Chapter 4

"Wait, let me get this straight," Krissy started looking from Brody to Trace. "You guys were using Sam and Sky's room 'cause they weren't here."

"That's what we thought," Trace replied sipping a beer.

"And Sam got in bed with you?" Claire asked frowning slightly as she tried to picture that.

"And Dean with you?" Alex asked Brody.

"Not the way I wanted to meet your brothers," Brody commented. "Especially when they're armed."

All three girls looked at one another and broke down laughing so hard they could hardly stand. Dean and Sam walked out with trays of hamburgers and chicken breast to grill. The girls took one look at them and laughed harder holding each other up as they tried to get themselves under control.

"It's not that funny," Dean growled already knowing what they were laughing at.

"Yeah, especially when you have an angry, scary giant with a gun trained on you," Trace added.

"I'm not that scary," Sam defended himself.

"You didn't," Krissy gasped holding her sides as she tried to catch her breath.

"Admit it Sam, you can be pretty intimidating when you want to be," Claire told him wiping the tears from her eyes as she caught her breath.

"What do you expect finding a strange guy in my bed?" Sam complained as he watched Dean load the grill with the meat.

"That wasn't the worse part; Cole's sister came home too," Brody grimaced remembering the disturbing encounter and the kiss. "She wasn't very happy when she found out I wasn't Dean."

"Don't tell me she got in bed with you?" Alex inquired.

"Yep and thought I was Dean..." Brody started, and then decided not to divulge everything. "Let's just say I didn't encourage it."

"Man where were the cameras when you need them?" Alex giggled.

"And you're still standing?" Krissy said in surprise as she looked over at Dean.

"I had doubts there for a minute, so I got out of there fast, let them havethe bedroom."

"Good move."

"Who wants cheese on their burger?" Dean called to them as he checked the food.

"Me," three voices said in unison.

"When's Jody getting here?"

"Should be any time, she had to finish up some paperwork at work."

"Is Castiel coming?" Claire asked innocently.

"Alright, at least some of you know how to eat a burger," Dean commented. "Here watch the food," he told Sam handing him a spatula. "I'm goin' to wake Sky up."

"Got it," Sam answered. "Not sure what Cas is up to, you could call him and see," he said eyeing the two guys who didn't know anything about the things in the dark or what they did arching an eyebrow."

"Alright, I'll do that," she replied understanding his signals and pulled out her cell.

Brody and Trace gave each other a puzzled look catching the exchange between the two. Trace watched Claire go inside to make the call wondering what was not being said. Brody and he knew there was more to these people than they let on, he just wondered if they would be let in on their secret. They were not sure what the brothers did for a living, but most people don't carry around guns in their duffels. And the girls had some serious training to fight like they did.

"Don't burn anything either," he warned pointing a finger at him. "Krissy, you watch him."

"Go get your woman, we got this," Krissy replied waving him off as she walked over to Sam to give him a hug. "What happened with the hu...job?"

"Didn't pan out," he said trying to be vague. "We'll talk later."

"Yeah, understand," she agreed glancing toward her sisters and Cole's friends to see the guys staring curiously at them.

spn

Being quiet, Dean walked into their bedroom and looked down at a sleeping Sky. She looked so young and innocent curled up on the bed with her hands tucked up under her chin as if in prayer. He hated to wake her but she wanted to join them at the cookout. He eased down beside her on top of the covers and kissed her nose. Sky jerked her head back and balled a hand into a fist ready to do battle until she realized Dean was smiling down at her.

"Hey sleeping beauty?" he said softly brushing his lips across her lips. "How ya feeling?"

"Dee, what time is it?" she groaned stretching slightly as she tried to wake up.

"Are you goin' to tell me what happened while you were gone?"

"Things got more complicated than they should of. I didn't move fast enough, but it's not bad."

"Sky you know how frustrating this is not knowing where you go or what you do. I worry about you."

"Hey, I know, but I can't tell you, I'm sorry," she whispered cuddling up against him. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight as a spark of fear crept into his mind wondering if there was going to be a time when she might not come back to him. He tried to push those thoughts out of his mind and focus on the here and now and the woman he loved in his arms. He kissed her forehead as she ran her hand down his chest feeling comfort and security in his embrace. It killed her that she couldn't tell him about what she did, but she was trying to protect him. The less he knew, the easier it was to keep him safe and the rest of her family safe. She was always careful when on the job to be sure nothing could be traced back to her in any way. She lay still savoring the embrace as Dean brushed her hair back out of her face and let his other hand gently rub her back. It was the little times like this she enjoyed the most, laying in his arms and doing nothing just feeling the love he had for her and she for him.

"Time to get up if you want to join us for lunch," Dean finally said knowing the food should be about done.

"Why don't you get a shower and join us on the deck."

"Sounds good, is everyone here?"

"Jody's on her way and would you believe Claire is calling Cas?"

"Good, from what you told me that's a big step for her."

"Yep, now move your sexy ass and get up," he said pulling the covers off of her and holding out a hand to help her up.

"I'm goin'," she grumbled as she pushed up off the bed to sit on the side for a moment. "I'll be out in a few." She moved her body feeling the soreness in it and clenched her jaw when she moved her arm. She was going to have to work the stiffness out of her body without Dean knowing or she could already hear the lecture from him.

"Okay, need to go check the grill be sure Sammy hasn't burned anything," he said heading out the door.

spn

"If Cas comes, you need to head him off and tell him not to say anything about you know around the guys," Sam mumbled to Krissy where she could only hear.

"Oh yeah, right, they're haven't been read in yet," she agreed. "I'll go check with Claire."

"You haven't burned anything have you?" Dean asked joining them back on the deck.

"No!" Sam pouted. "I know how to watch the food."

"Just checking," he huffed. "Don't get yer panties in a wade."

"Jerk."

"Bitch."

"Someone get the door," Cole called when the sound of the doorbell echoed out the door.

"Got it," Alex said running for the door figuring it was Jody.

spn

"Jody, Cas!" Dean called to them as they stepped onto the deck.

"Hey Cas, can I see you for a moment," Krissy said looping her arm into his and pulling him back inside away from everyone. He looked back in confusion not sure what he might have done.

"Jody, this is Trace and Brody, friends of mine from the Marines. They're visiting for the weekend."

"Hello Brody, Trace, nice to meet you," Jody smiled holding out her hand to shake theirs.

"Nice to meet you," Brody acknowledged.

"Same here, ma'am," Trace agreed shaking her hand.

"Please, call me Jody; we're all family around here," she insisted. "You guys have a house full."

Alex and Claire looked at each other and couldn't hold back the laughter that escaped their lips. Jody glanced over at them and then at Dean who was mumbling something under his breath as he turned the food. She looked to Sam for answers only to see him looking toward the sky shaking his head.

"What am I missing?" Jody asked looking at them confused.

"Sleeping arrangements got a little confusing last night," Sam finally admitted with a frown.

Jody frowned trying to piece together what could of happened from the uncomfortable looks on the guy's faces and the hilarious looks on the girl's faces.

"That's for sure," Brody agreed with a knowing nod.

"Guys this is Castiel," Krissy announced drawing everyone's attention to them as they walked out onto the covered deck.

"Hello, are you another brother?" Trace greeted him.

"I'm...Um..."

"He's like a brother, just an extended member of our family," Krissy filled in for Castiel.

"Nice to meet you," Trace said holding out his hand.

"Likewise," Castiel said shaking his hand.

"Brody, good to meet you too."

"The same."

"Chow's on guys come and get it while it's hot," Dean announced sitting a platter on the table and turning to get the other.

"Great, I'm starved," Cole said rubbing his hands together.

"Smells good," Alex commented sitting down beside Brody.

"Jody sit here," Sam told her pulling out a chair at one of two tables set up on the deck.

"Why thank you Sam."

"Wow guys, this all looks great," Sky said walking out onto to the deck to join everyone.

"Oh Honey, what happened?" Jody asked when she saw the bruising on her face.

"Side effects of the job," she shrugged trying to brush off the question.

Jody looked over at Dean and saw him clenching his jaw tightly while he white knuckled his fork as he looked down at his plate of food. She knew he wanted to say something, but wouldn't now, not in front of everyone. She didn't ask any further questions of Sky not wanting to upset Dean any more than he seemed to be. She had seen him come home with worse injuries and knew how Sky worried about both of the brothers when they were on a hunt. Jody knew Dean and how he felt responsible for everyone and it killed him not to be able to protect Sky when she was on a job.

Everyone praised Dean for his grilling skills and thanked the girls for the food they prepared to go along with it. Dean and Sam got acquainted with Brody and Trace since they seemed to have an interest in Alex and Claire. They wanted to see what kind of guys they were and if they approved of their attention toward their sisters. Alex and Claire protested the third degree Dean was giving them, but Dean gave them the look and they quieted down knowing it would do no good to argue with him. Brody and Trace took it all in stride answering his questions and assuring him they were never do anything to hurt either girl. Especially when Dean remarked he would be very upset if they did. Both guys got the hidden meaning behind his words and his stern and serious look along with Sam backing him up. Luckily for the girls, the guys didn't scare that easily.

Castiel listened intently trying to understand all that was going on around him. Sam kept him in check to be sure he didn't say something he shouldn't. Dean babied Sky as they shared a piece of pie, talking quietly between themselves. You could tell from the look Dean gave her that he was deeply in love with her. Sam looked over at them and smiled glad to see his brother happy for a change. He didn't see him like this very often and he was glad Dean had found a little of that in their unpredictable and dangerous life.

Everyone hung around until after dinner just relaxing and enjoying the company. Jody, the girls and Cas said their good-bys and left. The others started getting ready to settle in for the night. Sam gave the guys his bedroom since it had a king size bed, and he took the couch once again.

The guys were leaving in the morning, but agreed they wanted to see Alex and Claire again. Brody and Trace were roommates and lived about three hours away from Sioux Falls. They made plans to come back the following weekend and the three couples were going to do some hiking around the area and go out for dinner.

A/N: A little humor to lighten things up. Hope you like the new characters that will be showing up throughout the story. Reviews are welcome. NC