Eleven
Aubrey held tight to her mother as the crime scene was processed. The stolen boat was returned and its peeved owner was tracked down. Dean and Sam covered their tracks well by claiming that they saw her in trouble and they only stole the other boat to go rescue her from the bad guys. The police bought it, but Dean was forced to shell out quite a bit of money to pay a fine.
"I'm sorry I scared you mom," Aubrey hugged her mother as tightly as she could. "It won't happen again."
"You can't promise the second part," she chuckled, tears drying on her cheeks. "But I'm just glad you're safe this time."
Sam and Dean smiled from the sidelines, carefully moving around the officers who were putting up caution tape and taking pictures and notes. An ambulance was parked nearby and Finn was on the stretcher, his wounds being treated by the paramedics. He had some hefty and deep cuts, some of which would scar, but he looked over at Aubrey with the urgent need to hug her. She nodded at him and the both of them looked away when the other shark men were pulled off the stolen boat and dragged in handcuffs to cop cars. Aubrey knew they would be locked away for a long time and without access to the ocean they would probably go insane.
She couldn't feel for them like regular sea creatures though, she knew them to be monsters.
She hoped they dried up on the inside.
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Soon enough, the sun began to rise and the day began. Cars drove down the road in search of the perfect beach spot and some were simply passing through. The tourist traps were in full swing and shouting various slogans and sayings to get people in the shops. The bars were full of drunken locals and out of towners alike, singing and dancing and drinking to their heart's content. The waves were crashing rhythmically. And Aubrey was brushing her salt ridden hair, looking at herself in her mirror and thinking about a parting conversation she had had.
"Here's our number," Dean had said. "Call us if you ever have any trouble ever again with any kind of monster, not just the kind with fins."
"I will," Aubrey nodded and actually smiled this time. She was sick of feeling scared when the bad guys were behind bars. "Thanks Sam thanks Dean."
"You're welcome," Sam nodded and smiled and got into the passenger side of the Impala, closing the door and waiting for Dean so that they could drive off.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye." Aubrey shrugged and Dean took a moment to stare at her eyes. They were the gentle color of the ocean. Dean contemplated convincing Sam to stay longer. He wanted to make sure Aubrey was okay. He wanted to see her happy instead of confused and sad over what had been happening. He wanted to see her. He admitted to himself that he wanted to be with her if only for one night. He was only human after all.
"Yeah," Dean nodded. "It is. Who knows though? Maybe we'll be back one day."
Aubrey nodded. She knew it was highly unlikely, but mostly she held hope that the boys who saved her life would go off and do it again and again for so many others.
"Aubrey!" her mother's voice broke through her thoughts and brought her back to reality.
Aubrey smiled and set her brush down. She ran downstairs to where her mother was waiting with two sand buckets and an open door.
"Let's go." Aubrey smiled and grabbed her flip flops.
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Finn had volunteered to take Aubrey's shifts at Shakas for the week. He figured she deserved it after all she had gone through. She had thanked him immensely, but she felt bad about the scars the doctors proclaimed would never heal. Finn had simply smiled and told her that they were worthy battle scars. He had received them whilst protecting family and that was honorable and good enough for him. He entrusted her with his newly exposed secret and she promised she would not tell a soul as long as Finn never hurt a human.
His promise to stay clean meant the world to her.
Aubrey and her mom walked the beach until the sun started to officially rise and was halfway into the sky. They reached a small cove near their house and took a seat. They had found a good number of seashells and even a whole family of conchs. Aubrey's mom smiled as she dug her toes into the sand and Aubrey sat, watching the waves come in their usual fashion. Somehow though, today it seemed like they were dancing.
Aubrey debated telling her mom about what she had learned and seen, but she had determined it was best if certain details stayed hidden. Her mom would be able to handle the truth about as well as a heroin addict would be able to handle that last lethal dose. Aubrey would tell her eventually, but not today and not tomorrow and not a month or a year from now. She would tell her when she could handle it. She would tell her mother when she needed it the most.
For now, she was comfortable in keeping it all to herself.
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Sam had fallen asleep against the window and Dean was sick of hearing Jimmy Buffett. He changed the station the second they got out of town and sped away towards their next hunt, their next town.
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Aubrey smiled as the salt air hit her cheeks. She laughed with her mother and they let the ocean waves hit their legs. She fiddled with her necklace a few times and she thanked a God she didn't believe in that she was alive to see this day.
She could have sworn she saw the fin of a Great White out upon the water, but it was impossible to tell for sure.
The End!
Reviews are appreciated!
A/N: I have to admit, this is my favorite story I've ever written. Its ranking surpasses my story "In Blackest Night" and this story has been an adventure to write! That rhymed lol. Anyway, see y'all in the next story and thanks for reading this one!