The Reporter Chapter Eleven
Once they were back in the waiting room with Sam and Dawn, Dean had expected Vangie would reveal what she had whispered to John but she didn’t, at least right away. Dean was curious so he asked her to accompany him to the cafeteria.
She was quiet in the elevator despite the fact that she had a small smile on her face as he draped his arm around her shoulder.
“So, what was it you said to Dad when you whispered in his ear?” he asked hesitantly as they disembarked from the elevator.
She bit her lip as she looked at him while he still held her.
“Um, I just wanted to give him a bit of hope; something to live for.”
“Okay,…what did you say, if you don’t mind telling me,” he said as the walked into the serving line in the cafeteria.
“I let him think I was pregnant,” she replied without looking at him.
Dean was silent as he paid for their coffees then went to sit down on a bench outside on the patio.
“Are you?” he asked as he lifted her chin so he could see her gorgeous eyes.
“I’m not sure.”
“I would be happy if you were.”
“Really?”
“It’s what I’ve wanted all this time.”
“Really? You don’t have to say that,” she said playfully hitting his arm.
“No it’s true.”
“But it may not be true; I haven’t taken a test yet. I am only guessing.”
“Well if we’re not we can try again,” he teased before kissing her lightly on the lips.
Dawn held Sam’s hand as he held back tears.
“How could I be mean to a dying man? “
“Sam he will be fine then you two can get on track; think positive thoughts, okay.”
“I just feel like crap now because I was so angry with him.”
“You had reason, Sweetie, but now you need to work pass that.”
“I know you are right,” he said as he laid his head on her shoulder and she held him. They were oblivious to those around them caught up in their own world of cares.
Nevertheless, there was someone watching them; someone who had followed them from Des Moines and was anxious to pay any or all of them back for what happened.
John’s surgery was successful though he was weak at first the next morning he was already giving orders.
“Now you go ahead with your vacation; I will be here when you get back,” he said.
“Dad, we can’t leave you here. Sam, you and Dawn go ahead we will stay her to watch over Dad.”
Dawn shook her head as she looked at Sam’s sad face. “No we all go or nothing.”
Vangie grinned as John indicated for her to come over to the bed.
“Now young lady, what is this about a grand child?”
“I, uh…am hoping I am pregnant; I shouldn’t have gotten your hopes up, I guess.”
She bit her lips as big tears fell down her cheeks. Dean seeing her predicament went to her side.
“Dad, you’re making her cry.”
Vangie smiled.
“I’m sorry they just came out.”
“Well, if I remember correctly that is a good sign, but we will see,” John said as he kissed Vangie’s hand.
Body snatchers, maybe, Dean thought. John was acting almost normal instead of his usual gruff self. Maybe being at the edge of death does that to you.
After Dean and Vangie left Sam stood beside his father’s bed with a sad countenance.
“Dad, I’m sorry I was so angry with you; but I can’t say I don’t blame you because I still do,” Sam said straightforward.
“I agree son, it was my fault; you owe a great debt to your brother but I owe him more,” he said as he took a deep breath.
“But Dean sees it as part of taking care of me the way he promised you.”
“I know but when I am better I will need to free him from that promise. It is the only right thing to do. He needs to be able to care for his wife with a clear conscience. I don’t expect either of you to keep looking for the Demon.”
Sam’s mouth dropped open.
“Really? But after all this time shouldn’t we finish what we began?”
“Sam that could still be years. You have a wonderful fiancé who is no doubt ready to marry you; do not risk losing her over the Demon, please. Good women are hard to find, son.”
Sam knew his father was right. He loved Dawn with all his heart and if John Winchester said relax and settle down, then he was all for that. He could not wait until Dad told Dean.
Dean’s response was different from Sam’s as could be expected.
“But Dad all the time we put into finding this thing will go down the drain if we stop and possibly come back to haunt us,” he said as he had his arms around Vangie who stood in front of him between he and John.
“Son, I understand your point and what you say is true but if you will remember that it has only struck ever twenty two years than we can be ready for it next time.”
Dean nodded, but was not happy he thought of those that he wouldn’t be able to help as he held Vangie closer. She knew what he was thinking but she hoped he would listen to his father.
That night Dean was quiet in bed as he lightly traced his finger down her nose and gently over her lips but she leaned up to face him.
“Sweetie I know you are worried about those that may need you; you should keep hunting if that is where your heart is.”
He pushed her back on the bed as he kissed her opened mouth, his tongue swirling around hers raising her heart rate steadily while his hands began to roam. He wasn’t trying to prove anything he insisted inside his own head, I will not leave her to hunt; not when I don’t have to. Vangie knew something was wrong she could feel it in his tense muscled arms as she rose up to confront him.
“I didn’t mean your heart as in the one that loves me; I mean your hearts desire to help others it is a good thing. I wasn’t insinuating that I wasn’t at the top of your list of
priorities.”
“No Dad is right; we will wait for the signs when the time comes we can get the SOB. I don’t want you to ever feel or think that being with you isn’t what I want; it is very much.”
Vangie still wasn’t feeling the love; it felt stiff and iffy something she hated but there was no way to get him to see that. She would have to accept his words as is. He lifted her gown over her head and she soon forgot everything else.
Vangie was in the kitchenette drinking coffee when Dawn came out of their room.
She was dressed in an off-white tank top with a pale blue broomstick skirt; she looked fresh and Summey plus her face glowed. Vangie was taken aback.
“Dawn, are you pregnant?”
Dawn had hoped Vangie would get the news first but it hadn’t turned out that way, she had only told Sam the night before.
She nodded to her cousin who was in her arms a second later all smiles and congratulations.
“I am happy for the two of you,” Vangie grinned sincerely.
“Well I may as well tell you we had planned on a civil service while we were on vacation with everyone.
Uncle Ned has agreed to give us a reception when we return, Vangie turned around to see Sam stood behind her with a grin that spread from ear to ear.
“I see it is good news to you too,” Vangie commented as she hugged her future cousin in law.
Dean came out of the room just when his cell phone rang.
“Hey, …yes this is Dean….okay we are coming right over.”
Dean turned to the group who looked at him curiously.
“We have to go someone tried to kill dad this morning,” he said as he grabbed the keys off the table and headed to the car.
At the hospital, Dean and Sam interrogated their father at the same time.
“Dad, did you hear or see anything before you closed your eyes,” Sam asked.
“What about yesterday any suspicious people in or out?” Dean asked.
“Any one new on the staff that you haven’t seen before?” Sam added.
“Okay guys, give him a chance to answer a question,” Vangie said as she sat beside John.
John smiled he knew they were only trying to help but Vangie was right he needed to think a moment.
“Actually there was a slender young man with dark hair that came by the room to look in he said he had the wrong room and left again.”
“Anything special about him?” Vangie asked.
“He seemed kind of young at first maybe just out of high school but he had a limp.”
Vangie’s face dropped as she excused herself but grabbed Dean along with her.
She didn’t say anything until they stood in front of the pay phone. She looked at Dean hesitantly.
“It sounds like Adam, Dean, could you call the asylum to make sure he is still in there please.”
Dean nodded as he got the number than made the call, he frowned as he hung up.
“He has been missing since early yesterday; they tried to contact us at home.”
They raced back to the room to see Sam talking to John but Dawn was missing.
“Where is Dawn?” Vangie asked.
“The ladies room, why?” Sam said with a raised eyebrow.
Dean stayed in the room with John while Sam and Vangie went in search of Dawn.
Vangie came out of the women’s room to tell Sam she wasn’t there then he decided on impulse to check the men’s room. They found her in the handicap stall with her eyes covered and blood everywhere. Sam blinked back tears as he picked her up off the floor than heard a sound and saw Vangie lying on the floor under the stall.
“Damn it.”
He pressed Dean’s speed dial number so he could ask him to come help out since Dad was awake to watch out for himself.
Dawn woke up to find she was in a hospital bed with several bandages on her chest and arms, Sam watched her from the chair beside the bed.
“Hi Baby, how do you feel?” he asked as he moved her hair behind her ear.
“I feel sore, tell me everything is okay with the baby,” she requested anxiously.
“Yes, things are fine but you did lose a lot of blood; for some reason he put small cuts in your skin like he wanted you to …..”
“That’s okay I don’t want to know yet, okay.”
Vangie started to move around in the other bed before Dawn realized she was there.
“Vangie?”
“Hey cousin, fancy this being in the same hospital room again after all these years ,” she laughed.
Sam shook his head.
“We are only a week apart in age; Vangie who was sickly was still in the baby nursery when I was born a week later,” Dawn said with a smile.
Dean came walking in the room with two bouquets of red roses. He set them on the shelves on each side of the room.
“You will be happy to know while you two were enjoying your beauty sleep; we caught Adam. He is on the way back to the asylum.
“I’m glad, but he should be in jail for what he did to Dawn and John,” Vangie said.
“Well we didn’t press charges to avoid publicity I hope you agree,” Sam said as he saw Dawn nod.
“It’s okay Vangie I am happy to just be alive besides in his mental state he is better off in the ‘loony bin’.”
Sam smiled as kissed dawn before he left the room to go check on John.
Dean sat beside Vangie then held her hand in his own.
“Remember when you had the surgery to repair the damage so they we could try to have children if we wanted?”
“Yes, they weren’t sure if I would be able to conceive still.”
Dean couldn’t stop grinning.
“What?”
“Since you fainted they thought they should run some blood tests when I mentioned you thought you were pregnant; they verified that you are pregnant.”
“Yea? Really?”
“Yes, they need to ask you some questions to see how far along you are. I don’t remember you being sick at all but the nurse assured me morning sickness is different for everyone and some women have very little if any at all.”
“Really?”
Dawn laughed, “I think it will be a while before she gets it in her head.”
“Looks like John will get what I promised him plus one,” Vangie smiled as Dean kissed her.
TBC
She was quiet in the elevator despite the fact that she had a small smile on her face as he draped his arm around her shoulder.
“So, what was it you said to Dad when you whispered in his ear?” he asked hesitantly as they disembarked from the elevator.
She bit her lip as she looked at him while he still held her.
“Um, I just wanted to give him a bit of hope; something to live for.”
“Okay,…what did you say, if you don’t mind telling me,” he said as the walked into the serving line in the cafeteria.
“I let him think I was pregnant,” she replied without looking at him.
Dean was silent as he paid for their coffees then went to sit down on a bench outside on the patio.
“Are you?” he asked as he lifted her chin so he could see her gorgeous eyes.
“I’m not sure.”
“I would be happy if you were.”
“Really?”
“It’s what I’ve wanted all this time.”
“Really? You don’t have to say that,” she said playfully hitting his arm.
“No it’s true.”
“But it may not be true; I haven’t taken a test yet. I am only guessing.”
“Well if we’re not we can try again,” he teased before kissing her lightly on the lips.
Dawn held Sam’s hand as he held back tears.
“How could I be mean to a dying man? “
“Sam he will be fine then you two can get on track; think positive thoughts, okay.”
“I just feel like crap now because I was so angry with him.”
“You had reason, Sweetie, but now you need to work pass that.”
“I know you are right,” he said as he laid his head on her shoulder and she held him. They were oblivious to those around them caught up in their own world of cares.
Nevertheless, there was someone watching them; someone who had followed them from Des Moines and was anxious to pay any or all of them back for what happened.
John’s surgery was successful though he was weak at first the next morning he was already giving orders.
“Now you go ahead with your vacation; I will be here when you get back,” he said.
“Dad, we can’t leave you here. Sam, you and Dawn go ahead we will stay her to watch over Dad.”
Dawn shook her head as she looked at Sam’s sad face. “No we all go or nothing.”
Vangie grinned as John indicated for her to come over to the bed.
“Now young lady, what is this about a grand child?”
“I, uh…am hoping I am pregnant; I shouldn’t have gotten your hopes up, I guess.”
She bit her lips as big tears fell down her cheeks. Dean seeing her predicament went to her side.
“Dad, you’re making her cry.”
Vangie smiled.
“I’m sorry they just came out.”
“Well, if I remember correctly that is a good sign, but we will see,” John said as he kissed Vangie’s hand.
Body snatchers, maybe, Dean thought. John was acting almost normal instead of his usual gruff self. Maybe being at the edge of death does that to you.
After Dean and Vangie left Sam stood beside his father’s bed with a sad countenance.
“Dad, I’m sorry I was so angry with you; but I can’t say I don’t blame you because I still do,” Sam said straightforward.
“I agree son, it was my fault; you owe a great debt to your brother but I owe him more,” he said as he took a deep breath.
“But Dean sees it as part of taking care of me the way he promised you.”
“I know but when I am better I will need to free him from that promise. It is the only right thing to do. He needs to be able to care for his wife with a clear conscience. I don’t expect either of you to keep looking for the Demon.”
Sam’s mouth dropped open.
“Really? But after all this time shouldn’t we finish what we began?”
“Sam that could still be years. You have a wonderful fiancé who is no doubt ready to marry you; do not risk losing her over the Demon, please. Good women are hard to find, son.”
Sam knew his father was right. He loved Dawn with all his heart and if John Winchester said relax and settle down, then he was all for that. He could not wait until Dad told Dean.
Dean’s response was different from Sam’s as could be expected.
“But Dad all the time we put into finding this thing will go down the drain if we stop and possibly come back to haunt us,” he said as he had his arms around Vangie who stood in front of him between he and John.
“Son, I understand your point and what you say is true but if you will remember that it has only struck ever twenty two years than we can be ready for it next time.”
Dean nodded, but was not happy he thought of those that he wouldn’t be able to help as he held Vangie closer. She knew what he was thinking but she hoped he would listen to his father.
That night Dean was quiet in bed as he lightly traced his finger down her nose and gently over her lips but she leaned up to face him.
“Sweetie I know you are worried about those that may need you; you should keep hunting if that is where your heart is.”
He pushed her back on the bed as he kissed her opened mouth, his tongue swirling around hers raising her heart rate steadily while his hands began to roam. He wasn’t trying to prove anything he insisted inside his own head, I will not leave her to hunt; not when I don’t have to. Vangie knew something was wrong she could feel it in his tense muscled arms as she rose up to confront him.
“I didn’t mean your heart as in the one that loves me; I mean your hearts desire to help others it is a good thing. I wasn’t insinuating that I wasn’t at the top of your list of
priorities.”
“No Dad is right; we will wait for the signs when the time comes we can get the SOB. I don’t want you to ever feel or think that being with you isn’t what I want; it is very much.”
Vangie still wasn’t feeling the love; it felt stiff and iffy something she hated but there was no way to get him to see that. She would have to accept his words as is. He lifted her gown over her head and she soon forgot everything else.
Vangie was in the kitchenette drinking coffee when Dawn came out of their room.
She was dressed in an off-white tank top with a pale blue broomstick skirt; she looked fresh and Summey plus her face glowed. Vangie was taken aback.
“Dawn, are you pregnant?”
Dawn had hoped Vangie would get the news first but it hadn’t turned out that way, she had only told Sam the night before.
She nodded to her cousin who was in her arms a second later all smiles and congratulations.
“I am happy for the two of you,” Vangie grinned sincerely.
“Well I may as well tell you we had planned on a civil service while we were on vacation with everyone.
Uncle Ned has agreed to give us a reception when we return, Vangie turned around to see Sam stood behind her with a grin that spread from ear to ear.
“I see it is good news to you too,” Vangie commented as she hugged her future cousin in law.
Dean came out of the room just when his cell phone rang.
“Hey, …yes this is Dean….okay we are coming right over.”
Dean turned to the group who looked at him curiously.
“We have to go someone tried to kill dad this morning,” he said as he grabbed the keys off the table and headed to the car.
At the hospital, Dean and Sam interrogated their father at the same time.
“Dad, did you hear or see anything before you closed your eyes,” Sam asked.
“What about yesterday any suspicious people in or out?” Dean asked.
“Any one new on the staff that you haven’t seen before?” Sam added.
“Okay guys, give him a chance to answer a question,” Vangie said as she sat beside John.
John smiled he knew they were only trying to help but Vangie was right he needed to think a moment.
“Actually there was a slender young man with dark hair that came by the room to look in he said he had the wrong room and left again.”
“Anything special about him?” Vangie asked.
“He seemed kind of young at first maybe just out of high school but he had a limp.”
Vangie’s face dropped as she excused herself but grabbed Dean along with her.
She didn’t say anything until they stood in front of the pay phone. She looked at Dean hesitantly.
“It sounds like Adam, Dean, could you call the asylum to make sure he is still in there please.”
Dean nodded as he got the number than made the call, he frowned as he hung up.
“He has been missing since early yesterday; they tried to contact us at home.”
They raced back to the room to see Sam talking to John but Dawn was missing.
“Where is Dawn?” Vangie asked.
“The ladies room, why?” Sam said with a raised eyebrow.
Dean stayed in the room with John while Sam and Vangie went in search of Dawn.
Vangie came out of the women’s room to tell Sam she wasn’t there then he decided on impulse to check the men’s room. They found her in the handicap stall with her eyes covered and blood everywhere. Sam blinked back tears as he picked her up off the floor than heard a sound and saw Vangie lying on the floor under the stall.
“Damn it.”
He pressed Dean’s speed dial number so he could ask him to come help out since Dad was awake to watch out for himself.
Dawn woke up to find she was in a hospital bed with several bandages on her chest and arms, Sam watched her from the chair beside the bed.
“Hi Baby, how do you feel?” he asked as he moved her hair behind her ear.
“I feel sore, tell me everything is okay with the baby,” she requested anxiously.
“Yes, things are fine but you did lose a lot of blood; for some reason he put small cuts in your skin like he wanted you to …..”
“That’s okay I don’t want to know yet, okay.”
Vangie started to move around in the other bed before Dawn realized she was there.
“Vangie?”
“Hey cousin, fancy this being in the same hospital room again after all these years ,” she laughed.
Sam shook his head.
“We are only a week apart in age; Vangie who was sickly was still in the baby nursery when I was born a week later,” Dawn said with a smile.
Dean came walking in the room with two bouquets of red roses. He set them on the shelves on each side of the room.
“You will be happy to know while you two were enjoying your beauty sleep; we caught Adam. He is on the way back to the asylum.
“I’m glad, but he should be in jail for what he did to Dawn and John,” Vangie said.
“Well we didn’t press charges to avoid publicity I hope you agree,” Sam said as he saw Dawn nod.
“It’s okay Vangie I am happy to just be alive besides in his mental state he is better off in the ‘loony bin’.”
Sam smiled as kissed dawn before he left the room to go check on John.
Dean sat beside Vangie then held her hand in his own.
“Remember when you had the surgery to repair the damage so they we could try to have children if we wanted?”
“Yes, they weren’t sure if I would be able to conceive still.”
Dean couldn’t stop grinning.
“What?”
“Since you fainted they thought they should run some blood tests when I mentioned you thought you were pregnant; they verified that you are pregnant.”
“Yea? Really?”
“Yes, they need to ask you some questions to see how far along you are. I don’t remember you being sick at all but the nurse assured me morning sickness is different for everyone and some women have very little if any at all.”
“Really?”
Dawn laughed, “I think it will be a while before she gets it in her head.”
“Looks like John will get what I promised him plus one,” Vangie smiled as Dean kissed her.
TBC