~*****~

Mary just stared at Sam with an impatient look in her eyes. "I don't think she wants the bottle, Lottie." Sam mentions as he once again attempts to feed her.

I didn't blame her for her distrust in him. Something seemed different. And I couldn't put my finger on it. Something about Sam made my stomach turn. He seemed... unclean for no reason at all. "Well, I can't seem to produce any more milk, so I have to get her to drink formula." I retort irritably. It wasn't a whole lie-- my supply had been starting to dwindle, and every website I visited said it was because of a sudden onslaught of stress. And our job, isn't exactly stress free. But Mary was... special. And with the appearance of the supposed Angel of the lord, I had to see just how far it went.

I took the infant from his grasp and easily pushed the bottle nipple into her mouth. Sam just frowned for a moment and sighs. "I think she hates me." Sam mentions.

I hum in response. "Well, besides Bobby, the only man I've seen her like, was Dean." I say softly while Mary's eyes begin to droop. "But that's to be expected." I gaze over at Dean as he snores on the bed. "I'm pretty sure she thinks he hung the moon."

Sam snorted. "When did you get all sappy?" He asked with a chuckle.

I gestured to the sleeping infant. "Your niece." I retort as if it's obvious. Mary shunts the bottle from her mouth and stretches her little arms upwards. "I'm going to get some sleep now. You should do the same." I say to Sam as I lay her down in the small crib we'd put up in the motel room.

Sam hums in response before stretching upwards. "I will. Good night." He hums. I smile before curling up besides Dean. I doze off even before I realize it.

Morning burns at my eyes from what feels like a sleepless night, and I jerk awake when my eyes open. Castiel is sitting on the bed besides me, just staring on out the window. "Hello." He says softly without glancing at me. "And what were you dreaming about, Dean?" Castiel asks as Dean tugs me close to him.

Dean just grunts irritably. "You get your freak on by watching other people sleep?" Dean asks angrily. "What do you want?"

"Listen to me," Castiel says after a beat of silence. "You have to stop it."

"Stop what?" Dean asks.

Castiel presses his fingers to Dean's head, and he falls unconscious. "What the hell?!" I bark at Castiel as I get up. "What did you do?!"

"I haven't harmed him." Castiel says softly. "We will join him."

"Join him where?!" Castiel doesn't say anything, and suddenly, we're standing in a familiar town. "You can't just take me away from--"

Castiel interrupts me. "The child is protected. You have my word."

I swat at him angrily. "Where the hell are we?" I ask in a calmer tone. My gaze sweeps around and it feels as if I've stepped back in time. "Uh... wh-when..." I murmur delicately. "You brought Dean... here? Back in time?" I ask softly.

Castiel nods. "There is something I need to show him. Come." He grasps at my arm and with that strange fluttering noise, we appear before a very surprised, very irritated Dean.

"What is this?" Dean growls.

"What does it look like?" Castiel asks, as if he's testing Dean's patience.

"Is it real?" Dean growls.

"Very."

"Okay, so what, angels got their hands on some DeLoreans?" Dean asks angrily. "How did I get here?"

Castiel hums as he gazes around. "Time is fluid, Dean. It's not easy, but we can bend it on occasion."

"Well, bend it back. Or tell us why the hell you've brought Dean here." I snap at Castiel.

"I told you. You have to stop it." Castiel says to Dean, ignoring my harsh words.

"Stop what?" Dean barks. "What, is there something nasty after my dad?" A horn blares and I gaze past Dean to see what it is. I huff and turn back to them, but Castiel is gone.

"What the hell--" I gasp. "What are you allergic to straight answers, you son of a bitch!" I growl.

~*****~

"You know, John looked kinda hot in his younger years." I mention as we search around town for him. Dean grunts and glances down at me as if I'd offended him. "Can you blame me? You get your good looks from him. And I'm kinda nervous, you know, I've never been away from Mary like this."

Dean huffs. "Castiel said she'd be fine, right? Protected, anyway?"

I nod gingerly. "I... I think so. He seemed super interested in her, and I don't think that he'd let harm come to her."

"That's weird." Dean says after a beat of silence. "You think Mary... can do what you can do?"

I shudder. "I hope not..." I murmur. "Being like this... it's a nightmare... I don't want her to have to deal with that." Dean curls his arm around me and tugs me to his side, his lips pressing against the crown of my head. "Hey, I see--"

"You and I will protect her, I promise, Lottie." Dean says firmly.

"Dean, I see--"

Dean shakes his head. "I mean, if anything comes near her, it won't be breathing long--"

"Dean, that's sweet, but I found John." I snap at him. "I appreciate it, I do, but since Castiel wants to be a secretive asshole, then we need to get a move on."

Dean glances at the car lot, glances back at me, then groans before hurrying forward. I swat at Dean's arm when we get closer. The Impala is sitting in the car lot, and I was vaguely wounded as John keeps his gaze on the Volkswagen Bus. "It's not the one you want." Dean says as he leans against the old car. I run my finger over the hood with a delighted smile.

"You following me?" John asks with a brow raised. God, did John look good. Sheesh, the guy was basically my father, but damn, he did a good job passing on his genetics.

"No, no. My girl and I were just passing by." Dean mentions as he gestures to me. "She wanted to see the lot." John glances at me, and I give him a soft smile. "I never got to thank you for that cup of coffee this morning. I was a little out of it."

"Yes, thank you for putting up with him," I mention, trying to back up his story. "Can we repay you?" John hesitates. "This is the car you want."

"Oh, yeah? You know something about cars?" John retorts.

Dean grins. "Yeah, my dad taught me everything I know." Dean says. "And this-- this is a great car." I move to the side as Dean lifts up the hood. He and John peer in while I press against Dean's side. "327 four-barrel, 275 horses. A little TLC, this thing is cherry."

"You know, man..." John trails off. "You're right."

"What are you buying the bus for?" I ask.

John shrugs. "Kind of promised someone I would."

"Over a sixty-seven Chevy?" Dean asks. "I mean, come on. This is the car of a lifetime. Trust me, this thing's still gonna be badass when it's forty."

John seems to mull things over before extending his hand to Dean. "John Winchester." He introduces himself. Dean smiles and grasps his hand. "Thanks."

"Dean Van Halen. This is my wife, Carlotta." Dean introduces us. "And, thank you."

"So, my Dean was in pretty rough shape this morning, huh?" I question as I peer into the car with John.

"No kidding," John laughed.

I shake my head and wander off. "I'll let you two chat. I'm gonna look at that wagon, now that you're totally into the Impala." I say to John. John just laughs before he and Dean start looking over the car.

~*****~

John stops the Impala in front of a house and a blonde woman leaps out to greet him. She's beautiful. "Mom?" Dean says softly. "Lottie, it's--" He turns to me with a wide grin. He stops when he does.

"Dean, she's beautiful." I mention softly as I gaze at her. "I see so much of you and Sam in her." Dean grunts and scratches at his head tenderly before grasping my hand when I begin to tear up. "I'm sorry... I miss her, so much, now..." My heart clenches. It feels like I've been away from Mary for days. I can't stop the tears.

"I know, baby." Dean hums and kisses my hand. "I think mom woulda loved the idea you named her after her. Hell, I'm pretty sure she'd babysit and we'd have to pry Mary from her."

I giggle at that. "They're leaving again." I mention as John helps Mary into his car.

John takes her to the diner and we both watch them from outside. "Sammy, wherever you are, mom's a babe." Dean mentions. "I'm going to hell. Again."

I snort. "And here I was feeling guilty for thinking John was a babe." I mention.

Dean just grunts and we continue to watch. Mary leaves and I smile when John pulls out a little red box from his pocket, and tugs out an oddly familiar ring. I gasp softly when I notice it's the same one Dean had given me before we'd confronted Lilith. I begin twisting in on my finger when I hear someone behind me. I whirl around and grasp at her arms as she tries to attack. I give a grunt as I'm slammed onto my back. "Why are you following us!" Mary snaps as she does the same to Dean.

"Are you crazy?!" I exclaim as I sweep my leg towards hers, toppling her over.

"Hey, hey, Lottie--" Dean barks, trying to break us up.

"You've been tailing us since my house." Mary snaps.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Dean retorts.

I shunt myself to the side, avoiding her swing before I shove her against the metal container. "How about we talk about this?" I ask breathlessly. "Dean, I got this--" I snap at him as he tries to stop us once again.

"Let me go!" Mary snaps at me.

I gaze at her bracelet and grasp her wrist. "You're a hunter--" I suck in an inward breath. I move away from her and glance at Dean. He's just as breathless as I am. Mary just watches us warily. I shake my head and glance at the diner. "Get back inside with him. We'll meet you at your house." I say at her before grasping Dean's arm. "What the hell--" I murmur softly as I lead him away.