"How are you doing, Dean?" Kylee asked as she put her arms around him.
"Probably the same as you are," Dean tried to smile. "I thought about my dad quite a bit today. I thought of all the questions I want to ask him. All the knowledge that he never shared with us that is just lost now. His guidance right now would be priceless.
I'd feel safer if he was here. Guess that's because he's my dad. When I was little, I thought he was super-human. I was older before I realized that he was a hero, forced into the role by tragedy and his love for his family.
He'd know what to do right now. Or, he'd know how to figure out what to do. I have his journal and his list of contacts. But, who didn't he put on the list? We met Jo and Ellen and he didn't mention either of them in his journal.
I want him to be here, to possibly face down the demon that he'd hunted for so long. I want him to save Sammy's family.
But, he doesn't get to be here. No matter how often I think of him, I can't make him appear. It doesn't matter how hard I try to remember everything he said to me, I'm still missing pieces."
"You were an amazing son, Dean. Your dad was proud of you and Sam, even if he neglected to say it. Look at what you've accomplished over the short period of time we've had to get ready for Nate's six month birthday. That's because of what your dad taught you and how well you listened.."
"Do I sound like a baby wishing he was here?" Dean gave her a small smile.
"No," Kylee brushed his cheek. "I wish he was here, too."
Dean just looked at her with his eyes filled with love. He saw a flicker of worry move across her face and asked her what it was for.
"If we need to be prepared for six month birthdays for Sam's baby or babies, do we also have to be prepared for when we have our children?"
"Probably. It's better to be safe than sorry. I'm hoping that this will get easier if we have to do this more often. I want us to have babies."
"Me, too," Kylee replied. "Maybe once all this is done, we can concentrate on trying again."
"I'd like that."
"Same here."
Bobby groaned as his knees creaked as he sat down on the bed. His body was reminding him of his age and that he had no business being a new bridegroom.
"It was a long day, Bobby. Are you going to be able to sleep?" Tasha asked him quietly.
"I'd better. After all, that's what I told the boys they had to do." Bobby sighed.
Tasha nudged Bobby over so that his head rested on her chest. She ran her fingers through his hair. "I love you and I trust your judgment, Bobby. I know you'll do whatever you can to keep everyone in this house safe."
"I thought of something that may or may not help," Bobby told her. "I wasn't sure if I should mention it or not."
"What is it?"
"I have charmed amulets that are supposed to keep demons from possessing someone. Usually they are kept in a pocket or worn on a string. I was thinking of a more permanent way of keeping them."
"Permanent, how?"
"Branding," Bobby hated how it sounded.
"Isn't that what they do to cattle?" Tasha asked.
"Yes. It would put the imprint on the skin forever."
"So you're thinking that we should all get branded with the protective symbol?"
Bobby hesitated. "I think it might be a good idea. It's painful but quicker than tattooing, something that I can't even come close to doing. I think we could make a small brand."
"I don't know much about demons, but right now I think that anything that might help is something we should do. You should tell them in the morning."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. I'd get the brand. I don't want to put anyone in danger by letting the demon in me."
"You're a wonderful woman, Tasha. Seems like everyday I find out more reasons why."
"I'm just full of surprises," she replied. "Life with me won't be dull."
"No, it definitely won't," Bobby fell asleep with his head resting on Tasha's.
Tasha had her fingers woven in Bobby's hair from stroking it as he fell asleep. Once Bobby fell asleep, she wasn't far behind.
Bobby was up early the next morning, fashioning a brand. After he'd talked to Tasha, he'd known it was something they had to do.
"How is it coming?" Tasha brought him out a cup of coffee to his workshop.
"I think I'm almost done. I have it down to the size between a quarter and a fifty-cent piece. I don't know what would be the best place on Nate's body."
Tasha was silent.
"Maybe his foot?" Bobby guessed. "He's not walking right now, so it would be easy to keep it bandaged and clean."
"Have you told anyone about this yet?" she asked Bobby.
He shook his head. "I've just been out here."
"Well, let's go tell them so we can get it started," Tasha took Bobby's hand and led him inside.
After Bobby spoke, no one said a word.
"Are you sure?" Dean was the first to break the silence.
"I think it would help us to know that none of us can be possessed. If you can think of an easier way, I'm all ears."
"Nate, too?" Abby's voice conveyed the pain she was feeing for her son.
Bobby nodded. "I thought that his heel might be the best place. He's not walking yet so it would be easy to keep clean and bandaged."
Abby visibly shuddered.
"You wouldn't be there, Abby. I'd help Bobby," Sam told her.
"I can understand it needing to be done, but it still makes me want to puke," Abby said. "When do we have to do this?"
"The sooner the better," Bobby replied. "That way we can rest up until we need to be on our toes tonight. If everyone just comes down in groups or two or three, we should be able to make fast work of this. Missouri will be in charge of cleaning and bandaging up here at the house."
As always, they did as they were told. Each person picked where they wanted the brand. The men picked their chest or upper arm. The girls picked their derriere because they didn't want it to show, no matter what clothes they wore.
Kylee felt awkward having Bobby brand her but Dean was standing right there. Squeezing her hands and whispering loving words. Dean covered Kylee with his shirt on the way back to the house. Missouri was set up in Sam and Abby's room with the first aid supplies. She cleaned the wound and put ointment on it before bandaging it.
"Find this girl a skirt to wear, Dean," Missouri said as she finished taping Kylee up. "She doesn't need the extra pressure of wearing pants on that injury."
Dean helped Kylee up the stairs, made her comfortable lying on her stomach on the bed, grabbed some Tylenol and ice packs.
"I bet you are getting such a kick out of this," Kylee told Dean when he put the ice pack on her.
"It's just odd," Dean smirked. "I never thought I'd see my wife flash Bobby."
"Dean--"
"I know. It's not a big deal because it's Bobby and we all know why we had to do this. Besides Abby and Tasha are doing the same thing."
"But Tasha's his wife and he's been so close to Abby since the beginning."
"Well, when it comes down to protecting this home from evil, we are all equals in Bobby's eyes. Does that make you feel better?"
"Not really," Kylee laughed. "How is your chest?"
"Hurts. At least I got it on the side you don't usually lay your head on. You see, I was thinking ahead."
Kylee buried her head back into her pillow. "I just wish it would quit throbbing."
"It will," Dean started to massage the rest of Kylee's body. She relaxed and let Dean remove her clothing until it was just her and her bandage.
"How are you feeling now?" Dean asked.
"I think the tylenol kicked in but it still hurts," Kylee said sleepily.
"Poor Baby," Dean kissed his way down Kylee's back and urged her thighs apart.
Kylee started to tighten up. "Shh, I'm just massaging," Dean soothed her with his voice. Her muscles went lax again and Dean waited until Kylee had started to drift off before he edged his fingers up to her womanhood and started to caress the silky, sensitive skin there. He stroked her gently with his fingers, causing her to make little noises.
"It's just us, Kylee," Dean reminded her.
Kylee started to squirm and Dean tried to lift Kylee's pelvis a little so that he could pleasure Kylee to completion.
"Dean," her breathing was ragged and she started to shake. Dean had her lying on her side, careful not to put any pressure on her wound. He'd moved one of her legs to open her up further and there his fingers danced, stroked, tugged and caused all kinds of arousing feelings.
Once Kylee climaxed, Dean set her back down, covering her to her waist with the sheet and kissing the back of her neck.
"How do you feel now?" Dean asked when he was near her ear.
"Relaxed and loved," Kylee replied.
"I thought you might need the distraction," Dean sucked on her earlobe.
"I guess I did. Now, I just feel like taking a nap."
"Me, too," Dean rolled over onto his back. They'll get us if they need anything."
Missouri was the last one to go out to get branded. She came back in with Tasha and Bobby. After everyone's wound was cleaned and bandaged, it was declared naptime. They had all taken Tylenol and an ice pack to bed with them. Missouri offered to take Nate to sleep with her, but Sam and Abby would have none of that.
Abby laid in bed covered in a sheet with an ice pack on her bandage. Sam had a bandage on his chest. Nate laid between them with a bandage and bootie on his foot. He was fine, untraumatized by the whole thing. Sam played with Nate, always within earshot of Abby until they, too, fell asleep.
Tasha made it into their bedroom before she asked Bobby, "Would you be offended if I just laid under a sheet?"
"No, honey. I'll get two ice packs. You make yourself comfortable."
Tasha thought about how her marriage started out totally different than she thought it would. Still, it was life with Bobby, and that was what she'd ultimately wanted.
Bobby came back into their room. He lifted the sheet to check Tasha's bandage, kissed it and put the ice pack on it.
"What was that?" Tasha asked Bobby, grinning.
"A kiss to make it better?" Bobby turned red. "I feel bad for hurting you girls. It's one thing to brand the boys, but you girls and Nate, that was hard on me."
"It needed to be done, honey. You were as gentle as could be."
"I just hope it helps tonight," Bobby sighed. "I just want to keep everyone safe."
"Let's get some rest while the rest of the house is also asleep," Tasha brushed Bobby's hair back.
Bobby nodded slowly. "Love you, darlin'."
"Love you, too."