A/N: A special treat for a Monday. Enjoy...

Chapter 8

Deanna came bouncing down the stairs the next morning and left her pack on the couch before heading into the kitchen for a quick breakfast. She gave everyone in the kitchen a quick peck on the cheek as she greeted each of her men.

"You're awfully chipper today," Sam noticed as Deanna went to the fridge for some juice.

"That's because her boyfriend is picking her up to drive her to school," Dean told them eyeing Deanna with a death glare.

"He's not my boyfriend, Uncle Dee," Deanna fussed at him. "We're just friends."

"But you like him don't you?" Sam asked arching an eyebrow at her. "You had an enjoyable time yesterday?"

"Leave the Lass alone," Bobby chastised the brothers. "No need teasing her about liking the young man."

"Thanks Grandpa Bobby. I do like him, and I did have fun yesterday. Why do I need to put a label on it? We're friends and have some things in common. I don't know where this might go, if anywhere," she replied to the questions.

"Sit and eat before you need to leave," Sam said. He sat a plate with eggs and toast in front of Deanna. He was happy she was being levelheaded about all this and tried to get his mindset ready for it. It was her first real interest in a guy, and he didn't know if it would work out or not. He knew his daughter and knew there would be fallout if it didn't work out. "I've about got your lunch ready."

"Did you pack an extra sandwich for me?"

"What are you doing Ladybug? Feeding him too?" Dean inquired.

"We share our lunches," Deanna shrugged as she started eating.

"I'll pack some extra," Sam assured her as he grabbed a couple more things to add to her lunch.

"Well, those cars aren't going to fix themselves, I'm heading for the garage," Bobby sighed getting up and refilling his coffee mug. "Have a good day Lass."

"I better head out too," Sam nodded glancing at the clock. "If I can get an early start, I can get most of my work done and get off early. I'll see you this afternoon honey, have a good day at school."

"I will. Bye Grandpa Bobby and Dad. Don't work too hard," she told them as they left. "So, Uncle Dee, what are you doing today?"

"Hadn't really decided yet," Dean answered. "I'll probably help Bobby out in the garage and maybe look online for a case."

"How's Grandpa John doing? Is he coming home soon? I miss seeing him."

"I know Ladybug. Dad was going by the Roadhouse after we finished the hunt we were on, and I think he was planning on heading our way. He misses you too."

"Uncle Dee, do you think Grandpa John will stop hunting since he's getting old? You know he's not as spry as he used to be."

"Don't let him hear you say that," Dean replied with a chuckle. "And I can't answer that, it seems there's always some monster out there killing people that will need to be taken care of."

"Have you seen any new hunters out there?"

"Not on the last couple of hunts I've been on, but I haven't been to the Roadhouse in a while. I'm sure there are some greenhorns out there; I just hope they have the common sense to be careful and not do something stupid. Why the interest?"

"No reason," she shrugged. "It's just you old men are going to need some young blood to hand the baton off too, after all."

"Who are you calling old?" Dean growled at her as she giggled at him.

"I better hurry, Quill will be here any minute," Deanna continued taking her plate to the sink before hurrying from the room to brush her teeth and grab her jacket.

"He better drive safely," Dean called after his niece.

"Of course," she called back as she disappeared up the stairs.

Dean got up and picked up Deanna's lunch bag to take into the other room for her. He glanced out the window, watching for Quill to arrive. He was going to make sure he knew he was keeping his eyes on him.

It wasn't long before Deanna ran down the stairs and grabbed her pack and lunch bag.

"I'm going to wait on the porch for Quill," Deanna told him. "See you later Uncle Dee."

"Why don't I wait out there with you?" Dean offered opening the door for her.

"You're not going to make a scene, are you?" she huffed as he followed her outside.

"Me? Of course not!" Dean scoffed, offended she would even say that.

"Really?" she asked warily. "There he is, bye," she told him kissing him on the cheek.

Quill pulled up to the front porch in his Jeep and got out to open the passenger door for Deanna. He smiled and waved to Dean who gave him a stern look and did the finger thing, pointing to his eyes and then to Quill, to let him know he was watching him. Quill nodded his understanding and gave him a casual salute before climbing into the driver's seat. Dean watched them drive away before heading toward the garage to see if Bobby needed help.

spn

Deanna looked around the cafeteria until she spotted Quill way in the back at a table waiting on her. She began to make her way toward him with a warm smile on her face until Mitch stepped in her way blocking her forward motion.

"Well, if it isn't the little bitch," he sneered at her, rolling his lips up from his teeth in disgust.

"Get out of my way Mitch, I won't be as easy on you this time," Deanna huffed, rolling her eyes at him and not showing any signs of fear. She looked at him in annoyance and tried to move around him.

"You're not getting off that easy," he spat grabbing her lunch bag and throwing it to the floor so he could stomp on it. He didn't see Quill walking up behind him until he grabbed him hard behind his neck and on his shoulder, making him squeak and try to pull away. Quill pressed hard into the nerve in his shoulder making Mitch's arm go numb as he struggled to break his hold as he whined like a baby. It was like he was caught in a steel vise that just kept getting tighter.

"I don't think she wants to talk to you," he growled menacingly into his ear. "If you bother her again, you're not going to like what I'll do to you…"

"Let me go…" Mitch begged as he tried to turn his head and free himself.

"Do we understand each other?" Quill asked in a deep, low voice.

"Yeah, yeah…"

"Yeah what?"

"I understand," he agreed in a cowardly voice.

Quill leaned in close and whispered something to Mitch that made him pale and start to shake. He stumbled when he was released, and Quill reached to guide Deanna away from him. When Mitch looked back at them, he saw Quill's eyes darken and his lips roll back from his teeth in a snarl. He back pedaled away from them and hurried from the cafeteria like a whipped dog.

A couple of teachers finally noticed something was going on and got up to intervene, but the whole thing was over with after only a few steps. It didn't seem that anything transpired so they went back to their seats, happy whatever it was resolved quickly and continued with their lunch.

"Are you okay?" Quill asked Deanna once they were seated at the table. He sat her smashed lunch bag on the table wondering if there was anything salvageable from it.

"I'm fine," she told him glancing sideways to see the other students watching them and whispering about them. "I could have handled it, you don't have to fight my battles," she told him a little miffed that he butted in.

"I know you could, but you don't have to do everything by yourself," he offered trying to calm her. "Do you want to see if there's anything eatable in your bag? If not, you can have half of mine."

"I know what you're doing, trying to change the subject," Deanna chastised him.

"Guilty," Quill admitted, deciding to be truthful with her. "Am I overstepping here? I didn't mean to, but I can't sit by and watch a bully pick on someone. It's not in my nature, and if I made you mad, I apologize."

"There's no need to apologize, I would have done the same thing if I saw Mitch doing that to another student," Deanna huffed sitting back in her chair. She opened her lunch bag and looked at the smushed food inside and frowned. She pulled out a couple of granola bars that looked okay and passed one to Quill.

"Here," Quill offered, taking half of his sandwich and putting it on a napkin for her. "Can't have you going hungry."

"I didn't mean to snap at you," Deanna said softly. "I guess I feel a little overprotected by you and my family," she started picking up her half of the sandwich and taking a small bite. "I not a weak, hysterical female, everyone needs to understand that."

"I get where you're coming from, and I respect that. I think that's what drew me to you; you're a strong willed, intelligent, unique individual that I want to get to know better. I hope I haven't ruined that with you."

Deanna looked down at her sandwich and twitched a smile. She thought he was a mysterious guy and wanted to know him better too. She knew there was something about him that seemed to pull her toward him, something he was trying to hide from her, but she didn't mind. There were things he didn't know about her too.

"You haven't," she told him, looking up into his curious eyes. "But next time, let me ask for help before stepping in. I just might surprise you."

"Annie, you surprise me all the time."

"No one's ever called me that before," Deanna mumbled with a purse of her lips. "Except you, twice now."

"If you don't like it, I won't call you that."

"No, I like it and I like you're the only one who has called me that. It makes the name special between us."

"Good," Quill nodded. "We'd better finish up before the bell rings."

"Okay, I need to run to my locker before next class, but I'll see you in CW."

"I'll save you a seat."

"Thanks."

They quickly finished eating and gathered their trash to throw away before splitting up to head for their next classes. Deanna hurried down the halls to her locker to swap out books for her last classes. She thought about Quill and hoped her next class went by fast. She enjoyed spending time with him and learning more about him.

A/N: Deanna has another run in with Mitch, but Quill put a stop to it and any further bullying. Thank you for coming along for the ride. I do like reviews/comments. NC