After a couple of weeks of grieving, Lily took Dean's advice and called Bobby Singer. Just like he promised, Dean had told Bobby all about her. He filled her in on what the boys were doing, and told her to call if she needed anything or was looking for work.
Less than a week later she was lying on her sofa when she got a call from Sam.
"Hey, Sam."
"Hey, Lily. I thought you'd wanna know; Dean's in the hospital."
"What happened?" She immediately sat up.
"He had a really nasty demon in a devil's trap, and it got out. Beat him pretty bad."
"Which hospital?"
"Lily, we're in Wyoming."
"I'll fly out! Which hospital?"
"I'll text you."
"I'll be on my way to the airport."
Lily packed a bag and drove to the airport as fast as she could. She booked a ticket to get her to Cheyenne, Wyoming. The entire trip was spent thinking of Dean. Sam said he was still unconscious. She couldn't lose him. Not again. Not now. Not after losing her father.
When she finally made it to Dean's room, she wasn't prepared for what she saw. He looked frail lying in that bed. His face was cut and bruised. She glanced at Sam, who was sitting in a chair at Dean's side.
"Did he wake up at all?"
Sam shook his head, and his eyes went past Lily. She turned to see what he was looking at and saw a man in a trench coat walk past the doorway. Sam stood and headed to the hall.
"Stay here," he told Lily.
She sat in the chair Sam had just vacated. Her fingers lightly brushed over the bruises on Dean's face before her hand settled on his arm.
"You're gonna be fine," she whispered.
Sam was back in the room a moment later, but he looked upset.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
Sam looked at Dean. "Not by a long shot."
"Who was that?"
"That was Castiel."
"The angel?"
"Yeah."
"Well, why doesn't he come and fix Dean?"
"He said he can't."
A nurse opened the door and announced that visiting hours were over and they would have to leave. Lily didn't want to move, but Sam told her they would get a motel room nearby and come back first thing in the morning. Lily stood from the chair and leaned over to whisper in Dean's ear.
"You hang on, Tiger. I'll be back in the morning."
She placed a kiss on his cheek, then let Sam usher her out the door.
Dean was conscious when they got there the next morning. Lily couldn't hide her relief. Dean was surprised to see her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Sam called me and told you were in the hospital... and how bad it was. I took the first flight out."
"You didn't have to come all the way out here." His voice was raspy and weak.
"Yes, I did."
"I guess you wanna know what happened."
"Not right now. I'm just glad you're okay. You can tell me later."
Lily drove back to Bobby's house with Sam and Dean. She insisted that Dean lie across the backseat with his head in her lap.
"Are you gonna play nurse?"
"Damn straight. I'm gonna make sure you get better fast."
"You gonna wear one of those tight, short dresses?" he asked with a grin.
"I'll wear whatever you want, Tiger."
Dean groaned softly and his eyes drifted shut. He rested his eyes for most of the trip, even dozing off once or twice. Lily spent the time caressing his face, running her fingers through his hair, or holding his hand.
At Bobby's, she grabbed their bags while Sam helped Dean in. Dean, of course, said he could make it without help, but Sam insisted. He got Dean to the couch and officially introduced Lily and Bobby. They shook hands and exchanged smiles.
"Sam called and told me you were taggin' along, so I fixed up a spot for ya in a spare room. I use it for storage, so it's a little cluttered..."
"Thanks, it'll be fine."
"Excuse me, nurse," Dean called out, "when do I get my sponge bath?"
"Feeling better, are we?"
"Whatever gets me some attention."
"What kind of attention you lookin' for?" She walked over to the sofa and looked down at him as he gave her a wide, mischievous grin.
"I see." She sat next to him on the edge of the sofa. "I still think you need some recovery time."
"I'm fine."
"Tell you what... you get that strong, sexy voice back, then we'll talk." Dean just smiled. "Alright," Lily said, "you need rest, and I'm ready to hear what happened. Let's get you up to that bed."
She helped him off the sofa and, as they walked toward the stairs, Bobby called after them.
"You mean to tell me you're not gonna argue that you don't need rest?"
"Hey, a beautiful woman offers to share her bed with me... I don't argue."
Once she got Dean into the bed, Lily slid next to him.
"Okay, fill me in."
"I guess to understand what happened yesterday, I'd better tell you about what happened in the pit."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure."
Dean told her everything about his forty years in Hell. How he tortured souls so he wouldn't be tortured any more. Then he told her how Uriel and Castiel came and took him to interrogate Alistair. He told her everything Alistair had told him, including the fact that he was the first seal to break. Lily wrapped her arms around him and held him tight.
"I'm so sorry, Dean."
Neither spoke for a while. Dean let out a long yawn.
"I'm exhausted," he admitted.
"Go to sleep," she whispered.
Dean got comfortable in Lily's arms and let her hold him as he drifted off to sleep. As she lay there, gently running her fingers through his hair, she realized that she was in love with him. There was no doubt in her mind, and she had no idea how to handle it.
They never really got a chance to be alone. Dean was feeling better in a couple days. So, Lily flew back home, keeping her newly discovered feelings to herself.