Love Has Many Forms, Part 6 (Supernatural, Sam, Dean, #21-faceless stranger)
Title: Love Has Many Forms, Part 6
Author/Artist: my_sam_dean
Pairing: Sam, Dean/ofc
Fandom: Supernatural
Theme: 21 - faceless stranger
Disclaimer: I own nothing Supernatural.
Knut was sleeping, sorta, while Linnae squirmed and wailed in Dean's arms. It had been a long night and was stretching to an even longer day.
Knock. Knock.
Dean kept hushing and kissing Linnae on his way to the door. On the other side was an older woman that he didn't recognize.
"Hello there!" Her smiling blue eyes twinkled with kindness and life. "I'm a little late, but I thought I'd bring over a little 'Welcome to the Neighborhood' treat and introduce myself. My name is Anna. I live in the blue house across the street."
After Dean remembered his manners and opened the screen door. "Please, come in. Sorry, I'm a little scattered today. We were up most of the night."
"Are they sick?"
"Teething."
Anna looked at the baby after setting the cake she brought on the end table. "Poor thing. What's her name?"
"Linnae. Her brother, Knut, is asleep in the playpen over there. He finally wore himself out. I'm Dean, and my brother Sam is at work at the factory."
"Can I hold her?" she asked. "Between the two of them, I bet that you haven't been able to grab a bite to eat. I can sit with these darlings while you do whatever you need: nap, shower, run errands. I raised four of my own, each a year apart. They have big careers that took them far from here."
Never having left the twins with someone that wasn't family, Dean found it difficult to trust Anna, even though his gut told him that they'd be fine. "If you're sure it's no trouble."
"No trouble at all. I miss having babes around the house." Dean carefully handed Linnae over to Anna's waiting arms. "Oh, sweetie," Anna held her close and rubbed her back. "I wish I could make it all better."
Dean watched her closely. She had started rocking side to side. He could hear her humming a tune as she rested her cheek atop Linnae's head. Her small feet stopped kicking. Her hands slowly hit against Anna's chest until the fists opened enough to grab Anna's blouse tightly and hold on with all her might. What she was doing with Linnae was working.
"I think I'll grab a shower if you'll be okay down here."
"We'll be just fine. Take all the time you need," she answered Dean before she turned her attention back to the baby in her arms.
Fresh from the shower, in clean clothes, he told her, "I feel reenergized, body and mind."
"The babes can wear you out, but you are lucky that you get to spend time home with them. You don't miss any of them growing up."
He didn't want her to think that he was lazy. "About that, I also have West Nile. I have to eat healthy foods, get enough sleep and keep my stress level down or I'll get sick. That is why I don't have a job out of the house."
"What happens when you get sick?"
"High fever, muscles tight and achy, very tired and all that helps is Tylenol and lots of rest. I'm not aware enough to care for Knut or Linnae to stay with me when I'm that sick. Sam stays home and takes care of the three of us."
"I'd gladly watch these angels anytime. Just bring them over."
Sam came home from work, feeling grimy from the long hours in the factory. He spent his time with a great bunch of guys, but it was mind-numbing and repetitive. The best part of his day was coming home to the nearly toothless smiles of the twins.
"Anything interesting happen at work?"
He stopped after taking off one boot to look up at Dean, "You're kidding, right?"
"Never know."
"A group of guys were thinking about playing poker this weekend. I thought we could play over here but I didn't say anything to them. What do you think?"
"Man, I haven't played poker in so long. Do they know how bad you suck at it?" Dean smirked.
"No. They can't all be great at it either. It's for fun. Probably just as excuse to get out of the house, drink beer and chow down on snack food."
"They wouldn't mind the kids?"
"Hell, most of them have kids. A couple of infants aren't going to bother them. I listen to them complain about teenagers. I think we've got it easy with this teething bit."
"That's just plain scary."
Sam laughed. "Did I hit a nerve, Dean?" Silence. "Okay. So what about poker?"
"Yeah. Go ahead and ask." Dean set a couple cold ones on the table. "I met Anna today."
"Who's she?"
"Possibly our saving grace. She lives in the blue house across the street. She raised four kids and she comforted Linnae while Knut slept and I got a shower. She's offered to baby-sit if we need her."
"Really? Were any of her kids twins?"
"I think they were each a year apart. She tried giving Linnae a cool washcloth to gnaw on and it made her feel better."
"Hmm. I wouldn't have thought of that."
"Guess raising kids isn't any more of a science than it was when you were little. It's still ruled by trial and error."
"I turned out fine."
"You just keep thinking that, Sammy." Dean smiled around the lip of the bottle as he took a sip.
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Dean was enjoying the evening with Knut and Linnae on the back porch. The breeze was cooling the hot, humid air of the day. The sound of an unfamiliar vehicle stopped in front of their house. Dean gathered the kids and walked through to the front door.
Jimmy, one of Sam's co-workers, was leading Sam up to the house. Dean set the twins in the playpen where they could amuse themselves.
"What happened?"
"I'm so sorry, Dean. There was a mishap at the factory. We made adjustments for a new product and goofed somewhere in the calculations. Sam's arm got cut up as a result. I feel so bad!"
"What did the doctors say?" Dean helped Jimmy get Sam in the house.
"They took x-rays just to make they saw all the damage. The long slash down his forearm required layers of stitches since it was so deep. He's on pain medication from the IV right now. I filled his prescription for pills." He gave Dean the bottle.
Sam was lying on the couch with his arm propped up. He was mumbling in his sleep and not making any sense.
"Where did you take him to?"
"St. Mary's. It's a half hour away. Sam's nurse, Jill, was sweet on him. She said she'll stop by to check on him."
"When do they expect him back at work?"
"Boss man said to take Friday off and he can start over on Monday. They'll just have him in the office until the doc approves him for physical labor."
Dean laughed, "Sitting at a desk is gonna drive Sam insane. Luckily, even though he's accident prone, he's also a fast healer."
Jimmy smiled. "Really?"
"I bandaged more banged up knees and elbows than the school nurse."
"So you'll be an old hand when it's Linnae or Knut?"
"Are you nuts? When one of my babies is hurting like that, I'll be crying right along with them. They'll probably learn to go to Sam when there is first aid involved."
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"You could have stitched me up."
“We don’t need the whole factory knowing that. What’s this I hear about a nurse named Jill?”
Sam looked confused. “Who?”
“Jimmy said she was interested when you were in the ER. Didn’t you notice? Count on you to be oblivious to some poor girl when she’s hurting herself falling all over you. Did you even get her number?”
“If I don’t know her name, why would I have her number?”
“I used to have so much hope for you,” Dean wiped away imaginary tears.
There was a comeback on the tip of Sam’s tongue but he was interrupted by a knock at the door. Dean went to answer it while Sam watched the kids. Knut was happy to roll his car around while Linnae eyed her uncle and blew bubbles around a ring that she was mouthing.
A beautiful woman dressed in scrubs followed Dean into the room. “Sam, this is Jill from the Emergency Room.”
“I was visiting my mom, she lives here. Thought I could do your wound check and save you a trip to County.” She was a tiny gal. Her red hair was swept back from her face. When she smiled, it made the world around her feel peaceful and serene.
“That’s very nice of you. Thank you for doing this." Sam stumbled over his tongue as he tried to thank her.
‘It’s not a problem.” Her hands were warm and gentle as she removed the soiled wrapping. Her slender fingers prodded at the puffy area. “It looks good. Keep it dry and clean. You can get the stitches out in about two weeks.”
“Do I make an appointment for that?” He asked as she re-bandaged it for him.
“You could.” Jill scribbled on a notepad and handed the sheet to Sam. “Or, I can take them out. I’m usually here on weekends.”
“Um, okay. Thank you.” Sam was embarrassing himself with his wonderful conversational skills.
“That number could be used for more than suture removal, if you’re interested.”
“Yes! I mean, yeah, I’ll be calling about stitches and the other . . . Here’s my number.” Sam was beet red and way out of practice.
“I’ll see you around, Sam.”
He stood and was unable to move as she walked to the door. “Bye, Jill!” With his mind swirling, mulling over what had just happened, Sam sat down before he fell.
“Smooth.” Dean was playing with the kids on the floor and had observed the whole humiliating exchange. “Want some pointers?”
“No.” Sam stomped upstairs to his room.
“And he thinks I’m the crazy one.” After wiping Linnae’s face with a drool rag, he gave her toy back. Knut made some car noises. Dean realized that he didn’t miss the hassle of dating. He had a good life.
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“He’s a little wobbly but he’s thinking about it. Come on, Knut. Just one step!”
Not to be outdone by her brother, Linnae decided she should get in on some of the excitement, too. She crawled over to the couch. In the process of pulling herself to stand, she bumped Knut. He fell to the floor and landed on his highly padded little butt.
He wailed out of surprise instead of being hurt. Linnae couldn’t figure him out. She dropped back to the floor and patted his head. He stopped crying and went back to the pile of toys they’d been playing with.
“I really thought he was going to this time.” Sam straightened up and checked the clock.
“He will. Linnae might beat him to it. Or, they might just take off running one day.”
“In opposite directions with our luck.”
Dean saw Sam glance at his watch. “You nervous about your date?”
“No. Well, maybe just a little."
“She has to be great if she can overlook what you’re like on drugs.”
“Most patients in the ER are in pain and on meds. I’m sure it wasn’t unusual for her.”
“I watched her force her number on you in our kitchen. Damn fine woman.”
“Language.”
He was met with an eye roll. “Really, Sam?”
“Want Anna to scold you when one of them blurts it out to her? She’ll know who they got it from.”
“Jill is still impressive.”
Sam smiled. He swooped Knut up and kissed him goodnight. Next, he did the same with Linnae. “I’ve got my cell.”
“I should be the one telling you that. If you have an emergency, you know where I am. Be careful with the Impala. It’s a babe-magnet.”
“With the car seats in the back?”
“Just means you have to rent a room. Don’t you dare be taking out those car seats. They’re hell to get in and I don’t want to think about any, uh, fluids getting on my seats.”
“Night, Dean.” Sam closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. He hoped his nerves would settle down as the date went on.
After he heard the Impala leave the driveway, Dean declared, “Bath time! It’s a happening time at the Winchester House tonight!”
Linnae and Knut stared at him as if he were under a microscope. Knut was too young to have a boy's aversion to water and his sister enjoyed anything when their daddy would sing to them. Giggles and bubbles filled the upstairs bath while Dean was teamed up on and soaked.
"Who wants to get out first?"
Knut raised his arms and squirmed while Linnae was too busy splashing to notice anything outside of her own little world.
"Looks like you're first," Dean engulfed him in a towel and dried him off. He helped Knut stand by the side of the tub so he could watch Linnae get out of the tub and Dean didn't have to worry about him scooting off and getting into something dangerous while his back was turned.
He was about to lift her up when he heard a splatter and felt a warm liquid soak into his jeans. "Knut?"
With a face of total innocence, he looked up at his father as he continued to pee on the rug and side of the tub. He quit when his bladder ran out.
"My fault," Dean said as he dried and diapered Linnae. "I forgot how tempting it can be to just let loose when you need to. Back in with you for a quick wash. I bet you'll grow up to love nature, but I'm not taking you camping. I hate camping. You can join Boy Scouts. Just don't expect me to be a nature freak."
Both toddlers started to babble at once as they were carried to their room to get dressed.
"Maybe Uncle Sammy will take you camping. Hm. I don't know if Girl Scouts do much camping. You could both join Campfire and then I wouldn't have to worry because you would be together." Dean shook his head as he realized how much he was talking to himself.
Snuggly warm in their pajamas, Dean rocked them in the rocking chair. When both were asleep, he kissed their foreheads and laid them in their cribs. "Goodnight Princess and Sir Pees Alot. Love you."
The work of bath time still wasn't done. He had to wipe up water that has splashed on the tile, clean where Knut had marked his territory in the cutest fashion (it was going to be a good story to tell the girls when it came time to date) and throw the laundry in the wash.
Even alone, Dean continued the weekend evening routine of he and Sam. Baked a small pizza for each of them, brought the food into the living room along with the beer to the coffee table in front of the couch. He made himself comfortable and turned on the scary movies. The newer ones he could just rip apart with the stupidity of the characters. The older ones, the black and white ones, were the ones he loved. It as a great way to unwind.
When Sam arrived home from his date, Dean was crashed out on the couch. He'd finished one pizza, a few beers and just couldn't stay awake any longer. It was late enough that they were showing an old black and white horror movie that Dean would have loved.
Sam locked the doors, put the leftovers in the fridge and sat down by Dean.
"Hey, hey, Sammy," his sleepy mind tried to remember what he'd wanted to ask him. "How was Jill?"
"We had a good time. I didn't like the restaurant she picked but I've eaten worse."
Dean smiled. "Our various concoctions trying to make spaghettios and macaroni and cheese more edible? Is that what you could be referring to?"
"That would be considered worse. But, their fettuccine alfredo with chicken sucked. You have to try pretty hard to wreck it as bad as it tasted."
"Why didn't you send it back?"
"That'd be real classy on a first date. Anyway, I had my arm around her during the movie. She moved closer to fit into my side."
"Did you kiss her?"
Sam's face turned red, "A few times."
"Any sex?"
"No!" Sam was indignant. "She's a nice girl, Dean!"
"So, by the third date then," Dean murmured to himself.
"She invited all of us on a picnic tomorrow. All we have to do is bring the kids."
"What did you tell her?"
"That we'd be there. It's supposed to be a sunny day. There's no harm in having a few sandwiches and pushing the twins in the baby swings."
"You're right. Does her mom like kids?"
Smiling, Sam replied, "She loves them. She ran a daycare in her home until she got too old to chase them around all day. At the library, she runs story time."
"If it means that much to you, we'll go."
Dean resigned himself to what he considered 'family dating'. If Jill wanted Sam, she would also be getting Dean, Knut and Linnae. If she couldn't handle that, it was better if she left early.
The picnic was a hit.
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"He's still really sick," a male voice said.
A female replied, "How much work can you really miss?"
"I've already taken two for this attack. They've been great, but . . ."
"Are the kids ready to go?"
"Yeah."
"I'll take them to Anna's. You need to put everything that you need to tend to Dean on the table."
"Are you sure she can do this?"
"I know so."
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Dean hurt. He was overheating and his limbs felt as if they'd been crushed. His eyes were too heavy to open. So, he listened. When, he didn't hear anything, and Knut and Linnae were never that quiet, he assumed that they had been taken to Anna's house. His head pounded from thinking. He drifted off to sleep.
An unfamiliar voice broke through the haze of Dean's mind. "Sit up. It's time for more medicine, Dean."
Using a tremendous amount of energy, Dean opened his eyes and was met with a beaming ray of sunshine.
"You need two Tylenol and I have a glass of water. That's what Sam told me you'd need."
He was stunned while she gently helped him sit up. After swallowing the pills, Dean croaked out, "Where are the babies and Sam?"
"Sam is at work and Anna has the twins. Do you want something to eat?"
Her words were comforting and he found himself mesmerized by her baby blue eyes. He couldn't help but stare.
"Dean?" She frowned. "What is it you need?"
She tilted her head to look directly at in Dean's eyes. Strands of her straight blond hair fell out of her ponytail.
"What's your name?" he asked.
Smiling, she replied, "I'm Daisy, one of Jill's friends."
Dean's eyelids were getting heavy and began drooping. She helped him ease down back into bed.
"You need your sleep," Daisy told him as she tucked the blankets in around him.
Knowing everyone was safe, he fell into a dreamless slumber.
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The open windows allowed the warm spring breeze to make its way through the Winchester household. Sam was still at work at the factory. Daisy had taken to Knut and Linnae and came over nearly every afternoon to play with them. She kept them occupied and prevented them from being underfoot while Dean prepared supper.
Since the twins started toddling around, unsteady on their chubby legs, Dean found himself getting relapses of his illness more often. Chasing after the little escape artists was more draining than hunting had ever been. He had no clue how Daisy kept them on the blanket while she read them a book. In the end, it didn't matter how she worked her magic, it was just that she did. Otherwise, the Winchester clan would never eat a hot meal. It would be cold cereal or sandwiches three times a day.
"This is a blue truck. This is a yellow truck." Daisy's voice drifted in from the other room.
"Uck!"
"Le!"
"Yes, Knut. That's a truck. Linnae, we'll read about a dolly next."
"Le! Le!" Slap.
"No hitting the book. We'll read 'Dolly's Day Out' next."
Dean peeked around the corner. Daisy was putting Linnae on her lap, trying to comfort the distressed little girl. Her lip drooped for a second before she started to cry. Knut's eyebrows drew together as he stared at his sister, clearly not understanding why she didn't want to read about trucks.
"How's it going in here?" Dean sat on the blanket and took Linnae from Daisy's arms. Linnae stopped fussing immediately. She wasn't spoiled. Daddy's little girl was just, well, Daddy's Little Girl.
"I guess she doesn't like trucks," Daisy replied.
"Yeah? I think she gets tired of being the only girl in the house. It's really nice of you to come over in the afternoons."
"I like making them laugh. It's a good laugh, not a mean one." She said the last sentence in a whisper to her hands which were folded in her lap. Dean wasn't sure if he was meant to hear it or not.
"Growing up is tough. Sam and I moved around a lot. We were the new kids at school and that made us different. What we found out later on was that we're all different--different color eyes, different hobbies, different heights." Daisy looked up at Dean with a tentative smile. "Hey, you don't want to be as big as Sam. Do you?" Dean joked.
"I don't think I need to be that tall." She had an honest to goodness grin on her face. "I'd like his hair, though."
"Brown hair?"
"No. Wavy." She ran her fingers through her hair as she thought about it.
"He didn't have waves when his hair was short. I've been bugging him to get a haircut for years."
"Don't do that! His hair is pretty. He should keep it that way."
"I'll tell him you voted to keep his brown mop. He'll be happy to hear that." Dean stood with Linnae in his arms. "Are you staying for supper?"
"You sure it's okay if I stay?"
"Of course. Can you grab Knut for me?"
"Up, little boy. Are you hungry?" Knut waved his arms at Daisy, bouncing on his butt and squealing. She had her arms full of joy when she walked into the kitchen.
The four of them had a nice supper, punctuated by giggles and various cajoling to get the little ones to eat.
Author/Artist: my_sam_dean
Pairing: Sam, Dean/ofc
Fandom: Supernatural
Theme: 21 - faceless stranger
Disclaimer: I own nothing Supernatural.
Knut was sleeping, sorta, while Linnae squirmed and wailed in Dean's arms. It had been a long night and was stretching to an even longer day.
Knock. Knock.
Dean kept hushing and kissing Linnae on his way to the door. On the other side was an older woman that he didn't recognize.
"Hello there!" Her smiling blue eyes twinkled with kindness and life. "I'm a little late, but I thought I'd bring over a little 'Welcome to the Neighborhood' treat and introduce myself. My name is Anna. I live in the blue house across the street."
After Dean remembered his manners and opened the screen door. "Please, come in. Sorry, I'm a little scattered today. We were up most of the night."
"Are they sick?"
"Teething."
Anna looked at the baby after setting the cake she brought on the end table. "Poor thing. What's her name?"
"Linnae. Her brother, Knut, is asleep in the playpen over there. He finally wore himself out. I'm Dean, and my brother Sam is at work at the factory."
"Can I hold her?" she asked. "Between the two of them, I bet that you haven't been able to grab a bite to eat. I can sit with these darlings while you do whatever you need: nap, shower, run errands. I raised four of my own, each a year apart. They have big careers that took them far from here."
Never having left the twins with someone that wasn't family, Dean found it difficult to trust Anna, even though his gut told him that they'd be fine. "If you're sure it's no trouble."
"No trouble at all. I miss having babes around the house." Dean carefully handed Linnae over to Anna's waiting arms. "Oh, sweetie," Anna held her close and rubbed her back. "I wish I could make it all better."
Dean watched her closely. She had started rocking side to side. He could hear her humming a tune as she rested her cheek atop Linnae's head. Her small feet stopped kicking. Her hands slowly hit against Anna's chest until the fists opened enough to grab Anna's blouse tightly and hold on with all her might. What she was doing with Linnae was working.
"I think I'll grab a shower if you'll be okay down here."
"We'll be just fine. Take all the time you need," she answered Dean before she turned her attention back to the baby in her arms.
Fresh from the shower, in clean clothes, he told her, "I feel reenergized, body and mind."
"The babes can wear you out, but you are lucky that you get to spend time home with them. You don't miss any of them growing up."
He didn't want her to think that he was lazy. "About that, I also have West Nile. I have to eat healthy foods, get enough sleep and keep my stress level down or I'll get sick. That is why I don't have a job out of the house."
"What happens when you get sick?"
"High fever, muscles tight and achy, very tired and all that helps is Tylenol and lots of rest. I'm not aware enough to care for Knut or Linnae to stay with me when I'm that sick. Sam stays home and takes care of the three of us."
"I'd gladly watch these angels anytime. Just bring them over."
Sam came home from work, feeling grimy from the long hours in the factory. He spent his time with a great bunch of guys, but it was mind-numbing and repetitive. The best part of his day was coming home to the nearly toothless smiles of the twins.
"Anything interesting happen at work?"
He stopped after taking off one boot to look up at Dean, "You're kidding, right?"
"Never know."
"A group of guys were thinking about playing poker this weekend. I thought we could play over here but I didn't say anything to them. What do you think?"
"Man, I haven't played poker in so long. Do they know how bad you suck at it?" Dean smirked.
"No. They can't all be great at it either. It's for fun. Probably just as excuse to get out of the house, drink beer and chow down on snack food."
"They wouldn't mind the kids?"
"Hell, most of them have kids. A couple of infants aren't going to bother them. I listen to them complain about teenagers. I think we've got it easy with this teething bit."
"That's just plain scary."
Sam laughed. "Did I hit a nerve, Dean?" Silence. "Okay. So what about poker?"
"Yeah. Go ahead and ask." Dean set a couple cold ones on the table. "I met Anna today."
"Who's she?"
"Possibly our saving grace. She lives in the blue house across the street. She raised four kids and she comforted Linnae while Knut slept and I got a shower. She's offered to baby-sit if we need her."
"Really? Were any of her kids twins?"
"I think they were each a year apart. She tried giving Linnae a cool washcloth to gnaw on and it made her feel better."
"Hmm. I wouldn't have thought of that."
"Guess raising kids isn't any more of a science than it was when you were little. It's still ruled by trial and error."
"I turned out fine."
"You just keep thinking that, Sammy." Dean smiled around the lip of the bottle as he took a sip.
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Dean was enjoying the evening with Knut and Linnae on the back porch. The breeze was cooling the hot, humid air of the day. The sound of an unfamiliar vehicle stopped in front of their house. Dean gathered the kids and walked through to the front door.
Jimmy, one of Sam's co-workers, was leading Sam up to the house. Dean set the twins in the playpen where they could amuse themselves.
"What happened?"
"I'm so sorry, Dean. There was a mishap at the factory. We made adjustments for a new product and goofed somewhere in the calculations. Sam's arm got cut up as a result. I feel so bad!"
"What did the doctors say?" Dean helped Jimmy get Sam in the house.
"They took x-rays just to make they saw all the damage. The long slash down his forearm required layers of stitches since it was so deep. He's on pain medication from the IV right now. I filled his prescription for pills." He gave Dean the bottle.
Sam was lying on the couch with his arm propped up. He was mumbling in his sleep and not making any sense.
"Where did you take him to?"
"St. Mary's. It's a half hour away. Sam's nurse, Jill, was sweet on him. She said she'll stop by to check on him."
"When do they expect him back at work?"
"Boss man said to take Friday off and he can start over on Monday. They'll just have him in the office until the doc approves him for physical labor."
Dean laughed, "Sitting at a desk is gonna drive Sam insane. Luckily, even though he's accident prone, he's also a fast healer."
Jimmy smiled. "Really?"
"I bandaged more banged up knees and elbows than the school nurse."
"So you'll be an old hand when it's Linnae or Knut?"
"Are you nuts? When one of my babies is hurting like that, I'll be crying right along with them. They'll probably learn to go to Sam when there is first aid involved."
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"You could have stitched me up."
“We don’t need the whole factory knowing that. What’s this I hear about a nurse named Jill?”
Sam looked confused. “Who?”
“Jimmy said she was interested when you were in the ER. Didn’t you notice? Count on you to be oblivious to some poor girl when she’s hurting herself falling all over you. Did you even get her number?”
“If I don’t know her name, why would I have her number?”
“I used to have so much hope for you,” Dean wiped away imaginary tears.
There was a comeback on the tip of Sam’s tongue but he was interrupted by a knock at the door. Dean went to answer it while Sam watched the kids. Knut was happy to roll his car around while Linnae eyed her uncle and blew bubbles around a ring that she was mouthing.
A beautiful woman dressed in scrubs followed Dean into the room. “Sam, this is Jill from the Emergency Room.”
“I was visiting my mom, she lives here. Thought I could do your wound check and save you a trip to County.” She was a tiny gal. Her red hair was swept back from her face. When she smiled, it made the world around her feel peaceful and serene.
“That’s very nice of you. Thank you for doing this." Sam stumbled over his tongue as he tried to thank her.
‘It’s not a problem.” Her hands were warm and gentle as she removed the soiled wrapping. Her slender fingers prodded at the puffy area. “It looks good. Keep it dry and clean. You can get the stitches out in about two weeks.”
“Do I make an appointment for that?” He asked as she re-bandaged it for him.
“You could.” Jill scribbled on a notepad and handed the sheet to Sam. “Or, I can take them out. I’m usually here on weekends.”
“Um, okay. Thank you.” Sam was embarrassing himself with his wonderful conversational skills.
“That number could be used for more than suture removal, if you’re interested.”
“Yes! I mean, yeah, I’ll be calling about stitches and the other . . . Here’s my number.” Sam was beet red and way out of practice.
“I’ll see you around, Sam.”
He stood and was unable to move as she walked to the door. “Bye, Jill!” With his mind swirling, mulling over what had just happened, Sam sat down before he fell.
“Smooth.” Dean was playing with the kids on the floor and had observed the whole humiliating exchange. “Want some pointers?”
“No.” Sam stomped upstairs to his room.
“And he thinks I’m the crazy one.” After wiping Linnae’s face with a drool rag, he gave her toy back. Knut made some car noises. Dean realized that he didn’t miss the hassle of dating. He had a good life.
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“He’s a little wobbly but he’s thinking about it. Come on, Knut. Just one step!”
Not to be outdone by her brother, Linnae decided she should get in on some of the excitement, too. She crawled over to the couch. In the process of pulling herself to stand, she bumped Knut. He fell to the floor and landed on his highly padded little butt.
He wailed out of surprise instead of being hurt. Linnae couldn’t figure him out. She dropped back to the floor and patted his head. He stopped crying and went back to the pile of toys they’d been playing with.
“I really thought he was going to this time.” Sam straightened up and checked the clock.
“He will. Linnae might beat him to it. Or, they might just take off running one day.”
“In opposite directions with our luck.”
Dean saw Sam glance at his watch. “You nervous about your date?”
“No. Well, maybe just a little."
“She has to be great if she can overlook what you’re like on drugs.”
“Most patients in the ER are in pain and on meds. I’m sure it wasn’t unusual for her.”
“I watched her force her number on you in our kitchen. Damn fine woman.”
“Language.”
He was met with an eye roll. “Really, Sam?”
“Want Anna to scold you when one of them blurts it out to her? She’ll know who they got it from.”
“Jill is still impressive.”
Sam smiled. He swooped Knut up and kissed him goodnight. Next, he did the same with Linnae. “I’ve got my cell.”
“I should be the one telling you that. If you have an emergency, you know where I am. Be careful with the Impala. It’s a babe-magnet.”
“With the car seats in the back?”
“Just means you have to rent a room. Don’t you dare be taking out those car seats. They’re hell to get in and I don’t want to think about any, uh, fluids getting on my seats.”
“Night, Dean.” Sam closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. He hoped his nerves would settle down as the date went on.
After he heard the Impala leave the driveway, Dean declared, “Bath time! It’s a happening time at the Winchester House tonight!”
Linnae and Knut stared at him as if he were under a microscope. Knut was too young to have a boy's aversion to water and his sister enjoyed anything when their daddy would sing to them. Giggles and bubbles filled the upstairs bath while Dean was teamed up on and soaked.
"Who wants to get out first?"
Knut raised his arms and squirmed while Linnae was too busy splashing to notice anything outside of her own little world.
"Looks like you're first," Dean engulfed him in a towel and dried him off. He helped Knut stand by the side of the tub so he could watch Linnae get out of the tub and Dean didn't have to worry about him scooting off and getting into something dangerous while his back was turned.
He was about to lift her up when he heard a splatter and felt a warm liquid soak into his jeans. "Knut?"
With a face of total innocence, he looked up at his father as he continued to pee on the rug and side of the tub. He quit when his bladder ran out.
"My fault," Dean said as he dried and diapered Linnae. "I forgot how tempting it can be to just let loose when you need to. Back in with you for a quick wash. I bet you'll grow up to love nature, but I'm not taking you camping. I hate camping. You can join Boy Scouts. Just don't expect me to be a nature freak."
Both toddlers started to babble at once as they were carried to their room to get dressed.
"Maybe Uncle Sammy will take you camping. Hm. I don't know if Girl Scouts do much camping. You could both join Campfire and then I wouldn't have to worry because you would be together." Dean shook his head as he realized how much he was talking to himself.
Snuggly warm in their pajamas, Dean rocked them in the rocking chair. When both were asleep, he kissed their foreheads and laid them in their cribs. "Goodnight Princess and Sir Pees Alot. Love you."
The work of bath time still wasn't done. He had to wipe up water that has splashed on the tile, clean where Knut had marked his territory in the cutest fashion (it was going to be a good story to tell the girls when it came time to date) and throw the laundry in the wash.
Even alone, Dean continued the weekend evening routine of he and Sam. Baked a small pizza for each of them, brought the food into the living room along with the beer to the coffee table in front of the couch. He made himself comfortable and turned on the scary movies. The newer ones he could just rip apart with the stupidity of the characters. The older ones, the black and white ones, were the ones he loved. It as a great way to unwind.
When Sam arrived home from his date, Dean was crashed out on the couch. He'd finished one pizza, a few beers and just couldn't stay awake any longer. It was late enough that they were showing an old black and white horror movie that Dean would have loved.
Sam locked the doors, put the leftovers in the fridge and sat down by Dean.
"Hey, hey, Sammy," his sleepy mind tried to remember what he'd wanted to ask him. "How was Jill?"
"We had a good time. I didn't like the restaurant she picked but I've eaten worse."
Dean smiled. "Our various concoctions trying to make spaghettios and macaroni and cheese more edible? Is that what you could be referring to?"
"That would be considered worse. But, their fettuccine alfredo with chicken sucked. You have to try pretty hard to wreck it as bad as it tasted."
"Why didn't you send it back?"
"That'd be real classy on a first date. Anyway, I had my arm around her during the movie. She moved closer to fit into my side."
"Did you kiss her?"
Sam's face turned red, "A few times."
"Any sex?"
"No!" Sam was indignant. "She's a nice girl, Dean!"
"So, by the third date then," Dean murmured to himself.
"She invited all of us on a picnic tomorrow. All we have to do is bring the kids."
"What did you tell her?"
"That we'd be there. It's supposed to be a sunny day. There's no harm in having a few sandwiches and pushing the twins in the baby swings."
"You're right. Does her mom like kids?"
Smiling, Sam replied, "She loves them. She ran a daycare in her home until she got too old to chase them around all day. At the library, she runs story time."
"If it means that much to you, we'll go."
Dean resigned himself to what he considered 'family dating'. If Jill wanted Sam, she would also be getting Dean, Knut and Linnae. If she couldn't handle that, it was better if she left early.
The picnic was a hit.
000000
"He's still really sick," a male voice said.
A female replied, "How much work can you really miss?"
"I've already taken two for this attack. They've been great, but . . ."
"Are the kids ready to go?"
"Yeah."
"I'll take them to Anna's. You need to put everything that you need to tend to Dean on the table."
"Are you sure she can do this?"
"I know so."
000000
Dean hurt. He was overheating and his limbs felt as if they'd been crushed. His eyes were too heavy to open. So, he listened. When, he didn't hear anything, and Knut and Linnae were never that quiet, he assumed that they had been taken to Anna's house. His head pounded from thinking. He drifted off to sleep.
An unfamiliar voice broke through the haze of Dean's mind. "Sit up. It's time for more medicine, Dean."
Using a tremendous amount of energy, Dean opened his eyes and was met with a beaming ray of sunshine.
"You need two Tylenol and I have a glass of water. That's what Sam told me you'd need."
He was stunned while she gently helped him sit up. After swallowing the pills, Dean croaked out, "Where are the babies and Sam?"
"Sam is at work and Anna has the twins. Do you want something to eat?"
Her words were comforting and he found himself mesmerized by her baby blue eyes. He couldn't help but stare.
"Dean?" She frowned. "What is it you need?"
She tilted her head to look directly at in Dean's eyes. Strands of her straight blond hair fell out of her ponytail.
"What's your name?" he asked.
Smiling, she replied, "I'm Daisy, one of Jill's friends."
Dean's eyelids were getting heavy and began drooping. She helped him ease down back into bed.
"You need your sleep," Daisy told him as she tucked the blankets in around him.
Knowing everyone was safe, he fell into a dreamless slumber.
000000
The open windows allowed the warm spring breeze to make its way through the Winchester household. Sam was still at work at the factory. Daisy had taken to Knut and Linnae and came over nearly every afternoon to play with them. She kept them occupied and prevented them from being underfoot while Dean prepared supper.
Since the twins started toddling around, unsteady on their chubby legs, Dean found himself getting relapses of his illness more often. Chasing after the little escape artists was more draining than hunting had ever been. He had no clue how Daisy kept them on the blanket while she read them a book. In the end, it didn't matter how she worked her magic, it was just that she did. Otherwise, the Winchester clan would never eat a hot meal. It would be cold cereal or sandwiches three times a day.
"This is a blue truck. This is a yellow truck." Daisy's voice drifted in from the other room.
"Uck!"
"Le!"
"Yes, Knut. That's a truck. Linnae, we'll read about a dolly next."
"Le! Le!" Slap.
"No hitting the book. We'll read 'Dolly's Day Out' next."
Dean peeked around the corner. Daisy was putting Linnae on her lap, trying to comfort the distressed little girl. Her lip drooped for a second before she started to cry. Knut's eyebrows drew together as he stared at his sister, clearly not understanding why she didn't want to read about trucks.
"How's it going in here?" Dean sat on the blanket and took Linnae from Daisy's arms. Linnae stopped fussing immediately. She wasn't spoiled. Daddy's little girl was just, well, Daddy's Little Girl.
"I guess she doesn't like trucks," Daisy replied.
"Yeah? I think she gets tired of being the only girl in the house. It's really nice of you to come over in the afternoons."
"I like making them laugh. It's a good laugh, not a mean one." She said the last sentence in a whisper to her hands which were folded in her lap. Dean wasn't sure if he was meant to hear it or not.
"Growing up is tough. Sam and I moved around a lot. We were the new kids at school and that made us different. What we found out later on was that we're all different--different color eyes, different hobbies, different heights." Daisy looked up at Dean with a tentative smile. "Hey, you don't want to be as big as Sam. Do you?" Dean joked.
"I don't think I need to be that tall." She had an honest to goodness grin on her face. "I'd like his hair, though."
"Brown hair?"
"No. Wavy." She ran her fingers through her hair as she thought about it.
"He didn't have waves when his hair was short. I've been bugging him to get a haircut for years."
"Don't do that! His hair is pretty. He should keep it that way."
"I'll tell him you voted to keep his brown mop. He'll be happy to hear that." Dean stood with Linnae in his arms. "Are you staying for supper?"
"You sure it's okay if I stay?"
"Of course. Can you grab Knut for me?"
"Up, little boy. Are you hungry?" Knut waved his arms at Daisy, bouncing on his butt and squealing. She had her arms full of joy when she walked into the kitchen.
The four of them had a nice supper, punctuated by giggles and various cajoling to get the little ones to eat.