Author: DMartinez
Email: dmarttx
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Kripke and the WB, CW. No infringement intended.
Rating: M
Category: Supernatural; Dean, John
Summary: Sequel to Lost, Found. Big battle went down and everyone's picking up the pieces and finding alive folk all over.
Author's note: I was not going to post this until finished but then I started over and then tonight was the Finale and I went a different direction so... bear that in mind. Had I known, I would have only had to tweak it a little
Forgotten
Claire Reid sighed as she slid to a stop at the base of the hill. She was getting too old for this shit. She took a deep breath and began dismembering the carcass of a nasty werewolf. She dug a pit and shoved the pieces in. It was on fire a bit later. She kept the flames low and hot until she could cover the bones with dirt. She exited the woods and relaxed. She never realized how tense she was in the trees until she had pavement under her feet. So many years later and that damned Pixie still haunted her. She found a truck stop off the highway with a set of showers. She rinsed off and found fresh clothes in the bottom of her duffel. She wrung out what she could of her hunting clothes and shoved them in a plastic bag for a more thorough washing when she got home.
Then she was back in the car with a cup of coffee. She hit town just as the sun was coming up. She picked up more coffee and donuts before pulling into the two story house on Weinbach Ave. She let herself into the house. The living room was covered in bodies. Ben and his friends strewn everywhere and Erica half under the coffee table. She shook her head and slipped into the kitchen. Lisa Braeden looked up and smiled. "I wasn't expecting you until later."
"I missed my kid but she looks tuckered out and like she didn't miss me a bit."
"Well, she beat all the boys at a cartwheel contest, she bested all but Ben at a video game. She only whined for about 20 minutes when it was time for her bath but otherwise… she was a gem."
"Only for you." Claire groaned. "Donuts. Eat one before the boys wake up."
"Mommy?" Erica wandered in, bleary-eyed. She climbed onto Claire's lap without so much as opening her eyes.
She was getting too big to snuggle like this but Claire happily ate it up while she was able. Lisa sighed. "You know how long it's been since I could do that with Ben?"
"He's becoming so handsome and tall."
"Don't tell him. He's still got a huge crush on you." Lisa sipped her coffee and pulled a donut from the box. "What's the plan for today?"
"I think we'll go home and nap a bit and then run around town." Claire stroked Erica's hair. "How about you?"
"We have chores after all the boys go home." Lisa sighed. "I just know there's going to be a cupcake ground into the carpet or a slice of pizza under a cushion."
"Well, make him clean it. Only way he'll learn." Claire stood and let Erica slide to the floor. The little drama queen feigned death. "Come on. Get a donut and then we're going home."
"Mom… Ben was gonna make pancakes."
"No, he's not." Lisa assured her. "What is her fascination with pancakes?"
"An early childhood mostly spent in the IHOPs and Village Inns of the country."
"No Biggerson's?"
"They're too fluffy." Erica made a face.
"How can a pancake be too fluffy?"
"When you pour the syrup, they get spongy and then they get soggy." Erica explained. "I don't like mushy pancakes."
"Valid points." Lisa nodded and smiled. "Are you going to tell your mom the good news?"
Erica sat up and crossed her arms. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"What's the good news?" Claire looked from child to adult.
"Erica proposed to Ben last night. Ben swore he would wait for her to grow up or to change her mind."
"Engaged? You got engaged?" Claire exclaimed. "When is the wedding?"
"Mom!" Erica groaned. "I'm not old enough to get married."
"Then why did you propose?"
"Cause." Erica explained. "Ben is almost old enough to get married. There are girls at his school."
"Well, yes."
"Ugh." Erica made a face. "You didn't tell me there were girls in high school."
"There are girls at most schools." Claire sighed and watched Erica wilt back to the floor. "Why are you so sad? He said yes, didn't he?"
"He's too old and he's impatient."
"Says the nine year old trying to nail down a husband before she's got her first training bra."
"Mom! You can't say those words. There are boys here." Erica leapt off the floor.
"Come on, Bridezilla, time to go." Claire got Erica's bag and promised to see Lisa that evening. The ride home was full of questions about her hunt.
"Was it big? Can I come next time? Were you scared? Was it scared?" Erica kept up the questions until they were through the door. That's where she found Dean Winchester, bleeding on her kitchen floor. "Mom?"
"Dean?" Claire glanced around, reaching for the gun in the back of her pants.
"I'll be fine. Sorry. Had to crash. Sammy and Adam are in the bathroom getting patched up."
"Adam?" She shook her head.
"Our half-brother. I'll explain later." Dean heaved.
That's when Claire saw it. Dean was healing himself. "How are you doing that?"
"Long story." He shook his head. "I had a friend bring us here because… well… it's a blind spot."
"Yeah." She nodded. She turned to her daughter. "Go to your room."
"Mom."
"Go." Claire nudged her. She rushed to the sink to wet a towel and wipe some of the blood. "What happened?"
"I don't know. I know we were on a hunt. I know that it was big. I came to in a field, Sam and Adam were both bleeding…" Dean panted. "We got zapped just outside of town." Dean stared at her. "Why do you live here?"
"Making a life for myself." Claire paused. "You wanted me to keep an eye on her."
"I didn't think you'd stay."
"It's a nice town. I warded it against demons. It took a long time. Figured the effort… I have a daughter."
"I know." Dean nodded. "I have to get the car back."
"When you're healed." Claire shook her head. "The house is safe."
"From demons." Dean coughed and rose. "We need to be safe from Angels, too."
"What?"
"Later." He started drawing in his own blood on her wall.
TBC