After breakfast, Bobby suggested the kids head outside while he finished up the dishes. Sam and Dean hopped off the porch and headed out to a makeshift range beside Bobby's house. Katie groaned in frustration and tried to follow them. Dean stopped in his tracks and went back to help her. He motioned for her to get on his back and he took off toward Sam. She giggled and held on for dear life.
He sat her down on a large rock and grabbed his gun from Sam. He checked that it was in working order and aimed at a set of bottles. Within seconds, all of the bottles were down and he returned the gun to its usual place, tucked into the back of his pants. Katie watched with wide eyes. Her dad was a good shot but Dean didn't miss a single one. Dean ran to set up some more bottles and then gave the all clear for Sam to try. Sam also hit all the targets. She wondered how long they had been practicing. She could shoot a gun and wasn't bad at it but she didn't think she could shoot something that far away. She was surprised when Dean handed her the gun and told her to give it a shot. She happily hopped over to the portion of fence that Dean pointed to. She pointed the gun at the closest bottle and pulled the trigger. She missed and stomped her good foot in frustration. Dean put his hand on her shoulder and told her it was okay. He knelt down to show her how to aim and stepped back to let her try again. The bottle fell and she grinned. He motioned for her to try the next one. That bottle fell too. Wow, she was getting the hang of it. She missed the third and her face fell. Dean walked up behind her and rested his elbow on her head. "It's okay shrimp. You have plenty of time to practice."
She shook the elbow off her head and handed him his gun. "You'll let me practice?"
"Of course kid. You aren't much used to us if you can't shoot straight."
She bristled until she saw the twinkle in his eyes. She grinned gleefully and hugged him before sitting back down.
Dean blushed and cleared his throat.
Sam laughed seeing his brother choke up so easily. "So much for no chick flick moments." Sam mumbled.
"What was that?" Dean said, grabbing Sam in a head lock.
Sam weaseled free by elbowing Dean in the kidney. He jumped behind Kate and used her as a shield. Dean lunged left and Sam darted to the right, running full speed toward the house. "You're getting slow!"
Kate was stunned. Dean gave her a crooked smile and handed her a stick. "Let's go." He hauled her onto his back and took off after Sam.
This was fun. This was the Dean that Kate remembered and she liked him a whole lot better than the Dean of that morning.
Bobby stepped outside and watching the chaos. He sat down on the steps and quietly observed. He liked seeing the boys act their age. They were supposed to be having fun and play fighting. Most of the time, the two acted more like adults than most of the adults that he had met. Katie's smile radiated across the yard and made him smile too. She really did bounce back fast. He was prepared to give her time and space but maybe Dean was right. Maybe he had gotten soft. He had never raised his own kid before and he was mostly winging it with the boys. A parenting book for parents who hunted didn't exist but might have come in handy a time or two.
Sam darted up the steps, nearly knocking Bobby over. "Sorry Bobby! Running for my life!"
Moments later Dean and Kate rounded the house but stopped before reaching the steps. "You chicken! Come back down here and face us."
Sam grinned and shook his head. "Not till she drops the stick."
Kate tossed it and Dean shrugged her off his back.
Dean looked up at Sam and told him that payback was a bitch.
"As much as I enjoy watching y'all try to murder each other, I think now would be a good time to call a truce and come inside."
Dean squinted at Sam but agreed.
The four walked back into the house and sat around the table once more. Dean grabbed cups of water for everyone and returned to his seat.
Bobby sat at the head of the table with his hands rested in front of him. He looked to be deep in thought.
"What's on your mind Bobby?" Dean asked.
Bobby rubbed the back of his neck and took his cap off. "After this morning, I think its best that everyone involved be present for this discussion."
Dean nodded and looked at Sam to do the same.
Kate felt uncomfortable. She was having fun a few minutes ago and none of this seemed fun but she was happy they were including her.
Bobby began, "Kate. First let me apologize to you for what you overheard this morning. You must have walked in on the wrong end of the conversation. None of us are aiming to see you go until your dad gets back. I could see how that would cause you to get upset and take off."
Kate shyly nodded and put her hands in her lap.
"That being said; running off isn't going to help any of us. It wasn't okay when Sam did it and it isn't okay when you do it. We were worried. We knew you hadn't gotten far but anything past the markers around my yard is not warded and therefore not safe. As soon as you crossed that barrier, anything could have snatched you up."
Kate really didn't like this. She didn't realize that she had worried them and she didn't even think about a creature waiting for her. "I'm sorry Bobby. I wasn't thinking. I wont try to run again."
Bobby smiled weakly and thought some more. "We are going to come up with a plan and ground rules. As long as we stick to those, everyone should remain safe and happy."
A plan sounded good, she thought.
Dean caught Bobby's nod toward him and took over. "We don't have any hunts right now so none of us are going anywhere. If we do find something that requires us to tend to, one of us will remain here with you."
Kate sat up and said, "I can come so no one has to stay."
Dean cut her off. "No. You wanted to be part of the conversation so let me finish before you get your hackles up."
Sam side eyed Dean. Sometimes he reminded him too much of their dad.
"Bobby and I discussed this already and think it is best that you remain here for a while. If something takes all of us away for more than a few days, you will come with us but stay out of danger. You will help research and we will train you."
Bobby leaned forward and took back over. "I know your dad well enough to know that he has similar ground rules."
Kate blanched. She really hoped they didn't plan on telling her dad about her escape attempt.
"I know for a fact that if your daddy was here, he would have tanned your hide the second you stepped out that door."
Her face turned red and she hid her face in her hands.
"Now, I'm not going to.. this time." Bobby said quickly. "We had a misunderstanding and you are still reeling from your dad skipping town."
She perked up a little at that. She was still embarrassed and very much wanted to leave the table. Maybe if she sunk lower in her chair, no one would see her.
Sam felt bad for the girl and put his arm around her shoulder. He turned puppy eyes on Bobby.
Bobby shook his head and said, "Katie, we aren't ganging up on you. I have had this same conversation with these two knuckleheads. I can't be expected to keep you alive if you are fighting me every step of the way. So, we need to come to an understanding."
Kate leaned into Sam and nodded her head. "I understand Bobby, I'm sorry."
"No need for sorry anymore Katie. If you are given a direct order, you are expected to follow it, especially when leaving the house. If you disagree with something you can bring it up respectfully but tantrums and yelling wont get you far. Every one pitches in here and you will help with chores." He saw her shoulders slump with each passing word. "Now for the good part. You will train with Sam and Dean. If you are going to be on a couple of hunts at some point, you need to know how to protect yourself. That means shooting practice and knowing how to use weapons based on each creature."
That part did sound fun. She wanted to be a hunter when she got older and make her dad proud, even if he swore she would never be a hunter. Her mind drifted off. She wondered if every hunter was given a secret list of rules their kids had to follow. Did normal kids have so many rules?
"Are we on the same page, Kate?" Bobby asked.
Kate had been lost in her thoughts but said, "Yes, sir." and that seemed to please Bobby.
"Sam, why don't you and Kate go upstairs and you can help her settle into her room. There are fresh blankets and sheets in the hall closet." Sam understood his cue to go and walked side by side, up the stairs with Katie.
"Somehow this was easier with you two jackasses." Bobby commented.
Dean snorted. "Maybe because she has you wrapped around her finger."
Bobby shook his head but knew Dean was right. He thought about his wife. He had lost her too. She shared the same blonde ringlets and blue eyes that Katie sported. Bobby never wanted kids before Karen died but regretted it in later years. He thought that, had he gotten the chance to raise a daughter with his beloved Karen, perhaps she would have looked a bit like Katie.
Dean knew Bobby would step up if she crossed a line. Hell, Dean knew first hand what it was like to cross that line. He liked the kid and felt for her. Being a hunter's kid was not easy. He knew not to get his hopes up but he truly hoped that line would remain uncrossed. He walked out of the kitchen to grab his clean laundry. He peeked in on his way back and saw Bobby still sitting at the table, lost in a memory. It was rare to see Bobby with his guard down so Dean didn't say anything. He quietly ascended the stairs, stopping to look in on Sam and Kate. He threw his head back and rolled his eyes. He was getting sentimental like some middle aged mom. He spun around and took his basket to his room. Dean Winchester did not do chick flick moments.