Beautiful ( a Supernatural DEAN x OC ff)

Tangled Web

A/N: Hey guys! So this one's a little bit on the short side but the next chapter is already in progress because when I finished this one I didn't have internet access. The next chapter is also a great one for me personally because we're gonna have a detour from episode-strict content because there's a lot that would happen in the in-between moments of this episode when you consider Lillian as a factor! So yeah! I hope y'all enjoy and as always feel free to leave comments letting me know what you like! Thanks guys!

    "Well I found something," Bobby said, gesturing to a nearby map. "But I'm not sure what the hell it means."

"What is it," Lil asked curiously. She leaned over his shoulder, trying to figure out what he was pointing to.

"Demonic omens... Like a fricken' tidal wave. Cattle deaths. Lightning storms. They skyrocketed from out of nowhere." He pointed to a certain part of Southern Wyoming. "All around the state except for this part. That one area's totally clean - spotless."

"It's almost as if..." Lillian trailed off as she found herself studying the map.

"What?" Sam asked.

"The demons are surrounding it," Bobby finished.

"But you don't know why?" Dean growled, frustrated by the unanswered questions that seemed to hang in the room.

"No," the oldest hunter shrugged. "By this point, my eyes are swimming. Sam, would you take a look at it? Maybe you could catch something that I couldn't." As Sam nodded, Bobby continued. "Come on, Dean. I got some more books in the truck. Help me lug 'em in."

Dean flinched, knowing full well what was about to happen. He nodded, heading to do as he was told. Suddenly, Lil whirled around, a wide, false smile plastered onto her face. "Oh, I'll come help!" At that Dean froze. Bobby shrugged, sending him a withering glare. "What's the matter, Dean? Don't want your bestie tagging along?" she batted her eyes innocently, but instantly, the oldest Winchester's eyes flew to his brother. Luckily, Sam was already fully absorbed in his research.

At last, Dean shrugged, defeated. "Not at all Lil. You know I can't get enough of you."

***

Finally, they reached a point in the junkyard where it was safe to talk. They stopped. Immediately, Lil turned from her place in front of Dean, spinning on her heels to slap him. He reeled back, stunned.

"You stupid, stupid boy!" Bobby yelled. "What did you do?" He shoved the younger hunter.

Lillian crossed her arms, doing everything she could to hold back her emotions. "You made a deal...For me and Sam. Didn't you?" When he didn't respond, she looked away, blinking back tears.

"How long they give you?" Bobby snapped.

Dean's eyes flicked to Lillian, his heart throbbing in his chest at the sight of her. "Bobby..."

"How long?" She shouted, turning to glare at him.

"A year," he blurted before he could think. Instantly, all trace of color drained from his best friend's face. She stepped back, visibly reeling in horror.

Bobby stared. "Daggum it Dean!" he snapped...

The young man held up his hands to calm them. "Which is why we gotta find this yellow-eyed jerk. That's why I'm gonna kill him myself. I mean, I got nothing to lose now, right?" At that, the redhead's face closed off, all traces of emotion vanishing. Her eyes were so cold it shook him to the core. Bobby rushed forward, grabbing Dean by the collar.

"I could throttle you boy!" The oldest Winchester boy shrugged in feigned indifference. On the inside, he was dying to run to Lil. To hold her. To tell her that it was all gonna be okay. But instead, he just rolled his eyes at Bobby, trying hard to avoid the sight of her.

The older hunter backed away, stunned and disgusted by the boy who stood in front of him. "What is it with you Winchesters huh? You, your dad. You're both just itching to throw yourselves down the pit!"

"That's my point!" At that, the redhead snapped her attention fully back to her best friend. "Dad brought me back. I'm not even supposed to be here. At least this way, something good could come out of it, you know? I-I-It's like my life could mean something."

At that Lillian's face began to rapidly start changing, shifting to match her hair in color. Her hands curled into fists. She stepped closer, getting up in his face as she shouted at him. "What? And it didn't before? Have you got that low of an opinion of yourself? Are you that screwed in the head?" She started to spin away again when he grabbed her by the arm, holding her in place and forcing her to make eye contact with him..

For a long moment, they just stared at each other. Both were at a loss for words as they let their eyes communicate everything they were feeling. Whatever anger Lillian expressed, for that moment, the only thing her bright green eyes conveyed was a deep sadness. He saw something in her that terrified him in those eyes. He hadn't seen anything like this in a very long time. Not since her father had she looked so utterly destroyed. In his eyes, she saw dozens of emotions. She saw that same sadness, but she also saw regret, pity, and most clearly, sheer determination.

The moment passed all too quickly, and soon Dean began to choke on tears that had been building, waiting to be released. "I couldn't let you guys die, Lily." He took a second to try in vain to regain his composure. "I couldn't. He's my brother. You're... You're my best friend. Ain't no way... I wasn't gonna just lose you like that." Now tears were streaming down both of their cheeks. Even Bobby was visibly crying at the sight of the pair.

"How do you think I feel then?" She whispered. "How is your brother gonna feel? How'd you feel went you knew your dad went for you?"

Dean shook his head, his stubbornness not lost in the midst of the chaos. "I'm sorry Lil. You guys weren't supposed to find out." He hesitated, glancing back and forth between the father and daughter. "You can't tell him." Bobby's mouth opened to protest, but the Winchester boy cut him off. "You can take a shot at me, whatever you got to do but please."

Bobby cried and Lil found herself frozen as they watched the crying boy that stood before them. Finally, Lil started forward, rushing to him. She nearly knocked him over with the force of the hug she gave him. He let his chin rest on her head as she clung to him. He squeezed his eyes shut, failing miserably at holding back tears as he rocked back and forth, trying to calm her.

Suddenly, a loud clank sounded from across the junkyard. Instantly, the three dropped to the ground, Dean still shielding Lillian. She pushed him off, crawling around behind him as they wove through the cars towards the sound... Finally, she lunged, the boys following suit as they grabbed the intruder.

No sooner had Lillian grabbed the figure by her shoulders than she recognized who it was. She flew backward as if burned by the touch. "Ellen?" she gasped.