A/N: Oh my gosh, I am SO sorry it took so long to post this chapter. I've had zero motivation to write lately, no matter how many ideas I get, plus I've been dealing with stuff lately. You don't want me getting into that. But I hope this chapter is good enough to make up for it.
This chapter's idea was given to me by LaughingLadyBug. Sorry it took so long, LLB, but I was finally able to bring it into the story. Thanks again for this *hugs*. I hope it lives up to your expectations.
Oh, another thing. I went back and changed Tyler's age. I love the kid too much to start writing him any differently, so I lowered his age a wee bit. I hope he seems a little more realistic now.
Disclaimer: It's the middle of the night. I'll let you guys come up with a witty disclaimer. I don't have enough brain cells right now to think up a creative way to express how much I don't own Supernatural.
The next several days went by in a pleasant blur. They all seemed to blend in together, but at the same time, the days went by slowly. It was a strange experience for Audrey, but she relished in it. Every morning at breakfast, Dean greeted her with a kiss. Those kisses weren't like the one they'd shared on her birthday, but they were sweet, quick pecks on her lips, and Audrey looked forward to them everyday.
Despite the bliss she and Dean were now living in, Audrey couldn't get her mother's words out of her head. She knew her mama was right. Now that they were dating, the two adults didn't need to be living together. Audrey was a Christian. She'd taken Dean in because she felt it was the right thing to do, but now he could support himself, and they were in a relationship. There were just too many temptations for the both of them.
After work had ended for the day, Audrey decided to talk about this with Dean. She didn't know how he might react, but she knew she had to reassure him that she wasn't kicking him out. No matter where her boyfriend lived, her home would always be his home. "Hey, Dean," the young woman called when she entered the house.
She found him, as always, in the kitchen cooking supper. Miso was scurrying around his feet, prowling for any food pieces his owner might drop on the floor. "Hey, Audy," Dean repeated as he poured buffalo sauce over a pan of chicken wings. "Work go well?"
"Yeah, same as always," Audrey shrugged. She eyed Dean out of the corner of her eye, watching him move expertly around the kitchen. 'If there were ever a time, this was it,' she thought, hating the conversation she knew she and Dean had to have. "Uh, Dean." The older man turned to her expectantly, waiting for her to continue. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about." Dean quirked an eyebrow in question, but his poker face didn't let on to anything he was thinking.
Out of the blue, Audrey's phone rang. "Sorry," she apologized, shutting off the ringer and putting the phone on the counter. "Uh, anyway, I was talking to Mama the other day, a few days before my birthday. She was sa-" Again, the young woman was interrupted by her phone ringing. "Urgh, stop ringing." After ignoring the call and putting her phone to the side again, Audrey turned back to Dean.
"You can take that call," Dean assured her, pointing innocently to her phone. "I don't mind. Besides, I gotta take up these fries."
"Dean, there's something important I need to talk to you about," said Audrey with a sigh. Once the french fries were out of the fryer and in a paper towel lined bowl, Dean turned his attention back to his girlfriend. "When Mama and I were talking, she sai-"
The phone starting ringing for the third time. Audrey dropped her forehead onto the counter in frustration, and Dean picked up her phone. "Audrey, it's the hospital."
The younger woman's head shot up and her hand grabbed for the phone. "Why's the hospital calling me? Hello?"
"Audrey Dawson?" asked an unfamiliar male voice.
"Yes?" said Audrey. As he cooked, Dean watched her out of the corner of his eye. He wondered what was going on that the hospital would call her three times just to reach her.
"This is Elliot Meyers," the man introduced. "I'm calling about Peter and Lindy McKauley. I'm so sorry to tell you this, but they were in a car accident an hour ago."
"Oh my gosh! Are they alright?" gasped Audrey. Tears immediately filled her eyes, and Dean rushed to her side. "What happened? Where's Tyler?"
"That's why I'm calling you. Miss Dawson, you're aware that the McKauley's have named you as guardian to their son, Tyler, correct?"
"Yeah, I've been friends with Lindy and Peter since Tyler was a toddler," Audrey answered. She reached blindly for Dean, seeking the reassurance his touch always brought. "What's this about?"
"Peter has several broken limbs, one of which punctured a lung, and Lindy is currently in a coma. She suffered much head trauma. Their doctors are not optimistic about their chances."
"What about Tyler?" Audrey demanded frantically. She ran back to the living room to grab her keys, but didn't see where she'd dropped them. Dean ran in behind her and grabbed her jacket and purse, his own keys in hand. "Is he hurt? Who's looking after him?"
"Tyler's alright," reported Elliot. "The doctors think he has a very mild concussion, but they doubt it. He also has some burns from the seatbelt, and a few cuts from the shattered windows, but over all, he's fine. But that's why I'm calling you. We need you to come to the hospital to stay with Tyler. As his guardian, you would be the one to make any important decisions regarding Tyler."
"Yeah, I'll be there as soon as I can," said Audrey, hanging up as Dean ushered her out the door. "Dean, we've gotta get to the hospital."
"Yeah, I gathered that from what I could hear," said Dean. The two of them jumped into the Impala, and Dean tore out of the driveway.
"Oh gosh, Dean, I hope they'll be okay," Audrey sobbed. Dean pulled her into his side and held her close. "Lindy's been one of my closest friends for years. I was a bride's maid when she and Peter renewed their vows. They're as close as family to me, Dean."
"Hey, it'll be alright, Audy," Dean said softly. "What did the guy on the phone say about'em?"
"It was some guy named Elliot. He wasn't a doctor, but he said that Peter has some broken ribs and a punctured lung, and Lindy's suffered head trauma and is in a coma. Tyler's just a little beat up, but he's alright for the most part."
"Oh, wow, so glad he's okay," Dean sighed with relief. Audrey nodded against his shoulder. "So why did they ask you to go to the hospital?"
"I'm Tyler's godmother," explained Audrey. "If anything happens to Peter and Lindy, I get custody of him. I love Tyler to death, but I dearly hope I won't have to take custody of him anytime soon."
The rest of the drive was spent in silence as Audrey tried not to completely fall apart on Dean's shoulder. When they arrived at Wayline Hospital, the couple was met at the door by a middle aged man in a suit. "Audrey Dawson?" the man asked.
The address took Audrey by surprise, causing her to nearly fall as she slid to a stop. "Who are you? I'm in a hurry."
"I'm Elliot Meyers, the man you spoke to on the phone." Elliot held out a hand in introduction, which Audrey shook.
"Why are you the one that called me anyway?" asked Audrey. "Why wouldn't the doctors call me? Do you work at the hospital?"
"No, I'm actually the McKauleys' attorney," Elliot explained. "They had just left my office and were returning home when they had the accident. When the doctors told me their conditions, they advised calling in Tyler's guardian since his parents aren't able to care for him right now."
"Have you heard anything new from the doctors?" asked Dean. He could feel Audrey shaking under the arm he'd draped around her shoulders.
The lawyer shook his head regretfully. "There hasn't been any change for Peter and Lindy that I know of. If you'll come with me, I'll take you to Tyler's room and you can wait with him. Turns out, he didn't have a concussion, so he's sleeping right now. The pain medication put him right out."
When the group reached Tyler's room, the couple hesitated. "Dean, I'm almost scared to go in there," Audrey whispered, choked by tears, as she turned to face Dean and wrap her arms around his waist.
"Hey, you heard what Elliot said," Dean comforted, though he was feeling just as apprehensive. "Tyler's just fine. Just a few cuts and bruises. It'll be okay." Audrey nodded against him, but she didn't pull away. "Come on, let's go see him." Arms still around each other, the couple entered their young friend's hospital room. The sight they faced brought tears to both of them, despite Dean's assurances.
Tyler was sleeping soundly, cuts littered over his face. A few of them were bandaged, which led Dean to conclude that they'd been stitched. With slow steps, Audrey moved to Tyler's bedside and stroked his hair; Dean moved to the other side and sat down in the chair next to the bed.
"I've gotta go check on Peter and Lindy," Audrey said after a minute, her voice choked with tears. She dashed out of the room, leaving Dean to watch over the sleeping boy. Reaching toward the end of the bed, Dean snagged Tyler's chart to see just what his condition was. He was relieved to see that Tyler's injuries were all superficial.
After the clipboard was back in place, Dean turned back to his much younger friend and gently lifted his scratched and bandaged hand. "Hey, Champ," he whispered. "I'm sorry you have to deal with this. But you're going to be just fine. Ya know, I was in a car accident a few years ago, but that was much worse than yours. I nearly died. But you're going to be alright. And we'll all take good care of you while you get better."
Sitting in the silence allowed Dean too much time to think. Though he was happier with Audrey than he'd been in years, especially now that they were in a relationship, Dean couldn't help but wonder how long it would end up lasting. He wasn't feeling the urge to hunt, which surprised him in the extreme. Running the auto shop was great, and it made Dean feel accomplished in a way he'd never felt before. But the hunter couldn't get those in need out of his head. Sometimes he would glance at the obituaries in the local newspaper, just to see if anything was going on in the area. There never was, for which he was grateful, but Dean knew that, in other parts of the country, people were still dying at the hands of supernatural beings.
"Which do I want more, Ty?" Dean whispered to the sleeping boy. "Do I want to stay here, at home? Or do I want to be out there, saving people?" A sigh escaped his lips, and his forehead dropped down to his hands, still clutching Tyler's. "I know which one I want more. I want to say here with Audrey, and with you." He reached one hand out and brushed his fingers through his young friend's hair. "But how soon should I go back to hunting, if I go back at all?"
A knock on the door brought Dean back to the present. "Excuse me, Mr. Winchester?" Elliot reluctantly interrupted. The younger man looked up at the elder. "I need you to come with me. I have some things to discuss with you and Miss Dawson concerning Tyler and his parents."
"Why me?" asked the confused hunter.
"I'll explain that," answered Elliot. "It shouldn't take too long. Tyler will be alright until you get back."
Though he was reluctant, Dean pressed a kiss to Tyler's forehead and stood from his chair. "I'll be right back, Ty."
Following Elliot down the corridor brought Dean to a conference room, where Audrey stood chewing on her thumbnail. "Mr. Meyers, what's going on? Dean, what are you going here?"
Dean shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. He just told me to come."
"Miss Dawson, Mr. Winchester, if you please." The couple sat down at the table with Elliot, who had a file in his hand. "Mr. and Mrs. McKauley's conditions haven't changed, unfortunately. Their doctors have agreed to keep me informed if anything changes. However, this leaves them unable to make decisions for their son, Tyler. That's why I called you here to the hospital. As his guardians, it'll be up to you to make any decisions concerning Tyler and his treatment here at the hospital."
"Right, I understand that," said Audrey. "You told me that over th-"
"Wait a sec, did you say guardians?" asked Dean. "As in, plural? As in, not just Audrey?"
Audrey's eyes widened when she realized her boyfriend was right. "Did you say guardians?" the stunned woman repeated.
"Yes, I said guardians," Elliot confirmed. Dean felt himself go numb all over. "That's why Peter and Lindy were in my office this afternoon. Mr. Winchester, they have appointed you as Tyler's godfather."
The couple sat frozen for several seconds, trying to absorb the information they'd just been given. "W-why me?" Dean asked slowly, hesitantly, as if afraid of the answer. When Audrey looked over at her boyfriend, she saw tears in his eyes. The practical self-hate he was exuding made her want to cry as well, and she felt herself take hold of his hand in both of hers.
"Lindy and Peter have told me about you, Mr. Winchester," answered Elliot. "They went on and on about how wonderful you are with Tyler, and how much Tyler loves being with you and Miss Dawson. When they made that change to their will today, they couldn't say enough good things about you. And when they left, I could hear Tyler talking animatedly about you as well. You mean something to this family, Mr. Winchester."
Dean didn't know how to respond. Aside from his dad, no one had ever entrusted him with the wellbeing of another life. It made perfect sense that John would put Sammy into his care; Sam's his baby brother. But Tyler? Half a year ago, Dean didn't even know Tyler existed. He didn't know Audrey existed, he didn't know there was a town called Woodnor. And if someone had told him that he'd be the owner of his own car shop, he'd have splashed them with holy water and jabbed them with a silver knife, just to be on the safe side.
Six months ago, Dean was busy trying to kill Horsemen and keep people from dying. Now, here he sat in a hospital, learning that he's guardian to a small boy whose parents might be dying. It was too much to take in at once. "I need some air," he gasped. Before Audrey or Elliot could stop him, Dean had fled the room. He walked briskly through the halls, nearly running, and didn't stop until he reached the cool night air.
Looking up at the sky, Dean wished he could see the stars. One of his and Sam's favorite pastimes was sitting on the hood of the Impala in an empty field, beers in hand, and just looking up at the stars. That thought made him want his brother more than anything, and he couldn't stop the tears from falling. "What do I do, Sammy?" Dean sobbed. He slammed his fists against a stuccoed column, ignoring the scratches it left in his hands, and let his grief wash over him. "This boy's life is in my hands. I'm not good enough for him."
'Yes, you are,' his brother's voice rang in his head. Dean wasn't sure which chick-flick moment that had come from, but it was too real to be anything but a memory. 'You took care of me.'
"You're my brother, Sam," whimpered Dean. "It's my job to take care of you."
'Now you've got someone else that needs you,' said the Sam-voice.
Before Dean could respond, he felt gentle hands grab his shoulders and turn him around into a warm embrace. "It's alright, Dean," said Audrey's soft, caring voice. His forehead dropped to her shoulder, their height difference making it a little awkward. Audrey just adjusted her hold on him to hug him more easily. "Everything'll be alright. Tyler's safe with us. And he loves you, Dean. You love him too, right?" Dean nodded against her shoulder. "And I love him, too. We'll be able to take care of him."
The couple stood outside for several more minutes until Dean was calm enough to go back inside. Elliot had decided that he'd explained enough for the night, and left with a promise to return the next day to check on the McKauley family. The couple agreed that they weren't leaving Tyler alone all night, so a kind nurse rolled a cot into Tyler's room, which Dean offered to Audrey. Audrey fell asleep fairly quickly on the cot, leaving Dean awake in the cheap recliner next to Tyler's bed. Looking between his girlfriend and their young charge, Dean felt a peace settle over his shoulders. 'Now I have my answer,' thought. Giving each of his loved ones a kiss goodnight, Dean settled back in the chair to sleep. 'I'm not going anywhere.'
A/N: Such feels and sadness. I hope everyone liked this chapter. Again, so sorry for the wait. If you don't hate me too much, please leave a review. They make me happy.