A/N: Here is the next chapter of this story…

Chapter 2

It was late afternoon when Sam pulled into the Sniper's Nest parking lot and around to the back of the building. He pulled under the carport and stopped, killing the engine. He had driven most of the way today to give Dean a break since his shoulder was stiff and sore. Sam sat there for a moment as he let his body stop driving.

"I'll go in and open the back door so we can get our stuff taken inside," Dean grunted, shifting his body from the car. He rolled his shoulders carefully and winced with the stiffness in them. Once he was steady, Dean headed around the building to the front door and stepped inside, pausing at the front to glance around. He smiled warmly when he spotted Storm behind the bar handing out drinks to waiting customers. He strolled to the bar and waited for her to see him.

Storm sat two beers on the bar and was wiping a spot down when the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She knew she was being watched and let her hand go to her gun until she saw him standing there with his arm in a sling. Her eyes filled with tears and her lower lip started to tremble as she stepped to the end of the bar, meeting him and threw her arms around him.

"Easy Babe," Dean mumbled into her hair as he put one arm around her to steady himself.

"Sorry, sorry," Storm stammered looking more closely at him and saw the faint hint of a bruise on one side of his face and a pained look. "How are you feeling?"

"Getting better, still a little sore," he mumbled to her. "Need to let Sammy inside."

"Okay, Hank, I'm taking five minutes," she called to the man behind the bar.

"No problem," Hank replied throwing a salute to Dean.

Dean and Storm stepped through the door behind the bar and into the backroom. Storm went to the alarm pad and punched in the code before unlocking the backdoor. She found bags sitting on the small porch and saw Sam getting more things from the car.

"I'll take these on up and unlock for you guys," she told Dean as she looped the duffels over her shoulders and used a key to unlock the door. They walked up the steps and she unlocked the door leading into her apartment. Storm stepped in first and Dean followed. She sat the duffels on the couch and let Dean turn her around, so they were facing each other. He leaned closer and let his lips brush gently over hers before capturing them in a deep kiss.

"Now that's a hello," he mumbled into her ear.

They looked toward the door as Sam opened it and stepped into the room.

"I think that's everything for now," he huffed as he sat the bags down.

"Sam, good to see you," Storm cooed going to him and giving him a strong hug. She could feel him wince and grunt and looked into his face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just some bruising and scraps," Sam told her. "Nothing serious."

"Why don't you two relax up here? There's food and drink in the fridge and if you want something to do, the tree is ready to decorate," she told them pointing to the five foot tree sitting in the corner with boxes sitting around it. "I don't mind. It's one less thing for me to do."

"Alright Stormy, we'll make ourselves at home. You can go on back downstairs," Dean told her stealing another kiss as she passed him.

"I'll see you in a few hours." Storm disappeared out the door leaving the brothers along in the apartment.

Sam looked around for a moment before getting their duffels and taking them to the bedrooms. He came back and stopped at the tree, looking it over for a moment before opening the boxes to find the decorations for it.

"Wanna work on the tree?" he asked Dean. "You can sit in a chair and hand me the ornaments."

"I guess," he huffed tiredly. "We can have it done before she closes the bar."

"I'll get you a chair and something to drink." Sam walked into the kitchen and returned with a chair and two Gatorades. He positioned the chair at the boxes and handed Dean a drink. After taking a few sips of his drink, Sam looked in the boxes to find the lights so he could put them on first. He plugged the string of lights into a breaker bar Storm had plugged in to be sure they all worked before wrapping them around the tree. It took three strands of lights before Sam was happy with the way the tree looked. He held out his hand and Dean put an ornament in it to be hung. They continued this routine until all the ornaments were on the tree. "Now all that is left is to put some tinsel on it and it'll be done."

"Not bad," Dean commented as Sam place an angel on top and stepped back a little later.

"Let's wait to turn the lights on when Storm is here," Sam suggested stacking the empty boxes to the side out of the way. He didn't know where she kept them and would let her move them.

They sat down on the couch and relaxed, while finishing their drinks. Sam looked to the television as Dean turned it on and flipped through the channels until he found something to watch. He stared absently at the screen, not really seeing it as his eyes grew heavy. The long drive and weariness were finally catching up with him. He let his body completely relax since he knew he was in a safe place and didn't have to be on alert.

Dean looked over at Sam when he hadn't moved in a while and saw he was asleep. He carefully took the almost empty bottle from his hand and sat it on the coffee table before pulling an afghan from the back of the couch and draping it over his body. Dean stilled when Sam shifted slightly but settled back down. He was tired too but had slept a good bit of the way here, so he wasn't as sleepy as Sam had been.

Deciding to see what Storm had to eat, Dean eased off the couch and headed for the kitchen and opened the fridge. He saw some stacked bowls on one side of the fridge and opened a couple until he found some chicken salad. Deciding that would make a good sandwich, he sat the bowl on the counter and opened the bread drawer to see Storm had gotten some sub rolls which would work fine. He assembled his sandwich and put the bowl back in the fridge and closed it after grabbing a water to drink.

Dean settled back on the couch to eat his sandwich and washed it down with sips of water. Once he satisfied his hunger and got still, he let his head fall back against the couch back and started snoring. The brothers didn't move at all when Storm let herself into the apartment after closing the bar. She looked to the couch and saw them sacked out and couldn't help but smile at the scene. They looked so content and at peace she hated to wake them but knew a bed would be more comfortable to sleep on.

"Hey guys," she cooed to them shaking their legs. "You need to head on to bed."

Sam jerked awaked and looked around bleary eyed and Dean groaned as he came awake and moved his arm the wrong way.

"Nice job on the tree by the way."

"Thanks," Sam mumbled as he suppressed a yawn and covered his mouth. "Didn't mean to fall asleep."

"I'm sure both of you were tired after the drive."

"You want to turn the tree on and see what it looks like?" Sam asked as he got to his feet and stretched.

"Okay, and then you guys need to go to bed," Storm replied. She went over to the tree and reached down to flip the breaker bar on and stepped back as the lights came on. After a moment, they started to blink off and on. "Even better guys. Thanks for doing that for me."

"Our pleasure Babe, Sam did most of the work," Dean told her.

"He supervised," Sam added.

"Well, it looks great and I can't wait until Christmas gets here and can have some time off. You guys being here makes it all the better."

"Thanks for asking us," Sam replied.

"Go ahead and use the bathroom first Sammy," Dean said.

"Okay, I'll see you guys in the morning." Sam headed for his bedroom to get his bathroom bag and then to the bathroom. The nap he had was not enough to stave off the weariness he was still feeling.

"So, wanna tell me what happened to you?" Storm asked as she sat down beside Dean and curled into his side.

"It's not that bad, really. Got thrown around and got my shoulder dislocated and some bruises and scrapes. I've had worse."

"I know you have and I'm glad I didn't know about those times," Storm told him as she rubbed his hurt arm and kissed his cheek. "I'm just happy you could make it for the holidays. I have missed waking up beside you."

"And I have missed going to sleep with you in my arms," Dean whispered kissing her forehead and using his good hand to trace her cheek. He always felt so at peace when he was with Storm and hated that he wasn't able to see her more often. Maybe next year he'd make more time to visit.

"I'm done in the bathroom guys," Sam called to them as he stepped out and went to his room, closing the door behind him.

"Come on Handsome, let's get you in bed. Do you need any meds for your arm?"

"Maybe some Tylenol since it's getting better."

"I'll get you a water while you use the bathroom," Storm told him. She got up and held out her hand to help him from the couch. Dean took it and grunted as Storm pulled him to his feet and made sure he was stable before letting go. He walked stiffly to the bedroom for his bag before going to the bathroom to do his routine.

When Dean stepped back into the bedroom, he saw Storm had turned down the bed and was opening a bottle of water for him. He took off the sling and let her help him out of his shirts and jeans.

"Take your meds and get in bed," Storm told him, standing there with her hands on her hips until he did as she asked. "I'll be in shortly." Once Dean was in bed, she went to the bathroom to use it, brush her teeth, and put on one of Dean's old T-shirts he had left there. She went back to the bedroom and slipped under the covers to cuddle up in Dean's arms being careful of his hurt one.

"This feels so right," Dean whispered in her ear.

"That it does," Storm agreed finding his lips and kissing him. "I love you Handsome."

"I love you too Stormy," Dean replied as he rubbed his hand up and down her back.

"Now, get some sleep Handsome. We can do some catching up when you are feeling better."

"Yes ma'am." Dean sighed happily feeling Storm's body warming his own cool one. He drew in a deep breath and caught her scent wanting to commit it to his memory. He could feel each breath she took and felt it even out as she drifted to sleep. He lay there feeling contentment, knowing nothing else mattered to him at the moment.

Spn

Sam rolled over in bed the next morning wiping sleep from his eyes. He looked around and remembered they had gotten to the bar yesterday. He smiled and stretched, testing his body to see most of his soreness and stiffness was gone. He looked at the window and saw it was bright outside and glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand seeing he had slept in. He lay there for a few minutes soaking in the quiet and peace before deciding to get up and see if anyone else was stirring. Sam dug out some sweats and a T-shirt to change into and padded to the bathroom barefooted. He used it and washed his hands before stepping back into the small hallway. Storm's bedroom door was still shut, and he figured they were still sleeping.

"Good morning Sam," Storm greeted him when she saw him in the doorway to the kitchen making him jump. "Sorry," she giggled. "Didn't mean to startle you."

"It's okay," Sam grinned after jumping with her greeting. "I though no one was up."

"Dean's still sleeping, and I thought I'd get up and get some breakfast started," she told him.

"Good, that's what he needs right now to take it easy."

"How is he really doing Sam? I know Dean tries to hide things from me."

"He's okay Storm. Nothing a few days of your excellent care won't heal."

"Thanks hon. So, how are you doing?" she asked sitting a cup of coffee in front of him.

Sam looked up into Storm's caring face and let his eyes fall back to the cup of coffee. He bit his lower lip and though about how to answer that. So much had happened to him, losing his girlfriend, getting back into hunting, wanting to find their father, that he didn't talk about and didn't want to spoil the holiday with it.

"I'm fine," Sam finally said giving her a weak smile.

"You do know you can talk to me about anything, right?" Storm told him patting his hand. "I won't tell anyone, not even Dean."

"Thanks, I appreciate that," Sam nodded and sipped his coffee so he wouldn't have to say anything else.

"I'm fixing French toast and bacon for breakfast since I know Dean loves his bacon."

"I'm sure that will make him happy," Sam chuckled. "Is there anything I can do?"

"No, I've got this. Why don't you see what the weather looks like out there?"

"Sure," Sam nodded getting up from the barstool and going to the door.

"Stop right there, young man!" Storm insisted in a stern voice making Sam pause with his hand on the sliding glass door and look back at her unsure of what he might have done.

"You can't go out there barefooted Sam. You could get a chill and be sick for Christmas."

Sam looked down at his feet and wiggled his toes as he smiled sheepishly. He had forgotten he didn't put on any socks.

"What are you two talking about?" Dean asked as he walked into the kitchen.

"Where's your sling?" Storm and Sam asked at the same time in the same tone of voice.

"No ganging up on the injured guy," Dean fussed as he held his left arm to his chest.

"You need to wear the sling so your shoulder can heal faster," Storm insisted. "Don't try to be macho and suffer."

"Storm's right Dean, wearing the sling will take the pressure off your shoulder and you won't accidently use it and hurt it worse," Sam added.

"Fine!" Dean snorted. "I'll go get the sling." He turned and walked back toward the bedroom grumbling under his breath about having to put up with two mother hens.

"And you," Storm said to Sam. "Go put some socks on at least."

"Yes ma'am," Sam nodded heading after his brother.

"It's like having two five year old kids," Storm chuckled watching Sam disappear. She loved the brothers so much and didn't know what she would do if something happened to one of them. It was still hard not to worry when she knew they were on a hunt. She sighed softly before turning on the griddle to fix the French toast. She had the bacon staying warm in the oven until the toast was ready.

"Okay, happy?" Dean asked pouting as he sat down at the bar.

"Yes, Handsome, I am," Storm cooed to him. She stepped around the bar and gave him a brief kiss. She caressed his face and adjusted his sling before patting it and going back to cook the toast.

Sam came back into the kitchen with socks and running shoes on. He went to the sliding glass door and unlocked it so he could push it open and step out onto the deck. He shivered slightly and looked up at the grey, low hanging clouds that filled the sky. He rubbed his arms and quickly stepped back inside closing the door behind him.

"It looks nasty out there," Sam told them as he joined Dean at the bar.

"I think they're calling for snow so we might have a white Christmas," Storm replied.

"Cool, I'd like to see some snow," Sam replied. "It makes the land seem so clean and pristine."

"And white," Dean added getting a perplexed look from Storm and Sam. "What? It is."

Sam just shook his head and Storm became really interested in the French toast so Dean wouldn't see her holding in her laughter from what he said.

"Do you guys want two pieces of French toast to start?" she asked as she put the dipped pieces of bread on the griddle.

"I'll start with one please," Sam replied.

"Yeah, I'll take two and do I smell bacon?" Dean asked sniffing and looking around for it.

"Yes, my love, I have bacon just for you."

"My wish just came true. Maybe there is a Santa after all."

Sam rolled his eyes and huffed a laugh as Storm smirked before speaking.

"And maybe your other wish will come true too," she said, her voice silky and sexy.

Dean looked at her with lust filled eyes and gave her a wide grin as he pictured his second wish in his mind. He arched his eyebrows and cocked his head sideways slowly letting his gaze roam up and down Storm's body.

"Hello, little brother sitting here," Sam interrupted. "Save your sex talk for the bedroom."

"Sam's right, we'll have plenty of time to make that wish come true," Storm said. "Alright, French toast for my two favorite guys." She sat plates in front of Sam and Dean and turned to get the bacon from the oven. "Go ahead, eat up while it's hot."

"Come to papa," Dean gushed as he grabbed strips of bacon and dropped them on his plate. He sighed happily as he bit off a bite of bacon and chewed as he hummed in delight.

"I don't know whether you love bacon or me more," Storm giggled as she stood in the kitchen eating her toast.

"Here, Storm, take my seat," Sam offered.

"No, I'm fine Sam, stay still," she insisted, waving for him to stay seated. "I don't mind standing."

"Hey look!" Sam exclaimed when something out the sliding glass doors caught his attention. "It's starting to snow."

They all gathered at the door and watched as white fluffy flakes began to fall from the sky. A gentle breeze made them dance and swirl around before landing on the deck. The longer they watched, the thicker the air became with the flakes until all you could see was a curtain of falling white.

"It's beautiful," Storm whispered leaning back against Dean's chest as he put his arm around her. "If this keeps up, I may not be opening the bar today. I don't want anyone having too much to drink and wreck trying to get home."

"It might not last too long, who knows?" Sam shrugged before turning to go back to the bar to finish his breakfast. He left Storm and Dean standing at the door watching the snow falling. He was glad it waited until they got there before deciding to snow. At least that way, he didn't have to drive in it.

"We should finish our breakfast," Storm sighed after a few more minutes of watching the snow fall. She stepped out of Dean's embrace pulling him back to the bar and to a stool. "Sit, eat."

"Okay, what's on the agenda today?" Dean asked her.

"I'll clean the bar and get it ready for tonight in case I do open, but if I do, I'll probably close early if this weather keeps up. I'll see how it looks this afternoon before making a decision."

"If it gets bad, you don't think folks will try to come out in it do you?" Sam asked.

"I think most will stay at home, but there are some idiots who would try to make it, I'm sure."

"You know there are dumb asses out there," Dean grunted before taking the last bite of his toast.

"I can help you get the bar ready," Sam offered.

"Thanks Sam, but only if you feel like it. You don't need to aggravate any injuries you have."

"I won't, I'm fine. I'm not sitting around and letting you do all the work," he assured her. "Dean shouldn't be doing anything with his injured shoulder, so that leaves me. I'm at your service."

"Okay, but you stop if something starts hurting or you need to rest. I don't want you to overdo it." Storm rinsed her plate and put it in the dishwasher and turned to take Sam and Dean's plates and do the same. "Shall we get this done?" she asked drying her hands on a dish towel.

"I need my boots," Dean told them.

"I'll get them love," Storm replied. She went to their bedroom and picked his boots from the floor to take to him. Storm bend down and helped him slip them on and tied them for him. "Shall we head downstairs?"

Dean and Sam got up and Storm lead the way to the first floor and into the bar. Sam began to put the chairs on the tables so the floor could be swept and mopped. Dean walked over to the juke box and pulled out a quarter to drop into the slot and picked a couple of songs. He smiled as the music filled the room. He found a bar towel and wet it to wipe the bar from one end to the other and used a dry one to go back over it.

It didn't take long with two and a half people working at it to get the bar ready if Storm decided to open later that day. Sam had looked outside in the parking lot and saw that the ground was covered, and the trees hung were beginning to hang heavy with the damp snow, branches bending down to almost the breaking point. It looked like the roads were still passable for now and the snow had let up to flurries.

"Let's head back up and see if we can catch the noon day news to see what they say about the weather," Storm suggested as she sat the last chair back under the table.

"Sounds good to me," Dean agreed. "How 'bout chicken salad sandwiches for lunch?"

"That we can do. You okay with that Sam?"

"Sure, you do make good chicken salad."

"I bought some rolls we can use, and I have chips."

They headed back upstairs and Storm fixed sandwiches while Dean found the local news on the television. They sat in the living room and ate while watching the news to find out how much snow they were expecting. The main part of the storm was not due to hit until tomorrow, Christmas Eve, and the weather people were calling for eight to ten inches and more in certain parts of the state.

"Okay, I'm going to close tomorrow, I'm not chancing it," Storm decided. "I'll call the local radio station and have them put in on the air so hopefully people will hear and not try to come out."

"Good decision," Dean nodded. "We'll just start Christmas early," he suggested.

"Fine with me," Sam agreed happily. "Will your Dad have any problems getting here on Christmas day? I mean I can bunk on the couch if he wants to spend the night tomorrow."

"Dad loves this kind of weather. He's like a kid. He has an older four wheel drive truck called Beth, that will go just about anywhere in just about anything. He'll be here Christmas day for lunch, but thanks Sam; that was thoughtful of you."

"If things change, I won't mind," Sam assured her.

"I'm going to go look up the number for the radio station," Storm said. She got up taking their plates as she went and sat them on the bar before heading to the bedroom to get her laptop. She came back out and sat at the dining room table to turn it on. She waited for the laptop to boot up and went online to find the number. Once she had it, Storm dialed it on her cell and waited for the call to be answered. She relayed her message about closing the bar on Christmas Eve and that it would be closed the rest of the week and would open on New Year's Eve.

Once that was done, Storm sat back and looked over at the guys as they talked about something they were watching on the television. She studied them as Sam laughed and dodged a jab from Dean and thought they looked happy and carefree instead of serious and stoic when they were in hunter mode. She loved to see them relaxed like this and was happy they felt at ease in her home. Storm knew they didn't have many places or people they could trust with their secret lives as hunters and was glad she was one of the few.

"What are you two doing over there?" Storm teased when she saw Dean playfully slap at Sam again and call him a bitch and Sam reacted by calling him a jerk. This wasn't the first time she had heard those words used in endearment from the brothers. She knew it was their way of conveying their love for each other without having to actually say it.

"Nothing," Dean replied innocently, smiling up at her as he smacked at Sam again.

"How about a board game or some cards?" she suggested. "I have some games in the closet Dad and I used to play."

"What have you got?" Sam asked with interest.

"Let me see, there's Yahtzee, Monopoly, Chess, Jenga, Scrabble, Dominos, and a few more," Storm listed as she went to the closet by the door.

"How about Scrabble?" Sam suggested.

"Yeah, you would pick that game," Dena scoffed and snorted. "You with that nerdy brain of yours wouldn't give anyone else a chance of winning."

"Then you pick," Sam shot back at him and gave him a bitch face.

"I will, name them again," Dean told Storm only to get two perplexed looks from Sam and Storm. "Okay, okay, how 'bout Jenga. Let's see who has the steadiest hand."

"Then we'll play Scrabble," Storm noted pulling both games out. "And my favorite is Yahtzee, so that will be third."

Sam looked at Dean and stuck his tongue out at him as Storm cleared the coffee table to set Jenga up first. Dean gave Sam the finger and slid into the floor leaning back against the couch. Sam joined him, stretching his long legs out and putting a pillow behind his back.

"Do you want a pillow to sit on Babe?" Dean asked Storm as she sat across the table from them.

"No, I'm good," she replied as she stacked the blocks in the middle of the table.

"Ladies first," Dean bowed his head to her.

"Okay," Storm mumbled. She looked the tower over and gently pulled out a block and laid it down. "Next."

"Age before beauty," Sam quipped with a smirk on his face.

"Bite me," Dean snorted but randomly pulled a piece out.

Sam looked the tower over for a few moments, like Storm, before choosing his piece. They continued doing this until the tower began to sway and it was harder to choose a piece to be removed. It was Dean's turn and he started to reach for one and changed his mind and touched another trying to decide if he could get it out without toppling the remaining blocks. He chose another block when he saw Sam grin with his previous choice. Dean gently pulled it out and watched as the remaining blocks slowly began to sway back and forth for several seconds before toppling to the coffee table.

"Damn!" Dean pouted as he picked the pieces off the floor and laid them on the table for Storm to box back up.

"Loser," Sam coughed and snickered at Dean who gave him a death glare.

"Okay, now we play Sam's game," Storm stated, ignoring their bickering and sat the Scrabble game board on the table. She poured the letter tiles into the box lid and flipped them all over before mixing them up and offering the box lid to Sam to choose seven tiles and then to Dean who begrudgingly took seven too. Storm picked seven random tiles and sat the box aside as she arranged them on her holder. "Sam why don't you start?"

"Alright," Sam mumbled as his eyes ran over his tiles and he moved them around to make words. He laid down five of his tiles forming the word 'quick' and got a double word score with it. "Storm is keeping score, so you don't cheat," he told his brother.

"Me? Cheat? How dare you!" Dean chastised his brother.

"If the shoe fits," Sam snipped back as he picked up five tiles. "Your turn."

Dean looked at the word Sam had put down and back at his tiles as his brow knitted together. His eyes kept darting to the board and to his tiles as he caught his lower lip between his teeth before putting down four tiles to spell 'masks.'

"Ha!" Dean grinned as Storm recorded his score.

"Thanks," Storm told Dean as she played off his word and spelled, 'monkey'.

"Good one," Sam praised her and started moving his tiles around deciding if he had a good word or would have to go with safe one. He smiled as he put three tiles down spelling 'qaid'. He picked up three tiles and added them to his holder.

"Nice," Storm nodded adding up the score and tallying the score.

"Lucky bastard, is that even a word?" Dean mumbled under his breath. He put down three tiles spelling, 'dice,' and drew three tiles.

Storm studied the words on the board and her tiles as she made words in her head deciding on what would get her the highest score. They continued to play until all the tiles were gone except for the ones on their holders. It was tough now to make words as they tried to find places for two letter words. When no more words could be made and they called it quits, Sam was in the lead and won.

"Nice game Sam. You made it a challenge," Storm told him as she helped gather the tiles and put them back into the bag.

"Thanks, that was fun."

"Speak for yourself. Do you know how long it took to play that game?" Dean complained as he stood and stretched. "I need to hit the head."

"Want a beer?" Sam offered as he stood too.

"Sure, why not?"

"Storm? Beer?"

"Okay, why don't I fix us a snack? I've got apples, cheese, crackers, and grapes."

"That fine with me, but you know Dean will want something more…Substantial."

"I know, I've got some ham chunks for him to go with the cheese and crackers."

"You do know my brother so well," Sam chuckled. "Can I help?"

"I've got the food, you get the beers. All I've got to do is put it on a plate."

"Oh good, we get food too?" Dean asked when he saw Storm fixing the food.

"Yes sweetie. I thought you might want a snack before dinner."

"You read my mine Babe."

"Go on and sit back down, I'll have this ready in a few minutes."

"I'll get Yahtzee set up for us," Sam offered handing Dean a beer and sitting the other two on coasters on the coffee table. He picked up the Yahtzee box and took out the pieces. He put three playing cards and pens around the table and put the dice in the cup.

Storm brought the food and sat it on the table before sitting back in the floor cross legged. She took a sip of her beer and picked up the cup to throw the dice. She checked what came up and decided on what to keep before picking up the dice to throw again. Once her turn was done, she passed the cup to Sam to play. They snacked and played the game until it was time for Storm to open the bar.

A/N: The brothers are enjoying some down time and doing things they don't get to do very often. They're having some normal in their lives. Thanks for coming along for this short journey with me. Reviews would be great. NC