Chapter 9

Deanna and Quill were sitting in study hall on a Friday, a couple of weeks after their movie date, reading each other's stories for their CW class. Deanna finished first and waited patiently for Quill to finish her story.

"Wow Annie," Quill whispered as he shuffled the pages together and looked up at her. "This was a great story and the descriptions you used of the lost spirits and how they interacted with the living was interesting. How did you come up with this topic anyway?"

"I've done a lot of reading about supernatural subjects since I was young. It's sort of been an obsession of mine," Deanna shrugged not wanting to tell him how she really knew so much about the topic. "Your story is amazing too. How you describe the feelings between the main characters is spot on. Have you ever experienced any of these things yourself?"

"No, I've not found anyone that I wanted to get that close to. I sort of used my parent's love for each other as a basis," Quill told her, glancing away for a moment before continuing. "That is until now."

Deanna arched her eyebrows at the statement and blushed slightly as she cleared her throat, not sure how to respond.

"Does that mean what I think it means?" she questioned looking down her hands before bringing her eyes up to look at him hopefully.

"It means I want to get to know you better Deanna Winchester and I hope you feel the same way about me."

Deanna felt a jolt of electricity run through her when Quill laid his hand over her hand and gently rubbed a finger over her palm. She looked into his eyes and saw nothing but love that echoed with his body language. She smiled shyly at him and looked down at their hands that were resting on her leg for a moment before answering.

"Yes, I'd like to know you better too. I can't deny that I'm attracted to you. But there's something you should know…"

"What is that? Don't be afraid to tell me."

"I've never been in a serious relationship before…So, this is all new to me. I may be awkward and fumble around at first. I hope that won't affect your feelings for me."

"I am honored to be your first boyfriend and I will never take advantage of you in any way. I respect you too much to do that. My Mom raised me to be a gentleman with women."

"It doesn't turn you off that I'm so…Inexperienced with everything?"

"No, never, you are perfect just the way you are. You're like a breath of fresh air. You light up a room with your warm smile and you melt my heart when you look at me with those beautiful, hazel eyes."

"Thanks," Deanna mumbled to him smiling to herself with his words. She was happy to know his feelings for her and that he considered her his girlfriend. "Do you want to come over tomorrow and we'll go to the public library to work on our project in History?"

"I should be able to do that, but only if you let me take you out for lunch afterwards."

"That would be nice. I figured we can get most of the research done if we work hard on it and then we'll only need to put it all together."

"My thoughts too. See, we're on the same wavelength," Quill agreed. "And that way we'll have more free time to spend together, that is, if you want to."

"I'd like that. Would you like to come with me to visit my Mom's grave? I usually go several times a month when weather permits, and more times in the summer. I like to talk to her and tell her what is going on in my life and with everyone else. Sometimes Dad goes with me, but it makes him so sad and melancholy, and I hate to see him like that."

"I can imagine," Quill nodded his understanding. "It's almost time to go. Do you need to run by your locker before going to the Jeep?"

"Yes, it won't take me long and I'll meet you outside."

"Alright, be sure and bring what you need for the project."

"I will," she replied looking up when the bell started ringing dismissing school for the week. Deanna got up and quickly stuffed her books and papers into her pack. They walked to the hallway and went in different directions to go to their lockers.

Quill beat Deanna to the Jeep and was waiting on her as she made her way across the lot to him. He opened the door and let her get settled before going around to the driver's side and getting in. They made plans to go to the library early Saturday morning when it opened so they would have time to gather the information they needed. Deanna was going to drive this time since Quill had driven to school that week. She had Quill drop her off at the gate, giving him a brief kiss before getting out and heading down the driveway to the house.

Music was coming from the kitchen when Deanna let herself in the house. She dropped her pack by the couch and took her lunch bag on into the kitchen.

"Hey honey," Sam greeted her.

"Hi Dad," Deanna absently said. She dumped the contents of the bag onto the counter and removed everything from their wrappings to toss in the compost bin and sort the rest for recycling, but she startled when Sam cried out.

"What the hell happened to your lunch?" he asked seeing the smashed sandwiches and crushed chips. He looked closer at the bag and could make out boot marks on it. "What happened Deanna? Who did this?" he demanded.

"Don't blow a gasket Dad. It wasn't anything and Quill took care of it before I could."

"Was it that Mitch guy again? He's gone too far…"

"Please Dad. I don't think he'll be bothering me again. He got the message this time. And believe me, if he tries to do anything again, I will take him down and he won't get up."

"You can't be fighting in school honey. You don't need to be expelled. If he bothers you again, go to the principal's office and have them call Jody and me. I'll handle it."

"Okay Dad," Deanna sighed knowing from his tone that she wasn't changing his mind about this. "What are you doing?"

"I'm making some spaghetti sauce and taco meat to freeze for meals later. It'll save some time."

"Good idea, anything I can do to help?"

"Ummm…How about washing the containers sitting by the sink? The sauce and meat will be ready to freeze in about twenty minutes."

"I can do that. Where's Grandpa Bobby and Uncle Dee?" she asked going to the sink to wash her hands.

"They went on a part's run but should be back for dinner. I think Dean mentioned something about picking up a pie for dessert tonight."

"That's sounds like him. He won't pass up having a homemade pie," Deanna giggled.

"So, how are you and Quill getting along?"

"Fine, he's coming over so we can go to the public library in the morning to do research on a project for History. That's okay, isn't it?" Deanna asked and added. "I guess I should have asked before saying yes."

"Yeah, sure, it's fine honey. You need to get your schoolwork done and I trust you."

"We're going to have lunch in town. I don't know how long it'll take us at the library."

"Deanna don't take this wrong, but only a father's concern. I know you like Quill, but will you take it slow. He seems like a nice guy, but we really don't know anything about him or his family. I just don't want to see you getting hurt. I know this is the first guy you've ever started feeling serious about and well…"

"Don't worry Dad, if it doesn't work out, I'm not going to fall apart like a helpless female. Yeah, it'll hurt, and I'll be sad for a while, but it's not the end of the world. We both like each other and enjoy spending time together. But I'll take it nice and slow and not rush into anything. I promise. I'm not some silly schoolgirl just out for sex."

"That's good to hear Baby Girl," Sam replied not really wanting to talk about sex yet with her.

"I'll let you know when we're heading back in case you want me to stop and pick something up for dinner."

"That sounds good. Thanks for offering to do that and I'll let you know."

"Listen Dad, that's our favorite song," Deanna cried out suddenly. "Come on old man, sing and dance with me," she insisted dancing to Sam as she sang. She swung her hips into his urging him to join in with her. They sang and danced to the song until it ended, both laughing happily.

Sam had his arms around his daughter and realized his Baby Girl had grown up on him. It only seemed like yesterday that he was carrying her around on his shoulders playing with her and dancing to their favorite songs. He could see Jessica in her and hoped she was still watching over them.

spn

"You're seeing a lot of this Quill guy," Dean commented as Deanna finished breakfast the following morning.

"We're doing a school project Uncle Dee. It's not a date or anything," Deanna replied with a huff. "If we get it done early, we have more time for other things."

"It's the other things, that concern me."

"Dean, it's fine," Sam spoke up defending his daughter. "Deanna is levelheaded and a smart girl. She can take care of herself, remember, you taught her."

Dean pinched his lips together into a thin line as his brow creased into a frown and he looked down at his empty cup. He hated when Sam did that.

"Sam's right Dean," Bobby offered. "Give the lass some credit, she's more prepared than most young women her age and I think has more common sense than them too."

"Uncle Dee, Quill has been nothing but a gentleman toward me and has protected me twice."

"Hold on, twice? What do you mean twice? What happened that I don't know about?" Dean demanded looking to Sam and back to Deanna. "Well, someone answer me."

"It wasn't much," Deanna sighed knowing she had to tell him. "Mitch stopped me in the cafeteria and stomped on my lunch. Before I could do anything, Quill stepped in and sent him packing."

"That's it!" Dean growled. "I've had enough of that sonofabitch messing with Ladybug. I'm going to go have a few choice words with this kid."

"No, you're not," Deanna stated firmly, pushing him back down in his chair. "It's been handled, and I don't need you doing something to make it worse."

"But…"

"She's right, Dean. You can't go beat up a kid. They'd put you in jail."

"Fine!" he pouted, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. He glared at Sam and then Bobby because he couldn't think of anything else to do.

"I agree with Sam on this one," Bobby told Dean. "I'll be in my office if you need me." Bobby got up and headed to his office, leaving the others in the kitchen.

"I love you Uncle Dee," Deanna sang, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. "I need to finish getting ready." She skipped from the room and headed upstairs to brush her teeth and grab her bookbag.

"You know I wanted to do the same thing," Sam told Dean, sitting at the table with him. "But we need to abide by Deanna's wishes."

"I know," Dean mumbled getting up to get more coffee.

"Are you heading out this morning?" Sam asked him.

"Yeah, I'm going to check out a couple of suspicious deaths in a town about four hours south of here. Caleb is going to meet me there to work the case with me."

"Good. I don't like you going on hunts without backup. You know how quickly a hunt can go sideways."

"Don't worry little brother, I know how to take care of myself."

The brothers looked toward the living room when they heard the front door open, and someone walk inside. They knew it wasn't Bobby and got up grabbing guns from a cabinet before stepping to the doorway.

"Grandpa John!" Deanna cried as she ran down the last of the stairs and threw herself into John's strong arms. "It's good to see you."

John grunted when Deanna collided with him and stepped back to keep his balance as he winced from an injury. He hugged her and looked over her head at his sons standing with guns in their hands.

"It's good to see you too Sweet Pea," John told her kissing the top of her head.

"What's wrong?" she asked noticing how he stiffened and seemed to be favoring his left side.

"It's nothing serious that you need to be worrying about."

"Hi Dad," Sam greeted him stepping their way.

"Dad," Dean nodded.

They all glance toward the window when the roar of a motorcycle pulled up outside and stopped.

"That's Quill, I need to go," Deanna announced, quickly giving each a peck on the cheek before grabbing her bookbag and heading out the door.

"Who's Quill?" John questioned watching his granddaughter run from the house.

"One of Deanna's classmates," Sam replied.

"Her boyfriend," Dean added, sneering slightly.

John frowned as he went to the window and looked out to see a guy getting into Deanna's car and watched them drive away.

"And you're okay with this?" John asked Sam.

"Dad, she's sixteen and a young woman. She's getting interested in guys. We need to let her grow up sometime."

"Do you know anything about this guy?"

"He just transferred to Deanna's school about four or five weeks ago and lives somewhere down the road on a farm with his family. He seems like a nice kid and has been nothing but respectful toward Deanna."

"Yeah, he even opens her car door for her," Dean chuckled. "Just like a gentleman, and it better stay that way."

"Have you done a background check on him?"

"No, he's a high school kid. I don't think he'll have a record."

"I'd like to meet him and form my own opinion about him. I'm thinking Sweet Pea might be a little biased where the boy is concerned."

"Yeah, maybe we should ask him to dinner," Dean offered. "And grill him. I mean get to know him better."

"And you think Deanna would let that happen? If so, you don't know her very well."

"Enough arguing," John demanded. "Is there still coffee?"

"Yeah Dad, come on in the kitchen and I'll pour you a cup."

"What happened Dad? Does your injury need tended?" Dean asked him.

"No, I've already taken care of it."

The Winchester family walked into the kitchen and Sam poured coffees all around before joining his father and brother at the table to listen to John relay what happened on the hunt he just finished and how he got injured. None would admit that they were thinking of Deanna and the guy she was with.

A/N: Grandpa John is back, and not happy Deanna is seeing Quill either. Will he be invited to dinner? We shall see. Thank you for coming on this journey with me. I do like reviews/comments. NC