AN: I had to think about how to convey this chapter. Hopefully my intention is clear by the end. If you reach the end and think "Wow, they are all asses." I probably didn't write it well enough.

###############

"Son, I am not looking for an argument tonight." John said as he leaned his head back.

"Neither am I." Dean stated.

John snorted.

"I want to know what the plan is." Dean added.

John opened his eyes and studied the young man in front of him. "We don't know yet."

John always had a plan. "Can you at least tell me what you are brain storming?"

"Why, Dean?" John asked bluntly.

"Frankly, Brian can only see things from his point of view and he hasn't been here for most of it. If something is going to happen to her, I think someone who has been here the whole time should have some sort of say." Dean said, reigning in the bite to his words.

"You aren't her father, son." John said evenly.

"I'm not. I know that. She is just a kid. You guys can't expect her to handle all of this rationally."

John took a deep breath and reached to pour himself another whiskey. "Brian isn't asking her to handle things perfectly. What he is asking from her is obedience when she is given an order. She could have gotten herself killed, had you not figured out her plan."

"Had you let me talk to her, none of the rest of this crap would have happened. She got backed into a corner and panicked." Dean spat.

"Dean, if you came down here to piss me off and get the spot light off of her, it is working." John flexed his hand and popped his fingers.

"No, that was Sam's idea but I talked him out of it." Dean said sarcastically. "I am just wanting to make sure her side of the situation is taken into consideration. Think of how confused you were when you found out about demons. You were an adult. She is nine. She has known about the supernatural but it is different when it is in your face. She has these powers that she doesn't know how to control and she is terrified."

John could tell that Dean was sincere. "I'll talk to Brian."

Dean wanted to say more but decided he had said enough. He stood up and turned to go upstairs. He looked over at John, glass in hand and bit the inside of his cheek. He could see the lines crisscrossing his face, forged by lack of sleep and an over abundance of worry. His dad wasn't a cruel man. He trusted him.

John finished his drink and laid back on the couch. He hoped that Sam would leave the arguing to Dean because his nerves were already frayed and he didn't think he could take the younger boy's hardheadedness.

Dean got in bed and watched Kate's chest rise and fall. He wondered how someone so little and harmless could create such havoc.

#############

Sam woke up to voices coming from downstairs. He looked over and saw that Dean and Kate were still sleeping. He thought about the vision Kate had and how real it had felt. He wondered why they both had some kind of ability and why it was active. He had been having dreams for years but nothing like what he had experienced the day before. Something felt off about the yellow house. He hadn't seen the man's face, that was sitting on the sofa but something about the man wouldn't let Sam's mind rest.

Kate started to stir and opened her eyes to Sam's face oddly close to hers. "Sam?"

"Kate, I need you to draw something." He said, and handed her the notebook and pencil.

She stretched. "Can I at least wake up first?"

"The man in the house. I need you to draw what you saw." He insisted.

She sat up and did her best to recreate the scene. "Like this?"

Sam took the notebook and stared at the page. It would work. He rolled out of his bed and went downstairs.

Dean rolled over and groaned. "You two are loud."

Kate sat on the side of Dean's bed and fidgeted with her fingers. "Sam asked me to draw something and then took off."

Dean sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "We are just going to start the morning at full throttle, cool, cool."

Voices floated up the stairs and Kate began to fret.

"Come on, let's head down and see what Sam is doing." Dean said as he pulled a shirt over his head.

"I don't want to." Kate mumbled.

"You can use me as a body shield." He said with a smile.

Kate hopped on his back and let him carry her down the stairs.

John, Brian, Bobby and Sam were in the kitchen, gathered around the drawing. All eyes turned to the two new arrivals.

Dean gritted his teeth and pried Kate's hand from his shoulder. "You need to cut your nails." He sat her down on her feet and let her stand behind him.

Sam tapped the paper. "I think some of this is connected. I have a gut feeling that there is a reason for the vision she and I shared."

Dean looked at the drawing. "That isn't much to go off of."

"No, but, trust me. Something is off about that house." Sam said enthusiastically.

John grabbed another cup of coffee and looked at the page. The drawing was a silhouette but something seemed oddly familiar.

Dean stepped toward the coffee pot and nearly tripped over Kate's foot. "I don't think you need to use me as an actual shield."

Kate stepped to the side a bit but stayed right with him.

"Katie, we have other stuff to talk about first, so you can relax." Brian said.

Kate didn't feel like relaxing.

Bobby laid a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. He tilted his head toward the table.

Kate reluctantly left Dean and sat down.

"What can you tell me about this?" Brian asked.

"I drew everything I saw in that room. I don't know what it means." She answered sheepishly.

He shrugged his shoulder and turned to John. It was decided that John and Dean would check the house out later that day. Sam's theory might have been a long shot but they needed answers.

The crew talked about upcoming hunts and plans for the cabin. Sam and Dean promised to drive up with Brian and Kate to help them get settled.

Bobby offered a spare tire to Kate so she could have a tire swing like the one he had at his house. She spent a lot of time in it and he knew that it would help her feel at home.

Kate got caught up in ideas for the summer and things she wanted to take to the cabin. Her face fell when she heard Brian's tone of voice change.

He looked at his watch. He didn't want to make her wait the entire day. "Kate. I want you to go do your chores and then wait for me."

Kate's eyes immediately flooded but she did as she was told.

Sam got up to follow her.

"Sam, sit." John said firmly.

Sam shot him a heated glare. "I am just going to help with the chores."

John dismissed him with a flick of his hand. He didn't need Sam butting in anyway.

Dean stayed in the kitchen and listened as the two men talked.

Time ticked by and the chores were finished. Kate curled up on Sam's bed and covered herself with a blanket.

"It is going to be okay." Sam said in a soothing tone.

Kate sniffled. "I'm dead."

Sam didn't respond but rubbed circles on her back.

Both of them jumped when they heard Dean's voice raise. "Are you kidding me?"

The sound of a chair scooting across the floor made Sam freeze. He could hear an exchange between his dad and brother but couldn't make out what they were saying. The voices lowered and Sam relaxed slightly.

Kate pulled Sam in front of her at the sound of feet hitting the staircase.

Dean opened the door. "You have to come downstairs."

Sam noted that Dean looked angry.

Dean grabbed Kate's hand and pulled her into a firm hug.

Sam furrowed his brows. Maybe she was dead?

Dean pulled a chair out and motioned for Kate to sit down. He pulled one out as well and sat beside her.

"Boys, you can go." John stated.

Dean didn't move.

Sam stood awkwardly in place, unsure if he should stay or leave.

"I'd like to stick around until she makes a decision." Dean stated.

Brian nodded, letting John know it was okay.

Sam was still lost but sat down on the other side of Kate. Dean never challenged John like that and Sam didn't like the implication.

Brian highlighted what Kate had done wrong and the array of things that could have happened. He let her know that the visions weren't why he was upset, but the choices she made surrounding them.

Kate didn't need him to tell her that she was due for a spanking but hearing the words crushed the last of her hope.

"Now, you have a choice." Brian said, waiting for Kate to look at him.

Dean put his hand on her leg and kept his face blank.

"You can wait for this cut to heal and face consequences then. You will be grounded to the house until then. That means no leaving the house unless I am with you. That will carry over to when we get settled at the cabin. Someone will have eyes on you at all times because I cannot trust you to not go looking through Bobby's books. That also means no training and no weapons."

"I wont. I promise. I learned my lesson." Kate tried to defend herself. Dean was supposed to take her out to let her shoot his new gun.

Brian held his hand up. "Your second option." He began.

Sam saw Dean's jaw twitch.

"You read John. All of this happened because you read him and saw something you shouldn't have."

Kate flicked her eyes to John and back to her dad.

"If you want to get it over with, John will handle it. You will still have eyes on you but you will be allowed more freedom, unless you prove that you still cannot make good choices.

"Dad." Sam started.

Dean shook his head slightly and motioned for Sam to stop.

Kate's mouth dropped open. They could not be serious.

"You are to go upstairs and mull it over. Once you have made a decision, you can have one of the boys come down here. Now, go." He said, tilting his head toward the stairs.

Kate pushed her chair back and darted up the stairs. She sat on Sam's bed and struggled to get her breath.

Sam was right behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He saw Dean and hissed. "He can't."

Dean sat down on his bed and bounced his leg. "That is what I said." Dean knew his dad wouldn't harm Kate but he wasn't fooling himself into thinking he would go easy on her. John was more heavy handed than Bobby. Sure, Bobby could get his point across but there was a reason Dean didn't challenge John.

"She can just wait." Sam decided.

Kate wiped her eyes. "I don't want to have to stay inside. We are leaving in a few days and I don't want to ruin the time we have left."

Dean grimaced. That was the whole reason that Brian had given her the second option. He also knew that if she chose to wait, she would obsess over it and make herself sick.

Kate couldn't think straight. Neither option was good. "Dean, help me." She said pitifully.

Dean understood what she meant and made up his mind. He hugged her to him and kissed the top of her head.

Sam stared at his brother as he walked out of the room. He trusted him, even if he disagreed with the decision he assumed he had made.

Dean appeared in the doorway a moment later. "Sam, come on."

Sam shook his head.

Dean walked over and got on Kate's level. He hugged her one more time. He felt like he was leaving her to be slaughtered, although he knew she would be okay.

"You can go." Kate said to Sam.

Sam left her side and followed Dean. One look into the hallway made him turn back around.

Dean yanked his arm and drug him outside.

John knocked on the wall.

Kate saw him and wanted to run. She trusted Dean too but at the moment she was just scared.

John sat down on the edge of Sam's bed. Kate was petrified of him. He gave her a small smile and looked down at his feet. "Let's talk."

Kate shook her head. She wanted Sam and Dean to come back.

John changed tactics. "Your dad is worried sick. Honestly, everyone is. This isn't fair to you but you deal with what you are given. I can't pretend that I know what it feels like to have a vision. I'm sure it is scary."

Kate eyed him suspiciously.

He smirked. "What did you think was going to happen once you summoned a demon?"

Kate blinked, unable to find her voice.

"We are just going to talk first. I will let you know when the conversation is over, okay?" John offered. He was less patient with the boys but they were different.

Kate relaxed a little. "I don't know. I thought if I could trap it, I could bribe them or something."

John nodded his head. "You saw your dad's gut right? You saw the bruises on his ribs?"

Kate cringed. "Yes."

"He has nearly 200 lbs. on you and has been fighting demons your whole life. You didn't think that you would get seriously hurt attempting something like that?" John's voice was calm.

Kate's eyes teared up. "If it kept him from going to hell, I didn't really care."

"He made that deal so you would live. How do you think he would feel if after all this time, you did something and got yourself killed?"

Kate hadn't thought of it like that.

"Sam and Dean both pointed out that your visions have meaning. They could possibly lead us to answers. However, you shouldn't act on them by yourself. You can come to any of us and explain what you saw. That way, if something can actually be done, one of us can do it." Dean had also pointed out that shouting orders would have the opposite effect on Kate, much like Sam, and he needed to make sure she truly understood why she needed to stop.

"I will from now on." She said quietly.

"The running has to stop too. My boys aren't always going to be there to bring you back, and you owe it to your dad to stay put." He added. "Your dad and I have talked a lot about all of this and we are on the same page. When the year is up and you come back here, we will expect the same things that I am asking of you now."

Kate looked away. She didn't want to give in to the idea that she couldn't prevent it. "What if there is a way and we just don't know it?"

John tapped his fingers on his leg. "We will continue looking but you can't get your hopes up. If you think of something, you can mention it and we can look into it."

"How can I if I can't even read a book about it?"

"You were told to stop looking into it because Brian knew that you would get one shred of information and take off running with it. We have read those books. None of this is simple. You saw a flash of ingredients and decided you knew enough to summon a demon. You are a smart kid but you have to think before doing things." She reminded him so much of Sam.

She let tears fall down her face. "Hell is real. He can't go there."

John put his arm around her shoulders. "It is real. He doesn't deserve to go. I am not arguing that this isn't an awful situation. We have dozens of hunters scouring every book they can find. Your dad needs to know that he can trust you."

Kate leaned into his chest. She felt horrible. She had broken rules that were meant to keep her safe. She didn't want her dad's sacrifice to be worthless. "The talk is over isn't it?"

John smirked and put a hand on her head. "Yeah, I'd say now would be a good time to end it."

Kate sat back and pulled the blanket up to her mouth.

Contrary to what Sam and Dean may have thought, John didn't enjoy disciplining them. He treated it like a duty and made sure they learned their lesson but he preferred when they kept themselves out of trouble. He intended to keep his promise to Brian and make sure she stayed alive. He held his hand out for Kate.

"What's going to happen?" Kate squeaked.

He raised a brow and looked at her. "Now?"

She nodded her head.

He thought it was pretty obvious. "You are going to get your butt warmed."

She scooted back. She tried to form words but couldn't.

John shifted and turned towards her. "Go ahead and say it."

"Are-are you going to use your belt?" She blurted out.

He smirked. "No, Kate. You are way too young for that." He would have to talk to the boys about scaring her. "I am going to use my hand and this." He said, holding up the switch he had peeled.

"W-why THAT?" She asked, eyes glued to the switch.

John would add on licks when his boys questioned him but reconsidered his position. "Because I grabbed it earlier when we were talking outside. I think it will make a good impression and because you need an idea of what it feels like. Your dad is injured but these sting with very little force behind them. If for some reason you forget this little talk, he can refresh your memory."

Kate wanted to assure him that she would learn just fine without the switch but she realized that he hadn't gotten angry at her for asking questions. He was being kind by explaining his reasoning.

"Anymore questions?" He asked.

She shook her head no but didn't let go of the blanket. She wondered if Sam knew this was going to happen. He made the comment about his dad stepping in when they were in the woods.

John snapped his fingers to get her attention. He grabbed her hand and pulled her over to stand between his knees.

"Can I change my mind?" Kate asked pitifully.

"Nope. Let's get this over with." He patted his leg and waited for her to comply.

She awkwardly placed herself over his left leg and tried to get somewhat comfortable. She didn't quite understand the odd position until he placed his other leg over her feet. He didn't pin her feet down, but she wouldn't be able to put them in the way. She let her head hit the bed and felt sorry for herself.

John restated the things she did wrong. He wasn't one for lecturing during a punishment. He gave her a minute to process the situation and then brought his hand down.

Kate sucked in a breath of air and regretted her decision. Everything Sam and Dean had told her about their childhood suddenly made sense.

"Breathe, kid." John said, placing a hand on her back.

"That really hurt!"

He shook his head. He got back to the task at hand and blistered her backside.

She wiggled and understood why he had blocked her feet. "I'm really sorry." She all but yelled. She felt like her skin had been burned.

John gave her a few seconds to calm down. She was still tender from her conversation with Bobby.

Kate threw her hand back. She knew it was not allowed but she had to make it stop. His hand was worse than the stupid hairbrush.

"Move your hand." John ordered.

She pleaded for him to stop but was disheartened when he grabbed her wrist and moved it out of the way. "I learned my lesson. I'm sorry."

John was thorough and had a policy for serious infractions. If the kid could sit comfortably the next day, he wasn't doing them justice. He put his hand on the back of her thigh and spoke. "I expect you to learn your lesson. I know you are sorry. I know you have heard it from Bobby, that he never wants to have this conversation with you again. Kate, I aim to make sure that you truly get that." He turned his attention to her sit spots and didn't stop until he could feel the heat radiating through her jeans. He let go of her hand and put his hand on her back.

Kate tried to calm herself down but the dam broke and she let go of all of the emotions and guilt that had been eating her. She sobbed her heart out until she ran out of tears. She didn't want her dad to die but understood that she couldn't save him by going behind his back. She forgot where she was until John tapped her back.

"Stand up."

She stood up and nearly lost her balance.

John steadied her and wiped some of the tears from her face. He stood up and tapped his own leg with the switch.

Kate's face went white and she pulled away.

"You are only getting three with this. I'm not a brute. If you pull anything like this again, there will be many many more than three but right now you just need the warning." He said.

Kate looked at him like he had three heads. Her butt hurt worse than it had in her entire life, even when Bobby had used the brush. "I don't need a warning, I understand."

John smirked and shook his head. "You can cooperate and we end this with three licks, or you can keep adding to the tally."

Kate froze and shook her head.

He pointed to the end of Sam's bed and told her to bend over. He nudged her along the way, eager to get this behind them.

Kate didn't know what to expect. She didn't have to wait more than a second before she felt like a line of fire had been laid across the middle of her butt. She shot up and covered herself.

John sympathized with her but demanded respect. "Get back in position and lets finish this." He put his hand on her back and delivered the final two quickly. He stood by the fact that he wasn't a brute. He had barely tapped her with it. He knew he didn't need to raise welts on the kid to make a point. He caught her when she jumped back up and pulled her into a hug. He let her cry and shushed her to calm her down. He snapped the switch in half and sat it on the bed. She was, indeed, just a kid.

Kate's brain was still processing how much the switch had stung.

John waited for her to calm down and then held her at arms' length and studied her.

"I'm sorry."

He pulled her back in for a hug and rested his chin on her head. "All is forgiven."

"I'm sorry I read you."

He sat her on his lap and sighed. "I forgive you, Kate. I just don't want you to do it again. That is a breach of privacy."

Kate nodded her head that she understood.

He looked down at his watch. "That wasn't so bad was it?"

Kate looked at him like he was crazy. "Um, that was awful."

He smirked and brushed the hair from her face. "The boys make me out to be some kind of monster. You've grown on me, kid. I don't ever ever want to have to do this again but I will if needed. My boys think of you as their little sister and I consider you family as well."

Kate hugged him. His approval meant a lot to her, even if it came shortly after him nearly killing her. She let go of him and took a few deep breaths before rolling onto Sam's bed.

John reached over and grabbed a slip of paper and jotted something down. He folded it in half and handed it to her. "I'm going to let the boys know you are still alive."

She opened the paper and scoffed. "What is this?"

John gave her a crooked grin. "Just crossing my name off that list you have going."

Kate looked down at the list with her dad, Bobby, Dean and John's names on it.

"Sam's about the only one you haven't managed to get your butt busted by."

Realization hit Kate and she shrieked. "Sam would never!"

John ruffled her hair and left the room.

She knew where Dean got his sick sense of humor from. She may have found the joke hilarious if her backside didn't hurt so bad. She crumpled the paper and tossed it in the trashcan. She smiled to herself and shook her head. 'Sam would never.'