Chapter Seventeen

It took Liz awhile to wake up. When she got there, she sat up, groaning as her muscles protested the movement.

Dean stirred beside her. "What time is it?" he mumbled without opening his eyes.

Liz looked around. "I don't know, but it's starting to get light."

Dean took a deep breath and let it out. He forced his eyes open, but they drifted back shut. He lay that way for several moments before rolling toward Liz. He put one arm across her lap and kissed the small of her back. He kissed along her spine as he sat up then kissed the top of her shoulder and tucked his chin over it.

"We need to get you a sandwich," he told her.

"What?" she asked, perplexed.

"You look like Sarah Connor in Terminator 2–buff, but in a scary way," he explained. "We need to get you a sandwich."

Liz leaned against him. "Well, I've spent the last five years hunting, working out, and fighting a curse that's slowly killing me. I ate when I thought about it." She sounded a little defensive.

"I'm not saying you're not hot. It's just that I miss the curves."

"I do, too," Liz admitted.

"There's really no way to fix you?"

"Not any I know of."

They sat in silence for a few moments, their thoughts in turmoil. Finally, Dean roused himself. "Bobby was obviously being lenient with the thirty minute thing. We probably have enough time to get a few hours of sleep in an actual bed if we want."

"I want you well rested when you leave with the kids," Liz agreed, starting to stand up.

Dean stopped her. "About that–have you lost your mind!?! We're about to be in the middle of a war and you're sending me to be a babysitter!?! I'm one of the best hunters we have!"

"I know you are. That's why I chose you to take the kids. I need to know that they're safe and you'll make sure that they are. Tom wants them, and I will die to make sure he doesn't get them. I know the awful things he has planned for them. I'm not letting that happen to them."

"And Linda's okay with me running off with her children?" Dean wondered.

"It's not her favorite idea ever, but she agrees that it makes sense. No one would expect you to have them, and she knows that you're capable of protecting them."

"Why can't she protect them?"

Liz sighed. "Bobby's place is about to be under a full-scale assault. It'll be no place for a bunch of kids to be. Linda wouldn't make it out of town before they captured her and took all of the kids. And while you are public enemy one with Tom, I have faith that you can elude the guards he has watching this place. You'll have to leave the Impala, though."

"No."

Liz gave him a look. "Where are you going to put six children in the Impala?"

"It's a stupid idea to entrust me with six kids, Liz!"

"Are you refusing to do it?"

Dean looked unhappy. "You asked me to do it, so I will. I'd rather do something else, though."

Liz hugged him. "I need you to do this. It's the most important job I have."

Dean gave her a sullen look. "I said I'd do it, didn't I?"

Liz smiled and kissed the tip of his nose. "Thank you, Dean." She turned and grabbed Dean's shirt and slid it over her head. "We should get to bed," she told him and stood up.

Dean's eyes were hungry as he gave her a once over.

Liz noticed. "Problem?" she asked coyly.

"If you're wanting to sleep, there is."

Liz laughed and grabbed her jeans. "If I remember correctly, you're the one who mentioned sleeping."

Dean shrugged and pulled on his pants. "It's your word against mine, I guess," he said with a grin.

Liz stuck out her tongue, causing Dean to laugh. He stood up and headed to the door. "Ready for the duck and run?"

Liz suddenly looked a little horrified. "Everyone's gonna know what we were doing last night," she said, sounding like she just realized it.

Dean grabbed her by the hips and pulled her against him. "I hate to break it to you, but it's not exactly a secret what we did the night before, either."

Liz blushed. "I know, but it's weird for them to know that we were having sex. I'll be telling one of the hunters to do something, and I just know they'll be thinking about you and me naked together."

"You didn't seem to mind last night," Dean reminded her.

"I guess the harsh light of day has made me remember that I'm a prude."

Dean kissed her. "Liz, we're married. Married people have sex and that's okay."

"I know they have sex. I know it's nothing notable that we had sex. It's just weird that people were walking around talking while knowing that we were having sex a room or two away. It's hard enough for me to get some of these hunters respect without them knowing that I was screwing you when I should have been working."

Dean kissed her. She leaned into the kiss, moaning when they opened their mouths and deepened it. When they broke the kiss, Liz kept her eyes closed, savoring the warmth spreading through her body. "You're right," she told Dean breathlessly, "It was totally worth it. Let the hunters talk."

Dean's eyes crinkled as he smiled. "I'm pretty smart for a guy you're screwing while you should be working."

Liz's face flooded with regret. "Dean, I didn't mean it like that."

Dean shrugged. "I know you didn't. Had to give you a hard time, though." He kissed her one more time then pulled her into the hall. "Come on, let's go."

Liz nearly tripped, causing them both to laugh giddily. Dean pulled her into a kiss twice on the way down the hall. When he grabbed her butt, Liz shoved him against the wall.

"Naughty, naughty," she teased, waving her finger at him. He laughed and closed what little distance there was between them.

A throat cleared beside them, and they jumped apart and spun to face whoever was there. Bobby was watching them with a disgruntled look. "People are sleeping," he reminded them.

Liz had become red. "Sorry, Bobby. We'll be quiet."

Dean hugged Liz from behind. "I'm not sorry," he said and started lavishing kisses on her neck.

Liz leaned into him. "Dean," she dragged out in a pleading voice.

Dean stopped kissing her but kept her in his embrace. He looked at Bobby. "Fine. We'll be quiet. Scout's honor."

"And you'll be up and raring to go in two hours?" Bobby posed this like it was a question, but the look on his face clearly said it was an order.

Dean pushed his hips against Liz's backside. "Oh, I'll be up," he quipped.

Liz's blush deepened. "We'll be up and at 'em," she promised.

Bobby nodded once and started back to his room. He stopped in the doorway and turned back to them. "I know I'm being a hardass but that's because I have to be. I really am happy that the two of you are working everything out."

"Thanks," Liz said. Dean nodded.

Bobby motioned them on. "Enjoy your morning, and I'll see you later."

Dean waited until Bobby went back in his room then slid his hands up to cup Liz's breasts. She swatted them away.

"We have to be quiet," she whispered.

"I didn't say a thing," Dean replied in a normal voice. He laughed when Liz glared at him then he dragged her the rest of the way to her room.

Liz walked in front of him into the room and collapsed on the bed with a sigh of relief. "Ah, my dear bed, I've missed you," she said and buried her head in the pillows.

Dean smiled. "Don't get too comfortable," he told her. "We still have some things to work out."

Liz sat up on her elbows so she could see Dean better. "Oh?" she wondered, her face a mask of curiosity and a little concern.

Dean laid beside her and propped himself on one elbow. Liz rolled to mirror him. "Yeah. We need to address the issue of clothing and how you're wearing too much of it."

Liz's look of concern melted into a smile. "What about sleep?" she countered.

"Overrated. We can sleep when we're dead."

Liz kissed Dean on the cheek. "Or we could sleep now. Let's sleep. We'll sneak away before you leave."

Dean's body tensed. "Liz, I'm not leaving you. Forget it."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not. Sam can take the kids to this safe house you have set up. I'm staying with you."

"Sam has his own job to worry about. I trust him with that job and you with the one I gave you."

Dean sighed. "Let's get some rest. We can argue about this when my head is a little less foggy."

"Being more alert is not going to make you win this argument."

Dean cocked an eyebrow at her. "Oh, yeah? I guess we'll see."

Liz cracked her knuckles. "I guess we will."

XXX

Liz woke feeling more invigorated than she had in years. She calculated that she had been asleep for little more than an hour. The lack of movement around the house told her that most people hadn't woken up yet. Dean was still asleep beside her, so she untangled herself from him, careful not to wake him, and crawled out of bed. She quickly dressed in workout clothes and headed outside.

She ran into Bobby in the kitchen. He was having breakfast and stopped her with a wave.

"Hey, Bobby," she greeted. The smile she gave him was a little more tentative than usual due to the remnants of her embarrassment.

There was nothing tentative about Bobby's answering grin. "You look chipper. How do you feel?"

"I feel good–better than in a long time."

Bobby looked hopeful. "That's good."

Liz shrugged. "Maybe. I'm not getting my hopes up."

"Any change in the mark?"

Liz shook her head. "Not that I can tell."

"It took five years to get that way. We gotta remember that it's probably not going to go away overnight."

Liz looked at the floor. "Or at all."

"We'll find something, Liz," Bobby promised.

Liz tried to hide her skepticism. "If Dean wakes up, will you let him know I went for a run?"

Bobby tipped his drink at her. "Sure thing, kid."

"Thanks."

"Liz?"

"Yeah, Bobby?"

"I gave the two of you some time because I thought you deserved it. It doesn't change anything though. Dean is going to leave today, and so are you."

Liz rolled her eyes. "You act like I haven't been doing what needs to be done since I was a child. I know what I have to do, and I'll do it without complaining. I'm grateful for last night, but it didn't make me forget that the fate of the whole world is resting on me."

"Glad to hear it."

"Anything else?" Liz asked sullenly.

"Enjoy your run."

"Oh, I will," she said only a little bit acidly. She hurried out of the room before Bobby could think of something else to say. She didn't bother stretching, just headed straight for the woods.

She wove in and out of the trees as she ran. She was thoroughly enjoying herself, but her energy soon waned and she slowed to a walk. She found a fallen tree and sat on it, gulping in deep breaths to try to calm her racing heart. She laid back on the tree and waited for her legs to stop feeling like jell-o.

She'd only been lying there a few moments when she heard leaves rustling near her. She sat up and scanned the area to see what was making the commotion.

A man appeared from behind some bushes and pulled up short when he saw her. He clapped a hand over his heart and stifled a gasp of surprise. "God, you scared me! I didn't know anyone else was out here."

"Me either," Liz replied. She tried to place him and finally did. "You're Jeremy, right?"

The man smiled. "Right. And you're Liz."

"Guilty."

"Care if I join you?" he asked, pointing to the space beside her.

Liz shrugged. "Sure. I was just thinking while I caught my breath."

"These woods are good for that," Jeremy agreed as he sat next to her.

Liz shifted so they weren't touching. "That they are."

They sat in uncomfortable silence for several more moments before Jeremy broke it. "Can I tell you something?" he wondered.

Liz wasn't really in the mood for a heart-to-heart with a stranger but didn't want to be rude. "Sure."

"I never thought my life would turn out like this," he admitted.

"Oh?" Liz answered distractedly.

"Yeah. When I met Jo, I thought my life had taken a wonderful turn for the better and that nothing would ever be the same again. I was right about nothing being the same," he said, staring at Liz intently. "I know about Jo and Dean," he told her matter-of-factly.

Liz was startled by the revelation. "What do you mean?" she asked, eyes widening in alarm.

Jeremy got angry. "Don't do that! Don't play dumb! I know you know about them. And don't get that pitying look in your eyes, either. Everyone in this place looks at me with pity. It drives me crazy, so don't do it."

Liz was at a loss for words.

Jeremy laughed bitterly. "You don't know what to say, do you?" Liz shook her head slowly. "No one knows what to say," he told her. "They all just stay out of it because it makes them uncomfortable." He paused and looked at Liz. "Do you want to know a secret?"

Liz was still trying to wrap her head around Jeremy knowing about Dean and Jo. She was, however, quite sure that she did not want to know Jeremy's secret. "I-I guess," she said anyway.

Jeremy grinned a huge grin. "Jo's pregnant."

Shock and horror replaced the sympathy and confusion Liz had been feeling. She felt like she'd been stabbed in the gut. "What?" she demanded, voice barely above a whisper.

Jeremy laughed a Liz's reaction. "Don't worry; it's not Dean's. That's the ironic thing. Jo screwed him every chance she got for the better part of two years and never got pregnant. She sleeps with me one time a couple months ago and that's all it takes."

"Congratulations?" Liz offered uncertainly.

"Thanks," Jeremy accepted jubilantly.

Liz turned everything over in her mind. "Does Dean know?" she wondered.

Jeremy's face hardened. "Every bitch I meet thinks of that bastard first. Tell me, why is that?" he asked coldly.

Liz glared at him. "I can't imagine that Dean would continue with even the hint of anything with Jo if he knew this," she reasoned.

"Right," Jeremy replied sarcastically, "since he's proven himself to be such a stand up guy and all. I'm sure he would quit sleeping with the married woman just because her husband knocked her up. What are you going to tell me next? That his screwing my wife has nothing to do with my and his friendship? I know that's what he says."

Liz looked away guiltily. "No one in their right mind would expect you to like Dean. I understand why you don't."

Jeremy laughed bitterly again. "I've known they were sleeping together almost the entire time it's been going on," he said, raw emotion in his voice. He met Liz's sympathetic eyes. "I know what you're thinking–What kind of a man knows his wife is a cheating whore and doesn't do anything about it?"

"Actually, that wasn't what I was thinking."

"Don't lie, Liz!" he shouted angrily. "It's okay. I've often wondered it myself as I lay in bed alone knowing where she was. The crazy thing is that, despite everything, I can't stop loving her."

Liz stood up and was glad to find that her legs didn't wobble. She still felt weak, but she would be able to make it back to Bobby's now. She looked at Jeremy. "I don't know what to say. I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do to help."

Jeremy stood up, too. "It's funny you should mention that," he told her calmly. A slightly unhinged look came into his eyes.

Liz took a step away from him as he took one toward her. He answered every retreating step with an advancing one of his own.

"You know, Liz, I see what Dean sees in you. You are so nice and understanding. I'm sorry you got caught in the middle of this. I really am. Unfortunately for you, you did."

Liz turned to run, but Jeremy grabbed her before she could get away. He forced a necklace with a charm on it around her neck while she struggled. "Wouldn't want you sending a distress signal to Dean," he explained.

Liz fought against Jeremy's grip but she was weakened from all the activity of the morning and he was surprisingly strong. She couldn't break free, try as she might. He maneuvered her to where he was holding her with one arm and pulled a syringe out of his pocket.

"Shh," he soothed softly as he emptied the contents of the syringe into her. "This won't hurt." He held her while she fought feebly against him. She tried to pull the necklace off her neck but he stopped her.

"Now, now, Liz, that won't do at all," he scolded as if she were a small child. "We wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for Dean. He took what I loved most in the world away from me, and now I'm returning the favor. It's only fair."

Liz's chin started to quiver as she fought against tears. The tears started to slide down her face anyway. She was quickly losing consciousness and knew it.

When her fighting against him was nearly nonexistent, Jeremy shifted so he was speaking in her ear. "I'm sorry, Liz," he told her in a shaking voice. His bravado was leaving him. "You shouldn't have to pay for your husband's mistakes."

Liz passed out, and Jeremy laid her in the grass. He wiped the tears off her face then rubbed his away as well. He picked her back up and carried her to his vehicle. He had stowed it out of sight and managed to get her in the trunk without being noticed.

The hunter who was watching the entrance to Bobby's property flagged him down as he tried to drive through. Jeremy tensed as he slowed to a halt and rolled down his window.

"You're making the grocery run, right?" the hunter asked.

Jeremy relaxed. "Yeah. You need something?"

"Could you get some chocolate chip cookies? I've been jonesing for one in the worst way."

"Chocolate chip cookies. Got it."

The man thanked him and waved him through.

Jeremy sighed in relief as he exited Bobby's property. He drove the car to a secluded area several miles from Bobby's property and waited. While he did, he popped the trunk and checked on Liz. "I'm going to hell," he mumbled as he looked down at her.

"More than likely," a voice from behind him agreed.

Jeremy jumped and whipped around to face Tom Barrister. He hadn't even heard anyone drive up, but sure enough, a sleek sports car and a van had pulled in behind him.

"If I know Dean Winchester at all, you'll probably be going there sooner than you like when he finds out what you've done," Tom taunted. He looked completely out of place in his Armani suit. It somehow made him seem that much more intimidating. He peered into the trunk but had no visible reaction to what he saw. "I see you have my package," he said.

"She should be out for a while," Jeremy stuttered out. "I gave her a full vial of that stuff you gave me. That was about twenty minutes ago."

"Good," Tom replied. He clapped his hands. "Jason?"

Jason emerged from the back of the van in a suit that was on par with Tom's. Jeremy couldn't help but wonder at the practicality of wearing a suit to pick up a kidnapping victim. He shook off his errant thoughts and focused on the two men.

"Yes?" Jason asked with an edge to his voice.

Tom smiled without warmth. "I'm happy to say that the package I was expecting arrived safely. Get it for me. It's in this man's trunk."

Jason gave Tom a long-suffering look before walking to the open trunk. "If I was going to be doing heavy lifting, at least I could have foregone the tie," he complained. He gave a gasp of surprise when he saw Liz and jerked his head around to gape at Tom. A split second later, his calm exterior had slid back into place.

"What do you want me to do with her?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Put her in the van. She'll ride with you until we get where we're going. She'll have a cell waiting at this place, and I'm sure that Ginger will find the torture devices to her liking. She can get started as soon as she's ready once we get there."

"She likes to use her own knives. She never leaves home without them."

Tom smiled coldly. "I know. I was planning to have her warm them up on my rat." He jerked his head toward Jeremy. "He's so pathetic, though, that I've changed my mind."

Jeremy was growing paler by the minute. "You never said anything about torturing her. That's not what I agreed to," he protested. "You certainly never said anything about torturing me."

Tom bellowed out a laugh. "What did you think we were going to do with her? Braid her hair?" He looked at Jason. "Get Liz in the van," he commanded him.

Jason picked Liz up and took her to the van. He pounded on the door as well as he could while holding her.

Ginger swung the door open and leaned out, looking around curiously. Her eyes grew wide as she took in Liz. She jerked her gaze up to meet Jason's. An unhappy look passed between them.

Jason looked down at Liz. "I need to put her in the van," he explained.

"Of course," Ginger replied, scurrying out of the way.

Jason maneuvered himself into the van lay Liz down gently. "Take care of her," he told Ginger without looking away from Liz. He started to leave but Ginger stopped him.

"Jason, talk to me," she begged.

Jason hugged her and kissed the top of her head. "This is not good," he told her quietly.

Ginger squeezed him tighter. "I know."

They stayed embracing one another for a few moments then Jason disentangled himself. "I gotta go, Ging."

He crawled back out of the van. All trace of emotion was gone from his face as he walked back around to Tom and Jeremy.

Tom was grinning. "Admit it; you're a little impressed."

Jason threw up his hands. "I'm a lot impressed. I didn't think Liz would make herself vulnerable enough to be caught so easily."

Tom glanced at Jeremy, who was watching the other two men warily. "You just have to know the right people. I knew I'd met the man for the job the first time I saw Jeremy. He had hate coming off of him in waves." Tom glanced at Jason. "He's the blonde's husband. He got tired of Dean plowing his wife, so he decided to do something about it."

Jason cocked an eyebrow at Jeremy. "By passive-aggressively taking it out on someone who had nothing to do with the situation? Ah, the measure of a man."

Tom laughed when Jeremy ducked his head in shame. He gave Jason a look filled with pride. "You do have a way of getting to the heart of a matter."

Jason brushed off the comment. "Want me to kill this bozo?"

Tom shook his head. "No, I want him to go and tell his little blonde slut and Dean what he's done. I want him to have to face the fact that he just caused another person to be tortured within an inch of her life. So, no, don't kill him. Take his car and leave him here to walk back to the old man's place."

He nodded at Jason, and Jason immobilized Jeremy. Tom leaned so he was speaking in Jeremy's ear. "You know that feeling you're feeling?" he asked him. "That's regret." He took a step back and lightly slapped Jeremy's cheek a few times. "You'd better get back before someone missed you." He gave him a cruel smile and walked away without a backward glance. He knew Jason would take care of him.