AN: thanks for the reviews!

Chapter 16:

"Dean!" Sam exclaimed as he rushed over to her unconscious form. Sam gently propped her limp body up against the wall as he stroked her face. "Dean. Wake up. Please..." Panic engulfed him as he glanced wide eyed at his equally stunned father. "Dean?" He repeated as his voice broke. Suddenly he saw her eyes flicker open as she moaned slightly.

Dean returned to consciousness, but felt disoriented. As she opened her eyes, she realized she was on a cold floor. "No..." She felt fear within her as she did not recognize her surroundings. She thought she was back in that abandoned house, among those men. "No!" Her eyes widened as she started trembling.

"Dean!" Sam tried to calm her. "It's okay. You're safe." He paused. "Look at me." Her terrified eyes hesitantly fixed on Sam's face. "That's it...I'm here..."

"Sammy?" She said with hope in her voice.

"Yeah. It's me. Slow your breathing down...that's it...slow, deep breaths..." He encouraged her as he softly caressed her face.

John stood back, ashamed of his part in Dean's current state. He was also speechless as he watched the intimate interaction between his sons.

"Good, Dean." Sam continued in his calming tone. "We're sorry, Dad and I."

She blinked her eyes as she calmed. Her voice slurred slightly as she spoke. "What happened?"

"I'll explain later, okay?" Sam answered. His guilt and shame was overwhelming right now. He could not believe he was so stupid to let Dean get hurt again. He shoved those thoughts away temporarily as he returned his focus back on her. "Can you get up?" He helped her stand up slowly. She seemed a bit unsteady on her feet, so he gently picked her up. Dean snuggled into his chest and without a word to his father, Sam carried Dean up and placed her in bed.

After he secured blankets around her, he kissed her forehead. "I'll be right back."

"But...Dad." Dean said quietly as she gripped his wrist with her tiny hand.

Sam smiled as he brushed a long, blond lock from her face. "Don't worry about him." He whispered kindly as he leaned down to kiss her lips briefly. "I'm going to get you a glass of water and some aspirin."

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Sam walked back downstairs. He ignored his father as he went into the kitchen to procure some water for Dean.

"Sam." John said as he followed his son.

"What?" He turned his cold eyes to his father. "It's done. I won't discuss it again. Dean's hurt and it's our fault."

John bowed his head for a moment. "I know." He had nothing left to say. The silence that enveloped the room was stifling.

Sam reached for a bottle of aspirin and then grasped a glass in his hand. Before returning upstairs, he addressed his dad. His tone was resigned, yet strong. "I won't let my emotions get the best of me again. Not if it ends up hurting Dean. I know she wants you around, so I'll do my best to deal with that. But, understand this." His eyes narrowed. "Dean and I are together. Nothing you could do or say will EVER change that. If you can't accept it, then leave." He did not give his father a chance to respond as he walked out of the room.

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When Sam awoke the next morning, he reached his long arm out to bring Dean closer to him. All he felt was a cold space next to him. He abruptly sat up, worried that something happened to Dean. He looked around the room and saw Dean sitting by the window, staring outside.

"Dean?" Sam asked. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She said as she kept her attention to the window. As she crossed her arms, Sam noted the tension in her body as he stood from the bed and walked towards her.

"What are you thinking about?"

She turned to him as she stood; she chuckled bitterly as she touched her cheek. "I'm trying to figure whether you or Dad has the better right hook."

Sam's eyes widened as he took a swift breath in. "Dean, I'm s-..."

"No, Sam. I don't want to hear it. From either of you." She turned back towards the window.

"I am sorry, Dean. We didn't mean for you to get hurt. It happened so fast."

"I'm tired of the fighting between you two. I knew it was only a matter of time before it would come to blows."

"Dean, Dad saw us last night. He knows about us."

Dean shook her head as she rubbed her eyes. 'Great' she thought. Something else to add on to her problems. She ignored that for a moment as she continued. "It doesn't matter. You two always find something to argue or disagree about. This," she gestured between them, "was just an excuse to finally have it out."

"How can you say that?" Sam responded with hurt in his eyes.

"Because it's the truth, Sammy!" She took a deep breath. "Do you know what it's like, always having to mediate between you and Dad? Why can't you just get along?" Her eyes shined. As if she suddenly felt all her energy dissipate, she reached out and sat back on the chair.

Sam rushed to her side. He knelt in front of her and grasped her hands. "Dean?" He asked in a worried tone when he saw her eyes closed.

"I'm fine. My head just hurts a little." She said as she looked down at her beautiful brother. She touched his cheek to reassure him that she was okay.

"I'm so sorry. We were stupid." He tried to smile.

"I know, Sammy. But, just try, okay? For me?" She asked quietly.

Sam nodded her head. "For you, I'd do anything." They smiled as they looked into each others' eyes. After some time, Dean spoke again.

"So...Dad knows?" Sam reluctantly nodded.

Dean thought for a moment. "Well, shit." She said.

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Dean stood in the shower for some time. She needed to gather her thoughts. As she got dressed, she asked Sam to stay upstairs. She walked slowly down to the first floor. She looked around for her father. She found him sitting in the den drinking coffee. She had a nervous flutter in her stomach as she approached him. She took a deep breath of courage as she spoke. "Dad?"

John turned around and saw Dean standing there. He tried to smile. "Dean." He paused. "Have a seat." Dean complied. John cleared his throat. "I wanted to apologize for what happened last night. We didn't mean for you to get hurt."

"This has to stop, Dad. I'm tired of refereeing between you two." Her eyes pleaded with him. "You need to try to get along. You'd think after four years of not talking, you and Sam would have been able to move beyond the bullshit." She raised her voice a bit.

John was about to chastise Dean over her tone, but he kept quiet for a time. He clasped his hands together. "You're right. Sam and I do have some issues."

"Some?" Dean rolled her eyes. "You and Sam are so alike, that's the problem." She smiled sadly at her Dad.

"Well, maybe." John replied. "And you are just like your mother, always trying to be the peacemaker." They both became silent as memories of Mary floated into their minds. "We'll try, Dean. That's all I can promise."

"Okay." She answered.

After some time, John stood. "Did Sammy tell you what we were were fighting about?" He narrowed his eyes as he saw Dean sit up straighter. In John's mind, they still had a lot to discuss.

"Yes." Dean answered quietly.

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Sam sat on their bed upstairs chewing his nails. He worried about Dean as she talked to their Dad. He did not want the eldest Winchester to chastise her over their relationship. Dean had asked him to stay out of the way, but Sam found himself sneaking down the stairs to make sure Dean did not need him. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

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John looked at Dean. "Well?" He placed his hands on his hips.

"Dad, I..." She felt herself stumble over her words and beads of sweat accumulate on her brow. John always had a way of making Dean feel like a child when confronted over anything. She had to tell herself that she was an adult and that she could do this. Dean stood. "Sam told me you know. What is there left to discuss?"

"I want to hear what you have to say!" John bit his lip as he looked down. He didn't want to resort to yelling at Dean. He needed to get a reign on his anger. He took a deep breath.

"I...w-we love each other." Dean answered quietly.

"You're brothers, Dean. It's wrong, can't you see that?" John felt like he was pleading.

"We're not hurting anyone, so why should it matter?" She asked honestly. "We're both adults."

"And you becoming a woman had nothing to do with this?" He flinched a little when he saw Dean look away slightly. He knew he may be hitting below the belt, but Dean had always been the reasonable one. He had to make her understand. "And when you turn back? How is it going to be then?" Dean had no response, so John continued. "So suddenly, my two boys are gay? Have you thought everything through?"

Dean clenched her fists together. "It's not like that. It's different. Sam and I...we're..."

"You're what, Dean?"

"I can't explain it!" She started pacing around the den. She looked at her father. "Are you really that surprised, Dad? Sam and I were constantly together growing up. We had no one but each other." She sighed. "I know what you're thinking. Maybe if we weren't on the road so much, maybe if you were around more, maybe if Mom hadn't died..." She trailed off as her voice choked. "Maybe if things had been different, Sam and I wouldn't be together. But the reality is, is that we are. And you can't change that."

"This is not how I pictured you and your brother's future."

"I'd like to tell you I'm sorry, but I'd be lying." Dean replied.

"And what happens when we defeat the Demon? What about your lives then?"

"We'll see what happens."

"And what if Sam decides to leave to live that 'normal' life of his?" John paused when he saw Dean's eyes widen.

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Sam stood at the edge of the steps listening to the conversation. He heard John's question and his heart sank when there was no immediate reply from Dean. He clutched the banister tightly.

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Dean took a few shaky breaths as she looked intently at her father. "He won't leave." She said with conviction.

"How can you know that?"

"Because I trust him." She lowered her head for a moment. "And even if he did one day, I would rather have had a little slice of happiness than nothing at all." She paused, but John did not interject. "He's everything to me and I am the same for him. Shouldn't that be what you want for your boys?" She turned to walk out of the room, but stopped to say one more thing. " I don't expect you to accept this." She said quietly. "But, one day, I hope you will understand."

As she walked out of the den, she saw Sam standing at the base of the stairs with tears in his eyes. He looked at her with concern and love. She smiled sadly as she made her way towards him. She stopped in in front of him and reached her hand out. He grasped it and together they walked up the stairs.

TBC...