Chapter Three

Present Day

There was blood on her wedding dress.

Annie gasped and quickly glanced up at the small crowd of women bustling around the bridal suite to see if any of them had noticed. She tried to shift a small bit of lace over the tiny crimson stain on the full skirt. Shit! Not now! She panicked looking down at her wrists and noticing that the wounds had come back. Damm-fucking-it!

The stigmata had scared the crap out of her when it had first appeared last year. After Jack had proposed, Annie had felt a strange burst of panic mixed in with the joy in her heart. Later that night, her wrists had begun to ache, then sting and when she turned on the bedroom lamp, she'd seen the blood. She'd automatically picked up the phone to call Sam but just as suddenly put it down. She would not go crying to Sam every time something out of the ordinary happened. In that family, normal was out of the ordinary.

The family that used to be her family, Annie remembered with a pang of regret. She told herself that Sam was the only one that mattered to her anymore but truth be told, she missed the warm if slightly bizarre cocoon that was the Winchester family. But John Winchester's betrayal was still too fresh and Dean's rejection, even five years later, still smarted. So Sam was the appointed buffer between them and as a peacemaker by nature, he was in his element.

She knew that he relayed any news about her to his father and brother. Though she'd kiss the feet of the undead before she'd admit it, it made her feel good to know that John and Dean still worried about her.

Though not good enough to invite either one to her wedding. Sam hadn't known that Annie had been adopted, hadn't lied to her. That was why Sam was walking her down the aisle. Or would be, as soon as he got here.

The ceremony would begin in half an hour and there was still no sign of Sam.

Hence the increasing panic.

Hence the stigmata.

The first time it had happened, experience had taught her that a doctor or shrink would not be the smartest choice.

Being a Winchester, she'd been indoctrinated from almost birth on all things supernatural so she knew her best bet for help with the stigmata, the physical manifestation of the wounds of Christ's crucifixion, was Father Bamber. The young British priest who would now be performing her wedding ceremony.

As soon as Sam got here. Dammit.

Jack's mother Debbie and his five sisters, Donna, Denise, Darcy, Dolly and Megan were flitting around her taking care of the last minute details which Annie was very grateful for since she herself was occupied with leaking wrists and a tardy pseudo-brother.

She excused herself and tried not to rush into the adjoining bathroom. Annie pulled at the roll of toilet paper and pressed a bunch of it against one wrist, hoping to stop the oozing before it became a steady flow like last time. "Oh come on. Why are you doing this to me today of all days?" She asked, looking up at the ceiling. "I promise, if you make this stop right now, I'll do whatever you want. I'll go to church every Sunday. I'll never lie again. I'll be nice to everyone. Even Dean! Hell, I'll name my first born Dean if you stop this right now!" She hissed frantically. Testing the wound, she felt a small bit of relief that the bleeding seemed to have stopped. But how to hide the scars?

They had miraculously disappeared overnight the first time, before Jack had been able to see them. She didn't have that luxury this time. She was getting fucking married in 20 minutes! "Goddammit!" She burst then cringed, remembering her earlier bargaining. "I mean good God. Nice God. Good-Knows-Where-The-Bandages-Are-God." Annie said as she searched through the medicine cabinet. She found them in the single drawer beneath the sink. Damn sleeveless gown. Annie was glad she'd decided on a sheer white shawl as opposed to a veil cause the shawl had these buttons at the end that could be fastened around the wrists as cuffs. She stuck a bandage on each wound and was relieved that the cuffs covered them nicely.

"God, you rock harder than a pebble. I owe you one."

Annie lifted her head as the electric guitar strains of AC/DC drifted in through the bathroom window. Her stomach clenched in memory and with what would have been regret if she had any damn thing to feel guilty for. She'd already thought more about Dean Winchester today than was healthy for a woman marrying someone else.

Not to mention dreaming about him just last night. Stupid jerk. Annie shook her head. He'd been right not to cross that line with her all those years ago. She was finally in a loving, healthy relationship, which she knew could never have been possible with Dean. So she supposed that she could have called to tell him thank you for respecting their boundaries.

Except that she feared 'thank you' was not what would instinctively come out of her mouth as soon as she heard his voice. And it was better that he wasn't here today, even if she was grateful that he had fucked her that night. They might have worked things out, been friends, been close like she and Sam were, if it wasn't for the fact that she wanted to ram her fist into Dean Winchester's face for his fucking nobility. With her he was noble! The guy who screwed anything that wasn't nailed down! That fucking hurt!

Annie took a deep breath and tried to get back to her happy place. Which was here, in this church on this blissfully Dean-free day.

"Annie, you're brother's here." Debbie called from the other side of the door. Annie sagged against the sink in relief. Thank God! She'd chew Sam out for being late later but for now, she was just glad they could get this show on the road. She opened the bathroom door and stepped out.

"Son of a bitch!" She gasped seeing Dean standing in the middle of the bridal suite, her goddamn bridal suite, in his faded brown leather jacket and jeans that fit too damn good. God, I take it back. You suck! Before Dean could get a word out and before she could control the impulse, her fist connected with his jaw, sending him toppling backwards over a velvet heart-shaped pink chair.

"Annie! Good grief!" Debbie exclaimed as Dolly and Darcy helped Dean to his feet and fawned over him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Annie demanded furiously, her fist aching from his stupid hard head.

"Fuck! Ow! I should have never taught you how to hit." He grumbled rubbing his jaw.

"Let me get you some ice before that turns into a nasty bruise." Darcy purred and Annie was hard pressed not to sock her one too.

She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she liked Darcy.

"No, I'm fine. Thanks. Annie, if we can...ow..talk somewhere?" He said, pressing his fingers to his tender jaw.

"Go to hell." Annie hissed.

"Sure, the bathroom will do fine." He smiled and grabbed her elbow and steered her back into the bathroom.

"Goddamit, you were not invited! Where the hell is Sam?" Annie spat, trying to calm her racing heart. Racing due to her fury. That's all, she told herself.

"Well, if you'd bothered to check your messages you'd know that his girlfriend is dead, which I think would count as one of the top five reasons to miss your little la di da here." He said with a scowl.

Annie gasped and jerked backwards in shock. "Jessica? My God. How?"

Here his eyes filled with fury and a glimmer of pain. "The same thing that killed mom."

A.N:

Zelina: Thanks for the encouragement! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Dex1: Disturbing is good. I wanted it to be a little disturbing so that the issues between Annie and Dean are valid enough to keep them from being together right off the bat. Of course, that doesn't mean disturbing can't be rather hot which I'm glad worked here. (smiles) Hope you liked this one too!

Renni: Renni! (huggies) Yep, I'm that Nancy. So tickled you found this one too! Thankie for your feedback!

Starrfireflyfan: Thankie for your feedback. I hope you enjoy this chapter too!