RENEGADE "ANGEL"

Back in Black, PART IV

"When will Mommy be back, Uncle Bobby?" demanded Dean, lying on Bobby's couch with his legs over the backrest and his hand continuously patting his sister's head, who was doing her best to pretend he didn't exist. Bobby, who had gotten used to Dean's antics, paid that no mind. "Where's Daddy?"

"They'll be back soon, kiddo."

"But why've they gone?"

Bobby looked up from the dinner he was throwing together for the three of them. "They've gone to the hospital, Dean. Didn't your parents tell you your Mom's giving birth?"

Dean rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but Mommy said that wasn't gonna happen yet."

"Babies don't always come on time," Bobby said.

Huffing, Dean rolled off the couch and forced his head onto his sister's lap, nose bumping into her book.

"Cora."

"Not now, Dean, I'm reading," said Cordelia, who was clutching her Scholastic book. Dean peered up at it.

"It has no pictures."

"That's because it's not a comic book." And Cordelia went temporarily deaf, ignoring her brother very pointedly and continuing to read.

Dean scowled at her and tried to snatch away the book, but she went on pretending he didn't exist. "You're boring. I hope the new one's not like you."

Bobby chuckled to himself, hoping the new one was like the quieter of the twins. Dean was a fun handful, but Cordelia was easy to take care of.

Dean stumbled his way into the kitchen and stood up on his toes, peering over the counter to watch Bobby "cook." He scanned the table, then said, "Do we have pie?"

"Not your momma's pie, but there's some in the fridge—you leave that pie for after dinner, Dean Winchester," Bobby added as Dean slunk over to the fridge, then guiltily slid away from it. Discovering for the third time that week that he could slide across the floor on his socks, Dean giggled his joy and slid around.

"Look, Cora, I'm an ice skater!"

Cordelia looked up from her book just as Dean slammed into the ground. "And the crowd goes wild!" She mimicked the sounds of a cheering crowd, which turned into giggles as Dean peeled himself up off the floor and glared at her.

"Oh, you think it's funny, do you?" He threw himself at her, tickling her until they both slid off the couch and rough housed on the floor.

Then one of Bobby's many phones started to ring. They both stopped instantly. "Dad?" they asked.

Bobby wiped his hands off and answered the phone. "Bobby Singer speaking." He was silent, glancing at the twin Winchesters staring up at him from the ground. "Yeah? One second, lemme tell the kids." He lowered the phone and said, "You've got a brother, kids!"

"YES!" howled Dean, punching the air in triumph.

"Nooo, I wanted a sister," whined Cora.

John's laughter was audible as Bobby said, "Well, Dean's overjoyed and Cora's less than enthusiastic. She wants a sister." He waited a moment, then said, "Maybe next time, Cora."

"Another sister?" Dean said. "Yick!"

Cora scowled and punched his shoulder. "Well, if I have to deal with you and another you, you get to deal with me and another me!"

"Sisters are boring, they don't like to play. They just like their stupid books," Dean said, pulling the bookmark out of Cora's book. She gave an unholy screech in return, Dean's name buried somewhere in the awful sound.