Samuel sighed loudly: "That's not true, Johnny! You know it isn't! A lot has changed and a lot is changing!"

"But not fast enough!" The newly-presented omega argued back, and it was obvious to the others watching that this was not a new disagreement between the brothers. "Look at what happened only a few days ago! If I had been anyone else, caught outside with a Heat coming that I didn't even know was a damned Heat because I've never had one before, then I'd just be another claimed and enslaved omega to an asshole Alpha!

It's only sheer luck that Our Lady brought us to safety…"

"It's not luck." Samuel told him. "Mom firmly believes that and I do too. We don't have to understand: we just have to have faith that there is a reason for this all and trust that She will reveal it soon…"

"Well, why doesn't She hurry?" Johnny was in tears as the terrifying memories of the events of their recent chase through the streets came back to him. "Why do we have to keep suffering like this?"

Dean had by this time already let go of his mate's hand to instead be able to have both of his arms tight around the crying boy. Johnny sobbed uncontrollably into his hero's chest, ashamed of himself but overwhelmed with the insecurity of always being terribly afraid as well: the elder omega comforting him and rubbing his neck and back soothingly while everyone else sat uncomfortably at the table with the exception of the little girl, who moved around it to be able to climb upon her father's lap so that she could also reach to gently pat at shaking shoulders.

It took a few minutes for Johnny to regain control: "Sorry." He snuffled.

"You don't ever need to be." Dean told him firmly. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"I'm sorry, Squirt." Samuel also reached across to lay a consoling hand against his sibling's arm. "I guess even though I've watched and hated what mom has gone through and now you… well, that still doesn't mean that it comes anywhere near to understanding what you actually go through on a day to day basis.

When all's said and done, I'll never be able to see your life through your eyes.

But we're going to do something about it, I swear to you, little brother. I believe that Our Lady has a plan but even if she doesn't… I swear to you.

We're going to make our world safe for you. No matter what it takes."

There was a lull in the conversation for a while as everyone fell silent, contemplating their own thoughts momentarily.

But there was still a conversation to be had.

"So… your mom…?" Dean hesitantly continued. "Is he okay? Were there any… other repercussions from his adventure here…? And what happened when he got back…?"

"He's fine." Samuel hastened to reassure him. "In a way he was glad when this… meteoric news broke. Can you imagine? Another version of an omega? One that could fight and was feisty and actually killed Alphas… intended to kill Alphas! That blew a lot of people's minds anyway and there's become a big hunt for that Dean…

But mom?

Mom saw it as a chance to get away. To go back to hiding out of the spotlight. He was scared that he was letting you down, but he was also terrified of what has been happening, and what might yet be to come. And to be honest, he was terrified of still being mistaken for…"

"For the freak." Dean finished for him.

"That's not what I meant…" Samuel began…

"But it's what it is." Dean didn't have to have it spelt out for him. "We have the same face. So how is he dealing with that…?"

"He begged dad to move out of Kansas City for good. And with the campaign stalling with the revelation… well… dad saw the sense in agreeing." Johnny had now recovered enough to help re-take up the telling of their story. "Grandpa Bobby's place wasn't safe anymore: everyone wants a piece of the 'other' Dean and everyone 'knew' that's where he had been. Grandpa says there's always at least one strange car around if not more. But mom didn't want to go there this time anyway."

"He felt that the safest place would be right here. In Lebanon." Samuel continued. "They bought a house here and live as incognito as possible: Johnny and Mary-Anne go to school and I used to come back from College out of term time, and of course, mom was immediately insistent that we knew where the Bunker is. Said it was important. That somehow he knew it was meant to be our place of refuge. Somehow that it would be close to you. Although it's only an old abandoned bunker in our dimension: dad says it was probably built in the 1950s during the Frigid War."

"Although Our Lady brought us straight here when we needed it." Johnny was now a bit embarrassed at his previous melt-down, not to mention slightly ashamed of doubting: "We were in the centre of Lebanon where we were being chased, but then suddenly right outside the door here. I guess she didn't let us down after all. I just wish…"

"I know, Squirt." And his elder brother smiled at him.

There was another pause in the conversation.

Everyone was waiting for Dean to speak. He knew it. They knew it. Everyone in the room who knew him, knew how close he was to losing his shit over what he had just learned… and as everyone in the room knew him completely (with perhaps the exception of Johnny, who didn't care anyway as long as he had his protector back which meant that he finally actually felt safe once again for the first time in four long years), they were all being sensible and letting him process, or try to anyway…

He forced himself to speak calmly when he finally was able to…

"Why didn't you tell me any of this before?"

"There was nothing you could have done except fret." Samuel was ready for the question. "What could you have done? Try and find some way to come back somehow and immediately be plunged into a situation where literally everyone wants a piece of you and for even worse reasons that there were before?"

"He might have come through to your world by accident." Castiel had remained silent throughout the conversation but now the underlying anger in his tone was obvious. "By not warning him, he might have returned to your world completely unaware of the new danger…"

"Our Lady wouldn't have let him." The young Alpha was calm and assured. "It's been a long, long few years for us both being parted, and believe me I've raged and cussed at Her for many, many nights for not allowing me to be with my mate or see our daughter in the flesh… but I can see now that there is a reason… there must be a reason… why here? Why now? But when it came to it and Johnny needed help, She was right there…

She would never have let Dean cross back through into danger. Not until it was time."

"Time for what?" Sam asked. Although he already knew.

Samuel shrugged: "I don't know."

"I have to go back."

The younger Winchester's heart sank.

Everyone else (with the exception of the little girl) gasped.

"No, Dean! No!" "That would definitely not be advisable." "No you can't! It's too dangerous!"

Dean looked straight at the newly-presented omega: "That's why I have to. Your mom is in danger because of me. What if someone catches him and thinks that he is me? And…"

"And?"

"He shouldn't have to spend his life hiding. That's what I've been hoping for all this time: that you can all come out of hiding. You should have told me." This was to Samuel. Who swallowed hard but met the angry green eyes without only the slightest flinch:

"This is precisely why I didn't tell you. There's nothing you could do. There's nothing you can do! Change will come… eventually. Unt…"

Sam winced. Samuel might be his brother's mate and thinking he knew everything about him, but that had totally been the wrong thing to say…

"The hell I can't!" And Dean was on his feet and pacing around the kitchen. "This is on me! I'm here safe and I caused this!"

"You didn't cause anything!" Samuel was trying to backtrack. "You started the cause. That's a completely different thing. Because of you and your standing up to Manolli and his men… and to dad… and to all the other assholes in my world… You gave us hope! You made everyone look at omegas rather than dismiss them. You ignited a fight for being treated as equals and not just some damn living sex-toys.

That was an amazing thing to do. But mom's safe now and the fight is going on…

But slowly."

"Does your mom walk outside on his own?" Now Dean was directly in Samuel's face. Sam and Castiel made ready in case they had to run interference.

The Alpha blinked: "Well, no… but then he never wants to anyway…"

"Why?" Dean's tone was stonily calm in his anger. "Because he doesn't like to feel the warmth of the sun on his back? Because he doesn't want to take Cassie to the play-park? Because he doesn't like the fresh smell of roses? "

"Mom loves his roses!" Sam winced again: Samuel just wasn't seeing the trap that was being laid. "He really misses the old garden so he's now created a miniature jungle in what should be the diner! You should see all the plant containers and the different greens…"

"I'll bet he's done the back-yard of this house all beautiful as well. All the other omegas there used to tell me how talented he was and how his always used to look the best: it should have been his profession.

He certainly made your old house look great, with all the green surrounding it everywhere and all the coloured flowers and all the bees buzzing around. I used to love mowing the lawn every week just for the novelty. And tending the flower beds in the afternoons when you were all at school to keep it nice for him, then take a coffee and a book outside and just chill... It was great... I really miss being able to just wander in your garden…"

The elder Winchester brother's tone was now too light, too chatty, too wistful: the younger Winchester brother prayed that Samuel wouldn't… "Mom does as well." the Alpha's tone has turned sad. "He used to love getting the dirt all prepared and then watching the new seedlings grow. This garden could be nice, it should be nice but… he and Annie prefer to do the plants inside now: they've all grown almost enough to cover the windows…"

"Where is it you actually live? You never said…? Is it in the centre of town? Do you have Ladow's Market there as well? Is the meat as good there as it is here? I bet your mom and Annie walk down every day to get dinner: best meat in the County. Or it is here anyway…"

Sam closed his eyes.

"It's just as good. The bratwurst is even better than yours here! But we only get it when dad has time to go down. Or me."

"Why doesn't he just go down and get some on his own?"

"Oh no, he would never do that."

"Why not?"

"Because he…" Samuel stopped speaking abruptly and stared at his mate. Dean stood and waited. This time, the younger man had to look away from him to instead to intently stare down at his own feet.

"Want to tell me why your mom doesn't get the bratwurst on his own, Johnny?"

"Because he never goes out, Dean." Johnny didn't hesitate to confirm what his elder brother didn't want to admit. "Mom's just too scared to go outside. Even in his own garden, just in case someone breaks in again. He would never go out on his own. Nor indeed would Annie. You know she and Lauren live with us now, don't you? Neither of them like going through the door at all, not even with dad or Samuel here. Poor little Cassie doesn't even get to play in the play-park like we did. Because what if someone saw them…? What if someone…?

You're right, Dean," the young omega admitted. Although he hated himself for saying it. "It's even worse than before. They're terrified all the time now."

He paused.

"So am I."

"Please." Samuel tried. "It's not your fight. And I need you safe. You and Evie. I need to know that you're safe. Even if I get taken back right now and never see either of you again, I'll have these last few days of joy and I'll know that you're all safe…" He was pleading with his mate…

Dean's eyes softened, and he smiled at the other man that he loved so much. But he already knew what he had to do.

"I gotta go back. That's what this is all about. Why you're here. This is what She wants.

For you to stay here with our daughter. And Johnny.

But I gotta go back and sort this."

He didn't even stop to wait to hear the cacophony of negatives that he knew would be coming after this statement. His mind was set. And there never been any stopping Dean Winchester once he had made up his mind.

The only difference between this and every single other time in his life was that he was sure that it was all going to work out…

Somehow.

Our Lady was with him…

For some reason…

But she was.

And it was going to be alright…

Somehow.

His attention came back into the room somewhat roughly when Samuel grabbed his arm before he had managed to leave for the direction of his quarters. He had never seen his young mate mad before but now Dean found himself looking up into two very angry green eyes and having to tip his head back until his neck hurt to do so…

"Do you really think that I am going to let you go anywhere without me? Are you insane? I've only just found you!" The young Alpha was furious. And genuinely upset at the same time. "I don't want to spend another minute without you and Evie, but I would, to keep you safe.

But if you're just going to go into danger without a second thought, then there's no way. I mean it, Dean.

We go as a family. Because I'm never losing either of you again. We make a life together here…

Or we make a life together there.

No matter what we face, though I'd prefer it to be here…"

"I gotta go back." Dean reiterated. But somewhat sadly this time. "That's what this is all about. You know it is, Sammy."

They stared at each other momentarily. But then the younger man was nodding and stepping back. "I'd hoped that perhaps we might be allowed to be together but… This is Her doing for a reason…" He had to stop speaking to try to control the tears that were already leaking from his eyes. "But we go together, Dean. You, me and Evie. Whatever we're facing, we do it as a family. I'm not going to be without you again no matter what She wants."

"And me." Johnny was already by his brother's side, with the little girl as his shadow.

"You might be safer staying in this world, Squirt…"

"Go… play with yourself, you…" The boy's anger almost surpassed the Alpha's. Evie nearly learned some new words: her young uncle managed to contain himself at the patronising from his elder brother but only just. "I'm going wherever Dean is!"

"But…"

"No buts! If you're going back, then I am as well!"

Samuel sighed. But saw the stubbornness in his sibling's face. And recognised the expression too well from their mother. And his mate. Which meant that any attempt at arguing would be a completely futile waste of time.

Not to mention that, although he was scared as to the new omega's future once back in their world… Samuel really didn't want a life without his little brother in it.

And Evie? She was clinging to Dean's leg with a tenacious look of such unblinking determination that implied that she was never going to let go, no matter what, no matter how dangerous. Samuel's eyes watered again: he didn't think it was possible to love his daughter any more than he already did but every single extra day in her company was proving him wrong.

"Okay. So what do we do now?"

This question was to his mate, but it was the other Sam who answered as he also joined them where they were all standing: "Hopefully we'll have time to get some stuff together, although last time she just took Dean in front of my eyes! But we'll gather a few weapons in case we need them…"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." And Dean was turning to meet the younger Winchester, his hand coming up in a 'stop' gesture. "What are you meaning, 'we'? This could get really tricky and it isn't your fight to risk your life for…"

"Isn't. My. Fight…?"

That was it.

Sam stared at his older brother.

And exploded.

One large hand was wrapped around Dean's bicep before the older man had realised it and then he was being forcibly dragged out of the kitchen and into the passageway where he was all but slammed against the nearest wall and being forced to stay there by means of a large immoveable body suddenly pressing him against it. Evie gasped in shock as her father's leg was abruptly ripped from her grasp and she began to cry, but was immediately consoled by her newly found cousin, who hugged her tightly but didn't speak a word.

Samuel and Castiel also were startled at the action, but with a glance at each other, both chose to give the brothers a moment and remain silent.

Besides, Sam Winchester was doing enough yelling for all of them.

"What do you mean, this isn't my fight?! Are you effing serious?" (He might have been angry but he had also had the last few years of having his niece around.) "Anything to do with you is my fight! Anything to do with Evie is my fight! And you promised, Dean! You effing promised me!

What happened to 'we're in this together'?

No! Don't you dare try and wriggle your way out of this!" As the older man tried but failed to push him back. Sam pressed himself even closer in retaliation, forcing Dean to have to either have his nose squashed against a very large flannel-covered chest, or look up at him…

Although this was Dean Winchester, so it was done with a very bad grace, and a slightly pleading tone: "Sammy, think about where we're going. You already hate the world; you definitely hate Our Lady! And it isn't going to be sa…"

"If you dare say to me that it's not going to be safe…" Sam roared down at him. "If you even think of saying that word!" He pushed closer, causing the other to momentarily gasp for breath. "Always effing keeping me safe! Your whole life keeping me safe! And now you'd just leave me behind and take Evie away from me all in the name of keeping me safe. I…"

He stepped back suddenly as emotion became strong enough to counter even his anger, but still kept one hand at the older man's waist: even as tears began to form in his eyes he desperately needed the contact he craved from his brother: "You promised me, Dean. You promised.

We'd always be together: that's what you promised. We'd fight to stay together. Because I can't manage without you: I really can't. Despite all our problems and issues over the years, it's always come down to that I just don't feel whole without you. I need you to be with me.

And if that means I'm coming there... Into that world that yes, I already hate, and to that Bitch that's done all of this, then I will, because I can't be without you.

Everything that goes wrong in my life is always cos you weren't there.

And if you think I'd survive without you? It nearly killed me last time, Dean. It nearly killed me because you weren't there and I was so worried and I missed you so much, and yes the other Dean was here and I know I messed up so much with that, but now you think that you can just go again and leave me to…?

You promised, Dean.

You promised never to leave me like that again."

The tears had overflowed. Sam was outright crying in his distress: his wide shoulders were heaving with the effort of keeping them in, but the pain at the thought of Dean just… abandoning him again was too much...

The older man looked up at him with wide eyes.

And then Dean was all but standing on tiptoe to be able to reach around his younger sibling's neck with his arms, and carefully pull at him until Sam was able to rest his head against the other's neck and shoulder while he cried.

They stood together for a long few minutes: Dean balanced securely on the balls of his feet and ignoring the icky damp feeling of his brother's tears soaking into his over-shirt, while Sam savoured the caress of gentle fingers stroking through his long hair…

"I'm sorry, Sammy." Dean whispered. "I just wanted to keep you safe. I didn't mean…"

"You gotta realise, big brother." Sam somewhat snottily whispered back. "You leaving me? You might as well kill me yourself. I don't do well without you. Never have. Please don't leave me behind."

"Never."

He meant it.

Sam hugged him tighter with his relief and felt Dean wobble slightly now on his toes. "You're a Jerk." He felt safe enough to mutter into the other's ear.

"Bitch." Came the longed-for response.

Sam snorted.

One last squeeze. And he let Dean go.

It was only when he stepped back that he realised that the omega had been crying as well. Sam instinctively went to move back to hold him again but stopped himself with a slight guilty glance at the open doorway of the kitchen, where he now realised that they had an audience of everyone else who had just been in there now watching them…

…including his brother's mate, Dean's Alpha, watching them.

Shit.

Sam cursed himself. He liked the young man: he wanted a brother-in-law. He wanted to be part of an even larger family that he and Dean had been slowly gathering around them… and now he had surely just blown that.

"Are you still scared of him?" The amused tone in the older Winchester's voice made Sam turn back to him with his eyebrows raised.

Dean was smirking: "I told you that you're making him nervous." This was to Samuel. Who was also… grinning?

The young man shrugged. "I'm a large guy. Even for Alphas. And I've done my best to keep as fit as possible and to learn to fight like you showed us how to…

… but we both know that you could whup my ass any day, babe. Even on a bad day.

But I have to say that it's been fun posturing."

"I… what?" It was very rare in Sam Winchester's life for him to be lost for words… "What?"

Johnny slapped his brother's chest: "Dick."

"Language, Johnny." The angel admonished. Just as Evie excitedly repeated the word. And then again for show.

Samuel was unabashed: "Squirt."

Sam was already turning back towards his annoying sibling. "I've been avoiding even knocking against you by accident these last few days, and you knew it?"

Dean waggled his eyebrows at him: "Hey. What can I say? I'm irresistible! I knew you'd crack!"

"You…!" But then Sam was hugging his brother again anyway. Just because he could. And pressing his face into the soft hair. Just because he could. And sniffling slightly again as Dean simply hugged him back without reserve. Because he could.

They broke apart much quicker this time though. There were too many things to do, and they didn't know what time they had.

"Okay." Dean ordered. "Everyone grab the essentials: a bag of clothes each, a bit of weaponry… if we're allowed to take any. Better get your favourite toys, baby." This was to Evie. "And your colors. We won't get any peace without those!

And you!" This was to the angel, who obediently paused in his action of turning away. "I take it you're coming as well?"

"You are not leaving me behind, no." The deep voice sounded calm, but neither of the Winchester brothers were fooled.

"We'll have to do something about your wings then: they're a dead give-away!"

"I… what?" it was the Angel's turn to be nonplussed.

"Your wings, man! Your wings!" And Dean was advancing on him. "They're a shining beacon that you're not quite normal! Can you do something to hide them completely? Any more mojo that you can pull out…?"

Castiel blinked. And then looked around at Samuel and Johnny, who had also both paused: "You can see my wings?"

"Dean told us not to mention them." The Alpha told him. At exactly the same time as Johnny answered: "They're beautiful. I've been wanting to stroke them ever since I saw and see if they're as soft as I think… they should be…" His words tailed off in embarrassment.

Castiel stared at him. "Perhaps you may one day." To his own surprise, he meant it. Then he was looking down at Evie. "You can also see them?"

The little girl smirked, which resulted in making her appear even more of a mini-me to her father than usual: "Of course I can! Silly Unca Cas. Daddy told me that not everybody can though: the same way that they can't see all the people in the cemetery or watch the smiling Lady in the moon, so I'm not to mention it. He said that most humans don't like to be told they're not special, but that I can always tell him everything if I need to check."

The angel considered: "That is very wise advice. But I have a favour to ask?" This was to Dean. "You…erm… if Samuel does not mind… may I also touch you? I have also been missing…"

"Sure, bud." And Dean was stepping in to give his best friend a quick hug as well.

Although it turned into a longer one when Evie wrapped an arm around one of each of their legs and instinctively both males moved to cradle her head where it came to rest just about between them, and then Sam was stepping back in to wrap his long arms around them all, only to immediately remove one hand briefly to allow Johnny to also join before pressing back in, and then finally Samuel to complete the family in their first affectionate embrace.

"Okay." Dean as usual was the one who got uncomfortable first. "Let's get everything together. Hopefully before we find out what Our Lady's plan is!"

"You smell slightly different." Castiel commented as he stepped back. "Sweeter, somehow, than usual."

"I noticed that as well." Sam agreed. "You been trying that new shower-gel we got on sale…?"

Dean glanced at his mate. Samuel smirked at him behind both the other men's backs. "Something like that." He eventually mumbled, and rubbed at the back of his neck. "C'mon now. Evie honey, I'll come and help you pack some stuff. And then I better call my boss and tell him we've got a family emergency and are taking off for a while. You better had as well, Sammy."

"Good idea."

And with that they were all of them trying to think about what needed doing; what they wanted to take. And what, if anything, they would never wish to have left behind should this turn out to be the last time any of them would ever be in the Bunker again.

And at the back of all their minds, with the exception of Dean, was the worry that none of them except him were to be part of the Goddess's plan and that they would simply be returning to the main living space to find that he had once more simply vanished into another dimension where they would never be able to follow…

It was a relief to all when they were finally gathered again, each with a travel bag of belongings: clothes, both years old and well-loved, and those that had so suddenly had to be bought from brand-new a couple of days before; toiletries; weapons and books in the two Winchester boys' bags; a few fading small photographs that were too important to ever risked to be left behind; toys, colouring pencils and sketch books for the little girl; history and reference books for the Alpha; social magazines and teenage dream-style stories for the brand new omega… a bag of basic items for the angel who was still unsure of what he should be packing but who just wanted to fit in…

Each and every one of them couldn't help that their hearts had beaten just that bit faster while they were gathering their stuff though… and each couldn't help but try to hide the smiles as they all hurried back into the main area and saw that no one was missing from the group.

Not yet, anyway.

"I called Benjamin." Dean told his brother. "Told him that we might not be there on Evie's birthday. He told me that we will be! He seems certain of it."

"That's good." Sam couldn't help but be tense: this was actually everything that he had been dreading, but he was going to be a part of it no matter what that Bitch thought…

He tried to put on a smile for the older man though. "Perhaps he knows something we don't. I hope so anyway. It'll be good to see him again…"

Dean glanced sharply at him but appreciated the sentiment. Then: "So? We all good?" This was to everyone.

No one smiled. Everyone looked tense. And determined. Johnny's fingers twitched a little uncontrollably. Dean nodded at him as he helped Evie pull her arms through the loops in her small back-pack, then took his daughter's hand in one of his, and the anxious young omega's hand in his other.

Samuel took his cue and caught hold of his little brother's free hand, taking a tight grip and squeezing it for support. While at the same time he reached for Castiel's, who was standing next to him.

The angel felt gratitude for the inclusion. And reached to also take Sam's hand, who had already been caught in a hold by the little girl on his other side, his large fingers dwarfing hers in comparison: "It's gonna be okay, Unca Sammy."

He grinned down at her: "I know it is, sweetheart. As long as we're all together nothing else matters."

"Damn right." Dean agreed. Sam looked up and met his eyes… and they both nodded at each other in understanding.

Then the elder Winchester was straightening up and speaking out loud: "Okay. This is going to be a massive anticlimax if nothing actually happens! But… okay, M'Lady. Ready when you are!"

The family circle waited momentarily, grasping each other's hands in determination that not one of them was going to be left behind…

… and then suddenly there was a flash of blue…

And the Bunker was abruptly empty.