As soon as Dean heard the rumble of the engine coming down the drive he quickly shimmied out from beneath the car. He stood and placed a hand in front of his eyes to cut the glare from the rising sun. Although he could hear the vehicle approaching he was unable to see it yet.
Dean started moving towards the house. Sam and Dean had been at Bobby's house for 10 days now and not one person had stopped by. As far as Dean was concerned whoever was coming down the drive had to be bad news. After all hadn't the last few months proved the only luck the Winchesters had was bad luck.
As Dean started up the stairs of the front porch intending to grab the rifle that leaned against the railing he noticed Sam and Bobby coming out the front door both fully armed. Dean positioned himself slightly in front of Sam and waited.
Bobby swung himself off the porch, landing lightly on his feet despite his age and took aim on the cloud of smoke being kicked up by the vehicles tires. Bobby could feel all the hair trying to stand up on the back of his neck. As much as he loved John's boys they seemed to attract more trouble than a pack of poltergeists.
Suddenly the roof of an old Wagoneer became visible as it rounded Bobby's garage. As the car stopped and parked, Bobby suddenly set aside his weapon and grinned. Thank God he thought to himself striding quickly to the Wagoneer. He waved his hand at the boys giving them the all clear and pulled open the driver side door before the occupant could even shut off the engine.
"Girl, where have you been, you scared the ever living life out of me." Bobby said, giving the girl inside a ten mile smile.
Sam and Dean eyed each other warily. They had known Bobby for years and had never seen him shake the sarcastic, rough exterior he showed the world. But here he was practically jumping up and down while opening the back door and quickly pulling out what appeared to be couple of duffle bags.
As the driver of the vehicle stepped out into the early morning light, both brothers gaped in surprise as they got a look at the driver before them.
888
Catherine Chase was tired and beat (literally) she had a bad couple of months topped off with an even worse couple of days. She heard Bobby's scolding but couldn't summon the energy to do more than smile slightly. She was using all of her strength just keep herself upright. She groaned quietly and set about the painful ordeal of getting out the car after a six hour drive. Here to safety, here to Bobby the closest thing she had ever come to family. As she stepped away from the car she noted two strangers standing in the shadow of the porch. She had automatically begun to reach for the .45 tucked into the waistband of her pants, when Bobby noticed her gaze.
"Relax, kiddo, they're with us." Bobby called out as he shouldered her bags and gestured for her to head to the house.
Great she thought company, just when she needed to break some terrible news to Bobby. She knew she wasn't going to be able to hide her condition from his sharp eyes much longer. When it came to fussing over her Bobby was like an eagle eyed grandmother. Always, quick to pick up on fevers, stomach aches and any injury under the sun.
Cat approached the porch wearily. She found herself trying to focus on the men in front of her. She was exhausted, weak, emotionally drained and had no interest in what she assumed were a couple of Bobby's hunting buddies. As she slowly climbed the steps to the front door she realized her error. They were hunters, no doubt, however that's were her assumption came up short. The two men that stood before her were anything other than a couple fifty-something hunters out to Bobby's place for a cup of coffee. They were young, and good looking, not to mentions everything about them screamed toughness and danger.
Sam watched the woman approach the porch. A slightly stunned smile on his face, he couldn't for the life of him imagine who this woman was. She was average height, with long dark hair hanging in a braid down her back, Her eyes were incredibly blue, and she had high cheekbones and a strong chin. She was beautiful.
It was obvious, by the way Bobby was following her like a puppy, that she was someone important to the aged hunter. Sam turned and propped his gun against the railing, reached out and opened the door for the woman as she passed. Sam shot Dean a frown when he noticed that his brother was still holding the rifle. As always, though Dean ignored the look and turned to follow the woman in, the gun still resting in his arms. Sam waited a moment more before reaching out to snag one of the duffels Bobby carried as the hunter walked past him and into the house.
Dean followed the woman into the house noting that she obviously knew Bobby's place well. She walked straight into the kitchen and out of his sight. He wasn't sure what was causing it but his every instinct was shouting at him that something was wrong with the girl. He followed cautiously gun still cradled in his arms.
Cat walked into the kitchen and almost lost it right there. Over the last couple of days she had thought that she would never make it back here, that she would die like she had lived, alone and unknown. She nearly cried in relief to see the dingy kitchen in front of her. This house and Bobby had been the only home she had ever known. She was quickly startled out of her morbid thoughts by approaching footsteps.
She turned towards the door and watched the older of the two young men enter the kitchen, a rifle carried loosely in his arms. She noticed the tension in him, the watchfulness and noted the danger that he exuded.
"Bobby have any coffee on?" she asked as she headed for the cabinet. She started to reach for the cabinet door when the motion nearly caused her to drop to her knees. Strong arms gently reached around her holding her steady until she could push the pain away again.
She stood there, hunched in on herself, arms wrapped around the pain in her chest. A soft rumbling voice reached her ears. "Small breaths, nice small breaths, not too fast, easy does it, nice small breaths" said the young man, sympathy showing through the way he held her and spoke.
Cat got her breathing in check and slowly pushed erect breaking his hold. She turned to face him and said "Please, don't mention it, I have bad news for Bobby that can't wait."
Dean nodded and moved a few paces away from the woman, he made sure she was in his line of sight though just in case she passed out. He now understood what had been bothering him, it was the way she moved. Instead of walking with the grace of youth she moved as if she was an old woman. He wondered besides the cracked ribs what else was wrong with her, he leaned against the counter and waited for Bobby and Sam to join them in the kitchen.
Bobby swept into the room looking happier than Dean or Sam had ever seen him. "Did you get some coffee kiddo?" he asked even as he began to pour her a cup.
"Thanks, Bobby you know I go into withdrawal, if I don't get a hit every couple of hours." She said with a small grin taking the cup and setting it on the counter top.
Chase suddenly saw spots as the lack of air in her lungs became a problem. An arm quickly slipped around her waist and guided her to one of the sturdy high backed chairs around the battered kitchen table. She moaned softly and looked up into the prettiest eyes she had ever seen. A perfect shade of green, not too blue and not too brown, the lashes were thick and curled slightly at the tips. She forced herself to break eye contact and pushed slightly away from the sandy haired hunter.
"Katie, girl, what's wrong?" said Bobby moving towards her in concern.
"Nothing Bobby, I'm just worn out" She said not able to look him in the eye as she uttered this lie. She sat back in the chair and prepared herself to face ordeal in front of her.
"Bobby I'm so sorry, but I have some bad news and I'm just not sure how to break it" she said softly taking Bobby's gnarled hands into her own. "It's about John" she said glancing at Bobby her eyes full of sympathy. "He's dead" she said in a rush as if saying the words quickly would help.
Bobby knelt down on one knee in front of her and gently held her hands. "I know" he said softly glancing at the boys. "Dean and Sam knew, they were with him when he passed".
"You're Sam and Dean Winchester, you're John Winchester's boys" said Chase swaying slightly as the boys nodded in unison.
Bobby turned towards Sam and Dean and gave a sad smile. "Boys," he said with a wave of his hands. "This is Catherine Chase".
Dean and Sam looked at each other, the same thought forming in their minds. Who? Dean glanced at Bobby and then looked at the woman sitting on the chair. "Hi, Catherine it's, uh, great to meet you" his face a puzzle of confusion. Bobby had introduced her to the Winchesters as if they would recognize her name.
"Dean, Sam this IS Chase, Catherine Chase" said Bobby with confusion in his voice.
Sam shifted awkwardly and said "I'm sorry Bobby, we just don't understand are we supposed to know her?"
"Know her, know her, of course you should know her. Didn't John ever mention her?" Bobby asked pushing back his baseball cap in confusion.
Chase dropped Bobby's hands as if they burned, and stood up shoving the chair behind her. "You've never even heard of me? I followed him to hell and back, I gave him my every loyalty and he never even mentioned me to you. Why were you even with him. I was supposed to be with him when he faced it. He swore to me, he swore years ago."
Chase suddenly couldn't stand it anymore, she had to get out and fast. She started for the kitchen door with every intention of getting back in the Wagoneer, when it happened. One minute she was striding angrily away from all of them and the next thing she knew she was being set carefully on the spare bed Bobby always kept for her when she came to stay.