Lexi woke the next morning to a raised voice. It didn't take long to realize that John was once again yelling at Dean over Sam. She turned over to see Dean sitting on the edge of the other bed while John stood in front of him. Lexi had seen different sides to Dean. He was the annoying, but protective big brother to Sam, a friend to her, and a brave man for every person he helped. But with John, Dean became a little boy. He took whatever his father dished out. Lexi didn't like it. She threw her covers off and stood in front of John.

"Stop yelling at him," she said. "You wanna yell at somebody, yell at me."

Dean stood and grabbed her arms, trying to pull her away, but she wouldn't budge.

"Dean didn't know. I knew. Sam told me he applied to colleges. He told me when he got accepted to the first one. He even asked me to go with him, because we talked about how we both dreamed of a normal life... and I thought about it. So, yell at me."

"You thought about going? Why didn't you?"

"Because my dad's last request was for me to go with you, and for some ungodly reason, I've come to think of you as family."

John scoffed. "You're more loyal than Sam."

Lexi wanted to punch him. "He wasn't being disloyal, John. He just wanted to go to school."

"Away from his family. Against my wishes."

Lexi let out a frustrated groan and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Dean ran out after her, ignoring John calling his name.

"Lexi, wait." She was half way across the parking lot, and Dean jogged to catch up. "Hang on." Dean grabbed her arm and she turned to him. He looked down at her bare feet. "You're gonna catch a cold."

"I'm so mad at him right now."

"Yeah, I got that. I think he did, too. Come back inside."

"I can't go back in there right now."

"Yes, you can. Come on." He tugged at the bottom of her sweatshirt. "Do it for him."

Lexi stared at Dean for a moment before looking down at her sweatshirt. She wrapped her arms around her waist, hugging herself, then nodded. They walked back inside, but John wasn't in the room. They heard water running from the bathroom sink.

Lexi was relieved. She had lost her temper and blown up, yelling at a man twice her size who, honestly, sometimes scared the crap out of her.

John came back into the room dressed. He grabbed his keys and headed for the door. Lexi decided to slip into the bathroom. When John saw that he was alone with Dean, he gave his warning again.

"Reminder," John said. "She's off limits, you understand?"

"I didn't do anything," Dean's face showed his surprise.

"I saw your face when she stood up to me, and when you went after her. I don't care that she's not under age anymore. She's under my care."

"Would you have objected so much if Sam was the one hitting on her?"

"Sam would never-" Dean scoffed and stopped John in his tracks. "You got something to tell me, boy?"

Dean just shook his head. "No, sir."

John waited a moment, then moved on. "I'm going for breakfast and a newspaper. I'll be back soon."

When John got back they all ate in silence as he looked through the paper, then they hit the road. It took them a few days to find a case, but John finally found what looked like an angry spirit in Nebraska. When they hit their destination, John booked a room, then found the local library. Lexi got out without a word.

"Go with her," John said.

"What?" Dean asked in surprise.

"Research, Dean. Now. And look after Lexi."

Dean rolled his eyes after he looked away from his father. He barely had the door closed before John sped off. When he reached Lexi, she put her hand on his arm.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine."

He tried to walk away, but Lexi squeezed his arm. "Dean..."

"What?" His face showed his frustration.

"He's taking this all out on you. It's not fair."

"If life were fair, none of us would be hunting monsters. Besides, what's a big brother for?"

Dean walked into the library without another word. Lexi started after him for a moment before following. They dug up the history John would need, and left. Lexi stopped at the first bus stop, but Dean grabbed her hand.

"Come on," he said. "I feel like walking."

"It's a few miles back to the motel, Dean."

"You got something better to do?"

"If we leave John waiting on us-"

"We won't see dad for a few days. At least two."

"Why not?"

"Thousand dollars says he's off getting hammered... part of the reason he made me stay with you."

They walked quietly for a while. Lexi thought about the last couple of days, and how Sam's one decision seemed to unravel her world.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Dean said.

"John is so hard on you... you've never thought of leaving it all behind?"

"Not really."

"Why not?"

"You don't leave family. I mean, why did you stay? Your dad."

"Are you mad at Sam for leaving?"

Dean shook his head. "Sammy's a big boy. He can do what he wants."

"That doesn't answer my question."

He shrugged his shoulder. "No, I'm not."

"Liar... I am."

"Honestly," Dean said, "I was surprised you didn't go with him. You two seemed pretty serious."

"Not serious enough, I guess... I miss him, Dean."

He put his arm around her and pulled her into his side as they walked. "I do, too."

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Dean had been right about John. He stumbled in four days later and slept off his drinking binge. The next day, he read over their research, and he and Dean went after the spirit.

The months went on, and the routine stayed the same, except Dean didn't stay to help do research. Not unless John went off on a binge, which happened about once a month.

On the road one day, John pulled into a car lot. Dean couldn't help but question.

"What are we doing here?"

John turned in his seat, stretching his arm across the back. "I know I've been leaving you two alone a lot lately, for days at a time... and you're stuck 'til I get back. So, I'm gonna give you the Impala. That way you two can keep moving if you want, and I'll meet up with you later."

"You're kidding?" Dean's face was a mixture of shock and pure joy. "You're giving me the car?"

"You have to take care of it."

"I will."

"The guy who owns this lot is in the business," John said. "He found me a truck that's off the grid." He handed Dean the keys to the Impala and a newspaper. "Check out page six. Could be something."

"Yes, sir," Dean said with a smile.

"Take care of Lexi."

"Yes, sir."

John looked to Lexi. "You look out for my boy, too."

"Yes, sir," she said.

John got out and Dean slid behind the wheel. He ran his hand over it, with a goofy grin plastered on his face. Lexi smiled.

"Am I allowed up front now?"

She leaned over the seat and Dean looked back at her, smiling.

"Absolutely."

She got out of the back and slid into the front passenger seat. Dean revved the engine and drove off the lot. After a few minutes of basking in the fact that the car was his, he glanced at Lexi, tossing her the newspaper.

"Page six," he said. "Where we going?"