Here's the next chapter!
They hadn't driven more than an hour when the Winchesters hear a phone begin to ring. Gracilynn looks up front at her dad and uncle to see whose it is. Dean and Sam look at each other, knowing it wasn't either one of theirs.
"Check the glove box," Dean says, nodding towards said compartment, "Maybe it's one of dads' old phones."
Sam opens the glove compartment and begins shifting through papers and other odds and ends, tossing m n' m bags onto the floor, giving Dean a sideways look. Dean shrugs it off as Sam pulls out a phone, the ringing getting louder. Dean looks at the caller ID, not recognizing the number at all. He flips the phone open and answers it.
"Hello?" Sam says, listening for a moment, "Uh, no. He…he passed away a few years ago. Uh, no, this is Sam. Oh, hey Martin. What? Yeah, we can help. Where is it? What? Uh, yeah, that shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure we'll find a way to get inside. Let me talk to Dean first, but I'm sure we can be there as soon as possible. See ya Martin."
"Martin?" Dean asks, looking over at his brother, "As in Albuquerque Martin?"
"Yeah," Sam answers. "He's in Glenwood Springs psychiatric Hospital in Ketchm, Oklahoma. Supposedly, something's killing the patients in there and he's asked us to come check it out."
"And how are we gonna do that?" Dean asks, "It's a mental hospital. It's not like we can just waltz in and do our thing. Even with badges."
"Yeah, about that," Sam says. Dean raises an eyebrow. Gracilynn watches the two of them, knowing by the tone in her uncles' voice, her dad wasn't going to like the idea. "We could always get in to the hospital."
"Like I said Sam…" Dean starts.
"No, not like that Dean," Sam cuts him off, "As in, we go in as patients."
"Oh," Dean says, "Really? I mean, not really keen on the idea of being locked up in a mental ward Sam."
"Dude, you convinced me into being locked up in a damn jail," Sam points out. Dean nods his head, remembering the spirit they ganked a few years back.
"Alright, fine," Dean says. He looks in the rearview mirror, seeing Gracilynn starting to nod off again, "We just gotta make a pit stop before we head out."
Sam glances at Dean, confused. Dean shoots him a look and Sam looks back at his niece. Sam nods his head in understanding. Gracilynn still wasn't up to par and no way were they going to take the chance of leaving her by herself. Too many things could go wrong. They were Winchesters.
"Thanks again for this Bobby," Dean says, at the door.
"Yeah, yeah. You two just make sure you get back here safe," Bobby says to Dean and Sam.
"Sorry about leaving her like this," Dean says in return. Bobby rolls his eyes.
"Her being pissed you two are leaving her here while you go on a hunt? What? You thought she was gonna be dancing for joy?" Bobby says. Dean and Sam snort. "I think I can handle it. It's not the first time I've dealt with a pissed off Dean Winchester, even if it is a female version."
"You boys say good bye yet?" Bobby asks.
"Yeah, she just ignored us," Sam says.
"And glared at us when she had to look our way. I think her Bitch face gives Sammy's a run for his money," Dean says.
"Well, you can thank her daddy for that," Bobby says. Dean scrunches up his face, looking at Bobby. Sam chuckles, earning a look of his own from his brother.
"I do not have a Bitch face," Dean argues.
"No, of course you don't," Bobby says, sharing a knowing look with Sam. Dean glares at the two of them and Bobby smirks. "My point exactly."
Dean grumbles to himself, something about old men and little brothers being a pain in his ass, as he stomps off towards the Impala. Sam chuckles.
"We'll be back soon Bobby," Sam says.
"Keep me in the loop will ya," Bobby says. Sam nods his head and heads over to the car before Dean drives off without him. "Idjits."
Bobby shakes his head as, once the Impala is out of sight, he wheels himself back in to his house. One thing was for sure, dealing with Gracilynn was not going to be fun. Just because he knew how to deal with a pissed of Dean Winchester, didn't mean it was easy.
This was so stupid. First, she got a frickin' kid killed, and now she can't even be there to back up her dad and uncle. All because she decided to get herself kidnapped and knocked on the head. Not even once. But twice! She hated being left behind. She always felt like every time she was, that it would be the time only one of them would come back. Or worse, neither of them would come back. And it's not like she would know if they were in trouble or anything because she was here in damn South Dakota and they were…well, wherever they decided to be at the moment. Gracilynn lets out a frustrated growl and kicks the garbage can, sending it flying, along with everything inside it.
"Dinners ready," Bobby says from behind her, causing her to jump. She hadn't even heard him come up behind her.
"Yeah, okay," Gracilynn mutters, turning to follow him inside.
"Nuh-uh," Bobby says, pointing at the garbage can, "You can clean up your mess first."
"Uncle Bobby," Gracilynn begins to argue.
"Don't you dare sass back to me girl," Bobby says firmly, leaving no more room for argument. "You might be a Winchester but not even your daddy or uncle got away with talking to me like that."
"Sorry," Gracilynn says, already making her way to the overturned garbage can. Bobby purses his lips, but doesn't say anything. He lets out a sigh and wheels himself back inside the house. Yup, this was gonna be a long few days.
"Hey Uncle Bobby?" Gracilynn asks, washes the dishes from dinner.
"Yeah," Bobby says from the living room.
"You ever been scared on a hunt?" Gracilynn asks. Bobby pokes his head in to the kitchen, studying her.
"Where's this coming from?" Bobby asks, caught off guard by the sudden question.
"I don't know. I was just curious," Gracilynn says, shrugging her shoulders. Bobby studies her a little longer. Dean had told him what happened during their last hunt. He also said something was bothering her but neither he nor Sam could figure it out. Just said she had been really cranky since she woke up. Bobby sighs and wheels himself in to the kitchen. Well, if she wasn't gonna open up to her dad or uncle then maybe he could find something out for them.
"Yeah, a couple times," Bobby says.
"Has dad or Uncle Sam?" Gracilynn asks, still washing the dishes.
"Yeah," Bobby says, "They won't ever admit it. Especially your daddy, but they have been."
"What'd they do?" Gracilynn asks, drying the last plate and setting it in the strainer.
"Well, we knew there were people in trouble so we forced ourselves to overcome the fear and do what we had to do," Bobby answers carefully.
"Oh," Gracilynn says quietly, absently wiping down the counter.
"What's on your mind kid?" Bobby asks.
"Nothing," Gracilynn says, draining the water.
"You sure?" Bobby asks, pushing a little, but not too much. Gracilynn shrugs.
"You ever not overcome it?" Gracilynn asks so quietly Bobby almost didn't hear it.
"This about the last hunt you were on?" Bobby asks. Gracilynn hesitates, biting her bottom lip. She puts the sponge on the back of the sink and nods her head, turning to face Bobby.
"When I was down in that dirt cave…hole…whatever it was, I heard…" Gracilynn starts. Bobby waits for her to continue, but she doesn't, obviously warring with herself whether she should keep going or not.
"You heard what?" Bobby asks, gently prodding.
"I heard screams. Painful ones. Filled with so much fear, it… I knew it was the thing that took me," Gracilynn explains, not looking at Bobby. Bobby sighs, knowing where this is going.
"Anyone would be scared hearing something like that," Bobby says, "It's all right to be scared sometimes kid."
"I know…it…" Gracilynn begins again, biting her bottom lip. Bobby watches her. Gracilynn begins again, this time saying everything in one breath. "I should've done something. And because I got scared and couldn't suck it up like a big girl I got some kid killed."
Okay, so Bobby definitely didn't see that one coming. Maybe he didn't know where this was going. Bobby really looks at the girl he had come to love like a granddaughter. He was right. She was a female version of her daddy. Even only knowing him for a little over a year, she acted so much like him. Like the stubbornness for one. And the over protectiveness of her family. Or the sense of humor. Or love of classic rock and classic cars. Or the sarcasm. All good things, even if they can be a pain in the ass sometimes. But then, there were the other traits. Like carrying the world on her shoulders. Or always blaming herself for something bad happening. Or keeping her emotions buried inside. Bobby sighs and looks at Gracilynn's face.
"You did what you had to do. If you had gone up there then you would've met the same result," Bobby says.
"But I should've tried," Gracilynn argues.
"You were chained to the wall," Bobby argues back, "You would've had to break out of them first. Then, by the time you got up top, the thing would've been done. You would've died for no reason. And I don't know about you, but no way am I dealing with the after math of that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Gracilynn asks.
"It means your daddy and uncle would've lost it. Losing you? It's as bad as them losing each other. They wouldn't've been able to handle that," Bobby explains, "If it makes you feel any better tell yourself you did it to save them not yourself."
"But…" Gracilynn says.
"You did nothing wrong," Bobby says firmly, "I don't wanna hear you talking like this again. You hear?"
"Yeah," Gracilynn says quietly, nodding her head.
"Good," Bobby says, "I have a car that needs to get fixed out back. Maybe you can help with it tomorrow."
"You're gonna let me work on a car by myself?" Gracilynn asks cautiously.
"It's an easy job. And I'm sure you've been working with your dad and you said you learned a whole bunch from those other mechanics," Bobby says, wheeling away.
"Yeah, but…"
"If you need help, all ya gotta do is holler," Bobby says, wheeling back into the living room, "Not like I won't be here."
Gracilynn sighs, a small smile appearing on her face. She still didn't like the fact she was left behind, but after talking to Uncle Bobby, she felt as though some of the weight on her shoulders lifted just a little. And if she was honest with herself, her head was still hurting. Maybe taking a little break is what she needs. But, she'd be damned if they tried excluding her from the next hunt.
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