Chapter 36

Taylor's first cycle ended by the end of the first week of August, which was good, because Sam and Dean had went along with having her party at a water park, and Dean didn't want everything be for nothing. If the birthday girl couldn't swim, what was the point of having a party at a water park? Also, they didn't give refunds, either. At least, not for something as backing out because the kid had started.

All week, Taylor had prayed her cycle would end, in time and was super excited to finally have a party. Growing up in foster care, no one really took the time, to make her party, extra special, the way her brothers were. There were foster parents that did give her a cake and presents, and a small celebration, but, not an actual party, with friends and family, that would last all day. So, when Taylor woke up, dry, Friday morning, the day before her party, she shouted in excitement, scaring the crap out of Sam and Dean, who had thought she was in danger. Dean had even grabbed his gun, like he had done, before.

On the way home, from work, Cas had called Dean, asking if he could present Taylor's gift from him, a day early.

"Why can't you wait and give it to her, at the party, tomorrow?" Dean asked.

"I don't think it would be wise, to give this, in front of everyone," the angel explained. "Also, I can't wrap it."

Dean narrowed his eyes, staring ahead, in confusion. "Cas, please tell me, you didn't get Taylor, a pony. Did you?"

"Why would I give her, a miniature version of a horse? No, I got her, something else. It took me a couple months and I had to call in, a few favors, but, I finally managed to do it. As they, sort of, say. I have friends, in 'high' places," Cas sounded as though he was trying to pull a Dean, making a reference.

He shook his head. "I don't get it."

"I have friends in 'high' places," Cas put emphasis on high. Dean still didn't get it. "You know. 'High' places. Like that country singer who has friends, in low places, but my friends are up in heaven."

Dead silence.

Finally, Dean told him, "Once you get to the point where you have to explain yourself, it takes the funny part of the joke. Cas, what did you do?"

"Just something for Taylor. And," he, quickly, added, "there are no negative repercussions. I got special permission for this."

"Okay, what is it?"

"You'll find out, tonight. If that's okay if I present it, beforehand."

"That's fine, Cas, especially since now I'm really itching to know what it is. And, it better not be furry and poops a lot."

There was some silence. "I am not sure of the bowel movement habits, but, I wouldn't call it, furry," Cas said,

"Cas, what did you get her?" The line hung up, at that. "Cas!" Dean looked at the phone, to see his home screen. "Damn it, Cas," he cursed at it and put the phone away, in his pocket.

When Dean got back to the apartment, he told Sam about Cas wanting to give Taylor, her present, early, instead of at the party. Sam wasn't sure what it could be, either and was just as curious as Dean.

Later, after dinner, Dean suggested Taylor go get ready for bed. Neither of the brothers had told their sister, Cas was bringing her present by, early. While she was in the shower, there was a knock on the door. It was Cas. Every time Cas appeared, his usual way, it would always scare the crap out of Taylor, so Sam and Dean finally persuaded the angel to use the front door, like a human would.

"So, what's this surprise of yours, Cas?" Dean asked, folding his arms, tightly, across his chest, when Sam had shut the door, behind the angel.

"Where's Taylor?" Cas, also, asked.

"In the shower," Sam answered.

Cas finally started to explain his reasoning for the upcoming gift. "Look, I've been thinking of something to make up to the kid, for what happened. Something big. I could only think of one thing and one thing, only."

"What's that?" he asked.

The angel switched his eyes between Sam and Dean. "I resurrected your father."

Sam and Dean's heads straightened, at the sound of that, as they stared at the angel.

It was Dean who said, "Come, again? You want to run that by us, again?"

"I pulled a few strings with a few friends of mine, who are higher up, explained Taylor's situation, and they talked to their superior. They agreed, considering Taylor's background," he explained.

Dean unhooked one of his hands. "Hold on. Since when does angels, willingly, for no reason, resurrect someone?"

"Angels are allowed to perform one miracle, every thousand years or so," Cas replied. "Depending on the person, it's for. Since the angels don't have a thing against your sister, like they do you, Taylor was chosen to be given a miracle, for her birthday."

"I'm getting a miracle?" Cas, Sam, and Dean turned their heads, to see Taylor walk out of the bathroom, switching the light off, in the process.

"How much did you hear, Kiddo?" Dean asked of his sister.

"Just that last part about me, getting a miracle for my birthday," she answered, honestly. Taylor looked over at Cas. "What is it?"

The angel smiled for the kid. "The best thing I could think to give you." Cas, then, headed back, towards the front door and opened it, to reveal, none other than John Winchester, standing right there, on the welcome mat. He looked the same as the brothers last saw him. "Happy birthday, Taylor."

Taylor stood there, rooted to the spot, staring over at the man. Not only that, but, Sam and Dean stood there, in surprise. Was this really happening? Was their father really alive?

The porch light illuminated the rugged man in spotlight. He smiled, "Hey, baby girl." John was looking right at Taylor. He also looked over at his boys. "Hey, boys." Cas had already filled the man in on everything.

Dean managed to be the first to speak. "Dad? Is that really you?"

"It's me, tiger," John replied and stepped inside the apartment, letting Cas shut the door behind him. The moment he stopped, Taylor dashed over and, literally jumped on her father, almost knocking him over. She held onto him, tight, gripping his shirt in both hands, as her legs slid down his until they were back on the floor. John held his daughter, in return, holding one arm around her head, like a crown and held a long kiss on top. When he ended the kiss, John spoke in a soft voice. "I didn't know any of that would happen to you, baby girl. I am so sorry."

"It's okay, Daddy," Taylor replied and looked up at her father, with just her eyes. "I forgive you."

John smiled. "Thanks, baby girl." At that, he squeezed, tighter, holding another kiss on her head. "You are just as beautiful as the day you were born."

"I am?" she asked, her eyebrows rising at that statement.

"You bet."

"Wait a minute," Taylor suddenly realized and rushed to her bedroom. For the few seconds the kid was gone for, father and sons took the time to hug, as well. She returned as John and Sam were hugging. They let go, after a moment, before he faced Dean. There was a long pause before Dean managed to take a step towards the man and wrapped him in a tight hold. Their hug lasted just as long as it did, with Taylor.

"It's good to see you, boys, still alive," John smiled, switching between his sons.

"Well," Sam took in air, sliding his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

John let out a chuckle. "What?"

It was Dean who answered. "We've had a few run-ins, with death, ourselves," he admitted. "But," Dean shared a look with his brother, "because of how you raised us, we couldn't let the other stay dead."

John hung his head. Cas had filled him in, on Taylor. Not on Sam and Dean. "So, you watched out for each other, huh?" he lifted his head and forced a smile. "That's my boys."

"They watch out for me, too, Daddy," Taylor spoke up, finally. She had been waiting, patiently, considering she was very excited to have her dad. The kid was holding her dolphin, in her arms.

John had looked over when she had spoken and noticed the toy. "You still have that ol' thing?" he teased her.

"Uh huh," she nodded and hugged it. "It got me through the bad times, like when I was sad or scared. Want to know what I call it?"

"What?"

"Daddy. Because it sounds like you." Taylor squeezed its middle and it started to sing.

"It still works?" John asked, surprised.

"New batteries," she replied.

"About that, Dad," Sam said, shifting on his feet. "I know how that thing is made, on the count of Jess. So, our question has been," he grinned at the floor, before looking back at his father, "how was the 'dance' you had to do, with its heart?"

John frowned. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Sammy. I found that at a Goodwill," he denied the whole thing. Neither of the brothers were buying it, though.

"If you had, how did your voice get on the the recorder, inside?"

"I ripped it, open and recorded over the old one."

Sam and Dean smirked over at their father, exchanging looks between them.

It was Taylor, who ratted their dad out. "Mama said, you made it."

John looked over at the kid. "You met your mother, Taylor?" he asked.

She nodded. "A couple months ago. She kidnapped me when I refused to live with her, and turned me into a vamp." That set John off.

"What?!" he looked over at his boys. "You let your sister get kidnapped by vampires? And, get turned?!" John looked back at his daughter, now confused. Outraged, but, confused. He lowered his tone, for Taylor. "So, you're a vampire, baby girl?"

She shook her head. "Dean cured me, like his grandpa cured him." Taylor had moved over to hide against Sam, for protection, when John had raised his voice.

John stared at Taylor, switching over to Dean. "What?"

"Guess I forgot to mention, a few things," Cas spoke up.

John's eyes, immediately, darted back over to Dean. "What the hell has been going on after I died?" he demanded of his boys.

Dean and Sam exchanged looks between them. So, sitting down, they gave their father, a quick overview of the last decade, starting with Dean's crossroads deal to save Sam and where that led to. Each brother took their turns, explaining things from their point of view. John wasn't too happy about Sam drinking demon blood, but, Dean getting away for a year, having a life with someone, and Sam, as well, when he mentioned Amelia, made things, better.

What the brothers noticed as they told their father, everything, was what Taylor did, the whole time. She sat on the couch, watching their father. Studying him, it seemed like. Like the kid was trying to freeze frame John, in her mind. It was the complete opposite from how Taylor interacted with Angela.

Besides that, sitting side by side, each other, Dean could really see how much the two of them looked alike. He felt bad for hogging John, knowing his sister never got to know their father, like he or Sam knew. In fact, by the time they finished catching John up, on everything, Taylor had fallen asleep, clutching her dolphin in her arm and her head on John's leg.

Dean stood up, to go move over and lift his sister, when John stopped him. He told him, he would move Taylor to her room, just point the way. So, John slid his arms underneath her knees and supported her head, lifting Taylor as he stood to his feet, not expecting how light she was.

"She's just as light as you were, Sam. If not lighter."

"You should have seen what Taylor looked like, at two," Sam told his father.

Dean nodded, in agreement. "Could have been Sam's twin."

"You have pictures of her, growing up?" he asked, sounding like nothing the boys had never heard from the man.

"Well, no. Her CASA does. She showed us a picture. It was the last time, Taylor was happy, before we met," he admitted.

John looked down at his daughter, sleeping in his arms.

"Dad," Sam spoke, after a moment.

He looked up at his middle, grown child.

"How come you never told us we had siblings?" During the update, Sam and Dean had also mentioned meeting Adam. They saw their father drop his head, at the mention of it. John did the same thing when Sam asked.

He watched Taylor, sleep. "I was trying to keep them, safe, as I tried to do with you. But, I didn't want to get Adam and Taylor involved in our mess. I thought keeping them at a distance would protect them. I tried to keep tabs on them, check in to make sure they were okay. With Adam, he had his mother. So, it was a little easier. But…" his voice got lost as he continued to watch his daughter. "When Taylor's mother told me, she wanted nothing to do with her, I was backed into a corner. I couldn't take Taylor in when I was closing in on the demon and I didn't want you, Dean," John looked up at his oldest. "I also put the responsibility of Sam on you. I couldn't put Taylor on you, too. Not when you were just starting to hunt on your own."

"Raising Taylor, in our lives would have been better than the life she lived, in foster care." Dean couldn't keep the bitterness out of his own voice. Not even when it came to his own father.

John looked over at Sam, switching between them. "They told me, Taylor would be in good hands. That she would find a good home, within the first year. They even promised me, when I told them I felt a doubt. I guess I should have listened to it." He looked back down at Taylor. John looked over at Sam. "You want to know something, Sammy?"

"What?" he replied, softly.

"I even considered taking her to Stanford, ask you to watch her, since you had managed to get out, for four years and I would be able to check on you both," he admitted. "But, then I thought you would slam the door in my face and not hear what I had to say."

"I might have. If it were about my sister."

"In all due respect, John," Cas spoke up, stepping closer. "Sam," he nodded over at him and switch between them as he spoke, "If you had left Taylor with Sam, back then, Azazel would have killed not only your girlfriend, but, Taylor, as well. Remember, Azazel stopped at nothing to make sure you said, yes, to Lucifer."

"Cas is right," Dean agreed. "If Taylor had remained with us, it would have to have been with Bobby. He would have been the only safer option."

"I considered Bobby," John said. "But, the last time I saw him, the guy tried to shoot at me."

"No, disrespect, Dad, but you do have that effect on people."

John couldn't help smile at that. He. then shifted Taylor, in his arms.

"She getting heavy, there?" Sam asked.

"A little," he nodded. "She's way too big for this."

Sam led John to Taylor's room, turning on the light. He walked over to his sister's bed and tossed back the My Little Pony comforter, stepping to the side, to let John lay her down and cover her up. He touched the top of her head and kissed it.

"Night, baby girl," John told her, softly and stood back up.

Sam leaned over to kiss his sister, good night, as well. "Good night, Buddy."

Once his father and brother had their turn, Dean walked over from where he was leaning in the doorway. Thankful to have his whole family, back. Well, Bobby would have made it even more whole. And, Ellen, and Jo, and even Garth and Kevin. It felt like a dream and Dean caught himself, pinching his leg, to check.

Sam made up the couch, for their father, to sleep on, before the men hit the sack, as well, telling each other good night, as Sam and Dean retreated to their rooms. When two AM rolled around, Taylor started crying in her sleep. Now and then, the nightmares would still haunt the girl, while she slept and either Sam and Dean would be there to comfort her. This time, though, both brothers got rejected when Sam woke her, shaking her, gently. Taylor wanted one person and held her arms out to John, who stood back, behind Dean.

Dean stepped to the side, motioning for their father to go over there.

John stepped over there and took Sam's place, on the bed. Taylor jumped into their father's arms and hugged his neck. "It's alright, baby girl," he told her, gently, holding his daughter, close. As if on cue, John started singing lines from Hey, Jude.

The brothers, eventually, left the room and headed back to bed, leaving father and daughter alone. The next morning, when they got up, Sam and Dean found the couch empty. When they checked Taylor's room, they saw John, sleeping next to their sister, his arm, protectively, around her. Since it was around her usual wake-up, Taylor stirred, rubbing her eye.

Crawling out from under his arm, she moved, backwards, on her hands and knees. When Taylor reached the foot of the bed, she stepped off and headed over to greet her brothers. It was Dean who lifted her up.

"So, were you surprised?" he smiled.

She nodded. "Did you know Cas was doing this for me?"

"He asked me, on the way home if he could give you, his present, early. Cas didn't tell me what it was." Dean shrugged, "I thought it was a pony or a puppy."

"I would have been okay with a pony or puppy," Taylor nodded, again, and grinned.

Dean laughed at that. "I wouldn't have."

That made Taylor giggle. "This is even better, though."

"Oh, yeah? Dad's better than a pony or a puppy?"

Taylor shrugged, "At least he won't poop on the carpet. Or, I don't think he will."

Sam laughed, too. "No, you're right, Bud. Dad won't poop on the carpet. Pretty sure," he nodded and changed the subject. "Are you ready for your party, today?"

Taylor nodded, very excited. "Heck ya!" she exclaimed, which Dean shushed her, reminding his sister, their dad was still sleeping and told her, he could be grumpy, in the morning. "Sorry."

Dean planted a kiss on her cheek, his stubble tickling it. Taylor rubbed at her cheek, with the back of her hand, making him, smile.

"Can Daddy come?"

"I'm afraid not, Bud," Sam broke the bad news.

Taylor frowned over at her brother. "Why not?"

"After what happened with your mom, Kiddo, I think we better keep Dad, quiet, from Mindy and them. Plus, pretty sure he won't pass a background check. And, we all know Mindy's gonna have to do that, if she finds out Dad is alive."

"How come?"

"What?" he asked.

"Why won't Daddy pass a background check?"

"Remember what we told you, about the hunter's life?" Dean reminded her.

Taylor nodded.

"Our slate was cleared. But, Dad, even though Cas brought him, back, his record would still be the same. Mindy or the judge wouldn't approve Dad to be around you. But, once we have full custody and they have no control over who can be in your life, Mindy won't have to. So, until then, Dad stays on the down low. Okay?"

She nodded, again. "Oh kay."

Dean gave her, a longer kiss on the cheek before putting her down. "So, how does it feel. Now that you're a teenager, I mean?"

Taylor shrugged. "I don't feel any different," she admitted. "I have this annoying pimple on my nose, though, and it won't go away."

"That's okay," he told her. "We can just call it, Sammy." Dean snickered, looking over at his brother, who wasn't amused.

Taylor wasn't either. "That wasn't nice, Dean," she scolded her brother. "That was mean. Tell Sammy, you're sorry."

Dean slumped his shoulders and whined, "Do I have to, Mommy?" trying to be funny.

She folded her arms, across her chest. "Do it, Dean Alexander." The girl was firm, not budging.

"Oh, fine." Dean looked over at Sam, who returned with a I'm waiting look. "I'm sorry, Sammy. That was rude of me." The guy tried to say it with a straight face, trying to not break out in laughter. When both Sam and Taylor did, first, Dean finally let it go and laughed, along with them.

The siblings packed up Sam's SUV, much to Dean's protest of taking Baby instead. Taylor showed John how to use the TV and the remote before they left. When Dean told her, they had to leave, she gave him, a tight hug.

"You know what you need before you go?" he asked, with a devilish grin.

"What's that?"

"Your birthday spanking." With that said, John tossed Taylor over his knee and asked, "how old are you?"

Taylor was trying to get away, confused. "Thirteen."

"Thirty?" he asked, pretending to not of heard right.

"Thirteen," she corrected him, struggling in his hold.

"Thirty, got ya."

"No, thirteen!" Taylor pushed up, on his leg.

Dean, who was standing in front of her view, assured her, their father's birthday spankings, never really hurt. It was pure fun. For him, anyway, and who ever was there, to witness it.

John landed the first swat. At first, he made it seem like he was going to do it, hard, then, he stopped just before and, lightly patted her bottom, over her shorts. By now, Taylor was pawing at the floor, with her feet, squirming to get away. The next one landed, the same as the first, and soon after, the third and fourth. John kept it up until he got to thirteen, where he asked, "Are you sure you're not turning thirty?"

"No." Even though he didn't make it, hurt, tears were still in her eyes. When John let her go, Taylor dashed over to Sam, burying her face into his stomach.

"Buddy, that didn't hurt, did it?" he made sure. Sam had been on his sister's end, when he was small. Him and Dean had always laughed when John did it to them, as kids. He felt her, shake her head, against him. He lifted his sister up, into his arms. The minute he did, John had to say something.

"Sam, don't pick your sister, up, like that. She's thirteen, now."

Sam ignored his dad. "What's wrong, Bud? Were you confused by what was going on?"

She nodded against his shoulder, hiding her face in her arms that were wrapped around his neck.

"Sam," John raised his voice.

Dean wasn't sure what came over him. But, he found himself, walking over to his brother and told him to put her down. Sam tried to object, but Dean told his brother, to trust him. So, he put Taylor down. Sam was surprised when Dean, immediately, lifted Taylor up, which she clinged to him, just as she had done with Sam.

He looked over at their father. "Taylor was robbed, quite a few times, growing up. We made a promise to our baby sister, we would keep her, a kid, for as long as possible. That includes being held. Sam and I have custody, not you. So, whatever we do with her, is our decision, not yours. You just came into her life. We've been there, for Taylor, the last seven months." Before John could say anything to that, Dean carried his sister out the door. No one said a word, not even when Sam headed over to grab his sister's flip flops that she had lost during the whole thing. He tried to, but, decided against it, following after his siblings, locking the door, behind him.

I've been wanting to figure out a way to bring John back, for most of the story and have even hinted about it, throughout, too. Really hope you like it. If not, I'm sorry. :(

Also, not sure why but I can't read your reviews from yesterday. Fan fiction isn't showing them, even though it says, they're there. And, I never got an email, either.