Breaking The Habit

Louisiana POV

October 8th, 2008

During these last couple of days Arizona and Carolina had gotten really close. I had been holding myself a bit out of the way, while Arizona taught Carolina a few things, and told her about things that she had encountered.

Bobby had gone away on a hunt, I had wanted to follow, but he didn't want two young girls alone in his house, so I had been forced to stay behind. Sam had called earlier today and told me that they were on their way back, after encountering a Shapeshifter who was into Dracula and old movies.

I was sitting in the living room, reading an old Italian book about hunting. I heard the front door open, so I put away the book and walked to the kitchen, where Dakota and the brothers just had gotten seated by the kitchen table, with a beer each.

"Hunt going wrong?" I asked and unlocked Bobby's booze cabin, "Maybe you want something stronger?"

I poured up three glasses of whiskey and gave them.

"Yeah, thanks." Dakota said, with a hoarse voice.

I raised an eyebrow as Dakota gulped down the whiskey. I poured her some more and looked at Sam and Dean with a questionable look.

"Well, the Shapeshifter turned himself into Dracula, and some other monsters. When we found where he lived he attacked Dakota and bit her." Sam said.

Dakota moved down a scarf she had around her neck, reveling bite marks that looked exactly like the bite marks that vampires had in movies.

"Wow." I said.

"Yeah, and he held my throat some weird way and busted my voice. That fucker." Dakota said and gulped down the whiskey.

The door opened and Arizona and Carolina walked inside, laughing. I looked at Dakota and then at Zona and Carrie.

"Hey, why don't you guys take my car and go to the store, huh? We need some milk, meat and potatoes for the dinner tonight." I said and threw my car keys to Arizona.

"Yeah, sure." she said and smiled.

"Here, take my card."

"Okay." Arizona said as she took my credit card and one of the faked ID's I had had made for Zona and Dakota, to make them able to use my card, "Hi, Dean. Sam. Dakota."

She and Carolina left and I watched them as they drove away from Bobby's house. I sat down opposite Dakota and looked her in the eyes.

"Arizona and Bobby have agreed in letting Carolina stay here. To teach her about hunting."

"What?" Dakota exclaimed, grimacing when her throat hurt.

"The demons are obviously after her, Zona and Bobby thought it was best to have her around us. To teach her how to defend herself."

"Sounds logical." Dean said and looked at Dakota, who shook her head.

"No way. No way! I don't want her here. Have you even checked if she's a normal human?"

"Yeah, we gave her holy water when she first got here." Sam said, "She's a normal human being."

"She's getting real close with Zona, so I don't think you'll be able to split them up now. I have been thinking though, I think I'm going to hunt with Bobby. Split us up, so that we can save more."

"Sounds about right." Sam said, "I guess Dean and I can help taking care of Carolina. It'll go fine."

"Is Bobby okay with it? I mean, he's been hunting alone all his life."

"We talked it over, yeah. I'll leave my credit card with you guys, Dakota will have a id with my name on it. I'm going to sell the Mercedes to get some money to me and Bobby."

"You've really been thinking about this." Sam said.

"Yeah. We have to make some kind of a plan. Talking about plans. It's Arizona's 18th birthday tomorrow. We're going to have a party. I need you guys to take her away from here during a couple of hours. We need to get her a gift too. I'm going to make a cake and we're going to eat a dinner, all of us, together. It's 24 hours. We can take the day off."

Dakota nodded.

"We need to get to the store then." she said.

"Yeah, but how are we going to get her out of here?" I asked.

Dakota looked at Dean and smirked. Sam noticed and smiled towards me.

"Dean can take her out." he said.

"What!?"

"Yeah. A little road trip out of town." Sam said with a smirk towards his brother.

"I don't know." Dean said, "Isn't that something you ask a couple of days before?"

"She's going to suspect something, sure, but that doesn't matter. Since it's her birthday she knows that something's up. Which mean that she'll go with you wherever you go. Then Sam, Ota, Carrie and I go to the store, clean this place up, make the cake and make dinner. We'll call you when we're ready to get the party started."

"Okay. What about Bobby?" Dean asked, "You heard from him?"

"Yeah, he's coming back tomorrow, he should be here by dinner."

Carolina POV

When Arizona and I had bought the things Lou wanted we started to drive back to Bobby's. We were listening to Arizona's favorite band, Green Day. I had to agree, they were pretty good, not really my kind of music, but still pretty good. Arizona was singing along with the song, a song called Jesus of Suburbia, hitting the steering wheel at the same time.

I was really enjoying spending time with Arizona. I really enjoyed being a bigger sister, even though it was she who taught me stuff and not the opposite way. I almost forgot about my parents and the demons. Arizona turned down the volume and glanced over at me.

"You're religious, right? You believe in God and angels?"

"Yes, I guess. Why?"

"I've seen an angel. Or, sure, an angel's vessel. But, either way, there's an angel inside it. Pretty cool, huh?"

"Yeah. Really cool."

"His name is Castiel. Pretty good-looking too. The vessel, that is."

I smiled towards Arizona.

"I thought you liked Dean?"

"I do. I only said that Castiel looks good. Dean is much hotter anyways."

"Hey, do you even have a driver's license."

"Legal in some states. Otherwise I have a faked ID, allowing me to drive. I learned to drive when I was 14."

"How long have you been doing this anyways?"

"I began training when I was four. Mom and dad died when I was six. I wasn't allowed to hunt until I was twelve, just small cases then. And when Texas died and Lou left us, Dakota let me hunt with her from the very beginning. So, I was twelve when I started hunting for real. Six years now."

"I'm never going to get all this."

"Sure you are. You just need a little time. You're going to become one of the Sullivans."

We came back to Bobby's and gave the food to Lou, who immediately started to cook dinner. Arizona and I walked into the living room and sat down on one of the couches there, with Sam, Dean and Dakota on the other couch. I looked at Dakota, and saw her glaring at me. She really didn't like me, but Arizona and Lou had told me to give her some time, that she soon would love me as one of them.

"So, Zona, you want to get out from this hellhole tomorrow?" Dean asked.

I looked at Arizona, who beamed of joy.

"Yeah, sure." she said, "Where to?"

"I don't know. Lets just get in the car and drive away for a couple of hours. I'm sure we can find something to do." he said and winked at Arizona, who blushed.

Dakota rolled her eyes and slapped Dean lightly over the cheek.

"Way to make a girl uncomfortable." she said in a hoarse voice, making me wonder what has happened to her, "If you said something like that to me, and then wink, I would run away screaming."

"No you wouldn't. No one can resist my charm."

"I can think of a few." Sam said, "Remember Madison? And Sarah?"

"That's because they're crazy. Liked Sam instead of me." Dean snorted, "Delusional. What about you Carolina? You have a special someone where you come from?"

I shook my head.

"No."

"No? Well, I'm sure that there's a lot of men who like you there." Dean said and wiggled his eyebrows.

"She comes from Charlotte. It's a very religious town. Men are the last thing on Carrie's mind." Arizona said.

"Oh, but you're wrong, honey." Dean said, "God is a man. At least that's what I've heard. I mean, He did make virgin Mary pregnant. And everyone says He. So, Carolina is thinking about men, okay, only one man, The man."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Dakota said, "What are we going to do about the sleeping arrangements?"

"Well, when you were gone, Lou took the boys room, while Carrie and I had our room. I guess that Carrie can share with us, while Lou sleep on the couch or something."

"Nah, we can take the couch and the oh, so fantastic floor." Dean said, "Lou and Dakota can have our room."

"Sounds about right. What a gentleman you are, Winchester." Dakota said.

"Well, we have to help ladies in distress. By the way, we're probably leaving soon, and then we can have the beds in the motel. It's no biggie." Dean said and shrugged his shoulders.

October 9th, 2008

Arizona POV

I sat by the kitchen table, eating breakfast, a glass of orange juice and a sandwich with ham on it. Today was my 18th birthday. I couldn't really grip it though. These past six years had only been me and Dakota. We always celebrated the both of us at the same time, whenever we did have time, with cake and simple presents.

This year would be not only me and Dakota, but Lou for the first time in six years, and Carrie, Sam and Dean for the first time ever. I suspected a party, since Dean asked me out the day before, and I had already bought Dakota's gift, hell, she turned 24 two and a half weeks earlier.

I wondered when Dean's and Sam's birthdays were, but couldn't think about it for especially long, before Dakota came in to the kitchen, wearing a pair of short, black shorts and a white tank top.

"Morning." she said sleepily, with a hoarse voice.

"What happened to you during the hunt?" I asked, wondering about her voice.

"Got a Shapeshifter slash Vampire biting my neck and pressing my throat in some weird way. It hurts like hell to talk."

"Then be quiet." I said and smiled, "I don't know what's gotten into you, but you're more talkative than I've ever heard."

"Well, it's these boys. They bring out the Arizona in me." Dakota said and sat down, "Did you make some coffee?"

"No. I don't drink coffee, why would I make it?"

"For me. You never make me coffee." Dakota said and pouted.

I smiled and got up.

"Okay, sometimes you have to break the habit." I said and started to make her some coffee, "By the way, what do you think about Carrie?"

Dakota sighed.

"I don't know. I don't know her. I'm just pissed that no one told me about her. Lou and I had one of our famous family fights last night, because I asked her why she never told me. I mean, now when we finally have met her, why the hell can't anyone tell us why they never told us about her? Lou is so closed in."

"She's like you." I said and sat down opposite Dakota, "You never tell me what's on your mind."

"I guess it's a family treat then, you're the same way, little sis."

"I know. But at least I talk a little."

"You haven't said a word about Rose since she died, Zona. Not a word. Only that it wasn't my fault."

"It wasn't."

"I know." Dakota sighed and pulled her hand through her messy hair, "But you miss my point, Zona. We're both very closed in on our emotions, but sometimes you need to talk about them."

"I miss Rose." I said and looked down on my hands, "But I don't want to talk about her. At least not yet."

"Yeah, me too." Dakota said and bit her lower lip.

Another family treat, I think. When we're nervous we always bite our lower lips. I've noticed Lou and Carrie do the same. I could tell that Dakota actually wanted to talk, but I weren't ready just yet. And I definitely didn't want to talk about Rose today, when Dean was taking me on a car drive. I got up and looked at the coffee, seeing that it was finished. I poured a cup for Dakota and gave it to her.

"Where's Lou?" I asked.

"Probably sleeping. I slept in the car tonight, so I don't really know. Carolina?"

"Still sleeping."

"Did you know that Lou is going to hunt with Bobby?"

"What?" I had no idea, "When did she say that?"

"Yesterday. When you and Carolina were shopping groceries. I think it's a good idea, and I think that they should take Carolina."

"What? No!"

"Think about it." Dakota said and leaned forward, "Bobby's been hunting for how many years? And when Lou's in shape, she's one of the greatest hunters out there. Do you really think it's a good idea to bring Carolina with us? I make too rash decisions, you're too new at this, and I think that the Winchesters will think that she's in the way. I know they did when that fucker bit me a couple of days ago."

I couldn't believe the words that had come out of Dakota's mouth. She wanted me to leave my sister after just gaining her?

"No." I said, "We'll just do as we did when you and me were out of experience. We leave her in the motel, with protection, until she's good to go."

"How do you make sure demons don't come after her?"

"Salt the windows and doorways, Devil's traps under the windows and in front of the door. And protective amulets so she doesn't get possessed. It's fool proof."

Dakota sighed deeply, making me know that I had won that argument, but probably lost her friendship for a couple of days. She stood up, grabbed her cup of coffee and left the kitchen. I had lost my appetite, so I started to remove the food from the table.

"No, leave the food. We haven't eaten yet."

I turned around and smiled towards Dean and Sam, who walked inside the kitchen and got seated by the table. I put the food back on the table and put the pot of coffee on the table.

"Bon appetite." I said, smiled and then left the kitchen and walked outside.

I sat down on the porch and started to think. What if Dakota was right? Bobby and Lou were probably better at protect Carrie than Dakota and me were. But I had just gotten Carrie as my sister. I didn't want to leave her right away. No, she was going to stick with me and Dakota, no matter what.

Dakota POV

Stupid girl. Hadn't she noticed that I couldn't protect people? Rose had died, Tex had died, damn, our parents had died. All because I were too rash in my decisions and too stubborn. I could barely protect Arizona, and she knew how to defend herself.

I looked up when I heard someone walk into the living room, where I were currently sitting. I saw Lou walking inside the living room and getting seated on the couch opposite mine. She looked at me with a sad smile on her lips.

"What?" I asked harshly, wincing when it hurt in my throat.

"I heard you." she said, "You're probably right, but Zona won't leave Carrie now. And pulling them apart would be cruel to them. Zona and Carrie have really gotten close. Carrie has lost her family, and Zona has become a crucial part in her life now."

I sighed deeply.

"Why didn't you tell us about her?" I asked and looked at Lou, who bit her lower lip.

"I never thought we would meet her. I never thought it would come to this. I thought that she was destined to live a normal, happy life. I didn't want to tell you about her. If you would decide to go and meet her, you could bring the madness onto her and her family."

"Zona isn't happy about you hunting with Bobby."

"I'm sure that you're not happy about it either. You probably think that I'm leaving you again."

Damn older sister, who knows exactly how I think.

"No, not at all. We can save more people this way. Stop more seals from breaking."

"Exactly. So, when is Dean taking out the birthday kid?"

"I don't know. Maybe you should tell Carolina what's going on. But, Zona said that she's still sleeping."

"You can call her Carrie, you know."

"No, it brings her closer and I don't want her closer. At least not now. It's too soon."

Lou nodded and then left the room. I sighed deeply and pulled my hand through my hair. I got up and walked out to the kitchen. Sam and Dean were chatting quietly, drinking coffee and eating some breakfast. I sat down next to Sam and leaned over the table, my head resting on my hands.

Carolina and Lou came into the kitchen. I wrinkled my nose and put my forehead on the table, when I saw Carolina's big smile. She was too happy, too innocent to be involved in this life.

"Good morning, everyone." she said with her girly, happy voice, "How did the hunt go?"

"We survived." I said and sat up straight, "A little bruises, but we're used to that."

"Yeah, I was wondering. Why are you so hoarse?"

"Someone tried to choke me. Sloppy choking, but still."

"So, how are we doing things today?"

"You're going to shut your mouth until Dean and Zona are out of here, okay?"

"Oh, sure." Carolina said in a hurt voice, making me groan and put my head on the table again, "Are you feeling okay?"

"No." I mumbled, "I'm tired, my throat hurts and everything are going straight down to hell."

"You know what? Why don't I go and grab Zona and get the hell out of here, huh?" Dean said and stood up, "Let's get this party started. Sammy, take good care of the girls, will you? No hot orgies now."

"Go now."

"Bitch."

"Jerk."

Dean left the kitchen and walked outside. I looked up at Sam and smirked towards him.

"You know, I think it might be Dean who'll have an orgy."

"Yeah, probably."

I looked out of the window and saw the Impala driving away from the house. I stood up and clapped my hands together.

"Okay, Sammy and I go to the store and you two clean up this mess."

"Sure." Lou said, "I wrote a list."

She pulled up a white piece of paper and gave it to me, together with her credit card and a faked ID. I took it and looked at the list.

"This is going to be expensive, Lou."

"Yeah, that's why you're taking my credit card, oh, and don't forget the present."

"Nope." I said, grabbed Sam by his shirt and then the two of us walked out of the house and into my Nova.

Arizona POV

Dean took me to a beautiful spot, about three hours away from Bobby's. We got out of the car and sat down on the hood. Dean handed me a cold coke and took a beer himself.

"I know that you're not that much into drinking beer." he said.

I shook my head and took a sip from the coke.

"No, not really. That's more Dakota's thing. She didn't give you a hard time during the hunt, did she?"

"No, not at all." Dean said, "She was great."

"Good." I said and smiled, "I'm not used to be without her for days. It felt kind of weird."

"Yeah, but you had Carolina."

"Yeah." I smiled even bigger now, "I'm so glad to have her. She's great."

"That's good. You know, Sammy and I are thinking about moving to another hunt in a few days. You think you and your sisters will follow?"

"Yeah, definitely."

"So, it's your birthday today, huh?"

I felt myself blushing as I looked into Dean's eyes.

"Yeah. The big 18."

"Don't get me wrong here, but I thought that you were older."

"I wish I was older."

"Don't."

"What?"

"Wish that you're older. The older you are, the closer you are to death."

I gave Dean a sympatric look. I couldn't imagine who Hell was like. I didn't want to imagine. Dean furrowed his brows.

"What?"

"Nothing." I said quickly and looked away from Dean.

I took another gulp from the coke and almost jumped when I felt Dean's knee touching mine. Either Dean didn't notice, or he pretended he didn't notice, the latter one I believe.

"Don't worry." Dean said, "I know why you gave me that look. Hell, I want to give it to myself sometimes."

"Have you met Castiel lately?"

"Yeah, right after we met you guys, when you were on that hunt in Minnesota. He brought me back to the 70's."

"What?" I asked and giggled, "He brought you back to the 70's?"

"Yeah, '73. I met my parents."

"Oh."

"My mom was a hunter."

"She was?"

"Yeah, and dad was just an ordinary guy."

I laid my hand on Dean's when I heard his sad voice. I could understand him. I didn't remember my parents that well, but Dakota did, and whenever they were mentioned she would shut herself into a cocoon, no way to get in contact with her. Dean handled the fact that he met his parents much better than Dakota would, probably better than me as well.

Louisiana POV

Carolina and I had just finished cleaning up and putting up some decorations when Dakota and Sam returned with the food and the present. We all met in the kitchen. I went through the bags of groceries, to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything.

"What did you buy her?" I asked when I started to pack up the things.

"A surprise." Dakota said with a smirk on her lips, "Only Sammy and I can know."

"You didn't buy her condoms or anything?" I asked and eyed Dakota suspiciously.

"Nope."

"Good. Carrie, you want to help me with the food and the cake?"

"Sure." Carrie said and got right into it.

I looked at Sam.

"You can call Dean and see how far away they are. They have to be at least two hours away to return."

"Okay." Sam said and dialed Dean's number, "Hey, Dean. How's it going? … How far away from Bobby's are you? … Three hours? Okay, you can head back now. … Yeah, bye."

Sam hung up.

"Three hours. Okay. That's perfect." I said, "You can help if you want?"

"No, thanks." Dakota said, "We'll be in the library. Come on, Sammy."

Dakota and Sam left to the library and Carrie and I continued with the food. Bobby came home two and a half hours later, carrying a bag with a couple of presents in it. I smiled towards him when he walked into the kitchen.

"What did you buy?" I asked.

"A couple of knives to Dakota and an old, Latin book about demons and rituals for Arizona."

I nodded. Dakota likes weapons and Arizona books. Bobby knew what he was doing. I jumped when my cell phone suddenly rang. I answered quickly.

"Yeah?"

"Hey, it's Amanda Wilson."

"Yes, hi, Amanda."

"Paul has signed the papers. Will you come over and sign them, or shall I send them to you?"

"You can send them." I said and told her an address to a safety deposit box I had at a bus station.

"Okay. I'll do that then."

"Great, bye." I said and hung up.

"Who was it?" Bobby asked.

"My lawyer. My moron to husband has signed the divorce papers and now she's sending them over to me."

"When will Dean and Arizona be back?" Bobby asked to change the subject.

"In about half an hour or something like that." I answered and checked the steak in the oven, "Perfect timing."

"You're not one of those Desperate Housewives now, are you?" Dakota asked as she walked inside the kitchen.

She opened the fridge and took a beer.

"No." I said.

"You certainly look like one." Dakota said and took a large sip from the beer, "Like that red-head, whatever her name is."

"Bree?" I asked.

"You watch that show?"

"Yeah, I used to. Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy. All those, really."

"Man, my sister has turned into a human." Dakota said and shuddered.

"What's up with the good mood?" I asked, "You didn't do anything dirty in the library did you? Where is Sam?"

"Sammy is showering. I was considering joining him, but I figured it will be much more fun to wait until we have sex."

"You and Sam are together?" Carolina asked, making Dakota snort and frown.

"No. Keep up in the turns, little girl. The Sullivans always joke dirty."

"I do however think that you and Sam have gotten pretty close since the hunt." I said and smiled towards Dakota, who rolled her eyes.

"He's fun."

"You're not the one that make friends easily, Ota. I think that Sam and Dean have gotten a special place in your heart."

"Whatever."

Arizona POV

Dean and I got back to Bobby's right after dinner time. We got out of the car and walked up towards the house. Dean stopped me right before I opened the door. I gave him a questionable look and he smiled towards me.

"I had fun today." he said, "Maybe we can do it again sometime soon?"

"Perhaps." I said, smiling shyly towards him.

Dean opened the door. I walked inside and jumped.

"SURPRISE!"

I started to laugh and smiled widely towards my sisters, Bobby and Sam, who apparently had decided to throw me a surprise party.

"Oh, guys! How sweet of you." Dean said from behind me, "I know that you love me and all."

I turned towards Dean and hit him lightly at his chest.

"Ouch." he said and rubbed his chest, "That hurt, little girl."

"Oh, just shut your hellhole, Winchester." I heard the hoarse Dakota say.

I turned around towards her and hugged her tightly.

"I love you, Dakota." I said.

"Yeah. And… you know." Dakota said awkwardly.

"I know." I said and pulled away from her and looked at the others, "Thanks, guys." I said.

Lou walked up to me and hugged me.

"Happy birthday." she said.

"Thanks."

I hugged Carrie after that, and then Bobby. Sam walked up to me and ruffled my hair, like I was a little kid.

"Happy birthday." he said.

"Oh, don't be a baby." I said and pulled him into a hug, "I already see you and Dean as family."

I pulled away from Sam and turned and looked at Dean, who gave me a smug smile.

"Come and give me some loving too, kiddo."

"Kiddo." I snorted, but walked up to Dean and gave him a hug as well, "Thanks."

"Yeah."

We pulled away and then went into the kitchen, where a fancy dinner was on the table. We all sat down by the table and started to eat the dinner that I learned that Lou had made. We all ate the dinner and then we moved to the library.

Bobby, Lou and Dakota gave me some presents, and then Bobby, Lou and I gave Dakota some presents. We both opened our gifts and then thanked the people who gave them to us. I got a really good book about demons and rituals from Bobby, a beautiful Pentagram, silver necklace from Lou and two tickets to a Nickelback concert from Dakota.

I looked at the gifts to Dakota, she had gotten two knives from Bobby, probably ancient and blessed, a necklace, the same as mine, from Lou and from me she had gotten a signed Metallica LP, their first album, it had been expensive, but I didn't care about the prize when it was Dakota we were talking about. Carrie gave me an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't know about your birthdays, so I didn't get you anything." Carrie said.

"It's perfectly okay, Carrie. I don't care about gifts." I said and looked at Dakota, "You and I at the concert then?"

"That was my thought." Dakota said and smiled, "It's the next Saturday, in Los Angeles. So you guys will have to be without us for a while."

"I think we'll manage, Sullivan." Dean said, looking at Dakota.

"You better not do anything stupid, Winchester. I might have to hurt you."

"Don't get your lace panties in a bunch." Dean said.

"What about Carrie?" I asked.

"She'll stay with Lou and Bobby. If that's okay with you, Carolina?" Dakota asked Carrie, who nodded.

"Yeah, sure."

"Great. We're leaving on Wednesday."

"Cake!" Lou said and got up, "Chocolate cake. In the kitchen now."

"I love cake." Dean said and then everyone went to the kitchen and ate cake.

The rest of the evening were perfect. We all sat in the living room, chatted, listened to great music and watched a good movie. I sat next to Dean the whole night, snuggling close to him, much to Dakota's joy and amusement.