Ch. 11 The World's Best Kept Secret

A/N: mentions of 'Abandon All Hope', 'Swap Meat', 'My Bloody Valentine'.

Disclaimer: Song lyrics belong to Guns N Roses


A few weeks later:

Buffy paced apprehensively in the living room as her eyes pulled to a national news report. She read the captions scrolling across a montage of flash floods, thunderstorms and cars floating in muddy rivers.

"...the Governor called a press conference early this morning, officially declaring the county of Paulding as a state of emergency..."

"Buffy? I'm very sorry I haven't called you back until now."

Buffy heaved a breath as she folded onto the couch, lowering the volume of the news report.

"It's okay Giles, I know you're busy."

"I'm always happy to speak with you," Giles said. "Are you alright? Is Allie okay?"

"...the towns of Fetterville, Marion and Carthage are also included...weather analysts have reported the current storm system has set off a series of tornadoes along the border towns..."

Buffy glanced at another montage of property damage and muddy rivers as her instinct vibrated in her gut.

"Buffy?"

Buffy let out an apprehensive breath before coming back on line.

"Sorry, yeah, I'm fine, Allie's good. I was calling to see if...anything new is going on."

There was a long pause on the other line as Buffy felt her eyes shifting to the television again.

"...state officials have not yet announced the current death toll but sources indicate the figure to be staggering as the thunderstorm continues through the weekend..."

"Buffy, whatever you might have seen or heard, you do not need to be concerned anymore," Giles stated gently. "You have a new responsibility which takes priority. Please tell me you have not been looking into things."

"I haven't been sniffing around Giles," Buffy replied. "I've just been a little antsy lately with this...bad feeling. Have you been really busy?"

"Yes, but I can assure you we are all working very diligently in keeping the world safe," Giles said.

"I know, I'm just wondering if you're aware of something big...you know back in my day kind of big."

Buffy heard Giles sigh deeply on the other line.

"Buffy, while we do miss you immensely, your job is to take care of Allie now. I have everyone on assignment as we speak."

"But you'll let me know if something big is happening?"

After another long pause, Giles sighed.

"If something big happens, I do not want you to worry," he stressed.

"I HAVE to worry," Buffy moaned. "It's my job as a mom to worry about Allie's safety. Have you by chance heard from De..."

Buffy widened her eyes when she heard a loud ruckus on the other line and then chaotic chatter.

"Oh dear," Giles lamented. "Buffy, I'm very sorry but I have to call you back, we have a situation here that I must tend to."

"What happened?"

"Some of the girls have been hurt," Giles stated hurriedly. "I must go. Give Allie my love. Goodbye Buffy."

Buffy sucked in a deep breath as Giles hung up. As apprehension pealed through her body, she turned to her eyes when Allie trotted down the stairs, letting out a yawn.

"Hi mommy!" Allie roared as she ran into Buffy's arms.

Buffy curled her arms around Allie and hugged her tightly.

"Hi sweetie."

Allie wiggled out of Buffy's hold and looked up at her with wide intensely curious eyes. She drew her little hand to Buffy's cheek and cupped it.

"It's okay mommy, I love you," Allie cooed.

Allie pursued her lips together and kissed Buffy on the cheek. Buffy burst with tears of joy, pulling Allie back in her arms.

"Oh Allie, I love you too. You are the sweetest little girl in the whole world."

Allie giggled as Buffy eyed the news report. Buffy picked Allie up in her arms and snapped the television off

"Let's eat some breakfast, okay?"


Later that evening:

Sam and Dean raised their beer glasses in a toast, exchanging mournful looks.

"To Ellen and Jo," Dean said softly.

Sam nodded and took a small sip while Dean guzzled his until the glass was almost empty.

Sam cocked an eyebrow in concern after Dean polished off his beer and quickly flagged the waitress over.

"You want another?"

Sam glanced at his barely touched beer and shook his head.

"No, I'm good. You okay?"

When the waitress wandered away, Dean stared off blankly, drumming his fingers on the table.

"This whole thing...just blows, you know?"

"Yeah," Sam acknowledged softly.

Sam furrowed his brows as Dean picked up his fresh beer and guzzled it down like a thirsty man in a desert. Dean set down his empty glass and moped.

"I need something stronger, you?"

Sam caught his brother eyeing his full beer glass.

"No Dean, I'm still good."

A few minutes later, Sam glanced at the four empty shot glasses in front of Dean.

"You want to talk about this?" Sam asked.

Dean set down his fifth and shook his head.

"No, not really."

Sam heaved a sigh as he clapped his dad's journal shut.

"Okay well...I'm gonna head back to the motel then."

"Okay, see ya."

Sam watched his brother making quick work of his sixth shot before drawing another sigh.

"See ya," Sam said as he pushed his chair from the table.

Sam collected his jacket and ambled out of the bar.

After a few more drinks, Dean flagged the waitress down, barely noticing the shift change when a different woman tended to him. She was on the early side of forty with dark chestnut hair. Dean passed her a glance, his eyes falling over her trim figure. Her name tag said Claire and her smoky gray eyes sparked with friendliness as she ripped off the tab and set it down in front of him.

"Thanks Claire."

"No problem sugar."

Dean knocked back the few but potent drops of liquor in his glass before digging out his wallet and picking out some bills. Claire strolled back over and glanced at the money he had left.

"You need change?"

"Nope," Dean confirmed with a smile. "Have a good night."

"Thanks. You too."

As he pushed his chair from the table, he blinked in surprise when Claire bent down in front of him. He cocked his head as his eyes admired her taut bottom in a snug pair of jeans.

"You dropped this hon," she said as she straightened and turned toward him.

When his mind lingered over her ass a little longer, he had to shake the image away as she stared at him expectantly.

"Oh how precious. She's adorable – your daughter."

Dean blinked rapidly as Claire clutched a small worn photo in her hand, grinning at him. After he broke from his daze, he took the photo back from Claire.

"Oh yeah, but she's not mine," he sighed.

Dean hastily stuffed the picture in one of his pockets as Claire eyed him curiously.

"Well, she's still adorable."

Claire ambled away as Dean let out a heavy sigh. When he stepped outside the bar, he fished out the photo in his pocket, taking a long glance at it. He brushed a thumb over Allie's picture as painful memories of Ellen and Jo's deaths flickered through his mind.

Dean steadied himself as a flurry of all the people he had lost in his life assailed his mind. He sucked in a long, deep breath as his veins flushed with ice. After a minute, he pivoted toward the parking lot, tucking the picture of Allie in his wallet.


"No, I want that!" Allie shrieked.

Allie clutched a small baby doll and ran away as Buffy reached for it.

"Sweetie, you have a ton of baby dolls, you don't even play with this one anymore."

"But it's mine!"

Buffy heaved a sigh as she knelt down to be eye level with Allie. Allie protectively hugged the baby doll and pouted.

"I know it's yours, but with the holidays coming up, I thought I'd give these boxes to the less fortunate, to kids who don't have any toys."

Allie stared up at Buffy with wide, sad eyes.

"Why they not have any toys mommy?"

"Well sweetie, there are some kids that just don't have very much, maybe one toy if that and many don't even have enough food to eat or a warm bed to sleep in."

Allie scowled, her eyebrows furrowing in dismay.

"That's not right," Allie cried, shaking her head.

"No, it's not," Buffy replied.

Allie looked at the box of old toys and put the baby doll back inside.

"Okay, I want to put that in there," she said.

Allie grinned up at Buffy.

"I'll get more!"

Buffy smiled as Allie sifted through more of her toys. Janie came down stairs with a box in her arms, setting it on the floor beside the couch. Buffy plucked out a light pink onesie and smiled nostalgically.

"Oh god, I can't believe Allie was this small," she cried.

Janie giggled as Buffy sorted through all the onesies in the box, holding a few up to admire.

"She's grown up so fast," Buffy moaned. "It feels like yesterday I was holding in my arms and trying to guess what she wanted when she cried."

Buffy and Janie sputtered with laughs as they watched Allie pulling toys out of a plastic bin.

"She's a sweet, amazing little girl Buffy, you should feel proud."

"I am, I really am."

Buffy gazed at Allie before folding a few onesies. Janie fished up a pile and began helping to fold.

"Are you sure you want to give these all away?"

"Yeah, Allie can't wear them anymore and they just take up space in my closet, I thought I'd give them to people who can use them."

"It's very nice of you, but...don't you think you might want to keep these in case, you know, you want to have another one?"

Buffy paused in her folding and took in Janie's wide grin.

"Uh, I'm kind of lacking a big element to make that happen," she said. "Besides, I didn't exactly plan to have Allie but I don't regret it. I just prefer to go the more traditional route if I have the miraculous circumstance of having a lasting relationship with a decent guy."

Janie chuckled as Buffy dropped a neatly folded onesie into a separate stack.

"Do you?" Buffy asked, cocking an eyebrow. "You always talk about how you've sworn off of men."

Janie shrugged as she added to the folded stack.

"If the right one comes along and manages to convince me that all men are not selfish J-E-R-Ks, who knows? I mean, Carly's been bugging me a lot lately about having a little sister."

"Oh, that's got to be a fun conversation," Buffy snorted with a smile.

"Yeah, let's not even go there, I've had enough guilt over dodging questions about where her daddy is."

Buffy gulped as she glanced at Allie as her little feet dangled outside another large toy bin.

"Uh yeah, I'm not loving that conversation either," she groaned softly. "Or the guilt."

Allie darted over with a puzzle box, handing it to Buffy.

"Mommy, I want to give that to the little kids," she said.

"Aw baby, that is so sweet of you. Will you put it in that box over there?"

"Uh huh."

Allie ran over to the box and put her toy inside. Buffy sniffled as tears of joy sprung in her eyes.

"I'm all grown up mommy!"

Buffy moped as Allie ran back to her play area and began brushing the hair on a Barbie doll. Buffy picked up a onesie with a large pink heart on it and then glanced at Allie. She sniffled softly, her eyes thickening with more tears as her mouth formed a heavy mope.

"Oh Buffy, are you okay?"

"Can I keep her until she's fifty?"

Janie chuckled as she drew a supportive arm around Buffy.

"I wish," Janie replied.

Allie danced around the living room, perching in front of Buffy.

"Mommy, I love you!"

Buffy threw her arms around Allie, squeezing her tightly.

"Oh Allie, I love you too," she cried. "You don't want to go to college and leave mommy, do you?"

Allie crinkled her nose in wonder, shaking her head.

"Good," Buffy said. "It's settled then, you stay here with mommy forever, okay?"

"Okay," Allie cooed.

Janie giggled at Buffy's immense grin of satisfaction as Allie skipped back to her play area. She picked up her fluffy kitten and ran over to Janie, grinning wide.

"This is my kitty cat," Allie said.

"Oh, it's adorable Allie," Janie replied.

"And YOU are MY precious Allie Cat," Buffy said, kissing Allie's cheeks.

"Allie Cat, that's so cute," Janie said. "I don't think I've heard you call her that before."

"Oh, yeah, I usually don't, it's kind of a special nickname her uncle Dean gave her when she was born, and how she got her name actually."

"I'm Allie Cat!" Allie roared.

Allie waggled her hips and pursed her lips together.

"Meow! Meow! I'm Allie cat!"

Buffy giggled as Allie settled back into her play station, clutching her kitten under her arm.

"You know, I met Dean the last time he stopped in," Janie said with a smile. "He's very...friendly."

Buffy glanced at Janie in surprise before shading with a rueful expression.

"Oh, um, should I apologize?' she asked. "You know he um, he tends to open his mouth and say things without thinking."

Janie giggled and shook her head. "Yeah, I noticed."

Buffy winced with remorse.

"Oh, oh god Janie, I'm sorry if he offended you, he did that to me the first time we met. It's kind of a bad habit of his. You know some guys just see a pretty girl and they go on this auto pilot, spilling cheesy pick up lines left and right."

"It's okay, I didn't mind it because honestly girl, you really underplayed him in the looks department."

"I did?"

"Yeah, in fact, I don't believe you even mentioned where he scaled."

"Um, I think I mentioned he was - charming."

"Yeah he was."

As Janie chuckled, Buffy stared at her in wonder.

"Oh um, so you um, you thought he was...handsome?"

Janie crooked an eyebrow. "Hello, any woman who has EYES would think he's handsome! And even if you didn't, you'd pick up the scent of all that gorgeousness wrapped in a fine package and a 'come hither' curl in his smile. I mean, didn't you?"

"I was pretty pregnant at the time he hit on me, so I'd say no."

Janie shot Buffy a dubious look.

"Oh come on, even before he opened his mouth and said something stupid?"

"Mmm, see, there wasn't a time when he didn't," Buffy said with a silly smile. "He opened up with a line while I was...digging in the fridge. Anyway, I hope he didn't come on too strong."

Janie waved a hand in dismiss and shook her head.

"Nah, it was kind of nice actually. It's been a long time since I got the double eye rake," she said with a grin.

Buffy widened her eyes and chuckled.

"I so pictured his face when you said that," she snorted. "He doesn't really do subtle, does he?"

Buffy chuckled again as she pushed another folded stack aside.

"Well, if I had met him before I had Carly I would have gotten in a lot of trouble with a guy like that. You are one lucky woman."

Buffy gulped when Janie mocked a jealous look and lightly nudged her in the arm.

"Uh what do you mean by that?"

"Steven mentioned that you two were...canoodling."

"What? Canoo...no, no...that was um...that whole thing was...a ploy to get Steve off my back."

"Really? Oh."

Buffy nodded as she frowned with annoyance.

"Yeah, I told you how he can't take a hint?"

"Yeah but I thought he dropped the whole thing awhile ago."

"Not really, I can't believe you two actually have the same DNA," Buffy bemoaned.

"Well, he's a second cousin from the side of the family I rarely see," Janie said. "Anyway, so you and Dean aren't dating then?"

"No, he was just helping me with the ploy...were you...were you interested in um..."

"No worries hon, he's all yours," Janie said. "You can put the claws away."

Janie chortled as Buffy flooded with color.

"No, no, I didn't mean you couldn't...you...if you wanted to...it's just that he's..."

Growing flustered, Buffy fanned her colored cheeks.

"It's not a bad thing to like someone Buffy," Janie replied. "From what you've told me, it sounds like you two have a good relationship and Allie adores him right?"

"Yeah, she really does and he's good with her, like surprisingly good," Buffy exalted. "Usually Allie is very understanding when her aunts and uncles have to go home after a brief visit but with Dean, she gets really sad and panicky at the thought of him leaving..."

"Aw, but that's sweet that she's got that kind of bond with him."

Buffy sniffed as she felt her eyes springing with moisture again.

"I know, it's really amazing and I'm so grateful that he's been able to stop in and see her even if it is for a couple of hours. For Allie, it's like time doesn't exist because she's having so much fun with him."

"Aw. You said he travels a lot right?"

Buffy nodded as she wiped her eyes. "Yeah, all the time, his job is very...demanding, but very important."

"So taking time out to see you shows how much he cares."

Buffy felt her cheeks flushing with color when Janie drew a teasing smile.

"Uh, he comes to see Allie," she said.

"He comes to see YOU and Allie," Janie clarified. "Come on Buffy, he managed to convince you to go out with him when you were a breath away from your due date, he stayed with you when you went into labor, delivered Allie and comes around despite having a demanding job. I might be out of the game, but even I can tell he cares. So, you never know, I mean, he's not going to be in that job forever, is he? Maybe he'll pop up on your doorstep at that point wanting to settle some roots. "

Buffy looked off as her mind floated into the past. She thought back to Dean's last visit, hearing the deep sadness in his tone resonating in her ears right then and there. She wondered why he was so pessimistic about getting out of hunting. Her heart trembled with compassion as she lingered over his departing words:

I just...can't.

"Buffy?"

Buffy blinked rapidly as her mind snapped from her daze. She drew her eyes to Janie and flashed an apologetic expression.

"Uh, sorry, somehow he doesn't really strike me as the type," she said. "And it's not like I'm not actively searching for a dad for Allie. But, I do hope he'll get a break from his job, he really deserves it."

Buffy drew a fond smile as Janie passed her an odd look.

"What?"

"Oh nothing," Janie said dismissively. "It's just funny, I never thought pest control was such a demanding field, you know? I mean, I've lived here almost eight years and I've only had one termite problem and a few mice in the basement since then."

"Oh um, well, you'd be amazed at some of the scary things that he's found in...dark houses and basements."

Janie widened her eyes incredulously.

"Really? Like what? Giant sewer alligators?"

Buffy gulped nervously as Janie chuckled.

"I don't know Buffy, are you sure he's really in pest control?"

"Mommy! These are for the kids!"

Buffy sighed in relief as Allie interrupted the awkward conversation. She glanced at the little box of animal crackers and container of macaroni and cheese in Allie's hands.

"They should have food, it's not right they can't eat!" Allie said.

Buffy gasped in awe as she collected the boxes from Allie.

"Oh, no, it's not," Buffy said. "We'll put a box of food together to give to the kids, okay?"

Allie grinned and nodded.

"Okay! I'll get more!"

Buffy glowed with affection as she embraced Allie.

"Oh sweetie, I am so proud of you."

Allie grinned as Buffy kissed the top of her head.


A few days before Christmas:

"I want to do it mommy!"

Buffy drew a proud smile as she strolled with Allie to the mailbox at the end of the walk.

"Okay sweetie."

Allie licked her lips as she yanked on the latch of the red mailbox, pulling it open. She pushed off her toes and reached inside, taking out the stack of mail.

"Here's the mail mommy."

Buffy beamed with more pride as she collected the stack from Allie.

"You're growing up too quickly," Buffy moaned. "I don't like it."

Allie stared at the stack of letters as she walked back toward the house with Buffy.

"What'd we get mommy? What'd we get?"

Buffy giggled as she began to sort through the mail.

"Well, let's see...bill, bill, bill..."

Allie scowled and shook her head.

"I don't like bills."

Buffy blinked in awe before bursting with laughter.

"Oh, you're repeating what mommy's said about bills, huh?"

Allie nodded as she skipped up the porch steps. Buffy glanced at a festive red and green envelope and tore it open as she footed the door shut.

"Aw, sweetie, you got a Christmas card from Uncle Dean. It has a little message for you."

Allie bounced excitedly as Buffy crouched down and showed her the card.

"Read it! Read it! Please mommy!"

"Okay, it says, 'Merry Christmas Allie Cat, I hope it's a good one'."

"I miss Uncle Dean," Allie moped. "When he coming back mommy?"

Buffy heaved a breath as Allie drew a deep pout. She kissed Allie on the forehead and pushed aside a few dark blonde strands from her face.

"I'm not sure," Buffy said gently. "He's really busy with work but that doesn't mean he doesn't care about you, because he does, he cares about you a lot kiddo."

Buffy opened up a folded piece of paper tucked inside the envelope and smiled at the contents.

"Oh," Buffy gasped. "See how much he cares? Look what he gave you for Christmas."

Allie widened her eyes and began jumping up and down in delight.

"Money! Money!" she squealed.

"Yeah, you got another Mr. Franklin from your Uncle Dean," Buffy acknowledged.

Allie clutched the bill in her hands and grinned as she skipped up the stairs after Buffy.

"What do you want to buy with it Allie?"

"Um, a pony!"

Buffy widened her eyes as she took the money and tucked it in her pocket. "You want to buy a pony? Wow, well where would we keep a pony?"

"Um in my room?"

"Oh, ponies get big sweetie, too big for your room."

Allie scratched her head and furrowed her brows.

"Um, your room?"

Buffy laughed heartily as she soaked in Allie's endearing expression.

"Well, mommy's never really had a pet so we should probably start out a little smaller with like a kitten or a puppy."

"Puppy! Puppy! I want a puppy!" Allie squealed.

"I'll give it some thought," Buffy said. "Come on sweetie, we need to get ready for the play."


Meanwhile in Massachusetts:

Dean snorted in amusement as he briefly watched Sam sipping down his health shake. As he chomped down on his bacon burger, a heavy metal ballad began playing through the fast food restaurant speakers. He blinked rapidly when a little blonde girl around three years old walked in with her mom and dad. The little girl bounced excitedly as she pointed to a toy display offered in the kids' meal. After a few minutes, the dad carried a food tray to a table, handing the kids meal to his daughter. The little girl squealed and smiled as she began eating some chicken nuggets.

"She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky..."

Dean discreetly watched the family enjoying their meal, taking in the sight of the little girl's bright smile as she crinkled her nose and giggled, very reminiscent of another child he knew. As he drifted into a haze, his mind flashed with various images the longer he observed the little girl with her family.

"Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place...
And if I stare too long
I'd probably break down and cry...
Woah, woah woah,
sweet child o' mine..."

"Dean."

Dean let out a breath as a pair of hazel eyes sparked brightly through the fog in his mind.

"Dean."

Dean erupted out of his haze when he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He blinked rapidly as his mind gripped reality, taking in Sam's curious frown.

"You okay?"

"Uh, yeah, yeah, I was just...thinking...you know, about Donna...I mean, take out the ghost haunting, and she uh...she looked great huh?"

Sam crooked an eyebrow when he detected a flare of interest in his brother's eyes.

"You're kidding me," Sam groaned.

"What?"

"Dude, come on, I know you had a thing for her back then but now? Are you serious?"

Sam frowned with disbelief as Dean widened his eyes in realization.

"Uh do I? Oh no, no man, that'd be way too weird."

Dean chuckled awkwardly for a second. "I just meant - she's...set herself up pretty well, with the whole marriage and kid thing you know? Despite a Poltergeist wrecking havoc in their home, they're all roughing it out – together - as a family."

Sam nodded in acknowledgment as Dean tapped on the table, briefly glancing at the family of three.

"Have you ever thought about wanting a set up like that? You know, a woman, a rug rat, the whole white picket fence kind of thing?"

Dean discreetly held his breath as Sam heaved a sigh.

"I used to," Sam admitted. "But not really now, I mean, I'm realistic about the way our lives are, you know?"

Sam finished his shake and pushed it aside as Dean veiled his disappointment, looking off for a moment.

"Realistic, yeah," Dean said softly. "Okay, so...you find something?"

"Well, Donna's house has a history..."


Several months later:

Sam gathered his FBI suit and shuffled toward the bathroom, throwing a glance over his shoulder when he heard a series of commercial promotions as Dean clicked through the channels.

"...show that someone special how much you care with the Bright Hearts Bouquet, thirty nine-ninety nine while supplies last..."

"...give the gift of love from Jay's Fine Jewelers..."

"...Horton's Chocolate Factory, the largest chain of delectable treats in the country, don't forget your Valentine's box on special..."

Sam blinked in surprise, expecting some visible excitement from his brother about the day. Instead, Dean snapped through the commercials until he stopped on a John Wayne movie in progress.

Sam tucked the door shut as Dean sat down on the edge of the bed, zoning out as a commercial break interrupted the program on TV. After staring off for awhile, his mind drifted on a frequent curiosity. He heaved a deep sigh of surrender as he picked up the laptop, spying a glance at the bathroom door before he logged onto the web.

Dean perused the website as a fancy slideshow played over the main page. He glanced at a message announcing an update to the photo gallery and let his curiosity roam, clicking on the tab. The first set of photos were of Allie in a long red wig wearing a greenish blue dress that had a small mermaid tail on the back. He let out a soft chuckle at her endearing expression as she hugged a stuffed crab in one hand and a small plastic pumpkin in the other. After perusing over a few more photos from Halloween, he noticed the folder with his name had two new messages.

Dean glanced at the bathroom door again before opening the first message in his folder.

On the screen, Allie and Buffy wore matching fluffy white sweaters. Allie had a pair of reindeer antlers on her head while Buffy had a Santa hat on.

"Okay sweetie, go ahead," Buffy prompted.

Allie leaned forward and waved.

"Merry Christmas! Love Allie and mommy!"

Buffy sputtered with a giggle as the camera faded out. Dean opened up the second message that was sent the previous night. When the screen faded in, he saw Allie sitting in a small pink chair by herself. Off camera, he heard Buffy prompting Allie.

"Who'd you make that one for sweetie?"

Allie picked up a red heart from her lap and waved it at the camera screen.

"Uncle Dean!"

Allie ran closer to the camera and held up the red heart dressed with glitter.

"I made this for you! It's a heart!" she squealed. "For Valentine's day!"

"What do you say on Valentine's Day?"

Allie hugged the red paper heart.

"Happy Valentine's Day Uncle Dean," she cooed. "I love you!"

Dean felt his eyes glistening with moisture and a ray of warmth shimmering through his black heart as Buffy appeared on screen, plucking a kiss on top of Allie's head. Dean hit the pause button on the streaming video, etching the joy on Buffy and Allie's faces into his mind.

When he heard the door of the bathroom clicking, Dean hastily wiped his eyes and clicked off the web. He collapsed the laptop just as Sam stepped out of the bathroom, fussing with his tie.

"Ready to go?" Sam asked.

Dean released a deep breath as he clicked the TV off and nodded.

"Yeah," he sighed.


Later that evening:

"I can handle all of this so it's okay if you want to go," Sam said casually.

Dean frowned with wonder. "Uh, what, where is it I'm going?"

Sam blinked rapidly in surprise.

"Did you actually forget that it's Valentine's Day?" he asked. "It's your favorite night to lurk the bars. You'd go on and on about it being Unattached..."

"Drifter's Christmas."

"Okay, so, go."

Dean pushed his chair from the table and went to the fridge, pulling out a beer.

"Yeah, you know what, I uh...I don't think so."

Sam gawked with disbelief.

"You're passing on going to a bar full of sad, single women?"

Dean popped the top off his beer bottle and shrugged.

"Yeah, I guess I am."

Sam narrowed his eyes as Dean stared off. When he felt the weight of a stare, Dean pulled his eyes back to Sam.

"What's that look for?"

"It's just...when you throw a lion a piece of meat and he bats it away, something's going on."

Dean scoffed as he took his seat at the table.

"Dude, nothing is going on, let's just work, okay?"


Much later:

Dean wandered aimlessly through the junkyard, pausing briefly by a rusted car. He raised his beer bottle to his mouth but dropped his hand to his side, not in the mood to drink it.

He looked up and desperately searched the black sky.

"Please, if you're out there, if you even care...you have to help me..." he begged softly. "I can't do this on my own...I can't."

For a long minute he searched the black sky for some form of answer, a sign, a glimmer of hope that this dark storm he had been suffocating in his whole life was all worth something. But as the sky remained devoid of any freak lightning and the air ceased of any odd sounds, he heaved a deep sigh of disappointment. As tears streamed down his cheeks, he rolled his eyes shut, feeling the dark haze enveloping his train of thoughts. Was Famine right? Was he dead inside? Was he blackened to the core? Maybe he had a point. He hadn't come back from Hell completely whole – that much he truly believed. That same incessant frost blew through the ache in his soul as he drifted deeper into an abyss of hopelessness, of complete defeat and surrender.

But then suddenly, through the darkness, through the frost, through all the crud clogging every part of his mind, he saw a spark – two gleaming hazel eyes flickering strong and brightly, like a beacon slicing through the heavy fog clouding dark waters, leading ships to shore.

The cold tremors attacking his heart began to cease when his mind flooded with a succession of images and sounds. The first image was of a tuft of dark blonde hair peeking out of a blanket, those big, wondrous green eyes staring up at him; he heard infectious giggles of innocence, followed by that endearing toothy grin, then more giggles, a flash of different memories of the little Summers girl washed away the cold sting in his heart. He saw that symbol of innocence spinning around by his hand, squealing with glee, smiling up at him, beaming bolts of warmth through his system.

Dean sucked in a breath as more tears welled in his eyes. He had vowed to protect that kid, to keep fighting the evils in the world, but as the war against Lucifer dragged on without success, as more of his friends and allies sacrificed their lives to save his and Sam's, as his chances of stopping the end of the world without succumbing to his destiny seemed more futile by the day, he felt himself crawling back into the abyss, the last bead of hope cracking away.

He had let down the world and millions of people were going to die in a handful of months, including that precious picture of innocence, Allie Summers. Her mother was a living legend, a pillar of strength and optimism, despite all the evil she had faced in her time as the Slayer, she got the rewards she deserved, a real, solid life with a fantastic kid but he had shortened both of their lives by bringing the inevitable end.

Dean dropped his eyes to the ground and shook his head in shame. The air was calm and the night sky was still. He inhaled a shaky breath and pivoted back toward the house when he heard a soft and familiar voice echoing in his ears, accompanied by the face of hope and strength.

"No matter how bad things seem, there's always hope"

Dean watched the memory replay in his mind, absorbing the compassion and concern on her face. His mind drifted even further into the past, to the time of his first meeting with Buffy, when a very poignant conversation had come up while he was holed away at her house.

"What?"

Buffy shaded with an apologetic look and giggled.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to stare, it's just...sometimes I get this feeling from you that you're...conflicted. I don't mean to pry or anything, so all I'll say is...when your mind is thick with a haze and you feel like no matter which way you turn, like you'll never find your way out, just remember, there always is, nothing is ever set in stone. I mean, look at me, I surpassed all the prophecies about my line and here I am."

Dean nodded in acknowledgment, displaying an admirable smile.

"Yeah, you beat all the odds against you and for that...you deserve to be where you are and have what you're about to have."

"You'll have it to," Buffy declared with an encouraging expression.

Dean fell out of his smile and shook his head.

"Yeah, uh, not so much," he muttered.

Buffy studied him for a moment before she got up from her seat at the table.

"Remember what I said, there's always a way out."

Dean blinked several times in surprise, when in his daze he had drifted to the trunk of his car.

He let out a deep breath as he flipped the trunk open and began rummaging through it until he found the wrinkled manila envelope he had stuffed in a bag. For several minutes, he stared at the phone number scrawled in crayon, immensely hesitant to involve any of the former Slayer's colleagues in this mess but the images of Buffy and Allie's happy, peaceful life weighed heavily upon him. He let out another deep breath before he took out his phone and punched in the number.

After two rings, the other line picked up and he heard a weary voice answer the phone.

"Hello?"

"Uh, hey, is this Rupert Giles?"

"Yes, speaking."

"Oh good and sorry about the time, I know it's late. My name's Dean, I uh, I got your number from…."

"Buffy, yes, I spoke with her recently and she let me know she passed along my information to you in the event you needed anything," Giles stated. "What can I do for you Mr. Winchester?"

"Well, I've sort of got a situation going on and I really didn't want to get you involved but….things have gotten a bit hairy the past few weeks and I...I need some help," Dean said shakily.

"Yes, of course, I would be happy to assist you in any way I can," Giles replied. "I have my pen at the ready if you wish to begin to explain your situation to me."

"Actually, it's a really long story. Do you think we can meet up?"

"Yes, yes, shall I travel to you or would you like to come here to my residence in Cleveland?"

"I can come to you if that's okay," Dean replied.

"Yes, when shall I expect you?"

"I'll head out first thing tomorrow, it should take me about ten hours or so."

"Alright, I will clear my schedule," Giles stated. "Here is my address."

Dean put the address to memory as Giles continued.

"I look forward to meeting you Mr. Winchester. Until then."

"Yeah and again, sorry about calling so late."

"It's quite alright," Giles replied. "Buffy has spoken very highly of you over the years so it's a pleasure for me to help."

"Thanks I'll see you sometime tomorrow."

"Have a good evening."

"You too."


Early the next morning, as the sun peeked over the horizon, Dean packed up his bag and set it on the table. He heard a dispatch radio coming from one of the backrooms but he couldn't hear any screaming or noise from the panic room downstairs. He scribbled a quick note to Bobby before pivoting toward the front door.

"Dean."

Dean jumped in startle when he heard Sam's voice cutting through the silence. When he swung around, he saw his brother's ashen, exhausted face as he lingered in the living room doorway.

"Hey, who let you out?"

"Bobby, did."

"Yeah? So what, no more cravings?"

"No," Sam said gratefully. "It was a long night but it's out of my system for now."

"Oh. Well..."

Sam noticed Dean's bag on the table.

"Going somewhere?"

"Uh, yeah, I'll be back later."

Sam stepped into the living room and walked to the table. He picked up the note Dean had left for Bobby.

"Who are you meeting with?"

Dean shaded with annoyance as he picked up his bag.

"Just...somebody. I'll swing by here when I'm done."

"Well, give me a sec to pack my things and I'll go with you."

Dean shook his head and began digging his fingers into the back of his neck.

"That's okay, you don't need to be there for this, I can go and come back while you...you get all of that bloodlust out of your system."

Sam frowned with resentment as he picked up on his brother's evasive tone.

"I just told you it's out of my system," he groaned.

"For the time being," Dean clarified.

Sam sighed in exasperation.

"Dean, I've been through this before, if I thought they'd come back I wouldn't have asked Bobby to let me out."

"Why would he let you out?"

"He said...he'd shoot me if I was lying."

"That sounds like Bobby."

"So I'm good, now let's get back to the job, Lucifer is out there and the longer we're here the further he gets away."

Dean shaded with reluctance as Sam plucked up his bag from a chair.

"Look Sam. I think you should sit this one out considering what you're coming off of. So let me just take care of this one thing and then I'll come back to get you when you're feeling better."

Sam stopped packing and frowned.

"I feel fine," he groused. "What's the big deal with me going with you anyway? Are you really meeting someone or are you going off hunting without me?"

"I'm not going on a hunt."

Sam studied his brother closely.

"Okay, then where are you going? Why all the secrecy? What happened to starting over? Working as a team again?"

Dean absorbed his brother's glare before glancing at his watch.

"I gotta get going," he muttered.

"Okay, I'm ready, let's go then."

"Sam," Dean said in protest.

"Are we a team again or not Dean?"

After a tense moment of silence, Dean heaved a sigh and then fished out his keys.

"Alright, alright, let's go," he grunted. "If you have to pee, do it now cuz I'm not stopping."

Once they were on the highway, Sam observed his brothers white knuckling the steering wheel, his foot heavy on the gas pedal.

"So where are we going?"

"Uh, Cleveland."

"Cleveland. And who are we meeting with?"

"Well, I'm meeting with someone, you can...you can hang out at the library or something until I'm done."

Sam narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Dean.

"Dean," Sam said sharply. "Trust goes both ways."

Dean absorbed Sam's glaring eyes and heaved a sigh.

"Okay, okay," he surrendered. "We're going to meet a potential...resource."

Sam hung a heavy look of exasperation over his brother. Dean heaved another deep sigh before loosening his grip on the steering wheel.

"His name is Rupert Giles, okay? He's..."

"Buffy's former Watcher," Sam finished.

Dean conveyed his surprise as Sam settled back in his seat.

"You know him?"

"We've met, yeah," Sam acknowledged.

Dean raised an eyebrow and glared deeply at Sam.

"Uh huh," he grunted. "And when exactly did you meet him?"

"Awhile back, when I was searching for ways to get you out of your deal," Sam imparted.

Dean mulled over this revelation, rapping his fingers on the steering wheel as lines of annoyance tugged around his eyes.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me this before? And why did you have to drag him into it huh?"

"Because Dean, I was trying to save you," Sam spat. "I explored every option there was, researched tons of websites, looked into everything. I stumbled on a page about the lore of the Slayers and it turned out to be legitimate source."

"You mean the Slayer's page," Dean corrected.

"No, Slayers," Sam clarified. "Buffy wasn't the last one."

"Say what? How is that even possible, I thought it was one in every..."

"Generation, yeah," Sam interjected. "But in Buffy's case, she was a loophole. She faced this really old master vampire back in high school – and she died for a few minutes. She didn't tell you this story?"

Dean shifted his eyes from the road to see Sam studying him curiously.

"Uh no, we didn't have story hour back in Cicero, you know, I was looking out for evil bloodsucking children that wanted to have her for dinner."

Sam frowned in wonder before shaking it off.

"Well, anyway, her brief death caused another Slayer to be called..."

After Sam related the details of the Slayer line, Dean absorbed his amazement before regarding the road.

"For having spent so much time holed away in her house, I'm surprised I know more about Buffy than you do," Sam said.

Dean forced his shoulders to shrug as he made a quick lane change.

"Well, like I said, we didn't 'share and care' Sam, I was working," he declared. "And you still could have told me about this."

"If Giles had found a way out, I would have but since he came up with the same dead ends, I didn't think it was worth bringing up. Why didn't you tell me you knew him?"

"I don't," Dean grunted.

"But you contacted him," Sam stated.

"Yeah so, the Colt didn't put the Devil down, he might know of another way."

"I'm not saying you shouldn't have called Giles, I'm just surprised you've never brought him up until now."

Dean shrugged and let out a sigh.

"Last resort I guess."

Dean removed a white knuckled hand from the steering wheel and drew it the back of his neck, massaging the tense muscles with his fingers.

"So there's an army of Slayers huh?"

"Well, they're called Potentials," Sam explained. "When Buffy faced the First evil, she had all the potentials activated through an ancient weapon, a Scythe that absorbed her power..."

Dean glanced over at Sam and snorted in amusement.

"Aren't you quite the fanboy?"

Sam rolled his eyes as he scrolled through his phone messages.


Several hours later:

Sam shifted in his seat as Dean veered onto a highway interchange.

"Buffy had her baby by now," Sam said.

"Say what?"

Dean glanced at Sam as he drew an apologetic expression.

"I can't believe I didn't think about that," Sam replied. "I mean, with everything going on..."

"Yeah well, evil keeps lurking in the dark whether the former Slayer pops out a kid or not you know?"

"Yeah, I know it's just...with all that she's been through, it's kind of amazing that she's...a mom, huh?"

Dean feigned a casual expression as several highway signs flew by.

"I guess, yeah, I haven't really thought about it," he said. "Got a lot going on these days."

Sam nodded as Dean cranked up the radio filling the awkward silence with a classic rock tune.


Later:

After winding down a long stretch of gravel road, Dean peered through a thick curtain of trees hanging low over the driveway of an old property. Sam narrowed his eyes on a two level Victorian era style building, as Dean pulled the car to a stop.

"This is it?" Sam asked.

"Yeah."

Sam and Dean both peered through the windshield, staring at a large cross beaming down from the roof. After rapping on the door with a heavy brass knocker, a brief moment passed before they heard a faint sound of latches unlocking. When the large door swung open, Dean glanced over Giles, veiling his recognition of the old man he had seen in pictures displayed at Buffy's house.

"Hello," Giles said. "Mr. Winchester, it is nice to see you again."

Sam nodded as Giles drew a prim smile.

"Hey Giles, it's good to see you too," Sam replied. "And please, it's Sam."

Giles nodded at Sam before turning his eyes to Dean.

"Mr. Winchester. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Likewise."

"Please come in," Giles replied.

Giles moved from the doorway to allow Sam and Dean inside. The brothers took a long look of the interior, noticing several ancient weapons, statues and relics displayed in cases or hanging on the walls.

"It's like a museum in here," Dean muttered to Sam.

Sam peered into a living area littered with large texts, small weapons and empty pizza boxes. Giles drew a sheepish look as he pulled the sliding doors to the living area shut.

"Please excuse the disarray," he said. "I have not had a chance to...reprimand the girls about cleaning their messes up since I returned from my travels."

"No worries," Dean said. "I know this is short notice so thanks again for seeing me – us."

"It is no problem at all," Giles replied. "Shall we retire to the library for privacy?"

Giles waved a hand toward a doorway as the brothers nodded. Sam and Dean absorbed all the archaic looking décor as they followed Giles down a hallway. Giles pushed another set of sliding doors open and strolled into a huge, multi level library.

Sam and Dean stared up in awe as they passed through the doorway. Along every inch of wall space were bookshelves filled with various texts as a musty scent blanketed the air.

"Woah, when did we go back to school?" Dean snorted.

Dean elbowed Sam and smirked.

"Bring back any fond memories?"

Sam shook his head and groaned softly as Giles drifted toward a small cabinet.

"May I offer you a cup of tea?" Giles asked.

Dean curiously plucked a large book from a shelf and glanced at the strange symbol engraved on the front while Sam stared at an odd relic behind a display case.

"Or something stronger?"

Giles nodded toward a tray of glasses and a few bottles of scotch. Dean glowed receptively while Sam batted a hand through the air.

"No, we're fine, thanks," Sam said.

Dean let out a sigh as Sam settled into a chair at a long table in the middle of the library. Giles took another seat at the table while Dean folded onto the edge, looking over the various opened books and printouts.

"Very well, on to pressing business?" Giles asked as he flipped to a blank page in his notebook. "How may I be of assistance?"

Sam and Dean exchanged looks as Giles waited patiently.

"You might not even be able to help," Dean started. "Cuz so far no one has, anyway, we got a major evil at large and we're running out of time and options."

Giles scribbled a brief note before drawing his sights back to Dean.

"I see. Do you have any clues as to what type of demon we are facing?"

"Yeah, he's known as Satan," Dean said bluntly.

Giles scribbled excitedly on his notepad.

"A demon calling itself Satan, fascinating," Giles said.

"No, no," Dean clarified. "I mean, it's Lucifer, the Devil, the big bad Archangel himself. And he's lookin' to wear my brother to the prom. Not to mention his big bro Michael wants to fill me up with all his angelic goodness."

Giles abruptly paused in the middle of his note taking as the air went still with his bewilderment.

"Sorry, I was under the impression you mainly hunted spirits and corporeal demons?"

"On a normal, boring day, yeah," Dean acknowledged dryly. "On the other days, we get to deal with Angels, Lucifer and...the end of the world."

Giles shaded with dread as he stared at Dean and then Sam, sharing collective looks of gloom.

"The end of the world?"

"Yeah, sorry Giles," Dean said morosely.

Giles shifted his sights rapidly between Dean and Sam.

"Tell me everything, please start from the beginning," Giles urged.

Dean drifted over to the tray of scotch and poured two glasses. He set one down in front of Giles.

"You're gonna need this at some point, trust me."


A long time later:

After Sam and Dean related all the details leading up to Lucifer's release, Giles sat back in his chair, his face thick with astonishment.

"Oh...dear," he gasped.

"I know it's a lot to take in," Dean replied. "I did say it was a long story."

"Yes, indeed."

Giles gulped down his drink before he removed his spectacles and began fervently cleaning them with a small cloth.

"That would explain the excessive amount of supernatural activity the girls and their respective watchers have seen in the past few months," he remarked.

"We figured you were busy," Dean said. "So if you can't spare any time on this, I understand. We don't want to burden you with more work."

Giles shook his head.

"It is not a burden," he insisted. "It is my duty to help when asked or needed."

Dean poured himself another drink as he watched Giles sitting in contemplative silence.

"The sixty six seals," Giles intoned. "And this girl Ruby – was an instrumental part of Lilith's plan to free Lucifer?"

Giles studied Sam as he fidgeted in his seat.

"Yeah, she had us all fooled," he lamented.

Dean scoffed as he knocked back some of his drink.

"Not all of us," he snorted derisively.

"And you two are the chosen vessels of Lucifer and his brother Michael. If you were to say yes..." Giles posed.

"We're not," Sam affirmed.

"Yes, we are in agreement that is not an option," Giles replied. "But perhaps I misheard you...you did say you tried to...shoot Lucifer – reputedly one of the most powerful angels in creation?"

Dean frowned in dismay. "Tried, yeah. It's not that I missed, it's that we were deliberately misled by a two faced sonofabitch in a thousand dollar suit."

Giles exuded more confusion as he glanced between the brothers.

"The point is, our biggest lead ended up being a hoax," Sam insisted. "So we could really use some help in finding something new."

Giles settled his glasses back on and pushed his chair from the table, pivoting toward the upper level stacks.

"Yes, we must be diligent in our research when faced with a foe of this magnitude," he acceded. "I believe we can start with the Rosicrucian Manifesto...it is a bit heavy in its passages but I am able to summarize the translations...there are many references to biblical portents that may be of use..."

Giles anxiously rolled a ladder down to one of the bookshelves and climbed up. He gathered several thick texts in his arms before returning to the table.

"Or was there something specific you had in mind in defeating Lucifer? I can ask Willow to look into an anti-possession spell or a magical ward which will bind his powers?" he asked excitedly.

"Is that even possible? To bind Lucifer's powers?" Dean asked.

"We will explore every possibility without prejudice," Giles replied emphatically.

Sam curiously picked through one of the texts on the table as Giles brightened with an enthusiastic expression.

"There are many ancient weapons that have been forged with mystical elements for the specific purpose of striking down creatures of immense power," he said as he flipped a page. "Many of these weapons are as old as time."

"Well, time is something we don't have much of," Dean replied grimly.

"I will look into this right away," Giles declared. "I also have some extensive notes and theological texts in my study."

Giles shuffled into a small side office as Sam and Dean casually perused through the books in the library. After a minute, Giles leaned in the doorway as he delicately flipped to a page in a large, very old book.

"Michael, Lucifer, Rafael and the Garrisons..."

Sam walked over to Giles and looked over his shoulder. He glanced at the elaborate painting of the Angels in battle as Giles ran a finger over the text. Sam frowned at the strange symbols as Giles sifted through the pages.

"Wait, I've seen that symbol...it's a sigil right? Enochian?"

"You are correct. This was a gift from a colleague of mine in Jerusalem. It is a very rare text written entirely in Enochian. I am also able to speak the dialect as well."

"You have an amazing collection Giles," Sam said as he placed a book back on a shelf.

Giles smiled proudly. "I must say I have spent many years acquiring what you see now. But sadly, there are still quite a few desirable texts that have remained elusive."

As Sam glanced at a strange amulet encased in glass, Dean strolled into the study and cracked a smile.

"You know Giles, you are like the refined, British POLITE version of Bobby," he said. "He'd probably be SO jealous of some of this stuff you're packing."

Giles displayed his confusion as Sam took notice of an array of pictures on top of a credenza.

"Friend of ours," Dean explained. "You were saying earlier about ancient weapons?"

"Yes, off the top of my head I can reference one in particular known as the Guan Dao..."

Dean cocked his head in wonder when Giles' weighty expression lifted momentarily. Dean veered his eyes to see Sam clutching a framed picture.

"This is Buffy's daughter? Wow," Sam said in awe. "She's beautiful."

Sam angled the picture frame toward Dean to show him the photo. Dean feigned an innocent look as he glanced at the photo of Buffy holding one year old Allie in her arms.

"Uh yeah, cute kid," he uttered with a smile.

Giles gave Dean a brief odd look before he gazed affectionately at the photo. He brushed a hand over another framed photo of Allie at her second birthday party, her cake coated mouth grinning wide with glee.

"She is immensely lovely," he acknowledged. "We all miss being able to see her and her mother on a regular basis."

"I'm sure she understands," Sam soothed.

"Yes, she does. Knowing what Buffy has achieved in her life helps us all maintain a staunch determination in the fight against evil," Giles stated emphatically. "We think of Allie and we reflect upon all the innocent children in the world who must be kept safe."

Giles raised his head high in confidence as his face knitted with conviction.

"Allie? Well, that's a nice name," Dean remarked.

Giles drew another curious look at Dean as Sam set the picture back down. Dean threw Giles a conspiratorial look out of Sam's sight. Giles absorbed the odd moment, simply nodding in acknowledgment.

"Yes, it is."

"So Buffy's doin' good then? That's awesome," Dean cheered as he rocked back on his heels.

As Sam started to study his brother in curiosity, Dean cleared his throat and hurriedly looked over the assortment of books on Giles' desk.

"Okay so...this Kwan Bow thing...what's it do?" he posed anxiously.

"The Guan Dao," Giles clarified as he sat on the edge of his desk. "We have a contact, an archaeologist who procures relics for the Council from time to time. A recent expedition of his uncovered a priceless heirloom believed to have been a wedding gift to the fifth century Emperor of China. The heirloom itself was marvelous piece, spun from actual..."

Dean slowly raised a hand and said gently, "I'm not trying to be rude, but uh, does this 'marvelous' heirloom have something to do with the ancient weapon?"

"No, forgive me for veering off topic," Giles said ruefully. "Among the artifacts he also found a shield bearing the crest of General Guan Yu, who commissioned a smithy to forge a very special weapon..."


A short while later, Giles dropped a large stack of loose leaf papers nearly a foot tall on his desk. Sam and Dean stared in amazement as Giles set a second stack, equally as tall, beside the first.

"That's everything you have on this Green Dragon Blade?" Dean asked incredulously. "You sure you didn't miss anything?"

Giles carefully sifted through one of the stacks as Sam and Dean rifled through the other.

"I have documented as much information and theories as possible," he replied. "However, I'm afraid in my extended travels and usual business here I have fallen behind in some of my research."

Dean picked up a photocopied sketch of the weapon as Sam sifted through the file folder.

"That's a pretty bad ass blade," Dean remarked.

"You have no idea where it is?" Sam asked.

Giles flashed a remorseful look as he adjusted his glasses. "I was looking into confirming the rumors of its last location when I was called away for several months. I do believe that Willow was implementing some sort of weapons database shortly before I left. It is very possible she may have more up to date information on the whereabouts of this fauchard. Unfortunately, it is stored on a giant idiot box with a million frivolous buttons."

Sam and Dean eyed Giles as he shaded with genuine disgust. After a second, Giles composed himself, drawing a deep breath.

"You are welcome to take a look if you can deal with such a deplorable, senseless machine," Giles groaned.


A few minutes later, Giles led Sam and Dean through a quaint rose garden until he stopped on a pathway leading to a guest house. Giles rummaged though his coat pockets and took out a set of keys. After unlocking the door, he flipped the light switch on to reveal a large computer console with several flat screen monitors housed inside.

Giles rolled his eyes at the console and flashed a repugnant frown as Sam and Dean strolled into the room. Sam drifted behind a long desk and looked over the fancy computer equipment.

"I will leave you to that thing," Giles huffed. "I will be in my study if you need me."

"Thanks Giles," Sam said as he folded into the seat.

Giles nodded as he sauntered out of the guest house. Dean took a quick look around as Sam explored the desktop. Dean backed up toward the doorway and drummed up an excuse.

"You know what, I forgot something I wanted to ask Giles about," he said. "I'll be back in a bit."

As Sam weighed him with a questionable look, Dean hastily retreated out of the guest house. Dean caught up to Giles near the foot of the rose garden.

"Hey Giles!"

Giles paused near a stone bench as Dean shuffled over.

"I uh, I just wanted to say...thanks for uh...covering for me on the whole Buffy and Allie thing to Sam."

Giles displayed his immense wonder as Dean glanced behind him at the guest house.

"You are...welcome," Giles said. "Although, I am a bit flummoxed as to why your brother is not aware of your relationship with Buffy and Allie since I assumed you two were close. But I am not one to pry."

Dean cocked an eyebrow as his face beaded with apprehension.

"Relationship? I don't think I'd use that word...I just visit on occasion you know and as far as Sam goes well he and I...we're going through some stuff and trying to work it out and this whole thing with the Angels and Lucifer..."

Dean heaved a deep sigh in surrender as he rubbed the back of his neck with a hand.

"My life is just...complicated," he moaned.

Giles nodded and flashed an empathetic look.

"I would imagine so," he said. "For anyone who fights the forces of darkness, makes sacrifices and saves the lives of innocent people, is faced with enormous responsibility every day. It is anything but a simple life as much as you wish it were."

Dean gawked in awe as Giles glanced up at the moon.

"Yeah, I...how..."

Giles glowed with a fond smile as Dean followed him through the garden.

"Your reflection reminded me of when Buffy used to lament about the burdens of being a teenage girl and the Slayer."

Giles widened his smile as Dean shaded with a horrified look.

"Are you saying I was whining like a chick? Great," he groaned.

"I was merely stating that before the rise of the Potentials, Buffy felt...the immense 'weight of the world' on her shoulders for many years."

"Yeah, I bet. She's...she's an amazing girl. And that kid of hers..."

Dean slipped an admirable smile over his face as he sauntered back into the main house.

"What she's got now, it's one in a million you know? And I just don't...I shouldn't have risked visiting her the times I did cuz who knows if a demon or even an Angel was watching me. All I know is that I can't go back there again, I can't let anyone know I've been there – it's just better that way...as far as I'm concerned, I've never met a Slayer, I don't know where she is."

"I understand and admire your desire to protect her. We all are taking measures to keep her and Allie safe."

"And I'm going to say this to you, I appreciate any research or insight you can bring, but I don't want you taking on this fight. This is my mess and if something happened to you because you got dragged into this..."

Dean released another heavy sigh as he bowed his eyes to the ground.

"I love Buffy as if she were my daughter, and my affection for Allie is equally immense," Giles declared. "I appreciate your concern for my well being but Buffy has expressed to me on many occasions how much you mean to her and I made a vow to her that whenever you called upon me to assist you, I would. I am not being dragged into anything. It is my will and my duty to help you in the war against Lucifer."

Dean stewed with hesitation as his voice thickened with dread.

"I don't know Giles. Maybe I shouldn't have even called you; I mean...this is the end of the world we're talking about."

"I realize you're apprehension Mr. Winchester but I can assure you, in my time as a Watcher, I have faced the threat of an apocalypse before. We have succeeded in the past and we shall rise to victory again. You and your brother do not have to face this alone," Giles stressed.


Sam scrolled through a massive archive system for nearly fifteen minutes after browsing through a smaller database. After working in a comfortable silence, he heard a scuffling behind the front door of the guest house. Assuming it was Dean, Sam continued scrolling through the database as the door swung open. When he heard a soft male squeal cracking the air, Sam lifted his eyes from the computer to see Andrew bouncing in the doorway.

"Oh! Young Skywalker! You have returned! Welcome! Welcome!"

"Hey Andrew."

Andrew ran a hand through his hair and straightened his tie before he buzzed around the room tidying up.

"Pardon the mess, I've been working a lot and haven't had a chance to make the space more warm and inviting for unexpected guests."

"That's okay. Sorry about just dropping in," Sam lamented. "Giles said I could take a look at the database you have on here."

"Of course, mi casa su casa!" Andrew roared.

Andrew gazed at Sam before he moved to a small burgundy fridge.

"Would you care for an ice cold Zima?"

Andrew drew a goofy grin as he swung the fridge door open to display the bottles of Zima stacked on the shelf.

"Or how about a delicious Hot Pocket to fill you up?"

Andrew reached up to a small cabinet and pushed the door open to reveal a freezer. He yanked out two boxes and waved them at Sam.

"I've got Meat Supreme and Pepperoni."

As Andrew's goofy grin lingered, Sam shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Um, no thanks, I'm fine," he said gently.

Andrew glided around the desk to stand behind Sam. He peered over Sam's shoulder and glanced at the monitor.

"Can I help you find something? Willow and I spent nine grueling months implementing this database. It's very complicated for the average man. Not that you're an 'average' man..."

Sam raised an eyebrow as he took Andrew's silly grin.

"Um, I pretty much figured it out but thanks...Andrew..."

Andrew gripped the lapels of his jacket as he widened his grin.

"So strong and independent you are. Hmmmmmm." he chimed in a Yoda like tone.

Sam cocked an eyebrow as he displayed an odd look at Andrew.

"Will you be requiring lodging tonight?" Andrew asked anxiously. "You traveled a long distance and should get some rest. We could have like a sleepover and play Dungeons and Dragons...or watch the Star Wars trilogy! I have them on film REELS you know. It's the only way to watch them. I'll pop some popcorn and throw some comfy pillows on the floor..."

Andrew leaned closer to Sam, spying a glance out the front window.

"Or, if you're into it," he whispered..."I've got some very rare nude footage of the Klingon babes. It's quite...enticing."

Sam fidgeted in his seat as Andrew continued to gaze at him. Sam cleared his throat and drew a polite expression.

"That sounds...interesting but my brother and I aren't staying long. We just came to talk to Giles."

Sam shifted his eyes to the door when he heard it swing open. Dean casually ambled in to see a young guy in a suit hovering very closely over Sam.

Dean cocked an eyebrow and smirked in amusement.

"Uh, am I interrupting something here?"

Sam blinked rapidly as the jovial expression from Andrew's face faded into complete animosity.

"Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Shameless Affection Stealer of all things Goddess," Andrew barked.

Dean took a longer study of the suited guy but drew a blank.

"Uh, sorry? Who are you? I don't believe we've met."

Andrew raised his head high and snorted resentfully, "I am Andrew Wells, Junior Watcher and the Keeper of this Holy Ground! You have some nerve dropping by just to gloat about whom I adore most and of which YOU have so viciously, SHAMELESSLY trumped from me after all my years of worship and devotion!"

Andrew waved a scolding finger at Dean, deepening his scowl. Dean stared at Andrew in immense disbelief before his mouth cracked with a dry smile.

"Say what? I'm sorry Andrew but I don't speak angry nerd."

Andrew pounced off his feet and darted toward Dean in a fury.

"Oh, you think you're so 'cool' don't you Dean? Acting all low key and innocent behind a twinkling smile but I know the truth! I know your little secret tactics to trump my affections of the little Goddess! The cards, the unannounced visits and the hundred dollar bills you SHAMELESSLY send! Dawn was right about you! You may be a good looking endless well of charm, but that doesn't give you any right to steal away my mini Buffy! Isn't it enough that Buffy adores you but now you had to go and win over my future senorita of supremo awesomeness too?! How dare you! All I've done is love and shower my little Alice with gifts and shoes and perfect little dresses but one mention of YOU and she forgets about ME!"

Andrew poked Dean several times in the shoulder as Sam frowned with curiosity.

"I buy her the most exquisite, RARE toys and dolls for Christmas and her birthday and even her unbirthday but nothing I do makes a lasting impression in her mind..."

Andrew sniffled softly before he hitched his head high.

"Oh no, nothing ever compares to her Uncle Dean," Andrew groused. "One simple pink fluffy kitten or a crisp Benjamin Franklin from YOU and my lovely little Alice can't stop talking about you! It's 'Uncle Dean was here! Uncle Dean played with me! Uncle Dean gave me money!"

Dean widened his eyes as Andrew sniffled again then threw his face in his hands and sobbed. When he felt the heavy weight of an assessing stare, Dean braved a look at Sam. Dean fidgeted awkwardly in his stance as Andrew glowered at him.

"Uh...that's quite a mouthful of stuff you're saying Andrew...but I think you may have mistaken me for someone else..."

Dean tried to throw a subtle, conspiratorial look at Andrew but the Junior Watcher hitched his nose up.

"No...I know you very well Dean Winchester – heralded giver of life to my Alice!"

Sam raised his eyebrow as he studied his brother.

"Dean, what's going on?"

Feeling cornered, Dean darted his eyes between Sam and Andrew and then to the doorway. As Andrew folded his arms and glowed with satisfaction, Dean noticed Sam analyzing him and sighed in surrender.

"Alright, alright," he grunted. "So maybe I've sent a card or two to the kid as to the other stuff, I can't help it if I make a lasting impression on people."

Dean forced out an awkward laugh as Andrew and Sam stared him down.

"You think just because you're just as virile and beautiful as your brother that you can get away with anything you want?!" Andrew roared. "Well, think again – Sam is a galaxy, far, far, away from YOU Dean Winchester! It doesn't matter that you delivered my precious Alice into the world, that doesn't make you the Jedi Master of Uncles!"

Sam shot his eyes to his brother.

"You - delivered...Buffy's baby? When was this?"

Dean opened his mouth to answer as he massaged the back of his neck with his hand. When he couldn't drum up a lie, he simply heaved a sigh as Sam got up from the console.

"Dean? Is it true?"

Sam soaked in the telling flare in his brother's eyes before addressing Andrew.

"Andrew, since my brother has nothing to say, could you tell me when Allie was born?"

Sam blinked rapidly as Andrew's deep glower transitioned quickly into a bright grin.

"My little sparkle of light and grace was born at three-forty two AM on May first."

Sam displayed his shock as he stared at Dean. "May first...the night before your contract was up...so that's where you went...to see Buffy."

Dean looked away, staring at the door as Sam sucked in a breath of disbelief. Andrew rolled his eyes when the attention fell back on Dean.

"Yeah and I've tried so passionately to get her to take to my affectionate name for her but no - she ALWAYS corrects me that her name is Allie."

Andrew shot his nose up and frowned at Dean.

"My goddess named her first born after YOU and that first born, that lovely little princess prefers your name of Allie Cat!"

Andrew crossed his arms and turned his eyes away. Sam glanced at Andrew before regarding his brother.

"Allie Cat?"

"If you seek the truth Young Skywalker, then you shall find your answers here!"

Andrew rushed over to his computer console and clicked on a button. After a faint hum filled the tense silence, a set of hidden panels emerged from the wall, sliding back to reveal a large projection screen.

"I am also a master documentarian," Andrew boasted.

An icon of Alice from Alice in Wonderland flashed brightly as Andrew double clicked on it. Andrew clicked on the mouse and brought up a series of videos.

Dean rolled his eyes shut as Sam watched Allie on screen, opening a present. Andrew's voice boomed off camera.

"It's the Cheshire Cat! Isn't it perfect my little Alice?"

Allie batted at the cat for a brief second before her attention shifted elsewhere.

"Where are you going Alice? Want Uncle Andrew to come with?"

Allie dove into her toy bin as Sam noticed Buffy glowing with maternal love in the corner of her living room.

"Oh my precious, who is your most favorite person in the whole world?"

"Mommy!" Allie roared.

"Oh, yes, yes, the goddess is the supreme, but after mommy, who is your favorite person? Or rather, who is your dearest, most favorite uncle in the whole world?" Andrew prompted.

Allie's dark curly hair fell over her face as she stared up into the camera for a moment. Allie zipped away and returned cradling a picture frame.

"What's that? A picture of your Uncle Andrew?"

Allie shook her head as she displayed the picture into the camera frame.

"That's my Uncle Dean! He was there when I was born!"

Allie grinned brightly and bounced in her stance. Sam gaped with astonishment at the picture of Dean holding little Allie.

"Oh, yes, I know," Andrew moaned off camera.

Allie sped away and then returned with her pink stuffed kitten.

"Imma Allie Cat! Uncle Dean calls me Allie Cat! Meow! Meow!"

Allie waggled her hips as Sam heard Buffy giggling in the background before the camera abruptly cut out. After another moment to let the sight settle, Sam turned his eyes to Dean and saw the beads of his brother's 'oh shit' expression forming over his face.

Sam drew a livid expression as Dean shifted nervously in his stance before backing out toward the doorway.

"Uh, it's late, we should probably hit the road," Dean sputtered.

As he stumbled through the doorway, Dean gave a clipped wave at Andrew.

"See ya Andrew."

Andrew narrowed his eyes and scowled at Dean.

"Let's go Sam," Dean grunted.

Dean rushed out the door without looking back as Sam drew a polite nod at Andrew.

"Um, sorry for...my brother. Thanks for letting me use your computer Andrew. I got to go. It was nice seeing you again."

Andrew lifted out of his dark expression and smiled up at Sam.

"It was nice to see you too – JonBon."

Andrew winked as he deepened his smile.

"The next time you are in town, you are welcome to stay here and we can have that all nighter!"

"Uh, sounds like...fun," Sam muttered with forced enthusiasm.

Andrew impulsively threw his arms around Sam, clutching him tightly.

"Goodbye Sam," Andrew cried. "Be safe and strong in your quest to fight the dark side of the...Oh goodness...you work out a lot on the road, don't you? I can tell."

Sam gulped with awkwardness when he felt Andrew fervently prodding the muscles in his back.

"Andrew, please stop doing that," Sam said roughly.

Sam gently extricated himself from Andrew's grip and quickly stepped back. Andrew beamed a friendly grin and waved goodbye. After battling with a loss of words, Sam simply cleared his throat and retreated out of the guest house.


After dropping in to say goodbye to Giles, Sam ambled out of the house and heard the Impala's engine grumbling in the driveway. As he climbed into the passenger seat, Dean didn't pass him a look, just letting off the brake to pull out of the driveway.

Sam waited expectantly as Dean flew through intersections until finally veering onto the main highway. After almost two miles without a word uttered from his brother, Sam frowned with resentment.

"Are you going to say anything about this?" he pressed.

"About what?" Dean said, still not paying Sam a look.

"About 'Uncle Dean'...about seeing Buffy the night before you died, about your visits, about why you kept all of this a secret from me," Sam spat bitterly.

Dean snapped his eyes from the road to see Sam glaring at him with offense. After a moment to absorb the hurt in his eyes, Dean scoffed and flashed a surly expression.

"You want to talk about keeping secrets Sam? It's not like I was sneaking around with an evil bitch craving demon blood," he sneered.

Sam shook his head and huffed heavily.

"I was just saying, you make it sound like this was some kind of horrible betrayal," Dean pointed. "This doesn't compare."

"No Dean, it may not compare but it doesn't take away the fact that you've never told me after all this time about your secret relationship with Buffy."

Dean pulled his eyes to Sam as his face knotted with a mildly dumbfounded look.

"I don't have a 'secret relationship' with her," he dismissed. "I've just...checked in on her from time to time to see how she's been, okay? Is that a crime Sam? Let me point out 'secret relationships' that WERE happening."

Dean glared at Sam with an acknowledging look. Sam absorbed his brother's sour expression before pressing on.

"You've told me everything in the past," Sam recalled. "Some things I never wanted to know but this...I was there when the changelings attacked Buffy too. I could tell that you cared about her then and it's obvious now you still do."

"What are you talking about? Of course I care, it's my job to care," Dean reasoned.

Sam rolled his eyes as Dean stamped down on the gas pedal.

"I know that Buffy is a special person – a special girl," Sam said. "What she's been through, what she's accomplished in her life, it doesn't happen for everyone. And I'm happy for her. She looks like she's doing really well. And her daughter seems very sweet, very smart."

Sam noticed the tense lines around his brother's eyes dissipating as his expression lightened.

"Yeah, she is," Dean acceded softly.

"Good. So what's the big deal? Why couldn't you have said something?"

Dean bellowed with a huge breath as he rapped his fingers against the steering wheel.

"Come on Sam," he sighed. "You know our life. Everywhere we go, demons are gunning for us, the damn Devil and Michael want to slip us on and battle it out. People who have helped us, they just end up buried or...crippled. I don't want Buffy and Allie to become more cannon fodder just for knowing me. You've seen how often demons have used us to get information or whatever..."

Sam balked with mass offense.

"You really think I would put Buffy's life and the life of her child in danger? Dean, no matter what has happened between us, I would never do that. I wouldn't risk their lives."

"Maybe not, but it doesn't really matter," Dean said gloomily. "This kind of crap is never gonna stop happening. So the best thing I can do - is to just stay away and...forget about them."

"And how is that working out for you?"

Dean pulled his eyes from the road and took in Sam's doubtful expression.

"Look Sam..."

"I get that you want them to be safe," Sam interjected. "But Buffy has Giles and Andrew and the rest of her friends looking out for her. So what's really going on Dean?"

As Sam deepened his cynical look, Dean heaved a sigh of exasperation.

"Dude, there is nothing going on," he said flatly. "Now can we focus on finding a way to put the Devil down and saving the world?"

After a tense exchange of looks, Sam finally relented with a nod.

"Yeah," he said.

When the silence grew unsettling, Dean cranked the radio up as he blazed down the highway. After a few miles, Sam shifted in his seat, throwing a sidelong glance at his brother.

"So, what do you think of this ancient weapon, the Guan Dao? You think it's real?" he asked.

Dean turned the radio down slightly and shrugged.

"Who knows, but what else have we got right now?"

Sam nodded in recognition as his eyes shifted toward the windshield.

"Well, Giles is pretty thorough, I'm sure he'll find something."

"Yeah, maybe," Dean forced out.