CROSSING BRIDGES DRAWING LINES

"How did Maven escape hell?" Sam asked after Dean explained what Reaper had finally returned for.

"He was a good pupil too." Dean huffed. "Only he got some major tutoring."

"What are we going to do?" Deana asked pacing the porch.

"He's not coming until after Dran turns seven."

"So we have some time to get ready but how do we get ready?" Sam asked glaring at Dean.

Dean sighed. "Sam stop giving the bitch face alright."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Really Dean I'm supposed to be alright with you and this fucking Lilith like power you've neglected to mention?"

"Why is it so hard for you to understand that I didn't want to remember hell let alone write a fucking tell all about it? I broke Sam and then I went Hannibal Lector on souls and I was well on my way to being what I went to hell to keep you from becoming then Castiel gripped me and yada yada. "

"You went to hell to save my life." Sam reminded his brother.

"Whatever Sam either way it was to save you."

Sam sighed, never able to stay mad at Dean long no matter what. "Ok so everyone has something to work with but me, Deana and Sadie have their magic and Dran will too and you have your thing Dean so how am I supposed to help."

"I'm not sure yet Sam but it's going to take a lot of power to get Maven down this time."

"I can help." Another voice piped in.

Everyone turned to look at Dev.

"Oh and we're just supposed to trust you because…?" Dean growled.

"You don't have to trust me but I can help and you know it."

"You were trying to kill me earlier." Dean reminded his double.

"I wasn't going to kill you just send you somewhere else." Dev said sheepishly digging his boot into the dirt.

"You're just like Maven, power hungry."

Dev's head snapped up. "I would never hurt my son ever! I just wanted for him to be the most powerful that he could be."

"And that's not hurting him?" Deana asked.

"If you had had all your powers at full potential when you were younger would we be here now?" Dev asked.

"No, but then neither would you because I probably would have never met Dean."

"You would have met one way or another." Dev insisted.

"What makes you so sure?" Dean asked.

"It was meant to be, written in the stars blah, blah." Dev snickered.

"You're an ass." Dean huffed.

"Look who's talking pal." Dev laughed.

Sam just blinked too weird to see his brother arguing with himself too fucking literally.

"Am I in or what sunshine?" Dev asked.

"Can you do something about those eyes?"

Dev blinked and his eyes were liquid pools of jade and he smiled innocently.

Dean sighed. "I don't trust you for one second asshole."

Dev sighed this time. "I wouldn't trust me either but I promise all I want is for Dran and Danni to be safe."

"And when Maven is done in then what?" Dean continued.

"Time will tell little man." Dev grinned.

"He's not sleeping in my house." Deana growled.

Dev looked hurt. "I don't bite…hard."

Reaper barked and stood in front of Dev looking up at him.

"The mutt says that he'll watch me all night." Dev huffed.

"How do you know what he's saying?" Sam asked.

"I speak fluent Reaper." Dev grinned.

"Is that what you said Reaper?" Dean asked the huge wolf like dog.

The dog barked his yes response and planted himself closer to Dev.

Deana threw her hands in the air; Reaper had always been a fantastic judge of character so for him to take up for Dev was strange but even though her familiar had been gone so long she was going to trust him again and she really wasn't sure why.

They headed in the house where Sadie sat watching the still sleeping kids surrounded by Deana's protection spell.

Dean tossed Dev a blanket and a pillow motioning to the sofa where he could watch him carefully and Dev only smirked.

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"Geez Reaper could you back off just a bit." Dev grumbled flipping on his side.

Reaper had taken it up himself to lay with Dev on the sofa.

Dean had drifted off and looked around the sun was beginning to come up and Deana was already in the kitchen so he sat up.

Sam was rising looking at Dev as if he had been hoping that he had been a bad dream.

Dran was sitting close to his dad staring at Dev. "Mom said that he's going to help us." He said with an unsure frown.

"I won't let him hurt you Dran but we need his help."

"I can feel him dad that Maven that tried to kill you and mom and take me and Sammy. He's close and he's powerful." Dran still stared at Dev. "Do you trust him?"

"No." Dean answered truthfully.

Dran nodded and scooted closer to Dean, he laid down taking his son into his arms and soon he felt Danni's little hands close so he lay on his back to hold them both. He dozed comfortably hearing the sounds going on around him and then he looked towards Dev who now sat staring at the little family almost sadly.

"Hey love breakfast is ready." Deana called.

Dean stretched keeping his eyes on Dev and motioning for the kids to head to the dining table. "You hungry?"

Dev nodded and stood up to follow Dean with Sam behind him. Sam purposely bumped him making Dev trip up.

"Look out stilts!" Dev growled.

"Kiss my ass short shit." Sam growled back.

"How about I kick it instead jolly green?" Dev snarled.

"In your dreams tad pole."

"Yeah well this pole is going to be up your….."

"That's enough!" Sadie yelled.

Dev glared and mimicking her.

"I can't wait for this to be over so that you'll go away, die, whatever it is scum like you does." Sam pushed.

Dev's face crumbled for just a second and he didn't respond as he lowered his eyes, he walked to Deana. "Do you mind if I sit on the porch?" He asked politely.

Deana completely taken aback only nodded her ok as she handing him his plate of food.

Dev took it and thanked her and made his way out to the porch without looking at anyone and Reaper at his heels.

Dean knew that look, hell he invented it, the 'you just hurt my feelings but I'll be damned if I admit it' look. He looked at Sam with a raised eyebrow.

"What?" Sam asked.

"I think you hurt his feelings." Deana responded knowing the look well too.

"And I'm supposed to care?" Sam huffed.

"Whether you like it or not Sam, he's me in one form or another." Dean sighed unable to believe that he was defending this version of himself.

"You're my brother Dean not him." Sam argued.

"I'm glad to see your loyalty brother but we need him right now alright?"

"Whatever." Sam mumbled plopping down at the table and taking a bite of his food. He sighed and stood up taking his plate with him. "I can't believe I'm doing this." He headed to the porch with Dean close behind.

Dev was sitting on the steps staring at the lake feeding Reaper a slice of bacon.

Sam sighed again. God how many times had he seen that hurt, lonely look on Dean's face? "Look Dev you have to understand how I feel about my brother and how hard it is for me to accept you but I didn't mean to say that I wanted you dead ok I'm sorry."

"Don't say what you don't mean." Dev mumbled as he absently scratched behind Reaper's ears.

"You don't have to act like a child." Dean huffed.

"Dude I'm only six." Dev grinned up at him.

Dean had to laugh and even Sam gave a half smile.

"So what's the plan Obi wan?" Dev asked.

"We only have a few days so we have to come up with something good." Sam said as he finished his breakfast.

"Is Maven considered a demon?" Dev asked staring at the lake.

"Yeah I guess so." Dean answered.

"So do you know where to get the world's biggest rosary?" Dev grinned slyly.

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They had done it; somehow they had turned the entire lake into holy water testing it on a demon they had Bobby drag with him since he was coming down for Dran's birthday.

Bobby hadn't been too thrilled with the twin Deans either but Dev was cool and everyone had seemed to accept him, everyone but Dran.

Dean watched as Dev played dolls with Danni and Sara he felt slightly jealous because he played a lot with his kids but he had never quite gotten the hang of dolls and tea parties.

Dev on the other hand was acting like a six year old having a blast and Dean didn't miss the looks of caring he gave Danni. Maybe spending time with her would get him to forget ever wanting that power in the first place.

Dean was in the kitchen with Deana when Dev walked in slowly hands shoved in his pockets his head down something Dean remembered doing as a kid when he was in trouble.

"What did you do Dev?"

"Dran doesn't like me." Dev said sadly.

"Can you blame him?"

Dev shrugged. "I didn't think it would hurt so much." He said his voice cracking.

Dean sighed running his hand over his neck. "He may come around if you stay right."

"You mean if I don't stab you in the back?" Dev walked to look out the kitchen window. "I may not be trustworthy to you Dean but I know I would rather stand beside you and this family than be anywhere else. Maven will kill me just like killing you; we have that same face after all."

"You give a good pitch but that doesn't' mean your product is worth it." Dean said watching Dev's reaction.

Dev sighed. "You make it so easy to hate me." He walked out the back door with Reaper.

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The women were finishing up dinner while Dean and Sam played poker with Bobby. Dran and Sammy were playing video games and the girls had gone upstairs to play.

Dev hadn't come back inside since he had walked out earlier. Dean had checked on him more than once finding him either standing close to the lake or sitting on the front porch steps. He looked a million miles away.

Sadie called out that dinner was ready and everyone headed to the dining table.

They waited for Danni and Sara but not a sound came from the stairs.

"They probably have their music going." Sadie said and headed up the stairs to get them. In minutes she came rushing back. "They're not in their rooms, nowhere upstairs."

Dean and Sam jumped up and barely had the chance to move when the girls screams came from outside, followed by Reaper growls.

Dean's heart raced as he ran for the door, they had let their guard down for Dev.

"Uncle Dev no!" He heard his daughter cry.

Dean's fury took over and nothing would keep Dev alive if he had hurt his daughter and niece.

The entire household froze on the porch at the sight that met them and Dean was half way down the steps.

"Get back Dean." Dev screamed and then all hell broke loose.

TBC

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Thanks for reading!