So, in honor of all the father's out there, I figured I would post another chapter. Unfortunately, this chapter isn't really a fatherly type chapter. Naturally, the next one is. So, maybe I'll post two chapters today…
The tension in the car on the way to Bobby's could be cut with a knife. Just an hour ago, Sam had finished telling Gracilynn about Ruby with, of course, some interjections from Dean. It was a lot to take in, and at the moment, Gracilynn is trying to sort through it all. She knows her Uncle didn't tell her everything just by the looks and noises coming from her father during a couple parts of the story. Something tells her there is more going on between her uncle and Ruby. She looks at her uncle, trying to make out what he's thinking. There is a movement on the seat next to her, and Gracilynn looks over. Ruby was sitting in the seat, looking out the window. Gracilynn was not happy she had to sit next to Ruby; and by the way her dad was gripping the steering wheel and kept glancing in the rearview mirror, neither was he. Although, she wasn't sure it was more that or the fact a demon was riding in his car. Gracilynn sighs, resituates herself and stares out the window. She can feel her fathers' eyes on her in the mirror. Gracilynn didn't know why, but ever since Ruby showed up her stomach felt weird. Something was really wrong about her, you know, besides the fact she was a demon. It was more than that though. She didn't know what, it was just a gut feeling.
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As they pull up to Bobby's house, Gracilynn looks out the front window. Bobby walks out onto the porch. After Dean shuts the car off, the four of them climb out. Gracilynn notices Bobby's face darken at seeing Ruby. He makes his way down the steps and meets them halfway.
"Dean. Sam," Bobby says in greeting.
"Hey Bobby," the boys say in return. Bobby turns to look at Gracilynn.
"You doing all right?" he asks.
"Just peachy," Gracilynn answers, forcing a smile.
"Right," Bobby says, not believing a word. Just like her daddy. "Well you might as well come in."
They all follow Bobby into the house, setting their bags on the floor. Dean goes over to the fridge, helping himself to a beer. Gracilynn sits in a chair at the table as Dean pops the top off his beer and sits across from her. Bobby walks over to the counter, leaning up against it and crossing his arms.
"All right. Talk," he says, looking at Dean and Sam.
"Not much else to tell," Dean says, "I told you everything last night and on the way here."
"I don't mean that," Bobby says, "I'm talking about why she's tagging along with you guys."
Ruby sighs, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, didn't you know," Gracilynn says sarcastically, "Apparently if a demon helps us, we become their best friends and trust them.
"Gracilynn," Sam warns.
"What? Gracilynn asks, "Someone in this room isn't the crowd favorite and it's kind of obvious who it is."
"Someone's a smartass like her daddy," Ruby shoots back from the doorway.
"Aw, thanks Ruby. That must've been really hard for you to give me such a nice compliment. Ya know, with you being a skank from hell and all," Gracilynn says, knowing she's pushing her buttons, but not willing to let up till her dad says so. She did not like Ruby and she wasn't going to pretend she did.
"One of these days that smart mouth is going to get you in trouble and neither your dad or uncle will be able to help you," Ruby says. Gracilynn sees her dad tense up next to her, ready to attack if need be. She could only imagine the look he was giving Ruby. She was just surprised he hadn't told her to stop yet.
"Careful Ruby," Gracilynn says, a slight smirk playing on her lips, "Your true colors are starting to show. Wouldn't want my uncle to what a manipulative Bitch you are."
Ruby takes a step forward. Next thing Gracilynn knows, is her dad has stepped in front of her. Her uncle is between Dean and Ruby, his hand held up, stopping her. Bobby is halfway to them not sure if he should intervene or not. Not seeing this resolve on its own, Bobby makes a decision.
"All right. Both of you need to cool down," he says, directing the statement at both Ruby and Gracilynn.
"She started it," Gracilynn mumbles, although it was loud enough everyone heard it anyways.
"Gracilynn," Bobby warns.
"What?" she asks, annoyed at being yelled at.
"Stop channeling your father and grow up," Bobby scolds. Dean's head whips around and he glares at Bobby, who is trying not to smile.
"They're not going to stop coming after her," Ruby says to the group.
"Really?" Dean asks sarcastically.
"Just saying, you should keep her somewhere safe. You know, where someone can watch her at all times," Ruby adds, obviously making a jab at Dean.
"There we go," Gracilynn says, matching her fathers' tone, "Put me in a pumpkin and call him Peter."
Now it's Sam's turn to try not to smile. Dean turns around and gives his daughter a 'What the hell?' look. Gracilynn shrugs, she didn't know where it came from but it was the first thing that popped into her head. Dean turns around and looks at Ruby.
"I'd say no offense, but truthfully I don't care if I offend you," he starts, "But you mind taking off so the family can decide what to do."
"Whatever," Ruby says, "This place smells anyways."
Ruby turns around and helps herself out the front door. Sam lets out a sigh as Bobby leans back up against the counter. Dean runs a hand through his hair, followed by running it down his face.
"I don't like her," Gracilynn states.
"Naw, really?" asks Bobby, "Never even got that feeling."
"We need to talk," Dean says.
"About what?" Gracilynn asks, confused by the statement and look on her dad's face.
"Not you," Dean says, "Just the adults."
"What?! You're kidding, right?!" Gracilynn exclaims. She sees the expression on her fathers' face, knowing he's dead serious. "This is so unfair!"
"Grab your stuff and bring it up to your room," Dean says, not looking away from Bobby.
"Um…Okay," Gracilynn says, a completely different fear and off stomach feeling than before setting in. Gracilynn hesitantly leaves the room.
"Dean?" Sam asks, once Gracilynn's door has shut, "What's going on?"
"He's going to have Gracilynn stay here," Bobby says, already knowing where Deans' mind is going.
"What?" Sam asks, confused at the change of conversation.
"It's the right thing to do," Dean says, looking from Bobby to Sam. "Ruby was right. We can't keep an eye on her if we're on a job. At least if she's here, Bobby'll always be around."
"You really think this is best for her?" Bobby asks.
"I don't know!" Dean yells, his face conveying just that, "Kinda new at the whole dad thing. All I know is I've tried keeping her with me and look how that turned out! It's safer if she stays here."
"Dean…" Sam begins, but is cut off by the back door slamming. The three men turn and look in that direction, all three coming to the same conclusion and cursing at the same time.
"Son of a Bitch."
"Crap."
"Balls."
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Gracilynn walks up the stairs and into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her. She drops her bag on the bed and stares at it a moment. Something didn't feel right. She didn't like her dads' tone or expression when he told her to come up here. Gracilynn looks back at her door. Making up her mind, she quietly walks over and opens the door. She slips out into the hall and creeps along the wall, hearing her family's voices.
"What?" she hears her uncle asks, clearly confused at whatever was just said. Gracilynn slowly sneaks down the stairs, making sure to keep close to the wall.
"It's the right thing to do," she hears her father say. What's the right thing to do? "Ruby was right. We can't keep an eye on her if we're on a job. At least if she's here, Bobby'll always be around."
Gracilynn stops in her tracks at hearing this. No. Please no. come on dad just let me stay with you. Gracilynn's pulled from her frantic thoughts by Bobby's voice.
"You really think this is best for her?" Bobby asks.
"I don't know!" her father yells as Gracilynn hits the bottom of the stairs. "Kinda new to the whole dad thing. All I know is I've tried keeping her with me and look how that turned out! It's safer if she stays here."
No way was she being ditched. Gracilynn couldn't listen to the rest of the conversation. She takes off towards the back door, hearing her uncle say her fathers' name right before she bursts out the door, slamming it behind her. Once outside and down the steps, Gracilynn takes off running. She needed to be anywhere; anywhere but here. Anywhere seemed to take her into the woods behind Bobby's house. Ten minutes later, finds Gracilynn at a pond. She stops, taking in the view around her. She notices a weeping willow tree off to her right.
"How poetic," she mutters to herself, walking over to it. Gracilynn parts the branches and looks inside the cave-like space. Seeing it to be dry, she enters the enclosure, letting the braches fall back into place behind her. Gracilynn sits down by the tree, leaning her back on the trunk. She pulls her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and resting her chin on the top of her knees. She stares at the pool of water from the pond in front of her. Finally letting go of her emotions, Gracilynn feels the tears fall down her face.
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