Independence's (Indie's) P.O.V.
I start awake. I lay for a second, shaking away my nightmare. I take a deep breath, and look at the clock. 6:36am. A full minute before the sun will rise. I sit up, and push back the covers.
I stand up and cross the room to my window. I sit down and watch the horizon as the first rays of sunlight peek over the hills.
This is becoming a regular routine for me. I wake up a minute before the sun, and watch as it rises. Unfortunately, the nightmares are routine as well. It's been a week since I decided on my new name, and I think I'm slowly beginning to grasp the meaning of "normal".
Bobby usually makes some kind of breakfast. My stomach is still adjusting to eating good food, not garbage, and so that leads to lots of barfing. Yesterday, Bobby made pancakes, and while I couldn't have any of the syrup, they were still really good. And, I didn't puke.
It takes the sun an hour to rise all the way, and by the time it's risen, I have nearly forgotten last nights terror. I hear the door open behind me. Out of habit, I tense up, wanting to hide, but I resist. Besides, I already know who it is. Sam.
"Indie, we're having breakfast." He says. "Come down when you want to eat." I nod, and tuck my face into my elbow, my smile wide. I love hearing my new name. It makes me feel proud, vibrant, and free. Dean thought "Independence" was too much of a mouthful, so he gave me a nickname. I like it.
Reluctantly, I leave my window ledge to walk down to the kitchen. Sam's sitting at the table, staring at Bobby and Dean. Dean looks upset, like he was trying to convince the other two of something. When I walk in, they go back to normal, Dean helping Bobby with breakfast, and Sam searching through the papers, but I can still feel the tense atmosphere.
I cross the room, shivering at the cold linoleum floor. I can feel Dean's gaze on me. When I turn to look at him, he looks unsure.
"Indie," He states. "We need to talk."
I walk to the counter and grab plates out of the cabinet. "About what?" I ask with forced nonchalance, setting out the plates.
"A hospital visit." Dean says. I freeze, bracing myself on the counter.
"No." I state quietly.
"Indie-." Dean starts.
"No, Dean. I can't." I say. I hate hospitals. I've never been to one, but I know what they are. They are full of sick people, hurt people, and people in white coats who poke and prod you with needles.
"Indie, it's long overdue. We should have taken you there first, but we had to get some things sorted out first." Dean says.
"I'm not sick." I state flatly. Dean opens his mouth but I cut him off again.
"Look, Indie, we need to go, alright? It'll help me sleep better at night." Dean says. "It's just a matter of whether we'll have to drug you to get there or not."
I scowl and turn away, wrapping my arms around myself. I hate the idea of having someone touching me, especially a stranger. Then I sigh. While Dean wouldn't really drug me, he will nag me and pester me until I go. Either way, I'll end up at the hospital. I should just make things less painful by giving in now.
"Fine," I mutter. I stay facing away from him. I steel my resolve, ready to hold a grudge until this is over. I know that eventually, as in two hours, I'll give up and forgive them, but for now I'm going to be mad.
Dean sighs, knowing I'm going to be mad for a while. I sit stiffly at the table, refusing to look at him, as Bobby puts food on my plate. Dean walks out of the kitchen on his phone, probably calling the hospital to make an appointment.
"Fortunately", Dean was able to find a spot open for 1:45pm, so I paced around the house until one. No one tried to stop me, because they knew that I would only ignore them. At 1:15, Dean calls me downstairs, and we walk to the Impala. Dean starts the car.
"What's our cover story?" I ask.
"You are my neice. You came to live with me after your father was arrested for abuse. I want to make sure you're healthy." Dean says.
"Dean! What if they find out you're lying?" I ask.
Dean smiles. "They won't. The lies easiest to believe are the ones closest to the truth."
I raise my eyebrows. "That's close to the truth?"
Dean gives a wry laugh. "Isn't it?"
I think for a moment. "Yeah. I guess." I look over at Dean. "Except Tom wasn't arrested."
Dean squirms a little. He looks uncomfortable. "Indie, there was nothing that we could do. It was hard enough just to get you out of the building without being seen. If we had tried to get revenge, there was no way any of us would have gotten out."
I nod. "I want him to pay, Dean." I shake my head, blinking my eyes to dry the moisture in them. "I want him to pat for shoving me in a cage, showing me off to the world like I was part of his collection, like a freak." I choke out the last word.
Dean puts a hand on my shoulder. "We will make him pay, Indie, you can be sure of that. When you're ready, we'll even let you help."
I take a deep breath, and nod. I close my eyes and try to relax, but my brain thinks of more worries.
"What if they find out I'm not...normal?" I ask.
"Indie, your blood type, heart rate, oxygen levels, breathing, and everything else is exactly the way it should be for a 14 year old girl. You don't need to stress about that."
I nod. There is a pause.
"But what if-"
"Indie, stop. Let's worry about what actually happens, not what might happen, alright?" Dean says with an amused glance at me. I nod, leaning my head back against the headrest.
After another ten minutes of driving, we pull into the parking lot of the hospital. I feel my breathing quicken, creeping towards hyperventilating. Dean looks at me, my eyes wide, by breath wheezing, my hands shaking.
"Indie." Dean says to get my attention. It doesn't work. My brain continues to panic.
"Independence." Dean says clearly, and I calm at the name. It brings me back to Earth, and helps me collect my head.
I turn to Dean, trying to convey all the fear I am feeling in my eyes. His eyes are full of compassion. He sighs, and leans forward. He gently takes my head in his hands, and carefully pulls me toward him. He presses his forehead against mine, and I close my eyes. Normally, I might feel claustrophobic, but right now, I only feel comforted and safe.
"Indie, I will never let anything hurt you again." Dean promises. He means it. I know it will be broken, because that is an impossible promise, but I feel better all the same. "If anything happens, and they try to keep you, I will kidnap you out of there, okay?"
Dean leans back. "I won't be able to be with you the whole timeā¦" He starts. I feel the panic flare up again. I look at my hands, trying to keep them from shaking. I can see him moving in the corner of my eye. When I look up, something is dangling from his hands. A thick black cord, and hanging on it, an amulet, that looks like a small face with horns. It's golden, and has it's eyes closed.
"Indie, I want you to wear this, okay?" I nod, still staring at it. I know what that is. That's the amulet that Sam gave Dean when they were kids. It's the most important thing that Dean owns.
He lowers the cord around my neck, and I feel the cool weight settle on my collarbone. I feel safer with it around my neck.
Dean steps out of the car, and I follow him. I stare up at the huge building. Dean walks to me, and places his arm around my shoulders. I smile up at him gratefully. He urges me forward, and we walk together towards the Sacred Heart Hospital.
If you've seen the TV series Scrubs, then you'll probably know most of the characters in the next chapter. If you haven't seen Scrubs, then you need to. Right now. Seriously, it's an awesome show.
Review, please! I would love it!
See-ya!
