A/N: Vivi here! Yes, I know. The last line of the previous chapter was kind of wonky. Hopefully this chapter clears things up.

Also, this might be a bit meandering. I was in that kind of mood. Enjoy!

Previously on Enter the World:

"What're you gonna do now?"

"Uh, probably go shopping."

"This is a stupid idea, Sam."

"We can't wait at a motel for him to come, Dean. We'll be cornered."

"But an outdoor shopping center? Really? This is your idea of neutral ground? There are civilians out here. People could get hurt."

"I heard you the first twelve times, Dean. It's cold outside and we haven't seen more than five people so far. In case you didn't notice, most of these shops are closed anyway; I think this is a pretty good place to make the trade." Sam said, taking in their surroundings and watching for anything out of place. Both men were armed to the teeth and Sam had the box in a warded backpack, but they still wanted as much advanced notice as possible when Tristram decided to make an appearance. Another ambush could result in them losing Francesca and Ali.

"If you say so." Dean still wasn't convinced that this was the best location to draw demons to, but he had to admit that having a few escape routes eased his nerves. The shopping center was one of those designer outlet places where big companies sent their merchandise that wasn't selling well in normal stores. It was supposed to look like a little town, or so Dean thought. The buildings that held the stores were tall and long, housing a few businesses on the first floor and apartments on the second. They were decorated to look like something out of an old English fairy tale with white plaster and dark wooden slats, cobbled streets and peaked roofs. There was even a duck pond, a big one, with real actual ducks, nestled in a courtyard between the main buildings.

"This pavement must be hell with a stroller." Sam muttered absently, continually scanning the area as they walked slowly around the complex. The cobbled pathways were poured cement, but the stamp they used on it before it dried made the surface uneven and bumpy.

"You goin' full Papa Bear already?" Dean smirked when Sam blushed and wouldn't look at him.

"Well, it had to happen sometime, didn't it?" Sam shrugged, wondering why he was embarrassed as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "There's gonna be a baby in like six months whether I'm ready or not."

"You got that right."

"Hey- do you think it's really a boy?"

"Are we having this conversation now?"

"You brought it up."

Dean huffed one humorless laugh and shook his head. "You want my honest guess?"

"That's what I asked for."

"It's a girl."

"Why do you think that?"

"Mama Bear is glowing. And the kid's soul is super bright."

"Cas say that?"

"Yeah. He said the kid's soul blocked his view of Li's."

"That doesn't mean it's a girl, Dean."

"What? I think 'ball of light' and it just feels feminine, y'know? You asked for my guess. That's my guess: it's a girl."

Sam grinned to himself. "Wanna bet on it?"

"What are we betting?"

"Diaper duty for the first month."

"Dude!" Dean exclaimed, staring at his brother in mock horror. "That's a terrible bet. Why the hell would I agree to that when you're the one who's on the hook for it anyway?"

"You really think she'll let you off, just like that? There's a fifty fifty chance that kid is yours, Dean. That means you do a third of the dirty work, just like Ali and I." Sam allowed a hint of humor into his tone as they passed the duck pond and kept on going.

"That kid is yours, Sam. Doesn't matter whose swimmer won the race."

"Oh, c'mon, Dean. How can you just give up on having a kid like that? You've always wanted one and now you just hand him over?" Sam had been trying to figure out why Dean declared the child Sam's as soon as they found out either of them could be the father. Sam was thrilled, of course, but he knew Dean should be able to call the kid his if it turned out to be. The whole situation just made Sam more furious with Francesca, whom they were about to trade for the mother herself. If that thing hadn't possessed Ali and hunted the three of them- Dean, Cas, and Sam- then they wouldn't be in this mess. All three of them were upset to learn that they'd been raped by said demon, but Ali was the only one who knew what happened, and she was the only one suffering the consequences. Cas told her when he first saw the baby's soul, just days after they dragged the demon out of her, that the child was human. So Cas wasn't the father. Good thing too; he said angels probably would've killed Ali and child as soon as they heard a nephilim come into being.

That left Sam and Dean as the only other potential fathers. Sam kind of understood why Dean would want Sam to take the role. It wasn't that Dean didn't want a child of his own; it was that Sam and Ali were happy together. Dean got to watch their entire relationship develop firsthand and Sam knew his brother was excited that Sam finally found someone again. He knew Dean didn't want to ruin that for them, but Sam didn't think he would even if he wanted the kid. Ali understood what had happened. She loved all three of them like family. They would make it work.

"I'm not just handing him over. It's not like I'm ditching you two and running off into the sunset. I want to be part of his life too, just… as an uncle. And yeah, it'll be nasty but I'll do diapers if I absolutely have to. I'm not a deadbeat. And now that I think about it, I'll take your wager." Dean watched a younger couple walk fast towards the parking lot, their purchases in hand. "How long's it been now?"

"Since what?"

"Since they took her."

"Uh, forty eight hours. Two full days." Sam took a deep breath, the lightheartedness of their conversation lost.

"Okay, so he should be showin' up anytime now."

Tristram didn't show up that day. They stayed the night in a nearby motel, hoping he wouldn't show up in the wee hours of the morning. It was less than ideal, but the night was too cold for them to hole up in the Impala. Nevertheless, they took turns getting what sleep they could and left the room early the next day to continue wandering around that same shopping center.

"Man, I don't know if this flu thing is ever gonna let up." Dean said, holding his stomach as they neared the duck pond for the fifth time.

"Just hold it in, Dean. We'll get something for it soon." Sam watched his brother walked hunched over for a few seconds before straightening up again. The stomach cramps were getting worse, apparently. Probably due to a lack of rest and nutritional rehab. Dean needed sleep, fluids, electrolytes, and sustenance to heal and he was getting very little of those. Not that he complained at all hours of the day. Mostly, he just tried not to puke. Sam's nose was running more than yesterday, but thank goodness he didn't have the same cold Dean had.

"This sucks."

"Understatement."

Four o'clock rolled around and found the brothers sitting in the food court of the shopping center, sipping coffee and trying not to glare at every employee who walked by. There were only two food vendors still open, out of the entire building devoted to feeding the shopping masses. Sam supposed that was a good thing, at least for them; less people to get possessed. Dean was just glad one of the vendors sold coffee.

He didn't see the employee until Sam stiffened at her approach. She was in her early twenties, two long blond braids hanging out of a uniform hat that had a cartoon pretzel on the front. Her pink apron matched her hat. The woman stopped right beside their table and looked at each of the men before turning and walking away.

"Finally." Dean grumbled, downing the rest of his coffee.

Sam abandoned his cup and the pair stood, leaving the seating area to stand in the main drag of the food court and wait. No way were they going to follow the demon to wherever Tristram wanted to do this. He had to come to them.

The woman stopped just before the glass double doors that led outside and turned to watch the brothers.

It wasn't more than thirty seconds before Sam caught sight of movement beyond those doors.

"Don't try anything, Dean." Sam warned quietly, his stomach in knots as every bad outcome of this situation ran through his head. Ali could be already hurt, or get hurt in the trade. Dean could pull a stunt and get himself killed. Tristram could go back on his promise and take the lockbox from them without returning the girl. He might just kill them both and not bat an eye.

"Wasn't planning on it." Dean reached back and made sure the demon knife was still secured in its sheath under his coat. Just in case.

Tristram was in the same vessel he had at the supermarket. That made him easy to single out.

"Where is she?" Sam called across the room as the demon walked in, flanked by a woman in a puffy red coat and a man in a black hoodie. Probably just people off the street. Civilians. Sam hoped the demon would leave them behind like he had the ten or so people his followers took at the supermarket.

"Bring her." Tristram said calmly as he came closer.

They heard her before they saw her. An older man with gray hair walked in holding Ali's arms behind her back at a painful looking angle, using them to push her forward. She wasn't saying actual words, but was making plenty of angry noises as she thrashed against the man holding her. Her eyes were shut tight. A small black bruise colored the right side of her jaw and her coat was torn in a few different places. She certainly hadn't been a passive prisoner.

"Ali." Sam's heart leapt back to life as soon as he saw her. She's alive, she's okay, she's still fighting.

"Don't do anything stupid, Sam. We've got a deal to make before she's even remotely safe." Dean grabbed Sam's arm as his younger brother started towards the approaching group. Nerves on high alert, he glanced behind them to make sure they weren't being surrounded. As far as he could tell, they were not.

Ali didn't hear them, but continued to struggle even when the old man stopped just beside Tristram's right hand man.

"My companion?" Tristram asked flatly. He sounded about as happy to be there as the brothers.

"We brought it." Dean answered bitterly, crossing his arms and glaring daggers at Tristram. "Who hit her?"

"This woman has far too much rebellion in her for her own good. She proved difficult to contain. One of my demons grew impatient with her and struck her only once. He was terminated immediately. I will not stand for such treatment of the vessel of my companion's choosing. Nor any female, for that matter. Lady or not." As Tristram spoke, all the demons who entered with him stared straight ahead, knowing that if they screwed up, they too would be crushed to nothing. The demon holding Ali even seemed to be sweating a bit, fear in his eyes every time she threw herself to one side or the other. One bruise and he was toast.

"How are we gonna do this?" Sam asked, hooking a thumb under one of the straps on the backpack. There was about twenty feet of space between the two sides. Just twenty feet between him and Ali. So close it stung, shoving the fact that they'd failed her right in their faces.

"I give you the woman, you give me the prison holding Francesca. I am a man of my word, gentlemen. The trade will be even." Tristram walked briskly to the gray haired man and took Ali by one arm, pulling her forward as she clawed at his hand and slid along the linoleum floor with her shoes not leaving the ground. Her eyes were still screwed shut and this time, she was yelling actual words. Curse words, threats, pleas for freedom. It hurt Sam just to watch.

The demon stopped halfway between the parties, waiting for them to approach.

Both brothers walked slowly and deliberately, stopping just three feet from the pair.

"As a show of good faith, I first present you with your comrade." Tristram pushed Ali forward, still protesting violently, until she was just a foot from the pair.

"Li, hey." Dean called carefully, not wanting to get knocked if she didn't recognize him right away. The fiery woman had already floored him more than once in the past and he didn't want a repeat performance.

Tristram realized what was causing the delay in his trade and shocked the brothers by violently shaking Ali until she quieted down. "Open your eyes, harlot. See what you've been begging for."

Ali stifled a terrified sob and slid her eyes open, blurry with tears. She found the tall one first. "Sam?" Hope swelled up in her voice as she swallowed hard and looked around, finding Dean. "Dean." She reached out to Dean, who was the closest by a few feet, and fell into him when Tristram released her arm. Dean half dragged, half carried her until they were just behind and to the side of Sam. She was shaking, sobbing quietly as she struggled to hold her own weight, arms clenched tightly around her brother, face buried in his shirt.

"And my companion?" Tristram looked to Sam with his hand outstretched. Sam took the bag off his shoulder and handed it to the demon, who promptly dropped it. "In my time, deceitful actions such as this were punishable by death." He growled. "Remove the prison from that vile thing or I will take both the bag and the woman when I leave."

Sam, seeing that his attempt at foiling the demon had failed, knelt and pulled Francesca's box from the warded backpack, putting the empty thing back on his shoulder before holding the box out to Tristram.

"See that you make no mistake as foolish as this again, Winchester. I will not be so forgiving in the future." Tristram took the box and glared at both brothers with his perpetually black eyes before turning back. "Demons, leave your humans here to recover where they will not perish of cold. I will call when I have need."

Sam flinched as all the demons but Tristram smoked out in a thunderous roar and flew away, out of sight. The young hunter didn't turn away until Tristram was out of the building.

"Ali?"

"Sam, I think somethin' happened to her."

"Just try to get some rest. We're still a long way from stopping." Sam sat in the passenger seat of the little red car with Ali in his lap, curled sideways against his chest and weeping softly as he held her close.

When they high-tailed it out of that shopping center, Sam carried Ali while Dean made sure they weren't ambushed or overtly followed. Even once in the car and on the highway, they couldn't relax. Dean was sure they would be tailed, tracked by some undercover demon, or team of demons, whose job it was to keep tabs on Ali's location. He tried to figure out a way to lose them while Sam fretted over Ali, who wouldn't say a word. She just clung to him and cried, responding only to the question 'is the baby okay', and even that was just a nod.

Sam hoped she was just exhausted.

But that wouldn't be their kind of luck.

After hours of driving, Dean was pretty sure they lost any 'klingons' that may have been following them. The trio got carry out at a fast food place and holed up in a motel for the evening. Ali hadn't slept much, if at all, on the way there, but she did stop crying. Sam managed to convince her to drink something and she surprised them by downing the whole bottle of sugary blue stuff in one go. Yet she refused the offer of food when they stopped earlier in the day. They figured she didn't feel well and decided not to push her too far.

"Hungry?" Dean asked, setting the brown paper bag of greasy goodness on the table in their room as Sam laid the salt.

Ali slowly shook her head from where she sat on the edge of the far bed. She looked exhausted, just staring hollowly at the floor.

"C'mon, Li. We've been driving for six hours. You have to be hungry." Dean frowned when he didn't get a response.

Sam finished sealing the room and grabbed a burger from the bag before sitting next to Ali on the bed with a weary sigh. "Please eat something." He held the burger out in front of her. "We won't eat until you do."

Dean abandoned the bag and went to sit emptyhanded opposite Ali on the other bed. The woman looked blankly at Sam, then Dean. She sniffed her nose and took the burger with a sigh, unwrapping it painfully slowly. As soon as she took a bite Dean brought the bag over to the beds and the three of them ate right there, together.

Once Ali had eaten her fill- she devoured her food and some of Sam's too- she seemed to have trouble keeping her eyes open. Both men noticed the uncomfortable state her clothes were in; there was blood from the fight at the store, dirt probably from being dragged, and more red on the cuffs of her coat, around her wrists. "Ali, do you want to wash off before bed?" Sam asked gently after all the food was gone.

She shook her head and wound her arm around his, moving closer, until she could lean her head tiredly against his shoulder.

"Can I see your wrists?"

Ali tightened her hold on Sam's arm, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath.

"Hey, guys?" Dean caught Sam's attention. He stood near the door, coat on, keys in hand. "My head's killin' me. I gotta get somethin'. You need anything from the store?"

"Gatorade." Sam almost sneered at the fizzy, sugary drinks they got at the fast food joint. Those weren't helping her replace electrolytes very well, if at all, but at least they helped bring her blood sugar up quickly.

"Got it. Call if you think of anything else." With that, Dean left, carefully preserving the salt lines as he closed the door.

"Ali, I need to see your wrists." Sam said once the sound of that red car's engine faded away. "Please?"

No response.

Damn. So this is how she felt when I broke down after the club. Sam frowned, remembering just a few days ago when he'd nearly killed Ali after a siren got to him. He thought Ali and the baby were gone forever because of him and he just shut down. Dean couldn't get him to respond and, when she finally woke up after Cas healed her, neither could Ali. At least until she punched him after a soulful, fruitless, one-sided conversation and having her own breakdown. That was a rough day. For everyone.

Ali sniffed her nose again and pressed her forehead against his arm, trying not to cry.

"What- uh, what if I helped you wash off and we changed into some more comfortable clothes? Promise I won't try anything." Sam said gently, running a thumb over her cheek with his free hand.

She heaved one sob, the tears started to flow, and she nodded.

Sam kept his promise. He helped her stand and walked her to the bathroom. She sat on the closed toilet lid while he started the water so it could warm up.

He kept his movements slow and deliberate; the last thing Sam wanted to do was cross a line. He still didn't know what Tristram had done to her and she didn't need any more scares. "Ali?"

All she did was sniff her nose. She didn't even look up from the floor.

"Can you…" Man up, dude. Just ask her. It's not like it'll be the first time. "Can I help you get those clothes off?" Nervous as he was, Sam resisted the urge to wring his hands or bite his nails. He was doing this for her. She needed him. Now was not a good time to get embarrassed or flustered.

She nodded and took a deep breath.

Sam got worried when she closed her eyes. "Ali?" He knelt down on the tile in front of her and lifted her chin, holding her face until she opened two teary eyes. "I'll go slow. Okay?"

Ali nodded and sniffed again, wringing her hands in her lap.

He could tell she was uncomfortable. It was making him uncomfortable too. So he took his shirts off first, thinking maybe she wouldn't feel ogled if they undressed together. "Want to leave underwear on, er…?"

Her eyes closed again, but she shook her head.

She's uncomfortable, but not because of me. Those clothes can't feel good after being in them this long. Sam tucked her hair behind her ears and kissed her forehead before taking the hem of her shirt. "Ready?"

One nod was all he got.

They took their time. He got all but her bra off before pulling her to her feet and easing her jeans down, being very careful of her belly, which he knew would be starting to get sore. It was growing quickly, after all, and was probably rubbed raw after days of constant contact with that rough material.

His pants followed, but before they could get any further, the tears started to flow and she fell into him, holding on for dear life and pulling herself as close as possible. He brought her closer still, just gently rubbing her back and whispering reassuring nothings in her ear until the soft sobs quieted down and she let go of her own accord.

She surprised him by unstrapping her bra and letting it fall. It was a… nice surprise. Kinda too nice, actually. Don't try anything. You promised. Just ignore it…

Before long they were both engulfed in steam, perfectly comfortable with no barriers between them. Sam took the liberty of getting a good look at her as they showered. It certainly wasn't the first time they'd seen each other au naturale, but it hadn't happened often enough to lose its novelty… or its effect on him, which he tried to stifle as best he could. He checked the bruise on her face as he wiped her tears away. He let the warm water wash the dried blood from her wrists as he turned them over in his hands. They looked like they'd been sliced with a zip tie a few too many times. He held her close, skin to skin, when she started sobbing again and didn't let go until she did. She finally stopped shaking as he washed her body, getting the last of the blood and dirt off of her beautiful skin. He took extra care with her middle, which still fascinated him to no end; the soft curve of her belly, just starting to show, and the inviting warmth intoxicated him whenever she let him near, even before he knew about the baby. Sam had always wanted children and he used to let himself pretend that Ali was carrying their child when the two of them got… intimate. As it turns out, she was actually already pregnant the first time he remembered that happening. Go figure.

He could have sworn she nearly fell asleep as he scrubbed her hair clean; she had been pressing her forehead against his chest, eyes closed, arms around him, when her arms dropped and she flinched hard, gasping softly before returning her arms to their original positions with a sigh.

The pair rinsed the remaining soap away and Sam wrapped a towel around his waist before helping Ali dry off. He helped her into her softest pajamas- packed by Sam himself- and bandaged her wrists, all the while doing his best to not startle her as she nodded off and snapped back to life every few seconds. They were both dressed and nestled under the covers within minutes. Sam kept his distance, thinking that maybe she would want some space after the closeness of the shower. He took the side that was open after half carrying her to the closest bed.

Apparently she did not want space. After a few minutes, she started to fidget, tossing and turning and making nervous little sounds in the dim light. If Sam moved a muscle, she'd jump and stiffen immediately, going completely silent and completely still.

"It's just me." Sam whispered, finally deciding that space was a bad idea. He pulled her close against him, curling his body around hers, hoping she felt protected that way. And from the way she moved and breathed after a few minutes, it was the safest she'd felt in days. She was fast asleep before Dean got back.

Sam had left one light on for his brother and it was by that light that Dean noticed Sam was still awake when he closed the door.

"She okay?" Dean whispered, quietly setting the bag of medicine, drinks, and tissues on the table before shucking his coat.

'No.' Sam mouthed, not wanting to wake her. She had fought sleep like it was a monster but after quite a few reassurances and plenty of body heat- which he already knew she absolutely loved- her muscles started to relax and her breathing evened out.

"You got her to sleep, though?"

'Yeah.'

"Good. She say anything yet?"

'No.'

"Anything happen while I was gone?"

'No.'

"Want some drugs?"

Honestly, he wouldn't mind not having the headache that had nagged at his brain all day long, and he was pretty sure most of the body heat that was calming Ali was from a fever. But he just couldn't bring himself to risk waking her up for something as trivial as that. 'Can't.'

"You can dry swallow, right? I got pills this time."

A smile spread across his face; he couldn't swing taking the liquid stuff in that position, but pills? Those were perfect. 'You're awesome.'

Somehow, Dean knew exactly what Sam was trying to say. "I know." He carefully, oh so quietly freed a cold pill from its foil packaging and popped it in Sam's mouth. It wasn't the first time they'd done something like that, weird as it was; no matter how the other was incapacitated, the brothers watched out for each other. Dean went back to the bag and got himself the same kind of pill. "Early mornin' tomorrow. Sleep tight, squirt."

'Gross.'

"Ain't that the truth."

Sam rolled his eyes and couldn't help but grin. Once the light was off, he moved a little closer to the woman he loved and fell asleep with his lips just brushing the back of her head.

A/N: Yay Ali is kinda back! Let me know what you think. See you next time!