AN: Here's the next chapter! Many things come out in the open
"So?" Sam asks his brother the next day. Dean looks at him curiously.
"So what?" Dean asks back.
"You going to tell me what you were doing outside last night?" Sam asks.
"Oh," says Dean, "That."
"Yeah, that," Sam replies, giving him a look that says Dean isn't getting out of talking about this.
"I called Bobby," Dean says.
"Okay. About what?" Sam asks. Dean looks at the bathroom where Gracilynn is taking a shower.
"About stuff," Dean says, "I already yelled at her about leaving the room so we don't have to worry about it."
"Dean," Sam warns, seeing through the topic change tactic, "What did you call Bobby about?"
"I…just…I called him about Gracilynn," Dean says, trying not to talk about it, knowing Sam was going to find a way to get him to anyways.
"About what? Her not listening?"
"No, not really," Dean replies.
"Then what?" Sam asks, but doesn't get a response. "Dean."
"I don't want to screw up Sam all right?" Dean says frustratingly.
"Screw up what? Raising her?" Sam asks, "Dean you practically raised me, and I turned out fine." Dean gives him a look.
"You're running around with a demon Sam," Dean points out.
"Dean," Sam says exasperatedly.
"Sam," Dean says, matching his brothers' tone. Sam sighs, giving up on that argument. Now is not the time or place.
"You're a great dad Dean. You're not going to screw up. And even if you do, you'll find a way to fix it. It's what you do," Sam assures him.
"Yeah," Dean says.
"Seeing as how we are on the topic," Sam says. Dean looks up at him, eyes narrowing, wondering what he's going to say. "I think she heard part of your conversation with Bobby."
"What?" Dean says, fear setting in.
"I woke up and saw her by the door. She said she dropped something but after she went to bed, you came in," Sam explains.
"Damn it," Dean curses.
There is a scream from the bathroom and Dean and Sam rush towards it. Well, Sam more or less hobbled what with his chest and all. Just before they get there, Cas appears directly in front of them. If angels could blush, Cas would be doing it. The bathroom door swings open and Gracilynn comes running out in only a towel. She almost runs into Cas and lets out another scream.
"Cas! What the hell?!" Dean yells.
"I am terribly sorry. I didn't know," Cas says.
"Dude, did you just appear in the bathroom when my daughter was…?" Dean asks, starting to get angry.
"I did not see anything. She was covered," Cas assures Dean lamely.
"Oh, well that's okay then," Dean says sarcastically. Cas looks mortified at the whole situation, along with Gracilynn. Dean looks over at his daughter. "Go get dressed."
Gracilynn doesn't waste any time, quickly going back into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
"Seriously Cas, personal space," Dean says, "Especially when it comes to the bathroom, my daughter, and most especially my daughter in the bathroom."
"Of course. I will try to remember this," Cas answers, still embarrassed.
"Damn right you will," Dean says, "Now did you pop in for a reason or you just being a peeping Tom?"
"My name is not Tom. And I wasn't peeping," Cas says confusedly.
"Its…you know what? Forget it. Why are you here Cas? Did you find out anything on the demons?" Dean asks. Sam stands next to him waiting. The door to the bathroom opens and Gracilynn joins them.
"Yes, I have found out why the demons are after Gracilynn," Cas answers.
"So they are after her?" Dean asks.
"Wait, demons are after me?" Gracilynn asks, coming to stand next to her father.
"Yes," Cas answers both at once.
"So you gonna tell us or just stand there?" Dean asks, irritated, when Cas doesn't continue.
"It's a seal," Can says.
"What's a seal?" Sam finally chips in, starting to get irritated himself at Cas' short responses.
"Gracilynn," Cas answers.
"Cas!" Dean and Sam shout, annoyed.
"Dude, what do I have to do with seals?" Gracilynn asks.
"In order to free Lucifer, a certain number of seals have to be broken," Sam explains.
"Oh," Gracilynn says, taking it all in.
"Cas!" Dean says, trying to get Cas back on target, "How is Gracilynn a seal?"
"The prophecy says 'The blood of the righteous mans' innocent must be spilt," Cas explains.
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" Gracilynn says, looking from Cas to her uncle, to her dad- who's face has gone pale. "Dad?'
Dean looks down at his daughter, trying to hide the fear on his face. Sam's face only looks slightly better. He turns and looks at Cas.
"This has to do with the first seal?" Sam asks.
"What was the first seal?" Gracilynn asks, fear sinking in at seeing her dad and uncle's reactions.
"A righteous man shall break in hell," Cas answers.
"What does this have to do with us?" Gracilynn asks, already thinking she has an idea of the answer.
"Your father was the righteous man," Cas says, "And you are his innocent."
Gracilynn's eyes grow wide and her face pales a little when it hits her exactly what the prophesy says. She looks to her dad and uncle. When her eyes meet Sam's, she remembers what the demon said to her when it was possessing her teacher.
"Does you breaking have anything to do with what that demon teacher said?" Gracilynn asks Dean. He looks at her curiously. Sam looks over at the two of them quickly, knowing this isn't going to go smoothly.
"What?" Dean asks, not sure he wants to know what the demon said.
"She said you were a sinner; listed all of your sins. Like lying, having sex before you're married. Only one didn't make sense," Gracilynn explains.
"What's that?" Dean asks hesitantly. Sam holds his breath.
"She said torturing is a sin," Gracilynn says, getting freaked when her dads' face grows even paler, which seemed impossible three minutes ago. "Dad? What did she mean?"
"I…I can't talk about that. Not with you," Dean chokes out. Gracilynn watches as her dad quickly looks away and forcing a swallow. Sam sees it's time for him to step in.
"We should head back to Bobby's. Figure this out," he says. The only answer he gets is Dean nodding and beginning to pack his bag. Sam gives his niece an encouraging look before following Dean's lead. Gracilynn takes a deep breath, watching her father and uncle packing their bags. She turns to look at Cas but finds he has disappeared. She sighs, trying to push down her quelling emotions.
SNSNSNSNSNSNSN
"Dean we should stop for the night," Sam says, looking back at his sleeping niece.
"If we keep going we can get to Bobby's by morning," Dean argues.
"Dean," Sam sighs exasperatedly.
"Sam," Dean says, irritated.
"I know what you're doing," Sam challenges.
"Oh really?" Dean challenges back, "What's that?"
"You're running."
"Looks like I'm driving to me," Dean says, not looking at his brother, but feeling the Bitch-face directed at him.
"She dropped it when you told her you wouldn't tell her about what happened. She might only be fourteen, but she acts older than she is. Surprisingly," Sam adds, earning a glare from Dean. "She won't push it. She'll wait for you to tell her. If you decide to tell her."
"She knows Sam."
"No, she doesn't. She knows something happened but she doesn't know exactly what happened," Sam says.
"Like you said, she's mature for her age. I'm sure she's put the pieces together and figured it out," Dean says.
"She doesn't blame you," Sam adds.
"You don't know that," Dean counters.
"Yes I do."
"How?"
"Because I don't," Sam answers. The car goes silent. Dean looks at his daughter in the rearview mirror. Seeing how uncomfortable she looks, he sighs.
"We'll stop at the next town," Dean says. Sam nods, knowing there's not much else he can do. This was a conversation Dean and Gracilynn needed to have.
AN: Please review and tell me what you think! Hope you all enjoyed it!
Coming Soon: Things get messy ;)