A/N: Thought you might like to have a second chapter and find out what goes wrong. Thank you to all who are reading my story. Your thoughts are important to me, please review. NC


Chapter 9

Dean made his way out of the water and shook hard trying to remove what wetness he could before heading to the blanket to get lunch ready. He had packed a towel knowing Deanna couldn't stay dry if she was near water and pulled it from his pack to wipe what wetness he could off his body. He occasionally glanced her way to be sure she was ok. Dean paused for a moment when it looked like she was talking to someone and showing off a rock she had found. He frowned and stored that tidbit away for later and went back to pulling out the food he had brought. He opened the cold bags to remove juice for Deanna and a Gatorade for himself along with sandwiches, carrot and celery sticks, grapes, apples and a slice of pie for him and cookies for Deanna. After he had the picnic laid out on the blanket he called to Deanna.

"Ok Ladybug, come and get it 'fore you turn into an icicle."

"Coming." she replied making her way out of the water carrying some pretty rocks she had found in the river bed. "Look at what I found. Aren't then neat?" she said dropping down on the blanket and holding out her treasures.

"Not bad, here wipe your hands so you can eat." he replied holding out a wet one to her. "I made your favorite, turkey on multigrain with mustard and Swiss cheese."

"Thank you, I'm starved." she said pulling the napkin over in front of her with the sandwich on it. "You remembered my carrot sticks and celery too!"

"Of course Ladybug." Dean said smiling happily as he watched her enjoy her food. He bit into his sandwich and chewed thoughtfully glad to see Deanna enjoying herself. It pleased him to see her so happy.

spn

Sam got his second wind and climbed to the top of the mountain, pausing once he stepped out onto the ridge. He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly just taking in the beauty of the land in front of him. He stood there for ten minutes enjoying what Mother Nature had created before looking around for a place suitable for him to have his lunch. He didn't know what Dean had packed and hoped it was something he would enjoy and not what Dean thought was good. He smiled to himself when he found several wet ones, a hand towel to wipe his sweaty face and two cooler bags with food in one and drinks in the other. Dean had packed his favorite Gatorade and made him one turkey sandwich and one vegetable sandwich along with carrot sticks, cheese, grapes and an apple and some cookies for dessert. He had to admit his brother surprised him with the selected items. He didn't realize how hungry he was until he took his first bite and began to devour a sandwich, only pausing long enough to sip some drink. Sam took his time with the next one savoring the flavors and enjoying his surroundings. He even tossed a few bites of bread off toward the trees for the birds and squirrels to fight over.

"Oh my love I wish you were here with me." Sam sighed closing his eyes and picturing Jessica smiling and walking toward him. He thought his life was over when she died and if it hadn't been for their daughter he might have ended it after exacting his revenge. Deanna was what kept him going and what made him feel alive again. Deanna had so much of her Mom in her, the way she'd tilt her head when she was thinking, that sparkle in her eyes when she got excited or the way her smile and soft giggles could brighten a room. "I can see you in her more and more and I know she's going to be a beautiful, kind woman just like you were." Sam wiped at his eyes and cleared his throat as it tightened with emotions. He opens his eyes when a lone bird call echoed across the valley. He searched for the bird and saw a large hawk gliding on the thermals and watched as it effortless swoops over his head to land in the trees back behind him. He listens to the noises of the forest sing to him as he settles down and let's the warm sun and a full belly send him into a gentle doze.

spn

"Uncle Dee you did good." Deanna praised him as she munched a carrot stick and watched the river flow beside them.

"Coming from you is a huge compliment Ladybug." he replied gathering his trash in stowing it back in one of the cooler bags. "So how's it going at school?"

"Fine." she answered in a not so fine tone.

"Deanna you know I know when you're not telling me everything. Talk to me kid, is it that other girl? She still giving you a hard time?"

Deanna looked down at her food and thought over how to answer her uncle.

"She's still picking on me and she's doing it to others too. No one will stand up to her and no one wants to be a tattle tail."

"You know I don't condone fighting, that should be the last resort, but sometimes you gotta stand up for what's right. It not fair to you or the other kids she's picking on. You remember the training I taught you about letting the other person do all the work and they'll defeat themselves?"

"Yes."

"Maybe that's what she needs, to have someone stand up to her."

"You may be right."

"But if it's really getting that bad you need to tell the teacher. You're not tattle tailing when it's something like this. No one should be allowed to bully others."

"I know I've told her she shouldn't do it, but she just laughs at me and calls me a cry baby."

"She seems real mature. Think 'bout what I said. So is there anything else you need to talk about or wanna tell me?"

"No, thanks Uncle Dee. I can always count on you to help."

"Anytime Ladybug." Dean said as he yawned widely before he stretched out and sighed in contentment thinking this couldn't be a better day. He had a full stomach, great weather and time with his niece. He listened to the song of the river letting it take away all the bad and leaving only calmness and peace. Dean's eyes drifted closed and he began to snore softly.

"Uncle Dee?" Deanna questioned quietly. When he didn't answer, she gathered her trash and uneaten food to put in a cooler bag. She had saved some crust of her sandwich to feed the fish in the river. Without any thought of danger, Deanna headed back to the bank and waded into the water up to her knees. She began to crumble little pieces of bread into the water watching to see if the baby fish would come eat it. It wasn't long before half a dozen little fish were swimming around her legs, darting about after the bread. She giggled watching their antics as they fought for the treat. "Cas can you here me?" she asked looking to the bank for her angel.

"I can child." Cas replied as he stood on a rock nearby watching her.

"Isn't this a nice day? Can you see my little friends? It tickles when they kiss my legs."

"I do see them. You should be careful child; your uncle would be upset if you were to get injured."

"It's not that deep here, besides I know how to swim, Daddy took me to the pool in town and taught me."

"That is all and good, but this is not like a pool. This is a wild, unpredictable, force of nature that can not be controlled."

"Did you like the rocks I found? I'm going to take them home with me and give one to Daddy and Papa Bobby and Grandpa." she rattled on no fear in her voice as she moved farther from the shore. When all the bread was gone, Deanna began to look at the rocks under her feet trying to find a very special one for her angel friend. She wanted to surprise him with the gift. A glint of color caught her eye and she stepped into what she thought was shallow water, only to have her foot go out from under her and the swirling current throw her off balance sending her crashing into the water. As her head went under, she tried to cry for help but got a mouth of water instead.

Castiel watched the child exploring when suddenly she disappeared under the water. He sprang from the rock searching for the blonde head of the child. A few seconds later she popped up twenty feet away and was being pulled down stream by the rush of the water. He waded into the fast moving water and fought the strength of the rapids to grab her hand and wrap it around a tree limb of a fallen tree nearby. Castiel turned toward the sleep man and with a mighty, silent voice spoke his name.

"Dean Winchester!" a voice inside Dean's head sounded loudly, bringing the hunter instantly awake and on his feet with his weapon in his hand.

"Deanna?" he called when he didn't see her on the blanket or at the water's edge. A small strangled cry for help had him running for the water, his worse fear filling his mind. "Deanna!" he yelled looking out onto the fast moving water. He spotted her blonde head just above the water about thirty feet below him and his heart froze in panic. Dean didn't hesitate to go into the water after her. "Hold on! I'm coming for you!"

Dean moved carefully through the fast moving water, making sure his steps were firm and he wasn't stepping on slick rocks that would send him in the icy flow before reaching his niece. By the time he had almost reached her, the water was up to his hips and the current was pulling hard at his legs. Dean tried to move a little closer when suddenly his foot slipped and he felt himself starting to go down when suddenly it felt like a hand grabbed his shoulder holding him fast until he had his balance again. "Deanna! Reach for me." he told her holding his hands out as he fought to stay still in the churning water. He saw the fear in her eyes as she looked at his hands reaching for them, but was still nearly a foot away. Suddenly, she was pushed across the short distance to his waiting arms as if by magic. Dean grabbed her up into his arms holding her tight as he turned to make his way back to the bank. She was shivering uncontrollably in his arms and when he pushed her hair from her face saw her lips were tinged blue from the icy temperature of the water. "It's ok Ladybug, I got ya. You're ok, we just need to dry you off and warm you up."

"P-Pa-Pa'k." she chattered not able to stop her teeth from clicking together as she stood shivering by the blanket.

Dean sat her on the blanket and grabbed her pack, dumping out the contents. He found a towel, a change of clothes, book, comb, and first aid kit.

"Well did you plan on getting wet today?" he asked her taking her towel and briskly rubbing her arms and legs and then towel drying her hair.

"N-No. Da-da-ee...S-sa-say...Be...P-pr-pr-pa-pared." she finally got out.

"Yeah your Daddy is a smart one. I'll hold the towel for you, get those wet clothes off and put on your dry ones. I'll put them on the rocks to dry along with my jeans." he instructed her. "Use that other towel to finish drying off."

Deanna just nodded instead of trying to speak as she began to take off her wet clothes and dry off, then put on her dry ones. Once she was done, Dean grabbed his long sleeved outer shirt and dropped it over her shoulders as she sunk to the blanket.

"Now turn around so I can get out of these jeans." he told her as he started undoing his cold, wet jeans. Dean got them off and stripped out of his briefs long enough to wring as much water as he could out of them before slipping them back on and cinching a towel around his hips. After arranging their clothes on the hot rocks to dry, he pulled Deanna and the blanket closer to a rock so he could use it as a back rest and be more in the sun to warm them. "C'mere Ladybug." he motioned to her as he settled on the blanket and drew her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her to help warm her up.

"I'm so...ry." she cried burying her head into his chest as tears ran down her cheeks.

"It's ok don't cry." Dean cooed to her. "All that matters is you're ok." he assured her rubbing her small body to warm it. He could already feel the sun's warming rays taking away the chill in his own body and hoped it was doing the same to her. He looked toward his pack as an insistent ringing suddenly broke the natural noise around him. He snagged the pack and dug the cell back out to answer it.

"H'llo."

"What happened? Is she ok?" a worried voice asked quickly.

"Chill bro, she's fine just took a little dip in the water." Dean assured his frantic brother who was in full father mode right now. "Tell your Dad you're ok."

"Hi Da-Da-dy." Deanna said trying to stop the chattering of her teeth. "I'm o-k."

"Are you sure sweetheart?"

"Yes." she said pushing the cell away so she could sneeze.

"How did you know something happened Sammy?" Dean asked taking the cell back.

"I sensed it somehow. A father's instinct I guess. Are you heading back soon?"

"Yeah, just letting my jeans dry some, don't worry I'll take care of her."

"I'm halfway down the mountain; it'll be a couple of hours before I can get back."

"I'll get her in a warm bath and put her to bed."

"Alright. Make sure she's not running a fever or anything and if she is give her some medicine. Tell her I'll be home as soon as I can."

"I will, just be careful and don't push yourself and get reckless. Don't need you getting hurt." Dean cautioned him.

"I will." Sam said hanging and setting a fast pace back down to the SUV. He breathed a sigh of relief, but was still worried about Deanna hoping she wouldn't get a cold from her dunk in the river. He knew Dean would take care of her but knew she needed her Daddy.

spn

Deanna's dunk in the river didn't seem to faze her since Castiel made sure of it. He watched over her as she napped and had used his grace to ward off any illness she might have contracted. He stepped back when Sam came in to see her and watched as he lovingly checked his daughter out and sat by her side for fifteen minutes before kissing her forehead, tucking the blanket around her and leaving. Dean had assured Sam she was ok, but he had to see for himself to ease his worried mind.

"Daddy?" Deanna mumbled letting her sleepy eyes open for a moment.

"Hey sweetie, how you feel?" Sam asked gently.

"I'm fine, wasn't Uncle Dee's fault." she got out before yawning.

"I know, go back to sleep." he told her as he brushed strands of hair from her face and cupped her cheek for a moment. He headed back downstairs to find his brother and get the details of what happened. He didn't blame Dean for what happened, but he knew Dean would be blaming himself. He stilled himself to deal with a guilt ridden big brother.

Sam found Dean slumped in a chair at the kitchen table nursing a glass of whiskey. He wasn't sure how many he had consumed before he got home. He could see how bad he felt on his face as he glanced up for a second before letting his eyes fall back to the glass.

"Dean, she's ok. I'm not blaming you, I know how my daughter is, it could of as easily happened to me too so stop beating yourself up." Sam explained as he sat down across from his brother.

"I shouldn't of fallen asleep. I was a dumb ass to do that." he insisted throwing the glass back and swallowing the amber liquid feeling it burn all the way down.

"Everything turned out ok. She's not even got a sniffle."

"You know it happened so fast, I heard my name being yelled and it wasn't Deanna. I could of sworn someone grabbed my arm when I started to slip out there in the water." Dean said looking over at Sam. "I know she was pushed to me against the current. I can't explain it."

"Like you said it happened so fast, maybe you just thought you saw those things." Sam suggested.

"I don't know, but something happened out there I know it did."

"Maybe she does have a guardian angel. I don't know...I'm just glad she's ok." Sam said with a sigh.

"Here, I think you could use some of this." Dean said pouring a small amount of whiskey into his glass and passing it to his brother who gave a half smile and accepted the drink.

"Thanks." Sam mumbled before picking the glass up and taking a sip of the whiskey.