Vrskaandrea: We both know things never run smoothly for the Winchesters but I'm pleased to report that after a close call they will work things out, or more accurately brush it under the carpet to never speak off again.
Vegas Granny: Keep that tight grip!
CHAPTER 64
"Dean still outside with Kayla?" Bobby asked as he entered the kitchen.
"Yep, she was afraid to move her in case she woke up."
"But wouldn't that be better? You know, keep her awake so she will sleep tonight?"
"Nope. Apparently it doesn't work like that with babies. The better they sleep during the day, the better they sleep at night. Anyway I think Caleb went out to keep her company." Sam said.
Bobby looked out the window.
"Huh."
"What?" Sam asked.
"Looks like they're sparring."
Sam looked out. He watched as Caleb backhanded Dean across the face, sending her stumbling.
"Fuck!" He exclaimed. "Bobby, they're not sparring!"
Sam ran for the door.
"Oh shit!" Bobby said taking off after Sam.
•
Sam could hear Kayla crying through the open windows of the Impala as he raced across the yard to where the other two were fighting.
"Dean!" Sam shouted as he got nearer.
They approached Dean and Caleb and Sam tried to get his arms around his brother and pull her away from Caleb.
"Dean calm down!" Sam yelled at her. "Stop it!"
Using Sams body as a brace, Dean pushed off the ground. Jack knifing in his arms she kicked out with her legs, connecting both feet brutally with Caleb's chest, sending him backwards and to the ground.
"Let me go Sammy!" Dean snarled.
"No!"
"I said let. Me. Go!" Dean said struggling in Sams grip.
"Stop this Dean. Calm down before you get hurt." Sam pleaded with his brother.
Caleb was on the ground groaning and trying to get his breath back. Dean managed to break away from Sams grip sending him to the ground also. She stormed over to the Impala and drove away with Kayla screaming in the back seat.
"Dean! Dean stop! Don't go!" Sam shouted after her as he stood. "Bobby, keys!"
Bobby was on the ground trying to help Caleb. He looked up at Sams outstretched hand.
"I don't have any on me." Bobby said.
"Caleb, keys!" Sam demanded.
Caleb was lying curled on the ground gasping for breath so Bobby patted his pockets and found a set. He pulled them out and threw them to Sam who jumped in Caleb's truck and took off after Dean.
Sam reached the cross roads and hesitated for a moment. There were no signs to indicate which direction Dean had gone in so Sam followed his instincts and turned left. He drove down the road at almost twice the legal speed limit for five minutes before making a dangerous U-turn and speeding back in the other direction. With no sign of Dean and too many side roads to search, Sam turned around and drove back to Bobby's. He brought Caleb's truck to a stop then pulled out his phone.
'This is Deans other, other phone, you know what to do...'
"Dean please don't do this, not again. Come home...please, just come home."
•
"Did you catch them?" Bobby asked as Sam walked into the lounge room.
"No. By time I got to the intersection she was nowhere to be seen, I drove around for a bit but couldn't find them." Sam said. "How's he?" Sam nodded in Caleb's direction.
"He'll live. Bruised ribs, few cuts and bruises, damaged ego." Bobby replied.
Sam nodded and sat on the arm of one of the chairs. He looked at Caleb on the couch, holding an ice pack to his face.
"So you wanna tell me what that was all about out there?" Sam asked.
"I said the wrong thing." Caleb mumbled.
"The wrong thing? What could you possibly say that would have led to that?" Sam wondered.
"I said something about Kayla." Caleb removed the ice pack and slowly sat up.
"About Kayla? What exactly did you say about my niece?" Sam glared at Caleb.
"I told Dean I wanted to have her tested." Not entirely a lie.
"Tested for what?" Bobby asked.
"For whatever, I mean, come on guys! Deans a man! He shouldn't even have been able to conceive her, let alone give birth! He is under the influence of some heavy duty black magic and I just wanted to make sure she hadn't...absorbed any of it." Again, not entirely a lie. He had wondered about that.
"Well any wonder Dean was kicking your arse seven ways to Sunday! You don't just say something like that to any mother, let alone Dean!" Bobby said. "Well, what's said is said. He can't stay away forever, all their stuff is here. He's going to have to bring Kayla back at some point."
Sam shook his head.
"The diaper bag was still in the Impala. It has Kaylas cup and was full of diapers and there's at least two onesies and a change of clothes in it. That would be all Dean needs for her. He could stay away for ever." Sam said.
Just then Sams phone sounded. It was a message from Dean.
'Need breathing space. Won't leave you again.'
"Well?" Caleb asked. He felt bad he'd driven Dean away again.
"He just needs some space, they'll be back later."
•
It was late, really late, when Dean pulled into the salvage yard. Kayla was babbling away in her car seat. She was relieved to see the house almost dark. Dean hoped that meant everyone was asleep and she would be able to get in without a tonne of questions. She had no idea what story Caleb had given them and she was too tired, both physically and emotionally, to play catch up right now.
Dean unstrapped Kayla and lifted her out of the seat, slinging the diaper bag over her shoulder.
"Come on mischief, let's go get you cleaned up and in bed."
With her muscles screaming and body bruised and aching Dean carried her daughter inside, thankfully the door was left unlocked, and up the stairs, talking quietly to her. They went into their new room, someone had the kindness to leave the bedside lamp shining, and Dean put Kayla on the bed and removed her clothes down to her diaper. Grabbing her own sleep clothes and their toiletries, she took her daughter into the bathroom.
Adjusting the spray she stripped herself then took Kaylas diaper off. Stepping under the spray she quickly washed Kayla then placed her on the floor of the tub and began washing herself, washing away the blood and dirt, taking care of the cuts and bruises over her body. She quickly washed her hair then picked Kayla back up. After turning off the shower Dean wrapped Kayla in a towel, setting her on the floor again while she dried and dressed. Looking in the mirror Dean tried to avoid looking at the bruises on her face and the split in her lip as she applied her face cream.
"Mumumum." Kayla said from the floor.
"One sec baby. I'm nearly done."
Dean gathered everything up and picked Kayla back up then walked back to their room. She put her on the change table and dried her thoroughly before putting a dry diaper on her. She was just reaching for a singlet and onesie when she heard Sam behind her.
•
Sam wasn't sleeping but Bobby had insisted they all go to bed and leave a clear path for Dean when she came home. He heard the car pull up, he heard Dean enter the house. He heard her softly murmuring to Kayla as she entered the room next door. It took all his strength to stay in his bed when he heard Dean go into the bathroom and by time he heard the shower turn off and Dean go back into her room, all Sams will power had gone and he climbed out of his bed and walked to Deans doorway.
"Caleb told us what he said." In the soft glow of the lamp he saw Dean stiffen. "About testing Kayla."
Dean closed her eyes and waited for Sam to continue.
"Look, we don't think there is anything but he does have a point Dean. This is some powerful magic happening here. It wouldn't hurt to be sure."
Dean relaxed slightly as she finished dressing Kayla and picked her up. She turned to face Sam.
"Jesus Dean, your face!" He said as he stepped closer. He reached out to Dean but she stepped back. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"I know. Just hurts, you know."
Sam nodded.
"Look, I'm tired Sam. I gotta put Kayla down. Can we do this later?"
"Yeah sure."
Dean put Kayla in her crib. She leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"Lepo spavaj, moje najmilije."
"What did you just say to her?"
"Sweet dreams, my most cherished." Dean said as she stroked Kaylas head.
"I don't recognise the language."
"A Serbian nun taught it to me." Dean faced Sam again. "I'm tired, I just want to rest."
Sam could see she was at breaking point.
"Do you need me to look at your injuries? That was a brutal fight so don't tell me you don't have any." He offered, reluctant to leave Dean.
"I'm good. I got some ice on the bruises. Nothing feels broken. I just need sleep."
"Okay Dean. Go to bed. We'll talk tomorrow." He gave his brother a small smile and stepped from the room.
"Hey Sam?"
"Yeah?"
"Lepo spavaj, moje najmilije."
"You too, Dean."
•
As exhausted as she was, Dean didn't sleep much. Anxiety ramped up to one million she spent much of, what was left of the night, pacing back and forth, with exception of one visit to the bathroom to empty the small amount of food left in her stomach into the toilet when the stress became too much. All she wanted to do was sleep but every time she tried, each time she closed her eyes, her brain would scream at her, 'they want to hurt Kayla, they fear her, they don't trust her'. Much time was spent standing over Kaylas crib, staring at the sleeping child. Every atom in her body wanted Dean to scoop Kayla into her arms and run... 'they fear her'... but she told Sam she wouldn't do that again... 'they want to hurt her'... so they must stay... 'they don't trust her'...
Kayla woke just once in the early morning hours. Dean changed her diaper and took her downstairs where she warmed some milk and sat on the sofa while her daughter drank. She managed to slip into a light form of sleep and both mother and daughter dozed on the sofa until the sound of Kaylas cup hitting the floor woke her. She rose from the sofa and climbed the stairs. She lay on the bed, still holding her sleeping child and closed her eyes, able to drift off again.
"Mumumum..." Kayla was kneeling over Dean and patting her on the face.
Dean woke with a start.
"Don't baby. Mommy's got an ouch." She said, gently taking Kaylas tiny hand in hers. She looked at Kayla and smiled, the baby gave a big smile back.
"Mumma ow?" She tilted her head trying to understand.
"Yep." Dean said pushing herself into a sitting position and pulling Kayla into her lap. "See here and here and here."
Dean pointed to her lip and some of the bruises she could feel on her face. Kayla poked her lip.
"Oh, ouch!" Dean said, drawing in an exaggerated hissing breath through her teeth.
"Ssss Ow?" Kayla asked, trying to imitate Dean.
"Yeah baby. Ow."
Dean pulled the drapes aside and saw the sky was beginning to lighten.
"What say we get you something to eat then go for a little run?" She said tickling her daughters tummy causing her to giggle and push at Deans hand. "I'm glad you agree."
•
When Dean had them both dressed and ready to go, she quietly went down to the kitchen.
"Hmmm, I think milk is probably not the best idea for rough riding it down a country road." Dean said leaning into the fridge. "How about some strawberries and juice?"
"Ooos!"
Dean put some juice in Kaylas cup and watered it down with the purified water Bobby had put in the refrigerator then cut some strawberries and put them into a container.
"Okay, mischief, we are good to go."
Dean took Kayla from the high chair and silently left the house. She walked over to the Impala and opened the trunk. Dean glanced around to make sure she was hidden from the house she carefully stood Kayla on the ground, not letting go until she was sure the child had a good grip on the bumper. Kayla bounced happily and walked sideways along the bumper as Dean pulled out the pusher and set it up. She strapped Kayla in, Kayla voicing her displeasure until Dean gave her a big strawberry, then she turned back to the trunk. Lifting the false bottom she found her holster and secured two large knives in the scabbards, her faithful hunting knife and a large silver one, clipping the straps to hold them in place. Taking off her over sized hoodie she slipped it on over her shoulders and secured it in place. She pulled the Taurus from her waist band and ejected the clip, checking the contents. Tapping the magazine twice against the pearl handle she slid it back into place, checking the safety then slid the weapon into the holster. Dean grabbed her jacket and put it back on and zipped it up then closed the trunk quietly. She handed Kayla her cup and placed the container of strawberries beside her.
"Okay, I think we are all set."
Dean began walking down the drive way, avoiding the potholes so she didn't jostle Kayla too much. Once she reached the road she began with a gentle jog, building up to a good steady pace. She ran until she felt the stress and anger began to melt away and all she could hear was the sound of her runners hitting the bitumen and all she could see was her child, her 'moje najmilije', sitting securely in her seat, covered with strawberry juice.
••••••••••••••••••
A/N huge thanks to Vrskaandrea for Deans Serbian blessing. x
