Hayden & Dean (The Sequel) - A Tethered Love

Chapter 16: Exhaustion

"you want me to work here?" Rowena spits out when we walk her into an old run down building.

"It's where we do our best work" Dean mocks from the front of our line.

Rowena and Sam are behind him and I am taking up the rear with the bag of things she brought along from the bank. We've been driving for almost an entire day and all 3 of us are exhausted. "This is a dump" She whimpers out once chained to a table and chair "I hardly think I could get anything worth while done here."

"tough luck" I grumble from a corner, waiting for them to be done so we can leave. "So, Cas is going to watch her?" I ask Dean with questionable eyes.

"and Sammy, we have other things to take care" he tries to tell me.

"You talking about Paul, right?" Rowena sings from her chair.

Dean gives her a death glare as I do and she smiles back like it's no big deal "don't speak of him" Dean growls, moving closer to her to tighten the chain around her ankle.

She chuckles "ow" she finally stops when it's tightened on snug "fine. Can we just get started already" her eyes roll slowly.

I ignore her and Dean leaves her side and comes over to me "he'll be here soon.. We can head out.."

"You sure?" I ask.

He nods "ya, Sam's got it for now. She ain't goin' nowhere."

I wrap my arm around his waist and we walk out together. We get to the car and drive away in silence. It's another 16 hour drive before we are back home with Paul "I'm exhausted" I say resting my hand against my head.

"me too babe" Dean sighs out.

"No.. Dean.. I'm exhausted. I don't know how I can keep doing this" I tell him honestly.

He sighs again, putting a hand to his head, resting his elbow on the window "It will be over soon H. Rowena has this book now, we can cure Paul and move on from this." His voice is low when talking to me.

"you think it'll be that easy?" I ask him, the weight of everything exhausting me beyond my own comprehension.

He nods "maybe not for us, but for him. And isn't that what matters most?" He asks.

"Don't do that Dean." I push back. He looks at me, not sure what he did "say something like that. Of course it's what matters most." I roll my eyes. He tries to speak up again but I don't let him "just stop, forget it" I wave my hand and keep looking out the window.

We get back to the house and I go inside without waiting. My dad is asleep on the couch and I sit down next to him, my movement waking him up "huh, what.." He jolts forward a little.

"It's just me" I say putting my hand on his arm. His breath shortens and nods "Paul asleep?" I ask him, not seeing him or Lizette.

He nods, wiping at his mouth "uh yea, been out for a bit myself. She must be in the room with him." He says going to stand up.

I follow him into the room where Lizette sits on a chair, knitting something and Paul lay in his crib, fast asleep. I go over to his crib and wipe a finger across his head "he feels a bit warm" I comment.

"He's fine" Lizette says back to me, standing up and going to the door where a bag sits. "Sir, we can leave now?" She asks.

"Everything okay?" I ask her, her attitude strange to me.

My dad responds "yes, Your mother called, she isn't feeling well and wants Lizette back instantly" He rolls his eyes.

"If she's not feeling well, you could have called and told me." I tell him "I would have came home so you can go." I may not get along with my mother, but he is her husband, and if she's concerned, maybe he should be too.

"I'm sure it's nothing, a bad hangover probably" he waves his hand.

"Hope you're not talking about my son." Dean walks in with a chuckle. He goes over to Paul's crib "he feels warm."

"Maybe we should take him to a doctor." I move from the side of my father back to the crib "cause I said the same thing." I look down at the sleeping baby.

"Give him nights rest" Lizette argues softly. "Sir, may we take our leave now?" She asks.

"Yes, yes, fine Lizettte. We will get going" He huffs back to the women. "Hayden, thank you for allowing me to spend time with my grandson. Who knew what joy such a little thing to bring into the world." He beams. He gives me a hug and I return it back.

"Dean, take care of these 2." He juts his hand out for a handshake.

Dean takes it "of course, sir" he responds. Even though I'm still a bit mad at Dean for what he said in the car, I smile when he responds back. This is something I never would have imagined to happen in my life. If only my mother wasn't still such a raging bitch.

I walk them both out the door and the house goes quiet. Once they pull away and I shut the door I turn and see Dean standing in the doorway, his eyes only on me. "I'm sorry" I sigh out, he face contouring into a smile. He opens his arms for me to go into and I do. I let him hold me up and wrap both my arms around his back, trying to grip them together. I don't cry, but I just let myself feel secure there, let myself believe that it will be alright. We go to sleep soon after that, checking on Paul one more time before retreating to our room.

Paul wakes us up in the middle of the night with his cries. They are clogged and whimpery and the poor guy is more warm then when we first got home. "I'll stay up, go back to bed" Dean tells me after we get him from his crib.

"no, it's alright. I won't be able to sleep knowing he's not feeling well anyway." I say to him as he holds him close to his chest, bouncing to try and sooth him. "I'll heat up a bottle, maybe that'll help him sleep." I leave and make my way to the kitchen.

When I get back into the room, I stop just before the door as I hear Dean saying something to Paul. The closer I listen, the easier I can tell that he is singing to him

"Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man
Though my mind could think I still was a mad man
I hear the voices when I'm dreaming,
I can hear them say

Carry on my wayward son,

There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more"

I step in as he has stopped and see my sleeping son in his arms "well, that worked" I whisper with a smile.

He smiles back "Go to sleep Hayd.. I'll be in soon" He says to me. I kiss him on the forehead, leaving the bottle on a small table next to the crib and go back to bed.