Kate stood against the wall as her dad quickly shoved their belongings into bags. There wasn't much. Hunters had to be able to pick up and move at a moments notice but this time seemed more urgent. She wanted to help but knew it was best to remain out of his way. She wanted to ask questions but also knew not to do that. She would ask what was going on once they were in the car and her dad had calmed down. She loved her dad. He was the only person she had, after her mom died when she was a baby. Her dad did his best but often fell short when it came to the nurturing part of parenting. Katie didn't mind most of the time but this time she was anxious and scared. She wanted him to stop and explain what was going on. She wanted a hug and a promise that everything would be okay. Instead, she simply squeezed a raggedy stuffed cat and quietly waited for the order to get in the car.
The motel room was cleared of all traces of their existence and the car was cranked and ready to go. Brian took one more look around the room before kneeling to look Kate in the eye. "Once we step out that door, you are to run directly to the car, get in and shut the door."
"Yes daddy." She acknowledged with furrowed eyebrows. This was serious. She knew to go directly to the car but her dad needed to be absolutely sure that her feet did not stop moving until she was safely inside. She didn't question him or argue, although her little heart raced.
Brian cracked the door and peeked outside. After looking both ways, he grabbed Katie and nearly hurled her out the door. Kate ran as fast as she could but stumbled on the curb. She dropped her stuffed cat and although she wanted more than anything to turn around to pick up the beloved creature, she had been given an order and knew better than to pause to grab it. She swung the door open and slammed herself into the backseat. Her dad immediately followed and threw the car into reverse before peeling out of the parking lot. Katie glanced up at the faint protection emblems that riddled the celling of the car. She took a shaky breath before peeking out the back window, trying to catch a glimpse of her stuffy she had dropped. Her heart was shattered. Millie, the stuffed animal was a gift from her late mother. She had given it to Kate on the day she was born. Katie mentally kicked herself for dropping something so important to her. She slumped back down and sobbed into her hands. It wasn't the loss of the cat but the fear written on her father's face that was catching up with her.
Brian had seen Kate drop the stuffed animal and keep running. He was so proud of the kid for following a dire order, that he took the extra steps toward the rag of a cat to rescue it from the wet parking lot. He snatched it from the ground before jumping in the car and tossing it into the front floor board. He raced away from the motel just as three large men busted in the door of the motel room they had just vacated. Hearing the tires screech, the men turned their heads and looked at the car racing out of the parking lot. Brian looked in the rear view mirror in time to see them running to their own vehicles, murderous looks on their faces with solid black eyes. He gunned it out of town and took back roads and side streets to shake the demons from their trail. Once he was moderately satisfied that they had lost the men, Brian glanced back in the mirror and caught the top of Katie's blonde head, sunken down in her hands. He looked back and saw that she was crying. He wanted more than anything to stop and gather her in his arms but knew they needed to get as far away from town, as soon as possible. An hour into the drive, he let the car slow to the posted speed limit so they didn't draw attention to themselves. He chanced another glance back at his daughter and saw that she had curled into a ball on the back seat and had cried herself to sleep. His heart wrenched. This wasn't the first time they had to leave suddenly and he reasoned that the severity of her reaction was likely due to the severity of his own. Neither of them had eaten since breakfast and his stomach began to growl. He decided to pull off on an exit in a busy, but small town. It as easier to stay hidden within a crowd of people but too big of a crowd could be disastrous.
Kate woke up to a gentle shake but startled and nearly punched her dad in the face. He pulled his head back and stifled a laugh. He trained her well. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and apologized.
"It is okay sweetie. We are stopped to get some food and use the bathroom. " Brian said gently, holding out his hand for her to take.
Kate wasn't sure if they were still in danger so she stayed right beside her dad as he ordered food to go. While they waited for their order to be up, Brian stuck his head into the bathroom to make sure no-one was in there and the tilted his head to let Kate know she could go inside. She splashed water on her face and took a steady breath before returning to take her father's hand. They took their food to the car and she sat quietly in the backseat and nibbled on a few fries.
Brian's mind was still racing but he hated seeing her like this. His Kate was bubbly and talkative and fiery. The Kate in the backseat was subdued and anxious. He had to tell her but didn't know how. How could he break his little girl's heart?
Kate sat her half eaten food down on the front seat before curling back into a ball and resting her head against the door.
Brian picked up the speed with intentions of leaving the state within the next few hours. He reached back and patted her leg before telling her that he loved her and she should get some rest.
When Brian saw Katie's eyes close and her body relax, he reached for his phone to call an old friend of his. The phone rang twice before a gruff voice answered. "Singer residence, how may I help you?"
Brian chuckled. "Residence? Since when is that old dump a residence?"
Bobby grumbled. "O'Connor, are you just going to rag on my house or you got something you need?"
Brian took a deep breath and glanced back at Kate to make sure she was asleep. He cleared his throat and said, "Uh, Bobby. I wouldn't call if I didn't absolutely need to."
Bobby huffed but waited for Brian to continue.
"I can't say much right now. I messed up. I have some pretty powerful demons on my tail. I have an idea of how to get rid of them for good but it is too dangerous for my Kate. She is the only thing I care about in this world and I can't chance them getting to her. I... I need you to take her. Keep her safe." Brian said through a lump in his throat.
"This ain't a daycare. I've got work to do myself." Bobby declared.
"I-I know Bobby, please, she isn't safe." Brian pleaded.
Bobby was fond of the little girl. She was cheerful and brought a bit of sunshine to the otherwise dreary salvage yard. "Uh, I guess I can take her until you're done with what ever mess you got yourself in."
Brian's voice cracked. "I don't know when I will come back. I don't even know if... this is bad Bobby."
Bobby heard the urgency in the man's voice and understood. He had a similar conversation with a certain Winchester a few weeks prior. He wondered if the two fools hadn't landed in the same pile of crap.
"Listen, I've got John Winchester's two boys here too. She is welcome for as long as you need. Just don't kill yourself getting here."
Brian let out a breath he had been holding and let his shoulder slump. "Thank you Bobby. I owe you one."
"You all say that and never pay up." Bobby said with mock irritation. "I'll take care of her. Get her here and stay safe."
Brian hung up the phone and glanced at Kate again. She was still sleeping soundly and he threw his head back into the headrest. How had it come to this? Why couldn't he just stop seeking revenge? If his Ruth could see him now; see their broken little girl curled up in the backseat, would she hate him? Would she have wanted him to let her go and move on? He scrubbed his face and shook the thoughts out of his head. What was done was done and all he could do now was fight.
Kate had been feigning sleep the entire phone call. She heard everything her dad said and her heart was thumping hard in her chest. Seeing her stoic father terrified made her terrified. She didn't want to lose her dad. She didn't want him to leave her with Bobby. What kind of demon could be so scary that her dad would leave her and run? Maybe she was just dead weight and he as tired of lugging her around. Tears slipped from her eyes once more and she forced herself to think of good things. She had to be brave for her dad and she couldn't do that if she was focused on being sad. Bobby was always nice to Kate. Sure he was grumpy and kind of old but he let her play on the old cars and she liked to pretend the salvage yard was a cavern filled with sharp crags and dragons. She heard Bobby mention that Sam and Dean would be there. She had only met them a few times but they were cool. Sam let her follow him around and only acted a little annoyed with her endless questions. He even played hide and seek with her last time she was there. Dean didn't say as much as Sam and didn't like all of her questions. He was more serious and hard to read. When no-one was looking he would sneak her bits of candy with a wink and a signal to keep it just between them. He even let her sit behind the wheel of the impala and pretend to drive one time. That was fun but Sam said no-one was allowed to touch baby and he was shocked Dean let her. She distracted herself with stories and happy memories until she finally drifted off to sleep, with her head still resting against the window.
An hour out from Bobby's house, Brian decided it was time to brief the young girl. No way of explaining things was going to soften the blow so he bit back his emotions and gently woke her.
Katie glanced to the front seat where her dad was, turned around but still driving. His hand remained on her knee until she sat up and looked at him
"Katie, honey. Something has come up. I have to drop you off at Mr. Bobby's for a while. You'll be safe there. You can't come with me this time." He bit the side of his cheek, bracing himself for the argument he was sure would come from his tenacious daughter.
"Okay Daddy, its okay." came the weak reply from the backseat.
Brian slowed the car to a stop along a country road and turned to look at his Kate. He wasn't expecting the instant compliance although he had engrained it into her over the years. "Kate, I know you are scared and confused. I wish I could explain more but I can't right now. I am not dropping you off and forgetting about you. I am keeping you safe during a time when I cannot do so with you by my side. I love you and wish more than anything that I didn't have to leave you."
Had it been any other time, Katie might have tried to convince him that she was perfectly capable of standing at his side but the weary look on his face told her not to. "I understand, daddy. I am scared and you can explain later maybe? I don't know what is going on but it must be big and scary. I'll be okay."
Brian reached back to lift her chin with his fingers. He looked into her blue eyes and said, "I love you Katiebug. More than you could ever know."
She smiled sweetly and returned the sentiment.
Brian turned back around and continued their journey. He mentally chastised himself for getting into this life. Katie deserved a normal childhood. What normal kid could face their current predicament and remain calm and composed? The life of a hunter required those skills but it also saddened him to see. She was still so young but already had the resolve of a seasoned soldier. His heart burst with equal parts pride and heartbreak. He focused his eyes on the road again and set his jaw. He couldn't get caught up in emotion, he had to save her life.