Chapter 7

Mel closed her car door and headed to the house. Kallie followed suit.

"Sam, Bobby, come in and join us for coffee." Mel said, inviting the men into her house. Dean, Sam and Bobby followed her and Kallie in. Melanie started the coffee as Kallie got the cups. Dean went to the fridge and got out the cream and milk and sat it on the table. He then knelt down and opened the crisper drawer. He moved a few things around and took out the freshly baked apple pie, wrapped in plastic. He sat it on the table.

Sam and Bobby watched Dean. They bother grinned when they saw the pie. They laughed out loud at Melanie's next comment.

"I thought I had that one hidden." Mel said when she saw the pie sitting on the table. "I have not been able to keep pie in this house since our…houseguest arrived."

Dean started to open the freezer door.

"No ice cream." Kallie said, reminding him. "You ate it with the last of the blueberry, remember."

Dean pouted.

Mel just looked at Dean. "Won't work, Darlin,' I haven't been to the store yet."

Sam looked at Dean. "He does that to me all the time."

"It work?" Mel asked.

"Not…usually." Sam grudgingly admitted.

Kallie cupped Dean's chin in her hand. "It's hard to resist this adorable face."

Dean grinned. "See, I'm adorable."

Bobby and Sam didn't know what to think or say. Dean didn't let many people touch him like that. But he was very comfortable with these two women. That was just not Dean.

Bobby shook his head. "Idgit!"

Dean laughed. "I missed you too, Bobby."

Mel and Kallie looked at both Dean and Bobby, wondering what that comment was all about. They both just shook their heads as the filled the cups of coffee and brought them to the table.

"I'll go up and get my stuff after I finish my coffee." Dean told Bobby and Sam.

"Who said you could leave?" Kallie asked.

Dean looked at Kallie, startled. He looked amused as she took his hand.

"You're still under medical care." Kallie said. "You're still my patient." She paused and let go of his hand. "Besides, Bill said your car wouldn't be ready for about a week."

"I can fix the car myself." Dean said, remembering that that was how his baby had been kept running all these years. "I don't like other people working on my baby."

Kallie shook her head. "Nope, not gonna happen. You're not well enough to be crawling around under a car." She said firmly.

"I'm just…I'm okay, Kallie." Dean told her.

This was another response that Sam and Bobby had not expected. If either of them had told him he wasn't ready to do something, he would have told them to 'shove it,' but, not that nicely.

"You're having headaches." Kallie told him. "Your chest, your ribs, you're still sore." She squeezed Dean's forearm gently then let go. "I'm watching, Jake, um Dean. I don't miss much."

"I'm okay, Kallie." Dean replied.

"Just because you repeat it, it doesn't make it true." Kallie retorted.

Sam laughed. He loved that Kallie had an answer for everything that Dean threw at her.

Dean noticed Sam's reaction and practically snarled at him. It only made Sam laugh more.

Kallie noticed the reaction between the two. She could tell that the men cared about one another. She even where she had been standing could see the moment of recognition on Dean's face. And it made her very happy to see that this chapter in Dean's life would, at least, have a happy ending.

"Sam said you were hunting." Melanie asked. "What were you hunting, the seasons…?"

"We don't hunt animals." Sam replied. "We hunt other…things."

Melanie looked at her daughter. Neither woman said anything. But Dean, Sam and Bobby could see that they knew exactly what Sam had been talking about.

"What…?" Dean started.

"My dad, Mike, Michael Aaron Southerland." Kallie started. "When he was about 16, his 18 year-old sister just disappeared. She had been going on a date with a new guy in town. There were rumors that he was a Satanist. He did dress kinda Gothic. He wore black a lot. He listened to heavy metal music. But there was nothing…." Kallie paused and sighed. "My dad became convince the guy was a vampire. Rumors flew during that time, of course. The local rumor mill went crazy. But nothing ever…. They never found a body. Nobody ever…found out what happened." The rumor about the vampire thing was, of course, that she ran off with this guy and joined his nest. The guy did leave town not long after that. The father was transferred through his job. But, of course, the locals said that it was because the family was protecting the son."

"Where was it?" Dean asked. "Did it happen around here?"

Kallie shook her head. "No, Dad's from a small town near Birmingham, Alabama. But all these years later…he left town, went to college, then marriage, and a kid. But he…he never forgot. He couldn't forget; and he never got over it. He started drinking and obsessing. It was really bad when I became a teenager. Or maybe that was just when I really started noticing it. I don't know." Kallie paused. "But, then one day he just…he packed a bag and left. I…we assumed he went back to Alabama. My grandparents, his parents, are older and sick. We…I just assumed he went back and to find answers for them. So, at least, they know what happened to their daughter before they died."

"How long ago was that?"

Melanie sighed. "He left about 8 years ago. It was easier to just tell people that we were divorced than to try to explain the real reason. I've told the lie so much that I think I've started believing it. Anyway, I used to get a post card asking about us. I would send a letter back. I guess he got them. But then, a couple years ago they stopped coming. And they came from just, all over the country. So, I don't know if he was tracking the nest of this guy. I just…he never talked about it. He told us about the places he'd been and the things he's seen in his travels. And he would mention his parents. How they were doing. But he…he never mentioned if he was still hunting. Except to say that there were a lot of people out there, hunting, searching for things."

"You have no way of contacting his parents?" Sam asked.

"They died, about 3 years ago, about a year apart. We got both obituaries in the mail." Mel shook her head. "I expected him to come back, you know, after his parents died. But…since he didn't, I can only think he didn't find what he was looking for. We did used to talk to them on occasion. But when…when his sister disappeared, his…the family just fell apart. His mom went into a deep depression. His dad started drinking. He never drank before that, but afterwards…he became a full-blown alcoholic. It was just...it was hard to talk to them. Mike's dad was either drunk or passed out and his mom seemed to have OD'd on her pills. She just seemed to be floating somewhere. She was way overmedicated, not sure if that was her doing, or the doctors. But, at any rate, she was way out there.

Kallie got up from the table and headed into the living room for the stairs. "I've got to check something out, I'll be right back."

Sam, Dean, and Bobby looked at Mel. And Mel just shook her head. She had no idea what Kallie had in mind.

Kallie returned a few moments later with a small stack of postcards in her hand. She sat down and started sifting through them, as if she was looking for something. "You got anymore family members who are hunters?" She asked while she looked.

Dean replied. "Our dad, John, he was…."

Kallie nodded. "Here it is." She stopped at a particular postcard. It was post marked Philadelphia, PA. And the year was 1990-something. The last number couldn't be made out. She showed it to Sam, Dean and Bobby. It read: My Girls, There's a hunter here, John Winchester, I think he said. He found out I had a kid, my baby Kallie, and he told me about his boys, Sam and Dean. He's such a proud papa. He told me his story. I feel bad for those boys. I hope he founds what it is he's looking for. Love to You.

"Wow, that's…." Sam started.

"Yeah." Dean stated. "That's our dad. Our mom died in a fire when I was 4 and Sam was 6 months old. My dad, he had been looking for answers ever since."

"He wasn't sure at first. Later he came to think it was a demon." Sam added.

"Vampires and Demons…wow!" Melanie replied. "My husband got a little…crazy there at the end, before he left us."

Dean shook his head. "He wasn't crazy, Mel. Those things exist."

Mel shook her head. "That's not possible."

All three men nodded that it was.

"See, I told you, Mom." Kallie said. "She always said that Dad was crazy. And she always thought I was crazy for believing him. But he…" She paused. "…he was so sincere. And he was really, truly devastated by my aunt's disappearance. It just…."

"It changed your life." Sam said, finishing her sentence.

Kallie nodded.

"It tends to do that. We went from the nice family home and white picket fence to living in motels and cars while our dad tried to figure out what had killed his wife. What had destroyed his family." Dean explained.

"That's rough, Dean." Kallie replied. "I'm sorry. But at least you have Sam. And I have my mom. So, all things considered, it's okay. I miss my dad. And I…I'm not sure if I'll ever see him again. But, at least I understand it. Why he had to leave, what he did."

SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN

Melanie opened up her home to Sam and Bobby, also. Both Bobby and Sam slept upstairs in chairs on either side Dean's bed.

Kallie awoke to a noise. She recognized it immediately. Dean was moaning in his sleep. In all the excitement of the day she had forgotten his evening medication. She hurried to the bathroom and got a glass of water. She then grabbed the pill bottle and headed to his bedroom.

"Hey, Jake… um Dean." Kallie whispered. Sam was still asleep, it looked like. She didn't want to wake him up.

"He's been moaning like that for about 10 minutes." Sam said opening his eyes. "He won't admit how much pain he's in."

"I forgot his pain medicine, in all the excitement." Kallie admitted. She jumped a little when Sam spoke. But she recovered quickly.

"You can actually get him to take medication?" Sam asked, very surprised.

"Jake would do it for me. I have yet to deal with Dean." Kallie realized it as she said it. She was literally dealing with a different person that she had when she got up this morning. Jake had become Dean since he got his memory back, and Kallie had never been faced with such a dilemma.

"So, Dean's a handful. That's what you're saying?" Kallie asked almost chuckling.

"I am a delight to be around." Dean retorted. "Don't listen to him!" He had opened his eyes at the sound of Kallie's and Sam's voices. He had been drifting in and out of sleep with the pain. So, he had only heard bits and pieces of the conversation.

Sam laughed at Dean's description of himself.

"Shut up!" Dean said, glaring at his brother. But it didn't last long. He was still in a lot of pain. And, as if to prove his point, Dean took the pills without complaint.

Melanie showed up in the doorway. She had heard them talking. Plus, there was the fact that she had gotten used to getting up and checking on Dean during the night. Bobby had also been woken up by Dean's moaning. But he had not said anything. He had just been watching the interactions.

"This is pretty routine for us, Bobby." Melanie said seeing that Bobby was awake as she sat down on Dean's bed. "We're usually checking on him every couple of hours."

Melanie took Dean's hand, causing him to look over at her. "What's wrong, Sweetheart?"

"…chest…hurts." Dean admitted, in obvious pain. He squeezed her hand.

Sam and Bobby looked at one another across the bed. Dean never admits pain. Not unless he is really, really hurting.

Kallie shook her head. "It's…I forgot the pain medicine this evening." She paused. She had started to cry. She had not meant to cause Dean any pain. Her mistake had upset her greatly.

Dean smiled at her. He let go of Mel's hand and took one of Kallie's hands in his. With his other hand, he wiped the tears from her cheek. "It's okay. You've been so good to me…."

Kallie shook her head. "What kind of nurse am I going to be if I can't even remember to give a patient his medicine?"

Dean grinned at her again. The pain medicine had started to kick in, and he was hurting a little less. "It's not like I've been a typical patient."

"That's true." Kallie agreed. She was starting to feel a little better.

"I…You had a big challenge, Kallie." Dean stated. "I didn't know who I was. You had to wonder who I was…all those knives, guns, and IDs. I was having nightmares, almost every night. It's…that's a lot of unusual, a lot of crazy, to deal with at one time." He paused. "You'll never have another situation again, like this, in your whole nursing career, I hope." He paused again. "…at least, not one as adorable."

Kallie just grinned at Dean and shook her head. She stood.

Melanie stood with her daughter. "We'll see you in the morning." She said. Then she and Kallie left the room.

Both Mel and Kallie laughed when they walked out of the room, and heard Dean tell Sam to shut up again. They could well imagine the looks that the two were exchanging. They laughed even harder when they heard Bobby call the brothers idgits.

"And I thought we were dysfunctional." Kallie said to her mom as she entered her bedroom. Melanie nodded and headed next door, to her room.

SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN

Dean continued to improve. His ribs were healing and he was getting anxious to get his car back. He was ready to leave. He appreciated the Southerlands, very much. But he needed to go so that they could get their lives back to normal.

"That was Bill." Melanie said, after she hung up the phone. "Your car's ready."

"Well, I guess we'll go get the car and be on our way." Dean said.

"Wait!" Kallie said, looking at him. "Your clothes, aren't you forgetting them?"

Dean shook his head. "You spent all that money on me. I can't just take them."

"They're yours." Melanie stated.

"They're practically new, maybe you can return them, get your money back. Some stuff I haven't even worn yet." Dean told them.

"Fine, leave those here. We'll return those. That make you happy?" Mel asked Dean.

Dean went over to her and hugged her. "For starters…you saved my life. There's no way I can repay you."

Mel looked at Kallie. "Oh yeah." Kallie said. "You can."

Dean protested, but not too much. He knew that Sam and Bobby would be surprised. Sam and Bobby had only heard him sing badly. And Sam had heard a little about him being able to play the guitar. But neither of them knew that he could actually play really well. He knew that Bobby would be totally surprised.

Kallie went into the living room and the rest followed her.

Dean sat down in a chair and Kallie handed him the guitar. "That's all?"

Kallie nodded. "It's…my dad used to play the guitar when I was a little girl. I'd crawl up in his lap and he'd sing to me. We'd all sing. It's just…it was one of my best memories of my dad."

Sam and Dean understood that. They each had their own special memories of John.

Dean played and sang a couple songs. Sam and Bobby sat dumbfounded. And Sam was a little miffed he never got to hear Dean's real singing voice. He had only had the privilege of hearing Dean sing off key.

"You are never again allowed to sing off key in the car." Sam declared. "Or anywhere else."

"Come on, Sammy, that's the best part." Dean replied.

"Not for me." The younger Winchester stated.

"Where did that come from?" Bobby asked, still amazed.

"Mom had a decent voice, if I remember correctly. She used to sing to me all the time." Dean admitted. "And I learned to play the guitar when dad had left me at this…group home-type place."

"When was this?" Bobby asked. The idea upset him, even now. He knew, if he had known, he would have stepped in and went and got Dean, from where ever he had been. And John would have been furious at him.

"I was about 12. I had taken/ stolen a loaf of bread and some peanut butter and got caught. I lost the…the money Dad gave me for food. And I couldn't let Sam go missing any meals." The elder Winchester replied.

"He just…I can't believe he left you like that." Bobby stated. "I would have been to get you…if I'd known."

"I…honestly, it was okay. I missed Sam. But it was alright." Dean said. He then looked at Mel and Kallie and smiled. "Thank you, for everything."

"We're gonna miss you." Kallie said, hugging Dean.

Dean then hugged Mel again. "I just….I really appreciate everything. I'll go upstairs and get those clothes. And I'll leave the stuff I haven't worn yet."

Melanie nodded and followed Bobby and Sam outside to the truck. Kallie stayed inside. She had put the guitar into its case. The case had been in the hall closet for years. She was standing at the bottom of the stairs when Dean came back down, carrying his bag.

"I want you to have this." Kallie said, indicating the guitar that she held in her hand.

The elder Winchester shook his head. "I can't…."

"I…We want you to have it." Kallie stated. "I can't play, it…it just sits here. And, I think it…it reminds Mom of something she no longer has. She keeps it because it reminds her of Dad. But then it's painful, too, because it reminds her of Dad." She paused. "I don't believe Dad's coming back. I think…I think he's gone. He's dead. But…but I'm not sure she believes it. I don't know if she can bring herself to believe it. But I…after all these years…" She shook her head.

"Hunters lives are notoriously short." Dean said. "The nature of the work. But we can get the word out for you, if you want us to."

Kallie nodded. "I would like to, at least, hear from him again."

Dean hugged her again. "I will give you my number. You need me, call me, for anything. I mean that." He then handed her his number. She pocketed it. She wanted to make sure she didn't lose it.

Kallie then followed Dean out of the house. She and Melanie stood and watched Dean, Sam and Bobby drive away, until they couldn't see the truck anymore.

THE END

END NOTES: The Southerland Family is my creation, Fincastle, Virginia is not. It is a very nice rural Virginia town that I had the privilege of living in, for about 6 months.