The next morning Ava woke early, blinking the sleep from her eyes and shifting into the warmth behind her, to try and chase away the chill from the cold outside the Impala. It was then that she heard someone talking outside the Impala and figured that was what woke her.
For a moment or two she assumed it was Dean maybe talking to Sam on his phone before she heard a grunt behind her and a tightened arm across her stomach. With a wakening realization, she sat up to try and figure out what was going on before she looked out and over at her truck.
Just as she did, the engine started and she realized with a cold fury that she had left her keys in the truck when she'd gotten out the night before. She scrambled up and jumped over the front seat slamming her hand into the horn to try and distract the two men long enough to get out of the car.
Dean woke with a start jumping up when she honked the horn of the car, and grabbed the ankle of her left foot before it smacked him in the nose.
"What the hell-"
"Hey! Get the hell out of my truck!" Ava was shouting when he finally realized what was happening.
He was quickly prompted into movement opening the door and tumbling out of the Impala onto tired feet.
"Damn it."
This was the reason he never slept in the back. He could never react quick enough if he needed to get the car started in a hurry. Ava though had already beaten him to the punch sliding into the driver's seat effortlessly and turning to start it for him, only thing was it wouldn't start. It tried, it really did but it would never catch and actually start.
"What the hell?" Dean questioned angry then turned when the truck's tires spun a little on the dirt where it was parked before gaining traction and throwing dust in his face.
Ava then quickly opened the Impala's car door with her pistol raised and took a shot trying to pop a tire before they got too far, but missed with a clang of metal and then the truck was gone from sight.
"Shit!" Dean said and then looked back at Ava who was lightly thumping her head on the Impala's wheel.
"Damn it!" she finally exclaimed. "Everything I owned was in that truck! My cash, my guns, Logan's cards, Logan's guns! Everything!"
"What did they do to Baby?" Dean said his own anger flushing through him. "Pop the hood!"
Ava moved instantly finding the latch to pop it for Dean to have a look inside. Ava just stayed put cursing under her breath at the men who just stole the truck.
Beside her there was a laugh and she jerked up to find Lucifer sitting next to her in the front seat a smug grin on his face.
"What did you do?" Ava hissed quietly as not to be overheard by Dean who was swearing still under the car hood.
"So many questions." Lucifer said and that damn smirk on his face told her everything. The thieves hadn't touched the car. Lucifer had disabled the car so they couldn't follow.
"You mother-"
At that exact moment, there was a phone ring that distracted her and Dean from what they had been doing. Ava climbed on out of the car and around to where Dean stood cell phone up to his left ear and leaning over the Impala's engine.
"Sam, look we'll be back when we can okay?" Dean bit into the phone. "Yeah, here, talk to her."
Dean shoved the phone in Ava's direction before turning back to the Impala. She took it and hesitated before bringing the phone up to her own ear.
"This is Ava."
"Why do you answer the phone like that every time?" Sam's voice greeted her, he didn't sound all to happy either.
"Habit," Ava shrugged and stepped away from Dean where he stood still cussing the other men out. "You wanted to talk to me,"
"Why did you just up and leave last night?" Sam questioned terse. "And why does Dean sound so pissed? Where are you?"
"Someone messed with the Impala and stole my truck." Ava gritted out after a second. "We'll be back as soon as he gets the Impala fixed and then we'll talk, okay? Look I better go try and help him, I'll talk to you later."
With that Ava hung up the phone despite Sam's protesting and turned back to where Dean still stood. She hesitated for a second, the phone just lying in her palm before she stepped back over to Dean.
"Find what was wrong?" Ava questioned hesitantly, knowing the man was on edge anyway.
"Nothing!" Dean proclaimed frustrated. "There's nothing wrong with her."
Ava hesitated, shifting to and from on her feet, unsure whether to say anything about Lucifer preventing the car from starting.
"I'm sorry Dean," Ava finally settled on, deciding it was the best statement to use.
"Not your fault." Dean grumbled finally, before standing up again and then nodded to the driver's side door. "Just do me a favor, go try her now, I can't find anything wrong."
Ava nodded tossing him his phone before rounding the car and slipping into the driver's side seat. She then turned her attention to the keys giving them a quick flick to start up the engine. It started easily with a rumble that turned into a purr and Ava smiled at the sound.
She then slid over to the passenger side and waited for Dean to join her so they could head back to Bobby's. He did after a moment or two and then turned to look at her for a second.
"Want to try and find the truck?" he asked when she raised an eyebrow in question.
"Think that would be a really smart idea, Ava?" Lucifer spoke from the back seat. "No telling what could happen to the Impala along the way."
"No!" Ava shook her head once she heard this paling a little. She then coughed a little and turned bright red at Dean's raised eyebrow at the exclamation. "I mean, no it's fine. Nothing worth going after really."
"If you're sure."
"Yeah," Ava confirmed with a little nod. "Thanks though."
Dean grunted in answer and then turned to taking them back to Bobby's. It was a quiet ride between them and before long they were pulling up to Bobby's front porch where Bobby stood waiting for them arms crossed. Sam came out of the house behind him when he heard the Impala's engine.
Ava hesitated a little before she stepped out of the car when Dean cut the engine. She let out a little breath before turning her attention to Bobby.
"Hey Bobby, think we could talk for a few minutes?"
"Yeah, c'mon." Bobby nodded and turned to head back inside.
Ava nodded and followed him inside and behind her she heard Dean asking Sam about what was for breakfast, distracting him from Bobby and Ava.
Ava followed Bobby into what she guessed was his study, where he leaned against a desk in the middle arms crossed obviously waiting for an explanation.
"Okay so first off I'm sorry I just bolted last night." Ava started off then began to pace slightly across the room. "I don't have any excuses for it, just yeah." She then let out another huff of a breath pushing her fingers through her hair. "Second thing, and I hate asking this and understand if you say no, but is there any way I can stay here until I can scrape together enough to-"
"Kid, you're not scraping enough together to go anywhere, you're fifteen." Bobby interrupted her and she stopped pacing and looked at him for a second. "You're staying here. I'll be damned if I let a kid take off into the wild blue yonder."
Ava hesitated for a second pausing in her pacing and looking at him looking genuinely confused. "Bobby, I'm not a-"
"You're staying, end of discussion."
Ava hesitated again then nodded, looking him straight in the face for the first time since walking into the library. "Well, seeing as I don't have too much choice…." Her shoulders dropped a little in what could have been relief and she flushed with a blush. "Thank you."
"Okay, now that this running crap is behind you," Bobby huffed before standing up and turning to walk out of the study again, waving off her thanks without worry. "I'm going to make sure those idjits haven't eaten all the food. Hungry?"
"Um yeah sure," Ava said after a second. "I'll be right behind you."
Bobby grunted in agreement before walking out leaving Ava to stand in the study for a minute or two trying to figure out what all had just happened. She then just sighed shrugging her shoulders with a little smile and followed Bobby into the kitchen to get some breakfast.
Dean was sitting at the table munching on something while Sam filled the silence with chatter about this or that. He noticed her walk in and tilted his head to the chair beside him, which she smiled a little and sat in as Sam continued his mostly one sided conversation.
Dean then rolled his eyes a little at his younger brother and slid a plate in front of her which had some eggs and sausage on it. She looked at it for a second then to Dean who was absently munching on a piece of bacon.
"So Ava, since the truck was stolen do you have anything left?" Sam suddenly turned his attention to her and she paused mid bite of the eggs she had decided to eat.
"That's right," Dean stopped his munching and turned to look at her. "You said everything you owned was in the truck."
"The truck was stolen?" Bobby questioned from the counter where he was leaning seeming to be in a little bit of shock at this news.
"Yeah," Ava admitted after a second looking over at Bobby to give him an answer. "I accidentally left my keys in the truck, and some guys found them. Took off with everything."
"So all you have is literally the shirt on your back?"
"Already causing the old man problems, aren't you?" Lucifer's voice found her with a cackle at her predicament. "You should have never stopped on that highway run."
Ava flinched a little at the voice and then fidgeted a little not seeming to want to give an answer, but then she felt a hand on her thigh to still her. She hesitated before reaching down to give the hand a squeeze in thanks before facing Bobby with a bright red face of embarrassment.
"Basically." Ava finally admitted quietly. "But these jeans and shirt haven't failed me yet, long as I can keep them clean they should last till I can work up some money to-"
"Nonsense." Bobby cut her off. "We'll go to town and get you some clothes, and whatever else you need."
"Bobby, I can't ask you to-" Ava started but Bobby cut her off again.
"I didn't say you did." Bobby brushed it off gruffly. "But I'll be damned if you live in one pair of wore out jeans and a torn shirt long as you're here."
There was another squeeze on her thigh when she opened her mouth to protest before she sighed a little and then answered. "Thank you,"
Sam who had been quiet through the whole thing had watched Ava and Dean rather closely, startled slightly when he noticed Dean shift putting one of his hands on what he guessed was Ava's knee to still her. He was further surprised when it seemed to work, allowing Ava to focus enough to answer Bobby.
Ava then shifted her gaze from Bobby, who had nodded taking her thank you and wondered off mumbling about finding his wallet, to Sam who she then noticed was watching she and Dean pretty closely. Dean seemed to notice this at the same time she did and pulled his hand back off of her thigh.
"You shouldn't so openly gawk at a pretty girl Sammy," Dean teased breaking the tension some. "Have I taught you nothing?"
Ava shifted a little away from Dean and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear a little in embarrassment at being caught before taking another bite of her eggs.
"Oh ho is that a spark of jealousy I see in dear little Sammy's face?" Lucifer's voice was just beside her and she felt slight pressure on her left shoulder where he must have laid his head to look between the boys. "Well this should be fun,"
Ava stood abruptly to dislodge Lucifer, starting both Sam and Dean, but luckily at that moment Bobby walked back into the kitchen having found his wallet.
"Are you idjits staying here or coming with us?" Bobby questioned not even seeming to notice the mild confusion on both boys faces as they looked at Ava.
"Shopping with a girl," Dean said finally a grin appearing on his face. "Should be an interesting experience, sure Sammy would have fun with that."
"It's Sam." Sam said out of what sounded like a reflex. "Jerk."
"Bitch," Dean replied and Ava blinked slightly confused at the two of them.
"Idjits," Bobby muttered and Ava just looked at him for a second. "Are you coming or not?"
"Sure, better than spending the afternoon just being lazy." Dean nodded standing up and Sam followed his example. "We can take Baby,"
"The Impala." Sam explained seeing Ava's face. "It's what Dean calls her."
"Oh, right." Ava answered after a second with a nod.
Bobby muttered something under his breath again before Dean walked passed Ava brushing her slightly as he pulled his keys out of his pocket. She didn't seem to notice too much before turning to follow Bobby and Dean out of the house Sam following her out to the Impala.
"Ava sits shotgun." Dean said before sliding down into the driver's seat. Both Sam and Ava hesitated at this statement before Ava looked at Sam still a little confused at this order from Dean. "You two coming or what?"
At this barked question from Dean, Sam laughed a little before bumping Ava lightheartedly towards the car.
"C'mon Princess." Sam said and Ava raised an eyebrow at him. "Let's go before they leave us here."
Ava laughed a little before following him to the car and sliding in beside Dean, who grinned started up the Impala and the radio, before heading them into town.
"Is there such a thing as a normal jean in women's jeans?" Ava muttered mostly to herself as she flicked through yet another rack of skinny jeans.
Sam had been attempting to help her find some jeans for the past hour, but neither seemed to be having any true luck with said endeavor, only finding pairs that were either far too large or too long.
Dean had meandered off sometime within the last thirty minutes, bored no doubt and Bobby had just found himself a book to read and a chair to sit in.
"And it was a hard no on skirts, right?" Sam's voice broke through her thoughts and she turned to see him with a black leather type skirt in his hands. "Cause I think this might be the right length, it might look nice, but if…"
"I can try it on." Ava said after a second seeing that Sam truly seemed to want her to at least try it, and well he was still attempting to help her so it was the least she could do.
Sam smiled handing it over to her with what looked like a little blush on his face. Ava smiled a little at this and had just turned her attention back to looking for jeans, when her name was called.
"Hey, Ava," Dean had reappeared with another girl in tow.
"Hello," Ava greeted the other girl a little awkwardly and stepped back almost stepping into Sam, who was just behind her.
"Ava, this is Amanda." Dean introduced her and Amanda flashed a bright grin, standing way way too close to Dean. "Amanda this is-"
"You're Ava, Bobby Singer's daughter?" the girl asked cutting Dean off. "My mom was talking about you the other day, said you had been missing for a few months now?"
"I, um," Ava hesitated obviously not sure how to answer the questions being ask and holding the skirt Sam had handed her a little closer.
"Well Amanda, Ava needs help finding some clothes that fit," Dean cut in again taking control of the conversation. "Think you could help us out?"
"Sure!" Amanda said stepping away from Dean and right on up into Ava's space. "Hm, you're pretty petite, aren't you?"
"C'mon Sam, let's leave the girls to spend Bobby's money." Dean grinned nodding for Sam to follow him.
Ava squeaked a little at being left with the strange girl, but Dean either didn't notice or ignored it turning to walk away from them.
"Dean I think I'm gonna stay here, maybe help them hold stuff." Sam had noticed immediately that Ava was uncomfortable.
"Aw, what a sweet boyfriend you have Ava!" Amanda exclaimed and as she had been looking for clothes stepped up behind Ava and hugged her shoulders, causing Ava to flush a bright red color at this statement. Sam was blushing a little too at this avoiding Amanda's gaze. "But we got this Sam, go on now,"
Sam hesitated watching Ava for a second before nodding over to where Bobby sat reading indicating where he'd be if she needed him. Ava hesitated hands still tight on the skirt he'd handed her but nodded, relenting that she might need some help finding clothes that fit correctly.
Forty minutes later found Ava sitting in a dressing room, almost absolutely refusing to come back out and deal with more clothes that she didn't like being shoved in her direction to try on.
"Ava?" Bobby's gruff voice on the other side of the door, made her sigh a little and push her hair out of her face looking up.
"Yeah?" Ava answered after a second.
"You alright?"
She hesitated again before answering. "Er, yeah, just…."
"Overwhelmed?" Bobby provided for her after a second.
"Very," Ava admitted after a second. "This isn't really-"
"Figured it might be bothering you when Dean brought that girl over to help." Bobby said with a little laugh. "Even if he was trying to help, you find anything?"
"Beyond skinny jeans?" Ava huffed out slightly frustrated. "A skirt Sam picked out, and a few other odd and ends."
"With your petite figure the skinny jeans don't look that bad." Bobby offered after a second or two. "I mean not that I know anything about fashion… just seemed like they'd be easier to move in from a hunting point of view."
Ava really paused at that statement slightly confused, which seemed to honestly be her constant state of the day.
"Hunting point of view..." Ava repeated. "You're still going to let me hunt?"
"Why would I take you out of it now?" Bobby answered with a shrug, even if he knew she couldn't see it. "You've been hunting your whole life from how I understand it, so guess as long as you don't hunt without a partner or myself until you're at least nineteen, I won't stop you."
"Okay," Ava agreed with a quiet voice before letting out a deep breath. "So, if I say I'll take a couple of these skinny jeans and tops, can we leave?"
"I was hoping you were close to that decision." Bobby said and Ava laughed. "Took you long enough."
"Not all of us can be lucky enough to just pull a pair of jeans off the rack and pair it with a flannel and be good to go Bobby." Ava teased grabbing the clothing she wanted and stepping out of the room.
"Hey now, jeans and a flannel never go out of style." Bobby said before swinging and arm over Ava's shoulder and she smiled.
"I will agree with you on that." Ava then held up the small assortment of clothes she had decided on, the skirt Sam picked out lying on top. "Well I'm good to go, where's Dean and Sam?"
"They'll meet us outside." Bobby replied leading the way out to the registers to get them out of the store.
"Okay," Ava nodded then turned when her name was called again. It was Amanda. "Oh hey, Amanda, er thank you for all your help. I think I found what I needed."
"No problem!" the girl chipped with a bright grin. "Hey, could I ask for a favor though?"
"Um, sure."
"Could you possibly give Dean my number?" Amanda asked handing Ava a small sheet of paper that held the numbers on it. "Thank you! He's too hot to just let slip through my fingers!"
"You're welcome." Ava said after a second a small forced smile on her face.
"Hope to see you around again Ava!" Amanda called as she walked away with a wave.
"Yeah, sure." Ava muttered to herself and walked on over to Bobby who was waiting for her to bring the clothes up.
There was a little silence between them as the cashier rang up the clothing and Bobby paid for everything, but soon they were walking out towards the car where Sam sat on the hood with a smile and wave to greet them. Dean was off to the left pacing and talking on his phone seeming agitated.
"So, you gonna give Dean that number?" Bobby questioned as they walked that way.
Ava tilted her head at the question before looking at the little piece of paper in her hand still then back at Dean.
"Yeah, I mean, why wouldn't I?"
"No reason," Bobby shrugged and then watched as Sam hopped off the Impala's hood and took the bags from Ava's hands to carry them to the trunk.
"Thank you," Ava said with a little smile before turning to look at Dean who had just gotten off his phone call. He seemed a little agitated. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," Dean muttered distractedly pulling his keys out of his pockets.
"Um, well, here." Ava held out the little piece of paper to him. "Amanda's number, said she really wanted you to call her."
"Oh, right, Amanda." Dean seemed to be disinterested but took the paper anyway. "Thanks."
"No problem." Ava shrugged then looked at Baby. "Um, I think I'll ride in the back with Sam back to Bobby's,"
"Yeah, um alright," Dean said looking a little confused but didn't argue as both turned to climb into the car and head back to Bobby's.
It was late, bordering on 2am, when Ava found herself standing in the doorway to the kitchen surveying the man sitting at the kitchen table. She honestly hadn't been able to sleep and had gotten up to maybe go to Bobby's library and read but the light from the kitchen caught her attention more.
The light over the sink had been flicked on and gave the room just enough light to see around but not enough to wake anyone. She tilted her head to the left hearing what she assumed was Bobby's snores coming from the library, and then she turned her attention back to the kitchen.
"What're you doing up this late?" Ava questioned quietly alerting him to her presence.
"Could ask you the same question, Angel," Dean answered just as quietly turning his gaze to her.
"There's that name again," Lucifer's voice caught Ava off guard and she looked over to spot him sitting on the kitchen counter. "Wonder how long he'll call you that when he finds out-"
"Couldn't sleep." Ava admitted after a second cutting Lucifer off and turning her attention solely to Dean.
Dean nodded in understanding. "Not always easy to sleep somewhere new."
"Yeah," Ava agreed after a second, taking that excuse over the truth of her being kept awake by Lucifer's nightmares every night. "You? I figured you'd be out late with Amanda,"
Dean shrugged seemingly choosing to ignore the comment about Amanda and then Ava noticed him messing with his phone on the table. "Never can get more than three or four hours without waking up,"
"That call from earlier is bothering you." Ava pinpointed after a second or two crossing her arms. "It's been bothering you since we got back here and before you left to go meet Amanda."
"Dad wants me to meet him with Sam in Texas." Dean finally admitted before nodding to a chair for her to sit in. "Found another hunt."
"Didn't you just finish one up?" Ava questioned before walking in and sitting at the table with him. "Like, less than two days ago?"
"Yeah well, Dad's not one to hesitate on another job rumor." Dean said after a second and Ava propped her head in her hand listening attentively. "Never has been."
"Sounds like he's pretty…" Ava paused trying to find the word she wanted to use.
"Obsessed," Dean provided easily.
Ava pursed her lips at that and then nodded. "What happened? I mean, why is he a hunter? If you don't mind me asking, it's not a profession most find themselves in without a reason."
Dean hesitated his whole frame tensing up at the question. Ava didn't say anything waiting to see if he wanted to answer the question. It was a pretty personal one and she wouldn't begrudge if he decided not to answer her.
"Mom was killed when I was four," Dean admitted after a second or two and Ava noticed he didn't mention what had killed her, but she wasn't going to push and ask. "Been hunting since."
"I'm sorry." Ava said quietly after a second or two.
"You?" Dean ask turning his gaze to her.
"Learned about the supernatural when a Vamp tried to take a bite out of me when I was on the streets," Ava said after a second clicking the nails of her free hand on the table for a second in thought. "Guess he thought I'd be an easy meal till I cut his head from his shoulders. Logan found me soon after that and I've hunted with him since."
"You lived on the streets?" Dean questioned sounding a little shocked at this news.
"Yeah," Ava admitted after a second or two. "My mother abandon me years ago, and well never knew my dad."
"Your mom abandon you on the streets?" Dean repeated.
"When she realized I wasn't er, normal, she decided I was being haunted by evil and left me to die on the streets." Ava explained her nails tapping again. "She thought she was ridding the world of what it 'wasn't destine' for,"
"And she was right, wasn't she?" Lucifer broke in. "Causing-"
"I'd rather not talk about it, if you don't mind." Ava said after a second cutting Lucifer off for the second time that night. "It was a long time ago,"
"Er right so," Dean hesitated again.
"So, Baby," Ava nodded outside towards the car. "Smoothest running engine I've ever heard."
Dean grinned before laughing a little at the change of subject. He then started explaining to her how he kept the car in such prime condition.
An hour or two later, Dean heard Bobby's snores stop when he assumed the other man woke back up to head upstairs. He turned his attention to Ava about to say something, when he caught himself and smiled.
Ava had fallen asleep listening to him talk, her head still propped in her hand the other lying idly beside her on the table.
Standing up Dean shook his head then stepped over gently pulling her chair back startling her a little, and causing her to look around at her surroundings.
"You're alright, Ava." Dean informed her quietly. "Just thought maybe you'd be more comfortable in a bed, with a real pillow rather than a table top acting as one,"
"Hm?" Ava hummed not exactly seeming to be awake enough to understand what he was saying.
"C'mon," Dean said and after a second made a decision, and moved to pick Ava up from the chair she was sitting in. "Let's get you to bed."
Ava mumbled a little protest of Dean picking her up and carrying her, but then she just settled again, burying her nose in his shoulder and falling back asleep. Dean laughed a little at this shaking his head, but carried her upstairs to the room he and Sam had spent the latter part of the day clearing out for her.
He pulled her admittedly already rumbled quit she was using down and lay her down before pulling it back over her as she curled over and on her side. He watched her for a second as though trying to figure something out, before shaking his head and turning to leave and let her sleep.
"Thanks Dean," Ava's sleep worn voice caught him as he went to pull the door closed.
"No problem." Dean smiled a little and closed the door behind him heading back downstairs to probably fall asleep on the couch.
Ava blinked trying to wake herself up from what felt like the deepest sleep she'd had in ages, and tried to figure out her surroundings. After a second or two she remembered where she was and sighed stretching out to where her feet came out from under the worn quilt Bobby had given her to sleep under, and looked over at the window to try and figure out what time it was.
It looked like it was admittedly kinda late from the way the sun was sitting and she cursed a little throwing the quilt away and sitting on the edge of the bed for a second.
It was quiet in the house and she wondered if Bobby was even still home. She sighed shaking her head and went to get up when something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye.
Sitting on the bedside table was a small golden cross pendant attached to a small delicate box chain. Reaching over she picked it up gently only then to notice the small note written underneath it. There was a phone number scrawled out on it and underneath it said:
Mom used to say this helped keep evil away. Maybe it'll help your nightmares. Call if you ever wanna,
Ava smiled a little before looking at the necklace again, realizing it must be Dean's number written there. She ran her thumb across the cross before reaching up and slipping it over her head to let the pendant rest against her chest.
She sat there for a second or two and then let out a deep breath as she heard nothing but silence for the first time in as long as she could remember.
"You honestly thought a pendant would keep me away?" she winced a little as this voice broke the silence and she shook her head at that.
"Well, it's a start," Ava muttered grabbing some pants and deciding to head down stairs to see if she could find Bobby.
This new life was going to take a little getting used to, but she figured as she pulled on pants and came to find breakfast on the stove with a note about a call from Bobby, she could happily let herself get used to it.
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