A/N: Sorry about the late update! I just started a new job so I've been super busy! As always, enjoy and reviewwwww! :)

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Chapter 21: Celebration Day

Savannah's eyes snapped open as she gasped loudly. The panic was still making her heart flutter and the boys stopped their conversation, jerking their heads towards her frantic movements.

"Ya 'lright?" Bobby asked, starting to get up from his chair. Savannah closed her eyes and nodded slightly as she tried to calm herself down. When she opened her eyes again, she was careful to avoid Sam's worried stare. Out of all the dreams she'd been having, this one had shaken her the most. Maybe it was her subconscious, maybe it was just a dream; she couldn't tell. The image of Dean's limp body danced around in her head and she threw the blankets back and forced herself up from the bed. She shook off Dean as he tried to help her to the bathroom. Savannah flipped on the light and looked at herself in the mirror. She was pale and it enhanced the bruises on her face and the dark circles forming under her eyes. She braced herself on the edge of the sink and caught her breath before splashing water on her face. She took a deep breath as she reemerged and did her best to elude the concerned looks she was getting.

"Everything alright in there?" Bobby asked as she grabbed the half eaten burger in front of Dean, ignoring his silent dirty look. If anyone else had tried to take his food, they'd probably be dead.

"Of course. You find anything out?" She said around a mouthful of food. There was no use in them being worried about her. They all had a lot of shit on their plates and more importantly, there were kids getting hurt. The last thing she wanted was them to worry about her on top of everything else. Bobby shot Dean an uneasy look as he poured her a shot with a tired sigh.

"Not a goddamn thing. I'm waiting on a few calls back from some guys who owe me some favors." He said, adjusting his hat. Savannah just nodded and continued shoveling the burger into her mouth. She watched Sam pull out a map of the city and cross off the places they'd checked. So far, it was 2 hospitals and 2 nursing homes. They still had a lot more ground to cover if they wanted to catch this monster anytime soon. Savannah stole a glance to Sam and Dean, watching them for any signs of anger. Dean's eyes had lost their rage, the whole ordeal with the demons had sent him back to worrying. She looked hard into Sam's eyes, finding that the anger was slow to fade from them. He looked frustrated and lost and she wondered just what it was that he was thinking about. Bobby let out a sigh and she turned her attention to him.

"So, who's up for some coffee?" She asked, watching Bobby perk up at the idea. She smiled at her boys as she slipped on her jacket. She forced herself not to flinch in pain as she caught the keys that Dean threw her.

For her boys, she had to pretend like everything was fine. She had to be strong, because they were both breaking. She couldn't let the pain or the worry or the doubt get to her because it was going to get to them. And she couldn't let them break. Not now, and not ever. It was her job to keep strong when they couldn't and now was one of those times. She knew her boys well enough to know that they were putting on a brave face.

She knew that Dean was worrying about her, and about Sammy. The idea of Sam being taken from him had shaken him but he wouldn't let that show. No, he would just quietly work away, trying to do everything in his power to make sure that Sammy was safe, because that's all he knew how to do. And she knew that Sam was lost, and scared of what he was becoming. A freak is what he'd been calling himself. And she watched him break a little bit more every time Dean made a joke about it. But Sam wouldn't say a word, he would keep it locked inside and let it fester. She knew that all he really wanted was Dean to say that he cared still, that Dean was going to save his little brother, like he always did.

In a way, watching out for them had been instilled in her the same way Dean was taught to protect Sammy. From that one day in September all those years ago, she knew that was her sole purpose. Because she could never love anyone in the world as much as she loved those two boys. She would stop at nothing to make sure that they were happy and healthy, even if it meant that she wasn't.

Savannah shook the sentiments from her brain before her eyes swept across three tired looking faces.

"Feel like coming for a drive, Sammy?" She asked, hopeful that he'd accept. Sam nodded and put on his jacket before they made their way to the Impala. She secretly loved when Dean let her drive. It wasn't often when he handed the keys over, but she loved it when he did. She'd always loved classic cars, a trait she'd learned from her father when she was younger. In between jobs they would stop at any car show they stumbled onto. She loved the power of the engine and the way Impala purred. She brought the engine to life and let the silence loom for a little while before she said anything.

"Sammy?" She asked, shooting him a glance.

"Yeah, Van?" He answered, tearing his eyes away from the darkened scenery.

"Are you scared?" She asked honestly. Her voice sounded so small and it was shrouded with fear. Sam gave her the sympathetic smile he always did.

"Of course I am! But I can't just run away from it, Van." He said valiantly. It was just like Sam to run headfirst into trouble, even when he didn't mean to.

"I'm not saying that, but…but what if something happens to you?" She asked, the fear rolling off her tongue before she could stop it. It was times like these when she loved Sam the most, when she was scared and worried and tired of being strong, Sam had always been there to help her shoulder the burden. He looked at her, his eyes were bold with conviction and it soothed her uneasiness some.

"Nothing's going to happen to me, I promise." He guaranteed as she nodded, feeling more like she was 11 and not 25. They pulled up into the run down gas station and Savannah peeled herself out of the car. She was getting used to the pain now, which had helped with her mobility. She grabbed Sam's jacket before they reached the door and looked at him sternly, despite the foot difference between them.

"Oh, and Sammy, if you ever run out on me again, I'll kill you." She said, half mockingly, half not. Sam just nodded as they headed inside. Sam went to go get coffee and Savannah browsed the shelves for snacks. She made sure to grab Funions for Sam and pie for Dean before grabbing herself a candy bar and something for Bobby. Savannah made her way over to Sam, who was stirring in the sugar to the last of the coffees. Sam's face lit up at the sight of the Funions and they made their way to the counter to pay. As they climbed back into the Impala, Sam sent her a glance.

"Will you stop worrying? Everything's gonna be just fine, Van. You're gonna burn yourself out if you don't relax every now and then." He said as he hastily opened the bag of Funions. She looked back at him, choosing not to tell him what she wanted. What she really wanted to ask him was how she wasn't supposed to worry when Yellow Eyes was after him, or when Dean was one step away from falling apart, or how Bobby looked older and older every time they saw him. She had to worry, because someone had to make sure that they all remained in one piece. But he wasn't entirely wrong, either. She was running on empty and she knew it. She wasn't sleeping right, wasn't eating right and it really was only a matter of time before her body forced her to take a break. She sighed and looked at Sammy, a smile on her face.

"After this job is over, I'll take a vacation. Deal?" She offered and Sam nodded. She backed out of the parking lot and headed back toward the motel. It was quiet and Savannah was humming along with Led Zeppelin as it played from the speakers. She stole a look at Sam, stifling a smile as she watched him shove Funions into his mouth at an alarming rate. She wondered what her Dad would have thought about the boys if he could see them now. She wondered if he would still say that Sam read too much, or that Dean ate more than any boy should. She wondered if he would be as proud of them as she was. Bobby's words came resonating back into her head. "You think your daddy would want you moping around like this? Hell, he'd kick my ass for letting you do it all these years. You're going to have to let it all go one of these days. Or it'll kill you." And she knew he was right. Her father wouldn't have wanted her to pretend like his death hadn't happened. His death had meant something, she meant something and it was time that she honored her Dad by letting go. Taking all the guilt and the blame and the anger she'd been building up and just let it go. She deserved to be happy and that's exactly what she would be. Her father might have been the last of her blood family, but that didn't mean she was alone. She still had family, as unconventional as they might be. She looked at Sam and arched an eyebrow.

"Hey Sam, what are we doing for my birthday?" She asked laughing as Sam's face fell to utter confusion.