Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Now

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The Impala rolled through the back gates of the convent. They came to a stop and Sam looked up at the grand building in front of them.

"This is it, Sammy. This is where Kayla was born."

"In there?" Sam asked, pointing at the large convent.

"Well, technically in the hospice just over there." Dean pointed across the lawn to where the roof of the hospice was just visible above some trees.

Dean had been taking Sam on a whistle stop tour of the US and Canada showing him all the places he had stayed and hunted during the months he had spent apart from his brother. The convent was one of the last stops on the journey. They climbed from the car and Dean retrieved Kayla from her seat in the back and placed her on her feet beside him. He took her hand and they began to walk towards the back door of the convent.

The door opened and Mother Superior walked out. She smiled in greeting. Dean had been keeping in contact with her so she wasn't surprised to see him in his natural form as a man.

"Hello Sister Agnes," Dean said with a familiar smile.

"Dana, oh, I guess it's Dean now. How good it is to see you again."

The elderly nun embraced him and then stood back holding him at arms length so she could give him the once over.

"Well, when you told me you were actually a man, you never told me just how handsome you are," she teased him. Dean smiled shyly and looked down slightly embarrassed. Sister Agnes looked down at Kayla who was clinging to Dean's leg. "Oh my goodness! Is this Kayla?"

She crouched down so she was eye level with the two year old.

"Hello Kayla, how are you?" Sister Agnes tickled Kayla on the stomach but the child just snuggled closer to her father.

Dean bent down and picked her up, settling her on his hip before holding out his hand and helping the mother Superior to her feet.

"She's getting so big, Dean. The pictures you send don't do her justice."
"I know. I can't believe how fast time is flying by. She'll be heading off to college before I know it," Dean replied.

Sister Agnes nodded then turned her attention to Sam.

"Oh, this giant moose is my little brother Sammy," Dean said, introducing them with a thumb pointed in Sam's direction. "Sammy this is the Mother Superior of the convent Sister Agnes Christopher."

"Samuel, it's so nice to finally meet you too. I have heard so much about you." Sister Agnes said, holding her hand out.

"It's Sam and I'm pleased to meet you too, Sister," Sam said, shaking the nun's hand in return.

Sister Agnes ushered them inside and they sat down to catch up over coffee. Dean learned that several of the sisters had moved on to other postings, but Sister Andrea was still in residence though she was currently at the hospice checking on some patients.

Dean showed Sam around the grounds and with the Mother Superiors permission took him up the stairs to show him the cell he had stayed in. Sam looked around and immediately spied all the small warding's Dean had placed around the room.

"This is nice, and I'm glad you and Kayla had somewhere safe to stay," he said as he rubbed his thumb over a small sigil in the door frame. "But how did you end up here anyway?"

**********
Then

**********

'Can't yet Sammy. Love you brother.'

The call was disconnected and the phone dismantled almost as soon as the words were out of Dana's mouth. She knew without doubt that Sam would be trying to call her back and she couldn't risk him being able to get through. She couldn't go home yet, it wasn't safe.

She took a few minutes to cry. Her whole body ached with the need to go to Sam, to wrap her arms around him and tell him she's sorry for leaving him, but right now she had someone else to protect. Someone almost as special as Sam.

Taking a few deep breaths, Dana smoothed her hands over her rounded belly and smiled down at the child nestled in her womb.

"Okay Bean, time to get moving. No doubt Uncle Sammy's on his way here right now."

With her pristine passport and clean license plates on the Impala, crossing into Canada was far easier than Dana had expected. It was a hell of a lot easier than shaking the scratchy throat that had plagued her that's for sure. Eight hours after her border crossing, the itchy throat had turned into a chesty cough, not at all helped by the freak cold snap that decided to roll in. Fourteen hours after entering Canada Dana pulled into the parking lot of a dark and quiet church. Her nose was running, her chest ached from the continuous coughing and her throat felt like she was swallowing shards of glass. She gripped the steering wheel and stared at the structure through the pouring rain. Her body was wracked with fierce shivers while her shin burned and beaded with perspiration.

Dana reached over the back of the seat, a difficult task with her baby belly hampering her movements, and grabbed a rolled up sleeping bag. Opening the door to the vehicle, she carefully climbed out into the rain and quickly closed and locked Baby tightly before running across the parking lot. She had money but it was dwindling fast after spending the last few months on the road, so right now she was hesitant to spend any on a hotel room for the night, and no offense to Baby, but the church was her safest option for a dry nights sleep.

She tried the door and was relieved to find it unlocked. Taking her sleeping bag she slipped through and into the nave of the church. Dana looked around and found a nice cozy looking corner, stifling a cough she made her way behind the pews and set her sleeping bag down. She unrolled it then removed her wet jacket. Yawning she slipped inside the sleeping bag and pulled it around her shoulders as best she could. The shivers slowly subsided but didn't completely disappear. She placed a hand on her stomach to calm the baby moving inside.

"It's okay Bean, we're just gonna stop for the night. I promise we will find something better tomorrow," she whispered in the darkness.

Another coughing fit overcame her and this time when it eased she was left tired enough to just close her eyes and wait for sleep to claim her, which it finally did.

**********

Sister Agnes Christopher, Mother Superior of the holy convent of the Divine Harbor, loved this time of the early morning, just as dawn was breaking. The mist was still clinging to the gardens after the summer storms of the last few days as she crossed the gardens from the convent to the chapel. She used the side door through the vestry and entered the nave. After genuflecting to the cross she closed her eyes and breathed in the peace of the quiet church. These moments of solitude always made her feel closer to God and centred her before the bustle of her fellow sisters of Christ entered the church for their morning worship.

The thing about these older churches is that they were built before microphones and loudspeakers, therefore were designed to carry sound. As the mother superior basked in the peaceful silence a small sound reached her ears. She frowned and turned her head, straining her ears towards the sound. She heard it again. A small rustle and wheezing cough. She gathered the skirts of her habit in her hands and carefully made her way down the aisle towards the back of the church, looking down each row of pews as she moved, her faith in the protection of her God so great that she never once considered her own safety as she investigated the source of the noises.

At the back of the nave, tucked in between the last pew and the wall of the narthex, was a bundle of material. Underneath that bundle, the Mother Superior could just see a head poking out.

"Hello?" She greeted the person. "Are you alright?"

The person coughed again and let out a small groan as they curled in on themselves. Even under the bulky material of what seemed to be a sleeping bag, Mother Superior could see them shivering.

"Hello child, do you need help?" She asked, carefully moving into the space to assess the person beneath the sleeping bag.

She began to lean down and reached for the covers when a voice called to her.

"Mother Superior? Is everything alright?"

The mother superior looked up to see several of the nuns looking in her direction. She flipped her hand for them to silence and turned back to the person on the floor in front of her. She reached down and drew the blankets back to see a young woman in a semi conscious state.

"Hello? Can we help you?" She asked as she placed the back of her fingers against the woman's cheek. The stranger's eyelids fluttered and opened and Mother Superior could tell just from the unfocused glassiness of her eyes and the tight flush of her skin that this child was sick and needed urgent medical care.

"Mother? What is it?" One of the nuns had crept close and was trying to see over her mothers shoulder.

"Sister Mary Francis, go fetch the doctor immediately!" She instructed the nun over her shoulder. "This child needs medical help."

"No…no doc…no hospital…" Dana mumbled and coughed, shaking her head even as Sister Mary Francis hurried away.

"Shhh, be still, child. You're safe here. We have a hospice, we will take care of you," Mother Superior soothed Dana.

Father Morgan appeared beside the Mother Superior.

"Sister Agnes, what is going on?" He asked, leaning over the pew.

"This girl, she's very sick. I'm sorry, Reverend, but I think we will have to delay this morning's worship." She pushed up off her knees and looked at the priest. "Help me move this pew, Timothy, so we can get her out easier."

Sister Agnes slapped her hand quietly on the wooden back of the pew and backed out. Between them, the priest and sisters managed to move the heavy wooden seat to enable the doctor space to examine the stranger on the floor.

Mary Francis returned with the doctor and two orderlies in tow. The doctor moved into the clear space to examine Dana then instructed the orderlies to transfer her to the hospice attached to the convent.

With Dana barely coherent, they managed to extract her from her little den and move her into a wheelchair the hospice staff had brought with them. They were slightly surprised to see she was pregnant.

The Mother Superior watched with concern as they wheeled the young woman away. She turned and summoned one of the nuns to her.

"Sister Andrea Gabriel, please accompany the doctor and assist him any way he needs."

"But what about morning worship?" Sister Andrea asked in a hushed whisper.

"Sister," Mother superior said as she placed a hand on Sister Andreas' shoulder and smiled down at the younger nun. "I appreciate your dedication to our Father, but the good Lord placed this lost child in our path for a reason, and right now I believe He would understand that your care of her is a little more important than the lip service you would be paying him if you remain here."

Sister Andrea nodded once.

"Yes, Reverend Mother." She turned and hurried out the side door and followed the doctor.

Sister Agnes returned her attention to the rest of the sisters gathered around.

"Come now, the excitement is over. Take your places and prepare for worship."

**********

Dana woke up slowly. She felt hot and heavy, her brain like it was filled with cotton wool. She looked around her until the room came into focus. She could determine she was in some kind of hospital room or doctor's clinic. She lifted her left arm and saw a needle inserted in her vein. She slowly lifted her other hand and reached for it to remove it. She didn't know what was going on but she also didn't plan on sticking around to find out.

"That would be a very bad idea." A voice came to her as she was about to work on the clear tape holding it in place.

Dana looked around and saw an older woman dressed in black standing in the doorway, looking every bit like she had stepped out of one of Dana's nightmares.

"Who are you?" Dana croaked out, her throat dry and voice rusty from disuse.

The woman smiled and stepped into the room.

"My name is Sister Agnes Christopher. I am the Mother Superior of the convent of the Divine Harbor. I found you inside our chapel," the Reverend mother explained.

"Where am I now?" Dana asked.

"We brought you to our hospice and treated you. You were very sick."

"How…how long have I been here?"

"Three days."

"Three days! I've got to go!" Dana scrambled to try and sit up and get out of the bed but a wave of dizziness had her swaying in her seat.

Sister Agnes rushed to steady Dana with gentle hands on her shoulders.

"I don't think that would be for the best, for either you, or your child. We have you on some very strong I.V. antibiotics, and can offer you a place that's warm and safe and dry to rest up," she informed Dana.

"I don't have much money," Dana admitted.

"If it's just the cost you're worried about, don't worry. The hospice is run by the convent and funded by the church and community donations. There will be no bill for your treatment. It would be redundant to bill someone for necessary treatment when they are clearly in need, wouldn't it? Charity, after all, begins at home," Sister Agnes said.

"Yeah, I guess," Dana admitted, looking away in shame.

The Mother Superior helped Dana lay back on the bed and propped her up with some extra pillows to make her more comfortable.

"How far along are you?" She asked.

Dana ran her hand over her swollen belly.

"'Bout eight months, I think. Kinda lost track, but I just want it to be done now."

Sister Agnes chuckled.

"Ah yes, I have heard that to be true." She nodded.

"You don't have kids yourself?" Dana asked, then mentally chastised herself for asking a nun such a dumb question.

"No, I dedicated myself to the order at a very young age, but I have several nieces and nephews and my sisters have told me the same."

"Do you see them often?" Dana asked, squirming against her pillows, trying to find a comfortable position. "Your nieces and nephews."

"Not as often as I would like, but having said that, they are also no longer small children. I'm sure they have nieces and nephews of their own." Sister Agnes chuckled and reached for a jug of water and glass on the nightstand. She poured the water and held it out to Dana, who took the glass and sipped. She handed the glass back to Sister Agnes, who returned it to the nightstand.

"I've been out for three days?" Dana asked.

"Yes. You had quite a bad chest infection. You were almost delirious with your fever."

Dana nodded.

"And, is…is my baby okay?" Dana asked, rubbing her belly.

"Yes. Your child is quite well." Sister Agnes replied. "Sister Andrea Gabriel has been keeping a close eye on you both."

A quiet knock sounded on the doorframe drawing the attention of both Dana and the Reverend Mother.

"'Speak of the devil…'" Sister Agnes said with a wry smile.

Dana looked on, slightly surprised that a nun would speak so easily of Lucifer in a holy convent, as the nun in the doorway crossed herself.

"Don't look so shocked, young lady, I'll confess to the Reverend tomorrow, but for now I will leave you in Sister Andrea's capable hands." The Mother Superior left the room, placing a hand on Sister Andrea's shoulder as she left.

Dana watched as Sister Andrea entered the room.

"It is good to see you awake," she said as she washed her hands. "You really did give us quite the fright finding you in the chapel like that."

"Yeah, sorry about that," Dana said, laying back against the pillows. "I didn't intend to be there that long. I guess I was sicker than I thought."

"Yes, you were quite ill, but you seem to be on the mend now," Sister Andrea agreed. "I'm Sister Andrea Gabriel."

"De…um…Dana. Pleased to meet you."

"And I, you. Now, would it be okay if I examine you and check on the baby before the doctor comes?"

"You? You're going to check on the baby? What, are you going to do a little bit of…" Dana waved her hands about over her belly. "I don't know…holy perception?"

Sister Andrea frowned and shook her head. She pulled a stethoscope from a drawer in a nearby metal cabinet.

"No, I was thinking of using this," she said, holding the medical device up.

"Oh, okay then." Dana shrugged then waited for the nun. Sister Andrea had Dana lay down on the bed, then pushed the blankets down leaving her legs covered and moved her hospital gown away from the baby bump. Dana flinched as the nun put the metal end of the stethoscope to her skin.

"Sorry, it can be a little cold." The nun rubbed it against her palm a bit then resumed listening to Dana's belly. She stood up with a quiet hum. "That all sounds good."

"Do you even know what you're listening for?" Dana asked, looking at the nun sceptically.

"Yes. I'm a trained midwife," Sister Andrea said as she turned away and switched the stethoscope for a measuring tape.

"Really? They let you go to college?"

"No. When the war broke out in my home country, I would pray to God that if my family could be spared I would dedicate my life to Him. After we were forced to flee our home, my father managed to secure a position here, in Canada. He is a Professor of Biology and the university of Vancouver helped bring my parents, my brothers and myself safely across the sea and helped us settle. I studied midwifery at the university, but after I graduated I decided it was not of enough service to Father. We do not have nuns in Serbia, but I felt this is where my calling was."

"Awesome. Well, whatever brought you here, I'm certainly glad it did," Dana said.

Sister Andrea smiled at Dana then took some measurement, poking and prodding into Dana's belly as she did so. Eventually satisfied, Sister Andrea helped Dana sit up. The constant moving about bringing on a coughing fit.

The nun rubbed Dana's back and soothed her until the coughing passed, then helped her take a drink of water.

"Is my baby doing okay?" Dana asked.

"How far along are you?" Sister Andrea asked.

"Beans due for arrival in about three weeks, I think," Dana said.

"Bean?"

"Yeah, I hated calling Bean 'it' all the time, so I named it, 'Bean'," Dana explained.

Sister Andrea smiled.

"I see. Well, if you are as far along as you say you are then Bean is doing quite well. A little on the smaller side, but otherwise, Bean has a good strong heartbeat which is a very good indication of a healthy child. Does Bean move around a lot? Do you get many kicks?"

"Oh yeah, this one moves around like a rotisserie chicken. Think's my bladder is a punching bag." Dana lovingly stroked her hands over her swollen belly.

"That's wonderful news. And how about you? Are you very active? Do you get enough sleep? Are you eating well?"

Dana chewed her lip and looked away.

"I've been, um, on the move a lot lately, so I'm not able to exercise like I used to. I was running, and then walking almost daily for a while, but I've been stuck in my car for the last few weeks, so…" Dana shrugged. "As for rest, I try to catch at least four to six hours a night. Eating? Well, I try to go for healthier options, but without a kitchen, it's hard, you know?"

"I understand. I think the doctor will probably want to keep you here for at least one more night, then, we have a cell prepared for you in the convent," sister Andrea said.

Dana tensed, a hand going protectively to her stomach.

"A cell? What? Why?"

"Oh, no, no, no." Sister Andrea held her hands out in a calming fashion. "A cell is what we call our rooms in the convent. A literal translation from the Latin meaning small room. They are tiny."

Dana relaxed back and yawned.

"Oh, good to know."

Dana sighed and closed her eyes for a moment before blinking them open again. Sister Andrea fixed Dana's blankets, then patted her on the knee.

"You should rest. The doctor will be here later to check on you."

"Okay," Dana agreed then snuggled down under the blankets. She was asleep before the nun had even exited the room.

**********

Dana was being pushed along a path that cut through the wide green expanse of the convents' gardens. She was dressed in a pair of sweats and a hoodie, the grounds keeper having retrieved her duffle from Baby.

"I could have walked you know," she grumbled.

"Yes, you probably could have," the Reverend Mother said as she kept pace beside them. "But this is doctors' orders, also in a couple of weeks when that child of yours makes an appearance you're going to look back at this moment and wish you could do it all again."

"I guess," Dana mumbled, playing with the strap of her duffle which was balanced across what remained of her lap. The nuns kept commenting on how small her baby bump was, but it sure took up enough space. "Hey, where is my car?"

"It was moved to the private parking spaces behind the main building, just over there," Sister Agnes said pointing to their left.

"Someone drove my car?" Dana asked.

"Of course. We couldn't just leave it out on the street forever. We are a small town but we still have crime, and your vehicle is too beautiful to leave out and tempt those with light fingers and darker souls." Sister Agnes said matter of factly.

"Oh, okay thanks," Dana replied.

They made it to the convents' back door. The orderly applied the brakes on the wheelchair and took Dana's bag before she struggled out of the chair and accepted Sister Agnes' help up the few steps. Her pride would have preferred it if she walked up the steps on her own. Her pride would also like to not fall on her ass and as her sickness had left her feeling weak and unbalanced she knew the latter was more likely to happen if she refused the help.

The door led into the kitchen and they carefully navigated their way through and then through the attached dining room. A short hallway to led them to the foyer and the main staircase.

"Unfortunately there are no cells on the ground floor but we have prepared one for you on the second floor." Sister Agnes told Dana as they approached the stairs.

"Are you sure you have room? I don't want to be forcing anyone out of their space," Dana asked.

"This convent is big enough to hold one hundred sisters. We currently have twenty seven nuns in residence. We keep several of the rooms open for convalescence purposes. Also, we do offer shelter to weary travellers and people in need. Females only, for our protection, and yours. The gatehouse out back is available for gentlemen if required." Sister Agnes explained as she helped Dana up the stairs.

By the time they made it to Dana's room she was practically dead on her feet. The room was small, as promised. It was painted plain white, which over the years had discolored to a dusty hue. Pushed into one corner was a single iron framed bed, which looked as old as the convent itself, a very narrow nightstand stood beside it which consisted of a small drawer and cupboard underneath. A plain wooden lamp with a brown shade sat on top of the nightstand, accompanied by the obligatory bible. A wooden cross was fixed on the wall above the bed head.

At the end of the bed was a wooden washstand and a tiny mirror hung on the wall above it. There was a thin wardrobe, not much wider than a gym locker, and a wooden chair against the wall beside the door. There was a single window which allowed the sun to stream in.

All in all the room was small but functional. It may not be the Ritz, but it was warm and dry and safe. Dana stepped inside and walked to the window.

"You have a beautiful view from here," sister Agnes said.

Dana looked down into the convents' rose garden. There was a large fountain surrounded by a path that was lined with large rose bushes. Nuns milled around. Some were tending the gardens, others were just sitting on the benches chatting. About what Dana didn't know, but it looked peaceful.

"It's lovely, thank you," Dana agreed as she turned away from the window.

The orderly placed her bag on the bed and left the two women alone in the room.

Would you like some help to unpack your belongings?" Sister Agnes asked, indicating to Dana's duffle sitting on the bed.

"No, thank you, I think I can manage," Dana replied.

She crossed the small distance between the window and bed and opened the zipper. Sister Agnes nodded.

"Very well. I'll leave you to get settled and rest up. I'll send one of the sisters up with some lunch in a few hours, and dinner will be served at six down in the dining room. Sister Andrea will be dropping by later to check on you," the older woman informed Dana.

"Thank you."

"The bathrooms are down the hall and there are fresh towels in the linen press to the right of them."

"Got it." Dana replied, stifling a yawn. "Man, I must be more tired than I thought. I think I will take a nap."

"Very good. I'll leave you in peace," sister Agnes said, grasping the door knob and stepping back from the doorway. "Rest well, and we shall see you for supper."

"You shall, and thank you again. For all of this," Dana said, gesturing around the room.

"You're welcome." Sister Agnes gave Dana a motherly smile then left the room, closing the door behind her.

As soon as the Mother Superior was out of the room, Dana sank onto the bed. She sat staring at the closed door for a few minutes before laying down and closing her eyes. She was still sick, and this last month of pregnancy was kicking her ass.

**********

She didn't know how long she slept, but when Dana opened her eyes there was a sandwich and glass of milk sitting on her nightstand. Scrubbing her eyes and stretching, Dana sat up and reached for the sandwich. She lifted one slice of bread to investigate the fillings then shrugged and took a bite.

The sandwich consisted of some kind of chicken mixture along with fresh salad. She sighed as she chewed. The lettuce was crispy, and the tomato was fresh, and the entire thing was a hell of a lot better than the service station nachos she had been living on the last few months. Bean gave a kick signalling their approval of the meal as well.

Dana devoured the sandwich and drank the milk. She even ate the apple that was beside the plate. After her meal was finished she gathered up her dishes and walked to her door. She stepped outside and looked around trying to remember which way the stairs were so she could take her dishes down to the kitchen. Just as she decided to go searching, a nun came out of a room to her left.

"Good afternoon. It's good to see you awake. I'm Sister Cecilia Francis."

"Yeah, hi. I'm Dana. Nice to meet you. Could you tell me where the kitchen is? I want to return these," Dana asked, holding up the dishes in her hands.

"Oh, I can take those for you. That way you don't need to try and navigate those steep stairs with your hands full," Sister Cecelia offered.

"Oh, okay. Great, thanks." Dana handed the plate and glass over to the sister. "Um, one more thing, where's the bathroom?"

"It's back down that way. Around the corner and the fourth door on the left," Sister Cecilia replied, pointing back the way she came.

"Awesome, thank you." Dana went to walk away before hesitating. "It was really nice to meet you."

"And you too," Sister Cecilia replied with a nod.

Dana walked in the direction the nun had pointed and found the large, shared bathroom. She took care of business and considered a shower, but decided against it for the time being. Back in her room Dana unpacked some of her belongings into the small wardrobe and drawer. Even though she didn't have much to begin with, and all her clothing would easily fit in the space provided, Dana decided to just unpack the necessities, that way it would be easier if she had to make a fast getaway.

What exactly she would be fleeing from in an old, holy convent Dana didn't know but old habits die hard.

With her belongings unpacked and put away, Dana was beginning to get a bit restless. She sat back on her bed and sighed as she stared at the ceiling. More than anything Dana wanted to explore her new surroundings. Another old habit. Get to know your environment. Map out your escape routes. Memorize any potential hiding places for evil to lurk. Dana snorted at that because, again, holy convent, but it wouldn't be the first time she had come up against something evil in an unexpected spot.

She looked to the door and wondered if she was even allowed to wander around unescorted. The Reverend Mother had told her to rest and insinuated that she would be expected in the dining room for supper, but she hadn't actually forbade Dana from walking around the convent or grounds. With that in mind Dana left the room and headed for the stairs. The first thing she wanted to do was check on Baby and make sure she hadn't procured any new dents or scratches considering someone other than herself had driven the sleek beauty. But first she was going to have to pay another visit to the bathroom because Bean had decided to use her bladder as a bouncing castle.

Dana changed direction and paid another visit to the bathroom then headed down the stairs to seek out the Reverend Mother and get the Impalas keys back.

**********

She found Sister Agnes sitting at a large desk in her office on the ground floor.

"Dana, I'm surprised to see you up and about," the Mother Superior said as Dana poked her head in the door.

"I did rest some but after Bean woke me up to use the bathroom I couldn't get back to sleep so I thought I might go check on my car. Do you have the keys? I couldn't find them in my stuff," Dana asked.

"Yes I do." Sister Agnes opened a drawer on the desk and reached in. "I can assure you your vehicle has been taken well care of by our caretakers. They are more than a little envious of you."

Sister Agnes held out the Impalas keys and Dana felt infinitely more relaxed with them in her hand. It wasn't like she had thought the nuns were going to hold her hostage or anything, but knowing she had a means to leave if she wanted to help to keep her grounded.

"Thank you," Dana said, squeezing the familiar cold metal in her hand. "I'm just going to go…if that's okay with you?"

"Of course!" Sister Agnes smiled at Dana. "It's not like you are a prisoner here. You are free to move around as you see fit. You don't need our permission. Besides, some fresh air will probably do you some good, just make sure you don't tire yourself out too much."

"Okay, thanks. I guess I'll see you at supper if not before," Dana said as she moved to the door.

"I'll see you then, Dana."

Dana saw the Reverend mother smile before she shook her head and went back to her paperwork. With a final wave of her hand, Dana left the office and made her way outside.

*********

Dana found her baby easily enough. She greeted the car and ran her hand lovingly over her panels, checking for any new bump or scrape. Thankfully, there were none because the last thing Dana felt like doing was buffing and waxing Baby. Checking that the coast was clear, she opened the trunk and checked over the warding's to ensure they were all still intact, especially the cloaking ones, thankful that whoever parked Baby up had reversed under the cover as Dana didn't want to have to try and explain the sigils painted all over the underside of the trunk.

She lifted out the pusher and porta cot that the women from the diner had given her, before opening the false floor to check on her weapons. Everything seemed to be in place, although some of the guns were probably overdue for a maintenance clean and the various knives and blades probably go do with a pass over the whet stone just to refine the edge. Both were tasks that Dana probably couldn't do in broad daylight in the back garden of a populated convent.

With a silent promise to get to them soon, Dana closed the hatch and then replaced the baby items. She began to close the trunk but paused and considered taking the baby items up to her room but quickly dispelled the idea. Dana still had at least three weeks before Bean was due and she intended to be long gone by the time the baby made its appearance. Shaking her head at her silly thought Dana closed the trunk and moved to the driver's side door.

As soon as she sat fatigue hit Dana like a sledgehammer. She closed her eyes and rested against the familiar leather. Just as her body began to feel heavy and relaxed being in the familiar surroundings of the Impala, Bean chose that moment to stretch and her back decided to spasm. Dana squirmed in discomfort and tried to find a more comfortable position, but a fist to her bladder sent her back inside.

"Damn kid," Dana muttered as she pulled herself from the car. "First thing I'm gonna do when I see your father again is punch him right in the bladder."

**********

Dana was up the stairs and halfway to her room when she met Sister Andrea carrying a small covered tray.

"Hello Dana, I was just coming to look for you.," she said.

"Well, you found me. What can I do for you?" Dana asked, continuing past her room and on to the bathroom.

"I was just coming to do a check up and give you your midday dose of antibiotics."

Dana looked at the tray in the nuns hands and sighed.

"Oh right. The meds." Honestly she hated taking the medication. It made her feel a bit loopy but knew that she had to clear her infection so she could be healthy for Beans arrival, and the sooner she was given a clean bill of health the sooner she could blow this popsicle stand. "I'm going to the bathroom..again! I'll meet you in my room."

Sister Andrea nodded and turned back to Dana's cell.

**********

Dana was taking yet another circuit around the convents grounds. She had covered every square inch of the place over the last three days. The doctor had recommended gentle exercise and this was as good as it was going to get. She hadn't hunted in months and was beginning to get the itch, but with a huge baby bump in the way the best thing she would be able to do is sort out the things she has for Bean and prepare for the baby's arrival.

She made her way to the Impala and opened the trunk, pulling out the small bag of baby essentials she had collected over the last few months. Most of it was the things she was given by the women at the diner and a few bits and pieces she had picked up along the way.

Opening the zipper she pulled out one of the small onesies and gave it a sniff. It smelled musty, the way anything does after it has spent time closed up in the back of a car. She slung the bag over her shoulder and took it to her room.

There she pulled out the small handful of clothing and put it to one side. Then she examined the few blankets for any sign of mildew or other deterioration and then added them to the tiny pile.

And a tiny pile it truly was. Dana had a vague recollection of what a baby needed from raising Sam and she knew her meagre collection fell well short. Especially if she was going to be moving around constantly. Babies pooped, peed and threw up so having regular access to a laundry will be essential. Not to mention the whole diaper situation. Reusable cloth diapers would be impractical for a life on the road and disposable ones were expensive. Her small stack of money was exactly that, small, and getting smaller by the week and she didn't really have the means to go out and earn money right now.

Trying not to think too much about it she gathered up the few items from the bed and added them to her own laundry then headed out to the convents laundry, grateful that this order believed in modern machinery and had automatic washers. The last thing Dana wanted to do was to be bent over a washboard and basin scrubbing her clothing.

Hanging out the wet clothing on the lines behind the wash house Dana marvelled at just how small Beans clothing was. The onesies barely covered her hand.

Panic suddenly set in. How the hell was she supposed to keep something so small alive? She had no home, no money, no idea what she was doing! She was woefully under prepared!

Dana's chest began to tighten and she bent at the waist and braced her hands on her knees. She took several slow deep breaths trying to get air into her lungs.

"Dana?"

Dana looked sideways and saw a very concerned looking Sister Andrea approaching her.

"Dana? Is everything alright?" The nun asked.

Dana shook her head. Sister Andrea rushed to her side and wrapped her arms around Dana, holding her by the arms, trying to support her. She bent down so she could see Dana's face.

"What is it? Is it the baby?" Sister Andrea asked.

Dana shook her head again.

"No."

With Sister Andrea's help Dana stood up straight and gestured to the clothes on the line.

"This is it. This is all I have. Why…why did I think I could do this? I have nothing to offer this baby except half a dozen onesies, a few blankets and a couple of jackets. I have a car seat and a pusher but I don't have a crib, and even if I did have one, I don't have anywhere to put it. I mean I have the portable cot, but that won't fit in the back seat of the Impala. What am I supposed to do? Just let Bean sleep in her car seat every night? Why did I think I could do this? Why?" Dana covered her face with her hands and swiped at the tears on her face with her finger tips.

"Oh Dana, you don't need to worry about any of that. You are most welcome to stay here. The Reverend Mother isn't going to force you out onto the streets the moment you deliver your child." Sister Andrea moved until she was standing in front of Dana, gently holding her arms. The nun smiled serenely. "I believe everything happens for a reason. The good Lord put you here, in our church, for a reason. This was His will."

Dana chuckled mirthlessly.

"Oh lady, you and I have clearly been dealing with different gods. The god I know, he doesn't care. We're all just puppets on a string to him." Dana said.

"Many things will be put in our path to test us. For some their faith will be shaken, for others, theirs will strengthen. Whichever path you are on, you have been delivered to us now. We are here to guide you through this next stage of your journey. Now, as for your concerns over where your child will lay their head at night, I have a solution. Come with me."

Sister Andrea took Dana's hand and led her away.

**********

"It's a box," Dana said, staring at the plain brown cardboard box in Sister Andrea's hands.

"Yes," the nun agreed.

"What am I supposed to do with that?" Dana asked as she took the box from Sister Andrea and turned it over and examined it.

"Use it as a crib," Sister Andrea said.

"A crib? You want my baby to sleep in a celery box?" Dana asked doubtfully.

Sister Andrea laughed.

"It's not a celery box Dana. I assure you it's very much unused for produce and is completely new."

"But still, it's a box," Dana said as she turned the box over to inspect it.

"A baby doesn't need a fancy cradle to sleep in. Remember even our Saviour Jesus Christ spent his first night in a manger filled with straw."

"But it's. A. Box!" Dana continued to argue.

Sister Andrea took Dana's hand and they both sat on the bed.

"Did you know in Scotland every new born baby receives a box just like this. It's filled with many of the essentials a child needs during those first few months and many of the mothers use the box as a crib. Your child just needs the love and sustenance you will give it to survive. Bean doesn't need a lot of frills to be happy." Sister Andrea placed a hand on the edge of the box Dana was still holding. "These particular boxes are similar to the Scottish boxes. We keep them handy to use in emergency situations. We give them to mothers in need, just like you."

"A box," Dana mumbled to herself but then remembered all the makeshift cribs Sammy had used after the fire. "Okay, a box it is!"

Dana and Sister Andrea set up the box crib using two dining chairs as a base and some folded sheets as a mattress then Sister Andrea took Dana across the road to the churches second hand shop.

"You already have a good collection of essentials, but you can never have too many blankets or onesies. And a few little jackets wouldn't hurt either."

Sister Andrea led Dana to the section where the baby clothes and blankets are kept.

"I don't have much money," Dana whispered as the nun selected a few blankets and handed them to Dana.

"That's okay. We are here to help those in need, and after your child comes and you've recovered, you can always donate some of your time helping out here." Sister Andrea said, waving her hand around indicating to the store.

**********

Dana had heard that women would complain that the last month of pregnancy took the equivalent of 1,672 days, and she now knew they weren't wrong. But despite that she was surprised to realise she had been at the convent for over a week. She had finished her course of antibiotics and been given a clean bill of health. The doctor had checked her over and mumbled something about Bean being 'low and engaged', - whatever that meant. He patted her on the shoulder, told her he would be seeing her soon and left.

After finding out Dana hadn't attended any parenting classes, Sister Andrea gave her a few books on what to expect which Dana had flicked through on a few evenings then tossed aside. She had also managed to expand her meagre supply of clothing for Bean by paying a few more visits across to the churches store. She repaid them by helping with the sorting of donations for a few hours every day.

Despite being holed up in a convent, Dana took no chances. She had drawn protective sigils on the bottom of the box-crib, both underneath and under the makeshift mattress. She had also carved some on the window frame just for extra piece of mind.

It was stupid, she knew. Dana had no intention of still being there in two weeks time when Bean was due but it still made her feel safer.

**********

Dana was in the midst of gathering her things to pull a midnight flit when a sharp cramp shot across her abdomen. She pressed her hand to her stomach with a quiet grunt.

"Not now Bean. We gotta get the hell out of Dodge before we get too comfortable."

She continued to pack her things when another cramp hit her, along with the need to go to the bathroom.

"For fucks sake Bean! What the hell are you doing down there? This is like the twentieth time in three hours you've sent me to pee," she grumbled walking out of the door and quietly making her way to the shared bathroom.

On her way back to her cell she met Sister Cecilia heading towards the bathroom.

"Good evening Dana," she greeted her with a serene smile.

"Hi sister. What are you doing wandering around at this hour?" Dana asked.

"Unfortunately the call of nature doesn't discriminate whether we are sleeping or not," the Sister replied, clasping her hands together and giving Dana a cheeky eyeroll. "You?"

"Yeah the same, except this is about the fiftieth time it's called," Dana complained.

Dana gave a small pained grunt as another cramp shot across her stomach.

"Are you alright?" Sister Cecilia asked, concern evident on her face.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I just keep getting these weird… oof!" Dana grabbed at the nuns shoulder as she doubled over when a harsh pain stabbed through her. She felt pressure and then a warm trickle flow down her legs. "Oh crap! I think I just wet myself."

She looked up at the Sister.

"No, Dana. I think your waters just broke. Congratulations, you're in labour. I'll help you to your cell then go get Sister Andrea."

"No,no,no, no. I can't be in labour. It's too soon. I still have a couple of weeks," Dana said.

"Unfortunately, when babies decide it's time for their freedom, they don't really care what your calendar says."

Sister Cecilia chuckled and wrapped an arm around Dana's waist as she helped her to her room.

Sister Cecilia placed a folded towel down on the bed and directed Danan to sit.

"Now you wait here while I go get Sister Andrea," she instructed her.

After the nun left the room Dana reached for the book she had been given. Looking at it she knew she had no hope of speed reading it all in the next hour or so, so she just flipped to the section on what to expect when you're in labour. Just that section alone was enough to turn Dana off, what with all the stuff about mucus plugs and amniotic sacs. She threw the book aside and just covered her mouth with her hands and rocked back and forth muttering 'too soon, too soon' over and over.

**********

Sister Andrea blew into the room followed closely by Sister Cecilia. She was wearing a grey robe over her plain white nightdress. Her shoulder length hair was mussed up on one side from sleep. She took one look at Dana and rushed to her. Dana looked up at her with tear filled eyes.

"It's too soon. Is Bean gonna be okay? Something is wrong!" she cried.

Sister Andrea crouched in front of Dana and made solid eye contact. She placed a reassuring hand on her knee.

"Bean is going to be just fine, Dana. Just relax," she said in a calming voice.

"But I still have two weeks!"

"Dana, anything after 37 weeks is considered full term, so Bean is going to be just fine. They've cooked for as long as they need to and now it's time to come out of the oven."

"She's going to be okay?"

"She's going to be okay," Sister Andrea promised with a reassuring smile.

Dana sniffled and fought to get herself together. She nodded bravely.

"Okay, okay, what do we do now?" Dana asked.

"Have you had any more pains since your waters broke?"

Dana shook her head.

"None."

"And how long ago was that?"

Dana shrugged and looked at Sister Cecilia.

"It couldn't have been more than four or five minutes," the nun said.

"That's great. First let's get you out of these wet clothes and into something dry and comfortable."

The nuns gathered up some dry pyjama pants and underwear. Sister Andrea found an old sanitary napkin in Dana's duffle and held it out to Dana who just looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Sometimes the amniotic fluid can continue to leak even after the initial release," she explained. "This will just help you to keep dry and comfortable."

Dana nodded and changed her clothing then balled up her wet pants and placed them on the towel that was still on her bed.

"Okay, now what?" Dana asked before letting out a small hiss of pain.

"Was that another contraction?" Sister Andrea asked.

"I think so," Dana confirmed.

Sister Andrea pulled a watch from her pocket and checked the time.

"Alright, so we are currently running about every ten or eleven minutes. Give or take." She looked at Dana. "I think it would be best if we move you to the hospice while you can still walk. I don't want to be trying to get you down the stairs if we stay until it's too late."

"Wait! I'm not gonna be able to walk!"

"Sometimes when the baby is too low, it can make it very difficult."

"Right. Then I guess, let's go," Dana said, waving her hand towards the door.

Sister Andrea sent Sister Cecilia to let the Reverend Mother know what was happening and then helped Dana pack a small bag of essentials and they left the room. Dana made sure to grab the parenting book as they left.

"You haven't read that yet?" Sister Andrea asked as she helped Dana down the stairs.

Dana looked at the paperback in her hand and shrugged.

"I glanced at it. I thought I would have a bit more time," she admitted.

"Well fortunately for you childbirth is a very natural thing for women. You'll figure it out as you go along," Sister Andrea reassured her.

"That would be great if I was a natural woman...ah!" Dana bent at the waist and braced her hands against her knees and hissed through her teeth when another pain shot through her.

"Bad?" Sister Andrea asked as she rubbed Danas back.

"Eh," Dana waved her hand in a so/so action then straightened. She inhaled slowly and released the breath through her mouth. "Alright lets go before this kid decides to make its appearance on the back steps.

Together they made their way across the gardens to the hospice. Sister Andrea helped Dana get settled and the Reverend Mother arrived shortly after. Sister Andrea performed a quick examination of Dana and they decided it wasn't necessary to call the doctor in just yet, although the Mother Superior decided to call him and let him know what was happening anyway.

Dana's contractions were still pretty far apart - not far enough if you asked Dana though - but they were strong and the walk across the gardens seemed to have helped to speed up the whole thing.

Dana spent some time flicking through the book and chewing on some ice chips, even though her stomach had begun to growl. Sister Andrea had firmly shot down the idea of a midnight breakfast when Dana asked, telling her that anything she eats now will most likely make a reappearance in a few hours when her labour really kicks in.

**********

Sister Andrea had Dana up and moving about while she was still able to. The contractions were getting closer but she was still a way off from actually giving birth. Sister Agnes visited several times, fully dressed in her habit and Dana apologized for disturbing her sleep. The Mother Superior waved away her apology with a flap of her hand and said something about God's miracle and that she could sleep when she's dead. This made Dana chuckle. The Mother Superior was a woman after her own heart.

Sister Andrea had also taken time to change. She had stepped out of the room during one of the Reverend Mothers visits and reappeared wearing a set of scrubs.

Some time just before dawn Dana's labour had ramped up and Sister Andrea announced she was now in 'active labour'.

"What the hell was all that other shit before?" Dana asked through clenched teeth as her body was wracked with another fierce contraction.

"That was just you getting ready for the hard part. Now the work really begins," Sister Andrea said with a gentle pat to Dana's hip as she lay curled around her own swelled stomach.

Dana groaned and rolled back onto her back and panted through the contraction.

"I'm gonna fuckin' kill you Caleb," she grumbled quietly under her breath.

"What was that?" Sister Andrea asked, turning back to Dana.

"Nothing, just talkin' to myself," Dana replied with a flap of her hand. She accepted the spoonful of ice chips the nun offered her and sank back against the pillows to wait for the next contraction which no doubt would be arriving any second now.

The doctor arrived and was currently standing in the corner of the room drinking coffee with Sister Agnes. The smell

of the beverage hit Dana and immediately caused her to retch. A pan appeared in her lap just in time for her to empty whatever was left of her previous night's dinner into it. She rinsed her mouth out then leaned back into her pillow with a groan. Whoever had coined the phrase 'miracle of childbirth' had clearly never given birth before. So far all Dana could see was sweat, bodily fluids and puke. Childbirth was disgusting!

**********

By the time Dana was deemed to be in active labour she was more than ready to grab her sharpest hunting knife and cut this damn child out of her stomach herself. The doctor had given her a combination of morphine and pethidine to take the edge of the contractions so she could relax between the waves. It helped a little, just enough for Dana to send a curse out into the universe that Caleb forever stubbed his little toe every time he walked past a couch.

Time and pain blurred into one and before she knew it, or an eternity after her waters broke Dana gave a final push and then relief as her child slipped free. There was a moment of heavy silence and then the baby's cries ripped through the air. Loud and gusty.

Dana fell back in relief, both physical and emotional as the doctor announced she had a healthy baby girl. A few minutes later a writhing bundle of blankets was placed into her arms.

She looked down and stroked her daughter's cheek.

"Hey there, little one. Welcome to the big bad world."

The little girl's cries lessened, and she snuffled at the blankets.

"What's she doing?" Dana asked.

"It's possible she's hungry. She's instinctively looking to latch," Sister Andrea explained.

"She's not the only one," Dana groused. "So what do I do?"

"You could try to feed her, or I can go fix a bottle of formula. Did you have a preference?"

"Um, I hadn't really thought about it, but I guess I could try to feed her. It's what I'm supposed to do right?"

In fact Dana had thought about it and the whole idea of breast feeding gave her the ick, but now she was here she felt an almost overwhelming urge to give her child sustenance.

"Only if that's what you want," Sister Andrea said.

"It is. I want to try."

Sister Andrea helped Dana with her clothes to expose her breast and then helped to guide the baby close. Mother and child took to feeding as natural as a duck to water or a hunter to the kill. Little baby Winchester latched well and immediately began suckling hard. Dana giggled a little.

"That feels so weird," she said, adjusting her child in her arms so they could both be comfortable.

Sister Andrea handed her some water and watched on as the mother and child bonded.

"She has latched well and looks like she has strong suction," she observed.

"Yeah well, she's a Winchester, what can I say?" Dana replied with a shrug.

"Winchester? That's her fathers name?"

Dana had an 'oh crap' moment, forgetting for a moment that she wasn't who she used to be.

"Yes," she replied with a slow nod. "Her fathers name is…Dean."

Sister Andrea nodded.

"And what will you be calling the child?"

Dana stared at her baby for a moment. Now all was said and done she wished Caleb had been here to share this moment with her. She softly stroked her daughter's cheek.

"Kayla. Kayla Mary Winchester," she announced.

"That's a beautiful name for a beautiful child." Sister Andrea placed a hand on Dana's shoulder. "I'm going to leave you two alone for now and give you a minute to get to know each other. I will be back in a few minutes. Just ring the bell if you need anything."

Dana nodded and the nun left the room. She looked down at her daughter.

"Hi Kayla. I guess I'm your mom, or whatever. I'm sorry your dads not here right now, but I guess you'll meet him one day. I dunno how that's going to go, but I guess we will just cross that bridge when we come to it."

Kayla had obviously drunk her fill. Dana couldn't believe how cute she looked with her head lolling back and her mouth hanging open. Her eyes fluttered as she slipped into sleep.

"I'm right there with you kid," Dana said as she yawned.

There had been a plastic see through crib pushed up against the bed, but Dana was hesitant to let Kayla out of her arms. The side guards of her bed were up and she shuffled back until she was hard up against one. She rolled onto her side and curled around her child and stared at the sleeping baby until sleep also consumed her.

**********

Sister Agnes appeared in her room a few hours later with some paper work in hand.

"I took the liberty of preparing Kayla's registration of birth papers," she announced.

"What so, she's Canadian?" Dana asked.

The Mother Superior waggled her head slightly.

"Technically yes, but I wasn't sure what your plans were, so I also have registration papers for a U.S. citizen." Sister Agnes held up both sets of papers.

Dana reached out to take them and looked from one to the other.

"Well, I guess I'm going to have to return home eventually, but what does that mean if I register her as American?"

Sister Agnes sat at the end of the bed.

"If you decided to register her as an American, she will still have what's commonly known as jus soli."
"Okay, that sounds like a sauce made of mud," Dana mumbled.

Sister Agnes chuckled.

"No. It means 'right of soil'. Basically Kayla would be free to come and go as she wishes with no need of a visa and she would also be allowed to work here if she wanted to. She would have all the rights of a Canadian, just not be one."

"Right. Well I guess we go the dirty route."

Dana handed back the Canadian forms and began to read through the American papers. Sister Agnes handed her a pen and stood.

"I'll leave you alone to go through them and fill it all in. Once you finish we will post them to the U.S. embassy."

"Awesome. Thanks." Dana gave the Mother Superior a grateful smile then looked back at the forms.

She filled in her details based on the forged documents she had pertaining to 'Dana Smith' then moved on to the section for the fathers details. She paused for a moment then began filling in the blank spaces.

*********

Dana was sitting by the window in the rocking chair provided rocking Kayla to sleep. As Dean he had always kept the desire for a family pushed deep, deep down, never thinking that he could ever have the chance. If Sam got a happy ever after, white picket fence, apple pie ending then that would have been good enough for him. But now here he - well she - was, holding a child of their own to love and nurture. She smiled down at the tiny sleeping infant, grinning wider when Kayla made one of those cute shuddering little snuffling breaths that just squeezed at Dana's heart.

A sound at the door alerted Dana to Sister Andrea's presence. She looked up as the nun entered the room.

"Good evening Dana, I just wanted to check in on you before I turned in for the evening. How is everything going?" Sister Andrea asked.

"Hey Sister. We're here. We're doing good," Dana replied.

Sister Andrea walked across the room and gazed down at the sleeping child in Dana's arms.

"She is very beautiful. You did good." Sister Andrea bumped Dana's arm with the back of her hand and grinned at her.

"Yeah, I like her. She looks much better now that we have washed all that gunk off her. I think I'll keep her," Dana joked, pressing a kiss to the downy soft hair on the top of Kayla's head.

"Has she fed recently?"

"Yeah, she just did and I have changed her diaper so she's one contented little snuggly bug. I know I should put her down, but I just don't want to yet," Dana said as she continued to rock in her chair.

"Its that new baby smell," Sister Andrea said with a smirk. "It sucks you in every time."
Dana hummed her agreement as she bent down to sniff her new daughter.

"It sure does!"

Sister Andrea shifted slightly.

"Anyway, I brought you something."
From her pocket she pulled a bundle of white material. She unwrapped it and held it out to Dana. In her hands was Dana's knife.

"I know you like to have this under your pillow," the nun said.

Dana froze, staring at the knife.

"Oh, right, um…"

"Don't worry about it. We all have our little quirks. I'll just put it here."

Sister Andrea moved to the bed and slipped the deadly weapon under Dana's pillow.

"Yeah, thanks."

Dana stood and gently placed Kayla in her crib.

"Night my baby girl. I love you with all my heart."

She kissed her fingers and placed them against Kayla's chest.

"In Serbia we say 'Lepo spavaj, moje najmilije'." Sister Andrea said as she watched the interaction.

"What does that mean?"

'It means 'sweet dreams, my most cherished'."

"I like that. Lepo spaga.." Dana began.

"No, no, It's lepo spavaj, moje najmilije," Sister Andrea enunciated slowly.

It took several tries but eventually Dana got the pronunciation right.

"I had better go and let you rest while you can. I'll be back in the morning to check on you both. I think you might actually be able to leave tomorrow," Sister Andrea said leaning against the bed frame.

'Yeah, that's what I heard," Dana said, chewing on the lip as she fiddled distractedly with her bed sheets.

"The Mother Superior isn't going to kick you out, if that's what you're worried about. You will always have a home with us, for as long as you need it."

Dana let out a relieved breath.

"Thanks, that means a lot. I never really had a home growing up. It's something I always kinda resented my dad for, and now I'm doing it to her," Dana gestured to Kayla asleep in the crib.

Sister Andrea stepped closer and placed her hands on Dana's shoulders.

"As long as Kayla has a place here," She said, moving one hand and placing it over Dana's heart. "Then she will always have a home."

"Thanks Sister. For everything. I don't know what I would have done without your help. Without everyone's help."

Sister Andrea smiled at Dana.

"You're most welcome Dana. We are here to serve Christ, and to serve Christ is to serve the least of us."

She placed a kiss on Dana's forehead and then stepped away.

"Night Sister."

"Good night Dana. Sleep well."

Dana climbed into her narrow hospital bed and lay down. She slipped her hand under the pillow and touched the handle of the knife that was now nestled underneath. There were no warding's in the room, and she didn't know if the hospice was on consecrated ground so having her knife close by gave Dana a small sense of security. She rolled over so she could watch her daughter through the clear side of the crib and allowed herself to drift off to sleep.

The next few days blurred into one big well, blur. Used to living life on the go and managing to condense even the most important of life's necessities into just minutes, Dana spent the days after her release from the hospice feeding, burping, changing diapers and apologizing to the nuns for their disturbed sleep. Her personal needs became two minute showers every now and then, convinced she could hear Kayla screaming the moment she stepped under the spray - which she hadn't even allowed to heat up. Eventually she resorted to placing Kayla on a pile of blankets and towels on the floor in the bathroom so she could keep an eye on her. The extra minute under the water that afforded was worth it.

**********

Kayla became a favorite amongst all of the sisters. Even those that had been the most antisocial towards Dana would now arrive at her doorway bearing glasses of water or snacks in the middle of the night when she was up feeding Kayla. Father Morgan had blessed the child just after her birth and told Dana he would be more than happy to baptise her if Dana should so choose.

Now that Kayla was born, Dana decided to take advantage of the lovely Canadian weather and resumed her daily exercise regime. At first she would just put Kayla in the pram and walk around the gardens. The fresh air seemed to help both of them. Dana knew for certain it increased Kayla's appetite. That child ate like a horse! She also had become more alert and more often than not Dana would look down and see the child staring back at her with her intense blue eyes.

*********

A month after Kayla's birth Dana finally broached the subject of christening Kayla. Dana had performed all the rituals she knew of - well at least the ones that wouldn't physically harm Kayla - just to check if the spell had affected Kayla in any way. So far all the tests and exorcisms had had no effect. Baptism was the last of them.

The Mother Superior was sitting on the couch in the common room playing with Kayla when Dana brought it up.

"I think it is a wonderful idea. Although I believe that God would ever exclude an innocent child's soul entry from heaven, one can never be too cautious," Sister Agnes said, not even looking away from Kayla, whom she was bouncing on her knee.

"But what about the fact that she was born out of wedlock and I'm not really the most god-fearing person out there?" Dana asked, running her hand through her hair and scratching at the back of her neck - a very Dean like action.

"Oh, I don't think that will be an issue. We like to think we are quite progressive here these days. I can speak to Father Morgan if you like," she offered.

"Yeah, that would be great thanks."

**********

Four days later Dana was standing by the baptismal font at the back of the church surrounded by all the nuns and holding Kayla in just her diaper and a beautiful hand knitted shawl that had been gifted by one of the parishioners of the church.

When Father Morgan agreed to the christening Dana had requested it be held at the morning prayers, so as the sun rose, casting a beautiful prism of light through the stained glass window at the top of the building Kayla Mary Winchester was baptized into the Holy Catholic Church.

The nuns answered in the place of god parents, yet Dana had asked that Caleb be named as God Father. It was the least she could do.

Kayla cried and shivered as the holy water poured over her head. Dana stiffened and watched closely. Apart from that there seemed to be no other reaction. Her skin stayed clear and no plume of black smoke left her mouth. Still Dana couldn't relax. Sister Agnes who was standing nearby holding a towel for the priest to dry his hands, leaned over and whispered to Dana that the crying is a good sign, and that the tears were a sign of God's grace.

Finally at ease that her daughter bore no lingering effects of the curse Dana relaxed. She received her daughter back after the ceremony was done and moved to sit quietly at the back of the church while the nuns completed their morning prayers.

Before she knew it Dana had been at the convent for almost two months. She knew it was dangerous staying so long in one place, but she felt almost settled there. Kayla was growing and thriving, and Dana had fallen into an almost routine. Between the feedings, burping's and changing and sitting for hours listening to those adorable baby noises she would make, Dana would spend time several times a week in the charity shop or helping the nuns tend the gardens and assist in the kitchen preparing meals. She had also fixed the convents van and various other vehicles when they had minor problems. That had felt great, getting her hands dirty again. It was no hunt but it settled something inside her.

She kept waiting for Sister Agnes to tell her it was time to move on but the Mother Superior didn't seem to be in any hurry to kick them out and the way she figured it a holy convent was the safest place for the newest Winchester to be, especially as she didn't know if Kayla would be on Heaven of Hell's radar. Hard to know what was happening when the Winchesters decided to go off script and not start the apocalypse.

Dana considered praying to Castiel and talking to the angel about it. To get him to have a poke about and see if there was any word about her daughter floating around, but decided not to bother. The angel had seemed to have forsaken them since the non-event that didn't bring about the end of days. He had stated that his mission was over and Dana knew that they

were no longer his priority so she didn't bother, because chances were he wouldn't show up anyway. Dana chuckled at the thought of a real life angel appearing at the convent. She wondered how the nuns would react. Probably about the same way they would if a real life demon appeared, which was something Dana found out around the three month mark after Kaylas birth.

**********

Dana had been helping some of the novices clean the church. It was a way for her to feel like she was earning her keep seeing as the Mother Superior had insisted she stay for as long as she needed. It was nice having that 'settled' feeling, but also unnerving that she might actually have a place to call home - even if it was a 200 year old convent in the coldest part of north-west Canada.

Deep down, Dana knew this wouldn't last but the stability had helped her navigate the first few months of motherhood - something else she had never thought she would ever experience. Kayla was asleep in her pram tucked into the corner of the nave, near the vestry door, as Dana polished the woodwork in the narthex. The old church carried sound well so if the infant woke, Dana would be sure to hear her. The Mother Superior and Reverend were standing in the open doorway talking about some church matters when Father Morgans attention was drawn away. She didn't pay much attention to it until raised voices drifted into the room. Then she felt it.

Dana turned and watched cautiously as Father Morgan stepped out onto the steps that led up to the church. She could smell the scent of sulphur as it drifted up the steps and into the holy building. Slowly she stepped forward, careful to stay just out of sight and looked out of the doors.

At the bottom of the steps stood a man, dressed in rags and filth covering his skin.

"We can offer you shelter, food, a shower and clothing," Father Morgan was saying , his hands open in a welcoming gesture. "We are all one in the family of God, my child. Just take these steps and enter the loving arms of God."

The man sneered. He approached the steps but bounced back as if hitting an invisible wall. Every one of Dana's hunter instincts flared to life.

"I am injured and cannot climb these stairs without help. How about you come down and help me?" the man said, bending slightly and gripping his knee as if in agony.

The priest made a move to descend the stairs when Dana left her hiding place.

"Father no!" she said in warning and grabbed at Father Morgan's arm to stop him, but she was too late and the moment he was within reach the man grabbed him by the neck and squeezed.

He hissed and turned his eyes to Dana as she stood frozen for a second. She didn't miss the moment his eyes flicked black and then back to his natural color. Sister Agnes gasped beside her.

"Timothy!" she cried.

The priest struggled in the demons grip.

"I smell a Winchester," the demon sneered looking directly at Dana. "Lucifer will be pleased with this news."
This broke Dana from her stupor. Without thinking she grabbed at the rosary beads and crucifix hanging around Sister Agnes's waist and tore them free. Beads scattered as Dana leapt down the steps and grabbed at the demon, pressing the holy cross against his forehead.

"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii, omnis legio, omnis congregatio et secta diabolica."

She chanted as the demon released the priest, who fell to the ground unconscious.

"Ergo, omnis legio diabolica, adiuramus te…cessa decipere humanas creaturas, eisque æternæ perditionìs venenum propinare…Vade, satana, inventor et magister omnis fallaciæ, hostis humanæ salutis…Humiliare sub potenti manu Dei; contremisce et effuge, invocato a nobis sancto et terribili no mine…."

The demon began to scream and writhe in Dana's grip.

"quem inferi tremunt…Ab insidiis diaboli, libera nos, Domine. Ut Ecclesiam tuam secura tibi facias libertate servire, te rogamus, audi nos!"

As Dana chanted the final words of the ritual the demon in her grip threw their head back and a column of black smoke was released from their open mouth and disappeared down a nearby storm water drain. The poor formally possessed man slumped unconscious into Dana's arms and she lowered him to the ground.

Sister Agnes was beside Dana in a second, kneeling beside her as she checked for a pulse.

"What was that?" the nun asked, her voice quivering with fear.

"Doesn't matter right now, we have to get them both inside now. Help me with them," Dana said, feeling more like her old self - more like Dean - than she had in months.

Between them they managed to drag the two unconscious men into the church. First Father Morgan, then the unknown attacker. Inside Dana began to examine the homeless man for any sigils or marks the demon may have put on his body. Sister Agnes dismissed the novices and then turned back to Dana.

"What was that?" she asked again.

"That, Sister, was a demon." Dana turned her attention to the priest and checked on him. His pulse was thready but strong and when she opened his eyes to check them his pupils responded quickly.

"A demon?" Sister Agnes asked in disbelief.

"Yes. A demon." Dana confirmed as she stood. She put her hand in her pocket and withdrew the cross she had so unceremoniously ripped from the mother Superior and held it out. "Um, you might want this back, sorry about that."

Sister Agnes reached out and hesitantly took the cross from Dana's hand. She stared at it as she ran her thumb over the worn wood.

"Will they be okay?" she asked, looking down at the two men on the floor.

"Yes, with time. Well, physically at least. Mentally, who knows," Dana said with a careless shrug as if she had seen this type of thing every day of her life, which she kind of has.

Father Morgan began to groan as he slowly regained consciousness. Dana knelt beside him and helped him into a sitting position once his eyes had reopened.

"What? What happened?" he asked, rubbing his head.

"Can you stand?" Dana asked, ignoring his question.

The priest nodded.

"I think so," he said.

"Good, because I think we should take this to the vestry and have ourselves a little chat."

Dana stood and helped Father Morgan to his feet. She sent Father Morgan and Sister Agnes ahead of her then looked down at the man still on the floor. His eyes were flicking rapidly behind his closed lids. Dana pursed her lips and nudged him with the toe of her boot. He groaned but didn't awaken. She sighed then walked over to the door and scooped up a handful of holy water then returned to the man and dropped it on his face. He awoke with a gasp and tried to sit as he wiped the water from his face. Dana crouched in front of him.

"Hi," she said with a small wave before she let her hands drop to hang between her knees. "You got a name?"

"Um, Carl?" he replied, looking around. "Where am I? Why am I dressed like this?" he asked, looking down at his clothing.

"Well, Carl, that's what we are about to find out."

She stood and pulled him roughly to his feet and headed for the door in the side of the room which led to the vestry.

*********

"You're saying demons are real?" Father Morgan asked as he took the glass of whiskey Dana was handing to him.

She had explained about the possession and the exorcism as she searched through his desk drawers looking for the booze. Father Morgan wasn't a drunk, but she knew from experience that most priests usually had a stash somewhere. She had poured everyone a shot and distributed them around.

"Yes. Is it really so hard to believe? I mean, you believe in Heaven and Hell and God and Angels, yet demons is where you draw the line? Fyi, Gabriel? A real douche," she said as she sat back on the desk and pointed at the priest while holding a glass of water for herself.

"Why did you say you smelt a Winchester and Lucifer would be glad?" Sister Agnes asked Carl.

The man rubbed his face.
"I don't know. Everything's a bit of a blur," he confessed.

Turns out Carl had been taken from a skiing holiday at Banff over twelve months previously. He had had a normal life prior to that. Living with his wife and two children and working as a stockbroker in New York. All he remembered was falling over as he descended the slopes and then being surrounded by a dark cloud. The next thing he knew he was waking up on the floor in the church.

"I can explain that, but not quite now," Dana said with a sigh. She wished she was partaking in something stronger, but unfortunately feeding Kayla meant she had to forgo alcohol. She sighed and drained her glass of water. "I guess the first thing we need to do is get you in contact with your family."

She looked at Carl.

"Oh my god, what must they be thinking?" he asked, gripping his hair in his hands. "What am I going to tell them?"

"Well, I would probably skip over the whole demonic possession if you don't want to land yourself in the nut house," Dana suggested.

"Gee thanks," Carl replied with a scoff.

"And you might want to get yourself warded, so it doesn't happen again."

"Warded?" Carl asked.

"Yeah." Dana pulled the neck of her shirt down to show off the anti possession tattoo on her chest. "Something like this will keep you safe."

It was decided that once Carl was fed, cleaned and rested he would take a bus to the border. As much as Dana wanted to give him Bobby's name and number and send him on his way, she knew that would just be opening herself up to Sammy and Caleb hunting her down. Instead she found the contact details for another hunter she had once worked with a whole other lifetime ago, and hoped for the best.

*********

Dana sat alone at the long table in the convents kitchen. Kayla was nestled in her little cardboard crib on a chair beside her. She nursed a cup of tea and looked up as the Mother Superior walked into the room.

"Couldn't sleep either?" she asked Dana.

"Yeah, it tends to happen," Dana replied, lifting her mug to take a sip.

The Mother Superior walked past Dana to make her own warm beverage then joined Dana at the table. They sat quietly for a moment.

"So," Sister Agnes started, placing her mug on the table top. "If demons are real, what else is there out there?"

Dana placed her own mug down.

"All your worst nightmares. You name it, it's probably real."

"Angels?"

"Yes."
"God?"

"I haven't met him, but yes. He's out there somewhere," Dana replied.

Sister Agnes thought for a moment.

"So Hell, the devil, Lucifer?"

"Yes to all of the above. Also werewolves, vampires, revenants and ghosts and a whole slew of other nasties that you don't want to be thinking too hard about," Dana said. "In fact, I think you might have a couple of ghosts floating around here. They don't seem to be malevolent yet, but you might want to look into getting them sorted out before they do."

Sister Agnes tapped her fingertips on the table.

"That exorcism you did today, where did you learn that? And how did you know to do it?" she asked.

"Demons have a tell," she began.

"Like not being able to go on consecrated land?"

"Yeah, that, and their eyes go black, they don't like salt - can't cross it. Holy water, obviously, they flinch at the name of 'Christo'."

"How do you know all of this?"

"My mother was killed by a demon when I was four. My dad kinda lost it and raised me and my brother to be hunters."

"Hunters?" Sister Agnes asked.

"Yeah. Dad would find cases in the paper that sounded supernatural and we would go take care of it. We moved around, a lot!"

"That must have been hard. Living on the road like that."

Dana shrugged.

"It was, but it had its moments. I had Sammy. That's my, ah, brother. So it wasn't too bad."

There was a quiet pause between them.

"Why did that demon say they smelt a Winchester? And why would Lucifer care?" Sister Agnes asked.

Dana sighed and hunched over her mug.

"Well actually Lucifer is trapped in a cage in Hell right now, so unless they are planning to kick start another apocalypse, I don't know what interest they could have. Besides, Kayla would need a sibling for it to even have the slightest chance to work, and I am one and done!"

Dana crossed her hands and then spread them apart again showing the finality of her decision.

"Does her father have any other children?" Sister Agnes asked.

"No, but that wouldn't matter anyway," Dana said "It's gotta be two Winchesters."

"But isn't Kayla's father a Winchester?"

Dana's face fell as she realized where the conversation had led. She squirmed in her chair and cleared her throat.

"Right, so…my name isn't Dana Smith." She confessed. "It's Dean Winchester. I'm not a female. I'm a man."

"Pardon?" the nun opposite her asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Yeah, so just almost a year and a half ago I got hit with a witch's curse and transferred into this," she said, waving a hand down her body. "The witch got away from us and we found out later that she had been killed by another hunter. Only the witch who cast the curse can remove it, but occasionally if you find the origin of the spell you can reverse it. Anyway, I thought it was a lost cause and I was going to be stuck like this, but my brother and our 'uncle' kept looking and by the time they found a spell to reverse it I was already pregnant with Kayla. I did some research of my own and one of two things was going to happen if I went through with the ritual. One, I'd be a man again, but still pregnant, or two, I'd be Dean again and Kayla would just be gone. Like she never existed. Poof, just like that."

Dana made a gesture in the air with her hand and then sat quietly and stared at the table for a moment to allow the nun to absorb the information she had just given her.

"You sacrificed your life, Dean's life to give Kayla life. That's very noble."
Dana chuckled and rapped her knuckles on the scarred wooden table top.

"It's actually very selfish," she said. "Everywhere I go I bring death and destruction with me. This was my one chance of doing something good. Also, we don't have a home. I lived in my car for the last few months before I came here, and now.." Dana shrugged.

"You and Kayla will always have a place here," Sister Agnes said, reaching out to place a hand over Danas.

Dana shook her head.

"I didn't kill that demon. I only sent it back to hell. It won't take long for it to regroup and come back. Taking out a Winchester is like finding the golden goose. We can't stay here. They'll come back and probably bring more with them."

"You would be safe here," Sister Agnes pointed out.

"Yeah, but you wouldn't. I don't want to put you all in danger, but I'm also not going to leave you unprotected. I'll teach you the exorcism and put some warding around. Hopefully they won't do too much damage when they find out I've already gone."

"And when will that be?"

"Soon. I'll get you all set up and then hit the road. I've stayed too long anyway."

Silence settled again until Sister Agnes broke it.

"You mentioned an apocalypse before. What did you mean by it?" she asked.

"I mean an apocalypse. End of the world, book of Revelations, four horsemen, the whole shebang."

"And we came close to one?"

Dana looked up at the nun and nodded.

"Yeah. My brother Sammy and I, for generations our whole bloodline was manipulated to make sure we were born. We were supposed to be the perfect vessels for Michael and Lucifer to wear to the battle royale. Brother against brother, winner takes all. It would have almost destroyed the earth and killed billions, but we found a way to lock Lucifer back in his cage, so all's well that ends well," Dana finished with a cheery but forced smile. What she didn't mention was that Michael had taken their unknown half brother with him into the pit, something that still weighs heavily on Dean's mind.

The Mother Superior reached out and placed a hand over Dana's.

"You saved the world."

"Yeah we did. Sometimes it's not an amazing place to be, but it's the only one we have."

"Yes, it is. I shall add my thanks to you and your brother in my prayers," Sister Agnes said.

"I don't actually think God's listening anymore," Dana replied.

"Someone is or they wouldn't have sent you to us," Mother Superior said with a knowing smile.

Dana huffed and thought of Castiel.

"Maybe."

*********

Dana stayed for another week. She taught Sister Agnes and Father Morgan the exorcism she had used to save the priest from the demon attack. She helped to strengthen the sanctity of the convent and church by adding warding for extra protection. She would never be able to live with herself if she heard something had happened because she had been there. The depth of 'Dean guilt' was something she had brought with her from her past life.

Finally, it was time to go.

Once Dana had packed everything into the Impala she found there wasn't a lot of space left. Funny that a being as small as Kayla was, she needed so much stuff!

Kayla was safely strapped into her seat and Dana closed the door quietly. She turned to Sister Agnes Christopher and Sister Andrea Gabriel who were waiting by the car.

"You know you really don't have to leave," Sister Andrea said.

"I know, but I have too. It's not safe here anymore," Dana replied, knowing the worrying six-month mark of Kayla's life was looming large ahead of them.

"Where will you go?" Sister Agnes asked.

"I'm not sure yet. Canada's a nice place but as we have seen they have demons too, so there'll be a hunter's cabin around somewhere I can squat in for a while until I sort something out for myself."

The Reverend Mother slipped her hand into the pocket of her habit and withdrew a long white envelope and held it out to Dana.

"We want you to take this," she said.

Dana took the envelope and opened it. Inside was a large stack of money of all denominations.

"I can't take this. There had to be a thousand dollars in there! Give it to someone who really needs it," Dana said, trying to push it back into Sister Agnes' hand.

"Dana, you need it." the Mother Superior said sternly, pushing the money back to Dana. "You're talking about squatting in an old dusty cabin somewhere in the woods. Take this and get yourself some proper accommodation."
Dana sighed and relented. She took the envelope and held it in her hands.

"It's not like the cabins are falling down or anything. Hunters take real good care of them but thank you. I'll use it wisely."

Knowing she couldn't delay any longer or she just might change her mind about leaving, Dana hugged the two nuns tightly.

"Thank you for everything you've done," she whispered, suddenly overwhelmed by emotion. She really didn't think it was going to be so hard to blow this popsicle stand, but it seems that over the last four months she had made some good friends.

"You're very welcome," Sister Andrea said, touching Dana's arm briefly. "Thank you for trusting us."

Dana shuffled her feet and looked down, tears threatening. She cleared her throat.

"Well, at least you guys will be able to get a full night's sleep now," she joked, falling back on her default setting of using humor to deflect her true emotions.

"That will be something," Sister Andrea agreed.

"Now make sure you stay in contact and come back to see us some time," Sister Agnes said, back stiff and head held high, though her face and voice were soft.

"We will. You can be sure of it."

With that Dana finally climbed into the Impala and started the engine. She waved one final time before putting her baby into gear and driving through the gates of the convent.

She didn't know where she was going but she knew they always had some place to return to.

*********

Later

**********

The sound of Dana's boots echoed as she walked into the church alerting the nuns to her presence. She knew she held herself much differently to the person who left just a few months prior. She had been hunting again, although she didn't have the benefit of having a five-year-old to leave in the car to watch over the baby. So she adapted. Long range became her MO. Its a good thing John had trained Dean to be a sharpshooter and proficient with the cross bow.

She smiled as several sisters rushed to greet her, cooing over Kayla who was strapped to her chest. Sister Cecilia was the first to greet her. Sister Andrea and Sister Agnes not too far behind.

"Dana! We were not expecting to see you again so soon!" the Mother Superior exclaimed as she approached with open arms.

"I know and I'm sorry to drop by unannounced," Dana said as she carefully embraced the older nun. "But I need some holy water, a blessed crucifix… and a favor."

"Of course, anything. Do you have time to join us for our evening meal?" Sister Agnes asked.

Dana nodded.

"Yeah, I can spare a few hours."

The next morning Dana was preparing to leave before the sun came up. She had been convinced to stay the night by Sister Andrea, whom Dana had always had a soft spot for.

"Your holy water," Sister Agnes said, appearing by Dana's side holding a box that contained several bottles of holy water.

"Thank you," Dana said, taking the box and sliding onto the front seat.

"And your blessed crucifix." Sister Agnes held you a strand of rosary beads with a beautiful crucifix hanging from the end. "I had Timothy bless it himself."

Dana took the crucifix and wrapped it around her wrist several times.

"Thank you again for everything."

"Do you really need to leave so early?"

"Yeah. It's a bit of a way to where I need to be, and if I don't leave now, I won't make it in time."

Dana gave the Mother Superior a nod and turned to climb into the driver's seat. Sister Agnes reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Dana?" she said when Dana turned back to her. "You said you also needed a favor?"

"Oh right." Dana reached into her back pocket and retrieved a folded piece of paper. She handed it to the nun. "If you don't hear from me by 6 AM on the thirteenth of November, I want you to call this number and give him these coordinates."

Dana tapped the string of numbers on the paper Sister Agnes had unfolded.

"Do not call them before this date and only then if I don't call you first!" Dana warned the nun.
"And what do I tell him?" Sister Agnes asked, looking at Dana.

"Tell him… tell him Dean says 'Poughkeepsie'."