A/N: Thank you all for reading and for all of the favourites. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Please let me know what you think.

Chapter 26: Building a Community

"What should young people do with their lives today?
Many things, obviously.
But the most daring thing is to create stable communities
in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured."
― Kurt Vonnegut

It rained for the next two days. That didn't stop training with Jane. It was harder to fight in a storm. It made it harder to focus, to see and to balance. The ground was slippery. It didn't help that the rain plastered my hair to my face.

I had to concentrate more to make sure I didn't fall, that I could make a hit. Jane was faster, even in the rain. It didn't seem like it hindered her in any way. We moved quickly, arms and legs hitting and blocking. Jane's elbow slammed into my cheek. I managed to kick her in the thigh and then under the knee. She fell and punched my stomach. I drove my elbow into her back. I was getting faster. I was getting better. Especially if I could hit her when it was raining. She still won though.

I went inside and showered. The hot water didn't do much when I barely stayed in it. I dressed in leggings and a shirt. I tried to find a sweater but there were none in the room. It was likely that someone had taken what was left..and the rest was in the laundry. I dug around and pulled out the only thing that looked warm enough. I still had Sam's shirt. I shrugged and threw it on.

As soon as I started cooking, people arrived in the kitchen. The smell of food tended to attract everyone. Chloe and Derek sat at the table with Klaus, talking quietly. Well, Chloe and Klaus were. Derek sat there silent.

"What are you making?" Veronica asked.

I shrugged. "Soup. Well, I'm trying to. I can't promise it'll taste good, but it'll be warm." I had little experience cooking soup, but I had picked up a few tricks from Edgar at the diner. As much as I didn't want to think about it. It was one thing that I could make a large amount of easily.

"Can I help?" she asked.

I looked at her in surprise. No one had asked me that. "Sure. Grab some potatoes and cut them."

"Well, isn't this cozy." I looked over my shoulder to see Logan in the doorway. "Love a good family setting in the midst of a kidnapping," he shrugged and grinned. "Makes me feel warm and fuzzy."

"Oh good," I deadpanned. "I was hoping to achieve that. If you're just going to be a nuisance, you can leave."

"Why is it again that you're here? I mean, Kelly works, sure. Why not you? You just the housemaid?" He raised his eyebrows as he smirked.

I ignored him.

"Actually," Veronica spoke up from beside me. "I was curious about that too. How come she's the only one that works?"

I sighed. I should have expected this. I didn't consider that there were going to be questions. I assumed that the stress of losing everything would distract them enough. "I can't work." I turned to face everyone. "When you all arrived, you got found quickly. I...I was the first. I think. You were found by Castiel, right?" Veronica and Chloe both nodded. "I...I was here for three months before anyone found me and when they did, it wasn't an angel, it was a demon. She...she killed everyone in the diner I was working in to get to me."

I tried to swallow the lump growing in my throat. I clenched my hands tight to keep them from shaking. "I got lucky and managed to run, to get away. She stayed and told the cops it was me. There's a warrant out for my arrest for those murders. So that's why I don't work." I turned back to the counter and leaned on to it. I took a deep breath, trying to gain control of the emotions that were running through me. I avoided talking about the diner. I avoided thinking about the demon for a reason.

"So you're a wanted killer. Great. Just when I thought it was only kidnapping. That explains the bodies. You got everyone working with you?"

"You don't have to be a jerk," Chloe spoke up. "You know it's not like that. And you're not the only one who's lost their home."

"Quiet, children, the adults are talking," Logan said sardonically.

"Oh, in that case," I turned to see Klaus push himself up off the chair. "That includes you. Run along now, go play with your toys, or kill puppies. Whatever it is you do. I thought I was pretty useless in this house until you showed up."

"Excuse me?" Logan stepped closer to him.

"You know," Klaus looked around Logan at me, "I always thought Five was the most pompous jerk I knew," he looked back at Logan. "Until I met you." Logan grabbed him by the shirt and yanked Klaus towards him. "Well, if you wanted to flirt, all you had to do was ask. Although, not really my type…"

Logan dropped Klaus fast. "Watch what you say to me."

"Or what?" Klaus asked. "In case you haven't looked around, you're the only one here who's powerless. All you do is talk. I mean, my family accused me of talking a lot...and if I sounded like you...oh, I have got to apologize to them. I don't even like my family," he half-whispered. He looked back at Logan and for a second, it looked like he dropped the carefree act he generally had. "You should probably apologize." He smiled suddenly and it was gone as fast as it came.

Logan stared at him for a moment before he left without another word. Veronica smiled apologetically to me before she went after him. I sighed. I turned back to the cooking. It went better than I expected and I was grateful for the others if only to cut the tension.

"I got it," Chloe said and I tried not to jump as I realized she was standing where Veronica had been. She took up the knife and continued cutting the potatoes.

"Thanks," I said softly. She smiled back at me. She was a good kid. She didn't deserve to be stuck here, not in this world, not like this.

I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye and glanced to see Klaus coming up on my other side. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"Well, now that that's over, how about we grab some bottles and have a party?"

I raised my eyebrow at him. "I don't really drink."

He clutched a hand to his chest and he put on a look of shock. "What? Sacrilege! Ah well, more for me," he shrugged, suddenly looking nonchalant.

The front door slammed and we all turned to see who it was.

"You'd think we'd need to build an ark," I heard Dean's voice say before he called out. "Hello? Kelly? Michelle?"

"I'm in the kitchen!" I called back. The two men walked into the living room and I scrunched up my nose at the sight of them. "You guys are soaked."

"Yeah, well, it's pouring in case you haven't noticed," Dean quipped.

"But you're wearing your shoes. In the house." I pointed to their feet. Both of them looked down. "Go take them off and dry off before you come closer."

"Who takes off their shoes?" Dean asked Sam. Sam smacked Dean in the chest in response. The more sensible brother took off his shoes before he walked back and I assumed put them next to the door. I heard Dean grumbling as Sam appeared in the doorway of the kitchen.

"Ask for a party and we shall receive," Klaus whispered. I tried not to smile.

"Hey," Sam strode forward. Klaus moved out of the way, giving him space. Sam looked down at me. "Is that my shirt?"

"Oh, yeah…" I forgot I had been wearing it. "I couldn't find a sweater. You can have it back, here." I started to pull it off my shoulders. His hands covered mine.

"No, it's fine, just...wasn't expecting it." His brow furrowed. "Are you okay?"

"I...sure," I said. It wasn't entirely the truth. The explanation of the demon left me a little rattled and even though Klaus had distracted me, I was still unsettled. I waved Sam off. "It's okay. Go dry off. There's towels upstairs...I think. I have to do laundry. Dinner will be ready in like half an hour. About when Kelly will be home."

His lips pressed together like he knew what I was trying to do, but he nodded. "Okay, I'll be right back."

"Watch out for Maggie!" Chloe called out. "She's still praying in the attic."

He nodded at the warning and left. I smiled at Chloe in thanks. I had been fairly successful in avoiding Maggie so far, mainly because I tended to avoid the house as much as I could. I wanted to do so now, and likely would have, if it wasn't for the rain.

oOo

Kelly showed up as the soup finished.

Chloe and Derek had left the kitchen once Sam and Dean came in and got settled. Luckily, the prep work was done by then and all that was left was letting it simmer.

"Hello?" she called out as I heard the door close.

"Kitchen!" I yelled back.

"Hey!" She grinned as she walked into the kitchen. She looked as soaked as the boys did when they came in. Dean got up to go and walked over to her. "Can you grab the two-four out of the car?"

The brothers looked at each other before Dean made a face and asked, "two-four? Why do you have a two by four in your car?"

"Not a two by four. A two-four? It's a case of beer. Twenty-four bottles?" she explained. "I'm going to get changed. I'll be back." She left and Dean followed. I turned back to the soup to check on it.

"What, uh, what are you making?" Sam asked as he pulled a beer out of the fridge. There was always beer in the fridge, something Kelly kept stocked up for the adults in the house, and for the boys.

"I'm not entirely sure," I said. I caught the look of alarm in his eyes. "It's soup. I'm just...not using a recipe and going off the little I know."

"It smells good," he said.

"Is this a halfway house now?" I looked over to see Logan in the doorway. "We just let anyone come in and out of this house?"

"They helped fix this house," I said. "Sam and Dean are always welcome. I'm still considering you."

"Watch it," Dean walked up behind Logan, the case of beer in his hands. The boys had met Logan the last time they were here, but it was brief. Neither the boys nor Logan had been in any real shape to socialize. Logan moved so that Dean could pass.

Dean knelt at the fridge and started putting some of the beers in. "Who's this again?"

"Logan, how do you not remember?" Sam turned to his brother.

"What? There's like a million people in this house."

"Well, as charming as this setup is, when's dinner?" Logan clasped his hands together and rocked back on his heels.

"It's almost ready. I'm not your cook," I said. "Or your maid. This isn't an everyday thing."

"But you do such a great job at it. You cook, you clean...really, it's almost like I'm still at home. If my house was small, decrepit and falling apart around me."

"Hey," Sam straightened and I looked to see him frowning.

"Oh dear, I triggered your knight in shining armour. Who knew it was that easy?" Logan rolled his eyes before stepping back and walking off.

"What an ass," Dean said, standing up. He slid the case to the side of the room. It sounded like it was still full. "He always like that?"

"He's a kid, don't worry about it." I lifted the lid of the pot and grabbed a spoon. I scooped a little up and tried it. Seemed alright, though a little bland. "Here, try this," I scooped another spoonful and offered it to Sam. He leaned down and tasted it. His eyes widened. "That bad?"

"No, it's good! It's really good."

"What?" Dean strode over. "Give me some."

I looked at both of them warily as Dean tried the soup. It really wasn't that great. I knew that well enough but Dean was already trying to get some more. "Okay, relax, grab a bowl." I grabbed the spoon out of Dean's hand. "And leave some for everyone else."

Sam reached for the bowls in the cupboard as I yelled out for everyone. "Foods ready!" Their footsteps sounded like thunder.

oOo

The pot was scraped clean by the time everyone was done. Jane had come in from wherever she had been, dripping water everywhere. We sent her upstairs to change, saving her a bowl. She seemed content to sit around the living room with everyone as we all ate. Everyone seemed content...almost.

"You have a duty to fulfill." Maggie had joined us for dinner. "It is your right."

"I'm not letting some dicks burn my world," Dean snapped.

"It's the angels!"

"They're not what you think they are," Sam said.

"Do not speak to me, vessel of Satan." I tried not to roll my eyes at her. At least she didn't spit on the floor. I tuned her out and focused on the others.

"So, you live in a tribe?" Klaus asked Jane.

"We all do. Each member has a role in caring for each other. I have been given a task by my Goddess, bringing me to this world, but I have no fear. My children are cared for."

"Children?" More than a few voices asked.

I leaned over to Kelly. "Did we not tell anyone that?" I whispered.

"What?"

"That Jane has kids."

"Guess we forgot." I looked over at the tone of Kelly's voice. She was glaring at Maggie.

"Did we miss the invitation?" Eric asked as he and Spike were coming out of the basement. "I didn't realize there was a party."

Maggie paled as she looked at them and I watched her flee upstairs. Kelly looked over at the vampires. "Oh thank god," she muttered. The woman seemed to be terrified of the so-called devil's creatures. It worked in our favour now.

"Evening boys." I greeted them. "Sleep well?"

oOo

The Winchesters did the dishes. I was a little surprised, it was a very domesticated move that I didn't expect of them. Anything that I didn't have to do I appreciated though.

"Hey," Kelly stepped up next to me. "Can I ask a favour?"

"What's up?" I asked. She motioned me over to the side, away from the others. This was unusual and I glanced up at the trap by the hall entrance.

"Listen, I want...Dean and I are going to take off for the night."

"Okay?" I wasn't sure what this had to do with me. "Where's the favour?"

"Well, it's a favour, but also a suggestion. We already have so many people and Klaus has been crashing on the couch. So...maybe Sam can stay with you?" She smiled.

"With me?"

"Who else? Maggie?" She raised her eyebrows at me before she grinned. "It'll be fine. You can just sleep...or not."

"Hey," Dean stepped back into the room. "You got any board games or something? What about monopoly?"

"No!" We both shouted instantly. Dean blinked in surprise and I saw Sam turn to look out at us.

"Why not?" Dean asked.

"Because she cheats!" Kelly pointed at me.

"I don't cheat!" I scowled at her. "You're the one who threatened to jump over the table and shove dice down my throat!"

"You wouldn't sell!"

"I don't have to sell!"

"That's how you play the game, Michelle! You sell your property!"

"Not if I don't want to!"

"Woah, woah, woah!" Dean stepped in between us, hands out. "Calm down. It's just a game."

"I don't know, if it's as violent as they say, I want to see how they play," Eric said from his position near the couch. "It sounds enthralling."

"Knock it off," Dean pointed at him before he turned back to us. "What is wrong with you two?"

I frowned and looked at him. "Nothing. We...we get competitive."

"Yeah, no shit, I can see that," he said. "You always like this?"

"No, it's only Monopoly which is why we agreed never to play it together again." I looked over at Kelly.

She shrugged. "Or hockey."

"Or hockey. But that's not usually against each other, it's against everyone else who supports terrible teams!"

"You guys like hockey?" Dean looked back like he was asking Sam or anyone else for help. Kelly and I looked at each other before we both turned to face Dean. He stepped back.

"You don't?" we asked at the same time.

"Okay," he pointed between us. "That is just spooky."

oOo

We ended up playing monopoly on the condition that Kelly or I opt-out. I voted for myself and sat back to watch them play. Kelly was vicious when she wanted to be and I had a feeling this was going to be far more humorous than any of the others expected. I was a little surprised to see that we even had the game, but Eric had been bringing things home every night. Apparently, things to relieve boredom had been requested...and delivered.

There were only six pieces for players, so Sam, Dean, Kelly, Eric, Klaus and Jane played. It was exactly the type of mix that had the potential for chaos. Ten minutes in they proved my theory.

"I do not understand. Why is the goal to obtain shelter and demand others pay? Would it not be more productive to invite them and share what you have? How else are you to create alliances?" Jane asked as she watched Dean roll the dice.

"You just invite anyone? How do you know who's friendly?" Klaus asked. He was leaning back on one hand, looking as comfortable as ever.

Jane reached up and touched the marks on her arm and face. "Our symbols are etched into our skin when we choose our name. Tribes are recognized for that." She looked at Kelly and then me. "You would be welcomed. Your names are well chosen. I would bear the marks of your tribe."

"We don't have...marks," Kelly eventually said. She looked at the board and cackled. "Pay me rent!"

Dean stared at her like he had never seen her before. "How do you already have an apartment on these?"

"Because I play to win!" She motioned for the money. "Gimme."

"With such sharp acumen, you would be a well-placed addition to my bar," Eric said as he reached for the dice.

"You have a bar?" Sam asked.

"Once. It was very popular."

"I always thought owning a bar would be cool," Dean mused.

"You did?" Sam looked at him in surprise. Dean just shrugged.

"Yeah, meet people, drink, seemed like a good time."

I let the conversation wash over me as I pulled my legs up under me on the couch. Despite how easy it was to slip into how it felt before Kelly died, it was still strange to realize. We hadn't argued over monopoly in years. It felt weird like it wasn't necessarily right. I didn't know how to fix it. Maybe the problem was that it felt too right. I didn't even know how long we had been here anymore.

oOo

"Michelle?" I jolted as someone touched my shoulder, drawn out of my thoughts. I looked up at Kelly. "You okay?" She looked concerned.

"Yeah, sorry, spaced out." I looked around. The game was apparently over. I didn't realize how much time had passed.

"Okay…" she didn't look fully convinced. "Dean and I are heading out. Sam just went to grab his bag. You sure you're alright?"

"Yeah," I got up and stretched. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Got lost in thought."

"Okay, well, it stopped raining so Jane went back out. Eric took off like usual and I think Remy and Spike left with the car. Hopefully, they win some cash." She shrugged and smiled. "Thanks for this."

"Yeah, yeah," I waved her off. "Just go." She grinned at me and looked like she was ready to skip out the door. She ran upstairs.

The front door opened and Sam came in. Kelly came running down the stairs and shouted a goodbye before she passed Sam. He closed the door behind her. He looked a little out of place so I walked up to him.

"Alright?" I asked.

"I should be asking you that. You were sitting there staring into space for an hour."

"Really?" I looked up at him in surprise. I definitely did not think it had been that long. His hand reached out and grabbed mine. He leaned down.

"You sure you're alright?" He reached over and brushed a hair behind my ear. "When...have you slept?" I tried not to roll my eyes. Everyone kept asking me that.

"Not…" I stopped myself. "A little, last night."

"Okay," he nodded. "Come on." He grabbed my hand and led me towards the stairs. I watched, a little bemused as he led the way to the bedroom he had cleaned me up in weeks before. It was precisely where I had been planning on sending him.

He stopped once we were in the room and the door was closed behind us. "I can sleep somewhere else if you're uncomfortable," he said. "Kelly said you were okay with this, are you?"

I smiled softly at the question. I appreciated it. "Yeah, it's okay, but I should warn you. I...get violent sometimes when I have nightmares. I've hit Kelly before."

"I think I'll be fine."

"Alright," I shrugged. "You were warned."

oOo

We got ready separately. It was a little odd to walk into the bedroom to see him already lying in the bed. My stomach clenched as nerves fluttered.

"I can still leave," he sat up slightly, propping himself on an elbow. "If you're uncomfortable."

I blinked and realized I was staring. I felt my face flush. "It's not that," I said quickly. "Just...not used to sharing a bed with anyone, outside of family or Kelly."

His brow furrowed. "What about men?"

I shrugged, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "There hasn't really been many, at least, nothing that progressed more...I mean," I took a deep breath and got in under the blankets. "I slept with like one guy before and he left pretty quickly afterward. It wasn't, it didn't mean anything. I was just looking for some sort of...connection, I guess, after Kelly died." I looked over to see him watching me carefully. "Okay, now that I'm embarrassed, we can move on." I laid down on my back and stared at the ceiling. I had almost forgotten about that. I didn't regret it but it was an odd experience to look back on and realize just what I had been after.

He lay back but turned to face me. "You don't need to be embarrassed." He reached over and touched my chin, turning my face to look at him. "I told you, I'll take what you'll give me."

My nose scrunched up before I could stop myself. "I'm just not a very...open person."

He chuckled. "I noticed." He leaned in and kissed me. The nerves started to settle as I kissed him back. Both of us shifted, trying to get a better angle, to get closer. Sam pushed himself up, and without breaking the kiss, managed to position himself between my legs. The kiss deepened and I felt myself start to lose myself in him. His hand moved up my side, sliding under the shirt I wore. He pressed himself further into me, grinding his hips against mine. His lips kissed mine again, then my cheek and moved to my neck. I felt myself arch into him.

By the time I'm through, he'll have fucked us against a wall.

The memory slammed into me. I jerked back and hit my head into the bedframe. I shoved Sam away and scuttled back, pulling my feet into me. My heart pounded in my chest and I looked around as if she was going to be standing there. I heard her voice. It felt etched into me. I leaned forward, trying to catch my breath.

"-chelle?"

I looked over at Sam who was staring at me in concern. "Sam?" I felt tears start to well up in my eyes. This wasn't fair. My throat tightened.

"Hey, hey, hey," he moved closer slowly. "It's okay." His hand touched my knee and I recoiled without meaning to.

"Sorry," I choked out. The tears fell faster.

"No, sweetheart, it's okay."

My heart clenched at the endearment. "I didn't mean…" Was I not even allowed this? The demon was going to haunt me until I died.

"I know," he moved over until he was next to me and then pulled me onto his lap. His arms wrapped around me and I felt him kiss the top of my head. I cried harder.

"I don't...I don't know what's wrong with me," I said, trying to catch my breath. I needed to stop crying.

"Shh, it's okay." He leaned back and tightened his grip on me. "I got you. It'll be okay."

I curled into him and eventually started to calm as I listened to his words, trying to comfort me. It wasn't going to be okay. I wasn't okay. This wasn't fair. To either of us.

[tbc]