Mr. Winchester said he would take us to the library with him after dinner so we could get out of the house for a while.
"I have a library card, so you guys can get some books out too, okay?" I said to the boys.
"Thanks, Kate!" Sam said happily.
As Mr. Winchester parked the car, he said to us, "Remember, you have to be quiet in the library. I will let you three go to the kid's section, but you have to stay together. I don't want any of you going off by yourself, understand?"
"Yes sir." the three of us said.
He turned to look at us. "Kate is in charge, so you need to listen to her. You hear me, Sam?"
"Yes, Dad." Sam said.
We followed Mr. Winchester into the library. "I'm going to be on the computer for a while, and then I may go downstairs to the reference room. If I do, I'll let you know."
"Okay Dad." Dean said. "Look, there's a fish tank over there!"
"All right, behave yourselves." Mr. Winchester said, ruffling Sam's hair. The boys ran over to look at the huge fish tank that was in the kids' section. I stood there with them for several minutes while they looked at all the fish.
"Let's go get some books now." I said. We walked over to the picture book section for Sam first.
"How many books can I get out?" he asked, looking up at me.
"Um, how about five?" I said.
"I want to find some books about dinosaurs." he said.
"You mean, like kid's books, or things like encyclopedias?"
"Cycla- pedias." he said. "Books that have lots of facts."
"Okay, that will be in that section on the other side of these shelves. Come on." I turned to look for Dean and couldn't see him. I walked around the low shelves and founds him in the section that had chapter books and graphic novels.
"Dean, we're supposed to stay together!" I reminded him.
"I could hear you guys, I was just around the corner." he said.
"Don't argue with Kate, she's in charge!" Sam told him.
"Shut up, Sam!" Dean said, and Sam stuck his tongue out at Dean.
Dean pushed Sam and Sam fell backwards into the shelves with a loud bang.
"OW!" Sam said. He stood up and whined, "My back huuuurts!"
"Dean, stop it!" I said sharply. "Sam, turn around." I pulled up the back of his shirt. There was a red mark near his shoulder where he had hit the shelf.
"You have a red mark there." I told him, rubbing his back. "It's not bleeding or anything though. You're okay." I hugged his shoulders.
"I'm telling Dad!" Sam said loudly.
A librarian walked by wheeling a cartful of books. She looked at us over her glasses and said, "Shh!" in a stern voice.
"Boys, calm down!" I hissed. I wondered if they were being mean to each other because we had been cooped up in the house together for so long.
"Okay, Dean, what do you want to get?" I asked, trying to get them to focus. "You pick your books out and then we'll go find some books for Sam."
'"Why does Dean get to go first? That's not fair!" Sam whined.
"Because the books you want are over in that other section, and we're already right here in the section for Dean." I told Sam. "Now hush."
He looked up at me for a moment, and then crossed his arms and huffed at me. I had never said anything like that to him before, but to be honest, he was getting on my nerves a little bit. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down.
"What kinds of books do you like, Dean?" I asked him.
"Dunno," he said. He finally picked out some graphic novels that were based on a cartoon show and a couple of books that featured a cartoon mouse who was a detective.
"Okay, the books for Sam are this way." I said, turning around. "Sam?" I couldn't see him now! I walked to the end of the aisle, and he was just around the corner.
"Sam!" I said. "You need to stay where I can see you!" I admonished him. "Let's go get some books for you."
The boys followed me over to the section with the non-fiction books and I helped Sam pick out some books about dinosaurs. He picked out a book about Greek Myths and Legends too.
Mr. Winchester came walking up to us. "There you are." he said. "I didn't think I'd find you over here."
"Look at this cool book!" Sam held up a book to him. It was a pop-up book about dinosaurs.
"Looks interesting, Sammy. I'm going to go down to the reference room- what's wrong, Kate?" Mr. Winchester looked at me.
"What?" I asked.
"You look a little stressed out." he told me.
"The boys are being a little bit of a handful." I admitted.
He frowned at them. "Okay, boys, you two come with me and let Kate have a few minutes to herself. You haven't picked any books out yet, have you?" he asked.
"No." I said, feeling grateful to him.
"Come down and find us when you're done." he said. He walked away with the boys trailing behind him.
I heard Sam say, "Dad, Dean was being mean to me!"
Mindful of the fact that the boys were probably bored in the reference room with their Dad, I hurried and found some books I'd been looking for. I walked downstairs and found them at a table. Sam was staring at the ground pouting, and Dean had his arms folded on the table and his head on his arms.
"Hey guys," I said. "There's a playground out back, do you want to go?"
Dean sat up. "Can we, Dad?"
Mr. Winchester looked over at us. "Well-" he said hesitantly.
"It's fenced in." I told him. "And the parking lot is next to it, so it's not like it's on the street or anything."
"All right." he sighed. "You can go for a few minutes. I'm almost done here."
We walked upstairs and I checked our books out, then led the boys outside. I got on a swing and the boys started to run around and climb. This is what they need, to be able to blow off some steam, I said to myself.
"Hey look!" I heard Sam call. I got off the swing and turned around. Sam had gone over to the fence on the edge of the playground. There was a large gap in the fence where some of the metal had come apart.
"There's a dog!" Sam said excitedly. He stepped through the hole in the fence.
"Sam, come back!" I said.
Dean went over to the fence. "Sam-" he started, but then he said, "Oh my gosh, he's cute!" He went through the fence also.
"Boys!" I called, hurrying over. "You shouldn't be outside the fence!"
I looked through the gap. Sam was crouched down petting a dog that was really cute. The dog was wagging its tail and panting and looked very happy that two boys were petting him. The dog saw me and barked at me.
"Come pet him, Kate!" Sam said, glancing at me.
"Well, I guess-" I said, leaning down into the opening.
"Boys!" I heard Mr. Winchester call. His voice was deeper than usual, like it got when he was angry. I became nervous. He walked quickly over to us.
"What are you two doing?" he asked tightly.
"Um, we were petting this dog." Sam stood up, looking guilty.
"Are you supposed to leave the playground?" Mr. Winchester asked.
"But Dad, it's just on the other side of the fence!" Dean said.
"Get back in here!" Mr. Winchester said in a stern voice. Sam and Dean hurried through the fence and stood next to me.
Mr. Winchester looked at me. "Kate, you were getting ready to go over there and pet the dog too, weren't you?"
Tears came to my eyes. "I'm sorry." I said. "I did tell them to come back and that they shouldn't be outside the fence." A tear dripped down my cheek and I wiped it away quickly. "I'm sorry." I said again. "Are you going to fire me?" I asked quietly.
He sighed, and looked at each of the boys and then at me.
"No, Kate, I'm not going to fire you, so you can stop worrying about that. From now on, when the boys get into trouble, if it's a situation like this, you'll get in trouble along with them and have to face whatever consequences they get."
"Uh- consequences?" I asked uneasily.
"We'll discuss it in the car." he said curtly. "Get your books and let's go." We walked over to the spot where we had piled our books and picked them up. We followed him to the car and I got in the back with the boys. We held our books on our laps.
Mr. Winchester started the car and pulled into traffic.
"You boys didn't behave very well in the library." he said. "When we get home, all three of you are going straight to bed."
"Aw Dad, I wanted to read my books!" Sam complained.
"Would you rather get a spanking, Samuel?" Mr. Winchester looked at him in the rear-view mirror. "Because that's what's going to happen if you keep it up. I said you could go onto the playground, not outside of it, and not go pet a stray dog!"
Sam folded his arms again. "No, I don't want a spankin." he said sourly, kicking the back of the seat.
"Lose the attitude, and don't kick my seat." Mr. Winchester said, his voice close to a growl.
Dean touched Sam's arm and shook his head a little bit when Sam looked at him.
When we went into the house, Mr. Winchester said, "Put your books on the kitchen table, all three of you. You can look at them tomorrow."
"But Daaaaad-" Sam whined.
Mr .Winchester took Sam's arm and turned him, and then swatted his bottom once.
"Sam, you boys did not listen, and you left the playground. I expect you to do what I tell you, and to do what Kate tells you as well. You did neither. Now, you need to go get your pajamas on and get ready for bed, or else."
Sam opened his mouth and looked like he was going to say something, but then Mr. Winchester swatted him again.
"Ow!" He whined. "What was that for?"
"I know that look on your face, and you're getting ready to sass me. Don't do it, unless you want to go to bed with a sore bottom." He let go of Sam and gave him a gentle push.
"Go." he said.
I stacked my books on the table next to the boy's books and I couldn't resist, I opened the top book and began reading the summary on the inside flap of the cover.
"Kate." Mr. Winchester said. "You're trying my patience."
I closed the book. "I'm waiting for the boys to get finished in the bathroom."I said, with more feeling in my voice than I meant.
"Excuse me?" he said tightly. "You can go put your your pajamas on while they are brushing their teeth."
"Uh, yes sir." I said quickly.
I went into the bedroom and hurriedly changed onto my pajamas while the boys were in the bathroom. After they were finished, I brushed my teeth and then came back into the bedroom.
Mr. Winchester was standing at the foot of their bed and saying, "No reading tonight. And no talking or goofing around. Straight to sleep." He leaned down and hugged and kissed the boys, and tucked them in.
I got into the other bed and he walked over to me and leaned down to hug me, then he tucked me in too. It was nice, because it had been a long time since my parents had hugged me at bedtime and even longer since they had tucked me in.
He closed the door partway and turned off the overhead light.
Sam rolled over and said in a loud whisper, "That dog was so cute. I wish we could have a dog."
"Maybe when we're older." Dean whispered back.
Sam raised his head and looked at me. "Do you like dogs, Kate?"
I rolled over onto my stomach and looked at him. "I guess." I said. "Go to sleep."
The door opened and Mr. Winchester stood there. "I thought I said no talking." he said in a stern voice. "This is your last warning. If I have to come in here again, there will be three children with sore bottoms when I am done. It doesn't matter if I hear one of you or all three of you, you will all be getting a spanking. Is that clear ?"
"Yes sir." all three of us said. He left the room.
"Go to sleep now!" I whispered to the boys, feeling apprehensive. I had no doubt that Mr. Winchester would follow through on his threat and I had no desire to find out what a spanking felt like. My parents had never done anything like that, so I only had a vague idea of what it entailed anyway.
A minute or two passed in silence, then the boys started moving around in their bed.
"Gimme some room, Dean!" Sam hissed.
"Get your stinky feet off me!" Dean hissed back.
"Boys, hush !" I whispered.
"Move OVER, Dean!" Sam said loudly.
"Sam!" I hissed, feeling scared now.
The door swung open again and Mr. Winchester came into the room.
"Dean's hoggin' the bed!" Sam exclaimed, sitting up.
"Sam keeps pushing me with his feet!" Dean retorted.
Mr. Winchester put his hand on his hips. "What did I say, huh? What did I tell you not less than not five minutes ago?" He looked at each of us.
"That we would all get spankins if you heard one of us." Sam looked at the floor.
"Yes, and I heard your voice, Samuel, so I guess you should be first."
"Uh, Mr. Winchester, I've uh, I've... never been spanked." I said nervously. I hoped that he would forgo spanking me. He looked down at me.
"Then I guess you should go first." he said. "Boys, wait in the hallway."
They got out of bed and left the room quickly, Dean closing the door after them. My stomach twisted anxiously and my mouth went dry. Mr. Winchester sat down on the edge of my bed.
I was still laying on my stomach. Tears came to my eyes as I said, "Um, I'm sorry, I tried to get them to be quiet."
"I know you did, but I told you what would happen if I heard any more talking."
"Is- is this what you meant by a consequence?" I asked.
"Yes, Kate. I don't always spank the boys, but if the situation warrants it, I will. And if you're involved, then you can expect a spanking as well."
"But- but I-" I started to say.
He pulled the covers down to my knees and swatted my bottom once. I gasped at the sting of it, because it hurt! Then his hand came down, rapid fire, on my bottom, several times in a row and I burst into tears after the first couple swats. His hand seemed huge and hard. I whimpered, the tears sliding down my face onto my pillow. When he stopped, my butt was stinging.
"Sit up, it's done." he said. "Come here."
I turned and sat up and he pulled me into a hug. I hugged him back and leaned my head on his chest.
When I had calmed down and stopped crying, he asked me, "Are you going to stop talking and go to sleep now?"
"Yes sir." I sniffled, wiping my eyes. "I'm sorry we were talking."
"You're a good girl, Kate." he said, rubbing the back of my head.
I laid down again and he pulled the covers up and tucked them around me.
Then he left the room and closed the door. A moment later I heard the sounds of swatting in the hallway and Sam whimpering. The door opened and Sam came in, head down. Mr. Winchester closed the door again and then we heard more swatting. In a moment Dean walked in, wiping his face off, and Mr. Winchester followed him, carrying the sleeping bag again. Dean got into the sleeping bag and Mr. Winchester tucked Sam in.
He said firmly, "Go to sleep now."
"Yes sir." we mumbled, and the three of us sniffled ourselves to sleep.
In the morning I woke up to the smell of bacon. The boys were still asleep as I got out of bed.
I went into the kitchen, where Mr. Winchester was standing at the stove. He had a spatula in one hand and was drinking from a coffee mug.
When he saw me he put the mug on the counter and said, "Good morning, Kate."
"Good morning," I said, feeling a little uncomfortable. "I'm sorry about yesterday."
He shook his head. "Clean slate today." he said.
Suddenly I went up to him and hugged him. "Thank you for letting me stay here." I said, feeling tears come to my eyes. "I don't think I would have been able to deal with being alone for eighteen days."
He put his arms around me and hugged me back. "I'm glad that we could help you out. I think you make a nice addition to our household." He patted my back and then let go.
I went over to the cabinets and got out some plates and started setting the table.
The boys came in just then, rubbing their eyes and yawning.
"I thought I smelled bacon!" Dean said happily.
They sat down at the table and I got out the orange juice.
Sam said, "I just remembered, we got books yesterday! Where did you put them, Dad?"
"They're in the living room." Mr. Winchester said.
Sam started to get up, but Mr. Winchester said, "No books at the table, Sam, remember?"
"Aww!" Sam complained.
"Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes and then you can go read your books afterwards." Mr. Winchester told him. "Be patient."
He brought a plate of bacon over to the table and started to cook some scrambled eggs.
"Remember, I want you to stay inside, doors and windows locked." he reminded us.
"We will, Dad." Dean said.
Mr. Winchester brought the pan over and served us.
"I'm running behind." he said, leaning down to kiss the boys. He dropped a kiss in the top of my head too, and said, "Behave yourselves today, you three. I'll see you tonight."
spn spn spn spn spn
We spent most of the day reading books. Well, I got to read some, and then I read some of Sam's dinosaur encyclopedias to him. I made pancakes for lunch, and then we decided to play Monopoly.
We played for a couple hours, and I was surprised that both boys were really into it and were able to keep their attention on the game that long. Even more surprising was that Sam won the game. Dean had bought up lots of properties, and then I had a run of bad luck and lost most of my money.
And then somehow the same thing happened to Dean, and Sam was the only one with any money left. He was very proud of the fact that he had won the game.
We heard the rumble of the Impala's engine, and Sam ran out to meet his father on the sidewalk. "Daddy, I won the Monopoly game!" he said.
"Sam, what did I tell you about coming outside?" Mr. Winchester said angrily. He grabbed Sam's arm and swatted his rear, and then dragged him inside and swatted him a couple more times. Tears were streaming down Sam's face.
Mr. Winchester took Sam's shoulders. "I gave you an order to stay inside! And you disobeyed it!" he yelled, shaking Sam.
"But you were right there coming up the side walk!" Sam whined.
"That doesn't matter! You need to do what I tell you!" he hollered, shaking Sam again.
"I'm sorry, Daddy!" Sam whimpered.
Mr. Winchester stood up and let go of him. He looked at Dean and me. "Have either of you gone outside? Do I need to spank anyone else?"
Both of us said "No sir," very carefully.
He turned away and leaned on the counter. His face was angry but he also looked very worried. He sighed deeply and closed his eyes.
"Come on, boys." I said. We went into the living room and I turned on the tv. We sat on the sofa and I put my arms around Sam and held him. He was still crying.
Mr. Winchester came into the living room and turned the tv off, then he sat down in the armchair next to the sofa.
"I'm sorry I flew off the handle like that." he said heavily. "Right now, it is very important that you do exactly as I have told you, for your safety. That's why I got so upset, Sammy. Do you understand?"
"Okay Daddy. I'm sorry." Sam sniffled. Mr. Winchester beckoned to Sam and Sam went to him. Mr. Winchester picked him up and held him. Sam put his arms around his dad and snuggled into his chest.
"I'm sorry too, Sammy. You're a good boy." Mr. Winchester murmured quietly.
He looked at me and Dean. "I want you telling me if you notice anything unusual or out of the ordinary. Anything at all, understand?"
"Why? Does anyone know why kids are getting sick? What's causing it?" I asked, feeling scared.
"Nobody is positive about anything yet." Mr. Winchester said. "How about we get pizza for dinner?"
Mr. Winchester let us eat in the living room while we watched a movie. I got the feeling he was trying to make up for having been so harsh with Sam. The boys went to bed with no issues for once, and both fell asleep quickly. I stayed up and read until 10:00, and then I closed the book and said I was going to bed. I didn't want to cause any problems either. It took me a while to fall asleep because I kept hearing noises outside.
Spn spn spn spn spn
I sat up and stretched. "Hey, sleepyheads." I called across the room. Dean was on the floor in the sleeping bag. He rolled over and sat up, rubbing his eyes. Sam was still laying down.
"Sam, wake up!" I said.
"Hey, ya big faker, wake up!" Dean pulled on the blankets. He got out of the sleeping bag and walked over to the side of the bed.
"Hey Sam." He put his hand on Sam's shoulder and shook him. Sam's body flopped limply.
"Sam!" he said again, his voice starting to sound scared.
I got up and went over to Sam's bed.
"Sam?" I said. His skin was cool to the touch and his face was pale. There were dark circles under his eyes.
I looked at Dean. "Why won't he wake up?" I asked.
Dean turned towards the door and yelled, "Daddy! Something's wrong with Sammy!"
Footsteps pounded into the room as Mr. Winchester came running in. We stepped away from the bed as he leaned over and tried to rouse Sam.
"Oh, no, oh God no," he was saying under his breath. He turned to us. "Get your shoes on, we're taking him to the hospital!" he said. "Move!" He barked. He wrapped a blanket around Sam and picked him up.
We ran to put shoes on and followed him out to the car. I got in the back seat and Mr. Winchester gently placed Sam into my lap. His body was limp and heavy in my arms.
Dean sat next to me, his face pale with worry. I looked at him and saw that tears were dripping off of his chin as he cried silently. I felt like bursting into tears myself.
Mr. Winchester parked right at the curb in front of the Emergency Room and carried Sam into the Emergency Room shouting for a doctor. Dean and I hurried after him and stood behind him as he talked to a nurse at the counter. I saw the nurses look at each other knowingly and overhead one of them say, "We got another one."