CHAPTER 8

The next several days flew by, and all too soon it was time for Jake and his family to get back to their own home and life. There were an excessive number of tears and "one more" hugs from Lucy. Luke was trying to be stoic but simply looked miserable, trying to console his sister when she wasn't clambering all over one of the other adults. Jake and Juliette attempted to be understanding, but were slowly losing their patience as they tried to gather all their scattered belongings and herd their children toward the waiting vehicle.

Izzy smiled internally as she watched everyone, realizing Sam and Dean were as affected by the parting as their much younger counterparts. She was pleased…she knew just the effect her grandchildren had on her, and for two men hardened by life's hard knocks to become gooey messes at the feet of a six-year old…well, it was simply priceless..

As she was contemplating things, she saw Sam, who was standing off to the side a bit bemused by the chaos, put his hands deep in his pockets, only to withdraw something with surprise. It was the water-polished glass he had picked up for Luke those many days ago. "Luke," he called softly, pulling the boy from his morose thoughts and over to his side. Izzy watched the two put their heads together over the trinket, finding joy in their 'treasure.'

"Luke-y got thomething from Thammy!" Lucy tattled, "I want thomething too." Sam immediately plopped down on the floor to be eye level with the little imp. She smiled sweetly at him, and he could not help but smile back.

"Lucy, I was given this bracelet by someone I loved very much. Would you take care of it for me?" he asked, even as he was untying the hemp rope from around his wrist. Jess had given it to him, knowing he didn't like to wear jewelry but wanting him to have something of hers always with him.

"Do you thtill love her?" she asked innocently as she watched him. He felt a pang for a second, but glancing up at Dean he felt his bracing encouragement and knew it was time to move on.

"I do, Lucy, and always will. But she died, and I know she would like you to have it." Lucy, for her part, was holding her wrist very still as he tied it around it, then looked at it in awe, then up at Sam with unshed tears bright in her eyes. A moment later she was smothering him in a hug, which he gratefully returned.

"Thank you Thammy! I will take very good care of it." She paused, pulling back and tilting her head. "What wath her name?"

"Jessica. Her name was Jessica." Something of his loss must have shown in his face, because Lucy was again hugging him for all she was worth and telling him she was sorry. Sam clung to her for a moment, marveling at the ability of a six-year old to soothe his aching heart. "Thank you Lucy," he whispered to her, "From one lady I love to another lady I love." She smiled widely at that, and promptly kissed his cheek.

"Enough of that," Dean broke in, jokingly jealous, "No stealing my best girl, Sammy!" He snatched Lucy up, tossing her in the air and whirling her around to the accompaniment of giggles.

"Ok, it's time." Jake stated firmly, knowing they could say goodbye all day if something wasn't done. "McCormick children, to the van NOW." Sam and Dean exchanged looks, then Dean plopped Lucy up on his shoulders and galloped out, while Sam offered his back to Luke for one final ride. Both kids were smiling at the boys when they were plopped into their respective seats, waving and blowing kisses (Lucy), extracting promises that they would see them again soon. Jake came up gratefully and offered his hand, smiling and echoing the hope they would meet again soon.

Juliette, wiping tears from her eyes ("stupid pregnancy hormones again, sorry!") grabbed the hands of both Winchesters and said simply but honestly, "I owe you both my family. You ARE our family now too. Anything you need, anytime, you ask. Promise me." They both nodded, moved by her sincerity. She pulled each into a swift hug then made her way to the passenger side where Jake was holding the door for her. Sam and Dean retreated to the porch with Izzy and Travis, where they all waved enthusiastically as the kids yelled and waved back. The dogs barked cheerfully to add to the cacophony, running to the fence when Travis released them to stare wistfully after the retreating vehicle, then returning slowly to their humans.

The rest of the day was spent quietly, initially scattering separate ways but ending up back in the kitchen for pie and dominoes, then later a simple dinner of leftovers. It took some adjusting to the quiet, and Dean found himself more than once feeling the loss of having Lucy nearby to enliven every moment. Sam too realized he'd grown quite accustomed to the chaos and felt the loss as well. Izzy busied herself with chores to counteract the inevitable drop when family left, including remaking the beds in the room the kids had been using. Sam and Dean, falling into the real beds that evening, both found themselves out for the count earlier than planned.

Dean rose with the dawn as usual. Creeping downstairs he was surprised by how pleased he was to find Travis in his usual spot, watching the early morning sun rise over the farm. Grabbing Travis's coffee cup on the way to the kitchen Dean refilled it, and pouring one for himself returned to sit beside the older man. Travis merely smiled and said "morning," nodding his thanks and sipping at the fresh joe while returning his gaze to the view. Dean also looked out across the rugged landscape, smiling to himself as he realized just how much he valued Travis' ability to spend quiet time together, almost as much as he valued his wise counsel.

The sun was cresting the hilltop when Travis finally spoke. "It seems like you're doing a bit better, son."

"I am." he replied truthfully. Thinking through the week, he mentally thanked his brother for pushing them to come visit. "I still miss what might have been," he said slowly, "probably always will. However, the sharp pain is so much less now that we've spent time with family." He smiled broadly as Izzy's arms snaked around from behind to hug his neck, before she moved over to kiss the top of Travis' head and then waltz off into the kitchen. Dean realized his heart was full. This amazing couple, who for some reason chose to adopt him and Sam as their own, and who - even knowing how dangerous they were and what they did for a living - had opened their whole family up to embrace them…well, his dream world might have been good for a moment, but this, THIS is what IS and what SHOULD be. He swallowed his emotions, knowing he could never say what they truly meant to him.

Sam came in at that moment with his own cup of coffee and plopped down on the couch, raising a speaking eyebrow at his brother. Are you ok? Trust Sam to catch the underlying current of emotion he was trying so hard to hide. Dean simply nodded, not trusting his voice fully yet.

"Sam, how are you doing?" Travis asked, taking pity on Dean as he'd watched the emotions roll through the boy and knew he didn't want to be called on them. "I heard from Luke you had a bit of a rough nap the other day. Hope you slept better last night?"

"I did, thanks." Sam said. It was Dean's turn to raise an eyebrow knowingly, since he'd been the one to wake Sam from another nightmare in the early hours of the morning. Sam shot him a quelling glance, then continued, "I think I was pretty messed up myself by what Dean experienced, but I'm working my way through it. It's been a joy to be here with you all. We love your grandkids."

"You say that like you're leaving." Izzy said from the doorway. The brother's heads swiveled to her solemn, sad face, then to each other as a silent conversation ensued.

Tomorrow. One more day, Sam.

It will always be hard to leave Dean…

Give it one more day, brother.

Nodding, Sam spoke up softly, "Not today. We probably need to get on the road tomorrow though. I've found some signs that point to trouble, and we need to go check it out."

"Ok then! Well, if we have today, then we can do something together." Izzy declared cheerfully.

"What are you thinking love?" Travis asked.

"An easy hike and picnic lunch maybe?"

"I'm in…as long as it doesn't involve impromptu swimming." Sam laughed.

"Aw Sammy, you love looking like a drowned rat!" mocked Dean. Sam threw a pillow at him, which was promptly whipped smartly back at his head. Various projectiles flew back and forth, while Travis and Izzy made their escape to the kitchen. They laughed to themselves as they heard the light-hearted bickering in the background, followed by thumps and bumps as the pillow fight devolved into a good old-fashioned wrestling match. Travis returned with a fresh cup of coffee to lean against the doorway as Sam was contorted under Dean but still struggling gamely to flip him off of him.

"Do you yield?" Dean pressed.

"No..mmpf…you're heavier than you look…ow! I yield, I yield!" Dean immediately released Sam and rose smoothly, shaking his fists over his head victoriously. He then laughed down at Sam who was catching his breath and offered his hand to pull him up. Sam reached up, but executed a beautiful move that had him down on the floor beside him panting. Popping up, Sam cackled, "Now who won?" and quickly exited past Travis and out of Dean's reach. Dean lay mumbling empty threats for a minute, then accepted Travis' hand up. Once upright, Travis clapped him on the shoulder, smiling, then led the way into the kitchen where delicious breakfast smells were emanating.

The day was lovely, and as the boys drove away the next morning from this place that had become their second home, they brought with them joyful memories of times with loved ones that would carry them through the darkness ahead. Dean glanced over at his passenger, who was staring quietly out the window, and simply said, "Thank you Sammy."

Sam glanced over, perplexed by the out of the blue statement. "For what?"

"Thank you for convincing me we needed to go see our family." he said simply. "You were right. We do have amazing people who love us. This life isn't all loss, and I really did need that reminder."

"Me too, brother." Sam replied. "Me too." They exchanged smiles, realizing the truth cemented even further in their hearts: that they had a home to return to and people who really cared about them. Dean rolled his window down and cranked the radio, ignoring Sam's requisite exasperated look. Taking a breath of the fresh air, he cheerfully joined in singing along with Tom Cochrane, "Life is a highway, I'm gonna ride it all night long…" Sam shook his head at Dean's enthusiastic but slightly off-key singing, but unwilling to mar his brother's uncharacteristically good mood he simply settled back in the familiar seat, fingers quietly tapping his leg unseen as he enjoyed the beautiful day, the winding road ahead, and the feeling of contentment in the vehicle. Family behind but never far away, a hunt ahead, and his brother present. Life was good.