John called Dean, expecting him and Lexi to still be at the library. Dean told him they went back to the motel to eat and go over what they had so far. When he disconnected the call, Dean looked at Lexi.

"Dad's on his way. He'll be here in about five minutes."

Lexi grabbed Dean's hand and gave it a firm squeeze. "You don't have to tell him yet, you know. We can do better at keeping it secret for a while longer."

"Do you want to hide it?"

"No. I don't care if he knows... I just don't want to cause trouble between you two."

"Whether we tell him now or later, he'll be upset. Why put it off?" Lexi's eyes looked down to the floor, and Dean could see that she was nervous. Maybe even scared. "Look, you don't have to be there when I tell him."

"I want to be with you." Her eyes connected with his and he saw the determination in them.

"Okay. You want to be... but you don't have to be. Let him take it out on me-"

"No! He takes everything out on you. You aren't at fault here."

"Well, I did go against his orders to stay away from you."

"He can't order you not to fall in love, Dean."

"He won't see it that way."

"And that's why I have to be there when you tell him. You won't make him see where he was wrong. You justify his view just because you know how he thinks. That doesn't make him right."

"I know it doesn't."

"Then tell him. If you tell him about us, don't let him vilify you for it. Don't just stand there and take it. I won't be able to watch that."

Dean put his hand at the back of her head and pulled her into a kiss. He stared into her eyes as his lips pulled away, but his hand stayed cradling her head.

"You always had this heroic image of me. Like I'm some great, brave man."

"You are," she said with a smile.

"I'm really not," he said, "but you make me wanna be... just so I don't disappoint you."

"I'd love to take that compliment and run," she said, smiling. Dean smiled back at her. "But I can't. You may not feel like a great, brave man, but you behave like one. You do things even though you don't feel brave or great... that's what makes you those things. And it's only one of the many reasons I love you."

Before Dean could respond, they heard the Impala rumble to a stop outside. Dean placed a quick, soft kiss on Lexi's lips, then moved his chair a reasonable distance from hers. He would tell John, but he still didn't want his dad walking in on them. He had to time it as best as he could. He knew John would be ready to talk about the case when he came in, so he organized their papers.

John walked in and shrugged out of his jacket, then tossed it onto the bed. "We got lucky. That doesn't happen often."

"How did we get lucky," Dean asked.

"The people that live in the house are leaving in about an hour to go on vacation. They almost didn't talk to me, but I told them it would be quick."

"And?"

"Nothing from them. They haven't seen anything weird."

"You see anything while you were there?"

"Not enough time. That's why we're lucky. We can sneak in tonight. A couple of the older neighbors remember the last death in the house," John said.

"1976," Lexi said.

"That's right," John said with a smile, "but that's all I got."

"Well, we got a little more," Dean said. He couldn't hide the satisfied smirk on his face. "The librarian remembers another death in 1948, and the newspapers show more. I got back to as far as 1820 before we left for food."

"How many deaths since then," John asked.

Lexi pointed to her notes as she slid the paper over to John and rattled off the dates. "1934, 1902, 1887, 1849, 1829. Seven deaths that we've seen so far. Always the man of the house."

"What are we thinking, dad," Dean asked.

"I'm not sure. We need to go back further... try to find the first death in the house. Lexi, you can look into that while Dean and I are at the house tonight."

"Got it." Lexi really wanted to put up a fuss about getting left behind, but she stopped herself. She refused to add to John's anger, knowing it would just make it worse on Dean.

John flipped open the pizza box and saw two slices left. He grabbed one and ate while looking over Lexi's notes. Lexi glanced at Dean and saw that he was staring at her. She gave him a smile, and he nodded.

"Dad," Dean said, "there's something you should know."

John looked up with a furrowed brow. "What's that?"

Dean hesitated, but he glanced at Lexi out of the corner of his eye. He straightened up and looked directly at John.

"Lexi and I have been... dating, sort of... for a while now."

"What?" John blinked and turned his head slightly as if he had heard wrong and was waiting for Dean to repeat himself.

"We're together."

John stood from his chair and looked down at Dean. "I told you not to even think about it, boy. Are you sleeping with her?"

Lexi stood, ready to defend them both, but Dean stood and held his hand out in front of her, as if to hold her back. She got the message and stayed quiet.

"All due respect, sir," Dean said calmly, "that's none of your business."

"Like hell it's none of my business."

"We're both adults, dad. We can do what we want."

John looked to Lexi. "You want to explain yourself?"

Lexi opened her mouth to speak, but Dean stepped in front of her. "No, she doesn't. There's nothing to explain."

Dean grabbed Lexi's hand and held it tight. John saw the gesture and an angry smile pulled at his lips.

"So, what, you two are standing up to me? Is that what this is?"

"If we have to," Dean said, "yeah, but that's not what this is about. We just wanted to tell you."

"You wanted to tell me that you went against my orders?"

"I love her, dad."

Lexi took a step to the side so John could see her. "And I love him."

John sat back down and flipped through the papers almost as if nothing had happened. "Lexi, you'll come with me when I let Dean work solo from now on."

"No," she said as she stepped in front of Dean.

"It wasn't a request."

"The response is still no."

"Dad," Dean said, "we aren't asking your permission. We're not even asking for your blessing. It's just a fact. We're together. She's staying with me."

John stood and walked over to the bed. He noticed for the first time the condition of the sheets, and he looked back to his son, and the girl he had come to think of as his daughter. He picked up his jacket.

"If you enjoy her company so much, you can stay with her tonight while I search the house."

"Dad, that's ridiculous."

"You disobeyed me, son. An order is an order. I don't care if you don't like it. So, you stay behind. I need to be able to trust you, and right now, I don't."

John walked out the door. Dean stood there, staring after him. Lexi hugged him.

"I'm sorry, Dean."

It took a moment for Dean to register that her arms were around him, then he hugged her back. "It's not your fault."

They heard the door slam next door. John went back to his room.

"I kind of feel like it is," she said.

Dean pulled her back and held her face in his hands. "This is not your fault. It's not mine, either."

"What do we do now?"

"We'll do what he said. I'll help you look into the history of the house more while he's there tonight. We'll feel him out tomorrow and go from there."

Lexi hugged him again. "Where are you sleeping tonight?"

"Right here," he said. He kissed the top of her head and she smiled.