Grace leaves the hospital wanting to scream. She could have helped. She should have helped; she knew it was dangerous Pamela going places only... She wants to throw up for even starting that ole saying in her head because only angels should tread.
"She'll live kid," Bobby smiles kindly. "She still has more senses than most, just makes me wonder what can do that. Nothing I've crossed before and that's for sure,"
"God knows," Grace shrugs before the truth of her words hit her. She doesn't want to lie, not to her Dad. He deserves better. "What's next on the list of things to do, then?"
"Dean's got a plan," Bobby answers.
"Good luck with that," she smiles but then she doesn't really mean it. Dean is a good hunter or at least he was, but the plan will be stupid like crazy stupid but then it will work. It always works. He's like an annoying maverick. "Let me know how it gets on, won't ya?"
"You're going back?"
"I've got a pile of paperwork and besides Sean's got to go school," she answers. She has her own life to return to. She hugs her Dad, "You know where we will be if you need us." She adds collecting her boy and climbing back into her car.
"Call me to let me know you're home safe kitten," he sighs as she drives off.
The drive home will take a few hours so they decide to stop for a bite to eat on the road. Sean points out a diner her likes the look of because it has a Cadillac on the roof. Grace pulls over shrugging as it looks as good as anywhere else.
The diner is decorated with images of pure Americana from the eagles to the old posters advertising Coca Cola and Pepsi as well as Hersey chocolate. Sean thinks it looks cool but Grace thinks it looks tacky and the fact that the doors to the restroom have full size stencils of Elvis and Marilyn annoys her. It screams tourist.
They find a table in the corner nearest the door. Grace likes to always know where the exits are it's a habit she just can't quit like smoking, no matter how many times she tells herself that's she's given up she is always itching for that next nicotine hit.
"What can I get you guys?" The nerdy waiter asks scratching his spotty nose with his pencil.
"Two shakes and two quarter pounders with cheese and extra pickles in one," Grace orders for both of them. "And we'll probably need the dessert menu."
"Okay coming right up," he smiles leaving.
"Mom, are you okay?" Sean asks.
"Five by five," she smiles playing with his hair. "It's just stuff kid, nothing for you to worry about." She adds drawing a line under the conversation.
"Do you know what brought Dean back?"
"Sean, drop it and eat your lunch," she snaps as the food arrives. She knows that one day they will need to have that conversation but hopefully she has a few years left before he hates her.
The rest of the drive home is done in silence. Grace looses herself in the asphalt and the familiar driving music, a mix of mullet rock and nineties dance music that she got into on holiday in Ibiza. There's something cathartic about the act of driving. She's never been one for whole road trip thing, and the summers sent in the back of the Impala with Dean and Sam squabbling and John with his obsessions and rules was enough to put anyone off.
She turns off the main road and passes the happy sign welcoming them home. She knows the small town isn't perfect but she didn't want perfect she just wanted somewhere else. She drives down Main Street with the parade of shops, the cinema and the police station all in walking distance of each other. Everyone knows everyone and there aren't many secrets in a place like this but Grace loves it. It took a while to get readjusted but its home.
Her house is on the corner of Lancaster and Main, the nice end of town only twelve blocks away from the bad end. She can't help but smile as her little blue wooden house appears before her with the pretty garden and patio furniture on the porch. She wakes Sean, who can't seem to go far without falling asleep. He's always been like that even as a baby, if she was at the end of her tether she would strap him into the car seat and within ten minutes he would be her little angel again.
It feels good to be able to shut the door on the outside world. She lets Sean go off and do his own thing before checking all the security measures like the devil traps and iron bars. Nothing's getting in without her say so. She checks the answer machine and there is the usual message from her mom just checking in and moaning that Grace never seems to be in, and a drunken message from an ex wanting to hook-up. Grace deletes them both.
She checks in with her Dad kicking off her shoes that seemed like a good idea at the time, no wonder no one else seems to hunt in heels. "Really, an angel? Huh?" She asks trying to sound as surprised as she can muster. The couch looks nice and comfy but she's off to bed.
A few days later she's enjoying the favourite part of her day. She has a big bar of Hersey's Cookies and Cream, a cold European beer straight out of the fridge and a House box set. She knows it makes her selfish but everyone wants her to be someone or something from being a Sheriff to being a hunter or even a mom. Grace needs at least an hour to just be herself with a face mask and fluffy slippers. Ah the good life.
Then as she's getting comfy the TV goes all statically. How is she meant to drool over Hugh Laurie if she can't even see him?
"Castiel?" She asks the static. Please let it be Cas. The temperature drops and then she sees him.
It isn't Castiel. It's Chris Walsh, he's still wearing the cream suit he wore on their wedding day, and the yellow rose still in his buttonhole. "You let me die bitch!" He snipes reaching out for her.
"I'm sorry Chris, I tried to save you," she wants it to be true. She did try but no way was he coming back from that bullet wound once the demon slithered out of his meat suit. She grabs her iron fire poker and swings at him. He vanishes but he will be back. They always come back.
Her only thought is that Sean's upstairs. She runs out into the hall and flies open the hidden cupboard under the stairs where she keeps her arsenal. She grabs the bag and tries to load it up when a force throws her to the ground.
"You never loved me you lying whore," Chris growls. He's pinning her down and she reaches for the sawn-off shot gun. She shoots him again and runs upstairs. He grabs at her ankles. No ghost should be this strong. She keeps going not looking back or listening to whatever he has to say. She did love him and all that time he was processed. None of that matters now.
She opens the door to Sean's room. She closes it behind her and pours out some rock salt. It should buy her some time. She takes the cell out of her dressing gown and rings her Dad, apparently something is hunting the hunters the Winchesters are looking into it and she should go to his place. He has a new panic room.
The door bangs open and she picks up Sean and jumps out of the window. Luckily the ground is soft. They get inside the Jeep and head out of town.
She turns onto the quiet road and Chris is standing in the middle of the road, since when could ghosts leave the place they're haunting? She hasn't got time to worry about that now the only thing she has to concern herself with is getting Sean somewhere safe. He's terrified and she tries to calm him but she's scared too. They have never done the drive in such little time. She didn't even know the Jeep could go that fast.
The Impala is already in the yard. She almost wants to say hello to her old friend. "Come on baby," she smiles kindly at Sean who stopped screaming about twenty miles ago. He still looks pale and she wishes she could make him forget but there's no little pill for that. She grabs her bag from the boot and they head inside. She isn't worried about the correct etiquette this time she just goes inside.
Bobby throws his arms around them, "It's good to see you scout," he smiles. He looks a little edgy and she bets that he's had a visit all of his own. "How are you doing Sean?" He asks his grandson who clings onto him. "C'mon let's get going, shall we?"
"Sounds good Dad," Grace smiles following him.
"Did you think that I would forgive you?" Chris demands as he hits her. "You're nothing but a lying whore, that demon was after you not me!"
Grace strikes him with her fire poker. "Oh shut up," she leads Sean into the panic room where Sam and Dean are debating the existence of God. "I think I preferred it out there." She moans.
Bobby being his wonderful self follows the only clue they have, a branded symbol and finds the solution a spell.
"Any chance you got everything you need in this room?" Dean asks.
"What our luck was going to start now..." the old man snorts. "The spell needs to be done over an open fire."
"The fireplace in the library," Sam suggests and they all set off on a mission.
"Grace stay here with Sean," Bobby smiles, "We've got this."
Grace nods curling up with her son, "Is there any point in me asking you to be careful?" She asks.
"Not really kid," he smiles kissing her cheek. "Don't leave this room,"
"I heard you the first time," she sighs. She's still a hunter but she's a mom first so she has nothing left to do now. She holds her son as she hears the gunfire and the shouting. Her friends, her blood is up there and there's not a thing she can do to stop it.