21.
Six months later…
It all started innocently enough. Dana sat at the long wooden table in the bunker’s library, her legs dangling over the edge of the chair as she watched Sam flip through a stack of books. Dean sat on the other side of the room, engrossed in cleaning his gun.
“Why are you doing that?” Dana asked curiously, her gaze fixed on Dean. “Maintenance,” Dean mumbled without looking up. “Guns don’t stay clean on their own, kiddo.”
Dana glanced at Sam when an idea came up. She pssst at Sam, who looked up. He saw her mischievous look and looked intrigued. She made a gesture with her head towards Dean and grinned. Sam had a marvelous idea. It had been too long since he properly pranked his brother and now he had a partner in crime. He wiggled his eyebrows and whispered, “Wanna have some fun?”
Dean looked from Sam to Dana and back again. He narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on over there?” Dana had a very guilty look on her face but he was more alarmed at the sheer devilish look his younger brother sported. “I swear if you guys try anything—”
But little did he know, the challenge had already been accepted.
Dean walked into the kitchen the next morning, still half asleep, and went straight to the coffee pot. He poured himself a large mug, took a long sip… and immediately spat it out.
“What the hell?” His gaze fell on the mug. The coffee was… purple? Dana watched with Sam from around the corner, saw Dean's face and ducked behind Sam, giggling. “Good morning, Dean!” Dean narrowed his eyes at her. “Did you change my coffee to… this?” Dana grinned widely. “Maybe.”
Sam feigned innocence. “It was probably just a glitch in the coffee pot.”
Dean growled. “This means war.”
That same afternoon, Dana sat at the kitchen table with a sandwich in her hand. She took a big bite and suddenly stopped. “Why does this taste so weird?”
Sam looked at her sandwich curiously. “What’s on it?” Dana opened the sandwich and saw white mayonnaise… which had been replaced with vanilla pudding. “Ugh! Dean!”
Dean walked into the kitchen, grinning widely. “That, kiddo, is how you pay back a prank.” Dana narrowed her eyes at him and Sam snorted. “You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.”
The next morning, Dean stepped into the shower, enjoying the warm water running down his back. He reached for his shampoo and began to wash his hair.
After a few seconds, he noticed something was wrong. “Why is this so foamy?” He looked down and saw that his entire body was covered in foam… in every color of the rainbow.
“Sam! Dana!” In the hallway, Sam and Dana were doubled over laughing as Dean stormed out of the bathroom with brightly colored soap bubbles, a towel wrapped around his waist.
“This isn’t over!” Dean yelled. And so the prank war continued, with peals of laughter echoing through the bunker. For the first time in a long time, the bunker felt like a real home. A place where they were not only safe but happy.
***
The bunker felt warmer than ever before. The soft light from the lamps fell on the wooden table in the common room, which was filled with decorations, presents, and a large, homemade cake. Dean, with Sam’s help, had prepared most of it. But it was clear that the finishing touches had been the work of Rowena and Charlie, magical streamers that shimmered softly in the air, and balloons that floated without strings.
Dana stood in the center of the room, her eyes wide and bright. She was wearing a simple dress that Sam had picked out, but it was the smile on her face that really made her shine.
“Is this… for me?” she asked softly. Dean stepped forward, a wide grin on his face. “Of course, it’s for you, kiddo. It’s your birthday.”
“Your tenth birthday,” Sam added, neatly rearranging a few presents. Dana looked down at the cake. “I’ve never had a real birthday before.”
The room fell silent for a moment. Everyone knew what that meant, how hard her life had been before she ended up with the brothers. But before anyone could say anything, Charlie jumped forward with her usual enthusiasm.
“Well, it’s high time we made up for it!” she said with a wide smile. “I mean, look at this cake. We have candles and everything. And presents! And streamers! This is a birthday worthy of a Potter.”
Rowena stood at the edge of the room, her arms crossed but her gaze warm. “I have to admit, Dean, you did your best. It doesn’t even look bad.” Dean rolled his eyes. “Thanks for the compliment, Rowena.” At that moment, there was a knock at the bunker door. Castiel suddenly appeared next to Dean, looking at him with his usual serious gaze. “Jody’s arrived.”
Dean took a deep breath. “Good. Let her in.” The heavy door creaked open, and Jody Mills stepped into the bunker. Her eyes darted curiously around as she took in the room. But when her gaze fell on Dana, her entire face softened.
“Dana,” she said softly. Dana looked curiously at the woman. “You’re Jody?”
Jody smiled and nodded. “That’s right. And I’ve heard a lot about you.” Dana looked at Sam and Dean, who both nodded, encouragingly. She stepped forward cautiously, her gaze uncertain.
“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.” Jody crouched down so she was eye level with Dana. “It’s an honor to meet you. And please call me Jody, ma’am makes me feel old. You have wonderful people around you, but if you ever need anyone… I’m here for you.”
Dana’s eyes glistened with tears that she tried to hold back. “Thank you.” Jody smiled and held out her hand. “Now, let’s cut that cake before Charlie eats it all.” Charlie chuckled. “Hey, that’s unfair!” Everyone laughed, and the tension in the room broke like a wave. Dean lit the candles on the cake and looked at Dana.
“Come on, kiddo. Make a wish.” Dana looked at the candles, her eyes wide with excitement. She closed her eyes for a moment, thought deeply, and then blew out all the candles in one breath. The room erupted in applause and cheers.
Rowena stepped forward and placed a hand on Dana’s shoulder. “So, what was your wish?” Dana looked at her with a small smile. “If I tell you, it might not come true.” Rowena winked. “Smart girl.” Castiel looked around, his gaze serious as always. “This feels like family.” Dean nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on Dana. “It is.”
Dana looked around at the people in the room; Sam, Dean, Charlie, Rowena, Castiel, and Jody and felt for the first time that she truly belonged somewhere. “This is the best birthday ever.”