Chapter 4
When they reached the house, Anna ran straight to her mother's arms. They hugged each other for a long time and once they broke it off, Kate looked at John and whispered a silent "Thank you." John and Bobby retreated to a corner of the room, while Dean and Sam threw their selves on to the sofa. Dean looked at Sam giving him a look that said "Let's talk". Sam was about to tell him to give it a rest, when Anna walked towards them and sat on the couch next to him. "Hey, are you sure you are ok?" Dean asked again. "Yes, I am really." Anna answered. "How did you find me?" She asked from Dean. "Honestly, even I have no idea!" Dean said sending angry beams to Sam. Anna felt the tension between them & looked at Sam. "The demons talked a lot about you Sam" she said sending Sam jump in his seat. "I think you also shouldn't be around these things. They said they have big plans for you. That's the same thing they told me; when they first found me. I am just saying you should keep him away from them" Anna finally said looking at Dean.
Sam looked at Dean and then at Anna. "Dean, I have something to tell you." Sam began. "I will leave you two for it" Anna said standing up. "No Anna, it's ok. You should stay" Sam continued. "I had a vision today when I touched a lock of her hair, it was by accidently actually. But in the vision I saw you, that's how we found you" Sam explained to Anna. "And this wasn't the first time it happened" Sam said to Dean unable to meet his eyes. "What?" Dean was clearly pissed, and Sam knew he had every right to be. "I am sorry Dean, the previous visions didn't mean anything to me, and they were just flashes of pictures that meant nothing. All they did was giving me a terrible headache after that" Sam tried to reason.
"But today's one meant something, because I knew Anna's face. So now I am terrified whether all those other visions really meant something and maybe I saw them because someone was in trouble. And I feel terrible because I did nothing" Sam sighed looking at Dean. "So you think, you are some sort of a Psychic?" Dean asked still pissed. "I don't know what to think?" Sam shot his hands up in frustration. "Hey, take it easy. We all know it's too much to handle. Trust me I know." Anna said giving Sam a comforting smile. "John and Bobby got this. They will find the reason behind this whole mess. Let's do what we can to help them" she said looking at both of them. "And Sam, psychic or not, thank you for finding me. I owe you one" she said inviting him for a fist bump. Sam smiled and returned the gesture "Anytime Anna"
Sam felt much lighter, he knew Dean was angry; but he was glad that he put all cards on the table. It wasn't easy keeping things hidden from his brother. It really felt wrong. "Dean, I am sorry" he pleaded again. "It's ok man. I get it. And since now we are on the same page, I think I also should come out clean" Dean looked at Sam. "When we were outside today trying to change Dad's mind; he told me that he knew that the Demons are after you. And that's why he so badly wanted to see this through" "What?" now it was Sam's turn to be pissed. "I am not proud of it and I knew you will be super pissed. But I had no choice man. I couldn't let these bastards come after you" Dean said looking ashamed.
"Oh right, you love me so you were ok to use Anna as bait. That's totally ok, I guess" Sam said angrily. "No, it's not ok. And I would never have forgiven myself, if something would have happened to her. So thank God, we got her back" Dean looked at his brother apologetically. No one is kicking himself harder than him for what he did.
Dean stood up; he had one more person to apologize. She was sitting on her own near the window looking outside completely lost in her thoughts. But she quickly looked up when she felt someone was standing behind her. "Sorry, i didn't mean to startle you." Dean said sitting down next to her. "Oh no, that's ok. I am still getting used to my spider senses" she said smiling. "Look Anna, I want to apologize for" Dean started but Anna interrupted him "Dean, there is nothing to apologize for. I volunteered remember." She said.
"No that's not exactly what I meant" Dean tried to explain. "No, I know what you meant. Family come first Dean. You don't have to apologize for that. Sam is very lucky to have you." Her words increased his guilt but the smile on her face also proved that she has forgiven him. They both sat there quietly.
Few minutes later, John walked towards them & kneeled down in front of Anna. "Anna, I don't know how to say this... but what that Demon told you back there about how I put you in this mess; I am afraid he was telling the truth" John looked her in the eye. Dean straightened up in his seat knowing what this conversation will lead to. "I can't even begin to say how much I regret all this" John continued with tears rolling down his eyes. "Uncle John, it's not your fault. I knew what that demon told me for quite some time now. It wasn't very difficult to connect the dots" Anna said taking John's hands in hers. "Don't blame yourself for this. You didn't know what was following you and you chose dad because he was your family. He wouldn't blame you for it and neither would we" she managed with tears in her eyes. And then she got down to his level and hugged him tight. Dean looked at them and then at Sam thinking to himself that this girl was certainly special.
An hour later, they were all on the road. Much to Dean & Sam's displeasure, John has decided to continue the search for the Yellow Eyed Demon on his own. He didn't want Sam to be involved in this and his decision was the final. The boys couldn't argue much with him as he then asked them to keep Anna away from the demons until he find some answers. Well they couldn't say no to that. Nice trick dad, Dean thought while packing his bag. Bobby gave yet another demon proof hex bag to Anna. And he made arrangements to relocate Kate in a different house, so the mother and daughter unfortunately had to part ways for some time. "Listen to Dean & Sam. They are like your big brothers." Kate said hugging Anna. "Sam's only few months older than me" Anna objected. "Yeah, still older" Kate replied quickly. "Great, so now I am the only youngest" Anna said a joke only Sam was able to understand.
"Take care of her boys and take care of your selves too" Kate said looking at Dean & Sam. "We will Mrs. Watson" Dean replied on behalf of both of them, feeling the sudden weight of responsibility that was fallen on him. He picked up Anna's bag & walked towards the Impala leaving the ladies alone to say their good byes. Anna was trying so hard not to cry, she didn't want to make her mother sadder. So she hugged her tightly again and said "Take care of yourself mom. I will call you every day. And I will see you soon" She placed a kiss on her cheek and made her way to the impala.
But when she saw the diminishing figure of her mother through the back window of the car as they started driving away, she couldn't hold it any longer. The figure completely went out of her sight and she slowly turned around to face the road in front. Dean looked at her through the rare view mirror, only to see her silently sobbing while squeezing herself to a corner. Dean looked at Sam & continued to drive in silence. Both of them knew that no words are going to make her feel better at this moment.