CHAPTER ELEVEN
Dean shoveled the last bit of dirt over Meg's grave out in the wilderness. They'd torched her body and buried it where no one would find it, bringing relief over the Winchester family. John had come to his senses and sat in the Impala chatting away with Alana, learning more about the daughter he hardly knew. Dean and Sam were finishing their jobs, giving Alana some breathing room after last night's façade.
Sam closed the journal and looked to his brother, a sigh of relief washing over him. It was over, no more Meg, ghosts, demons or the works, but something overcame them as they looked over to the car, terror in their eyes. From the mist of the early morning fog did the creature evolve, hastily making its way to the car. Sam screamed to Alana who jumped into the driver's seat, trying to put the car in gear before being roughly thrown from the car.
Her neck snapped, her body lifelessly falling to the ground. John was screaming over and over for his daughter as the beast tore the door open and pulled him from the car. As the beast turned to the brothers did the face appear the face of that whom they just buried. Meg.
"NO!" Dean yelled, as he ran to his sister's side, Sam was fighting off the beast, trying to save their father. "You damn witch!" he yelled, flinging himself into Meg. "How could you kill Alana? How could you!" he yelled before darkness overcame them.
Sam awoke abruptly and sat up in his bed, startling Alana from hit fitful sleep. She sleepily rubbed her eyes and looked over to him. "You alright Sam?"
"Another nightmare. This time it was scary."
She crawled over to him and put her arms around him, laying her head on his shoulder. "Want to talk about it?" she whispered, glancing over to Dean and their father, still asleep on the next bed.
"You died Alana, and we couldn't stop Meg. My god, I can't…" he stopped.
"I'm here Sam, you'll protect me, and I know it. As you heard dad, I'm going to your Aunt Darlene's. He thinks its best that I'm not with you and Dean. I disagree but there's not much I can do."
He held her in his arms, he'd grown fond of her over the days she'd been with them and to let her go just as quickly bore a hole in his heart. "I disagree too Alana, dad is wrong, we all need to stick together. You at Aunt Darlene's is unsafe."
She nodded, "Try and argue that case to dad."
He smiled, even in the dark room she could tell that he was smiling. He brushed her hair from her face, she looked up to him, "Sam, I'm going to miss you the most. Somehow I feel connected to you. Its odd, but I never had siblings growing up and now that I found you, I don't want to give you or Dean up."
"I know Ali; I'll see what I can do."
She scooted back to her side of the bed and lied down, pulling the covers over her. Sam laid next to her, looking to her, smiling. "Get some sleep and I'll try and not have another nightmare."
She pulled herself into his arms, "I won't let you." She said and closed her eyes, falling asleep in his arms.
That morning, Dean and John awoke to find the siblings sleeping in that same position. John was furious, it was unacceptable for a brother to hold a sister like he did and was about to yell when Dean put his hand up and stopped him.
"He had another nightmare last night dad, I heard them talking. She fell asleep in his arms to protect him. She loves him dad, there is nothing you can do to them to break them apart, so I warn you, leave them be."
John shook his head, "It's inappropriate."
"In what? They're sleeping, nothing more and besides you're the one tearing them apart by sending her away."
"She's not safe with either one of you. A young girl should not be with two young men, it's sick."
"How would you know? We were fine for the past week."
"But all three of you sleep in one hotel room. Do you prance around in towels in front of her? Does she not change in the room?"
Dean shook his head, "We have a schedule, when she showers, and we take a walk for 20 minutes. When we're in the shower, we take our clothes into the bathroom. She's offered to go for a walk, but I find it safer like that. And the one room thing is fine; we rather have money for food then lodging. My god dad, she drove for 15 hours straight the other night to save your ass!"
Sam and Alana had woken to that sentence and she blushed. Okay, lying with her brother wasn't good, but she wanted to protect him. "Dean? Dad? Is everything alright?"
"Get out of that bed right now young lady and get dressed. You're leaving for your Aunt's today and no lip from you either missy."
She looked at Sam with sad eyes and got out of bed, grabbing her bag and making her way into the bathroom. She slammed the door and locked it, leaning against the door and began to cry. She hated her father, hated him for tearing her away from the only family she had left.
She walked over to the shower and turned the water on hot, shedding her clothing before stepping in. She let the hot water roll over her pale skin, burning it. She wanted to feel the pain in her back, try to erase the memories of her father leaving her behind as a child.
"Oh god!" she cried as she fell to her butt, crying tears she hadn't cried in years.
In the other room Sam looked at his father in anger, "How could you do that to her! She has no one dad! Aunt Darlene isn't even family to her and you're sending her away! My god, what the hell is wrong with you!"
"She needs to be with a woman, it isn't proper for her to be around you two. She's a young girl that needs a firm hand."
"She's 21 for god's sake! She's old enough to make her own decisions!" he spatted.
"She's going and that's final."
"I think Sam's right dad, we need her. Alana has only us and you. As long as she is with us, she's safe."
"Dean…"
"No dad, I'm finished, I'm not letting her go and that's my final answer."
John looked at his obedient son in shock. Never had he defied him before but Alana was a whole new ball game. She was a girl and vulnerable to the attacks.
"Fine Dean, but if anything happens to her, it's on your shoulders. Now if we can get the princess out of the bathroom, the rest of us can get changed and we can be on our way.
Sam walked over to the door and knocked; he heard the crying and found the door locked. "Alana? What's wrong?"
He heard her sniffle, "I'll be right out Sam.' she said, trying to cover the sadness in her voice.
Sam turned to his father, "Good going dad, you made her cry."
"Another reason why she shouldn't be with you."
"Shut it." Both Sam and Dean said in unison as the door opened and Alana came out dressed in black jeans and white tank top. Her wet hair pulled into a messy ball.
"I'm done, I'm going out to get coffee, I'll be back." She said and grabbed her other bag and left the room, three sets of eyes watching after her.
"Now you've gone and done it." Sam said and entered the bathroom to shower.
Outside Alana walked across the parking lot to the small café. The exterior was rusty but the inside was immaculate. She took a seat at the counter and ordered a cup of coffee from a plump size waitress who had a wonderful smile. Alana sighed, how would life be at a house and not on the road? How would she bear giving this all up?
"Miss? Would you like anything to eat?" the waitress asked.
She shook her head, "No thank you." She said and smiled as she sipped her black coffee.
"Well if you need anything sweetie, my name is Peggy Sue. Just give me a holler and I'll get ya something."
"Thanx." Alana said and looked back to her coffee, losing herself in her thoughts.
She sat there, gingerly sipping her coffee, unaware that her father and brothers had entered the café and both Sam and Dean are now sitting on both sides of her. She looks up in surprise then the light in her eyes dims as their father takes a seat next to Dean.
"I'll be in the car." She said and Sam grabbed her arm, lightly coaxing her back into her seat.
"You're staying with us Alana."
She looked at him in shock. "What?"
"Dad caved in after we talked to him. You're coming with us."
She hugged both Dean and Sam, whispering a thank you to her father. He nodded and stood. "Well boys, I'm off, my ride's here. You take good care of your sister, you hear?"
They nodded, "We will sir and thank you."
He nodded and left the small café, leaving the Winchester siblings to watch after him.
"He means it, I'm staying?" she asked.
Dean put an arm about her shoulder, "Well taking you out of the equation would leave us to be dull. So you're better off with us."
She punched him in the arm, "And I'll get even, just remember that."
He grinned and they all ordered breakfast, waiting for the day to begin.