Over the next few months, John met up with Dean and Lexi at almost every case. They were rarely alone for more than a day, and Dean only worked one case without John.

John woke Dean up one morning before dawn. He whispered so he wouldn't wake Lexi.

"I just talked to Caleb. He needs my help with something. I'll be gone for a week, at least."

"Okay."

"Remember to-"

"Look after Lexi... I got it, dad."

John put a firm hand on his son's shoulder. "Call me if you run into trouble."

Dean nodded, and John was gone.

Lexi was filled in over breakfast, and Dean found them a case nearby. Just a two hour drive south. Dean helped Lexi with the research at the library, but they didn't get a motel room since they had one booked so close. After some argument, Dean left Lexi at the library until he was done. Quick and easy salt and burn.

Dean noticed that Lexi was a little more quiet than usual on the drive back to the motel. He wasn't in the mood for an argument in the car, so he waited. Back in the motel, he waited until she sat on her bed before he spoke.

"You okay? You're quiet."

"I just thought things would be different with us on our own."

"Different how?"

"I thought you would take me with you on hunts."

"Dad would kill me."

"John doesn't have to know."

"What if you get hurt?"

"Train me."

"You're crazy."

"I'm serious," she said as she stood. "Teach me to use a gun, a knife... teach me everything. I want to do this, Dean. No one has ever let me. No one believes I can take care of myself."

Dean ran a hand over his face as he paced the room. "He will kill me," he whispered.

"I could kill you if you don't take me along."

"If we do this... you train. You don't go on a case until I think you're ready."

"That's fair," Lexi said with a smile.

Dean shook his head. "I can't believe I'm doing this."

"When do we start?"

"We'll go to a firing range in the morning. You ever use a gun?"

"Dad let me shoot cans off of a fence a few times."

"Did you hit 'em?"

"Sometimes."

"Awesome. Why do I get the feeling I'm gonna regret this?"

"You won't. I promise."

Lexi threw her arms around Dean, hugging him tightly. Dean's first instinct was to return the embrace, but his father's warning rang through his mind, and he hesitated, sort of patting her on the back. The smell of her shampoo, or maybe it was her soap, filled his nostrils, and he let his eyes close for just a second before the warning sounded again.

"I regret it already," he said.

Lexi laughed, thinking his comment was because he was uncomfortable with her showing emotion or affection. "You're such a guy," she said as she walked into the bathroom and shut the door.

"You have no idea," Dean mumbled to himself. He adjusted his pants and lay down on his bed with the television remote.

At the shooting range, Lexi couldn't stop smiling. Dean helped her pick out a gun.

"You're not gonna shoot some girly little thing. I want you to learn with one that has some kick to it."

"Whatever you say."

As they stepped into the stall, Dean made sure Lexi put on her ear and eye protection. Then he showed her how to load the gun.

"One more time," he said as he unloaded it and showed her again. "You try."

Lexi carefully loaded the weapon and smiled when Dean nodded his approval.

"Okay," he said, "let's see how you would shoot."

Dean stepped back. Lexi held the gun for a moment, just feeling its weight. She thought about the little she could remember from her father, aimed, and took her shot. She cringed as the force rocked her back on her heels, and the bullet hit the drop cloth behind her target.

"Put the gun down," Dean said. She did as he asked and stepped back. "Watch me," he said. "See how I'm standing? My arm, how it lines up with the target?"

"Yeah."

Lexi took in his stance and his posture, as well as how lean and fit Dean looked. She shook the thought from her head as he put the gun down.

"Try again," he said.

Lexi fired, and hit the edge of the target.

"That's better," Dean said. "Get ready to fire, but don't... just aim."

Lexi lined up a shot and nearly jumped when she felt Dean's knee push against the inside of her leg.

"You want your feet just a little further apart... like this."

Next, she felt his breath on her neck as he came in close behind her to look at her sight line. His arms wrapped around her, adjusting her grip.

"Loosen your shoulders just a little."

Lexi forced herself to relax and Dean backed away.

"Okay," he said. "Shoot."

Lexi fired, and she hit the target closer to the center. She was so excited she almost squealed.

"I did it!"

"Yeah, but can you do it again?"

Lexi got back in position to fire, and caught the edge of the target again. Once again, she felt Dean's knee on her leg, his breath on her neck, and his hands on hers. Her pulse quickened, and she struggled to focus. He patted her leg.

"Hold yourself steady, but not stiff."

He backed away and told her to fire three shots in a row. Her first was closest to the center. The other two moved further out each time, but stayed within the target area.

"That's not bad," Dean said.

"Thanks." Her smile beamed with his approval, and he laughed.

"Take a few more shots... empty out the ammo, then we'll go."

"You don't wanna have a go?"

"Sweetheart, I know how to shoot."

Lexi almost told Dean not to call her that. Her dad had called her sweetheart. She hadn't let John do it. Sam never tried. But something in the way Dean said it stopped her from correcting him. It was very different, and it sent butterflies through her stomach.

"I know that," she said. "Maybe I could learn a thing or two by watching."

"You learn by doing... so, do," he said, motioning to the gun.

Lexi took her time with the remaining shots. She managed to stay within the target area. They visited the range each day and by the end of the week, her aim improved. She even hit the center of the target a few times, and Dean was impressed.

During the evenings, back in the motel, Dean showed her how to carry and wield a knife. He also taught her some basic self defense moves.

"You won't need to know attack moves," he said. "You won't be attacking. If I say run, you run. This is for emergencies only."

"Got it," she said.

Dean would hold her in a lock from behind, and her goal was to get out. He fought to maintain control of himself as her body struggled against his, and he was thankful she couldn't see the look on his face. He was relieved when she made it out.

"Should we try that again?" she asked.

"Maybe later... let's work on some other stuff."

After a few more days, John still wasn't back, and Dean knew Lexi was just itching to work a job. He found something that seemed straight forward. A simple haunting, likely a salt and burn, in the next state.

It was late when they pulled up to the motel. Dean decided they should sleep, and get a good night's rest. They would check everything out the next day.