Brian stumbled down the stairs and poured himself a glass of whiskey. His head was burning from lack of sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he heard barking and snarling. He had told Kate that he would consider her help but wanted to wait a few days. He didn't want her to experience what he was feeling. He had spoken to John about taking off on his own to keep her safe but John was certain that she would take off as well.
Bobby heard movement in the kitchen and opened his door. He found Brian sitting at the table.
Brian shuttered when he saw Bobby. He put his hands over his eyes and rested his head on his palms.
"Is it getting bad?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah, Bobby. It is." Brian answered.
Bobby sighed. "Is there anything I can do?"
Brian shook his head. "I'm just going to numb all of it."
Bobby cringed. He wanted to say that the alcohol wouldn't help but who was he to stop Brian from trying to distract himself? He put a heavy and on Brian's shoulder. "I'm right in there. Let me know if you need anything."
Brian nodded once and went back to his drink.
Bobby laid back in his bed but left the door cracked just incase Brian lost control.
Sam rolled over and looked at Kate. She was shifting in her sleep and her breathing was erratic. He threw his blanket and pillow in the floor and laid down beside her. He checked her bracelet and laid back down.
Dean opened his eyes when he heard movement. He smiled inwardly when he saw Sam in the floor beside Kate.
Sam looked up and made eye contact with Dean before rolling over and going back to sleep.
Kate sifted through dreams that rushed through her head. Some of the dreams were ones she had already had but others were new. She had another vision about running through the woods and being chased by a hellhound. She fell back onto the ground and felt the claw pierce her leg. She saw a blinding white light and wondered if she went to Heaven. The vision ended and was replaced with another vision of her mother. Ruth smiled warmly and took Kate's hand and spun her in a circle like a ballerina. "I'll see you soon." Ruth said. "Am I going to die?" Kate asked. Ruth smiled again. "No, my dear." The vision ended.
Kate opened her eyes and felt her heart racing. She moved her hand and felt Sam beside her. She rolled over and put her hand on his shoulder. She pulled her blankets up over her face and fell back to sleep.
###############
John woke up before the sun, as he usually did. He walked into the kitchen to start some coffee and saw Brian sleeping at the table. He put his hand on Brian's shoulder and shook him gently.
Brian startled and swung, nearly catching John in the solar plex.
John blocked him.
"God, John." Brian slurred.
John handed him a glass of water and some pills. "You should get a shower and maybe lay back down so Kate doesn't see you like this."
Brian groaned and stumbled out of the room.
John cleaned up the table and put the bottles away. He had been there before and the boys expressed their displeasure in seeing him in that state. Kate didn't need that on her plate. He started the coffee and decided to check to make sure Brian had made it up the stairs. He heard the shower running and turned to check on the kids. He cracked the door. He smirked at the two in the floor. Dean was still sleeping peacefully so he reasoned that Sam had kept Kate from having nightmares. He shut the door and pressed his forehead against it. How was he going to manage the aftermath of all of this? He didn't really know how to deal with emotions, especially Kate's. He admitted that he had forced Sam and Dean to swallow their own emotions but Kate was about to go through something that neither of the boys had experienced. When Mary had died, it was sudden. Kate had known that Brian would die for months. She had seen his decline and her abilities made the whole situation so much worse. He rocked back and rubbed his face. He knew Sam and Dean would take over and he wasn't going to fight them on it.
Sam woke up when John opened the door but didn't move. He wasn't going to budge until Kate woke up. She needed her rest and the small hand on his shoulder made him happy. He remembered being little and having bad dreams. Dean would lay down beside him and he would wrap his hand in Dean's shirt to fall asleep. It didn't matter how bad the dreams got or what was outside, Dean could make it all seem okay. It flattered him that he could do that for Kate.
Brian shut the water off. He was still not sober. He decided to sleep it off. John was right, Kate didn't need to see him like that.
##############
Sam looked at the rows of chains and pendants in a small shop. He had promised Kate that he would get her a memento so she had a reminder of her dad. Nothing stood out and it frustrated him. He wanted it to be special. Having a necklace or bracelet wouldn't' make things okay but it would be a small piece to the puzzle that would be a lifetime of recovery. He took his time looking at each item. He knew that he wouldn't walk away with anything but, truthfully, he needed to clear his head. He had seen the new plan and Dean had taken him to the warehouse but he felt unsettled. Kate was calm on the outside but she had nightmares each night and he knew for a fact that she was at her breaking point.
Dean walked around the aisle. "Sammy, hurry up."
Sam sighed and followed him.
"Couldn't find what you want?" Dean asked.
"No. Everything seems silly now." Sam said, sadly.
Dean tossed him a bag of jellybeans. "These should work for now."
They paid for the last remaining things they needed for the plan. The cashier at the hardware store gave them an odd look but didn't ask questions.
Bobby had called up a few extra hunters, just incase things got out of hand.
John was helping Brian dig into his family's history. Kate had requested information on her grandparents and great grandparents so the two had made some calls to find papers on both Ruth and Brian's families.
Kate read one of the papers Brian had given her. "Dad, is this where I got my name?" She asked.
Brian looked at it. "I think so, Kate. Your mom spoke fondly of her grandmother. They called her Millie, which is where your stuffed animal got it's name but I didn't realize her real name was Amelia."
Kate smiled. She felt like she had roots for once. "Do I have cousins?"
Brian shrugged. "I don't think so, although I can ask around. I had a sister but she died when she was three."
Kate frowned deeply. "Oh." She wondered if their family was cursed. She tucked the papers back into a box and looked out the window. She felt herself relax slightly when she saw the impala turn into the drive way. She opened the front door and waited on the porch.
Sam got out and loaded his arms with bags. He scooted by her as she held the door open. After he sat things down on the floor he handed her the pack of jellybeans.
Kate smiled brightly and took them. "Thanks, Sammy."
Dean unloaded the rest of the stuff and brought it inside. He was pleased to see the smile on her face.
Brian left the living room in search of something to take the edge off his worry. He didn't know how much longer he could hold himself together.
Kate followed him into the kitchen. "Let me read you."
"No!" Brian shouted at her then covered his face. "I'm sorry, Kate. I didn't mean to yell."
Kate stepped back when he shouted but told him it was okay. He had been shut down and distant the past few days and she felt like she had already lost him. She hung her head and went back to Sam and Dean. They were always happy to see her. "Can I go with you?" She asked Dean.
Dean looked at her. "I don't think that is a good idea."
She gave him the puppy dog eyes. "Please. If I see what things look like, I will not be so confused when we leave."
Dean squinted his eyes. "Are you planning something?"
Kate's eyes got wide. "No. I swear. It is always best to scope out a place first and let each team member know where to go and when. Not knowing what the inside of the building looks like could be detrimental if something doesn't go as planned."
Dean rolled his eyes. "Detrimental is it? Okay mini Sam."
Sam chuckled. "It isn't that big of a word, dumbass."
Dean sighed. "Fine. You can go up there with me and Sam but I swear Kate, if you pull anything I will..."
"Gently redirect me. Got it." Kate said with a grin.
Dean narrowed his eyes at her. "Watch it."
Kate crinkled her nose. "I will be on my best behavior."
Dean laughed. "Yeah, that doesn't mean much."
Kate jumped on the couch so she could smack the back of his head.
He moved and flipped her upside down.
She giggled and tried to get away. "Okay okay. I promise I will stay out of the way and not plan anything."
Dean acted like he was going to drop her on her head. "Good."
Sam went to tell Brian what they were going to do.
Brian waved him off. He couldn't think clearly enough to object.
Once they got in the impala, Kate propped her feet on the back of the front seat.
Dean swatted her feet down and glared at her jokingly.
Kate stuck her tongue out at him and looked out the window. "So, full transparency... I'm going to read my dad when we get back."
Dean looked in the rearview mirror. "Didn't he say no?"
Kate shifted in her seat. "Yes."
"Then that means no." Dean said.
Kate rolled her eyes. "He isn't thinking clearly. The plan wont work if he is too out of it to know when we should go."
Dean made a sound in the back of his throat. "How about we run that by the others. I agree that he is out of it but I don't want you running around reading people without their permission."
Kate sunk down in the seat. "Yeah, I got that, crystal clear."
"What is with the attitude?" Dean asked, lightly.
"It is part of my charm." She replied.
Sam smirked at Dean. "Wouldn't you be worried if she didn't have an attitude?"
Dean laughed. "Yeah because that would mean she got body swapped and some other kid got left with us."
Kate sat up. "Y'all are mean."
Sam reached back and tweaked her nose. "Nah, you are fun. We are just giving you a hard time."
Kate looked out the window as the warehouse came into view. She suddenly felt cold. She bit back tears and took a deep breath.
Dean stopped the car and put a hand on her leg. "Are you sure about this?"
Kate huffed. "Yes, Dean."
Dean opened the heavy doors and let Sam and Kate go inside. "If you feel overwhelmed or need a hug or anything, we are right here."
Kate rubbed her hands up and down her arms. "Thanks."
Dean led her down the hallway to the room that would be the center of the operation. He showed her the route they would take once she had done the spell.
She looked around the room and sighed. This was it.
Sam hugged her and sat down in one of the chairs that had been left behind.
Kate put her head on his shoulder. She felt like she was floating out of her body and nothing felt real. She still had the vision of her running through the forest in her head. When she had gotten out of the car, she had looked around and recognized the area from her vision. She didn't mention it though. That was her burden and they were so convinced that the vision wouldn't come true. She just had to follow directions and stay with Dean so that she never wound up in the woods. She held the crystal against her chest and let the steady pulse calm her heart down. She had gotten attached to the being in the crystal. When she was alone, she spoke to it like the person was sitting in the room with her. When she was scared, the crystal mimicked a heartbeat. She knew that the soul inside couldn't hear or feel anything but the thought of it responding to her made her feel a little better.
They wrapped up at the warehouse and headed back to Bobby's.
"Do you think she is okay?" Dean asked Sam.
Sam shook his head. "No, not at all."
Dean grimaced. He couldn't imagine the turmoil she was feeling. He could focus on getting her through the ordeal, safely but she was focused on so much more. "I don't think she should be alone."
Sam agreed. They'd make sure she was with one of them, or Bobby at all times.
Dean spoke quietly to John and then went upstairs to find Katie.
John grabbed Bobby and followed.
Brian was passed out in the other room.
Sam sat down beside Kate on the bed and wrapped is blanket around her.
"What is it?" John asked, quietly.
Dean cleared his throat. "Kate wants to read Brian."
Bobby raised a brow. "He said no, sweetie."
Kate sighed. "I know. He isn't himself. He is going crazy and we need to have a good idea of what things look like. Out of respect, I didn't just go behind your back and read him, I said I was going to. I love my dad and I know reading someone without permission isn't good but he needs help. It is unsafe for everyone at this point."
John relaxed his shoulders. "What ever happened to just being a kid?" He asked rhetorically.
Kate looked at him. "I think that went out the window when my mom died."
Sam squeezed her. He knew how she felt.
"I guess I wont do it if I'm told not to but I think this is our best shot. I'll teach Sam how to wipe memories so he can if he needs to. Please."
John sat down on the other bed and looked at Bobby.
Bobby scrubbed his chin. "Can you do a quick read and walk away from it or does it stick with you?"
"I can try to do a quick read. Sam can stay with me so he can yank me out if I stay too long." Kate answered.
Neither Bobby or John were thrilled with the idea but she had a valid point.
John sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay."
Kate perked up. "Wait, really?"
John furrowed his brows. "You make a good case."
"Uh, wow. Okay." Kate said, unsure what to do.
Dean looked at her. "Were you in the middle of weighing if it was worth getting in trouble over when we said no?" He smirked.
Kate blushed.
Dean ruffled her hair. "I'm not even psychic."
Kate rolled away from him. "No, just a pain in the ass."
Dean swatted her leg. "Language."
Kate yelped. "Oh come on, you call Sammy a bitch."
He grinned. "I'm an adult and Sammy is my brother."
"You called him that before you were an adult and according to paperwork I'm your sister."
John grinned, showing his dimples. He enjoyed seeing her argue with Dean.
Dean laughed. "Still, watch your mouth."
She reached out and hugged him. "You are a pretty cool pain in the ass." She said as she quickly threw herself back behind Sam.
"You are too, kid, you are too." He said as he stood up and threw a pillow at her. "We grown ups are going to go downstairs, don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Kate rolled her eyes and threw the pillow back.
Dean dodged it and handed it back to Sam. Any moment of laughter he could draw from her made him content. She could call him a pain in the ass if it meant she was herself for a brief second.
#########
Kate tiptoed into Brian's room. He was jumpy and she didn't want to scare him or get hit. She gently placed her hand on him and closed her eyes.
Sam held her other hand and put his body between Kate and Brian.
Kate stood beside her dad as he looked out the kitchen window. Blurry silhouettes darted by, just out of her line of site. The creatures were fast and moved effortlessly. She cringed when she heard a familiar, sickening howl. She turned to see Brian's face filled with fear. No wonder he had been out of it. She wondered if he could see them or if it was a hallucination. She dug around for the exact day and time that he had made the deal and compared it to the time she had seen. She walked out of Bobby's kitchen and opened the back door. A hand pulled her back.
"Katie, this isn't part of the deal." Sam said.
Kate looked at him with pleading eyes. "Walk with me. Please."
Sam followed her.
She pointed to the tree line. "Can you see them?"
Sam shook his head.
"There are two of them, running around the outside of the warding."
Sam pulled her arm. "Kate, we need to go."
Kate walked back in the house and locked the door. "I want to find some happy memories so he can rest for a while."
Sam was antsy. "Okay but do not let go of my hand."
Kate pulled him through the hallway and closed her eyes. When she opened them again she was standing in her old house. She could smell muffins and a smile lit up her face at the sound of her mother's voice. "This is it."
Sam watched as Brian walked into the room and scooped Ruth into his arms. They spun in a circle and kissed. He took her hand and spun her away from him and then back to him. Brian was actually a good dancer.
Kate sat down at the table and watched her parents.
Sam put a hand on her arm. "We need to go."
Kate wiped tears from her eyes but followed him out of he house.
Kate still had tears in her eyes when she removed her hand from Brian's.
"That was nice of you." Sam said.
Kate hugged him. "Thanks for letting me spend a little extra time."
Sam looked down at Brian who was still sleeping. He noted a small smile that appeared on Brian's face. He took Kate's hand and left Brian's room. "Did you get what you needed?"
Kate nodded.
Sam sat down on the top of the stairs. "Did you take more than you needed?"
Kate frowned. "You and Dean are annoying."
He smirked. "So you did?"
Kate sighed. "I'll know when they are close."
He put a hand on her knee. "Will he?"
She nodded. "I could have kept him in an endless loop of his favorite memory but I just gave him enough to sleep and took enough that I can see what he sees. They're here, Sam."
"Right now?" Sam looked around him.
Kate shook her head. "It is like sharks circling a ship."
Sam hugged her to him. "Kate, I'm so sorry."
"Why would they come now?"
Sam didn't know. "Could your dad have messed up the days?"
She shook her head. "I have the exact day and time that he remembers but why does his clock have another time?"
Dean appeared at the bottom of the stairs. "You okay?"
Kate stood up and walked halfway down before shaking her head.
Dean met her in the middle and scooped her up. He carried her downstairs and sat down on the couch. He let her cry until she couldn't cry anymore.
Sam brought her some water. "She saw them."
Dean cringed. "That doesn't sound good."
She wracked her brain for a reason that the days were different. Could he have made another deal? Did her messing with his deal cause it to come faster? "I want to find out why the dates are different."
Sam shook his head. "You can't go back in his head. Even if you found out, it wouldn't change anything."
Kate slumped. "What if it is my fault?"
Dean rubbed her back. "It isn't."
"You don't know that." She nearly wailed.
"We can ask him when he wakes up. Even if you did somehow, someway adjust the time, you are saving him." Dean said, reassuringly.
She wiped her face. She was deep in thought, trying to find a way around this new information.
Dean watched her face as she thought. There was no way she was going to be left alone for a split second because he knew she would throw herself on a sword faster than any of them could blink. "We have a plan, you don't need to go rogue."
Kate groaned. "Will you stop?"
Dean shifted her so he could look into her eyes. "I'm serious. You feel guilty and none of this is your fault. Please, Kate. Do not go off the plan."
Kate looked away from him. "It should have been me. I could have died as a baby and my dad would never have to go through this. I even killed my mom. I could go out there instead of my dad." She rambled.
Dean stood her up and swatted her twice.
Kate jumped and put her hands behind her. "What was that for?"
Dean grabbed her elbows and leveled her with a stern expression. "Don't ever talk like that. You are important and I'm glad your dad saved you. You were an infant when your mom died and that was the demon's fault. I know you are stressed and grasping at straws but sacrificing yourself isn't an option. Do you understand?"
Kate avoided his gaze. "Yeah but you didn't have to slap me."
Dean blew air through his nose. "It got your attention."
Kate glared at him.
Dean glared back. "No going off the plan and no running off to feed yourself to the sharks." His face softened. "I'm a bit too fond of you for you to be disappearing now."
Kate smiled weakly. "A bit fond?"
He pulled her back to him. "A lot fond. So if I hear you say anything like that again, we are going to have a long talk."
Kate hid a smile. "Don't say it out loud, got it." She screeched when he tried to stand her back up. "I'm joking!"
Dean laughed. "You have a dark sense of humor."
Kate fell back onto the couch. "Cuz I hang out with you two so much."
Dean rolled his eyes. "Joking aside, are we clear?"
Kate nodded. "Crystal." She still felt depressed and guilty but she needed to stay alive. She wouldn't let her dad die in vain and realized that Sam and Dean would be sad if she wasn't there. They would be so bored without her. She shifted her focus to a day when she didn't hurt so badly. "Can I carve a W beside my initials in the impala?"
John walked into the living room. "Excuse me, carve.. impala?"
Dean covered her mouth and hid her behind a pillow. "Nothing!"
John smiled and smacked Dean's head. He knew about the initials but they treated it like a secret.
Kate looked over the back of the couch and smiled sweetly. "I didn't say anything."
John lightly tapped her head as well. "That's what I thought."
Kate rested her arms over the back of the couch. "I read my dad."
"What did you find?" John asked.
She sighed heavily. "He is seeing them running around outside the warding. He is sleeping now and dreaming about my mom."
John tilted his head. "I'm guessing you had something to do with that."
Kate shrugged. "Sam let me."
Sam scoffed. "Right under the bus."
John put a gentle hand on top of her head. "He needs the rest."
She was happy that everyone was agreeing with her. "I want to know about the dates but Dean says we can ask him when he wakes up."
"That sounds like a good idea, kiddo." He gave her a warm smile. "Are any of you hungry?"
Dean looked offended. "Always."
"How about you three go down to the diner and grab something."
Kate squinted her eyes. "Are you trying to get me out of the house? Are you planning something? You can't expect me to be honest if you are going to go behind my back."
John put a hand up. "Yes, I am trying to get you out of the house. No, we are not planning anything. Your dad will be resting for a while and I think it would do you some good to get out and enjoy a meal."
Kate was skeptical.
"You can read me if it makes you feel better." John said.
Kate's eyes got big. "I believe you."
John chuckled. "Good. I need you two get these two lugs out of the house. They are going stir crazy and driving me crazy because of it."
Kate smiled. "I can do that."
He wrote down what he wanted and went to ask Bobby as well. "Here, don't take too long but enjoy yourselves."
Dean took the paper and grabbed his keys.
Sam and Kate jumped up and followed him out to the car.
"That was weird." Kate said.
Sam didn't disagree. "I think he feels bad and is trying to be... nice."
Dean laughed. He wasn't a cruel man but sometimes his attempts at being nice came across as odd. "Don't jinx it."
##########
Bobby was at his desk eating the burger that the kids had brought back. He was up to his eyebrows in papers and books. His main focus was Kate but he had been asked to assist on a few cases. All he had to do was find the appropriate lore.
Kate was sitting on the tire swing as Sam pushed her. She was lost in her thoughts.
Sam stopped the swing. "What is it?"
"They stopped." Kate said.
Sam turned her toward him.
Kate draped her arms over the top of the tire. "They have been running laps but they stopped."
Sam looked around. "We should go back inside."
Kate got off the tire but stopped before she walked through the door. "This stays between us." She said, pointedly and grabbed his hand for a few seconds.
Sam blinked several times and then opened the door for her.
Brian had woken up and was sitting at the table.
Kate looked at him wearily.
He held his arm out to let her know it was okay to hug him. "I'm sorry, Kate."
She smiled slightly. "It is okay dad."
Brian stayed out of it for the rest of the day but wasn't as jumpy. He just acted severely depressed.
Kate was quiet and thoughtful.
Dean stayed with her for most of the day until Sam told him to take a break. He wasn't sure if her calmness was a coping mechanism. He was thankful when night time came and she fell asleep. He could breathe for a moment.
##########
Kate stayed somewhere between awake and asleep. She could hear Sam and Dean's heavy breathing but images swirled around in her head. She felt like something was at the edge of her peripheral but moved whenever she turned her head. She got up and opened the door to Brian's room. He was sleeping. She put a hand on him to make sure that he had good dreams. She quietly looked around his room for a certain box. She found it under his bed, hidden behind his duffle. She took it and put it in the bathroom, under the sink where a lose board had warped. She didn't know why she needed to hide it but she felt more relaxed once she did. She went back to her mat and fell asleep.
Dean heard the bathroom door open and close but fell back to sleep once she did. He was on edge and worried that she would try to run. He contemplating handcuffing her to him but didn't think she would like that too much. He woke up as the sun filtered in through the windows. He was pleased that she was still asleep, safely, curled up in her blankets. He stretched and went downstairs.
Bobby heard him coming down and made him a cup of coffee.
"Where is dad?"
Bobby nodded his head toward the door. "Went for a run."
Dean shrugged. John had a lot on his mind.
Bobby leaned his head forward and rubbed his neck. "I feel like I haven't slept in years."
Dean nodded. "Me too."
"Worried about the kid?" Bobby asked.
Dean nodded again. "Yeah."
Bobby got up and put some eggs on to fry. He was worried about her too but Dean took everything to heart. He read each little flinch and eye movement that she made.
Kate woke up an hour later and was surprised to see Sam sitting on his bed drinking coffee.
He smiled. "Hi."
Kate rubbed her eyes. "Why are you watching me?"
"Dean would beat me senseless if I didn't."
Kate smiled. "That does sound like something he would do." She got on Sam's bed and crossed her legs in front of her. She thought for a while before turning to look out the window. She stared into the distance and organized her thoughts.
Sam patted her. "I smell food."
She followed him to the kitchen.
Dean turned when they walked in. He patted the chair beside him and grabbed some of the food for her.
They ate quietly until Brian woke up. No one knew quite what to say and Kate was not talkative.
After breakfast was done and cleared away, Dean took Kate outside to throw knives.
John had come back from his run.
Sam said he needed to use the bathroom real quick and excused himself. He found the box underneath the sink and put it underneath his shirt. He flushed and turned the water on to wash his hands.
John looked at him suspiciously when he walked out. "Everything okay?"
Sam nodded. "Yeah."
John eyed him as he walked by but walked in and shut the door so he could shower.
Sam put the box in the back of the closet where no one could find it. He went outside to join Kate and Dean. "She has gotten accurate with those knives." He said.
Dean grinned. "I see."
Kate landed one of the knives an inch or two from the first. She didn't even have to focus anymore. She felt a chill as the breeze picked up. "I want to go inside."
Dean looked concerned. "Okay." He put his coat around her shoulders and collected the knives. He looked around Bobby's yard and then followed her back to the house.
Bobby watched them from the window and made a note of Kate's behavior.
Kate held onto the crystal and drummed her other hand against her leg. She had been watching the figures that kept showing up outside Bobby's house.
Brian was nearly catatonic. He didn't act scared anymore, he just wasn't aware of much.
Kate hugged Dean. "Can you check that we have all we need for the spell?" She whispered.
Dean hugged her back and then gave her an odd look. "We have checked."
Kate pleaded with her eyes. "One more time, please."
Dean sat her down and went out to the trunk of the impala. He was surprised to see one of the vials had gotten broken and the herb inside was no longer good. He wondered if she had been in the trunk. It wasn't a big deal. Bobby had extra on hand and he would just get another vial. He shut the trunk and locked it.
Kate watched him from the window. "Thanks." She mouthed when he walked back inside.
John came back downstairs and clapped Brian on the back as he walked by.
Brian didn't respond.
Sam seemed tense. He left the kitchen and went to stand beside Kate.
She gave him an awkward smile and turned back to the window.
Dean grabbed another vial from Bobby's stash and put it in his pocket. He wasn't sure what was going on but he was going to keep an eye on it.
The day slipped by as everyone felt the tension build.
Kate opened the front door and looked out over the porch railing. She felt the crystal grow warm as it burned against her chest. An abnormally warm breeze blew across the yard and whipped her hair back from her eyes. She dug her nails into the wooden railing and kept her eyes focused in one spot. She backed away from the railing and, without turning her back, went inside.
Sam watched out the window.
Dean was sitting on the couch and thought they were both acting strange. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Surely Sam wasn't helping her with something. Surely she hadn't compelled him to do anything. He sighed and rubbed his temple.
Kate looked at him for a moment. She touched his arm and asked for the vial of herb.
He handed it to her and turned back to watch the tv.
She turned it over in her hand before slipping it into her own pocket. She looked around the room to make sure no one had seen the exchange. Satisfied that she had been discrete, she sat down on the other end of the couch and rested her head on her hand. She heard ticking in her head and forced herself to remain calm. The ticking grew louder. She got up to find her dad. She found him and put her arms around his neck.
Brian felt her arms around him but everything was fuzzy. The ticking had kept him awake half the night and his ears were ringing.
Kate let go of him and looked up at John. She smiled at him and turned on her heel to leave the room.
Bobby looked between the two and furrowed his brows. He wanted to ask what was happening between the two of them but wasn't sure if anything was.
Kate knelt down on Sam's bed and raised the window. She stepped out onto the roof and watched the trees sway against the coming storm. The wind had gotten stronger. She heard a snap as one of the trees fell over. She took a steeling breath and slipped back through the window.
Sam was watching her. "Kate-" He started to ask why she was on the roof.
Kate put her hand in his and looked him in the eyes. She didn't speak but her message was clear.
Time's up.