When I opened my eyes, we were standing in a hotel room in Wisconsin.
"I don't have time for this nonsense, Dean," Castiel said, "There's war in heaven. This was not an emergency. I can't be your personal escort."
Sam chuckled and he received a glare from Sam.
"I don't think what I said was funny," Castiel responded.
"Cas, if you want someone to blame, she's standing right next to you," Dean replied.
I squirmed under Castiel's gaze. I hadn't seen or heard from him in over a year and I couldn't help but feel like we were getting off on the wrong foot.
"I don't know what you did wrong, but I know you weren't following Dean and Sam's instructions. You need to listen to your brothers, Eleanora," he said before he disappeared from sight.
"Are you okay, Nora?" Dean asked.
"I'm fine, Dean. Bobby overreacted."
"Good. You take a seat and start translating then."
He patted a thick book that sat on the table.
"You're not going to yell at me?" I asked.
"I'm going to finish my beer first, so sit your ass down, get to work and be quiet," Dean replied, taking a sip of his beer.
"How did the hunt go? Where's S-?"
The bathroom door swung open as I was speaking and Sam came out freshly showered, rendering my question unnecessary.
"I'm going to get dinner. What exactly was unclear about Dean's instructions to sit down and be quiet?" Sam asked, stopping a few inches in front of me.
"N-nothing," I stuttered.
"Ok, then. Sit down and shut your mouth unless you want an audience when Dean decides to rip you a new one for the stunt you pulled."
I sat and pulled the book over to me, starting translations where I had left off, wondering why Dean conveniently always seemed to have a Latin book around, even though he was on the road. I translated in silence until I felt Dean's gaze on me.
"Are you more or less angry than you were last time we talked?" I asked, looking up to him.
"Do you really need to ask that question, Nora?"
I shook my head once and watched as he took another swill of his beer while maintaining his eye contact with me. Dean didn't often get less angry about things. He got more controlled, more strategic, but the caliber of his anger didn't tend to vary.
"Would it make a difference if I'm sorrier than I was when you found out?"
"No, you're only sorrier because Cas found out and he's disappointed in you."
"That's not the reason, Dean," I answered, though I didn't like Castiel being disappointed.
"Let's hear it then. Please, my all means, enlighten me."
"I didn't mean to worry you guys," I offered.
Dean let out a hearty laugh.
"You know what, I have got to applaud you, Nora. That is a nice attempt right there. Unfortunately for you, that's pretty much on the bottom of my list right now. You were with Bobby. We weren't worried about you. Maybe a little about the Okami thing. If you had been where you were supposed to be, I wouldn't have had to call Cas down from Heaven to get you to safety when he's got his own things going on. If you hadn't lied to Lisa, Sam and me-."
"Would you have let me go if I had asked?" I cut him off.
His eyes narrowed at me cutting him off.
"I guess you'll never know."
"That's Dean Winchester speak for 'no'. You're not even home and you've still got us all on lock down. Newsflash, Dean- nothing is coming for them or for me. You're just fucking paranoid!"
"And I think you're dangerously close to biting of a little more than you can chew here so you might want to think twice before raising your voice to me again," he suggested.
Dean's tone was entering the range where I knew was pushing things, but I wasn't nearly done.
"No, you left me with your girlfriend so you could go gallivanting around the country with Sam. What is the big goddamn deal that I didn't ask you if I could go to Bobby's? I couldn't care less that you're mad that I lied about it. You're on the road, you're not home. You can't have it both ways. You're so far out of our life at home. You don't have the slightest idea what it's like there anymore."
"I think you better go back to translating in silence for a bit before I say or do something we both regret."
I glared at him, not particularly caring what he meant by what he said.
"Go right ahead and do or say whatever you want, see if I care," I answered, pulling my arms up across my chest.
"Damnit, Nora," Dean yelled, his hand slamming down against the flimsy table, "Unless you lose the attitude, you'll be grounded indefinitely. Pretty sure Sam would agree."
"You can't ground me indefinitely."
"You're forgetting a very important element of the dynamic here, little girl."
A lot of times when Dean called me 'little girl' or 'my girl' it was endearing. It brought a smile to my face and a warmth to my heart. But said in this particular situation, it brought a chill to my veins. Dean pulled my chair back from the table and turned it so I was facing him. Dean leaned over me, placing his hands on the arms and so I couldn't have moved away from him if I had the nerve to try.
"Look at me," he stated, his voice steady.
I stared at a mystery spot on the floor about a yard away from us.
"Eleanora Winchester, I want your full attention and I want it right now."
I brought my eyes to his and he continued.
"I want to make something very clear to you. So clear that you will never again think to question it. I am an adult. Sam is an adult. You are a child. I provide for you. I protect you. I have taken care of you since the day you were born. That all means that I decide how long you are grounded for. I decide what it entails. If you can't manage the freedoms you're given, I will take them away. You do not get an opinion on it. You will not whine about it. I make a decision and we will not discuss it. I'm more than fair and you know that. You think you know so much about the world because of the way we grew up, but you're wrong and I will be damned if I sit by and let you get away with stupid shit because you think you know it all. You're smart, kiddo, I'll give you that, but you don't know it all. I am certain that you know better than this, though. I raised you to know better. So when Sam and I decide how we're going to deal with this, you are going to take it without an ounce of attitude or defiance. Do we have an understanding?"
I was distracted by the sound of the Impala pulling in up front and Dean snapped a finger in front of my face, which brought my eyes back to his.
"When I ask you a question, I want an answer. Now do we have an understanding?" he snapped.
"Yes, sir," I muttered, breathing a little easier when he stood up, taking his hands from the arms of my chair.
"Right answer," he responded.
Sam came in a few seconds later, the smell of Indian food wafting through the room. I groaned and pulled the book out of the way as he set the bag down on the table.
"Is there a problem?" Sam asked, an eyebrow raised.
"No, I love Indian," I answered.
Neither of them were impressed with the sarcasm so I shut my mouth. I had never liked Indian food, not for lack of trying though. It just didn't appeal to me. Something which they were both well aware of. I folded my arms across my chest, watching while the two of them enjoyed their feast. When they were on their second helpings, I stood up to leave them to it.
"Where do you think you're going?" Dean asked.
"To get ready for bed. There's nothing here for me to eat," I answered.
"Uh uh. You're not getting off that easy. You'll get ready for bed when we tell you to get ready for bed. Sit down," Dean said with a mouth fully of curry.
I hesitated and he set his plate on the table, looking to me, clearly annoyed.
"And here I thought that discussion we just had actually sunk in a bit. You know what would have happened if one of us pulled this stunt with Dad?"
I didn't answer him, but I could tell that he was expecting a response from me.
"I don't think it was a rhetorical question, Nora," Sam prompted.
"Yeah, I know exactly what would have happened," I mumbled.
"And what's that?" Dean prompted.
Dad was not a fan of punishments like grounding or translations or taking phones away. He wasn't abusive, but he was a little more traditional. All three of us had been smacked around a time or two by John Winchester for falling out of line.
"Dean," I complained, "Is this discussion really necessary?"
"Hey, you don't want to cooperate, fine, but you've got two angry brothers right now, not just one. Two brothers who haven't decided how this is being handled yet. You may want to keep that in mind."
"Can you two just decide on how I'm being punished already so you're not lording over my head?"
"You could show some respect. Dad would have beat your ass the second you were within range for lying and for being an insolent little brat. And honestly with the way you've been acting, you would have deserved it," Sam said in the most nonchalant tone I'd heard him speak since being back.
"Yeah and since when do you condone that?" I spat. Sam had always resented our father for that particular trait.
He shrugged, "It would be more effective than grounding you, wouldn't it?"
Sam was staring at me, but I tore my eyes away and looked to Dean, trying to ask him 'are you hearing this crazy talk?' without actually speaking the words. Dean looked a little surprised by what our brother said, but not like he thought Sam was being too far out of line, or maybe he was just trying to remain a united front.
"No, it wouldn't be effective and you guys aren't Dad, so..." I said.
"Oh?" Sam asked, but then Dean spoke up.
"You're right, we're not Dad. So if I tell you to sit down, you be grateful that option is not on the table and you sit your ass down. Got it?"
I was thankful that Dean had squashed the conversation, so I took my seat while the two of them continued to eat their dinner. I leaned my head back in the chair and folded my arms across my chest. Suddenly my stomach growled into the silence that had fallen between us. I sat up and held my stomach, trying to quiet it.
"You seriously didn't buy anything she would eat?" Dean asked Sam, who responded by shrugging.
"There's nothing wrong with this food right in front of her," he answered.
"Go get something out of the vending machine," Dean said, pushing a few dollars in my direction, "You've got three minutes."
I came back with Reeses and a bag of Cheetos which seemed like the worst dinner ever after living a normal life, complete with regular home cooked meals, for over the last year. I opened the Reeses first and took a bite of one. Dean snatched the other and took a bite which was over half the original size of the peanut butter cup. He set it back on the wrapper and smiled at me.
"What the heck, Dean? That's my dinner!" I complained.
"My money, my dessert."
Sam started cleaning up the table and Dean plopped the book back in front of me so I started translating again, which would pass the time at least. Dean and Sam both got back in their chairs at the table. Dean was looking through the paper and Sam was on his laptop. We continued that way in silence for almost an hour before Dean set the paper down and Sam closed his laptop.
"So, you're obviously grounded. You already know what that entails," Dean said.
"You want to share with the group?" Sam asked.
Dean looked to me.
"No phone, no laptop, no tv, no friends, no hunting, running in the mornings, going to bed early, translations, chores," I relayed in monotone.
"You can run with me," Sam said and my face fell. Sam was in really good shape. Sam liked to run long and fast.
"And since we're on the road, you can take care of the gun cleaning."
"For how long?" I asked.
"Until we decide otherwise. Is there a problem with that?" Dean asked.
I shook my head, swallowing all of my arguments and keeping my mouth shut.
"Good," Dean answered.
"You disobey direct orders or lie again, things won't be this pleasant. If I sense even the smallest bit of dissent or disrespect, you won't be happy with the result, Nora. Now go get ready for bed," Sam said, clearly feeling like Dean hadn't said enough..
I stared at him but didn't move right away.
"You heard him, Nora. Go get ready for bed."
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I heard Dean whisper-shout after Sam after I shut the door to the bathroom, "What exactly are you threatening with her?"
"The same thing Dad would have done. She's a teenager who needs discipline, Dean. You threatened her with it, but she didn't take you seriously. I just made sure she knew we meant business, so why exactly am I the bad guy here?"
"She didn't take it serious because I wasn't being serious! I don't mean business!" Dean shouted.
"Well maybe you should. The kid needs to learn some respect."
"You're off your rocker, man. Like way off. Like you said, she's a teenager. She would hate us. She'd probably be scared of us."
He was right about that. I had always respected my father because he was my father, but also because he was one hell of a terrifying guy when he was angry.
"So what, Dean? She'd certainly show a little more respect," Sam answered, "She'd think twice about lying to you."
I heard Dean scoff, the opening and closing of the fridge and then the sound of the television in the background. I turned on the shower and stepped inside. Thankful that even though he wouldn't say it in front of me, Dean thought Sam was being ridiculous. I didn't have any extra clothes with me, but Dean had set one of his old t-shirts and a pair of shorts on the sink with a toothbrush. After I dressed, I sat on the edge of the tub, brushing my teeth while listening to Dean talking on the phone through the gap under the door.
"Bobby- something's not right with Sam," he said quickly followed by, "What do you mean it's not a good time?"
"Yeah, sure, Bobby, I'd love to hold."
I had to laugh at his tone.
"Hurry it up, Nora. You've got two minutes then I want your ass in that bed."
"Coming!" I answered, continuing to brush my teeth, my ear as close to the door as I could manage as I waited for Dean's phone conversation to continue.
"Bobby, what the hell? I just don't know what to do here. Sam's different. He's about ready to go all Mommy Dearest on Nora if she disobeys a direct order. He's just a little intense," he said. Dean had been mocking Sam when he said "disobeys a direct order."
Dean stopped talking and suddenly pulled the door to the bathroom open.
"Knock much?" I asked, the toothbrush hanging out of my mouth.
"You better not have been eavesdropping," he answered, noting that I was perched on the edge of the tub. I didn't answer.
"Goddamn it, Nora! Get your ass out there."
As I made my way out after spitting and rinsing off the toothbrush, I saw that Dean was bringing Sam in from out front and I took a seat on one of the beds. Dean sat beside me and Sam on the bed across from us. He seemed pretty calm, which was weird since he had seemed so aggressive before I had gone to shower.
"Alright, Bobby. You've got us on speaker," Dean said.
"Sam, Dean, is Nora there too? She needs to hear it just as much as the two of you."
"We're all here Bobby."
There was a lengthy pause on Bobby's end.
"I love you three kids like you were my own. You know I do, but there are times. There are times when you are the whiniest, most self-absorbed brats I have ever met. You call me selfish? I do everything the three of you ask. You need some obscure lore, I do that. You need to bitch about each other, I do that. You need someone to save your ass, from a monster or in Nora's case, from you two idjits tanning her hide, I do that. Every damn time one of you has needed me, I've come through."
"Bobby-," I started, feeling a pang of guilt in my chest.
"Nora Winchester, you shut that damn mouth of yours and you listen to me. I don't want to have to repeat this ever again, got it?"
He didn't wait for me to answer before he continued.
"I have never let you kids down and what do I get for it? That's right a whole lot of nothing. Can't remember the last time I heard any of you utter a thank you."
"Bobby-," Dean started.
"Do I sound finished to you, boy?" Bobby roared even louder than when he yelled at me. Dean looked shocked as Bobby continued.
"You three have got issues. I know that, but news flash the rest of us have got problems too. You three are not the center of the goddamn universe. Now, Nora's a teenage girl so I would expect nothing less from her."
I scoffed, but no one else reacted.
"But Sam and Dean it's time the two of you grow the hell up. In case you've forgotten, it's getting closer and closer to that time when Crowley's going to come to collect my soul and I'll be damned if I am going to just sit around and be damned. So, how about for once in your goddamn lives, you help me instead of the other way around?"
Out of fear at being shouted at again, I waited for the others to talk first.
"Bobby, all you gotta do is ask?" Sam answered.
"Anything you need, Bobby, just let us know," Dean said.
"Yeah, Bobby, anything," I said quietly, mirroring my brothers' comments.
Bobby sighed and didn't answer us.
"I'll call you kids in the morning."
"Bobby," I said.
"Yeah, Nora?"
"I'm really sorry. You know we love you," I said.
"I know, but that doesn't keep you from needing a kick in the ass every now and then, does it? Goodnight."
Bobby hung up and I exchanged looks with the boys.
"Well, that was interesting," Sam commented.
"I've never heard Bobby so angry before," I said.
"He was the mad at Dad once. You were too young to remember when he threatened to shoot him full of buckshot," Sam answered with a chuckle, though neither of us found the humor there.
"Alright, Nora, I want you in bed," Dean said as he got up from the bed to grab a beer from the fridge.
I crawled under the sheets of the bed furthest from the door and turned over to face the wall, staring at for just over an hour before I fell asleep listening to the sound of Dean watching late night tv mixed with Sam typing on his laptop.