Chapter 10

The next few weeks passed without anything suspicious or unusual happening. Dean had headed out on Monday as he planned to check out several strange deaths a couple states south. He had contacted their father and John was going to meet him there to help work the case. Sam was enjoying his SUV and had rearranged his work schedule so he could take and pickup Deanna from school. He joined the PTA and volunteered to help out in her class one hour a week. Sam wanted to be involved in the school and help where he could, plus it would let him keep an eye on things around the school.

Deanna still liked school except for the other female classmate who was still bullying her. The girl made sure no one saw her doing it and seemed pleased she could get away with it. Deanna was not the only one she tormented, but she seemed to single her out whenever possible.

"Daddy have you heard from Uncle Dee and Grandpa?" Deanna asked as Sam drove her to school.

"Yeah they called yesterday and should be on their way back. Dean may even get here in time to pick you up."

"I'm glad. They didn't get hurt did they?" she asked far more serious than a five year old should be.

"Nothing major, just some bruises and scraps. Nothing for you to worry about." Sam said knowing Deana worried about them when they were on a hunt. Even at her age, she knew what it meant to hunt and that injuries were possible. Sam had been honest with her when she questioned the dangers of hunting because she was like Dean, both could see right through his lies.

"Can we go out to dinner tonight to celebrate them coming home? It's Friday so no school tomorrow. Plea-se-se-se Daddy." she begged batting her eye lashes and looking as adorable as possible.

"I think we can do that." Sam chuckled shaking his head at his daughter. Now he knew how Dean felt growing up when he would do the same thing. "You can pick the restaurant."

"I'll think about it today."

"You have a good day in school ok?" he said pulling to a stop in the circle so she could get out. "You want me to walk you inside?"

"No Daddy, I know where it is." Deanna said unfastening her straps and slipping out of the booster seat.

Sam sat there and watched her walk to the front entrance of the school and go inside. He sat there for another few seconds wondering how he was going survive another ten years of this, letting her go out in the world when he knew what was out there. Dean made sure she had a small packet of salt in her backpack and John had Bobby help him with an amulet she wore all the time for protection. They had put a spell on it that prevented anyone from removing it from her around her neck. There wasn't much more he could do since he couldn't ward the entire school without someone noticing. He pulled away from the school and headed to the office wanting to finish up the project he was working on and get his paycheck.

spn

It was afternoon and Deanna's class was outside for recess. She was playing on the slide with another girl whom she liked and they were becoming friends. Deanna had just come down the slide when she saw a couple of kids standing to the side near some shrubs and then she heard a small cry. Not hesitating, Deanna ran over to see what was going on and saw her tormentor, Kallie, standing over another kid in their class.

"Stop it." Deanna said stepping beside the girl on the ground and helping her up. "Leave her alone."

"Get out of here hick." Kallie sneered at Deanna, her face contorted in hatred.

"No, you need to stop bullying other kids." Deanna stated standing tall and staring her down.

"Oh? And who's gonna make me? A shrimp like you?" she laughed in Deanna's face.

"If I have to yes. Enough is enough. Go get Ms. Bishop." Deanna said never taking her eyes off Kallie. One of the kids ran to find the teacher.

Kallie grinned an evil smile as she shot her hands out to push Deanna down, but was pushing at thin air as Deanna easily side stepped her letting her lose her balance and stumble forward. She turned to face her again and saw Kallie was really mad now as her face reddened and she lurched at her again. Deanna twisted and twirled out of her way, not even touching her and with nothing to stop her; Kallie's momentum carried her forward to smash her face into a metal trash can.

"What's going on here?" Ms. Bishop asked seeing the kids standing there and Kallie on the ground with blood pouring through her fingers on her face.

"She tripped me!" Kallie cried out pointing to Deanna and sobbing out loudly. "She did this!"

"I didn't Ms. Bishop, I swear." Deanna said in disbelief.

"It's true Ms. Bishop, Deanna didn't trip her." one of the other students said.

"Come on Deanna, Kallie let's get you to the nurse and then we're going to the principal's office. Everyone Ms. Conner is taking over while I'm gone. Now go on and join the others; it's almost time to go inside." Ms. Bishop told the students milling around. She helped Kallie to her feet and put a hand on Deanna's shoulder to lead her with them.

spn

Sam was typing on his laptop in his office when his cell started ringing. He fished it out of his jacket pocket to answer it.

"Hello."

"Mr. Winchester?" a female voice asked.

"Yes, this Sam Winchester."

"This is Sioux Falls Elementary School calling, there's been an incident with your daughter..."

"Deanna? Is she ok?" he asked already shutting off his laptop and reaching for his jacket.

"She's fine; we need you to come to the school to the front office please."

"I'm on my way." Sam answered heading out of his office at a run. He ran across the parking lot toward his SUV and fumbled with the keys to unlock the door. As he got the door open and jumped inside his cell rang again. Sam saw it was Dean and answered it as he cranked the car. "Dean! I'm on my way to the school, something's happened to Deanna." he blurted out.

"I'm twenty minutes out, I'll meet you there." Dean replied hanging up and stepping on the gas.

Sam pulled out of the parking lot and sped toward the school that was across town. He took side streets to miss the traffic on the main roads. Every possible scenario raced through his mind wondering what could of happened to his daughter. His fingers tightened on the wheel as his heart raced out of control and fear gripped his very soul. The only thing he was sure of was she wasn't hurt or in pain, that he would of felt. He screeched around the corner, turning onto the road the school was on and gunned it toward the school. Sam didn't bother with parking, he steered the SUV to the front of the school, shut the engine off and raced for the front doors as fast as his long legs would carry him. Sam skidded to a stop and looked up and down the halls before heading for the main office. He rushed to the desk and started to ask about Deanna, but saw her sitting by herself down a small hallway on the right and headed that way.

"Sir! Sir!" the front office staff called to him, but he didn't respond.

"Deanna." Sam called to her as he drew closer.

"Daddy!" she cried out running into his open arms and letting them wrap around her.

"Sh-sh-sh, its ok Baby Girl." he whispered to her as he sighed with relief that she seemed to be ok. He brushed her hair from her face and looked her over. "Are you ok?"

"Ye-es, but Daddy I didn't push her." she sniffed looking into his eyes in fright.

"Mr. Winchester?" a female voice said behind him.

Sam turned to see the principal standing at her opened door. He started to answer when a woman stormed toward them screaming.

"Where's my daughter?!" she yelled looking around and zeroing in on Deanna.

"Is that the bitch that hit her?" she growled at Deanna.

Sam stiffened and stood tall as he took in the woman before him and then spoke.

"I would reframe from calling my daughter any other names and she says she didn't do anything to your daughter." Sam spoke in a tone so still and deadly that the woman stepped back from him.

"Mrs. Holden, please. Now if both of you would step inside my office we can straighten this out." the principal said holding her door open.

Mrs. Holden snubbed her nose at Sam and Deanna before walking into the office. Sam sat Deanna back down and told her to stay there; he'd just be inside talking to the principal. Deanna nodded she understood and made herself as small as she could in the chair to wait for her Daddy to come back. Sam stepped into the office and closed the door behind him. Deanna could hear mumbling and raised voices on the other side of the door as she tried to stop her tears.

spn

Dean parked behind Sam's SUV and headed into the school. He stopped in the entrance and read the signs directing him to the office and headed that way taking long strides. There was no stopping at the desk when he saw his niece down the hall. The staff didn't even bother to try and stop Dean as he made a bee line for Deanna.

"Uncle Dee." Deanna whispered when she looked up and saw him walking toward her. She jumped up and ran to him, letting him pick her up and hug her tightly.

"Ladybug you ok?" he asked her holding her tightly to his chest, relieved that she didn't seem hurt. He could feel her trembling in his arms and sat down putting her in his lap. "Your Dad here?"

"Yes, he's in the principal's office." she pointed as loud voices could be heard from the other side of the door.

The school nurse walked down the hall with Kallie in tow and had her sit across from Dean and Deanna. She had the starts of a black eye and was holding a cloth to her nose that was still trickling a little blood.

Dean stared hard at the girl and asked Deanna, "She the one?"

"Yes, but I didn't do that Uncle Dee, she lost her balance and fell." Deanna said looking over at a pouting Kallie.

"You're lying you country hick." Kallie spat at her but shrank back when Dean leaned forward toward her.

"I'd watch your mouth and who you call names." he spoke slowly and with a hint of anger.

Before he could say anything else, the door to the office was jerked open and a woman stormed out, looked at him and grabbed Kallie's arm before speaking.

"You're a little witch, you know that?" the woman hissed at Deanna. "I should press assault charges."

"I don't condone hitting women, but you say one more word and you'll be picking yourself up off the floor." Dean threatened her as he got up slipping Deanna from his lap to tower over her with fire in his eyes. His hands were already balling into fists and it took every bit of strength he had to not deck her.

"Dean!" Sam cautioned from the doorway when he saw the body language of his brother. The last thing he needed was for this mother to press assault charges against his brother because he knew Dean was a man of his word and would follow through.

The woman glared at Dean before stalking away, dragging her daughter behind her as she headed from the school. Sam stepped out of the principal's office and watched the angry woman storm off. Dean picked Deanna back up and whispered in her ear how proud he was of her that she had handled herself like a warrior. She gave him a small smile but didn't say anything.

"Thank you for coming in Mr. Winchester, I'm sorry this happened. Why don't you take Deanna on home, it's almost time to dismiss anyway." the principal said to Sam as he stepped from her office.

"Thank you Ms. Horn." Sam said shaking her hand. "Good thing it's Friday, she'll have the weekend to settle down. It depends on how she is on Monday whether I bring her back."

"I understand, good day."

"C'mon Dean, let's go home." Sam told his brother as he took Deanna from him to carry. She snuggled her head into his neck and fisted his shirt in her small hands. Ms. Bishop was waiting at the front office and handed Dean Deanna's backpack and a soft 'I'm sorry.' He walked on out to the SUV and put Deanna in the back in her booster seat.

"I'll follow you home. Dad had to make a stop at Preacher Jim's but should be here by dark." Dean told him as he walked past the SUV.

"Alright bro." Sam said getting into the SUV and cranking it while Dean went to the Impala and did the same. He pulled away from the school with Dean following close behind him. Sam couldn't believe kids were already that cruel at such a young age. It was middle school for him, especially being the new kid. He wasn't sure what he was going to do now. At least there were witnesses who all told the same story of how Kallie was bullying another girl and Deanna stepped in to stop it. They praised her bravery to stand up for another smaller kid. All told how she never touched Kallie only dodged her attempts at hurting Deanna and fell into the trashcan on her own because she was off balance. He looked in the rear view mirror at Deanna who was slumped in her seat staring down at her shoes. He could see the sadness on her face and his heart broke. She was too kind hearted for her own good. He never wanted to see that look on her face again, but knew he wasn't going to be able to protect her from life. Sam knew he couldn't lock her in her bedroom until she was grown, no matter how much he wanted to. With a soft sigh, Sam tried to think of something to do this weekend to cheer her up and take her mind off what had happened.

A/N: Thank you for all who are reading my story. Reviews are appreciated. NC