Brian sat at Bobby's table, letting coffee sooth his head. He was groggy and a little out of it. "She did what?"

John told him what Kate had told them.

Brian didn't even know where to start. "Damn it." He said as he sat back in the chair. "How could she do something like that?"

John smirked. "Well, you did sell your soul for her."

Brian rubbed his neck. "That is different."

"I know. Somewhere in her head, she reasoned that all of that was worth it. This idea of hers may actually work." John said.

"Is being held in a piece of rock any better than hell?" Brian asked rhetorically.

"I don't know, Brian. It can't be any worse."

Brian sipped his coffee and thought deeply about what she had done. "She compelled me to sleep?"

John nodded his head. "She did Sam and Dean too, although they woke up pretty easy."

"That may have been the most I have slept in months, although it would have been nice to know beforehand."

"I guess I haven't been sleeping well either. I feel like I have been hit by a truck." John said.

Brian smirked. "You can always have her knock you out."

John chuckled slightly. "Don't give her any ideas."

Dean came down the stairs in search of fresh coffee.

"Is she still up there?" John asked.

"Curled up next to Sam's bed." Dean answered. He sat down and looked at Brian and John. "She tossed and turned for a while and fell asleep a few hours ago."

"We can let her sleep until she wakes up." Brian commented.

Everyone was silent for a while.

John looked over at Brian. He had black circles around his eyes and had gotten jumpy. John sighed heavily. It was too early to hear hounds but the lore was spotty.

Dean picked up his phone when it buzzed. He rolled his eyes and stood up.

"Everything okay?" John asked.

Dean smirked. "Sam wants coffee. He isn't going to take his eyes off of her."

Brian leaned forward and rested his head on his arm.

"Can you hear them?" John asked.

Brian didn't look up. "I don't know for sure. It is too early."

"Are you seeing anything?"

Brian did look up that time. "Only the past few days. I think I'm losing my mind."

John nodded. That would be the lesser of the two evils. "Do you want to give her a chance to try the spell?"

Brian shrugged. "She needs to let me go."

John laughed. "We both know she isn't going to do that."

"I don't want her anywhere near me when the time comes."

"We will make sure she is safe and out of the way. She can show me how to do the spell and I can handle it." John said.

Dean took the coffee up to Sam and quietly entered the room.

Sam was sitting in the floor with Kate's head on his leg.

"Did she wake up?"

Sam shook his head. "She started crying in her sleep."

Dean frowned. "Is she having those dreams again?"

Sam shrugged.

"Dude, find out."

Sam looked up at Dean and furrowed his brows.

"It isn't the same thing. She snuck around behind our backs and compelled us, stole info and lied about it.

Sam sighed. "That hurt."

Dean nodded in agreement but smirked. "You know, now would be a good time to add your name to that list."

Sam gave Dean a crooked grin. "No. I don't have it in me. I'm not stopping you though."

Dean ruffled his hair. "Figure it out, Sammy. We need all the help we can get." He handed him the coffee and left the room.

###########

Kate was sitting next to a small pond, looking at the water.

Sam approached and sat down beside her.

Kate looked up at him. "Why are you here?"

"You were crying in your sleep." Sam said, wrapping an arm around her.

Kate frowned. "I'm sorry."

"I know you are. What are you looking at?"

Kate flicked the water, making it ripple. When it settled, images appeared in the water like a movie.

Sam's heart beat faster.

"The images we got when Hellen touched our eyes." Kate said in explanation.

"Why, though?" Sam asked.

Kate flicked the water again. Each "film" ended in the same fashion.

Sam hugged Kate tighter and wiped her tears. "What do you think it means?"

Kate pulled her knees to her chest. "This is how it ends. No matter what changes, it always ends like this."

Sam watched the water as the scene played out. It was the same as the first vision he had pulled her from. She ran through the woods and tripped, an invisible force grabbed her leg and claws tore the skin on her leg. He flicked the water numerous times and it always ended the same. "This is just something Hellen showed you. It doesn't have to end like that."

Kate sighed. "Yeah it does. Sam, I know you are mad but please understand. I had to try to help my dad. I didn't know about this part until now but I'm okay with it."

Sam shook his head. "No, I'm not going to let those things get you. You can stay in a safe room where they can't get in, then you wont be in the woods, which changes the whole thing."

She showed him a few things that she couldn't' quite explain.

"You don't care if you die, do you?" Sam asked.

Kate slumped. "If I can save my dad, who cares."

Sam's eyes narrowed. "I do. Dean does and Bobby and your dad and my dad."

Kate let tears fall. "It is easier if everyone is mad at me."

Sam rubbed his head. "You really think that we are too mad to forgive you?"

Kate shrugged.

Sam sighed. "I am upset. I feel betrayed but have already forgiven you. I understand that not everything is black and white and you did it because you thought you had to. Dean is going to have some choice words but he doesn't hold a grudge. He was worried about you when he heard you were crying in your sleep. You may have to face him about the invasion of privacy and forcing him to help you, but I think he is a pretty fair person."

Kate rested her head on his shoulder.

"Your dad is stressed and scared but will forgive you. After all, you did this to try to help him. Sam thing with Bobby and my dad. You put yourself in extreme danger several times and we had no idea. That is scary and frustrating. If anything, you have made dad realize my stint in Flagstaff wasn't the end of the world." Sam said with a smile.

Kate had heard the Flagstaff story. "I'm going to die."

"You aren't going to die."

"They are going to kill me, revive me and kill me again." Kate said woefully.

"You'll be alive in the end, though." Sam said with a shrug.

Kate let her head drop.

"Listen, when you wake up, you'll have a chance to explain some more things. I'm not saying it will help your case but it may help build a case for using the spell. I can help you explain it as well. Seeing some of this stuff did help me understand a little more."

Kate hugged him. "Thanks Sam."

Sam rubbed her back. "Sleep and stop watching the water." Sam said somewhat sternly.

Kate wrinkled her nose. "You sound like Dean."

Sam smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Kate's vision faded as she fell back to sleep.

Sam rested his back against his bed. Visions always made his head hurt. He sipped his coffee and reached for a notebook to write things down.

#####

Downstairs, everyone was discussing the Kate situation. There was no good way to handle it.

John encouraged Brian to tell them about the things he had heard and seen.

Bobby stood back and watched them interact. Brian did look haggard. He didn't seem completely with it. Bobby wanted him to pull it together for Kate's sake but he feared the hounds may be closer than they should be. No one could possibly hold onto complete sanity with that weeks away.

"Would the demon mess with the deal and send them early?" Dean asked.

No one knew for sure. "I haven't heard of it but a demon is a demon." John said.

Brian bowed his head. "I don't want it to be here. When they come, I don't want to be here, in this house. I don't want Kate to be anywhere around it."

They all agreed on that.

The general mood was depressing and somber. They were discussing the imminent death and aftermath of a dear friend.

"I want a hunter's funeral." Brian said. "I don't want her there for that either."

Dean snorted. "We might be able to hold her off for a while but there is no way we can keep her from that."

"I can't have her see me like that."

John thought about it. "She may need the closure. We could hold her back until after the wrapping."

Brian was satisfied with that. "Are you going to sign those papers?"

John nodded. "She is adamant that we wait until after everything is said and done because she is convinced that we will hate her for this particular stunt and doesn't want me to commit to it and be stuck with her."

Brian groaned. "She did mess up pretty bad."

John chuckled. "She did. I have come around to the idea and I don't see why I shouldn't sign them."

"What are we going to do about all of... that." Dean asked, waving his hand toward the stairs.

John looked at Brian for guidance.

Brian rubbed his neck. He looked up at John and tried to adjust his eyes.

"Seeing stuff?" John asked.

Brian nodded. "I think it is meant to spook the person."

Bobby sat down. "I have heard it is something like seeing beyond the vail."

"If you need me to be the bad guy, I don't mind." John said.

Brian laughed. "I can't do that to you."

John smirked. "She is stuck with us after all of this anyway. If you need some time and want to focus on spending time with her. I can handle it."

Brian thought about it. Would he be able to deal with her transgressions when he could hardly see straight? Could he remain calm when things got distorted? "I'd like to talk to her first."

########
Kate finally woke up and wanted to stay curled into her blankets.

Sam went downstairs to get more coffee.

Dean crouched down beside Kate. "You can't hide in here all day."

Kate groaned. "Why?"

"We have questions." Dean said.

Kate groaned again.

Dean pulled at her blanket. "Up and at 'em."

Kate sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"Change or whatever and get yourself woken up. You look like you rolled around in a dirt pile."

Kate scrunched her nose. "You try running through the woods blindly without tripping."

Dean grinned. "Nope. You are the only one crazy enough for that."

Kate pulled her blanket back over her head.

Dean patted her. "I'll be on the stairs."

Kate very reluctantly did as she was told. She washed her face and arms. She put on clean clothes and tried to tame her hair. It had leaves and stuff stuck in it.

Sam gently knocked on the door.

Kate frowned and sat down on the edge of the tub.

He smiled. "I didn't even notice the leaves last night." He helped her brush out the tangles and braided it out of her face. "There."

Dean walked into the bathroom and looked at her. "Don't think wearing my clothes will butter me up."

Kate looked down at the shirt she had taken from him. "It is comfy and I assumed I wouldn't want to wear pants today."

Dean recoiled. "But... you have on pants right?"

Kate rolled her eyes. "Volleyball shorts. The way the shirt smells makes me happy."

Dean hugged her to him. "Fair enough."

"Do I have to go downstairs?" Kate whined.

Dean smirked. "Yeah. I don't think stalling is helping you any."

"If you were in my shoes you would be less eager."

Dean squeezed her. "I have been in your shoes and didn't get the benefit of getting a nap first."

Kate scoffed. "You aren't helping."

Dean put his hand behind her. "Let's go or I'll have to carry you down." He said, stooping like he was going to lift her.

Kate jumped. "No thanks."

Sam shook his head. He knew Dean wasn't downplaying just how much trouble she was in but had a weird way of making it alright.

Kate stopped at the bottom of the stairs. She grunted and stumbled when Dean nudged her forward. She shot him a dirty look.

Brian pointed to the chair beside him. "Looks like you had a busy night last night."

Kate's face turned red. "Yes, sir."

Brian asked her questions, filling in the gaps.

Kate did her best to answer but wanted more than anything to teleport out of the kitchen.

Bobby handed Sam and Kate plates of food for breakfast.

Kate looked at the plate sadly. "I don't think I'm hungry."

Bobby handed her a fork. "You haven't eaten since yesterday. Go ahead and eat at least some of it."

Kate found eating to be a bit of a distraction. Chewing gave her longer to think before she answered questions.

"Tell them what you showed me earlier." Sam said.

Kate's face dropped. "About the water?"

Sam nodded. "She showed me some of the stuff that she didn't have words for. Her heart was in the right place, just not so much her head."

Kate frowned. "Hey, you are supposed to be on my side."

Sam shrugged. "I did say your heart was in the right place."

Kate sighed. "I didn't know until last night, when I was asleep... The flashes of images that Hellen did to me and Sam... they were of how this ends."

Brian shifted. "Go on."

Kate bit back a squeak. "One of my first big, scary visions was of me running through the woods and being chased by something. I tripped and something grabbed my leg and clawed me. Then Sam woke me up. The images were of the different ways that could go."

Sam saw the distraught look in her eyes. "It was like a simulation. Each one had a different beginning but ended the exact same; her running through the forest and getting her leg clawed to shreds."

Brian reached over and pulled her onto his lap and hugged her. "We will not let that happen."

Kate sniffled. "The visions end after my leg gets hurt. There is nothing beyond that."

Dean shifted. "That could just mean that no one knows what will happen. Maybe it is just that and one of us is able to pull you away."

Kate shrugged. "I'm okay with it. I have made my peace."

Brian stiffened. "No, young lady. That is not something you make peace with. They are just visions and we will prevent you from being in the woods in the first place."

Kate twisted from the increased pressure he put on her with his arms. "I can show you, dad."

Brian looked hesitant. "Do it."

Kate put her hands on his head for a few moments before both of them jerked backwards.

Brian couldn't breathe. He was not going to let that happen to her.

Kate pushed herself off his lap and stumbled backwards. "What was THAT?"

Brian looked down at her. "Did you just read me?!"

Kate shook her head wildly. "No. I promise. I can't read and show at the same time."

Brian got up and walked out of the kitchen to catch his breath.

John put his hand out for Kate to grab. He pulled her to him and held her as she shook. "What happened?"

"Your faces." Was all she said.

"Can you show Sam?" Dean asked.

Kate nodded. She put her hands on Sam's face.

Sam pulled his head back and looked around the room.

Brian had walked back into the kitchen and took her from John. "I'm so sorry, Katie. I panicked." He hugged her firmly.

"So... is that what you are seeing right now?" Sam asked.

Brian sat down and held on to Kate. "Yes. It seems to get worse the more stressed I am."

Bobby, Dean and John were still waiting for an explanation.

"We don't look like normal people. We look like some kind of distorted monsters." Sam said.

Bobby rubbed his face. "We aren't though. At least I'm not."

Brian sighed. "It comes and goes, like walking by something and catching it out of the corner of your eye."

Kate whimpered. "I'm sorry."

He rubbed her back. "It isn't your fault."

"Yes it is. If I hadn't messed up so bad you wouldn't be so stressed. I'm driving you crazy."

Brian lifted her chin. "I'm not crazy and regardless of how bad you messed up, this isn't your fault."

They talked for a while longer and Kate zoned out. She just wanted to get it over with so she could get to part two of the plan.

Brian tapped her arm. "Kate. Earth to Kate."

Kate blinked and blushed. "Sorry."

Brian rubbed her arm. "You are so incredibly smart. We are amazed that you were able to rustle up all of that information on your own."

Kate turned to look at him.

"We will listen to what you have to say about the rest of it but it doesn't negate the fact that you did a whole lot of shady things to get there."

Kate frowned. If she had teleportation powers, it would make her life easier.

"I'm sorry. I know what I did was wrong but the plan may actually work."

Brian put his hand up. "It may. If you were rushing someone to the hospital and ran over a bunch of pedestrians on the way there, would that be okay as long as you got the person there in time?"

Kate hid her face. "No, sir."

"Okay, then." He said, standing her up. "What do you think needs to be done to rectify that?"

Kate blanched. "What?"

Brian nodded his head. "You put so much thought into how to hide all of it, I'd like you to put some thought into what needs to happen now."

Kate whipped her head around to look at the other people, just to make sure she wasn't losing her mind.

Brian waited a few minutes. "You can come up with something or I will."

"But dad. I am already really really sorry."

Brian shook his head.

Kate didn't like being asked to shoot herself in her own foot.

Brian led her to the hallway and knelt on one knee. "I appreciate that you did this to try to save me but that doesn't make it okay. I made my choice and have to accept the consequences. Just like you do now." He squinted his eyes for a few moments.

"Scary monster face?" Kate asked.

Brian nodded.

Kate frowned.

Brian cleared his throat. "Think about what you did behind our backs. You compelled both Sam and Dean. You lied and snuck around for months and brought a civilian in on your plan. That is just the tip of the ice burg. I can't just pretend that everything evens out because you may have found a way to save my soul."

Kate looked away from him. "If you feel too stressed out and need to wait, I get it." She tried, looking back at him with pleading eyes.

Brian had to smirk. "Aren't you just looking out for everyone. I'm serious. I need you to understand just how badly things could go."

Kate looked away again. "I do understand."

He shook his head. "I don't think you do."

"I'm not trying to get out of it. I am really concerned. I saw what you are seeing."

Brian searched her eyes. He didn't want this to be one of her last memories of him. "Would you prefer John handle it?"

Kate grimaced. "I'd prefer to chop my foot off."

Brian fixed her with a glare. "I am serious."

Kate shifted from foot to foot. "He is scary."

Brian looked toward the kitchen. "Is he unfair."

Kate wanted to argue. "No sir."

"That is your choice. I do not like delegating my responsibilities so you tell me what you need."

Kate tilted her head. "To be able to teleport."

Brian swatted her thigh. "I need you to focus."

Kate whined. "Dad, how am I supposed to decide something like that?"

"You did last time."

Kate huffed. "Last time was nothing compared to this time. If Mr. John does it, will he still adopt me?"

Brian furrowed his brows. "Yes, Kate."

"That is if I'm still alive."

Brian rubbed his face. "That is a little dramatic."

"I don't WANT him to 'handle it' because he is scary but I only have such a short amount of time left with you and I don't want you to have to." Kate reasoned.

Brian wondered if she had gotten that from his head as well. "If you are certain, you can go tell him."

Kate's mouth fell open. "Dad."

Brian brushed hair from her face but flinched.

"I can help you sleep." Kate offered.

"I'm not going to check out at a time like this." Brian responded.

"You are jumpy and miserable. Every time you look at me you see something that isn't there. I know that all of this is making it so much worse. I can help you and it will help put my mind at ease. I'll know you are resting and not fighting demons." Kate said sadly.

Brian hugged her. "That is the cowards way out."

Kate shook her head. "Please, daddy."

Brian didn't like the idea but his vision was getting increasingly distorted. His fight instincts were kicking in and he had to remind himself not to swing when she moved. He bit his cheek. "Maybe we should talk to the others first."

The others agreed that it may be a good idea and that they wouldn't look down on him for resting.

John, admittedly was concerned by how easily he was flinching. He had considered asking for his gun just incase he tipped toward the non-reality side.

Brian reluctantly left the kitchen to go upstairs. He felt like less of a man but knew that he may snap if the conditions were right.

Kate sat down on his bed and held his hand. "Thanks, dad."

Brian looked at her.

Kate thought about it. "Letting me help you. I know it is hard but I can keep you safe a little while longer and when you wake up we can maybe go fishing or something, okay?"

Brian went to touch her cheek but stopped himself. He knew the little girl in front of him was Kate but he was losing his perception. "Just make sure I do wake up." He said with a smirk.

Kate grinned. "Scouts honor." She laid down on the bed beside him and told him a story like Sam did when she couldn't sleep. She touched his face once he fell asleep, just to make sure her idea worked. She smiled brightly when she saw him and her mom sitting on a park bench, laughing. She wiped a tear away and patted his chest. He could be happy for a little while. She got a few moments to see her mom's face the way her dad remembered it. She shut the bedroom door. 'Maybe I can get him into heaven and he can see my mom again.' she thought. She stood at the top of the stairs. Part of her reasoned that they couldn't be mad at her if she had a broken leg. She also reasoned that if she was unconscious they couldn't do anything.

Sam walked into the hallway and looked up at her. "Thinking about throwing yourself down the stairs?"

She tilted her head and blushed. "Can you read me now?"

Sam smirked. "No. I've just thought about it a few times myself." He walked up and grabbed her hand. "You'd eventually recover and be in trouble for that on top of everything else."

Kate scrunched her face. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

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

Edited to add an author's note. I have the next chapter in my head but aim to please the masses. If you have ideas or preferences as to how this goes down, let me know. Thoughts?