•Bloody Mary; Part One•
"Are you sure? We were told it was just an ear infection." Emilia asked the doctor as she caressed the back of her daughter's hair.
Dean held the girl close as he sat on the medical bed with her.
"It's an infection in the bone. It spread to her hearing drums. We can go in and replace the bone, giving her 25% hearing volume, the percentage could be lower. She has to have a hearing aid for the rest of her life, I'm afraid."
"What happens if we don't remove the bone?" Sam asked from his seat.
"Well, who knows where the infection could spread. It could be her sight next."
"So, I'll have a deaf daughter?" Dean was heartbroken at the news. It's bad enough she gets hauled around everywhere but to have a disability on top of that. "Is there anything else we can do?"
"Mrs. and Mr. Anderson, it's best you all come together as a family and learn how to communicate with your child by signing. She's still young, it'll be easier for her to learn now."
A tear fell from Em's eye. "So, um, when can we have the bone removed?"
"I can do it as early as this afternoon. It'll be a quick recovery as well."
"Doctor," Sam said as he stood up, "where can we go to get her fitted for a hearing aid? We travel around a lot."
"Any audiologist in America, really. After she's fitted and they show you how to put it in, they can ship the hearing aid to your primary home."
"What about aftercare?"
"For her hearing? You should come in every three months for the next two years. Then it'll be six months, then once a year." She took one more look at the child's chart. "You can go anywhere in the US for this, like I said."
"Thank you, Doctor," Dean said softly. He was still trying to process all of this. He was grieving for his child. "My family appreciates your help."
"It's my job to help. I will get you folks set up with my nurse and we'll start her procedure soon."
The three adults in the room all looked at each other. Zoe lifted her head from her daddy's shoulder. "Daddy," she mumbled so quietly.
"Yeah, ladybug?" Dean answered. Zoe just stared at him, his lips were moving but nothing was coming out. "Princess?"
"I can't hears you daddy." The little girl's lip quivered, she was starting to become frustrated with herself. Her face turned red and it was full on tears. She shoved her head into the crook of Dean's neck.
Emilia rubbed her legs to comfort her. Sam eyes blurred with tears, he never wanted his favorite little girl to ever be in pain.
Dean's gaze found Emilia. Dean had gotten so choked up at how devastated his baby felt at the moment.
~•Supernatural•~
Emilia drank the water from her wattle bottle. They had just made it to Ohio. The little girl in the seat beside Em was fast asleep. It's been two weeks since the bone surgery and Zoe has been doing just fine. They have yet to find an audiologist in town that had the correct aid or size for the child, so they called every place in whatever town they end up in.
Emilia reached in her bag and pulled out the ASL book. Em has always had the advantage of being a quick learner, and luckily Zo took after her mom in that aspect.
"You're already on the "location" section?" Dean asked. He was surprised because he was just starting to learn the "basic needs" in ASL.
"Yeah, Zo has learned half of the states already."
Dean was impressed. He was about say something until someone on the other end of his call answered. "Hello?Yes sir, we can come in about an hour."
Emilia smiled happily hearing the response from Dean. Zoe's gonna be able to finally hear again.
"You have the perfect size for her, right? In the canal, yes sir." Dean answered the doctor's questions. "Thank you."
After the called ended, Emilia leaned forward closer to Dean. "So, what did he say?"
Dean seemed much more relaxed hearing the news he was told. "That in an hour, our daughter is getting her hearing aid."
Em giggled excitedly, she nearly squealed. "I'm so excited!"
"Yeah, me too. I can't wait her to be able to hear us again."
Sam started to shift in his sleep, alarming the two parents. It started with a mumble of words.
"What is he saying?" Em asked.
"Jessica," Sam said several times but with each time his voice raised. Dean shook his brother awake before he wake up Zoe.
"Sam, wake up." Dean called. Sam woke up, confused. He sat up and looked around. It didn't take him long to see they were parked in front of a large building.
"I take it I was having a nightmare." Sam guessed.
"Yeah," the couple said in unison.
"Another one," Dean added.
"Hey, at least I got some sleep."
"You know, sooner or later we're gonna have to talk about this." Dean said as he circled the direction to the doctors office for Zo later.
"I second that." Em commented from her seat.
"Are we here?" Sam asked, ignoring the both of them.
"Yup. Welcome to Toledo, Ohio."
Sam picked up a newspaper with Steven Shoemaker's obituary circled. His dead was suspicious enough for the trio to come to town.
"So what do you think really happened to this guy?" Sam asked referring to their victim.
"That's what we're gonna find out," Dean gathered his things. "Let's go."
"Wait," Sam looked between the two other hunters. "Any news for Zoe?"
Dean smiled. "We're getting her hearing aids after we leave here."
Dean and Sam got out of the car and headed up to the building.
Zoe's eyes fluttered open and she groaned out her sleep. Her eyes were on her mom.
Emilia grinned at the girl. 'You will go to the doctor today and get your hearing aids.' The mother signed to her daughter.
Zoe squeaked with happiness. 'Can we go now?' She signed.
'Not until daddy and Uncle Sam get back.'
The little girl nodded as she kicked her feet from excitement. 'I'm hungry.'
'Should we take the car to get food?'
'Yes!' The girl laughed.
Emailia climbed into the front seat and turned the key to start the car. The mother reached under the seat to grab cash from Dean's "secret" gambling pile. Emilia smiled, she looked in the rear view mirror at her daughter.
'Daddy is paying for breakfast.'
~•Supernatural•~
The doctor carefully placed the hearing aid in Zoe's ear. The child was expecting things to happen instantly, then her waiting turned into fear.
She could see the adults in the room talking but she couldn't hear a thing.
The only thing could hear were her thoughts. Then there was a buzzing sound, then a muffled one. She couldn't make it out.
"Ladybug?" A familiar voice called out. She looked over to her father, there eyes connecting. "Princess?"
"Daddy," she whispered. She walked over to him and touched his ears. "I can hear you daddy!"
The father immediately pulled into a hug. He was so over joyed, he couldn't believe it. "I love you so much baby."
"I love you too daddy," smiled as she wiggled their noses together.
"Don't forget hugs from mommy."
Em held her hands and Zo practically flew into her mothers arms. She missed hearing her mother laugh.
"I've missed you mama." The child said as she played with the ends of her mom's curls.
"I've missed you too, wiggles."
Em kissed her little rosy cheeks. It was so good to feel how happy her family were.
"I hate to interrupt," the doctor said from his desk. "Just some simple instructions. She is not to wear her hearing aid to bed, bathtime, extreme sports, swimming, etc. We do not want to risk any damage to the device."
"Yes sir. We understand."
The doctor looked at the little girl and smiled. "Have you learned to sign? Your mom told me you did."
'Yes, I know how.' She signed.
'Quick learner. You're going to be just fine.' The doctor responded.
~•Supernatural•~
The trio plus child walked into the funeral. There was a picture of Steven Shoemaker on the desk. The attendees were all men in black suits and women in black dresses, except the Winchesters.
"Feel like we're underdressed." Dean commented as he observed his surroundings. They walked through the house towards the back.
"Excuse me, sir," Emilia stopped this one man walking by. "Where are the relatives of Steven? We wish to pay our respect."
The man pointed them toward Donna and Lily Shoemaker, who were with their friends Jill and Charlie.
"You must be Donna, right?" Dean asked.
"Yeah." She answered.
"Hi, uh—we're really sorry." Sam gave her his condolences.
"Thank you."
"I'm Sam, this is Dean." Sam pointed to Em and Zoe. "That's Emilia and Zoella. Dean and I worked with your dad."
Donna looked at Charlie, then back at the Winchester family. "You did?"
"Yeah. This whole thing. I mean, a stroke." Dean said.
The dirty blonde friend spoke up. "I don't think she really wants to talk about this right now."
"It's okay. I'm okay." Donna reassured her friend, Charlie.
"Were there any symptoms? Dizziness? Migraines?" Emilia asked as she picked up her daughter. "I can't imagine a tragedy like this happening with no cause."
The teen shook her her. "No."
The child, Lily, turned to her sister. "That's because it wasn't a stroke."
Donna comforted her sister. "Lily, don't say that."
"What?" Sam asked.
"I'm sorry, she's just upset." The teen apologized for her sibling.
"No, it happened because of me."
"Sweetie, it didn't."
"Lily," Sam got down eye level with Lily. "Why would you say something like that?"
"Right before he died, I said it."
"You said what, sweetie?" Emilia asked from where she was standing.
"Bloody Mary, three times in the bathroom mirror." The girl paused. "She took his eyes, that's what she does."
"That's not why Dad died. This isn't your fault." Donna told her.
"I think your sister's right, Lily. There's no way it could have been Bloody Mary. Your dad didn't say it, did he?" Dean asked, just to be sure or to try to narrow down what's going on.
Lily shook her head. "No, I don't think so."
~•Supernatural•~
Sam pushed the bathroom door open. There was still some dried blood on the floor.
"The Bloody Mary legend...Dad ever find any evidence that it was a real thing?" Sam asked his brother.
"Not that I know of." Dean answered.
Emilia put Zoe on her feet. "Hey, you want to stand over there and be our lookout?" Zoe nodded as she quickly ran over to her post.
"Right here, mommy?" She asked.
'Yes, right there.' Emilia signed.
Dean and Em walked into the bathroom as Sam stooped to the floor and touched the dried blood.
"I mean, everywhere else all over the country, kids will play Bloody Mary, and as far as we know, nobody dies from it."
"Yeah, well, maybe everywhere it's just a story, but here it's actually happening." Dean gathered.
"The place where the legend began?" Emilia asked them. She was getting confused on why this was happening now. Dean shrugged at her question and opened the medicine cabinet.
"But according to the legend, the person who says B—" Sam looked at the medicine cabinet mirror, which now faced him, and closed it. "The person who says you know what gets it. But here—"
"Shoemaker gets it instead, yeah." Dean outing the pieces together with Sam.
"Right."
"Never heard anything like that before. Still, the guy did die right in front of the mirror, and the daughter's right. The way the legend goes, you know who scratches your eyes out." Dean said.
"It's worth checking in to."
Suddenly, Zoe ran to the bathroom door. She looked afraid, she passed the two men and went straight to her mother.
The men looked at each other and then at Zo. "She alright Em?" Sam asked.
"I think so," Emilia answered as she picked Zoe up and held her closely.
Dean was about to comfort the child as well but the all heard someone coming up the stairs.
Sam and Dean went to go handle the situation while Emilia stayed back a little.
She was seeing something play out in front of her.
Steven Shoemaker grabbed pills out of the medicine cabinet. He seemed so upset and exhausted. He placed two pills on the counter but crushed several more and stirred it into a drink.
"The lady is mean, mama." Zoe said, taking her mom out of the state she was in.
"What lady, baby?"
"The one in the glass," Zo whispered in her mother's ear.
"The mirror?" She asked. The preschool aged child nodded. "Did you see her?"
Zoe shook her head. "I heard her in my head."
"Hey, you two, library time." Dean said as he came back in the bathroom.
"Who was that out there?"
"One of Donna's friends," Dean walked up to his daughter. "You feel better baby?"
"Yes daddy," Zo smiled. Dean reached out to her and the child was now in his arms.
"How about we go to the library?" He asked as he took her downstairs to leave.
Emilia looked back at the cabinet mirror one more time before leaving as well.
~•Supernatural•~