Fire Belle
By: Beccatdemon13
©2015
Disclaimer: Please insert witty I-don't-own-shit here. Blah, blah, blah, don't sue me I'm broke…seriously, it's sad.
Synopsis: Hailey Winchester died the night that Lucifer was freed from his cage, six months later, a girl that looks like the youngest Winchester appears. She's everything that Hailey Winchester use to be, and everything she never was. She's deadly, she's confident, and she's back to set things right; starting with her family. Because hunting? Will always be a family business.
Authors Note: Welcome to the sequel of Scream, Aim, Fire. Some background knowledge in this universe would help. For clarification in terms of organization the stories in this universe in order is: Baptism of Fire; Scream, Aim, Fire; and finally Fire Belle. Reviews are duly appreciated. If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask. Also, I'm hopefully going to be uploading a chapter per week. But, we'll see how that goes. I'm five chapters ahead in term of writing so I hope that'll be a enough of a cushion. One final thing is assume spoilers for all TEN (eleven) seasons of Supernatural. Though this will not be a direct copy and paste for the show. In certain instances I will ignore canon and substitute my own.
Chapter One: Back in Black
"Maybe then you'll hear the words I've been singing. Funny how when you're dead people start listening."
Most people would describe Ellen Harvelle as a strong woman. She was a fierce, take-no-prisoners person who hadn't had the easiest life. She grew up in a family of hunters. But, they were not the ordinary hunters; instead the things they went after were supernatural, evil beings. She never had the luxury of thinking that there was nothing to be afraid of. As such she developed the skills she needed to keep herself and her loved ones safe. She married another hunter, who had died nearly twenty years earlier. If Ellen hadn't been as tough as nails before, raising her daughter single-handedly while running a bar for hunters to congregate certainly had.
Ellen wasn't a stranger to grief and loss. First her best friend, Mary Winchester had died, then her husband, and then there was the boy that she thought of as a son: Ash Teller. She had lost the entire bar at one point, burnt to the ground by demons, losing some great friends in the process. She had grieved for both Sam and Dean Winchester, Mary's oldest two sons but their deaths hadn't stuck. The loss that she didn't see coming was the death of Mary's only daughter: Hailey. It wasn't so much Ellen's own grief that ate at her. It was watching Hailey's brothers, her daughter, and Darren Whitman grieve that tore at her. She had known all those kids since they were infants and now the youngest was dead. It wasn't fair but then again the life of a hunter never was.
It had only six four months since Hailey had died but the pain of her absence still lingered. Ellen and the others did what they could to keep themselves busy. The Winchester boys and the Whitman family still hunted, while Ellen and Jo had been building up a new roadhouse with a lot more protection than the previous one.
The New Roadhouse had only been up and running for two weeks now but it had already gained quite the following. Throughout Ellen's career as a barmaid, she had seen so many things that few things shocked her anymore. Living around hunters your entire life tended to do that too. At the moment there was a vicious storm raging outside. People had already sought shelter inside, creating a cozy environment. When the front door was thrown open slamming into the outside wall with the force of the winds outside, everyone jumped.
The waifish form of a young girl walked slowly into the room, shutting the door behind her. Her face was hidden in the shadow of her hood, though it was obvious that she was soaked to the bone. The jeans she wore clung tightly to her small frame, whether that was a style choice or the fact that they were wet was unclear, though judging from her male clientele, it was appreciated. Ellen had been running the bar in some form or another since her early twenties she knew that it was no place for girls, especially one as fragile looking as the one that had just strolled in.
The stranger in question threw her hood off, shaking out a mane of long, chestnut brown hair. The girl was small but she also had a presence that seemed to enthrall every one in the building. Her sapphire eyes swept around her new surroundings, as they landed on Ellen, she felt a wave of familiarity rock her to her core. Her deep intake of breath had her daughter glancing over at her.
"Mom?" Jo prompted. "Are you okay?"
Ellen spared her only child a glance and a small smile nodding her head carefully. The blonde seemed to accept the answer as she took a step to stand next to her mother.
"I got a call from Dean," Jo announced, trying to break her mother out of the staring contest she was having with the mystery girl. "The Winchester's are about an hour out. Aiden's hurt."
"How bad?" Ellen asked.
"Dean said too much blood to tell," Jo frowned. "He got thrown out of a third story window and landed in a tree. They're gonna need supplies at the ready."
"Shit," Ellen muttered before projecting her voice. "Okay, folks, closing time. If you're staying the night, I suggest, you make your way to your rooms."
Ellen didn't bother to look and make sure that her orders were followed, instead she ran into the kitchen, filling the sink with hot water while Jo grabbed the Holy Water, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and bandages. When both Harvelle women walked back into the bar room, the mystery girl was sitting at the bar counter.
"Did you not hear me, sweetheart?" Ellen asked. Her tone seemed friendly but there was an underlying layer of steel.
"I heard you," The girl replied, a ghost of a smirk on her face. "I just figured that it didn't apply to me."
Ellen's eyebrows rose at the girl's flippant remark. A comment that only few would dare toss her way.
"I know you?" Ellen questioned stopping directly across from the girl.
"You and my mom were best friends," The girl began. "You knew my father and my brothers and I practically grew up in the old roadhouse. It's Hailey, Elle, Hailey Winchester."
Ellen lunged across the counter top grabbing the girl by her shirt and pulling her out of her seat with a clean collar-and-jerk.
"Mom!" Jo exclaimed.
"I don't know who you think you are, but you're not funny," Ellen seethed. "Hailey Winchester was like a daughter to me and I won't have you throwing her death in my face."
"That's not my intention," The girl responded, not bothering to free herself from Ellen's grip. "I'm telling you the truth, Ellen. Hailey Winchester's not dead, she's right in front of you."
"You look nothing like Hailey," Ellen contradicted. "She's also been dead six months."
"After everything you've seen in this life, you still doubt this?" The girl retorted. "Dean was in hell for four months. Are you going to stand there and tell me that Dean isn't who he says he is?"
"Dean still looks like Dean," Jo snapped this time.
"My old body was destroyed," The girl frowned. "The Fallen Angel carved sigils into our skin and bones, it makes it impossible to resurrect in the same body. Castiel freed my soul and put it in this body."
"Prove it," Ellen ordered, releasing the girl from her grip.
"Okay," She shrugged. "I was born December 13, 1989. I'm the only daughter of John and Mary Winchester, both of whom are deceased. You've known me since I was a baby. I was fourteen when I got my GED, which I got behind my father's back. Before that I had been to forty-five schools all over the country. Or, should I just say all over the continental United States because Dean's afraid to fly, which he only confessed to when there was that possessed plane thing. The fact that we moved around so much brought frequent arguments between you and my father. Despite all this you were one of Dad's best friends, he trusted you. Ellen, you gave us a home, a real home and you made sure we knew it was okay to come back whenever we wanted. Half the time I ran away, I ran to the roadhouse because I knew you'd listen before telling my father where I was. Most people don't know this, but I know that you let Sam crash there for the breaks he had at school, at least when they closed the dorms. You were there for us, Ellen, and you didn't care if you had to go behind my Dad's back to do it."
Both Ellen and Jo were gob smacked by the information the girl possessed. Someone claiming to be Hailey was cruel, but this person was actually proving that she was who she said she was. It was impossible to believe, too good to be true, but she continued to prove herself.
"You always kept my brother's and my room, even when you were booked to capacity. You made it known that those were our rooms and always will be. I might be going out on a limb here, but I bet that hadn't changed. Ellen, you were fully capable of controlling my brothers, the Whitman kids, Jo, and I with ease. While my Dad would shout his head off, all you had to do was say one thing quietly and we all would stop. Hell, half the time you could silence us with a look. You would also make us run laps whenever we fought one another or broke something. Oddly enough we ran a lot of laps around the compound."
"Oh, my god," Ellen whispered.
She exchanged a look with her daughter; similar to the one that they shared when they learned that Dean had come back. It was a weird mixture of relief and how-could-this-actually-happen. Both Harvelle women, however, knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. If there actually were strings attached to Hailey's resurrection, just like there had been strings attached to Dean's, they'd handle that when the strings showed themselves.
"Oh, Hailey," Ellen cried, rushing around the bar to gather the young girl up into a tight hug.
She hugged Ellen back, burying her face in Ellen's shoulder. After a few moments Ellen stepped back to allow Jo to hug Hailey. Both young girls were crying, holding each other tightly.
Hailey's Point of View
Resurrection was a weird and jarring thing. All the noises and smells and sights were painful. Everything was too loud, too bright, too much. I couldn't understand how I was suddenly alive again because dying young really didn't matter much. What set me apart from any other person who died before they were supposed to? Shit happened and people were fragile, a lot more fragile than we realized.
I had no idea how I had come back, only that I had. The first thing I had done was find some clothes and file for credit cards. It took a week for the credit cards to come, so I hustled money in the mean time. I might've died but I hadn't forgotten what I had been taught. I laid low until I had gotten enough clothes, weapons, and money before I began to move around.
Hunting solo was something that had never been tolerated in the family; it wasn't safe. The only people who seemed to be an exception to that rule were Dad and my cousin Charlie. When Dean had died was the only time where the big family rule was ignored. I always referred to the rules as the holy trinity: we do what we do and shut up about it; shoot first, ask questions later; and no hunting alone. There were others, of course, but those three were the most important.
Once I had enough money I found someone who made good fake IDs, making sure to get one at each branch of the government, and a few IDs at various colleges and universities. After I had finished that I stole a car from an impound lot and drove to the new roadhouse.
Ellen, Jo, and I weren't alone for long. It seemed like only five minutes had passed before I heard the familiar roar of the impala's engine. The horn honked a few times sending Jo and Ellen running towards the front door.
"Hailey, hide in the back," Ellen ordered. "Jo will get you when it's safe to come out."
Instead of hiding in the back, I moved to hide behind the bar in order to hear everything that was going on. The front door was slammed back open as Ellen rushed to open the kitchen doors. Dean and Sam had Aiden supported between them. There was blood all over Aiden and Sam. Though, I think it was mostly Aiden's blood than Sam's.
"What the hell happened?" Ellen demanded as Sam and Dean laid Aiden down on the table.
"Poltergeist pushed him out of a third story window, he landed in a tree," Dean explained. "We found him dangling upside down after we purified the house."
"Upside down?" Jo repeated.
"Yup, knocked out," Dean shook his head. "Can't tell if it was because of the poltergeist or he just hit his fool head."
Dean's tone was reproachful, yet fond as he looked towards Ellen.
"We didn't know that he was hurt beyond that until he started bleeding," Sam explained. "He has a graze on his side, we think it was the tree, judging by the splinters, he also has a deep cut in his hairline."
"Hasn't woken up yet either," Dean noted
"Let's take care of the splinters before we try to wake him," Ellen ordered. "Sam get started on that head wound."
"Yes ma'am," Sam replied.
Ellen and Sam worked efficiently side-by-side easily patching Aiden up, at least until Aiden woke up. After that Dean and Jo had to hold him down to finish the stitches. When they were done, Aiden stayed on the table, already asleep. Somehow he had avoided a concussion, but he was still going to be woken up every few hours, just in case.
"Boys," Ellen announced, once Aiden had been settled. "I have someone you need to see."
"Ellen?" Dean questioned.
"Come on out, sweetheart," Ellen ordered. "I know you've been eavesdropping. No one ever could break you of that habit."
I hopped up from my place behind the bar and walked into the kitchen. Sam and Dean took a step back and looked at me curiously. Ellen was also looking at me encouragingly.
"Hi, guys," I whispered.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Dean questioned.
"Hay?"
Everyone's attention shifted to Aiden, who in turn was staring straight at me. His eyes were surprisingly clear and focused.
"Ads," I whispered.
"Missed you," Aiden slurred.
Before I could echo the same, he had fallen back asleep, leaving a loud silence in his wake.
"Hailey?" Dean demanded.
"Hi, Dean," I grinned. "Sam."
"No way," Sam shook his head. "This isn't possible."
"I'm sorry were you just talking about a poltergeist?" I scoffed. "That's possible and I'm not. Dean came back. I can't?"
"Actually, we were told you couldn't come back," Dean disagreed. "Castiel said that you couldn't come back."
"I believe I can shed some light on this," Castiel proclaimed.
Everyone in the room jumped at the sudden appearance of the Angel. I guess we were so wrapped up in what was going on that we missed the telltale fluttering of the angel's wings.
"Hey, Cas," Dean greeted, sparing the Angel a glance. "So, is what she saying true?"
"Yes," Castiel replied.
Dean's eyes flashed green fire as he whirled around to punch Castiel square in the jaw. The Angel, not expecting the blow, stumbled back.
"Dean," Sam censured, stepping between the two men in order to stop any further violence.
"You son of a bitch!" Dean hissed. "You lied to us. You looked me in the eye and told me that there was no way that Hailey could be brought back."
"I lied for your own good, Dean Winchester," Castiel retorted. "If we had brought her back Beelzebub would've killed her again. And again. We had to protect her, so we did. She has been herself for two months."
"Herself?" Sam, Jo, and Ellen repeated.
"Two months?" Dean growled.
"Thanks, Cas," I mumbled. "Really. That was helpful."
"I want an explanation," Dean snarled, looking right at me. "Right now."
"She doesn't remember anything," Castiel intervened. "We wiped her memory."
Castiel strode over to me, quickly tapping a his index finger against my temple. With a jolt, an onslaught of images flooded through my mind. The past six months of my life were now accounted for.
Demons…ghosts…ghouls…poltergeists…werewolves…vampires. They were real, I knew that now, not something someone made up to scare others. It was a terrifying realization. One that had come too late, the apocalypse had begun; Lucifer was free to roam the earth. I had to get out of here; it wasn't safe.
I had packed up all my clothing within two duffle bags, sneaking out of residential housing far more skillfully than I should've been capable of. I was next to my roommate's car before I even realized that I had left my dorm. I didn't have the keys but it wasn't something that was going to get in my way. I manage to unlock the door and climb in, moving with the ease of someone who had stolen cars before. I pulled out the wires that were connected the steering wheel, stripping the red and green wires before bringing them together. It took a few tries but the car started smoothly.
As I drove down the quiet streets I glanced around at what my life once was, as if viewing it through the eyes of a stranger. As I crossed over into the next town, someone appeared in the middle of the street, seemingly out of nowhere, causing me to let out a frightened screech as I slammed on the breaks.
The car barely managed to stop; the man in a suit and a trench coat, both of which had seen better days didn't move nor did he react. His blue eyes burned into mine with a calm that was far more intimidating than it should've been.
"Castiel," I mumbled. The name had popped into the forefront of my mind. Quickly filling my brain with the information regarding this man, including the fact that he wasn't truly a man. He was an angel.
"You're starting to remember," Castiel frowned.
I slid out from behind the wheel to stand next to him. "Why do I know you?" I demanded. "How do I know all these things?" My voice took on a hysterical edge as I snarled. "I stole that car! I don't know how to do that. This shouldn't be happening. I'm a fucking college student, I've lived in Lawrence all my life."
"What you believe you know is a lie," Castiel said. "You're not a college student, and you haven't stepped foot in Lawrence since you were a baby."
"No," I disagreed. "No."
"Listen to me," Castiel ordered. "Your name is Hailey Winchester, you died six months ago. I brought you back."
"Died?" I yelped. "That's impossible."
"Oh, Hailey, nothing is impossible, you should know that by now," Castiel sighed.
"Don't call me that!" I protested. "That's not my name. My name is Jade Campbell. You're just a dream. I'm going insane."
"Ramiel," Castiel called. "This way isn't working."
Another figure appeared next to Castiel. He was dressed in a simple tee shirt and jeans. His hair was dark brown and shorn close to his head. Ramiel's eyes were dark green and serious looking, in a way that only angels could manage. Before I could even begin to protest, he simply tapped his two forefingers on my forehead. After that I wasn't aware of the two angels letting me crumble to the concrete in an unconscious heap.
I didn't know how long they left me laying on the concrete but that was the least of my concern as I sat up with a groan. Both Angels still stood in front of me, looking down at me expectantly.
"What did you do to me?" I croaked.
"You know who you truly are," Ramiel stated. "Don't you?"
"I look nothing like that girl," I protested. "I was an only child, my parents died."
"Those were implanted memories," Ramiel explained. "It was to keep you in hiding. Unfortunately, you can hide no longer."
"Listen to him," Castiel ordered. "Your name is Hailey Jade Winchester. Jade Campbell never existed."
"If I'm Hailey Winchester," I scowled, knowing that as I glared at the Angels that they were telling me the truth. "Why don't I look like her…me?"
"Your body was destroyed, we were able to salvage your soul."
"Holy shit," I mumbled.
"The implanted memories were very strong, they didn't begin to break down until a month ago, correct?"
"Yeah," I grumbled, glaring at the unfamiliar Angel.
"The Apocalypse rages on-"
"I thought I already failed that part of the plan," I growled, interrupting Ramiel. "I remember that much."
"Your brothers need you," Castiel tried to reason.
"There's better hunters," I retorted.
"Yet we have use for you," Ramiel growled. "You were born to be a hunter. The Trinity shouldn't have fallen."
"Have you brought Abby and Lucy back?" I asked
"No," Castiel said.
"You brought Dean back because you said you had work for him," I mumbled. "Is that why you brought me back?"
"Yes," Ramiel said.
"What happened to me being in danger?" I protested.
"Your brothers killed the demons who killed you," Castiel stated. "That set of a trip wire we set up in your mind. You would begin to remember when you were safe."
"That is one thing the Winchesters seem very good at," Ramiel mused. "An eye for an eye."
"You made me believe I was a college student?" I snapped, glaring at the Angel.
"You had to be protected," Castiel explained. "You were the last to die, the only one we could save."
"Can you maybe share with the class?" Sam snarked.
"Castiel made me think that I was college student named Jade Campbell," I growled. "I studied history at the University of Kansas. You know, the one in Lawrence."
The two older Winchester's speared Castiel with dark looks. The latter of whom had the decency to look a little contrite.
"She's known who she really is for two months," Castiel retorted.
"How could you not have found us?" Sam asked. "We've been mourning for you. After we saw you in heaven-"
"What?" I interrupted. "Sam, I was never in heaven."
"We talked to you, Hailey," Sam disagreed.
"I was never in heaven," I stated. "My soul was grabbed before I could cross over."
"Zachariah, that fucking douche," Dean growled.
"Should've known," Sam huffed, his jaw clenched.
Castiel chose at that moment to disappear, leaving the us alone. There was a sort of awkward silence that fell over the kitchen as they glanced at one another uncertainly.
"Who's Zachariah?" I asked.
"Another angel," Dean said. "A bigger douche than Uriel was."
"Oh," I scoffed. "Awesome."
"What's weird is you still look like Hailey," Dean mused. "Your hair's different, you're not as pale, but everything else is the same. Hell, you even act the same."
"Thanks, Dean," I mumbled. I then looked over to Sam, who was doing everything possible to avoid my gaze. "Sam? Are you alright?"
"I just need some air," Sam whispered, quickly fleeing the from the room before anyone could say a word.
Dean watched Sam go before turning to look at me, stepping closer.
"You forgave him in heaven," Dean sighed. "Since that wasn't really you. Sam still remembers you saying that you hate him, the last time you saw each other."
"Oh," Hailey whispered.
"It's good to have you back, Hails," Dean stated tucking me into his arms. "You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice and see you. Even if it's different."
"It's good to be back," I confessed. "When I heard the impala I felt like I was home. I could recognize that engine anywhere."
"That's my girl," Dean laughed pulling away from the hug after squeezing me tight.
"Okay, you guys," Ellen called. "Let's get some sleep, it's late."
"Okay," Dean agreed.
He walked over kissing Jo softly on the lips before reaching Aiden, tapping the side of his face until the former opened his eyes blinking blearily.
"D'n?" Aiden slurred.
"Hey, Junior," Dean whispered. "Time for bed."
"Already sleeping," Aiden retorted, eyes already closing.
"Not in here you're not," Dean scoffed.
He gently rolled Aiden off the table, putting Aiden's arm over his shoulder and nearly dragging him towards the back room. Ellen and Jo had already disappeared into the apartment connected to the kitchen, leaving me alone. I cleaned up the kitchen before I followed after Sam. Knowing that he and I had some things to settle.
Outsider Point of View
Sam was predictably leaning against the impala, his face tilted up towards the moon, seemingly lost in thought. The only thing that gave away that he was aware of Hailey's presence, was the tensing of his shoulders and his clenched fists. Like he was readying for a fight.
"Hi, Sammy," Hailey greeted.
Sam glanced back at her, a guilty expression written all over his face.
"You know what I miss," She began walking towards him.
"Hailey," Sam whispered, pleaded.
"I miss the way you used to force us to talk," Hailey continued. "You were the one who wouldn't let us avoid our feelings. If there were problems you wanted to fix them."
"That was before I realized that I was the problem," Sam scowled.
"You know that's not true," Hailey retorted.
"It isn't?"
"Sam, you know that every one is responsible for their own actions," Hailey sighed. "If you have to feel guilty about something feel guilty about that. Not what other's have done but what you have."
"You really have grown up, Hails," Sam noted.
"So, have you," Hailey replied.
Sam frowned as he turned to face her head-on. "It is my fault, Hailey. All of this is my fault. You didn't trust Ruby from the beginning, she betrayed me. I kick-started the apocalypse that's on me."
"I'm not going to lie, Sam, I hated you for a long time because you trusted Ruby over Aiden and I. Over Dean."
Sam winced at the emphasis Hailey put on their older brother's name. He avoided eye contact because he knew what Aiden and Hailey knew, Dean was the most selfless of all of them. Dean had never put his needs above his siblings. Dean was the one constant the three of them had. When their father was in his war mode, Dean picked up the slack, almost no questions asked. Where his younger siblings were concerned, he never faltered, he never let them down.
The oldest Winchester boy might've been bossy and demanding but, he often did what he did out of love, acting on what he thought was right. Dean might've not seen things as shades of grey, but he would make the effort just because of Sam and Hailey. And considering the lifestyle that the Winchester's grew up in shades of grey wasn't all that common.
"I know," Sam whispered. "I know, Hailey."
"You saw me in heaven?" Hailey mumbled.
"Yeah," Sam coughed, rubbing the back of his neck with his left hand, "You looked good, Hailey, happy. We talked…"
"And I forgave you," Hailey filled in.
"I know," Sam interrupted. "It was too good to be true. The things I've done…what I did to you…it's unforgiveable."
"You've always been too hard on yourself, Sam."
"How can you even say that?" Sam demanded. "I hit you, Hails. I threw you through a goddamn table; I nearly killed Dean. I trusted Ruby over you. I took everything Dad and Dean ever taught us and threw it away."
"That was your arrogance," Hailey mumbled. "Your belief that you knew what you were doing. That you were a better judge of character. That you saw something in her we didn't."
"I know what it was," Sam snapped.
"Sam, it wasn't your fault," Hailey stated.
"Stop it!" Sam yelled. "Just stop!"
In the face of Sam's sudden rage, Hailey took a small step back, shutting her mouth. Sam shifted away from the impala, stalking over to her. He loomed over her, something that would've intimidated a lot of people. That tactic had long ago stopped working for Hailey; it had been used too often.
"Stop trying to make what I did okay," Sam whispered. "It's not okay."
"I never said it was," Hailey shrugged. "I'm just saying that I forgive you."
"You can't."
"Too bad," Hailey scoffed. "I already have."
Sam scowled at his little sister, who in turn, looked completely unperturbed at the look. She leaned against the impala, the engine still warm from the drive here. She tilted her head up, looking at the clear night, filled with stars.
"How can you forgive so easily?" Sam whispered slouching next to her.
"Honestly, Sam, I'm tired," Hailey confessed. "I've spent the past year and a halsf loving and hating you in equal measure. But, you're my brother and I can't forget that."
"I hit you," Sam said, repeating what he had already mentioned.
"And, what?" Hailey rolled her eyes. "You forget that I hit you back?"
"I threw you through a table," Sam said.
"I hit you with a lamp," I retorted. "Seriously, Sam, the amount of fist fights we've gotten into you're really gonna whine about you getting a few lucky punches?"
"You died because of me," Sam replied.
"No, I died because some demon's got the drop on me," Hailey corrected. "It wasn't your fault. Besides it didn't stick."
"Castiel had to put your soul in another body."
"At least he was able to get my soul," Hailey frowned. "I don't know what happened to Abs or Luce."
That fact was something; Hailey had refused to dwell on. Knowing that if she thought about what had happened the night she was killed, it would unearth everything that she didn't remember. Things that were murky at best. Things that she had a very good feeling should remain that way. Still the stubborn set of her older brother's face had her rolling her eyes.
"You're a real selfish prick sometimes, Sam," Hailey growled.
Sam seemed surprised at his sister's sudden 180, but at the same time the curl of his lips signaled amusement. The kind of smirk one gave their little sister. The aw-look-she's-being-cute look. Hailey Winchester despised that look. Then it turned into the second look Hailey's always hated the indulgent look. Sam made a go-on gesture and it took all of her self-control not to deck him on principle.
"I didn't just say that for reasons you might think," She snaps. "You're projecting your issues with the apocalypse onto me. Like I need more reasons to hate you, or like I need your issues on top of my issues."
"Hailey," Sam began.
"No, Sam," Hailey interrupted. "I'm talking."
At that Sam looks really surprised. He's never heard that tone come out of Hailey before. It was the feminine version of the tone both John and Dean had mastered. The tone of wrathful authority and unspoken threat. And the fact that Sam towered nearly a foot over his sister did not take the power out of that timbre.
"As I was saying if you can't take my forgiveness because you can't forgive yourself, that's fine," Hailey continued, crossing her arms over her chest. "I should've figured that you'd do that. Typical Sammy Winchester MO but don't you dare rehash history because I'm not treating you the way you think you should be treated."
"I…"
"And, I want that to be the last time we have this conversation," Hailey stated. "I tried the nice way and the other way. But, both have one thing in common: I forgive you because you're my brother and if I held all the times you've been an insufferable asshole, we would've stopped talking a long time ago."
"Thanks, Hailey," Sam said with a laugh.
"No problem, big brother," Hailey smirked.