Chapter Eight

Grace pulled the second batch of cookies from the oven and set them carefully on the table. Everyone loved her cookies. Especially the two Winchester brothers. The boys had been with her for a week now. Admittedly the first few days had been spent watching over a very sick Dean. Now that he was getting better though Grace could enjoy their company a bit more. He'd worried her those first couple of days. So quiet, so sick and so miserable. That wasn't her Dean. Not at all. But the more she thought about it the more she realised he hadn't been her Dean for a couple of visits now. There was something bugging that boy and Grace was determined to find out what.

After she was done fussing of course.

Dean could make it around upstairs without help now but after a short walk to the bathroom and back she could tell how tired he was. Sam had helped him down the stairs to lay on the couch where he was currently curled up and snoring. Grace loved to see those boys taking care of each other. Usually it was Dean with a well timed joke to take Sam's mind off of something he shouldn't be focusing on. What it was Grace would never know. Other times it was a sarcastic remark or poke in the ribs to bring Sam back from his reverie, what it was, Grace understood. Losing a loved one wasn't easy to get over. Even all these years on she still missed her husband Albert. Still missed his gentle hand on her back when she was in a situation unknown. His hand within hers when they were walking down the street, his body pressed closed as she drifted to sleep.

Grace understood Sam's pain when it came to Jess. Sam had opened up to her, knew he could talk about Jess and Grace would understand. Dean would try to , but anytime he saw his brother heading toward painful memories he would say something or do something to bring him back.

Sam ambled into the kitchen with his nose raised high, breathing in and savouring the sweet smell of cookies.

"All for me I hope?"

"Sam you really need to learn to share, these are for you, Dean, Nicki and Jason."

"Do they all know you're cooking them?"

"No."

"Well then, just give them all to me."

Sam reached for a hot cookie as Nicki and Jason came striding through the door.

"Hands of Samuel those are mine!"

"Nicki, Grace says you have to learn how to share."

Nicki turned to Grace who merely smirked and shook her head. While both women engaged in conversation Jason and Sam grabbed a handful of cookies. Grace turned in time to catch Jason with hamster cheeks and Sam blowing out crumbs while trying to not laugh.

"BOYS! Those are NOT ready yet."

"Sorry Grace." came the simultaneous reply as both men tried to appear innocent while swallowing a mouth full of cookie.

"Jason honey?"

"Yeah Grace?"

"Would you mind having a look at the oil in my car? The light keeps coming on and I know you said it was just the light that was broken but it's worrying me. Especially seeing how it has trouble starting every now and then."

"Do I get a cookie?"

"You mean on top of the five you shoved in your mouth while my back was turned?"

Jason smiled innocently and nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes you can honey."

With that he grabbed up two cookies, smiled triumphantly at Sam and went out to check on Grace's car.

Sam stepped forward to the plate of cookies and pulled his hand away a second before Grace could slap it with a spoon.

"They are not ready yet Sam."

"You let Jason have two."

"I let him have one, he's checking my car for me."

"He took two." Mumbled Sam as he moved back toward the door. "How was work Nicki?"

"Good thanks Sam. Paula came in, asked about you."

Sam suddenly found that the scuff on his shoe needed closer inspection as he tried to ignore the amused smirks of the women before him. He was about to mount a defence when Grace turned her smile to a chastising frown aimed behind Sam.

"Dean Winchester what the hell are you doing up and around? I told you to stay put on that couch boy."

Dean held onto the door frame and looked around the room in confusion.

"Vampires."

"What?" asked both Nicki and Sam. Sam making a step toward Dean before he slid to the floor. He felt his forehead and searched his face for fever. Grace stepped forward and rested her own hand on his head.

"He's not got a fever. Temperatures a little high though."

"Vampires." Breathed Dean again. "They're in here . Kate is in here."

"No honey, Dean, look at me sweetheart. There are no vampires. You killed her remember? Are you ok baby? You need to stay on the couch. You haven't got your strength back yet."

Dean looked up at Grace, Sam was still holding his arm and was looking at him suspiciously. He licked his lips and pleaded with his eyes to Grace.

"You want water Dean honey?"

Dean nodded then let his eyes drift toward the table. Grace followed his gaze and then smiled at him, kissing his forehead. She filled a glass of water for him and then reached up for a plate to laden with cookies. All the while Nicki leant back against the sink with a smirk on her face. She had to admit it, she was impressed. She watched as Dean's eyes travelled from the cookies making their way onto the plate to catch Nicki's own eyes. He winked at her and then sighed heavily and moaned slightly.

"Sam, honey you get your brother back to the couch this instance. He shouldn't be up."

Dean winked again at Nicki, who in turn threw him a thumbs up. She averted her eyes when she realised Sam was watching her.

"Sure Grace, wouldn't want Dean to fall on his ass would we." He accentuated the last few words, dragging his brother with him as he made his way to the living room.

"You are unbelievable you know that?"

"Sam, I do not know what you mean."

Dean eased himself onto the couch as Sam lifted his legs up and pulled the blanket over him.

"Seriously man that's so wrong."

"What?"

"Pretending to be more sick than you are. Just for cookies!"

"You're jealous."

"What?"

"You're jealous that I get a whole plateful."

"Am not."

"Are too. Little Sammy is jealous of the cookies."

"Well it isn't fair."

"Yes it is."

"How?"

"I'm still regaining my strength."

Sam frowned in his attempt to think up a rebuttal. He smiled slyly as he sat down beside the couch that cocooned his brother. His back to Dean's hip. He looked over his left shoulder and quirked an eyebrow. Dean was instantly on guard.

"You let me have half that plateful."

"No way man they are my cookies."

"Or I'm telling Grace you just tricked her."

"You want the left half or the right?"

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Grace joined the boys in the living room after sending Nicki and Jason on their way with a bag of cookies each. Sam was spread out on the floor beside the couch where Dean was laid out, all wrapped up in a blanket. Both their bellies were full of cookies and each man has a satisfied smile on his lips. Grace took the chair besides the couch and rested her hand on the top of Dean's head. Absently she began to run her fingers through his hair.

"Sam honey would you turn the channel for me please?"

"Grace you really need to get a TV with a remote. All the rooms have them. You should take one from there."

"Those are for the guests Sam. No, I am quite happy with this TV. It serves it's purpose well and if I had a remote I'd get too lazy. I'm getting older, no need to get lazier with it."

"You're not lazy Grace." Dean said quietly, her fingers in his hair were slowly lulling him to sleep.

"Not yet I'm not. But I've heard many stories about people getting caught up in tv and then getting big and fat and never leaving the house."

"Grace I seriously doubt that will ever be you. What channel do you want?"

"You know which one Sam." Grace threw the younger man a wink. As the soap started she felt Dean raise his head.

"What the hell is this?"

"Sunset Beach. And don't swear boy." She slapped him gently on the head. "You'll like it, I'm sure."

"Doubt it." Grumbled Dean.

"That's what Sam said, but he likes it now."

Dean raised his eyebrows to his brother who smiled back as he resumed his position by Dean.

"Seriously bro you'll like this show."

"I understand you liking it Francis but a proper man like me doesn't watch this crap."

Grace slapped him again.

"Crap isn't swearing."

"The slap was for being rude to your brother."

Sam smirked as the program began.

"Yeah, don't be rude to me dufus."

Grace slapped the back of Sam's head as Dean let out a giggle.

As the episode wore on Sam manoeuvred his way around to sit on the left side of Grace. Her free hand was entwined in his hair, her other still threading the fingers through Dean's hair. She could practically hear both men purring. Her house always seemed bigger when the boys and Nicki were there, when she was alone she could feel the walls closing in. It was moments like this that she dreamed about. That she savoured. That she hoped to have again.

These two had seen such horror. Had lived through such pain. She knew they both hunted the things that nightmares were made of, but to give them this levity. To allow them this comfort was such a small token to her yet such a huge one to them.

Both men felt the stress in their bones seep away. The ache in their necks and backs from the hard motel beds, the ache in Dean's stomach, all melting away as Grace ran her fingers threw their hair in such an absentminded way that it felt like she was a part of them.

Sam relaxed as Dean began to realise they'd have to leave soon. He felt the weight of the leaving . He always felt the weight before they left. It was something he wished he could avoid. Maybe it was best to not come here again? He looked over at Sam and realised he couldn't do that to his brother. Maybe he couldn't do that to himself either. He deserved this. The love of an old women. They all needed each other. Their father knew the boys disappeared for a few days here and there. But he never asked where. Would he allow this if he knew? Would he insist on coming here to meet them all? Would he show kindness? Or would he demand that the soldiers return to battle, no respite.

Dean allowed his mind to wander back to him, beckoned by the feel of Grace's fingers along his head and the sound of Sam's contented breathing. His eyes wandered to the tv and he disinterestedly began to watch the show, the acting seemed bad even to Dean. Soap operas, he never understood them. They seemed to suck the soul out of people. It seemed to him it was just a place for actors who couldn't get a job anywhere else. There was always a bitch character as well. He wandered when she would show herself. Why the hell would Grace want to watch this crap?

He heard a happy giggle beside him and twisted his head around to catch a glimpse of the look of fan girl glee on Grace's face. She winked at him and then returned her gaze back to the tv. Cole. What a stupid name for a character.

Ok, well, that explained why Grace watched the show. But how the hell did Sam get hooked? And how the hell was he going to wean him off?

Dean rolled carefully to his side, Grace's fingers left his hair and for a second he was sorry he moved. But as he settled he felt the touch return. Sam leaned forward to pull the blanket back over Dean from where it had fallen when he'd shifted. Sam's eyes went back to the tv, he was glued. He was transfixed. His mouth had fallen open and he seemed to have forgotten how to blink. Dean followed his gaze lazily and almost choked.

"Damn, who the hell is that?"

"Meg." Breathed out Sam. His face was flushed and instead of feeling Grace's hands in his hair he was imagining the character's.

"I'd like to bang that." Dean heard, more than felt the slap on his head.

"Me too." Sam ducked before Grace could make contact with his skull.

"Honestly you two, all you think about is sex."

"No we don't." Defended Sam.

"Really?"

"Well, maybe he does."

"Hey man!" Dean frowned at his little brother, they both realised Grace wasn't a part of the conversation anymore. One glance at the tv told them why.

"Yeah Grace," Dean settled further into the couch. "We're the only ones that think about sex."

"I may be getting older honey, but damn I'd give him a go."

"Dude! We are so watching this after we leave."

"Got that right Sammy."

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Big thanks to my friend Kay for the idea of the soap opera watching!

Sorry to make you wait for the next chapter, hope you liked it!! Thank you again for all yor wonderful reviews. Sadly this story is coming to an end, only two more chapters left so please please please let me know what you think!

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