The Reporter

Part Six

Sam had a vision just before Dean and Vangie got in the limo to leave for the hotel for the night. He held his head as she saw people running away from Dean and Vangie like they were retreating from a predator. He looked up in his mind to see a man with a gun. Then it was all suddenly real and happening around him. Sam yelled out to Dean.

"Dean duck."

Just before the sound of gunfire turned the celebration into chaos.

Dean was able to duck lean down and he caught Vangie as he she was hit, he pushed her in the limo through the open door.

"To the hospital," he said as he kept pressure on her wound.

"Talk to me," he said to her as he tried to remain calm and in control.

She looked so pale it scared him. The crimson stained snaked out from under his hand making her dress red and sticky. Her pink silk suit would never be the same.

"It hurts," she said as he saw the pain in her eyes.

"Breath through your mouth, it will help. I'm sorry for this," he said as the tears fell.

He kissed her forehead, then the sprinkling of freckles across her nose then she put her free hand in his hair as he leaned down to kiss her mouth she could taste the salt of his tears. Why does he think this is his fault? He was only trying to give me a new start.

"Not your fault," she said quietly as she searched his eyes.

But he knew better; he was certain the shooting had something to do with the case he thought they were done with. What if that thing in Cyrus Jennings had gotten away and now possessed someone else. He would need to have Sam check into it, while he took care of Vangie; his wife was his sole concern now.

But before the EMT's took Vangie out of the limo she whispered to Dean.

"I saw the shooter," she said before passing out.

----

It was quite a while before they put Vangie into a room. The doctor told Dean she had lost a lot of blood initially and they had to transfuse her but she would be fine. He also let him know that it was a good thing he had the sense of mind to keep pressure on her wound or she would have been in bad shape. The man patted Dean on the shoulder as he left him to wait for his wife to wake up. Sam and Dawn stopped by the room but saw Dean still waiting and decided to leave him in peace. Sam saw his brother sitting in the chair near Vangie's bed, head in his hands while his elbows rested on his knees, dressed in the navy blue suit Vangie bought him; the suit coat was neatly folded over the chair. Sam felt sorry that Dean had to go through this on his wedding day. What a way to begin a marriage but it at least it turned out the culprit wasn't supernatural.

----

When Vangie finally woke up she watched Dean for a few minutes before she said anything. He had removed the tie from his white shirt and it lay opened revealing a sprinkling of chest hairs. His head was still down though he looked like he might be praying then before she reached out for him.

"Dean."

"Hi, sleepyhead," he said as he got up only to lean over her for a kiss.

His cheeks flushed, when he remembered the night before. Her legs tightly wrapped around him as she moaned with pleasure against his throat, her hair on the pillows dark and wavy, he loved the way she had moved with him in such an ancient rhythm that brought so much meaning to their love. Night after night he had lain beside her to keep her warm in his touch, but she was now his completely. They had tried to wait the month before they made love but last night had given in. Vangie stared at him with a grin.

"You are blushing. What is going on in that head of yours?"

He didn't answer her he only leaned down for another kiss from his wife as she stroked the sides of his face gently with her hands. He dipped his tongue in her mouth as she responded eagerly against his tongue with her own and held his face in place over her by cradling his head. He leaned back with a smile.

"I'm glad you're okay," he said as he sat again.

"Dean, I saw who shot me."

"Who was it?" he asked angrily.

It's a good thing they took him away.

"Aaron's brother he is a bit crazy."

"Oh, he must have been upset because of the wedding then."

She nodded. "I guess," she replied sadly.

----

Sam and Dawn tapped on the door before coming in.

"They caught the guy that shot you," he said without preamble.

"It was Adam," Dawn said.

"I know I saw him," Vangie said sadly.

"How is everyone else?" Dean asked concerned for the few people who had joined them for their celebration.

"Just scratches and bruises from falling over one another," Sam informed.

"That's good, I am glad no one else was hurtbadly injured," Vangie said as she looked in Dean's direction.

"Not a perfect start, but it will have to do," Dean said determined to keep his wifeher safe from harm.

----

"Missouri is in the waiting room waiting to meet your bride Vangie; she refused to leave until she could meet the woman that plans to keep Dean Winchester down. Her words not mine," Sam teased.

"She seems like an interesting lady," Dawn said as she looked at Sam.

"Interesting for sure, she's a psychic," Sam added.

"I am up for that if she wants to come in," Vangie volunteered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yea."

Missouri strolled in wearing her good going to a wedding dress; a red suit with matching shoes and hat.

"How are you doing? I am Missouri Mosley a friend of the Winchesters."

She touched Dean on the shoulder to indicate she wanted a seat. Dean got up without a word though he shot Sam a look. Sam shrugged.

"I'll be fine," Vangie said as she smiled in Dean's direction.

"I'm glad it would have been awful for Dean to lose his wife too. Sam says that you're going to keep Dean home for a while, I think that his a great idea though his father might put up a fight.

"Well that is something Dean decided on his own; he needs a break but when he goes back on the hunt I will be with him and Sam," Vangie said determined.

"Good luck with that," Missouri said with a smile as she got up to say her goodbyes.

----

Their Jamaican honeymoon was perfection in display. Everything went according to plan from the flights to the rooms. Vangie was a good sport about hanging out in the sun even though she was in no hurry to be two or three shades darker she knew Dean needed the sun exposure. She slathered suntan oil protectant on her until she was glowing. Dean laughed but he did appreciate her sacrifice. He received a nice tan; it was another great memory to take back from their little retreat. They walked the beaches, explored the towns, interacted with the locals, made love and played like children. But Dean knew real life was just ahead so he enjoyed every moment with Vangie. Vangie's uncle, John and Missouri had pooled their money to finance them a honeymoon. Neither Dean nor Sam knew John was involved. Missouri had shown up at the wedding thanks to Sam's interference

----

Six months later…

They were all at the shooting range again, Vangie had completed her physical therapy, Dawn and Sam were engaged, Dean was getting antsy though he loved Vangie and being home with her had been a respite that he needed he felt he should be out doing what he did best. Sam had been keeping up with all the paranormal activity via internet and had told Dean it seemed to be increasing. John had refused to let Sam take up the hunt with him more than likely to pressure Dean. But that hadn't worked once he stepped out of his father's good graces of obedience John had allowed his son to stew in his own guilt. Except Dean hadn't felt guilt only release, Vangie's uncle had let them rent out a house on the outside of town, they had led a good simple life that they both enjoyed. Vangie still worked part time for the paper as well as wrote several columns. Dawn and Sam lived in town at Dawn's place when they weren't bunking or hanging out with them. A few times Sam and Dean had done hunts within the state the first one a few weeks after the wedding had been just to verify that the suicides John had told them about had only been human related not paranormal.

----

Dean watched Vangie's stance, she was good with a gun. She insisted that her brothers and cousins had made sure her and Dawn know how to take care of themselves. The thing that still bothered him begin to nudge forward into the forefront of his mind. He shook his head as he took his turn. I need to focus; a shooting range is no place to space out.

"Babe, you okay?"

"Yea it's the heat, we should do this last set and go get something cold," he said with a

smile.

----

Four months before…

Vangie had confessed that it would be hard for her to have children because of Aaron's abuses. Dean held her close to his chest in an effort to be comforting though a part of him was disappointed, angry, and confused.

"I'm sorry, but why haven't you told me before?"

"I didn't know how, I didn't want you to reject me because of it."

"Then you don't know me very well. You can tell me anything; I promised you that without threat of rejection or harm."

He kissed her hair as he wrapped his arms around her. He hated the secrets, he knew there were more he could feel it inside of her. She was afraid because of her past, the pain, the rage that that man must have inflicted on her. How could this have happened?

"Do you love me enough to give up your secrets?"

She nodded, "It takes time and strength I don't always have them both at once," she explained as she relaxed against him.

"Take the strength from my love, but if you need time then you have it."

It seemed only a moment later she had dozed off. He laid his head against her hair.

My baby, so much pain inside her. God help me be what I need to be for this job, the hunt to free her.

----

Two months before…

Dean walked in the house then set on the sofa to remove his shoes then over heard Vangie upset on the phone with someone.

"No it was not my fault. I had nothing to do with it."

She waited a moment then sighed loudly.

"I wasn't there I didn't even know," she said before she slammed the phone down.

Dean hesitated to go in to confront her since she had believed she was alone. She blew her nose on a tissue before she headed to the bedroom down the other hall. He went in the kitchen then hit star 69. The phone rang and her brother picked up; he hung up right away. He scratched his head, if he didn't have the feeling that he wasn't supposed to hear the conversion things would have been different. So he tipped toed back out to the porch them came in loudly yelling her name. But he had to be quick to sit down since he shoes where on the floor. She came in living room with a ready grin.

"Hi Baby," she said all traces of sadness gone.

"Hi Sweets," he said as she sat in his lap, then ravished him with a kiss.

He was tempted to forget the entire incident after a few moments but that night he was glad he had walked in earlier. It helped to see her side of the story.

----

She was tucked by his side when she asked if he were ready for another secret, she asked in a way that broke his heart. He imagined a little girl waking to find she was buried alive that was the look he saw in her eyes. He saw shadows under her eyes that frightened him. Before he could answer her tears rained down her face making her words almost inaudible.

"I can wait to hear okay," he suggested as he slid from under the covers to get tissue.

When she was almost done crying she declared maybe it was best even he didn't know.

Dean shook his head he knew she had to tell to help herself; his concern was for her mental health as well as her heart.

"It's your call, I can wait but keep remembering what I said before."

She took another deep breath but still said nothing at first.

----

Aaron didn't die over seas, but my family did it.

"What?"

"They found out about the things that happened to me so two of my relatives met him overseas on his way back. I didn't know until later; they got me treatment for my outer scars I had plastic surgery all over my body."

She turned on the light then pulled back the covers. He was shocked, they had never made love in any kind of real light something he had never thought about until now. Parts of her skin were silky but others held traces of scars that had been smoothed out to their limits. He touched her while his tears flowed freely. A man did these, a sorry SOB scared my wife while she was still his? How could a man do that, a human not an evil entity?

"He is still MIA, Dean but I was his widow in everyway, now your wife if you still want me."

Dean covered her, cut off the lights and held her tight quickly cursing her fate. God where were you while she quietly suffered? Where were you when my mom died and Jess? How could you let this happen to the women; the weaker sex the producers of life. God help them for what they did to that wretched creature of a man; but also help me keep her safe.

"You are mine. I don't want any other," he declared.

----

Vangie's secret brought to Dean's mind his own horrible secret; the one only he and God knew. Protecting Sammy had come at a cost when Dean was younger but he did what he had to do. He couldn't condemn Vangie's relative's for doing the same. He didn't know if he would ever say the words aloud proclaiming his sins. Maybe it was best he could handle the confessions but could Sam? Sam would be the one who would need to know if anyone knew; he believed the four of them shared a circle of love that was unbreakable but mankind tends to be both fragile and weak. He doubted as he looked at Vangie he would be able to share his darkest secret with her, though he wanted the same release she received from her confession very badly. Only time would tell if he should or not. Judge not, lest yea be judged.

----

"Dean I love you and I am sorry about the things I have kept from your, I would understand if you felt you could no longer trust me."

"I've seen the darkness in your face I just wanted to bring back your freeness. I don't believe murdering humans is right; I also don't believe Aaron had a tight reign on his humanity from the looks of his actions."

"I am not the judge; God forgive me I just want you to be safe. I want to keep you from that type of harm. So does Adam know? Is that why he shot you?"

Vangie laid her head on his chest then nodded; she had made the hard choice with the hope of moving past it. Adam could be a problem even in the psych ward.

TBC