Chapter Seven: Fire in Her Soul
"Our siblings push buttons that cast us in roles we felt sure we had let go of long ago - the baby, the peacekeeper, the caretaker, the avoider.... It doesn't seem to matter how much time has elapsed or how far we've traveled."
After we left Natasha's we drove as far as we could to Montana but stopped for the night when Aiden and I began to fight for the third time. It was obvious that Aiden was still irritated about Trevor and I just didn't feel like dealing with his attitude, resulting in a volatile situation. I had been resting against the door when Aiden shoved me for no apparent reason.
"What?" I demanded.
"Stay on your side," Aiden responded.
"There are no sides," I growled.
"Guys," Dean warned.
"How is this my fault?" I responded. "He's being completely insufferable."
Dean and Sam exchanged glances before Sam began to scout for motels and finally found one along the interstate. Dean pulled into the parking lot and stopped by the office. He got out and quickly came back with two room keys.
Depending on the situation and what kind of motel it was whether or not we got one room or two. When we were able, we got conjoined rooms. Aiden and I normally stayed in a room together while Sam and Dean stayed in the other. When we didn't get conjoined rooms, we got them right next too each other. The only times we all shared a room was when we were all injured or we couldn't pay for more then one room. Sometimes the pairing switched up when there was fighting, unless all of us were fighting then, well, nothing really changed there was just more shouting then normal. The positives of getting two rooms was that at least two of us could shower at the same time cutting down on our mornings. We also didn't have to share beds as frequently anymore.
We all got out of the impala grabbing our individual duffel bags before trekking into each of our rooms with orders that we'd meet in Dean and Sam's room once we were all settled for the night. I dropped my bags on the bed furthest from the door before calling dips on the first shower. I showered quickly figuring that it wouldn't be in my best interest to make Aiden angrier than he was already.
I towel dried my hair before putting it into a ponytail. I put on a tank top and my terry cloth shorts. Aiden brushed by me and slammed the bathroom door. I rolled my eyes slamming the front door and went to Dean and Sam's room. I walked through it without knocking. Sam's head snapped towards the door but relaxed when he saw me.
"Hails?" Sam asked. "What's going on?"
"He's such a dick," I muttered.
"Excuse me?" Sam asked.
"Aiden is a dick," I grumbled.
"Why?" Sam responded.
"He's mad that you guys didn't ream me out for dating Trevor," I grumbled.
"I see," Sam responded.
The conversation turned to silence as I lounged on one of the beds waiting for Dean to come out of the shower and Aiden to come into the room. Aiden came in first; he burst into the room, his hair still damp, with a tee shirt and sweatpants on.
"God, Hails, could you wear any less clothing if you'd tried?" Aiden sneered.
"If you got it, flaunt it," I retorted.
"Guys, stop it," Sam ordered sharply.
Aiden rolled his eyes dropping into the seat across from Sam. When Dean came out of the bathroom, he took one look around the room and growled.
"What did I miss?" Dean sighed.
"Nothing," Aiden and I muttered.
"Sam?" Dean asked.
"Aiden and Hails are still pissed at each other," Sam replied.
"He started it," I muttered
"If you could keep your legs closed there wouldn't be a problem," Aiden retorted.
In the minute it took for Dean and Sam to process what Aiden said, I had leapt across the room punching Aiden in the face. He growled pushing me backwards but I ducked away and came back with a left jab, right cross combination that knocked him back down. Before either us could fight further, Sam and Dean had gathered their wits and separated us. Sam had grabbed Aiden and I was currently dangling in the air from Dean holding me around the waist.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Dean snapped dropping me back on one of the beds. "Cut it out!"
"He started it!" I shouted.
"You punched me," Aiden retorted.
"You called me a slut," I responded.
"Hailey, out," Dean ordered.
"What?" I huffed. "Why?"
"Because I told you too," Dean growled. "Go, now."
I growled storming out of the room and slamming my way through the room, Aiden and I were sharing. Dean came in five minutes later and pointed towards one of the beds. I sat down, watching as Dean pulled out a chair dropping it down right next to be and straddling it. After a near ten minute staring contest, Dean broke first.
"Care to share?" Dean asked.
Most people would see that as a question. But, I spoke Winchester-lingo fluently and clearly saw that as an order disguised as a question. And, yes, before someone asks I was just basically ordered to share my feelings. Yet, despite the order that wasn't really a full out order I had the option of sidestepping the question.
"Not really," I muttered.
"Excuse me?" Dean snapped.
"I don't see the need to share," I clarified as an afterthought I added, "sir." Because with the way Dean was looking at me my answer would be taken as insubordinate regardless of whether or not 'sir' had been added.
"Oh, really?" Dean demanded pinning me with a hard look. "You know that fighting before hunts cause problems."
"Yeah, I know," I responded. "But, Aiden's the one that's being obnoxious."
"Hails," Dean sighed.
"He is!" I retorted. "He's been gone for two years and suddenly he feels like he can treat me like this? Like him leaving never happened?"
"He's still your brother," Dean stated.
"He can't just leave and then come back like that," I grumbled. "I'm not the little kid that he left behind anymore. I'm eighteen years old!"
"It's going to take a while for all of us to get use to each other again," Dean replied. "But everything will be okay. In the meantime, Aiden will stay with Sam and I'll sleep here."
"Thanks, Dean," I sighed.
"Don't mention it, Hails," Dean scoffed.
I climbed into bed watching as Dean re-packed Aiden's duffel bags before quickly going back to the other room only to come back a few minutes later dropping his own stuff by mine before slipping into the opposite bed. I rolled over and closed my eyes.
"Hello, Hailey," A familiar rasping growl greeted.
"There a reason why you keep bothering me?" I growled.
"Such an attitude," Azazel sighed. "What you don't understand, Hails, is that you and Sam are my favorites."
"Favorites for what?" I asked.
"I see your powers are manifesting," Azazel said sidestepping my question.
"What my telekinesis?" I scoffed. "It's fine."
"It's out of control," Azazel corrected. "If you kept trying to bury it, it'll become uncontrollable."
"Shut up," I snapped.
"You can't hide who you truly are, Hailey Winchester," Azazel scolded.
"And what am I?" I shouted.
"You're chosen," Azazel replied.
"You keep saying that, chosen!" I growled. "Chosen for what?"
"Can't give away the punch line just yet," Azazel responded.
"Go fuck yourself," I snarled.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Azazel laughed.
Suddenly I was thrown against the wall of the room. I couldn't move an inch as Azazel walked closer.
"Now, I have tried to be patient," Azazel snapped. "But you're trying my last nerve, Hailey Winchester. You will do what I say or I won't be so nice anymore."
"Go to hell," I groaned. The pressure that was keeping me against the wall was not even close to comfortable.
"What you need to know is that little attitude of yours will get you into trouble," Azazel scolded, "like now for instance."
Before I could even process what Azazel had said I felt a burning pain in my stomach, I bit my lip to keep from screaming but the pain merely intensified. I screamed despite my best intentions. I felt the warm liquid of blood trickling down my stomach. He was cutting me open, with what I didn't know but I never wanted to feel it again.
"Hailey!"
"See you next time, little Winchester," Azazel laughed.
"Hailey!" Dean shouted. "Hails, wake up!"
I gasped rocketing forward, nearly smacking heads with Dean.
"You alright?" Dean asked. "You were screaming you head off for at least two minutes."
"'M fine," I muttered.
"Hails?" Dean prodded.
I groaned under my breath as I moved quickly to the bathroom locking the door behind me. I carefully pulled my shirt up and gasped before sneering at my reflection. Nearly my entire stomach was covered in deep blue, nearly black bruising.
"Hailey?" Dean asked again knocking on the bathroom door.
"Just give me five minutes, Dean," I responded letting my irritation for not getting a few minutes of peace color my tone.
I heard someone knock on the main door unsurprised when Dean was answering Sam's questions. I rolled my eyes when someone once again knocked on the door. I growled unlocking the door and let the person in. I raised my eyebrow in seeing Sam walk into the bathroom and closing the door.
"Sam?" I questioned.
"Dean went to check on Aiden," Sam replied. "There a reason why you woke up screaming?"
"Azazel paid me a little visit again," I responded.
"Oh?" Sam frowned.
"Yeah, he left me a little parting gift too," I snarked lifting my shirt off.
Sam hissed and reached a hand to touch it but I shied away, glaring at him.
"Don't touch it," I snapped.
"Hailey," Sam sighed. "We should…"
"No, you promised me, Sammy," I growled.
"You're hurt," Sam retorted.
"Who gives a shit?" I fired back.
"Hailey," Sam warned.
"Sam, I'm a hunter, I've been more injured then this, back off," I growled.
"Damn it, Hailey," Sam fumed.
"What do you want me to do?" I growled. "Cry? Do you wanna kiss my boo-boo, Sammy?"
"You've been spending too much time with Dean," Sam frowned.
"Yeah, well, he's the only one who didn't abandon me," I retorted. "We done here?"
"I didn't abandon you!" Sam responded. "I was just going to college. It was Dad…"
"Yeah, it's always Dad's fault isn't it?" I rolled my eyes. "Dad made you leave. Dad made you fight with him nearly every single day after you turned fifteen. Dad made you pull Dean in the middle."
"The man isn't fucking infallible, Hailey!" Sam snapped.
I shook my head at the angry look Sam threw at me. I moved to walk back into the room; Sam grabbed my wrist intending to spin me around.
"Get off me!" I growled.
"You're not walking away from this," Sam replied. "Where did all this come from, Hay, huh?"
"Just let me go, Sam," I demanded.
"No," Sam replied. "You're not allowed to go off on someone and not have a reasonable explanation."
"Not having a reasonable explanation?" I repeated. "You fucking kidding me, Sam? You left, poof gone for two years, maybe three."
"Dad told me to stay gone," Sam snapped.
"Oh, so you listen to the man when it benefits you?" I scoffed. "No calls, no nothing, Sam. For all you know we could've died and you wouldn't know because you're too goddamn prideful to pick up the phone and call us."
"He said…"
"Yeah, I know!" I shouted. "You guys always say shit you don't mean. Did you suddenly forget that just because this fight in particular was one of the worst?"
"Stop it, Hailey," Sam ordered sharply.
"A second ago you were angry that I wasn't sharing my feelings and now you're telling to stop?" I smirked. "Jeez, Sammy, make up your mind."
I winced when Sam slammed me against the bathroom door. Maybe I had pushed a little too far. After all, the entire Winchester family had a temper and Sam was no exception. The worst thing about Sam was that he didn't have to put a lot of thought into being threatening. Although, he was more low-key than Dean, he was a force to be reckoned with if you poked him hard enough.
"Where is all this coming from?" Sam asked again. "Aiden and I have been around for weeks now. You could've just told us how you were feeling earlier."
"Why?" I asked. "And give you even more reason to sideline me from any jobs we come across."
"You know it's not like that, Hailey," Sam sighed.
"Really, Sammy?" I muttered. "I've been out of the hospital for weeks now. I got my strength back and I can run, and do everything. There's no reason for me to still be benched and yet I am."
"There's a lot of reasons, Hailey," Sam replied quietly.
"Yeah?" I demanded, "Like what?"
"We don't want to lose you again," Sam stated. "Dean was a wreck. Aiden wasn't faring much better and neither was I."
"So, it's fair for you guys to risk it?" I asked. "Risk me losing you guys? Do you think I'd handle it any better?"
"I'll talk to Dean," Sam frowned.
I looked down at my feet feeling very exhausted. I had not one but two fights in one day. I moved to peel myself away from the door when Sam grabbed my wrist again. I looked up at him questioningly but Sam did not say a word instead pulling me into him. I sighed and hugged him back. While Sam Winchester was the most likely to hold a grudge, he never could stay mad at me.
It felt nice to get the weight of the feelings I had for Sam leaving suddenly off my chest. It was almost as nice as hugging him again. When we both pulled away, I knew that everything was okay again. Sam opened the bathroom door and we walked out. Instead of Dean being there, like I thought he would be, Aiden was.
"Dean wants to talk to you," Aiden stated looking at Sam.
"Alright," Sam shrugged.
I watched as Sam walked out of one room and going into the one where Dean was waiting. I attempted to move past Aiden, who was standing in the middle of the room, when he stuck his hand out to halt my progress. Or at least that's what he meant to do; instead I yelped and winced when his stray limb brushed against my stomach.
"Hailey?" Aiden gasped. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I replied.
"I barely touched you," Aiden responded. He then lunged quickly lifting my shirt up. He saw the bruise and quickly let my shirt fall back. "What the hell?"
"It's nothing," I responded.
"Bullshit, Hails," Aiden snapped. "You use to be able to talk to me."
"Aiden," I sighed.
"Come on, Hailey, you know you can trust me," Aiden stated.
I looked at him carefully, it was obvious there were no hard feelings from earlier and Aiden only wanted to know what was going on. I sighed thinking quickly the more people I told the angrier Dean was going to be that he was out of the loop.
"Hailey," Aiden prompted.
"Okay, okay," I groaned. "Look it was a demon that came after me when I was a baby. His name is Azazel and is responsible for my telekinesis. He's been visiting my dreams lately. The last one was tonight where he left the bruise as a parting gift. That's all I know right now."
"God, Hailey," Aiden hissed.
"Somehow I don't think God has anything to do with this," I scoffed.
"That isn't funny, Hailey," Aiden scolded.
"I wasn't laughing," I replied. "Look, don't tell Dean and we can figure this out. In the mean time, we'll hunt until we find Dad. I have no doubt in my mind that he knows a lot more than we do."
"This is so messed up," Aiden groaned.
"Yeah, my thoughts exactly, big brother," I replied.
Somehow sleep suddenly seemed like it wasn't an option anymore but we tried anyway. Sleeping in a bed was much more comfortable than sleeping in the impala any day.
