The Protector

Chapter Three: Dean Winchester

3.

Leodora walked up and down the aisles of the grocery store, reading the list that Lisa had sent with her. She was supposed to pick up some decorations and Ben's cake and a few other things. It was Ben's birthday today. She was also going to get some clothes and other things that she'd need to stay for a while.

Leodora loaded groceries into the cart. She picked up streamers and balloons and other such party necessities. Now, she just needed the cake and to buy Ben a present.

Leo walked around the toy aisle a while, unsure of what Ben would like. She had remembered that when she'd walked by his room last night, AC/DC was playing. She hadn't thought much of it, other than he had an excellent taste in music, but now, that'd be his gift.

Now that she had his gift, she needed his cake. Leo went to the bakery, "Hi, um, I'm here for a cake. It should be under Lisa Braeden?"

"It says "Happy Birthday Ben"?" The woman asked.

"That's the one," Leo nodded, the woman handed the cake over. It had a red guitar on the top and the words were written in red icing that stood out against the black background.

Leodora quickly checked out and sped back to Lisa's house. They had about an hour and a half before people began to show up.

Leodora unloaded the car with the help of Ben and Lisa. The three went around the house decorating. Leo and Ben were in charge of hanging the banner.

"Is it high enough?" Leo asked, looking down at Ben who was watching her hang it.

"No, no, that side needs to go higher."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, obviously," Ben retorted and watched Leo pull it up higher, "Wait, wait! Lower, no, higher, there!" Leo pinned it into the wall and hopped down the stool she was precariously stand on. "It's perfect!" Ben exclaimed happily.

"Ben, it's really lopsided," Leo raised an eyebrow at him.

"And it's perfect," Ben retorted, daring her to say anything against it.

"Okay, alright," Leodora raised her hands in surrender. Just then, the doorbell rang.

"I wonder if it's a hot chick," Ben said as the two watched Lisa open the door. Leo rolled her eyes at him, Ben sighed when it was only one of his friends, "James will do, I guess." He ran off into the backyard with the other little boy.

She was assigned to watch the kids while the parents talked amongst themselves. Leo sat Indian style on the lawn, letting the young girls braid her hair. She had never been particularly good with children, but they seemed to like playing with hair. That, she could stand.

Suddenly, a man in a dark brown leather jacket came into the backyard, looking around at the party goers awkwardly. There was something hauntingly familiar about him. Leo had never met the man, but he seemed to carry the same grief as she.

"Excuse me girls," she told them and pulled away from their small hands. She approached the man, "Hi, I'm Leo. Lisa didn't mention a man coming. Who're you?"

The man seemed to smirk at her sudden appearance. "I'm Dean. Dean Winchester," he held at his hand, his eyes flitting across her features, pausing briefly on her necklace before returning to her face.

Leo, however, had paled considerably. She'd heard about the Winchesters and if they were around, there was something going on.

"Nice to meet you, Dean Winchester," Leo said after a moment.

Ben had began to open his presents and at that moment, Ben had opened her's.

"Yes! AC/DC rules!" Ben exclaimed. Leo grinned at her success. Dean looked indifferent. Over Dean's shoulder, Leodora spotted Lisa walking toward Dean and she took this as her shot to leave.