A/N: Well, we had some fun and laughs. Now back to what you're really here for: aaaaaallll the feels.

Appendix E

Section C

Alex, Age 18

The Parting of the Ways

"Are you sure you don't want your gun?" Dean said in a low voice.

They stood outside the dorm in the parking lot, having just reached the trunk end of the Impala. Alex had been fully unloaded into her new dwelling and all other start of year administrative housekeeping had been completed. It was time for Sam and Dean to leave.

Alex shrugged. "Yeah, I'm fine. I mean, I gotta admit I'm a little nervous going without her, but… I'll be fine."

"Want to try that again, maybe a little more convincing this time?" Dean replied. "Really Alex, it's right in the trunk. I can grab it—,"

"Dean, she'll get kicked out of school if anyone finds it and reports her," said Sam.

"Really, Dad, I'll be fine," Alex repeated, much more confident now, a warm smile having crept onto her face. "Hey, it's not like I won't have a lethal weapon with me at all times." She jokingly held up her fists in a guard, making her uncle and father chuckle.

"Is there anything else you need from us before we go?" Sam asked.

Alex looked off into the distance contemplatively. She shook her head and frowned before returning her gaze to them. "I don't think so. I've got everything I need for now, so… yeah."

Then they all stood quietly, looking at each other. None of them seemed willing to fabricate the words that would inevitably come next. The day had been a whirlwind of activity and they'd hardly had a chance to think about this moment. And if meeting Alex's new roommate hadn't lifted their spirits and completely distracted them from what would be the worst part of the day, nothing else could have. Alex was obviously happy about this new chapter in her life, and Sam and Dean were happy for her… but it was clear on all of their faces that there was a terrible sadness under the joy and excitement. Now it was working its way to the surface as they struggled to say goodbye.

Dean was the one who finally broke the silence. "Well, all right then." He stepped toward Alex, gesturing that she should come in for a hug. "Come here."

Alex gave a calm half-smile and embraced her father. After a moment's pause, Dean tightened his grip just a little, and Alex turned her head to rest her cheek on his shoulder. Alex wasn't sure when she'd feel this safe again, wrapped up in his arms. Dean wondered how long it would be until he'd get to hold her like this and know for a fact that she was alive and well.

"Love you, baby girl," Dean said, quietly enough that only she could hear.

Alex smiled and said just as softly, "Love you, too, Dad."

They parted slowly.

"Watch out for trouble, and have fun," said Dean. "But not too much."

Alex snorted with amusement. "I will."

"And if you need us to come get you, just call. Any reason, any time," Dean continued firmly. "I don't care if I'm pinned to a wall by a demon somewhere in… I don't know, Georgia. You call us and tell us you need to come home, we will climb in Baby and come pick you up, and we're only stopping for gas. Okay?"

"Yeah, okay," Alex said. "Thanks, Dad."

Then Sam came over and hugged his niece. He tried not to hold on too tightly so she wouldn't feel his sadness. Nonetheless, Alex could tell he was trying to spare her, make it easier for her to let go. It was a whole different kind of safety she would miss from his presence, a mental and emotional stability he always seemed to summon for her even when everything else had him on a knife-edge.

"Now these first couple of weeks might be rough," Sam said as they disengaged. "You might really want to give up." He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "But just try and push past it. The experiences you'll have if you do…. You won't regret it."

"I'll do my best," said Alex with a nod.

"And if you ever need to talk about it, never hesitate to reach out," he added. "Call, text, video chat, anything."

Alex grinned. "Okay, I will."

Then Sam leaned in with a look of intensity and some concern and lowered his voice to say, "And if Jenna ever gets to be a little too much to handle, you have every right to take time and space for yourself. Just tell her you need to be alone for a little bit; that's valid."

Alex had to choke back her laughter. "I will keep that in mind."

Just then, Jenna herself came around a minivan parked a couple spots away. Her hair bounced as she hustled over to the Winchesters.

"Hey," she greeted them brightly.

"Hey," Alex replied.

"Are you ready to go decorate the ever-living daylights out of our room?" she asked, gripping Alex's elbow with both of her tiny hands.

"Yeah, sure," Alex agreed. "We've got our work cut out for us. That place is drab."

"Tell me about it!" Jenna replied. Then she turned to Sam and Dean. "It was so nice to meet you both! You have to come visit! Like, all the time!"

"We will," said Dean, but he looked at his daughter instead of Jenna, and Alex could tell he was making a promise.

"Come on—let's go rock this thing! I can't wait to show you my posters." Jenna made for the dorm, gently pulling Alex along by a hand.

Alex giggled, looking back as she headed off. "I guess I'm going now. Bye!"

"Bye, Alex!" Sam called after her.

"Bye, baby girl!" Dean called, too.

In the distance, they could hear Jenna say, "Oh my gosh, he calls you 'baby girl'? That is so endearing!"

"Text me when you get home so I know you didn't die!" Alex shouted over her shoulder.

"Don't wait up!" said Sam.

"Yeah, go kick college's ass!" Dean added.

"Go—wait, what's the mascot?" Sam turned to Dean.

Dean thought for a second. "Uuuuhh…."

"Go Badgers! Woo!" Jenna cheered, turning back, throwing her arms in the air, and wriggling her whole body with enthusiasm before resuming her march toward the dorm.

Sam and Dean laughed. Even at a distance, they could see Alex was laughing, too; hard. Then she tossed one last wave to them before following her new roommate through the door into her residence hall.

Slowly, the brothers let their laughter and their smiles fade, staring at the building's entrance.

Then Sam finally huffed a sigh. "Well, I suppose we better get going. Long way home."

He walked past Dean to the passenger side of the Impala.

"Yeah, I suppose," Dean echoed, tearing his eyes away from the building and going to the driver's side. As he opened the door, he couldn't help sparing one last look at where his daughter had disappeared. Then he climbed in.

Dean leaned back in his seat and stared at the steering wheel. The thought of his last hug with Alex wouldn't seem to go away, as if he could still feel her arms on his back, her cheek on his shoulder. The echoes of the moment nagged at him, enough to make him pause, and they kept growing louder. Until suddenly, they triggered a memory….

"Can I get a hug before I put you in the car?" Dean asked Alex, who then proceeded to wrap her arms all the way around her father's neck. He held her close, trying to etch every detail of the moment into his memory

Finally they disconnected and Dean carefully placed Alex into her seat, snapping the various straps into place. He gave her one last peck on the forehead and said softly, "Good-bye, Alex. Love you…."

He felt an emptiness begin to expand inside him, threatening to swallow him up, an old but familiar feeling. It was so strong it was almost physically painful and made it difficult to breathe.

"Dean?" Sam asked, noticing the elder Winchester's hesitation.

"Yeah," Dean stated, snapping out of his reverie and quickly starting the Impala. His brother's inquiry had gotten him to shrink the emptiness enough to reverse out of the parking spot and drive off campus. It never completely went away, though, and it sat in Dean's chest as they sped down the highway.

A/N: Oh, yes; we will be addressing that.