A/N: Happy Easter to all. Wanted to get another chapter up today before leaving for late lunch with friends. Hope everyone is enjoying this journey and leave me a review if you have a moment.

NC

Chapter 17

Dean and Esmee walked into the house to find Sam still up waiting on them. Sam looked up when the door opened and got up giving his brother a once over. It didn't get by him the bruise on his jaw and the blood on the sleeve of his shirt. Silent communication went between them, letting him know Dean was good.

"Hey guys, Cas filled me in. How did it go at Bobby's?"

"He actually knew the woman, was friends with her father." Dean sighed as exhaustion finally overtook him. "Look, we can talk about it tomorrow, we're heading for bed."

"Alright, good night." Sam replied. Night guys, I'll see you in the morning." he told the angels.

"Good night Sam."

"Yes, good night."

SPNSPNSPNSPN

"I need to look at your arm." Esmee told Dean bringing the first aid kit from the bathroom.

"It's only a scratch, I've had way worse."

"I know that, but I don't want it to get infected. Now strip."

"Oh if only..." Dean started wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her into him.

"Dee, I know we haven't had that much alone time since you've been back, but after what happened tonight, we're both beat and really need some rest."

"Ok." he said feeling a little rejected, but letting her pull his shirt off and jerking his tee shirt over his head.

"You know I want you right?" she asked examining the gash, before looking up into his sad eyes. "Tonight, can we just hold each other? I want to feel you beside me."

"Yeah, you're right."

"I'm going to clean and bandage this. At least you don't need stitches." she relayed gently running her hand up his arm savoring the feel.

SPNSPNSPNSPN

Esmee cleaned the gash and smeared ointment over it before wrapping gauze around his arm and taping it in place. She returned the first aid kit back to the bathroom and slipped out of her clothes and into one of Dean's old tee shirts.

Dean was already in bed waiting for her to return. She slid under the covers he was holding up and into his arms molding her body against his. It felt so good to lie in his arms again, to feel his warm body against hers, to hear his steady heartbeat in her ear, to smell the scent that was his alone and to see that look of absolute love in his eyes.

"I love you with every cell in my body." she whispered brushing her lips across his before settling her head back on his chest and running a finger down his jaw line.

"I love you too babe." he replied kissing the top of her head brushing her unruly curls down. "So much sometimes it hurts."

He smelled the peach shampoo she used and drank in the scent. Closing his eyes, he relished the touch and feel of her skin on his as she drew her foot down his leg letting it rest on his as her body relaxed. Dean listened to her breathing as it even out and slowed, knowing she was going to sleep. He thought about all those damp, cold, dismal nights he had spent curled up in the corner of his cell hoping he would have one more chance to see her again. He had almost lost hope, but the memory of her twinkling blue eyes kept him going. With her scent still flooding his thoughts, he let his mind drift away into sleep.

SPNSPNSPNSPN

A ringing beside Dean's head made him moan as he reached over to grab his cell and stop the noise.

"H'lo." he mumbled feeling Esmee cuddling up against his back.

"Wanted to check and see what time y'all are coming over?" a gruff, voice asked.

"Hey Bobby, what time is it?" he groaned trying to see a clock.

"Almost seven."

"Give us thirty-forty minutes and we'll be there."

"Alright." Bobby replied hanging up.

"Hey babe, we're to meet Bobby in thirty minutes." he cooed to Esmee as he kissed her forehead.

"M-m-m already?"

"Come on, show me those baby blues." he teased tickling her neck with his lips.

"I'm up!" she giggled pushing at his chest. "Maybe I can see the boys before they leave for school, it's their last day."

Esmee pushed herself out of bed and headed for the bathroom and then out the door. Dean got up and went into the bathroom, relieving himself and splashing water on his face to wake himself up more. He grabbed his clothes and dressed, before going to hunt Esmee.

SPPNSPNSPNSPN

"Alfie, can you zap Tyler and you to Bobby's today when he gets out?"

"Yes, if that's what you want."

"Please, I'm going to be staying with Camille and her kids while the guys clean up some around her house."

Esmee instructed. "Castiel can you do the same with Chance, bring him to Bobby's?"

"Yes, I can do that."

"Both of you be sure you're not seen when you do it."

"Yes ma'am."

"Van's leaving, let's go." Sam called down the hall. He passed Mary to Esmee before heading out the door.

"Coming."

"You two have a good day at school. I love you."

"Love you to Mom." they chimed giving her a quick hug before running after Sam.

"Where's my baby girl?"

"Dada." Mary clapped reaching for his waiting arms.

"Daddy needs his morning cup of caffeine and we're going for a ride."

"Bye Bye."

"You want tea Es?"

"No, I'll take milk and a power bar. You want to put the spare car seat in the Impala?"

"Yeah, go to Mommy sweetie, Daddy's got to get your seat buckled in. Sam should be back shortly and we can leave."

SPNSPNSPNSPN

"Hey Bobby, we're here." Dean called coming in the back door.

"Coffee's hot."

"Bo-Bo." Mary called to him from Dean's arms.

"Hey there little one." Bobby said softly taking the child and letting her give him a hug and wet kiss. Bobby had a soft spot for kids and he loved Dean's kids with all his heart.

"How's Camille doing today?"

"She's taking a shower. Found the boy down here with the baby getting him a bottle this morning." Bobby told her looking over at Sam and Dean, remembering back to the first days he had met them.

John Winchester, a green hunter at the time, showed up on his doorstep late one night, dragging one small boy and a baby wanting help. He gave them food and a bed to sleep in. The next morning he found the young boy in the kitchen fixing a bottle and looking for something to feed his baby brother. Stubborn little cuss, wouldn't let him touch the baby. John disappeared for nearly a week, leaving the boys with him. Dean never spoke a word the entire week, but he knew what every whimper Sam made meant. Never let him out of his sight the entire time.

"Bobby, did you hear me?" Dean asked seeing that far away look in his eyes.

"Yeah, got the truck loaded with things we might need. Esmee, there's food in the fridge for lunch; the boys are in the living room."

"Don't worry Bobby; I'll take care of them." Esmee assured him taking Mary and looking into the living room. She heard the shower upstairs stop and strapped Mary in the high chair so she could fix some breakfast for Camille. "Tim, honey, you ok in there?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Have you had breakfast?"

"Yes, Bobby fixed me something."

"If you're still hungry, I'm making your Momma some."

"Maybe some juice, Joey finished his bottle."

"Ok, Mary's old bouncy seat is in the utility room. I think Joey will fit in it just fine." she said looking around in the room until she found it. "Needs a little dusting, but it'll work."

Esmee wiped the seat and sat it on the kitchen table. She headed for the living room to get Joey and Tim.

"Let me take Joey, I've got the seat ready."

"Ok." Tim said releasing his brother so she could take him.

"Come on, I'll get you some juice and crackers."

SPNSPNSPNSPN

Camille made her way down the stairs and toward the kitchen where she heard talking. She found Esmee cooking and the kids eating crackers and drinking juice.

"Hello, remember me, I'm Esmee. Dean and I brought you here last night."

"Yes, I remember, I don't think I thanked you for your help."

"I've got some breakfast almost ready, would you like some coffee or tea?"

"Tea would be nice." she mumbled keeping her eyes downcast.

"Tea it is, then." Esmee said turning back to the stove for the hot water. "The boys have been fed so don't worry about them."

SPNSPNSPNSPN

"Damn, this asswipe not do anything around here?" Bobby grumbled getting out of the truck at Camille's house.

"Hey watch it." Dean complained while trying to get himself out of the small cab of Bobby's truck without getting jabbed by Sam's elbow.

"Told you, I should of been on that side." Sam whined back unfolding his tall frame from the cab and stretching the kinks out of his back.

"Well you can ride in the back going back."

"Hush up you two jack legs; we've got work to do."

"Yes sir." both answered.

"One of you check the garage for a lawn mower and the other can help me fix the porch."

"I'll help with the porch." Sam quickly volunteered leaving Dean to mowing.

"Don't I get a choice?"

"Not fast enough big brother. Have fun."

"Bitch."

"Jerk."

"Both of you knock it off and get to work 'fore I kick some asses."

SPNSPNSPNSPN

Dean headed for the side door to the garage, trying the knob and finding it locked. He pulled out his lock pick and had the door opened in seconds. Once inside, he found the switch to open the door so he could see better. In the corner he found a gas mower and a can of gas.

"Bobby...um...not sure I know how to crank this thing." Dean called to him as he stared intently at the mower.

"Should be a place to prime the carb and a pull on the engine."

"Ok, right." Dean mumbled looking closer at the engine and seeing a tag that said 'pump four times.' Dean pumped the bulb four times and moved to pull the cord on top of the engine. He jerked it one time and the engine groaned once.

"Put some muscle into it." Sam teased.

"Bite me." he sneered back trying again. After the fourth try, the engine coughed and smoke belched out of the exhaust as it began to run. "Finally."

Dean began pushing the mower around the yard, cutting the tall grass in its wake. He pulled the mower back as it began to bog down by the thick grass. He pushed the handles down and let the blade throw excess grass from under the mower before continuing. Dean looked toward the porch and saw Sam hammering a new step down as Bobby pulled up rotten lumber from the porch. He was almost finished with mowing the front and back and was going to see if the weed eater he saw would crank to finish the back around the swing set.

SPNSPNSPNSPN

"Camille, if you need to talk, I'm a good listener." Esmee told her as they sat at the table watching the kids in the living room. Tim was watching television, while Mary played in saucer seat and Joey dozed in the bouncy seat.

Camille looked down at her second cup of tea before answering.

"He wasn't always like that. When I first met him, he was so nice and kind. No one had treated me this way, I quickly said yes when he asked me to marry him." she spoke softly. "We stayed with Dad until we could get on our feet. Then Tim came along and I could see changes in him. He became moody and distant. Dad got sick and I had to take care of him. His medical bills wiped him out and Paul lost his job and I got pregnant with Joey. After Dad died, we lost the house; he started blaming everything on me. He started doing odd jobs and drinking heavily."

"Why didn't you leave him?"

"And go where? I had nothing. At least we had a roof over our heads, even thought we were behind on the rent, we got some assistance for the kids, at least I could feed them some."

"When did he start...being abusive?"

"When he found out I was pregnant again. That was the first time he actually hit me. I think he liked it. His temper got worse and the drinking do too. I tried not to anger him and stayed out of his way. I always took the abuse so he wouldn't hit the kids, but he found them an easy target and began hitting Tim. He said he was teaching him discipline, but I knew. After he slapped Joey, I knew I had to stop him."

Camille stopped as tears ran down her cheeks. Esmee handed her a tissue and held her hand trying to give her support and comfort.

"It's ok now, he can't hurt you anymore." she whispered to her.

"Where did Bobby go?"

"Bobby, Dean and Sam are over at your place cleaning it up for you."

"What am I going to do? I have no one, I'm all alone."

"No you're not. You have us and Bobby. We'll help you get on your feet again. You've just got to be strong for your kids."

"Why would you do this for me?"

"Let's just say I'm passing it alone. Those guys saved me and my kids when I was alone and giving up."

SPNSPNSPN

"Catch." Sam called tossing a bottle of water in Dean's direction.

"Thanks." he replied snagging the bottle from the air and cracking it open, downing half of it. He wiped the sweat from his face and looked at the yard, satisfied with his work.

"We're almost done replacing the rotten wood on the porch. At least that will make it safer for them."

"Hey boys." Jody called walking up the pathway. "Looking good here."

"Jody good to see ya." Dean smiled giving her a hug.

"Whoa, there." she complained wrinkling her nose. "A little ripe there Dean."

"Sorry 'bout that."

"Sam, I'll pass on the hug there, good to see you."

"Hey Jody."

"How's Mrs. Wells doing?" she directed to Bobby.

"Camie's hanging in there. It may take her a bit to adjust now. She was such a sweet child growing up."

"You knew her?"

"Her Daddy and me were friends long ago. Lost track of them when they moved away. I heard they had come back and her Daddy passed a while back. Didn't know she had married the likes of that man."

"I got several complaints on Paul Wells, but she never would press charges. I know she was afraid of him, but I got the feeling she didn't have anywhere else to go."

"Can you see 'bout getting her some help, maybe counseling, and maybe the kids too. I'm sure they could use it after what they've endured. I'll keep an eye on them, make sure they're ok. It's the least I can do for her Daddy."

"I'll see what I can do. We're releasing the scene so the inside can be cleaned. Wrote it up as self defense."

"Good, I think she's been through enough. After we grab some lunch, we'll at least get the living room in order and blood cleaned up." Dean told her.

"I'm sure Mrs. Wells will appreciate that. If you boys need anything let me know."

"Thanks Jody."

"Jody can I have a word?" Dean asked walking her to the car.

"Sure what you need?"

"I taking the family out of town for a few days, you know give everyone some time to relax and all. Could you keep an eye on the place?"

"Of course Dean, where you going?"

"It's a surprise; I'll text you when we get there. We'll be leaving tomorrow, kids are out of school."

"When you get back you need to tell me about your friend."

"Friends, there was one at home watching the kids with Sam."

"Dean you're just so full of surprises. We're having a beer and you're telling me that story."

"That's a date for sure." Dean assured her. "And Jody thanks for looking in on Esmee and the kids and Sam when...you know...I was gone."

"Hey, you all are family and family looks out for each other. You showed me that kid."

"You'll always be part of our family." Dean said giving her another smelly hug.

"Get on with you, and I'd advise you to shower before trying that with Esmee." she laughed pushing him away and heading back to her cruiser.