Lily walked into the command room and found Dean sitting at the table.

"Hey, baby," she said as she came up behind him. He didn't answer. "Baby?" She ran her hand over his shoulders and he seemed to snap out of his thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"You okay?"

Dean lifted the trash can so Lily could look inside. Her eyes scanned its contents and finally landed on a bloody tissue.

"Is that from Sam?" she asked.

"Yep... but he's fine," Dean said sarcastically. "He found a case, and he wants to go now."

"Right now?"

"Yeah."

Lily groaned a little and something in Dean's hand caught her eye.

"What's that?"

"Huh?" Dean looked down at his hand and put it behind his back. "Oh, that's nothing."

"Nothing, huh?"

"Yeah, I was just going through some of the Men of Letters stuff and I took a break when I found this magazine."

"Oh," Lily said, her voice dripping with mock excitement. "Let me see."

"Nah, it's boring... about cars. You wouldn't like it."

"Dean Winchester, you found an old skin mag," she said with her hands on her hips.

Dean couldn't keep up the charade. "Yeah," he said with a stupid grin on his face. "But hey, look," he said holding it out to her, "they're covered. It's old. This is what was considered racy back then."

Lily flipped through the pages and found Dean was telling the truth. "These girls are actually very pretty."

Dean eyes flew up to Lily's, as if the compliment surprised him.

"And they don't look fake," she added. "Here," she said, holding it out to him.

"You're giving it back to me?"

"It's better than that other stuff you look at," she said with a grin.

"How do you know-"

"Do you know what a browser cache is, Dean?"

"No clue."

"Well, let's just say I knew you have a thing for busty Asians... even before I saw that magazine."

"I haven't been to that website since before I went to Purgatory," Dean said.

"I know that, too," she said with a smile. "That's why I'm not upset by that magazine."

She pointed to it, and Dean's eyes followed. He threw the magazine onto the table and closed the gap between them, putting his arms around her, with his hands at the small of her back.

"You know I don't need to look at any woman but you, right?"

"I do now."

Dean pulled the collar of her shirt forward and looked down into it. "And I like what I see," he said with a grin.

Lily pulled away and slapped his arm with a laugh, but he pulled her back into his arms, crashing his lips onto hers. Her hands caressed his face and he pulled her hips toward him.

"I thought you said Sam wanted to leave?"

"Crap," Dean said, pulling away. "I almost forgot. I don't think we should be taking on a case while we wait for Kevin to get the next trial. I know Sam's not well. He needs to rest."

"What does Sam say?"

"He says he's fine, but come on, Lily. You've seen him."

"Yeah, he's definitely not fine."

"Thank you."

"But he's going stir crazy in here. Maybe getting out will do him some good."

"Maybe."

"He'll have you with him. If he takes a bad turn, come home."

"Yeah." Dean kissed her again. "We won't be far. Just over in Missouri. I'm gonna go pack." He picked up the magazine from the table and threw it back into the box he found it in as he walked out of the room.

Lily spent the next few days helping Kevin with the tablet. He finally finished translating the second trial, and even had part of the last one translated. She couldn't wait for Dean to come home. She hadn't talked to him since their first night on the road. She tried not to worry. Lily knew the life. When you were knee deep in a case, you couldn't always take the time to make a call.

She and Kevin were in the library when they heard the heavy main door open and close. Lily stood and began to walk toward the entrance when Sam entered. He looked pale and weak.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine... just tired."

Dean was right behind him. He walked past Sam, dropped his bag to the floor, and went straight to Lily. She barely had time to register Sam's words before Dean's lips were on hers, and he lifted her from the ground. He held her so tight that she had no choice but to wrap her legs around him as he carried her toward the sleeping quarters.

Once inside their bedroom, Dean set Lily on her feet and put his hands to her face. He stared into her eyes for a moment and Lily thought she saw tears building.

"Baby, what's wrong?" She covered one of his hands with hers.

His eyes continued to bore into hers, but she waited for an answer. He finally kissed her forehead and pulled her close.

"We ran into Cas on this case."

"Okay."

"He told us he was trying to stop demons from getting their hands on an ancient scroll that would help Crowley translate the demon tablet without the prophet. If Crowley could get the scroll, he'd come after the tablet, and he wouldn't have to worry about leaving anyone alive."

Lily's eyes went wide, and she pulled back from Dean's embrace. "Please tell me you got the scroll."

"Cas was lying."

"What?"

"We ran into Meg."

"Meg?"

"Yeah. Crowley's had her this whole time... ever since she helped us get in to kill Roman."

"So, what about her?" Lily couldn't keep the edge of hatred out of her voice, but Dean either didn't notice, or didn't care enough to get into it. Lily was grateful.

"She knew what was really in play. An angel tablet."

"Another tablet?"

"Yep. She helped us find it, and helped us fight off Crowley and his demons. Got herself killed in the process."

"Why did Cas lie?"

"I don't really know. All I know is that I had the angel tablet in my hands, and he started insisting that I give it to him. I wouldn't, and..."

"And what?"

"He almost killed me, Lily."

"What?" She clutched Dean's arms as if she were trying to save him from something, almost pulling him to her. "What do you mean he-"

"He hit me... he broke my arm. My eyes were swelling. I was bleeding-"

"Oh my God, Dean..." She threw her arms around him and held him tight.

"I swear, he almost looked like he was in some kind of trance. I kept talking to him, telling him he was family... he snapped out of it, and he healed me." He pulled Lily back to look at her. "All I could think about was you... and the baby. The thought that I might never see you again... might never hold..."

His voice trailed off and Lily clung tightly to him again.

"Cas took the tablet and disappeared," Dean continued. "He said he's the only one who can keep it safe."

"I don't understand. Why? Why would he do that to you?"

"He said a name. Naomi. I think Cas is being controlled by another angel... ever since he got out of Purgatory."

Lily pulled out of the embrace and ran her fingers over Dean's face. "But you're okay now, right?"

"I'm okay."

Dean lifted Lily in his arms and knelt on the bed before laying her down. He lay at her side and kissed her with a hand on her cheek. After a moment, his hand slowly slid down her side until it reached her stomach. He felt the small bump beneath her shirt and pulled out of the kiss.

"I think I just need to hold you for a while," he said.

"Whatever you need, baby," Lily whispered. She couldn't stop the tear that ran down her cheek. She could almost picture Dean, pleading with Castiel to stop hurting him. Dean wouldn't fight back. He hadn't said he didn't, but she knew. He wouldn't fight back against family if he thought they weren't in control, and Castiel was family to Dean.

Dean wiped her tear as a tear of his own fell from his eye. "I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you, too, Dean."