Chapter Eleven

"So you guys what? Kissed and made up?" Liz asked. She was standing at the end of the couch watching as Alex and Cassie playfully bantered back and forth with one another.

Alex glanced up at her. "That's right. Cassie and I have a very complicated relationship. She insults me, and I forgive her. I annoy her, and she gets over it. It's a beautiful thing."

Liz sat on the couch beside Alex, careful to keep some space between them. She leaned forward so she could see Cassie. "What's up?"

Cassie stared at her with an open challenge on her face. "So, Liz, I hear that you're married."

Liz looked at her lap then back at Cassie. "I don't know what you want me to say, Cass. My life didn't begin when I met you."

Cassie reeled back as if Liz had slapped her. "You bitch! I'm not saying I think your life should or did revolve around me, but I spent four years with you and I didn't even know your name until some guy you pretended was nothing to you informed me that you're his wife. I have never lied to you, and now I find out that all you've ever done was lie."

Liz glanced away guiltily. "I'm sorry, Cass. I really am. I couldn't risk trusting you, though. I hope you can understand that."

Cassie shook her head in angry disbelief. "You couldn't trust me!?! You know, you could have just said that Bobby wouldn't let you tell me."

Liz looked Cassie in the eyes. "You wouldn't have believed me. You know how often what Bobby thinks stops me."

Alex wrapped an arm around both girls' shoulders and pulled them in close to him. "Now, girls. We all have things we wish we would have known from the beginning about the other person. For example, Liz, you're a Barrister. That might have been helpful to know when I was trying to find your dear brother's compound in Michigan. However, I get why you kept it on the DL. And Cass, you're in love with Liz. It might have been helpful to know that my charm and winning personality wouldn't be wooing you." Alex looked at Liz. "You know, it might also have been helpful to have known that you're married. My eye definitely would have thanked me to be clued in to that because it might not be bruised and disgusting looking if I had known I was pissing off Dean-freaking-Winchester by dancing with you."

Liz shrugged. "Think of it as a battle scar. I'm sure the teeny boppers will think it's sexy. Go for Katy. Remain aloof, though. She seems to like what she can't have."

Alex watched her shrewdly. "Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?" he asked.

Liz scoffed unconvincingly. "Jealousy? Please. There's nothing to be jealous of. Dean's not at all interested in her."

"Right," Alex drawled out. "Men hate it when a hot chick fauns all over them. It just disgusts us."

"Shut up," Liz replied.

Cassie laughed. "Alex has a wonderful affect on your witty banter," she told Liz.

"Bobby wanted me to give you this," Dean said from behind them.

Liz bolted upright, putting as much distance as she could between herself and Alex. She suddenly didn't seem to know what to do with her hands. She smoothed down her hair with them then put them in her lap then crossed her arms. "Dean...um...hey."

Cassie fell into a fit of giggles. "What has happened to you, Linds? You're normally deadly with a comeback. Now you're sputtering like a tongue-tied teenager."

Liz glared at Cassie. "I..." She trailed off and looked at Dean again. "Did you...sleep well?"

A smile twitched at the corner of Dean's lips. "Cassie's right, you are really off your game. Is it 'cause of me?"

Liz closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself. "Bobby wanted you to give me something," she reminded him.

Dean held out a cup with what looked like a smoothie in it. "He wanted me to make sure that you drank it all, so bottoms up." He watched as Liz took a drink and grimaced. "What's in that?" he wondered. "It smells like ass."

Liz smiled sardonically. "It tastes like ass, too."

Dean's eyebrows furrowed. "So you don't know what's in it?" he asked.

"Oh, she knows what's in it," Cassie chimed in. "She usually has to make them for herself."

Liz sighed. "It's the perfect blend of ingredients to ensure that I grow up nice and strong with healthy bones and other parts."

Dean raised an eyebrow. "Hm. That's nice and vague. What's it for?"

"I try to keep myself in tiptop shape so I can be the best hunter I can be."

"You think I'm pretty stupid, don't you?" Dean replied.

Liz's eyes widened. "No, I..."

Dean held up his hands to stop her. "It's okay. I don't need to know."

Cassie snorted, and Dean turned his attention to her. "So you're Cassie Strider," he said.

"The one and only," she verified.

"I get now why you were always too busy to meet up with me."

A confused look came onto Cassie's face. "What are you talking about?"

Liz was alarmed. "Okay, why don't we go get some training in?" she suggested to Cassie.

Cassie sized Liz up. "What is he talking about?" she asked.

Liz fidgeted uncomfortably. "Umm...I don't know?"

Dean's face lit up. "I knew it was you!" he told Liz. "From the minute I found out you had been overseas for the last few years, I knew you were the one I was text messaging. I knew you were Cassie Strider."

Cassie looked deadly as she glared at Liz. "You pretended to be me so you could talk to Dean?" She didn't wait for Liz to confirm what she already knew to be true. "Unforgivable, Liz. Unforgivable."

She stomped off without another word.

Dean watched her go. "She's dramatic, huh?"

Liz put her head in her hands. "Alex, could you give me a minute with Dean?" she asked tiredly.

Alex gave her a sympathetic smile and patted her on the back. "Sure," he said. "I'll go talk Cassie down."

Liz smiled weakly as she looked up at Alex. "Thanks," she told him. She waited until he had left the room before she turned to Dean.

He spoke first. "We're alone now. Say whatever it is you couldn't say in front of them."

Liz shrugged. "I could tell you wanted them to leave. My spidey sense was tingling, so I asked Alex to leave."

"Right. I forget we're still connected like that. It's been a long time since I've been aware of the connection."

"Wanna change that?" Liz asked.

"You mean reopen our connection?" Dean wondered. "How do we do that?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Bobby put a spell on us. He could do the counter-spell."

Dean's face fell. "Oh. I thought maybe...nevermind what I thought."

Liz smiled slyly. "We could do that, too."

Dean sat down across the room from her and leaned back so he was looking at the ceiling. "I'll think about it," he told her noncommittally. "I actually have a mission. Bobby thinks it'll be good for me to talk to you regardless of what it's about, so he's left it up to me to get you up to speed with a run down of some of the hunts and things we've done over the past five years."

Liz nodded. "Okay. Whatever you think's important."

"Well, our major project was trying to get as many of the people on your brother's hit list out of harm's way as we could."

"Sounds like a noble thing," Liz deadpanned.

Dean cocked his head and watched her thoughtfully. "It was. We got most of them to safety. I get the feeling that you already know that, though."

Liz shrugged. "I may have been in charge of Operation Winchester Cleanup," she replied with a playful smile.

Dean laughed. "You gave it a name?"

"I was bored."

"Apparently."

Liz laughed with him. "I'm such a dork."

They both laughed for a moment longer, trying to ignore the awkwardness that was still lingering between them.

"So, what else do you want to tell me about?" Liz asked to move the conversation along.

Dean watched her for a moment. "Nothing. Not really. I don't really want to talk about the past five years with you."

"Oh? What do you want to talk about then?"

Dean got up and pulled Liz to her feet. He stayed close enough to her that she could feel the heat from his body. "I don't want to talk at all," he admitted. He pulled her down the hall and into her room because it was closest. He grabbed her biceps and backed her up until she was against the wall. He put a hand on either side of her face and leaned in to kiss her, but she stopped him.

"What about Jo?" she asked.

Dean looked confused. "What about her?"

"You're sleeping with her."

"Why would you think that?"

Liz rolled her eyes. "Dean, I'm not an idiot. You're sleeping with her, and she's married."

"That's none of your business, Liz."

"She's married," Liz repeated.

Dean looked exasperated. "I know that. I hang out with her husband all the time."

"You hang out with the guy whose wife you're screwing behind his back?"

"You faked your death, so you don't get to come here and judge me."

"She's married, Dean! How is that not sinking in?"

"So am I, Liz!" he yelled at her.

Liz crossed her arms across her chest. "It's not the same thing," she insisted.

Dean gave her a look. "Isn't it?"

"You're playing like you're his best friend. How in your mind is that okay?"

"It just is. Me and Jo have nothing to do with my friendship with him."

Liz let out a disbelieving laugh. "I'm not sure he'll see it that way when he finds out. And he will find out, Dean."

"It's none of your business!"

"You said that already!"

"Yeah? Well, I meant it!"

"I won't sleep with you while you're sleeping with her."

Dean's face twisted into a cruel look. "Well, well, well, someone's got an ego on her."

Liz rolled her eyes almost unconsciously. "Oh, please, Dean, you would sleep with me."

"You sure? I've seen a lot of naked chicks in the last five years. I think I may be immune to doing what you say just because you offer to show a little skin."

There was a knock on the door, staying whatever response Liz had. She glared at Dean then shoved him away from her. "Come in," she said.

Bobby came into the room and shut the door behind him. "I need to talk to Liz alone," he told Dean.

"Can it wait a few minutes?" Liz wondered. "We're kind of in the middle of something."

"Linda is here," Bobby explained.

Liz looked aghast. "Why?"

"I don't know, but she brought the kids."

Liz's face drained of color. "Oh god. Something must be wrong. Where's Josh? Did something happen to him?"

"Stay calm, Liz. Let's give her a chance to explain what's going on before we freak out too much."

"We need to round up the forces."

Bobby put a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down. That could be exactly what Tom wants us to do. We need to get more information before we make decisions like that," he reasoned.

"Well," Dean began, "I, for one, vote for sharing with the rest of the class." He looked between Bobby and Liz. "What's going on?"

Liz looked at Bobby expectantly.

"No," he told her in a clipped tone. He turned and addressed Dean, "We'll let you know what is going on when we know. You need to content yourself with not knowing for the time being. Liz, let's go talk about this somewhere else."

Bobby started to walk away, but Dean stopped him. "That is not good enough. I need to know what is going on. Who is Linda? I want some answers. I saw your face when you came in, and you were scared. Something big is happening, and I want to be let in on it. Either tell me, or I will make Liz."

Bobby was unimpressed with Dean's show of manliness. "You won't make Liz tell you this," he insisted confidently.

Dean bowed up to him. "Really? Why is that?" he asked.

"Because I am asking you nicely to let it go. I will tell you everything in a few days, but I am trying to protect something that both needs and deserves protecting and you knowing would make it harder for me to do that."

"He deserves to know," Liz interrupted. "Everyone does. Besides, it might actually help protect him if he knew. If Tom captured him, he would be killed. Tom hates Dean, and he's trying to get me to make babies with Sam. We could prepare him to withstand their basic torture techniques and give him some information to bargain with."

"We don't have time for that, and you know it. If they capture Dean, they're going to kill him without asking questions. You know that also. Knowing our deep, dark secrets won't change that," Bobby replied angrily.

"You're right," Liz admitted. "I still think everyone needs to know. They are about to become involved in this thing, so I think they deserve to know what it is they are fighting for."

"You may be right, Liz, but I'm in charge. I'm telling you no. If you disobey me, I'll put you on the street. I don't have time to deal with rogue hunters right now."

"Don't threaten her," Dean chimed in.

"It wasn't a threat, boy; it was a promise. If she wants to try me, she'll find out how serious I am. The same conditions apply to you. Now, Liz, you can either follow me and help with Linda and the kids, or you can go pack your stuff and get out. It's your choice."

Liz rolled her eyes. "You don't have to be so dramatic," she complained.

"History has shown that I do if I want to get your attention."

They started out of the room with Dean in tow. Bobby stopped and glared at Dean. "Go away, Dean."

"Over my dead body," Dean replied.

"Let him come, Bobby. He'll meet them all soon enough, and it's not like we're doing anything secret."

Bobby sighed unhappily. "Whatever," he agreed finally.

They walked down the hall to Bobby's room. Linda and her six small children were huddled together on the bed.

A chorus of "Aunt Lindsey!" went up. Liz smiled and waved at the children. Linda sobbed in relief when she saw Liz. She jumped off the bed and pulled her into a hug.

"I was so worried about you. They got to Josh. He's in a coma at a hospital in Seattle. I didn't think I could risk staying there with him while the kids were there. I'm bringing them to you then I'm heading back."

"Linda, you can't go back there," Liz insisted. "I'll arrange for him to be transferred out here."

Linda worried at her bottom lip. "We can talk about it later, Lindsey--I mean Liz. It's so weird to be able to call you by your real name." She shook her head and looked at her children with a dazed look on her face. "The kids are really shaken up, so we need to take care of them."

"Okay. Why don't you let me do that?"

Linda nodded then looked behind Liz. "You must be Dean," she said, extending her hand to him. "I'm Linda. I've heard so much about you."

Dean looked at Linda and then at Liz uncertainly.

Liz bristled. "What? Don't look at me. She talks to Ellen all the time."

"You heard about me from Ellen?" Dean asked. "Well, I'm sure that was interesting. I hope you'll give me the chance to change your mind."

Linda smiled at that. "Liz is right. I did hear about you mainly from Ellen. I assure you they were mainly good things. Don't let Liz fool you, though, she has told me a thing or two about you over the years."

"So you knew she wasn't dead, too? Isn't that special?"

"If it's any consolation, I thought she was a bonehead to leave you."

A weak smile came onto Dean's face. "It is," he told her. "It's a small one, but it's something." He looked at Liz. "So, Ellen knew, too?"

Liz shook her head. "Linda called her for other reasons," she replied cryptically.

"Aunt Lindsey!!" the children said to get her attention. They were obviously bored with the adults' conversation.

"What?" Liz said, motioning for them to join her. The kids piled in around her.

Liz smiled and picked up the smallest of the children. "Hey, Jaden, what's up?"

"Daddy's hurt," Jaden replied with a rolled down lip.

"I heard about that, baby. I'm gonna make sure that he gets the best help that there is in the whole world, though. How does that sound?"

"Okay," Jaden replied tearfully.

"Aunt Lindsey," the youngest boy said, tugging on her shirt to get her attention, "I can count to a hundred. Wanna hear?"

"Be quiet, Chris," one of the girls said. "No one wants to hear you babble on." She turned to Liz. "I thought we weren't going to see you until Christmas."

Liz sat Jaden down. "Some things have changed, Isabelle," she explained. She looked behind Isabelle at Chris. "Chris, I would love to hear you count to one hundred. Can we do that later, though? Everyone's kind of shook up tonight."

Chris thought about it then nodded unhappily. "I guess, Aunt Lindsey."

"Good," she told him and stretched out her arms. "Now, come give me a hug."

Chris jumped into Liz's arms and hugged her fiercely.

"And Isabelle," Liz said as she put Chris down. "I know you don't think you're getting out of hugging me."

The girl smiled begrudgingly and allowed herself to be hugged. Liz smiled in amusement then turned to the two oldest children. "Mitch, Sofie, how are you?"

Sofie shrugged. "I'm okay," she said unconvincingly.

"What about you, Mitchell?"

"Is Daddy gonna be okay?" he asked tearfully.

Liz hugged him to her. "I don't know. I hope so."

"Me, too," he replied.

Liz continued hugging him for several more seconds then hugged Sofie. Sofie broke away quickly, and Liz let her. She turned to the last of the brood.

"Jodi, are you going to say hi to me?"

Jodi glanced down shyly. "Hello, Aunt Lindsey. Who's that?" she asked, pointing at Dean.

Liz glanced behind her at Dean, who was watching her. She smiled at him. "This is Dean. He's a very special friend of mine."

"But he made you cry," Isabelle said, stepping close to Liz and hugging her leg protectively. She peered around Liz's leg and shot Dean a mean look.

Liz untangled Isabelle from around her leg and squatted so they were eye level. "You're right, he did make me cry. It was an adult thing, though, and I deserved it." She glanced at Dean. "Isabelle is empathic," she explained.

Dean snorted and rolled his eyes. "Everyone has a super power anymore. I'm starting to feel left out."

Isabelle grabbed Liz's face and turned it so Liz was looking at her. "I don't think you deserve to cry, Aunt Lindsey," she chimed in. "He should say he's sorry."

Liz smiled patiently. "That's really not necessary, Bells."

"When you make someone cry, you have to say that you're sorry. Those are the rules, Aunt Lindsey."

"She's right, Liz," Dean said, grabbing her arm and pulling her to her feet. He looked into her eyes seriously. "I'm sorry that I made you cry."

"Now, tell him you forgive him."

Liz touched his face and left her hand resting on his cheek. "I forgive you, Dean. And I'm sorry, too. Not for what you think. I'm not sorry that I went away. I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to come back."

"Aunt Lindsey?" Isabelle asked.

Liz dropped her hand to her side. "Yes, dear," she said, kneeling in front of Isabelle again.

"Can I lay down now? I'm pretty tired."

Liz laughed. "Of course, you can, sweetie. We'll find you a room right now."

The rest of the day was spent in making arrangements for Linda and her family. Liz managed to get Josh transferred to a hospital within driving distance of Bobby's house, and Bobby worked on procuring rooms for the kids. Everyone was soon tapped to help watch the kids.

It was an exciting day for the children, but it caught up with them and they went to bed fairly early. All in all, Liz was happy. She'd worked hard, and she was ready to turn in.

She rounded a corner and ran into Roy. "Oh," she said. "Hey."

Roy smiled but there was no warmth to it. "Hello, Liz."

Liz swallowed. "I see you figured out where I went."

"That I did," Roy agreed.

Liz squealed as he picked her up by her throat and slammed her against the wall. He closed off her airway and held her in place as she fought against him.

"You made me look like a fool, Liz. I don't like being made a fool."

Liz slapped his hand, trying ineffectually to make him loosen his hold on her throat.

Roy just looked at her in disgust. "Never embarrass me again. Do we have a deal?"

Liz barely managed to nod.

Roy pressed harder against her throat then turned her loose. Liz stumbled away from him, sucking in deep breaths.

Roy watched her emotionlessly. "So, Bobby's called in the Calvary. Any idea why?"

Liz cleared her throat several times. "No," she choked out.

Roy laughed humorlessly. "You're lying," he stated. "I don't like it when people lie to me."

Liz increased the distance between them just as Roy moved to grab her again. She feinted away from him, eyes wide with fear. "Stay away from me!" she said in a shaky voice. "If you want to know why Bobby did something, ask him."

Roy took a step toward Liz. She jumped away from him, and he laughed. "Why so jumpy, Liz?" he wondered then left down the hall.

Liz waited until he was out of sight then hurried to her room and locked the door. She slid to the ground in front of it and tried to stop shaking.

XXX

Bobby visited Liz later that night.

"Liz, I don't want you to read too much into this, but I've put in calls to some hunters to bulk up our security. The first wave should be here by the morning."

Liz was sitting on her bed with her legs tucked under themselves. "I'm scared," she admitted. "If Tom were coming after just me, it would be one thing, but he's going after Linda and her kids. It's too much." She looked up at Bobby. "We have too much to lose, and I'm afraid we'll lose it."

Bobby sat down on the bed and wrapped an arm around her. Liz leaned against him and let her head rest on his shoulder. "That's why we've got to keep our heads about us, Liz. At some point, why you left is going to come out. Until then, we shouldn't be volunteering to bring more people in than need to be. We don't know who we can trust."

Liz made a choking sound. "You don't think we can trust Dean!?!" she asked. She moved away from Bobby, sizing him up.

Bobby sighed. "Of course, we can trust Dean," he replied. "You know how your brother can be, though. He's very powerful, and we don't know how many inroads he's made into the organization. If he thinks one of Linda's kids could be the chosen one, then we need to protect them to the best of our ability."

Liz stared off into the distance. "I know, Bobby. That's what we need to put our energy into. Tom's just idiotic enough to think that Linda might have given birth to the chosen one. We need to cover our bases, I know. I just…" She trailed off and looked at Bobby. "This is harder than I thought it was going to be."

Bobby knew she wasn't talking about protecting Linda and the kids. He patted her shoulder to comfort her. "He'll come around. He's hurt and confused and deserves some time to process everything. He loves you, though. That'll win in the end."

Liz laughed at the tears that had gathered in her eyes. "You should have had kids, Bobby," she told him.

Bobby snorted. "I have too many of them as it is," he replied with an affable smile. "Get some rest, Liz. You always need it."

"It's agony being so close to him and not being able to touch him when I want."

"Sleep, Liz. You need sleep."

Liz gave him a look. "You know I'm not going to be able to sleep," she said.

"Try, Liz. You need your rest so you can fight the curse for as long as possible."

Liz was fighting tears again. "I'll try," she promised.

She kept her promise, and soon she was asleep. For the first time in a long time, she didn't dream but slept peacefully until morning.