Thank you to anyone who reads, reviews, follows, and/or follows this story.

A special thank you to mckydstarlight, hectatess, Johanna8D, jojospn, SparksFlyAngel, and LilyBolt for your recent reviews. It really means a lot to me to hear what you think.

Chapter 35

"Dean-" Mary started.

"Dean's right Mom," Sam agreed standing next to his brother.

"Sam-"

"You made a deal? With a demon?" Her youngest inquired with a baffled look.

"Maybe you should move this conversation inside, you know, away from any possible unwanted prying ears?" The hunter suggested glancing around as though searching for unwanted eavsdroppers. "I'll just work on some things out here. You three go on in." Bobby handed the keys to Mary who thanked him. Once inside, she made her way to the living room, her sons close behind.

"You boys might want to take a seat," she warned taking her own advice as she lowered herself to the couch. Sam seated himself at the desk while Dean took to leaning in the doorway, resting his good arm over his arm in a sling in his best attempt to cross them. She looked from her eldest's hard green eyes that were trying to mask a deeper emotion than he wanted to express, and then over to her youngest's soft hazel eyes that were trying not to water. "Sam, Dean, I want somethings to be perfectly clear to you. First, your father was a wonderful man, a good husband, and a great father." A tear rolled down Sam's cheek and he quickly swiped his hand across his face before either his mother or brother could notice it. "Secondly, I didn't tell you boys because I wanted to keep you safe." When neither of her children said anything, Mary took a deep breath, folded her hands in her lap, and went on. "I had been on a hunt, one of my friends had been possessed by a demon. A yellow eyed demon."

"THE Yellow Eyed demon?" Sam questioned. Their mother nodded.

"He had taken an...I guess you could say he'd taken an interest in me and that's when things went from bad to worse. He had possessed your grandfather and killed both your grandmother and him. But that bastard didn't stop there, he also killed... he killed..."

Sam's mouth opened in silent disbelief as he fought back more tears.

"Dad," he breathed. " Mary nodded in confirmation and Dean's expression softened for a moment before falling back.

"I had just lost my parents, I-I couldn't lose John too. Not after everything. He was the love of my life, the normal I craved. I needed him."

"So the demon made you an offer you couldn't refuse," Dean remarked.

Mary's voice was unsteady as she turned to her youngest. "I-I didn't know it would become this. It had seemed like a good deal at the time. No one's soul was on the line, I had no idea."

"What was this dream deal he offered?" Dean asked. "He'd bring Dad back and then what?"

"He'd bring John back and in ten years he'd be back for something. He didn't say why or for what just that he needed in and as long as he wasn't interrupted, we'd all be fine."

"You let a demon in the house?"

"It's not like I opened the door and welcomed him in," she replied defensively.

"You may as well have opened the door, you practically did everyone thing but that," her eldest countered. "What did he take?"

"I told you I don't know."

"How do you not know?"

"He didn't tell me and I never saw him again. In fact I'd forgotten all about him and the deal."

"You sure about that Mom? I mean you've been hiding things like being a hunter and demon deals from us practically our whole lives. Anything else you want to share before a demon does it for you?" Dean's tone was cold, his glare matching in ice.

"Dean," Sam said in disbelief at his brother's attitude towards their mother.

"I understand you might be feeling hurt or betrayed, Dean," Mary started.

"Might?" He echoed bitterly.

"But I swear my only intention was to keep my family safe."

"By making a deal with a demon?" Dean was no longer leaning, but was standing upright on his own two feet. "A deal you don't even know what it was you even made? How is that safe for anyone?"

"Whatever it was, we know it has to do with me. With why I'm one of the 'special children,' right? I mean it makes sense doesn't it?" Both Sam's mother and his brother stared at him as he tried to work out an explanation that filled in the blanks. "That demon, Tom or whatever, he said there are others like me. He also said that the yellow eyed demon was salesman of the year, right? So he was running around making deals and the link between the deals made and the kids like me, is the yellow eyed demon. He must have done something to us."

"Like what?" Dean questioned.

"I don't know," Sam admitted with a sigh, scrubbing his hands over his face. "But why else would demons be calling me a favorite and telling me I have a 'gift' and all that?" His eyes didn't meet anyone's but instead found a spot between the other two in the room. "He must've come for me."

"You look like warmed over crap, why don't you go get some rest." Dean's eyes were no longer hard, but instead concern was evident in them as he looked at his brother.

"I'm not tired."

"Bullshit. C'mon man, I can see it in those puppy dog eyes of yours, you're running on empty."

"I'm fine. Besides, there's still a lot we don't know. There's a lot we have questions about and no answers for any of them."

"Dean's right. You really should get some sleep. You could use it. Both of you could." She rose from the couch and leaned over to kiss his forehead. "I love you."

"Love you too Mom." She smiled and then turned to her eldest.

"I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, Dean. I never meant to hurt you, only to protect you."

"Yeah, you keep saying that," he responded. She nodded as her eyes began to mist.

"You may not believe me, but it's true. I love you Dean." Mary didn't wait to hear if he responded, she turned from her children, headed down the hall, and climbed the stairs. The elder brother shook his head, freezing when he noticed Sam eyeing him in a disapproving manner.

"Look man, you can give me all the dirty looks you want, what Mom did wasn't right."

"Can you honestly blame her?" The younger man inquired. "She lost everyone, Dean. Dad included. What would you have done?"

"I don't blame her for that, I blame her for hiding it from all of us. And if the demon hadn't opened its piehole, she'd still be."

"What was she suppose to do? Sit us down and have a family confessional when we were kids? What good would that have done?" The twenty six year old didn't answer. Sam's tone was soft as though he were trying to coax a wounded animal. "Dean, I get you're mad at her for lying, but you know as well as I do that she would never do anything to deliberately hurt us."

"Yeah, I know," the elder sibling admitted in an equally calm voice. "I'm just sick of all the lies and secrets in this family." He didn't have to go into details or give any examples, Sam knew what he was referring to. Deciding that the conversation was best left alone for the night, he instead brought his brother's weary appearance to attention.

"You know, you could use some sleep too."

"You don't have to tell me twice. Night Sammy," Dean replied. The younger sibling made a sound that was between a scoff and the beginning of a laugh.

"Night Dean."

Both brothers settled down into their sleeping spots and within minutes, they were fast asleep.

The sound of heavy hurried footsteps coming down the stairs woke Sam and judging by the irritated and befuddled groans coming from the couch, it had woken Dean too. Both boys looked over in the direction of the hall, but the staircase was blocked by the wall.

"Ellen, Ellen, slow down I can't understand a word you're sayin'. Take a deep breath and tell me what's goin' on." It was silent on Bobby's end but both brothers could imagine the other side of the line was exploding with words. "Balls. Have you heard back from Daniel yet?" They heard their friend's gruff voice ask. "Something fer me? What is it Ellen?" Silent again though not for the hunter's ear. "Alright I'm on my way right now. Don't tell anyone just to be on the safe side, I'll be there as soon as I can. Is Bill there? Alright, you and Jo stay safe, you hear? Yeah I know you two can handle yerselves I just mean- yeah yeah."

Sam was the first one up, getting to his feet and rushing towards where he had heard the conversation at the same time the front door opened.

"Bobby! Bobby wait!" He called out. The hunter spun around with a look of surprise.

"Sam? You should be asleep."

"I heard you on the phone."

"Yeah, me too," Dean chimed in joining them with groggy eyes at the front door.

"What's going on?"

"A friend of mine's in trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"

"Well knowin' him, the deadly kind. He's a fellow hunter and a damn good one at that. Look boys, I don't have time to explain right now, this is urgent. I'll explain when I get back."

"Wait, let me go with you," Sam offered. "Bobby you've helped us with so much, please, let me return a favor."

"'Me?' You mean we. I'm going too. I'm not letting you go off on your own, Sam." Dean argued.

"No, I need you to stay here with Mom and continue to heal. I'll be fine. I won't be alone, I'll have Bobby," Sam countered.

"Like hell I'm staying here."

"I appreciate the offer boys, I do, but I don't know the full extent of what's going on and it could be dangerous."

"We can handle it Bobby. We can help."

Already the hunter had spent more time at the house and not enough on the road and he truly didn't want the Winchesters getting into anymore trouble than they already were. But he could see the determination in both of the brother's eyes as well as the desire to help him. Bobby sighed in defeat.

"I just know I'm gonna regret this," he mumbled. "Alright fine, but you two need to hurry up. And go wake yer mom too. There's no way in hell I'm takin' you two idjits without her knowin'. Unlike you Winchesters, I don't have a death wish."

"Where are we going Bobby?" Dean asked as Sam headed up the stairs towards the guest bedroom where Mary was sleeping.

"Nebraska."

A/n: Next week I will be visiting family so I'm not 100% sure if I'll be posting. I plan on bringing the device that has my story on it, so I may still post. So just in case I don't, I wish everyone the happiest of holidays!

SparksFlyAngel: Yep, everyone lived through that demonic encounter. Though as you said the beans were definitely spilled. I'm glad you liked the last chapter and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well! We're getting closer and closer to the end of this wild ride and I appreciate your dedication. You're awesome!