December part I

With November behind the sounds of Christmas descended upon them. John had never been one for the winter celebration. When Mary was alive she had dealt with it all and he just stood back and admired her efforts. Since her death he had made in effort for the boys to recognize the holiday with a few gifts and his presence but nothing more than that. With the addition of Sean there were times he even managed to get a last minute scraggly tree to put in whatever abode they were residing in at the time. He remembered years ago when Sean was younger he had been out on a hunt lost track of time and got back late on the twenty-fifth and was so proud to see a tree adorned with popcorn, Frootloops and paperchains. In his absence Sam and Dean ensured the little one had some kind of fun that included decorating the tree and some small presents that he couldn't wait to show his daddy. John smiled at the memory and of his little guy when he still known as Daddy.

"Yo Dad," Sean said breaking up the memory. "Can I spend the night at Brett's house, it's his birthday and he is having a party."

He went from Daddy to yo Dad in mere seconds, how do they grow up so fast. John sighed and looked at his youngest. "When is this?"

"On Friday night, both his parents will be home and he only lives three blocks away. It will over Saturday at noon. He got to invite five kids and I'm one of them. Please Dad I could really use this."

John had no doubt his son could use a distraction from the past month that had been well beyond an emotional roller coaster ride. "Well keep yourself in-line and it should be doable."

"Thanks Dad," Sean said grinning.

John went back to his personal thoughts. He wanted to have some kind of observance of Christmas this year. Sean had been through a very tough time and it would be a healthy distraction for him. He knew Tigers death and the role Sean had played in it was still very much on the boys mind. Every day fun and the promise of Christmas would be good for him. John figured a nice tree some decorations from the thrift store he could even make a go at a Christmas turkey or ham depending on which was easier. But the hardest part would not only be ensuring that a hunt didn't disrupt the activities but to find a good present. John had always shopped for last minute items and never had the time or knowledge to make something worthy of a true gift. He wanted to change that this year for Sean, he wanted something meaningful.

He knew Sean had always loved animals and he had even thought about keeping the tarantula he had found at Alma's but the thought of all those eyes and legs and decided it was too icky even for him. He had also found several empty tanks that had most likely held snakes but he had no desire to search for them, they were on their own. He had dropped the spider off at the pet store and knew if Sean had ever visited the shop he would never get him out of there without some kind of creature or a major tantrum. But there was something from that trip that was nagging at him and he just wished he could remember what it was.

Friday after school Sean packed up and headed to Brett's. John had left on Thursday for a hunt two hundred miles away hoping to get back within a week or two. Sean knocked on the front door and waved to Dean who roared off for his night on the town.

The evening started out great with pizza, games, presents and movies. Sean was having a good time just being one of the gang, something he had always craved. It was going so well in fact Sean knew it was destined to change; and it did.

Brett disappeared after saying he had something that would liven up the party. Sean was afraid he was going to come back with some kind of liquor but it was even worse than that; in Brett's hands was the dreaded board game Ouija.

Sean having been forever forbidden to play with one had an instant reaction. "I'm not playing, I'm going home."

"You're scared of this?" Brett asked.

"That's what I don't understand about people that want to mess with these things. If it's fake then what is the point, if it's real then what the hell are you thinking."

"It will be fine Winchester, don't leave. I heard some girls including Mandy might stop over soon, you wouldn't want to miss that now would you?" Brett said making kissing noises.

Sean was so torn he didn't know what to do, he knew with certainty that the Ouija board was not going to be good but he so desperately wanted to fit and he certainly didn't want to appear to be scared and the thought of some time with Mandy were enough to get him to stay.

"Okay I'll stay but I'm not touching that thing," Sean stated emphatically.

"It's okay we don't need you there's plenty of us," Tyler said gathering everybody all around.

With much ado they got everybody that would fit around the board and began poking across the veil.

"Is anybody with us?" Brett asked.

The planchette moved to yes. The chorus of "no ways" and "you moved it" went all around as Sean rolled his eyes. A few questions later Sean knew there was no turning around.

"What is your name?" someone asked.

"Ruth her name is Ruth," Sean said.

"How do you know?" Danny asked.

"Because I can see her and she told me."

"No freaken way you are right."

"Ask her," Sean encouraged.

They did and the planchette methodically moved its way to R U T H. The group all looked to Sean. "I told you."

"No you and one of these guys set this up. You decided what her name would be and he moved it," Brett accused.

The sad and haunted look on Sean's face said otherwise but twelve and thirteen year olds aren't all that good at deciphering such things and Brett stood by his allegation.

"Fine he can write the answer on a piece of paper and fold it up and Charlie can hold it until we have our answer," Tyler suggested.

"They can have a bunch of questions and answers memorized," Brett continued.

"Then we just keep going until its impossible for them to have them all covered," Tyler amended.

And so it began:

"How old are you?" Fourteen

"What color is your hair?" Brown

"What year did you die?" 1873

"How did you die?" Consumption

And on and on it went. Sean stared at the girl who had mesmerized the crowd as she stood directing the marker to move at her will; by the end of the so called game half the kids thought Sean was the coolest ever and the others weren't sure what to make of him.

"So you see dead people?" Tyler asked.

"Yeah I do."

"Like in the barn, that's what you were talking about when you smelled something you smelled the dead person didn't you?" Tyler asked remembering their time in Mr. Sawyer's barn.

"No but I smelled something that indicated something long ago had happened there. Look this secret stays here I never tell people about it."

"Are you kidding you'll be the hit of the school," Charlie said smiling.

"No I will be a pariah and my dad will find out I told and we will move so fast it will make your head spin. And besides people will think you're crazy if you tell especially when I deny all of it."

"He may have a point guys," Danny said. "So where is she now?"

"Standing next to you," Sean answered.

As if on cue the light next to the bed began to flicker. "Whoa, now what do we do?"

Sean couldn't help laugh. "See that's how it always goes, let them out of the box with no idea of how to shove them back in, but its okay because it's all a game."

"What do we do?" Brett asked the fear quite evident in his voice.

"I have no idea," Sean said getting up and walking out of the room.

After a restless nights sleep Sean finally decided to get up and dressed. He called Sam who said he would swing by and pick him up, his excuse to Brett's parents were that he didn't feel well he didn't think the fact that he had been pestered by a dead girl all night would fly too far. Ruth had hovered the entire night excited with the fact that she could once again be seen and heard. It had been a long time since she had seen the light of the world and she was raring to go.

"I can't tell you much if you don't let me get some sleep," Sean snapped.

"But so much is new for me and you can tell me all about it," Ruth answered excitedly.

"And I will if you let me sleep."

"Are you okay?" Sam called out from the living room.

"Fine just answering my phone."

"You must tell me about the phone," Ruth said clapping.

"I will," Sean said clenching his teeth, "just give me some time."

Ruth finally did leaving Sean for much of the day.

Sam worked on the laptop feeling as if somebody was constantly peering over his shoulder but each time he looked there was nothing. Dean had headed out on a poker run to earn some money leaving the two youngest Winchesters alone. Sam got up and plugged the computer in as the battery seemed to be draining awfully fast. He scrunched up his face in distaste and looked around the empty room one more time.

Sean slept for several hours and true to her word Ruth left him alone but she also nearly scared the crap out of him when he did wake up. "Can you give me some space?" he asked as she had quickly gotten bored with bothering Sam, it was not nearly as much fun when they couldn't see or hear you.

"Tell me what your brother was using and your phone as you say and what you got into to transport you here and how this lights up and how warm air comes from the floor and…"

"And that's enough, you're giving me a headache. Let me take a shower get something to eat and we'll go from there."

"Okay, what's a shower? she asked following him.

"I need some privacy, a shower is private," Sean said as he pulled his shirt off.

"Oh okay," Ruth said backing away.

Sean was soaped up when he was startled by the apparition peeking in. "Wow, that is amazing like a rain shower inside."

"That's why they call it a shower, and it's private," Sean said tugging the shower curtain to the wall.

He was finally given the privacy he had asked for. He stepped out of the shower and quickly dressed all the while wondering where Ruth was and if anybody else would be able to see or sense her. He wasn't sure which he wanted. He got back to his room to find her on his bed.

"I like this place, very comfortable. Tell me what your brother is working with now," she asked brightly.

"A laptop," Sean answered.

"A what?"

"A laptop computer, it is a computer you can take with you, portable."

"But what is a computer?"

"It stores knowledge and takes you to places that have much more knowledge."

"Like a school?"

"Like every school and every library."

"Where?"

"Everywhere, it's complicated. Look the phone signal is transported by the cell towers and the warm air comes through the vents from the fan on the furnace and the water comes from the pipes and I don't really know the details of it all these things just happen."

"But the computer knows?"

"The computer can be used to find the answers yes, but you can't use it because you're not a part of this world."

"But I am here."

"You are but not completely, I can see and hear you but most can't and you know that or you wouldn't have latched on to me."

"Through you I can live and be a part of this world," she said gleefully.

Sean sighed and knew he was in for some serious trouble.

The next several days Ruth followed Sean everywhere he went; everywhere. She experienced school, cars, television, radio, computers, DVD's, CD's as well as cell phones, texting and modern relationships.

"This world you live in is so much different than what I knew."

"I know but it is a complex place."

"I like it," she announced.

"Great," Sean mumbled. "But you haven't truly been a part of it, you haven't felt the stress of this world."

"What is stress?"

"Exactly, a modern term for modern strife."

"And what is it?"

"It is talking to somebody and getting a phone call and while on the phone a text comes through and you are trying to check your e-mail and you're late for something and somebody is knocking on the door and you haven't updated your facebook page and so on and so forth. We have so much responsibility we can't complete a thought before a hundred others demand our attention. We don't get enough sleep and stretch ourselves too thin."

"Why?"

"Because we can. Because we can never shut the world out. Back in your day you could go for a walk and not be bothered, but now if you don't take your phone along people are upset because they couldn't get a hold of you. You have several messages waiting and there are few places where you can be alone. You can drive anywhere in the country and fly anywhere in the world. We have electricity so now we can stay up late so we do, but we also have to get up early in the morning so we can cram even more into our day. It's hectic and it never stops."

"Oh, well I still like it," she exclaimed.

"Only because you have never lived it," Sean said his eyes rolling. "Look you don't really belong here you are in some kind of limbo and it would be best for you have your short tour here to move along."

"Along where?"

"Along to wherever it is you go. Look I helped a guy from your time to cross over and I haven't received any postcards complaining about the accommodations. If you stay here you'll only get bitter, you can't be a part of all this."

"But I can, you can't make me leave," Ruth said before she disappeared.

"Great just what I need. Okay I need to find out where she is buried and then Sam can take care of it all."

Sean decided to keep their houseguest a secret for now, but once he could figure out how to send her on her way he would fill his brother in on it all.

Several days later Sean was awakened to Dean screaming his name. Sean jumped up from bed and ran into the living room to find Dean standing amongst most of his clothing that was strewn from one end of the room to the other. "What the hell dude?"

Sean opened his mouth to protest his innocence but closed it again realizing exactly what was going on. "Don't even think about sending me back," Ruth hissed. "I have you right where I want you."

"Sorry guess I got carried away last night."

"Why all this?" Dean asked spinning around pointing at his clothes.

Sean just shrugged unsure of anything to say. He quickly began to gather all of his brother's clothing and scurried to the washer and began a load. "I'll wash them all for you," Sean said before he headed off to school.

"How could you not notice him throwing my stuff everywhere?" Dean asked Sam later that day.

"I don't know, I never heard a sound. I went to bed after midnight and he was out cold and there was nothing unusual. I mean he hadn't even mentioned your name," Sam explained just as bewildered as Dean.

"Puberty is a bitch but what the hell," Dean said moving the load Sean started from the washer to the dryer.

And that's how it was for the next several days. If Sean even hinted about Ruth needing to move on he was ambushed with some diabolical disaster. He didn't want to admit to his situation to his brothers because he would have to be honest about how she came to be and that would not go over well at all especially when John caught wind of it all. He had tried several different tactics about her moving on and each one only got him into trouble. There was nobody he could go to for advice and if he didn't solve this soon Dean was going to kill him.

"Dammit Sean you left the water running and now the kitchen is flooded," Dean yelled out. "You dumped paint on my favorite jeans, you let a crayon melt in the Impala, you hid my phone, you cracked two of my tapes, let's see what else; oh you continually drain the battery on the laptop Sam tells me, and so many more things I can't even think of them right now!"

"I sorry," Sean said…again.

"That's all you say; I'm sorry, I'm sorry Dean. Why can't you just stop it? You know I'm going to tell Dad when he gets home and then you are going to seriously be hurting."

"I know, it's okay, when will he get home?"

Dean seemed puzzled by his brother's reaction. "What is going on?"

Sean so desperately wanted to tell Dean but as he looked behind him he was met with an evil grin on Ruth's face. "Nothin' I don't know why I'm doing this stuff, I guess I miss Dad."

"Yeah well don't herald his return too much because it isn't going to be pleasant."

Sean went to his room trying not to show any weakness with tears. He didn't want to give Ruth anymore fuel than she already had. "Where did you go?"

"I can't go far from you, I am sort of anchored to you," she said smiling. "I sat in the car, it was interesting all those knobs and such. Such power when it goes down the street. I should have been able to ride in one when I was alive."

"But they weren't invented then," Sean pointed out.

"I should have never died so young, if I had been alive now it would never have happened. What are those pills called?" she asked.

"Antibiotics," Sean sighed.

"Yeah if I had those I would have had a chance at life, I was cheated Sean and I want what I was denied."

"But you can't it doesn't work that way."

"Stop telling me that!" Ruth screamed causing the lamp to hit the floor and plunging the room into darkness.