Chapter 53: Kayleigh
I carefully stood on the lid of the toilet, making sure to duck slightly so I couldn't be seen over head. I held my breath as I listened to a pair of heavy boots kicking opening the bathroom door and walking slowly across the floor. I heard the bang as he kicked open a stall door...a few down from me. Then he kicked the second one open. Then the third.
I saw his outline as he passed the small crack between the hinges of the stall door. I could see his boots as he stood in front of the door I was hiding behind and I heard the click of his gun. I pushed off, placing a hand on each side of the stall walls and swinging my legs forward so I kicked the door outward. It smacked the patriot, sending him flying back against the sink and he dropped his gun. I reached down to pick it up just as he was lunging at me again. I swung the butt of the gun up and it made contact under his chin, then swung it again so that it hit him on the side of the head. Another suddenly appeared in the doorway and whipped up his gun, I spun back into the stall as he fired it off then I heard muffled screams, almost like a gargling.
"Kayleigh" Dean's voice echoed softly. I peered out and saw him just as he was stepping over the second patriots body, his sword drawn instead of his gun which was hanging off his shoulder. I walked out of the stall and towards him, he wrapped his arms around my waist and lifting my up as his lips pushed against mine, kissing me rather forcefully.
"You okay?" he whispered when our lips parted.
"Yeah"
"Come on" he put me down then grabbed my hand gently as we made our way out of the locker room. We made our way carefully back through the gym, then out into the hallway again. Gun shots were going off on another side of the school but we could hear them clearly. And we headed towards them now. As we walked, Dean tossed me an extra clip and I stuck it in my belt.
"Just like old times right?" he smiled.
"For you maybe"
"I know, you're not much of a fighter"
"No" I cocked the gun and smirked. "I just don't like guns"
We came upon a corner we'd be forced to turn, Dean slowed down as he moved ahead of me slightly. He peeked around the corner, "Clear"
But when we both turned down it we only made it a few feet before patriots were on us.
"Freeze!" one yelled, as they raised their guns. There were only three of them. I glanced up at Dean but he was frozen. His eyes were fixed firmly on the soldiers and I almost saw a twitch of his fingers over the trigger.
"Drop your weapons!" he yelled but neither me or Dean moved. "I said drop them!"
I watched Dean out of the corner of my eye. I could have sworn he was about to fire. Then he looked at me. He stared at me for a moment before slowly placing his on the ground. "Kayleigh do it"
But I still wouldn't move. "Kayleigh-"
A sword swung out of no where, swiping across one of the soldiers then yet another sword swung, hitting the second as the first sword took out the third in one swift movement before the patriots could even process and react.
"Alex" I almost smiled then I looked to the right of him...the second sword.
"Mason?" Dean exclaimed. I was too stunned to say anything or move or think. I had never expected to see him again.
"Nothing's changed, Winchester" Mason smiled widely. "Ya still need me to save your sorry ass"
Dean picked up his gun then we walked over to them. Dean and Mason hugged while I, to my own surprise as well as Alex's, hugged him hello. But then of course I smacked him on the back of his head. "Where the hell did you go?" I exclaimed angrily.
"That" he replied with a small smirk, "Is a very lovely story for another time"
When Dean and Mason pulled out of their hello with added slaps on the back, Mason looked at me. His eyes were sad, maybe even apologetic but he didn't say anything.
So neither did I. We headed back through the school, Mason and Dean leading the way after we took the patriots guns as back ups.
"So can I at least ask why you came back?" I whispered to Alex as Dean and Mason checked the rooms ahead.
"It's a long story but to give you the short summary" he smiled amusingly. "I came back because I didn't want to run again"
"Thank you...for coming back"
"No problem" he almost laughed. "I am a bit surprised that you're so welcoming about it though. Miss me Evans?"
I rolled my eyes at him and sighed, "Forget I ever said anything"
We searched most of east side of the building. "I don't hear anymore gun shots" someone said but I didn't pay attention to who.
"No, not for a while now" Dean nodded in agreement, then looked at me strangely. "You okay?"
"Yeah why?"
"Maybe we should hold up somewhere, we can't just stand here" he replied.
"N-no" I felt faint and shaky. "No...we need to find the others"
"Kayleigh?"
I heard Dean's voice but I couldn't focus my eyes on him as I grew more dizzy and stumbled. I felt someone catch me, and I gripped their arms for support.
"See? This is exactly why I wanted you to hang back from this thing" Dean whispered and when my dizziness passed I looked up into his face.
"I'm fin-"
"Don't" he interrupted firmly.
"Dean, come on" Mason said. "We have to find the others than get the hell out of here"
"Would you absolutely hate it if I carried you?" Dean asked as he caressed my face in his calloused hands.
"Yes" I forced a smile.
"All right, let's go" he nodded and put his arm around my waist instead. We moved further into the school, keeping quiet to try and listen for the others or any more patriots. Mason kept glancing over at me, like he wanted to say something but then he seemed to decide against it. Mason and Alex took over looking in the rooms now, I took advantage while they were slightly farther ahead of us and whispered to Dean.
"He hates me, doesn't he?"
"Mason doesn't hate you, Kayleigh"
"No, he does. He definitely does-"
Suddenly, Mason froze when he looked inside one of the rooms. He was staring at something then turned and looked sadly back...right at me.
"Mason, what is it?" Dean asked. Mason went inside and the rest of us followed. When we went through the doorway and Alex and Mason moved out of our view. Thats when my heart dropped. Rachel was lowering her gun when she realized it was just us. Miles was lying completely still on the floor next to her. I couldn't even tell if he was dead or just unconscious. I pushed myself away from Dean and ran to Miles's side.
"What happened!" I asked Rachel frantically.
"He has an infection on his arm" she said pointing to it. I lifted his arm up and pushed back the sleeve. The veins going from his wrist and up his forearm were a deep, purple...almost black.
"How bad is it?" Dean asked.
"Worse...worse than Indiana" I replied as I felt his forehead, he was running a high fever just like Dean had.
"What do we do?" Rachel asked me frantically.
"There's nothing I can do"
"But there has to be something-"
"I can't!" I yelled, she was taken aback by the raise in my voice. I scared myself as well. I took a deep breath, trying not to look at her as I tried to speak more softly. "He's needs a real doctor"
Rachel was looking at me helplessly, but also she looked slightly worried for me. There was nothing I could do. I didn't know what to do. Miles's infection was ten times worse than Dean's had been. I felt helpless. Miles could die and there was nothing I could do. "We need to get him out of here" I said to Rachel.
"We have to find Charlie" she replied and I nodded, realizing both her and Bass were still missing. And Aaron and Cynthia were still somewhere in the school...I hope the Patriots hadn't found them first.
"I'll go look for her" I told Rachel than turned to Dean and Alex. "Can you guys help carry him out?"
"Yeah"
"Of course"
I got back up, grabbing my gun to head back out into the school's hallways. "Wait" I heard someone say and turned around to see Mason pulling his gun off his shoulder, "I'll come with you"
He walked ahead of me and into the hall, I looked back at Dean as he and Alex lifted a completely dazed Miles onto his feet. Dean nodded and smiled to me before I turned away and followed Mason down the long hallway. He must have shaved his beard because now it was just barely stubble. He had even cut his hair so now it was short cropped like when I had first met him. He caught me staring, but I didn't turn my eyes away from him. There was no point.
"Glad to see you've forgiven Dean so easily"
"I'd forgive you too if you'd just talk to me" I replied.
"Maybe I don't want it" he said harshly, turning his eyes back in front of us as we turned a corner. "I'm not sorry for going after him. I'm not sorry for wanting to kill him"
"That's not what I need you to say sorry for"
He stopped in his tracks, staring down at me his brow furrowed in anger but his eyes watched me with unbelieving curiosity.
"I want you to apologize for worrying me when you didn't come back with Charlie" I told him softly. I held his eyes firm, my fingers trembling and my head was searing but I had to focus on this. "She said you just left without a word of where you were going. I didn't know whether to think you were dead or sent to one of those reprogramming camps"
"I didn't realize you cared so much"
"You're my family, Mason"
He swung the gun back over his shoulder and pulled me in for a tight hug. "I'm sorry" he whispered in my ear.
"Me too" I smiled and hugged him back. We continued to walk, moving quietly as we listened for any sign of Charlie and Bass. Suddenly, Mason grabbed my hand gently, lifting it up as he looked at the ring on my finger.
"When did this happen?" he asked with wide eyes.
"Yeah well you missed a lot" I laughed then he dropped my hand and I continued walking forward. Without stopping I turned slightly to look back at him as he was still standing a little wide eyed. "I'm pregnant too" I called back then turned my attention back in front of me. He ran to catch up and he was smiling amusingly at me.
"It would have been nice to go to the wedding though"
"Don't feel bad, no one was at the wedding. It was sort of spontaneous" I said. "A lot of things were happening"
"You'll have to tell me about it later-"
A gun rang out, Mason stumbled back against the wall clutching his hand over his arm. I was about to raise my gun and shoot the patriot when suddenly he burst into flame.
I fell backward and onto the floor from shock, dropping the gun and unable to take my eyes from the flailing soldier as his body fell to the floor and he went still, becoming just a blackened figure.
"Kayleigh, come on!" Mason said, grabbing my arm and helping me to my feet.
"Mason you were hit!" I exclaimed looking at the blood seeping through his fingers.
"It's not bad" he replied with a small shrug. "I've had worse. Now come on, we have to find Charlie!"
We headed down the hallway, soon coming upon Bass and Charlie as they were making their way out of what use to be the cafeteria.
"Mason?!" Charlie exclaimed, her face filling in a bright smile as she ran to hug him. When they pulled away they sort of just stared at each other...and to my surprise my heart sank a little...she use to look at Jason like that.
"You okay, kid?" Bass asked, coming up to me.
"Yeah...Miles isn't" I replied.
"What happened to Miles?!" Charlie said, her smile fading as it was replaced by worry.
"He has a bad infection" I replied quickly, "we have to get him to a doctor"
I looked away from Charlie and back at Bass, he was shaking his head. His face blank like he wasn't surprised or even slightly affected by the news Miles could possibly die.
"Did you know"
He looked up at me but didn't say anything. "Oh my god you knew!" I yelled at him. "You should have said something! I could have helped!"
"He said he wouldn't help me if I told"
"Help you with what?"
"With finding my son"
"You son of a bitch!" I scoffed. "He could die and all because you were to much of a selfish dick to help us in the first place! I can't believe I thought you'd changed"
I walked away from all three of them, heading back through the halls and towards the way we came in. I could hear them following me but I didn't turn around to look. We headed back outside, I didn't see Dean or the others but knew they'd head back to the abandoned barn. I fell back, letting Bass lead the way with Charlie as me and Mason followed behind.
"You okay" he asked, but he almost seemed pleased that I was angry with Bass.
"Yeah...I'm fine"
When we got to the barn, the others were already there and trying to make Miles as comfortable as possible. I quickly bandaged up Mason's gun shot wound, making sure it was safe from infection so we wouldn't run into the same situation, then I moved back to Miles. I checked his infection again and just stared for a moment as I thought things over.
"We can't travel with him like this" I said. "It'll just put more strain on him"
"So what do we do?" Charlie asked. I looked up and everyone was watching me intently, waiting for me to answer.
"Willoughby is our only option"
"There's no way" says Bass.
"Our only option is either to find Gene and get him out or one of us has to sneak in for supplies"
"We can't sneak in they know our faces there's no way we'd make it out with supplies"
"They don't know all of us" I reply looking to Mason.
"I'll do it" he nodded.
"If they realize you're not a towns person they'll either kill you or torture you to get information about us" Bass remarked coldly.
"I can handle it" Mason snarled, "and i'll check for any sign of Gene and then come back so we can make a plan to get him out"
"I'll show him where to sneak in" Alex chimed in.
"Can't" Dean shook his head at Alex, "we were just there the other day they blocked it off"
"That's not the only way in" Alex smiled.
"Is it safe"
"Very"
"All right, go" I told them and they took off right away. I stood up and headed towards the cellar door, swinging the gun over my shoulder.
"Where are you going?" Bass inquired.
"We need water" I replied angrily.
"Well you're not going by yourself" he said.
"I'm not going with you either" I retorted and glared back at him.
"I'll go with you" Dean said softly, looking between the two of us as he grabbed his gun back from Rachel and followed me out. We walked carefully into the woods in search of a source of water. I kept catching Dean glance at me and I finally stopped and grabbed his arm, "What?"
"What happened with you two? You were looking at him like you wanted to rip his head off"
"I don't want to talk about it"
"How are you feeling?" he asked, placing his hand over my cheek gently and stroking his thumb back and forth.
"Better" I smiled, gliding my own hand over my stomach. He removed his hand from my cheek and took mine in his instead as we started walking again. We found a small stream and started filling the bottles up. "We'll have to boil it down" he said when we finished with the last one, "just to be safe"
I nodded in agreement and then we quickly made our way back towards the abandoned barn. Charlie had found an old pot and cleaned it out before building a small fire and started to boil down the water we brought back. I let it cool before giving some to Miles but he could barely swallow it as he was still out cold.
"Kayleigh," Dean whispered as he squatted down next to me. "You need some rest. We can watch over him, there's nothing you can do until Alex and Mason get back"
I looked at Dean, his eyes were pleading with me as he held out his hand. I took it and let him help me up. I wavered slightly as I stood on my feet, feeling dizzy again and held on to Dean for support. I gripped the thin cotton fabric of my shirt, just over the slight baby bump and closed my eyes tight.
"Kayleigh?"
"It doesn't feel rig-"
When I opened my eyes I was alone in the small room off from where we had put Miles down. Someone was sitting beside me and when I looked up I could've sworn I was seeing things. It was my mother.
"You're dead" I whispered with tears in my eyes. She just stared blankly at me, there was no emotion in her face but she seemed so real it scared me.
This isn't real. This isn't real. I'm just dreaming.
"The baby. She's dying" my mother spoke suddenly, her voice wasn't the soft melody I remembered but almost monotone and cold.
I was definitely dreaming. I had to be.
"Kayleigh?"
I looked beyond her and Dean came running over to me. I blinked for only a second and my mother was gone.
"Are you all right?" he exclaimed, cupping my face in his large hands, "you fainted"
It wasn't a dream. It wasn't a dream she was really there.
Or i'm just going crazy.
"Kayleigh say something" he whispered, but I couldn't look at him as I was still staring at the now empty space where my mother had been sitting.
"Kayleigh you're pale as a sheet"
"I'm okay. My mother..."
"Your mother?"
Dean's hands felt like they were going to pull away for a moment but then he steadied them and forced my head to turn so I looked up at him.
"Are you feeling all right?" he whispered. His eyes now deep in concern then released one hand to feel my forehead. "Maybe you should lie back down"
"No, I feel fine" I sat up, placing my hand gently over my small baby bump. "She's fine..."
"How do you know its a girl"
"I-" I stopped myself from saying my mother told me. "I just know"
"You should rest some more"
"But Miles-"
"Alex and Mason still aren't back yet...I'll wake you when they get here"
He leaned in and kissed my forehead softly.
"Please" he whispered. I gave a small nod and laid my head back down on the leather pack when he released his hands. He stayed by my side, stroking back my hair then moving his hand down over my arm.
"I saw her...I really did" I whispered with a small sigh as my eyes drifted closed.
Dean didn't say anything, but his hand continued to glide up and down my arm softly.
A little girl with dark brown bouncy curls was crying in my dreams. She was calling out for her mother...At first I thought the little girl was me...then I saw those stormy blue-grey eyes.
Dean woke me as soon as they got back. And they were back with a surprise, Gene. "It wasn't as hard as we thought it would be" smiled Mason.
Gene got to work right away on Miles. I watched intently as he showed me what to do for next time. He cut into Miles arm, the infected blood streamed out in a thick dark ooze. Dean couldn't take it and and watched aways back with Charlie and Rachel. Then Gene did a mix of the normal herbs, much like what I had done with Dean back in Indiana. He spread it on, then...he poured live larva over the wound. He said they would eat away at the infection and that it was perfectly safe. Charlie and Rachel watched over him and I realized I hadn't seen Aaron since we got back. I wanted to look for him but Dean insisted...more like ordered...me to stay on bed rest until I started to feel better. I ignored Bass. I was still angry with him and he seemed to not care since he was avoiding me too. So I didn't bother. I sat with my back against the wall. Everyone watching over Miles except Dean who went in search of Aaron. I looked up as Alex and Mason were coming in. Mason sat next to me and Alex in front of me.
"Hey"
"Hey?" I looked between the two of them.
"How are ya Evans-" then Mason smirked, "I mean Winchester"
"That's cute Anderson" I rolled my eyes at him.
"But seriously" he turned his smile into a thin line as he glanced at Alex for a second then back at me. "You feeling okay?"
"What's this about"
"Dean's worried about you" Alex chimed in.
"Dean worries too much" I told them.
"He said you'd say that" Alex laughed.
"Yeah well it's true" I looked down at my hands as I twirled the hem of my shirt around and around.
"And yeah well, we worry about you too" Mason whispered and nudged me with his elbow. The cellar door opened and Dean walked in. He smiled at us and came to sit on the other side of me.
"Getting these two ass hats to do your dirty work, huh?" I raised my eye brows at me.
"Hey now," Alex lightly kicked my boot. "No need to be rude"
I just smiled at him then turned back to Dean with a glare.
"Didn't work then I guess?" he sighed and scratched his head.
"Nope"
"Come on, Kayleigh" Mason looked at me sternly. "Give him a break"
"Dean's doing the best he can" Alex added.
"Really? This is what you guys came up with?" I laughed. "That's weak"
"Wow, thanks guys" Dean's ran his hand over his face just shook his head. "Great job"
"It's okay" I said still laughing at all three of them. I tilted my head back and looked at Dean. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to worry you so much. I feel-"
"If you say I'm fine one more time Kay, I swear i'll divorce you"
"I feel better, I promise" I smiled and took his hand in mine.
"Eat something please" he whispered and kissed my cheek. I smiled up at him but before any of us could move Charlie came in smiling.
"Kayleigh, Miles is awake" she said and disappeared into the other room again.
"Well so much for getting you to eat" Dean sighed as he helped me to my feet. I ignored him as I went to see Miles. He was just starting to sit up. Rachel and Charlie at his side. He smiled when I came over. I sat down beside Miles, opposite of Charlie and Rachel, and smacked him on the back of his head.
"You dumb ass"
Charlie held back a laugh and Rachel just sat wide eyed in amusement.
"Hey Kayleigh" he sighed. "Good to see you too"
"What is wrong with you? Why didn't you tell me when it happened?" I snapped. I wasn't yelling, but I was still angry with him for being so stupid. "We could have avoided all this"
"Whatever"
"Don't you whatever me, Miles"
"Are you gonna hug me or just keep scolding me?"
I couldn't help but smile, shaking my head at him as I did. And I gave in. Hugging him tightly and whispering in his ear, "Ever do something idiotic like that again and i'll kill you myself"
"Wow, well this is all very touching but I need to talk to Miles" Bass suddenly strutted into the room. I didn't look at him but watched Miles.
"Not now Bass" Rachel snapped.
"I'm done waiting. Now" he answered. I knew what it was he wanted. To find his son.
"Look I did what you asked. I saved porkers over there and hell I even saved the traitor for you" Bass said angrily to Miles. "So its my turn. Tell me where my son is"
I couldn't take it anymore. So I left Miles side and brushed past Bass and everyone else, keeping my eyes to my boots as I did. I kept walking. Out of the cellar and away from the barn. I just kept walking when suddenly I came across Aaron. He was standing in front of a recently dug grave. A cross sat at the head and he was standing there staring down at it.
"Aaron?"
But he didn't turn. I tried to think of who it might be but it was clear that it the only person it could be is Cynthia. I walked up beside Aaron and glanced sideways at him. His face was covered in...was that soot?
Tears had left streaks in his dirt covered face and suddenly he met my gaze.
"I'm sorry" I whispered but he just turned away again. "Aaron, can I ask you something"
"Shoot"
"These nanites...how powerful are they?"
He turned and looked down at me curiously, the grief wiping away from his face for a moment. "Why?"
"I...I mean they healed you right? And you saw things, from miles away from where you were"
"Kayleigh did you see something?" he asked, turning his body to face me and I turned away from the grave to do the same.
"I saw my dead mother" I told him. "So yeah...I guess you could say I saw something"
He stared at me. His eyes wide and suddenly he ran his hands over his face and started to pace back in forth in front of me.
"At first I thought I was hallucinating, from being so tired and just the pregnancy or something"
"What made you think it wasn't that?" he asked, still pacing.
"Her voice. It was strange, like it was cold and emotionless" I answered. "I don't know the whole thing was weird"
"What did she say?"
I choked up...not wanting to say it. But then he turned and met my eyes firmly and I knew I had to say it, to tell someone.
"She...She said that the baby is dying. That she is dying"
"I'm sorry"
"Your sorry? Does...does that mean"
"Kayleigh"
Me and Aaron turned to see Rachel coming towards us. She smiled down at me, "Miles is asking for you"
"Um-"
"It's okay" Aaron said to me. "We'll talk later"
I nodded and walked back towards the barn. I glanced back for a moment and Aaron was now talking quietly to Rachel. I didn't know what to make of all this or maybe I just didn't want it to be true.
"Where'd you go?" Dean met me first when I came down the steep cellar steps.
"Aaron" I whispered then walked away from him and towards Miles. I couldn't look at Dean. How was I supposed to tell him our baby was probably going to die?
I walked over to Miles, Bass was standing beside him. "What" I said rather angrily.
"We're leaving tomorrow morning, first thing" he answered. "To go get Connor, your brother"
Connor.
It was weird. I kept saying brother all this time but now he has a name. He had to be older than me, Miles said at least twenty five. They were going to find him, Bass, Miles and even Rachel. I sat beside Miles now and started to bandage up his wound for him. Bass was still standing silently to my left just behind me. And I still couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes.
"Kayleigh if you want to come" Miles said, "You're welcome to"
"No...No I don't want to meet him"
"He's your brother" Bass suddenly chimed in.
"No" I replied firmly. "He's your son. He's my half brother. I don't know who he is and I don't really care to find out"
"Kayleigh" Bass's voice was harsh. I jumped to my feet and turned to glare at him.
"Don't scold me like i'm some five year old" I snapped. "I don't have to go. And I especially don't want to go with you"
"Kayleigh" now Miles was scolding me. "I think you should meet him at least"
"I don't want to"
"Kayleigh"
"Does everyone like using my name as a scolding?!" I turned around and Dean was leaning in the door way.
"I think you should go" he said softly.
"What?"
I could have sworn I saw Bass smile out of the corner of my eye but I ignored it as Dean walked up to us.
"He's your family" he said. "He might not know about you, and sure you only just learned about him but Kayleigh he's still your family"
"I'm surprised" I replied. "I thought you would be the one to force me to stay"
"Yeah well, this is important"
"For once kid, I actually agree with you on something" Bass smirked.
"Shut up, you dick" Dean replied hotly. "I'm not doing this for you"
Dean took my hands and stared down at me sternly. "No one's forcing you to do anything Kayleigh. Stay. Go. It doesn't matter"
"But" he added before I could reply, "I think you need to consider going"
"I've considered it" I said. "And I don't want to go"
I walked away from the three of them and settled back down near my bed roll. I leaned back against the wall and closed my eyes, not bothering to open them even when I felt someone sit beside me and wrap an arm around my shoulders.
"You still have time if you change your mind" Dean whispered and kissed my forehead.
"I know" I nodded. "And I won't"
