**Supernatural does not belong to me, nor do any of it's characters** Thank you to my reviewers, I really appreciate your feedback and hope to continue hearing what you think.
"Thought you had t'pee?" Claire leaned back in her chair as Morgan reentered the library, her face beet red.
"I did, I mean I do," she stammered, "just, nothing, I'm fine, I did."
"You were gone five seconds," the blonde scoffed, but returned her focus to the work in front of them at Morgan's wide eyes.
"Y'okay, Sweetie?" Sam asked, looking up from his laptop.
"Yeah, fine," she answered quickly, sitting carefully in the armchair she'd been occupying and crossing her legs, taking a quiet deep breath.
He lowered his gaze on his sister and, despite trying to hide behind a large volume of Norse Mythology, she flicked her eyes up at him, furrowing her face into a strange grimace. Sam's eyebrows raised, his lips pulled taut into a thin line as he shook his head, Morgan knew he understood and somehow that made her feel better.
"Okay," Sam returned his attention to the group, "What'd we know so far?"
"Well," Bryan sat back in his chair, "we know there's groups of vampires hunting hunters and the way they're moving, we can gather the survivors at the safe houses inside the danger zone, not t'mention the ones we need t'find still, 'n get 'em somewhere safer."
"A'right," Sam nodded at Bryan while Claire smiled a little proudly, Morgan set the text down as her brother continued, "As far as the werewolves go, we don't have much. We've only met one small group of the Maw and we took 'em all out, so we're prob'ly not their favorite people anyway, not t'mention," Sam paused for a second and Morgan waved at them with a tightlipped grin, "Yeah."
"I still don't understand this entirely," Bryan shook his head at Morgan, "You're a descendant of Odin?" swinging his gaze to Sam, "A god, who you're saying was killed at a dinner party by the Devil?" looking again at Morgan with wide eyes, "Who's crazy daughter is now helping the great-great-grandson of a monster wolf who wants to eat you to start a mythological apocalypse?"
"I'm sure there's more great's between them," she shrugged, "but yeah, that's the gist of it."
"This is insane," Bryan scoffed.
"Oh, just wait, buddy," Claire clapped him on the back and laughed, she started laughing harder as a robed Castiel walked in the room, but the blonde quickly got off her chair and met him at the bottom of the stairs.
Bryan stood with Sam, and Morgan did simply because, for the few moments it was social acceptable in the situation, she could enjoy the pressure off her sore behind.
Claire stopped in front of him, "Are you? Can I?"
"Please," Castiel smiled and Claire wrapped her arms around him gently as his enveloped her.
Morgan felt her throat tighten a little and swallowed, there was something about the very strange, very honest and very real relationship her friend had with the angel inside her father's old body. Sam stepped forward to help, but Castiel shook his head at the silent offer for assistance, keeping one hand on the railing and the other around Claire's shoulders, though he didn't seem to need much more support than the railing.
"You look better," Sam smiled.
"Thanks to your sister," he nodded at Morgan who was grinning anyway, Castiel in a bathrobe was certainly an interesting sight.
"I'm Bryan," the young man extended his hand.
"Yeah, sorry," Sam grimaced apologetically, "this is, uh-"
"The last Elkins," Castiel said matter-of-factly as he took Bryan's hand, holding it still.
Morgan forced a smile as the handsome young man stared at her with terror for a brief moment before Castiel let go and Bryan almost fell back like he'd finally been able to lurch his grasp from the man's grip.
"Who are you?" he asked, "Are you, human?"
"Dude," Claire scoffed, "I told you Castiel is an angel."
"I thought you meant like he's a good guy!" Bryan exclaimed.
"Does that sound like something I'd say?!" Claire challenged.
"No! It does not!" he yelled back, apparently realizing he was still yelling and lowering his voice, "What do you mean angel?"
"I am Castiel, an angel of the Lord," Morgan had to stifle a giggle because it was very hard to take him seriously when he said that in a bathrobe.
"Like capital gee God?" Bryan stared at Castiel, his jaw dropping a little when the angel nodded, "Holy shit."
"Yeah," Sam scoffed, "he has that effect the first time around," turning to the man in the robe, "Cas, I threw y'r'clothes in the washer, but I'm sure we've got somethin' that'll work, f'r'now."
"This is quite comfortable," the angle smoothed his hands down the soft material.
"Yeah, but, okay," Sam conceded with a small smirk.
"Hey, I'm starvin'," Claire's sudden comment made Morgan's stomach lurch.
"Dean said he's cookin' somethin' up," Bryan reminded her and Morgan and Sam met each other with the same amused stare.
"No, Dean is, uh, busy," Castiel stammered a little at the end of his statement and Morgan realized that he too had walked by her brother's room recently.
"Oh, I thought-" Claire's shoulders slumped, but brightened at the hallway entrance.
"It's not Chicago, but it's hot 'n covered in cheese," Dean waltzed up the library steps in bare feet, jeans and an untucked t-shirt, his hair a bit disheveled, and a slightly goofy grin seemed stuck on his face, but he carried a steaming pizza in each hand and set them on the free table next to the one they were working around, "Hey, Cas, y'r'lookin' good."
"Much better, thank you," the angel nodded.
"Hey, uh, Dean," Sam's tone was taunting, "is Jenny gonna join us?"
The quick flicker in their oldest brother's eyes betrayed the button Sam had just pushed and the younger smirked, folding his arms in a posture that begged Dean to retaliate.
"I don'know," Dean shrugged harder than he usually did, "I can throw another one in if we need, takes fifteen minutes."
"I bet it does," Sam retorted, finally earning a hard scowl from his brother.
"Well, I don't eat," Castiel reminded them.
"I do," Claire shrugged, grabbing a slice and dropping it instantly, shaking her fingers before putting them in her mouth to cool.
"I just said it was hot," Dean chided.
"Yeah, well, I'm learnin'," Claire smirked at him and he gave her a proud smile.
"I'm takin' Jenny home," Dean told Sam.
"She's stayin' around here?" Sam's teasing had vanished as he asked with surprise.
"Hell no," Dean shook his head, "Said she finally has an excuse t'take this job she's been offered in Hawaii."
"Yeah, I would," Sam scoffed lightly, "Good f'r'her. She set up 'til then?"
"Yeah," Dean nodded, "got a sister she's gonna go stay with f'r'a few days."
A pain in her bladder reminded her that the path to the bathroom was hopefully safe now and, quickly, Morgan ran down the stairs down the hallway and rushed into the bathroom at the end.
She whimpered a little, hitting the seat hard when she forgot the pain her bottom for the one in her gut, though the latter released quickly, whereas the former throbbed harder still after gently pushing herself off the toilet. As she walked around the wall to the line of sinks, Morgan stopped in her tracks when Jenny's eyes met hers in the mirror.
"Hi," the pretty woman smiled, running a brush through her blonde hair.
"Hi," Morgan muttered, averting her eyes as she washed her hands.
"So," Jenny tried, "it was a good trip?" Morgan offered a small nod, "You're from Chicago, right?" again, Morgan only managed a small nod, feeling heat creep to her cheeks, "Did you see anyone you knew?"
"Uh, no," Morgan forced a verbal answer, glancing at the woman as she patted her hands on her sweatpants, "just a quick in 'n out," grimacing at her words as Jenny smirked and blushed a little, "Uh, Dean made pizza, so, uh, we're in the library," she stepped backwards towards the hallway as she spoke and hurried down the corridor as soon as she turned the corner.
Jenny's good-bye was slightly awkward as Morgan had a hard time looking her in the eyes as she bid farewell to the woman, Bryan, however, returned the hug his former teacher offered, promising her he would be safe. She left with Dean towards the garage as the rest of them stayed in the library, huddled over the same information they'd been devouring for hours.
With a loud yawn, Sam glanced at his watch and shook his head, "A'right, kids, lets hit the racks, it's four AM."
None of them argued, nodding in exhaustion and pushing out of their seats. Sam descended the stairs with Claire right behind him, Castiel had retired hours earlier.
Morgan moved to follow her friend, but felt a gentle tug on her hand. Bryan smiled down at her and she realized they were finally alone, which he clearly understood moments earlier as his lips came down on hers, pulling her close by the small of her back. Her hand found his firm bicep as the other moved up his neck through his short brown hair, returning his kiss with long awaited passion.
"Morgan!" Sam's call echoed in the open room, forcing both teenagers to take a step back from each other, but sighed seeing they were still alone.
"Yeah, coming!" she yelled back, glancing again at the hallway before lifting on her tiptoes, giving the handsome young man a quick peck on the lips and hurrying down the steps.
Her brother was just outside their rooms, his arms folded, trying to hold a stern face, but Morgan saw a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. He jerked his head at her room and opened his arms as she got closer.
"Good night, Brat," he chuckled, pulling her into a hug.
"G'night, Sam," she smiled, "Love you."
"Love you, too," he patted her behind lightly as she walked into her bedroom and waited for the door to shut, Morgan heard his low tone when it did, "Night, Bryan."
"Night, Sam," the young man mumbled and his steps moved quickly down the hallway before she heard the sound of Sam's door close.
Morgan opened her eyes, hearing laughter outside her room, and glanced at her phone, 12:24pm. Stretching her arms over her head she tried to remember what day it was, maybe Monday, she certainly wouldn't be in Mr. Kirk's class in an hour.
After throwing her hair into a ponytail and dressing in her usual t-shirt, jeans and boots, Morgan left her room and followed the voices to the kitchen.
Sam and Dean were at the table sipping coffee with a thin man and woman, a little boy sitting in her lap, they turned when her brothers looked up at her entrance. The man had a large nose, big ears and a kind smile, he glanced at Dean then back at Morgan and giggled.
"Yeah, she's your sister alright," the man stood, though it seemed painful, he was almost Dean's height but of much slighter build, his brown hair was combed into a well-maintained side part and the honest smile he greeted her with didn't falter, "Morgan? I'm Garth, an old friend'a y'r'brothers."
"Hi," she shook the hand he offered, it felt as human as every other hand she'd ever shaken.
"This is Bess, my beautiful wife," Garth's eyes fell on the short-haired blonde woman holding the little boy and Morgan watched love glaze his eyes for a few moments, "and our son, Channing."
"Hi," the tiny boy squeaked, waving a small hand before whacking it down on his mother's shoulder and burying his head in her chest, sneaking a glance at Morgan and closing his eyes tightly when she smiled at him.
"It's nice to meet you," Bess extended her hand, wrapping her other around Channing and shaking her head a little at him, "He likes to pretend he's shy."
"He's cute," Morgan told her and the little boy popped his head up again with a goofy grin before hiding again in his mother's sweater.
"Garth 'n Bess just got in a little while ago," Dean told her, "You hungry?"
"Starving," she nodded and he scooted around the table to the refrigerator.
"So," Garth bounced on his heels a little as he grinned at Morgan, "I heard you're a witch."
His face was so transparently genuine she grinned back with a quick raise of her eyebrows, "Y'heard right. An' y'r'all werewolves?"
"Morgan," Dean grimaced, dropping a pack of bacon on the counter, but Garth held up a hand.
"It's alright Dean," he assured him, his kind smile never wavering as he looked back at the young witch, "Yes, Morgan, we are, though we prefer the term lycanthrope."
"I'm sorry," she stammered.
"No apologies necessary," Garth shook his head, "I kinda sprang it on you first," his chuckle was so near a giggle it made Morgan follow suit, his energy was a little contagious.
"And you can scry?" Bess asked, her eyes looked pleading.
"Yes, of course," Morgan nodded, "People I've met, or if I have something connected to someone."
"Can you use a claw same as hair?" Sam inclined his head at her.
"Gross, but yeah," she scoffed.
"Well, that's what we've got," Garth shrugged and Bess's head drooped.
"It'll work, that's fine," Morgan promised quickly, "who's, uh, who're we lookin' for?"
"The claw belongs to a distant cousin'a Bess's," Garth explained, "After Dean called 'n told me what he knew we started realizin' that's why some'a her family had been tryin' t'get back in her good graces, I think they thought they could convert her 'n her father with a little family bonding time. So when I heard from Dean, Bess 'n I took Channing and ran, but, uh-"
"My father wouldn't come with," Bess's voice sounded broken, "he wouldn't leave the pack, he said he had to be there to make them see reason when the Maw came. I couldn't, just-"
"I went back," Garth continued, grinning encouragingly at his wife, though his eyes were sad, "hoped I could get him t'come with me, but, the Maw had already been there," he paused for a moment, "They'd killed him. And while I was tryin' t'take him out of the house, her cousins, Randal and Lowell, jumped me. Must've been waitin', hopin' we'd come back f'r'Reverend Jim."
"Reverend?" Morgan couldn't hide her surprise.
"He was the leader of our pack," Bess nearly whispered.
"He was a great man," Dean said and Bess gave him a sad smile.
"He will be missed," Garth agreed solemnly after a few moments of silence, "but we gave him a proper funeral."
"You took both of 'em?" Morgan asked.
"I am a hunter," he smiled, "When I ganked Lowell, Randal ran, but not before rippin' his claw off in my leg," Garth nodded at the leg he was leaning away from.
"Why isn't that healed?" Sam asked.
"It will," Garth shrugged boney shoulders, "Attacks from fellow lycanthropes tend to take a little longer."
Bryan and Claire appeared in the doorway together, stopping to assess the scene before entering.
"Hungry?" Dean asked in a low tone, mostly looking at Claire, but they both nodded.
"Is this the rest'a the Winchester hunting academy?" Garth asked, Sam offered a half smile a shrug, Dean was extremely focused on the bacon that had barely begun to sizzle.
"Claire Novak and Bryan Elkins," Sam stood, clapping a hand on Garth shoulder, "this is Garth Fitzgerald the fourth, his wife Bess and Channing."
Channing was wriggling to get off his mother's lap and Bess set him on his feet, shaking her head a little, but taking advantage of the freedom by sipping her coffee.
"Elkins?" Garth furrowed his brow in thought.
"Daniel," Sam began and Garth instantly nodded, his face of happy surprise, "was his grandfather."
Channing was tottering a little as he slowly walked passed his father's legs towards the doorway and stopped with a huge smile at the young adults who seemed very unsure why the toddler had approached them.
"m'a woof, raaawr," though Channing's squeaky voice and giggle as he growled were about as far from terrifying as possible, Claire and Bryan's eye's widened in fear.
"Channing," Garth stepped forward, wincing as he knelt and pulled his son to look at him, "we talked about that, right?" the little boy looked down, offering no response, "That's not nice, right?" again, no response, "You don't wanna scare people, right?" the toddler finally offered a hard shrug, "It's not nice t'scare people, and y'r'a nice boy, right?" Channing nodded at the ground, "Alright, so let's not do that anymore, okay?"
"Okay," Channing's whisper was barely audible.
"I'm sorry about that, one'a the kids in the pack taught him that," Garth's face was pained as he pushed to his feet, "I never met your grandfather, heard a lotta stories though, hoo-boy if even half of 'em are true, well, he sounded like an incredible hunter."
"He was," Bryan nodded, taking a step into the kitchen and Claire followed his lead, "I, uh, understand you were a hunter 'n got bit."
"I like t'think I'm still a hunter," Garth smiled, "and I have a much better sense of smell now."
"Y'r'gonna help us take these other werewolves down?" Bryan asked.
"Lycanthropes," the Winchesters corrected together.
"Yes," Garth nodded, looking at Morgan, "hopefully soon we'll get a sneak peek."
"I'll get my crystals," she grinned, moving towards the hallway.
"Eat first," Dean ordered without even turning from the stove.
"I will," Morgan rolled her eyes and continued towards the doorway, at least she'd be ready immediately following breakfast at noon, but a weight on one leg stopped her again from leaving the kitchen.
"Hi," Channing looked up with a huge smile from his position wrapped around Morgan's calf.
"Hi," she stifled a giggle.
"Trick!" the little boy demanded and Morgan looked at Garth to translate.
"He wants you t'do a trick," Garth chuckled, "Channing buddy, Daddy does tricks, want me t'juggle?"
Channing shook his head and looked back up at Morgan.
"Okay, you wanna see a trick?" she asked and he nodded eagerly, "I'm gonna need my leg back," he hopped off instantly and Morgan knelt to his level, cupping her hands together.
Channing's eyes went wide as an ember grew in her hands, watching with awe as it formed a tiny girl and she danced around the young witch's flattening palms. The fire dancer leapt and spun, until the little boy's chubby fingers started reaching towards the purple flame and Morgan closed her hands quickly.
"You don't wanna touch," she shook her head, speaking sweetly, "I know it's pretty, but it's hot."
Morgan was not prepared for the break in his tiny expression and the wailing that followed, whipping her head at Bess who rolled her eyes, waving her hand at Morgan in a gesture that assured her this not her fault. She stood and picked up her crying son, trying to get him to calm down, but when he didn't, she grabbed the soft cooler from the floor, slinging the strap over her shoulder.
"He's just hungry," Bess shrugged, "Is there a room I can steal?"
"Yeah, I'll show you," Sam grabbed the other duffel bags and Bess followed him from the kitchen.
"Thanks, Sam," Garth waved as they left.
"I see you guys brought y'r'own lunch," Dean looked at Garth as he pulled strips of bacon from the pan.
"Didn't think you'd have a supply'a beef hearts handy," Garth told him, "Actually, could, uh, it's been a while since Bess 'n I've been able t'go hunt together, y'know, with Channing 'n all. Could I bother y'all t'watch him for just a little while tonight so we can hit the forest."
"Yeah," Dean nodded, "of course, Sam's great with kids."
Sam scoffed as he reentered the kitchen, "That would be you baby whisperer."
Dean smirked and shrugged in silent agreement.
This is where I pathetically beg for reviews, thank you so much to the few of you who give me feedback, it means a lot