Chapter 13: The Unspoken Tales

Haven Winchester

?

November of 1988

The first thing Haven heard was a long breath out. She whipped her head around to try to see, but it sounded like it came from all around.

"Hello?" She called out. "Who's there? If you're trying to scare me, it isn't working! I'll beat you!"

It was working. She was scared. But she wasn't weak anymore. Haven Winchester was going to be a hunter. That meant she was brave and strong. She made fists with her hands.

"Peace, child," a thin voice replied from the darkness. "I do not mean to cause you fear or harm. Rather, I am here to aid you."

"Where are you, then? And why do you talk weird?" Haven asked. Her hands were still fists.

She thought she heard a sigh. A person stepped out of the darkness. They wore a long black cloak with the hood up. Their hands were white. Haven couldn't see their face, but they didn't have a weapon or anything.

"I could ask you the same question. I suppose the simple answer is that you are young, and I am old. Does that satisfy you?" Although the hood faced towards her, it was just dark. But his tone didn't seem bad or angry or anything…

"Who are you?"

"The answer to that is longer than we have time for, I'm afraid."

"Whatcha mean? I just wanna know your name," Haven argued, crossing her arms.

"What I mean is that I have forgotten whatever it is that I might have originally been named, but I now go by many. Simple names cannot encompass all that is me. Even as young as you are, does the name Alexandria Haven Potter encompass you? Or Haven Winchester, as you call yourself now?"

Whoever he was, he was confusing and maybe a bit stupid.

"I don't care if it's everything you are or anything, I just wanted your name, stupid," Haven told him.

He laughed instead of getting mad. "Then I suppose Death may suffice."

"Death? Like dying Death?"

"Much like that, yes."

"You're weird. I'm still dreaming, right? Cause Blaise was weird, too."

"I suppose you could call it a dream. But it is more than that. You are Between. I am here to guide you back. It is not your time to cross over to my realm."

"You mean you're here to wake me up? Well what's taking you so long! I'm supposed to be helping John! Sammy is gonna get worried." Haven marched up to the tall man as she spoke. He was gonna take her back out of this dark place. Maybe, like Blaise, Death wasn't bad-weird.

"Much of your life force was taken from you. It was impossible to guide you back without it. Now, however, you have recovered enough to return." Death offered a pale white hand to her. She took it. His hand was cold. "You will be weak when you wake, so do not overexert yourself. Your soul is too precious to be lost before you realize your potential."

"Huh?"

But instead of getting an explanation, the darkness faded away…

And Haven woke up. She felt heavy. Her mouth tasted awful. She wiped her mouth and then her eyes as she sat up.

She was so surprised she almost screamed when she suddenly found herself pulled tightly to a chest and wrapped in arms.

"Haven! Oh my god, you're alive!"

John?

"Er… what?"

Haven squirmed until John let go. She looked at him. He looked happy, surprised… then…

His eyes narrowed. Suspicious. Had she done something wrong?

Whatever it was, it went away after a moment as he sighed and patted her shoulder. "Do you feel alright?"

"... um… tired?" Haven's voice was small. She wrapped her arms around herself. What was going on? Why was he acting weird? He didn't… hug. That wasn't a thing John did. Sammy did that. Maybe she'd been sleeping a long time? "I'm fine."

"... Good. Good."

Something in his tone said that something was wrong, not good, but she couldn't make herself ask.

Dean Winchester

Fort Douglas, Wisconsin

November of 1988

It was weird not to have anyone to talk to at night after Sammy's bedtime. Haven had disappeared in the night. All that had been left was a note from dad saying he was with her. Dad didn't say so, but dad was off hunting, and that meant he had taken Haven with him.

Why did Haven get to help dad on the hunt, when Dean had to stay and watch Sammy? Dean was older. It should be him that got to actually hunt first, instead of just learning about it and training. What was he doing wrong? How had he disappointed dad? He just couldn't figure it out. He wanted to be there, fighting monsters and helping dad. Dad always said it was too dangerous for them right now, but then he let Haven come with him? It was so unfair.

Dean kicked his feet as he glared at the T.V. It was so boring having nothing to do but sit inside the locked room. He was too used to having Haven to play, or at least to argue, with. It was quiet without her.

He didn't miss her, though.

Dean couldn't take it any longer. He had to blow off some steam. He'd seen an arcade nearby when they'd first gotten here that had been on his mind for days. He didn't get to go to the arcade very often. He turned off the T.V. before going to check to see if Sammy was sleeping. Then he grabbed his jacket, the key, and the small bit of pocket change he kept just in case dad forgot to come back in time before the food started running low. So what if he spent that on himself instead of on Haven and Sammy for once? They were both so… so… selfish!

He stomped out of the room, locking it behind him, before making his way to the arcade. It was real cold outside, so he stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked.

The arcade was mostly empty when he got there, so he could play whatever he wanted. Dean grinned and tried out a bunch he'd never gotten the chance to before, and then lost himself in playing. He forgot all about Haven, and Sammy, and getting tired of the same old food, and small hotel rooms that smelled bad, and school, and everything.

"Kid. We're closing up." The voice made him jump a little. He sighed and quit the game. It was probably time to sleep anyway. He wished he had gotten just a little longer, though.

Pouting, he walked back to the room. The wind was super cold. He tucked his head down and walked as quickly as he could. Dean made it, locking the door behind him and sighing gratefully when the warmth of the room hit him.

It was quiet. He looked around, noticing light coming from the room where Sammy was sleeping. Hadn't it been dark in there, though…

Fear dropped into his stomach like a stone. He crept forward quietly and eased the door open far enough to see. His heart was beating so loudly he thought whatever it was might hear.

There was a black cloaked figure bending over Sammy. Dean gasped. A monster was in the room and it was gonna hurt Sammy! He reached blindly for the gun against the wall. He had to get it away from Sammy.

When he cocked the gun, the monster reared up and shrieked. Dean froze. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't remember.

He didn't register the door opening, at least not until he heard dad yelling for him to get out of the way. Without thinking he obeyed as gunshots rang through the air. Dad marched past him, shooting and shooting, but the monster must have left through the open window.

Dean watched dad drop the gun and run to Sammy and pull him into a hug. "Sammy! Sammy. Sammy. You okay?"

"Yeah dad, what's going on?" Sammy's voice was the biggest relief ever. He was okay. He was fine. Dean slowly lowered the gun.

"You alright?" Then dad turned to Dean. His tone changed. "What happened?"

Dean's mouth felt dry. If dad hadn't showed up in time… He wasn't supposed to go out. He should have been watching Sammy. He was so stupid. Sammy might have died. Dean was supposed to protect him, and he'd failed.

"I-I-I just went out."

Dad was glaring at him. Dad was mad. "What?"

"Just for a second! I'm sorry." Dean was pretty sure it was longer than that, but if he said that, dad would be ever angrier.

Dad's voice was scary enough as he said, "I told you not to leave this room. I told you not to let him out of your sight."

Dean thought dad looked like he might start to cry. Dean was about to start crying, too, but then dad looked away and buried his face into Sammy's hair.

Dad always said that. Always told him to lock the door, don't answer the phone, don't do this, don't do that, protect Sammy. Before he'd left, he'd repeated all of it, but more than usual. Dean should've known that meant Sammy was in more danger than usual. He should've done what he was supposed to, and then Sammy would've been safe and dad wouldn't be angry with him.

"You aren't gonna cry, are you?"

Dean jumped at the voice. Haven was right there, looking up at him with her very green eyes.

He tried to say no, but his voice cracked. Dean shook his head.

"Well, Sammy's okay now, yeah? So… it's okay. You don't have to cry. I mean. I guess you can cry, too." Haven looked down at her shoes. "I won't laugh or anything."

Dean didn't cry. He also didn't sleep very well, either.

They left for Pastor Jim's the next morning. Dad didn't look at him once. Not as they packed, not as they drove, not when he left. It made Dean feel worse and worse. He would never ever do something like that again. He loved Sammy and he was supposed to keep him safe. He was supposed to do the same for Haven, too. Even if they were selfish, and he was mad, he was supposed to look after them. He was the big brother so it was his job. He couldn't fail his job.

Sammy didn't know what had happened though, so he was normal. Haven wasn't. He expected her to be bragging about going on a hunt with dad, even if she got left here with them before it was done. She was as quiet as he was. Was she angry at him that he almost got Sammy eaten by a monster, too? Was everyone gonna hate him for it?

To his surprise, when he was pouting in the room they got to use alone, Haven quietly came in and shut the door behind her. She hopped onto the bed next to him.

"Hey, Dean?"

"What?" He asked. Was she gonna yell at him? She didn't look like she was gonna yell.

"Um… so… I think something bad happened?"

He frowned. "You mean with the… it almost hurting Sammy?"

Haven shook her head. "No. The thing, John told me it was a, a… stri- shrig- shtriga? He wanted me to help him catch it. He wanted me to lay down in the bed like I was asleep, so it would come, 'cause it's been going after kids. I think it came? But… he didn't get it. I mean, it went after Sammy after, so… and… I was asleep for a long time I think. I think John thought I was gonna sleep until I died like the kids in the hospital, but I didn't. I woke up. None of the others did, though, we checked… just me. The others are still dying…"

"Wait, what? So it got you? Dad wanted it to get you?" Dean asked. That wasn't right. Dad wouldn't do that.

"I think he wanted to get it first. I don't know. It was just cold…" She shivered a little, crossing her arms.

"He wouldn't use you as bait. I know he wouldn't."

"You think I'm a liar?" Haven growled, finally looking up at him. "If you're not gonna help, fine!"

Haven got up, about to stomp out, but Dean caught her by the arm. "Wait. Wait. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I just… would dad really do that?" Why would dad want Haven to be there to lure the monster. And worse, why would he let it get her? Maybe he did something to save her, and that was why she was okay now, but if Dean had done that… why was he so mad at Dean when he did the same thing? They were supposed to keep the other two safe. If someone had to be in danger, it should've been Dean, not Haven.

But Dean didn't think Haven was lying, either. Maybe she misunderstood…

"How do you know you were sleeping a long time?" Dean asked.

Haven shrugged. "I dreamed for a really long time. When I woke up, John freaked out like I had been dying. So I think I was. When I was dreaming, I… I think I knew I was dying. I dreamed about… someone said I had been dying. In my dream. And I slept through a whole day. I checked the day when I woke up."

Maybe she didn't misunderstand. Maybe it really had gotten her. Why was dad so mad at him then… why would dad let it happen at all?

It was too horrible to think about. So Dean didn't. He shook his head.

"I guess you're right, then… but you're okay now, so it's good, right? We're all okay now…" Dean looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "You didn't just say all this so I'd hug you, right?"

"No! I'm just- it was weird! I'm not a baby!"

Dean smiled. It was always easy to mess with her. He ruffled her messy black hair. "You sure you don't need a hug from your big brother? Sammy wants hugs all the time."

Haven ducked and yelped. "Stop it! I'm fine! Sheesh."

"... I'm really glad you're okay."

"You sure you aren't the one who needs a hug?"

Thanks for reading!