Bystanders
(general disclaimer: don't own Supernatural and that's probably a good thing. Kripke does a much better job with it than I ever could.)


The Kids Are Alright
Lisa

A soft creek cut through the silence as the door to Ben Braden's room inched open. Lisa poked her head into the room, eyes straining against the dark to make out the tiny body of her son deep in sleep, his chest rising and falling in time with the sound of his slow, even breaths. She watched for a little while longer before closing the door and continuing down the hall to her own room.

It had been months since the incident with the changlings, but Lisa still worried about Ben. He hadn't told her much about what happened, and Dean had assured her that he would be fine, but she wasn't so sure. Or maybe it wasn't Ben that she was unsure about. Maybe it was herself. She had never lost Ben before, not for one second, and the experience of losing him and not knowing what had happened to him was still affecting her. She still had the urge to check on him in the middle of the night, just to make sure he was there.

Sighing, she climbed back underneath the covers of her bed and tried to get some sleep. Snuggling into her pillows, she closed her eyes. She was about to drift into sleep when a sudden squeal of tires from outside jolted her back awake. She cracked one eye open, not really looking at anything; just listening.

The sound of the engine slowly faded into the night and Lisa shook her head, trying to erase from her mind the face that had accompanied the roar of a classic engine.

Dean Winchester. It had taken years for Lisa to finally forget Dean the first time they had met. Now it was even harder. Back in 2000, they had made a connection, and not just physical. Of course, the physical connection hadn't been bad. Eight years later, she could still feel the heat of his lips on her skin. There was a reason all of her friends knew about Dean, the "best night of my life" Dean. Still, there was something else there, an emotional or spiritual connection, whatever you want to call it.

They didn't know much about each other. She didn't know what his family was like, what his favorite color was, or even what he did for a living. He didn't know why she decided to be a yoga instructor or what her favorite food was. They didn't know each other. And yet, Lisa felt like she had gotten to know him better than anyone she had ever met. She didn't know all the details of his life, but she knew about the kindness and gentleness that hid behind all of his bravado. She knew that he still carried the scars from events of his childhood, though she had no idea what those scars were. She knew he was tough in a way other men only pretended to be, and she knew that he was alone. He was trapped in his own world and cut off from others, by his choice or by the choices of others, she didn't know.

She knew Dean. At least, she thought she knew him. She woke up one morning, expecting to feel the warmth of Dean's chest beneath her cheek, just like she had every morning for the past six days. Instead, there were only sheets. Sitting up, she glanced around. Dean wasn't the only thing missing. His clothes that had been carelessly discarded on the way into the room and the duffel that should be sitting in the corner were gone.

The missing duffel stood out to Lisa more than anything. Everything Dean had brought with him on this road trip was in that bag, a bag that had not left Lisa's bedroom since Dean had entered it. Did this mean he was gone?

Lisa flung the covers off, grabbed a robe, and hurried into the kitchen. There was nobody. Lisa checked the living room, but no leather jacket hung casually on the back of her couch. Lisa stood in shock. She thought there had been something special between them. Why would he just leave?

A soft click sounded behind her. She turned around to see Dean stepping through the door, two coffees balanced carefully in his hands.

"Morning," he said with that smile that made her go week in the knees.

"Morning," she replied. "You went out for coffee? How come you didn't just make it here?" Dean shrugged.

"I needed to go for a drive this morning, clear my head."

"Oh." This didn't sound good.

"Lisa, this week has been great, but my dad called this morning and he really needs me back to help out with the business."

"Oh," Lisa said again. "Well, I guess that's it then. We always knew you'd be gone in a week, so . . . that's it." She glanced up to see Dean shifting awkwardly in front of her. Apparently he did goodbyes about as well as she did.

"Well, I should probably hit the road. It's a long drive. Maybe I'll look you up if I'm in town again."

"Yeah, sure maybe." With a short nod, Dean turned and walked out of Lisa's life. For weeks, she tried to forget him, tried not to take notice of the cold sheets on the other side of her bed. Her reaction to Dean had taken her off guard. She had always been a wild woman, moving from one man to the next with no thoughts of ever settling down. But something about Dean had changed her. She didn't want anyone else. She wanted Dean.

Then, four weeks and six days after Dean Winchester left, Lisa found out she was pregnant. The next few years were the hardest years of her life. She thought about calling Dean so many times, but resisted. He was needed at the family business. She knew that. Plus, she was a strong woman. There was no reason she couldn't handle this on her own without involving him. Dean had only wanted a short term relationship, and she wasn't going to push this on him.

At Ben's first birthday, Lisa made her final decision. She would not tell Dean about Ben. She would raise him on her own, and she would forget about Dean Winchester. He may not be here, but he had at least given her a son. Ben meant everything to Lisa, and she was going to make sure she was the best mom ever, not just some woman pining after a man who had never loved her the way she had loved him.

Exactly seven years later, Dean Winchester walked back into her life. Seven years without him had hardened Lisa and eight years as a mom had solidified her priorities. Ben didn't need a father who was just going to back up and leave after banging his mom a few times. She was not about to let him into their lives.

That's what she told herself over and over again, trying to stay angry with Dean, but after Dean had saved Ben and brought him back to her, Lisa had to admit, at least to herself, that she was still in love with Dean. He was the same, gentle hero that she remembered, but now even more complex. He hadn't left just to help his family. He had left to save lives and he was leaving now to do the same thing. It was who he was and, though Lisa had offered to let him stay, deep down she knew that her one grateful kiss was the last contact they were likely to have.

But who knows. Lisa had thought she would never see Dean Winchester again after he left eight years ago. Maybe, just maybe, he would walk back into her life again.

Lisa groaned, squeezing her eyes shut and burring her face in her pillows. This was not helping. There was no guarantee that Dean would come back, and no indication on his part. She would be better off forgetting him. But maybe, just this once, it would be ok to remember. With a resigned sigh, Lisa let her thoughts return to that last night, eight years ago. Slowly, she began to drift off to sleep, her mind filled with the memory of warm kisses and soft caresses.


So, what do you think?

Reviews are love.

Also, I'm still looking for a Beta and I'm still open to suggestions for characters.