A Normal Life.

This story is set mid-way through season 2. I don't plan on it being a very long story but I just thought it'd be fun to take the boys out of the supernatural for a while. Like my OC says in the story- everyone deserves a break. Enjoy and comment if you like, good or bad reviews always welcome.

….

Buffalo, New York

Lucy gently stuck the tips of her fingers into the bathwater, the sound of the faucet still cascading more water into the tub. She winced slightly at the heat, adjusting the cold water slightly to even out the temperature. Slipping off her workwear, a reminder of her tough day, she slipped into her blue gingham bathrobe and reached round to the back of her head, releasing her shoulder-length chestnut brown hair from the clasp she'd had it tied up in. She dimmed the lights in the bathroom and pulled out a lighter, lighting various candles she'd positioned around the room. She bit her lip longingly, wanting nothing more than to slip right that second into the comfort of the warm water and the white, fragrant bubbles. She padded back into the sitting room of her apartment, giving the tub a chance to fill up fully, and flopped down in front of the TV. She relished the thought of a night of trash tv and…yes, pizza. She leaned across to the small table by the side of her lamp, picking up the menu for the pizza place down the street. She'd barely begun skimming its contents when her buzzer began to ring furiously, as though someone was pressing it desperately from the street down below. She frowned at it, setting the menu down on the coffee table and pressing the speaker on the intercom. "Hello? Who is it?"

There was a brief pause, before a deep voice crackled in response. "…It's Dean."

"Dean…," She echoed, furrowing her brow. For the briefest of moments she tried to place the name but, of course, it struck her within seconds. She quickly pressed another button to let him in. As she waited for Dean Winchester to make his way up to her apartment she quickly made sure that her bathrobe belt was tied securely, a little annoyed that she had no time to quickly throw some clothes back on. Her thoughts quickly turned to what state she was about to find him in, as was always the case when he or his father, John Winchester, stopped by to visit her. It had, however, been quite some time since their last visit. Well, since Dean's last visit, anyway. John had shown up just a couple of months earlier, without Dean by his side. Banging sounded on the door and Lucy opened it, reeling slightly to find Dean grinning at her sheepishly yet pained, his arm slung round the shoulder of a taller yet equally handsome companion. The other Winchester, she supposed to herself.

"Hey Luce…woah," Dean greeted her, taken aback to see her in a state of near undress. Still, despite holding his arm, which was packed with makeshift bandages, at a pained angle, he offered her a trademark charming smile. . "Bad time?"

She pulled her robe tighter around herself, tutting at the remark. "Of course not."

"Great. That offer still good?" He asked, wincing again in pain through gritted teeth.

"Of course it is," She shook her head as though it went without saying, standing aside and ushering them inside.

"Sorry to just show up like this," Dean apologised as the other man led him inside. "You know I hate to drop in on you announced."

"What are you talking about?" She rolled her eyes ever so slightly, a smile playing about her lips. "You only ever drop in unannounced."

"Where do you want me to put him?" The other one spoke up.

"Over there on the couch," She pointed, rushing quickly in front of him to spread a blanket out on the sofa. He was always welcome as she'd said, but that didn't mean she wanted to get his blood all over her couch. As they both gently settled Dean down onto the couch, she looked over at the man he'd come in with. "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met. I'm Lucy."

"Sam…Winchester," He said, instinctively holding his hand for her to shake but retracting it shyly when he realised that shaking hands casually whilst his brother's arm bled profusely wasn't the best timing. Instead, he smiled politely. "Nice to meet you."

"I thought you were the other one…got that Winchester look about you," She said, smiling at him before turning her attention back to Dean and his injured arm. "So, what happened this time, Dean? Knife?"

"How'd you guess?" He asked against partially gritted teeth, just in time for her to see the wound for herself as she unwrapped all of the bloodied cloth bandages which had been compacted tightly around the wound, likely by Sam. He groaned lightly in pain as she gently fingered around it.

"It's usually a knife…" She mused, peering at the wound. "Could be worse, to be honest."

"Could be worse…," He raised his eyes lightly at her as he motioned to the bloody pile of cloth on the floor, remarking sarcastically. "…I guess I've only lost a pint or two."

"Well, at least you used an old towel," She reasoned. "Those won't be coming out and I can promise you that."

"That…that was actually one of my t-shirts," Sam piped up.

"Oh…sorry," She said, slightly amused. She turned her full attention to Sam. "Sam, could you go into the cupboard over there and pass me the leather bag inside?"

"Sure," Sam said, folding his arms and began heading in the direction she pointed him in. "So, Dean says you're like a doctor?"

"I am a doctor," She said dismissively, throwing the bloodied cloth onto the floor in a ball. "Paediatric Emergency Medicine."

The corners of Sam's mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly in an amused grin. "Came to the right doctor then, huh Dean? Mentally-speaking…."

Dean waited until Lucy's head was turned away before raising a middle finger to his brother.

A thought struck Lucy and she looked back over at Sam. "Oh, first, could you go into the bathroom and shut off the faucet. I was running a bath. It's second on the right down the corridor."

Sam simply nodded, disappearing down the corridor.

Dean took the opportunity to look at her as she inspected the wound, noticing everything that was different about her since the last time they'd seen each other. She was fresh out of med school when he and his father had first knocked on her door three years earlier. Her hair was shorter now for a start, falling about her shoulders where it had previously travelled all the way down to the small of her back. He could've sworn she'd lightened the colour slightly too. She looked more worldly-wise too, the youthful naivety she'd once held stripped from her face. Still, he noted, she was still the Luce he remembered so well...and still hot so that was a bonus. "Good to see you again."

"You too," She said, smiling back at him. She took her own opportunity to look him up and down too. He was ruggedly handsome as ever, but something was a little off. His eyes, which at one time had shown a vigour for the hunt and the lifestyle which he lead now held a look of defeat and fatigue. She smiled at him anyway. "It's been a while…I'm glad to say."

"Oh thanks," He rolled his eyes, leaning back into the plush sofa and wincing at the pain the movement sent rippling through his injured arm.

She let out a laugh and waved a hand dismissively. "You know what I meant…good that you've not been too badly hurt to come and visit me...whilst in the area, of course."

Sam reappeared, fumbling in the cupboard for her bag. He brought it to her, frowning apologetically. "I blew out the candles too whilst I was in there. Sorry again to just spring up out of the blue like this. It, uh, looked like you had a relaxing night planned for yourself. You really like Yankee Candles, huh?"

"Candles, huh?" Dean looked at her suggestively, a look which she rolled her eyes at.

"It's no big deal, Sam," She shook her head, reaching out and taking the bag from him. She called it her treasure chest, the bag she used to store her own personal first aid equipment, albeit slightly more advanced than the average first aid kit. She'd used the contents of that bag often to treat the Winchesters' wounds. She cleaned out the wound. "I'm gonna have to stitch it up, Dean."

"I thought so," Sam murmured gently, thoughtfully stroking his chin with the edge of his index finger as he watched on. "You need anything else."

"Uh-uh," Lucy shook her head, tossing a brief glance over her shoulder. "Why don't you get your brother a beer from the fridge though…and get one for yourself while you're there."

"Got anything stronger?" Dean asked, eying her as she deftly threaded her needle.

"Yep," She said, raising her voice but not taking her eyes from the needle. "Sam, there's a bottle of whiskey in the cupboard above the sink…and glasses in the cupboard next to it."

Dean's eyes scanned round her apartment as she began to suture his wound. He asked her the question he asked her every time he came to her apartment. "So, don't you wanna know how it happened?"

"Dean…," She paused briefly to look him square in the eyes, almost warningly. "Why do you ask this every time? You know I never want to know how it happened.. My one grisly experience with the supernatural was enough to last me a lifetime, thank you very much. I don't need your other horror stories too. "

"Suit yourself," Dean said with a little smile, closing his eyes gently and trying to relax as she sewed up his wound. He asked her every time out of amusement at her reaction. In reality it suited him just fine too to keep her in the dark as much as possible. He didn't care to taint her anymore than her experience three years previously already had.

"Come again?" Sam asked about Lucy's statement, returning to the pair of them with the whisky in one hand, a glass in the other and a confused look on his face. He didn't understand the link his family had to this woman and Dean hadn't mentioned much in the car. If there was one thing Sam Winchester hated it was being kept in the dark. "Sorry, Lucy, but Dean didn't explain very much to me on the way over here. How exactly do you two know each other?"

"You didn't tell him?" Lucy asked, raising an eyebrow at Dean.

"Never came up," Dean replied, amused.

"About three years ago your brother and your dad helped me. This place…," she motioned around her apartment with her free hand. "…was haunted."

"Poltergeist," Dean explained, prompting Sam to raise his eyebrows to show that he got it.

"Anyway, the long and the short is that they took care of it and I can sleep safely at night," Lucy explained with a shrug and an appreciative smile.

"Luce said to drop by her place if we were ever in the neighbourhood and in need of a fix-up…," Dean continued, slugging some whisky from the glass Sam had poured for him.

"An offer they've taken me up on quite a few times now, as it goes," She smirked slightly yet affectionately.

Dean looked at her pointedly.

"…not that you're not always welcome, you know that," She backtracked quickly. "God knows I'll never be able to fully repay your family for saving my life!"

"Yeah, well we didn't intend to come back, of course," Dean looked at Sam, shrugging slightly. "…but if it means avoiding hospitals and paperwork or home treatments then so be it."

"Plus it was good experience for me in the first year of my residency," Luce looked at Sam and letting out a little laugh. "I've seen a real spectrum of injuries with those two."

"Glad we could help," Dean said dryly.

"All done," She said, finishing the final stitches. She stood up, walking into the kitchen to wash her hands. She returned moments later, drying her hands on a kitchen towel. By the time she'd made it back Dean was already putting his leather jacket back on. This was how it always was. They came, she fixed them up and off they went again. Her stomach always flopped at this moment too. She continued to wipe her hands thoughtfully, something occurring to her. "Hey, where is John anyway?"

Both boys stopped in their tracks. Deans hands paused midway from flipping up his jacket collar, it suddenly dawning on his that he'd yet again encountered an acquaintance of his father who didn't yet know he was dead. Once again he was the bearer of bad news. He didn't have to say anything though, as Lucy seemed to read it on their suddenly ashen faces.

Lucy's own face fell slightly too. "Is he alright?"

Dean shook his head, biting his lip and looking away, the hand on his uninjured arm fishing around in his pocket for the keys to the Impala.

"…dead?" She asked in a quieter voice.

This time it was Sam's turn to nod his head gravely.

"Oh," She said simply, taking a few steps and sitting down on one of her armchairs. Her stomach dived a little, but she held it together. She was plenty used to the realities of death in her line of work. She simply looked at them sympathetically. "I'm so sorry, boys."

"Couple months ago now," Dean said, shaking his head slightly but keep his stiff upper lip.

Lucy scratched her chin for a moment as she reflected. "You know, I just saw him a few months ago…."

Dean's eyes raised in surprise.

"What?" Sam asked. "Our dad was here?"

"Mm hmm," She nodded gently, awkwardly rubbing her hands together. "He stopped by one night…."

"What was wrong with him?" Dean asked, clearing his throat abruptly.

"Gash to the head," She told them, frowning. "Just needed a dressing and some stitches."

"Did he, uh…," Sam spoke up. "say anything about why he was in town?"

She shook her head, offering the searching eyes of both boys each an apologetic smile. "Sorry no, you know I never ask. He was literally here for about fifteen minutes and then he was gone again. He seemed in more of a rush than usual. I did ask why you weren't with him, though."

"What'd he tell you?" Dean pressed.

"Just that you were working another job," She said, her voice lowering slightly. "I…I didn't think anything of it, if I'm honest with you."

Both boys were silent for a moment, before Dean snapped out of it first and jangled the keys to the Impala, taking a step towards the door. He nodded at her. "Well we really should get going. Thanks, Luce."

"Yeah, nice to meet you," Sam offered her a polite nod and a wave as he followed his brother towards the door.

She watched them approach the door, a nagging feeling in her stomach. She was taken aback by how overwhelmed by how uneasy the news of John's death had made her. Since they'd stepped in to her rescue all those years ago, she'd put John and his eldest son on a pedestal as saviour-types. In her head they'd seemed invincible. Now that she knew John was dead, it surprised her how much she suddenly feared for Dean's safety. If John could be taken down, the he surely could too just as easily. Plus, she could tell he was hurting, tired and defeated. She couldn't help but want to heal him a little. She supposed it was just the nature of her job. All she was sure of at that point was that she couldn't let him leave…couldn't let either of them leave. Without meaning to, she squeaked out to both of them. "Don't go."

Dean stopped, turning around slightly to look at her. "What?"

She cleared her throat, a little embarrassed. "Don't go."

He frowned at her, his eyes darting from her to Sam. "Whaddya mean?"

"I, uh, I just think you should take a few days to heal…let that wound get better and stay clean," She shrugged her shoulders as nonchalantly as she could. "From the sound of those dank, gross motels you stay in, that isn't gonna happen if you go straight back out on the trail of God-knows-what."

"Uh…," Sam stammered for a brief second. Neither brother was used to this situation. "That's a nice offer but we really have to…."

"Come on," She insisted. "Just for a few days...until I can take those stitches out, you know? I have a spare room and one you can sleep on the couch."

Dean looked at Sam in surprise before looking back at her. "Want us to stick around a while, huh?"

"Something like that," She shrugged, standing up and walking over to the pair of them. "Come on, everyone needs a break now and again, even you boys."

Dean licked his lips. It was as though she'd channelled into his thoughts. He'd been saying the same thing to Sam recently, not that Sam had taken much notice.

Luce looked at Sam, noticing that he didn't seem too keen. She leaned over and opened a drawer on a nearby table, pulling out a Rubik's Cube. "I know you boys always feel you need to be out doing something, solving things, but solve this!"

Sam stifled a laugh, shaking his head. "Thanks but…."

"Okay," Dean said solemnly, much to Sam's surprise.

"What?" Sam asked, screwing up his face.

Dean looked at her. He was tired, tired to the point of exhaustion with everything that had been happening lately and what he saw in her eyes was comfort and care. Don't get me wrong, he saw the same things when he looked into Sammy's eyes but Sammy didn't have great legs and a pretty smile. He looked at Sam resolutely. "I said okay."

"Dean…," Sam protested.

Dean had already made up his mind though. "Just for a day or two, Sam."

"Great," Lucy smiled, a feeling of relief spreading through her.

Dean's eyes drifted down to the pizza menu sitting on the coffee table. He looked at her, a glint in his eye. "Ordering pizza?"