6

Chapter Two

"How come we're not going to school today, Daddy?" ased Molly as Dean buckled her into her carseat in the back of the Impala.

"We're going on a hunting trip. An adventure."

"ADVENTURE TIME!" she yelled happily. "Is Papa and Uncle Sammy coming too?"

"They're putting some stuff in the back. Ready to go?"

She nodded, smiling as Cas slipped into the other side of the back seat. "Hello, little one."

Dean shut Molly's door and took his seat at the wheel. His brother slid into the passenger seat. "Okay," he said, clicking the belt into place. "So we're headed to Emporia, about an hour and a half away."

"Emporia, huh?" The key turned and the car started. Music began to play. "Nice to work a case close to home. Actually, it's awesome that we're hunting again."

"So what are we getting rid of exactly?"

"It appears to be demons," answered Castiel.

"Wassa demon?" asked Molly, her cheeks stuffed with Cheerios.

Sam rolled his eyes. "She's obviously yours, Dean."

"A demon is a bad guy with black eyes who lies and has a tendency to hurt people. So we're gonna get it and kill it so it can't hurt anyone else," Molly's father answered, smirking at Sam's comment.

"Kill it?" There was a bit of sadness in the little girl's voice. "But killing is bad. You said so."

"Well, this is a bad guy."

"So? It's still a guy…"

"If we don't kill the demon, he could kill other people, Molly," said Castiel calmly. "We have to look at the bigger picture."

"Do you really think she's going to understand the concept of a bigger picture, Cas? She's six." Sam looked into the backseat through the mirror, raising an eyebrow.

"Okay, Papa. Bigger picture. I get it," said Molly, nodding and sticking another fistful of cereal into her mouth. She offered the bowl to Cas. "Wan' some?"

"No thank you, Molly." he said, pushing the bowl away gently.

She shrugged. "More for me!"

"The walls start shakin', the earth was quakin', my mind was achin'—" sang Dean, who was rather tone-deaf.

"Is this really something you should be playing around your daughter?" The moral guardian of the family evidentally was the only concerned about what his niece heard.

Dean grinned. "Please. She listens to Metallica to get to sleep." As though to spite his baby brother, he turned the steroe louder and rolled down his window.

Sam just shook his head and stared out the window.

"Emporia," Dean read off the "now entering" sign. "Population who gives a crap? Let's kick some demon ass! Cas, where'd you say those demons were?" At least he was excited to start hunting again.

"I didn't. They… They are keeping well-hidden."

"So you don't know."

"Well—"

"There's been a couple mysterious deaths at the university," said Sam, reading a newspaper he had picked up before they had left home. "One was at the library. Should we check it out?"

"What's so mysterious about the death?"

"Perfectly healthy guy just walks into the library and passes out. Couple hours later, his heart just gives up."

"Stress, maybe? How do we know it's a demon and not natural causes?" The Impala pulled into the university library parking lot.

"Demonic omens? Well, they appear to be. That's the only lead we've got," shrugged Sam.

"Dean, your daughter. She's asleep. What do you propose to do with her while you and Sam investigate?" asked Castiel from the back, where Molly was currently drooling in her sleep on his shoulder. "You don't plan to put her in danger, do you?"

"Do you want to babysit Molly?" asked Dean, avoiding the question altogether.

"Why would I sit on your child?" asked Cas, visibly confused.

"No, babysit, like watch. Do you want to watch her for me while Sam and I go work on the case?"

"Dean," said Sam, "You can't just stick Molly and Castiel in a hotel. Cas can be really helpful. Just hire a babysitter."

"Hell no."

"What? Why?"

Dean muttered something incomprehensible.

"You're going to have to say that again, Dean," said Sam, tiredly.

"We don't have any time to go to a hotel to drop them off. The library's nearly closed," he said louder. Sam and Cas both knew that hadn't been what Dean had said first, but only Cas knew what he had actually said.

Sam rolled his eyes. "Fine. But you get to answer when they ask us why there's a little girl."

"Hello, ma'am. I'm Agent Phillips and these are my partners, Agents Young and James." Dean gave the attractive librarian a winning smile and his badge.

"Who's the little girl?"

"That's my daughter. It's, uh…"

"Take your daughter to work day," said Sam, giving Dean a look that said you so owe me.

"The FBI has take your daughter to work day?" she asked skeptically.

"Yes. We were wondering about the student that collapsed in here a few days ago. Do happen to know anything about what happened?" Sam took a notebook from his pocket.

"Simon Jensen? I didn't know him much."

"Do you know anyone who could give us more information than that?" asked Castiel.

"His roommate?" she said irritably.

"And do you know—"

"No, I don't. Look, I'm just an intern. I have absolutely no idea. I just started the day he collapsed."

"I understand, ma'am," said Sam gently. "We're just trying to see if we can find out more about what happened. Can you point us to an office here that can tell us more?"

"Administration, maybe? The office that handles room and board? I really don't have a clue."

"Thank you for your help, ma'am." Sam closed his notebook and tucked it into his pocket.

"Could I get your name and number for further questioning? It's protocol," said Dean, handing over his own notebook. "I just want to make sure you're accessible if the situation calls for it."

She looked him up and down, raising an eyebrow. With a bit of hesitation, she scribbled on the paper and handed it back to Dean.

He grinned. "Thank you very much, Miss…" He looked down at the notebook. "Sabrina."

"Good luck," said the librarian. "I don't know how much help anyone else is gonna be."

The Winchesters and their angel left the library. Sam sighed. "Well that was helpful."

Dean nudged Sam's shoulder. "Sabrina's pretty hot."

"Priorities, Dean. Also, your daughter, man. You can't just go out and sleep with every woman on the face of the planet anymore."

He shrugged. "Killjoy."

"Where is the administrator the girl spoke of?" asked Castiel, who was holding Molly's hand and nearly dragging her along. She looked very tired.

"Wassa 'ministrator?" asked Molly in her sleepy voice.

Dean picked her up because carrying her was easier than making her walk when she was tired. "It's a boss, a little bit. We're going to go talk to them and they're going to tell us about stuff."

She rested her head on her father's shoulder and closed her eyes. "Okay. Good plan." If there was a more adorable thing in the world, Dean hadn't witnessed it.

The four reached the Impala, where he sat his daughter on the roof. "What's the plan? We need to investigate the body."

"It's getting late. Maybe we should just get a hotel?"

Dean yawned. "Good plan."