Chapter 8

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Dark Angel or Supernatural characters. For this fic I changed the DA time line. The pulse has already hit and Alec is out of Manticore in 2009. The characters of Lexi, Jake and Jackie are from a Supernatural AU Verse that I write. This is my first DA fic so please be kind. I hope you like it. Thanks to everyone that has been reading this story and thanks for the reviews. Reviews would be great!

LSU Medical Center

New Orleans, LA

Lydecker arrived alone in New Orleans the day after Thanksgiving. He wanted to do this one alone. He very much doubted that he was going to find Dean Winchester alive and well in this God forsaken city. Maybe this Dr. Winchester was connected to Dean then again maybe she wasn't. A lead was a lead though he had to at least check it out.

Lydecker hated New Orleans. It was hot and humid with street kids begging on almost every corner. It was also filled with tourists despite the pulse. He had checked every hospital in the New Orleans metropolitan area and not one Dr. Winchester had ever been employed by them. This was the last hospital on his list. He flipped open the folder he had in his hand taking out the pictures he had of Dean hoping someone here would be able to identify him as Dr. Winchester's husband.

Lydecker had an appointment with a Dr. Gendreau who was on the board of directors. Dr. Gendreau took Lydecker in the doctor's lounge on the third floor offering him coffee before sitting down on one of the couches. He declined the coffee and got right to down to business asking if a Dr. Winchester was ever employed at this hospital. "Dr. Winchester. Oh, yes, she worked here. So sad to see her go."

"Why's that Doctor?"

"She was one of the best I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Youngest chief of staff the E.R. ever had. I knew she wouldn't stay with us for long. There was always someone trying to lure her away. Even the C.D.C. tried to recruit her."

"Is she married?"

"Yes, I believe she is."

Lydecker handed a picture of Dean to the Doctor asking, "Is this the man she's married to?"

The doctor looked at the picture then handed the picture back to Lydecker stating, "Honestly, I don't know. I never met her husband."

Lydecker thanked the Doctor for his time and went to question others to see if someone could identify this Dr. Winchester's husband. He found out quickly that the doctors had no real information for him but the nurses were a different story. Five nurses all identified Dean as Dr. Winchester's husband. Though, when questioned, all five gave different answers to what line of work he was in. One said he was a Marine, the others said he was a mechanic, private investigator, FBI agent and a fireman. When asked if they knew where the Wincshesters went he got the same five answers. They were heading back home to Kansas.

Lydecker knew one thing for sure, Dean Winchester was alive and well two months ago when he left New Orleans with his wife. As far as children were concerned, all the nurses confirmed that Dr. Winchester had children but not one of them could tell him how many. Now, the real work was about to begin. He doubted they were headed to Kansas. John had trained his son too well for him to go somewhere that he had known ties. It was time to call The Committee and get the back up he needed.

Bobby's House

The night after Thanksgiving

Dean sat at Bobby's desk, his chair leaning on it's back two legs as he watched Henriksen pour them another shot of whiskey. Dean lifted the glass raising his eyebrows in a silent toast before throwing back the shot. Dean loved whiskey. He loved the way it made him relaxed and warm. Hell, he didn't even mind the way it burned going down but by the grimace on Sammy's face he didn't share Dean's sentiments. "Told ya Henriksen. Sammy's a light weight. Two beers and he's doing karaoke."

Sam pulled his infamous bitch face telling his brother to shut up. Dean mocked his little brother before throwing his head back laughing. He leaned back just a tad bit too far when he did so causing him to lose his balance. Dean and the chair crashed unceremoniously to the floor, he groaned and looked up to see Sam smirking down at him. "Who can't hold their liquor now, uh?" Sam teased with a shit eating grin on his face.

"Shut up, Sammy."

Sam didn't say anything, he just smiled even more grabbing the bottle and pouring them all another round. He raised his glass, his eyes lit up mischievously. "To the sap in our family tree. Congratulations Dean on karma kicking you in the ass. Remember, a father is a daughter's first love and then she brings home a guy just like you." Dean shot daggers in Sam's direction telling him he was by no means funny at all.

"Hey, man I thought it was funny." Henriksen snickered before downing his shot , "If she looks anything like your wife, you, my friend, are in deep shit."

"Yeah, I know..."

Henriksen grabbed the bottle and refilled their glasses taking note that they were more than half way through it. He then turned his attention to Dean but instead of saying his own toast he asked, "How'd you two meet anyway? I remember before I interviewed her in New York going over the information I already had on her. She was valedictorian for her graduating class in high school, graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans Summa Cum Laude and was number one in her class at Columbia Medical School. I kept thinking how did this smart beautiful girl end up with this monster."

Dean tilted his head giving a small shrug. "Me marrying a doctor, real respectable I know. You wouldn't think a guy like me would end up with a girl like her. You wanna know how I met Lex? Sure, I'll tell ya."

March 4, 2000

Pete and Elda's Diner

Ashland, WI

Dean's POV

I walked into the diner just like it was any Saturday taking my place on the last stool at the far end ofthe counter. I was a regular here and it was some unspoken rule that this spot was reserved forme, Dean Winchester. I had no idea that my world, my whole life was about to be turned upsidedown.

"Coffee?"

I looked up at the waitress in front of me, coffee pot in hand, our eyes locking. I was rendered speechless,time stood still and all the noise around me vanished. I felt myself staring at her as I took in every detail. I licked my lips admiring the curves of her body while imagining that my hands were running over them. Her light brown hair was pulled back drawing attention to her face. Her eyes were a deep green and she had a perfect full mouth that was now smiling at me showing off the dimples she had in each cheek. At the moment I couldn't take my eyes off of her lips and I wondered if her lip gloss was cherry flavored.

"Um hello? Yes...no?"

"Uh? What?" I asked snapping out of my daze.

"Coffee?"

"Yeah."

I didn't take my eyes off her when she poured my coffee. She broke eye contact, slightly blushing, when she leaned forward and placed the cup of coffee in front of me. "Let me guess black?" She questioned and I nodded yes in response still not trusting that I had full control over my voice or brain.

"Not much of a talker are you? That's cool. I like the strong silent type. Do you know what you want?"

I wanted to say, 'Yes. You, in the bathroom up against the wall or in the backseat of my car, which ever you prefer.' but instead I turned my attention to her and said, "I'll take the breakfast special, side of bacon."

"Scrambled or runny?" She asked studying me thoughtfully before tapping her pen against the order pad, "You look like a runny eggs guy to me."

"Scrambled."

"Really? Hmmm I must be loosing my touch."

"I'm full of surprises." I stated simply giving her my most adorable smile."

"Oh yeah? You don't say?" She smiled at me her dimples on full display. And that's when I knew I was in like Flynn.

"You met her in a diner." Henriksen stated tilting his head, "Not what I was picturing."

"Yeah, well I love diners. Man, she was smoking hot...well she still's smoking hot...but I dunno there was just something about her ya know. We looked at each other and I heard that proverbial click and that's all it took."

"I hear ya. That's how it was with my first ex wife."

"How many ex wives do you got?" Dean and Sam asked simultaneously.

"Three." Dean and Sam exchanged glances with the same surprised expression before turning back to their friend, "Yeah. Well enough chit chat. Let's get down to business. So, this Colonel Lydecker works for this Manticore place?"

"Yeah. He's a military guy. Old friend of my dad. That's all we know about him." Sam states simply while sliding John's journal towards Henriksen. "Last time we saw this guy Dean and my dad were hunting in Washington state. Dean was about 19 at the time. He got hurt and dad called this guy. That's how we think he got Dean's DNA."

"There's been rumors going around the bureau about a government project for super soldiers. From what I heard, the place burnt to the ground. Let's say that's true, I'm thinking this Lydecker guy is in charge of rounding up the missing soldiers. He either got intel on you traveling with two of his soldiers or he's just desperate and turning up every rock he can find. You need to lay low for awhile and I'll see what I can dig up on the guy. Don't worry if anyone comes asking about you, I'll tell them the same story I told Lydecker. They can find you in a St. Louis cemetery."

After saying good night to Sam and Henriksen, Dean made his way up to the third floor to check on the twins. Both boys were passed out in their beds apparently having fallen asleep with the television and lights still on. Dean turned the television off first before grabbing Alec's comforter off the floor and putting it back on the boy. He then walked over to Ben taking the book the kid had been reading gently out of his hand and pulled the comforter over him. Once he was satisfied that they were safe and comfortable he turned off the lights and made his way back to his own bedroom.

He noticed the empty crib right away his eyes then darting to the bed. Jake was curled up next to Lexi with one arm hugging his stuffed giraffe, the other curled in his mom's hair. Normally, Dean would put their son back in his crib but decided to let him be since wasn't feeling well earlier. Dean climbed into bed snaking his arms around his wife, his hands resting on her stomach. Even though the room was cold, he felt warm and content. He closed his eyes inhaling the scent of her hair and telling himself that it was the alcohol giving him this warm and fuzzy feeling. It wasn't just the alcohol, he was happy. He finally had what he always longed for, a family. So maybe they aren't the typical nuclear family but Alec and Ben being apart of it seemed a natural fit even if it was still strange at times. They were never normal to begin with and he was okay with that. One thing Dean knew for certain, it'd be a cold day in hell before he'd let Lydecker tear his family apart.

Henriksen left early the next morning right as little white snowflakes began to fall. He shook hands with Dean and Sam reiterating that he would call soon as he found something. He looked at Dean pointing, "You need to lay low. No hunts, no hustling and park that car of yours in one of these garages."

"Ah c'mon man. I know how to cover my tracks you know that."

"Yeah, I do but if this Lydecker has a secret military operation at his disposal it's best that you stay out of sight. You call me if you need anything."

"Yeah, ok."

Later that morning

Ben sat at by the window watching the heavy wet snowflakes come down. It was coming down so hard he could barely see the piles of stacked cars in the front yard. Even with his enhanced vision he had lost track of where Dean and Sam had disappeared to in the yard. Now he was starting to worry. He had overheard Dean call it heart attack snow but Ben didn't understand how snow could kill you. Alec joined him by the window pressing his face against the cold glass as he nudged Ben, "You think Mom will let us go out and play?"

"I don't think so. Dad said it was heart attack snow."

Alec snorted and shook his head. Ben was so literal it drove Alec batshit. But even if what Dean had said was true Alec was positive nothing could kill him. "Ben, nothing can kill Dad. He's like Batman."Before Ben could protest they heard Dean come through the front door cursing and stomping his boots. Alec smirked at his older brother saying in a sing song voice, "I told you so."

Dean walked into the living room his eyebrow raised slightly, "What are you two rug rats doing staring out the window? Next thing you'll be playing some emo music all teary eyed."

"We were watching the snow." Ben said simply while Alec leaped off the couch and asked, "Can we go out there and play?"

"Sure can. Go ask your Mom for your snow boots."

Twenty minutes later all three boys were bundled up and out in the back yard. Dean couldn't help but laugh when he saw them attempt to go down the back steps. Lexi had bundled up all three boys so much that they couldn't put down their arms. Alec or Ben, Dean couldn't tell which one it was since all he could see were their eyes, fell on their back and was now rolling around in the snow trying to get up. He shook his head picking Jake up before he tumbled down the steps. The fallen twin was now up and tearing off layers. "Hey boys," Dean called to them, "you wanna make a snowman?"

Brennan Residence

1642 Maple Street

Ashland, WI

Lydecker looked up at the white bi-level house in front of him with its perfect manicured landscaping and black shutters. It was the home of Dr. Lexi Winchester's parents, Joseph and Marianne Brennan. Lydecker doubted that Dean would go back home to Kansas, he figured if anyone could give him a line on where Dean and his wife went, it would be her parents. He knocked on the door, his badge and cover story ready. He'd be damned if he let a civilian get the best of him.