AN: Hey everyone... I hope you like it... let me know!
Dean knew he heard correctly, but the shock of what he had just learned made the question "Huh?" fly out of his mouth making him wish he could for once learn to use his brain before opening his mouth. Holding his hand up, he stopped his brother from repeating the bizarre statement and processed it until finally he sat down and looked at Sammy.
"Ok, you're going to have to explain this one to me kiddo, 'cause honestly, I think you lost me." He said quietly while watching his little brother try to pull himself back together. Remembering the confident, if not cocky, kid from last year, Dean wondered about this version of his brother and prayed that once this was all over that Sammy would be back and this scared version went for a hike.
Sam looked at Dean then got up and started to pace across the kitchen floor. He knew that it sounded insane, but he also knew what he'd heard; what he'd been told. Sitting back down by Dean he began, "Brittany wanted a baby; she was determined one way or another. Cade found out that she had made inquiries about how pregnant girls who were taken in by prospective adoptive parents were treated, so he thought that's what she was shooting for; a meal ticket away from her parents. It wasn't until she found out she was pregnant that Cade realized that whatever she was really planning had blown up in her face, leaving them with a baby on the way. He told her that it was going to be ok, that he'd take care of everything and for her not to worry; he was going to be the best daddy he could and that was a promise. She started yelling and screaming and finally left to go back to her parents' house. They found out that Cade was the father and they had a fit because he wasn't good enough. They refused to allow her to stay with the couple who were planning on adopting Ellie, and didn't let her go anywhere with one of them. I guess they thought she was going back to Cade and they didn't want that."
"So, her plan didn't work, but what about after Ellie was born?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Sam looked at the counter in front of him. "I don't know, she wouldn't even look at Ellie. It was as if she had so much hate for everyone especially her own baby. The adoptive parents didn't want Ellie, but Brittany's parents had made sure that all connections with Brittany and them were gone; Ellie had no one but us. Now Brittany's trying to come back, and I don't understand why she would do this."
Dean thought about the conversation he had with the little witch and had to wonder himself about a few things. Finally he nodded, "Ok Sammy, is there any way that she could use Ellie to get money." Seeing the horrified look on his brother's face he amended the question. "I meant is there family that would set them up if Brittany and Ellie stayed with them?"
"Her parents were middle class and neither one spoke about their parents, but Cade said Brittany had a grandfather that was pretty wealthy but didn't want to have anything to do with any of them. I don't know if that's what you mean, but it's the only thing I can think of."
Nodding, Dean was starting to form a picture, and although he didn't like it, he was determined to make sure it didn't happen. There was no way she was going to use their little princess to get in good with Daddy Warbucks.
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With the boys gone, John was content for the moment to look over the house for any odds and ends jobs that needed to be done. Of course, half way through his search he was silently cursing himself since he knew he'd done everything already. Sammy might be able to do some, but there had been a few things that he had been more than willing to leave to dear 'ol dad in fear that he'd make them worse. Smiling, he reached the doorknob to the room he knew was technically Sammy's, but everyone knew that the kid hardly ever slept in it, preferring either to study and fall asleep at the kitchen table or sleep in a chair next to Ellie's bed to make sure she didn't need anything during the night.
"Don't know what you're going to do when she goes off to college kiddo." He muttered to himself as he walked inside and looked around. Nothing much had changed since the last time he'd been in there, everything had its place and there was no clutter to be found; even the dirty laundry was in a small hamper in the closet. Shaking his head, he had to wonder how two boys could be so similar and yet so different. After checking all the hinges, as well as the windows he made his way to Dean's room dreading what he'd see there.
As he suspected, Dean's room looked like it was occupied by a teenager instead of a grown man. Ignoring the dirty clothes on the floor, he made the same checks to the hinges and windows before turning around and coming face to face with a very large poster of that girl from the lifeguard show he knew Dean liked to watch and wondered if his eldest boy was ever planning on growing up. Shaking his head, he walked into the hallway and listened as Mary read Ellie a story in her room.
"Hey you two, still searching for Prince Charming?" he asked, amused by the surprised look on Mary's face as she looked up from playing dress up with Ellie.
Smiling, Mary nodded, "Since I already found mine, I thought I'd help her with her search. A little princess can't be too careful now days, you know."
John laughed a moment before another thought spiked his brain, 'What if something happens to Ellie? What if she never gets better? What if there is no happy ending for her?'
Mary watched as a myriad of emotions played across her husband's face, but then noticed that something had changed. "John, are you alright?" she asked, hoping that she was just imagining things.
Looking at Mary, John knew that he was scaring her, but then again he had just scared himself. It wasn't a pleasant thought for him to contemplate that little sweet Ellie would stay the way she was forever. He had always pictured her becoming an outgoing little girl with tons of friends and a whole group of admirers that he and her daddy's would have to chase off with shotguns. Now though, he had to face some very hard facts, Ellie might improve a little bit from where she was right now, but she might not either. Finally, he nodded and smiled weakly at her before turning his attention to his little sweetheart.
"Hey Ellie, how about you and grandpa go get some ice cream? We can stop by that park with the ducks and I'll even let you feed them, what do you say?"
They waited a moment while Ellie finished putting on a plastic bangle bracelet before she shocked both of them when she walked over and held up her arms.
Smiling, John knew that he had made some major progress and wouldn't begrudge her a lift. "Sure thing Your Highness, your carriage awaits."
Mary laughed as she watched the two of them head towards the door. She had a feeling she knew what was on John's mind, but also knew that there was no way he'd ever feel different about Ellie, even if she didn't get better; they all loved her way too much for that.
Picking up the items on the floor, she smiled at the thought of her family and knew there was no way in Hell she'd allow some two bit hustler take their girl from them. With that thought in mind, she walked into the hallway and called Craig. After discussing the possibility of turning the tables on Brittany, she felt better and went downstairs to try and salvage the rest of the day. Suddenly, things didn't seem so bleak.
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Slapping his hand on the counter, Dean knew that he needed to get his brother out of the house for a little while whether the kid liked it or not; besides, they had something else to talk about far away from listening ears.
"Ok Sammy, I know you don't want to, but you and I are going out. As in, right now, so grab your wallet and I'll let Mom and Dad know they need to watch Ellie for a few hours."
Sam looked at his brother in shock, he had no idea what to do with what he was seeing. It was almost as if nothing he had said mattered and Dean was more than willing to shove everything off to the side to party like they used to.
"No Dean, I need to…"
"You need to relax. You've been wound so tight lately I'm surprised you haven't broke yet. Now go get your wallet, and I'll meet you by my car in a minute… unless you want to explain to our parents why you dropped out?" Dean asked, knowing that that was one subject Sammy didn't want to have. "Good, go on and I'll meet up with you."
It took less than five minutes for everyone to get filled in and in their respective places, leaving Dean feeling as if he had just accomplished some major feat. Sighing as he sped down the road, he glanced at Sammy and noticed the distance look on his brother's face. More determined than ever, he vowed to get to the bottom of what was going on and headed straight towards a place that they had frequented after Sammy's return. The place was a little hole in the wall with pool tables, poker games, and the most important… a bartender who didn't seem to be able to read a license properly.
Sam looked around and the feeling of dread that had been lying still in his stomach suddenly lurched forward making his presence known if a very obnoxious manner.
"Dean, no! If we get caught…"
Dean looked at Sammy and really wondered who this guy was and when his real little brother was coming back. Shaking his head, he reached over and opened the passenger door.
"Sammy, we're not going to get caught. This used to be our regular hangout, and we need a place to relax and talk. Now get out of the damn car!"
Grudgingly Sam got out before he stood staring at the building in front of them. Sighing, he nodded and followed Dean inside not noticing the person watching closely.