Title: Hidden Demons
Author: Tigergirl
Rated: M
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural. Only Kalen, Marbles, and any other characters you don't recognize.
Summary: Sequel to One More Secret. It's been a year since Kalen and Marbles came to live in the bunker.
CHAPTER ONE
"Sam, hurry up!"
Sweeping his arm wildly back and forth, Sam sprayed the lighter fluid all over the bones. He tried not to focus on his brother's shouts as he flipped his lighter open. He threw it down and watched as the flames shot up out of the grave. Snapping his head up, Sam watched as the shrieking ghost fizzled out of sight.
"Dean?" Sam called.
From behind a grave, a hand emerged to grab a corner of the gravestone. With a lurch, Dean pulled himself to his feet. He groaned at pain zig zagged all over his body.
"About time," Dean grumbled.
Sam rolled his eyes.
"This would have been a lot easier if we had brought help, Dean," Sam hinted.
Dean glared.
"Wasn't really an option, Sam. Cas is off helping Bobby and Gabriel is hunting down that thing-a-ma-whats-it," Dean explained.
"Thing-a-ma…ookay. What about Kalen and Marbles?" Sam asked.
Dean paused. His eyes slowly grew wide before they gave a large, dramatic roll. Sam crossed his arms over his chest. The tips of his mouth twisted up in a laughing grin.
"You forgot about them, didn't you?" Sam accused.
"Shut up," Dean replied.
"You know she's going to be pissed when she hears about it. She only had that job for the morning. Shouldn't have taken her past lunch to finish," Sam prodded.
Dean chose to flash his brother his middle finger.
"Fuckin' forgot, Sammy. Give me a break," Dean growled.
"But where's the fun in that?"
Both hunters jumped, turning with guns drawn towards the source. They found Kalen sitting on a large headstone, grinning and swinging her legs playfully. They sagged in relief as guns were lowered.
"You been here the whole time?" Dean demanded.
Kalen snorted.
"Pfft. No. Only arrived after Smalls there said my name," Kalen replied, tipping her head towards Sam.
Sam didn't even bother hiding the spreading smile on his face. While he still called Kalen by her full name or simply Kay, she had taken to calling him Smalls over the last couple of months. The idea had come from their Friday Night Movie Night when Dean had chosen The Sandlot. Sam was so used to everyone nicknaming him based on his tall stature, it was actually relieving to hear one in the opposite favor.
Kalen pushed off the headstone and walked over to peer around Sam at the flames still roaring.
"So who's Sir Crispy?" Kalen asked.
"Massive bitch who decided she'd spend her remaining time drowning people from the inside out," Dean answered smoothly.
Kalen raised an eyebrow while tilting her head to the side.
"Oh, fun. And looks like she didn't want to go down easily," Kalen said, giving Dean a head to toe once over.
Dean grunted in response. Kalen flashed him a small smile.
"Want me to help you out?" she asked.
Dean let out a heavy sigh, but nodded. She took the few steps to reach him and brought her hand to rest on his shoulder. Unlike with Cas and Gabriel, Kalen's healing was not like a quick jerk of energy zapping his body. Hers went slower and felt like everything in him just relaxing. He sighed when she took her hand away.
"Thanks," Dean told her.
She flashed him a small smirk.
"No problem. Here, boy!"
That was Dean's only warning as Kalen slid out of view and a large, furry mass tackled him to the ground. Dean released a heavy grunt as his back hit the ground. He tried but failed to push away the massive head as a long tongue swiped repeatedly up his face.
"Oh! Marbles! Get off! Down, dog!"
Sam and Kalen shared smiles before doing a quick fist bump.
"Missed Dean, didn't he?" Sam asked.
Kalen nodded as she saddled up to stand beside Dean. She rubbed her hands together before holding them out over the dying fire.
"Oh yeah. Moped all day," Kalen said.
"Dean's been sneaking him food under the table again, hasn't he?" Sam questioned.
Kalen's big grin was all the answer he needed. Dean groaned as his head fell back and the canine's body fully rested on top of him. He lifted his head when he heard a phone start going off.
"Sammy?" Dean called.
"Nope," Sam answered.
Kalen fished her phone out of her pocket.
"It's me," she said, flipping it open. "Hey, Tricks. Yeah? Sure. Nah, nah, Sam's right here. Dean? Lying underneath a furry mass."
Kalen paused to listen to whatever was being said on the other side of the line. She let out a drawn out groan that sounded half-disgusted, half-amused.
"Oh, that's foul, even for you. That is a mental image I did not need."
Sam raised an eyebrow over at his brother who shrugged in response while pushing at Marbles again. The canine didn't budge. The dog actually scooted further up his body so he could lay his head down on Dean's face. Sam turned his head away while Dean coughed and sputtered. He turned his head to the side to shout Kalen's name.
"Hey, hey, we'll talk about that later. I have to save Dean from being smothered by Marbles. We'll see you later."
Kalen hung up and shoved her phone into her back pocket.
"What did Gabriel say about Dean?" Sam inquired, crossing his arms over his chest with a growing grin on his face.
Kalen patted him gently on the arm while slowly shaking her head.
"You don't want to know. Trust me on that. Come on, Marbles," Kalen said.
The Saint Bernard whined in a high pitch but stumbled to his feet. Dean swore as the dog managed to step on him a couple of times in the process of getting up. Marbles padded over to Kalen and passed her to nudge against Sam's hand. He chuckled as he rubbed Marbles' head and patted the side of his body, making a loud thud against the firm body.
"Good boy," Sam murmured.
After cleaning up their mess, the group made their way over to where Dean had left the Impala. It was only a few months ago that Dean finally let Marbles ride in the Impala. He wasn't thrilled about the mess the dog left behind, but Kalen was always good to clean it up afterwards.
The exhaustion of the job didn't hit the men until they were collapsing onto their respective beds. Kalen gave them a sympathetic look.
"Food, boys?" Kalen asked.
"Please," Sam said.
"Beer," Dean added.
Kalen rolled her eyes.
"So something nice and healthy," she said to Sam, who nodded.
"And…" she grinned. "Something very healthy. I'm thinking…vegan?"
She laughed when a dirty look and one finger salute was thrown her way.
"I'll be back," she promised before disappearing.
Sam laughed as Marbles jogged over and leapt onto Dean. The older hunter let out a loud protest as she canine made himself comfortable once again. Knowing his brother would be thoroughly pinned down for a short while, Sam pushed himself to his feet. He grabbed his bag and shower kit on the way to the bathroom. His brother's calls for help went on ignored.
By the time he was stepping out, Kalen had returned. He noted with a small smile that Dean was still laid out on his back. Marbles had shifted so he was laying across Dean's knees. The distance allowed for Dean to take a piece of what he was eating and easily pass it down to the canine who happily took the piece from him.
Sam shared a look with Kalen as he sat at the small hotel room table.
"Tofu burger?" Sam asked.
Kalen shook her head.
"And let Dean finally test out what happens when you stab a half-angel with an angel blade? No, thank you."
Sam murmured a quiet note of gratitude when the half angel slid him his meal and an open beer.
"Gabriel called again. He said he'll see us back at the bunker," Kalen said, combing through her fries before grabbing one.
"He give you a reason why?" Sam asked while pouring dressing over his salad.
Kalen shook her head.
"Does he ever?" Kalen questioned.
Sam shook his head. He stuffed a big bite in his mouth.
It still amazed him Kalen had moved in with them a little over a year ago. It had been awkward for her and Castiel at first, but they had come to an understanding of sorts. Kalen still worked the occasional odd job. However, she made sure to come home to the bunker every night. Every once in a while, she would disappear with Gabriel or Castiel.
The biggest surprise was how well Kalen got along with Bobby. She would often disappear off to visit with him. She would lend a hand helping him research or collect items. It came as no surprise that Marbles refused to let Kalen go to Bobby's without him. The strange Hell Hound still laid down in front of the couch staring at it.
Sam had his suspicions on why the canine did this, but he wasn't open to sharing just yet.
"Hey, Dean? You got plans tomorrow?" Kalen called over.
Sam shifted to look over at his brother. Dean sighed as he sat up. It didn't escape their notice that he slipped the rest of his burger to Marbles.
"After Sam and I get back to the bunker, I gotta do some work on the Impala," Dean explained.
Sam chuckled when Kalen pouted.
"You sure? I'm going to catch up with Benny tomorrow," Kalen explained.
"You know Benny?"
"How do you know Benny?"
Kalen giggled. Dean held his hand up while shaking his head.
"I'm not sure I want to know how you and him known each other. Maybe some other time, Pix. I really want to get some work done in the garage," Dean said.
Kalen shrugged.
"It's okay. I'll tell Benny you said hi. It's not the end of the world, Dean."
END OF CHAPTER ONE