"Dean, have you seen Ketch anywhere?" Mick asked as he walked into the garage where Dean was working on the Impala.
"I thought he was with you." Dean didn't even look up from where his head was stuck under the car's bonnet.
"I haven't seen him since he told Sam he was going to do a stock check. But when I went to check on him, he wasn't there." Dean shrugged, having absolutely no clue what to suggest. Mick decided that since he'd looked everywhere in the bunker, he'd have a look outside.
Day was turning to Dusk as Mick left the bunker, he didn't need to go very far before he found his friend leaning against the wall with a lit cigarette between his lips. "So is this where you've been all this time?" Mick asked.
Ketch shook his head. "Went to get these." He held up the cigarette box for Mick to see. Mick knew this was definitely not good. The nearest shop that sold that particular brand was in Lebanon which was over an hour away on foot. He couldn't have taken a car because Dean would have seen him leave.
"I thought you'd quit." Everyone knew Ketch smoked whilst they were in school but nobody blamed him because they all wanted to too. They often just weren't brave enough to try and get them whilst underage.
"I did." He held the cigarette between his fore and middle fingers as he blew out a puff of smoke. "This doesn't count."
"How doesn't it count?"
Ketch sighed, putting out the cigarette on the wall beside him and shaking another from the box. "Because even when I stopped I never completely stopped. We're in…" he paused for a moment before rethinking his wording. "We were in an incredibly stressful line of work and if I had a bad day this was the only thing that would stop me from going out there and killing something. I know I promised you and Toni that I'd stop but sometimes…"
"Sometimes it gets too much and you need the extra support." Mick finished for him. "Those things will kill you, you know."
"If they think they can kill me before some creature does then I'd like to see them try." He placed the second cigarette between his lips but made no effort to light it. Instead just stood there, flipping the zippo in his hand open and closed. Open and closed. Almost mesmerized by the action.
"Is that what this is about? Dying?"
"Give me a break Mick. I'm not scared of dying. Never have been."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Because I think that's exactly what this is about." Mick took a step closer. "I think that the fact that you just nearly died scares you. It scares you because since we left school you've let yourself believe you're indestructible and now you realise you're not, you're trying to… what? Speed up the process of your demise?"
"Well wouldn't you be scared?" Ketch snapped. "Knowing that when you die your options are demon or ghost? You'll be fine because you've only ever killed when you had to. I… I killed so many people and I enjoyed it Mick."
"You had no control over any of that."
"That's not the point. The point is that I enjoyed it and for that there's only one direction I could be headed in."
"Well assuming you're right and I ended up in heaven without you. I wouldn't let that stand. I'd use Sam and Dean's influence to get that changed because you don't deserve anything that's happened to you, whatever you keep telling yourself. And you sure as hell don't deserve Hell. Got it?"
Ketch nodded, still looking unconvinced as they walked back inside. When they entered the library, Sam looked up at them from the book he was reading.
"Do you have any protection sigils?" He asked.
"What?" Mick was slightly flummoxed by the question and not completely understanding Sam's meaning. Luckily Sam realised this and pulled his shirt collar to the side to show what he meant. Mick could see the anti-possession sigil tattooed on his chest and paled slightly. He'd never liked needles and was pretty sure he knew where this was going.
"No we don't," Ketch answered for him. "There was never any need."
"Well now you need to." Ketch nodded in understanding, he knew it was necessary but at the same time couldn't help a glance at Mick. He knew how the other man had always felt about needles. He'd never really explained where the fear came from but Ketch was pretty sure it was related to Mick's time on the streets somehow. Sam got up to get his jacket, not even waiting for a reply whilst Ketch placed a reassuring hand on Mick's shoulder.
"Whilst we're out, we should get you both some clothes so Dean can have his back." They'd both started having to borrow clothes from the elder Winchester not long after arriving due to their rush to leave the base and Toni's inability to bring their possessions to them without arising suspicion. As the closest to them in height Dean was somewhat bullied by his younger brother into loaning the brits a couple of flannels and pairs of jeans each.
Whilst he wasn't sure about the distressed jeans, even Ketch had to admit that the ratty flannels were quite comfortable. Not that he'd ever do so out loud, Mick would never let him live it down.
They went to the tattoo parlour first. Ketch went first, electing to get his tattoo in the same place as Sam and Dean. Mick on the other hand, held back. He didn't particularly want to get it done but at the same time he knew it would keep him safe. In the end, Ketch wound up sitting with him whilst he got it done. As much as he was sure he'd be worth it, it didn't mean he had to like it.