They'd only been driving an hour, possibly an hour and half, before Kiara started fussing, making scrunched faces against Dean's leg as she whimpered. The dim glow further off on the horizon suggested a town, and he prayed that it was big enough to have a motel. Sleeping in the car held a negative appeal at this point, and surely he couldn't be the only one.
He chanced a glance over at Sam, who was watching the dark scenery blur past, expression bland and bored. Dean cocked a grin as he saw his brother blink slowly; apparently, he wasn't the only tired one. The thought made his eyes flicker to the cargo they were transporting…and his heart hiccupped again. There was little resemblance between Kiara and Sam, but his mind kept superimposing the images, and for a split second, he was 5 years old again, watching little Sammy sleeping as his Dad argued quietly on the phone in the kitchen of their tiny apartment. He shook his head free of the ghosts of the past, and grinned.
He had to admit, the little pup was cute…but that didn't mean he wanted to get trapped in a car with a child that was with two adults she'd never seen. Especially not when said child had the ability to turn canine. He cocked his head, pondering.
"Hey, Sam. What do you think she changes into?"
Sam swung his head around, brow furrowed, eyes wide. "Uh, a wolf?" The sarcasm was heavy, even for Sasquatch, and Dean causally lifted his hand from Kiara's hip to toss his brother the bird. Good, there was the motel sign.
"No, asshat. I mean…do you think she's a ten-month old puppy? They have some pretty wicked teeth…" He chuckled as Sam absently rubbed his foot against his calf, where one of Bobby's puppies had gotten a little frisky when they were much younger, nipping the kid playfully.
Sam eyed the kid with trepidation. "God, I hope not." He frowned as Dean gently pulled off into the motel parking lot, wincing as the Impala jostled in the transition from smooth pavement to rough gravel. "Why are we stopping already?"
Dean put the Impala in park, and turned off the engine. "Because I don't want to be stuck in the close quarters we're in when this kid wakes up and decides to go furry on our asses. A room, at least we have space to maneuver if we have to. Plus, I dunno about you, but I'm whupped." He slid a hand under the damp cheek, chuckling at the imprint of his jeans on it, and carefully eased his leg free, settling Kiara back on the seat. "Besides, we should be far enough out, and if any Hunters do catch our trail, they're likely to believe we'd be a lot further out than this. I'll make it quick. Don't wake her up."
It took only a few minutes to secure a room, and he hesitated a moment, wondering if he should ask if they had cribs or not, before deciding against it. Easier to come back later if they did need one, than to shuffle around one if they didn't. By the time he had made it back to the Impala though, the kid was awake, barely. She had a fist rubbing at her eye, little face scrunched up in confusion. Sam's face, on the other hand, was sheer and utter terror. "I didn't do it!" was the exclamation as soon as he opened the door.
He settled in, firing up the engine before taking a closer look. "She's not awake yet." Sam's snort was of utter disbelief, and Dean shook his head. "She's not. Likely, the car door jolted her awake. She'll crash again in a minute." And sure enough, she was already drooping again, fist still pressed into her orbital socket. "Told ya."
Thankfully, there weren't any lights on in either of the rooms bracketing theirs, and the parking lot was mostly empty. He tossed the car keys to Sam, to get their bags, and slid the room key into his jean pocket as Sam slid out of the car, making his way towards the trunk. "Hey baby girl, we're here." He ran a hand through her wispy hair, trying to coax her just awake enough to move her easily. She whimpered, squirming again, and he took his cue, scooping her up carefully and easing out of the Impala. Sleepy and still trusting, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and he jogged her a bit, making sure his arm was secure against her bum. "Yeah, I know. We'll get you settled in." The warm heavy weight of a sleeping baby, and the faint scent that he hadn't smelled since he was a toddler was enough to have him glancing around briefly before nuzzling her. She exhaled softly, smelling of milk and sleep, and buried her face against his throat as he shut the driver's door.
"You good?" Sam nodded, already having her baby bag thrown over his shoulder, and their two go-bags as well. Dean knew it would be another trip for the remnants of their one-night stay supplies, including the med kit he was hoping they wouldn't wind up needing, and the six pack chilling in the cooler, which he knew they would.
Bracing himself, he unlocked their door, and flipped on the lights. And paused. All things considered…the décor wasn't that horrible. Dark green carpeting accented the dark green bedding, and the walls were a sage-green, decorated with watercolors. Not bad. He snorted as he moved out of the way for Sam to enter. Then again, it couldn't be hard to beat a wedding dress hanging on the wall.
Sam dropped Dean's duffel on the first bed, closest to the door, and his own on the other. He dropped the baby bag at his feet and stretched, moaning softly, back cracking loudly as his fingers brushed against the ceiling. He'd been doing that ever since he'd come back from Stanford, Dean mused. Then again, before he'd usually sprawled in the back seat. "Dude, you're like a cat."
"Not my fault your sweetheart isn't designed for those of average height." The words were light, and Dean grumbled good-naturedly.
"Yeah, yeah. She is, for average people. You're just freakishly tall." He settled Kiara on his bed, shaking his head as she curled up instantly. "You've got the keys, go ahead and go grab some food. I'm starving." As if on cue, a low warning growl sounded, and he patted the washboard abs. "See?"
"Yeah, alright. The usual?" Meaning the greasiest, most stomach-churning burger he could find, heaped with the extra onions he lived off of, and, with any luck, some form of a pie-type pastry to soothe his sweet tooth.
"As if that ever changes."
Sam eyed the baby, a faint look of alarm still there. "What about her?"
Dean shrugged, grabbing the bag and plopping into the armchair that was against the wall. "I'll keep an eye on her. With as late as it is, and the sedative Autumn gave her, she ain't likely to wake-up anytime soon."
"Alright. Call if that changes, okay?" Dean tossed him the room keys, and kicked his legs out, stretching subtly as Sam left. The Impala was a beauty, but damn if the days on end behind the wheel didn't start to cause him to stiffen up. He rolled his neck, wincing at the tight pull, and froze as his own green eyes met steel-grey.
The kid was quiet, that was for sure. She'd sat up, more alert than she'd been so far, and the eyes that watched him were as wary as the alternative form she had. There was absolutely no warmth in them, just bewilderment, fear and anxiety. He relaxed as they shifted away, as she checked out the rest of the room. A soft keening noise rose as she searched more frantically, and he cursed softly, crossing the short distance in a few steps. "Shh. It's okay. You're alright." He sat gingerly on the edge of the mattress, and she shoved at him, scooting backwards and keening higher. "Hey, it's okay." He reached a hand towards her, and she panicked, eyes darting wildly as she scrambled away, just inches from the edge.
He was lunging across the bed at her, which, admittedly, probably wasn't the most reassuring thing, when she slid her legs off, slithered to the floor, and there was a spark of light. "Shit!"
He didn't know what to expect, but the puppy growling at him definitely was NOT it. "Well, you're not ten months here. Sammy'll be pleased." He propped his chin on his hands, watching her carefully. She looked maybe 5 weeks old, if his foggy memory of Bobby's surprise litter was correct. Her eyes weren't the typical blue of puppies, but that same steel-grey she had as a human. The chocolate fur wasn't a surprise, given the color of her hair, but he had to admit, the accents were adorable. Her left foot had a black boot, and there was a triangle of silver fur at her throat. But the most noticeable was the golden-blonde streak across her face. It started at her lip, on the right side, curling up and across her muzzle, to curl around her left ear, ending in a spiral right in front of the perky ear. Those teeth weren't something to sneeze at, though. And she had them bared, the growl more panicked than threatening.
"I'm not gonna hurt you." The growling got louder with his voice, so he opted for silence, instead, watching her out of the corner of his eye. He could wait her out. He figured he still had a half-hour before Sam got back with supper, and if she hadn't calmed down by then, she probably wouldn't their entire trip.
Sure enough, after about five minutes of him not moving, nor talking, and the growls tapered off, her little head cocking. He bit his cheek to keep from saying anything, and she hesitantly stood, footing sure as she put her little paws up on the mattress, stretching her neck as far as she could, sniffing warily. When he didn't move, she sneezed, set back on her feet, and cocked her head at him. "You decided I'm not a threat after all?" She stood, shook her fur out, and trotted to the door, sitting against the wall. "Alright then."
Figuring it couldn't really hurt, he slowly stood, making sure his movements were slow and smooth, and wandered back to the diaper bag. He flipped it open, figuring it best to find out what was in it, and frowned at the cream envelope sitting on top.
After picking it up, the bag seemed to contain an odd assortment of supplies. There was the generic baby-shampoo, washrag, some lotion, stacks of diapers, wipes, and some various small bottles and tubes. Clothes were neatly folded, and set at the very bottom, set up as the foundation for packing. An expanse of blue turned out to be a blanket, covered in dog hair, securing formula and bottles amid jars of food. In addition, there was a small tug rope, a bag of kibble, and he snorted wryly, shaking his head. In the outer pocket was a rose pink collar, with a small silver tag that read "Kiara" and had Autumn's number on it. He peered closer at the stitching, and chucked in amusement at the tiny stitching of protective sigils and symbols decorating it in pink thread. A leash of the same color was settled into the bottom, and a bottle that had a prescription label on it.
"Not bad kiddo. I think we're pretty well set here so far, yeah?" He flicked a glance at her, and she was laying down, head resting on crossed paws, eyeing him warily, but with interest. Remembering his Dad, and the puppies that had taken over Bobby's house that summer, he sat on the floor, back against the wall, and kicked his feet out in front of him before tearing open the envelope.
Dean and Sam,
I will never be able to thank you enough for what you're doing. It means the world, to both me, and literally, that little girl. By now, Nateas has already gone ahead and let the pack know that you'll be coming their way, and they'll inform the other pack to not expect you. I pray that you'll be able to get her there without complications, and safely.
I'm sure by now you've gone through the bag. The shampoo can be used on the wolf fur as well as the baby, and the lotion is her soap. Her pH is a bit different than yours and mine. Just wet the rag, and use the lotion as you would soap. She's been teething lately, which the rope seems to help with, as well as to amuse her. The blanket is hers from her whelping day; if she gets fussy, try giving it to her. We all know how well a dog's sense of smell is. I'm hoping she won't be stressed enough to resist food, but if she does, she's more likely to take it in dog form rather than human. I've tried to keep everything small and essential.
Some states have a leash law, so I've included her collar and leash. As you may or may not have seen yet, she's not a full-grown puppy. Loup Garou mature differently, she's 5 weeks old. You'll see some overlap in maturity, however. Don't be surprised if the baby does something that she shouldn't be able to just yet, or if the puppy is a bit more steady than expected. Part of being Loup Garou, from what I understand.
Her drops are in the outside pocket; as I've told you, don't feel as if you must use them. Loup Garou core temp tends to run in the 99-100 degree range, depending on the weather and the person, so don't be alarmed if she feels hot to you in human form. If it ranges much higher than 102, you can give the drops. The amount is listed on the bottle.
A small warm head bumped against his leg, and he looked down, smiling as Kiara craned her head to sniff at the top of his boots. Apparently, he wasn't so scary now. He shook his head and turned back to the letter.
As I will have said, feel free to call me if something arises. You two are amazing; Your father would have been very proud of you. The Loup Garou, and myself, are in your debt for this. Flee quickly, hide wisely, and may you always stay one step ahead of your quarry.
Brightest of Blessings, until we next meet.
Autumn
He set the letter aside, shaking his head as he heard the approaching growl of the Impala. He pushed himself up, and Kiara tilted her head at him before prancing to the door, her small tail wagging awkwardly. "Not quite used to it, huh?" He was crouching down to pet her as the door opened, and in the next three seconds, chaos reigned.
Sam stepped in the door, balancing supper as he tried to free the key from the door. Kiara took one look at Dean looming over her, one look at the now-open door, and decided freedom was hers for the taking. Dean, seeing the inevitable, lunged, just as she dashed between Sam's feet, causing the younger Hunter to stumble and try to dodge the small furry mass. "What the hell?"
"Damnit!" Dean's fingers brushed against her tail, and he stumbled, regaining his balance as she disappeared into the darkness past the parking lot. "Shit."
