-CHAPTER ONE-
"Dean, how's MaryJo?" Sam asked, sitting at the table with his head in his hands.
"She finally fell asleep. After like, five hours of screaming." Dean groaned, walking slowly into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. Suddenly a loud wail echoed through the house. "Sam, you go deal with her…" Sam stood up wearily.
"We didn't think about the fact that Dad dying would mean we'd have to take care of a one-year-old." He said, trudging out of the room. The screams got louder as Sam walked down the hallway to MaryJo's room. Sam stumbled into the nursery and stepped next to the crib. MaryJo looked up at her big brother, tears staining her cheeks and her puffy red face a contrast to her bright green eyes, which were shiny with held back tears. Sam sighed softly and picked her up.
"Can't you sleep for ten minutes, MaryJo?" He whispered. The baby's crying quieted as Sam held her. MaryJo's eyes slowly closed while Sam hummed the only song he could think of, Dead or Alive. Sam slowly lowered her back into the crib, trying to make sure she stayed asleep. As soon as Sam pulled away from MaryJo, her eyes popped open and the bawling began again. Sam sighed and lifted her from the crib again. Sam walked out of the nursery and back into the kitchen.
"I don't think she wants to sleep, Dean." Dean was sitting at the table with his head down on his folded arms. "Dude!" Sam said, slapping his shoulder. Dean lifted his head, his eyes bleary.
"Sorry. Just trying to get some shut-eye." He said, standing up.
"I don't know what to do. She just won't stay asleep." Sam groaned. Dean took MaryJo from Sam.
"Listen kid, you're gonna go to sleep. You're gonna stay asleep. And you're gonna like it, alright?" He said, looking down at the baby. MaryJo blinked her big eyes and giggled. Dean sighed and then smiled.
"I'm going to try one more time. If she doesn't stay asleep this time, I don't know. Google it or something." Dean went back into MaryJo's room and sat down on the rocking chair. "You just love torturing us, don't you." He said softly. Dean rocked back and forth in the chair for a few minutes until MaryJo's eyes fluttered and then closed completely. He slowly stood up and gently laid her back into the crib.
"Please stay asleep…" Dean whispered. He slowly retreated from the room, still listening for the shrill screams that usually came after they put MaryJo back into the crib. No sound came from the nursery, so Dean closed the door as quietly as he could and sighed with relief
