Author's Note: Hey guys! This was fun to write, and I'm excited to continue it… I love exploring Sara's 'firsts' in this story. Feeling like what it would be like if your every day person off the street was dragged into the life of the Winchesters. I hope you guys enjoy this! Please READ and REVIEW! Love you all! Thank you so much for your kind words and support!
"Sara." The voice whispered. "Sara… I'm looking for you."
"Who are you?!" Sara asked. Spinning in circles in the dark.
"I know you're out there Sara."
"Who are you!" She screamed.
"Anna... she was a bad, bad girl. She hid you from me."
A sharp chill went down Sara's spine. Her breath caught in her throat and she swallowed around the lump.
"Who are you?" She whispered.
"I'll find you Sara. You can hide forever."
With those words the floor disappeared beneath her feet and the sensation of falling surrounded her. She flew forward in her bed. Dripping in sweat and breathing heavily. For a moment she didn't recognize her surroundings, but as she laid eyes on the mountain view canvas in front of her she was able to take a breath.
Sara realized she was in the bunker. And that meant she was safe.
Over these last couple of weeks she had learned many things, but the one thing that had been drilled into her was that this was a safe place. That Sam and Dean were going to keep her safe.
She pulled off the covers and stood, walking to the bathroom. The clock read 4 am, and she figured that at this point she might as well take a shower and stay awake. She looked at herself in the mirror. The fear from her nightmare still dwelling in the worry lines on her face. She splashed it with cold water as she waited for her shower to heat up.
She stood under the showerhead and closed her eyes. Submerging herself and her thoughts. She tried to rid her mind of the voice with no face. The same voice she heard last week, during the same nightmare.
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Sam's bare feet padded down the hallway. He passed Sara and Dean's rooms assuming they were both still asleep. He was usually the first to rise, and he made it a point to have coffee ready for when Sara woke up. He was thrilled to find someone who loved coffee as much as himself.
When he reached the kitchen he paused, finding the pot already half full. He looked around, but didn't see anyone in sight. He poured himself a cup and continued to wander in the bunker. He opened Dean's door to find him snoring, then me oved to Sara's and knocked. No answer. He slowly and carefully inched it open. Her bed was empty.
He looked in all the usual places but he couldn't find her. He began to worry something was wrong. He moved through the bunker till he had cleared the entire thing, then moved into the garage, where he found the lights leading to the outside door were left on. He knew neither he or Dean would have left them on. He walked forward carefully until he reached the door. Pulling it open and stepping outside his worry vanished. Sara was seated on the edge of the concrete drive. Sweater over her shoulders and coffee cup between her hands, steam escaping with the light breeze.
"You're up early." He called out. Causing her to jump slightly as she turned.
"Yeah." She smiled.
"Sleep okay?"
"Yeah."
Sam watched as she pushed emotions off her face. Plastering on the small smile she used when she was unsure of what to say. He sipped his coffee and they both listened as small animals pittered in the fallen leaves of the woods.
"You miss the mountains, huh?" Sam asked.
"This place is nice Sam. Really." She said after a long sigh.
"But it's not the mountains."
"I don't know why I like the mountains so much. I always have. I guess it's because they're always there ya know? When you live in a place like I did every direction you turn you're surrounded by them. They're there. You don't have to worry about them suddenly being gone one day… Well. I didn't."
"We'll go back sometime. I promise."
"I'd like that." She smiled.
"You shouldn't come out here alone. I know it seems silly but anything could show up. Outside the walls you're vulnerable."
"Right. Sorry I forgot."
"No, its fine… Just holler at one of us, so we can keep an eye on things."
"I'm never going to be alone again am I?" She asked with an amused look on her face.
"Probably not." Sam laughed.
"Well. I guess I could be in worse company."
"Ditto." Sam smiled.
"We should go back in before Dean thinks we ran away." Sara said standing, she offered Sam a hand he he took it, pulling himself up against her small but fairly strong frame. She walked ahead of him and they met Dean in the kitchen, pouring himself the last of the coffee.
"Mornin." Dean mumbled with his eyes half open.
"Well aren't you a ball of sunshine." Sara chuckled.
"Yeah yeah…"
"So what's on our weapons agenda for the day?"
"Small arms." Dean sighed.
"So we're finally moving up to guns?"
"Yup. Time to see what to see what you can do at the firing range."
"I just might surprise you." Sara winked.
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Dean started by lining up beer bottles on the straight flat edge of the wooden plank he and Sam had set up a couple of days ago. They put three of them up. One at five yards, ten yards, and twenty yards. Anything past that won't be necessary for a while.
"Okay. Do you know what caliber your gun at home was?" Dean asked.
"Um, a 9mm I think?"
"Okay. Well then that's what we'll start off with."
Dean browsed across the dozen guns he had laid out over the back of the impala. He picked one up, checked the mag, tapped it against his hand and handed it to her. Sara held it carefully, barrel pointed at the ground, finger off the trigger as she positioned it in her hands. Dean watched and knew right away she had at least one gun safety course, this would put her off to a good start.
"Knock the bottles off…" He said nodding towards the post.
Sara shrugged and aimed, shooting and nailing the first bottle, and then the second, and the third, but missing the fourth and fifth before picking it back up for the next few, and finally missing the last.
"Not bad." Dean called out as she lowered the gun.
"I missed three." Sara frowned as she turned.
"On your first try." Dean added.
"I wanted to go 10 for 10." She pouted slightly, clearing the gun and handing it back to Dean safely.
"Here, take this one." Dean said handing her a gun with a slightly longer barrel. She gripped it in her hands and balanced out the weight. She raised it to aim.
"Okay stop." Dean said walking up beside her.
"What?"
"Hold the gun up again like you're going to shoot."
Dean watched as she raised the gun again and he positioned himself behind her. His hands moved to sit on top of hers.
"Okay, you're a natural at aiming, but you gotta get your hands around this thing properly. Its why after a few shots you miss. The gun moves in your hand while you're shooting."
Sara nodded and tried to keep her breaths even as Dean's body stood so closely to hers. His hands moving hers around the grip.
"Loosen this hand." He said softly. His mouth right behind her ear. "Good, now come around forward a little more before you grip it. Good girl."
"What now?"
"Now lower your arms about an inch."
She did as she was told as Dean's hands slid up to her elbows and slightly moved her arms downward. Then he released and stepped back. Her body wanted to move backwards, to stay with him. But she forced it to hold it's position.
"Now shoot." Dean commanded. Sara pulled the trigger, exploding the glass bottle easily. Then the other two she missed without hesitation. She turned to Dean and smiled.
"Nice job. I'll reset. Let's give you something that packs more of a punch. That way if you have to use one of mine or Sam's guns you'll be prepared for the kick back."
"Okay… like how much of a kick back?" Sara asked nervously. Dean chuckled but didn't answer as he walked away.
"Dean! I'm serious. I'm not gonna end up like one of those girls who breaks her nose when the gun flies backwards am I?"
Dean rolled his eyes and ignored her as he continued to set up the bottles on the rail. He walked back over to her and the impala grabbing a much larger gun than the last one.
"This one's a Colt .45, and its gonna feel heavy in your hand. The trigger pull is long so make sure when you shoot you really squeeze that thing, okay?"
"Um. Okay." Sara swallowed as she took the gun from Dean's hands. He was right, it was much heavier than the last gun she had shot, and her hands shook slightly as she raised it to aim.
"Sara." Dean said calmly. "You have to steady your hands to aim."
"Right. Steady hands." She nodded and repeated softly.
She took a deep breath and prepared to shoot the gun, but chickened out at the last second.
"Okay, you know I think we should just stick with the smaller ones. Really. I'm fine with those!" She said turning back around and trying to give the gun back to Dean.
"Aim the gun." He said stepping towards her.
"Really Dean I-"
"Sara. Stop… take a deep breath, and aim." Dean instructed as he moved to stand behind her. She raised the gun again and this time Dean gripped her wrists.
"Dean, I don't want to rearrange my face." She whimpered slightly.
"I got you sweetheart, I'm not gonna let it get you." He reassured her. "Now shoot."
Sara took a deep breath, and with the reassurance of dean's hands around her wrists holding her arms steady she lined up her shot and squeezed the trigger. The gun fired, and Sara slightly jumped, but then realized she still had a good hold on it. So she fired again, and again, and throughout her firing Dean had loosened his grip and completely released his hold on her. Smiling as she knocked down bottle after bottle.
"Nice!" He clapped as she knocked down the last one and set down the gun.
"I love that gun!" She smiled widely, her blue eyes bright and full of excitement. "Can we do it again?!"
"Yeah sure." Dean nodded as he moved to set up another line for her. She reloaded the gun, and waited as Dean walked back behind her before raising the gun and knocking down 9/10 bottles in less than a minute.
"Alright. I think we're good here." Dean said as he turned and began putting away the guns he had laid out, tucking each of them into their spot in the hidden compartment of the trunk.
"I really like this gun, its… powerful." Sara said raising her eyebrows as she spoke.
"Well then it's yours." Dean smiled to her.
"Really?!"
"Really. It's a nice gun. You've got good taste."
Sara moved to hand it back to him once he put the last of the guns on the car in place, but Dean shook his head.
"Nope. Hang onto it. You need to get used to carrying it."
"Um. I don't have a holster?" She said confused.
"Not yet. But we'll get you one. For now, tuck it somewhere out of sight.
"How am I supposed to do that?"
Dean took the gun from her hands and spun, looking for the best place to stash her gun for now. He lifted up the back of her shirt and slid it between her pants and her belt, moving the shirt back over it to keep it concealed.
"You need a good jacket when you carry. Will make it easier for you, since your frame is smaller than mine or Sam's. Its easy to spot tucked against your body."
"Jacket and holster. Got it."
"Let's head home." Dean smiled. Sara walked around to the passenger side of the car and climbed in. Readjusting in her seat as she felt the presence of the cold metal against her back. This would definitely take some getting used to.
"You did good today." Dean said as he pulled out onto the road.
"Thanks, I had a good teacher." She winked to him.
"You keep this up and we'll be back out on the road in no time."
"… What's it like?"
"What?"
"Hunting."
"Well… I mean. I've done it my whole life really so I don't have much to compare it to. But its… frustrating. Stressful, but rewarding. I mean we save people from things that the world doesn't even know exists. Without hunters those people would have no chance against half of the things we see. Its hard to call the police and say 'hey there's a werewolf stalking my neighborhood' and be taken seriously."
"Werewolves. Silver bullets right?"
"Yeah. You still studying?" Dean teased.
"Yes." Sara answered with an eye roll. "I just… I don't want to be dead weight when we finally do get out there. I want to help."
"Sara, just being there helps. You don't have to dive into this thing headfirst. Just test things out, get your feet wet first. It's a lot to take in."
"You don't think I can handle it do you?" Sara asked softly, her eyes fixated on the road ahead as she did.
"It's not that. I just. I don't want you getting caught up in something you're not ready for yet. You're making great progress, but I don't think we're there yet. I mean shooting at beer bottles and monsters are two totally different things. And Sam and I wrestling around is much nicer than someone else is gonna be. I just don't want you out there too early. There's no rush to this."
Sara nodded slightly. Feeling the sting of disappointment. She had felt she was doing well. She read over the lore every night before bed, she had been training daily for the last week with weapons and hand to hand combat. She felt eager to get out and be useful to the world again, and now she just felt naïve.
Dean looked over at her briefly, the look on her face distant and unwavering. A façade. He worried maybe he had upset her, but she had said from the beginning she wanted him to be honest with her? Which was what he was doing? He wouldn't dare let her hunt without being 110% ready to do so, not when her life could be on the line. She was far too important to risk.
He sighed slightly and put more pressure against the gas pedal under his foot, shortening their now silent ride back to the bunker.
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Sam looked up from his laptop as Sara opened the door and descended the steps.
"Hey, how'd it go?"
"Great." She smiled, but she continued to walk past him till she was out of sight. Dean came in next.
"Um… did things go okay?" Sam asked him.
"Yeah, she kicked ass out there. Picked out the .45 to hang on to, I was impressed. Hell she may be a better shot than you Sammy." Dean said sitting down across the table and stealing Sam's freshly opened beer.
"Hm." Sam mumbled, not understanding why Sara had been in such a hurry when things had apparently gone well.
"What?" Dean asked noting the confusion on Sam's face.
"Nothing. She just uh… seemed to be avoiding conversation." Dean lifted the beer to his lips and took another drink, his eyes falling towards the table. "You didn't, talk about anything or upset her in some way did you?"
"No." Dean quickly defended. "I mean we may have discussed the fact that she wasn't ready to hunt yet… but. I mean. I was just being honest."
"Great." Sam scoffed. "And were you being honest as Dean Winchester or honest as a normal person? Cause let me tell you there's a difference."
"Look, I just told her she wasn't ready yet!"
"Way to shatter her confidence Dean." Sam said standing and closing his laptop in frustration.
"What?! How is this my fault!" Dean yelled after Sam as he moved down the hallway. He walked towards Sara's room but found the door to be shut, and decided now wasn't the best time to approach the subject. So instead he turned back around and moved to the kitchen to fix a snack.
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That night Sara sat on her bed and scanned over the notes once more. Bookmarking pages in books, highlighting special notes she had added. There was a knock at the door.
"Come in." She called out without looking up.
"Hey." Sam said as he entered the room.
"Hey." She replied looking up briefly.
"This place looks totally different… it's amazing what some decent taste in decorating will do for a room."
"Thanks." Sara chuckled. "I still wish it had a window, but at least its clean. Thanks for that by the way."
"Sure." Sam smiled as he walked over. "Still reading over the lore?"
"Yeah. Just want to make sure I've got it all memorized before we actually go out anywhere ya know? I don't want to be in the way."
"Sara. You're doing great with all this you know."
"I'm not sure Dean agrees." She said without looking up.
"Dean's a worrier. He's afraid of throwing you out there too soon. Afraid to put you in danger."
"And you're not?"
"I just think no matter how much preparation we do its gonna be dangerous until you're actually out there doing it. Feeling the adrenaline, learning how your fight or flight mode reacts, and seeing things for yourself. Its different."
"Well. Maybe he's right. Maybe I'm not ready." She shrugged sitting back against her headboard. Sam took a seat on the end of her bed.
"Don't discredit yourself. You've worked your ass off and your catching on a hell of a lot quicker than Dean or I expected."
"… Really?" She asked as her blue eyes zoned in on his.
"Really. You should put this stuff away and get some sleep. We'll do some more training in the morning."
"Sounds good. G'night Sam."
"Night Sara."
Sam pulled the door shut behind him, and he knew even though she agreed to put the books away that she wouldn't, not until she was sure she had thoroughly reviewed the information.
"Well, did I crush her?" Dean asked as he caught Sam coming out.
"No, but you should really censor your thoughts a little better. Learn to paraphrase or something."
"She's tough. She can handle the truth."
"Dean. We might as well just get her out there, she's not truly going to understand until she does."
"Not yet. She's not ready."
"Dean she's not gonna be ready. NO ONE is ever ready for that until they get past that first hunt."
"Well she's different. We need her safe."
"I understand that Dean, but we can't keep her on lock down around here. She's still a person, and she's used to being a very busy, very helpful person. She needs to get out there."
"Not. Yet." Dean said before opening his door and disappearing for the night.
Sam threw his hands in the air and sighed before retreating to his own room for the night.
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"Alright Sara, now really focus on his feet. See if you can get an idea on where he's going before he goes. It will give you an advantage." Sam coached as her and Dean circled each other in the grass. Sara nodded and looked down, watching Dean's feet as he slowly moved, watching the direction in which his toes point. But suddenly the switched direction and she quickly darted to the side as he moved to advance her.
"Good!" Sam called out to her.
"Can we go back to actually learning to fight instead of learning how to run away?" Sara asked.
"Sure." Dean shrugged. Then he promptly grabbed her from behind. Sara was taken by surprise and flailed for a second before remembering her training and digging her heel into his knee. He quickly released her and she fell to the ground, but instead of using the chance to escape she turned back and hooked her foot behind his now injured knee. Once he was pulled to the ground she jumped on top of him and had a knife at his throat in seconds.
She was breathing heavily as her eyes bored into his wide green ones. She slowly pulled back the knife and tossed it to the side.
"Uh… Sara. That was. Great." Sam said in surprise. Dean continued to stare at her, he was impressed. But also noted the slightest edge of anger behind her movements. He quickly realized she was proving her point. Making it known to him that she felt she was ready, and she didn't appreciate him underestimating her.
"Thanks." She mumbled standing, reaching out a hand for Dean to pull himself up with. He took it hesitantly and she quickly broke her stare from his. "Are we done?" She asked Sam.
"Yeah. I think we're good." Sam nodded. Sara promptly made her way back into the bunker. Dean stood and watched her walk away. When she was behind closed doors he turned to face Sam.
"Well. I think she's made her point." Sam shrugged.
"Yeah." Dean reluctantly agreed. "Find something small."
"You got it." Sam smiled, happy to see that Dean was giving in and Sara had effectively impressed his older brother, which wasn't easy to do.
Dean walked into the bunker and moved towards the kitchen, where he found Sara downing the last of her water bottle. She looked at him for a second, then turned around.
"Nice job out there." Dean said leaning against the counter top beside her.
"Thanks."
"Sara."
"Hm?"
"If you're angry with me then I'm sorry… but being out there is dangerous. I was only honest with you because you asked me to be."
"I'm not angry with you." She turned around quickly and said, but Dean didn't miss the hint of spunk behind her words. "I'm just tired of sitting around and doing nothing. I don't like being useless, I don't like slowing people down."
"You're not!"
"Oh so you're saying that if Castiel hadn't dropped me in the floor of your motel you and Sam would have come home and had a couple weeks off? I know we haven't known each other long but somehow I doubt that."
Dean sighed and let his head fall backwards.
"I just want you to be safe when we do hunt."
"And I appreciatet that Dean. I do. I cannot thank you enough for everything you and Sam have done for me, and taught me, but for two weeks now I've done nothing but train and study lore, and I'm ready to get out there!"
"… Okay."
Sara was taken back by his sudden change.
"Wait… are you serious?"
"Sam's looking for a SMALL easy case nearby. Pack your things so that you'll be ready to leave when he finds one."
"Really?" She half smiled, and half wide eyed with nerves. Dean noted both emotions quickly.
"Yes really. But there are rules."
"Okay. Shoot." She said crossing her arms with a sly smile.
"You listen to what I say, no urge to be the big hero. If I tell you to do something, you do it. Regardless of how you feel about it."
"Sounds fair."
"Oh sweetheart I'm not done." He said crossing his own arms as he turned to look at her straight on. "You will carry a loaded weapon on you at all times, plus a knife. You never take them off unless you are sleeping, and even then you keep them within arm's reach. You are not to go off alone or separate from Sam or I at any point in time-"
"Do I get to pee alone?" She challenged.
"If you're lucky." Dean shot back without hesitation. Sara slightly smiled at his overprotectiveness.
"Thank you Dean." She said softly.
"For what? I haven't even finished.."
"You don't have to. I'll stay quiet and out of the way. I'll listen, and I won't run off. I promise."
"Sara. I'm serious about this. Listen to your gut, if something feels off. Tell us. We don't exactly know what all's interested in finding you, but we do now they're out there. Okay?"
"Okay. I will. I promise." She nodded.
"Go pack up."
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Sara sat in the backseat. Nerves on high alert, anxious to see what it was like to be on a hunt. She wrung her hands over and over again, pulling at her fingers one at a time.
There was a simple salt and burn case a few hours out from the bunker. Sam had been lucky to find something so quickly. So here Sara sat. Preparing for her first hunt. She had reviewed the lore on vengeful spirits over and over again. She ran through it all in her head as the scenery outside continued to pass her by. Dean drove silently, humming along to the radio. But it wasn't lost on him or Sam that she was clearly nervous. Neither of them felt the need to expose her for it though, they knew this would be the expected reaction of someone on their first hunt.
So instead they drove in silence, letting Sara work out her nerves for herself.
Once they arrived at the motel Dean moved to get out of the car, but then stopped.
"Uh… So. Are we getting two rooms?" Dean asked looking between Sam and Sara.
"Oh. I uh. I hadn't actually thought about that." Sam admitted.
Sara watched as they considered the options. Two rooms, but can't leave Sara alone… better to be in one room, safer that way. But they only come with two beds.
"Just get one." Sara spoke up. Ending their debate.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I mean. We're adults… sooo I don't see the problem?"
"Just didn't want to put you in a place where you were uncomfortable." Sam offered.
"I'm fine. Really. It makes no sense to spend double the money when I'm sure half of these places come with some sort of a couch or love seat."
"And if they don't?" Dean asked.
"Then I should warn you both I'm a cover hog." She smiled before getting out of the car. Dean chuckled and walked in to reserve them a room. Sara and Sam began pulling bags out of the trunk.
"You good?" Sam asked her.
"Yep." She answered shortly.
"This should only take us a couple of days."
"Okay." She said noting that Dean was walking towards a room. She quickly took the bags in her hand and began walking towards the room they would be sharing. She set them down on the bed closest to the door and smiled as she noted the small couch on the opposite side of the room. It definitely wasn't a pull out couch but she didn't need much. She could fit on a love seat comfortably enough to sleep.
"Feels like home." Dean smiled as he leaned back and fell onto the bed. It squeaked under his weight as it shook slightly.
"You like being out on the road huh?"
"It's normal for us. Feels like getting back in a routine you know? Plus it makes having the bunker twice as good when you get to go home after being gone for a while."
"Well then I'm glad we got you back to your norm."
"Alright, so get this." Sam said walking in and laying down the papers. "Family here in town, every one of them has been killed off living in the same house. For over 100 years."
"And no one else found this fishy?" Sara asked.
"Cops don't look for patterns over 30 or 40 years old." Dean answered.
"Right. So it looks like there was some big feud over the land back in the day, the victim family and another family fought over the land… take a guess who won."
"The family that's been dying off." Sara guessed.
"And guess how they won the feud?"
"… I don't know?" Sara finally shrugged.
"The other family died." Dean answered catching on to where Sam was going.
"So what are we going to do?"
"We're going to find out which family member is haunting the house and put it to rest."
"Cool. Haunted house. Sounds like a blast." Sara sighed briefly, trying to psych herself up for what she knew was coming next.
"So we should eat, and head over to the house after dark." Dean said standing up.
"Really? After dark? Why not during the pretty daylight."
"Spirits are more active at night, plus we won't be seen as easily." Sam shrugged.
"Right." Sara nodded.
"You sure you're down for this?" Dean challenged. Instantly she pushed on a tough face and nodded once, crossing her arms and walking back out to the car. Dean's lips twitched to pull into a smile, but he resisted.
"Well she's determined." Sam said shaking his head and following her out the door.
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"Can I just get a grilled cheese and some fries?" Sara asked politely as the waitress came around for the sixth time since they had come in.
"Sure, and for you two?" She smiled seductively, not even looking at Sara as she took the tables order. Sara watched as the boys ordered without paying her much attention, Dean slightly winked, but other than that they seemed unshaken by how forward she was being with them throughout their short time in the diner.
"Does that happen often?" Sara asked.
"What?" Sam looked to her confused.
"Um… the waitress?"
"Oh." Sam shrugged. "I learned to ignore that along time ago… It happens when you ride with Dean."
"Women honestly throw themselves at you that much?"
"What can I say?" Dean said offering a confident and sexy smirk. Its not that Sara didn't see the attraction, in both of the brothers, but damn, is this real life or a porno?
"Ugh." Sara rolled her eyes. "Confidence is sexy, cockiness is not." She told Dean picking up her water and squeezing a lemon into it.
Sam snorted to hold back his laughter, Dean's mouth dropped open just a hair and he stared at her in awe. It was very rare that woman knocked Dean down a notch, and Sara just did. And she didn't even blink. Dean was taken back, but no upset. He kinda liked it if he was being honest with himself.
Their food arrived and they enjoyed brief small talk over their meal. Sara watched as the sun dropped lower and lower. Knowing that this meant they would quickly be making their way to the house. She nibbled at her food and tried to hide her nerves, but Dean was watching her overly close. He would nudge Sam occasionally and without having to speak they could have a conversation on what small things were signs of her nerves. It was a learning experience for them. They wanted and needed to be able to sense how Sara was feeling, it was important on hunt to be able to read your partners body language.
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The impala rolled to a stop on the edge of the road in front of a long drive way that would lead to the house Sara had been dreading this entire time. She knew she was safe with Sam and Dean. She knew that this case was supposed to be easy, but she still couldn't shake the fear of the unknown. When the car shut off Dean turned to face her in the backseat.
"Remember the rules?" He asked. She nodded, and this time it didn't hide the fear in her eyes.
"Hey." Dean said reaching back and putting his hand on her knee. "We've got you. I promise."
Sara took a deep breath and climbed out of the car. Sam moved to stand in front of her and Dean followed behind, surrounding her. They slowly but surely moved their way up to the porch and Sam kneeled to pick the lock. Sara's stomach was in knots and her hands couldn't be still. Dean rested his hand on the back of her shoulder. She instinctively leaned into it.
Once the lock clicked, the door was pushed open and Sam led the way inside. The home was old, but had a few modern features. Showing that the last resident was here within the last couple of months. Sara stayed close to Sam and Dean caught the idea of a joke. He slowly backed away until he had the chance to jump to the left and hide around the corner of the hall. He bit his lip and waited.
Sara and Sam continued to move through the house. The EMF meter in Sam's hand went back and forth, but suddenly went crazy when he entered the kitchen. He stopped and Sara almost ran right into him. She looked over her shoulder and noticed Dean wasn't there.
"Where's Dean?" She said softly.
"What?" Sam asked turning around.
"Dean! He- he was right behind me…" Sara said as her breath became shallow.
"Dean." Sam called out, worry not in his tone, but more or less annoyance. He had a feeling what his brother was up to.
"Sam… I'm scared." Sara admitted as she moved to stand closer to him. "Maybe Dean was right."
"No. He wasn't. We're fine… DEAN! C'mon man."
Sam's annoyance grew as there was no sound in the house. Sam moved to retrace their steps and Dean stood silent and still like a predator stalking its prey. He waited till Sam and Sara both passed his hiding spot before he slowly stepped out of it and grabbed Sara.
"Boo!" He yelled.
Sara screamed sharply and practically jumped into Sam's arms, him barely reacting fast enough to catch her. Her hands dug into his jacket and her flashlight dropped to the floor. Dean burst into laughter at the sight.
"Dean! Really!?" Sam scalded him.
"What the hell is wrong with you!" Sara yelled as she climbed down from Sam's arms and swiftly punched Dean in the shoulder. It didn't hurt him, but only made him stumble to the side for a moment.
"Oh I'm sorry. I just… I couldn't resist." He admitted catching his breath from his laughter.
"You really are an ass!"
"I'm sorry, Sara. Are you okay?" He asked picking up her flashlight and handing it to her with sincerity.
"I'm peachy." She snarled.
"Can we get back to the job now?" Sam asked shooting bitch face to Dean.
"I heard the meter, what'd you get?" Dean asked, a smile still pulling at his face.
"I don't know. You interrupted."
"Party poopers." Dean mumbled as he led them back into the kitchen. The EMF meter continued to go on the fritz anywhere in the kitchen.
"Start digging." Sam said opening up drawer after drawer, Dean followed his actions and Sara stepped up, bending down to open the lower cabinets, but they were all either coming up empty or filled with old cleaning supplies and dust.
She went to move the next cabinet and knocked it into one of the boy's legs, she bumped him again.
"Hey. Move over." She said hitting him with the cabinet door again.
"Uh… Sara?" Sam called from the opposite side of the kitchen, she looked over to see Dean standing behind Sam. Her entire body grew a chill and her eyes went wide as she slowly turned and tipped her flashlight towards the figure she had been bumping.
"AHHH!" She screamed and fell over backwards as the light fell on a creature paler than pale and eyes misty and gray. Sam reached up and shot the ghost with salt rounds and it disappeared.
"Sara? Are you okay?" Dean asked picking her up off the ground.
"Dean! I-it was a ghost! That was a ghost?!"
"Yup. Your first ghost. You good to keep going?"
Sara swallowed and nodded her head. But she didn't let go of Dean's arm. He kept his mouth shut as they moved from the kitchen and down to the basement/cellar area.
"You know. In scary movies the basement is like the WORST place to go."
"Well when you're hunting its kinda the best place." Sam told her.
"Fair point."
"Did you get a good luck at that lady in the kitchen?"
"Yeah. I think so."
"Here… see if you can find her on here." Sam said handing her an old dusty photo frame. Sara shined her light over it and strained her eyes, but once she caught the eyes of the woman in the corner of the photo she instantly knew it was her.
"This one. Its her. No doubt about it." She said pointing and handing it back.
"Alright. Lets get the hell out of here." Sam nodded.
"Wait, where are we going?"
"Back to the motel to figure out who she is, and where she's buried."
"So we're done?"
"No, but for tonight we are." Dean told her. "C'mon. You did good."
"Yeah. Right." Sara said disappointed as she followed Sam back out to the car.
…..
…..
…..
The boys and Sara took turns with the shower, getting things ready for bed… Sam taught Sara how to salt the doors and windows. Then he grabbed them each a beer and they drank in silence as he did some research, but this didn't last long as Sam made his way over to the bed. Dean still in the shower.
Sara made her way back over to the couch and tucked in sheets and blankets around the cushions. Taking a pillow off Dean's bed since Sam was already falling asleep in his own. At that moment Dean opened the bathroom door and steamed came out around him. His wet hair glistening in the dim light of the room.
"Hope you don't mind." She said as she moved back to the couch with the pillow.
"Not at all. I'm a one pillow kind of guy." Dean said putting his clothes back in his bag. Sara laid down in her bed and snuggled into the stiff cushions trying to convince herself they were comfortable. Dean watched her for a brief moment as finally stilled.
"Hey." He called out to her softly.
She opened her eyes and the icy blue orbs landed directly on him. He almost forgot what word he planned to have come out of his mouth next.
"You did good today."
Sara smiled, but there was a sad edge to how little the movement was.
"You don't have to lie to me Dean. I'm a big girl, I can admit it when I'm wrong."
"Wrong? About what?" Dean asked surprised.
"Dean. I was a total fool in there tonight… I wasn't ready. I should have listened to you."
"No. You were right. You pulled that stunt this morning to prove something to me. And you did, tonight. I mean we threw it all at you. And you still walked out of that place, head up. You were ready, and tomorrow when we wrap this thing up your first case will be behind you and you can only go up from there."
"… Really? I didn't mess things up?"
"Are you kidding? You identified the spirit, and you didn't piss your pants or pass out when you saw it." Dean winked to her. She giggled.
"Thanks Dean."
"You keep saying that lately. You're gonna owe me some bacon when we get back to the bunker."
"Haha, whatever you'd like Dean."
"I'd like for you to get some rest. We'll be back at it tomorrow."
"Night." She smiled.
"Night." Dean mumbled laying down and flipping off the light.
Even in the dark Sara could feel that she wasn't alone, and it comforted her. She turned and stared at the ceiling. Even though she could barely make out the bumps on the popcorn ceiling she continued to stare at them. Her mind wandering from ghosts, to the idea of digging up graves, and she wondered if maybe she wasn't cut out for this.
And that if she wasn't… she'd better figure shit out fast. Because she doesn't really have another choice.
