Chapter 38

Laney waited in her room with Sam, while the CPS shrink interviewed Dean. The room was awkwardly tense. Laney was suddenly feeling embarrassed by her brothers bearing witness to her own interview. She wasn't much for sharing her feelings on a regular basis and so to have it laid all out for them to see made her uneasy to say the least, although with Sam, it was hard to feel that way, since he was an open book and easy to share with.

"Do you think I made a mistake?" she asked, looking up from her lap, which she'd been staring at for the last five minutes.

"A mistake?"

"You know, letting the shrink think that I cut myself up."

Oh that. "I think you did great. I think if you hadn't given him something it would have been worse in the long run. He didn't seem like he was going to give up until he knew what happened to you."

"That's what I figured," agreed Laney. "It's just…I started to have some doubts, you know. I thought maybe he might think I need to go to the nuthouse for awhile."

Sam chuckled softly. "No, I think you made the right choice. Dean would agree too."

"I hope so."

"Don't worry so much. He's really proud of how you did. So am I." He reached over and squeezed her hand tightly in comfort.

"Thanks," said Laney, her cheeks tinged red.

"You do know that regardless of what that shrink thinks or the CPS people say, Dean isn't going to let anyone take you away right? Neither am I for that matter. You're not going anywhere," said Sam.

"I know…I guess it would be nice if we could do something legit for once."

Sam laughed loudly this time. "It would be nice, wouldn't it?"

Laney smiled brightly and giggled. "Yeah I don't know what I'm thinking. I mean, we're Winchesters."

"And I'd be a little worried with Dean and that shrink in a room together alone," joked Sam.

"Oh no, he's not armed is he?" asked Laney, still giggling.

Sam reached over and pulled his sister into a hug. It was so good to hear her laughing and joking that he couldn't help himself. With all the craziness going on around them, he just wanted something that reminded him of home. This was it; his sister, alive and laughing and his brother fighting to keep them all together.

Laney clung to her brother. He was so warm and comforting. She had to stop herself from asking about the case they were working. She wanted to know if Bobby had heard anything about Gavin too. But she felt so comfortable and happy, that she didn't want to ruin the moment. The case wasn't going anywhere, her brothers weren't going anywhere, and neither was she.

SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN

"I get the impression that you feel very threatened by me."

"No kidding, what gave you that idea?" snapped Dean. Five minutes into their interview and he was ready to bolt. He didn't hold much stock in psychiatry and he sure as hell wasn't going to take shit from some fifty-something douche with a couple of initials behind his name; especially when said douche was trying to break up his family.

"Maybe it's your hostile tone," answered the shrink, completely nonplussed. He didn't feel threatened. It didn't take him long from meeting the eldest Winchester to size him up; aggressive, street smart, anti-establishment and extremely loyal and protective of those he cared about.

"Well forgive me if I'm not exactly jumping for joy. You are after all trying to break up a family."

"I'm not doing anything of the sort. I'm just here to make sure that you're capable of being a guardian to your sister."

"I've been a guardian to my sister her whole life."

"So she's told me."

"Well there you go."

"How do you feel about that?"

"About what?"

"Having to raise your sister, having to be her guardian? You are a young man after all in the prime of your life. Wouldn't you rather be out with the guys, chasing girls, maybe even settling down? Isn't your sister holding you back?"

Dean glared at the shrink with real hate in his face.

"Are you for real? My sister isn't holding me back. That kid has kept me together all these years. If it wasn't for her I'm sure I'd have ended up dead or in prison or something. I don't have any regrets or anger about raising her. I love that kid more than I love myself." Dean took a deep breath. That was more than he'd ever shared with a perfect stranger.

"I believe you."

"So why did you just ask me that?"

"Curiosity…It's not often an older sibling, especially a male, takes up the task of raising a younger sibling without some measure of resentment about what could have been."

Dean thought for a moment. "I'd be lying if I said I'd never thought about what my life would be like if I hadn't had her or my brother to take care of."

"So what have you thought about it?"

"Everything leads me back to the fact that I don't think I would have had a better life. Taking care of those two, it's in my bones. It's my purpose in life. It gets me up out of bed every day."

"But eventually they will grow up and have their own lives. Where does that leave you?"

Dean had to seriously restrain himself from laughing. The kind of lives they had, the whole Winchester family destiny, whatever that was, he knew that their lives would always be intertwined. Despite whatever wishes he had for his siblings to one day have families of their own or lives outside of hunting, day by day it was becoming more apparent that that simply was never going to happen for any of them.

"I'll adapt. It's what I do," answered Dean, simply.

"For what it's worth to you, I think you've done a fantastic job with Delaney. She's smart, intuitive, and very strong and I think she's really going to make something of herself."

"Thank you," said Dean, sincerely.

"That being said, I do have some concerns."

"Let's hear them," said Dean, crossing his arms across his chest.

"The trauma of her injuries, the death of your father, and the loss of your mother before she got to know her, all of these things will have a cumulative effect on her. There's only so much a person can take before such things become overwhelming."

Tell me about it.

"What are you saying?" asked Dean, impatiently.

"I'm saying that how you all handle these next few months is going to be very important. Your sister is at a critical stage in her development. She is going to need a lot of understanding and encouragement. I know that you may not like to talk about your feelings and neither does your sister, but it's important that you have an open dialogue with her. Don't let her clam up on you. It'll do a lot of emotional damage. Encourage her to grieve openly and share with you."

Dean nodded in understanding. He may only have a GED, but he wasn't stupid. There was so much more to what Laney was going through outside of what the shrink knew, like her psychic gifts, and yellow-eyes and some unknown destiny. She was facing more than anyone her age should.

"Wait a minute; you're talking like she's not going anywhere. Did you make a decision?"

The shrink nodded slowly and smiled. "I have no reason to believe that you wouldn't continue to make a suitable guardian for your sister. As a matter of fact, I think it would be detrimental to try and separate her from you and your brother. This decision comes with the understanding that you will make sure Delaney gets professional counseling to address her cutting issues though."

"Absolutely," said Dean, almost feeling weak with relief.

The shrink stood up and put out his hand. Dean took it and shook wholeheartedly. Maybe the old dude wasn't such a bad guy after all.

"I wish you and your family the best of luck."

"Thank you. Thanks a lot."

SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN

Laney and Sam were sitting on her bed watching some ridiculous sitcom on the television when Dean bounded through the door. Laney immediately shut off the television and looked at her big brother expectantly.

"So, I guess you're stuck with me," said Dean with a sheepish grin.

"Really?"

"Really. The CPS guy said we're all good and he'll recommend the case is closed."

If Laney could have jumped off the bed she would have, instead she reached her arms out for her brother and hugged him with such intensity it actually hurt. He caught Sam's eye and shared a big smile with him.

"So that's one less thing to worry about," joked Dean.

Laney sat on the bed beaming her famous smile. She couldn't even find words, she was so happy.

Sam kissed her on the top of the head. "I'm going to go make a quick phone call to tell Bobby the news and then I'll grab some lunch. I know you must be starving."

"I am, thanks," said Laney.

When Sam was out of the room, Dean took a seat next to his sister and grabbed her hands.

"Didn't I tell you everything would be okay?"

Laney laughed. "Something like that."

"I'm your big brother and I'm always right. If you remember that, we'll always be okay."

"Hey, I'm supposed to be the genius."

"Yeah, you are kid and I'm really proud of how you did today."

Laney immediately turned red. "Oh God, don't remind me. I'm so embarrassed."

"About what?"

"I don't know… that you had to hear all that."

"Don't be. I'm glad I did. I wish you would have shared what you were thinking with me."

Laney shot him an incredulous look.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm not the sharing type. But when it comes to you, I want to know what's going on inside that brain of yours. If you have something on your mind, especially as heavy as some of what I heard today, then you need to come to me and we can talk about it. Don't ever be afraid to tell me anything."

Laney swallowed the lump in her throat. "I just…you know…you do so much for me already."

"And I'm always going to no matter what. I may not have any answers for you. I may not say the right things to you, but I'm here for you. So promise me you'll come to me."

"I promise," whispered Laney.

"Good."

Dean pulled his sister into another tight hug. Knowing that no one was trying to take her away anymore made it all the more sweet.

SNSNSNSNSNNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN

"So, now that we're back to the case, what did you find?" Laney asked.

With a full stomach she was ready to get the show on the road.

"I found an old newspaper article in the county archives about the fire," said Bobby. "It had a list of the victims and on that list was a Callie Prescott."

"Prescott, Prescott, Prescott," whispered Laney, "Why does that sound familiar?"

"Prescott Mental Health Center," said Bobby. "It's here on the hospital campus."

"Any relation to Callie?" asked Sam

Bobby nodded. "Apparently the Prescott's were a pretty well to do family in town. Callie was the oldest daughter of Emile and Ann Prescott. She lost her fiancée to a measles outbreak and went into a deep depression. This Dr. Whitlock was professing that he was a miracle worker and could cure her if they committed her to the asylum. They had a court declare her unfit to make her own decisions and stuck her with Whitlock. What they didn't know was that Whitlock had a reputation for harsh experiments in which many, if not most of the patients either didn't make it out alive or were turned into vegetables. When the Prescott's got word of his reputation they tried to pull her out and he refused. Eventually the family got the whole town involved and tried to shut down the asylum. It was believed that Whitlock burned the whole place down with him and his patients inside."

"Damn, psychotic much?" quipped Dean.

"That makes sense," said Laney. "When I saw what was happening to Callie, I didn't get the sense she was crazy in the least and this Whitlock guy just wanted a guinea pig for his sick experiments. He refused to let her go…said she was special to him."

"So he's keeping her from crossing over," said Sam.

"But how is he still here if everyone burned to a crisp?" asked Laney

"Something of his is keeping him tied to this place. It could be anything…a lock of hair, something that belonged to him," answered Dean.

"Did he have a residence in town?" asked Sam

"Nope, lived in the asylum," answered Bobby.

"Dude, that's hard core," said Dean.

Laney shook her head. "And you're sure that nothing survived the fire? Did they pull anything out?"

"I can't find any records indicating what they found, only that they buried the debris and poured the foundation for the new hospital right on top of it," said Bobby. "Sorry, darlin'."

"So it's possible that we can't do a thing about this guy," muttered Laney, more to herself than anyone else.

"I'll do some more digging," said Sam. "Maybe the hospital has some kind of records."

Laney smiled. She knew that her brothers wouldn't give up easily. Not only because they hated to leave a case unsolved, but because they knew it would make her happy to resolve it.

"In the meantime, you've got your first round of physical therapy today," said Dean, pointing at her.

Laney's forehead crinkled, "Since when?"

"I spoke to your doctors today and they think you're ready. If you do well with the therapy you'll be out of here in a couple of days," said Dean with a bright smile.

"A couple of days?"

"Yup."

Laney clapped her hands together. "Well this day just keeps getting better and better."

Dean laughed. She reminded him of when she was six years old and excited because he agreed to take her to Computer City to browse.

"Well, Sam and I will get to work," said Bobby with a smile.

"Okay see you guys later," said Laney. "Love you."

"Love you back shrimp," said Sam, tousling her hair as he walked by.

SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN

An hour and a half later Laney returned to her room after her first physical therapy session more tired than she'd been in a long time and irritable as hell, much to Dean's amusement.

"They should call it torture, not therapy," moaned Laney. Dean had helped her into the bed and she hadn't moved an inch since. She was too tired to even raise a hand.

"It's going to be tough for a while kiddo, just hang in there."

"Easy for you to say."

"True. But remember, I'm always right."

"Ha."

The therapist had wasted no time in getting Laney out of her wheelchair and onto crutches. She wasn't allowed to put too much pressure on her broken arm, so it made for some awkward maneuvering. The brace on her leg was a lot heavier than it looked. She'd made it all of five feet before toppling forward and sprawling on the ground on all fours. The only saving grace was that her brothers hadn't been allowed to come along, so no one of importance had seen her eat dirt.

"I'm not ready for crutches yet. I was barely used to the wheelchair," complained Laney.

"The therapist said you have to work out all your muscles before they atrophy. The longer you sit in the wheelchair the harder it's going to be for you in the long run."

"Blah, blah, blah," said Laney.

Dean gave her a stern look and then turned away quickly to hide his smile. It was kind of funny when his sister was in such a foul mood. Personally, he preferred her pissed off instead of sad.

"You'll be out of here day after tomorrow and you'll feel better about the whole thing."

"Maybe," mumbled Laney. "Where are we going anyway?"

Dean took a seat on the bed next to his sister and began to massage her leg the way the therapist had taught him to.

Laney leaned her head back and sighed.

"We're going to Bobby's place," said Dean. "It's the safest place for you - for us, to lay low until you get better. The hospital helped me find a good rehab facility about an hour from Bobby's place. You'll have therapy three hours a day, three days a week in the beginning."

Laney's lips turned down into a pout. How was she going to survive that much therapy?

"How long do they expect me to be in therapy?"

"They say it's all up to you. Could be three months…could be a year. It's really about how hard you work."

"Well it sure as hell won't take a year. I would never do that to you and Sammy."

"What are you talking about?"

"Make you sit out hunting at Bobby's and wait for me to get better for that long? No way."

"You don't worry about me and Sammy. It takes as long as it takes. We're not going anywhere until you are all better. Do you understand me?"

Laney leaned forward and looked at the brother. "Yeah, I hear you."

"Good."

"You guys are going to be so bored."

"We'll find something to do."

Laney sat up again as a thought occurred to her. "Wait, who's paying for all this? We aren't exactly insured and unless you hit the lottery and didn't tell me..."

Dean smiled. "Well as it turns out, the trucking company that owned the truck that hit us had some trouble with the law not so long ago. They didn't want to go through their insurance company. Guess they were worried about their premiums, not to mention their reputation, and they settled with us on the down low. They are paying for the hospital and the rehab."

"Whoa, we're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars I'm sure. Maybe millions in the long run."

"Yeah, well they've got the money. They just wanted to make sure their name stayed out of the press."

"Do you think they are doing something illegal?" asked Laney, with a raised eyebrow.

"Without a doubt."

"Huh, guess they deserved to get demon jacked," huffed Laney.

"I think so."

Laney leaned back against the bed, thinking about the accident, thinking about their father. She knew leaving the safety and structure of the hospital and going back to Bobby's was going to be hard. It meant dealing with a lot of things they'd been able to more or less put aside up to this point. But now, they were going to have to start dealing with everything they'd lost.

Dean studied his sister's faraway expression. He knew her gears were turning at full speed. She was probably thinking about what would happen when they got to Bobby's. He'd been thinking about it too. His days of being able to ignore the grief that had been knocking on his door were numbered.

"What are you thinking about?" asked Dean

"What I'm going to eat for dinner," said Laney, with a smile to hide the lie.

Dean returned the smile and the lie. "Yeah, me too."