"One more story, please," Lucas begged, squirming around in his bed. He was restless. I chuckled.
"Okay, okay, one more story." I promised.
"Yes!" he exclaimed. "Can Dean read this one to me?"
Dean chuckled, "Of course I can. Which one do you want me to read to you?" Dean asked.
"Hm, can you read me another Bearinstein Bear book?" Lucas asked.
"Okay," Dean said, going over and picking up the book on the opposite side of the room. Dean took his place back on Lucas' bed. I sat on one side while Dean sat on the other, Lucas sandwiched between us.
"Okay, here were go..." Dean started. Lucas listened attentively as I stroked his hair. I knew that he'd get sleepier sooner or later.
Dean kept reading the story and he even did different character voices for all the characters. Lucas laughed and I could really tell that he was enjoying it. Even Dean seemed like he was enjoying it. Dean was going to make an amazing father someday. I had been thinking about this recently. I was so in love with him and he had moved in now. It was sooner or later that he was going to ask me to marry him right? Or were we going to be one of those people that waited for years. His ex girlfriend Lisa and he never got married and he was seeing her for a year. I had to admit, I wanted to be married to Dean. After everything we had been through, it just felt. I thought back to the things he said at Lucas' party. He wanted to be a part of this family and I wanted him to be too.
How would that play into Lucas' life? I thought back to Holden and my mother. My mother had seen Holden for many years and he had waited to ask her to marry him for, well, a number of reasons. First, he was surgeon and he had those long annoying hours while she taught classes at the hospital for med students. Second, my mother was always kind of crazy and she was always hot and cold towards him. He had waited and after three months of the engagement, she broke it off. What if something like that were to happen between me and Dean? Lucas really loved Dean just like I had really loved Holden. It would destroy him like it did with me if something happened to go awry.
I really did have to worry about not only myself but Lucas also. The other thing I had to take into account was that Dean loved me. I was just being scared I guess… I couldn't help but fear that history would repeat itself.
"Hey, I think he's sleeping," Dean whispered, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Oh, he is. We can probably go to sleep now," I said.
"Sounds like a good idea. You're back to your normal hours again?" Dean asked.
I nodded, "Yep, I'm waking up at five tomorrow." The two of us tiptoed out of Lucas room.
Dean turned off the light, leaving the nightlight on.
"Goodnight, Lucas," I whispered before shutting the door quietly.
"I'm exhausted," I sighed, collapsing on my bed.
"Hey, how'd your patient like his newly hemmed clothing?" Dean asked.
"I think he really liked them," I smiled, remembering Anderson.
"Good, and Adam's not giving you a hard time?" Dean asked.
"You mean he's not hitting on me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Dean blushed. Dean pulled off his shirt as I got underneath the covers. He joined me in the bed, his bare skin touching my body, sending a spark through me.
"No, he's very professional, actually. I know this is way too soon and you'll probably think I'm crazy but I mean, he doesn't actually seem like that bad of a guy. Now, I know what he did to you was bad but I mean, second chances, right?" I asked.
"You are such a peace maker," Dean teased, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"I know," I said. I turned over to face Dean and noticed the tattoo on his chest.
"How's Sam?" I asked.
"Good. I talked to him today actually. He wants to come and visit," Dean started.
"Well tell him we'd love to have him. I don't even think Lucas has met him yet," I replied.
"Okay, I will," Dean replied.
"Is this a hunting thing?" I asked, tracing his tattoo with my index finger. I knew it was random but I had been meaning to ask about his tattoo on his chest for a while now. It was sexy as hell and I was curious as to what it meant.
"Yeah it's a protector symbol. It protects the wearer from demonic possession," Dean informed, his brow furrowed.
"Jesus, it's like you had this complete other life before, well now, with you here with me," I sighed. It was true. Dean and I were normal. I hadn't had to get involved much with the hunting thing except for Katie and Bradley's house so it was odd for me to think that he had this whole other life.
"Yeah," Dean replied.
"Do you ever miss it?" I asked.
"Yes and no," he replied.
"How so?" I asked, curiously.
"Jennie, you probably don't want to hear all about it," Dean replied.
"Well you told me once," I said.
"I know but a lot more happened," Dean said.
"I want to know all about you, Dean Winchester," I said, kissing him gently once. I was head over heels for this man. I traced his freckles on his face and giggled. "I love your freckles."
He smiled, "I don't know it's pretty dark."
"Um, okay I cut people open for a living and enjoy it. In fact, I competed with people aggressively, might I add, for opportunities to cut people open in my early intern and resident years," I added.
"So what, I have to tell you a bedtime story too?" Dean teased.
"Mhm!" I nodded, giggling a little and enjoying the way that Dean and I seemed to fit together perfectly.
"Well, where'd we leave off?" Dean asked.
"Um... you got back from Hell and had been hunting with Sam. Oh, and something about an angel?" I reminded.
"Right, okay," Dean said back.
Dean sighed and picked up from where he left off in his hunter journey that he had began telling me back when I was twenty five. And instead of freaking out or running like any normal human being would, I just listened. I absorbed everything. Relationships were about taking the good and the ugly and honestly, what Dean had done was not ugly. It seemed that way, but he was saving the world.
"Okay is that enough for you?" Dean asked, chuckling a little.
"Yes," I giggled.
"Good because I really don't have much else," Dean replied.
"Goodnight, Dean," I said, blissed out. I smiled at him. "I love you."
"I love you, too. Goodnight, Jen," he said, kissing me once before reaching over and turning off the light. I closed my eyes and felt Dean wrap his arms around my waist again. He nestled his head on my shoulder while I molded my body with his. Nothing felt more right than this did.
I had to sneak out of the house early that morning in order not to wake Dean up. I got to work and was somewhat rested.
"Hi, Anderson," I said, checking up on Anderson.
"Good morning, Dr. Montgomery," he said.
"You're always so polite," I smiled.
"Well thank you. Do I get to go on rounds now?" he asked, his eyes lighting up.
"Yes, so go get changed in your scrubs and lab coat and we'll go!" I replied, encouragingly. He pulled the covers from him to reveal that he was already dressed in his scrubs. I laughed, light heartedly. "Alright, let's go, kiddo."
"A doctor must always be prepared," he said, formally.
"This is true," I said back, with a little laugh.
Anderson hopped out of bed, put on his mini-lab coat and then took my hand and followed me to meet up with my interns.
"Dr. Cooper, would you like to introduce this patient?" I asked.
"Yes. Mrs. Viola White, age sixty-five is in four a torn heart valve," Anderson introduced.
"Dr. Garrison," I called out.
Dr. Garrison, one of my newest interns repeated the rest of Mrs. White's information back to me.
"Good and Dr. Cooper what would be her dosage for today?" I asked. Anderson put his pencil to the paper on the clipboard and began writing.
"Ten milligrams?" he asked.
I smiled, "Very good. Dr. Garrison, please take care of Mrs. White and you Mr., well we have to get you back to your room."
I heard a chuckle come from doorway. I turned around to see Adam standing in the doorway. Anderson grabbed my hand and walked me over to the door.
"Hi Dr. McConnell. Do you see? I get to go on rounds!" Anderson said.
"I see that. Dr. Montgomery, you're doing a great job," he said, approvingly.
"Thank you," I replied. "Come on Anderson, let's get you back in time for the rest of the interns to report you on rounds."
"Hey," Katie said during lunch.
"Okay what's up with you two? You've been shooting me funny looks all day," I finally asked, looking at both Katie and Bradley.
"Nothing," Bradley replied.
"Right," I replied, unconvinced.
"So how are you and Dean?" Katie asked, curiously.
"We're fine, why?" I asked back.
"No reason," Katie replied.
"Okay…." I trailed off, still weirded out by these two.
"He hasn't asked you any-," Katie started but Bradley kicked her under the table. "Ow!"
"Do you mind if I sit here?" a voice asked. The three of us looked up and saw Adam McConnell come over to our lunch table.
"Um, sure," I replied, scooting over so that he could have more room.
"You know, Jennie, you should really think about a fellowship in Peds," Adam said.
"Oh, I don't know," I said.
"You're great with kids," Adam said back.
"Thanks I uh, I'll think about it," I replied.
The four of us then got into a conversation and Adam really just wasn't as bad as I thought he was. Were we bonding? Yep, we were definitely bonding.
Five Days Later
"Today's the lucky day!" I announced, happily.
"That's right. Today you get to go home, Anderson," Adam added.
"You can just sign her Mrs. Cooper." Mrs. Cooper took the clipboard and eagerly signed the discharge papers.
Anderson had all of his stuff packed up but was still wearing his blue scrubs and lab coat. His mother took his suitcase in her hand and her father took his other stuff. Anderson was putting his shoes on.
"We don't know how to thank you enough, both of you. Dr. McConnell you've treated him all these years and Dr. Montgomery, you've been so great with Anderson. He really loves the both of you," Mrs. Cooper said.
"I have a son of my own that up until this year has had to stay in the hospital so I understand what it's like to be restless, eight years old, and stuck here," I replied.
Both parents chuckled, "Thank you so much. I'm glad that we're going to be given some time with him away from this place. No offense. We'll come in for the two-month check up and I'm glad that this didn't have to become another surgical matter."
"We are too," I replied.
"Call if you need anything Mr. and Mrs. Cooper," Adam replied.
"Thank you so much," Mrs. Cooper replied, before they left with their son. After that, Adam and I exchanged glances.
"You know, I'm really going to miss him," I finally said.
"Anderson is a great kid. It's unfortunate that we have to see him a lot due to his heart. He's high up on the list though so I'm hoping that we'll get a new heart for him soon," Adam said.
"Me too. He deserves to have a bright future," I replied, as clichéd as it sounded.
"Do you by any chance want to get a drink after work? Just as friends, I promise. Don't worry. It's not some ploy to get you drunk and then seduce you, no. I wouldn't do that again. I saw what it did to him once and I, we were good friends, you know? I really screwed up the last time," Adam asked.
I nodded, "Sure why not? As friends. I feel like we've definitely bonded over treating Anderson."
"Great, then I'll see you after," Adam replied.
"Great," I said back.
"So… Jen, it's been like five days," Katie said.
"Since what?" I asked back.
"Oh nothing," she replied.
"No it's just uh, been five days since we've really talked," Katie replied, trying to cover up for something. She and Bradley had been acting so strange these, well now that I think about it, these past five days.
"Is there anything you want to tell me?" I asked.
"No, what about you?" she asked back.
"Uh, Adam just asked me out for a drink. Wait, I mean, not like that. As friends. We just kind of are going to talk about stuff and-," I started.
"Woah, that's a huge no-no. You know what happened between Adam, Dean, and whatsherface, Ella?" Katie said.
"I know it sounds sketchy but at the same time Dean shouldn't run my life. I mean, I love the man, believe me but it's also not fair for him to dictate my life," I said back.
"You haven't told him, have you?" Katie asked.
"I mean, he knows we're friends!" I defended.
"But I mean, getting a drink with him? That sounds a little more than friendly," Katie answered.
"I know it does and I brought them up but can't a girl just be friends with a guy without it being seen as 'more'?" I asked back.
"Yes, but when alcohol and home wreckers are involved, it seems a little sketchy," Katie replied.
I sighed, "You're right. I'll talk to him about it."
At the end of the night, I ended up not going out with Adam but decided on a rain check. I just felt like I needed to get home to Dean and Lucas. It was late and I was exhausted and starving. I got home and Dean was sitting in the living room, watching some late night television program. I laughed.
"What're you watching?" I asked.
"Nothing," he replied, changing the channel.
"Yeah, okay," I said. "Sorry I'm home late. What'd you guys do for dinner?"
"I made pasta," Dean replied, shrugging.
"Huh," I said. I went into the kitchen and heated some up. I brought it back into the living room and then ate with Dean. I sat on the couch, curled up and we talked.
"So how was your day?"
"It was alright, nothing special. How about yours?" Dean asked.
I smiled, "We discharged Anderson today. He was healthy enough for us to let him go home for the time being I'm… afraid of him coming back. I mean, it's not a permanent thing. He's not permanently healthy." I sighed in dissolution.
"Well congratulations on the first part. As for the second, I hope he gets better. He's so young," Dean said.
"I know. I think about Lucas and can't even imagine having to ever go through something like this," I replied, sighing. I placed my bowl down on the living room coffee table and stayed in my curled up position on the couch. There was a long pause before Dean said something again.
"Can I talk to you about something?" Dean asked, looking at me. He seemed nervous and really serious. I was a little nervous now…
"Sure, go ahead," I replied.
"When you… came to the construction site and went all soap opera on me," Dean started. I chuckled and rolled my eyes. "You said some things to me that I've been wondering about recently."
"Like?" I asked, intrigued.
"Like the part about us being a family. As in, you, me, and Lucas and the whole family traditions and… other kids. Our kids," Dean replied.
"Yeah, I did and hah, yeah, I guess I did get a little too soap opera-y," I continued.
"Did you really mean all of that stuff?" he asked, looking up at me. I had never seen so much anxiety and vulnerability in his eyes than this moment. What was up? Did this have anything to do with the fact that Katie and Bradley were acting so weird around me? I was starting to put the pieces together and the answer was shocking and exciting yet all at the same time.
"Of course I did. I wouldn't have said it if it didn't mean anything," I replied.
"Okay, because I want them too. I want us to be a family. I want to be an 'us', officially, well more like legally," Dean started.
Oh my God. Here it was. My jaw began to drop a little but Dean kept going.
"I remember the first moment I met you. I… wanted to bone you silly but you knew what kind of guy I was back then. But then we got to know each other and we talked and for once I felt like someone besides Sam and Bobby actually cared about me. We were friends and I had never really had a girl that was just a friend before. That night that you came with the scrabble board game was the night I knew that you were more than just a physical attraction for me. We really talked, like I hadn't talked to anyone before. I mean, you know I don't, I don't really do this often, the whole emotional vulnerability thing. But anyways, Jennie, I love you. You are beautiful and strong, and sexy as hell and I love that you care so much about your patients and your work and making people better." Dean stood up and stood me up.
"I've uh, been carrying this around for a while. I showed your friends and well, that's why they've been acting so weird lately." Dean reached into his pocket and pulled out a little black box. I gasped, even though I knew this was coming. He got down on one knee and I could feel tears coming to my eyes.
"Marry me?"
"Dean Winchester," I gasped in happiness. "Yes, I will marry you."
"You will?" Dean asked, looking up at me.
"Yes," I replied. Dean sprung to his feet and kissed me passionately, pulling me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. "God, look at me, I'm a mess!" Dean and I both shared and intimate laugh.
"Here," Dean said, removing the ring from the box and taking my left hand in his hands. He slid the ring onto my ring finger and I bit my lip. I was grinning from ear to ear.
"I love you, Dean," I said.
"I love you too, Jen," he replied, kissing me.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed! I know, I know it's pretty mushy but I couldn't help myself.