked ladies?" Dean asked carefully.

Bobby didn't reply. Simply muttered something as he started the truck up. Dean slowly turned to Sam and smiled once again before they both got into the car and drove away.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time they reached the motel, Pepper had packed and cleared all of their things together and had placed everything on one of the beds (which were now made) while she sat in the kitchen and waited. When the boys entered the first thing Pepper did was to stand up and give Dean a hug. She was simply worried by the cut on his lower lip. Bobby, John and Sam quickly made their way around them, all feeling slightly awkward to be watching them.

"How'd it go?" Pepper asked, pulling away from Dean to inspect his lip. "You look like you went a few founds with one of them large wrestling guys."

"Ha!" Sam laughed loudly.

Pepper turned around to Sam with a frown, "What?"

"Nothing." Dean shot a warning look to his brother. "He's just got a few wires lose."

"Right." She said slowly still frowning. "So, did you get him?"

"Yes." Bobby nodded quickly. "Now I think we should get this stuff downstairs then we can leave."

"There's a little town close by. We can head there and stay the night." John added.

That wasn't their only option but was the only one that John could think of that would suite everyone. They could go back to Bobby's, except that Bobby was doing something that he didn't want Pepper knowing about. They could head to the RoadHouse but then John would have to see Ellen, and he just wasn't ready for that. Plus, John wanted to spend a little more time with his sons. After hearing about what happened with Gordon, John hadn't been in contact with the boys. Opting instead to follow up on leads of psychic children. And yes, John knew that when/if Sam ever found out that John was doing this behind his back that it would start a World War between them. John had lost count on how many they'd had. John just had a strong belief that for now, Sam's place was at his brother's side, hunting random and small but yet no less significant because they were saving people's lives. And being their to help Dean with Pepper and the baby was good for Sam too, though that was something John wished he could do as well but it was hard to drift in to the family man after living years as the hard-ass-military-type Hunter that John had become.

Oh and they could drive all night to gain some distance from this town but it'd be hell on Pepper driving all night in her state.

"Fine, John, you and I will drive, you boys follow." said Bobby.

Bobby bent down and picked up the bag that was clearly Pepper's (though by this point things were probably thrown into which ever bag was closer at the time) because Bobby would never offer to pick up Dean or Sam's bags unless they had broken arms or legs. Sam picked up his own bag and waited for Dean to move to grab his own. Dean, however didn't move, thinking that maybe someone else would grab his things. Sam waited for a moment before he shook his head and shifted his own bag over his shoulder.

"You know, Dean, your bags not just gonna grow legs and walk down to the car." Sam pointed out irritably. Trust Dean to do something to annoy him even after they'd apologized for being such asses to one another.

"It’s not my fault that Pepper's worried about me." Dean replied with a casual smirk.

"No, I'm worried about all of you." said Pepper.

"And you've got another spare arm there, Sam." Dean added.

Sam glared at Dean and refused to move a muscle towards his brother's bag. Pepper chuckled at his look, finding it adorable and amusing at the same time. Suddenly her laugh turned in to a deep gasp.

"Oh," She said on a breath before she held it for a moment.

Instant panic spread through the four men in the room. Dean reached out and grabbed her left arm, gripping tighter than he intended too.

"Are you alright? What's wrong?" He asked in one long rush of breath.

Pepper smiled ever so slightly and turned back to him. "The baby moved."

"What?"

"Kicked. Moved. Here feel." She said, while grabbing Dean's hand that wasn't holding her arm in a death grip, and placing it over the spot on her stomach where she was feeling the baby. "See"

Dean's expression slowly changed into a lop sided grin, full of amazement. His eyes shifted to look at his hand and he dropped his other hand to her stomach as well, spreading his fingers across the fabric of her shirt.

"Wow," Dean breathed.

John, Bobby and Sam all looked on in a silent awe. For Bobby and John the moment made them think back to when their wives had been pregnant and they got to feel the first movements, and for Bobby also getting to feel the movements of his granddaughter. For Sam it was all new and of course not actually being the father meant that he wasn't feeling the same kind of excitement that Dean was feeling, but he was still amazed by the whole aspect of his nephew/niece moving for the first time, and he could understand if the rest of the world seem to fall away for Dean in this moment.

John came out of his little trance, of remembering Mary in her mid stages of pregnancy, and walked over to where Dean's bag laid. He picked it up and swung it over his shoulder. He reconed that they could all forgive Dean for not pulling his weight for the moment.

"How does it feel?" Dean asked Pepper, though his eyes never left his hands.

"Um, a bit weird and slightly uncomfortable...but in a good way." Pepper replied, with the same smile across her face that had been there since the baby started moving.

"What's it like?" Sam asked his brother, unable to stop his interest from peaking. He might never be able to feel what Dean was feeling right now so he may as well live through his older brother.

"Totally awesome." Dean smirked. He finally looked up and first looked into Pepper's eyes before looking behind her to Sam. "Though, they've stopped for now." He added, yet didn't remove his hands. "But I'll tell you one thing, this kid is strong. Definitely takes after me then."

Pepper frowned and folded her arms over her chest in a defensive manner. "Are you implying that I'm weak?"

"You? Never" Dean flashed her another grin before he pulled her forward and captured her mouth with his own.

Behind them, John, Sam and Bobby all moved towards the door. Leaving the soon to be Daddy and Mummy alone for a few minutes.

TBC

Next Chapter - Truth With Paint

Expecting 6/10 - part 1

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:48:43 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Expecting
CHAPTER - Hello Mr. Trickster 6/10 - part 1
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 5089
SUMMARY - Dean and Sam's lives have always been different and with Dean's pregnant girlfriend joining them life’s going to get a lot more interesting.
WARNINGS - AU story. Draft - all mistakes are my own
BETA - N/A
A/N - This is my take on the season 2 episodes ’Hunted’ and ‘Tall Tales’ . The beginning mentions a little of what happened in ‘Hunted’ and I only wrote it so I could have a little bit about the ‘special children’ as it will be coming up in later chapters and I didn’t want to spend a lot of time on it before hand. Hopefully the story still works with what information I did go with.
There was no real reason for writing a chapter mostly about ’Tall Tales’ a part from the fact that I was stuck on what to make this chapter about and I love the episode so much. By the way it was so hard for me to write John into this as a main part when Bobby was already there and I have no idea why.
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER SIX - HELLO MR TRICKSTER

Dean pulled the Impala up to the front of the RoadHouse. During the entire time Sam had been extremely quiet, and Dean could guess what was going through his brother's head. Guilt, pure guilt. He'd seen that look on his brother's face before and so he knew that there wasn't anything that he could say to make Sam feel better. After seeing the state of Ava's apartment Dean didn't really want to think about that. From what Sam had told him, she was another physic like him, and if it had been the Demon responsible for what had happened to her then that made Dean nervous. What if the same thing happened to Sam? What if what happened to Ava's fiancé ended up happening to him? Or Pepper?

At least one good thing came out of all of this; they'd never have to deal with Gordon again. That man, in Dean's opinion, was just clinically insane. He had to be. Dean had met plenty of Hunters during his life, some he had become good friends with and others...well there were some that you'd just rather not be around. The ones who were too focused on the hunt to know when they've gone too far, but Gordon took the cake with that lot.

As Dean turned off the engine he glanced down at his watch. It was almost 1:00AM and as much as Dean wished that Pepper and the others would be asleep when they walked in he knew that they would all be waiting for them. He leaned over and opened up his door, pausing slightly to look back at Sam.

"Jus' warning you, ah, Pep's not too happy with you" Dean warned his brother.

Though it wasn't just Pepper who was mad at Sam. Dean was a little pissed off as well. Because really what right did Sam have to just up and leave like that without even a note? And with Pepper's hormones all over the place, waking up to find Sam gone had sent her into a panic which was one reason why Dean had taken her to Ellen so that he could look for Sam.

"Right," Sam nodded and hoped out of the car.

Dean shook his head before he followed his brother up to the front door of the RoadHouse.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before Dean had even stepped out of the door-way, Pepper had run over to him and flung herself in to his arms causing him to stumble slightly since he hadn't really expected her to hug him so quickly.

"Thank god, I've been worried sick." She said and held him tighter.

Dean look up over her shoulder at Ellen, who was leaning against the bar watching them. Dean knew that he'd have to apologize for accusing her of telling people about Sam's abilities. Dean moved his hands to Pepper's shoulders and gently pulled her back.

"You know me," He shrugged "Just another day on the job."

"That's not funny." She frowned before turning to Sam, who was trying to blend into the wall. "And you! What the hell is your problem?" She demanded

"Ah"

"What was going through your head that made you just think that it'd be okay to just take off like that?"

"I...nothing. I'm sorry" Sam replied softly.

Pepper looked at Sam for a long moment and took in his appearance. He looked tired, even more so than Dean and she realized that she really didn't know what he had been through. Her expression softened as she moved towards him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"I'm just glad that you are okay." She told him

Sam nodded and leaned down very slightly so that Pepper could hug him and when she let go, Dean reached out and tugged on her elbow as he guided her towards the bar.

"I'm glad you boys are both ok." Ellen told them

"Thanks" Sam muttered as he sat down

"Yeah, and hey about what I said before--" Dean began

"--Don't worry about it." Ellen said gracefully accepting his apology. "If it had been my family I probably would have done the same thing. But next time try not to put me in the middle."

Sam nodded, "Yeah thanks for not listening to me and sending Dean. If you hadn't then I'd probably be dead right now."

"Well he did deserve to know where you were" Ellen agreed, "Besides I didn't want to stress Pepper out anymore than she was."

"I was just worried." Pepper said with a small shrug.

Pepper and Dean took their own seats at the bar, then Ellen gave them all drinks, the boys and herself a beer and Pepper a glass of water. After a few minutes, Pepper leaned over towards Sam. He was still being suspiciously quiet with his head bent down over his drink and the occasional sigh coming from him.

"Hey, you ok?" Pepper asked as she gently placed a hand onto Sam's arm

"Sure."

"Really? Because you don't look ok."

"It's just been a long night."

"Well come on then, tell me what happened."

Sam paused, and quickly glanced at his brother who was busy having a conversation with Ellen, probably still apologizing for having doubted her before. Sam sighed and suddenly felt very guilty for having left her and Dean like he had. He had his reasons and knew that Dean wouldn't understand them, neither would his father. He looked back at Pepper and realized that he'd never really had anyone ask him something like that in such a way before. It was nice that she cared about him and what he felt and not just because he was Dean's younger brother.

"I just," Sam sighed "I should have been able to save her. Ava."

"Oh. I didn't really get much out of Ellen about it, but Ava, she was -is like you right?"

"Yeah." Sam huffed out a laugh. "One of the special children whose supposed to be a soldier for the Demon-"

"Sammy, you are not supposed to be anything for anyone unless you want to be."

Sam shook his head, "Haven’t you heard, it's my destiny."

"Well I don't believe in destiny."

"You don't?"

Pepper smiled and lightly shook her head, "No not at all. I believe that we decide what we do and when we do it. It wasn't destiny that caused me to meet Dean all those years ago, and it sure as hell wasn't any kind of destiny that got me to that hospital."

Sam's lips turned up ever so slightly into the smallest of smiles.

"So, no destiny was involved in you getting pregnant with Dean's baby?" Sam asked and took a long drink from his beer.

Pepper laughed, "No. No destiny. Just stupidity and lack of condoms"

At that, Sam nearly choked on his beer and started coughing and spitting the drink back out. Pepper suppressed a chuckled and patted Sam on the back while Dean and Ellen stopped talking and turned their attention towards Sam.

"Dude, you are such a light weight." Dean teased.

"Not...my...fault" Sam said between deep breaths.

Pepper shrugged and turned around once Sam had caught his breath. "Yeah we were just talking."

"Well it's been a long night for everyone so I'd say we all just finish and get some rest." Ellen suggested.

"Thanks Ellen." Pepper smiled.

"We'll have to get up pretty early though." said Dean.

"You're welcome to stay for a while you know." said Ellen

"Yeah" Dean replied slowly while rubbing the back of his neck. "It's just that with everything that happened with Gordon, maybe it'd be better if we kept our distances for a while"

"Dean, you're not still convinced that I had anything to do with that---?" Ellen demanded

"No, no but someone here knew about Sam, and told Gordon." Dean replied quickly. "And if they can figure out that then who’s to say they can't figure out other things?"

"Like me being pregnant?"

"Yeah," Dean nodded. "I mean I know that you wouldn't tell anyone Ellen, but someone might and I don't want to have to deal with someone like Gordon again"

"Look nothing like that is going to happen. Pepper's grown up here and everyone here knows not to mess with Jo or Pepper." said Ellen. "Beside's Bobby's got a lot of pull with these people."

"I thought that there weren’t too many Hunters who know about Pepper being Bobby's granddaughter?" Sam asked a little confused.

"They don't but they do know that she is connected with him some how." Ellen paused with a small sigh. "But tell you what, I'll get the word out that Pepper isn't to be messed with even if you boys have done something to deserve a little ass kicking. I'll say its orders from Bobby and myself. The two of us get a lot of respect."

"I guess that's the best option that we have." said Dean

"Ellen," Sam began "If it's that simple then couldn't you have a word to everyone about me?"

"No sweetie you and your family are a whole 'other story. Your Daddy has made some enemies around these parts, so you're lucky it's only Gordon you've had to deal with so far.'

"Dear old dad." Dean sighed before he finished off his drink. He placed his glass down and licked his lips. "Well at least we won’t have to deal with Gordon again anytime soon. With everything that he's being charged with he'll probably get life."

"Thank god for that" Pepper said with a stifled yawn.

"You should go lay down" Dean told her.

She closed her eyes and nodded as she stood up.

"Jo's bed is still set up in her room if you want to take that." Ellen suggested. "It's a hell of a lot comfortable than any of the guest beds."

"Ok thanks." Pepper offered Ellen a smile before she leaned in close to Dean. "Try not to wake me up this time." With that she kissed him on the cheek and then disappeared in to the back of the bar.

Dean turned his attention to Ellen and asked, "You do know that I'd be in Jo's bed as well right?"

Ellen sighed and shook her head. Of course she knew that, she wasn't stupid. Ellen was a lot like Bobby when it came to Dean and Pepper's relationship. As long as she wasn't given details then she was okay.

Sam was smirking. He hadn't forgotten about Ava but it was nice to be able to let go and think about other things for a while. He looked over to the side, behind the bar to a box which lay on top of a case of scotch. Scribbled across the box in messy writing were the words 'Jo's baby things'.

"Hey Ellen, is that for the baby?" Sam asked, tilting his head towards the box. He knew that it was an obvious question when he asked it.

"Yes." Ellen replied without looking at the box. "Just a few of Jo's old things that I managed to find after she moved out."

"What kind of things?" Dean asked

"Just some clothes and toys. They should do for your baby although the clothes will be a bit useless if you have a boy. Most of them are pink."

"Well if we have a girl they'll be perfect." Dean grinned. "Thanks Ellen. Pepper will be happy."

"I don't suppose you've bought anything else for the baby?"

"Nothing like clothes or anything." Dean admitted. "Pepper bought a crib and got it delivered to Bobby's apart from that I think he's actually getting everything we'll need."

Sam gave Ellen a small smile as they both noticed the slightly bitter tone that crept into Dean's voice. Sam knew that Dean didn't like the fact that there wasn't much he could give his child. He knew that he hated that most of their income was coming from Pepper. Not that dean was old fashioned or anything but a part of him did believe that the Man and Father should contribute something. The fact that he couldn't even go shopping and purchase what the baby needed was a bit kick in the teeth to Dean.

About half an hour later they all decided to call it a night....or day seeing as it was way past 2:00AM. Ellen headed to her own room and Sam made it to the spare room while Dean of course joined Pepper in Jo's old bedroom.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weeks later and Sam, Dean and Pepper found themselves on another and most interesting Hunt. It hadn't started out like that but the more the boys investigated the more bizarre it got. Not that anything was going to be easy with the way they had been constantly arguing with each other, and putting Pepper in the middle. Well Dean put Pepper in the middle while Sam was too scared to really piss her off.

It was midday and Dean sat comfortably on one bed in their motel room, munching on a plate of suspiciously greasy fries while listening to some random radio station trying to ignore Sam and Pepper who were sitting across the room at a small coffee table going over a variety of different books and papers to help with the hunt. Sam hadn't asked Pepper to help him but she needed to do something to get her mind off of her slight back ache. She was nearly at the six months mark in her pregnancy and really research was one of the only things that Dean let her do anymore.

Sam glanced up from the book he was reading to his brother. He grimaced and sighed.

"Dude, you mind not eating those on me bed?"

Grabbing another handful of fries, Dean shook his head. "No, I don't mind." He replied before chomping down. When he swallowed he grinned, "Besides I can't eat them on my bed. The smell might make Pepper sick."

"Then use the table in the kitchen." Sam replied with another sigh.

Dean shrugged, clearly content to keep eating where he was eating purely to annoy his little brother.

"How's the research going?" Dean asked after another handful of fries.

"You know how it's going?" Sam demanded and slammed the book he had been reading shut. "Slow."

Beside him, Pepper sighed and continued reading her own book. Sam and Dean had been acting like children for days now and she was doing her best to ignore them, although sometimes they made it very difficult.

"You know how it would go a heck of a lot faster?" Sam asked Dean with a high tone of irritation in his question. "If I had my computer."

"Mm" Dean rolled his eyes.

"Can you turn that down, please?" Sam asked and pointed to the radio.

"Yeah," Dean nodded and reached out to the volume dial of the radio. "Absolutely," but instead of turning it down he turned it up.

The loud music filled the room and before Sam could yell at his brother, Pepper paused before she lowered her book and turned to looked at Dean.

"Dean." She warned in a strong tone.

Dean quickly shut off the radio. He knew what that tone meant and he tried his best to avoid it, mostly anyway. Even if he was mad at his brother he didn't want to annoy Pepper, especially since she was pregnant and very hormonal.

"You know what? Maybe you should just go somewhere for a while, huh?" Sam suggested.

Dean folded his arms across his stomach and shot his little brother a glare. Not happy with this suggestion.

"Hey, I'd love to." He replied sarcastically. "That's a great idea. Unfortunately, my car's all screwed to hell."

"Dean, I told you, I have nothing to do with-"

Suddenly there was a loud knock against the door causing Sam to pause and turn his attention to the direction of the knocking as Dean did as well. Beside Sam, Pepper let out a long sigh of relief.

"Oh thank Christ." She muttered and slowly stood up, not being able to move as fast as she used too.

She made her way to the door, and after looking through the peep hole to check who was there, she opened it to reveal Bobby and John.

"Hey Granddad. John." Pepper greeted them before she gently hugged Bobby. "Thank you so, so much for coming."

She pulled back and John watched as Sam and Dean both stood up to meet them. He hadn't seen any of them in a while and after what Gordon had done, Sam was a little guarded towards him. He hoped that that wasn't the case anymore. John also couldn't help looking at Pepper and seeing how much her body had changed, even as he kept his distance. He was glad that she was going to be apart of their lives but he also knew that if he expressed this then he'd have to answer a lot of questions. If he pretended as if he still wasn't quite sure about the whole thing then it'd be better for everyone. No one, especially Dean and Sam, needed to know anything about his dream and the fact that he had sort Pepper out purely for this right here right now.

"So..." Bobby began and took in how Sam, Dean and Pepper were reacting. "What's going on?" He asked.

Pepper lifted an arm and pointing directly at Dean and Sam while looking at Bobby and John.

"You deal with them." She said, and John would swear that it was almost and order. "I'm having a shower."

With that she turned and marched into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. When the door closed Bobby and John turned their attention back to Dean and Sam, both were looking a little sheepish. Bobby's expression became sterner as it always did if he thought that something was going on between the boys and his granddaughter.

"You wanna tell me what that was about?" Bobby demanded in a flat tone.

"Would you believe me if I said hormones?" Dean asked, but Bobby shook his head. "Ok, um it's just this hunts sort of..."

"It's been a difficult few days." Sam supplied. "For all of us."

"Ok, so why don't you tell us what is going on?" John suggested. "And why couldn't you tell us anything over the phone?"

"Well, we were sure you'd believe us." Sam slowly explained

"We can both believe a lot." said Bobby

"Yeah, I know. It's just; we've never seen anything like it."

"Not even close." Dean agreed.

"And we thought we could use some fresh eyes."

Bobby sighed and half shrugged while saying, "Why don't you begin at the beginning?"

"Yeah." Sam nodded.

He sat down on the edge of the small coffee table facing Bobby and John. Dean sat down on Sam's bed while Bobby sat on the other and John remained standing.

"So, it all started when we caught wind of an obit...." Sam began.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean is leaning against the bar of the popular college hang out, taking shot after shot of some purple colored liquid which could be anything. He downed the last one just as Sam walked towards him.

"Dean, what are you drinking?" Sam asked with a deep frown knowing by the look of his brother that he was a little bit tipsy if not drunk.

Dean let out a burp and grinned. "I don't know, man. I think they're called purple nurples." He trailed off with a short laugh.

"Listen, I think maybe we should go check out the professor's office."

"Oh, no, no. I can't right now." Dean said and shook his head from side to side. "Because I got something going on here." He pointed behind him to a young blonde in fishnets and heels. "I'll introduce you." He turned and grabbed the attention of the girl. "Hey, Starla!"

The girl, Starla grinned and clumsily stepped towards Dean. She leaned against his shoulder and eye'd Sam up and down.

"This is my shuttle co-pilot, Major Tom. Major Tom, Starla." Dean grinned and introduced his brother to the girl.

"Hi" Sam said slowly with the tiniest hint of distaste.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You did WHAT?" Bobby demanded, glaring at Dean. Reading to punch his lights out if need be.

"What, no, no" Dean replied quickly holding his hands up in defense. "That is not how it happened."

"No?" Sam asked, "so you've never drank a purple nurple?"

"Yeah, maybe that." Dean slowly agreed. Then he turned to Sam, "But I can hold my liquor better and I don't go around hitting on drunken college girls."

Sam scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Yeah right." He muttered.

"Ok, so I used to do that but not since Pepper got pregnant." Dean paused and turned back to Bobby. "I swear that's the truth."

"So what did happen with this, Starla?" John asked.

"I don't know." Dean shrugged. "I was drinking and she was a little drunk. She kept flirting with me but I told her I wasn't interested."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean drank down his shots of Purple nurples and watched as a young blonde moved towards him out of the corner of his eye. He finished his last shot just as the girl came up beside him.

"Hey, cutie.” She smiled at him. "Feel like buying a girl a drink?"

"Ah, well I can't say that I'm not flattered, but--"

"--Dean, what do you think you're doing!?" Sam demanded from behind.

Dean stood up straighter and turned around to face his brother. Sam was frowning at him.

"Sam, just give me a minute here, ok." Dean turned back to the girl.

He'd dealt with drunk women before and he knew he had to reject her carefully, and avoid getting thrown up on as well. But Sam didn't seem to understand that.

"Dean, this is a very serious investigation. We don't have time for any of your blah blah blah blah blah blah blah!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Right." Sam said slowly in disbelief. "And that's how it really happened."

Dean shrugged, "Well that's more believable than your version where I cheated on Pepper."

"I never said that you cheated on her, just that you were drunk." Sam shot back. "And I don't sound like that, Dean."

"That's what you sound like to me."

"Okay." Bobby said a little too loudly to draw the brother's attention to him. "What's going on with you two?"

"Nothing, it's nothing." Sam muttered.

"Sam." said John

"You're bickering like an old married couple." added Bobby.

"No, see, married couples can get divorced. Me and him? We're like Siamese twins."

"It's conjoined twins." Sam corrected irritably.

Pepper walked out of the bathroom toweling her hair dry.

"Oh, you're not at it again are you?" She asked Dean and Sam when she noticed the looks they were giving each other.

"No." They both replied at the same time, clearly lying.

Pepper sighed and sat on her bed besides Bobby.

"I've had to put up with this," She paused and gestured to Sam and Dean. "For days. God, it's like living with the old men from the Muppets."

Dean thinks for a moment and then frowns "Are you saying I'm old?"

"No, I'm saying that you have the brain capacity of a Muppet." She snapped.

Sam chuckled and she turned to glare at him.

"Don't you start, Sammy, you're just as bad as he is."

That effectively shut Sam up.

John watched his sons and realized that he hadn't seen them fight like this since they were children.

"You've been at each other's throats since we came in." said John

"It's nothing; we've just been on the road for too long." Sam said quickly. "Tight quarters, all that. Don't worry about it."

"Okay." Bobby nodded and singled that someone should continue with the story.

"So, anyway. We figured it might be a haunting, so we went to check out the scene of the crime...."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean and Sam entered their motel room, where Pepper was waiting for them.

"How'd it go?" She asked

"Well, no traces of EMF, that's for sure." Sam replied

"Yeah, and that Room 669 is a load of crap." Dean added and went to the fridge to pull out two beers, handing one to Sam.

"So, do you think that this is all just normal?"

"Normal?" Sam frowned.

He sat down in a chair by the small dinning table next to his computer.

"Well not normal, I mean, just some guy jumping because he could." said Pepper.

"I don't know." Dean answered honestly. "I mean, the girl the janitor described--" He paused and looked over at Sam. "That's pretty weird."

"Yeah." Sam nodded.

"What do you want to do now then?" Pepper asked and sat down opposite Sam.

"Guess we could check out the history of the building" Dean suggested. "See if any co-ed ganked herself there."

"Yeah, you're right." Sam nodded.

Dean took a few swigs from his beer and moved to stand behind Pepper, who sighed and rested her elbows on the table. He knew that she had been getting frustrated lately because she could no longer do half of the things she could before she got as big as she was. For one, he no longer let her leave the room as much. Not that he kept her prisoner or anything he was just paranoid that something would happen and it wasn't as if she'd really be able to get away quickly. Still annoyed as she must be he knew that she understood his reasons for acting the way he did.

On the other side of the table, Sam grabbed his laptop and pulled it into his lap and opened it up. He frowns and presses a few buttons before he looks up in frustration.

"Dude, were you on my computer?" Sam asked his brother.

"No."

"Oh, really? 'Cause it's frozen now, on..." Sam paused and looked back at the webpage plastid all over the screen. "...bustyasianbeauties.com"

"Dean," Pepper scolded and turned around slightly to look at him.

Dean looked away and took a step back. He hadn't been looking at anything, if he had then at least one of them would have noticed that he was staring at Sam's computer considering that he hardly ever went near it. But it wasn't as if either of them looked at that sort of thing so Dean knew that they wouldn't believe him if he said no. He smiled slightly, because the thought of innocent thinking Sammy looking at porn was hilarious. He also had enough sense to move back away from Pepper incase she took a swing at him. She'd been doing that a lot lately, just giving him a small wack to the back of his head. It never hurt and most of the time he did deserve it. Damn hormones!

"Dean!" Sam yelled in frustration, clearly taking the bemused expression on Dean's face to be a look of guilt. "Would you just---don't touch my stuff anymore, okay?"

"Why don't you control your OCD?" Dean demanded. "And besides, why do you think it was me? I mean it could have been Pep."

"Excuse me?" Pepper folded her arms over her chest. "Do you wanna sleep in the Impala again, Dean? 'Cause keep going and you will."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"But did you dig up anything about the building?" Bobby asked, not really interested in hearing about their porn viewing habits. "Or on the suicidal co-ed?"

"No. The history's clean" said Sam
“Then it's not a hunting." said John

"Maybe not. To tell you the truth, we're not really sure." Dean admitted.

"What do you mean, you're not sure?"

"Well..." Sam began. "It's weird."

"What's weird?"

"The next part---we didn't see it happen ourselves, exactly, but...it's pretty friggin’ weird. Even for us."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After Sam and Dean finished their story about the Alien, Bobby and John were staring at them in disbelief. Pepper and Dean stood against one wall beside the window while Sam was leaning against the other side of the window all waiting for either John or Bobby to say something.

"Aliens?" Bobby asked.

"Yeah" Sam sighed.

"Aliens?" John asked, still not able to get his mind around it. He had seen a lot of things and could believe in so much, but Aliens was something else.

"Yeah." Dean nodded.

"Look, even if they are real, they're sure as hell not coming to Earth and swiping people." said Bobby.

"Hey, believe me, we know."

"My whole life, I've never found evidence of an honest-to-God abduction."

"But, Granddad that doesn't mean that there aren’t any Aliens out there.” said Pepper.

"So, you believe this story?" John asked.

"No, well not really I just choose to believe that it is ignorant to think that we're the only intelligent forms of life in the entire universe." She paused and looked between Sam and Dean before adding, "Although some of us seem to be more intelligent than others."

"What?" Sam asked, having not heard her properly.

"Trust me, Pepper, it's all just cranks and pranks."

"Well most sightings of Aliens are, I mean I know that. Especially the ones where people get probed."

Pepper shrugged and folded her arms over her chest. Sam sighed and moved from the wall slightly.

"We still figured we'd at least talk to the guy." he said

"Yeah, because someone thought it'd be such a great idea." Dean mumbled.

Pepper turned to look up at him. "Well it was either that or have you two stay here and bicker and at least if you while you were talking to Curtis, I got some peace and quiet." she shot back.

"What did Curtis say?" John asked loudly.

Dean and Pepper stopped what they were doing and turned around to the others.

"Well he told us about what happened with the, ah, Aliens.” Dean began. "At first it sounded like the usual sci-fi kind of stuff. You know tests and probing...lots and lots of probing apparently."

"Then it got a bit weird." said Sam

"Because Alien abduction isn't weird enough?" asked Bobby.

Dean huffed a laugh and shook his head. "Try an Alien abduction, and then throw in having to slow dance with the Alien."

"You guys are exaggerating again, huh?" Bobby asked.

Dean, Sam and Pepper all gave a deadpan look as they replied in unison, "No."

"Well clearly this frat boy's just insane." said John.

"Even so we figured we'd still take a look, right." said Dean.

continued in part 2

Expecting 5/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:29:43 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Expecting
CHAPTER - Jealousy and Revelations 5/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - NC-17 - contains sex scenes
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 5308
SUMMARY - Dean and Sam's lives have always been different and with Dean's pregnant girlfriend joining them life’s going to get a lot more interesting.
WARNINGS - AU story. Draft - all mistakes are my own
BETA - N/A
A/N - See chapter one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER FIVE - JEALOUSY AND REVELATIONS

Dean sat quietly at the far corner of the bar drinking a large glass of beer. The place smelled strongly of cigarettes and alcohol and the air was filled with the sounds of random chatter and the soft hints of music drifting from the jukebox.

Dean looked down into his glass and sighed, grateful to relax for a night. When the door opened, Dean felt a gush of wind hit his face. He looked up to see who had just come in and was pleasantly surprised to see Pepper walking towards him. He gave her a half crocked smile before letting his eyes travel over her figure. Her hair was out and flowing over her shoulders. She was wearing a tight fitting red silk dress that stopped just above her knees. There was something different about her, maybe she changed her hair, but something was defiantly different.

She sat down in the empty seat opposite him. She ran a perfectly manicured finger across the rim of his glass.

"Well are you just going to sit there and stare or are you going buy me a drink?" Pepper asked

Dean grinned, "Babe, I'll buy you whatever you want."

"Let's just start with that drink."

Dean nodded and waved over the young bar waitress. He quickly ordered a round of tequila shots and handed the waitress a couple of bills before she left. While waiting for the shots to arrive Dean felt Pepper's toes slide under the cuff of his jeans leg causing him to shift closer to her. She certainly knew how to excite him with just the barest of touches.

"Wasn't expecting to see you here tonight" He said

Pepper shrugged and placed her elbow on the table. "More fun here with you than being all by myself." She tells him as she leans forward and reaches for his lips.

Dean leans in the rest of the way and kisses her back. Her tongue lightly trailed over his bottom lip seeking entrance into his mouth. Dean obliged and opened his mouth. Pepper acted quickly and started sucking on his tongue just as the waitress came back with their drinks. Pepper pulled away from him and licked her lips before she grabbed one of the shot glasses and downed the tequila inside.

Dean watched her as he picked up his own shot pausing right before the glass touched his lips because Pepper's foot had moved higher up his leg and was running along the inside of his thigh. Dean manages to take his shot while Pepper makes a gesture to single that they want more drinks.

Dean had gotten a little too distracted by Pepper's foot that he didn't notice Bella walk into the bar until she was standing right in front of him. She cleared her throat loudly so that Dean would turn to her. Pepper also turned to her but she didn't remove her foot which was slowly moving higher and higher.

"Dean, Pepper. Fancy meeting you two here." Bella said in that condescending British tone of hers.

"Bella," Dean replied slowly. "Piss off." He snapped and took a swig from his beer.

"Mind if I join you?" Bella asked.

She was sitting herself down beside Pepper before Dean had a chance to tell her no. For some reason the two seats that Pepper and Bella occupied were rather close together yet neither woman felt the need to move away which unsettled Dean a bit.

"What part of piss off did you not understand?" Dean asked and glared sharply at Bella.

Ok so Dean was getting fondled under the table by his rather hot and sexy girlfriend and Bella picked now to interrupt them and ruin it? This woman really was a bitch.

"Oh come on now Dean." Bella said slowly and lazily dropped one arm around Pepper's shoulders. "Be a bit more generous." She paused briefly to scrape her finger nails lightly over Pepper's collar bone. "Learn to share."

With that Bella tugged on Pepper until she turned towards her then Bella wasted no time in reaching over and kissing Pepper. The kiss was slow and looked like both women where doing their best to put on a show especially for Dean and normally seeing two woman kiss just for him would be the absolute fantasy to beat all fantasies but it was hard to focus on that when it was Bella who was touching Pepper.

Dean stood up out of his seat and quickly moved over to Pepper. He grabbed her arm and pulled her out of her seat and away from Bella. Pepper stumbled slightly but adjusted quickly to her new position. Pepper looks up at him and smiles. She places her hands on the back of his neck and leans into him.

"I think..." Pepper begins slowly as she trailed one hand from his neck and down his chest going lower and lower. "...we should move this to some place more comfortable."

"Please tell me 'we' is just referring to you and I" said Dean.

"Spoilsport." Bella said from behind Pepper.

"Dean, it'll be fun. I promise." Pepper whispered.

Her hand was now placed against his crutch rubbing slowly but firmly. Dean took in a sharp breath and tried to focus on the situation and Pepper's suggestion rather than focusing on her ministrations. Dean is torn because on the one hand he'd would rather see Bella under a bus than naked in bed with him, not that she wasn't hot but her personality made it difficult to look beyond that. Then on the other hand what Pepper was doing felt oh so good and Dean was a little scared that she'd stop what she was doing if he didn't agree to her 'fun'.

Dean closed his eyes and tried to re-group for a couple of seconds. Which was hard considering the erection he was now sporting. Finally he decided that going along with this was going to have some advantages, especially if it meant that Pepper would keep doing what she is doing.

"Fine." Dean nodded and opened his eyes. "Let's go." He tugged Pepper against him and whispered into her ear, "But you're staying close to me understand."

Pepper simply grinned and kissed him.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The hotel room that they booked had a king-sized bed, which was good if there was going to be three of them in it. A mini bar stood against the left side of the room and on the right was a large stereo and entertainment system and the lights had been set to a low dimmer. Dean wondered briefly how they ended up in such a fancy place until he notice Bella move towards the stereo. Of course she would use her money she did have a lot of it.

Pepper walked towards the bed but stopped a few steps away and turned around to face Dean. She lifted a finger up and gestured that Dean should come towards her. Well he wasn't going to say no to that. He stepped towards her and placed his hands on her hips, running his hands over the silky material against her skin before leaning down and capturing her lips with his. Kissing Pepper was enough to distract him from the fact that Bella was also in the room.

Bella watched the couple for a short moment before she turned to the stereo and turned it on filling the room with some soft jazz music. Dean pulled Pepper closer against him to let her know that he was still interested in what she was going to do tonight. She smiled against his lips and slowly brought her hands up to his chest. While Pepper went to work removing Dean's jacket and shirt, he felt Bella move around somewhere behind him and tensed. He really didn't want Bella to touch him. Then again he didn't really want her touching Pepper either. Thankfully by the time Pepper had removed his shirt Bella had moved away and was sitting on the edge of the bed.

Pepper let out an approving little hum as she lightly dragged her fingernails across Dean's nipples. Her lips trailing across his jaw bone to his ear and nibbling on the lobe. Dean closed his eyes and couldn’t help thrusting his hips against her as she skillfully unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans before pushing her hand inside his boxers and wrapping her fingers around his shaft. She gave a quick rough tugged causing Dean's eyes to snap open once more. He looked down and saw the smirk tugging on her lips.

"Nice" She said and kissed the corner of his opened mouth.

"You haven’t seen nothin' yet." Dean growled against her mouth.

She took his bottom lip between her teeth and gently chewed while still running her hand up and down along his penis.

"She's good isn't she?" Bella asked.

Dean opened his eyes and shot a glare in Bella's direction. Bella was now lying across the bed, propped up on some pillows and was watching as Pepper gave him a hand job. She had the perfect side view of both Dean and Pepper. Dean hissed as Pepper's thumb brushed over his head.

"She's always been good with her hands." Bella continued and paused to trail a hand down her side to the inside of her legs. "And even more so in certain places."

Dean wanted to throw her out he really did. He didn't like her getting off on what Pepper was doing to him. Just as he was about to tell her to shut up, Pepper sank down until she was on her knees in front of him. She locked eyes with him as she ran her tongue across his head lapping up a few drops of pre cum.

"Oh god," He groaned and let his eyes drift shut once again.

"She's even better with her mouth than she is with her hands." Bella said causing Dean to turn his attention to her. Well half of his attention anyway. "Is it weird?" She asked Dean suddenly. "Seeing Pepper here be so...adventurous when it comes to sex. So wild."

"You don't know what you're talking about." Dean snapped.

By this point Pepper had taken all of him into her mouth, and god did it feel good, it was hard for Dean to focus on being mad at Bella when Pepper was doing what she was doing.

"Oh but I do." said Bella leaning forward slightly. "She's always held back with you, hasn't she? Letting you take most of the control whenever you've got her naked before you. With me though she's wild always has been. Pepper knows how to take what she wants when she wants it. Just proves who she wants to be with more."

"S'why she's with me an' not you" Dean said through deep breaths and gritted teeth.

"Only because you're covenant." answered Bella.

At that, Pepper let Dean slip from her mouth. She licked her lips and slowly stood up.

"She's right you know." Pepper told Dean.

Dean stared at her really not expecting her to say that of all things. He watched as she slowly stepped away from him and made her way over to the bed and Bella. Pepper crawled onto the bed on her knees then sat by Bella's side running a hand over her shoulder lightly. Bella smiles at Dean as she sits up on to her knees. Bella placed her hands on Pepper's leg then slowly moving them up dragging Pepper's dress until the material was bunched up at her hips.

"Mmm smooth." Bella commented before she pulled Pepper sharply towards her and Pepper went willingly.

Bella dragged Pepper's dress up and over her head while Dean was paralyzed to watch. He really was, as he was trying to move but some how he couldn't seem to manage it. It was as if something was holding him back, some invisible force. This was hell pure hell. It had to be there was no other reasons for why he was standing their while some one else touched his girl.

Once Pepper's dress was removed it left her in only her high heels and red thong. Bella continued running her hands all over Pepper's body, spending a lot of time near her breasts and stomach. Pepper hummed and allowed Bella to do whatever she wanted. Dean had to admit that he was surprised that Pepper didn't seem the bit self conscious being the only person in the room who was the most naked. Sure he had his shirt off and his dick out but he still had his jeans on.

"Don't you just wish she'd be like this with you?" Bella asked Dean, speaking as if Pepper wasn't even in the room almost naked in front of her. "This willing and outrageous?"

"I never needed you to be outrageous, Pepper." Dean told her. "I didn't want you to be wild I just wanted you to be happy."

"You've made me happy, Dean." said Pepper, although her eyes were locked on Bella's. "Just not...deliriously happy."

"What?" Dean asked. His voice small and quiet. This really was not good.

"Now Dean, it's not like this is new information." Said Bella. She paused to kiss Pepper with even more passion than they had in the bar. When they pulled apart Bella turned her head to look back at Dean. "You've always known that you weren't giving our girl what she needs."

"She is not 'our' girl" Dean snapped.

Bella laughed loudly and shook her head. "You wanna bet. Watch this then."

Bella grabbed Pepper by the back of the neck and angled her head so that she could kiss her more forcefully than before. Pepper moaned in approval as Bella trailed one hand down and slipped a finger into her thong. Bella's hand began thrusting roughly and Pepper had to pull away from the kiss.

Dean gets a very sick feeling deep in his gut as Pepper screamed "Oh. Oh. Oh" Over and over again.

Dean's eyes snapped opened suddenly and he sat upright from his slumped position. His breathing slightly faster than normal and a thin layer of sweat covered his entire body. He closed his eyes and tried to even out his breathing. Opening his eyes once again, Dean takes a quick look around to know his surroundings. He was in the Impala. Well that’s good...sort of.

It takes him a while to remember exactly why he is waking up in the Impala at 3:46am. The fight between Pepper and himself. It had been one of the largest fights that they had ever had in fact Dean was certain that it was the largest. All their other fights never ended up with him being kicked out, just sleeping on the floor or sofa.

Dean couldn't stop thinking about the dream he had just had. Normally he didn't remember his dreams too much, unless they were about demons or his family but this one just would not go away. It was disturbing. Normally if he had one of those dreams involving himself and two women he simple felt aroused and would always wake up with a hard on. This time the arousal was replaced by...something else but Dean simply couldn't pin point it.

This has just been the worst day ever. The hunt which should have been pretty basic had turned into a full blown friggin’ drama. And Dean was incline the blame the entire thing on Bella. He closed his eyes and tried to fend off the anger bubbling in his stomach. There was something about Bella Talbot that really made him want to punch her and he'd never thought about punching a woman before (Demons excluded of course). Besides what right did she have talking to him about Pepper and his relationship with her? It just wasn't her business.

Although there was some things that Bella said that slowly nagged at the corner of his mind. Pepper really wasn't someone who'd Dean had ever thought would stay in the one spot with the one man. That was one of the reasons why she loved her job so much because it gave her the freedom to move around a lot. It was then that Dean suddenly realized that what he had been feeling during his dream (and since being at Bella's apartment) was insecurity. Deep insecurity. He'd never felt that with anyone else not in any of his relationships.

He'd never really felt as if he ever really deserved Pepper but before he was able to cover what he was feeling by finding any available woman willing to take him home and sleep with him. That way he could focus on her and not on Pepper and who she might be with. He didn't fear much... well that was a lie he feared a lot of things. YED getting his hands on Sammy for one but he also feared that Pepper was just settling for him because she was pregnant with his child. He knew that she cared about him but that didn't mean that there wasn't someone better out there who she could fall in love with and who could give her everything that she deserved. Really what could he offer her? He didn't have a job so that meant no steady income. He didn't have a place to live so he couldn't offer her a safe stable environment for her or their child. All he could do was help protect her from Hell ridden Demons but then she had Bobby for that.

Dean leaned back and rubbed his forehead trying to realize some of the strain that had been building up but it didn't help. He looked down at his watch to check the time, 4:09am and he knew that he wasn't going to be able to let this go and move on until he talked to Pepper. She was pregnant and he was out here and that wasn't right, not that he didn't trust Sam to look out for her but its different.

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When Dean entered the motel room it took his eyes a couple of seconds to adjust to dark and it took him quicker than most people, years of hunting things in the dark would do that to you. Once he could see properly his eyes focused on his brother, who was stretched out on his stomach with one arm hugging his pillow. You'd never guess to look at him that he had just spent the entire day tripping over his own two feet. Dean sighed and shook his head before he stepped around Sam's bed and towards the other bed. He froze mid step when he saw that Pepper wasn't in the bed.

A fresh feeling of panic washed over him suddenly and his eyes darted around the room. With everything that he had been thinking over the last couple of hours made him think the absolute worse. Maybe she'd already decided to leave him.... Dean rushed over to Sam and just before he was about to touch his brother's arm and wake him up, he heard the sound of water running coming from the bathroom. He let out a breath that he didn't even know he had been holding and turned around to move towards the bathroom, which now that he looked he could see a faint light coming from under the shut door.

He brought one hand up and lightly tapped against the door. He heard the water stop running and knew that she was contemplating on whether or not she should let him in, although she probably thought that it was Sammy.

"Hey, Pep can I come in?" He asked quietly and waited on bated breath for a response. "I think we should talk." He added after a long stretch of silence.

"No." Pepper replied through the door.

Dean sighed and placed his forehead against the bathroom door.

"Please." He asked.

A moment later he heard the gentle click of the door being opened and he took half a step back to get out of the way, just encase Pepper decided to slam it back on his face. When she opened the door she did not look happy. Her arms were folded defensively across her chest, and her entire posture was very guarded. She'd changed into her pajamas, now wearing a pair of cotton shorts and matching tank top. She quickly looks him up and down before stepping back to let him enter the bathroom. He could tell that she was still upset with him but at least she was willing to give him a chance.

Dean stepped inside the bathroom and closed the door behind him so that they wouldn't wake Sam. He just didn't want his younger brother listening to what he had to say to Pepper. It was then that Dean saw Pepper's toothbrush laying on the sink and a tube of toothpaste beside it. He frowned because there was only one reason why Pepper would brush her teeth at this time of morning. Either she'd just been eating or she'd just been throwing up. Dean's frown deepened because he knew that it had to be the latter.

"Are you ok?" He asked her

Pepper closed her eyes and shrugged while saying, "It's just morning sickness. I am pregnant remember."

"I know but...should we be worried?" He asked and by the look on her face he felt stupid for asking.

"Dean, I've had morning sickness for weeks now" Pepper replied. "This isn't new."

"Yeah but you're not normally up this early with it. So I just thought --"

"--Well I have been stressed lately." Pepper interrupted firmly.

Dean pauses then lets out a breath.

"Sorry." He said with his eyes down cast.

Pepper shrugs again which hurts Dean more than anything because he can’t tell whether or not she forgives him or believes in his apology. Then Dean realized that he had to say just the right words otherwise they'd just be going round in circles.

"Look, Dean if you wanna talk, talk." Pepper said. "But it's late and I'm too tired to stand here for the rest of the night."

"I um, I had this dream before when I was outside." Dean began

"A dream?" She asked skeptically

"Yeah you know we were there and so was Bella. You and she were... close."

"Oh my god." Pepper exclaimed. "Dean what on earth would make you think that I'd ever want to hear about on of your sex dreams?" she demanded.

"No." Dean shook his head quickly. "That's not what I meant. I just," he sighed. "It made me realize that I shouldn't have acted the way that I did when I found out about you and her. I don’t like thinking about or seeing you with someone else and it just took me a while to get that with Bella. I was just surprised is all. I never pictured you as..." He trailed of after that.

"Get to the point, Dean." Pepper sighed.

"I don't like thinking of you with someone else because I like to think that you're mine." He explained.

He knew he had said the wrong thing as soon as her eyes flashed.

"I don't belong to you Dean." Pepper told him angrily.

"Argh. I'm not saying this right." Dean sighed in deep frustration and ran both hands over his face. This was harder than he had thought it would be. He paused and tried to compose himself so that he could do this properly. "Pepper, I don't think you belong to me or that I own you-"

"-Then why say it?" Pepper demanded.

"I meant that I don't like thinking of you with another person because I've never seen myself being with another person the way that I am with you, even before you were pregnant." Dean tried to explain and prayed that he was saying the right words. "Look, I'm not great with the whole relationship thing and ours is the longest one I've ever had. I know that I'm never gonna find any one like you and I know that it's not the same for you."

"What?" Pepper asked. A slight expression of confusing coming across her face. "Dean, what are you talking about?"

"Nothing," He sighed. "It's just some things that Bella said."

"Bella?"

"Yeah, she may be a scheming two-faced bitch but she sure as hell knows how to get under someone’s skin."

"Yeah." Pepper agreed. "So what did she say?"

"That doesn't matter. She just got me thinking is all about some things that I already knew."

"About me?"

"Sort of. I know I shouldn't let her get to me and I'm sorry for that." Dean let out a long slow sigh and looked down, unable to meet Pepper's eyes. "There’s gotta be someone out there who's better for you and I'm just..." He paused slightly. "...Worried that you'll figure that out. Pepper you and this baby are the best things to happen to me in such a long time. I don't exactly get many good things coming to me with this life and god knows I haven’t done anything to deserve you. I guess I'm just waiting for it all to crumble like everything else."

"Dean" Pepper breathed.

"Look I just had to tell you that. And I don't want you to feel like you have to be with me just because of the baby."

Because Dean refused to bring his head up, too scared of what Pepper's reaction would be; he didn’t know that her entire posture had softened completely. She was looking at him with unshed tears in her bright blue eyes that held so much love and emotion for him in that brief moment.

Dean chooses to continue, needing to add one last little thing before he could let all this go.

"And hey if you don't want to stay I just want you to know that I'll still do whatever I can to help." He shrugged slightly. "I don't know what exactly I can do to help, I mean it's not like I have much to offer but I'll do what I can."

Suddenly without warning, Pepper moved towards Dean and bent her head at just the right angle so that she could press her lips softly against his which was hard with his head still down but she managed it somehow. Dean's eyes become wider from the pure shock of the kiss. He'd never expect her to kiss him like that. Not tonight anyway. Time passed and Dean wasn't sure whether it was a moment of several minutes but all too soon he felt Pepper pull away. She didn't step back away from him though and he took the opportunity to lift his head and look at her. His eyes full of question and hope.

Pepper's expression gave nothing away and that made the sudden slap against his cheek even more of a surprise than if he'd seen anger in her eyes.

"Don't you ever make me feel anything like what you made me feel today again." She warned and a single tear escaped down her cheek.

Dean nodded mutely unable to find the words. They'd had fights before but this was the biggest and he never wanted to hurt her like that ever again but he knew that nothing was certain and chances were that he'd be just as stupid some other time and do it all again.

Pepper gently placed both hands on Dean's chest and took a deep breath before she spoke.

"Dean, I love you, it's that simple. I've never loved anyone like I love you. I don’t even think it’s possible and you should know by now that you're more than I could ever want, you always have been." She told him softly. Her fingers ran lightly up his chest to his neck and splayed just under his ears. "I don't want you to worry that you're not good enough or that I'm going to leave because I'm not. Not ever."

"Don't." Dean spoke. "You can't make that promise; you don't know what’s gonna happen in the future."

"No, but I know what I feel now and that’s what matters." Pepper replied. "I really do love you."

Dean nodded and reached out and placed both his arms loosely around her lower back, pulling her against him slowly and she goes willingly into his arms. As Pepper leans against him, Dean relaxes for the first time since waking up in the Impala. He never realized that he needed to hear her say that she loved him. Sure she said it more than he did, a lot more really and he never asked her to say it but it was good when she did say it.

Dean pulled back slightly and placed one hand against Pepper's stomach. That had been what was different about her in his dream. She wasn't pregnant and that seemed a little weird. She hadn't been pregnant for long but he was actually used to it. He closed his eyes and imagined he could feel the baby growing underneath, although he knew that he couldn't. His eyes that had once again been down this time looking at his hand came up again when Pepper sighed.

"I still don't know how you can have so much faith in me." He hadn't meant to say it out but by Pepper's frown he knew that he had.

Shaking her head slightly Pepper said, "I trust you. You're a good man with a good heart and I know that you'll never intentionally hurt me." She smiled softly then added. "And besides, I know that you love me."

Dean pulls her close once again and kisses her.

"Come on, let's go to bed" She whispered and took his hand in hers.

"No sleeping in the car?" He half joked.

"Well, not tonight" Pepper smirked while leading him out of the bathroom and turning off the light.

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When Sam woke up that morning he sat up in bed and cracked his neck and shoulders while yawning. It was such a relief to know that the day was going to be a hell of a lot more relaxing than the previous day, although it probably wasn't going to be for Dean and Pepper. Speaking of Pepper, Sam hoped that she was doing better than last night. After Dean had left she had become very quiet and refused to talk. Not that Sam really expected her to talk to him about Dean, but he still offered because he cared about what happed to her and Dean. Not surprisingly he and Pepper had become friends, they even shared jokes that Dean didn't understand. Plus she was the only other person that Sam had much contact with who wasn't a hunter.

Sam turned to see if Pepper was awake yet and smiled at what he saw. Lying with Pepper in her bed was Dean with his arms draped over her. Sam can't say that he is surprised to see his brother there. He had known that Dean would eventually get back into Pepper's good books and that it wouldn't take him long to do that.

After watching the couple for a few minutes, Sam just had to chuckle to himself at how they looked now, especially Dean, laying there Dean looked so peaceful and it was weird to see him like that. Only in sleep did Dean truly let his emotions be seen and now he looked... happy, and if anyone deserved happiness it was Dean Winchester.

Sam shook his head and after checking the time on the clock on the opposite wall he lay back down, closed his eyes and took in a few more minutes of sleep with a smile on his face.

TBC

Next Chapter - Hello Mr. Trickster

Expecting 4/10 - part 2

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:18:04 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Expecting
CHAPTER - Lucky Days 4/10 - part 2 (long chapter)
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, John Winchester, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 7977
SUMMARY - Dean and Sam's lives have always been different and with Dean's pregnant girlfriend joining them life’s going to get a lot more interesting.
WARNINGS - AU story - Draft - all mistakes are mine
BETA - N/A
A/N - See part one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

Pepper was sitting crossed-legged on Dean's bed, using the television remote control to surf through the different channels when Dean unlocked the door and headed into the room. Pepper looked up at him and quickly turned off the TV.

"You're back." Pepper stated. "Did you get the foot back?" she asked

"Well-" Dean began

He was interrupted by Sam shouting out as the motel door blew shut and hit him in the face before he could walk in side.

"Oh for..." Sam's muttered voice came through the closed door.

Dean sighed. "Not exactly."

"Oh," said Pepper as Sam opened the door once again and walked inside. She watched as he closed the door behind him but didn't move further into the room. "Dean, if you haven’t got the foot back is it a good idea to have Sammy here?"

"We're not staying." Dean replied. He turned slightly and pointed sharply at his brother as he added, "And Sam's not going to move from that spot."

That's when Pepper notices that Dean hasn't moved from his spot in the middle of the room. Staying between her and Sammy.

"So what are you going to do now?" Pepper asked as she stood up from the bed. She paused slightly and frowned, "Is that strawberry milk I can smell?"

"Don't ask." Sam muttered.

Pepper smiled sadly at Sam, because she felt bad for him. She looked down by chance and that's when she noticed that he only had the one shoe on. She frowned and looked at Dean with the obvious question on her face.

Dean's only reply was to shake his head and half shrug. Pepper looked back at Sam, who was looking a lot like a lost puppy would with his bottom lip sticking out and his eyes cast down.

"We're waiting for Bobby to call." said Dean. He walked over to Sam's duffle bag, picked it up off the floor and dropped it onto Sam's bed. "He's looking into where this chick is."

"Chick?" Pepper asked.

"Yeah." Dean nodded; He paused to throw Sam a new shirt and his other pair of shoes. "Some chick named Bella Talbot."

Dean watched as Pepper's eyes widen in surprise for a second.

"Oh, um did granddad say anything else about her?" Pepper slowly asked.

"Ah ha," Dean nodded. "Said he'd met her a couple of times. Then he said something about you knowing her, but he didn't mention how. So, how do you know someone like that, Pep?"

"It’s...complicated." Pepper sighed. "We just have this history."

"That's what Bobby said. You're both as vague as each other." Dean walked towards her as a slow grin began to cross over his face. "Come on, Pep you gotta give me more than that."

"Why is this important exactly?" Pepper asked placing one hand on her hip defensively. "Shouldn't you be focusing on getting the foot back from Bella? Instead of standing here and asking me questions.”

Dean's smirk grew ever so lightly. He had hit a nerve and was now even more intrigued than before. It wasn't as if he enjoyed annoying Pepper, in fact it was something he tried to avoid mostly because an annoyed Pepper was an angry Pepper and he'd be the one she'd take her anger out of. It was even worse now that she was pregnant. However he couldn't seem to let him go.

"Well with McSpaz over there," Dean replied and quickly pointed behind him to Sam. "I need as much information as I can so I know what we're up against."

Pepper let out a long annoyed sigh and rolled her eyes.

"Fine." She gritted out between clenched teeth. She folded her arms a crossed her chest. "Bella and I used to...kind of, date. For a while."

Both Dean and Sam stared wide eyed at her. Their mouths opened slightly as this information hit them. Out of all the things that Dean was expecting Pepper to say, that was definitely not one of them.

"You, you dated?" Dean asked once he found his voice. "You mean each other?"

Pepper shrugged one shoulder, "Yeah we dated each other. It wasn't exactly a healthy relationship. It was just one of those stupid mistakes you make when you're young."

"Dating a hot woman doesn't sound like a mistake to me." said Dean, before he realized it.

Pepper glared at him. "Dean you're not supposed to enjoy this conversation."

"Why not?" He asked. "Thinking about two hot women together, it's what great adult movies are made off."

"What!" Pepper demanded.

"Oh don't get me wrong, Pep, you are the hotter one." Dean grinned. "You know I have a thing for blonds. Bella seemed more like a brunette although she was wearing a wig."

"Oh dear god, Dean I cannot believe that you just said that." Pepper angrily told him with her eyes wide.

"What?" He asked.

"I tell you that this thing with Bella and I was a mistake and you act as if it’s the best news you've ever had. You cannot honestly be that thick, Dean."

"Okay, okay." Dean smiled softly and lifted his hands up. "I'm sorry," he said sincerely and moved towards her.

She sighed in relief because he did sound sorry, and she could always tell whether or not he meant his apologies. When he was standing before her, Dean reached up lightly stroked her cheek. He knew that Sam was behind him but he'd rather have Sam witness a slight romantic exchange between him and Pepper than have Pepper stay mad at him. She was smiling so he knew that he was forgiven.

"I am sorry, you know. It's just that, you know the image of two women..." Dean began. "It's hot. But I promise, next time I'll try to think before I speak."

"Wait." Pepper frowned. Suddenly she stepped back causing Dean to drop his hand.

Dean looked extremely puzzled. He'd been warned by both Bobby and John to watch out for extreme mood swings while Pepper was pregnant but he'd always thought that there'd be a legitimate reason for them.

"So you think that’s why I’m angry?” Pepper demanded. "Because you're perverted male mind is enjoying the thought of two women having sex?"

"I...ah...well yeah." Dean replied. "Why else would you be upset?"

Pepper let out a short exasperated sigh and shook her head. She dropped down onto the edge of Dean's bed. Dean turned around to look at Sam, who was busy tying the laces of his shoes.

"I can’t believe that you have no idea why I'm upset." Pepper said quietly.

"Well you could tell me" Dean pointed out.

Pepper turned to look up at him, "That's part of the problem, Dean. I shouldn't have to tell you."

"Oh don't make this into one of those 'if you don't know what it is you've done, then there’s no point me telling you' things." Dean said in a very bored and mocking tone, causing Pepper to glare sharply at him. "Don’t give me that look; you know that doesn't make any sense. I'm not a mind reader."

"You are just so clueless, Dean. And you can be such a moron sometimes."

"I'm the moron? Look, you're the one--" Dean began but was cut off when his cell began to ring.

He looked down and pulled his cell out of his pocket. He checked the caller ID and saw that it was Bobby. Dean quickly answered it.

"Hey, Bobby...yeah...right...No, I'm gonna drop Sammy off in a different motel room...Ah, not really...yeah...Thanks, Bobby." Dean sighed, "Yeah we owe you. See ya."

Pepper and Sam were watching him, as he hung up and pocketed his phone once again.

"Alright, Bobby's got in on good authority that Bella’s living in queens" Dean told them.

"Then you should probably get going." Pepper replied, and it was almost a command. Her voice still thick with annoyance and anger.

She crossed her arms over her chest once more and turned to look at the blank screen of the TV. Dean stared at her for a long moment, waiting for her to say something...anything. After a while when he knew that she wasn't going to budge he muttered something under his breath and stomped back over to Sam.

"Let's go Sam."

Sam nodded and looked worriedly at Pepper just as Dean walked past him and out of the door.

"Um-" Sam began.

"Just go Sammy." said Pepper.

Sam nodded and followed Dean out. Sam was, for a better word, stunned. He'd witnessed Dean and Pepper fighting on a number of occasions but he'd never seen Pepper that pissed before. He had to admit he didn't really see what Dean had done wrong besides being very happy to find out that Pepper had been with another woman.

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Dean paid for another motel room but made sure that it was the furthest one that he could get from their first one.

"It'll take me about two hours to get to Bella’s" said Dean as he walked into the room and turned on the light.

"So, I'm not going with you?" Sam asked.

"No, you are staying here."

"I thought you didn't want to leave me by myself?"

"Yeah well, better you stay here than have your bad luck get us both killed." replied Dean. "And I can't have you staying with Pepper, so you're stuck here."

Sam frowned, "What am I even supposed to do Dean?"

"Nothing, nothing." Dean quickly scanned the room and notice one of the chairs from the small table sitting alone in the middle of the room. "Come here," he gestured towards the chair. "I don't want you doing anything."

Sam heavily sat down, clearly not happy with his plan.

"Just sit right here and don’t move. Okay?"

"Dean, come on-" Sam began to argue.

Dean cuts him off. "-I mean it Sam. Stay still. Don't turn on the light, don't turn off the light. Don't even scratch you nose"

Dean turned and began walking back towards the door.

"Dean, what about Pepper?" Sam asked

"What about Pepper?" Dean demanded as he spun around to glare at his brother.

"Well, it is safe to leave her alone?" Sam asked. "I mean she seemed pretty upset."

"Yeah well I'll deal with that later." Dean spat.

Dean purposely slammed the door on his way out. Sam rolled his eyes and sighed. It was going to be a long few hours and there was absolutely nothing to do. He scrunched his face up and fought against the sudden itch that spread over his nose. Giving into temptation, he roughly scratched his nose.

A few minutes later as Sam was tapping his fingers against his knee and rocking back slightly in his chair. Deciding to check call and check if Pepper was doing okay. He pulled his cell out of his pocket.

"What is it, Sammy?" Pepper asked. Clearly still irritated.

"Um, I just wanted to see that you're okay." Sam replied awkwardly.

Pepper sighed heavily on the other end of the line.

"It's fine. I'm fine really. Just, sit tight. Hopefully this will all be over soon and we can just move on."

"Look, about Dean-"

"-Just drop it OK." Pepper paused. "Look I'm tired so just, you know call me when Dean get's back and try not to get into too much trouble."

"Right well, if you wanna talk..." Sam trailed off awkwardly.

While he did want to be there for Pepper, he also felt weird that they'd be talking about his brother. Some things he didn't need to know about.

"...I know. Thanks."

Pepper hung up and Sam silently shook his head. As Sam placed his phone back into his pocket, he heard a noise coming from the other side of the room. He looked up in time to see air conditioner that was built into the wall begin to smoke.

"Oh, come on." Sam sighed. "I didn’t...I wouldn't."

Standing up, Sam headed towards the air-con but jumped back suddenly as it burst into flames. Quickly, he grabs the bed covers off of the bed and uses them to put out the fire. He managed to get the fire out and shook his head as he tossed the blanket back onto the bed.

It was defiantly a good thing that he wasn't any where near Pepper is his un-born nephew or niece.

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Dean had to admit; even if this Bella Talbot was a thief she certainly knew what she was doing. Her place was filled with expensive items. For a thief she was certainly living the good life.

It wasn't hard to break in to Bella’s apartment. It wasn't the first time he'd had to break into a place with a lot of high security. He wasn't the best at it but he got by. Bella was actually out when he got to her apartment so he had to wait, hiding in one of her closets until she came back.

The time alone got him thinking about his fight with Pepper. He honestly had no idea why she was so pissed at him. It wasn't as if he was asking her questions about her relationship with Bella. Not that he hadn't thought about it but he knew that wouldn’t win him any points and he liked having Pepper in a good mood.

But really, what was her problem?

Dean didn't have to plague that thought as he heard Bella come in. He waited while she talked to some one named Luke on her phone. It wasn’t until she hanged up and finally noticed that somebody had broken into her home that Dean came out of the closet. His gun sharply pointing directly at her heart. She was ready though because she pulled her own gun at him and from the look in her eye she knew how to use it.

"You left without your tip." Dean sarcastically commented.

"Cute." said Bella. "With that quick wit I'm surprised it took you this long to get here."

"Ah Hun, I've been here for a while. Now that little rabbit’s foot you took from my brother you're gonna give it back."

"Oh sweetie." Bella smiled. "No I'm not"

"Yeah we'll see. Bella right?" He asked.

"That's right. Dean."

"You know that thing is cursed don't you?"

Bella shrugged, "You'd be surprised by what some people would pay for something like that."

"Really?" Dean asked, not quite believing it.

"There's a lucrative market out there." Bella nodded, with a slight smile. "Lot of money to be made. You hunters with all those amulets and talismans you use to stop those big bad monsters. Any one of them could put your children's children through college."

Dean made a slight disbelieving sound in the back of his throat, though he couldn’t help it as his mind wondered off and he thought about all the different amulets that he, Sam, Bobby and John all had in there possession and how easy it'd be to sell them. And what better reasons to sell all of it than to provide for his future child.

He blinked once and cleared his thoughts than re-focused on Bella in front of him.

"So you knew the truth about what's really going on out there, and this is what you've decided to do with it? You become a thief."

"I procure unique items for a select clientele." Bella corrected as she and Dean moved around her apartment. Their guns still pointed at each other.

"Yeah. A thief."

"No." said Bella. "A great thief."

"Look, Bella my brother touched the foot and when you took it from him his luck went from-"

"-I know how it works" Bella interrupted him.

"So then you know he's gonna die unless we can destroy it?"

"Oh...You can have the foot." she said.

Dean paused, not believing that it would be that easy.

"For 1.5 million."

Dean rolled his eyes. He knew that was coming.

"Nice. Yeah, I'll just call my banker." He shook his head and scoffed. "How'd you even find the damn thing? It was stuck in the back of some storage place in the middle of nowhere."

Bella doesn't answer him. She just turns around and looks behind her to a large spirit board resting against a large white mantle on the wall.

"I just asked a few of the ghosts of the people it had killed" She explained. "They were very tuned into its location."

"So you're only out for yourself ha?" Dean asked.

Bella shrugged slightly as she turned back around to fully face Dean again.

"It's all about number one."

"Being a hunter is so much more noble?” Bella pointed out. "Bunch of obsessed revenge driven sociopaths trying to save a world that can't be saved."

"Oh well aren’t you a glass half full."

"We're all going to hell, Dean. Might as well enjoy the ride."

"Well, that's kinda morbid." said Dean. "No wonder you're only out for yourself. No one else would be." He added with a smirk.

"Unlike you, with your younger brother and mostly absent father." Bella asked. She paused slightly and slowly grinned. "And let's not forget Bobby singer's granddaughter."

"How...how do you know about...?”

"What, about Pepper? Dean, I saw you at the restaurant." said Bella. "You all looked pretty cozy and by the way Pepper was looking at you I'd say you were sleeping with her."

"Sure about that?"

"Sweetie, I've seen that look in her eyes before. Did she tell you about her and I?"

"Yeah. You used to date. So what? You're a lesbian thief. Still a thief."

"No more lesbian than she is." Bella smirked. "She didn't tell you much though did she? About why we were together or about what we did?"

"And I suppose you're going to tell me?" Dean joked.

There was something in his voice that he cursed as soon as he saw the look in Bella’s eyes. She had hit a nerve and what was worse was that she knew it.

"I bet whatever you have with her wont last." said Bella

Dean relaxed slightly. At least Bella didn't know about the baby. That was a plus.

"The longest relationship she's ever had was with me. Although it was just about the sex. Did you know that she let me do things to her that she'd never even consider letting any of her boyfriends do."

"Maybe you're just better at it than men are." Dean snapped as he tried not to sound as curious as he felt.

When had Pepper been with Bella and what did she allow Bella to do that she didn't allow anyone else? Did this include him?

"Oh, that has nothing to do with it." Bella let out a short laugh and let her eyes travel over Dean's body. "How far do you see this going?" she asked

"What?" Dean asked

"This," Bella gestured with her hands. "Relationship between you and Pepper, do you really see it lasting long? She's not one to be tied down. That's why we worked so well together."

"You don't know her that well." Dean snapped and tightened his grip on his gun.

"Oh hit a nerve did I." Bella replied with a smirk. "Is that because you know that I'm right. Let me guess, you love her and now you're thinking that maybe she's going to get bored and leave. And all because you're just not good enough."

Dean faulted for a second before he regained his composer. He didn't have time to think about this, not when Sam was cursed with the mother of all bad luck.

"I actually agree with you there." He said, before he could stop himself. It was true he wasn't good enough for Pepper but he hadn't meant to tell Bella that. He found it hard to focus when Pepper was the topic of conversation. "Any who," he added quickly. "This has been charming but ah, look at the time."

Dean reached into his jacket pocked and pulled out the rabbit’s foot.

"Oh and this...looks like your not the only one with sticky fingers." Dean paused and frowned as he tightly wrapped his fingers around the foot. "If it's any consolation, I think you're a truly awful person."

Bella’s looked turned into a glare before she fired a couple of shots at Dean. Each one missed which caused Dean to laugh, not because he had good luck and couldn’t be hit but because he really did enjoy seeing Bella frustrated.

As he raced out the door, Dean couldn't help yelling out a teasing "See ya!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean drove back to Sam's motel as quickly as he could, which wasn't hard since he managed to miss every single red light. All the while he kept checking the rabbit's foot in his jacket pocket.

He tried not to think about the things that Bella had said about Pepper. He had no idea why he let her get to him like that. Perhaps it had something to do with the fight he had with Pepper before going to Bella’s, but then maybe it was just Bella’s personality that rubbed him the wrong way. As he parked the Impala outside of Sam's motel room, Dean tried to block out all thought of Bella and Pepper together and instead tried to focus on Sam and getting the rabbit's foot destroyed.

Dean walked into the motel room and startled his brother. Dean rolled his eyes and stalked over towards Sam, who was sitting on the bed.

"I thought I told you not to move."

"It's hard not too move when the place is on fire."

"The what!" Dean demanded and spun around to take in the room.

"It wasn’t actually on fire" Sam admitted sheepishly. "The air-con caught fire a few times."

"Man, you really do suck."

"Did you get the foot back?" Sam asked

Dean smiled and reached into his pocket where he pulled out the foot. Sam frowned as he noticed Dean's fingers wrap around the furry animal's foot.

"And you thought it would be a good idea to touch it?"

Dean shrugged and shoved the foot back into his pocket. "Yeah, well we're destroying it soon aren’t we?"

"I guess." Sam nodded and slowly stood up. "Bobby called back, so we have a ritual to destroy it but we need to go to a cemetery."

"Good." Dean paused and stuck his hands into his jacket pocket. "Can you, ah, call Pepper and tell her what's going on?"

Sam frowned but didn't press Dean to say anything more. Clearly Dean was still troubled by the fight with Pepper, and Sam didn't want to aggravate his brother if he didn't have to. The fact that Dean now had the best luck in the entire world didn't stop him from looking a little tired and worn when thinking of an argument with Pepper.

Sam nodded and pulled out his cell phone as they headed out of the motel.

"Hi, Pepper." Sam said carefully.

Being around Pepper was the first time Sam had spent any long periods of time with pregnant women so he didn't know much on what to expect but something inside of him was telling him that getting her angrier than she already was would not be the best idea in the world.

"Sam." Pepper said shortly, clearing still a little pissed at Dean.

"Um, yeah I just wanted to call and tell you that we've got the foot back." Sam said quickly. "And Bobby's given us a way to destroy it."

"Oh," Pepper sighed. "Is it hard, the ritual to destroy the foot, is it hard?"

"Not really. We just have to burn it in a cemetery. As long we get the right ingredients it should work."

"Did Dean have any trouble getting the foot back from Bella?"

"Ah," Sam paused and looked over at his brother. "No," he replied because that was easier than asking. "Well there’s a cemetery about 35 minutes from here so we'll go there and call you when we get back."

"Sure, just call me when you're done so we can just get out of here." Pepper replied tiredly, "Oh and Sam watch out for Bella. She's not going to just let Dean get away with stealing from her. Even if she does deserve it.

"Alright." said Sam, with a short nod and hung up.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While at the cemetery, Sam focused on digging a hole for the fire, lighting it and making sure all the extra ingredients where thrown in while all Dean did was stand back and scratch about more lottery cards that he picked up on their way to the cemetery. Sam added the last thing to the fire and stood up.

"Alright, bone ash, cyan pepper." He sighed to himself "That should do it."

Sam paused and looked over at Dean, waiting for him to contribute, but Dean hadn't said much since they'd left the motel.

"One second," Dean muttered and finished scratching the last card.

Sam frowned, "Dean you -”

"- Hey back off jinx" Dean warned. "I'm bringing home the bacon."

There was a small smile on Dean's face as he looked over all the cards, so Sam knew that he had one at least a few more grand. Sam shook his head and watched Dean turn around and head towards his jacket, which lay on top of a tomb stone.

"Dean, do you really think that winning a bunch of money is going to put Pepper in a better mood?" Sam asked, just because he was annoyed at having to do all the work.

"If Pepper cared about money she wouldn't be with me would she." Dean snapped. He tucked the tickets into the left pocket of his jacket before turning around and taking the rabbits foot from his jean's pocket.

"Alright." Dean said in a much lighter tone. He dangled the rabbit’s foot and swung it slightly from side to side. "Say goodbye wascally wabbit."

The smile quickly disappeared from his face however when behind him, he heard the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked. Dean spun around and wasn't all that surprised to see Bella standing before him, her gun pointed squarely at his chest.

"I think you'll find that belongs to me." Said Bella. "Or, you know," She smiled with a half shrug. "Whatever."

Dean opened his mouth to say something but Bella beat him to it.

"Put the foot down honey." She ordered him.

"No." Dean shook his head. "You're not gonna shoot anybody. See I happen to be able to read people. Okay, you're a thief. Fine. But you're not - -"

Dean was abruptly cut off as Bella fired a shot. She missed Dean, and since he had the luck that was always going to happen, but what Dean hadn't counted on was her aiming the gun at Sam. Sam cried out in pain and grabbed his shoulder as Dean spun around and stared at him in shock before turning back to Bella.

"Son of a -" Dean began

"- Back off tiger." Bella warned, aiming her gun at Sam once again. "You make one more move and I'll pull the trigger." She warned. "You've got the luck Dean, you I can't hit but your brother, him I can't miss."

Sam stood up straight and pressed his hand down onto his shoulder wound, as he glared at Bella.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Dean shouted. "You don't go around shooting people like that!"

"Relax. It's a shoulder hit" Bella said calmly. "I can aim -"

Out of nowhere the sound of a gun being fired rang out through the cemetery but it wasn't Bella who fired it. The bullet barely missed hitting Bella’s feet. As one Dean, Sam and Bella all turned to their right and three pairs of eyes grew wide in surprise to see Pepper standing to the side between Dean and Bella with a gun.

"So can I" said Pepper, giving Bella a hard stare.

Pepper was wearing a long coat with all the buttons done up, and if Dean could get his brain over the shock of seeing her long enough to think an actual thought then he might be grateful at that fact. It meant that Bella wouldn't be able to pick up the fact that Pepper was pregnant.

"Are you alright, Sammy?" Pepper called out without taking her eyes off of Bella.

"I - yeah." Sam said in a daze.

Sam had no idea that Pepper ever knew how a gun worked yet alone aim and shoot the thing.

Bella seemed to re-cover from her shock first and she smiled at Pepper and let her eyes travel over her body. It was then that Dean snapped out of his daze because at that moment, watching Bella look at Pepper, he had the sudden urge hit Bella and he'd never wanted to hit a woman before but for Bella he'd willingly make the exception.

"You haven’t changed." said Bella. "Still as feisty as ever I see."

"You haven’t changed either Bella." Pepper replied. "Still a complete bitch I see."

Bella gave a half shrug, seemingly not bothered by Pepper's comment or the fact that she still had a gun pointed at her.

"I suppose you're going to ask me nicely to put my gun down."

"Well I was debating over whether or not I should just shoot you." Pepper answered sarcastically. "Not that you wouldn't deserve it. What with stealing, and shooting Sammy here, oh and just full out being a pain. But then again shooting you would only make me like you and honestly I can't think of anything worse."

"Ouch," Bella sighed with a roll of her eyes. "It's not like you had a problem with it before."

"Just shut up and put your gun on the ground." said Pepper. Then she added a fake sweetly "Please."

Bella’s eyes darted from Pepper, to Dean and Sam then back again. She slowly bent down and placed her gun on the ground then stood back up and kicked her gun towards Pepper, who bent down and picked it up while still keeping her own gun pointed at Bella.

"Dean" Pepper called out.

"Yeah?" Dean asked, as he turned to Pepper.

"Burn the foot." Pepper instructed.

Dean nodded and turned back to the small fire at Sam's feet. He dropped the foot into the fire and took a moment to watch it burn. At least that was over. He glanced up at Sam briefly before turning back around to Pepper and Bella.

Pepper slowly made her way over to Dean, stopping beside him as she continued to glare at Bella. Dean couldn't help but stare at the gun in Pepper's hand.

"Thanks very much." Bella said sarcastically as she watched the foot burn. "I'm out one and a half million and on the bad side of a very powerful, fairly psychotic buyer."

"Wow, I really don't feel bad about that." said Dean, shaking his head slightly. In his mind, counting the seconds until Bella would just leave. "Sam?"

"Nope." Sam added, his hand still pressing down hard on his new wound. He forced a smile and added, "Not even a little."

"Mmm." Bella hummed.

"This is the part where you leave, Bella." said Pepper.

Bella nodded and turned to walk away. She paused and turned back after only having gone five steps.

"Maybe next time I'll hang you out to dry." said Bella, with a slight smile.

"Oh don't go away angry just go away." said Dean, the tone in his voice changing from sarcastic to pure annoyance.

"Have a nice night then." Bella replied. "Till next time."

Bella turned and continued to walk off out of the cemetery. Pepper waited until Bella was out of sight before she relaxed her shoulders and lowered her gun. Dean turned to her with a deep frown on his face. A thousand and one questions where running through his head.

"Pep..."

She turned to him and looked into his eyes for the briefest of moments before thrusting both hers and Bella’s guns at his chest. Clumsily Dean grabbed the guns and watched on as Pepper stepped past him and over to Sam. Pepper gently removed Sam's hand from the bullet wound just long enough to take a good look at it before guiding it back down.

"It doesn't look too bad," said Pepper, and then turned to look up at Sam with a sympathetic look. "How does it feel?"

"Ah, I've had worse." Sam replied slowly.

Pepper nodded.

"Well we should still take you to the hospital to get it looked at."

"Ok."

Pepper turned and walked over to where Sam had left his shovel. She picked up the shovel by the handle and kept it beside her leg. Dean was standing behind them still staring at Pepper and she didn't even seem to notice.

"Is there anything else that needs to be done here?" Pepper asked Sam.

"We just have to put the fire out." Sam replied

"Oh alright." Pepper nodded.

She turned around and checked to see that the rabbit’s foot was completely burnt and destroyed before she shoveled some dirt off the ground and flung it on to the fire.

"Come on Pep, so you're just not going to talk to me now?" Dean asked.

Pepper's head snapped up and she glared at Dean.

"No" She answered. "'Cause if I talk to you now Dean, I'm going to say some things that I'll regret saying later."

"So you'd regret saying them but you'd still mean them?" Dean asked her.

Pepper didn't answer, simply continued dosing the fire until all the embers where put out. Her silence was driving Dean insane. He was so close to just grabbing her by the arms and shaking her until she made sense or until she wasn't angry at him any more. And he would do that if she wasn't pregnant and he wasn't scared shitless of causing harm to the baby.

Pepper was done and she lifted the shovel over her shoulder. Sam stood back, partly focusing on the pain in his shoulder and partly focusing on how tense Pepper and Dean were both being. Pepper began walking away from Sam and past Dean. Dean realized that he couldn't let this go on and quickly moved towards her. He stepped in front of her and stopped her in her tracks.

"Look," Dean began and held his arms out, still holding a gun in each hand. "I'm sorry. Okay."

"Oh." Pepper replied as she took a step back. "You're sorry. Well that's great Dean, but why are you sorry?"

Dean paused and his eyes shifted away from her. He knew that he was sorry for acting the way he did, and he was sorry that they were fighting because he hated it but he doubted that those were the reasons she was after. If Dean could wish for anything at this very moment it wouldn't be to find the demon that killed his mother (although that would come in a very close second) it would be the power to read Pepper's mind. God, the woman just drove him insane.

"Yeah." Pepper nodded slowly. "That's what I thought."

Dean could only stand and watch as Pepper moved past him. Sam came up to him with a deep sympathetic look on his face that Dean just wanted to smack right off of his face.

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They made it back from the hospital after Sam had his shoulder looked at and went back to their first motel room. The tension between Pepper and Dean was almost suffocating Sam. He'd never seen his brother get this worked up over a woman before. Granted there'd never been another woman that was carrying his baby, still they were making Sam shift uncomfortably as he sat down on his bed. The only words that had been spoken since leaving the hospital had been directed at Sam.

Pepper had gone into the bathroom and was gone a good 10 minutes while Dean walked into the connecting kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. Sam watched as Dean gulped down the entire drink in one gulp. Well at least it wasn’t alcohol. And as Pepper finally came out of the bathroom, no longer wearing her coat, Dean moved towards her. Sam couldn't help but inwardly flinch at the determined look in his brother's eyes. If Dean and Pepper were going to have a fight then Sam really didn't want to witness it.

"Alright that's it." Dean said suddenly from behind Pepper. She spun around to shoot him a glare but he waved it off. "You can't keep giving me the silent treatment for ever you know."

"Yeah well talking to you doesn't seem to work" Pepper snapped.

She walked past him and over to their bed where she sat down and purposely turned her back on him. Dean loudly sighed in frustration and walked over until he was standing in front of her and beside Sam.

That was one thing Sam knew for sure the baby was going to have. With both of its parents being so stubborn the poor kid was going twice as stubborn.

"Well you haven’t really talked to me have you?" Dean pointed out and it was more of a statement than a question. "Are you only this angry 'cause it was Bella that we ran into?"

"What? Dean I told you that Bella was a mistake."

"If it was a mistake then why are you getting so upset about it?"

"Me being upset has nothing to do with what Bella and I had." Pepper snapped angrily

"It has to have something to do with it, Pepper." Dean exclaimed.

"No," Pepper replied and stood up facing Dean with her arms now crossed. "I'm upset because of you and how you've been acting."

Dean let out another sound of frustration and rubbed both hands over his face roughly. He lowered his hands and shook his head. Sam watched him and then tried to figure out if he could make it to the door without either one of them knowing.

"What, please for the love of god, tell me what the problem is?" Dean asked. "Because I'm not a mind reader. I can't fix this unless you tell me what’s wrong."

"What's wrong is that since we've been together we've had rules. Remember?"

"I -” Dean paused and shifted his eyes towards Sam. This wasn't something he ever planned on Sam finding out but if it meant getting Pepper to tell him what was wrong he'd just have to suck it up. "-Yeah."

"Set rules to make our relationship better." Pepper continued. "And I know that we've changed them since I got pregnant but the main ones are still there. And you just..." she paused and took a deep breath before adding, "broke them.

"How did I break 'em?"

Pepper shook her head in disbelief. "By going on and on about Bella and my relationship with her. You acted as if it was so fantastic that I'd had that relationship with her."

"And I explained that --" Dean began

"-- That's not what this is about. It shouldn't matter if we're talking about Bella, who's an attractive woman or if we're talking about some, random guy. You should have the same reaction after hearing that I've slept with them." Pepper said. Her voice beginning to sound more desperate. She obviously thought that this was a simple thing to grasp and wanted Dean to figure it out. "You're not supposed to be happy. You're supposed to be...I don't know...pissed off or jealous. Or both."

"So you're angry because I didn't act like a jealous boyfriend?" Dean asked slowly. "Even though you always say that you hate when I go over board in that area."

"No I'm not saying that." she cried desperately. "We said that we wouldn't talk about any of our ex's around each other."

"I didn't talk about one of my ex's" Dean said with a deep frown.

Sam felt like he was watching a tennis match, his gaze moving from one to the other.

"No but you stood here and went on and on about one of mine" said Pepper, lowering her hands. "We have rules for a reason, Dean. So that we don't get into these types of situations. Yet you find it so easy to keep breaking them."

"One rule, Pepper. I broke one rule." Dean said in a raised voice as he used his right hand to show just how many rules he had broken.

"Oh yeah," Pepper scoffed. "And what about Cassie."

Dean paused, literally lost for words. His face dropped from anger to shock then back to anger in a matter of moments. Sam was wide eyed as he looked from Dean to Pepper and back again.

"You...you know about Cassie?" Sam asked Pepper, ignoring the death glare that Dean was now sending him.

"Yes." Pepper replied with a short nod towards Sam. "Did Dean tell you about that?" She asked

"Drop it, Pepper." Dean warned.

"Dean, I thought that when you and Cassie where together you...I mean I thought you, you know. Loved Cassie." said Sam as he turned to look up at Dean.

"Oh he did." Pepper replied before Dean could open his mouth (and yell at Sam). "That I could live with."

"Then why…" Sam found himself asking before he could stop himself.

He knew that Dean would probably get him for putting his nose into this but the overwhelming need to know about his brother's past was stronger than the fear of being beaten for it later.

"Well, our rules were simple and-" Pepper began

"-Seriously, Pepper!" Dean shouted. Drawing hers and Sam's attention back to him he lowered his voice, but his tone was still dripping with annoyance and anger. "This isn't a conversation that I want to have in front of my brother."

"Well if you weren't so infuriating then we wouldn't be having this conversation at all!" Pepper yelled back. Her tone of voice matching Dean's completely. She sent Dean a cold stare before turning back to Sam. "Sammy, the rules were; 1-we could see whoever and how many people we wanted when we weren’t together. 2-we don’t let it affect our relationship and what we have. Which means not talking about other relationships we may have had. And 3-if we do get involved with someone else, and I mean really involved. If we fall in love then we'd stop seeing each other as lovers." Pepper paused briefly and glad at the older of the two mean. "He didn't do that."

"Oh come on -” Dean began.

"They were your rules Dean." Pepper desperately pointed out. "You thought of them."

When Pepper said that, Sam's head snapped up to Dean. Okay that did not sound like something Dean would come up with. Then again Sam was beginning to learn that there was so much about his brother that he didn't know about.

"But you keep on breaking them when it suites you." Pepper continued. "You fell in love with Cassie and then you came and slept with me while you were still dating her. You had me thinking that she meant nothing to you, and you used me to fight with her."

"That's not what -" Dean began

Pepper quickly cut him off. Angered even more by his attempt to justify his actions back then.

"-You lied to her and you lied to me. Do you even know how that makes me feel?" She asked.

"It's not like you’re so perfect." Dean snapped. "Or was that someone else calling me in the middle of the night because of someone they were seeing?"

"I never said that was because of a boyfriend."

"But I know you. I could tell by your voice that it was about a guy you were seeing." Dean pointed out on a low hiss. "Did I say anything then? No."

"So that makes what you've done okay then does it?" Pepper demanded, once again folding her arms over her chest.

"Of course it doesn't."

"Dean, we swore. Both swore that if we were going to be together we were gonna do it with a clean slate. For both of us." Pepper paused and tilted her head up slightly. She shook her head and let her arms drop from her chest. She dropped her gaze back to Dean, her eyes shining with the tears that she was fighting to keep at bay, "You know, I can't argue with you anymore. I'm tired and it’s been a long, long day."

"Fine." Dean breathed out.

"But don't think that you're sleeping in this bed." Pepper added and pointed a finger sharply to the bed behind her.

Dean gave a half laugh at that statement.

"Well guess what, Sweetheart. There are two beds here." Dean pointed out, emphasizing the word 'Sweetheart' because he knows how it irritates her. He turned to Sam with a smug look on his face. "I'll just share with you, right Sam?"

Before Sam could even open his mouth Pepper turned sharply to face him.

"Sammy don't you dare." Pepper warned.

Sam found himself nodding quickly. With that look in her eyes she scared him more than Dean and that was saying a lot. Pepper walked towards Dean and stopped when she was standing close enough that she had to tilt her head up to get eye contact.

"You sleep on the floor." She announced and jabbed a finger painfully into Dean's chest. Then she turned around and walked over to their bed.

Dean watched her for a while, anger building up inside of him. Pepper grabbed the duffle bag filled with hers and Dean's things and threw it onto the bed before she opened it up in search of something to wear to bed. Dean couldn’t let the argument go that easily and had to open his mouth.

"Like seeing Bella isn't getting you all riled up." He muttered but it was loud enough for Pepper to hear.

Pepper's head shot up and she glared at Dean. "What?" She demanded.

"With Bella you had the freedom to do whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted." Dean raved. "And now you're just pissed because you're now stuck here. With us. With me, because of the baby and you feel trapped because of it. Never mind what all this proves. 'Cause according to you I'm not good enough!" He yelled.

For a second Pepper stared at him. Then with her gaze set and stern she said, "Believe what you want prick."

She reached into the bag and grabbed a handful of Dean's clothes, the ones he normally slept in.

"The only thing that proves without doubt is," She began as she started throwing Dean's clothes at him. "The most important thing Dean Winchester needs is," another pause as she picked up a pillow and purposely aimed it at Dean's head. "What bloody Dean needs. So see yourself out, prick." She spat out the last sentence.

Dean glared at her but he still bent down and picked up the things she had just thrown at him off the floor. Sleeping in the Impala was going to be a hell of a lot better than staying in here with this tension flying through the air. When he had the pillow and clothes in his arms he stormed towards the motel door, opened it and slammed it behind him as he walked out.

Sam sat completely stunned by what he'd just seen. As he turned around to see if Pepper was doing okay, he remained silent as he watched her go back to looking through the bag. A single tear escaping down her cheek.

TBC

Next Chapter - Jealousy and Revelations

Expecting 4/10 - part 1

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:48:40 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Expecting
CHAPTER - Lucky Days 4/10 - part 1 (long chapter)
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, John Winchester, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 8858
SUMMARY - Dean and Sam's lives have always been different and with Dean's pregnant girlfriend joining them life’s going to get a lot more interesting.
WARNINGS - AU story - Draft - all mistakes are mine
BETA - N/A
A/N - This chapter is my version of the season 3 episode ‘Bad Day At Black Rock’ again with my added twist and of course if something from the episode isn’t here I couldn’t be bothered to write it so pretend. Although this chapter has a lot more of my story and characters twisted in than the previous one did.
Inspired a little bit by Katy Perry’s song ‘I kissed a girl’ because it was stuck in my head when I wrote this
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER FOUR - LUCKY DAYS

Pepper walked around the medium sized motel room they were staying in. A glass of water in one hand; the other resting against the small bump under her shirt. Her baby was growing and developing nicely. The last sonogram scan they had done was still sitting in the Impala's glove box after Dean had been looking at it while Sam drove here. Pepper would have to send a copy of it to Bobby, Ellen and John when she got the chance. All three of them wanted to know how everything was going with the baby, well Bobby and Ellen had asked but Pepper had decided to send John as many photo's as she could anyway.

It had been hours since they'd stopped for a break and Pepper was getting a little bored. She was waiting for Dean and Sam to recover so that she could at least talk to them about where they were going next but they were still sitting on the small sofa in front of the TV. Both staring at the screen even though the program they'd been watching had finished 20 minutes ago.

Pepper sighed and was about to open her mouth when Dean's cell phone rang. She jumped slightly at the sound before half turning and walking into the small kitchen. She placed her glass down on the sink and picked Dean's phone up from the oval shaped table, checking the caller ID before pressing the call button.

"Hi, John" She answered warmly. She couldn't help but be in a good mood.

"Ah, hello Pepper." said John. He really was expecting Dean so hearing Pepper's voice was a bit of a surprise. "Can I talk to Dean?"

"Oh he's busy right now. He and Sammy are recovering."

"Recovering from what?" John asked, slightly startled. The last he heard they were simply hunting a possessed janitor at a school. Nothing too big or dangerous. "Are they okay?"

"Well physically they're both fine, but mentally..." Pepper trailed off, half on a laugh.

"Why?"

"Because they just watched a birthing video that I picked up. A very graphic birthing video." Pepper replied.

There was a pause where John tried to get his head around that.

"Sam and Dean willingly watched that?" He asked.

After witnessing the birth of his two sons he knew just how...horrifying the miracle of birth could be. He wouldn't think any man would choose to witness it unless they had to.

"They didn't really have a choice. They're being punished." She informed.

"For what?" John had to know. "What did they do?"

"Dean made some comment about me being fat or something," Pepper replied half-handily. "And Sammy smirked, sooo as punishment they had to watch the video."

"I'm sure Dean didn't mean it as an insult."

"Oh I know he didn't. But, you know, still." Pepper half shrugged.

John couldn't help but chuckle loudly at that. He wondered how his sons coped with the images they had just seen.

"Could you give 'em a message for me?" John asked

"Yeah, of course," Pepper smiled.

"I've got a storage locker just outside of Buffalo, which has been broken into." said John. "I'm too far away to get to it myself. I need Dean and Sam to check it out for me. Make sure what they took wasn't something too dangerous. Here's the address--"

Pepper quickly grabbed a pen and scribbled the address on the back of a recite.

"I didn't know you had a storage container. What's in it?" She asked as she placed the pen down.

"Just, important thinks I've collected over the years." John quickly replied. "You think you'll be able to get there? I've already let them know that I'm sending a couple of my associates in my place and I've convinced them not to call the police."

"Yes. We should be able to get there soon. Did you want us to call you when we've found what’s been taken?"

"You might not be able to reach me. I'm just about to enter a town with very little reception." He explained. "But I should only be here for three to four days. If you run into any kind of trouble just call Bobby. He'll know about most of what’s in the container."

"Oh alright then."

"Thank you Pepper. And, ah...thanks, for the photo you sent me." John mumbled quickly.

He was still excited at the thought of becoming a grandfather but he knew that he couldn't seem too excited or Dean would know that something was up and that could lead to everyone finding out that he was the one who had got Pepper to the hospital that day. He was also a little nervous when talking to Pepper. Even though she seemed nice and she would be a part of their lives from now on he was just not used to her just yet. Maybe he never would be. He did appreciate the effort she was making to keep him in the loop of the baby's progress even though he never had the guts to ask.

Pepper smiled brightly, even though John couldn't see it and Sam and Dean weren't paying attention.

"You're welcome. Well, I'll let you get back to what you were doing."

"Okay." John nodded, then as an after thought added, "And try to go easy on Dean and Sam. You're the only pregnant woman they've ever really been around. It'll take them awhile to become as sensitive as they should be."

Pepper chuckled, "I think you're right. Okay. Bye."

She hung up and grinned while shaking her head. Turning around she saw Dean and Sam still in the same position, staring at the television. Pepper rolled her eyes and stood up. She walked towards them pausing to turn the TV off and then stood in front of it with her arms crossed. Neither man registers her.

"How are we doing' boys?" She asked smugly.

"Ah..." began Sam but then closed his mouth again.

"Did we learn our lesson, or do we need to watch the video again--"

"--No!" Dean and Sam shouted at the same time. Finally coming out of their trances.

"We've learnt our lesson." Sam assured her quickly.

"Just don't show us that ever, ever again." Dean begged looking at her with wide eyes.

"I don't know why you're both so upset by it. I mean it's not as if either of you have to go through it." Pepper pouted.

"Oh," Sam frowned. He'd never thought about that. He was glad at that moment that he'd never have to see anything like that again. Unlike Dean who would probably be in the delivery room when the baby was born. "Sorry."

"Yeah. Me too." said Dean as he stood up. He walked around Pepper and grabbed the video tape out of the VCR. Holding it out in front of him he asked "Can we bury this thing in a 20 foot grave?"

"Awe my poor traumatized baby." Pepper said in a patronizing tone.

"I'm not traumatized."

"You were staring at a blank TV for so long that you didn't even notice when your cell rang."

"My cell rang?" Dean asked. He really hadn't heard anything at all (just the screams from the video echoing in his head.) "Who was it?"

"You're father." Pepper replied. "He's got a storage container outside of Buffalo that's been broken into. He want's us to go sort it out."

"A storage container?" Sam asked frowning in confusion. He looked up at Dean. "Dad ever tell you he kept a container in a storage place?"

"Um, no." said Dean. "Dad tell you what was in it?"

Pepper shook her head. "Not really. He just said it was important items and things that he's collected over the years."

"Guess we're going to Buffalo then." said Dean.

Seven minutes later, their bags were packed and they were heading out the door of their motel room.

"It’s gonna be a long drive." said Sam as he placed the last bag into the boot. "We're nearly five hours away from Buffalo. It'll be morning by the time we get there."

Sam closed the boot and walked around to the passenger side. He was already in the car by the time Dean was opening his door. Pepper stood behind him ready to get in the back.

"You gonna be right in the car for that long?" Dean asked her.

"I'll let you know if I'm not."

Pepper reached forward and ran one hand around the back of Dean's neck before tugging him down towards her and kissing him passionately. Dean couldn't help but smirk into the kiss knowing that he was fully forgiven for his little fat comment. Just as he was about to pull her closer, Sam leaned over and blew the car horn in one short but loud 'honk'.

Pepper pulled back, biting her lip to stop from laughing. Dean didn't find it as amusing as she did.

As he got into the car, Dean turned to Sam.

"You are such a little brother sometimes." He told him.

Sam frowned while Pepper burst out laughing.

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By the time they reached the storage container and grabbed the spare keys from the front desk clerk it was 7.00 and the sun was up and shining.

Dean had wanted to drop Pepper off at one of the motel's close by but she refused. She wanted to see what John was keeping in storage which left Dean only one option, to let her come with them. He'd given her a warning to stay close. He trusted his dad but knew that anything could be down there. The three of them grabbed a flashlight each and headed down to the basement were the larger storage containers where.

"Man," Dean half chuckled, shaking his head.

"What?" asked Sam

"Just, Dad. You know him and his secrets." Dean replied. "We spend most of our lives with the guy and it's like we barely even know the man."

"Well," Pepper began just as the elevator stopped. "You're about to learn something."

The three of them stepped out of the elevator and headed down a past a long line of old and probably abandon containers.

"Which one is dads?" Sam asked

"Um," Pepper chewed her lip slightly and looked down the line of containers. When she spotted John's she held a hand up and pointed. "That one over there."

They headed towards it and Dean took the key to the lock out of his pocket. Once the door was opened they each scanned the room quickly with their flashlights. Sam was the first to notice the floor which had various markings in red to warn off demons.

"No demon's aloud." He muttered.

Dean and Pepper moved their gazes to the floor as well.

"Blood." said Dean indicating the many spots of splattered blood around the door. Noticing something he bends down to get a better look. "Check this out," He lightly touches a wire strung just above the floor.

Sam and Pepper follow the path of the wire with their flashlights.

"Ah" Pepper makes a noise of disbelief when she sees the wire connected to the trigger of a shot gun, in the mouth of some animal skull. "Home land security eat ya heart out."

"Dear old dad." Dean muttered.

"Whoever broke in here got tacked." said Sam as he returned his attention to the blood.

Dean was still bent down looking intently at the blood patterns. "I got two sets of boot treads here. Looks like it was a two man job."

"And unless there’s a body here -and god I hope there isn't- which ever one took the hit probably just kept walking." said Pepper.

"Yeah," Dean agreed and stood up. "Looks like it."

Dean and Sam carefully stepped over the wire, just encase it was connected to any other guns. While Sam continued walking, Dean stayed and turned around holding his hands out to Pepper. She took them in her own and aloud Dean to help guide her over the wire. Once she was on the other side, Dean let go of one of her hands and led her around the room. He wasn't usually the hand-holding type but being in an old, dark, dusty storage container full of who knows what made him a little edgy.

"So, what's the deal? Dad do work here or something?" Sam asked, as he moved around the room.

"Livin' the high life as usual." said Dean.

Slowly they made their way around the room looking at various things. Dean saw something small sitting on top of some papers that caught his eye. He let go of Pepper's hand to take a look at what it was. A small trophy with a little person kicking a ball on top.

"1995" Dean read the front of the trophy out loud.

Sam and Pepper both moved closer to get a better look.

"No way." Sam said in disbelief. He took the trophy from Dean to get a better look. A small smile tugged at his lips. "That's my division championship soccer trophy. I can't believe he kept this."

"Yeah, well that's the closest thing you ever came to being a 'boy'" Dean shrugged and moved on.

"I think its sweet, Sammy." Pepper said honestly

Sam looked up and Pepper and smiled. Behind them, Dean was looking over a small table. Suddenly he sees something very interesting and picks it up.

"Oh wow!"

"What?" Sam asks, placing his trophy down and turning around to Dean.

Dean was grinning with pride as he held a gun in his hand. "It's my first sawed off." He explained. "I made it myself. Six grade."

He cocks the gun and laughs slightly as he remembers making it. Pepper walks towards him with an amused grin on her face.

"Oh, you're just a goofy little child inside, aren’t ya?" She teased before kissing Dean's cheek.

Dean pouted and carefully put the gun down, not wanting to break it.

Eventually they found a caged off area with the lock broken. Sam opened the gate carefully and led the way inside. On the right hand wall was a handful of different types of guns and other weapons including...

"Holy crap!" Dean said amazed. "Look at this, he has land mines." He paused and moved closer to get a better look. "Which...they didn't take. Or the guns." He turned back around and shrugged. "I guess they knew what they were after huh?"

"Yeah, but what was it?" asked Pepper.

Sam used his flashlight to scan across the wall of guns before turning around to the other side. The left hand wall was covered in shelves that were filled with different sized boxes. Each box had a lock, and different types of white symbols carved into the tops.

"Hey, Dean. Check this out." Sam called over his shoulder.

Dean and Pepper both moved to stand beside Sam.

"See these symbols?" Sam continued

Pepper frowned, "What do they mean?" she asked as she reached a hand out to lightly trace on of the symbols.

"That's binding magic." Sam explained. "These are cursed boxes."

"Curse boxes." Dean nodded then looked down at Pepper. "They're supposed to keep the evil mojo in, Right?" He asked looking back at Sam. "Kinda like the Pandora deal."

"Yeah, yeah they're built to contain the power of the cursed object." Sam agreed.

Dean and Sam quickly scanned over all the boxes, neither noticed when Pepper headed out of the cage. Her interest peaked by something on the other way on the room. Figuring the boys wouldn't mind if she didn't want to look at the hexed boxes anymore.

Sam was the first one to notice the gap on the shelf where on box had been.

"One box is missing." He commented as he ran his finger over the surrounding dust. "Great."

"Well, maybe they didn't open it." Dean half shrugged.

"Aaah!"

Dean and Sam spun around after hearing the short scream. Panic written clearly across Dean's face when he couldn't see Pepper. Together they ran out of the cage and into the main area once again. The spotted Pepper in one corner leaning over a dusty looking table. Dean bolted towards her and nearly rammed his side into the table.

"What is it? Are you okay? Is the baby okay?" He asked in one long breath.

Pepper looked up at him and smiled, "Oh, yeah, no I'm fine."

Dean gaped at her. He ran a hand over his face then grabbed her shoulders, turning her to face him.

"Don't scream like that unless something is wrong, okay." He said as he got his breathing back to normal. "You just took 3 years off my life, Woman."

"Sorry." Pepper apologized. "I was just...well look at this." She turned back around and gestured at what she was looking at.

It was an A-4 piece of paper mostly covered in dust but what was on it was still visible. It was a child's drawing created with coloring pencils. The picture was of two people holding hands. One person bigger than the other and both with huge smiles on their faces. A bright yellow sun shining down on them. Above the smallest character was the word 'Me' and across the tall one 'My big brother Dean'. Pepper was gushing at the picture.

Dean frowned, "You screamed because of a kid's drawing?"

"Not just any kid's drawing." Pepper defended. She grabbed the pictured and held it in front of her chest for Dean and Sam to see. "A Sammy Winchester original."

"I don't remember doing that." said Sam as he leaned in to get a better look. "I can't believe that's even here. I thought dad would have tossed things like that in the bin."

"Awe," Pepper sighed. She turned the picture around and looked down at it herself. "Well, John did say that he kept important things in here..." She trailed off and chewed her bottom lip. "Oh, I think I just fell in love with you're father." She joked.

Dean looked horrified by that thought. "Don't say things like that."

"Come on Dean, you have to admit that keeping this just screams proud daddy." said Pepper. "And look at how happy drawing Dean and Sammy are, huh?"

Dean rolled his eyes and shook his head. The significance of the picture starting to loose interest for him.

"You think dad has anything else in here like that?" Sam asked

"Maybe we could come back." Pepper suggested. "You know, after we get back whatever was stolen. It'll be like going to a garage sale only we won’t have to pay for anything. We could grab your soccer trophy, and Dean's sawed off."

"This isn't a shopping mall, Pep." said Dean. "This stuff belongs to dad. I don't think he'd appreatiate it if you took half of what's in here out."

"I'm not going to take half of it. Just the childhood memories. The guns and land mines can stay."

"Good luck getting Dad to agree to that."

"I never said I was going to ask for John's permission." Pepper grinned. "Besides, I can just tell him it's for the baby. Then he's bound to agree."

Dean shook his head and turned away so that they wouldn’t see his own smile at the idea of his father John Winchester, turning into putty before Pepper because she brought up the subject of his grandchild.

"Do we know what's been taken yet?" Pepper asked Sam.

"Yeah, one of the hex boxes." he replied.

"Let's go see if this place as any security cameras." Dean suggested.

He led the way out of the container and when they were all out he locked it back up again. He placed the key into his pocket, knowing that Pepper was serious about coming back later and picking some things up.

"What do we do if the security cameras give us something to go off?" Pepper asked as the three of them climbed back into the elevator.

"Well, if we find out who broke in, Sam and I will go after them." said Dean. "Then you're going to the motel."

"Let's just hope they haven’t opened the box." Sam added.

"And if they have?" Pepper asked, just as the elevator stopped on their floor.

Dean shrugged on a half sigh.

Together they walked out into the main lobby area where the front desk clerk was waiting for them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean found the closest motel to the storage locker, booked a room with two beds and left Pepper while he and Sam sort out the guys responsible for the missing box.

They'd found the two men easily since the idiots had parked out the front of the storage container where there license plate could clearly be seen.

It was...eventful. One moment Sam and Dean were getting their asses kicked and the next the two thieves were stumbling around like complete loons. All because of a rabbits’ foot. Dean was getting excited about the whole concept and couldn't wait to tell Pepper.

By the time they got back to the motel it had just turned 7am and Pepper was fast asleep on one of the beds. Dean practically bounced down onto the bed and shook her shoulder.

"Pep. Pepper, come on wake up." He called out.

Pepper frowned and tried to burry her face into the pillow but Dean was being precedent. Knowing that she wouldn't get any sleep until she at least opened her eyes.

"This better be important, Dean." Pepper mumbled as she half turned to look up at Dean. The huge grin on his face was eerie. "You're grinning. Why are you grinning? Did you get the box back?"

"Oh we got better than that. Sam, show her."

Sam sighed, reached into his pocket and pulled out the rabbit’s foot as he sat down on the edge of the other bed. Pepper stared at it for a minute before her brain register what it actually was. She sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the bed so she was directly in front of Sam.

"That's a rabbit’s foot..." She said slowly. Turning back around to Dean she added, "Why does Sammy have a rabbit’s foot?"

"Because that is what was in the hex box that was stolen." Dean replied.

"So out of everything there -the guns, the mines, the other hex boxes filled with god knows what- they stole a piece of dead animal?" Pepper asked skeptically.

"It's not just any rabbit’s foot." Dean said quickly. "It actually works."

Pepper frowned slightly and stared at Dean.

"It does!" Dean protested. At Pepper's look he sighed and stood up. "You'll get it when you're more awake. Anyway, I've gotta do something so I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Where are you going?" Sam asked, turning his head to follow Dean as he walked to the door.

"I gotta pick something up." Dean replied. "When I get back we'll go out for breakfast."

Dean flashed them another grin before he disappeared out the door.

Sam slowly turned back around to Pepper, placing the rabbit’s foot back into his pocket and gave her an awkward smile.

Pepper sighed heavily. She lent forward and placed an elbow on her knee, and placing her chin in her hand.

"He's your brother." she said

"Yeah, well...he's the father of your baby." was Sam's smart come back.

Pepper smiled, "Ah yes but he was your brother first."

Sam chuckled and shook his head.

"I think I'm gonna grab a quick shower before Dean get's back." Sam said after a few minutes.

Pepper nodded as Sam stood up. She lay back down and closed her eyes.

As Sam took a quick shower the rabbit’s foot remained in his jacket pocket untouched.

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By the time Dean came back, carrying a brown paper bag, Sam was sitting on his bed while Pepper was walking out of the bathroom, pulling her long hair back into a high pony-tail. Pepper was wearing a dark purple dress that wasn't too big but it was just big enough to hide her baby bump.

"You took your time." Pepper said when she saw Dean. "Where'd you go anyway?"

Dean grinned and swiftly pulled out a handful of scratch cards from the bag.

"Dean, come on-" Sam began

"What?" He asked innocently. "Hey, that was my gun that guy was aimin' at your head and my gun don't jam."

"That's true." Pepper agreed, nodding her head.

"See. So that was a lucky break. Not to mention them taking themselves out, also a lucky break."

Sam still wasn't convinced. There was always something more to these things and this rabbit’s foot wasn't going to be any different.

Dean walked over to Sam and stuck one card in front of his face. "Here, scratch one.'

Sam frowns, and looks up at Dean.

"Come on, Sam." Dean begins waving the card around. "Scratch and win."

Reluctantly, Sam takes the card, pulls out a quarter and begins to scratch. Dean smirks in triumph and sits down besides him.

"Dean, it's gotta be cursed somehow. Otherwise dad wouldn't have locked it up." Sam protested but continued to scratch

Pepper moves to stand beside Dean. Lightly running her fingers through his hair. Dean turned his head, from looking over Sam's shoulder to Pepper. He took in what she was wearing before looking into her eyes.

"You don't look pregnant in that dress." He informed her.

She was about to say something when Sam handed his scratch card back to Dean without looking at his winnings. Dean looked down at the results and gaped.

"1200 dollars." He said. Turning to look at Sam as a large smile spread across his face. "You just won 1200 dollars."

Dean whistled in excitement and Pepper took the scratch card to get a better look at it herself. After a moment, she handed the card back to Dean.

"I don't know, man. Doesn't seem that cursed to me." Dean said with a grin before handing Sam another card.

"I'm not going to scratch lottery cards for you all day, Dean." Sam warned

"Oh but, come on..." Dean paused before placing a hand gently on Pepper's hidden bulge. "...Think of the baby."

Pepper swatted his hand away in annoyance, although she couldn't stop the tiny smile that curved her lips. Sam took yet another card and started to scratch it.

"Hold on, Dean." said Pepper. "You promised us breakfast."

"Right, well you can scratch and win in the car Sammy." Dean flashed another grin and stood up.

Sam rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath.

"Can we at least call Dad, before we go to see what he can tell us about the foot?" Sam asked.

"Ah, John said he wouldn't be reachable for the next few days." Explained Pepper. "He said to call granddad if we ran into trouble."

"And how is this trouble?" asked Dean. "Sammy, you've got complete good luck. You're set for life."

"And you're not thinking about the consequences." replied Sam. He stood up and placed his hands in his pocket, double checking that the rabbit’s foot was still there. "Fine, let's just go to breakfast and I'll call Bobby on the way."

"And the scratch cards?" Dean asked hopefully.

Sam let out a frustrated sigh before snatching the bag from Dean. He was extremely annoyed at Dean and didn't really want to sit there scratching cards all day but, he knew that having that extra money around would be good for when the baby came and he'd feel selfish if he didn't at least attempt to get them more money. Didn't mean he couldn't act annoyed towards Dean.

As Sam walked past them out the front door, Pepper was shaking her head slightly at Dean.

"What?" He asked innocently.

"Let's just go get breakfast."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean had past a restaurant on his way to pick up the scratch cards and decided to just go there for breakfast. As they drove, Pepper sat in the back going over the handful of cards that Sam had scratched, while Sam himself was calling Bobby.

"Hello," came Bobby's voice over the line.

"Hi, Bobby. Sam here."

"Sam. Everything okay, how's my granddaughter?" Bobby asked.

Whenever they spoke to Bobby his first concern was always Pepper.

"Ah, well" Sam began, looking back at Pepper. "We're not sure yet."

"What?" Bobby demanded and Sam could hear a hint of panic in the older man's voice.

"Oh no I didn't mean...Pepper's fine." Sam said quickly

"Next time start with that." said Bobby. "Now what's wrong?"

"Well we're at Black Rock, outside of Buffalo"

"Yeah I know it. John send you there?"

"Yeah he...Wait, Bobby do you know why we're here?"

"I'd take a guess and say it's got something to do with ya dad's storage locker. Right?"

"Right. So, look dad's unreachable and the place was broken into. They didn't take much just one of the curses boxes. We've got it back thought but we were wondering if you had any information for us?"

"What was in the box?" Bobby asked, just as Dean pulled the Impala into an empty park outside of Big Gerson's sizzlin' grill & bar.

Dean was the first out of the car and he hopped forward slightly to open Pepper's door for her. As she got out Dean gestured for the scratch cards with a wide grin. She rolled her eyes but handed the tickets over just the same.

"There was a rabbit’s foot in the box." Sam replied.

He also got out of the car, and took a few steps away while Dean began arranging the scratch cards on the hood of the Impala. Pepper leaned forward resting her arms on the car.

"Oh, just get the box back to storage and lock the place up again." Bobby instructed.

"Right, it's just that the thing is I sort of..." Sam trailed off to a mumble.

"You didn't touch the foot with your bare hands did you?" Bobby asked.

Sam quickly glanced over at Dean, who was practically bouncing for joy over the amount of money they'd won.

"Oh, man." Dean chuckled.

"You touched it!" Bobby nearly yelled, bringing Sam's attention back to him. "How could you touch it? Didn't you realize that it was in a curse box for a reason?"

"Look, Bobby we didn't know."

"Damn it Sam."

"Well dad never told us about this thing." Sam said defensively. "How were we supposed to know? We didn't even know that you knew about this place."

"Of course I knew about it. Hell I built those curse boxes for him." Bobby replied. "Listen, you have got a serious problem. That rabbit’s foot aint no dime store notion. It's real hoodoo.'

As Sam listened to Bobby, something on the ground caught his eye. He bent down to see what it was and was surprised to find a gold (real looking) watch. He picked it up and turned around to show Dean.

'Awesome!' Dean mouthed.

"...Old world stuff. Made about a hundred years ago." Bobby continued.

"It's a hell of a luck charm" Sam muttered.

"It's not a luck charm it's a curse!" Bobby half yelled once again. "It was made to kill people, Sam." He let out a quick huff of breath before continuing. "See, you touch it, you own it. You own it sure you get a run of good luck to beat the devil, but you loose it that luck turns. It turns so bad that you're dead within a week."

"Well then I won’t loose it."

"Everybody looses it!"

"Then how do we break the curse?" Sam asked.

Bobby paused, "I don't know if you can. Look, let me go through my library and make some calls. In the meantime, sit tight and it you do loose the foot you as hell had better stay away from Pepper. I don't want your stupidity to affect my granddaughter or my future great-grandchild." He warned. "Understand me?"

"Yep." Sam replied quickly with a short nod.

"I'll call you when I have something." Then Bobby hung up.

Sam slowly turned towards Dean and Pepper.

"Dude, we're up 15 grand!" Dean excitedly informed him.

Sam sighed as he walked towards them.

"Ah, Bobby said the foot is cursed.”

Pepper frowned and stood up, "Cursed in what way?" she asked

"Well, if I loose it my luck will turn so bad that I may die."

The grin immediately disappeared from Dean's face. "He looses it, and you're not going anywhere near him." He told Pepper.

Sam chose not to tell Dean that Bobby had the same idea.

"What else did Granddad say?"

"He's looking into how to destroy it. He wants us to sit tight until then. So I guess we should head back to the motel."

"Well I still want breakfast and as long as you keep the foot in your pocket, Sammy, we should be fine. Right?" Pepper asked.

"Um, I guess." Sam nodded slightly.

"Good," Pepper smiled.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean opens the door to the 'Big Gerson's grill & bar' for Pepper before he and Sam quickly followed her inside.

"Don't worry," Dean said, seeing the reluctance on Sam's face. "Bobby, will find a way to break it. Until then I say we his Vegas." He grinned.

"Of course you do." said Pepper.

"Think about it, we could pull a little rain man. Sammy you can be rain man."

"Look we just lay low until Bobby calls. Okay?" asked Sam.

"Fine." Dean sighed.

They walked up to the counter where an old man with a large cheesy grin sat behind a cash register.

"Hi, ah table for three please." Sam asked the man.

"Congratulations!" The man yelled excitedly.

He pushed a button and an alarm sounded.

"Exciting I know." Dean muttered sarcastically.

"-You are the one millionth guests at the 'Big Gerson's' restaurant family!" The man yelled, with an even larger cheesy grin than before.

There was a large pop before balloons and streamers began falling from the ceiling. Pepper jumped suddenly in surprise and unconsciously moved a fraction closer to Dean. The man pulled an over sized check from underneath the counter and handed it to Sam and Dean. Behind him, three other employees join him and they start singing and taking pictures.

Pepper frowned and turned her head to look down at the check. It wasn't for money but for a year’s supply of free food. She looked back up at the boys. Sam looked startled while Dean seemed pretty pleased with himself.

After a minute of photo taking and singing the alarm stopped and all of the Gerson's employees beamed at them.

"Now, why don't I show you to our best booth?" The man behind the counter offered.

One of the other mail employees walked around to the other side of the counter and took a hold of the giant check.

"-Will keep this with us while you all enjoy you're first free meal."

"Thanks." Sam said slowly, handing the check over.

Dean rubbed his hands together, excited over the concept of a year’s supply of free food. Even if they weren't going to be around for a week let alone a year to get the free food.

They were seated at a booth on the other side of the restaurant against a large window. Pepper and Dean slid onto one seat and Sam sat on the opposite side. A waitress handed them a menu each and walked away.

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Half an hour later, they were just finishing their deserts; well Dean was finishing his third desert while Sam and Pepper waited for him. Both Sam and Dean were drinking a cup of coffee each while Pepper sipped on a glass of mango and apricot juice.

Sam had gotten his laptop out of the car and was currently looking over the mythology of lucky rabbit’s feet.

"Well, Bobby's right." Sam announced right before closing the lid of his laptop. "This law goes way back. Pure hoodoo. You can't just cut a foot of any rabbit; it had to be in a cemetery under a full moon on a Friday the 13th."

"I kind of feel sorry for the rabbit's." said Pepper.

Dean was too busy stuffing his face and finishing off his mouthful to answer.

"I say from now on we only go to places with biggersens." He announced.

Dean took another few mouthfuls very quickly they suddenly scrunched his face when he was hit with a brain freeze. As he placed a palm to his forehead Sam laughed.

"Serves you right for hovering down your food." said Pepper.

"Thanks for the sympathy." Dean mumbled

Pepper grinned. She tapped Dean's shoulder lightly. "Shift over; I'm going to the bathroom."

Dean slid out of the booth and stood up until Pepper walked past him. When he sat back down, Sam was shaking his head in amusement.

"What?" Dean demanded.

"Nothing." Sam replied quickly. "Just thinking how great it is to have Pepper around."

"That's because she always likes you so she never gets annoyed at you." Dean explained. "A-n-d she never picks on you either."

"Oh I feel so bad for you." Sam joked.

Dean glared at his brother and drank the rest of his coffee as a young, very attractive short haired waitress approached them. She leaned down a little to close to Sam, with her eyes sparkling. She carried a pot of coffee in one hand.

"Can I freshen you up?" She asked Sam

"Yeah. Yeah sure." Sam nodded and pushed his cup towards her.

She grinned and kept eye contact as she re-filled his cup. Dean watched the exchange between his brother and the waitress and hid his smirk behind his own cup. He jumped back when she spilled coffee over the table and a little on Sam.

"Oh." She gasped in surprised.

"Oh, oh no don't worry." Sam assured her. "I got it."

The waitress slowly smiled at Sam and pulled a cloth out of her apron. She lifted Sam's cup and wiped up the spilled coffee.

"It's not trouble. Really." She told Sam as she finished cleaning up.

With one final flirtatious smile, the waitress stood up, placed the cloth back into her apron and slowly turned. Walking away with her hips swinging from side to side. Both Sam and Dean placed their arms on the table and leaned forward to get a better look at her.

"Dude, if you were ever going to get lucky" Dean said, as his eyes tracked the waitress.

"Sure," Sam shrugged in disbelief. He sat up and noticed that Dean was still watching the waitress. He smirked suddenly. "Hey, Pepper."

Dean sat up wide eyed. "I wasn't looking at anything!" He said quickly.

He spun around and frowned when Pepper wasn't there. Behind him, Sam burst out laughing. Dean turned back around and glared at him. Sam was too busy laughing when he went to grab his coffee causing it to spill all over him.

"Oh, oh jeeze" Sam mumbled, standing up suddenly and walking right into an on coming waiter.

The waiter's tray is tossed up and everything on it falls to the floor with a loud crash.

"Sorry." Sam apologized and quickly turned to Dean with a shocked look on his face.

Dean looks at the mess in puzzle. Slowly he looks up at Sam. "How is that good?" He asks.

Realization dawns on Sam. He puts his hand into his jacket pocket and feels...nothing. He pulls the pocket inside out to show Dean that the rabbit’s foot is gone. Sam watches as the same realization comes to Dean.

"Son of a bitch!" Dean shouts angrily before jumping out of his chair and leading the way to the restaurant front doors.

They pushed passed some new customers as they stepped outside of 'Big Gerson's' restaurant. Dean quickly scanned the aria around them but saw no sign of the waitress. He made a random, quick decision.

"Come on," He called out to Sam before running off to the left.

Dean was running in front, with Sam close behind them but when Sam stepped off the curb he tripped...

"Whoa!" Sam yelled

He didn't really trip on anything. Just his own two feet, but still managed to land pretty hard on his knees. Dean didn't see Sam go down but he heard it and he stopped in his tracks. Slowly, Dean turned around to see Sam lying face down on the pavement.

"Wow," Dean sighed. "You suck."

Dean walked over and grabbed hold of Sam's arms, helping him up.

"So, what now your luck turns bad?" Dean asked

Sam frowned and looked down at his knees which are hurting like hell. He grimaces because they look as bad as they feel. His jeans are torn and the skins of his knees are bloodied.

"I guess."

"I wonder how bad." said Dean. "Wait here. I'm gonna go get Pepper, and you are staying far away from her."

Sam nodded and carefully sat down on the curb. Dean gave him one last look before he ran back inside the restaurant. Pepper was looking a little nervous, and really he couldn't blame her. She had just come out of the bathroom to find both he and Sam gone. He quickly made his way over to her.

"Pep!" He called out.

She spun around and he saw her physically relax.

"Where the hell were you?" She demanded when he came towards her. "I come back and you and Sammy are both gone. Do you know how stressful that is to a pregnant woman?"

"Pep, come on, we gotta go." He replied quickly, grabbing her arm and tugging her towards the door.

"What? Why what's happen?"

"Someone stole the foot."

Once out the doors, Dean led Pepper towards the right side of the restaurant and far away from Sam. He didn't want to take the chance that just being near Sam, would cause harm to her or the baby.

"Well where's Sam?" She asked in a slight panic.

"Waiting around the other side and away from you, like a good future-uncle." Dean replied quickly as they got to the Impala.

"Dean, you can't just leave him here." Pepper protested just as Dean opened the passenger door for her. "What if something happens?"

"I'm gonna come back." Dean replied. "But I just want to make sure you're safe first. Okay?"

Pepper nodded and got into the car. Once she was in, Dean ran around and got into the drivers seat. He started the car and pulled his cell out at the same time. Hitting speed-dial one, he placed his phone to his ear.

"Sam? Just stay where you are..." Dean talked quickly. "...No don't touch anything, don't talk to anyone until I get back...Well I don't know...pretend you're blind or some crap like that man...We're going back to the motel then you and I are going to get that foot back."

With that, Dean hung up and tossed his phone onto the seat between himself and Pepper. As they drove Pepper turned to look at him, a slight frown on her face.

"Is Sammy, really going to be okay by himself?" She asked

Dean gave a half shrug in response before adding, "Well it’s a bit late now to go back. We're almost at the motel."

"You do know that this is your fault for acting so cocky about the whole thing." Pepper pointed out.

Dean didn't reply as he parked the car outside of their motel room and got out. He helped Pepper inside as quickly as he could. He needed to protect her and he needed to go back and protect Sam, but since Pepper was carrying his child he had to make sure she was safe first. Sam could wait. Once they were inside, Dean did a quick check of the room to make sure that there was nothing there that could be hazarded.

"Dean, I'm not the one with the bad luck." said Pepper, trying to get Dean to stop.

"I know..."

He continued to look and once he was satisfied he moved to stand in front of her. Staring straight into her crystal blue eyes.

"Stay here, okay?" He asked, even though he knew that she wouldn’t go anywhere. "Sam and I will get the foot back. Hopefully after that Sam will have good luck again."

"If not?" Pepper asked.

Dean sighed. "Then I don't know, but we'll work it out. Maybe Bobby will have figured something out." He offered her a small smile. "I'll see you when we get back."

Pepper nodded, wrapped one hand around the back of his neck and pulled him towards her for a quick kiss. When she pulled back she felt Dean sigh against her lips.

"Keep an eye on, Sammy. I want you both to come back safe." She whispered.

He nodded, kissed her forehead before leaving.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Dean picked Sam up from the outside of the restaurant, half of Sam's shirt was covered in strawberry thick shake from when an elderly woman ran into him. Dean would have made him change shirts but all of their bags where back at the motel. This only left Dean with the option of having the Impala smell like strawberries for the rest of the night, and as soon as Sam's luck was back to normal he'd have to fix it.

Dean drove them back to the apartment building of the two thieves who had stolen the foot from John's storage locker. He knew that if anyone would know who the woman was who stole the foot it'd have to be them.

On their way up the stairs (Dean wasn't going to risk getting stuck in the elevator because of Sam's bad luck) they heard two of the building's tenants’ mention the tragic death of a young man, and Dean and Sam could both figure out that it was one of the thieves.

When they got to the apartment Dean did all of the talking while Sam tripped up on his own two feet and flew head first into the carpet. Dean managed to manipulate the man into giving them the name of who hired them. Once they got a name, Dean and Sam left and headed outside towards the parked Impala.

"So, um what do we do now?" Sam asked

"We try to find this chick," Dean replied as he pulled out his cell. "Steal the foot back from her."

Sam glanced down at the phone in Dean's hand.

"You gonna call Pepper?" He asked.

Dean paused and turned back to look at Sam. He rolled his eyes on a half sigh and began to dial. Before he got the third number in however, his phone began to ring.

"Hello" Dean answered.

"Dean," came Bobby's upbeat voice. "Great news."

Dean's lips curled in a slight smile and continued walking towards the Impala. He didn't notice Sam step into a huge chunk of pink gum on the ground. Sam looked down at his shoe and frowned.

"Wasn't easy, but I found a heavy weight cleansing ritual that should do the trick." Bobby explained to Dean.

"Bobby, that's great, 'cept Sam, ah..." Dean trailed off, looked behind him and down at Sam's gum covered shoe. His He scrounged his face up in disgust at the used chewed candy. "...Sam lost the foot-"

"He what!" Bobby demanded. "Where's Pepper? If he goes near her--

Bobby's voice rising so high that Dean had to pull the phone away from his ear for a fraction of a second. He quickly placed the phone back against his ear so he could reassure the older man about Pepper.

"-Pepper's fine. She's back at the motel, and Sam and I are on the other half of town. Right, Bobby listen, this...hot chick stole the foot from Sam."

"A chick?" Bobby asked, checking to see if he had heard Dean right.

"Seriously." Dean replied quickly. "She'd be in her mid twenties, and she was sharp. You know, good enough with a con to play us. And she only gave the guys she hired a name, probably an alias or something..." Dean trailed off and tried to remember the name himself. When he couldn't he turned to Sam.

While on the phone, Dean hadn't noticed that Sam had walked further away to a metal grate on the ground. Dean quickly looked down and saw Sam roughly scraping his shoe desperately trying to get rid of the gum.

"Luigy or something?" Dean told Bobby while at the same time asking Sam the question.

"Lugosi." Sam corrected.

Dean nodded, turned back around and repeated the name for Bobby encase he hadn't heard Sam.

"Lugosi? Lugosi..." Bobby mumbled and Dean knew he was trying to figure out if he knew the name from somewhere. "...Oh crap, it's probably Bella."

"Bella Lugosi?" Dean asked on a small, disbelieving smirk. "That's cute."

Behind Dean, Sam swore under his breath but Dean didn't turn around to see what the problem was. His curiosity for knowing just who this Bella is over weighing the need to know what his little brother had done now.

"Bella Talbot's her real name." said Bobby. "Crossed paths with her once or twice."

"She knew about the rabbit’s foot. Is she a hunter?" Dean asked

"Pretty far from a hunter." Bobby scoffed. "But she knows her way around the territory. She's been out of the country, last I heard she was in the Middle East some place."

"Yeah, well I guess she's back."

"Which means seriously bad luck for you."

"Great," Dean sighed sarcastically and closed his eyes.

"But, if it is Bella," Bobby began. "At least I might know some folks who know where to find her."

"Thanks, Bobby." Dean opened his eyes and smile slightly. "Again."

"Dean, I'm guessing Pepper didn't see Bella when she managed to steal the foot from Sam." Bobby stated.

Dean frowned because that wasn't a question.

"No, she didn't she was in the bathroom. Um, Bobby how did you know that?" Dean asked slowly.

"Doesn't matter."

"No, come on Bobby?"

"Okay," Bobby sighed. "I know because if Pepper had seen Bella, she would have been able to tell you who she was."

"Oh, so they've met? Like when Pep was with you?"

Bobby let out a sarcastic 'HA!'

"Trust me I had nothing to do with the two of them meeting." said Bobby quickly. "They've spent some time together. They have a history."

"A history?" Dean repeated. "What the hell does that mean?"

"Look, Dean it's not really my place to say. You'll have to ask Pepper."

"No, Bobby man you can't just leave it there" Dean pleaded desperately. "What kind of history do they have?"

"Dean, ask Pepper. Okay." Bobby said firmly. "She may or may not give you an answer. If she doesn't then just leave it at that."

"Um, okay...." Dean nodded slowly.

"And look out for ya brother." Bobby added. "Ya idgit"

Dean lowered the phone and pressed the end call button. He was intrigued. There was nothing that he could think of that would place Pepper and this Bella in close range of each other, other than if Pepper was with Bobby but he had denied that theory.

Dean turned back around to Sam, with a deep expression of confusion on his face which disappeared when he saw the sad frown on Sam's face.

"What?" Dean asked.

"I lost my shoe." Sam admitted.

Dean glanced down to where Sam was wriggling his sock covered foot. Dean rolled his eyes, turned around and let out an exasperated sigh before walking over to the Impala.

"You are hopeless." Dean told Sam as they both get into the car.

Sam ignored him and instead asked, "So what did Bobby say?"

"Ah, the chick's name is Bella Talbot."

"Is she a hunter?"

Dean shook his head. "Bobby says she's not. He's looking into how to find her for us. He's also got a way for us to destroy the foot, which should get your luck back to normal."

"So where are we going now?"

"Back to the motel."

"I thought you didn't want me near Pepper?" Sam asked in confusion.

"I don't, but you need shoes, a new shirt and I won’t leave you alone unless I have too." said Dean. "Besides you're staying outside of the room while I go inside."

"Oh,"

"Beside's I have to ask Pepper something." Dean added, but his voice had softened almost as if he were talking to himself.

"What?" Sam asked

"Huh? Oh, um nothing just something Bobby said about Bella."

"Yeah what?"

"Apparently Pepper knows her and they have a history."

Sam frowned and shifted slightly in his seat to get a better look at Dean.

"But I thought Pepper didn't know anyone in the hunting business besides Ellen." said Sam. "And I mean, I know this Bella isn’t a hunter but she's still, you know, involved with it."

"That's why I want to ask her." Dean replied.

continued in part 2

Expecting 3/10 - part 2

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:11:43 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Expecting
CHAPTER - Making New Enemies 3/10 - part 2 (long chapter)
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, John Winchester, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 4322
SUMMARY - Dean and Sam's lives have always been different and with Dean's pregnant girlfriend joining them life’s going to get a lot more interesting.
WARNINGS - AU story - Draft - all mistakes are mine
BETA - N/A
A/N - See part one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

Sam begins to head back towards the bar. He hoped Dean would still be there. He would call Dean but that might tip Gordon off about what was going on. As he got half way there, Sam started to feel uneasy. He kept seeing things out of the corner of his eye but just for half a second so he was never sure if there was ever anything there. Then he started hearing sounds. A shift in the gravel on the road, possible under someone’s foot, but Sam tried to ignore it. Perhaps he was just on edge because of Gordon.

Suddenly there was the unmistakable sound of someone taking in a breath and Sam knew that he wasn't hearing or seeing things. He made a move to turn and came face to face with what he assumed was a vampire. The vampire swung his arm but Sam ducked before coming back up and elbowing the vampire in the face. The vampire stumbled backwards. Sam was so focused on the first vampire that he never even noticed the second one come up behind him. Sam didn't know what the second vampire hit him with. All he knew was that he'd just been hit with something very large and very heavy.

Just before he was knocked out, Sam's thoughts turned to Dean and if they'd already gotten to him and then his thoughts quickly turned to Pepper. He prayed that she would be safe.

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Dean and Gordon had moved on from the bar too Gordon's first floor hotel room across the other side of town. It was a much nicer place than the motel which made it more expensive. Not that Pepper couldn't have paid for the hotel if she wanted too but paying for a motel or hotel was something that Dean insisted he paid for.

Gordon pulled up a map of the town and spread it out on a small table in the middle of the room before sitting down in a chair. Dean quickly moved and sat down opposite him. Gordon quickly showed Dean the places on the map where he knew the Vampires had been.

"This is the best pattern I can establish." Gordon explained. "It's sketchy at best."

"Looks like it's all coming from this side of town..." Dean murmured, looking across the map. "Means the nest should be around here some place, right?"

"Yep that's what I'm thinkin'. Problem is there’s thirty-five, forty farms out there. I've searched about half of them already but nothing yet. They're covering their tracks real good."

"Then I'll guess we'll just have to search the other half." Dean suggested before looking up and grinning. A moment later he looked down at his watch, "What time is it? I should probably get back-"

"It's still early." Gordon replied. "And I'm sure Sam's doing fine."

"Yeah, probably." Dean agreed off handily.

It wasn't Sam that he was worried about, not that he was worried about Pepper with Sam; he just didn't think he'd be out this long and he wanted to check if she was doing okay.

Just then there was a knock at the door. Gordon gestured that it was okay for Dean to answer it since he was the closest to the door. Dean stood up and checked the peep-hole. He was surprised to see Sam standing on the other side especially seeing as how he was supposed to be with Pepper.

Dean opened the door quickly and fought the urge to out right demand why Sam was there.

"What are you doing here, Sammy?" Dean asked

"Ah can I talk to you. Alone?" Sam asked back.

Dean looked at him for a moment, trying to see if his brother was here because something serious had happened with Pepper. But then Sam would have called first.

Dean turned around and gave a quick nod to Gordon. "Mind chillin' out for a couple of minutes?"

Gordon shrugged and went back to the map.

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Sam led Dean down a short pathway just left of Gordon's room.

"Sam, what are you doing here?" Dean demanded as soon as Sam had stopped walking. "And why aren’t you with Pepper?"

"I was with her. She's fine by the way, but Dean maybe we gotta re-think this hunt." Sam said slowly.

"What are you talking about? What happened?"

"I was...in the nest."

"You found it?" Dean asked, with a hint of excitement in his voice.

"They found me, man."

"Well-how'd you get out?" asked Dean. "How many you kill?"

"None."

"Well, Sam they didn't just let you go."

"That's exactly what they did."

"Well where is it?"

Sam shrugged and looked away. "I was blind-folded. I don't know."

"You gotta know something."

"We went over that bridge outside of town," Sam added quickly. "But, Dean listen, maybe we shouldn't go after them.'

Dean tilted his head in confusion. "Why not?" He demanded.

"I don't think they're like other Vampires." Sam explained. "I don't think they're killing people."

"You're joking... Then how do they stay alive? Or undead, or whatever the hell they are?" Dean demanded, already getting sick of whatever Sam was trying to get at.

"The cattle mutilations. The one's Pepper was taking pictures of. They said they live off of animal blood."

"And you believed them?" Dean asked in disbelief.

"Look at me Dean." Sam held his arms out, "they let me go without a scratch."

"What...so you're saying..." Dean began but trailed off. He just couldn't get his head around the possibility that Vampires are good. "No man. No way. I don't know what they let you go. I don't really care, but we find them, we waste them."

"Why?" Sam asked

Dean scoffed in disbelief. "What part of Vampires don't you understand, Sam? If it’s supernatural we kill it. End of story." he said angrily. "That's our job."

"No, Dean that is not our job." Sam's voiced raised slightly in anger. "Our job is hunting evil, and if these things aren’t killing people they're not evil."

"Of course they're killing people! That's what they do. They're all the same, Sam. They're not human. Okay we have to exterminate every last one of them."

"No, Dean. I don't think so, alright. Not this time."

Dean shook his head, "Gordon's been on those Vamps for a year, man. He knows."

"Gordon?" Sam asked.

"Yes."

"You're taking his word for it?"

"That's right." Dean nodded smartly.

"Ellen says he's bad news."

"You called Ellen?" Dean asked one brow arched up in surprise. "Why should we listen to her? She's not even here. No thanks, I'll go with Gordon."

"After everything Ellen's done for us you'd rather trust Gordon-who we just met-over her? I'll go with Ellen." Sam replied firmly. "She says we shouldn't trust him."

"Yeah well, Ellen has a tendency to not like a lot of Hunters." Dean replied. "Pep, recons that she doesn't like dad either. You ever notice how neither of them really say anything about each other? Maybe Ellen just has a problem with them because they didn't pay their tabs or something."

"Dean, what about Pepper?"

Dean frowned. "What about her? What has she got to do with anything?"

"Um, everything. She's involved in everything we do now and she trusts Ellen's word. Shouldn't that be good enough for you?" Sam pleaded and paused before adding. "I mean, you're the one who didn't want to tell Gordon about the baby. Why was that again? And don't say it's just because you don't want other Hunter's knowing."

"I..." Dean trailed off. Unable to say anything for a long moment.

He'd never even thought about Pepper. All he wanted to do was hunt some vampires and Gordon seemed fun and he seemed like someone who knew what he was talking about.

"Look it doesn’t matter if Gordon's trust worthy or not." Dean snapped. "Vampires are Vampires and I'm not going to let them go."

"Dean, we just went through this. I'm not saying that we should forget going after all Vampires. Just not these ones. I don't understand why you just can't let this go."

"Because I don't want Vampires or any other demonic creatures around when my child is growing up!" Dean replied angrily, his eyes bright with emotion.

Sam opened his mouth stunned. He tried to say something but couldn't think of what he should say. They'd known about the baby for a while and this was the first time Dean had mentioned anything about being worried for his child. Sure he was worried about Pepper, now but Sam had never heard him mention what would happen when the child was older.

Dean shook his head, spun around and slowly headed back towards Gordon's hotel room. Sam stayed where he was, just watching Dean. It wasn't until Dean was at the door that moved.

"Dean…"

Sam followed Dean inside to the empty hotel room. Gordon was no where to be seen.

Dean frowned, "Gordon?" he called out.

"You think he went after them?" Sam asked

"Probably."

"Dean we have to stop him. Please, you know I wouldn't ask if I didn't think we needed too."

Dean thought for a minute and looked at Sam. He took in a quick breath. "Yeah I know." he admitted. "Okay, but this doesn't change my mind."

Sam nodded and Dean headed for the door, pulling his cell out of his pocket. When Sam followed Dean outside, he saw his brother dialing a number on his cell.

"Who are you--" Sam began to ask.

Dean's other hand reached into his pocket. He pulled out the Impala keys. "--Start the car, I'll be there in a sec'"

Sam caught the keys when Dean tossed them to him. He hesitated, wanting to know who Dean was calling. Then it dawned on him. Dean was calling Pepper.

Sam gave a short nod and walked off.

Once Sam had started walking and Dean was sure that he couldn't over hear him, he lifted the phone to his ear. It barely rings once before Pepper picks it up.

"Dean?" She answered desperately.

"Hey," he replied softly.

Pepper let out a long breath. "Oh, are you okay? Did Sammy find you? Did he tell you about Gordon?" She asked in one long rush.

"Yeah. Sam told me."

"So are we leaving?"

"There’s something that we need to do first." He told her. "But we'll come and get you as soon as we're done." He stopped and rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand. "Just, stay there and keep the door locked and--"

"I know, Dean." She reassured him.

He sighed. Of course she knew. She'd grown up with Bobby Singer has her grandfather. She knew how to stay safe and hidden.

"Right...I just, I wanted to..." He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "Look I gotta go. Be safe.”

"Yeah, you too."

Dean nodded and hung up. He stuffed his phone back into his pocket and headed towards the Impala. By the time he got there, Sam had already gotten her started. Dean gestured for Sam to move over to the passenger seat before getting into the car. Dean knew that Sam wanted to know about the phone call but remained silent. Instead, Sam pulled out a map from the glove compartment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean and Sam found Gordon, at the Vampires farm house torturing the leader, Lenore. Dean had a gun pointed at Gordon, and no matter how much Gordon tried to convince him that she deserved to die, Dean never lowered his gun.

Lenore even refuses to drink Sam's blood when it was offered to her. Dean was surprised, no he was shocked. He really never thought that something like that would or could ever change but apparently this Vampire and her family did. Dean looked squarely at Gordon.

"We're done here." Sam told Gordon

"Sam, get her out of her." Dean instructed his little brother, without taking his eyes off of Gordon.

"Yeah." Sam nodded. He bent down and scooped Lenore up in his arms before he carried her past Dean to the front door.

Gordon made a move towards Sam, but Dean raised his gun higher aiming it at Gordon's head.

"Ah, ah, ah." Dean warned. "Gordon, I think you and I have got some things to talk about."

Slowly Dean moved around the large table that blocked his path to Gordon. His gun still aimed and at the ready. Gordon moved closer to Dean, his eyes sharp and a knife waiting in his hand. Dean knew that Gordon was pissed but he still wanted to give the man a chance to resolve this with mature conversation.

"Get out of my way." said Gordon. His voice strangely calm.

Dean half-shrugged one shoulder. "Sorry."

"You're not serious?"

"I'm having a hard time believing it too, but I know what I saw." Dean replied, standing his ground. "If you want those Vampires you gotta go through me."

Gordon sighed and looked at the knife in his hand. Dean's grip tightened on his gun. Gordon suddenly stabbed the knife into the top of the table. Dean watched him, unsure of his next move.

"Fine." Gordon agreed.

Dean hesitated for a second then he took the clip out of his gun. If Gordon was going to fight bare-hand then so was he. Dean always tried to fight fare unless the circumstances called otherwise. Right now there was no need for any dirty fighting on Dean's part. Sure Gordon seemed more and more like a complete nut-case but he was still a fellow Hunter and to Dean that earned him a fare fight.

As Dean moved to place his gun into his pocket Gordon lunched at him, punching him in the face. When Dean came back up he took a swing himself. He sent Gordon stumbling backwards but Gordon was then able to re-grab his knife from the table. And that was probably the final straw. Dean was prepared to make this fare but if Gordon wasn't then he really did deserve whatever was going to happen next.

Gordon took a few swings at Dean with the knife but missed each time. On the last attempt, Dean managed to grab Gordon's arm, sending the older man hard into a wall. After a few hits against the wall Dean managed to loosen the knife from Gordon's grip. It fell to the floor but neither man was prepared to end the fight.

"What're you doing man?" Gordon demanded. "You doing this for a fang?" He suddenly had the upper hand, gripping tightly to Dean's arms and stopping him from throwing another punch. "Come on, Dean we're on the same side here."

"I don't think so, you sadistic bastard." Dean hissed.

Gordon head butted Dean and then elbowed him in the face. When Dean was bent slightly in pain, Gordon kicked him and sends him crashing into an old coffee table in the next room. Dean attempted to get back up but struggled as Gordon came closer.

"You're not like your brother." said Gordon sounding as if he knew for sure that this was the truth. "You're a killer. Like me"

Anger flashed in Dean's eyes. Just as Gordon came close enough Dean swung his legs out and sent him crashing to the floor. Dean quickly jumped up and punched Gordon as hard as he could in the face twice before dragging him off the floor and throwing him against the wall. Gordon attempted to get in another hit but he was starting to feel dizzy from that last attack which gave Dean all the power.

Dean punched him a couple more times, then he took hold of Gordon and slammed his head into another wall. He felt Gordon go limp against him so he moved him back into the dinning room and sat him on a chair. Dean pulled some ropes out of Gordon's back and used them to tie him securely to the chair.

"You know," Dean began softly yet sharply in Gordon's ear as he secured the ropes. "I might enjoy this life. And I might be a little more adapt to it than Sammy. Heck, I might even enjoy the things I do-The things I stop. But I will never be just a killer, because I will never ever become anything like you."

Dean pulled back and stood up, glaring down at Gordon, who looked back at him with a haze covered gaze. Dean shook his head in disgust before he started pacing the room, waiting for Sam to get back.

As he paced, Dean tried to get a hold on his emotions. This hunt had really shaken him up and all he could think about was what if he did turn out like Gordon? What if the job over took him and he no longer cared about right and wrong? He couldn't turn out like that. He just couldn't be that kind of a person. Not with a child to look after and care for. When he had killed that Vampire at the Mill he had enjoyed it, giving pain to a creature that at the time he thought was probably responsible for many innocent people's deaths, and he hadn't even hesitated. He should have though and not because he needs to be more compassionate towards supernatural creatures but because he really should start thinking about these things. If all he does is go straight for the kill then he may as well admit his fate right now and leave Sam and Pepper here. That was something he'd never be able to bring himself to do.

He knew that a large part of the way he thought and felt was due to his up bringing. Not that he was blaming his father, but this is what he'd been taught from such a young age. But he had to change now. He was going to be a father, and he needed to create a safe environment for a child. He wanted, more than anything for his child to actually have the chance to have the childhood that he himself never got. He wanted so many things for this child and yet deep down he feared that he was already turning into Gordon and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Sun rose in the sky and Dean heard the unmistakable sound of a car outside and knew that it was Sam. Dean looked down at Gordon while waiting for Sam to enter.

When Sam walked in he stepped up close behind Dean and looked down at Gordon. He wasn't really that surprised to find them like this. Forever having faith in his brother.

"I miss anything?" Sam asked

"Eh, not much." Dean replied. "Lenore get out okay?"

"Yeah. All of them did." said Sam, staring intently at Gordon.

Gordon finally looked up at Sam and glared.

"Then I guess our work here is done." Dean said with a forced smile. He wanted to be happy that everything worked out but his mind was still working on the very likely possibility that this was his future. He turned to Gordon, "Get comfy. We'll call someone in two or three days. Have them come out. Untie you...."

"Ready to go Dean?"

Dean shook his head briefly. "Not yet. I guess this is goodbye." He sighed, trying to think of what to say. He shrugged before upper-cutting Gordon under his chin, sending his chair flying backwards to the floor and knocking him out once again. Actions always spoke more volumes than words anyway.

Sam made a quite noise of approval in the back of his throat. Dean turned towards him and nodded.

"Okay." He said calmly. "I'm good now. We can go."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam and Dean walked down the steps of the old farm house and Sam led the way to the Impala which was parked a few feet away. Dean was staying eerily silent as they got in to the car.

"Um, Pepper's waiting for us back at the motel." said Sam.

"Good." Dean nodded simply.

After that the silence stretched as they drove towards the motel. When they got there, Pepper was waiting outside of the motel with all of their bags. Dean parked the Impala and he and Sam got out. Pepper frowned when she saw the state of Dean. She met him half way, reaching up to stroke his bruised face.

"Dean, what happened?" She asked. "You look like you just went 12 rounds with a block of cement." She stroked his cheek bone with the back of her fingers.

"That's pretty much how it feels." Dean's eyes closed against her touch. He sighed and opened his eyes, looking intently into hers.

"And Gordon?"

"He's tied up. Someone will find him in a few days and by then we'll be long gone."

Sam stood behind them and tried to think of a way to leave them alone for a while. He noticed the bags by Pepper's feet. "I'll, ah, start taking these to the car." He said, gesturing to the bags.

Pepper smiled at him while Dean remained silent. Sam nodded and reached out to grab one bag. As soon as he did, Dean spoke.

"I'm sorry we took this job. I wish we never did. It's jacked everything up."

Sam paused and frowned, the bag half way off the ground. "What do you mean?" he asked

Dean shook his head and stepped back from Pepper causing her to lower her hand from his cheek. He lifted his head to look at Sam.

"Think about all the hunts we went on, Sammy." Dean began. "Our whole lives. What if we killed things that didn't deserve killing?"

Pepper chewed a lip lightly. She could tell that there was something weighing heavily on Dean's mind.

"I mean, that way dad raised us it’s..." Dean trailed off with a deep sigh.

"Dean, after what happened to your mother I'm sure John did the best he could."

"I know he did." Dean agreed. "The man wasn't perfect. And the way he raised us, to hate those things, and man I hate 'em. When I killed that Vampire at the mill I didn't even think about it. Hell I even enjoyed it. I don't want to be like that."

"You didn't kill Lenore." Sam pointed out. He dropped the bag and moved to stand beside Pepper. "Gordon was going too but you stopped him."

"No, but every instinct told me too." Dean admitted "I was gonna killer her. I was gonna kill them all. So tell me, what makes me any better than Gordon?"

"Because you stopped." Pepper answered. "You didn't kill, Lenore. That is what makes you different. That's what makes you a thousand times better than Gordon Walker."

"You showed mercy, Dean." Sam added.

"I hope you're right." Dean muttered. "I don't want to become like...that. I don't want this job to consume me."

"Dean, you've never had a problem like this before." said Sam. "I mean you've always said that this life isn't what you want to be doing years from now, but you've never been this worried about it."

"True," Dean sighed. "But I was never gonna be a father before."

"Oh," Pepper sighed. She once again reached up and stroked his cheek with her fingertips. "You shouldn't be worried about that. I'm not. You're going to be a great father."

"Yeah sure." Dean muttered. He didn't believe that, no matter how much he wanted too but everything inside him told him that he was already doomed.

"She's right, Dean. You will be." said Sam.

"Yeah, well at least I have you two looking out for me." said Dean. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Sam smiled and bent down to pick up the bags. "It's a good thing you're stuck with us." He gave Dean a quick reassuring nodded before he walked towards the car.

Pepper lightly runs the tips of her fingers over Dean's bottom lip bringing his attention back to her. Leaning up and forwards she removed her fingers and pressed her lips against his. Dean's eyes were closed when she pulled back so he didn't see the smile on her face.

"I really do believe what I said. About you being a good father."

"I want to be, but..." Dean opened his eyes and smiled ever so slightly. "I'll try not to disappoint you."

Pepper shook her head. "You could never disappoint me." She gently kissed his cheek and smiled once more. "Come on, Sammy's waiting."

She let go of him and stepped around him to the Impala. Dean closed his eyes for a moment, and then he turned around and followed Pepper.

He really couldn't believe how much faith she had in him. He didn't think he deserved it but she always stood by him. Maybe he wasn't doomed to become like Gordon, after all who did Gordon have? No one. Dean had his father, he had Sam and most importantly he had Pepper. And if they all believed he could make it as a father then who was he to doubt.

As Dean got into the drivers seat, with Pepper beside him and Sam in the back his mood was a lot lighter than it had been minutes before. And as they drove out of town, Dean realized that he could be a good father. He was going to give his child a better life no matter what. Right then and there he made a silent promise that he would do anything that he could to protect his child from anything in this world that could hurt them. He was going to do everything in his power to give his child a normal life away from demons, and ghosts, and hunting.

Dean leaned forward and turned the radio on, filling the car with the sounds of classic rock.

TBC

Next Chapter - Lucky Days

Expecting 3/10 - part 1

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:50:17 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Expecting
CHAPTER - Making New Enemies 3/10 - part 1 (long chapter)
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, John Winchester, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 7113
SUMMARY - Dean and Sam's lives have always been different and with Dean's pregnant girlfriend joining them life’s going to get a lot more interesting.
WARNINGS - AU story - Draft - all mistakes are mine
BETA - N/A
A/N - This chapter is my version of the season 2 episode ‘Bloodlust’ So there will be a lot of word for word scenes from the episode here but with my added twist mixed in. There isn’t going to be every bit from the original episode because that would be a really long chapter and I didn’t want to write from Gordon’s point of view. So if I have skipped something it still happened I just didn’t write it.
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER THREE - MAKING NEW ENEMIES

"Where are we going?" Sam asked.

Dean shrugged, "Some place with good pie. I want pie."

"Of course you do." Sam rolled his eyes.

"Plus, we'll have to find a good OBGYN." said Dean. "That last guy was a creep. He kept staring at Pep's chest."

"I didn't think you noticed. After all you were busy checking out the young nurse at reception."

Dean shot Sam a quick glare, "I was not checking out the nurse. I was just... having a simple conversation with her."

"If that's what you want to call it." Sam smiled. "Besides the downside of seeing multiple doctors is that you're not always going to get a doctor that you're going to like."

"I know. I know." Dean sighed and Sam could tell by his tine that he was annoyed.

It had been 3 and a half weeks since Dean, Sam and Pepper had left Bobby's house. Pepper had gotten a call saying that she was needed to take some photos and she didn't want to miss out on anymore work so she pretty much forced Dean and Sam to take her. They'd quickly developed a good system. Going wherever Pepper's job took her or wherever they got a lead on a hunt, always giving enough time for both. It was a lot easier being on the road with Pepper as she brought extra money into the mix, although Dean refused to let her pay for everything.

It was Bobby who insisted that they try to see as many doctors as they could while on the road, and he insisted that they get a copy of all of Pepper's medical files to send back to him. Once Pepper went into labor, Bobby wanted all of her medical information available for her doctors. It was a good idea and Dean knew part of it was because Bobby wanted to know exactly how Pepper and the baby were doing.

Apart from Bobby, Ellen had also called wanting to check up on Pepper. John had only called twice to send the boys on hunts, yet he still managed to ask how they all were going.

It was 11.27am and they had been driving since 6.30 that morning. Pepper slept on the back seat with a pillow propped up against the window. The sun shone down on the car and a cool breeze drifted in from Dean's slightly opened window. Dean and Sam were mostly silent with the occasional conversation thrown in like Dean's obsession with Pie. Then the semi-silence was broken by the loud ringing of Pepper's cell phone. She sat up quickly and looked around startled before she realized that it was her phone that had woken her up. She frowned and dug into the pocket of her jacket which lay beside her and pulled out her phone.

"Hello?" She asked while running a hand over her face. "Yeah...No, I'm good...Thanks...Sure, no I can do it...Where is it?...Right, okay well I'll go and I'll have the negatives sent to you before the end of the week...Yeah you too...Alright. I'll talk to you later...Bye."

Pepper hung up and tossed her phone onto the seat beside her.

"Stupid loud technical piece of crap." She mumbled and placed her head back onto the pillow.

"Ah, Pepper?" Dean asked, looking at her in the rear-view mirror. "Did you just get a job." he asked.

"No, I was participating in a phone sex line." She snapped.

"Don't get snappy with me." said Dean. "I didn't wake you"

"Sorry," she sighed. "And yes I did get a job. We have to go to some place called Red Lodge, which I think is pretty close."

Sam reached into the glove box and pulled out a map. He quickly scanned it, moving his finger along the page looking for 'Red Lodge'. When he spotted it on the map he tapped it with his finger. "We're about three maybe four hours away."

"Well isn't that convenient." Dean commented.

"Yeah well they probably knew I was close from the last job." said Pepper as she shut her eyes and attempted to go back to sleep.

"What is it that you have to take pictures of?" asked Sam

"Dead cows." Pepper mumbled, eyes still closed.

"Like dead cows in the field or dead cows on some burgers?" Dean asked, smirking in amusement.

"Field." She grunted. "Stop asking stupid questions and let me sleep."

"Hey, it's not my fault you're tired." Dean frowned.

Pepper's eyes snapped opened. "It's completely your fault. I didn't get much sleep last night because your baby caused me to spend most of my time throwing up. So it is your fault, so shut up."

With that, Pepper closed her eyes and both Dean and Sam knew that the conversation was over. Sam turned to Dean, who just shrugged before turning back to the road.

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Three and a quarter hours later they headed into the motel room they had booked. Dean wasn't comfortable getting one room for Sam and another for himself and Pepper, so they still just got the one room every time, with two queen beds. One for Sam and the other for Pepper and Dean.

Dean dropped down onto one of the beds as Pepper disappeared into the bathroom to freshen up after only just waking up. There was a small round table with two chairs in front of the only window in the room. Sam walked over and took a seat and waited for Pepper. Fifteen minutes later, Pepper emerged from the bathroom in a different outfit, a knee length blue dress with long sleeves and a deep V-neck with black boots. Dean tilted his head to the side and took time to admire her. Now that they had an actual relationship that everyone knew about he could openly watch her in any way he liked.

"So, who’s coming with?" Pepper asked as she picked up a shoulder bag with her camera and equipment in it.

"To look at a bunch of dead cattle?" Dean asked raising an eyebrow

"Mutilated cattle actually." Pepper replied. "Wanna come with?"

"Not really." said Dean

Pepper frowned, "Fine." She turned to Sam and smiled. "How about you, Sammy?"

"Ah, sure." Sam replied and stood up.

He would have had to have gone with her anyway otherwise Dean would have guilt tripped him. It was just that Dean didn't like Pepper out on her own but he knew that if he went with her everywhere she went then she'd get annoyed at him so his plan was to at least make Sam go with her. For some reason Pepper never got too angry with Sam. Sam of course knew all this so he didn't mind being used like that.

Pepper moved over to Dean and leaned down towards him.

"We'll be back in a couple of hours." She said before she kissed his nose.

As Sam and Pepper walked out the door, Dean grabbed the remote for the TV and switched it on.

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Sam drove Pepper to one of Red Lodge's farms (there was actually two farms just outside of town) where all the cows had mysteriously been mutilated. They got out of the car and made their way to the front door of the farmhouse then Pepper knocked on the door while Sam carried her camera bag. A tall middle age man answered the door and frowned at them. Sam felt a little uncomfortable because the guy looked like he had a shot gun hiding behind the door.

"Yeah?" The man asked, looking them both up and down.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Hankson." Pepper said warmly as she reached her hand out. "I'm Pepper Bassingthwaite-"

"-Oh yeah the photographer." Hankson took her hand and smiled.

"Exactly. And this is my assistant, Sammy."

"Ah, hello." said Sam.

"I know it's getting a bit late so we should probably get started and then we'll be out of your way." said Pepper

"Alright. I've got some work to do in here so you two can just head out." Hankson explained. "Just do what you have to do then come and see me when you're done."

"Thank you Mr. Hankson." Pepper smiled

Hankson shut the door. Pepper turned to Sam and shrugged before she led the way to the back of the house. The property was separated by barbwire fences. There were cows crazing in one section in the far left and in a section far from that and a little closer to the house was the dead cows. There were 3 cows in total. They were lying on their sides with their stomachs slashed opened and their insides spilling out onto the grass. When Pepper saw them she paused and covered her mouth with one hand. Sam moved closer to her and placed a hand on her lower back.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, it's just that...that is so disgusting." she said with a deep frown. "And I'm scared I'm going to ruin my boots. I didn't really think this outfit through."

Sam chuckled and guided her towards the dead animals. They stayed about half a meter back from the closet cow as Pepper was not prepared to get any closer. It didn't take long for Pepper to start taking photos of different angles. Sam stood back and watched her with his arms crossed. He decided that looking at Pepper was a much better option then looking at the cows.

'Damn Dean!' Sam thought as he glanced at one of the cows again.

"Pepper, how come you don't just take pictures of celebrities or something?"

"Because that'd just be boring." She replied. "And way too easy. It's more...artistic to take pictures of things, like this."

"But less gross." Sam pointed out.

"True." she agreed and took one last picture.

"So you don't believe in that old saying about how every time you get your picture taken you loose a piece of your soul?"

Pepper laughed out loud and shook her head. "God no. Although," she added with a pause and a thoughtful look. "That would explain Paris Hilton."

Sam let out a large laugh after that. Together they laughed for around three minutes before Pepper calmed down enough to actually finish taking her pictures.

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By the time they were ready to head back to the motel it was a little after 6:00pm and the sky had began to get darker. They were just about to get into the Impala when Sam's cell rang. It was Dean so he quickly answered it.

"Yeah?" Sam asked.

He figured that Dean just wanted to know how much longer they were going to be. Dean would probably deny it if asked but ever since Pepper had joined them he made it a point to know exactly what the two of them were doing and where they were at all times. It was annoying but Sam could understand where Dean was coming from. He probably had a deep fear that something was going to happen to Pepper and the baby because they never stayed happy for too long. Not with the lives they lead.

"Are you two going to be long?" Dean asked and Sam rolled his eyes as he got into the drivers seat. "I think we've got a case."

Sam paused with the keys in his hand.

"Why?" He asked his brother

"They were saying on the news that there been another decapitated body found which makes three all together. Thought it'd be something we should check out."

"Oh, well we're about 45 minutes away. You don't think the bodies have anything to do with the mutilated cattle do you?"

"If not then it’s a big coincidence. Hey how were the dead cows anyway?" Dean asked and Sam could hear the smirk in his voice.

"Disgusting." Sam snapped and hung up.

Pepper looked at Sam and grinned, "What's going on?" she asked

"Apparently we've got a case." Sam replied and started the car. "There are headless bodies and add that with the cows..."

"Dean thinks there’s a connection with the two?"

"Be very strange it they weren’t."

"Hhmm, and here's me thinking this was going to be a quiet visit."

Sam nodded and drove the Impala back into town.

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"I can't find anything in the papers about the deaths except that they we're decapitated." said Sam.

He was sitting at the table in the motel looking over his laptop.

"What exactly were you hoping to find?" Pepper asked.

She was lying on Dean's bed with her feet against the headboard and her head hanging over the edge. Dean sat on the floor to the right of her head and cleaned most of his guns.

"Something suspicious." said Dean

"Because headless bodies aren’t suspicious enough?" She asked with a slight frown.

"I was hoping to find something about strange markings on the bodies, or anything peculiar about how they were found." Sam replied. He quickly re-scanned the last newspaper article on his computer.

Pepper rolled over onto her stomach and propped her elbows onto the bed, resting her chin in her hands. "I doubt they'd put all the information about the murders in the news." She said. "And you still don't have any real proof that something supernatural went on."

"Ah," Dean turned his head to look up at her. "I think three decapitated bodies is a bit of a clue."

"Not really seeing as how a normal, non-possessed human could cut someone’s head off."

Sam frowned and squirmed in his seat.

"It's got to be a demon of some sort." said Dean smugly. "It's always something."

"What about those people you told me about who were hunting other humans for sport?" Pepper asked

"Okay, well that was just one time it turned out to be normal freaks. " said Dean "But every other time it's supernatural."

Pepper sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I can't find anything," Sam said as he closed the lid of his laptop. He turned around and added, "we're gonna have to take a look at one of the bodies."

"Fake ID time?" Pepper asked.

Dean turned to look up at her once again and grinned. "Fake ID time."

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Pepper stays in the motel while Dean and Sam head out to the county hospital with white lab coats to give the impression that they belonged there.

Once at the hospital they made their way down to the morgue. Since the hospital was in a small building, the morgue was only tiny. There was a young doctor sitting at a desk when they walked in. He looked up and them, obviously surprised to see them. Dean thought quickly and glanced down at the man's ID badge. J. Manners was his name.

"John?" Dean guessed. How many J names could there be?

"Jeff" The man corrected as he stood up and smiled.

"Jeff. I know that." said Dean. "Doctor Dorkon needs to see you in his office right away."

"But Doctor Dorkon's on vacation." Jeff said in confusion.

"Well he's back." Dean said, as serious as he could. "And he's pissed and he's screaming for you man."

Jeff became quite shocked and startled at this information.

"So if I were you I would..." Dean trailed off as Jeff ran out of the room. "Okay."

Sam closed the door behind Jeff and turned to Dean. Sam walks towards Dean and takes the latex gloves he offered him. Together they open up the draw with the last victim in it. Laying between the girls legs is a large white container.

"Open it." Dean gestured to the box.

Sam looked up at him and frowned. "You open it."

"Wuss."

Dean sighed and picked up the container, carrying it over to the desk. He took the lid off to reveal the girls head. Sam leaned in to take a look and shook his head.

"Wow poor girl." said Sam.

"Maybe we should, ah look in her mouth." Dean suggested. "See if this wacko's stuck anything down her throat. You know kinda like the moth in Silence of the Lambs."

Dean grinned and Sam just shook his head.

"Yeah, sure go ahead." Sam turned the container towards Dean.

"No you go."

"What?"

Dean shrugged and gestured towards the container once more with a wicked grin on his face.

"Right, yeah I'm the wuss ha?" Sam asked, annoyed at Dean. "Whatever." He snapped and grabbed the container.

Sam held his breath while he explored the mouth of the dead girl. He tried not to look down at what he was doing. This was much worse than the cows; at least he didn't have to touch those.

"Dean, get me a bucket."

"Find something?" Dean asked, leaning over to have a look.

"No I'm gonna puke."

"You're such a wimp."

"I don't see you sticking your fingers in there." Sam snapped angrily.

"Pepper wouldn't bitch this much..." Dean muttered. He trailed off as he noticed something. "Sam lift her lip up again."

"What? You want me to throw up, is that it?"

"No I think I saw something."

Sam watches as Dean pushes down on the girls gums. A small pointy tooth appears.

"Is that a tooth?" Sam asked

"Sammy, that's a fang." Dean frowned and stood up. "Vampire fangs, you gotta be kidding me."

"Well this changes things."

Dean looked at Sam and fought against the urge to come out and simply say the word 'Duh'. Instead he settled for a sarcastic, "Ya think."

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"So, find anything demonic-y on the body?" Pepper asked the boys as they entered the motel.

"No, but we found a fang." Dean told her, and sat down beside her on the bed.

"Oh." said Pepper. Then she frowned and shook her head. "Wait a what now?"

"The victims are vampires." said Sam. "Ah, well were vampires."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Pepper slowly asked.

"Depends on who killed them." said Sam.

Sam walked over and sat down on the edge of his own bed, facing Pepper and Dean.

"Guess we're gonna be here for a while then." Pepper said with a small pout.

"You're the reason we're here in the first place." Dean told her.

Pepper leaned her head against Dean's shoulder with a sigh.

"It's all my boss's fault. I'll send them an angry letter with the cow photos." Pepper joked tiredly.

"What now?" Sam asked

"We could go out, see if anyone knows anything." Dean suggested. "We past a pub on the way back." He paused and shrugged the shoulder that Pepper wasn't leaning against. "May as well start there first."

"Mmm and I suppose getting a drink to fit in will be a hard sacrifice for you to make." Pepper commented sarcastically.

Dean grinned and turned to Sam with a nod. He gently moved away from Pepper before standing up and moving to grab his coat. Sam also stood up while Pepper lay back down on the bed.

"You're not coming?" Sam asked Pepper.

"Depends on what the bar looked like" she replied.

"Ah, dirty, smelly, with a lot of guys smoking and drinking." Dean replied. "Your standard bar. Not the place I'd suggest a pregnant woman go."

"Didn't we go to the RoadHouse last week?" Sam frowned.

"Yes but Ellen has the power to kick customers out when they refuse to stop smoking around me" Pepper smiled. "We might not get that kind of luxury any where else."

"Exactly." Dean agreed. "I'll call you before we get back. Want anything while we're out?" He asked.

"No, I'm okay." Pepper nodded. "Try not to get too drunk."

"What me?" Dean asked innocently. "Never."

Pepper shook her head in amusement as Dean and Sam walked out the door.

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Dean and Sam walked into the bar and headed towards the barman. Dean took a quick look around and noted all the large group of people drinking and smoking.

"So glad Pepper didn't come." He muttered just as a fizzy-haired waitress walked past them.

"Yeah I bet." Sam rolled his eyes.

Together they managed to order two beers (purely so that they wouldn't stand out) while asking the barman if he'd ever noticed a group of strange people hanging around town. Sam even used some of Pepper's money to bribe him so that they'd get some decent answers. After seeing the money it doesn't take them long to get the information that they need.

Once their beers were finished, Sam threw some money down on the bar to pay for the drinks before they turned around and left. Neither of them noticing the one man who hadn't taken his eyes off them since they had walked in.

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Sam and Dean knew that they were being followed that was why they didn't head towards the Impala. John had taught them well. They turned down into an empty ally, rounded a corner and then waited for just the right moment before they turned back around and both roughly grabbed the man who was following them. They pushed him back hard against the brick wall of the closest building. This would be simple; after all they had dealt with Vampires before.

"Smile" Dean demanded

"What?" asked the man who'd been following them.

"Show us those pearly whites." Dean added, sticking a knife against the man's throat.

"Oh for the love of - You wanna stick that thing some place else? I'm not a vampire."

Sam and Dean both hesitated before the man showed them that he did in fact have no fangs. When they realized that he wasn't lying they let go and stepped back away from him.

"Now, who the hell are you?" asked the man

"Never mind us, who the hell are you?" Dean asked. Once again in a demanding tone.

The man looked at Dean long and hard before he smiled. "I'm a hunter. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get to my car."

"Ah...sure" Dean replied slowly.

The man moved away from the wall and began heading back down the ally. Sam and Dean shared a wary look before they followed him. It didn't take them long to fall into step with this older hunter.

"Name's Gordon, by the way." said the Hunter, just as his car came into sight. He continued walking until he was in front of his car and then he looked up at Dean and Sam. "And you are?"

"I'm Dean, this is my brother Sam." Dean replied quickly, tilting his head to the side to indicate Sam.

"Winchester?" Gordon asked, a smile spreading across his face.

"Yeah" Sam slowly answered

"Sam and Dean Winchester? I can't believe it" Gordon continued to smile. "You know I met your dad once. Hell of a guy. Great hunter. And from what I hear you two aren’t too bad yourselves. Great trackers, good in a tight spot."

"You seem to know a lot about our family." said Dean a little suspicious of the fact that Gordon knew so much about them.

"Well word travels fast. You know how Hunter's talk."

"No we don't actually." said Dean, looking back at Sam.

"Well last I heard your dad was right on the tale of a big hunt.”

"You heard anything since then?" asked Sam.

Dean looked at his brother with confusion, wondering where he was going with that question.

"Not for a few months now." said Gordon. "Like I said, last I heard he was hunting."

"Right. So um, those vampires they were yours?" Sam asked.

"Yep." Gordon nodded. "Been here two weeks."

"Do you know where the nest is?" asked Dean.

Gordon smiled, "I got this one covered. Look don't get me wrong, it's a real pleasure meeting you fellows. But I've been on this thing for over a year. I killed a fang back in Austin, tracked the nest all the way up here. I'll finish this."

"We could help" Dean suggested

"Thanks," Gordon nodded before opening his car door. "But, ah, I'm kind of a go-it-alone type of guy"

"Whoa man, I've been itching for a hunt-" began Dean.

That wasn't a lie. The last three stops they made were just for Pepper's job and while Sam didn't really mind the long break from hunting, Dean was starting to get restless. He needed to hunt. Sam wondered if Dean would actually be able to give it up once the baby came or if he'd have to keep doing it because it was like a drug that refused to be let go.

Gordon got into his car and shook his head. "Sorry. It was good meeting you though. I'll buy you a drink on the flip side."

With that, Gordon drove off. Dean and Sam stayed where they were until Gordon's car was no longer in sight. Dean slowly turned to Sam and frowned.

"Why'd you ask him if he's heard anything about us since the Demon?"

"Ah, I just wanted to know what else he knew." replied Sam "There’s just something about him that...well I just wanted to see if he knew about Pepper and the baby."

"How would he know about that?" Dean asked sharply.

"The same way he knew about us."

"He heard about us through other Hunters." Dean explained, shaking his head slightly. "So unless Dad, Bobby or Ellen have been blurting out that Pep's pregnant every chance they get, I doubt he knows anything." He paused and started walking towards the Impala. "And what did you mean there’s something about him? He seemed alright to me."

"I don't know" Sam shrugged. "If we see him again are you going to tell him about Pepper?"

Dean stopped and look at Sam with a frown and one brow raised slightly. "Why the hell would I do that? The fact that Pepper is having my baby is not something that I want the entire Hunting community to find out about. I mean, come on man you know what kind of people do this job. How many of them would you trust to tell?"

"I guess just Bobby and Ellen. Oh and dad." Sam agreed.

They get into the Impala and Dean pulled his cell out of his pocket. He flipped it opened and quickly dialed Pepper's cell number. She picked up straight away.

"Any luck?" Pepper asked before Dean could even say hello.

"Sort of." He replied. "We met another Hunter, so we're gonna go help him out. I don't know what time we'll be back but I'll call you just before we head back. Okay?"

"Okay. Be careful." came Pepper's quiet plea over the phone.

Dean smiled softly. "Always. Bye." He hung up and started the car.

"How are we going to help Gordon, if he doesn't want our help?" Sam asked.

"Can't hurt to look."

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It didn't take long for Sam and Dean to find Gordon in an old mill. By the time they got there, Gordon was in the middle of a serious fight with a large, well built male vampire and losing. It was a good thing that the Winchesters turned up when they did because otherwise Gordon would have been killed.

After Dean quickly killed the Vampire by sawing his head off. He didn't even think twice about it. Just did it. Gordon was pleased, as he should be and offered to buy them both a drink. Sam still felt uneasy around Gordon but Dean wasn't listening to him. Gordon led them back to the bar that they'd all just come from. Dean used an old shirt in the back of the Impala to wipe the Vampires blood from his face.

The bar was still pretty busy but Gordon managed to find an empty table pretty quickly. Gordon bought the first round of beers and ordered a round of shots as well.

When the waitress (The same fizzy-haired woman Dean had looked at before) handed them their shots, Dean sat forward about to reach into his pocket for his wallet to pay when Gordon held a hand up to stop him.

"No, no. I got it." Gordon assured Dean with a grin.

"Come on," Dean offered. Gordon had already paid for the beers and while Dean never minded a free drink he did think it fare that he pay for at least one drink.

Gordon shook his head. "I insist." He handed the waitress some money and winked at her. "Thank you sweetie."

Gordon turned back to Dean, his grin still in place as he lifted his shot glass high in the air to make a toast.

"Another one bites the dust."

Dean grinned and brought his own shot glass up. "That's right."

As Dean and Gordon hit their glasses together, Sam sat back with his arms folded. To passer-by’s he probably looked quit bored which he was. A little. He didn't feel like celebrating the fact that he'd just seen his brother kill something and would much rather head back to the motel to hang out with Pepper. Plus there was still something about Gordon that didn't sit well with Sam. He looked at Dean and watched him down his shot.

"Dean, you gave that big ass fang one hell of a hair cut my friend." Gordon laughed

"Thank you" Dean grinned in triumph. He took another drink of his beer and that's when he noticed Sam's demeanor out of the corner of his eye. "You alright, Sammy?"

"Yeah. Fine." Came Sam’s short reply.

"Well lighten up a little, Sammy." Gordon said on a laugh.

Sam turned towards Gordon, with a very slight sharp look in his eyes.

"He's the only one who gets to call me that." Sam strongly informed Gordon, as he gestured towards Dean.

"Okay," Gordon threw his hands up in defense and smiled. "No offence meant. Just celebrating a little. Job well done."

"Yeah well, um, decapitations aren’t my idea of a good time." Sam snarked. "I guess."

"Oh come on man. It's not like it was human." said Gordon, still trying to convince Sam to lighten his mood. "You gotta have a little more fun with your job."

Dean clicked his fingers then pointed to Sam. He grinned and nodded in agreement to what Gordon was saying. "See, that's what I've been trying to tell him. You could learn a thing or two from this guy."

"Yeah. I bet I could." Sam replied, with a hint of sarcasm. "Look, I'm not gonna bring you guys down. I'm just gonna go back to the motel."

Sam stood slowly from his chair. He really had had enough. He only stayed because he didn't want to walk back, or take the Impala and leave Dean to walk. Now thought he decided that he'd rather walk than stay here.

"You sure?" Dean asked

"Yeah."

"Want the keys?"

"No, I'll walk. Fresh air will do me good." Sam gave Dean a quick smile, ignoring Gordon before he headed out of the bar.

Dean turned back to Gordon and shrugged.

"Something I said?" asked Gordon.

"Nah," Dean shook his head. "Nah, he just gets that way sometimes."

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Sam waited until he was far enough away from the bar, so that he could no longer hear the sound of the jukebox or the roaring of engines before he pulled out his cell and called Pepper's number. Once again she answered on the first ring. That was something Dean got her to start doing if they were ever apart because he and Sam where on a hunt.

"Hey, Pep." Sam sighed. Glad to be away from the bar. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." She replied. "Are you okay? Where's Dean?"

"Ah, I'm alright. Dean's...having a drink."

"Alone?" Pepper asked confused.

"No with, Gordon. The Hunter we met."

"How come you're not with them?"

"I didn't really feel like celebrating. Look, um, I'm heading back so I just thought I'd call to let you know."

"Oh, okay then. I'll see you soon."

Sam smiled even though Pepper couldn't see him. He hangs up and continued walking.

It was times like this that Sam was really glad that Pepper was with them. It was a nice change to have someone else to talk to when his brother wanted to go off and do something that he didn't. Although it was still hard for Sam to wake up and see Dean and Pepper sleeping in the one bed, mostly because it reminded him that while Dean had Pepper, he still had no one except Dean and their father. Then there was the baby, and once he or she came along Sam didn't know how he'd feel about the whole situation. He knew that he'd try to help Dean out in any way he could and not just because he is his brother but because this, Pepper and her baby may be the only real change any of them have for a normal life.

As he got close enough to see the motel, Sam thought back to when he had told Pepper that he was glad she was the girl who Dean got pregnant. That statement was very true. Sam highly doubted that he would be this open with some random ditzy college girl from a bar, which Dean would normally try to hit on.

When Sam walked into the motel he found Pepper sitting cross-legged on her bed munching on some dried bananas while watching some old musical on the TV. When she heard Sam walk in she turned to him with a warm smile. He smiled back and dropped down heavily onto his bed with a sigh.

"Want to tell me what happened?" Pepper asked, and offered her dried bananas.

Sam shook his head at the offered food. "There's not much to tell. Dean killed a vampire, so he and Gordon are celebrating by drinking."

"And you're not with them because...?"

"I just don't see the point in celebrating the fact that Dean managed to be-head a vampire."

"See, now I would have thought that killing a vampire was a good thing."

"It is." Sam agreed "Normally. There’s just something about this entire hunt that I don't get. I mean, how come there are no non-vampire bodies?” He asked, thinking out loud. "The three bodies we found were all vampires, according to Gordon."

Pepper frowned and turned the volume down on the TV. "What is it about this guy that you don't like?"

"There’s not an actual reason." Sam replied. "Not one main one anyway. He called me 'Sammy' and for some reason it just irritates me when other people besides Dad and Dean call me that."

"You let me call you 'Sammy'." Pepper pointed out

"I don't really let you, Pepper, you just do."

"You never asked me to stop."

"I didn't think you would." Sam said honestly with a shrug.

"No I probably wouldn't" Pepper grinned.

"Then there was Gordon's attitude towards hunting."

"What do you mean?"

"He thinks I should have more fun with the job."

"Hold on, does he mean hunting?" Pepper asked, slightly confused.

"Yeah." Sam replied.

"Sammy, hunting’s not suppose to be fun. You don't do it because it's fun. You do it because it needs to be done. I think there’s something wrong with Gordon if that's his way of thinking."

"Dean seems to agree with him."

"That's because Dean likes to think that all Hunters are good people." said Pepper. "Even if they seem a little..." She trailed off unable to think of the right word to describe Gordon, as she hadn't met him yet.

"Well they seemed to be getting along just fine when I left them." Sam muttered.

"Give it time." Pepper replied, having heard Sam's comment. "If this guys like you say, it wont take Dean long to figure it out."

"I still can't believe how well you know my brother." Sam said honestly. "I never thought I'd see Dean open up to anyone beside myself."

"I have the magic touch" Pepper smiled. "But, don't bring it up with Dean. He'll just deny it."

"I know." Sam nodded.

Since Pepper had been on the road with them, Sam had on more than one occasion brought up the subject of Dean's difference in behaviors when he was alone with Pepper. Dean never really contributed to the conversation, choosing instead to either change the subject or just not say anything. It wasn't that he didn't like how he was with Pepper because if he did then he'd change. It was just that, well to Sam, Dean felt embarrassed about it.

"I don't suppose you've ever heard Bobby mention Gordon before?" Sam asked after a couple of minutes. "He knows Dad, so maybe he knows Bobby too."

"Well he never mentioned him to me." Pepper replied thoughtfully. "But then again, Granddad didn't really talk about other hunters around me. The only other Hunter I knew was Ellen, and then Dean and you and you're father."

"What about when you stayed with Ellen and Jo?"

"If the RoadHouse was full, Jo and I pretty much just stayed in her room. Especially when we were younger." Pepper explained. "Jo knew all about nearly everyone who frequented the place but Granddad wanted to keep me away from that world."

"Do you think that's why Bobby was so angry when he found out that Dean got you pregnant?"

"No I think he would have been just as angry, but you do have a point. I guess. Wow," Pepper sighed. "I never thought about that. I'll just talk to Granddad later. For now, though what are we going to do about Gordon?" she asked

"Maybe we should call Dad, or Bobby. See what they can tell us about him."

"That's actually a good idea, Sammy." Pepper smiled.

She leaned across to the small cupboard between the two beds and grabbed her cell phone. Sam pulled his own cell out from his pocket. They both called at the same time, with Sam calling John and Pepper calling Bobby. After a minute Pepper hung up and shook her head.

"Granddad's not answering." She informed Sam. "John picking up?"

Sam waited for a few moments and when he got his father's voicemail he shook his head and placed his phone back into his pocket.

"Dad must still be on a hunt." He said.

"Try Ellen" Pepper suggested. "If anyone knows anything about any Hunter it'd be her. Plus she rarely leaves the RoadHouse so there’s more of a chance that she'll answer."

Sam nodded and picked up his phone once more and called Ellen's number. After one and a half rings Ellen picked up.

"Havell’s RoadHouse." Ellen answered cheerfully.

"Hey Ellen, ah Sam Winchester."

"Sam, it's good to hear from you. You lot are okay aren’t ya?" She asked. Sam could hear the concern in her voice and knew that she was worried about Pepper.

"Yeah we're all okay."

"How's Pepper doing?"

"Hi Ellen." Pepper shouted just loud enough for Ellen to hear.

"Ah, hold on Ellen." said Sam before he brought the phone down and put it on speaker. "Okay go."

Sam held the phone out between himself and Pepper in the gap between the two beds.

"Hey Pepper, how are you feeling?" Ellen asked

"A bit sick every night, and tired... you know the usual." Pepper replied.

"Them boys treating you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah they are." Pepper grinned at Sam. "They're both really sweet."

"Just as well."

"Ellen, we ah, called because we've got a question." said Sam.

"Yeah, shoot." said Ellen

"You ever run across a guy named Gordon Walker?" Sam asked

"Yeah I know Gordon."

"And?" Sam asked, wanting more of an answer.

"Well, he's a real good Hunter. Why you askin' sweetie?"

"We ran into him on a job and we're kind of working with him, I guess"

"Don't do that Sam." came Ellen's serious reply.

Sam and Pepper looked up at each other and frowned in confusion.

"Ellen, didn't...didn't you just say he was a good Hunter?" Pepper asked.

"And Hannibal Lector’s a good psychiatrist." Ellen replied, matter of factly. "Look he is dangerous to everyone and everything around him. If he's working on a hunt just let him handle it and move on."

"Ellen-" Pepper began

"-He doesn't know about the baby does he?" Ellen asked her tone slightly more serious than it had been.

Pepper couldn't answer that question because she hadn't met Gordon. She looked up at Sam, hoping he would have an answer. The right answer.

"No. Pepper's been in the motel room. Gordon hasn't seen her." Sam replied. "And we haven’t told him about her or the baby."

"What about Dean?" Pepper asked Sam; half forgetting that Ellen could hear them. "You sure he's not telling Gordon now, over drinks?"

"Dean's drinking with Gordon?" asked Ellen

Sam nodded, even thought Ellen couldn't see him. "Yes. Um, they're celebrating. Dean seems to think he's okay."

"Well first impressions can be wrong." said Ellen. "You sure Dean won't say anything about the baby?"

"No. He ah said something about not wanting any other Hunter knowing." Sam replied quickly.

Pepper sighed and relaxed a little. She didn't doubt that Dean would do what was best for them, but if he really thought that this Gordon was a good man than he might mention the baby since it's something to be proud of.

"Sam, just listen to me, okay." Ellen started slowly. "The best thing that you can do is get Dean and get the hell away from where ever you are."

"I'm starting to think that might be the best option." Pepper agreed.

Sam simply nodded.

"Look, just leave and get back to me when you can. I wanna know that you're all okay." said Ellen.

"Yeah, sure. Thanks Ellen."

Sam hung up and placed his cell back into his pocket. He looked up at Pepper who was watching him with slight wide eyes and one hand on her stomach. Before Pepper had actually joined them on the road, Sam had never seen her get anxious or nervous about anything but since she'd join then he noticed slight differences in her actions whenever they were on a hunt. She never said anything but Sam always knew that she was a little scared for their safety. Now, after talking to Ellen, she wasn't even trying to hide the fact that she was worried for Dean.

"I think you should go and get Dean now." she told him.

"Yeah." Sam nodded and stood up. "Are you gonna be okay by yourself?" He asked.

"I'll be fine. Just call me when you find Dean."

"Okay." Sam offered her a quick smile before he turned around and headed for the door.

continued in part 2

Expecting 2/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:07:54 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Expecting
CHAPTER - First Congratulations 2/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, John Winchester, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 7453
SUMMARY - Dean and Sam's lives have always been different and with Dean's pregnant girlfriend joining them life’s going to get a lot more interesting.
WARNINGS - AU story - Draft - all mistakes are mine
BETA - N/A
A/N - See chapter one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER TWO - FIRST CONGRATULATIONS

Dean and Pepper moved from their position on the floor to two of the bar stools at the front of the bar. Pepper is facing forward while Dean is sitting with is side against the bar and his legs facing her. Pepper was defiantly happier than she had been. She was smiling and the small sparkle that usually filled her eyes when she was having fun was back. Her eyes had been full of pain and sadness, and a little anger towards Bobby, ever since she came to the motel. Ever since Dean had told her that he wanted to be involved with this baby and do it with her, she had been more relaxed. It made Dean wonder what she would have done if he had told her he wanted nothing to do with the baby. She'd probably pretend to be alright and then let all of her emotions out when he left. Not that that thought ever crossed Dean's mind. Baby or not he was always going to stand by Pepper for reasons that he couldn't understand.

They had been sitting alone together (If you don't count Ash sleeping on the floor) in the RoadHouse for just over 25 minutes, and they were both content to stay there for much longer but they knew that they could not ignore reality forever. Sooner or later they were going to have to face up to Bobby and John.

"Dean."

"Yeah?" He asked, sliding forward on his stool to get closer to her.

"I was just wondering..."

"What?"

"Well, what do you think your family will say, you know, about the baby?" She asked slowly. "And us deciding to have it together?"

"Who knows?" Dean shrugged one shoulder. "Dad's probably not going to be happy but at least he won’t throw any punches." He grinned

Pepper frowned slightly but let Dean continue.

"I think he'd just yell or give me this massive lecture on how I shouldn't have let this happen. Or do both. And Sam will..." Dean paused and thought for a moment. "Actually I don't know what Sam will do"

"You spend most of your days with him and you don't know how he'll react to this?"

"It's not like I spend my nights trying to think of how my little brother would react if I knocked you up, Pepper. Sammy's a lot like Dad. In some ways anyway, so they might have the same... reaction. Except I don't see Sam actually yelling at me about this."

"So, you don't think they'll accept it?"

"Doesn't matter if they do or not." said Dean as he placed a hand on her knee.

She turned to face him with one eyebrow arched.

"Okay so it does matter what they think." Dean continued. "And I'd prefer if they were on board with this but if they aren’t it's not like I'm going to turn around and change my mind. I meant what I said, Pepper, I want to do this with you. It's important to me and Dad and Sammy will get that. Eventually."

Pepper smiled and leaned forward, brushing her lips against his. Dean's hand moved from her knee, up her leg until he splayed his fingers splayed against her hip.

"Do you normally hide out here when you and Bobby have a fight?" Dean asked as they pulled apart but his hand remained against her hip.

"It depends on what we're fighting about." Pepper replied. "Ellen's always been good to me, especially after my mother died and she doesn't ask questions. She just waits for me to either talk to her or calm down and go home. Plus," she adds with a huge grin on her face. "Ash always seems to cheer me up."

Dean laughed at that and looked over at Ash, who was still fast asleep on the floor and snoring lightly. He didn't even notice when Ellen came in. She and Jo had finished doing stock take ten minutes earlier even though it had been done the day before. Ellen was more than happy to give Pepper and Dean time to talk but she wasn't prepared to give them the whole night. She was surprised to find them both sitting at the bar laughing as if Pepper hadn't been crying minutes ago.

Ellen walks around the bar and comes towards them, finally drawing their attention to her.

"Is everything okay?" Ellen asks once both Pepper and Dean are facing her.

Pepper smiles and nods her head, "yeah. Yeah everything’s good."

Ellen watches them for a moment. She still has no idea what went on between the two of them but as long as Pepper is happy then she could move on.

"You two want a drink?" Ellen asks

"Yeah, a beer would be great. Thanks Ellen." said Dean

Ellen nodded and grabbed a bottle of beer that she handed to Dean.

"Anything for you Pepper?"

"Um," Pepper began but trailed off.

"Anything non-alcoholic" said Dean as he took a swig from his beer. When he lowered the bottle from his mouth he frowned when he saw that both Ellen and Pepper were giving him a weird look. "Ah." He sighed as he realized what he had just said.

"And why would Pepper need a non-alcoholic drink?" Ellen asked sternly. "I doubt it's because you're worried about me losing my license for serving alcohol to someone under age, so what’s going on."

Dean bites the inside of his cheek slightly and tries to look as innocent as he can. It's bad enough that Bobby wants his head on a pike; he doesn't need Ellen after him as well. He hasn't even been around Ellen that much but he can still tell that she can be very scary when she wants to be. Dean turned to Pepper, who sighed and nodded her head. Pepper didn't think there was much point in trying to hide it from Ellen anymore.

"Well-" Dean began

At that point, Jo came up from the basement carrying a case of glasses.

"-Mum, I'm not counting everything for a third time." said Jo.

She set the case down on the far side of the bar and walked over to stand beside Pepper. It took her a moment to realize that something was going on between Ellen, Dean and Pepper.

"What's going on?" Jo asked looking at her mother

"I don't know." Ellen replied. "But Dean was just about to tell me."

"Right, well..." Dean began as he started picking at the label on his beer.

Pepper noticed how uncomfortable he was. Any other time she probably would have laughed at him but this was too serious. Placing a hand gently on Dean's leg, Pepper looked at him before turning to Ellen.

"I'm pregnant."

Jo and Ellen both stared at her in wide eyed shock. Pepper found that she couldn't hold Ellen's gaze and cast her eyes onto the counter top.

"You're what?" Jo asked slowly.

"Pregnant." Pepper replied, turning to look at Jo. "And Dean's the father."

"What the hell did you do, Dean?" Ellen demanded as she sharply turned to Dean.

Dean frowned and stood up from his seat. "Why does everyone automatically think that this is all my fault?" He asked. He found that it was a lot easier to defend himself to Ellen than it was with Bobby. Probably because Ellen's first reaction wasn't to punch him in the face. "Pepper can make her own choices you know. It's not as if I forced her to do anything."

Ellen glared at Dean for a few seconds before she turned to Pepper. Pepper finally looked up at Ellen and nodded confirming what Dean was saying.

"Have you told Bobby yet?" Jo asked

"Sort of." Pepper replied

"How'd he take it?"

"He punched me in the face." Dean said with a scowl

"What did you expect him to do?" Ellen asked. "Buy you a cigar and celebrate the fact that you got his only granddaughter pregnant."

"Well...no, not that." said Dean. "But he could have at least waited until Pepper told me about the baby. Instead of storming in and throwing punches without even telling me what was going on."

"You're just lucky hitting you was all he did. He shot your father and they only had a fight." said Ellen. "Have you talked to Bobby yet?" She asked Pepper

"We had words. Things were said. Bad, mean and upsetting things."

Ellen's expression softened as she looked at Pepper. "Bobby's angry, and obviously he has a right to be but he'll do whatever is best for you. He does love you."

"Yeah," Pepper sighed "I know he does. I've just never seen him that angry before."

"He probably just needs some time to calm down. Once the three of you sit down and have a long chat about this things will look better."

"Thanks, Ellen." Pepper smiled slightly

Ellen nodded and turned back to Dean, glare back in place.

"If you hurt her, you want just have Bobby after your blood." She warned. "Understand me?"

"Yeah," Dean sighed and frowned, sitting back on the stool. "Everyone's so worried about her getting hurt. Nobody’s worried if I'll get hurt." He whined.

"That’s because I'm more likeable than you are." Pepper told him before a large amused grin spread across her face.

Dean smiled back. He was glad that she was finally letting herself relax about the entire situation.

"Do you have an idea of what you're going to do now?" Jo asked them

"Not really." Pepper replied. "We just know that we're gonna try and do this together."

Dean nodded and took another drink from his beer.

"Well, then, congratulations." Jo offered and smiled at the couple.

Jo stepped back and opened her arms out to Pepper, who smiled and stood up. They both hugged each other while Ellen set about getting everyone else a drink. Dean watched them and wondered how close they actually were. Sure he knew that Pepper spent a lot of time here, and that she was close to Ellen and Ash but her and Jo didn't seem to have much in common, aside from the whole hunting relative thing. He didn't think they were best friends. Though he did think that they liked each other so maybe their relationship was more like...cousins, who got along well enough as long as they weren’t forced to spend every single day together.

"Thanks, Jo." Pepper said when she pulled back from the hug. "Out of everyone who's found out about this, you're the first to actually congratulate us." she said sadly.

Dean reached out and stroked her back. It must have been hard on her when no ones first reaction to her pregnancy was a good one. Pepper turned and offered him a small smile, trying to make it look like she was okay. She sat back down and shifted her seat closer to Dean. Dean didn't see the point in trying to hide his relationship with Pepper any longer so he moved one arm and wrapped it around her waist, keeping her close.

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Half an hour past.

Dean and Pepper were still at the bar, this time Pepper had a drink of water in her hands. Jo was standing near the jukebox, picking another song. She'd already played three and yet, Ash was still asleep. Pepper's cell phone started ringing, and Jo turned the sound down on the jukebox. Pepper pulled her cell out of her pocket and checked the screen name.

"It's Sam" she told Dean.

Dean frowned and then gestured with one hand that Pepper should give him the phone. He didn't know what his brother wanted or what he was going to say but Dean wasn't going to take the change that Sam might say something that would upset Pepper. He took it and quickly answered it.

"What's up, Sam?"

"Hey, Dean." Came Sam's calm voice. Almost as if he was expecting Dean to answer Pepper's phone.

"What do you want?" Dean demanded

"Is everything okay?" Sam asked, "It's late and Bobby's getting really worried. Do you think you two could...?” He paused for a moment and Dean heard him sigh heavily. "Any chance you'd be on your way back here anytime soon?"

"Depends" said Dean. "Does it look like everyone’s calmed down?"

"Yeah, it does." said Sam. "So..."

"We're on our way." Dean said quickly before he hung up. He placed the phone onto the bar and turned to Pepper. "Is that okay with you?" he asked her.

Pepper nodded, "We'll have to go back sometime and it is getting late."

"Are you sure? Because we can stay here for a while."

"No, no we'll go."

Pepper and Dean stand up and while Dean grabbed his jacket and keys, Pepper walked around and hugged Ellen.

"I just wanted to say thank you." Pepper said to Ellen. "For actually listening."

Ellen gave her a small smile. "Just give me a call tomorrow."

"Come on, Pep. I'll drive you back." Dean offered, tossing his car keys in his hand.

"What about my car?" Pepper asked. She turned to him and frowned. "If I go with you then I'd have to leave it here."

"Yeah, and that'd be sooooo upsetting." Dean drawled sarcastically.

Pepper walked over to him and slapped his chest in annoyance. Dean cheekily grinned down at her.

"I'll get Ash to drive your car back tomorrow if you like, Pepper." Ellen assured Pepper.

Pepper thought for a moment and finally sighed.

"Okay. Thank you."

Dean opened up the door for Pepper and as she walked out he turned to Ellen and nodded with a very serious look on his face. He wanted her to understand that he was serious about Pepper, but he didn't actually want to say it. As he walked out of the RoadHouse and joined Pepper by the Impala, he looked over at her car and wondered what his chances were of Ash forgetting to drive it back to Bobby's in the morning.

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Dean pulled the Impala up to the front of Bobby's house, parking it beside John's truck. He turned the ignition off and turned to Pepper who had been sitting in the passenger seat quietly. Neither of them had said anything since leaving the RoadHouse yet it wasn't an uncomfortable silence as they just left the radio on and let the music fill the car.

"Wanna go in now?" He asked her.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes and leaned her head back. "Okay," she said as she turned her head towards Dean and opened her eyes. "But if granddad starts throwing punches again I'm going back to Ellen's."

Dean smiled. "Fare enough."

Together they got out of the Impala and made their way up the stairs to the front door. They had no idea what sort of mood everyone was going to be in when they walked inside.

As soon as Pepper and Dean walked into the living room, Bobby quickly walked over to Pepper and hugged her tightly. She was surprised but hugged him back as Dean stepped past them and sits on the arm of the sofa, avoiding eye contact with both Sam and John. Sam was sitting on the other side of the sofa and John was standing near the kitchen door, with his arms folded. Bobby pulled back from Pepper but kept his hands on her arms. She looked in his eyes and could see the regret and shame that swam within them.

"I am really sorry, Pepper." Bobby said softly so that the Winchesters wouldn’t be able to hear him. "I shouldn't have said what I did"

Pepper nodded as he finally leg go of her.

"I probably shouldn't have left like that. I just...don't like that you're so disappointed in me--"

"--I'm not disappointed in you." Bobby assured her quickly. "I'm just not happy with this situation, but I could never be disappointed in you and I will never hate you. You're my granddaughter. The only family I have left. You mean more to me than anything and I promise to help you with this in any way that I can."

Pepper couldn't stop the tears that filled up in her eyes. She smiled and quickly wiped her tears away with her thumb.

"Now, I think we should all talk now." Bobby suggested loudly so that Dean, John and Sam heard him.

Bobby smiled warmly at Pepper before turning away from her and walked further into the room. He looked at Dean and his smile suddenly seemed forced. He may be ready to support Pepper in her decision but that doesn't mean he was ready to forgive Dean for getting her pregnant in the first place. He stopped a few feet away from John and turned to look at Pepper, waiting for her to start. Pepper finally moved and shortly stopped beside Dean.

"Actually, would it be okay with everyone if we talk about this in the morning?" She asked.

"Are you alright?" Dean asked, turning to her and placing a gentle hand on her arm.

She looked at him and smiled. "Yeah, I'm just tired and it is late. I just want to sleep for a few hours."

"We can talk tomorrow." Bobby agreed.

"Good," Pepper sighed. "I guess I'll see you all tomorrow then."

She leaned in and kissed Dean's cheek tenderly. His eyes flicked towards Bobby, but the older man wasn't looking at them. Dean looked back at Pepper and smiled. Pepper turned and made her way upstairs to her bedroom. It had been a very long day and a good night sleep would do her some good.

Dean sighed and rubbed one hand over his face before hoping off the arm to slide down onto the first sofa cushion.

"Guess all your stuff doesn't seem so dramatic now, hey Sam?" Dean asked, referring to their recent information on Sam and the YED.

Dean leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes.

"Dean?" Bobby asked

Dean's eyes snapped open and he sat up straight before turning to Bobby. He was scared that now that Pepper had gone, Bobby was going to start yelling and threatening him once more. However Bobby's expression was very plain and he looked exhausted.

"Yeah, Bobby?"

"Just thought you might like a beer."

"Oh," Dean paused. "Ah, yeah thanks."

Bobby nodded and walked out to the kitchen.

"So, what happened at the RoadHouse?" Sam asked

Dean shrugged, "Pepper and I just talked and sorted things out."

"Did you tell Ellen what was going on?" Sam asked just has Bobby re-entered the room with four beers in his hand.

Bobby handed one beer to Dean and Sam and then handed one to John and kept one to himself. Dean took a long swig from his beer before he answered Sam's question.

"Yeah we told her and Jo. Pep, probably would have told Ash too but he was busy sleeping."

"How did they take it?" Bobby asked.

Bobby knew how important Pepper was to Ellen and he doubted that she would take this news any different than what he did.

"Well, Jo congratulated us and Ellen threatened to kill me if I did anything to hurt Pepper. I'm starting to think that no one trusts me when it comes to Pepper."

"You got her pregnant." Bobby reminded him. The anger from earlier on in the day creeping back into his voice. "I think we have a fare case to not trust you."

"Okay, okay I know but like I've said I didn't plan for Pepper to get pregnant. It just happened, and I am going to try to do the right thing." Dean replied as honest as he could.

Bobby seemed to accept this, but Dean guessed the older man was too tired to argue or discuss it anymore and he was grateful for that because he didn't have the strength either. They all sat back and finished their beers in silence.

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"I think we should all get some sleep." John suggested once he was sure everyone had finished their drinks.

"Yeah," Dean nodded and stood up. "I'm guessing we're all staying here tonight"

"Yes. We've got the spare bedroom again and dad's got the sofa." said Sam

"John, you know we're the spare blankets and pillows are right?" Bobby asked John

John nodded his head slightly. "Yeah, thanks Bobby."

With that Bobby headed straight upstairs. On his way past Pepper's bedroom he paused and looked inside. He needed to see that she was okay. She looked peaceful as she slept. It seemed like she was handling all of this very well but of course Bobby was unaware that Pepper had broken down in tears at the RoadHouse.

He sighed and closed her bedroom door. As he walked across the room to his own room, he silently swore that he would do the right thing by her from now on, even if that meant accepting Dean as a part of her life.

Sam and Dean are sitting on the two beds in the spare room. Sam started taking his shoes off as Dean stood up and opened the door slightly. Sam paused in confusion and watched as Dean peaked out of the room.

"Dean, what are you doing?"

"Checking to see if Bobby's gone to bed yet." Dean replied, with his head still out the door.

"Why?"

Dean turned back around and shut the door.

"So he doesn't catch me and kill me."

"Catch you doing what?"

"I'm going to go in and see Pep,"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Sam asked. He sat up a little straighter and frowned slightly. "If Bobby wakes up and catches you he might actually kill you."

"Well he hasn't killed me yet, and I doubt there’s anything else I could possibly do that is worse than getting Pepper pregnant."

"But you're still scared of Bobby?" Sam asked

Dean didn't answer as he opened the door and walked out. Sam shook his head then continued getting undressed.

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Dean slowly crept down the hallway to Pepper's room. He paused briefly by her bedroom door and waited to make sure that Bobby wasn't going to suddenly run out and punch him. Dean took in a deep breath and opened the bedroom door. As quietly as he could he walked into the dark bedroom and closed the door behind him before he made his way over to the bed.

Pepper remained sleeping on her side undisturbed by his presence and he was grateful for that because she had looked really tired and stressed before. Carefully and as quietly as he could, Dean bent down and unlaced his boots and pulled them off. He placed them to the side. He stood up and peeled off his shirt and dropped it to the floor. Next he unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans. He kicked his pants aside leaving only his boxers on and pulled back Pepper's blanket. He slid in behind her and wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her against him. With his other hand he brushed her hair off the back of her neck and gently nuzzled her skin with his nose.

Dean closed his eyes and sighed and gently kissed her skin. And as they both slept soundly, Dean's hand remained splayed against Pepper's soft stomach.

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Dean woke as he felt the bed shift. He opened his eyes and saw Pepper sliding away from him. Just before she was out of reach, he tugged her back against him.

"Morning." Dean mumbled "You okay?"

"I will be if you let go."

"Sorry."

Dean loosened his grip and Pepper carefully moved to the edge of the bed. She stretched her arms above her head. Dean sat up and watched her for a long moment.

"You okay?" he asked once again.

Pepper frowned as she tuned around. "Didn't you just ask me that?"

"Yes but you didn't really give me an answer."

Pepper sighed and then smiled slightly.

"I am fine, just not feeling quite right. I'll be alright in a bit."

"Anything I could do to help?"

"I think you've done enough. I'm going to have a shower. Try not to say anything to upset granddad before I get down stairs"

Dean grinned, "I'm not promising anything."

"That's all I ask." Pepper grinned back. She leaned over and kissed him briefly.

They pulled back and Pepper continued to get up. Dean leaned back down, not ready to get up yet and simply watched as Pepper headed to her bedroom door. He watched as she stopped just before opening the door.

"Dean, you haven’t changed your mind have you?"

"No," Dean replied.

"Good." Pepper sighed and walked out.

Dean lifted his arms above his head. He hoped Pepper would stop doubting him soon. He'd never known her to act this way before. Then again they'd never been in this situation before.

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By the time Dean finally got out of bed and headed downstairs, Bobby and John were already awake in and drinking coffee in the kitchen. Dean tried to act as calm and natural as he could when he sat down at the table and joined them. Bobby took a long sip from his mug and intently gazed at Dean which caused Dean to fidget in his seat.

"How's Pepper this morning?" Bobby asked

"I...ah, why would you think I'd know?" Dean asked nervously.

Bobby sighed, "I looked in on her this morning to make sure she was okay." he explained. "So I know that you were there."

Dean was shocked because Bobby hadn't punched him yet. He looked at John for some kind of help but John simply shook his head and drank his coffee. Dean turned back to Bobby and opened his mouth to give some sort of weak excuse but Bobby held a hand up and stopped him.

"Look, I might not like you being with Pepper but if this is what she wants then I can't really stop her." Bobby paused taking another sip of drink. "I don't want to see her upset anymore."

"Yeah. Neither do I" Dean agreed and nodded quickly.

"Having said that I'm still going to hurt you if you ever do anything to hurt her." Bobby warned

"Trust me I'm not going to do anything to hurt Pep." Dean replied. "For one thing I'd have you and Ellen on my back, and probably Pepper too. She can be mean when she's angry."

John smirked behind his coffee mug. He was probably the most glad that everything seemed to calm down since they had found out that Pepper was pregnant. He just wanted things to be similar to how they were in his dream. He wanted Dean to be happy and devoted to his baby girl and he wanted Pepper to be there with him because she completed the picture. Dean deserved to be happy and Pepper seemed like the perfect girl for him. She wasn't some ditzy blonde whom Dean would probably meet at some random bar, and she did get along with Sam which, in John's mind, was important. He couldn't think of how Dean and Pepper's relationship would be if Sam and Pepper didn't get along. Plus John couldn't wait for the baby to come. He was going to try and be a better grandfather than he was father. He could admit that he had made mistakes, big mistakes when he had raised Sam and Dean and he wasn't proud of that but he'd put everything in to being there for his grandchild.

Sam came into the kitchen looking rather groggily, almost like he wasn't fully awake yet. His hair was mused from sleep and he sat down heavily into a spare chair.

"Morning." He said and looked around the room. "Where’s Pepper?"

"Having a shower." said Dean.

"So, do we know what's happening yet?" Sam asked Dean. "With Pepper and the baby."

"Well I do but I'm gonna wait for Pepper before I tell you."

Sam nodded and gratefully took the coffee Bobby was offering him.

The four men remained silent after that. Each contemplating their own thoughts. It was going to be a long day.

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When Pepper finally came downstairs, looking a lot brighter than earlier, Dean and the others were sitting around the living room waiting for her. Dean and John sat on opposite sides of the sofa, Bobby was sitting down at the small table covered in books and Sam sat in a chair brought out from the kitchen. Dean and Sam were busy having a conversation when Dean noticed Pepper standing behind him. He turned around, threw an arm over the back of the sofa and smiled at her.

"Hey, feeling better?" He asked

"Much." She replied, with a smile.

Bobby looked up at her with a slight frown. "You're not feeling well?" he asked.

"I'm pregnant. It kinda comes with the territory." said Pepper. "I think now would be a good time to sit down and calmly talk. Don't you think?"

"Yes, Pepper." Bobby agreed not missing her emphasizing of the word 'calmly'.

Pepper walked around and sat down on the sofa beside Dean and leaned against the arm of the sofa slightly.

"Okay, um, so first of all you should all probably know that we're keeping this baby." said Pepper.

"Do you mean together?" Sam asked

"No, Sam, that's why she said 'I'm' instead of 'we're'" Dean snapped sarcastically. "Oh wait. She did say 'we're'"

Sam glared angrily at his brother. "What I mean is are you two a, um...couple now?”

"Yes." Pepper replied while Dean grinned.

"You're not going to get married are you?" Sam half asked half joked.

"God no." came Pepper's very quick reply.

Dean turned to look at her with a scowl on his face. "You were pretty quick to deny that one. What's wrong with getting married to me?" He demanded.

"Apart from the fact that you're not the marring type?" She asked. "And I'm not ready to get married. I don't even want to get married."

"You're not ready to get married but you're ready to have a baby?" asked Bobby.

"Well yeah, look I don't know what the big deal is. It's not like any one here really ever considered marriage as an option for Dean and I. We're not old fashion and there aren’t a lot of people who here were happy about this relationship in the first place."

"And by that you mean me." said Bobby.

"Sorry granddad but that's just how it seems to me." she replied. "I mean you haven’t exactly been jumping for joy over this-"

"-I'm not going to pretend that I'm 100 percent okay with this" said Bobby. "And there's a lot about this...relationship that I don't want to know about, but I do just want to see you happy. As long as you're both happy with this decision and you know exactly what you're getting into then I won’t do anything to cause problems."

"Thank you." Pepper smiled "So do you think you could also stop threatening Dean with bodily harm now, because it’s starting to make me uncomfortable."

Bobby chuckled, his face relaxing and he nodded. "Sure I guess I can try."

"Alright, so you're going to bring this baby up together." John confirmed and both Dean and Pepper nodded. "But have you thought about how you're going to do that? There’s a lot to think about."

"I know that Dad." said Dean. "Neither of us is going into this lightly. I'm still getting used to the idea of becoming a father, but at least we've got just under nine months to work it out."

Dean grinned while Pepper rolled her eyes.

"If you need a place to stay for a while." Bobby suggested.

"What?" Pepper asked frowning slightly.

Bobby shrugged before he continued. "This has always been your home, Pepper. Seems only right that you stay here with your baby. And let's face it; it's not as if anyone else here has a proper home to raise a baby."

"Ah, I do have an apartment remember." said Pepper.

"Which is across the country that you never use." Bobby stated. "I don't even know why you still have that place."

"I like having my own place. But thank you, granddad. That's really sweet and kind of a great idea."

Bobby smiled warmly at Pepper.

"Dean, I'd hate to bring this up but what about hunting?" Sam asked.

"What about it?" asked Dean.

"Are you still going to do it?"

"Oh." Dean frowned. "I never even thought about that." He turned to Pepper. "What d'you think?"

"I just figured you'd keep doing it." Pepper shrugged. "I know how important hunting is to you and with the demon that killed your mother still out there I know that hunting is something you need to do."

"So, you're okay if I go hunting but not okay if I want to marry you."

"You're not going to let that go are you?" Pepper sighed.

Dean shook his head. A smirk on his face. She'd just given him ammo for any future arguments they might have. He knew it and she knew it. He might actually be able to win one or two of their fights. Might.

Dean turned back to look at Sam. "There, ya go Sammy, we're still hunting. At least until we get Yellow eyes or until the baby is born, which hopefully will be long after Yellow eyes is dead."

"And after all that?" John couldn't help but ask.

John knew that it was going to be a hard thing for Dean or any of them to give up a life of hunting so easily. It had been a huge part of their lives for so long. However if Dean as a father in the real world was going to be anything like Dean as a father in John's dream, he knew that Dean would be able to adapt to a family life without hunting if that was what he was going to want.

"I don't know yet." Dean replied honestly. "For now we'll keep following leads and coming back here constantly to check in."

"Check in on whom? Granddad?" Pepper frowned, confused.

"Ah, no." Dean said slowly. "I'm not going to leave you alone for too long while you're pregnant."

"That's great but I'm not going to be here."

"Didn't you just tell Bobby before that you staying here with the baby was a good idea?" Dean asked, just as confused as Pepper had been.

"Exactly. With the baby, Dean, but that's months off. Why should I have to stay in the one place while you get to travel around?" Pepper demanded angrily.

"Because it's my job, Pepper." Dean stated with the same tone in his voice that Pepper had in hers.

"Hunting is not an actual job, Dean." replied Pepper. "I on the other hand have a real job that pays cash."

"I'm not going to let you travel around by yourself."

"You're not going to let me?" Pepper demanded as she folder her arms sharply over her chest. Glaring at Dean she added, "Baby or not Dean, you don't get to tell me what to do."

"Pepper, you're pregnant." said Bobby, trying to defuse the situation. "It's too dangerous for you to go out on your own especially when you know all the things that are really out there."

"That’s my point." said Dean

"Are you two saying that I can't take care of myself?" Pepper demanded. She continued before waiting for an answer. "Whatever, I don't care. I'm not going to give up a job that I'm great at. I love taking pictures so I'm going to keep doing it."

"You can't--" Dean began

Sam suddenly interrupted him. Sliding forward on his chair. "--Couldn't Pepper just come with us?" he asked

Dean and Pepper both paused and slowly turned towards Sam.

"What?" They asked in unison.

"I just thought that it'd be easier if we were all together." Sam explained with a slight shrug.

"You're suggesting that my pregnant granddaughter go with you on hunts?" Bobby asked

"No, well yes, but I didn't mean that she should come with us when we're actually hunting" Sam said quickly with a shake of his head. "Pepper could just stay at a motel while we deal with whatever it is that we're hunting at the time. Or we could go to which ever town she needs to be in."

"That's the best idea any of us will be able to come up with." said John. "It's the only compromise that'd suit everyone."

"That would be the safest option." Bobby agreed.

Dean thought for a moment before he turned to Pepper.

"What do you think, Pep?" He asked.

"Sure," Pepper smiled. "Why not."

"Great. Good plan Sammy." Dean said as he grinned. "But you'll have to leave your car here."

"You're just saying that because you don't like my car." Pepper protested, although her smile never left her face.

"Nah ha, I'm thinking about your safety." Dean replied. "It'd be so much easier to protect you if we're in the same car. Guess the bugs gotta stay."

Pepper let out a frustrated sigh. "For the last time, Dean. It's not a bug it’s a Beatle. You're supposed to be the car expert and yet you can't manage to get that simple fact right."

"Bug, Beatle...both tiny insects I wanna squish under my boot." said Dean.

Pepper lifted her arm and smacked his chest sharply.

"Fine. Um, granddad could I leave my car here with you?" Pepper asked. She ignored the expression the Dean was giving her.

"That'd be fine." Bobby told her.

"Okay so we're all good now?" Dean asked everyone. The previous smirk gone from his face as he turned the conversation back towards the seriousness of the issue. "We all get that this is happening and that there’s going to be a new baby?"

John, Bobby and Sam all nodded. In truth Dean had only asked that to be fair but in his mind the only one that it should matter too were him and Pepper, although he'd never say that to anyone.

John studied his son carefully. Dean was taking this a lot better than most people would. John needed to really know that this was what Dean wanted. He leaned over slightly towards his son.

"This is what you really want?" John asked

Dean looked puzzled for a moment, "yeah dad it is." He paused and smiled slightly.

"I've got some things I want you to take with you then." Said Bobby. "Extra protection and that."

"Yeah that's probably a good idea." agreed John.

Dean nodded. "Okay."

"I think it'd be a good idea if we're here a few weeks before the baby's due." Pepper said suddenly. "I don't want to risk giving birth on the side of a road somewhere."

"Yeah, no being here would be good." Dean agreed rather quickly. He did not want his kid being born at the side of a road. "The hospital's near by so here defiantly out ranks any road."

Pepper was smiling widely so she obviously agreed with Dean's thinking. After all she'd probably be a hell of a lot more comfortable in hospital anyway. Suddenly she leaned up and kissed Dean's cheek tenderly. His hand slowly made its way to her knee where it very subtly stayed. Bobby, John and Sam all tried to pretend that they hadn't seen the gesture. They were still a little uncomfortable about Dean and Pepper's relationship.

"Oh, hey." Pepper half yelled and pulled back. "Has Ash dropped my car around yet?"

"Not yet." Bobby replied.

Dean had told them earlier that Ash was going to visit. Pepper's face fell slightly and no one could tell whether it was because she wanted her car back or if she really hoped to see Ash. Bobby guessed that now everything was calm that Pepper probably wanted to share her news with more people.

"Maybe he forgot" Dean stated. He turned to Pepper and pouted. "Aw, how sad." He mocked

Pepper lifted her arm and smacked his chest once again. Bobby shook his head and stood up.

"Where are you going, Bobby?" asked Sam.

"To start getting all of my protection amulets together." The older man replied.

"I'll help." John decided and stood up as well.

"Me too." said Dean. "Otherwise I'm probably going to get hit again."

"Only if you say something stupid...so yeah you should probably go." said Pepper.

"Ha ha ha." Dean drawled sarcastically as he stood up.

John and Bobby tried to hide their amusement at this. After spending two weeks in the same house as Dean and Pepper they had never seen them act so... comfortable around each other. It was almost as if their guard was down. They didn't need to worry about hiding their relationship so they were acting more normal. They were acting just they way they had in John's dream. A nice playful banter which was quite funny but also reminded John of one of the reasons why he had involved Pepper in their lives to begin with. The main reason of course being the baby and in less than nine months he was going to get to hold his grandchild.

Bobby, Dean and John headed out of the room and towards the basement. Pepper stretched out on the sofa and moved a little closer to the middle. Sam got up from his chair, made is way over to the sofa and sat down beside Pepper. He watched as Pepper closed her eyes and sighed.

"You seem happy now."

She opened her eyes and smiled softly. "I am. It's nice to know that this isn't the huge drama that everyone was making out. Well it is kinda huge but at least now that we've all talked I don't feel like crying anymore."

"I'm sorry, Pepper." Sam tilted his head and looked down. "I never meant... It's just a lot to get used to, you know."

"I know. Sammy are you sure you don't mind me going with you?" Pepper asked seriously as she turned to face him, placing one leg onto the sofa.

"I wouldn't have made the suggestion if I didn't want you there." He replied.

"Yeah, and I'm only asking because, well you sometimes seem a little awkward when Dean and I are around and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

"I'm not that bad." He said rather shyly.

Pepper arched one eyebrow, "You got so awkward when I visited the two of you that you left the room for hours...." She paused as a thought occurred to her. "Ooooh, and then I got pregnant. So really, if you think about it this is partly your fault."

Sam was shocked. Not because he was scared that that was true because hey, he'd done the math and yeah it was true. No Sam was shocked because he didn't know what Pepper would do with that information. She could tell Bobby and while Bobby had promised not to hit Dean anymore, he had made no such promise towards Sam.

"You're not going to tell Bobby that are you?" Sam asked horrified.

Pepper laughed warmly. "I'm not going to tell Granddad. I don't need him getting angry over this again. But you're sure that this is what you want?"

"I am. It's not like I don't like you, Pepper." said Sam much more relaxed than a few seconds ago. "We get on and I can talk to you. I'll just have to get used to you and Dean now that you're officially a couple. Besides, Dean really wants this. We don't get a lot of normal in our lives so this is really different for us and he wants to give that a go. So do I."

Pepper frowned, "Getting a 19 year old pregnant is normal?" she asked confused.

"Compared to what we deal with nearly everyday, yeah."

Pepper laughed and relaxed even more.

"Thank you, Sammy." She said before leaning forward and kissing his cheek gently.

When she pulled back Sam smiled. He really did like Pepper. She was smart, fun, pretty and she listened to him. He hadn't been able to have a proper conversation with anyone but Dean in months and their topics on conversation where limited. At least with Pepper there he might be able to talk about more things that interested him. He'd really missed having a real friend.

"Hey, Pepper?"

"Mmm?"

"Out of all the women Dean could've knocked up, I'm glad it was you."

TBC

Next Chapter - Making New Enemies

Expecting 1/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:05:27 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Expecting
CHAPTER - Life Changing 1/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, John Winchester, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 4899
SUMMARY - Dean and Sam's lives have always been different and with Dean's pregnant girlfriend joining them life’s going to get a lot more interesting.
WARNINGS - AU story - Draft - all mistakes are mine
BETA - N/A
A/N - I have added in some of my favorite storylines from seasons 2 and 3, and added a twist to them. And I know that some of them are not in the same order as they are in the show but I am hoping that I've made it make sense in the order that I have it.
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

EXPECTING

CHAPTER ONE - COMING TO TERMS

Dean heard Sam shout but refused to open his eyes or loosen his hold on Pepper, but when he heard three sets of feet coming towards them he inwardly sighed. Well at least they managed to get some peace. He quickly glances out of his window to confirm that it was his father, Sam and Bobby coming towards them and not some old pervert. Inwardly sighing, he turned away from the window and looked down at Pepper. Gently nudging her until she opened up her eyes.

'I think they may have finally noticed that we've left the room." He told her, tilting his head to the window.

Pepper lifted her head and leaned over so that she could see past Dean. Her shoulders slumped as she sat up. If Dean could, he would start the Impala and drive away. He didn't think all this stress was good for her. He hadn't even had time to get used to the idea of her being pregnant and yet he didn't want her to be upset or stressed. Dean cleared his throat and wound his window down. There was a long stretch of silence where everyone was too scared to speak.

Finally Bobby looked at Pepper. A serious expression crossing his face. "I think we should talk." He suggested

"Are we all done with the yelling?" Dean asked, trying to keep his voice steady and calm.

Bobby turned and glared at Dean. He went to say something, most likely some more abuse towards Dean, when Pepper leaned forward.

"Okay," She said quickly. "But can we talk at home?" turning to Dean she asked, "You two don't need to stay here any longer do you?"

Dean shook his head.

John looked at Bobby. He could see that the other man wanted to protest the obvious invite for the Winchesters to follow them home but he kept his mouth shut. John, Bobby and Sam all stepped back while Dean opened the Impala door and got out. Pepper got out on the passenger side and stood waiting to see who would speak first.

Once again Bobby was the first to break the silence.

"I'll meet you back at the house." He told Pepper.

Bobby made his way over to his truck and got in without another word.

John sighed, "I guess I'll see you when you get to Bobby's"

"You're gonna stay?" Sam asked suddenly
John was surprised by this. He was sure that with something this important it would have been obvious that he was going to stick around and be apart of it.

"For this, yeah." said John

Sam nodded.

John followed the direction that Bobby had gone.

"So, ah, we better grab our stuff." said Sam

Dean nodded and turned to Pepper. "Do you want us to give you a ride?" he asked her

She shook her head slowly, "No. I drove my car here, so I should probably drive it back."

"Okay. Come on then, Sam."

Dean and Sam headed back into the room and quickly grabbed their things. Sam noticed how quite Dean was being. He wanted to ask him so many questions but he knew that Dean wouldn't answer them. At least not right now. By the time the finished it was starting to get dark. Pepper was waiting for them beside the Impala. Sam grabbed all their bags and placed them in the trunk while Dean walked Pepper to her car. Sam strained to hear what they were saying but they were being so quite that he could barely hear anything. He wondered what they could say to each other. What do you say to the woman whom you got pregnant?

By the time Dean came back to the Impala and Pepper was driving off, Sam was already sitting in the passenger seat waiting for Dean. Dean got into the car and started it up without even looking at his little brother. Sam watched his brother as they followed the bugs’ headlights.

"Dean?"

"Just..." He paused and sighed, "Just leave it."

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Dean pulled up outside Bobby's house, next to John's truck and Pepper's bug. Pepper was getting out of her car when they pulled up. Dean got out of the Impala pretty quickly and walked over to Pepper. Sam slowly followed him.

"Dad and Bobby inside?" Dean asked Pepper

"Looks like it." She replied "You ready to go in?"

"Guess I have to be don't I." Dean replied

Pepper nodded. The three of them made their way up the stairs to the front door. Everyone's emotions were still running extremely high and it was hard to guess how the next conversation was going to go. When they got to the living room, they saw John and Bobby standing on opposite ends of the room. Bobby still looked pissed. Sam tried to read his father's expression but found that he couldn't.

"So," said Pepper

"I'd really rather talk to you alone, Pepper." Bobby said tightly

"I know," she nodded. "But, maybe if they want to stay then..."

"We don't have too" said John. He could tell that Bobby was trying really hard to keep his emotions in check but having himself and his sons around was not making it easy. "We can go wait outside, right?"

"Ah," said Sam as he looked around the room at everyone. "Yeah we can."

"Good." said Bobby

John and Sam turned around and walked towards the door. It was Sam who first noticed that Dean was not following them. He turned around and stared at Dean.

"I'm staying" Dean said, knowing Sam's question before he asked it.

John looked closing at Dean for a few seconds before he nodded and walked out the door, Sam close behind him.

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Outside, Sam moved and sat down on the porch steps. John stayed standing, leaning against the wall. Neither of them could hear what was going on inside, which either meant that they weren’t saying anything or Bobby just hadn't started yelling yet. John closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

It was going to be a long night.

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"You wanted to talk, so, talk" said Pepper, as she prepared herself for what her Grandfather might say.

Pepper was standing in front of the sofa, with her arms folded over her stomach. Dean stood a few feet away from her. He watched her closely because he found that he couldn't look anywhere else. Bobby was standing at the opposite side of the room.

"Fine." said Bobby. "I just don't know how you two could be so stupid." He said angrily

"It's not like we planned for this to happen." said Pepper. She paused, her eyes closed briefly and she sighed. When she opened her eyes, she looked at Bobby. "Look, I know that we didn't make the best choice here. Okay."

Bobby quickly turned on Dean. "I knew I should have kept you away from her right from the start. You may be a good hunter boy, but you're still like every other man out there who just wants a quick--"

"--It's not like that." Pepper snapped. Interrupting Bobby. She waved her hands around slightly. "Besides, I knew Dean for years before you realized that we had met. Who's to say we would have met up anyway even if you hadn't let the Winchesters stay?"

"You're a smart girl, Pepper." Bobby said. "You should have known better."

"I know," Pepper agreed softly. She dropped her head and closed her eyes.

Dean frowned as he continued to look at her. He didn't like how she was looking. If it wasn't for Bobby standing before them, he would go over and comfort Pepper but he knew that he had to stay where he was. There was no need to make Bobby any angrier than he was at that very moment.

"God," Bobby sighed in frustration. "I'm just so disappointed. I promised your mother when she died that I would look after you, and I let... this happen'

Pepper's head shot up and she glared at Bobby.

"I can take care of myself!" She snapped

"Obviously you can't!" Bobby yelled.

"This isn’t as bad as you're making it out to be. Yes it's a difficult situation for everyone but it's not like it’s the end of the world." Pepper tried to reason. Her voice slightly calmer than a few moments ago. "I mean, mum was only a few years older than I am when she had me."

"Yes, but I didn't want you to ruin your life like that!'

Pepper's face immediately fell. Her mouth opened slightly and her eyes grew wide in shock. She blinked a few times but the tears weren't going away. Of all the things that Bobby, or anyone could have said to her at the moment this was the worst.

Dean stares at her for a few seconds. Shocked and uneasy at the look in her eyes. He'd never liked seeing women cry and he really didn't like seeing Pepper crying, especially if it meant she was hurt and by the look in her eyes she was really hurt. He snapped his head around to face Bobby and glared furiously at him, no longer caring what the older hunter said or did to him any more.

Bobby was shaking his head in disappointment. He had not yet realized the impact of what he had just said. Turning around to look back at Pepper, he finally saw the tears in her eyes. The impact of what he had just said came to him like a slap in the face.

"Are... are you saying that I ruined my mother's life by being born?" Pepper asked, her voice strained with emotion.

Bobby was speechless for a long moment.

"Pepper, I..." He began. "I didn't mean that. I'm sorry."

"Then why say it?" Pepper asked.

She shook her head as a tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. With one more glance at Bobby, she turned around and headed for the door.

"Pepper?" Dean asked, as he stepped towards her.

She turned around and Dean could see that she was struggling to not to cry.

"I just, have to... go." she replied before walking out the door.

Dean stood silently staring after her before he remembered that Bobby was still in the room. Forgetting that Bobby had every right to still be angry with him, and that he could probably beat the crap out of him if the two of them got into a fight, Dean turned around and shot a dangerous glare towards the older hunter.

"I didn't mean that." Bobby said quickly. He didn't care if Dean believed him or not but he needed Pepper to know that he didn't really think like that.

"Pepper was right, you shouldn't have said it if you didn't mean it." Dean snapped. He walked back towards Bobby until he was standing right in front of him.

"Don't you use that tone with me." Bobby said, his anger once more taking over. "You're still the one who knocked her up. She wouldn't be in this mess if you hadn't hurt her."

"My god, Bobby. You are such a hypocrite." Dean yelled. "You keep going on about how I've hurt Pepper, but in all the years that I've known her I've never made her cry."

With that, Dean turned around and started for the door. Bobby stared after him, too shocked to say or do anything else.

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As Dean steps outside into the dark night, the first thing he notices is that Pepper's car is no longer there. Then he see's his father and brother staring at him. Sam is standing by the door while John is at the bottom of the steps.

"Dean, is everything okay?" Sam asked "Pepper seemed pretty upset."

"Of course she's upset!" Dean snapped. "Sorry Sam" he sighed. "Where’s Pepper?"

"We don't know. She just drove off." Sam replied

"And you let her?" Dean asked "If she was obviously upset than why did you let her drive off" He demanded

"We did try to stop her Dean." said John. "But there was nothing we could have done, or would you have preferred it if we tackled her to the ground and forced her to stay."

"No, sir." Dean replied. He paused before asking, "Well did she at least say where she was going?"

Sam shook his head in reply.

Dean sighed once more.

"Son, why don't you go look for her?" John suggested. "We'll stay here encase she comes back and I think someone should stay and talk with Bobby."

"Yeah, okay." Dean nodded in agreement. "Thanks dad."

"We'll talk about all of this later." said John.

John walked up the steps and placed a hand on Dean's shoulder before he opened up the front door and disappeared into the house. Dean shook his head and quickly walked down the stairs before making his way to the Impala. He ignored Sam, who was following him to the car.

"Dean, maybe you should just give her some time alone." said Sam. "You know, give yourself sometime to think as well."

"I can't right now."

Dean grabbed the door handle and pulled the drivers side door open. Sam's hand shot out and grabbed the door, stopping Dean from opening it all the way. Dean glared at him.

"Come on, Sam. Let go."

"Dean, you just found out that you're gonna be a father. Do you have any idea what you're going to do? Don't you think you should take some time to think about this? I mean what about the Demon? This thing changes everything--"

Dean suddenly slammed the door and stepped up closer to Sam, giving him a very dirty look.

"It is not a thing, Sammy." Dean hissed angrily. "It's a baby."

Sam stepped back and gawked at his brother. Dean ignored him once again in favor of getting into the Impala and driving off, leaving Sam staring after him with a bewildered look on his face.

Dean quickly glances at the side view mirror and sees Sam. He couldn't think about his brother right now and whether or not he was actually right. He looked back at the road and focused on finding Pepper. He tried to call her but his cell still had a low battery. It wasn't even worth turning it on but maybe there'd still be enough power left on it encase she rang him.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When John entered the house, he found Bobby sitting on the sofa with his head in his hands. He didn't even flinch when he heard the front door open. John walked carefully over to the sofa and stopped just in front of Bobby.

"Just thought you should know, Pepper's gone somewhere and Dean's gone after her."

Bobby grunted in response. He was still angry at John and well all the Winchesters but he was even more angry at himself for what he had said to Pepper. Dean had been right. He was being a hypocrite, and poor Pepper was taking the full hit of everything.

John sighed and looked around. He had no clue what he should say in this situation.

"I think we could both do with a beer." John said after a long pause.

He turned and walked into the kitchen. Coming back with two bottles of beer. He sat down on the opposite side of the sofa to Bobby and handed him a beer. Bobby took it but still refused to talk and just stared in the distance. John waited until they had both had a few mouthfuls of alcohol before he tried to start another conversation.

"I do understand how you feel, you know." He said

"I doubt that." Bobby scoffed

"Well, no I guess I can't understand you're relationship with your granddaughter, but I did just find out that I'm going to be a grandfather." John paused and smiled slightly "I never thought I'd live to see the day where I'd become a grandfather. It's still a shock though."

"You got that right."

"Look, Bobby I really don't think that Dean will do anything to hurt Pepper. And I'm sure they'll make the right decision."

'At least I hope they will' John thought to himself.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam was pacing along the front yard of Bobby's house, contemplating on whether or not he should go inside. It was probably better if he didn't. He still needed time to himself to just think things through.

Of all the things that Dean has been responsible for during their lives this was defiantly the biggest. Sam trusted his brother though and knew that he would make the right choice. Neither Dean nor Pepper seemed like they would be the type of people to agree to give up their baby and Dean certainly wasn't going to abandon Pepper. Hell, he had always been protective of her and Sam knew that he'd be worse now that Pepper was carrying his child.

Of course they still had to deal with the Demon and this was only going to make it harder on everyone.

Suddenly Sam's cell phone rings, startling him. He takes it out of his back pocket, checking the caller ID before answering. He had half hoped that it was going to be Dean.

"Hey, Ellen what's up?" He asked, trying to sound calm.

"Sam, is everything alright up there?" Ellen asked. Concern in her voice.

"Um yeah...why?"

"I've just been talking to Pepper," Ellen explained "She's upset about something."

"How do you know that has anything to do with us?" he asked nervously. "As she said anything."

"Not really, but she did get very quite when yours and Dean's names were mentioned. Now are you sure something hasn't happened between Bobby and your father? They haven’t been taking shots at each other again?"

Sam sighed. At least she didn't think he or Dean had anything to do with why Pepper was upset.

"No, no everything’s okay with them. It's just...Um, is Pepper there, at the RoadHouse?"

"Yes she's still here." Ellen paused, "What's going on Sam?" she asked firmly.

"Nothing, it's just that ah, Dean and Pepper need to talk."

"About what?" Ellen demanded

"Sorry, Ellen that's between them." He replied "Dean will be on his way okay."

And with that he hung up to avoid anymore of Ellen's questions. It wasn't that he didn't trust her but it was up to him to tell her about Pepper being pregnant. He tried calling Dean but didn't get an answer. He could have just left it at that but he knew Dean needed to find Pepper as soon as he could, so he sent a quick text instead.

'Pepper at RoadHouse'

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Dean was parked by the side of the road. He had been driving for over an hour and he had no idea if he was even close to finding Pepper. He was trying to stay calm but it was very difficult when he was worried. It wasn't just that she was off by herself and that she was upset but being a hunter he knew what scary things were out there and that made him worry even more. He sat and tried to think about where he should go next.

His cell phone beeped to announce he had received a message. He picked it up and smiled when he read it.

"Thank you Sam." He said.

Dean started up the car and quickly did a u-turn. Then he head towards the RoadHouse.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The RoadHouse was quite by the time Dean arrived, which was unusual at this time of night. Dean walked in and his eyes immediately searched for Pepper. He found her standing by the pool table with a cue in her hand as Jo took a shot. Ash was curled on a table beside the jukebox, snoring lightly. Normally Dean would probably find that amusing but right now all he could think about was Pepper. As he walked over to her, he caught Ellen's eye and gave her a quick nod.

"Hey," he said as he stepped beside Pepper

She turned to him, startled at his presents at first but only for a moment, then she sighed. She'd been crying. That was obvious as tear stain tracks covered her cheeks. Dean wondered if she had told Ellen and the others why she was so upset. Then again she probably hadn't because no one was yelling at him yet.

"Hi." Pepper greeted him sadly. "Sorry I just took off like that."

"It's okay." He placed a hand gently on the small of her back. "Think we could talk?" he asked

Pepper slowly nodded and looked around. She didn't want to have this conversation in front of anyone else and Jo and Ellen were still standing close by.

Ellen must have noticed this because she called Jo over to her. "Jo, come here!"

Jo went to protest. She wanted to finish the game but Ellen shot her a warning look, so Jo placed her pool cue back and headed to the bar.

"We'll be down in the basement doing stock take if you need us." said Ellen, before ushering Jo towards the basement.

Dean's lips curved up slightly as he watched Ellen and Jo leave. He appreciated Ellen for leaving although she probably wouldn't be very happy with him once she knew what was going on. Dean turned back around and took a moment to look at Pepper. She looked deflated as she stared down at the top of her pool cue.

"Sorry," Dean apologized barely above a whisper.

Pepper looked up at him confused. "For what?"

"For how everything went down tonight. I'm sure that's probably not how you wanted to tell me."

"No I think we could have done without all that yelling." She joked but it sounded forced. "But that wasn't your fault. That's just how Granddad..."

Dean rubbed her back slowly. "Look, Bobby didn't mean it. And I think he feels really bad about it."

"Yeah, he probably does but...it still hurt."

Pepper bit her bottom lip as more tears fell onto her cheeks. Dean pulled her towards him and she fell willingly into his arms. Their foreheads rested together. Dean moved a hand up and stoked her cheek, removing her tears with his thumb. He had never seen Pepper cry this much before. She'd never been one of those women who cried over every single thing that upset them. Dean didn't know if her cry was due to what Bobby had said or if it was just the hormones from the pregnancy, or both. But whatever the reason he didn't like seeing her like this.

"God, Dean." Pepper closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "This is doing my head in."

She pulled back and stepped away. Dean stayed still, as Pepper leaned her back against the pool table and slid down it until she was sitting on the floor, bringing her knees up and resting her arms over them.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do." She admitted. "I don't even know what I want to do."

"It'll be alright." Dean tried to assure her. He sat down beside her and ran a hand over one of her arms. "We'll figure it out."

"How?" She asked, turning to look at him. "I've never seen granddad so angry before. At least not at me."

"You know it's not really any of Bobby's business. He's not the one who's going to become a parent."

Pepper sighed and leaned into Dean's touch.

"You're right this is just all about me and...Oh." Pulling back suddenly. "Dean, I'm sorry. I haven’t even thought about what you're thinking right now. This is probably the last thing you wanted to happen in your life."

"Not exactly, but, it's not the end of the world." Dean replied calmly.

"But this changes everything, and you're being eerily calm about all of this."

"Would you rather I started yelling and verbally abusing you?" he asked confused.

"Yes, no. I just can't tell what you're thinking and that scares me. If you were angry then at least I could deal with that."

"You wanna know what I'm feeling?"

"Yes."

"Okay," Dean sighed. "I'm...terrified. It'd be good to have a family really, but realistically I'd know that I'd suck at it. I can deal with vampires and demons with no problem but a baby..."

"Dean, if you're really that scared than please act like it."

"I would except I don't want to stress you out anymore than you already are. Plus I'm still waiting for this whole thing to sink in. Maybe once it does I'll freak out a bit."

"But what do you want?" Pepper asked desperately and on the verge of crying once more.

"I don't want you to cry anymore," he half joke but it was lacking humor as he really couldn't deal with her crying. It wasn't that it made him uncomfortable but that he wouldn't know how to comfort her. He'd never really been good at that.

"Dean,"

"Like I said, Pepper, I won’t be any good with a baby." He sighed and shook his head. "Lord knows my life is way too complicated for a baby. We can't even have proper relationships because we're always on the road. How do we work a child into that?"

Pepper shook her head. "I don't know."

"But, there’s not much we can do now to change it, and if you want this baby then I'll be here for you."

"Don't just say that because you think that’s what I want to hear."

"I'm not." Dean replied. His voice as serious as he could make it. "I'm prepared to give this a go. I can't promise that I'll always do the right thing or that I'll always make the right decisions but, you've always meant a lot...to me and I want to try and make this work."

"Are you sure? You said yourself that it hasn't really set in in. Shouldn't you wait before making this decision?"

"Doesn't matter how long I have to think about it, my answers always going to be the same. This is something that I want to do."

Pepper couldn't help but smile, ever so slightly. "You know once we commit to this neither of us can change our minds."

"I know. I'm not planning to change my mind." Dean smiled back before leaning forward to kiss her briefly.

His hands moved to cup her face, brining her closer to him while still kissing her gently, almost timidly. Pepper relaxed and wrapped her arms around his neck. They continued kissing and Dean pulled her even closer against him. While he was still coming to terms with his choice at least he knew for certain that he had Pepper and they'd be able to work things out together. Getting Bobby, Sam and John to go along with their decision was going to be a lot harder. Dean's thoughts were interrupted when Pepper suddenly pulled back and placed her hands on his chest. Dean looked up with a frown.

"What is it?" he asked, bringing one hand up to place a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I just, um, I want to make sure we're on the same page here." She explained. "You'd be giving up a lot. I need to make sure that we're gonna do this together."

"Ah yeah." Dean nodded slowly. Hadn't he just said that?

"No, I mean...exclusively together." Pepper clarified slowly making sure he was following her. "No more seeing other people when we're apart. I know we had this deal where we could both be with and do whatever we wanted with other people as long as we didn't tell each other about it, but I don't think I can do that anymore. Not if we're gonna have a baby."

"Do you really think that I would pick up some other chick when you're the one carrying my child?" Dean asked slightly shocked.

Pepper thought for a brief moment and then shook her head. "No, no I don't think that. I just needed to be sure. I needed to know that you're sure."

"I am. Very sure." Dean replied shortly but firmly.

"But like I said, you'd be giving up a lot."

"But I'd be gaining so much more."

And with that, Dean grinned and pulled Pepper back into another kiss. He did like this new deal. He'd never really been happy with the thought of Pepper seeing other men and he knew he was being a hypocrite because he was constantly picking up random girls and sleeping with them. Hell, he even had a long term relationship with Cassie and fell for her. But in his mind Pepper should only be with him. He'd never tell her this though. At last he was going to get Pepper all to himself.

Dean knew that raising a baby was going too hard, especially with the life style he led and with the Yellow Eyed Demon still out there. He promised himself then and there that he was going to do everything he could to make sure his baby came into the world safe and loved. For that to work they'd need to make sure that Bobby no longer wanted to kill him of course.

The next few months were going to be very interesting.

TBC

Next Chapter - First Congratulations

Connection 10/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:24:18 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Connection
CHAPTER - Life Changing 10/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 2130
SUMMARY - While dealing with the aftermath of the fight with the YED, John can’t help but remember his odd dream, and how he could help his son.
WARNINGS - AU story - Draft - all mistakes are mine
BETA - N/A
A/N - See chapter one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER TEN - LIFE CHANGING

Sam stared at the television in small motel room. He had arrived back half an hour after walking out. Thankfully, his dad was no longer there. His truck was still outside so he hadn't gone far. Sam was still angry at his father and was staying awake (even though he was dead tired) encase John came back so that he could confront him. Sam turned his head slightly and looked down at his brother. Dean obviously had other ideas because he was fast asleep on his bed. Sam sighed and looked back at the TV.

Suddenly a loud urgent knocking sound comes from the door. Sam is startled and quickly turns the TV off as the knocking continues. The sound wakes Dean up, who frowns and sits up groggily.

"S'that Dad?" Dean asked as he rubbed his eyes with his knuckles.

"I...don't think so..." Sam began and walked towards the door.

He opened it carefully and was a little surprised to see Bobby standing before him. What was even more surprising and a little unsettling was the look in Bobby's eyes.

"Ah, hi, Bobby" Sam said carefully.

Bobby quickly looked at Sam and then his eyes darted behind him and fixed on Dean.

"You!" Bobby said loudly. He stormed past Sam and made his way towards Dean.

Dean scrambled off the bed with a confused look across his face. He quickly glanced at Sam and could tell that they were both thinking the same thing. That Bobby may in fact be possessed.

"Bobby, what’s wrong?" Dean asked

Bobby doesn't reply, instead he walks over and suddenly without warning he punches Dean right in the nose. The force of the hit causes Dean to fall back down onto the bed.

"Ah, what the hell, Bobby?" Dean asked. His eyes shut tight against the sudden pain.

"What did I tell you boy?" Bobby said angrily
Sam suddenly realized that just standing their staring wasn't the best thing to do. He moved quickly and grabbed onto Bobby's arm, trying to pull him away from Dean. Sam feared that Bobby would hit Dean again if he didn't force him away.

"I told you not to hurt her, didn't I" said Bobby as he tried to fight Sam off him.

Dean blinked rapidly and looked up at Bobby. "Bobby, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb with me." Bobby hissed. "I know that it's you."

"Wait, Bobby." Sam said, finally managing to pull Bobby a few steps back. "Let's calm down."

Dean scrambles off of the bed and stands on the opposite side, putting a good distance between himself and Bobby. He had never seen Bobby act so angry before, not even when he was firing shots at his dad. Something obviously happened; he just didn't know what that was. He carefully checked his nose to see if he was bleeding. He wasn't but it still hurt like hell.

Dean put his hands up, "what is it that you think I've done?" he asked

"Pepper."

Dean's eyes grew wide in surprise. "What about her? Is she okay?" he asked concerned

"She would be if you had kept your hands to yourself." snapped Bobby

"What do you mean?" Sam asked

Bobby turned and glared at Sam before he turned back around to Dean.

"He," Bobby hissed, pointing angrily at Dean. "Got my granddaughter pregnant."

"I...w-what?" Dean stuttered.

Dean stared wide eyed at Bobby, as he felt blood fill up in his ears. The shock over took him for just the briefest second and his vision blurred before he was able to re-focus on Bobby. There was just no way that Pepper was pregnant. They were always careful and used protection.... Except the last time. Shit!

Sam was staring at Bobby and then he looked at his brother.

Bobby looked at Dean carefully before asking, "You didn't know?"

"No." Dean replied and shook his head slowly, looking half dazed. "Is...Is, Pepper alright?"

"You wanna know if she's alright? Well maybe she would be if she'd stayed away from you." Bobby nearly yelled. His anger returning. "I asked you. Flat out if I needed to be worried about her being around you and you told me no. You lied, you-"

"Bobby," Sam called out suddenly. He waited until Bobby turned to look at him before he continued. "You can't be sure that Dean was the one who got Pepper pregnant."

"She's not a whore, Sam!" Dean snapped angrily.

Sam looked stunned. He's never heard that tone come from his brother before. Well he has, it's just never been directed at him.

"Bobby..." Dean sighed. "I didn't know. If I had I would've...I don't know. But I didn't mean for this to happen. I swear."

"No of course not." Bobby said sarcastically "How could you? All you were after was a quick bang-"

"-It wasn't like that!" Dean yelled defensively.

"It sounds like it." Bobby said. He moved away from Sam and walked around the bed towards Dean. "How many women have you slept with in the past few years? Huh, Dean. Don't tell me that she was different." he stopped right in front of Dean.

"She was. She is." Dean said quickly. "Please Bobby. Man, you have to believe me. Okay I didn't use her and I wouldn't ever hurt her."

"Well you did." said Bobby "And if you ever come near her again-"

"-You can't stop me from seeing her. I think I deserve to know how she's doing."

"Do you really want to talk about what you deserve, boy?" Bobby spat.

The door to the motel suddenly swung opened and Pepper came running into the room. She looked distressed. All three men turned to look at her.

"Pep," Dean sighed. Unsure of what to say to her.

Pepper's eyes quickly scanned everyone in the room. She took in Bobby's angry look, Dean's shock and...There was something else, almost like he was apologizing. And Sam seemed shocked as well. She looked back at Bobby.

"Granddad, what are you doing here?" She asked

"I'm trying to protect you." Bobby replied

"How?" Pepper demanded, walking forward until she was standing in front of Bobby, and next to Sam. "By beating the shit out of Dean? How is that protecting me?"

"Pepper, you're pregnant."

"I know." Pepper cried out "But what gives you the right to come here and tell Dean before I do?" She demanded. "You couldn't even come and talk to me could you? No, you had rage your way here to find Dean."

"Would you have told me?"

"I...maybe. Eventually." Pepper paused and took a deep breath before adding. "But not if you were going to act like this."

"How do you want me to act, then?" Bobby asked

"Not like this." Pepper replied.

No one noticed the door opening for a second time as John walked into the room. He had been on his way back when he noticed Bobby and Pepper's cars parked out the front of the boys’ room. That seemed odd to him and as he entered the room he could immediately see that something was wrong.

"What's going on?" John asked

"Um," said Sam. He paused and looked at Dean, Bobby and Pepper. When none of them made a move to speak he turned to John and continued. "Pepper's pregnant."

"What?"

"Yeah, and guess who got her pregnant?" Bobby asked angrily.

"Dean?" John asked. He turned to look at his son, who looked utterly shocked. John turned back and looked at Bobby. "Obviously this wasn't planned, Bobby. But I'm sure we can talk this out."

Bobby turned and marched towards John. "I've never had a huge problem with you or your boys before, John." He began "But don't think that I'm going to just stand here and listen to you lot try to tell me that Dean deserves my forgiveness."

"I'm not trying to tell you that." said John "And you can't tell me that you really believe that this is all Dean's fault!"

"Are you saying that Pepper encouraged this to happen?" Bobby demanded. "One more word about my granddaughter like that and I'll put a bullet in your other god damn leg!"

"Oh, but I have to listen to you spurt on about how my son is nothing but a worthless piece of shit!" John yelled angrily

"Hey, why don't we all sit for a bit and-" Sam began

"-Shut up, Sam." Bobby snapped at the youngest Winchester "This has nothing to do with you!"

Bobby and John continued to yell abuse at each other while Sam tried with no success to calm both men down. Pepper looked on hopelessly. Tears filled up in her eyes and every time she opened her mouth to say something, she was interrupted by either John or Bobby. Suddenly, she gasped as she felt something grab hold of her left hand. She looked down and saw another hand holding onto her own and when she looked up she was met with the sight of Dean. He looked down at her and leaned in so that his lips were close to her ear.

"You know," he whispered "I don't think anyone’s going to notice if we're not here."

He pulled back and offered her a small smile as he tilted his head slightly towards the door. Pepper turned and looked at the door. She looked back at Dean and opened her mouth to say something but quickly closed it and settled for nodding her head instead. Dean's grip on her hand tightened as he walked towards the door and pulled her behind him. They made their way past John and Bobby but both of men were too engrossed in their argument to even notice that the two people they were arguing about were leaving the room. Dean carefully opened the door and guided Pepper through it. He followed her and closed the door behind them. Bobby and John continued their fight for another 10 minutes.

"-If you or your sons ever come near her again-" Bobby began to shout.

"-You'll what?" John demanded, interrupting him. "You can threaten us all you want, but what’s done is done."

Sam went to say something but frowned and closed his mouth. He glanced around the room and noticed that Dean and Pepper had vanished. He turned around to check to see if they had moved behind him but they hadn't. They were no where to be seen.

"Ah, hey guys!" Sam shouted, getting his father's and Bobby's attention. When they both turned to look at him he gestured around the room and said, "Dean and Pepper are gone."

"What? Where did they go?" John asked

Sam shrugged, "I don't know. I, ah didn't even notice that they'd left."

"Right." said John. "Well, let’s go find them. They can't have gone far."

Bobby nodded. "Dean better be keeping his hands to himself." He warned.

Bobby stormed past John and Sam and made his way out of the motel room. Sam looked at John before they both followed Bobby.

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Once outside, John, Bobby and Sam started looking around for any signs of either Dean or Pepper.

The sun was low on the horizon and the sky glowered a bright orange color. Bobby's displeasure over the entire situation was behind obvious. He kept glaring at both John and Sam, as if they were somehow to blame because they were related to Dean.

Sam was, for a better term still shocked to find out that his brother had gotten Pepper pregnant. He should be worried about the Demon and what his plans are for him, but this was even bigger and it affected all of them. He had no idea how Dean would cope with being a dad and having a baby. He noticed that both Pepper's car and the Impala were still parked out the front of the room. He sighed before realizes that someone was actually in the Impala. He moved closer and stopped suddenly at what he saw. Dean and Pepper were sitting in the front seat of the Impala. Dean's arms were around Pepper's waist and she was resting her head against his shoulder. They both had their eyes close but Sam doubted that they were sleeping.

"Over here" Sam called out.

John and Bobby, who were looking in opposite directions walked over to Sam.

"Found them." said Sam as he pointed to the Impala.

Both John and Bobby paused. Dean and Pepper looked peaceful as they sat in the car. Maybe they would be able to figure something out together and work this out. As John watched them he couldn't help but smile because he knew that things would work out for the better.

Looks like he'd be getting his grandchild after all.

THE END

Authors Notes - Stay tuned for the 3rd part in the 'Colored Lights' series titled 'Expecting'

Connection 9/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:01:38 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Connection
CHAPTER - Sam's Destiny Revealed 9/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 5222
SUMMARY - While dealing with the aftermath of the fight with the YED, John can’t help but remember his odd dream, and how he could help his son.
WARNINGS - AU story - Draft - all mistakes are mine
BETA - N/A
A/N - See chapter one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER NINE - SAM'S DESTINY REVEALED

Dean and Sam were sitting in the Impala, driving down a deserted highway. Dean's window was down letting the air in while he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel to one of his tapes of Metallica, against Sam's protests.

"How come we never listen to what I want?" Sam yelled over the load music

"When you drive we'll listen to your music."

"You never let me drive."

Dean smirked and turned the music up even loader.

They were driving to the RoadHouse, to see if Ash had any more information on the Demon for them.

Sam rolled his eyes and turned to look out the window. At least they were almost there so he wouldn't have to put up with Dean and his singing for much longer.

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The RoadHouse was almost deserted when they arrived with only them, 3 old men who by the looks of them were already drunk even though it was the middle of the day, and Ellen and Jo who were both behind the bar. Jo noticed them first, and smiled as they walked towards the bar. She took an extra moment looking at Dean. Dean didn't notice as he sat down on one of the bar stools but Sam did. It was obvious to Sam that Jo liked his brother. He thought that maybe having Pepper around so frequently made it hard for Dean to notice any other women, even though Sam would never bring it up.

Ellen was wiping down a glass when she looked up and greeted them with a smile.

"Hey, what are you boys doing here?" She asked

"Thought we'd stop by," replied Dean. "See if Ash's got anything new for us."

Ellen nodded, "I think he's sleeping at the moment. You could try him later."

"Should we try waking him up now?" Sam asked

"I wouldn't." said Jo, with a slight shake of her head. "Ash tends to sleep in very little."

"Very little being?" Dean asked. Jo simply looked at him. "Ah," he nodded.

"You boys want a beer?" Ellen asked.

"Yes thanks, Ellen." said Sam as he smile gratefully.

Ellen nodded before pouring to beers for them. She slid them across the bar to them just as Sam was getting his wallet out.

"Don't worry about it. It's on the house." she assured him.

"Ah, thanks."

Sam placed his wallet back into his pocket and drank his beer.

They stayed there for half an hour talking to Jo and Ellen about different things. About the boys recent hunt, and about Jo's recent activities and their next hunts. Ellen also asked them how Bobby and Pepper were doing. By 4.45pm the bar had emptied, apparently the other hunters had something better to do than to stick around, which left Ellen, Jo and Dean and Sam.

Dean had moved from the bar to one of the small tables where he and Jo were talking and drinking another round of beer. Sam stayed at the bar and had his laptop out. Ellen was busy moving stock. A loud noise from the back caused Ellen to stop what she was doing and look behind her.

"I think Ash is up." She announced.

Sam and Dean both looked up and waited two minutes until Ash stumbled out from the back. He was wearing jeans and a shirt. Dean sighed in relief, grateful that he was wearing clothes at all. Though he doubted Ellen would allow Ash to parade around naked in front of Jo anyway.

"Dean. Sam." Ash nodded as he noticed the two Winchesters. "'Sup?"

"Ah, not much." Sam replied slowly.

Ash made his way over to the bar and sat down beside Sam.

"We were hoping you could tell us." said Dean as he got up and moved around to stand beside Ash's other side, so that he faced Sam. "You have anything knew for us? About the demon?" He added the last part quickly clarifying exactly what he wanted.

"Nothin' you don't already know." Ash replied. "Bastard still hasn't appeared anywhere."

"Right," Dean sighed in frustration. "Well that doesn't help." He turned to look at Sam. "So all we do know is that you and other physic children are supposed to...what exactly?"

Sam shook his head, "I don't know."

"I thought you did?" said Ash. He looked between the two brothers.

"Why would you think that?" Jo asked, coming up to stand in front of the three behind the bar.

"Aaah, no reason."

"Ash." said Ellen, shooting him a strong look.

"Jus' that I heard your Dad knew some stuff." Ash replied.

"Dad?" Sam asked, sitting up straighter. "He knows something? What? And how do you know that he knows something?"

Ash shrugged, "Heard it around while I was searchin' for stuff."

"Do you know what he knows?" Dean asked

Ash turned to look at Dean. "You'd have to ask him. I just know that he's been looking for information and that he knows something."

Dean nodded. He was annoyed but he was doing his best to hide it. Not like Sam who looked like he could punch someone. Sam stood up suddenly and closed his laptop.

"Thanks for the drinks, Ellen." he said as he stuffed his laptop back into his bag before swinging it over his shoulder.

He nodded his thanks towards Ash and Jo and then headed for the door. Dean said a quick thanks and goodbye as he realized that Sam wasn't going to wait for him. Ellen, Ash and Jo shared a look as they watched the Winchester boys leave the saloon.

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By the time Dean caught up with Sam, he was already sitting in the Impala, looking extremely pissed. Dean sighed and climbed into the drivers’ seat. He didn't want to hear Sam angrily accuse their father of something but he knew he didn't have a choice.

"You know, we could have stayed." Dean said, looking briefly at his little brother before he started the car. "Had another drink. Played a game of pool."

"Aren’t you the least bit angry, Dean?" Sam snapped. "Dad knows something and he's been keeping us in the dark for months. We all decided after Meg that we were going to go after this thing together."

"I know." Dean agreed. He drove the Impala along the road.

They had planned to go check out a haunted town after they stopped by the RoadHouse so he stared heading in that direction.

"Maybe Ash got the wrong information." Dean began calmly. "Maybe Dad doesn't actually know anything."

"Or maybe Dad's just been lying to us."

Dean bit back his reply knowing that anything he could say would only get Sam even angrier than he already was.

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2 hours later they walked into a small two bedroom motel room. Dean dumped their bags onto the floor beside the first bed and watched as Sam tried to call their father once again. So far he had already tried twice while they were in the car.

"He could be on a hunt" Dean tried to reason with his brother once again.

"Yeah," Sam scoffed.

He held his cell up to his ear and called John once again. When the voice mail kicked in, Sam groaned angrily. He threw the cell down onto the bed and started pacing the length of the small room. Dean watched him, moving his head along with Sam's strides.

"Look, calm down, watch some TV or something." Dean said, shaking his head. "I'm gonna go find something to eat."

He gave Sam one last look before he headed out the door.

Sam muttered something under his breath. He really hated this. How dare his father keep them, HIM, in the dark especially about this. The demon had already killed their mother and Jessica. A normal father would have told his sons everything, well, this is what Sam thought.

Rubbing a hand roughly over his face he suddenly stopped pacing and looked down at his phone. He chewed on his lip and weighed up his options. He could do as Dean suggested and let it go or he could force answers from his father. Not being able to let this go he opted for the latter and picked up his cell. This time when John's voice mail started he didn't hang up and started talking after the beep...

"Dad, it's me." He said, trying to sound urgent. "Look, I don't know if you're going to get this message or not but we've found something. Something important about the demon." He quickly sighed. "I don't think I can say over the phone. We need to see you."

Sam knew he was lying but at this point he didn't care. He gave his father their current address and then hung up. He placed his cell gently back onto the bed. Now he just had to wait and he was sure after a message like that, his father would come as soon as possible. He had to stay at the motel for at least three days if he didn't show.

Dean came back into the room with his arms full of chips, M&M’s packets, soda and peanuts.

"Found a vending machine." Dean said, throwing a can of soda and a packet of chips at Sam. He plopped down onto the other bed and opened up the M&M’s. He poured some into the palm of his hand and paused before throwing them into his mouth to ask, "You okay?"

"Yeah." Sam slowly replied not meeting his brother's eyes. He didn't want to lie but he couldn't tell him the truth either.

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The next morning, Pepper woke up and made her way down stairs to the kitchen. She'd spent the night and most of the day before curled up in bed at her grandfather's house. For about a week now, she hadn't been feeling her best and yesterday she was on her way to take some photos of some historical statue when she suddenly felt like she just wanted to sleep and since she was close to Bobby's, she called and cancelled her job before going to Bobby's. He did not mind her stopping by but he was very concerned when she came in looking a little pale. Pepper tried to assure him that it was just the flu and then she went up to her room.

She was sure that it was just the flu. It had to be. She had no idea what else could make her feel sick for most of the day.

She walked into the kitchen still wearing her pajamas, and sat down at the small table. Bobby was already there drinking coffee. He had set another mug down on the opposite side of the table for her. Bobby looked up at her with a small smile. He took in her appearance carefully. He was worried about her but she did look slightly better than she had before.

"You feeling okay?" he asked

She sighed and nodded her head. She was feeling a little better yet she still wasn't hundred percent.

"I'm getting there." she replied. "I'm sure whatever it is that I have will pass in a few days."

Bobby nodded and drank his coffee. He was still worried about her. He always would be and he hated when she was sick because there wasn't really anything he could do.

Pepper grabbed her mug and brought it to her lips. She paused lowering the cup and smelling the liquid inside. Frowning, she placed the mug down and pushed it out in front of her. She turned visibly greener.

"I think the milk's off or something." she murmured

"It's not the milk it's you" Bobby stated, not looking at her.

"Are you saying I'm off?" She asked. Frowning.

Bobby sighed, "No." he paused and looked up, frowning when he saw her. "You should go back upstairs and lie down."

"Yeah I think you're right." Pepper nodded and stood up.

Bobby watched as she slowly stumbled across the kitchen to the door, her legs slightly wobbly.

"If you're still feeling crook tomorrow, you're going to see a doctor!" He yelled.

Pepper's only response was to wave briefly before she disappeared out the door.

Now Bobby was really worried. Even though Pepper was an adult now and capable of looking after herself, he still felt the need to watch out for her and take care of her while she was sick. He had been doing it ever since she was a little girl and that was a hard habit to break. He leaned back in his chair and decided to keep a close watch on Pepper until he knew for certain what was going on.

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Dean and Sam sat on the beds in their motel room. They were both exhausted as they had spent most of the day on a wild goose chase, hunting down whatever was haunting the town, which turned out to be nothing more that some kids playing a prank...so they were exhausted and a little pissed off.

Dean was stretched out on one bed and was just about to fall asleep when there was a loud knock at the door.

"Who the bloody hell is that?" He asked Sam

Sam shrugged, "I don't know" he muttered. Although he had a pretty good idea.

Dean crawled off his bed and made his way to the door. "This better be important-" he began as he opened the door. "I've had a hell--" he stopped short when he saw his father standing before him. "Dad?"

"Hey, Dean." John said giving him a weak smile.

Dean pulled him into a hug before he could say anything else. John hugged Dean back and looked over his shoulder at Sam, who was staring intently at him. Something was going on but for the moment, John didn't know what it was. Finally Dean pulled back and grinned, his tiredness temporarily forgotten.

"What are you doing here, dad?" Dean asked.

John frowned and followed Dean further into the room. "I'm here because of Sam's message."

"What message?" Dean asked looking at John and then down at Sam.

"I told dad we needed to see him urgently." Sam replied. He stood up and moved to stand in front of John, daring him to lie or leave. "Something about the demon." he added.

Dean stood beside him, staring at him. "You didn't?"

Sam ignored him and looked directly at John.

"You don't have any information do you." John stated.

"No, but apparently you do." Sam accused. "And I want to know what it is that you're keeping from us."

John was shocked but quickly got over it as he shot an angry look at his youngest son.

"So you lied and tricked me to get me here?" John asked. "I thought something had actually happened to you. I thought you were in danger!"

"No you didn't" Sam snapped. "You thought we might know something that you didn't want us to know. Because even though you say that you'll let us deal with this together you just want to keep us in the dark."

"You have no idea what I want." John said through clenched teeth.

"So then tell us what you know. Tell us about the demon." Sam waved his hands around angrily and waited for his father to respond.

"Have you ever thought that maybe as your father, I am trying to protect you?" John shouted, finally letting his anger take over.

"Protect us from what?" Sam demanded. When John said nothing he huffed in frustration. "Look, I don't know if you've noticed but we don't need you to protect us. We're not children any more-"

"-You're MY children!" John yelled. He moved closer to Sam.

Dean quickly looked from John to Sam and back again. Each man looked like he was ready to throw a punch. Dean took a few steps until he was in the middle of his family. He placed his hands up.

"How about we all calm down, yeah?" He looked from one to the other and back again.

"Not until Dad tells us what’s going on." Sam said stubbornly. "If you don't we can always go back to Ash. He knew you were keeping something from us so chances are he probably knows what it is."

John took a deep breath and studied his son’s expressions. He looked into Sam's eyes, filled with anger, hate and frustration and then he looked into Dean's eyes and it was what he saw there that finally made him realize he had no choice but to tell them. Dean's eyes were filled with frustration and anger like Sam's but also desperation, not at the situation with the demon and the lies but with trying to keep another fight from happening. Dean was always stuck in the middle of their fights and no matter how many times John kept telling himself not to let that happen it always did.

"Fine," John sighed heavily and started pacing the room. "I know...something, or at least I think I do. For all I know I could be dead wrong but..."

"Well?" Sam asked impatiently.

John stopped pacing and turned to look at Sam and Dean.

"The Demon is building an army." said John

"What kind of army?" asked Dean

"It's got something to do with the...with you, Sam."

"Me?" Sam asked

"Yeah, you and kids like you. I'm not sure exactly how it’s going to do this."

"So I'm just supposed to be this soldier, is that it?" Sam demanded.

"That's not going to happen, Sam." said Dean trying to sound calm and only half succeeding.

"Then why say it? Huh, Dad" yelled Sam. "I mean you must know something else. Am I supposed to go dark side or something? Start killing people because the demon tells me too?"

"Don't be stupid, Sam!" John yelled back. "I'm not going to let that happen-"

"-How could you not have told me this?" Sam demanded, quickly interrupting his father.

"I don't need to tell you everything. I'm still your father, no matter how old you get!"

"Who cares!" Sam shouted. "You had no right, what so ever to keep this from me!"

John suddenly moved forward until he was standing directly in front of Sam once again. Anger flashed in his eyes. "You think I wanted this? Huh?" He paused waiting for Sam to say something, when he didn't he continued. "Of course I didn't. You're my son and what ever the demon has planned we're going to stop it. But I was going to put you through worrying if you're going to turn evil."

Sam glared and briefly shook his head. He turned and crossed to the other side of the room and kept his back to Dean and John.

"At least now we know what we're up against," said Dean.

John ignored him and looked at Sam.

"Sammy, you can believe what you want." John began "But I had good reasons for keeping you in the dark and I won’t apologize for it."

Sam turned around and shook his head in disgust. He angrily walks past Dean and John to the door of the motel room. Before either one could say anything, Sam opened the door and stormed out. The door slammed shut behind him.

Dean was shocked, at everything that had just happened and he was curious about this army and Sam's involvement with it. He turned to his father.

"Dad-"

"Not now, Dean." John said quickly. "I... need to go for a walk."

The door opened and shut once again as John walked out. Dean sighed and shook his head. Just once he'd like to get his entire family in one room without someone’s voice being raised. He knew he would have to wait a few hours while both his father and Sam took their time to cool down, and there was nothing he needed to do so he moved over to the bed he had been sitting on before and laid down. Just before his head hit the pillow he heard a beeping noise coming from his bag. He groaned and rolled to the side to retrieve the bag. He pulled his cell out and looked at the screen and frowned as the words 'Low Battery' flashed before him. With his family dramas and the need to sleep, he simply shoved the phone back into the bag. He could charge it tomorrow.

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Pepper sat on the edge of the bathtub in Bobby's bathroom. He hands resting on either side of her as her nails tapped against the top of the bath in a nervous fashion. She bit her lip and closed her eyes as she forced herself to take another deep breath.

She had been sitting in here for fifteen minutes and the waiting did not get any easier as the minutes ticked by. She checked her watch and confirmed that her time was up. Slowly and cautiously she stood up and walked over to the small sink and picked up the small white stick. She held her breath as she read the result....Positive.

Inspecting the pregnancy test closely to make sure she was seeing it right.

"Oh," she sighed and threw it into the trash with four other tests.

Five tests. Five different tests. One with double lines, two that turned blue, one that had a plus sign and the last one that simply said 'pos' in a small window. Five tests and it was confirmed it had to be. She was pregnant. Pepper concentrated on her breathing as all her options seem to rush through her head in one big whoosh.

It had been yesterday morning, after Bobby had suggested she go upstairs, that she figured out why she was feeling the way she was. Pepper looked over at her calendar to check when she needed to go back to work and the date had startled her. She checked and re-checked to make sure what she was seeing was the truth. It was impossible to believe that she had gone two months without getting her period and yet she hadn't noticed, although these past two months had been quite busy for her driving all across the country for work but...still she should have noticed.

She worked it out and thought back over the last two months. If she was pregnant (and so far it was looking pretty damn sure that she was) then there was only one person that could have helped contributed and that was Dean Winchester. The last time she had seen him was when she met up with him and Sammy and of course she and Dean had gotten a little close. Ok a lot close and they forgot to use any sort of protection. How could they be so stupid? They were normally both so careful but that night they didn't even think about it.

After spending 2 hours in her room, Pepper finally decided that she needed to go out and find out for sure. She quickly got dressed, grabbed her coat and bag and made sure she looked alright otherwise Bobby would never let her leave the house.

When she got down stairs, Bobby was just on his way out, probably to work on the new car he towed in yesterday. When he saw her he looked up and smiled.

"Hey, you looked better." He said looking her over. "How are you feeling?"

"Good." She answered quickly. "A lot better then I was before. I, um, I'm just going to go out for a while, okay."

Bobby paused and looked at her. She was... nervous about something. He wanted, no needed to know what was wrong but years of knowing Pepper told him that if she didn't tell him on her own when she first came down then he wasn't going to get an answer from her now. He'd just have to wait until she wanted to talk to him.

He nodded slightly and stepped aside to let her pass him through the door.

Pepper made an appointment with her doctor but unfortunately there were no openings for the next three days, which would be find if she just had a cold, but because this was something big she couldn't wait three whole days to find out if she really was pregnant. So, after making an appointment she headed to a chemist and bought five different brands of pregnancy tests before heading back home and locking herself in the bathroom.

She sat down on the toilet seat and tried to clear her head enough to think more clearly about her options. She didn't think she could give a baby up for adoption and she couldn't get an abortion even though she was younger than she would have liked to be when she had her first child, but then again her mother wasn't that much older when she had her. And then there was Dean...she'd have to tell him, there was no way that she could live with herself if she didn't. He deserved to know no matter how he took the news.

She heard the phone ring downstairs before Bobby picked it up. She sighed heavily and placed her head in her hands. Telling Bobby was going to be almost as hard as telling Dean. She knew that he'd be disappointed in her but at least she had enough time to tell him in her own time. She wanted to tell Dean first because really he deserved to be the first to know. Pepper pulled her phone out of her pocket, taking a deep breath before finding Dean's number and calling.

"Come on, come on..." She muttered as it rang.

A recorded voice came onto the line, "The number you are trying to call is disconnected or has been turned off. Please try again later or leave a message after the tone."

*Beep*

"Um, hey...Dean, it's Pep. Just wondering where you are at the moment. I kind of need to see you so...please get back to me. Right, bye."

Sighing, Pepper hang up and put her phone down. Knowing Dean, he was probably on a hunt and unable to get to his phone. She hoped he was able to get to it sooner rather than later.

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Bobby answered the phone with a quick "Hello?"

"Bobby, it’s Max." came the reply from the other end.

"What's up Max?" Bobby asked, relaxing.

"I've, ah, got something to tell you." Max began.

Max and Bobby and been friends for years. Max owned and worked at a chemist and had a problem with a younger employee who was worshiping demons during his night shift. Bobby was able to help and ever since, Max would always help Bobby out in anyway that he could. So when a young girl came into the store, whom Max recognized as Bobby's granddaughter, he thought it was best to tell Bobby what she had gone in there for.

"Pepper came into the store today."

"Oh yeah?" Bobby asked

"Yeah. I don't think she remembered me though. But, look I don't know if this is any of my business it's just that she came in a purchased a stack of pregnancy tests."

"She what?" Bobby demanded.

"They might not even be for her." Max stated quickly. "I'd thought you'd want to know."

"Yeah..." Bobby agreed slightly stunned. "Thanks Max."

Bobby hung up quickly and started to pace. He wanted to call Pepper down and demand to know what was going on. If she was pregnant then he had a lot of questions. Like what bastard got her pregnant in the first place...he paused as one name came to mind. Dean Winchester. First thing Bobby needed to do was find Dean and beat the shit out of him.

He would call but he doubted he could keep the temper out of his voice if he spoke to Dean. Luckily he knew that the boys were planning to head to the RoadHouse, maybe he could catch them there. He quickly dialed Ellen's number.

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Pepper finally decided to leave the bathroom and head downstairs. She noticed that Bobby was no longer inside. Making her way into the kitchen to make herself some tea, Pepper realized that she couldn't hear him out side either. She frowned and walked back into the living room. There was still no sign of him.

She looked outside and had to keep herself from panicking as Bobby's truck was no longer there. It wasn't like him to leave without telling her where he was going. In fact he made a point of telling her exactly where he was going and roughly how long he'd be. Something had to be wrong for him to leave so quickly. Then Pepper remembered the phone ringing and walked over to where it lay on the sofa. She picked it up and pressed re-dial.

"Hello, Ellen speaking." came Ellen's calm voice.

"Hey, Ellen. It's me" Pepper began nervously. "Um, did granddad just call you?"

"Yes, he did." replied Ellen. "He wanted to know where Dean and Sam are."

"Oh,"

"Is everything alright?" Ellen's asked concerned.

"Um, yeah." Pepper said quickly. "I just couldn't remember what Granddad was doing. I guess I wasn't paying attention when he told me. Ellen, could you tell me where Sam and Dean are? Just so I know where Granddad has gone"

"Alright then."

Ellen told Pepper everything she knew about the Winchesters last hunt, including where they would be. Pepper thanked her and then hung up the phone. She was still confused though. If Bobby needed to see Dean and Sam about something, even if it was important than he would have still told her what was going on. She sat down on the sofa with a loud sigh and leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands.

Pepper started to think of everything that could make her granddad leave without telling her and, well she couldn't think of any reason. Unless he was possessed by a demon which would be hard with all the pre-caution he takes to prevent that. Suddenly, Pepper sat up as an image entered her head. She remembered to clerk at the chemist and frowned. She hadn't noticed then but now she recognized him as a friend of Bobby's, which could mean that he had been on the phone before and told...

"Oh no."

If Bobby knew she had bought a stack of pregnancy tests then he would put that together with the fact that she had been sick and get that she was pregnant. But then why would he need to see Sam and Dean? Unless he knew that Dean was the father. Pepper panicked and jumped off the sofa. She quickly grabbed her bag, car keys and coat before running out the door to her car. If Bobby was going to see Dean because of this, then she doubted it was to have a calm conversation.

Before starting up her car, she pulled her cell out of her bag and dialed Dean's number once again. Still he didn't answer.

"Argh," She sighed in frustration. "Dean answer your phone!"

As she drove away down the road she just hoped that Bobby wouldn't hurt Dean too much before she got there.

TBC

Next Chapter - Life Changing

Connection 8/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:22:06 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Connection
CHAPTER - Our Night 8/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - MA15+ contains a mild sex scene
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 5456
SUMMARY - While dealing with the aftermath of the fight with the YED, John can’t help but remember his odd dream, and how he could help his son.
WARNINGS - AU story. Draft - all mistakes are my own
BETA - N/A
A/N - See chapter one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER EIGHT - OUR NIGHT

It had been 3 months since the Winchester men left Bobby's. At first they had stayed together but within the first few weeks, John kept disappearing to do his own hunts while Sam and Dean stayed on their own. Sam hated that their father kept disappearing without a word and vocalized this hate every chance he got. Dean didn't like it either but like most things relating to their father, he kept his mouth shut.

Dean and Sam knew that there was something that their father wasn’t telling them. Something about the demon, and they knew that whatever it was it was important because John would always change the subject of become very quite when asked about the demon. It was starting to really frustrate Sam. At least they knew where he was this time. Well mostly they knew. John had started answering his cell phone so Dean and Sam were able to contact him if they needed him.

Other than that, their lives had pretty much gone straight back to the way it had been before their last run in with the demon. The boys went from town to town on random hunts while waiting for information on the demon. And John was on his own. Ellen sent Sam and Dean the occasional hunt that came her way.

It was late afternoon as Dean and Sam walked through the door of a small motel room they had just booked. They had just hunted down and killed a gang of demons who were possessing three bikers. They were able to get the demons out of the men but not before getting their asses kicked. They both received a number of bruises from the men. Add that to the fact that the demons were staying at a camp sight and you're left with Sam and Dean, bloodied, bruised, and covered in dirt.

"Why can't we get a hunt at a nice 5 star hotel?" Dean grumbled as he dropped down onto on of the single beds in the room.

Sam rotated his right shoulder, which had been slammed against a wall. "Because that'd be too easy. And nothing in this job is ever easy."

Dean sat back up, "I'm taking a shower" he announced.

"Ah, no." Sam said. He held his hand up and stepped in between Dean and the bathroom door. "Why the hell do you get the first shower?"

"Cause I'm older."

"So? I'm taller."

"Not my fault you're a freak now is it."

Sam glared and stood his ground refusing to move. Dean glared right back, certain that he could get his brother out of the way if he really wanted to.

"Get out of the way, Sam. I need a hot shower."

"So do I. Why should you get the first one? And don't say it's because you're older, 'cause that's crap." Sam said angrily. "I'm taking the first shower."

"And what, that leaves me with a cold shower. No wa--"

Dean was interrupted when his cell phone started ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket and sighed when he noticed that it was Pepper calling. He had been secretly dreading that it was going to be either Ellen, Bobby or his dad. Not that he didn't mind talking to any of them but they normally only called when they had a hunt and he wasn't in the mood to go out again after the hunt they had just been on.

"Hey, Pep." Dean said, answering the phone.

Sam took this opportunity with Dean distracted by the phone call and quickly dashed into the bathroom.

"How- HEY! Get back here!" Dean yelled once he realized what Sam was doing.

Sam locked the door and leaned his back against it for a few seconds with a grin on his face before he moved towards the shower. Laughing as he heard Dean curse and bang against the door.

"Oo-kay." Pepper said slowly on the other end of the phone. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, I'm just going to kill my brother later tonight." Dean replied. He moved back towards the bed and sat down on the edge. "I'm going to kill you as well."

"Me? What did I do?" she asked

"You cost me a hot shower." Dean grumbled angrily.

"How exactly?"

"You distracted me by calling." Dean replied "Now Sammy's in there, USING ALL THE HOT WATER!" He shouted the last part, mostly directing it at Sam and not Pepper. He heard her laugh and frowned. "Don't laugh at me, woman."

"Dean, couldn't you simply wait a few hours for the water to re-heat?" she asked, still laughing slightly.

"Let’s see you go toe to toe with a great big oaf in the middle of a forest and see how long you can wait for a hot shower."

"What were you doing in the middle of a forest?"

"Camp ground. Long story. Demons etc, etc.”

"Awe poor, Dean baby." She mocked. "Well at least you won."

"Yeah but I doubt we'll be welcomed back at River Stone park any time soon."

"River Stone Park?" Pepper asked with a pause. "The one with the jungle gym near the main entrance?"

"That's the one. You been there before?"

"Nope. I just drove past it about twenty minutes ago."

"Where are you now?" he asked

"Still on the road." Pepper replied. "According to the last sign I saw, I'm 15 minutes from town. Where are you?"

"Town. Motel to be exact."

"Feel like a visit?"

"Will you bring food?" He asked hopefully.

"Will you ask nicely?"

Dean sighed heavily. "Please bring some food." as an after thought he added, "and some beer."

"Don't want much do you? Okay. I'll see you in...Half an hour."

"See ya, Pep."

Dean hung up and tossed his phone behind him on the bed. He grabbed the TV remote from the bedside table, in between the beds and turned on the television. After going through all the channels, he settled for the Nicholas Cage movie 'Face Off'. It was just beginning and hopefully Pepper wouldn't mind watching it.

20 minutes later, Sam came out of the bathroom with a yellow towel wrapped around his waist. In his haste to get to the shower first, he had forgotten to take his clothes into the bathroom with him. He grabbed his bag from the floor and quickly pulled out jeans and a t-shirt. Dean was now lying back against the pillows of his bed. Watching his movie and choosing to ignore Sam. He was still pissed that he got the first shower.

"So, ah how’s Pepper?" Sam asked

Dean shrugged, "She's alright. She's bringing food and beer."

"What?" Sam asked, confused. "She's bringing food here, now?"

"No in three weeks time." Dean snapped. At Sam's confused look he added, "She's in town."

"Well that’s convenient." Sam said, eyeing Dean's response. "Shower's free. I think there’s some hot water left." he smirked.

Dean glared at him as he stood up, grabbed his bag and made his way to the bathroom. All the while cursing his little brother. As the bathroom door slammed shut, Sam laughed as he started to get dressed.

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Dean's shower was very quick due to the limit of hot water he actually had. Next time he was going straight into the bathroom. Sam could get stuffed.

Sam was sitting on one of the beds watching the TV. He looked up at Dean as he came out of the bathroom but quickly turned his attention back to the small screen.

"When's Pepper 'spose to be getting here?" He asked

Dean laid down on the other bed and stretched out. "She said she'd be 30 minutes."

"What is she doing out here anyway?"

"My god, I don't know." said Dean. "She's probably doing her job. Taking pictures of bears in the park or something. Why don't you ask her when she gets here? Annoy her for a while."

A knock at the door interrupted any come back that Sam may have had. There was another knock and when it looked like Dean wasn't going to get up, Sam reluctantly got to his feet and made his way to the door. He opened it and was greeted by Pepper.

"Hey Sammy." She smiled. She was carrying one brown bag in one arm and a six pack of beer in the other.

"Hi Pepper." said Sam as he took the beer from her.

He moved aside to give her room to enter. Pepper moved over to the bed where Dean lay and sat down beside his legs. She threw the bag onto his chest.

"Food." she announced. "You owe me $15"

"Sam, give the lady some money." Dean said as he went through the bag.

"I-" Sam began

"-Who was the one who asked me to bring the food and beer in the first place?" Pepper asked, poking Dean in the side with her finger.

Dean grabbed her wrist and haltered her attack against him. "Why are you picking on me?" he asked "It's bad enough that I had to have a cold shower," he quickly glared at Sam who was putting the beer into the small bar fridge at the other end of the room.

"If you're going to get crabby-" Pepper said as she stood up.

Dean, who was still holding on to her wrist, tugged her back down onto the bed and grinned up at her. Neither one noticed Sam standing awkwardly by the fridge as he watched them.

"You guys want a drink?" Sam asked nervously. Gesturing to the fridge.

Pepper nodded and stood up again. This time Dean let her go and sat up. Pepper grabbed the bag from Dean and walked over to Sam. The youngest Winchester pulled out three beers. He handed one to Pepper and tossed another to Dean. Pepper reached into the bag and pulled out four pre-made sandwiches, a large bag of crinkle-cut chips and a small bar of white chocolate. She looked at the sandwiches and then tossed one over to Dean. Sam guessed that she was probably looking for one that he'd like.

"Ham and cheese or chicken salad?" Pepper asked, Sam. Holding two sandwiches out to him.

"Ah, which ever one you don't want." he replied

Pepper nodded while behind them on the bed, Dean made a look of disgust over Sam's manners. Pepper handed the Ham and cheese sandwich over to Sam before she walked back over to Dean's bed with her own sandwich and white chocolate bar, which she placed in to her front jeans pocket. Sam sat on his own bed and tried not to look at Pepper and Dean for too long.

The three of them sat on their beds, with the TV on in the background as they ate and talked about random things. When Dean had finished his sandwich, second beer and half the bag of chips he moved forward on the bed and stuck his hand into Pepper's pocket looking for her chocolate. Pepper and Sam were having a conversation about school. When she felt Dean's hand she quickly jerked back and slapped his arm. Dean pulled his hand back and glared at her.

"You're not going to share?" He asked

She turned around and looked at him over her shoulder. "Not my chocolate I'm not."

Dean huffed in annoyance and moved so that he was sitting directly beside her. Pepper smiled and reached up, patting his cheek patronizingly causing a hard glare from Dean.

Sam moved uncomfortably on his own bed. The scene before him was starting to make him really uncomfortable which was strange. It wasn't as though he could feel any sexual tension coming from Dean and Pepper. It was just the way they were around each other. Both seemed content. Sam stood up, realizing that he needed to get out of there.

"Hey, um," he began, looking around the room nervously. "I'm gonna go out for a...quick drink. Maybe see if Dad's got any more information on the demon."

Dean looked up at him and frowned in confusion. Pepper sighed and nodded. Sam gave her one last smile before he picked up his laptop and jacket and left the motel room. Once he was gone, Pepper stood up and grabbed the empty beer bottles and carried them to the bin across the room. Dean was still frowning.

"O-Kay." he said slowly, turning to look at Pepper. "That was weird."

"What was?" she asked, not looking at him.

"Sam. I mean, did he forget that there are still two beers in the fridge?"

"I doubt he left because he wanted a drink." Pepper sighed and finally turned around. "I think we made him a little uncomfortable."

"How?"

"Well, I think you sticking your hand down my pants may have had something to do with it." said Pepper, as she opened the small fridge and placed her chocolate in the door.

"I did not. I was trying to get some chocolate." Dean defended himself.

Pepper sighed, closing the fridge door. "Now I feel bad for making Sammy leave. Think we should go out and find him?" she asked.

She turned around and started walking back towards the bed.

"We could, or..." Dean trailed off.

He stood up. Walked over to where she stood with a grin on his face.

"Or?" she asked

Dean stopped right in front of her and placed his hands on her waist, pulling her flashed against him.

"We could make the most of the fact that we have an entire motel room to ourselves for at least a few hours." he grinned, racking his eyes up and down the length of her body.

Pepper smiled back and ran her hands up the length of his arms, before bringing them back down to rest at his elbows. She bit her lip and shook her head.

"You don't waist any time do you?" she asked.

"Not when it comes to you, Pep."

He leaned down and swiftly captured her lips with his own. Pepper hummed in approval with a smile gracing her lips. Dean's tongue slipped out of his mouth and ran across Pepper's bottom lip, waiting for her to open her mouth to him which only took half a second. After a while he moved his lips away from hers and started kissing along her jaw line and down her neck. She gasped and arched her back as he found her pulse point and nipped and sucked at it. Dean's hands moved up and down her back in smooth circles. When Pepper moans, Dean brings his lips to hers once again and kisses her, letting his tongue massage hers in a gentle caress.

Pepper's arms moved to loop loosely around his neck while his hands moved down her back, over her backside and down the back of her thighs. Without warning, Dean roughly pulled her legs up. She was shocked at first but instinct took over quickly and her legs wrapped themselves tightly around his waist. Her arms pulling tighter around his neck at the surprise of being lifted off the ground. Breaking away from the kiss, Dean grinned at her smugly. He was always proud of his abilities to arouse and pleasure women. Especially, Pepper. He shifted her up slightly so that she could feel the bulge in his pants press against her. As much as he liked having control over her during these moments, he also liked having her know that if she wanted to she could take complete control of him. And it was just Pepper who he had that feeling with.

Pepper leaned down and kissed him again as he continued to grin. Still kissing, Dean walked them forwards a few paces until they stood right in front of the small fridge. The fridge was waist high which was perfect for Dean because he was able to placed Pepper on the top without her having to remove her legs from around him. He found the hem of her shirt and slowly dragged it up her stomach and chest. Pepper lifted her arms above her head and aloud Dean to take her shirt off. He flung it behind him across the room. Taking a moment to admire her breasts, which he'd always loved, before he bent down and trailed his lips and tongue across the top of her chest, right down to the edge of her purple lace bra.

"Dean." She sighed, cupping his face in her hands and pulling him up to look at her.

Dean leaned down and kissed her softly while his hands cupped her breasts and gently massaged them. Flicking her harden nipples through the silk of the bra, causing her to moan deeply in her throat. Her legs tightened around his waist, pulling him closer against her. One of his hands slid around her back and unhooked her bra. She let it fall down her arms where Dean picked it up and flung it across the room. Pepper grabbed his sides and moved one hand down and palmed the bulge in his pants. Dean groaned and moved his lips to her ear.

"Tease." He hissed before taking her lob between his teeth.

Pepper's strokes increased and she smiled, "Oh like you don’t love it."

Dean pulled back and grinned at her, because he did love it. Because it was her.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, Dean once again lifted her off the fridge and walked backwards towards the small bed that he had been laying on before. When he felt the mattress hit the back of his legs, he lowered himself down onto the bed forcing Pepper to sit up on her knees so that she could straddle him. Her hands moved down across his shoulders and chest to his stomach. Pepper grabbed his shirt and roughly yanked it up and over his head. Once the shirt was on the floor, Pepper lightly scrapped her fingernails over Dean's chest down to his stomach as she kissed along his jaw line. Soon Dean's belt was the next item of clothing to join the ever growing pile on the floor. The sound of a zipper being pulled down filled the room but Dean barely had time to register it as Pepper's hand entered his jeans. Dean groaned, and pulled her against him, brushing his mouth over hers. Dean grabbed Pepper's upper arms and quickly lifted her up.

He flipped them over and pressed his weight down against Pepper's body, pressing her into the mattress. Their lips met once again, this time in a fiery passionate kiss as their hands furiously worked together to remove their jeans and underwear. Dean kicked all their remaining clothes off the bed and crawled up Pepper's body. His hands ran all over her body as he kissed her. His strong hands ran down her thighs, before bringing her legs up over his hips. He entered her quickly. Both moaning at the familiar contact.

Pepper's hands moved up and down Dean's back, feeling his muscles move under her palms as they moved together. Dean splayed one hand across Pepper's cheek and kissed her tenderly. He pulled back briefly. Whispering words of endearment against her lips before kissing her once again.

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Dean rolled off of Pepper's body onto the mattress beside her. Breathing heavily, he stared at the ceiling while he waited for his breathing to go back to normal. Hearing Pepper sigh, he turned over onto his side to face her. She was also looking up at the ceiling, eyes closed. He couldn't help but smile as he watched her. Her chest rising and falling with every breath she took. Her body covered in a thin layer of sweat caused by the sex they had just had. At that thought, Dean's smile grew into a full out grin.

He leaned over and kissed her shoulder. Pepper opened her eyes, rolled over and faced him. Dean continued to smile as he brought one hand up to tangle through her blonde hair, before he leaned over and kissed her. As they kissed, Dean pulled Pepper closer against his body.

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Sam ended up walking halfway across town to a small bar. It had and old and dirty look to it, and was filled with old looking men playing pool and drinking whisky. It reminded Sam of the RoadHouse, only without every man's gun on the table in front of them. Sam didn't doubt that most, if not all of the patrons in the bar had guns. They just wouldn't lay them out for everyone to see.

He'd managed to find a small table up the back that was separate from anyone else. These were the kind of people that he really didn’t want to socialize with. And even if they were, he wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. The only reason why he was here was to give Dean and Pepper some privacy. He went to the bar and ordered a beer before going over to the table. With his laptop opened, and his drink to one side, he started scanning the web for any new hunts or any information on the Demon.

He couldn't really concentrate on his computer because his thoughts kept drifting back to Dean and Pepper. He couldn't help but think about the two of them together. Not in that way. Just...how they were around one another. Dean in particular. It was almost like Dean had a split personality. He seemed more comfortable around Pepper that Sam had ever seen him be around anyone else. Including himself and their father. And that actually hurt more than Sam had thought it would.

Dean was happy when he was around Pepper. It was as plain as day, even when the two of them were fighting. Sam was actually a little jealous. Not because he liked Pepper, well not in that way, but because their relationship reminds him of his own relationship with Jessica before she died. Sam sighed, before taking a sip of his beer. Thinking about Jess always made him a little sad. He hated that. He wanted to be able to think about her without getting angry or sad. He wanted to be able to think about all the great stuff they shared together but he had a feeling that wouldn't happen until he was able to send the Demon that killed her straight back to hell. A part of him was also glad (if not surprised) to see that Dean had found someone he could love. Sure there was Cassie, and Sam was sure that his brother had loved her as well, but Sam would bet a million dollars on the fact that Dean was in love with Pepper. Although it was very unlikely that Dean would ever admit this fact to Sam or anyone else.

Sam had spent a lot of time with Pepper during the time they had all been at Bobby's. She was really a very kind a sweet person. If not a little bit weird sometime, but hey, no one who had anything to do with hunting and demons in their lives could ever really be normal. She was very...domestic. She always made sure that all four men had a decent meal at breakfast and dinner. There was even one evening where Dean had decided he'd rather have a bowl of popcorn instead of the spaghetti Pepper had cooked for dinner. Which resulted in yelling and eventually Bobby and John going outside (hiding from an angry Pepper), Sam stayed inside and couldn't help laughing as the scene played out. Eventually Pepper had won and that left Dean in a shitty mood for the rest of the night. Pepper was just caring in that way. It shouldn't have mattered to her what Sam, Dean and John did or didn't do. Sam can understand her wanting to help out Bobby. After all he is her grandfather, and he could even understand her helping out Dean. Apart from being related to Dean, who Sam was certain she was in love with like he was in love with her; there was really now reason for her to give a damn about Sam or his father.

Sam had noticed that their father seemed to act a bit strange around Pepper. It was something barely noticeable to Pepper, or is she did notice it she didn’t say anything.

Sam looked over at the wall behind the bar where a large round clock sat against the wall. He had been sitting here with his thoughts for one hour. It hadn't felt that long. He turned back to his computer and checked his and Dean's current police files. They were still the same. He briefly wondered if they would ever get their records wiped clean. On second thought, they probably wouldn't.

He sat back in his seat and thought about the story that Pepper had told him about how she and Dean had first met. At first Sam had found it a little hard to believe. He couldn't see his brother opening up to some random women that quickly. Never mind the fact that after knowing her for less that one night, Dean had told her all about his family secret. At first, he thought that maybe Pepper's version of events were...twisted slightly, but then after seeing Dean with Pepper, Sam knew that she was probably telling the truth. While they were all at Bobby's, Dean tried to avoid Pepper if they were around everyone else and both Pepper and Sam knew that this had something to do with Bobby. Even so, Sam could still tell that there was something between his brother and Pepper.

Sam sighed and finished his beer. He looked back up at the clock on the wall and noticed that 30 minutes had passed. He was starting to get sick of sitting in this old bar but didn't want to go back to the motel and walk in on....something. After a moment, he pulled his cell out of his pocket and dialed his brother's number. He figured that if he called and asked if Dean wanted anything while he was out then it wouldn't seem like he was checking up. If Dean didn't answer then they were probably still busy.

As the phone rang, Sam frowned as a thought came through his mind.

'God, I hope Bobby never finds out that I left Dean and Pepper alone together in a motel room for over an hour.'

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Dean and Pepper were still laying in his bed, facing on another. Dean's arm draped loosely over Pepper's waist as her hands cupped his face gently. They kept kissing until the sound of Dean's cell ringing caused them to pull apart. Reluctantly, Dean rolled over and picked his cell phone of from the floor. He lay on his back and with the arm that wasn't holding his phone, he pulled Pepper closer until she rested her head against his chest.

"Yeah," Dean answered the phone, knowing it was Sam by the screen name.

"Hey, um I was gonna head to the convenient store." came Sam's reply. "Just checking to see if you or Pepper want anything?"

"Hold on." Dean said, and lowered the phone from his ear. He looked down at Pepper before asking, "You want anything from the store?"

She shook her head and closed her eyes. Dean put the phone back to his ear.

"No thanks, Sammy." he said and hung up before he could her Sam's protest at being called 'Sammy' once again.

Dean stretched and placed his cell on the small table between the two beds before he turned and looked back down at Pepper as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Is Sammy on his way back?" Pepper asked. Her eyes still closed.

"Yep. So we better get up and dressed. I really don't want my baby brother to see me naked." He paused and shuddered at the thought. "That'd be too weird."

He let go of Pepper and slid out of bed. He made it to the foot of the bed before he realized that Pepper was still lying down. He frowned.

"Did you not hear what I just said? Or are you ignoring me?" he asked

"Which ever one doesn't hurt your feelings, baby." she replied.

Dean glared at her, "Come on. Get up," he paused as he found his jeans and underwear and pulled them on. "We do not want Sam walking in hear while we're naked."

Pepper opened her eyes and shrugged. "Maybe you don't want to be naked. I have no problem with Sammy seeing me naked." she said, purely to see Dean's reaction. She didn't really want to be naked in front of Sammy.

Dean's reaction didn't disappoint her. He looked horrified.

"I have a problem with it." He snapped angrily.

Pepper began to laugh and turned, burring her face into the pillow. She caught her breath and turned back to look at him.

"I'm sorry, Dean." she apologized, with a smile. "Hand me my clothes" she said and held her arms out.

"No way." Dean replied. He walked around and picked up his shirt. "Get your own clothes."

"You were the one who decided to throw them around the room?"

"I didn't hear you complain then."

"Like that would have stopped you." Pepper said.

Dean sat on the bed with his back to her as he put his shirt back on. "Yes it would have" he said quietly.

"What?"

He turned slightly and looked at her over his shoulder. "If you had complained or said no, I would have stopped. I may have done a lot of things in my life but I would never do that."

Pepper smiled and crawled down the bed towards him.

"I know." she whispered before cupping his cheek in one hand. Drawing his lips to hers, she kissed him lightly.

A few seconds later, Pepper pulled away and got of the bed. Dean stayed where he was and watched as she found and put her clothes back on. When she was done, she came back and sat down beside him on the bed.

"You staying here or getting your own room?" he asked her.

She thought for a moment before shrugging one shoulder. "I guess I'll stay here." she smiled, "not really much point in me paying for a room if I'm only going to end up back here tomorrow to get you and Sammy breakfast."

"You're going to buy us breakfast?" He asked hopefully. A large silly grin on his face.

"No I'm going to make sure you don't just have a bag of junk for breakfast." she replied. "You can buy it yourself."

He frowned and sarcastically said, "You’re so generous."

Pepper rolled her eyes. She moved up the bed and leaned back against the headboard.

"Hey, Dean?"

"Yeah?"

"Maybe I should go get another room." she said. "I mean, there are only two beds here, unless you want to bunk with Sammy."

Dean thought for a moment before he glanced down at the floor between the two beds.

"I can take the floor." he replied. "Sammy kicks in his sleep." he frowned.

"We could share" Pepper offered.

Dean shook his head as he crawled back up the bed to lie down next to her. "As much as I'd like that, I don't think Sam would."

"Probably not." she agreed and slid down the bed till she was laying flat as well.

"So," Dean grinned "after giving you the best sex ever-"

"-according to you" She interrupted

Dean ignored her and continued, "-I think I'm entitled to some chocolate now. Don't you think?"

"No," Pepper laughed. "You should have gotten me my clothes when I asked for them."

Dean frowned which only made Pepper laugh harder.

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Sam made it back to the motel 45 minutes after he had called Dean, giving his brother enough time to...ah, get ready for his presence. He opened the door and walked in, dropping a plastic back with a tube of toothpaste and two new toothbrushes in it down on the ground beside the door. They were the only things that he could think of to buy seeing as he didn't really need anything to begin with.

He walked further into the room and stopped short at the sight before him.

Dean and Pepper were laying on one of the beds. Dean was on his back with Pepper resting her head on his shoulder. One of Dean's arms was wrapped around Pepper's shoulders. They were both fast asleep.

Sam couldn't help but smile slightly as he walked into the bathroom.

That night, Dean never made it to the floor.

TBC

Next Chapter - Sam's Destiny Revealed

Connection 7/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:01:50 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Connection
CHAPTER - Late Conversations 7/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M but subject to change
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 1497
SUMMARY - While dealing with the aftermath of the fight with the YED, John can’t help but remember his odd dream, and how he could help his son.
WARNINGS - Apart from this being an AU I can't think of any.
BETA - Alycia
A/N - See chapter one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER SEVEN - LATE CONVERSATIONS

Dean and Pepper made their way down stairs, Dean quickly looked down at his father, and making sure he was still sleeping. Pepper stopped on the last step and slowly turned to face Dean, who had ended up behind her.

"Where are we going?" she whispered.

"Kitchen? Or outside?" he whispered back. "It's up to you."

She thought for a moment. Her eyes closed briefly, "Kitchen." She opened her eyes and smiled. "I'll make us some hot chocolate."

She took hold of his hand and led the way into the kitchen. Dean double checked his father on the way past. John was still fast asleep.

Once in the kitchen, Dean took a seat at the small table while Pepper went to work on making hot chocolates.

"No chance I could get a coffee instead?" he asked

"The last thing you need is caffeine." replied Pepper. "Hot chocolate will help you sleep."

"Help me sleep or help you to sleep?" He asked, raising one eyebrow slightly.

"Well," she drawled out, "seeing as you woke me up. You sleeping will help me sleep."

"Right."

"So how was your hunt?"

Dean shrugged and rested his elbows on the table. "We stopped it." he said.

"That's good right?"

Pepper turned, two mugs in hand and sat down on the opposite side of the table. She pushed one mug in front of Dean. He looked down and smiled at the tiny marshmallows floating in his cup.

"Yeah it's good." He nodded and took a mouthful of his drink. Placing his mug back onto the table, he grinned. "Met Ellen and Jo. Oh and Ash."

"Oh yes."

"Ash says hi"

"That's sweet. I really like Ash."

"Really? Ash. The guy with the mullet."

"He's really nice and great entertainment value."

"Well, he actually told us to tell 'Peppy' he said hi." He said in amusement. "'Peppy' huh?"

"Yeah, so." Pepper shrugged. "I call him Ashy."

"Seriously?"

"Mmm hhm."

"How come Ellen knows you're Bobby's granddaughter and we didn't."

"Ellen used to look after me when I was little, and Grandad went on long hunts." Pepper explained "I met Ash through her and Jo."

Dean frowned and looked down into his mug. "We've known Bobby since we were kids and he never told any of us about having a granddaughter." He paused and slowly looked up. "Why does he trust Ellen more than dad? I mean, I know he and dad have had their fights but still..."

"I don't think it's about trusting Ellen more then your father, Dean. It's just that Grandad's always been over protective of me. Especially after my mom died. Ellen's a mother. I guess he figured she was more suited to watching me then say, your father. Plus there's Jo." Pepper smiled. "Besides, it's not just you that didn't know about me. No one from that...um, life really knows much about Grandad's personal life. I think it's easier to protect me that way."

"I guess that makes sense." he agreed. If he had to leave his daughter or granddaughter as the case may be, he wouldn't leave here with John Winchester. "So, does this mean I get to call you Peppy from now on?"

"Only if you like getting kicked in the shins." She shot back, with a warning glare.

"What? - OW!"

Dean slid his chair back out of reach as Pepper moved her leg back away from him after just showing him what she meant. Dean bent down and rubbed his right leg.

"I didn't even say it then." He protested.

"Think of that as a warning shot."

Dean shot her a glare. "How come you're aloud to call Sam, 'Sammy' then?"

"Because that's different."

"How?"

"It just is."

Pepper leaned back in her chair as Dean grumbled something that she was certain was a curse word before he finished off his hot chocolate. Standing up, Dean took his mug over to the sink where he rinsed it out before setting it down. Pepper stayed seated at the table and watched him.

"How much more time will it take to get the Impala fixed?" She asked

He turned to her and shrugged. "Couple more days probably."

"And then what? Are you, Sammy and John just going to pick up where you left off?" asked Pepper. Dean could hear the hint of concern in her voice. She was worried about it and it touched him deeply to know that she cared about him. "Looking for the-- does the demon have an actual name?" She asked suddenly

"Yes. It's called old Yellow Eyes." Dean replied

"In other words you don't know."

"Well it's either Yellow Eyes or Demonic-son-of-a-bitch-who-killed-my-mother-and-is-going-straight-to-hell-when-I-get-to-it." He paused and shrugged, "Yellow eyes seems easier to say."

"Will it really be over, once you kill it?"

Dean deeply sighed and shrugged slightly, "Hopefully it will. I like what I do, Pepper, but it's exhausting. The only good thing about hunting is the fact that Sammy is here and not at Stanford. Not that it wasn't good for him to go there."

"You just missed him." Pepper clarified.

Dean nodded. Pepper finished off her own drink and stood up. She walked over to Dean and he took her mug and rinsed it in the sink for her. When he turned back around he smiled softly at her.

"What do you want to do when it's all over?" She asked.

"Sleep." he replied simply.

"And then what? Oh, I know you could take me out on a real date."

"I've taken you out on a date before." Dean protested, folding his arms over his chest.

"A drive in your car, a quick take-out meal and watching television in a motel is not a real date, Dean."

"Alright. What do you suggest then?"

"Dinner. At a nice restaurant." She added before he could interrupt her. "Then maybe a nice walk in a park or something followed by a bubble bath."

"Argh, you romantic you."

"You don't have to join me in the bath if you don’t want to." She teased. The pout on Dean's face made her laugh. She shook her head lightly. "I'm going back to bed."

"You are, already?"

"Dean, we've been up for an hour and I'm tired." Pepper replied. "You don't really have anything to talk about."

"Guess I don't." He smiled, "Thanks for staying up."

"It's okay. You still have to wash my car though."

"I know."

Pepper leaned in close and kissed his cheek softly, letting her lips linger for a few moments. Dean's arms made their way around her waist and rested on her lower back. Holding her close. When she pulled back, she had a huge smirk on her face.

"You missed me, didn’t you" She asked but it was more of a statement.

"What?" Dean asked, trying for confusion.

"You missed me. That's why you called so late before and why you had to wake me up tonight." Pepper explained. She brought her hands up to the back of his neck, lightly brushing the hair at the nape of his neck. "Admit it. Tough ol' Dean Winchester missed little old me."

"Shut up." He snapped, but there was no anger in his tone. He pulled her closer until their lips were a breath apart.

"You mi-i-ssed me." She teased.

"Shut up." He repeated against her lips before he kissed her. Partly to shut her up and wipe the smug look off her face and partly to, well he just wanted to kiss her.

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In the next room, John Winchester lay perfectly still on the sofa with his eyes closed. Giving the impression that he was sleeping deeply but the truth was he had been up since his sons got back from their hunt. He knew Dean and Pepper were up. They weren't as quiet as they thought they were.

John could defiantly see the change in his son that had occurred these past two weeks and it had everything to do with Pepper. The two of them shared something. A connection if you will. But whatever it is, it's rare. John knew that not many people found it. He did. Once. With Mary. He missed her and he knew that he would never find that with any one else again but Dean...Dean had found it. He had Pepper. No matter how much he tried to deny it, they were more then just friends. Hopefully they would be a lot more than that because John actually missed that little baby from his dreams.

He heard Pepper laughed, followed shortly by Dean telling her to shut up, and he smiled. After everything he had found out recently about Sam and the Yellow Eyed Demon’s plans, John was starting to wonder if getting Pepper involved was a good idea. But with the sounds of laughter coming from the kitchen he knew he had made the right choice.

He rolled over onto his back. Eyes still closed but with a small smile on his face.

TBC

Next Chapter - Our Night

Connection 6/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:52:25 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Connection
CHAPTER - Killer Clowns and Wake Up Calls
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M but subject to change
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 3821
SUMMARY - While dealing with the aftermath of the fight with the YED, John can’t help but remember his odd dream, and how he could help his son.
WARNINGS - Apart from this being an AU I can't think of any.
BETA - Alycia
A/N - See chapter one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER SIX - KILLER CLOWNS AND WAKE UP CALLS

It had been two weeks since the Winchesters had started staying over at Bobby's place along with Bobby's granddaughter, Pepper.

Dean was still working on the Impala and he was pretty close to getting her back on the road. One day he was outside, working on the Impala while Pepper sat on the hood of a nearby car watching him. Dean is working under the hood of the Impala.

"Wouldn't it just have been easier to get a new car?" She asked.

"What?" He asked, turning around quickly. He was about to yell at her when he noticed that she was grinning widely. "Oh you're so funny, Pep."

"I try." she smiled. "But actually I think it's pretty cool that you're fixing it."

"Really?"

"Sure," Pepper nodded. "Even though it is just a car-"

"It's not-"

"-it's important to you. So, it proves that you don't give up on things that mean something to you."

Dean stared at her before he frowned. "You've been watching Dr.Phil again haven’t you?" he accused.

"I can't help it." She confessed with a frown of her own. "Stupid addictive day time television."

Dean gave her a sympathetic look before he turned back around to work on his beloved car.

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John was in Bobby's living room, sitting on the old sofa. In front of him on the floor was a duffle bag, with some essentials that he needed for a hunt. Well he wasn't actually going on a hunt. But even though this trip was purely to get information you never know when you might need to protect yourself. So that was why his bag had guns, holy water, and extra salt in it. Suddenly he remembered something and pulled his cell out of his pocket. He checked his messages and sure enough there was one there from four months ago that he never bothered to get back to, or delete. He played the message and a female voice came through the phone.

"John, it's Ellen...again. Look, don't be stubborn. You know I can help you. Call me."

John lowered his phone from his ear and sighed heavily. He knew that he needed the help, especially now after the attack by the demon. It would be harder to track down this time. It was just going to be hard seeing Ellen again after what had happened. Sure she had called him wanting to help, but that didn't mean she had forgiven him. A noise from the kitchen disturbed his train of thought. John stood up, shoved his phone into his pocket and headed to the kitchen.

Sam was standing in the kitchen, by the fridge, which Pepper kept stocked with food. John knew that there was no way he could go and see Ellen but maybe his sons could.

"Hey, Sam."

Sam turned around and nodded, "Hey."

"What're you doing?" John asked.

"Looking for something to eat." Sam replied.

"Look, Sam, I need you and your brother to do something for me."

"Ah, okay." said Sam. "What?"

"There’s an...old friend of mine that may have some information." John explained, trying to be as vague as possible without alerting Sam that something else was going on. "I can't get down there so I need you two to go there for me"

"Information? Like on the demon?"

"I'm not sure, but I'd say so."

Sam closed the fridge. He looked at his father curiously. Sam knew that something was up.

"Why can't you go again?"

"I'm leaving-" John began.

"-You're what?" Sam shouted interrupting his father. "Where are you going?”

"Just following a lead." John replied.

"On the demon? I thought we were all going to do this together?"

"We are. We will." John said quickly. "I am not going after the demon. Just some information on how we can find it."

Sam still wasn't sure that his father was telling the truth but he didn't have much of a choice. Besides maybe they could get something useful from this 'friend'.

"Okay," Sam nodded, "where do we need to go?"

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After getting an address from his father, Sam headed out to find Dean. Dean and Pepper were still by the Impala. Sam wasn't sure what they were talking about, but whatever it was, it was making Dean laugh. Really laugh. Unfortunately though, Dean stopped when he saw his brother approaching.

Sam frowned, disappointed that his brother didn't trust him enough to relax around him.

"Hey, Sammy." Pepper greeted him with a grin.

"Hi." He nodded to her before turning to Dean. "How's the car comin' along?"

"Slow." Dean replied.

"Maybe that's just you," Pepper teased.

"Shut up." snapped Dean, which caused Pepper to laugh.

"Ah, dad's got a job for us." said Sam.

Dean stopped what he was doing and turned around so that he was fully in front of his brother. Pepper slid off the car that she had been sitting on. She moved and stood behind Dean, leaning slightly to look at Sam.

"What kind of job?" Dean asked Sam.

"He said some friends got information for us." Sam replied.

"Why isn't dad going?" Dean asked,

Sam scoffed, "Said he had something else to do."

"Alright then." Dean closed the hood of the Impala, "We know where this friend is?"

"Yeah, I've got an address."

"Let's go ask Bobby if we can borrow his truck-"

"-Oh, grandad's not here." said Pepper, from behind Dean.

Dean turned slightly to look at her. "Where'd he go?" he asked.

"How am I supposed to know?" Pepper said and then shrugged. "I'm not his keeper."

Dean turned back around to Sam. "Then go get one of his other cars."

"Well, there’s only one other car working." Sam said taking some keys out of his pocket. He paused waiting for it to sink in to Dean.

"Oh no," Dean grumbled. "Not that crappy minivan!"

"It's not that bad, Dean." said Pepper, although she had a smile on her face.

"Not that bad? It's humiliating." said Dean. "There's gotta be something else."

"You could always borrow my car." Pepper offered sweetly.

Dean looked at her. Eyes wide. He turned around and held a hand out to Sam.

"Okay, Sam. Give me the keys." he said.

Sam smirked and handed the keys to the minivan over to Dean. Once Dean had the keys he shoved them in his pocket and walked off. Pepper shrugged, still smiling.

"Have fun." She told Sam.

Sam nodded before following his brother.

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Dean and Sam drive the minivan to the address that John had given them. They pulled up in front of an old looking bar with a sign above it which said 'HARVELLE'S ROADHOUSE.'

"I feel like a friggin' soccer mom!" Dean yelled in frustration as he got out of the car.

Sam rolled is eyes and followed Dean out of the car. Half the time they were in the car, Dean had been complaining about their ride. It was starting to get on Sam's last nerve. Together they quickly walked around the outside of the of the building.

"Hello?" Sam yelled. "Anybody here?"

Dean walked over to the front door. He pulled out a case full of lock picking tools and got onto his knees. Within seconds he's got the door opened. Carefully they made their way inside. The bar is dark and empty. As they make their way further into the room they notice a man sleeping on top of the pool table.

"I'm guessin' that isn't Ellen." said Sam.

"Yeah." Dean agreed.

Dean tilted his head to the left and indicated that he was going to go that way. Sam nodded and headed of to the right. Each keeping an eye out for any thing or any one. As they went in their own directions neither of them noticed someone behind them with a shot gun.

"Think maybe we got the wrong address?" Dean asked.

“I don't think so." Sam replied. He opened his mouth to say something else but paused at the sound of a gun cocking behind Dean.

Dean and Sam both stilled slightly before they turned around slowly and came face to face with a long blonde girl holding a rifle at Dean.

"Hey." Dean said carefully. "You wouldn't be Ellen by any chance would you?"

"Who wants to know?" the girl asked.

"Well, honey, I'm Dean and this is Sam."

"Sam and Dean Winchester?"

Dean and Sam spun around. Standing behind them, holding a gun was another lady. She looked older than the first.

"Yeah." Dean and Sam both said.

"Son of a bitch." the lady sighed.

"Mom, you know these guys?" the first girl asked.

“Yeah, I think these are John Winchester's boys." She turned to Sam and Dean and lowered her gun. "Hey, I'm Ellen. That's my daughter, Jo."

"Hey," Sam and Dean nodded to both Ellen and Jo.

A few minutes later Sam, Dean and Jo are sitting down at the bar while Elle stands in front of them on the other side.

"So what brings you boys here?" Ellen asked

"Dad sent us." Sam replied.

"You called him." Dean added. "Said you could help-- help with what?"

"Well...the demon, of course." said Ellen. "I heard he was closing in on it."

Dean shook his head in both confusion and annoyance. "Was there an article in 'The Demon Hunter's Quarterly' that I missed?" he asked Ellen. "I mean, who are you? How do you know about all this?"

"Hey, I just run a saloon." Ellen snapped. "But hunters have been known to pass through now and again, including your dad a long time ago. John was like family once."

"Oh, yeah?" Dean asked. "How come he's never mentioned you before?"

"You'd have to ask him that" Ellen replied.

"So," Sam piped up suddenly. "Look, if you can help...we could really use some."

Ellen turned to him and her expression softened slightly. With a nod she said, "Well, we can't but Ash will."

"Who's Ash?" Sam asked.

"Ash!" Ellen shouted.

The man, who had been sleeping on the pool table wakes up, startled.

"What?" Ash asked. "Closin' time?"

"That's Ash?" Sam asked looking at the man with a mullet.

"Mm-hmm." Jo nodded. "He's a genius."

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Half an hour later, Dean and Sam were still at the Roadhouse. It turned out that Ash would be able to help then track the demon again, but it would take him a couple of days. Ash had disappeared into the back of the Roadhouse where the bedrooms where. Sam was still sitting at the bar, talking to Ellen and Dean and Jo had moved over to a small table across the room.

"Hey, Ellen, what is that?" Sam asked Ellen, pointing behind her.

"It's a police scanner." Ellen replied. Not bothering to see what Sam was pointing at. "We keep tabs on things-"

"No, no, no, no." Sam quickly interrupted her. "The folder."

Ellen turns around and picks up the folder. She quickly scans its contents and shrugs.

"Uh...I was gonna give this to a friend of mine, but take a look if you want." She told him as she handed the folder to him.

"Thanks" Sam nodded. He opened the folder and looked at what was inside quickly before turning towards Dean. "Hey, Dean!" He called out. "Come here. Check this out."

Dean got up from his spot at the small table and walked over to Sam.

"Yeah?" Dean asked

"A few murders not far from here that Ellen caught wind of." Sam explained. "Looks to me like there might be a hunt."

"Yeah, so?"

"So, I told her we'd check it out."

"I don't know, Sam. I mean, we are here just for the demon info."

"Well, Ash said he'd be at least two days, right?" Sam asked. "We got nothing better to do." he added with a shrug.

"Says you. I've got plenty to do over at Bobby's." Dean smirked. "The Impala's keeping me busy."

"Yeah, bet Pepper's helping too." Sam mumbled under his breath.

"What?"

"Nothing, ah, lets just do this. Okay?"

"Sure, Sammy."

"Sam." hissed the younger Winchester.

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Killer clowns. Dean just couldn't get over it. Okay now he had seen it all. It was strange that even after everything he had seen in his life he still got surprised. Actually that was strangely comforting. They'd already been after this thing for an entire day without rest. Now, Dean was sitting in the Impala waiting for Sam to come back from...well, Dean didn't know where Sam had gone. He hadn't have been listening to him. But Sam had a cell so if he was gone too long, Dean would just call him.

Dean leaned back against the seat and absently tapped his fingers against the dash board. Letting out a long breath, he realized that he was a little bored. Hey, at least he wasn't tired. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his cell. After staring at it for a few moments, he quickly searched for the number he wanted and hit the call button.

"Hhmm, hello?" Pepper asked groggily.

"Hey Pep."

"Dean?" She asked, "Dean, what the hell. It's 3:00 in the morning!" there was a pause before she shouted, "The sun isn't even up!"

"Oh, were you asleep?" Dean asked. He smirked even though she couldn't see him.

"What do you want" Pepper snapped.

"Ah, is Bobby there? I thought he could help us with this hunt."

"And you didn't call his cell because?"

Dean thought for a moment on what he could say. Pepper usually was pretty good at telling whether or not he was lying. Even over the phone. His voice changed, apparently.

"Didn't think about that." He told her quickly. "Sorry,"

"Yeah, whatever." Pepper sighed, "God I hate you."

"No you don't."

"No but, I am liking you a little less right now."

Dean let out a short laugh.

"What are you hunting?" She asked. Her voice calmer then it had been.

"At the moment, Killer Clown."

"You're kidding" Pepper laughed. "Wow, who knew Stevin King novels could be true."

"Huh, what?"

"IT." Pepper replied. "Killer clowns...Oh come on Dean don’t tell me you've never read 'IT'."

"I don't have time to read books."

"Okay," Pepper sighed "I'll rent the movie for you sometime. You'll like it. Promise. Anyway, Grandad's not here. He's still out. So, try his cell. Alright?"

"Yeah. Sorry again, Pep. You still mad?"

"Course. Good luck with your Clown."

"Thanks." said Dean. "I'll see ya in a few days."

"Bye Dean."

Dean hung up and placed his phone back into his jacket pocket. He sighed deeply in confusion of his own actions. They didn't need Bobby's help, at least not with this case. And he certainly would have tried Bobby's cell first if he had been looking for him. The only explanation was that Dean just wanted to talk to Pepper even though he knew that she would be sleeping. He missed her and wanted to talk to her. He used to call her all the time when he was on the road with Sam, but that was when he hadn't seen her in months. He couldn't understand how he could miss her after just spending two weeks with her. He could argue that he just missed her company but it was more than that and he knew it.

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The next night Dean and Sam managed to stop the evil clown they had been hunting. It wasn't the hardest hunt they had ever been on. Afterwards they made their way back to the Roadhouse to check on Ash and how far he'd gotten with finding the demon. The Roadhouse was occupied by various hunters, all cleaning their weapons and ignoring those around them. They both walked up and sat down at the Bar. Ellen saw them and walked over to them.

"You boys did a hell of a job." She said and smiled.

"Thanks." Sam returned her smile.

Ellen poured them both a beer. When Sam went to give her some money she shook her head.

"On the house." She told them.

Ash came out of the back with a laptop, and made his way over to Sam and Dean.

"Where you guys been?" He asked "I been waitin' for you."

"We were workin' a job, Ash." Sam told him. When Ash simply stared at him, he added, "Clowns?"

"Clowns? What the--" asked Ash.

"You got somethin' for us, Ash?" Dean asked quickly. He was tired and just wanted to get back to Bobby's.

Ash nodded and placed his laptop next to them on the bar.

"Did you find the demon?" Sam asked.

"It's nowhere around, at least nowhere I can find." Ash replied. "But if this fugly bustard raises its head, I'll know. I mean, I'm on it like a divine on dog dookie."

Sam looked at him in slight confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I mean any of those signs or omens appear anywhere in the world, my rig will go odd like a fire alarm." said Ash, as he opened up his laptop and showed the boys several different programs that were opened. One looked like a weather tracker.

"Ash, where did you learn to do all this?" Sam asked, looking at all the programs.

"M.I.T." said Ash. "Before I got bounced...for fighting."

"M.I.T?" asked Sam

Ash shrugged, "It's a school in Boston."

"Okay." Dean nodded and stood up from the bar stool. "Give us a call as soon as you know somethin'"

"Si, si, compadre." Ash nodded.

Dean quickly drank the last of his beer and placed the empty glass on the bar. Then he and Sam headed to the door.

"Hey, listen." Ellen called out, making them stop and turn around. "If you boys ever need a place to stay, I got a couple beds out back."

"Thanks, but no." Dean replied "We got a place."

"We're ah, staying with Bobby."

"Oh Bobby." Ash grinned. "Tell Peppy I said Hey."

"Ah, sure" Dean nodded slowly.

He turned around and headed out the door, followed by Sam.

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As Sam and Dean pulled up out the front of Bobby's house they saw that both Bobby's and their father's trucks were their. It was late and there was no lights on inside. They carefully got out of the minivan. Dean pulled a spare key out of his pocket and let them both inside. As they walked through the house they decided not to turn any lights on. The moonlight coming in from the window was enough light for them to see the stairs.

Lying down on the sofa, John was fast asleep. Sam moved over to the sofa and looked down at his father.

"Where do you think he was the past few days?" Sam whispered, looking back up at Dean.

"I don't know." Dean whispered back "But it was probably important."

"How do you know that?"

Dean shrugged, "'Cause he wouldn't have gone if it wasn't."

Sam's eyes shifted to John and Dean could tell that Sam wanted answers. Well, so did he but unlike Sam, Dean wouldn't demand them so forcefully. After a few seconds, Sam closed his eyes briefly and then looked back at Dean.

"I'm going to bed." said Sam. He headed up the stairs and got half way up before he realized that Dean wasn't following him. He turned and looked down at Dean. "You not coming? How can you not be tired?"

Dean simply shrugged and walked towards the kitchen. Sam shook his head before making his way up into Bobby's spare room.

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In the kitchen, Dean poured himself a glass of water. After spending nearly every night with Sam in a motel room for the past year, he knew roughly how long it took him to fall asleep. Which was good because Dean didn't need Sam waking up, asking questions once again?

Fifteen minutes later, once his glass was empty once again, Dean left the kitchen and quietly made his way up the stairs. Careful not to wake his father up.

Dean moved along the hall, pausing by the spare room he shared with Sam. The door was opened and Dean could see Sam lying on his stomach fast asleep on one of the beds. He let out a sigh of relief and continued on until he got to the room he was after. Pepper's.

He knew it was late and that Pepper would probably be fast asleep herself. He also knew that she'd be extremely pissed if he woke her up once again, but he turned the door handle and walked in anyway.

The room was dark but Dean could still make out the outline of Pepper's form on the bed. Carefully, he walked over and kneeled on the floor beside the bed. He took a few moments to take in how peaceful she looked before he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Pepper," He whispered. "Pep, wake up."

"Mmm, wha-" came Pepper's mumbled response as she fought the last remains of sleep. "Dean?"

"Hey," He smiled. "Wake up."

"What?" she asked. Sitting up, she rubbed a hand over her face before blinking a few times. "Why? What time is it?"

"Ah, after 1:00..."

Pepper's eyes widen briefly before her expression changed to a glare. "Have you got some new compulsive desire to wake me up before the sun rises or something?" She hissed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I want to talk" He explained.

"About what?"

Dean shrugged. He didn't have anything specific to talk about. He just wanted to talk to her.

"You don’t know?" Pepper asked, "Why couldn’t you wait until morning like a normal person."

With that, Pepper rolled onto her side, facing away from him and buried her face into her pillow. Dean sighed. He reached out and touched her shoulder once more and pulled slightly so she rolled over and faced him again.

"Please." He almost pleaded in the dark.

Her face softened. "Okay," she nodded and started to get out of bed. "But you're washing my car tomorrow-"

"-I'll be busy with the Impala" Dean said quickly

Pepper paused, sitting on the edge of the bed. Dean was still on his knees so their eyes would meet.

"Do you want me to get up or not?"

"Fine," Dean sighed, this time in defeat. "I'll wash the stupid bug. Now can we go somewhere and talk?"

"Can't we stay here? With the warm bed?"

"No, for two reasons." Dean replied. "One, if you stay here you'll go back to sleep. And two, if Bobby finds me here he'll rip my head off."

"You're not still scared of granddad are you?"

Dean nodded. He wasn't scared of Bobby in general just when it came to Pepper. He stood up and held a hand out to Pepper. Once she accepted, he pulled her to her feet and pulled her along to the bedroom door.

TBC

Next Chapter - Late Conversations

Connection 5/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:23:28 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Connection
CHAPTER - The Past 5/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M but subject to change
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 3726
SUMMARY - While dealing with the aftermath of the fight with the YED, John can’t help but remember his odd dream, and how he could help his son.
WARNINGS - Apart from this being an AU I can't think of any.
BETA - Alycia
A/N - I know this is meant to be Pepper's re-telling of what happened and so it should be her point of view but I just couldn't tear myself away from writing Dean's POV through the whole chapter. I think it still works though. The necklace mentioned is the one Dean is always wearing in the show.
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER FIVE - THE PAST

THREE YEARS AGO

Dean drove the Impala slowly along the deserted streets of a small town fourteen hours from Stanford, looking for any sign of a motel of some sort. He had just completed a hunt, involving a somewhat hunted house. His father was on his own hunt and they were supposed to meet back up in three days. It was late and the weather was miserable. Rain was pouring down heavily and he had to strain to see the road in front of him. Luckily he wasn't drive on a main road and there were no other cars around. There must have been some sort of blackout, because there weren’t even any street lights on to show him where he was going.

He cursed the rain as he leaned forward and tuned the dials of his radio, looking for some decent rock music. He settled on an old AC/DC song. His windows began to fog up due to the heat in the car and the coldness on the outside. Dean peered out of his window to see if he could pick up any signs even in the dark. That was when he saw someone walking along the street. The rain made it hard to see her clearly but Dean was able to see that she had light colored hair and she looked pretty young. She was wearing a long coat which was absolutely drenched, and she seemed to be fighting with her umbrella. Dean pulled the car up along side her and wound his window down.

"Hey!" He called out to her.

She turned around to face him and he noticed that her umbrella was broken.

"Yes?" She asked, as the rain fell onto her face.

"Do you want a lift somewhere?" He asked, using his most charming tone he could with an added smile.

"No." she replied

"You- wait what?" He asked. He had expected her to say yes. Most girls wouldn't turn down a guy who was trying to help them. "What do you mean no?"

"Well, I would have thought that it was pretty obvious." she said, as she pulled her coat tighter around her small frame.

"Sweetheart, it's pouring and," He paused briefly to rack his eyes down her body. "You’re soaked. You could do worse than to get into a nice, dry, vehicle.

She folded her arms across her chest defensively. "I am not getting into a car with a stranger. Especially someone who calls me Sweetheart."

With that, she turned and continued walking. Dean stared after her. For some reason that he just couldn't explain, he got out of the dry warm car and ran to follow her. Maybe he just didn't like her opinion of him. He wasn't just some sleaze bag trying to pick her up, and he was going to make her see that.

"Dean Winchester!" He called out as he ran towards her. Rain splatting his face.

She paused and turned to face him just as he caught up with her. "Excuse me?" she asked

"That's my name." He replied.

"O-kay," she drawled out. "I'm still not getting into you're car with you."

She continued walking. Dean soon caught up with her and when she didn't stop he ran in front of her and walked backwards.

"I'm 23 years old. My father's name is John Winchester. I have a younger brother, Sam. I was born in Lawrence, Kansas. My car is my prized possession. I love AC/DC and Metallica. I can't stand anything pop-related, especially Britney Spears. I hate spinach, and I'm sorry about the whole Sweetheart thing." Dean said quickly in one long breath.

"So," She began, a hint of a smile appearing on her face. "You're telling me this because..."

"Because now I'm not a stranger." He grinned "Well kind of, but I have a lot of other things I can tell you if it'll make you get out of the rain with me."

"You're a very persistent man, Dean Winchester. Has anyone ever told you that?" The girl asked as they continued walking.

"Nah," He said, still walking backwards. "You're the first."

"Does that mean you're not going to take no for an answer?" she questioned.

"Not like-" Dean's sentence was cut off as he walked backwards straight into a telephone pole. "Son of a bitch!" He yelled.

Dean stumbled to the side and placed a hand on the back of his head. Standing up straight once more, he took his hand from his head and looked at his palm. At least he wasn't bleeding but it still hurt like hell.

"God damn it." He hissed.

The girl was looking at him stunned but there was also a tiny hint of amusement in her eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"No." He replied, placing his hand back on his head.

She sighed and moved closer to him. She grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away from his head. "Turn around, and let me have a look."

He did as she asked. Thirty seconds later he turned back around. Neither of them noticed that she was still holding his wrist.

"I think you'll live." she told him.

"See now you have to come with me." He said

"I do, do I?"

"Yes. You owe me."

"How do you figure that one out?"

"Well, one you caused me to get of my car and get completely soaked in this rain-" He began.

"-Ah, I never told you to follow me like some sort of stalker."

"Second," Dean continued "You gave me a bump on my head."

"Oh I did that?"

"Yes."

There was a pause and even though it was dark and the rain made it even harder to see, Dean could tell that he was finally winning her over. Lighting flashed above them and lit the sky for half a second.

Dean sighed, "Please, I just don't like seeing you walking around by yourself at night, in the pouring rain. There’s a lot of...creeps out and about. We can go wherever you want or we can just, you know, sit in the car."

"Okay." She said with a nod.

"Really?" Dean asked, not meaning to sound as excited as he did. He cleared his throat and tried for a casual expression. "Car’s back this way."

The girl laughed as Dean took her hand and led her back to the direction of the Impala. His head still hurt but he felt like it had been worth it get her to agree to go with him. Man, something was wrong. He didn't normally act like this in front of women. That was more of a Sam thing to do. When they reached the Impala, Dean opened the passenger door for her and waited until she was safely in before he ran around and got in behind the wheel. They were both soaked completely and it was then that Dean realized how cold she must have been because she was shaking slightly.

"Cold?" he asked

She shot him a look which clearly said 'Duh.'

"So, do you want to stay or is there some place I can take you?" He asked.

"You could drive me back to my motel." she suggested.

"I knew there was one around here somewhere." Dean said, mostly to himself. He looked over at her and smiled. "Where is this motel?"

"About 25 minutes that way," replied the girl. Pointing in the direction they had just been walking. "I was attempting to get back there when you came along."

Dean started the car and slowly drove down the street.

"I'm Pepper by the way." she said.

"Pepper? As in Salt n'-"

"Don't" She warned.

Dean laughed.

He ended up finding the motel pretty quickly and parked right in front of her room. Once the car stopped, he really didn't know what to do or say. Normally he would try a move on her, or say a line to guarantee him an invite inside but he really didn’t have that kind of intention when he had gone after her. He really did just want her to be safe. Not that he would ever tell her or anyone else that.

"Do you wanna come inside?" Pepper asked, breaking Dean out of his thoughts.

"What?" He asked.

"Inside? Where there's heat and dry towels." Pepper explained.

He nodded and together they got out of the car. When they entered the small motel room, Pepper turned on the light. So it must have just been the street lights that weren’t working. She disappeared into the adjoining bathroom and Dean stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. Pepper came out of the bathroom a minute later carrying two cream colored towels. She threw one to Dean.

"I'm going to grab a quick shower." said Pepper. "You're welcome to jump in after me."

"Sure I'll just go grab some spare clothes from my trunk."

Pepper nodded and went straight back into the bathroom. Dean placed the towel he had onto the bed before quickly going out in the rain again. He grabbed his bag out of the trunk and ran back into the motel room. He could hear the water running in the shower and tried to relax and not think about the naked blonde bombshell in the next room. As he had expected, it wasn't the easiest thing in the world to do. Soon the water stopped and Dean waited for Pepper to come out of the bathroom.

She walked out wearing a pair of winter pajama pants with a matching long sleeve shirt. Dean took in her outfit.

"Dressed to impress there are ya?" He asked. A grin forming on his face.

"It's cold and I'm tired." she replied. "Now hurry up before I change my mind and make you go back out in the rain."

He picked up the towel off the bed and walked closer to her. Standing in front of her, he looked down and grinned. "You'll make me. I'd like to see you try."

"Oh I can hold my own, Buddy." Pepper grinned back. She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him towards the bathroom door. "Now go," she gently shoved him into the bathroom.

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Dean stood under the hot spray of the shower. The room filled up with steam and he had to admit that it was a nice feeling after being in the rain. He got out five minutes later and quickly got dressed. He tried to imagine what to expect when he went back out there. On the one hand, Pepper seemed very interested in him but on the other she could just be flirting with him. And she did look a little young for him, well younger than he'd be use to.

He walked back out into the main room. Pepper was sitting on the queen-sized bed with her legs crossed and her attention on the small television on the other end of the room. When she noticed him, she looked up and smiled.

"You took your time." she said.

He shrugged and moved to sit on the edge of the bed, facing her.

"I better get going" he said

"Do you have somewhere to be?"

"Well, no but I just thought..."

"That I'd kick you out once you'd had a shower?" She asked and he nodded a response. She slowly smiled and crawled the short distance towards him. Sitting on her knees, she ran a hand through his short hair, scratching his scalp with her fingernails lightly. "You are so cute." she said.

"Yeah?" He asked and couldn’t help but smile.

Pepper nodded, "It's still pouring outside, and you have been extremely nice to me. It's okay if you want to stay until the rain stops." she offered him one last smile before sliding back to the head of the bed where she leaned her back against the headboard.

Dean stayed still for a few minutes then eventually moved up to sit beside her.

"What were you doing out in the middle of a storm anyway?" He asked her after a few minutes.

"I was driving and my car broke down, and then my phone died." She replied. "I thought I could make it back here before it got dark but then it started to rain and well, my umbrella ended up breaking."

"Bad luck."

"Yeah, but it's slowly picking up." She added with a smile.

"Slowly?" Dean asked. He turned his attention away from the TV to look at her.

She nodded slowly with a cheeky smile on her face. Dean chuckled and placed one arm around her waist.

"What about you, Dean." She asked "What were you doing driving in the rain?"

"Trying to find this place actually." Dean replied.

"But what were you doing in this town to begin with?"

"I'd been...working." he replied slowly, careful of what he said. "I was kind of just passing through."

"And what is it that you do?"

"I just...travel."

"Doing what though?"

Dean let out a long breath and slumped his shoulders forward. There was a family rule. Don't tell anyone about what you do. Unless they were fellow hunters of course and this girl defiantly was not a hunter. This would be the part where he'd tell her he was a police officer, or a photographer to the stars, or a talent scout. Some crap of lies to impress her. But with Pepper it didn't feel like he needed to impress her. Maybe he should tell her. After all what’s the worse thing that could happen?

"Dean?" Pepper asked

He hadn't noticed that he had been staring at the wall, until she waved her hand in front of his face. He blinked a few times before returning his attention on her.

"Are you okay?" she asked "You seemed to have spaced out there a bit. Look if you don't actually have a job then-"

"-I have a job" Dean said quickly.

"A paying job?"

"Ah, no. Not really." He paused. "What would you say if I told you that ghosts and demons are real?" he asked her.

Pepper slowly slid away from him causing his arm to fall onto a pillow. She climbed off the bed and stood on the opposite side from him. He could see her tense up and he instantly regretted opening his big mouth.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing." Dean said quickly. "Just, forget I said anything."

He got of the bed and headed towards the door. May as well get out of there before he really freaked her out.

"No, tell me." Pepper insisted. "What did you mean?"

He stopped in front of the door. He could still hear the rain pouring outside. Turning around to face her, he said, "They're real. That's what I do. Me and my family...well me and Dad anyway. We go around and find demons, vampires, werewolves, you name it and-"

Pepper sighed in relief which cause Dean to stop mid sentence in confusion.

"Oh thank god." She said, smiling.

"Huh?"

"You're a hunter. Right?"

"Yeah I- wait. You know about hunters?"

"Ah huh." Pepper nodded. "My grandfather is a hunter."

Dean leaned back against the door and closed his eyes, tilting his head back. Man was he relieved. He really didn't want to leave that motel room. He heard Pepper laughing so he opened his eyes to look at her. She had seated herself on the edge of the bed, facing him. The sound of her laughter made him relax completely.

"Why did you get so freaked out when I mentioned demons if you're grandfather's a hunter?" Dean asked as he moved away from the door.

Pepper shrugged, "I wasn't sure what you'd say. I mean you could have been some weirdo who's obsessed with Anne Rice books. Or you could have been a demon." She paused and her expression turned very serious. "It's a good thing you're not because my granddad would have killed me for being so careless."

Dean smiled down at her before he sat down beside her on the bed.

"Is your grandfather strict about that kind of stuff?" He asked

"A little bit. Which is annoying but understandable."

"Are you going to follow in his footsteps?"

"Oh defiantly not." She replied quickly. Then added, "not that there’s anything wrong with hunting but it’s just not me."

"It doesn't seem to be a lot of people," Dean muttered in agreement, thinking about his brother and how he recently left to go to college.

"How did your family first get involved in hunting?" Pepper asked, as she placed on hand onto Dean's knee.

"When I was little my, ah mom died." He said.

"Oh," Pepper gasped sadly. She moved her other hand to the back of his neck.

"I was four so I don't remember much but...there was a fire and my mum was on the ceiling." Dean said sadly. His head hanging slightly low. Even now, many years later he still hated re-living the night his mother died. Even if he didn’t remember a lot of the details. "Since then, Dad's been dragging my brother and I across the country looking for the demon that killed her."

Pepper's hand ran up and down his neck, in a comforting gesture. "I am very sorry that you lost you mother, Dean. That must have been horrible."

Dean looked up and turned slightly to face her. He nodded once. Pepper moved her hand from his neck to his cheek and ran her thumb over his cheek bone.

"At least...you still have your father." Pepper continued, offering him a comforting smile. "And your brother."

Dean scoffed, "Yeah, well, Sammy's off at college and Dad..." he sighed, "Lets just say that even when Dad's here he's not entirely... here. Does that make sense?"

"Sadly, yes." Pepper frowned. "Have you ever thought about doing something else?"

"I couldn't. My dad needs me."

"But what about what you need, Dean?"

Dean shrugged, "That doesn't really matter."

"Of course it matters."

Pepper watched him for a long moment. Then she smiled and stood up. Dean watched her as she moved towards the bathroom, where their wet clothes still lay on the floor.

"Where are you going?" He asked, even though it was obvious.

"I have something for you," she called out.

Dean frowned in confusion. How could she have anything for him if they only just met a few hours ago? Pepper emerged from the bathroom carrying something in her hand. Dean turned back around as she walked over to him.

Standing in front of him, knee to knee, she opened up her hand to reveal a necklace. It was more of a pendant but Dean didn’t recognize the symbol. Sam would probably know what it was. It looked like it came from Egypt.

"This," she said, holding the necklace before him. "Was given to me by my mother before she died." She carefully straddled his lap, making sure that he could still see the necklace. "I don’t know the real meaning of it but, she told me that it would bring me luck and protection. I want you to have it."

"Oh, Pep I cant-"

"Yeah you can." Pepper carefully placed the necklace around his neck. "It'll remind you that you're not alone," pausing briefly to stroke his jaw line and neck, she smiled. "And that this world can be a wonderful place."

Dean looked down at the necklace. "Can it?" he asked

Pepper placed one hand under his chin and tilted his head back up to look into his eyes. Her face broke out into a grin.

"Well, this world’s got me and you in it, so it can’t be all bad.”

Dean grinned back and moved his hands to her hips, holding her close.

"Thanks." said Dean.

Pepper leaned forward and kissed him lightly. Dean kept his mouth closed, unsure as to how deep Pepper would take the kiss. She pulled back and smiled sweetly. Dean barely had any time to think before Pepper kissed him again. This time harder and more passionate. She pressed herself against his chest and he opened his mouth to welcome her tongue. Dean moved his hands up her sides to tangle in her hair, bringing her even closer against his body.

In one quick movement, Dean lifted Pepper up and rolled them over, laying her back against the bed. They continued kissing and Dean moved his hands to cradle her face gently.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sunlight poured in through the gaps between the curtains and spilled across Dean's face. His eyes moved beneath his lids. Without opening his eyes, Dean lifted up his right arm up and rubbed his hand roughly over his face to bring him fully out of his state of sleep. He yawned. When he tried to move his other arm he found that he couldn't because it was trapped under something. His eyes shot open as he turned his head. He was a little surprised when to see a blonde headed girl lying on his left arm the was stretched out. Her cheek rested against the side of his chest.

He couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. And this wasn't the usual smug smile that he got after waking up with a girl from the night before. He brought his arm up and curled it around her, pulling Pepper closer. She sighed contently in her sleep which only made his smile wider.

It was the first time that Dean could remember waking up with a girl after spending the night together that hadn't ended up with sex. Sure they had been close to doing it after she had given him her necklace but, she wasn't lying when she said that she was tired and Dean couldn't drag himself out of the bed which was why he fell asleep with her.

Dean leaned forward and kissed, Pepper gently on her forehead.

He wasn't exactly in a hurry to go anywhere. He still had two days before he had to meet up with his father and spending the next few days with Pepper in this small town wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. In fact it would probably be one of the best.

With those thoughts running through his head, Dean closed his eyes once more and fell asleep.

TBC

Next Chapter - Killer Clowns And Wake Up Calls

Connection 4/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:58:12 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Connection
CHAPTER - Shock and Shopping 4/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M but subject to change
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 3845
SUMMARY - While dealing with the aftermath of the fight with the YED, John can’t help but remember his odd dream, and how he could help his son.
WARNINGS - Apart from this being an AU I can't think of any.
BETA - Alycia
A/N - See chapter one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER FOUR - SHOCK AND SHOPPING

"Hi, Granddad." Pepper smiled warmly at Bobby.

Dean's eyes grew wide and he looked from Pepper to Bobby and back again in shock. Sam was busy staring at Bobby, waiting for him to say something. John kept staring at Pepper. While he was secretly relieved that she was there, he was also very, very much surprised to hear her call Bobby 'granddad'.

'Oh shit,' he thought. When he had dreamed about Pepper he never would have guessed that she had a life connected to demons or the supernatural. Not to mention that he never would have believed that she would be related to a fellow hunter, let alone one with whom which he and his sons were now staying with. John didn't even know that Bobby had had a child, let alone a grandchild.

"W-what?" Dean finally managed to ask. He closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to shake his shock away.

Bobby ignored him and instead asked Pepper, "What are you doing here, Pepper?"

"I was in town, so I thought I'd crash here for a while." Shrugging, she added. "I didn't think you'd mind."

"Of course I don't mind, Pepper." replied Bobby with a deep sigh. "You know that you're always welcome... Wait, what were you doing around here anyway?" he asked.

"Oh, I was visiting Dean." She replied. As if it were nothing. "You know, while he was in the hospital."

Dean turned his head to look at his shoes to avoid eye contact with Bobby. Which was probably a good idea because as soon as Pepper had said that she had been visiting Dean, his head turned sharply and he shot Dean the filthiest look that Sam had ever seen. It was as if Bobby had multiple ideas in his head of how, and why, his granddaughter would be seen around the young Winchester. Dean finally decided to look at Bobby and was so shocked (and a little scared) that he took a few steps away from the fellow hunter. Bringing him closer to Pepper.

He turned to her, eyes still wide in shock and a little fear and hissed, "Why didn't you ever tell me that you're grandfather was Bobby Singer?"

"You never asked," she hissed back.

"Alright, how the hell do you two know each other?" Bobby demanded.

Dean and Pepper both turned to look at a more than slightly angry Bobby.

"Granddad, we're just friends." Pepper tried to assure him.

Dean nodded his head vigorously in agreement. He didn't want to piss Bobby off more than what he seemed to be. He didn't need to know that he and Pepper were a little closer than most friends were.

Bobby stared at them for a long moment, as if trying to decide whether or not they were lying to him. Eventually his shoulders slumped and his gaze softened. Pepper smiled and walked over to him. She stretched up and hugged him. As they hugged, Dean sighed and dropped down on to the sofa placing his head in his hands.

Bobby pulled back from Pepper, "You should have called first." he told her.

She stepped back and shrugged, "Yeah but then it wouldn't have been a surprise. And I wouldn't have seen the shocked look on your face." She grinned.

"I'm not so shocked that you're here" Bobby told her. "Just that you already know the Winchesters."

"Well I know Dean," said Pepper. Then as an after thought added, "and I met, Sammy over at the hospital." she turned and smiled at Sammy.

Bobby placed a hand on Pepper's back and guided her around to where John was standing in front of the sofa.

"Pepper this is John," he introduced her. "John this is my granddaughter, Pepper."

"Hey," Pepper smiled.

John nodded and offered her a small smile in return. She was basically as he remembered her from his dream. She was warm and welcoming towards him and she seemed to be just as welcoming to Sam.

"I think we better have those beers now." John said, looking at Bobby.

"I think you're right," Bobby agreed. "Would you like anything, Pepper?"

"No I'm okay." she replied.

Bobby nodded and walked back towards the kitchen. John followed him so that he could help him. Once they were gone, Pepper turned and looked down at Dean, who still had his head in his hands and was looking at a random spot on the floor. She slowly sat down beside him.

Nudging him lightly with her shoulder, "Well that could have been worse."

"You're kidding me, right?" he asked, finally lifting his head up to look at her. "I thought Bobby was going to kill me."

"Oh it wasn't that bad," Pepper said with a small laugh in her tone. "Besides, he wouldn't have killed you."

"Yeah?" Dean asked

"Yes. Not with three witnesses in the room." grinned Pepper.

Dean glared at her. He leaned back against the sofa, throwing one arm over and around the back.

"Dean, are you scared of Bobby?" Sam asked.

"Shut up, Sam." Dean grumbled in response, causing Pepper to laugh.

Bobby and John came back into the room carrying four beers. Well Bobby carried three, while John only had one, seeing as he still had a broken arm in a sling. Bobby handed a beer to Sam and Dean before taking a long deep swig out of his own.

"So are you all staying here or just stopping by?" Pepper asked, once everyone seemed a little more comfortable.

"Bobby was kind enough to let us stay here for a couple of weeks." replied Sam, "but now I guess we better find a motel-"

"Why’s that now?" Pepper asked with a confused look.

"Because you're here," Sam replied slowly "and there’s only one spare bedroom and Dad's sleeping on the sofa so there's really not much room for all of us."

"And I'm guessing that you'd be more likely to stay then any of us," added Dean

"Yeah, but I have my own room upstairs."

"There's another spare room?" Dean asked, turning to Bobby. "Where is it?"

"Upstairs, opposite Granddad’s room." said Pepper.

"I thought you said that was a closet?" Sam asked Bobby.

"I'm not going to let you boys into my granddaughter's room" Bobby informed them firmly. "Especially when she's not even here."

"Oh, so while I am here..." Pepper began. She trailed off and licked her bottom lip.

Bobby gave her a stern look while Dean moved even further away from her on the sofa. He didn't want to give Bobby any ideas about the two of them. Pepper laughed again and settled back against the sofa. They remained like that for a while and eventually Bobby, John and Sam settled back with some books and began research. Dean was just happy to sit down and relax with a beer, and with Pepper. But he tried not to show that in front of his father, brother and especially not in front of her grandfather. Shit, it was going to take him a while to get over that little bit of knowledge.

Pepper looked around the room at the three men with their noses in books.

"Hey, Granddad?" She asked slowly yet sweetly.

Bobby sighed and without looking up said, "what is it, Pepper."

"Why is this place such a mess?"

"What, it's not that bad" Bobby said.

"It looks like a bomb hit it," said Pepper, "and...Exploded old books everywhere."

"Leave it alone, unless you want to clean it."

"I am not going to be your maid." she told him. "But this place used to look so nice." she whined. When Bobby didn't answer her she let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine. Fine but my room better not look like this."

"I haven’t been into your room since you where here last." Bobby told her.

"Oh," she said. "Well, okay then."

Bobby shook his head and went back to reading his book.

John silently watched the exchange between Bobby and Pepper. In truth he felt a little jealous of their relationship. They seemed so open with each other. John never really had that with Dean or Sam. Dean was busy following orders to let himself relax, and Sam was too busy questioning everything that John told him. This was just another time that made John regret the choices he had made for his boys during their lives, but then again maybe he could make up for it by bringing Pepper into the mix. If Bobby didn't kill Dean of course.

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Later that night, or well early the next morning as it was 12.43am, when everyone else in the house was deep in sleep, Dean carefully made his way down the stairs. Trying to avoid any stairs that might creak when he stepped on them, he moved past the sofa and checked that his father wouldn't wake up. When he was sure that he was safe, he walked into the kitchen looking for something to drink.

He just couldn't sleep and he blamed Pepper. Well he didn't really blame her, just the situation in general. If this was any other time or place he would probably be in bed with her right now and the fact that he couldn't sleep wouldn't be a problem. However it was a problem, because not only was his family here, but so was her grandfather. Dean was still sure that Bobby could and would kill him if he caught him with Pepper in any sort of way. He had made sure to keep his distance from Pepper while Bobby was around. It didn't help however to have Pepper hinting at a possible sexual situation whenever she could. When he asked her why, she’d said she just liked seeing him squirm.

He found a cold beer in the fridge and grabbed it, hoping that it might help him sleep. He closed the fridge and took a long drink from the bottle just as the kitchen door opened and Bobby came in. Dean immediately stiffened.

"Hi, Bobby," he said slowly. "What, what are you doing up?"

"I'm always up around this time." Bobby explained, "It's hard to sleep through the night when you've been on as many hunts as I have."

"Dad seems to be sleeping fine."

"Your father's on pain medication for his arm and his leg."

"Oh, right. Well..." Dean looked around the small kitchen nervously, "I better get back to bed. Get a few more hours sleep before I start fixing the Impala."

He moved past Bobby, thankful that the subject of Pepper hadn't been brought up. He made it just to the kitchen door when Bobby spoke.

"Wait, Dean." came the older man's deep voice. "I want to talk to you about, Pepper."

Dean cringed. He knew he couldn't get out of this conversation so he turned around and walked back over to Bobby.

"What about Pepper?"

Bobby sighed, "I want to know what kind of relationship you have with her."

"I... we're just friends." Dean said quickly.

"How long have you known her?"

"Just a couple of years." came Dean's answer.

"Has anything ever...happened between you two?"

"Ah," Dean drawled out

"I don't want to know the details." Bobby added quickly. "I just need to know if I have to be worried about her with you."

Dean frowned, "Do you think I'd hurt her?" he asked, a little shocked that Bobby would think that of him.

"I've known you for most of your life, Dean." Bobby replied "I've seen you go from woman to woman looking for the next fling."

"Yeah, but... I'd never do that to Pepper."

"You better not boy," Bobby warned. "Pepper is the most important thing in my life and if you hurt her, in any way, don't think I won’t hunt you down and beat the shit out of you."

"Understood." nodded Dean vigorously.

Bobby gave him one last look until Dean finally turned and walked out of the kitchen.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One week passed without too much drama. Dean stopped trying to walk on eggshells around Bobby and relaxed more. He had been working on the Impala ever since and it was looking pretty damn good. John went off most days, saying that he was just going out for a drink or walk, but Dean and Sam knew that he was going out to get more information on the demon and how to find it again. Sam had wanted to call him on it, but Dean eventually made him promise not too until they had the Impala up and running again.

Dean just didn't want to fight. What they didn't know was that John was also spending a lot of time away thinking about his dream and what might happen between Dean and Pepper. Bobby and Sam kept busy by getting spare parts for the Impala and Pepper simply hung around, making sure Dean didn't do too much after just leaving the hospital, even though in his mind he was fine do to anything.

It was early in the day and Dean was lying on his back under his beloved car. His tools to one side and an old rag on the other. His hands were dirty and covered in grease and dust from both the car and the ground. His hands were up above his head when he saw a pair of legs jean clad legs in heels coming towards him, out of the corner of his eye. He continued to work as Pepper bent down and crawled underneath the car beside him, moving the rag out of the way in the process. She rolled onto her back and turned her face to watch his for a moment.

"Having fun?" she asked.

"Oh yeah. Loads." he replied, without looking at her.

Sighing, Pepper asked, "Do you know where, Sammy is?"

"No." he replied "Last time I saw him he was upstairs, snoring."

"He was not."

Dean smirked, "Well you'll never know." he paused and turned his head to the side to look at her. "Why do you need to know where Sam is?" he asked when his curiosity got the better of him.

"I'm going grocery shopping and I need someone to carry all the heavy bags."

"Take Bobby."

"I would but, Granddad seems to have disappear as soon as I suggested shopping," Pepper replied with a slight shrug. "I think he's allergic to domestic situations. This would explain why the house is such a mess."

Dean chuckled and looked back up at the car.

"And your father’s off somewhere doing god knows what." continued Pepper.

"Why are you going grocery shopping?" Dean asked, changing the subject. He didn't want to talk about what his father might or might not be doing.

"Dean, I have had to live in a house with four men for the past seven days," she slowly explained and Dean once again looked over at her. "And if we're all going to keep on living here peacefully then I'm going to need to be able to eat something that wasn't ordered from a take-out menu."

That caused Dean to laugh and shake his head. Offering her a small smile he asked, "D'you need any money? Seeing as me and my family will be eating most of whatever you buy."

"Do you even have any money to give me?"

"Sure-"

"-Besides your credit card scam money?"

"Oh," he paused. "Then no. Sorry."

"It's okay. I didn't expect you to pay anyway. But it was very sweet to offer. Thank you."

Pepper smiled and placed one hand on the side of his face. They both leaned towards each other until their lips touched, which was hard with Dean's arms still above his head, but they managed. The kiss was short and when they pulled back, Pepper continued to stroke Dean's jaw and neck.

"I better get back to looking for your brother," said Pepper before she carefully slid out from underneath the Impala.

Frowning, Dean placed his tools down and also moved out from under his precious baby. He brought his knees up, but didn't try to stand as he looked up at Pepper, who was busy brushing the dirt off the back of her jeans.

"Why haven’t you asked me to go shopping with you?" He asked a little hurt that she hadn't asked him.

She smiled slightly and moved over to him. She held her hands out to him and he took a hold of them. He used them to pull himself up and watched as she thought about what to say when he heard his brother making his way towards them. It took Dean a few moments to realize that he and Pepper were still holding hands. Normally that wouldn't have bothered him, because it was Pepper but since Sam was there he felt like he needed to distance himself from Pepper...by a few inches. So he let go of her hands and bent down to pick up the old rag he had been using all day.

"Hey, Sammy." Pepper greeted him. She didn't seem to mind the sudden change in Dean.

Sam frowned slightly at the name but didn't say anything. He had learned days ago that she was going to keep calling him 'Sammy,' and he had better just get used to it.

"Hi, Pepper. Bobby said you were looking for me." said Sam.

"Did he now?" asked Pepper, folding her arms over her chest. "Did he also tell you not to tell me where he is?"

"Um, yeah he did. So what's going on?" Sam asked.

"I need someone to come grocery shopping with me," explained Pepper. "And seeing as how my grandfather’s conveniently disappeared..." she pointed a finger towards Sam, "You'll have to do."

"What about Dean?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, what about Dean?" said Dean as he wiped his hands on the rag and looked at Pepper. "Why haven’t I been asked to go shopping?"

"Because I know you." Pepper replied shortly.

"And?" Dean asked

"And the minute I turn my back you'll fill the shopping cart with junk food." Pepper said matter-of-factly.

Dean scoffed, "I will not. You know what, Pep; I think I'll go shopping anyway."

Dean tossed the rag to the ground and began walking towards the house.

"You only want to come because I told you not too," said Pepper as Dean walked past Sam.

"Yah ha." Dean called out.

Sam watched Dean before turning to Pepper with an amused look on his face. Pepper thought for a moment and then smiled as she had an idea.

"Okay, Dean. But just so you know, we'll be taking my car!" She called out.

Dean immediately turned around and walked back over to the Impala. Pepper smirked at her victory, and then she noticed that Sam was looking at her silently asking 'huh?'

"Dean hates my car." She explained.

"What kind of car is it?" Sam asked

"It's a-"

"It's a bug." Dean said, interrupting Pepper.

She just smiled, ignoring him. "So," she clapped her hands together, "Sammy. Shopping."

"Oh, well-" Sam began.

"Oh, Sammy I wasn't asking." Pepper said before she walked past him.

Sam turned to Dean who shrugged, offering Sam no help at all. Without really knowing why, Sam turned and followed Pepper. Dean watched them go before he got to his knees and crawled back under the Impala.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam and Pepper were slowly walking down one isle of a small supermarket, about 45 minutes away from Bobby's. Sam was pushing a half filled cart in front of him while Pepper grabbed items from the shelves and placed them in. Sam had been nervous about being alone with Pepper. He hadn't been alone with her at all since they met and he didn't really know what to make of her. Now, after spending over half an hour with her he found that she was actually fun to hang out with. She was sweet yet she was also a little controlling.

"So, ah, Pepper," Sam began, as they stopped near some caned soup.

"Yes, Sammy?" she asked, looking between two different brands of vegetable soup.

"Is Pepper your actual name or a nickname?" He asked.

For some reason Sam wanted to know as much about her as he could. He guessed that it had a lot to do with the fact that she was Bobby's granddaughter, and that she seemed so close with Dean. And he had never seen anyone act that way with Dean before. The pair seemed comfortable around each other and Sam knew, without having to ask that there was some kind of love involved.

"Nickname," replied Pepper as she tossed one can into the cart. "My real name is Heidi."

"So where did Pepper come from?"

"Well, according to my grandfather, when I was about five years old, my mom and I were visiting him. It was lunch time so she was setting the table and I was apparently so hungry, that I couldn't wait and in my attempt to get near the table I...knocked over the pepper shaker and breathed most of it in." Pepper replied. She closed her eyes briefly and shook her head before adding. "Grandad says I sneezed for hours afterwards. And I've been Pepper ever since."

"And no one calls you Heidi?"

"My mom use too, but she was the only one."

"Use too? Did she...die?" Sam asked carefully. Having lost his own mother he knew how sore that subject could be and he was starting to really like Pepper, so he didn't want to bring up and subject that might upset her.

"Yes, she died when I was ten. Car accident." Pepper nodded. She smiled sadly, "It's just been me and Granddad ever since."

"Sorry," Sam said sadly.

"Thank you. I guess I could say sorry for everyone you've lost as well." she said, offering a genuine smile of regret. "I'm sorry about your mom, and your girlfriend"

"You know about Jessica?" asked Sam. Surprised that she knew about her death.

"Sure, Dean told me." Pepper replied before she began walking further down the aisle.

Sam quickly followed her, pushing the cart in front of him.

"When did he tell you?" he asked.

"A few days after it happened."

"Wait," Sam suddenly stopped. He waited for Pepper to turn around and look at him before he asked, "How long have you known my brother?"

"Not that long" she replied "Just a little over three years."

"Three years?" Sam repeated. "How...you know, how did you meet?"

Pepper smiled, "I knew you were going to ask that." She walked over and leaned against the front of the shopping cart. "I'll tell you but you have to promise not to tell Dean that I told you," She paused briefly, before adding "He's weird about that sort of thing."

Sam nodded in agreement. He had a feeling that Pepper's story would fall under the category of 'Chick flick' moments that Dean hated so much.

"Yeah, I won’t say anything." Sam promised.

"Right," Pepper began, with a grin. "Well...."

TBC

Next Chapter - The Past

Connection 3/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:50:38 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Connection
CHAPTER - Pepper's Identity 3/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M but subject to change
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 793
SUMMARY - While dealing with the aftermath of the fight with the YED, John can’t help but remember his odd dream, and how he could help his son.
WARNINGS - Apart from this being an AU I can't think of any.
BETA - Alycia
A/N - See chapter one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER THREE - PEPPER'S IDENTITY

Sam pulled the mini van up to the front of Bobby's house.

"Hey, Sam." said Dean, just as Sam was about to open his door and get out of the car.

Sam turned around to face his brother. "What?"

"Do ya think you could, maybe, not tell Dad about Pepper?" Dean asked

"Why?" Sam asked, confused.

"No reason." Dean shrugged, "I just don't want to deal with some of his questions."

Sam thought for a moment and then nodded his head. "Sure. I won’t say anything."

"Thanks, Sam."

Together they got out of the mini van and walked up the stairs to Bobby's front door. The door wasn't locked and Bobby was expecting them back so Sam simply walked in without knocking. Besides, Bobby would have seen the van anyway. They walked into the house and found John and Bobby in the living room.

Bobby's place was still a complete mess, with books and weapons everywhere. Bobby was sitting at his desk beside the wall reading a book while John was sitting on the old ratty sofa, trying to sort out his ammo with only one arm. They each had a bottle of beer beside them. Bobby was the first to notice them and he smiled slightly, glad that they were back and okay.

"Hey," Bobby greeted them as he stood up. "How're you feeling, Dean?"

"Yeah, I'm good." Dean replied "I just want to start working on my baby."

John smiled slightly as he pulled himself to his feet. "That's pretty much what we thought you'd want to do." He walked over to Dean and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's good to see you out of that hospital, son."

"Yeah and into some decent clothes." agreed Dean with a grin.

Behind Dean, Sam rolled his eyes while Bobby shook his head. This was typical Dean Winchester.

"So, how bad does she look?" Dean asked, referring to his car. "Roughly how long do you think it will take to fix?"

He looked around the room, but no one seemed to want to answer that question. Sam, John and Bobby all looked at each other as if waiting for the others to answer and tell Dean that his prize possession was almost totally destroyed. After a few moments, Bobby finally spoke.

"You boys want a beer?" He asked

"Yes thanks." said Sam

"Okay, thanks Bobby." Dean replied.

Bobby turned and quickly walked into his kitchen. Dean turned around to face both Sam and John.

"I'm just gonna find out when I start working on her you know." He told them.

Sam opened his mouth to reply but stopped when he heard the front door open. All three men turn around to see what had caused the door to open. Being hunters, they were always cautious about such things even if it was probably the wind. Then, to Dean's utter surprise, Pepper walked into the room. She had her head down and was busy placing her car keys into her bag. John recognized her instantly from his dream. Without noticing the three shocked men in front of her, she moved to a small table by the entrance, which was covered in books. She placed her bag down and took the strap off of her shoulder. It was when she started taking her jacket off that Dean finally found his voice.

"Pepper?" he asked

Pepper paused then turned around slowly, one jacket sleeve still on her arm. "Um, hi, Dean." she said slowly. Shocked that he was standing there.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Dean asked.

Pepper frowned and took off her jacket, placing it over her bag on the table before moving closer to the three shocked Winchesters.

"Well what are you doing here?" she asked, waving one hand around slightly.

"I asked you first."

Pepper placed one hand on her hip and shook her head. "We are not starting that again, Dean." she told him.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Sam demanded as he looked from Pepper to Dean and back again. "Why are you here, Pepper?" he asked her

"I'm here to se-" She began but was interrupted.

Bobby came out of the kitchen with a concerned look on his face. He had heard the commotion from the kitchen but wasn't sure what was going on so he came out to check. When he saw Pepper his face changed to an expression of joy mixed with a hell of a lot of shock.

"Pepper?" He asked.

Dean, Sam and John all turned to Bobby. They were shocked. How the hell did Bobby know Pepper? In the meantime, Pepper smiled warmly at Bobby. She took her hand off her hip and waved slightly and said...

"Hi, Grandad."

TBC

Next Chapter - Shock and Shopping

Connection 2/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:40:59 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Connection
CHAPTER - The Arrival of a Friend 2/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M but subject to change
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 4142
SUMMARY - While dealing with the aftermath of the fight with the YED, John can’t help but remember his odd dream, and how he could help his son.
WARNINGS - Apart from this being an AU I can't think of any.
BETA - Alycia
A/N - See chapter one
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER TWO - THE ARRIVAL OF A FRIEND

Dean woke up early the very next morning. After opening his eyes and blinking a few times, it took him a while to remember where he was and what had happened. He remembered the demon nearly tearing him apart and he remembered being in the Impala when that truck had hit them. Judging by what he was wearing, and the fact that he was in a small bed, Dean knew he was in a hospital. He ran a hand lightly over his face, feeling all the cuts and bruises there before checking the rest of his body. He felt a bit tired and sore but guessed that he would for awhile. What he wanted and needed to do now was find out if Sam and his father were okay, and he also needed to find out how long he had been here.

Tossing back the hospital blanket, Dean slowly got down from the bed. He smiled when he noticed a bag on the floor. He reached down and pulled the bag up before opening it and taking out a pair of jeans and a shirt. Just as he was about to take of the white shirt he was wearing, he heard a voice from the doorway of his room.

"Should you be getting out of bed?" A familiar female voice asked.

Dean spun around with a surprise look on his face. Standing in the doorway was a young girl with blonde hair, which was tied in a braid and hung over her left shoulder and her eyes were blue. She was smiling at him with her arms folded under her chest as she leaned against the wall. She wore a pair of black slacks and a white blouse.

"Pepper?" Dean asked, still slightly shocked but with a small smile upon his face. "What, what are you doing here?"

"First, should you be getting out of bed?" She asked him again. "You look awful"

"Oh thanks." Dean said sarcastically and sat down on the edge of the bed with a frown.

Pepper smirked, "Ah, you know I think you're gorgeous." She made her way over to him a stopped just in front of him. Her eyes roamed over his body with concern in her gaze. "Dean, what happened to you?"

"Long version or short version?"

She thought for a moment and then shrugged. "Short."

"Alright, we were attacked by the demon-" Dean began

"We?"

"Dad, Sam and I." he explained. "Things got a bit...messy then we were on our way here when the Impala was hit by a truck."

"Oh my god." Pepper gasped "Is everyone okay?"

"I don't know. I just woke up. I have no idea how long I've been here or where my family is." Dean said with a frustrated tone. He really needed to find out what had happened. "For all I know they could be-"

"Dean." Pepper placed her hands just underneath his jaw, careful of his bruises. "I'm sure they're both fine. Okay?" She paused before smiling. "Tell you what, I'll go out and find a doctor or someone who can tell us what’s going on if you get back into bed and rest."

"You want me to rest?"

"Like I said, Dean, you don't look great and you were in an accident. You should be resting not stressing out."

"Fine, but if you're not back in, like, five minutes I'm getting up." He warned

Pepper stepped back as Dean got off the bed and pulled the blankets down before getting under them. Once his legs were straightened out, he leaned back against his pillows and looked at her expectantly.

"If it takes me five minutes to find a doctor or nurse then this hospital is seriously under-staffed." She told him. "But I'll be quick. Try not to worry."

Pepper leaned over and kissed his lips gently. Dean smiled softly when she pulled back. She turned and headed towards the door. When she was halfway there, Dean called out to her and stopped her.

"Hey, Pep, why are you here?" He asked "How did you know I was here?"

"You told me" She said, turning around to face him. "In your message."

Dean frowned, "What message? I never sent you a message. At least not recently."

"Yes you did, I got it yesterday."

"I've been in bed sleeping." He told her. "I swear, Pepper I didn't send you a message."

"Oh," she frowned "Well that’s kind of... strange."

"Yeah," Dean agreed. They stayed silent until Dean opened his mouth. "Hey, Pep, don't worry about it. You're here, so however it happened, that’s what matters."

"Yeah, I guess not." She smiled before shaking herself off slightly. "Right, well I'll send someone to tell you what’s going on."

"You not coming back?" He asked a hint of disappointment in his tone.

"Well, I have some calls to make and some things to do but I will be back later. I didn't come all this way for a ten minute chat. You're stuck with me for a little while longer yet."

Dean nodded, "See ya, Pepper." He smiled slightly.

She returned his smile as she turned and walked out the door. He watched her go and then turned his attention to the duffle bag at the end of the bed. He reached out and pulled it towards him. Opening it up to see what else was inside, he found his amulet in one of the side pockets and placed it around his neck. The next thing he found was his cell phone and opened his outbox message folder. Sure enough there was a message addressed to Pepper's cell number telling her that he was in the hospital and asking her to come.

"Wow, I must have sent her a message." Dean said to the empty room.

He still didn't remember actually sending the message and the only explanation he could think of was that he must have been awake at some point, and sent her the message then before going back to sleep. Although why he would send her a message in the first place was an even stranger question. Not that he wasn't happy to see her because he was but he didn't really like the idea of her being around when the demon was still out there.

Before he could finish his thought, a doctor walked into the room holding a chart with a smile on his face.

"Ah, I see you're awake" He greeted Dean calmly.

"Yeah, look doc, where's my brother and father?" He figured that he may as well get straight to the point.

The doctor nodded, understanding the need to know how one’s family was after such an accident. "Your father had an operation on his leg and he has a broken arm. He's been healing nicely so we'll be sending him home today."

"And my brother?"

"Your brother is fine. Nothing more than a few cuts and bruises." The doctor reassured Dean. "He's been visiting you and your father quite a lot."

Dean ignored the rest of what the doctor was saying. All he needed to know was that his baby brother was okay and so was his dad. After a moment, Dean realized that his doctor was looking at him, waiting for a response.

"That’s great." Dean said quickly "So, ah when can I leave?"

"We'd like to keep you here for a few more days just to keep an eye on you."

"Right."

"Well if you don't have any more question," began the doctor

"Ah, no."

"Well then I'll go and let your father know that you're awake." said the doctor. "I'll send a nurse in with some breakfast for you later as well."

"Thanks." Dean nodded

The doctor nodded before he headed out.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John knocked on the door to Dean's room before he entered, just encase his son was busy or changing. Dean was sitting up in bed, with a tray of half-eaten breakfast in front of him and the small television on beside the bed. Well at least that was proof that he was feeling better.

"Hey, dude. How you feelin'?" John asked, as he made his way over to the plastic chair.

Dean turned to him and shrugged. "Fine, I guess. I'm alive."

"That's what matters." John said quietly.

"So, how are you?"

"I'm okay." John replied, and then paused. "Your brother's on his way over."

"And he's okay?"

"Yeah, he's been at Bobby's. We'll be staying there until..." John trailed off as he sat down.

"Until what, dad?" Dean asked

John thought about bringing up the YED but Dean looked to calm and peaceful that he didn't want to force him to go back on the hunt to soon. Instead he brought up the Impala instead.

"Until you've got the Impala fixed and you're ready to get back out there."

"I feel ready now"

John gave him a stern look, "I don't care, Dean. For now we're staying put."

"All of us?" Dean asked. He knew how badly his father wanted to find the Yellow eyed demon and knew that it wouldn't be long before he took off in his truck to find it.

"Yeah, all of us." John replied

They stayed silent after that. Both just watching TV and secretly glad that the other one was okay.

John's eyes kept darting towards the bag by Dean's feet. He couldn't stop thinking about the message he had sent. He wanted to know if Pepper had replied or not, and if she had, what had she said? It wasn't as if he could ask Dean about it because then he would have to try and explain why he had gone through his son’s phone to begin with.

By the time Sam and Bobby came, Dean was changing channels on the TV every 30 seconds because, as he stated before, was nothing good on.

"Dean, hey man." said Sam, obviously relieved. "How are you?"

"I'm alright," Dean said and turned his attention from the TV to his brother. "Hey Bobby."

"Hey, Dean." Bobby greeted him. "You're very lucky. Things could have gone a lot worse."

"Yeah I know." Dean replied. "So what are we doing about old yellow eyes?"

"Dean-" John began

"-Yeah, Dad I was wondering that too." Sam looked over at his father.

John sighed and shared a look with Bobby. "We'll worry about it later."

"Okay but-"

"-Sam." John warned, interrupting him. "I said later."

Sam looked over at Dean for some kind of backup but Dean just shrugged one shoulder. Dean just wanted to keep everyone calm at that point and time. If Sam wanted to start an argument then he could do it by himself later.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By twelve o'clock, John had been released and had gotten a lift back with Bobby. Dean had no idea where Sam was. He had kicked his brother out of the room by 11:30 so that he could get some rest. And Dean was able to sleep for 30 minutes until his stomach woke him up. He was hungry but the hospital food was just plain awful, which is why he only ate half of his breakfast that morning.

He grabbed his cell phone and was about to find the number for the closest pizza place when he had a better idea. He found Pepper's number. This way he could kill two birds with one stone.

After two and a half rings, Pepper answered.

"Hi, Dean" She greeted him.

"Hey, Pep, you busy?" He asked.

"Depends, what do you want?"

"Now, why do you think I want something?" Dean asked foreign hurt. "I could just want to talk to you."

"Ah huh."

"But if you're not busy and want something to do, then you could come back here." He suggested "And bring a pizza or something."

"Couldn't you just have some of the hospital food?"

"Pepper, I'm hungry." Dean whined "I want some good food."

Pepper laughed on the other end of the line. "Okay. I'll bring one pizza, but you're paying for it."

"That's not fair. I'm the one in hospital you know."

"Do you want pizza or not?"

Dean paused briefly before he gave in. "Fine. I'll pay for it...if I have any money on me."

"Well like I said before, you're stuck with me for a while so you'll have plenty of time to pay me back." said Pepper "Okay, I better get going. See you soon."

"Bye, Pep" Dean replied before he hung up.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the next two days, Dean got frequent visits from both Sam and Pepper, although never at the same time. Dean's family had no idea that Pepper was in town visiting because he didn't want them to know, so he simply didn't tell them. For a number of reasons. One being that he didn't want to deal with Sam finding out and turning his friendship with Pepper into something it wasn’t. They were just friends (who occasionally hooked up) but if Sam knew she was here he probably wouldn't stop asking Dean questions about her, and Dean really didn't feel like dealing with that. Second, he knew that he would get some sort of lecture from his father about putting his mind on women and not on the demon. Really, Dean's only choice was to lay back and hope that Pepper and Sam never ran into each other.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the day that Dean was meant to be released from the hospital, Pepper came by for a visit. She came at 10:00 which was good since Sam wasn't coming to pick him up until 1:00 that afternoon. So Dean had at least two and a half hours of free time to spend with Pepper. She walked into the room, carrying a take out bag from some local burger joint as well as a small shoulder bag.

"No pizza this time?" He asked eyeing off the take out bag.

"Not this time, sorry." she replied.

He stretched his arms out as she came towards the bed, "Gimmie"

She sighed and handed him the bag before sitting down on the bed. Dean reached into the bag and pulled out a double beef burger. He grinned and took a large bite out of it.

"It's good to see that being stuck in the hospital hasn't changed your wonderful manners."

He laughed around the half chewed food in his mouth to which Pepper pulled a face at him for. She pulled the bag back from him and took out a container of medium curly fries for herself. After swallowing his second bite, Dean looked around the bed.

"What, no drinks?" he pouted.

"You're just never happy are you?" She asked, but he knew that she was joking. She sighed heavily as if she had been having a major debate within her own head. "I guess I could go down to the vending machines downstairs. If you ask nicely, of course."

"Pretty please," he smiled his widest smile for her.

Rolling her eyes, Pepper got off the bed still holding her fries.

"You're taking the fries with you?"

"I don't trust you with my fries," she replied matter-of-factly.

"Don't get any of that diet crap," he told her. "Actually I'll come for a walk and-"

"-No, no. You stay in bed."

"But I'm going home today." He protested, already halfway out of the bed. "I'm sure no one’s going to care if I wander around the hospital for a bit."

"I care. Back in bed," she ordered, gesturing to the bed.

Dean grinned and started doing as she asked. "I love it when you keep me in bed all day, Pep. Maybe when you get back we can play doctor." he added, wriggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Yeah," Pepper agreed with a smile. "I'll even pop out and pick up one of those naughty nurses outfits."

Dean's face lit up with hope, "Really?"

"Ha," She laughed, then her face became serious. "No."

She spun around and walked out the door.

"Remember, no diet drinks woman!" Dean shouted after her.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It didn't take long for Dean to lose track of time. After finishing his lunch, he had gone into the small bathroom and changed into jeans and a t-shirt. And now he was sitting on the bed opposite Pepper, while she shuffled a deck of playing cards.

"What are we betting on?" He asked.

"Just things in the room" she replied.

"You mean things we don't actually own?"

"Exactly," she split the pile in half and gave one half to Dean.

"Okay, aces go either way."

"No."

"No?"

"I know you, Dean. If aces go either way then every time you get an ace it'll be high and every time I get one it will be low." Pepper smiled, "Aces are low."

"I think you're forgetting that I was the one just in an accident." He grumbled.

"Oh how could I forget Dean when you keep bitching about it."

Dean glared at her as he took the first card from the top of his pile. Pepper did the same thing with her own pile. Without looking at their own cards, they each licked the back of their cards before sticking them to their foreheads so that they could see one another’s cards but not their own. Dean had a 3 of clubs and Pepper had a 2 of diamonds.

"Hmm, alright." Pepper began and looked quickly around the room. "I'll bet...the TV remote."

Dean looked at Pepper's card and smiled slightly. He glanced at the remote and then at the TV itself. "I bet the TV." He said, trying and failing to keep the smugness out of his voice.

"You're very cocky." Pepper pointed out.

He smirked, "you should see your card."

"You should see yours" smiled Pepper and the confident grin slipped from Dean's face. "Ready? 3, 2, 1"

They both pulled their cards from their foreheads and put them on the bed between them so that they could both see them. Dean's grin returned ten fold and he grabbed the remote and placed it by his side. He would do the same with the television but it was too big and besides they both knew he had one it. Meanwhile, Pepper was slightly frowning in shock.

"You've gotta be kidding," she said. "I couldn't even beat a 3."

"That's right," Dean gloated. "I'm still the champion."

"Just pick another damn card, Dean." She hissed.

He laughed and picked up the next card on his pile. He was about to lick the back of it when he heard footsteps coming towards the room which made him pause. He looked up as Sam entered the room.

When Sam entered Dean's room he was surprised to find his brother sitting in bed with a very attractive blond woman. Okay so he wasn't that surprised. Figures Dean would have spent his time chatting up some hot nurse. She was probably visiting Dean on her day off. Although, if he thought about it, Sam couldn’t actually remember ever seeing this girl before.

"Hey, you're ah," Dean quickly checked his watch. It was 12:30. "Early."

"Um, yeah" Sam agreed. He walked further into the room looking at Pepper, who smiled warmly at him.

Dean sighed, knowing that he wasn't going to avoid Sam's questions now. When Dean didn't say anything right away, Pepper jumped off the bed and moved to stand in front of Sam.

"Hi, I'm Pepper. You must be Dean's brother, Sammy." Pepper said in a sweet tone. Behind her Dean rolled his eyes.

"Ah, it's Sam." Sam replied, still slightly surprised by this girl.

Pepper thought for a moment before shaking her head and saying, "Yeah, I'm gonna call you Sammy." She added with a grin.

Dean laughed silently and avoided eye contact with his brother. He knew how much Sam hated being called Sammy, but he also knew that if Pepper wanted to call him Sammy, then she would. No matter what he said to try and convince her not to.

"It's good that you weren't as badly hurt as your brother in the accident." Pepper said, as she noticed the various cuts and small bruises on Sam's face.

"Hey!" Dean protested. Both Pepper and Sam turned to look at him. "You know I was the one who had; you know injuries before the accident. Remember, the demon?"

Sam's eyes grew wide with shock. 'Crap' Dean thought. He hadn't wanted to let Sam know that Pepper knew about their job. That he’d told her everything about their lives. Sam's gaze turned from shock to angry and he glared at his brother.

"You told her." He accused his brother. "You told someone else about our lives. Why is it that I can't tell anyone but you can as long as they’re young attractive women who are willing to sleep with you!"

"Watch it Sam," Dean warned. He could understand his brother's point of view but he wouldn't sit back and let him talk about Pepper badly like that. He just had a warm spot for her that he'd never had with anyone else, not even Cassie. "Just calm down, okay."

"Sammy, your brother didn't tell me about demons." Pepper explained. She paused before adding, "Well he told me about your lives and everything but I already knew about demons in general."

Sam turned to her slowly. "You did?" he asked

"Yeah," she nodded. "Most of my life in fact. My, um, my grandfather is a hunter."

Sam noticed Dean shoot him a triumphant look.

"Sorry." Sam apologized. "I didn't mean to-"

"Yeah you did. But don't worry about it." Pepper smiled. "Actually I better get going anyway." She turned around and looked down at Dean, who was still sitting on the bed. "I'll talk to you later."

"Yeah,"

Pepper leaned down and lightly kissed Dean. His eyes closed briefly before he remembered that his little brother was also in the room. Pulling back, Pepper offered one last smile. She picked up her bag off the bed and turned around to Sam.

"It was nice to meet you, Sammy." she said. "Make sure this one," she gestured to Dean, "doesn't do too much to soon."

"Um, sure." Sam agreed. He still didn't really know what to make of Pepper.

"Oh and thanks for saying I'm attractive," Pepper grinned. "Bye guys."

Sam and Dean both watched as Pepper walked out of the room. Sam slowly turned back around to face Dean, who was now standing on the opposite side of the bed, not looking at his brother.

"Who was that?" Sam asked

Dean finally looked back at him. He tilted his head slightly. "Is your memory that bad?" he asked

"No." Sam snapped. "I meant, who is she. Why was she here?"

"I don't know." Dean shrugged, "She's just a friend."

"A friend?" Sam repeated, eyeing his brother suspiciously. "A friend who comes all the way down here while you're in the hospital"

"Isn't that what friends do?" Dean asked, as he gathered his things and walked past Sam towards the door

"Yeah, but," Sam turned to follow Dean "You don't have any friends like that. And who’s her grandfather anyway? Have we worked with him before? Has dad?"

By this point they were standing in front of an elevator waiting for the doors to open. Dean groaned loudly, already annoyed by his brothers questions.

"I don't know, okay Sammy." Dean sighed "I never asked Pepper what her grandfather's name is. But I know I've never met a hunter by the name of Bassingthwaighte before. Pepper is just a friend. Now will you shut up. And stop looking at me like that." He snapped after a short pause.

The elevator doors opened and Dean walked in. Sam mentally shook himself off before he followed. He tried not to look at his brother because he was finding it hard to get the confused/shocked expression off his face. There was just too much about this entire situation that didn't make sense. Like how did Pepper even know that Dean was in the hospital in the first place? Sam was sure that Dean would not have called her. It just didn't make any sense. Sam was also desperate to know how long Dean and Pepper had actually known each other. They seemed completely comfortable around each other.

Dean and Sam remained silent until they were outside and reached an older looking green mini van. Dean stepped back and eyed it suspiciously.

"What the hell is this?" He demanded.

"Ah, it was the only available car Bobby had." Sam explained, trying to defend their transportation. "With the Impala...out of use there wasn't much choice."

"What about Dad's truck?"

"That's getting looked at as well. Just in case."

"This sucks." Dean grumbled as he got into the passenger side and sat down.

TBC

Next Chapter - Pepper's Identity

Connection 1/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:24:48 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - Connection
CHAPTER - Phone Message 1/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, OFC
PAIRINGS - Dean/OFC
RATING - M but subject to change
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 3016
SUMMARY - While dealing with the aftermath of the fight with the YED, John can’t help but remember his odd dream, and how he could help his son.
WARNINGS - Apart from this being an AU I can't think of any.
BETA - Alycia
A/N - It starts off at the hospital just like in 'IMTOD' except Dean is okay because I don't want John to make a deal.
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CONNECTION

CHAPTER ONE - PHONE MESSAGE

Sam's entire body ached, but what else would he have expected after having been in a car t-boned by a semi. Not to mention having being attacked by a very powerful demon before hand. At least his injuries weren't as bad as his brother’s or father’s. Speaking of, Sam had just come from his father's hospital room after making sure he was okay.

John had of course had to have surgery done on his leg to get the bullet out, and thankfully his leg was going to heal fine, according to the doctors. He also had a broken arm and some various cuts and bruises, but so did Sam. After seeing his father fast asleep (with the help of pain medication), Sam headed in the direction of Dean's room.

He walked into the large hospital room to see his brother lying on a small bed. There were many cuts and bruises on Dean's face and arms. Sam stopped suddenly at the sight of his brother's unconscious and battered form. So far no one had told him anything about Dean's condition because they had been too busy checking Sam for any major injuries as well as operating on John. So Sam had no idea how serious his brother’s condition was. He walked over and stood beside the bed, looking down at his older brother. It was then that the doctor who had been overseeing all of their treatment walked in.

"Your father's awake," he announced happily. "You can go see him if you like."

"Uh, okay." Sam nodded. He turned around and looked at the doctor, a hopeful expression on his face. "And what about my brother?"

"Well, he did sustain some serious injury," began the doctor. "Mostly internal bleeding, but we've manage to get that under control. It was just a good thing we got to him when we did otherwise..." His voice trailed off.

"Otherwise what?" Sam demanded.

"If we had been even a couple of minutes later, your brother would most likely have died."

"But...he's okay now? Right?"

"Yes. Once he wakes up I have no doubt that your brother will make a full recovery." The doctor said, reassuring him with a smile. "Although it won’t happen straight away. He still needs plenty of rest."

"Oh, yeah, no he'll get that." Sam said quickly, glancing back down at Dean. Turning back to the doctor he said, "I'm gonna go see my Dad. Could you get someone to let me know if my brother wakes up and I'm not here?"

"Of course," the Doctor agreed immediately.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam walked into his father's room to find him sitting up in bed, looking rather annoyed. He was probably frustrated that he had to stay in bed for a few hours and wasn't allowed to go and see Dean.

"Hey, Dad" Sam said as he walked up to the bed "How are you feeling?"

"I've been better," John replied. "You?"

"Same. I just saw Dean."

John's face became deadly serious, not that he‘d been happy before. "How is he?"

"Fine. Well, he's sleeping but his doctor said he should wake up, and that as long as he rests he'll be okay." Sam explained.

John couldn't help but sigh in relief. The doctors hadn't told him anything about Dean's condition before either. And if Sam had not have just come from Dean's room, then John would have sent him there to get information.

Smiling slightly, John said, "Getting Dean to rest might be a bit tricky."

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "Well, I'm right to leave so I thought I'd help Bobby with the car."

"Do you know how bad it is?"

"No, all I know is that they dragged the car off to a yard off of I-83."

"All right, make sure you clean out the trunk before some junkman sees what's inside. And get the Colt. Make sure that’s safe."

"I'm sure Bobby's already got the Colt and the Impala halfway back to his place by now." said Sam. "I'll meet him there then come back later."

"Sure, son" John nodded.

"Hey, Dad, what are we going to do about the demon?" Sam asked almost hesitantly.

"Like you said, we found it once we can do it again. But not right now. None of us our ready for another fight like that one. As soon as we're all back on our feet we'll hunt that bastard down."

"Good." Sam agreed. He was glad that his father wasn't trying to force him to go looking for the demon now. It just wasn't the time. Not while Dean was still in the hospital anyway. "Do you need me to bring anything back?" he asked.

"Just my bag. You should probably get some clothes for your brother too."

"Right. Just call me, if Dean wakes up while I'm gone." said Sam as he turned to leave.

John nodded and watched as Sam left the room. He sighed and turned around to look out the window. A part of him really did want to race out and find the demon as soon as he could, so that he could kill it for what it did to Mary and his boys. But after what had happened, after being possessed by the demon and nearly seeing his son bleed to death right in front of him, a bigger part just wanted to make sure his sons were okay first.

He’d heard many stories about people who have been possessed by demons and most of them never remember what they have said or done when possessed, but he did. He remembered everything he, or well it, had said to Sam and Dean. Now John could not help but feel guilty about what had been said to Dean and he hoped his son knew that it wasn't true. Although John admitted silently that there was some truth to it. Sure he had always paid just that little bit more attention to Sammy when they were little, but it was only because John truly believed that Dean could take care of himself more than his little brother.
But when the demon had said that Sam was John's favorite, there had been something in Dean's eyes. Like he hadn’t been shocked by that revelation and at the time John had thought it had been because Dean knew that the demon was just trying to get to him. Now though, he couldn't help but feel that maybe Dean hadn’t been surprised because he himself believed that Sam really was John’s favorite. Maybe Dean wasn't as strong as he had always thought.

He sighed heavily and rubbed a hand over his face. At least they were all alive. That was the most important thing.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam arrived at Bobby's place nearly half an hour later after taking a cab. Bobby too was relieved over the good news about Dean. Shortly after they had their little chat, the older man took Sam out the back to look at the damaged Impala. He stared at the car and hissed at how bad the damage was. The entire right side was completely destroyed, so much so that Sam still could not believe that they all survived the accident.

"Oh, man." He sighed. "Dean is gonna be pissed."

"Look, Sam...This wasn't even worth the tow up here." Bobby began, "I say we empty the trunk and sell the rest for scrap-"

"-No. Dean would kill me if we did that." Sam said quickly, shaking his head at Bobby. "Trust me, he's gonna want to fix this when he gets out of the hospital."

"I thought you said he'd need to rest?"

"Well, yeah, but I don't think we'll be able to stop him from fixing this."

"Okay. We won’t sell it for scrap." Bobby smirked. "Now I don’t know what can actually be saved from inside. There were some things in the trunk that were okay."
€
"Like the Colt?"

"Yeah, the Colt and a couple of other weapons, and two duffle bags."

Sam walked over to the Impala and looked in through the passenger side window. He saw his laptop and reached in to grab it. It was completely smashed and wasn't even worth trying to get it fixed. He would just have to get a secondhand one later.

"Our clothes are in those bags, which is good seeing as we don’t have the money to buy more." said Sam "I better grab some stuff for Dad and Dean before I head back."

They turned around and started heading back towards Bobby's house.

"I'll give you a lift. I want to check them out anyway, see all the damage that truck did." said Bobby. "I’ve got to let your dad know that you three can stay here until Dean's out of the hospital. Or until he gets the Impala fixed."

"Thanks Bobby." Sam smiled before walking inside the cluttered house.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Sam and Bobby made it to the hospital, they went to John's room first but he wasn't in there. Slightly panicked, Sam rushed over to the first hospital staff member he could find which turned out to be a young nurse with short red hair.

"Ah, excuse me," said Sam

"Yes sir. How can I help you?" She asked politely.

"Yeah, um can you tell me where my father is?" He asked

"Your father?"

"Yes he was in that room there and now he's not."

"Oh, well I'd guess he finally broke out to see your brother." she replied "He just wouldn't take no for an answer. I think it's kind of sweet."

"But shouldn’t he be resting. In bed?"

"Technically he should be, but your brother’s room is only a short distant down the corridor and your father would only be sitting down in there anyway." the nurse explained

"Okay, so he's alright to be there?" Sam asked

"Oh yes, although someone will probably try to hassle him back here in about ten minutes once his doctor realizes he's not in bed."

"Are you going to tell him?"

"No. Like I said, I think it’s sweet that he wants to wait by his son’s bed." The nurse said dreamily.

Sam gave her a weird look and said, "Ah okay, thanks. Well we better go."

She nodded and continued on her way. Sam looked back at Bobby, who shrugged before leading the way towards Dean's room.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John sat down in a plastic chair beside his eldest son’s bed and watched as he slept. He wondered what, if anything Dean was dreaming about while lying in that hospital bed. He wanted his son to wake up so that he could let him know that what the demon had said was a load of bull. Even though he knew that Dean probably wouldn’t want to hear it because of his dislike of all things emotional or 'Chick Flick' moments as he called them.

He heard footsteps coming towards the room and just hoped it wasn't another pesky nurse trying to tell him to go back to bed. Thankfully it was only Sam and Bobby.

"Hey," Sam said quietly, mostly as to not wake up Dean.

John turned and nodded. "How’s the Impala look?" he asked, knowing that it would be one of the first things Dean would ask.

"Completely gutted." Sam replied "We thought Dean would want to fix it when he gets out of here."

"Yeah, probably. And the Colt?"

"That's back at my place. It's safe. I didn't want to risk bringing it here and getting caught by the hospital staff." Bobby explained. "Told Sam that you're all welcome to bunk down at my house until you get the Impala back up and running."

"Okay, thank you." John said, and then looked at the bag over Sam's shoulder. "What have you got there son?"

"Just some things clothes for you and Dean, and your phones." Sam replied "As well as some other things I thought you might need."

"How long til' Dean wakes up?" Bobby asked.

"Ah, shouldn't be too long. He's full of morphine at the moment though, so he probably won’t wake up until some time tomorrow." John replied, looking back at his eldest son.

"I better get going then." Bobby suddenly said, shrugging slightly. "Give me a call if you want a ride back. Okay Sam?"

"Yeah, thanks Bobby." said Sam

"See ya, John" Bobby placed a hand on John's shoulder briefly before turning around and leaving.

Sam moved over to his brother's bed and placed the duffel bag on the floor by his feet. He looked at his brother before turning his attention to his father.

"Hey, Dad. Can I ask you something?"

"What is it, Sam?"

"You know the demon, he said he had plans for me and children like me. You have any idea what he meant by that?" Sam asked.

"No, I don't" John replied, his eyes never leaving Sam's so that he would know that he was being serious.

Sam nodded, not totally believing his father but not wanting to start an argument right now. Especially not when Dean was sleeping in the same room.

"I need something to eat." Sam said suddenly, changing the subject. "You want anything?"

"Whatever you find."

"Right, see ya later."

John watched as Sam walked out. John didn't feel great about lying to his son about something so important, but he just didn't want to burden him with that information just yet. Sammy was a strong and smart young man and he could handle most things life threw at him. John just didn't think that he'd handle this all that well. Most people wouldn’t. Besides there was still some things that John needed to find out before he let his sons know what was going on. Deep down he hoped that he would never have to tell Sam about his supposed destiny anyway.

John turned his attention back to his sleeping son. Dean looked peaceful as he slept, well, as peaceful as one can look with a face covered in cuts and bruises. As he watched his son, John smiled as he remembered how he had been in his dream. He had been happy. John still had no idea how his son knew the girl from the dream, or if Dean even realized that he knew already knew her. Sure he had told John her real name but he didn't seem to notice that he had. He was too involved in the YED to notice, and truth be told so was John...for a while. Now though, with nothing to do but think, John couldn't help but remember the girl in his dream and how happy Dean had been with her. Not to mention their baby girl.

Sighing, John used his good arm to push himself out of the chair and carefully walked over to the bag which Sam had left on the bed. He opened it up and looked inside; checking on what Sam had packed. There was two pair of outfits for both Dean and himself including some shirts and jeans. Dean's amulet was also there, on top of everything. John picked it up and carefully placed it in one of the bags’ side pockets. He knew how much that necklace meant to Dean, although he never knew why, but it had to have had some significance if Dean never took it off. Looking through the bag some more, John found two cell phones. His and Dean‘s. He turned his own on and checked to see if he had any new messages. He didn't. Looking at Dean's phone, John suddenly got an idea.

He turned his son's phone on and started searching all the numbers in the address book. There was Sam's number, as well as his own, and some other numbers that John recognized as fellow hunters‘. Bobby's home and cell numbers were there. Dean seemed to have a lot of phone numbers for women in his phone. Most of his address book was filled with names like ‘Candy’ and ‘Tammy.’ John wasn't surprised. He knew that his son liked to... play the field. He used to go out looking for girls at every town when he was a teenager and then after every hunt. Finally John found the name and number he was looking for, ‘Pep.’ Now there was absolutely no doubt that Dean knew the girl from John's dream.

At first he considered calling Pepper and making sure it was the same girl. He would be able to tell by her voice, but he didn't know what to say. He didn't really want her or anyone to know that he was making such a huge decision like this based on one dream. After all, he didn't know what kind of relationship Dean had with this girl at this moment. Still, he did want to someone get her and Dean together to see how everything would play out. Dean deserved to be happy and if this girl made him happy in the dream then maybe she could do the same in reality.

He went into the messages and started writing a new one. Normally John tried to avoid texting unless he had to. They were just annoying and he couldn't understand the weird language that they came with. Why people couldn’t just call or at least take the time to spell an entire word was beyond John. He wrote a quick message that he hoped sound like Dean and even used 'txt' speak. He just asked Pepper to come to the hospital if she wasn't busy and then pressed send.

He packed everything back into the bag, except some of his clothes and his cell before zipping it back up. With one final look at Dean, John left the room to go back to his own. John was starting to feel a bit tired and figured a bed was better than a chair to sleep in, especially a small plastic chair. He wished he knew if he had made the right choice in sending that message. For now he would just have to wait.

TBC

Next Chapter - The Arrival Of A Friend

How Life Should Be 10/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:38:05 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - How Life Should Be
CHAPTER - The Answer 10/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Mary Winchester, Jessica Moore, 2 OFC
PAIRINGS - John/Mary, Dean/OFC, Sam/Jess
RATING - PG
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 1347
SUMMARY - John is shown an alternate reality where his life is pretty much perfect
WARNINGS - Apart from this being an AU I can't think of any.
BETA - Felicia
A/N - See chapter One.
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter ONE
Chapter TWO
Chapter THREE
Chapter FOUR
Chapter FIVE
Chapter SIX
Chapter SEVEN
Chapter EIGHT
Chapter NINE

CHAPTER TEN - THE ANSWER

John woke up slowly. His body felt strange, like he had been sleeping in a chair the entire....Oh crap! He opened his eyes and frowned deeply. Looking around he saw with much regret that he was sitting in a chair in front of two single beds where his sons slept. So everything he had just seen, from his wife being alive to his granddaughter had just been a dream. The disappointment he felt deep in his gut was almost unbearable.

He stood up and made his way to the tiny bathroom. He closed the door so that he wouldn't disturb Dean or Sam and then went to the sink. Splashing cold water on his face, John took a few minutes to catch his breathe. All through his...dream, he knew that he would eventually wake up and go back to his normal life full of hunts and death, but it was different when it happened. He just wanted to close his eyes and get back to his life in the dream. John looked at himself in the small mirror above the small sink. He saw the exhaustion in his own eyes and sighed deeply.

John walked out of the bathroom and saw Sam sitting up in bed, rubbing a hand over his face. His youngest son blinked several times before his mind was fully functioning and awake. He looked down at Dean, still fast asleep before turning his attention to John.

"Hey, Dad," said Sam. "Everything alright?" he asked.

"Yeah, Sam."

Sam nodded as he stood up from the bed. "Should we be going soon?"

John looked down at his watch. He didn't realize how late it was. It was 8.34 which didn't sound late but John had wanted to get up at 7.00 to prepare for what they where all going to do today. He looked back up at Sam and nodded his head shortly. Sam walked past him and entered the tiny bathroom. John moved over to the second bed and stood by Dean's head.

"Dean, wake up, son." He called out.

Dean groaned before rolling over onto his back and opening his eyes.

"What's the time?" Dean asked through a yawn.

"Eight thirty," John replied. A hint of a smile on his face. At least his sons seemed to have had a good sleep through the night. "Get up."

"Yes sir," Dean replied and pulled himself out of bed.

Dean sat down on the edge of the bed and began putting his shoes back on. Sam came back out of the bathroom and stood patiently waiting for John's instructions. Sam was rebellious to a point but every so often he did stop and listen to his father's orders. It normally depended on the order itself. By the time Dean was putting on his jacket, John was trying to ignore the looks he was getting from both sons. They both watched him with a mixture of worry and curiosity. John wondered if he looked as bad as he felt. He was trying to forget about the dream but it was harder than he thought it was going to be. Every time he looked at his sons, John was instantly reminded of how happy they had seemed.

"You okay there, Dad?" Dean asked, now standing in front of John.

John had been so distracted with his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed how close Dean had gotten.

"Yeah," John replied, trying to keep the emotion out of his voice.

"Really?" Sam asked. "'Cause you don’t look okay. Is this about what we're about to-"

"-No," John said quickly. Sighing heavily, he shook his head for a moment before saying, "I just...I had this weird dream. I guess it took a lot out of me."

Dean eyed him even more suspiciously then he had been before.

"What kind of dream?" Sam asked curiously. He was always more curious than Dean.

"I-" John began.

"-Ew, I don't wanna hear about you having a sex dream, Dad," Dean complained.

"It wasn't that kind of a dream, Dean," John replied sternly.

Dean threw his hands up in front of him in defense. "Okay, sorry sir."

"Dad, the dream?" asked Sam.

"It was just...of us. Except...," John trailed off sadly.

"Except what?" Sam asked after a minute of silence from John.

"Mary was alive."

"Oh," said Dean.

"Yeah, and so was you're girlfriend, Sammy."

"D'you mean Jess?" Sam asked. "Jessica was alive in your dream?"

"Yes she was and the two of you were both at Stanford."

"But, you've never met Jessica?" Sam stated in confusion. "How can you be dreaming about her?"

"I have seen her a few times," muttered John under his breath. Loudly he added, "That's not really the point. It was just a dream. Look, I don't really see the point in talking about it anymore."

"Sure, Dad," said Sam. "I've had a few dreams like that before."

Dean chuckled as he turned to grab his bag off the bed.

"Oh like you've never had dreams about Mum being alive." Sam snapped at his brother.

Dean turned around and shrugged, "I never remember my dreams."

Sam scoffed and headed towards the door. Soon John and Dean followed him.

"Hey, Dad?" Dean asked in the doorway.

"What Dean?"

"What was I doing in your dream?"

John smiled slightly for a second. "Oh you were living with some girl and just working."

John found it hard not to mention the little girl. It still amazed him how much of an affect she could have on him. He never would have thought that he'd be able to love anyone as much or more than he loved Dean and Sam, but that baby girl in his dreams came pretty close.

"Huh, was she hot?" Dean asked with a grin across his face.

John gave him a stern look before replying. "She was nice, Dean."

"I guess I can deal with nice," said Dean. "So what was her name? You know before we stop talking about it."

Once again John sighed, but this time in amusement, "I don't know her name."

"You don't know her name?" Dean repeated, "but you dreamed her up."

"I don't know her real name. Her nick name was Pepper." John explained, still slightly amused.

"Oh, Heidi" Dean said, then turned around and started heading out of the motel room once more.

"W-what?" John asked, stopping in his tracks.

"Pepper," Dean began. "Her real name is Heidi."

And with that, Dean walked out and headed towards Sam and the Impala leaving John standing in the doorway of the motel room stunned. He didn't even think that it clicked to Dean what he had just said. John was sure that he had never met or seen Pepper before the dream so he was baffled as to how Dean would know her in this life. John took a step forward and was about to call out to his son and ask him about Pepper, when he suddenly remembered what Mary had said to him in his dream before he had woken up.

"Not everything's changed, John. I know that it looks different now but when you wake up you'll find that one connection to make everything...perfect again."

When she had said it, he hadn't really been listening to the words but now he understood exactly what she was trying to say. His dream wasn't just showing him what could have been. It was also showing him what could be, at least for Dean. As he headed towards his truck, with a slight smile on his face, John knew what he would have to do once this business with the YED was over. As he started his truck he thought about what he and his sons had lost. And while he could never be with Mary again, and Sammy would never be able to marry Jessica, maybe if Dean already knew Pepper then John would still be able to get a grandchild, and at least one of his sons could be happy.

Now all John had to do was find Heidi Bassingthwaighte.

THE END

Coming up next - Coloured Lights part 2 "Connection"

How Life Should Be 9/10

dog_stole_the_weblesite@yahoo.com.au — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:24:10 GMT

SERIES - Coloured Lights
TITLE - How Life Should Be
CHAPTER - Perfect 9/10
AUTHOR - ICantBelieveImNotButter
GENRE - Alternate reality, Family, Romance
FANDOM - Supernatural
CHARACTERS - John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Mary Winchester, Jessica Moore, 2 OFC
PAIRINGS - John/Mary, Dean/OFC, Sam/Jess
RATING - PG
SPOILERS - None
WORD COUNT - 2949
SUMMARY - John is shown an alternate reality where his life is pretty much perfect
WARNINGS - Apart from this being an AU I can't think of any.
BETA - Felicia
A/N - See chapter One.
DISCLAIMER - All things relating to the Supernatural series are the property of Eric Kripke. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER NINE - PERFECT

After everything was packed away in the back garden, everyone moved into the living room for drinks. Jessica and Sam were curled against each other on the sofa. Pepper was sitting on the other side, while Dean sat next to her legs on the floor with Ayla between his out stretched legs once again. Mary and John each sat in an arm chair. The girls were drinking glasses of red wine, and Sam and John had a beer each. Dean had a can of soft drink because he was going to be driving home later that night and he never drank even one alcoholic drink if Ayla was going to be in the car. Well, this is what he had told John when he offered him a beer. John suspected that it was the truth but also, Pepper would probably kick his son’s ass.

"Have you two set a date yet?" Mary asked, smiling sweetly at Jessica and Sam.

Jessica turned to Sam and smiled before looking back at Mary. "We were thinking next spring," she replied.

"Oh, that would be lovely," said Mary. "Any idea's where you'd like to have the ceremony?"

"Yeah, there’s this park near where Jess grew up," said Sam. "I've seen it. It's pretty nice."

"Is that the place with that huge rose garden?" Pepper asked.

"Yes," replied Jessica.

"How'd you know?" Dean asked, turning his head back to look at her, "you've never been there."

"It's called photographs, Dean." Pepper grinned, "unlike you, I pay attention when we visit Sam and look at photo albums."

"I pay attention," Dean huffed. Pepper, Sam, and Jessica all looked at him. Dean shrugged and turned back around saying, "whatever, your just getting mean because you lost."

"Huh?" Sam asked.

"Nothing," said Pepper, nudging Dean with her foot slightly.

Dean chuckled.

"We're still figuring out most of the details," Jessica added.

"I'll tell you one thing," Dean began, "I am not wearing a suit."

"My wedding, my dress code," said Sam, and grinned.

"Well I'm not wearing a tie."

"You could wear a bow tie," Pepper suggested.

"You're being mean again," Dean muttered.

Once everyone's drinks were finished, Sam stood up and offered to get the next round.

"I'll help," said Pepper. She placed a hand on Dean's shoulder and used him as leverage to pull herself to her feet. "Same again, everyone?" she asked.

"Ah, yes. Thanks, Pepper," said John.

Sam and Pepper started towards the kitchen.

"Bring me a juice," said Dean.

"Say please," Pepper said, turning back.

"What's going on with you two?" Sam asked, slightly amused.

"Oh it's stupid," Pepper turned back to him. "We kinda had a little bet going. And I lost."

"What was the bet about?" Sam asked.

"You, actually."

"Me?"

"Well, you and Jessica. When we didn't know why you two were coming, we threw some ideas together," Pepper explained. "I suggested that maybe you'd got a new job, and Dean said you were engaged."

Sam laughed, "well, of course Dean would win."

"What? Why?" Pepper asked.

"Because-" Sam began. Behind Pepper, Dean was trying to gesture for Sam to shut up. Sam ignored him and continued. "-I called Dean a week ago and told him I was going to propose."

"What!" Pepper exclaimed. "He knew," she spun around and shot Dean a glare. "You knew?"

Dean shrugged and tried to act innocent. "A little bit."

"Oh you cheater, Dean," Pepper accused.

"I did not cheat."

"Yeah you did, son," said John, a smirk on his face.

"It's not like I knew Jessica would say yes."

"As if she would have said no," said Pepper. "This means that the entire bet is cancelled."

"Oh come on-" Dean began.

"-You cheated," Pepper snapped.

"You know," Jessica piped up from her spot on the sofa. "I think the bet should still stand, but because Dean cheated, Pep should be the winner."

"I don't think so," said Dean. "I am not driving the bug-"

"That was the terms?" Sam asked, laughing, "You have to drive her car? That's great. Pep, you should defiantly win."

"Traitor." Dean hissed. He turned to his parents, "C'mon Dad, Mum?"

"Dean, I have to agree with Jessica's idea," said Mary.

"What? Oh come on," said Dean. "You're all meant to be my family. Why are you on her side?" He asked as he stood up and placed Ayla on to the blanket beside the sofa.

Pepper grinned and placed her hands on her hips as she said, "they like me. I gave them a grandchild. A niece."

"So did I," Dean replied.

"No, no, Dean all you did was have sex for a few minutes."

Jessica and Sam burst out laughing. Mary placed a hand over her mouth, but John knew that she was smiling.

"Why?" Dean asked. "Why must you talk about our sex life in front of my parents?"

"I just like to see ya squirm," Pepper crossed her arms over her chest. "Think of it as payback. Like driving my car will be. Come on, Sammy, drinks." She led the way into the kitchen.

Sam followed her, still chuckling slightly. Dean plopped himself down on the sofa in a huff and tried to ignore the giggles coming from Jessica's mouth.

Smiling down at his daughter, Dean said, "at least your on my team, sweetheart." He looked up and across at Mary and John, "unlike some people."

John smirked. He couldn't help it. He'd never seen his sons act like this before. Ever. Sure he had seen them laughing and joking around but not like this. They were both so relaxed and content, even though they were all ganging up on Dean.

"How do you know Ayla wouldn't have sided with Pepper?" John asked.

"'Cause she's my girl." Came Dean's simple answer.

John nodded.

"Stop it," Dean slowly said to Jessica, who was still laughing slightly.

"What?" she asked innocently.

Dean shot her a glare, "you got me in trouble."

"Ah, didn't you get yourself in to trouble?" Jess asked, "Any way, what did Pepper have to do if she lost?"

"Jus' stuff," Dean shrugged and turned away.

"Oh," said Jessica with an amused look.

Sam walked back into the room, carrying two beers in one hand and another soft drink can in the other. He walked over and handed one beer to John, before joining his fiancee on the sofa. He reached over and gave Dean the can.

"What happened to juice?" Dean asked, eyeing the can.

"There's only vegetable, and Pepper said you don't like that so you're stuck with soda," said Sam, as he wrapped an arm around Jessica's shoulders.

"Is she still in the kitchen?" Dean asked.

"Obviously-"

"-What’s she doing in there?" Dean continued.

"Pouring the wine," Sam replied.

Dean sighed, "I better go talk to her. Make sure she's not still pissed." He stood up and made his way to the kitchen.

"Aw," said Jessica, smiling. Purely to get another rise out of Dean.

From John's spot he could see Dean mouthing, and imitating Jessica on his way out.

It was good to see that Pepper and Jessica both were so comfortable around each other, and they each got on well with all of the Winchesters. Jessica seemed to have a fun relationship with Dean, and Pepper with Sam. It wasn't just an awkward gathering where each son had to pretend to be nice to the others girlfriend, they really did get along with each other. John wondered if Dean would have gotten on this well with Jessica in the real world if she were still alive.

"So, is Pepper still annoyed?" Jessica asked Sam.

"Not really, but I told her to pretend she was."

"Why?" Mary asked.

"'Cause it'd be funny," Sam laughed.

"Sam Winchester," Mary tried to say in a stern voice but her smile kind of ruined the affect.

Sam tried for his most innocent look.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Less than five minutes later, John had finished his second beer. Dean and Pepper had yet to return from the kitchen, although no one seemed to mind or notice. John excused himself to go and put his empty bottle in the bin, which was in the kitchen.

John walk towards the kitchen but stopped in the door way, unnoticed by Dean and Pepper as their backs were turned. Pepper was leaning over the counter, pouring some red wine into three glasses while Dean stood close behind her with his arms wrapped around her waist and his chin resting on her shoulder.

"Go away," she hissed and moved a little in his arms.

"Are you still pissed?" Dean asked.

"I'm not pissed, Dean, I'm annoyed," she replied, "there is a difference."

"Yeah, but not much. Either way I'm still in trouble."

"Like that's so different for you," she stated.

"Oh ha ha."

Pepper finished filling the glasses. She closed the bottle and turned in Dean's arms, intent on going to the fridge but he stopped her. Sighing, she placed the bottle back on the counter and looked at Dean expectantly.

"I'm sorry." Dean replied.

"I forgive you," Pepper smiled. "But you're still driving my car."

"But-"

"-You can complain all you like. You're still driving it. You can thank Jess, for the idea."

Dean must have pouted because the next thing John saw, Pepper bit her bottom lip slightly and moved her arms to the back of Dean's neck.

"I'll tell you what, just because I love you so much, I'll cut your time down to 5 days only, and I'll do one thing that you wanted."

"Costume?" Dean asked.

"Something else. But don't pull anything like that again."

"Deal."

Dean pulled her close and kissed her slowly. John smiled, as Dean and Pepper pulled apart and rested their foreheads together. They shared a couple more quick kisses.

"I love you, too, Babe," said Dean.

"Yeah, yeah," Pepper replied. She nudged him aside, "now go put this in the fridge." She reached back and picked up the nearly empty wine bottle once more.

Dean took the bottle and stepped away from Pepper.

John was so proud that his son had found someone so loving to spend his life with. He had never known Dean to be this serious about a girl before in his entire life, although, John knew that there were plenty of things that he didn't know about his sons so it was very likely that Dean had been in a serious relationship before. John doubted that it was anything like what he was seeing now with Pepper. They were just...for lack of a better word, normal.

It was then that John decided to make is presence known. He took a step back, before walking further into the room.

"Hey, John." Pepper smiled at him.

"Hey," he replied, "you two finished in here? I think Mary and Jess would like their drinks."

"Oh, right." Pepper blushed a bit, "I should go...and..." she trailed off and grabbed the three glasses.

Once she was out of the room, Dean turned to his father and grinned. "I'm a distraction," he decided.

"You'll get yourself into trouble again," John laughed. It was both a weird and wonderful feeling to be able to laugh like this with his son.

"Yeah, but then we'd make up pretty quickly."

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By the end of the night, Pepper, Mary and Dean were sitting on the sofa. John was still in his arm chair and Sam was sitting in the other one with Jessica on his lap. Ayla was asleep in Pepper's arms, wrapped up in a blanket with her head resting against Pepper's neck.

"It's getting late," said Dean, looking over softly at Pepper and Ayla.

"Yeah, we better get this little one to bed," Pepper agreed.

Dean stood up and picked up the baby bag, pulling the strap over his shoulder. Pepper placed both of her hands on the baby's back as she got to her feet. It didn't take long for John and the others to get to their feet to say goodbye. Jessica walked over and hugged Dean, kissing his cheek.

"We'll probably stop by tomorrow," Jess said.

Dean nodded, and hugged Mary before she got to the baby and he wouldn't have a chance.

"Bye, Dean," said Mary.

"Bye, Mum," Dean replied.

Sam briefly hugged Pepper, being careful of the sleeping baby in her arms. He pulled back and dropped a soft kiss on the baby's head.

"Night, Ayla," Sam whispered.

Pepper smiled and accepted another hug from Jess and then Mary. Mary took time to coo at the sleeping baby. John didn't really want them to go any where. He was enjoy having his entire family together too much to let them go, but he didn't have any other options. He walked towards Pepper and placed a gentle hand on Ayla's back.

"Sweet dreams, Ayla," he cooed. Then he walked over to Dean, "drive safe. You've got very important cargo."

"Ah yeah," Dean said slowly, raising a brow. "Always do. C'mon Pep."

Pepper and Dean walked to the front door. Dean held the door opened for Pepper to carry Ayla out first.

"Dean, my car keys are in the first pocket on the left," Pepper said quietly and nodded at the bag on Dean's shoulder. "You can drive us home in that."

"No, I'll take my car. Thanks."

"My car has Ayla's seat in it," she reminded him. "And your...punishment starts right now. Unless you want to fight about it now, but I think we should get our daughter to bed."

"You think you're so smart," Dean hissed, but he was smiling.

They walked out into the night together and closed the door behind them. A few minutes later the sound of a car engine could be heard from outside.

"How about a cup of tea before bed?" Mary asked Jessica.

Jess smiled, "sounds great," and she followed Mary into the kitchen.

"Notice how we don't get offered any tea?" Sam asked John.

"Huh," John said. "Probably thought we'd say no."

"Well yeah, but," Sam shrugged.

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After the girls had finished their tea, Mary went upstairs and made up the spare bedroom for Sam and Jessica to stay in. John and Sam tidied up the living room, at Mary’s request. Jessica had taken the mugs of tea back into the kitchen.

"How long will you two be staying?" John asked.

"Couple of days," Sam replied. "Then Jess and I have to be getting back. You don't mind us crashing here do you?"

"I think we'll manage," John smiled.

Jessica walked in from the kitchen, yawning. "Everything okay in here?" she asked.

"Yep. Ready to sleep there, Jess?" Sam asked.

Jessica smiled and nodded. She walked over towards Sam and leaned in against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. That was when Mary walked down the stairs.

"Bed's made up," she said, "you two better get upstairs." She looked over at Sam and Jessica.

"Thanks, Mum," Sam moved away from Jessica slightly. He walked over to Mary and kissed her cheek. "Night."

"Good night," Mary replied. "Night, Jessica. Sleep tight."

"Good night, Mary. Night John," said Jessica as she and Sam headed up stairs.

"Night," John called out. He turned to his wife and smiled softly. "Should we be getting to bed too?"

"I suppose," she returned his smile.

John walked over and switched off the light before following her upstairs.

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In their bedroom, Mary put on a night gown while John just stripped down to his boxers. With only the lamp beside the bed on as light, they slid into bed together. John wrapped his arms around Mary's waist, and pulled her against him.

"Mmm," Mary sighed as John kissed her neck. "You're very affectionate tonight. Is there anything wrong?"

"No," he replied, "I just like being with you."

"That’s sweet, but are you sure. You've been a bit...weird today."

"I'm just," he sighed, "happy."

Mary rolled onto her side and looked at him. "You're happy?"

"Yeah. This life, its....perfect. You and the boys. Dean and Sammy seem..." John trailed off.

"Happy and perfect," Mary suggested.

"Yeah, they really do. I can't believe the men they've become." John smiled, "Sam, he's so smart and fun, and he'll make a great husband. He'll probably become some big shot lawyer but he'll be happy. And Dean...I've never seen him like that before."

"Like what?" Mary asked, confused.

"Laughing, and joking. And Ayla, she's gorgeous. I don't think anyone has ever loved a child more than Dean loves her." John paused and closed his eyes for a moment. Remembering what his granddaughter looked like. He opened them and looked into Mary's eyes. "I mean when he looks at her, his baby girl... You know that he would give up his life for hers every second of every day for the rest of his life. I'm so proud of them both, Mary."

"I know you are, John. I know."

"I really don't want this to end. Ever. Why can't life be like this. Why did everything have to change?"

"Not everything's changed, John," Mary replied. "I know that it looks different now but when you wake up you'll find that one connection to make everything..." she sighed, "perfect again."

"I wish that were true, Mare"

"Sleep now. You'll feel better in the morning."

John nodded and closed his eyes, snuggling closer towards Mary. As he drifted off to sleep, the fact that Mary seemed to understand what he was talking about, with his life and changes, didn’t seem to cross his mind as strange.

Mary smiled, stroked his cheek and then closed her eyes to join him in sleep.

TBC

Next Chapter - The Answer