Growing Up

Long Live Rock'n'roll

After Sam had pulled himself together enough he stood and turned to Dean. He stared into his brothers eyes for a moment before nodding. "I'll tell her."

Dean nodded and followed his brother out of the room, casting a glance back at Jess' body. She now lay on the bed, her knees bent slightly and to the left. Her arms resting in a way no funeral home would put them, one with the fingers curled by her head, brushing her forehead; the other hand lying open by her stomach, waiting for Sam's hand so she could fall asleep.

Sam took a shaggy breath and walked determined toward the Impala, were Bobby and Mary sat chatting. He put his hand on the handle and closed his eyes, thinking a short prayer in his head, begging for the strength to do this. He pulled the door open, and squatted to be face to face with Mary. He pushed the tangled blond curls out of her face to stare at the hazel eyes he had handed down to her himself. "Listen, Mary. The doctors tried their best, but, but uh." Sam's voice cracked as he spoke and he looked up, trying to keep the tears out of his eyes. Bobby nodded to him and Dean squatted beside his brother, placing a hand on his shoulder. "They couldn't fix it, they couldn't fix Mama." Sam choked on air as he looked up again.

"Did they let Uncle Dean try?" Mary asked, still not quite understanding what her father was trying to tell her. All three men looked bewildered, and three sets of eyes locked onto Dean. "Uncle Dean promised me he would do anything he could to help Mama." Mary explained, looking to Dean for conformation. Warm tears pooled around Dean's green eyes, as he croaked out an agreement.

"He tried his best, but he couldn't either. Mama, uh, Mama died." Sam's bottom lip began to quiver as Mary finally realized. She crawled out of the car and into her father's arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. "She said to make sure to tell you she loves you, forever." Sam cried, holding Mary so tight he worried he might have been hurting her. Bobby and Dean had salty tears falling down their cheeks, and Mary and Sam clung to each other, too afraid to lose the other.

Finally Bobby cleared his throat, "Why don't we call it a day and head back home?" Sam held Mary and moved into the passenger side of the front bench. Bobby got out of the driver's seat and sat in the middle of the back seat. Dean slid in behind the wheel and started it up. The sound of her engine running, seemed to calm all the passengers. As Dean pulled out, Bobby placed his hand onto Sam's shoulder, which Sam laid his head onto as Dean popped a tape in. "Gunter glieben glauchen globen!" Rang through the Impala and Sam gave a little huff.

"Alright. I got something to say." Dean sang, casting a glance over at Sam. Mary sniffled on his shoulder, and Sam was rubbing her back. Rock of Ages played on and Dean sang with it as loud as he could. He took the long way back to Sam's house. "Drive me crazier, no serenade. No fire brigade, just Pyromania." Dean called, looking once more at Sam, who was muttering the lyrics. Mary wiped her nose and pulled her head up to rest her chin on Sam's shoulder. She was mouthing along when she looked up at Bobby and waved. Bobby shook his head with a chuckle and waved.

"Long live rock'n'roll!" The Winchesters all three yelled. Bobby sighed with a grin and began to join in. Together they blared Def Leppard as Dean broke the speed limit. "What do you want? What do you want?" Dean reached over and scratched Mary's shoulder, causing her to lift her head up and look at him.

"I want rock'n'roll!" Mary sat up and yelled extra loud.

"Alright!" Dean smiled, looking at Sam, who returned it.

"Long live rock'n'roll!" The four of them screamed, smiles finally gracing the beautiful faces. They sang all the way through the next verse and Dean turned his head to Mary with a smile that only she ever got from him.

"What do you want? What do you want?" He demanded, and Sam and Bobby sat silent, watching Dean and Mary expectantly.

Mary pulled her shoulders back and sat up straight on Sam's lap. "I want Rock'n'roll!" She told him as loud as her voice would allow, the smile on her face glowing brighter than the sun through Dean's windshield.

"You betcha!" Dean agreed, drumming his hands on the wheel and pouting his lips together.

"Long live rock'n'roll!" They all joined in again, chuckling without a care in the world. They sang on, air instruments to finish out the song. "We're gonna burn this-" Sam threw his hand over his mouth and Mary followed suit, giggling at her father, "-place down. Down to the ground!" And they smiled at each other and Dean smiled glancing over at the two of them, and Bobby smiled at the whole front bench. This was it for them, when life hands you lemons, you throw the lemons into the back seat and sing so loud and drive so fast that the lemons burst in a rain of sour victory. Because the cure for any sadness in this family was the worn leather of the Impala, Classic Rock, time and alcohol. And Sammy would be utilizing all four parts in the days to come.

With the comfort of Baby, they rode back to Sam's house listening to the rest of the tape. Dean pulled it in smooth and parked, the tragedy finally catching up with them. Sam carried Mary out of the car, digging his keys from his pocket and unlocking the door. Bobby followed but Dean leaned against the Impala and nodded at Bobby with his phone at his ear. "I'll be in in just a second." Bobby nodded and closed the door behind him. "Hey, Jo." Dean smiled, stuffing a hand into his pocket.

"Hey yourself." She replied, leaning against the counter at the Roadhouse, keeping a watch for Ellen.

"I need a favor." He told her, kicking his feet around.

"What do what, Winchester?" She grinned, straightening up to wipe down the counter as Ellen left the kitchen.

"Well, I need you to teach me how to braid Mary's hair." Dean looked down at his feet as he moved them back and forth.

"Why? Oh. So Jess is gone?" Jo stopped and leaned on one arm still moving the towel around.

"Yeah, about an hour ago. Well, sort of." He sighed a little.

"I'd love to show you, Dean. I'll be there in 45 minutes. I'm taking off early, Mom! Ash, you owe me twenty bucks!" She yelled through the restaurant as she exchanged her apron for her keys. She ducked out quickly and practically ran to her car.

"Why does Ash owe you twenty bucks?" He questioned.

"I told him you two couldn't handle Mary for more than three hours before you asked for my help." She replied smugly, her biggest smile plastered across her face.

"Hey, I watched her all last night and basically all morning." Dean said. "Without your help, too."

"Mhmm, when did her hair get messed up?" Jo teased, turning onto the highway.

"That wasn't my fault." Dean told her automatically, snapping his eyes shut as soon as he had.

"Yeah, I know. You just don't know what you're doing. That's why you're lucky to have me." She informed him, grinning.

"That's not the only reason." He muttered, squeezing his eyes tighter and pinching the bridge of his nose.

Jo felt her face grow red as she coolly said "What? I couldn't hear you."

"Hmm, oh, nothing. I was talking to Sammy." He covered, debating whether or not he had made the right decision.

"Oh, okay." She brushed it off. "So speaking of Sam, how's he taking it so far?"

"As would be expected." Dean replied, casting a glance at the house, seeing Sam pace around with Mary on his shoulder. Her hair was still a mess and she was clutching James with one arm and Sam's neck with the other, eyes closed.