Chapter Seven: Fuel to the Fire
When Hailey woke up the next morning she was surprised that she had not only slept through what was left of the night but she had slept far later than she had planned. Rolling over, she wasn't surprised that Darren was no longer in bed. With a sigh, she got to her feet then went to get dressed. Hailey changed into a blue tank top and jeans.
"Hailey?" John's voice preceded the opening of the door.
"Hi dad," Hailey greeted.
"We're leaving in twenty," John stated. "I would give you more notice but you're all packed up."
Hailey winced at the raw anger in her father's tone. The Winchester Patriarch's frustration over last night's events couldn't be help. John had died years ago. The kids he left behind were young and wet behind the ears in this life. Green as one could get growing up as hunter's children. Now they were use to how things went. Hardened by loss and the violence of this life. Thinking that things could or would go back to how everything had worked before was foolish. If John was expecting any of his children to apologize for last night, he was mistaken.
"It would seem that we all of much to discuss," John stated. "We're going to Bobby's."
"Yes, sir," Hailey responded.
She assumed that her Uncle Bobby would be following them back to his house. While Hailey wanted more privacy for any family disagreements that would most likely occur, at least only Bobby would witness it. The man had seen all manner of Winchester throw downs and was probably fully aware of what would happen once they reached his compound.
Despite the fact that there was probably still a lot to talk about, John turned on his heel and walked back out of the room. It seemed that Darren was waiting in the hall because only a few moments after John left Darren came through the door.
"Reminds me of old times," Darren smirked.
"What my brothers and I in trouble?" Hailey scoffed. "Yeah, we thought for sure that we'd get out okay. It seems the old man's instincts are as sharp as ever."
"It appears that way," Darren laughed.
"And Mom got involved before the Winchester temper really got sparked," Hailey replied.
"That's new," Darren said.
"Dean and Sam didn't seem surprised," Hailey shrugged. "It was new for Aiden and I, though."
"I think you're all in uncharted waters," Darren replied.
"Just my luck," Hailey scoffed. "We're heading to Bobby's to see if we can dredge up anything."
"You need a hand?" Darren questioned.
"Not right now," Hailey sighed. "I'll keep you in the loop."
"Please," Darren requested, wrapping his arms around her waist. "You're not alone in this."
"I know," Hailey said, kissing him firmly.
"Hails!" Dean called up the stairs. "Shipping out!"
"That'd be my cue," Hailey shook her head.
Darren moved before Hailey could grabbing his girlfriend's bags and heading downstairs. Hailey followed quickly after him. Everyone had gathered to say goodbye. Once Hailey had finished with her goodbyes, Darren had followed the Winchesters out to the cars, dropping Hailey's bags in the impala's trunk.
"Thanks, babe," Hailey smiled.
Darren gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, mindful that her family was right there. It wasn't so much her brothers that gave him pause but now that John Winchester back it made him nervous. The man was intimidating and especially so when one was dating his only daughter.
John and Mary were riding with Bobby since the impala did not have enough space. Bobby's house was a crucial stop, not only had Bobby kept John's trunk but with the amount of reference books it was a no brainer.
Hailey grinned at her boyfriend, following his gaze to where her parents stood talking in low tones to Bobby. She seemed amused by his nervousness. He glared at causing her grin to widen further.
"Brat," Darren muttered lowly.
"You love me," Hailey laughed.
"Time to get going, Hails," Dean stated.
"Yeah, okay," Hailey nodded.
She turned to Darren; "I'll call you when we get to Bobby's."
"Okay," Darren replied. "Stay safe."
"You too."
With a last look back at her boyfriend, who had been joined by the others to say goodbye, Hailey hopped into the backseat of the impala. Next to her was Aiden. Sam and Dean were in their normal spots and with a final wave they were off to Bobby's.
The rock music was playing at its normal loud volume, not to be drowned out by the lulling roar of the impala's engine. With a small, contented sigh, Hailey sunk down into her seat, feeling at peace. She was with her brother's in the one place that had always felt like home. Aiden was recovering quickly from his injuries and it was nice to have all her brothers together in the car, riding together again.
Hailey realized that she must have fallen asleep at some point because she sprang awake as the impala was slowing to a stop. Cracking her eyes open, she glanced at her surroundings, taking in the cars piled sky high. They had arrived at Bobby's compound.
Once the impala rolled to a stop next to Bobby's car, Hailey got out of the car. She felt Dean at her back as he walked around her to open the trunk. It was the ease of routine that made each sibling grab the duffle bag full of clothing, and the one that contained their weapons before walking up the steps and into the house.
Pausing in the foyer, Hailey took in the house, pleased to note that nothing had changed. Though there may have been more books in Bobby's living room it was hard to tell.
"Don't just stand there, girl," Bobby called, snapping Hailey out of her revere. "Drop your stuff off in your room."
With a nod, she quickly did as she was told going back into the study where her brothers had already started looking through the library.
"Where's Dad, Mom, and Bobby?" Hailey questioned. It had only taken a minute or two to put her things away.
"Basement," Aiden said. "Bobby's calling in favors, checking sources. Mom and Dad are helping."
"We don't even know what we're looking for," Hailey mumbled approaching one of the stacks of books.
"Yeah, well we're sorting them," Sam huffed. "Seeing if anything pops out as we do so."
"But…" Hailey began.
"Dad's orders," Sam interrupted.
"That'll take hours," Hailey complained.
Dean, Sam, and Aiden all shot their sister a glare. It wasn't like sorting the library had been high on their to do list. Well versed on the moods of John Winchester, however they knew when to pick their battles; and with their father already angry with them, it didn't seem smart to try to argue with the man.
Catching Hailey's mutinous expression Aiden frowned, "Hay…"
"We have no other leads," Hailey shrugged.
That was the only reason why she fell in line choosing one side of the library and beginning to organize the books she encountered into sections. Bobby's library was extensive and covered a wide array of topics. Unfortunately, the man's organizing capabilities didn't seem all too high on his to-do list. It made a fitting busy work chore. Never failing to take a few hours to get the place into some semblance of order.
"It's not a good idea," John grumbled.
The sound of the basement door opening and closing captured the Winchester sibling's attention.
"You don't think I know that?" Bobby retorted, grouchily. "She's the best lead we got."
"She a two bit crook," John snapped.
"I agree with John, Bobby," Mary replied. "The Bennett family is nothing but liars and manipulators. They know of the what really lurks out there and instead make money out of it."
"And they have connections out the ass," Bobby replied.
"Aren't they based in England?" John questioned.
"Most of them are," Bobby explained. "The kids came across the pond and the oldest daughter owes me."
"I don't like it," John grumbled.
"Your complaint's been noted," Bobby scoffed.
Ignoring John's scowl Bobby wandered into the kitchen to use on of his disposable cell phones. He knew how the Bennett family operated, which made the Bennett offspring easier to track down than most. Of all those who knew about the supernatural world, there were some that used that knowledge for monetary gain. They liked to refer to themselves as mercenaries, liberating items to sell to the highest bidder.
It made the entire Bennett clan disliked by most hunters, hated by most actually. However with their connections it made them a necessary evil. At least that was how Bobby Singer felt. Others like John Winchester would rather make a deal with a devil than work with any Bennett.
"Bobby Singer," A lilting feminine voice greeted. "Never thought you'd make use of this number."
"Desperate times, Fíona," Bobby replied.
Aw yes the apocalypse is nigh and all," Fíona scoffed.
"You sound skeptical," Bobby noted.
"Well according to the Internet the world should've ended loads of times, and yet here we are," Fíona laughed. "Besides if the world is ending that just means my business is going to be booming."
"You're a smart kid, Fíona, why don't you put the knowledge of what truly lurks in this world to good use?" Bobby questioned. "Instead of using it to line you and your Daddy's pockets?"
"You have your way and I have my own," Fíona responded, a hint of a growl in her tone. "I may have stepped out from under my father's shadow, done things a bit differently than he would like. However, the man taught me everything I know."
"What you know is how to cheat people," Bobby stated.
"Oh, yes, and hunting is quite the lucrative career," Fíona snapped. "Now is there a reason for this call? Or are you just trying to guilt me onto the straight and narrow?"
"I'm in the market for a journal," Bobby admitted. "Samuel Colt's journal."
"I've heard of it," Fíona replied. "What'll you give me for it?"
"You owe me a favor, kid," Bobby growled.
"My work doesn't come for free," Fíona said, sharply. "Favor or no favor."
"How about the next time one of your clients requests something and you need a lead, I'll send you in the right direction," Bobby replied.
"Fine," Fíona sighed. "I'll put my feelers out and get back to you."
With one more person looking for Samuel Colt's journal, Bobby placed the burner phone back in the drawer it came out of. He looked through the kitchen's sliding doors and into his study where the Winchester family were going through his own collection. Mary had started to help her children, sorting through the books while John seemed to be lost in thought.
Bobby knew that the old marine did not like change. And coming back from the dead had changed everything. His kids were a few years older, no longer use to jumping to his every order. Dean, Sam, Aiden, and Hailey had all grown as hunters, making a name for themselves in their own right. Making it so that having their parents back was going to be like navigating a minefield.
The house remained quiet with a bit of tension still in the air. It didn't seem like John was going to tear his children a new one, however, the Winchester siblings traveled around the house as if they were waiting for the other shoe to drop. Four days later that shoe fell and it's name was Fíona Bennett.
Author's Note: A bit of a shorter chapter than I normally produce. I had a few bouts of writer's block and it's hard to feel motivated when it feels like no one's reading. I know we're playing me a song with the world's smallest violin but seriously reviews do really fuel the muse so pretty please let me know what y'all think? Also Fíona Bennett's character might seem similar to a certain someone, yeah?