Author's Note: I'm feeling a bit braver about this now. No one has flamed me, so I'm gonna assume this is getting a good reception! Anyway, here's chapter two, standard disclaimer applies, and the summary is in Chapter One, although if you're here, I'm assuming you already knew all that!

Indiana, November 2008

There just over eighteen months between Alex and Dean, with Dean being the eldest. Alex had always protested this gap, but to Dean, he was the eldest and she was his baby sister; ergo it was his job to protect both her and Sammy. Which was probably why she spent a good portion of her life trying to piss him off as much as possible. From her first date with Tommy Jewiss when she was twelve, to smoking a cigarette behind a cinema when she was sixteen - she'd tried everything to make Dean realise she was not much younger than him. But he was big brother through and through.

And she couldn't be more grateful right at this moment.

Sat on the couch in her living room at a time of the morning when normal people would be fast asleep, the sun young on the horizon, she had one brother either side and for the first time in ages, she felt safe. Because with all three of the Winchester siblings together, there wasn't much they couldn't face. They may have been estranged, and they may have their problems, but with a singular goal in mind, they were a force to be reckoned with. And every cliché that could go along with that.

'So, what do we know?' Sam asked, leaning forward to pluck their dad's journal from the bag. Alex's eyes widened as she saw it.

'You have Dad's journal?' She eyed the book warily, wondering exactly what it contained. Dean nodded, taking it from his brother and handing it to his sister.

'Comes in handy. There might be some clues as to what they want with James.'

Alex nodded, holding the book in her hands gingerly. She wondered what else it contained. Their dad wasn't much for keeping his personal thoughts and feelings on paper, but she didn't know every detail of what they'd been up to since she left. She knew the basics, through certain channels; she knew Dad was gone, she knew something big had gone down with the Yellow Eyed Demon he'd been chasing since their mom was murdered. But she didn't know everything.

'So what has happened?' She asked quietly. 'To you guys. You seem more...focused than last time I saw you.' Both boys looked at her, and she looked intently at the book. 'I mean, you weren't exactly aching to join the family business when I last saw you, Sammy.'

The flopped hair youngest Winchester looked down at his hands. 'After Jess...' He glanced up, meeting his little sister's grey eyes, and knew instantly that she knew. 'I didn't think there was any point trying again.'

'What about you?' Dean questioned. 'You were worse than me, striving for Dad's approval. You were one of the best and you just...quit?'

'I had incentive.' She replying, her gaze going past Sam to the door. 'I couldn't...I never imagined being a mom. But when he was born...no before...I knew I couldn't go back. Hunting Wendigos and werewolves, ghosts...it was no life for a kid. Hell, it was bad enough we were dragged into it. No child should grow up that way.'

'You weren't scared?' Sam asked hesitantly.

'I was terrified.' Alex chuckled. 'More than anything I wanted to call Dad. Call both of you. But I was more scared...'

'That we'd be disappointed?' Her younger brother offered and she nodded.

Dean's mouth set into a thin line. 'I wish you had called. Nothing's more important than family, Alex.' She waited for the berating remarks she knew were coming. 'And all this time, we've had a nephew we never knew about. Dad was a grandpa and he never knew.' The smile on her elder brother's face was shocking to say the least as he laughed a little under his breath. 'He would have been thrilled about that.'

'And you never thought James would be better off...with someone else?' Sam knew the question was dangerous, even as he said it, Alex pulled backwards to look at him with a frown.

'No. I never questioned it. He was safest with me. I would never give him up. It never even crossed my mind.' She sighed. 'Even when the midwives said I would be better off giving him up. They were...' She looked down. 'Concerned. Had to have some physicals and stuff, and being a Winchester comes with it's fair share of scars. The one I got off that spirit in Illinois on my stomach? That raised some questions.'

'Yeah, I remember. Dad pitched a fit over that. I was supposed to be watching your back.' Dean grumbled, picking up the beer he'd opened earlier and taking a swig.

'We should get on with this. James won't sleep more than another hour or so.' Alex cleared her throat.

'So we know that it's demons right?' Sam took the diary and thumbed through it.

'Definitely demons.' She affirmed.

Dean grimaced. 'How'd it get in?'

'I don't know. I check the salt lines every night. There's devil traps painted on the floorboards under the carpets.'

'The one by the back door was broken.' Sam said, and Alex raised an eyebrow.

'Angels?' Dean asked, and Alex's other eyebrow went up.

'Angels?' She repeated. 'Angels are a thing now?'

Her eldest brother nodded. 'Sort of. We've got a lot of catching up to do.'

She took a breath. 'Sounds like.'

'I guess we call Cas?' Sam asked Dean, who shook his head.

'Not yet.' Dean muttered, casting his green eyes around the room. 'Let's get the wardings fixed before James wakes up. We'll figure out where to go after that. You got anything edible in the house?' He changed the subject abruptly.

'Yeah...uh, wait. Who's Cas?' Alex questioned and Dean tilted his head a little. 'Come on guys. I need to know this stuff. I know I'm out of the loop and we've been apart for a while but...'

'Castiel is an angel. The angel who saved Dean from Hell.'

Her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open. 'Saved Dean from where?' Dean stood suddenly, turning for the kitchen.

'It's not important.' He moved away as Alex shot her eyes to her little brother, seeking out an explanation.

Sam took a breath. 'Things got...Dean died. For four months he was in hell.'

'And you didn't...I didn't...oh god, Sammy you should have tried to find me.'

'Dad was gone. We never talked about it. All I knew was you were out...or gone. I accepted it. Maybe it was wrong but...'

'You would have know if I was gone.' She thought for a moment. 'I knew. Something was wrong and I knew. But I...I thought I was going crazy. I've been unsettled for months. Then this all happened and...' Tears welled in her eyes. 'I should have come home. I shouldn't have stayed away.'

'Hey, no, Alex...you were doing the best thing for James. You got out. You did the right thing. You have to believe that.' He slipped an arm around his sister. 'You have to believe that.'

Dean stood hunched over the counter in the kitchen, his thoughts a mess. He could hear the whispered talk in the other room, but paid it no mind as he thought of the events leading up to this. He was tired. They'd driven all night and then searched for information all day. The reports of deaths and black smoke had brought them here and it hadn't taken long to find a demon for information. He'd given them an address before they'd ganked him, telling them that they'd get the boy they wanted. And it had led them here.

They'd sat in the car for a while, watching the house. When the demon had shown up and slipped around the back of the house, they'd wasted no time in following. Dean wondered now, if his heart had pounded so hard as they approached the house because he knew his baby sister was in there. It deeply ingrained that protecting his family was his most important job; not even Hell had changed that.

And that little golden haired boy...seeing him once; hearing him call Alex "Mommy". Dean loved him instantly. To a Winchester, family was more important than anything. He'd die for his siblings and now he'd die for James.

Alex had changed. She was harder, leaner. She said she hadn't been training, that she'd left it all behind but she still moved like a hunter. The looks had changed - her dark hair was long now, instead of the pixie cut she'd sported in her childhood. Dad had always insisted she kept it short, because long hair was something the monsters could grab. She'd hated it, but Dad never took no for an answer.

So lost in his thoughts was he, that when Sam dropped a hand on his shoulder, he jumped. He looked around, panicking a little.

'You okay?' Sam asked, looking at his brother in concern.

'Where's Alex?'

'She went to check the doors and windows. What's up?'

'She got out. She was free of all this, Sammy. And now she's been dragged back in. Her and her son. She got out. How is that fair?' He sighed, running a hand down his face. 'I looked for her. I thought she was dead. And a small part of me was holding on to this dream that she'd found someone, settled down. Lived a normal life. And she has. But they've dragged her back in. One of us was out.'

'She can still get out, Dean. We take care of this demon, they can go back to their lives.'

'You and I both know that once a demon wants you, they aren't going to stop until they've got you or they're dead.'

'What?' The small voice came from the doorway and both Winchester brothers turned to face their sister. Dean stared at her; she looked so small and fragile that he wanted to throw up. Alex had fought from the day she was born; against their dad, him, demons, everything. And now she looked like a soft breeze would knock her over. Her face was swollen from crying, and residual blood still trickled from the cut on her forehead. She had found her knife again, and held it tightly in her hand. 'What could they want him for?'

'Your son is special.' The voice came from behind Alex, and she jumped, whirling with the knife held in a shaky hand. Castiel stared at her, his gaze flickering to the knife. 'That will not kill me.'

'As long as it hurts.' Alex threatened as she backed into the kitchen. Dean frowned at the angel.

'Cas?'

Alex recognised the name and looked back at her brothers, raising an eyebrow. 'This is Cas?'

'Why are you here Cas?' Sam asked. Castiel moved into the kitchen, his eyes moving to each human individually.

'Your son is special.' He repeated. 'He is wanted by both demons and angels. He will be a powerful weapon in the apocalypse.' Dean gritted his teeth, wondering why angels apparently skipped the line for tact.

'A weapon? He's a four year old boy!' Alex gritted her teeth. 'No one is taking him.'

'He would be safer in heaven, Alex Winchester.' Cas' tone was even. Alex glared at him.

'You can't have him!'

Dean held up his hands. 'No one is taking him anywhere, Cas. We can figure this out.'

Castiel fixed Dean with a look. 'The demons must not take him.'

'And they won't, okay-'

'Mommy?' The timid voice echoed through the house, followed by light footsteps down the staircase. Alex's eyes went wide and she bolted past the angel. Dean looked to Sam, who nodded and followed his sister, who passed him the knife as he entered the hallway. In seconds, she was scooping James from the stairs and holding him tightly.

'You okay, baby?'

'I feel sick, Mommy. My tummy hurts.'

'Okay, sweetheart, let's check you out okay?' James didn't fight as his mom carried him into the kitchen, shooting wary glances at the angel stood watching them. Alex set him on the side by the sink and ran a hand over his forehead. 'He's burning up.' She grabbed a dishcloth, running it under the cold tap. As she turned, Castiel stepped closer and Alex held out a hand. 'Don't come near him.'

Castiel ignored her and Dean stepped forward. 'Cas...' The angel threw up a hand and Dean was immobilised. Alex glared at him again, her eyes promising pain.

'I mean it.' The angel came closer, and James grabbed his mom's arm, fear showing on his sweaty face. Alex pressed back, scowling as Castiel got closer and reached out an arm. 'Stay back.' He still didn't listen as he reached up and touched two fingers to Alex's forehead. In a second, the residual dizziness and nausea from the head wound were gone, along with the wound itself. Without stopping, Cas touched James' forehead aswell, and then stepped back.

He turned to Dean and Sam. 'I healed them. She had a head wound. The boy had contracted influenza. I thought it would be easier this way.'

'Oh.' Sam cleared his throat. 'Thanks.'

'I feel better, Mommy.' James announced, and Alex turned to him, running a hand down his face. She smiled, and picked him up, placing him on the floor. 'Who are those men?' The little boy asked, and Alex crouched down to his level, pointing at Dean.

'That is your Uncle Dean. He's grumpy but he's the bestest big brother ever. And that -' She pointed to Sam. 'Is your Uncle Sammy.' Sam rolled his eyes at the use of "Sammy". 'Only special people can call him Sammy, though okay?'

'Do they kill bad monsters like granpa did?' James asked, and both brothers' eyes widened at that. Alex looked up at them.

'I never kept anything from him. He knows monsters are real.' She looked back to her son. 'Yeah they do, sweetheart.'

'I dreamed they did.' The boy said, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. 'I dreamed him too.' He pointed at Castiel.

'Huh?' Dean frowned. Cas moved again, crouching down to James's level. Alex eyed him warily; even if he had just healed them both, his earlier words terrified her. She reached an arm around the front of her son, grasping one of his hands in her own, holding it tightly.

'My name is Castiel, James Winchester. And I am here to protect you.'

'That's what you said in my dream.'

Castiel smiled a little, reaching out to place his hand over Alex's and James' entwined ones. Warmth spread through her skin, and she looked up, locking grey eyes with Cas' astounding blue gaze.

'I'm here to protect both of you.'

'What do you mean, you're here to protect them?' Dean asked, when Alex had taken James upstairs to get washed and dressed. Castiel stood in the kitchen, opposite Sam and Dean, who presented a united family front.

'Exactly what I said, Dean. I am here to protect both of them.'

'You said five minutes ago that you would take James to Heaven to protect him.'

'And I would. If that was what Alex wanted. My instructions are to protect the Winchester boy. He is important, and the demons will stop at nothing to take him.'

'Why?' Dean demanded, trying to stop the boiling hot rage inside him.

'He is to be used as a weapon.'

'He's a four year old boy, Cas!'

'I am aware of his physical age.' The angel replied coolly. 'However, in many years he will be a force to be used for good or evil. It is important he is shown the right path.' His eyes slipped to Sam. 'Some were intended for this path and have slipped without supervision.' Sam swallowed hard.

'So you're gonna stick with him until what? He goes to college? Gets married?'

'None of those things exist in James Winchester's future.'

'Horseshit.' Dean spat. 'He was out. He doesn't know this life.'

'It is required that he must. He was destined for this as much as you were.' Castiel pointed out. Dean raised his hands in aggravation and dropped them again.

'Being a Winchester is like being cursed.' He muttered, stomping off away from the angel, who was staring at Sam. The younger brother shifted uncomfortably under the angel's gaze. Castiel didn't move.

'So do you...uh...know how he came to be...I mean, like how Alex got pregnant? Cos she says there wasn't a father...' He trailed off as Castiel's blue eyes twinkled.

'I do.' Sam waited, but Castiel did not continue.

'And?'

'And I believe that is private information for Alex to hear alone.' Castiel responded. Sam rolled his eyes and followed his brother's move. Castiel watched him leave and then followed, tilting his head to the side in the manner he usually adopted when he did not understand human behaviour. 'Have I said something wrong? Isn't a child's parentage something that the parents should know first?'

'Not when it involves my baby sister.' Dean said, raising a finger towards the angel. 'I wanna know how she got knocked up.'

'Alex is as special as her son. She was destined to be the mother of a great warrior and a warrior herself.'

'Spare me all this destiny crap. She was fine. This has separated her from her family for nearly five years, Cas! What if she'd needed us? What if we hadn't been here tonight?'

'I was prepared to help. I knew you would get here in time. You were to be reunited all along. Her being with you for all of those years would not change the outcome of what occurred.' Cas looked confused as he glared at Dean. 'I do not understand, or appreciate your anger. I am here to protect those you love, is that not helpful?'

'I protect those I love, Cas! Me! It's my job!' The eldest Winchester practically exploded.

Sam flinched at the anger in his brother's words. He knew Dean was pissed about all this, but he didn't realise the depth of his brother's perceived failure to protect his family. 'Dean...' He reached a hand out, but Dean shrugged it off, turning away.

'Leave it, Sammy.'

Illinois, July 1995

Alex winced as she rolled over on the forest floor. The sky was dark above the trees, and through her blurred, bloodied vision, she could see the twinkling of stars. But her vision was darkening, and she could feel blood slipping through her fingers as she clutched her stomach. She'd been so stupid, running off to prove a point to her father that she could find the remains and burn the bones herself. Another impulsive head on decision that had left her with no back up.

She was at least a couple of miles from the cabin. The woods were vast, and there was no saying when her brothers and father would find her. Chances were, she would be dead by then. And she hadn't even made it to her sweet sixteen.

As she sighed heavily, feeling the darkness creep around her brain like a welcoming blanket, she smiled. Maybe this was it. Maybe she'd finally be out...

Warmth spread through her belly and she thought she could see the sunrise, before her name echoed through the woods.

'Alex!'

The word sounded fuzzy and far away but all around her at the same time. Something skidded in the mud beside her, but she couldn't care enough to open her eyes to see.

'Dad, I found her! I found her! Over here!'

'Oh thank god. Alex, Alex? Wake up, baby girl, come on.'

'She's not moving. Dad, is she okay?'

'She's gonna be fine, Sammy. Dean give me your jacket.'

'She's been cut, Dad. Lucky she wasn't gutted.'

Hands were touching her, touching her stomach where she'd been wounded. She knew it was a mortal injury, it certainly felt like one.

'It's not so bad. Could have been worse. She's lost a lot of blood for a slight gash like that.'

If she could have been bothered, Alex would have frowned. She'd been sliced from hip to hip. Surely her dad would say it was more than just a gash? She knew she wasn't getting back up from that. Ever. Why were they bothering? Her breath hitched in her chest as she waited for the urge to stop altogether.

'Alexandra Winchester, you stay with me okay? Dean, Sammy, I'm gonna need help here, hold her arms, put the jacket across...that's it...we need...don't...'

The voices disappeared. She was enveloped in the darkness, comfortably numb. It felt like years were passing. No sounds, no feelings. Just peace. It was...kinda beautiful. Until the light appeared.

It was blinding and enticing all at once, and she wanted to reach out, but it didn't feel like she had physical form any more. So she just stared, feeling it burn her vision as it came closer. So close now, if she could have, she would have touched it. But as she felt like it was about to take away all the darkness, a singular husky voice rang through the darkness. No.

And her eyes opened. The light was swinging back and forth now, on the cabin ceiling. She was back on her bed, and the pain running through her abdomen was crippling. And she wasn't alone on the bed; she looked to her right, and her big brother was laying up against her, one of his arms around her shoulders, and another holding her hand. He was splashed with blood and looked exhausted, despite his slumber. Tear stains tracked the dirt on his face, and Alex felt sick.

She moved her head slightly to the left and saw John, sat at an awkward angle beside the bed, his head on the comforter, and his fingers curled around her other hand. He was asleep too, and Alex felt guilt hit her like a brick wall. Why had she gone off alone? This wouldn't have happened. Her dad was going to be so pissed.

'Alex?' Dean's voice in her ear made her turn her head back to him. He was whispered, his eyes darting between their dad and her, as if he was worried either of them might disappear. 'Alex, you're awake.' His hand left hers and came up to cup her face. 'Thank god, little sis. You gave us a friggin' heart attack.'

'Whu...what happened?'

'You ran off. Told Dad you could handle it alone. He's gonna be pissed, you get that right? Once this whole, you nearly died thing wears off, you'll be lucky if he doesn't tie you up in the Impala.'

'Impala is yours now, Dean. He'll probably tie me up at Bobby's and be done with it.' Alex choked a little; her throat was as dry as the Sahara. 'Can I get some water?'

Dean nodded, and slipped his arm from underneath her shoulders. As he moved off of the bed, he hesitated and bent down to press a very firm kiss to his sister's forehead. 'Don't you ever do that again? You hear me?' And he disappeared. His movement had stirred their father, who pulled his head up to stare at Alex groggily. When he saw she was awake, he blinked, and relief flushed his face.

'Oh god, Alex!' He was up and sitting on the edge of the bed in a second. Alex tried to move but the pain in her stomach was too much and made her feel like she was going to upchuck. 'You're awake! Shit, you gave me a damn heart attack.'

'Dean said as much.' She affirmed, closing her eyes against the nausea. John's hands ran over her stomach, checking the bandaged wound. Once he was satisfied there was no fresh bleeding, he relaxed a little, taking her hand and holding it tight.

'You don't ever run off again, you hear me? I know you're good, baby girl, but you cannot do that to me again.' He leant forward and gathered her up into his arms, holding her tightly, despite her protests. 'Don't ever scare me like that again.'

Truth was, John Winchester was scaring her right now. He'd never been this affectionate in all the time she could remember. She must have been really badly hurt if he was this freaked out. Normally she got a band aid and a "suck it up, kiddo". This full on, fatherly love gig was scaring her more than the idea of being really, actually dead.

Dean chose that moment to come back in with a glass of water for her, and Sammy was in tow behind him. When he saw their father embracing her so tightly, a short moment of anger crossed his face, which surprised Alex, but then he quickly moved to the bed as John noticed his arrival and pulled back a little from his daughter. 'Dad, be careful or you'll bust her stitches.'

'Oh right, yeah.' John nodded, letting Alex lay back down as she winced from the movement.

'You want some painkillers?' Dean offered, holding out two pink tablets. Alex shook her head. She would fight through this. Besides, those things made her feel worse half the time.

'You okay, Alex?' Sammy asked from the side of the bed and Alex looked over at the littlest Winchester. His big eyes were full of concern, and she smiled reassuringly, feeling guilty at the terror her twelve year old brother probably felt.

'I'm good, Sammy. Sorry if I scared you.'

'You didn't scare me.' Sammy held his head high like only a kid could do, then looked over at Dean. 'Dean was scared though. He cried and everything.'

'Shut up, bitch.' Dean scowled, and Alex chuckled.

'Obviously we're all fine. You need to get some more sleep, Alex. Rest up whilst that wound of yours heals. If it had been any deeper, you'd be a goner, kiddo. And don't think we aren't gonna talk about this.' John's voice was back to the gruff and hard grindstone she remembered. Nice to know that to get any kind of love from her father, she had to be at death's door. He looked around at all his kids, then stood and moved to the door. 'All of you should get some rest.'

With that final order, he left and all three Winchester children looked at each other, before Sammy moved over to his sister's side.

'Do you mind if I stay here?' He asked quietly. Alex patted the side of the bed.

'Course not, squirt. Slide on in.' Sammy smiled and got into the bed, wrapped an arm carefully around his sister as she ruffled his hair playfully. She raised her eyes to Dean, and he shifted uncomfortably at the paleness of her features. 'How bad was it?'

'You got gashed pretty bad. But your organs were all still in you, so couldn't have been that bad. Couldn't figure out how you managed to lose so much blood though.' Alex frowned and Dean noticed it straight away. 'What?'

'I remember...' She looked down at the covered wound, noting that her shirt had been ripped away. She ran her free hand over the injury, hissing slightly as she put a bit too much pressure on it. 'I thought - it felt worse.' This was a scratch really. But she remembered that spirit had gotten a good shot in. Almost cleaved her in half. 'Maybe it just...felt worse.' She finished lamely. She could have sworn that she'd gotten a mortal wound from that thing. But this wasn't mortal, not in the slightest.

'You lost a lot of blood, sis.' Dean sat on the edge of the bed, running his fingers lightly over the bandage. 'Maybe you just got a guardian angel or something.'

Angels are watching over you. Their mom had said that to them when they were kids. But angels weren't real. Demons on the other hand...Alex shuddered a little.

'I don't know. It was dark, I was confused...I'm probably just imagining it.' She waved her hand at her brother, and smiled as Sammy snuggled into her side. 'You getting in here or what?'

Dean eyed her warily. 'Seems a bit chick flick.'

'There's nothing wrong with sibling cuddles, Deano.' Alex teased. 'Come on. You seemed fine with it a while ago.'

'I thought you were gonna die.' He mumbled.

'I'm wounded, seriously. Between you and Dad...come on, dude. I'll sleep better knowing I'm protected by my two burly brothers.' Dean raised an eyebrow, looking over at Sam, then smiled and pulled off his bloody overshirt, leaving the t-shirt underneath and amulet he'd worn since Sammy had given it to him. Then he slipped into the bed, squeezing his arm back under Alex's shoulders where he'd been when she'd woken up.

'I'll always protect you guys. You know that right?' He murmured, pressing another kiss to her forehead. Sammy looked up at them and smiled, and Alex squeezed his arm gently. Neither of them needed to reply, knowing without a doubt that it would take hell itself to get through Dean Winchester to them.

When John looked in on his children later on, all three were curled together on the bed, sleeping soundly.