Chapter 7 What do we do now?

"Who taught you to play chess?"

Carrie Beth laughed. "I actually took a college course on the subject."

Sam looked at her obviously perplexed by her answer causing her to laugh again. "What is so funny back here?" Dean asked strolling into the room and smiling at Carrie Beth.

He sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around the back of her chair. "Are you kicking his ass?"

"Yes, but I was explaining to Sam that I took a college course on chess. I had to have an elective and I was so busy with nursing school I needed something simple that didn't require written testing. I thought chess would be easy and I actually enjoyed the class."

"You are such a nerd," Dean said before planting a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Cas?" Sam asked staring at Dean.

"He's fine. I think I broke my right hand trying to punch him in the face but it didn't faze him in the least."

Carrie Beth pulled Dean's right hand from behind her and examined it quickly. He winced and made a hissing sound when she moved his knuckles but otherwise sat perfectly still. "It's not broken but you bruised the hell out of it for sure. We need to ice it and you'll need some pain killers. I'll be right back."

She placed a quick kiss on his knuckles before she left the room in search of ice and medicine.

Sam stared at Dean and Dean watched Carrie Beth leave the room. "Dude," Sam said drawing Dean's attention back to him.

"What?"

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I am… sitting here letting Carrie Beth tend to my wounded hand. She has a lot better bedside manner than you. She even kissed my boo boo," he said with a grin.

Sam stared at him incuriously. "What the hell are you doing Dean? After all of that nonsense that Cas was spouting… you can't be around her anymore."

Dean glared at him. "What? You think I'm going to knock her up? Sam I am almost 40 years old and I don't have any illegitimate children running around. I think I have figured out the whole prevention thing."

Sam glared at him. "You don't have any running around anymore."

Dean rolled his eyes. "Don't bring that shit up. It was different. I was targeted because she thought I was a wealthy business man and that was a whole cult thing anyway. It's not like I did that on purpose."

Sam leaned forward on the table. "And you think you won't screw up here Dean? You don't think you are being targeted here with this situation? What the hell are you thinking? She has got to go somewhere before you screw up and get her pregnant."

Dean growled at him. "She's not going anywhere because I know what I am doing. Cas and I have a strict understanding."

Sam shook his head and gritted his teeth. "This is not a good idea. You are not in any shape to have a kid especially one that has some prophecy attached."

Dean slammed his hand down on the table. "You don't think I know that Sam! I just told Cas what a stupid idea this was and that no prophecy was going to make this happen!"

Sam's lips were in a tight line. "I've been thinking about something else."

"What?" Dean said with disdain.

"I think Bobby should meet her."

Dean glared at him. "What? You want Cas to bring Bobby down to meet the kid he never knew existed? I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Think about it Dean. He didn't want kids because he didn't want them to end of screwed up like him, but he did great with us. I think if he saw how his daughter turned out it would grant him some peace."

"I wasn't aware he wasn't at peace."

"Dean you know what I mean."

Dean thought about what Sam was asking. "Let me talk to Carrie Beth first. Let me see what she thinks about the idea and then we can approach the subject with Cas and Bobby."

Sam nodded. "Next question."

"Yes?" Dean asked rolling his eyes.

"Do I need to go grab some condoms or are you set for a little while?"

XXXXXXXXXX

Cas found Carrie Beth in the kitchen filling a plastic zip-lock bag with ice cubes. "For Dean's hand," she said without looking at him.

"Did he explain?"

"Explain what?"

"Why he hit me? Well attempted to hit me."

She paused for a moment. "He hasn't," she said. "But he will I'm sure. When he's ready."

Cas sighed. "Dean moves at this own pace. You have to listen to reason. You are the one true pairing and birthing the chosen one was what you were created to do. Dean has had many missions over his years, but this has been your prophecy from birth."

"I'm afraid I don't understand Cas. All of this is new to me. I grew up, went to school, got picked on, graduated, went to college, and got a job. I haven't lived this life."

"You never felt fulfilled."

She paused again. "I don't guess I did Cas, but I don't believe that having a baby will make me fulfilled. A baby is a big deal. You might not understand that, but they are expensive and needy. They need stability and neither Dean nor I are in a position to be stable right now. Besides, he doesn't exactly seem like the marrying type."

"You've been married in God's eyes since you were conceived."

She dropped the bag of ice. "Excuse me?"

"Marriage between man and woman is of God. It has nothing to do with man's piece of paper that declares it for whatever purpose. You and Dean were married from the moment you were conceived. That is why neither of you committed to another. That is why you stayed pure until you met him because he is your one true pair."

"So is free will a joke Cas? Huh? Is it that some people have free will to make choices but others are just here to do God's bidding? What game are you playing?" She didn't realize she had been yelling until Dean and Sam rushed into the kitchen.

"Leave her alone Cas," Dean said menacingly.

"Did he tell you this shit too?" She asked in Dean's direction. "That we were married from conception or some such nonsense. I guess that's why I basically threw myself at him, huh Cas?"

"Well technically speaking yes. You could not have resisted him no matter your circumstances."

She threw the bag of ice at Cas and he actually flinched when it hit him. "This is all bullshit. Every bit of it and if there was not some crazy vampire hunting me down right now I would leave this nut house. I'm going to my room and locking the door and I better not hear or see any of you until I'm ready!"

She stormed out of the kitchen and they all watched her leave. "You couldn't keep your mouth shut could you Cas," Dean asked. "Who the hell gave you the right to tell her anything huh?"

"Well, God did."

"Shut up Cas," Dean said storming out of the kitchen.

"Did you flinch when she threw that ice at you?" Sam asked.

"It was cold," Cas answered and Sam laughed.

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Carrie Beth slammed the bedroom door shut and locked it behind her. She paced back and forth and muttered curse words about how ignorant men were and who the hell gave them the right to dictate what she was going to do. "This is the sixteenth century!" She yelled at the closed door.

A gentle laugh caused her to flip around in fear. "Don't be scared," the woman sitting on the bed said. "I won't hurt you."

Carrie Beth pushed her back against the door and twisted the lock. "Who are you?" She asked feeling comfortable that she could get to Dean before this woman could touch her.

"Funny how you think of him for everything now isn't it," she said. "A week ago you had never heard of him and now that you feel threatened your first thought of protection is him."

She stood up from the bed and walked around the room. "I hate I never got to see this place. Some of the hunters that came through the bar would talk about this mythical bunker. Of course I just thought it was a bit of lore that no one could disprove. There's a lot of that out there you know."

"You didn't answer my question lady, who are you?"

"You are a tough cookie, I'll give you that. Of course no daughter of mine would wilt in the face of the unknown, we weren't built like that you know."

"Ellen… you are Ellen Harvelle."

Ellen nodded. "I'm your mother Carrie Beth."

"You're dead?" she asked.

Ellen nodded. "I'm here because God asked me to pay you a visit. To help you understand what the hell is going on."

Carrie Beth eyed her cautiously. "So?"

"What do you want to know?"

Carrie Beth's mouth went dry and her eyes welled with tears. "Why?" she whispered. "Why did you get rid of me?"

The hot tears flowed down her cheeks and there was nothing she could do to stop them. She closed her eyes tightly ashamed of her reaction and then she felt the comfort of her mother's arms around her pulling her close. "Baby I didn't get rid of you. I could never give you up."

"Tell me," Carrie Beth whispered again.

They sat on the bed, leaning back against the headboard. "I was young and stupid. I hadn't married Bill yet but he had asked and I had said yes. He promised to give up hunting so that we could be normal. He agreed to open the bar so that he could be a part of the culture but not be in danger." Ellen swallowed, suddenly lost in memory. "I woke up one morning to a note on my door. He had been called to a deal with a residual haunting and he couldn't say no. He owed the hunter a favor and it had to be repayed. I was pissed. He had broken the one promise he made me!"

"I got roaring drunk that day. I started drinking after I found the note and I don't know when I stopped. Bobby found me that night balled up on the floor sobbing. He took care of me. We didn't mean for it to happen, but it did and then Bobby was gone. When I found out I was pregnant with you I was both elated and devastated. How was I going to explain this to Bill?"

"How did you?" Carrie Beth asked.

"I didn't. I didn't have too. An angel named Naomi had already spoken to him and explained that this baby was going to be very important. She had already arranged someone to raise you and care for you. I didn't have a choice or at least that's what I told myself. I realize now Naomi wasn't acting on God's errand when she spoke to Bill. She was selfishly trying to hide you so that only she could control you."

"So Catherine wasn't my grandmother?"

"No Carrie Beth, she wasn't. Naomi's plan went to hell in a hand basket too when she just up and died on you. I was gone, Bill was gone, and Bobby didn't know you existed. I watched her stick you in that foster home and I wanted to kill her for doing this to my baby. Of course I was stuck, there was nothing I could do."

Ellen stroked Carrie Beth's hair as she spoke. "Castiel came to me a couple weeks ago and said that Viktor had your scent. We had to protect you from him somehow. Cas sent the boys after you knowing that once Dean saw you he wouldn't be able to leave you."

"So Dean knew?"

"No baby, he didn't know. Cas just told them there was a vampire nest that needed to be destroyed and they went running. Dean will never admit it, but the moment he saw you that was it for him."

"I still think this is bullshit," Carrie Beth said. "Why did you never tell Bobby about me?"

Ellen sighed. "It hurt too much to think about you."

"So Viktor, I don't understand his reasoning for wanting to kill me."

"That is another issue," Ellen said changing her position. "There was a nest of vampires that had basically destroyed a town. They had killed or changed everyone. Those West boys, they came looking to get a group together to hunt the nest down. The more hunters in the group the faster they could take the nest. Bobby and Bill both agreed to go, but nobody realized how long the nest had been together. Viktor had turned Marla probably a century or two ago and they had claimed each other. Vampires mate for life, kind of like penguins but creepy not cute. Bobby, he managed to corner Marla by herself and he took her head off without question. He was working on instinct. The group managed to get all of the nest except two Viktor and another vampire named Simon. Viktor has been hunting a way to punish Bobby since it happened and now you are the only link left."

"This shit is crazy," Carrie Beth said matter of factly.

A knock on the door drew Carrie Beth's attention. "Carrie Beth?" came Dean's voice. "Can I come in?"

She looked up at Ellen who smiled at her warmly. "I'm not leaving," she said.

"Can he see you too?"

"We'll find out in a minute," Ellen said with a chuckle.

"Come on in Dean, it's unlocked."

"I just wanted to check on you…" he stopped in the center of the doorway with his mouth hanging open. "Ell… Ellen? How? I don't…"

"The big guy thought I could answer some questions better than Cas could," Ellen replied with a smile.

"Well that settles it," Dean said.

"Settles what?" Carrie Beth asked.

"Cas will have to bring Bobby for a visit now."

XXXXXXXXXX

"I'll bring Bobby back for a visit if you two will procreate," Cas said sternly. "Those are my terms."

"Listen here you overzealous assbutt with wings," Ellen said pushing her finger in Cas's face. "You will bring him back for a visit and you will do it no questions asked. The plans for these two have already been derailed so to speak and they will make their own way in this life. I've got it from the big guy himself that he is not stressed about this particular prophecy and it was all Naomi who made these decisions. Now bring him down here right this minute."

Cas scowled but disappeared. Ellen turned around to find all three of them staring at her. "Why don't you take a picture it will last longer?"

"Would you show up on film?" Carrie Beth asked.

Ellen smiled at her. "Probably not sweetheart. Are you ok?"

"No," Carrie Beth said, "but I'm not as bad as I could be."

Dean moved behind her and rubbed her shoulders gently. "It's going to be ok Carrie Beth. We'll get this whole thing figured out one way or another."

She turned her head and kissed his knuckles. "I'm glad we finally found each other," she whispered.

"Me too," he whispered in her ear before placing a quick kiss just below her ear lobe.

She was going to say something else when Cas suddenly reappeared with another man beside him. "You boys do know that most folks can't just call up their dead friends when they want to see them right. I feel like you are taking advantage of the system."

Dean felt Carrie Beth stiffen under his hands so he moved them up and down her shoulders in a comforting gesture. "Perks of being the chosen ones," Dean said.

"Hi Bobby," Ellen said moving into his line of vision. "Long time no see."

"Ellen?" Bobby said. "Hell's bells are you a sight for sore eyes woman!"

Bobby wrapped Ellen in a tight hug before turning back to face the boys. "And who is this pretty young lady?" he asked.

Dean nudged her with his nose. "Go on."

She swallowed hard. "I'm Carrie Beth," she said her voice cracking in the process.

"It's nice to meet you Carrie Beth. You probably don't want to stick around these boys too long though they tend to get into trouble."

Carrie Beth stared at Bobby and so did everyone else in the room. "Ok, what did I miss huh? You all are looking at me like I died again."

"Bobby," Ellen said taking his hand, "Carrie Beth isn't just a friend of the boys. She's my daughter. She's your daughter."

Bobby's eyes narrowed. "Balls, what in the hell are you talking about Ellen? I didn't have kids. I made sure that I couldn't have kids."

Ellen gripped his hand tighter. "Nothing is fool proof Bobby."

Bobby turned back to stare at Carrie Beth. He moved closer to her and stared at her. "She's got your nose and chin Ellen," he said softly. "And she has my eyes," he said his voice cracking.

Carrie Beth smiled at him through her own tears and threw herself into his arms in a deep, warm hug. They stood together like that for several moments before she let him go and moved back into Dean's waiting arms. Bobby grinned at them. "I'm a father," he said softly wiping at his watery eyes. "Why didn't you tell me Ellen?"

"I couldn't. Naomi, the angel, she kept me from being able to tell anyone. She took Carrie Beth from me when she was just hours old."

Bobby nodded his understanding and turned back to face Carrie Beth. It suddenly dawned on him that Dean's hands were wrapped protectively around her waist and he was leaning on her shoulder. "Balls," Bobby said menacingly, "get your hands off her boy or I'll have to kill you… again."

Dean stood up in shock. "Bobby? What the hell?"

"I love you Dean but there is no way in hell my little girl is going to end up with a hunter. Especially a Winchester," he added as an afterthought.

"Hey!" Sam and Dean shouted together.

"Bobby honey, they uh, well they were actually supposed to be together a lot sooner than now. Naomi's plans kind of got messed up."

"They are the one true pair," Castiel said from behind Bobby, "and you will have to accept that Bobby."

"The hell I will!" Bobby yelled. "I've only been a father for a few minutes but this is not going to happen," he said pointing at Dean and Carrie Beth.

"What the hell's your problem Bobby? Huh?" Dean asked angrily. "You've only known about her for a few minutes and you think you can swoop in and dictate her life all of a sudden."

"I love you boy but you will not cross me on this!"

"She's mine," Dean said through clenched teeth, "and you won't take her away from me. You don't even belong here Bobby. You are just paying a quick visit!"

"Don't I get a say in this?" Carrie Beth asked.

"No!" They both yelled at her.

She looked at them wide eyed. "No hand on just a damn minute you two! I am a grown woman and I make my own decisions. No offense Bobby but I didn't know anything about you until yesterday so forgive me if I don't take your interest into my love life seriously." Dean was smirking at her comeuppance of Bobby. "And you Mr. Winchester," she said whirling around on him, "don't think that you suddenly have ownership of me because of what we have done and what we have learned. I can walk out that door as quick as I walked in and I guarantee there are other hunters out there willing to protect me from Viktor."

Dean's face paled at the mention of her leaving. "Carrie Beth you can't… I won't let you leave."

She narrowed her eyes at him and placed a finger on the tip of his nose. "Don't take that tone with me Mister. Dean. Winchester." She emphasized each part of his name. "You do not own me and I cannot make that more clear."

"Ellen, would you like some tea?" She asked without breaking eye contact with Dean.

"Sure sweetie, let's go to the kitchen and let the men folk work out their drama."

XXXXXXXXXX

Bobby and Dean watched Ellen and Carrie Beth from the doorway of the kitchen. They were laughing and talking about something that made them both smile but neither of the men could hear the conversation from their stand point. Sam had taking Castiel to the library and together they were researching this one true pairing business and what it would mean if Dean and Carrie Beth didn't procreate.

"How'd Viktor find her?" Bobby asked Dean.

"Caught her scent driving through the town she was in and tracked her down from there. She was clueless of course. Didn't even know vampires really existed and then she was kidnapped and strapped to a table by a group of them."

"Did they hurt her?"

Dean sighed. "Sort of, scared her more than anything. If we hadn't gotten there when we did…"

"Understood."

"Bobby?"

"Yeah Dean?"

"I think I'm in love with her."

"No shit kid, I've never seen you look at a woman the way you look at her," Bobby sighed and drug his hand down his face. "If it's any consolation she's in love with you too."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Dean said. "I don't deserve her. I can't take care of her. I can't offer her what she wants and needs."

"Do you know what she wants and needs?"

Dean pushed away from the door and drifted back into the open living room. "Don't all women want the same thing? A husband who takes care of them, provides for them, and gives them children. I can't be any of those things Bobby. You know I break everything I touch."

Bobby's head snapped up at that statement. "Take it back Dean! Take it back now. You are a good man and I like to think I had something to do with the way you turned out. You may not be able to provide for her in the conventional sense but you don't know that's what she wants anyway. You have been dealt a sorry hand in this life, but it looks like you've got the opportunity to improve your circumstances. Don't screw it up kid. Don't let the past dictate how you respond to your future."

Dean and Bobby hugged for several minutes. "Viktor has to die first," Bobby said when they broke contact. "She'll never be safe as long as he and his brother Simon are alive."

"Simon is his brother?"

"That's why they were such a strong nest ya idjit," Bobby said throwing his hands up in the air. "Not only were they mated couples in the nest but they were siblings. Vampires that were created from the same master but were blood relations before they were changed. Viktor and Simon were brothers before they were changed."

"We didn't realize it ourselves," Bobby continued. "We didn't know how strong they were when we went to deal with the nest. Those West boys, they came into the bar and wanted all the help they could get. Bill, he killed Simon's mate Victoria before we knew who she was and Viktor's mate, well she went crazy. I took care of Marla with swipe of the machete but Viktor and Simon got away. The others in our group weren't targets like we were. They took care of business and didn't leave any loose ends. Bill and I, well we screwed up and spent the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders. I never would have thought they would come after our families."

Dean glared at Bobby. "Why didn't Sam and I know any of this Bobby? Huh? We could have been targets too! Don't worry about Carrie Beth. Sam and I will clean up your mess with Viktor and Simon but you better think long and hard about any other surprises that might show up from your screw ups."

Bobby glared at Dean. "I'm sorry son, I didn't realize that you were the perfect hunter that had never made a mistake."

"I can't afford mistakes. Not anymore," he finished quietly.

Bobby stuck his hands in his pockets. "I understand."

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