Ellie: Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em.

Dean looked over at the small figure cuddled in the back, beneath his leather jacket, clutching an old plush dog, a small smile crossing his face. Ellie always slept better when the car was in motion. The soft rumbling and purring of the Impala's engine chased away the nightmares that plagued the young child since her mother disappearance. Dean sighed as he watched Ellie sleeping; her life should have been very different than this. She should be sleeping in a real bed, in a room painted pink with ponies and unicorns or sky blue with whimsical clouds and stars adorning the ceiling; not in the back of his 67 Impala. But the dreams and hopes that Ellie would live a semi-normal life were dashed the moment Acelyn's lawyer brought Ellie to his motel doorstep. Ace had disappeared. Nobody had seen her or heard from her in days. The house was empty no signs of forced entry or foul play. Her id, credit cards and money were sitting the dresser. She was simply gone. She wouldn't abandon Ellie. His instincts told him something of the supernatural variety had taken Ace. Ace was not without her own enemies. She was bound to rack up some rivals and enemies in the twenty years she had been hunter who specialized in big name demons and evil entities. But she had been retired, labeled untouchable by either side.

A soft whimpering pulled Dean from his thoughts as Ellie began to have a nightmare. The Impala was quiet as he pulled up across the street from a dark apartment building. Dean reached back and cradled his daughter's face in his large hand. The embrace did its job and Ellie's nightmare receded to the dark recesses of her mind. Dean sighed and looked at the building across the street. Sammy lived in that building. After years of not talking to his brother he was going to just show up and ask for help. Damn he hoped he wouldn't have to knock him unconscious to get him to come along to Jericho to help him look for dad. Not to mention help him find what ever took Ace.

"Daddy?"

"Hi princess. Have a good nap?"

Elle tilted her head and rubbed her hazel green eyes as the last lingering cobwebs cleared from her mind. "Yeah. Where we at Daddy?"

"We're going to visit Daddy's baby brother."

"Daddy baby brother?"

"Yup. Now why don't we get you out of that car seat so you can meet your uncle Sammy."

Ellie, wide awake at the thought of meeting someone new nodded her head sending her blond curls bouncing, lifted her arms anxiously waiting for daddy to lift her out of her car seat. Daddy got mad if she undid the buckles herself. Dean slipped his lock picking set into his pocket and gun into his waistband and smiled at his daughter as she did as she was told and waited for him to undo the buckle of her car seat.

"Okay princess ready to go."

"Yeah." Ellie said from her perch on daddy's hip, Loki tucked safely between her and daddy.

Dean made his way across the street and set his daughter down near the entrance of Sammy's front door. He looked at his daughter and smiled as she grinned and put a finger in front of her mouth in the universal symbol for silence. As soon as he got the door open he entered and then motioned for his daughter to follow him. As Dean made his way into the house he was tackled by a tall, lanky, guy. Ellie, ever the intelligent child, hid beneath a table near the entrance to avoid being detected or tripped over. When the light illuminated to room Dean had pinned Sam to the floor.

"Damn it Dean. What are you doing here?" Sam said pushing his brother off him.

"Looking for a beer."

Dean looked up to see a beautiful blonde leaning against the door jam.

"Its okay Jess, just my brother."

"Daddy?"

Sam looked at the little person crouched under the table and then up at Dean.

"Come're princess." The little girl dressed in a Led Zeppelin t-shirt and poofy pink tutu scrambled out from under the table into Dean's waiting arms. She smiled at Sam and waved to him before laying her head down on Dean's shoulder.

Jess looked at the little girl and couldn't help but fall in love. She was adorable with her blonde curls in sleepy disarray, curious green eyes, and stuffed puppy under one arm. "Hi there. I'm Jessica. What's your name?" Jess said smiling.

"Daddy says I'm not 'possed to talk to strangers." Ellie said looking at the pretty lady next to the tall man. "Daddy he's real big. Is he your baby brother? He doesn't look like a baby. I don't think he'll fit in the 'pala."

"Dean?" Sammy asked. What the hell happened while he was gone?

"Sam, Jess meet Ellie. Ellie that's your uncle Sammy and his girlfriend Jessica."

"You can call me Jess." Jess said. She couldn't keep the smile off her face. Ellie had to be the cutest thing she had ever seen. "Would you like a cookie?"

Ellie perked up and looked at her daddy to make sure it was okay if she had a cookie. Dean smiled at his daughter and nodded. Ellie wiggled out of Dean's arms and took Jess's extended hand and left to get her cookie.

"Dean? What the hell? When did you become a dad?"

"About two and half years ago."

"Why didn't you call?"

"Would you have picked up?"

Sam looked stunned. He wasn't sure if he would have. "What are you doing here?"

"Dad hasn't been home in a few days."

"So he's working over-time on a 'Miller Time' shift; he'll stumble back in sooner or later."

"Sam, Dad was on a hunting trip and he hasn't come home ."

"Dean…"

"Sam, do you think I would be here if I could find him myself? I need you to help me."

"Dean…"

"Sam I haven't asked you for anything in two years."

There was a tense pause as both brothers briefly reflected on the last two years.

"Alright I'll go."

"Good. Just let me get Ellie and we'll hit the road."

"I have to be back by Monday."

"Why?"

"I have an interview on Monday."

"What a job interview? Skip it."

"No a law school interview. I can't miss it."

"Fine, interview Monday. You'll be back for it."

Sam went to gather some things as Dean went to collect his daughter. Ellie was sitting with Jess a white plate with two chocolate chip cookies sitting on it and a huge glass of milk to one side in front of her.

"Hey Ellie."

"Hi Daddy. Do you want a cookie?" Ellie offered.

"No thanks princess. We have to go now."

"Go where?" Ellie asked scooting her chair away from the table.

"We have to go find Grandpa."

"Oh, Grandpa. He gets lost a lot." Ellie explained to Jess.

"Dean?" Sam asked from the doorway of the kitchen.

Dean picked up Ellie and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

"Ugh, Dean?" Jess asked shyly.

Dean looked at her and cocked and eyebrow at her silently asking what she wanted.

"Well, I was thinking that if you and Sam were going to look for your dad that maybe it would be easier if Ellie stayed here with me. That way you guys can look without having to worry about her. I promise I'll take good care of her. I won't let her out of my sight."

"Ellie is never in the way." Dean said harshly. Dean didn't trust Jess. Granted she was Sam's girlfriend but Sam had a habit of looking for the good in people. Who's to say Jess would ignore Ellie or misunderstand Ellie's nightmares.

"I'm sure she isn't. But wouldn't it be easier to look for him if you could focus all your attention on finding him."

"Dean it would be easier to find dad if we didn't have to watch Ellie." Sam argued. Leaning over he also whispered, "Dean you can trust Jess. She has two younger sister she helped take care of." Besides if Dean left Ellie he wouldn't be worried about her getting hurt by whatever their dad was hunting.

"Elllie wants to go with Daddy." Ellie said looking beseechingly at her Daddy.

"Ellie we can have a slumber party." Jessica coaxed.

"Ellie doesn't want to have a slumber party. Ellie wants to go with Daddy and ride in the 'pala to find Grandpa." Ellie said shaking her head emphatically.

Dean looked at his little girl and smiled. He sat down with her on the seat. Sam tugged Jess's arm and they left the kitchen.

"Ellie."

"Daddy."

Dean sighed and looked at the floor to avoid looking at Ellie's puppy dog face. Elllie was exactly like her mother. Both of them could twist him around their pink fingers. He would protect her innocence to the best of his ability. Decision made he looked at his daughter. "Ellie, Daddy needs you to stay here and protect Jessica."

"Why Daddy? Isn't she a growed up?"

"She is grown up but she don't know anything about ghosts or demons. So I need you to stay here and make sure nothing bad happens to Jessica okay? Besides Sammy will feel better if you stay here and protect Jessica."

Ellie sagged against her daddy and Dean knew Ellie would stay here with Jessica.

Ellie sighed. "Ellie will stay here with Jessica."

"Thank You baby."

"Can I finish eating my cookies?" Ellie asked eyeing the lonely cookies on the table.

"Sure baby. Can Daddy have a bite of one of the cookies?"

"Yea." Ellie said thrusting her cookie in Dean's face.

Dean took a bite and set Ellie back in the chair. "Daddy's going to get Jessica and Sammy and some of your things from the car okay?"

"When you coming back?"

"On Monday baby."

"Monday?"

"Yea. I'll call you every day okay?"

"Kay."

Dean left to get Ellie's things and Jessica and Sam entered the kitchen.

"Hi Ellie" Sammy said.

"Hi Uncle Sammy."

"Dean said you going to stay with Jess while we find Grandpa." Sam said. Grandpa, sounded weird on his tongue.

"Yea, Daddy said I hafta stay with Jessica cause she doesn't..." Ellie looked at Jessica and then at Sam. She leaned in and whispered, "know about ghosts of stuff."

Sam smiled. He was pretty sure he had supernatrafied the house. There would be no demons or ghosts getting in this house. Besides, he didn't really think Ellie would be able to do anything if anything supernatural got in the house. But if Ellie stayed because she wanted to protect Jessica he'd let her believe she could.

"She doesn't."

"Its okay. I'll take care of Jessica for you." Ellie said excitedly, her voice raising above a whisper. Usually she only got to take care of Loki.

Jess looked at Ellie and wonder why exactly Ellie was going to take care of her and not the other way around.

Dean walked in and set a small pink duffle bag down on the floor.

"Okay Elle, Daddy put your pjs in the bag and some clothes for this weekend."

"Okay Daddy."

Dean said kneeling in front of Ellie. He hugged Ellie tightly and kissed her forehead. "Do you want me to tuck you in before I leave?"

Ellie shook her head and buried her face in Dean's shirt taking a deep breath.

"Elle what are you doing?"

"'Melling you."

"Smelling me?"

"Yea."

Dean smiled and sighed and hugged his daughter tighter. "Be a good girl for Jessica okay?"

"Kay Daddy." Was the muffled response.

"I love you."

"Love you too daddy."

Dean smiled and picked up his daughter and handed her to Jess. "Um, make sure she sleeps with Loki because if she doesn't she'll get nightmares. She isn't allergic to anything so you can feed her whatever. She knows my cell number by heart so if there are any problems give me a call. Here I'll write it down in case you need to call. I'll call everyday. Okay Ellie?" Dean took one last look at Ellie before leaving.

"Kay Daddy."

Sam kissed Jess. "I'll be back Sunday night."

"Okay Sam."

The next morning Ellie woke up to the smell of pancakes, throwing the blankets off she padded softly into the kitchen so see Jessica standing in front of the stove.

"Whatcha making?" Ellie asked although she already knew the answer.

"Pancakes. Would you like some?"

"Do they have choc'late chips?"

"Of course. They wouldn't be any good without any would they?"

The little girl shook her head. "Choc'late chip pancakes are Daddy and Elle's favorites."

"Well why don't you sit down and I'll get a plate ready for you okay?"

"Okay." Ellie climbed onto a chair and sat patiently for the plate Jess was fixing for her.

Jess place a plate in font of Ellie and herself and both began to eat.

"Ellie do you need any help?"

"No tank you. Ellie is okay."

Jess smiled and wondered if Sam and her kids would be as cute as Ellie.

When they finished breakfast Jess helped Ellie change and get ready to go to the zoo. They spent the day looking at the animals and Jessica explained where some of the animals came from and why Ellie couldn't have on as a pet. That night they enjoyed a simple dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, watched the Disney movie Jess had borrowed from a neighbor, and brushed each other's hair.

insert the portion of the pilot episode where Dean and Sammy are hunting the woman in white.

Sam and Dean rolled to a stop a block from the apartment. The apartment was up in flames. A crowed had formed across the street as firefighters battled the raging inferno.

"Jess!" Sam screamed as he flew out of the car.

Dean's eyes widened in panic as he saw the flames. Was Ellie okay? His panic grew in leaps and bounds only to be broken by the vibrating ringing of his cell phone. An unfamiliar number appeared on the caller id and he hoped it was Jess calling him to tell him they were okay.

"Dean." He answered as he picked up the phone.

Sammy looked over at Dean as a wave of relief come over his face.

"Daddy?"

"Ellie… sweetheart where are you?"

"At the hos'tol wif Jess'ca. She has an ouchie."

"Which hospital Ellie?"

"I dunno Daddy. The am'ulence bringed us."

"Baby, is there a nurse there?"

"Yea. Her name is Shirley is it okay to talk to her? Cause she's a stranger and I'm not 'pose to talk to strangers."

"Its okay to talk to Shirley Ellie. Can you give the phone to her."

There was a brief silence as Ellie handed the phone to Shirley the nurse.

Dean looked over at Sammy. "They're fine. They're at the hospital right now. Don't get you panties in a bunch I'm trying to find out which one." Dean said before his brother could ask.

"Mr. Winchester?"

"Yes."

"This is Shirley Edgar. An emergency nurse at Stanford University hospital. We have your daughter Ellie Winchester and a Jessica Moore here."

"We'll be there in five minutes." Dean interrupted.

He and Sam jumped into the car and speed to the hospital where Jessica was being treated.

Sam rushed to the front desk. "Jessica Moore. She was brought in a few minutes ago, where is she?

"Sir I cannot release that information to you unless you are a relative."

Before he could lie and say he was her husband. A quite voice interrupted.

"Shirley that's Uncle Sammy, he's going to marry Auntie Jessica."

"Oh, your Sammy. Ms. Moore isn't out of surgery yet. If you'll have a seat the doctor will be right with you as soon as they're finished."

Ellie looked up and saw Daddy running over to them.

"Daddy!"

"Ellie, baby." Dean said scooping up the little girl and hugging her tight.

"You must be Mr. Winchester."

"Yes, I am."

"Well I guess Ellie's in good hands then."

Dean just smiled and hugged his daughter closer. He walked away and sat down next to an anxious Sammy.

Sammy looked at Ellie. The little girl was dressed in her pjs and Loki was held in one arm while the other was wrapped around Dean's neck.

"Baby what happened?"

"The bad thing came daddy and tried to hurt Jessica."

"The bad thing?" Sam asked.

"Yea, the thing that took Grandma Mary."

"The thing that took Grandma."

Ellie nodded and buried her face against her father's neck.

"You saw it Ellie"

"Yea, Daddy it had yellow eyes. It was scary."

"What did the monster do to Jessica?" Sammy asked.

"He gave her an ouchie on her tummy. But then he went away."

"What made him go away Ellie?"

Ellie shrugged her shoulders. "Then there was fire everywhere and Jess'ca was bleeding."

"Did the firefighters get you out?"

Ellie shook her head and then leaned in and whispered, "Ellie tel'ported. Momma taught it to me, but she said it was a secret and that I 'pose to show you the next time you visited."

Sammy looked at Ellie skeptically. "You teleported."

"Yea, outside and Jessica called the fire fighters but then she went to sleep and I couldn't wake her up. I tell them that there was fire at Uncle Sammy's house and that Jessica was bleeding. Then the am'ulence came and Ellie and Jessica went to the hospital."

Dean and Sammy sighed. Ellie settled against Dean and slowly fell asleep. A few minutes latter the whoosh of the emergency room doors signified the arrival of Jessica's parents.

Sammy stood up. "Mr. and Mrs. Moore."

"Sam. Is Jessica okay. They told us she had be hurt in a fire." Mrs. Moore asked quickly.

"She's still in surgery." Sam answered.

Mr. Moore headed over the nurses station as Mrs. Moore took a seat next to Sam.

"Mrs. Moore, this is my brother Dean and his daughter Ellie."

"I wish we had met under different circumstances."

Dean just smiled and adjusted Ellie closer to his body. He mentally sighed, if anything had happened to Ellie his life would be over. It was bad enough her mother was missing. She and her mother were his whole world.

The clock ticked by and the occupants of the waiting room, with the exception of one small sleeping child, waited in anticipation for any news about Jessica. A few friends of Sammy and Jess had stopped by to see if there was anything they could do but were invited to stay or left. The soft swish of the OR doors opening brought everyone to a standing position.

"Mr. and Mrs. Moore?" The OR doctor called for.

"Yes, I'm Mr. Moore." Jessica's father replied holding Mrs. Moore's hand.

"Your daughter made it through surgery okay. We were able to stop the bleeding and close her wound. Although it is peculiar how she got what looks to be a knife wound during a fire."

"So, she's okay?" Sam asked

"Yes, we expect her to make a full recovery." The doctor said.

Sam sat down and sighed in relief.