A/N: Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and I hope you are enjoying it. As always your thoughts are welcome so please leave a review. NC

Chapter 11

It was dark when John made it home and headed inside. He was surprised that Deanna hadn't met him at the door to greet him and looked around for her. He strolled into the kitchen to find his sons sitting at the table drinking a beer with concerned looks on their faces.

"What's happened?" John asked staring from one to the other. "Where's my granddaughter?"

"She's upstairs resting." Sam spoke first.

"Again, what the hell happened?" John said irritation in his voice.

"Another student at school tried to attack her after she stepped in to stop her from bullying someone."

"They what?" he asked in disbelief.

"Some little bitch has been bullying her at school and she's not the only one." Dean butted in. "She told me about it and I tried to help."

"Did she take her down?"

"No, from the other kid's statements that saw what happened, Deanna didn't lay a hand on her, but she didn't let the other girl hit her either. Seems the girl tripped over he own feet and smashed her face into a trashcan, got a black eye and bloody nose."

"And Deanna didn't touch her?"

"Nope, I taught her well." Dean surmised, smirking to himself.

"The other student tried to lie about what happened and said Deanna hit her, but other kids came forward and told how she bullied them too. The principal suspended her for two weeks until it can be taken to the school board whether to allow her back into class."

"After seeing her mother, I see where she gets it from too. Didn't care she was a woman, I nearly belted her myself."

"You're not the only one." Sam added.

"I'm gonna check on her." John said looking toward the stairs before heading for them. He wanted to see for himself that she was ok. His anger flared that something like this could happen to her, but he hid it as he stepped into her bedroom. Deanna was lying on her side facing the wall and mumbling something to an empty chair. "Hey sweetheart." he said softly, sitting down on the side of the bed.

"Grandpa." Deanna whispered rolling over and into his arms letting him wrap her in a bear hug. She snuggled deep into his arms and felt the warmth of love and safety in them.

"Are you ok Little One?"

"Yes, I'm just upset she would lie about what really happened. I would never have hit her, Uncle Dee taught me to be better than that and I'm sorry she got hurt."

"I believe you sweetheart. I do, you could never hurt anyone on purpose." he said smoothing down her hair and kissing the top of her head. "What that girl was doing was wrong and you did good protecting those who couldn't protect themselves. You're definitely a Winchester."

"I know Grandpa and I'm proud of it." she said giving him a loving smile as she looked up into his face.

"I love so much Little One."

"I love you too Grandpa." Deanna mumbled into his chest. "Will you lay with me for a while?"

"Of course little one." he said stretching out on the bed, being sure his boots were dangling off the edge. He let her curl up on his broad chest and pulled a blanket over her body to keep her warm. John could feel the soft, warm breath of his granddaughter on his neck as her body settled and stilled. He hummed softly to her as he rubbed her back. He thought back of the few times he had done this to both his boys when they were smaller than Deanna and still felt the guilt inside of him for all the time he missed with them. This small child had opened his heart back up and gave him a second chance not only with her but with his boys too.

spn

"You think she'll be ok to go back?" Dean asked his brother who was worrying over a cup of coffee that he had hardly touched as he stared absently into space. Sam didn't answer him as he automatically brought the cup to his lips but didn't drink. "Sammy? Bro you with me?" Dean asked again snapping his fingers in Sam's face.

"So'ry what?" Sam asked blinking fast and trying to focus on Dean.

Before Dean could answer their father walked back into the kitchen and over to the coffee pot for a cup of coffee. He joined his sons at the table and took a seat.

"She ok?" Sam asked letting his gaze fall on his father.

"She's napping." he sighed before sipping his coffee. "She seems to be taking everything in stride."

"You sending her back?"

"We'll see, I'm gonna stay with her tomorrow and decide when Monday gets here." Sam answered taking a sip of his coffee and spitting it back out into the cup when he realized how cold it was.

"And you talk about my manners." Dean scoffed trying to lighten the mood and make his brother smile.

"Screw you." Sam grunted getting up to toss the cold coffee in the sink.

"Bitch."

"Jerk."

"Boys." John cautioned them as he hid a smile behind his cup when he saw the caring look that passed between the brothers. Their bond amazed him at times after all they had been through for it to still be so strong.

spn

Dean stopped in the doorway of Deanna's bedroom and looked in. Sam was in bed with Deanna and was curled protectively around her small body. Both were sleeping and Dean stepped in to toss a blanket over his brother and turned on the nightlight. Sam had gotten Deanna up for dinner, but she didn't eat much. After a bath, he read her a story and stayed with her until she fell asleep, but he also went to sleep too. Dean turned to leave and stopped when he caught a shimmer out of the corner of his eye and looked harder at the chair sitting by Deanna's bed. There wasn't anything there that he could see and frowned before heading on out to his bedroom. He made a mental note to check the warding in her room tomorrow to be sure they were still in place. He had the oddest feeling, but couldn't put a finger on it. Dean stopped by the bathroom and did his usual routine before heading into the bedroom to change and go to bed. He planned on doing the supply run and errands so Sam could have the day with Deanna.

spn

The room was light when Sam started waking up, but stilled when a small body grunted beside him and wiggled deeper into the covers. He got his eyes open enough to see he was in Deanna's bedroom and her bed. He eased out of the bed so he wouldn't wake her and slipped from the room heading downstairs to a quiet house. He looked around as he headed for the kitchen not finding anyone else. Sam found a note on the table from Dean that he had gone into town to do the errands and make a supply run. He looked at the clock and was surprised to see it was nearly 10 am. He guessed the stress and worry from yesterday had drained both of them making them sleep in. He poured a cup of coffee and popped it in the microwave to heat it up before doctoring it. Sam saw no reason to wake Deanna feeling the sleep would do her good. He dropped a bagel into the toaster and looked to see if they had any cream spread or jam in the fridge. He wondered where Bobby and his Dad were as he waited for the bagel to pop up. He quickly dropped the hot bread onto a plate and spread strawberry cream cheese on it before going to the table to eat. He had almost eaten the second half when Deanna made her way downstairs dragging her blanket along behind her. Sam knew she only did this when she was stressed. He could see the sleep still in her eyes and on her face as she crawled into a seat beside him.

"Hey Baby Girl, want something to eat?" Sam asked hugging her and kissing the top of her head.

"Not really." she said laying her head on the table.

"You need to eat something, you'd probably feel better." Sam encouraged. "How 'bout some fruit at least or a yogurt?"

"Alright." she yawned finding it hard to wake up. "Where's Uncle Dee?"

"In town shopping."

"Oh ok." she mumbled looking at the opened yogurt her father sat in front of her along with a spoon.

"C'mon now you gotta eat." Sam insisted, brushing her hair out of her face.

"Yes Daddy." she answered picking up the spoon and taking a small mound out to transfer to her mouth.

"You know today we're gonna do nothing. You don't even have to put on clothes. We'll crash on the couch and watch the tube and eat popcorn or play some video games or watch funny postings on Youtube."

Deanna didn't answer him as she continued to eat the yogurt until it was gone. She sipped on the chocolate milk without really thinking about it before turning to her father to talk.

"Daddy, I want to put clothes on is that ok?"

"Of course sweetheart, whatever you want to do." Sam told her. He watched her push away from the table and head back toward the stairs with a concerned look on his face. He pulled his cell out and sent a text to Dean to pick up something special for Deanna hoping to lift her spirits. Sometimes he felt she was too tender hearted for her own good. That didn't mean she couldn't be hardnosed and tough too. He had seen her temper flare on several occasions, but she could never stay mad for long.

spn

Deanna stepped into her bedroom and closed the door so she could change clothes. Once she changed and made her bed, Deanna sat on the edge of her bed and looked to the chair beside it.

"Cas are you there? It's me Deanna." she whispered waiting to see if he would come. Sometimes he did and sometimes he didn't, but he always said if she were in danger he would be there.

"Hello child." he said in his deep gravely voice. "You seem sad, is it because of yesterday?"

"You saw?" she asked.

"Yes."

"And you didn't help me?"

"You were not in grave danger child; I knew you could handle yourself in the situation. But you shouldn't be sad; you were not hurt were you?"

"No, but Kallie got a bloody nose and black eye. I didn't mean for her to get hurt." she said as tears formed in her eyes.

"I know that child and because you feel this way shows the type of person you are and will become. Your father should be proud of you."

"He's worried; I can see it in his eyes. It makes me sad when he's like that."

"You are wise beyond your years. It is in the past now, no one received any major injury, you can let it go child." Cas said looking toward the door. "You should go; your father is waiting on you."

"Alright, thanks for talking to me, it helped."

"Anytime child, I will always be nearby if you should need me."

Deanna gave him a wave and slipped from the bed to head back downstairs to find her father. He was pulling a bowl from the microwave and sprinkled cut up fruit over the top.

"Hey, I thought you might like your favorite, oatmeal with fresh fruit." he said sitting the bowl at her place at the table.

"Thanks Daddy." she said awarding him with a small smile. She began to eat the oatmeal knowing it would make him happy. "Daddy, could we do something?"

"Sure anything sweetheart."

"Could we go for a walk in the woods? I like nature."

"Sure we can. I think it'll be good to get outside. I'll pack us some drinks and snacks while you finish up." Sam said busying himself getting the pack ready. He felt some of the weight of worry lift off him, sensing that Deanna was maybe feeling better now.

spn

Sam opened the back gate of the salvage yard to exit into an open field. Bobby had had it plowed and sewed in rye and wheat. When the hay was ready to cut, he allowed an animal rescue group to harvest it to feed rescued horses, donkeys, goats and as bedding if needed. Bobby was one to give back where he could and help those in need. They headed across the field toward the tree line and stepped into the coolness of the forest following a small trail that wove through it. Deanna moved ahead of him taking her time as she would pause to examine a flower or bush or insect that caught her eye. Sam strolled along behind her, smiling as he watched his daughter absorbed in the forest. He scanned the area around them for any threats as they walked deeper among the trees. He looked ahead of him to see Deanna had vanished in the few seconds his eyes were off her. Sam moved quickly to where he'd last saw her and looked around finally catching a glimpse of blue through some bushes and moved that way. What he saw surprised him. Deanna was kneeling down in front of a young fawn that was nuzzling her hand as she stroked his neck. The fawn didn't seem frightened of her as he allowed her to talk softly for a few minutes before catching sight of Sam and moving back, deeper into the trees.

"Wasn't he beautiful?" she asked sensing Sam behind her.

"Yes, he was." Sam said stepping closer to her. "Honey might be better if you don't wander off ok?"

"Alright Daddy." she replied taking his hand to head back to the trail. She could feel some of the tension and stress already leaving his body and was glad her idea worked. She was never really told what happened all those years ago when she was a baby, but she knew it had taken a toil on her Dad. Deanna did her best to make him feel happy and relaxed whenever she could, knowing her Mom would want her to take care of him.