Chapter Five:

Dean glanced at the rearview mirror, and grinned at the sleeping sight that greeted him.

Deanna had fallen asleep in the backseat a few hours before, and Dean had tossed his leather jacket over her. She'd managed to burrow into the leather seat, and cocoon herself in the jacket. Her hair fell over her eyes, and the tiny puffs of air she let out of parted lips slightly blew her hair back and forth.

Turning away from Deanna, Dean turned his attention to his little brother sitting quietly next to him, staring at the house. Quite frankly, the silence made him nervous.

"All right, so tell me again. What are we still doing here?" Dean whispered, nudging Sam to try and get a response out of him.

Sam didn't even glance in his direction. "I don't know." He said uncertainly. "I just...I still have a bad feeling."

Dean glanced at the house for a moment, noting the calm silence that seemed to surround the property. "Why? Missouri did her whole 'Zelda Rubenstein' thing. The house should be clean. It should be over."

Sam squashed the urge to mention that he didn't think it would ever be over, and instead just muttered, "Yeah, well, probably. But I just want to make sure. That's all."

Dean rolled his eyes and leaned back in the front seat. "Yeah, well, problem is, I could be sleeping in a bed right now."

Sam shook his head fondly at his older brother, seeing his eyes closed and knowing he couldn't see him, and then turned his attention back to the house.

It was then that he saw Jenny, banging on the window, screaming in terror.

Sam smacked Dean on the shoulder, and called his name at the same time he opened the door and ran for the house. It didn't surprise him that Dean was right on his heels, Deanna close behind both.

Dean was shouting orders as they raced up the drive and up the porch steps. "Sam, get Sari, Annie, grab Ritchie! I'm going for Jenny!"

Neither sibling argued, and as Dean kicked in the door, ran up the stairs, dodging flying objects along the way to their respective targets.

Dean slid to a stop in front of Jenny's door and tried turning the knob, vaguely noticing the others run past him.

"Jenny!" He called out.

"I can't open the door!" Jenny yelled back. Dean could hear the fear in her voice.

"Stand back!" Dean yelled back over the roar of the spirits flying around them. He counted to three, and took a step back, pausing for a moment to let Deanna run by, Ritchie clinging pale faced and wide eyed to her shoulders. As soon as she was clear, Dean expertly kicked in the door, moving forward to prevent it from slamming shut again. Jenny immediately ran into his arms and Dean started tugging her towards the stairs.

When Jenny realized they weren't heading towards Sari and Ritchie, she pulled back. "No! My kids!" she screamed at him, turning and attempting to break his grip and run for her children.

Dean knew the feeling, barely able to resist going after Sam himself, but held on to Jenny. "Deanna already had Ritchie and Sam's getting Sari!" He tugged on her again, and this time she went willingly, running down the stairs and the hallway to the open door. Jenny ran ahead of him when she saw Deanna, crouched on the sidewalk holding Ritchie, both leaning against the Impala.

Dean waited a whole ten seconds, five of that he spent scanning over Deanna and making sure she was okay, before he turned back to the house. Moments later, Sari ran out.

Alone.

Deanna beat him to Sari. "Sar." she asked, gripping the frightened young girl's shoulders. "Where's Sam?"

Sari had tears in her eyes, and latched onto Deanna. "He's inside. Something's got him."

Deanna flashed a panicked look in Dean's direction, and they both looked towards the house.

The front door slammed shut, effectively blocking the twins from their little brother.

O~O~O

Sam raced past Deanna and Dean, and into Sari's room. Sari was sitting on her bed, scared stiff, looking at a humanoid shaped figure standing at the foot of her bed.

The figure was on fire.

Sam warily kept one eye the flaming creature, and then reached out for Sari. "Sari! Look at me!"

Sari quickly glanced at Sam, and Sam reached just far enough to grab her arm and pull her to him. "Don't look," he whispered in her ear. He watched the spirit intently, and when it made no move to attack them, turned and ran from the room.

Sam ran down the stairs, holding tightly to the young girl in his arms, and ran for the hallway. At the bottom of the stairs however, the same presence that had ran itself down his arms during the banishing, swirled around him again. Making his decision, he put Sari on her feet and pushed her towards the door.

"Sari! Get outside as fast as you can!" he yelled at her. No sooner had the words left his mouth, than his feet were pulled from underneath him and he was dragged down the hallway.

Sam heard Sari scream and watched as she ran out the front door. Just as he was pulled around the corner, he heard the front door slam shut.

Sam was tossed around the house, bouncing against walls, and running into furniture. Over the sound of the spirits' fury, Sam could hear something knocking against the front door of the house, and he felt a brief moment of relief, knowing Dean, and probably Deanna were on their way.

After what seemed like hours of being smacked around and at the spirits' mercy, Sam was thrust up against a wall and pinned. He couldn't move, and was even having problems breathing.

The figure on fire suddenly appeared in front of him.

Sam snarled at it, hoping Dean would hurry up. When it didn't move, Sam stared it down.

And then realized who was underneath the fire.

Sam stared at her in shock, and was only dimly aware of Dean and Deanna calling his name.

Dean raced around one corner of the living room, and Deanna slid around the other side. Dean planted himself in front of Sam, using his own body as a human shield and lifted his shotgun, aiming to fire against the spirit.

"No! Don't!" Sam called out in panic.

"What?" Dean asked, sparing one glance at Sam over his shoulder, before turning his attention back to the spirit. Even though he kept his weapon up, he didn't fire. "Why?"

"Because I know who it is." Sam whispered breathlessly. "I can see her now."

Dean squinted at the fiery figure, and bit by bit the flames began to dissipate, leaving only a blonde woman in a white nightgown.

Deanna's gasp of surprise was the only sound in the whole room.

Dean stared at Mary Winchester's spirit in shock, slowly lowering his shotgun. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at the woman he thought he'd never see again. "Mom?" he whispered.

Mary smiled at him, softly and loving, and took one step towards him.

"Dean." Mary said, blue eyes shining in the dim light. "My beautiful boy."

Dean couldn't have even come up with words if someone had held a gun to Sam or Deanna and ordered him to speak. Mary smiled at him for a moment more and then turned her attention to Sam.

"Little Sammy." she said softly.

Sam's eyes started to overflow with tears, just as his brother and sister's were. He'd never, in his wildest dreams, believed that he would be standing face to face with his mother. Not ever. "Hi, Mom." he whispered.

Mary's smile faded slightly, and her eyes grew sad. She took a step towards him, and tilted her head to the side. "Sam. I'm so sorry."

Sam frowned. "For what?"

Mary just continued to look at him sadly, and then finally turned her attention to Deanna.

"Deanna. My darling."

"Hey, Mom." Deanna said with a smile.

Mary gestured towards the boys. "Promise you'll look out for them. They're going to need you in the days ahead. Promise you'll be there for them."

Deanna nodded. "I promise."

Mary stepped back and looked at each one of her children. "I am so proud of all of you." she said to them before looking up at the ceiling.

"You get out of my house." she growled to the air above her, presumably to the poltergeist. "And let go of my son."

Mary burst into flames once more, and this time the flames reached the ceiling. They spread out across the rough surface, and then disappeared completely. The invisible force holding Sam to the wall released him, and he fell slightly, panting for breath.

"Now it's over." he said, leaning his head against the wall.

The three siblings just stared at each other, still in shock over everything they'd just witnessed.

O~O~O

Early morning found the Winchesters ready to leave their former house. Sam was leaning against the Impala while Deanna talked to a young man in work boots and jeans.

Dean was choosing to ignore him currently. It was just another reminder of her normal life.

A normal life he was taking her away from.

She'd told him the night before, that when they left town she was coming with them. And against his better judgment, Dean had agreed.

Jenny walking up next to him jerked him away from feeling guilty about Deanna. She held out a small box to Dean. "I think these belong to you." she said kindly.

Dean opened the lid, and pulled out a few pictures. One made his heart clench in his chest. Trapped in time, Mary, John, Dean and Deanna smiled back at the camera. Mary held Sam close to her chest.

He shut the lid. "Thanks, Jenny."

"Don't thank me." she said, eyes twinkling at him. "They're yours."

Dean nodded, and Jenny turned and walked back in the house, past the broken down door. And yeah, okay, Dean kinda did feel bad about that.

While Dean had been talking to Jenny, Missouri had made her way down the steps and was talking to Sam and Deanna. Dean noticed that her friend had disappeared somewhere.

"Well, there are no spirits in there anymore. This time for sure." she said gently, looking at Sam.

"Not even my mom?" Sam asked. With his tone of voice, Dean heard the small child he used to be.

"No." Missouri said.

Sam looked down at his feet, and Deanna spoke up. "What happened, Missouri?"

"You're mom's spirit and the poltergeist's energy canceled each other out. You're mom destroyed herself goin' after the thing." Missouri said kindly, looking between the siblings.

"Why would she do that?" Dean asked.

"To protect her children, of course." Missouri said, like it was the easiest answer in the world. She looked pointedly at each of them. "She got to see the powerful hunters her children have become, standing together in love, shoulder to shoulder with each other. I don't know any mother who wouldn't be proud of how you two turned out."

Deanna shared a look with Dean, smiling slightly. Dean gave her a soft smile back. Everyone was silent, until Missouri spoke again.

"Sam. I'm sorry."

Sam's head whipped up so fast, Dean was concerned about whiplash. "About what?" he asked quietly, not able to forget his mother had just apologized to him as well."

"You sensed it was here, didn't you? Even when I couldn't."

Sam nodded, gaze skittering around the ground. "What's happening to me?" he asked softly.

Missouri shook her head. "I'm sorry. I know I should have all the answers, but I don't." She then directed her gaze at Deanna. "You better get these two off their feet before they pass out on you. The three of you have had a long night. You all need rest."

Deanna nodded, and then reached up to hug the old psychic. "Thanks Missouri."

Missouri smiled. "Don't you kids be strangers."

"We won't." Dean assured her, giving her a smile.

Missouri watched as Deanna ushered her boys into the Impala, and then directed them down the street before turning to her own car and going home.

O~O~O

Deanna directed them to a small two story house the next street over, and into the driveway. She unlocked the door, and the three of them slipped upstairs. Deanna tossed her backpack into one room, and Dean caught a flash of purple from the walls before directing each boy to a room.

The three of them were asleep seconds later.

Sam woke up sometime later, sure that someone was watching him. When a cursory check of the room revealed nothing, he padded down the hall to Dean's room. A note was taped to the door:

Hey,

You guys were still asleep, and I had classes to teach. I'm off at seven, and will be home then.

The fridge is full, we've got cable, and you're safe.

I can't answer my phone while working, but if you want you can stop by. 910 Merchant St. Just tell the people at the front desk you're with me.

See you soon.

Love, Deanna.

Sam smiled at the delicate handwriting, and then quietly pushed the door open. Dean was just zipping up his duffel bag.

"Ready to go?" Dean asked, barely glancing at Sam.

"Where're we going?"

"To get Deanna. Then we're hitting the road. I hate this town."

Sam nodded, grabbed his own duffel bag and then followed his brother out to the car, carefully locking the door behind him.

It didn't take long for the boys to find the dance studio Deanna worked at, and the people at the front desk directed them immediately to the studio she was teaching in. Two rows of teenage ballerinas carefully followed Deanna as she moved them through basic stretches. She was facing the mirror, and when she caught Sam and Dean watching her, smiled brilliantly at them.

Dean watched her move gracefully, her soft, pink slippered feet seeming to glide across the dance floor. She had a special smile just for her students, showing Dean how much they meant to her.

Her students were her whole world. A blind man could see that.

Dean blinked back tears. He couldn't do this. He couldn't take her from her life. As much as he wanted her with him and Sammy, continuing the family business, it was obvious she wasn't a hunter.

She was a dancer, friend, teacher, and as he watched a tiny girl in Pointe shoes show her how to do some kind of trick with her leg, a student as well.

She wasn't his sister anymore. Life had made sure of that.

She didn't belong to him, and wasn't his to claim.

Dean sighed, and nudged Sam out in front of him. He caught Deanna's eye in the mirror one last time, and by the look on her face, she knew.

Sam followed his brother out to the car, and watched him crumble to pieces as he tried to do the right thing.

"Shouldn't she have the choice, Dean?" Sam asked quietly, getting into the passenger seat.

"She'll choose the wrong one, Sam. No one chooses this life."

"Maybe she will." Sam said patiently.

"No one deserves this life." Dean said, looking at his little brother full on.

"But doesn't she deserve the choice?"

Dean stared at Sam for one more moment, before putting the car in gear and pointing the Impala towards the interstate.

"I won't do that to her, Sam. I already ruined one sibling's life. I'm not going to do it to her."

Sam rolled his eyes. He knew Dean was impossible to talk to when he thought he was doing the right thing to keep his family safe. He stayed silent as Dean hit the freeway, and angled them far away from Kansas.

O~O~O

Deanna finished her classes, and then stepped outside into the cool night air.

She wasn't surprised to see the Impala wasn't in the parking lot, and when she pulled her bike into the garage, wasn't surprised to see the Impala wasn't on the street, and the boys weren't in the house.

Deanna was glad, that in the dark, no one would be able to see her tears.

Author's Note: I'm sorry for the delay in updating. It's been a rough week, and if you didn't read the note at the beginning of my one-shot, 'I Believe' then we'll just say I have a whole new respect for windows and two story buildings. Anyway, I'm working on the next chapter right now, and should have it up in the next few days.

Thanks again for your patience. :)