Authors note: Hi again, this is a sequel to Saving Katie and starts off where Saving Katie ends.
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Kate tried to explain how she came to the conclusion she had. Everything was still fuzzy and the pain in her leg was coming back. "So, it all started a few days ago..." She said.
Dean squeezed her hand.
"I felt like something was off. I don't know how to explain it. I just felt weird. Everyone was on edge but there were small things that I saw that made me worry. I thought you acted weird when you asked us to go to the diner."
John sat down at the foot of the bed.
She continued. "Sam and Dean said it could be because you felt bad or something but it just didn't sit right with me." She told them about things they had done that were out of character.
"There was a broken vial in the box of stuff." Dean said.
Kate nodded. "I realized someone was trying to sabotage the plan. I had to compel you a few times but I promise I didn't have a choice. I had to be discrete because I didn't know which one of you was under the influence of what ever it was."
Dean put an arm around her. "Don't worry about the compelling stuff. Just go on."
Kate was tired and everything seemed like a bad dream. "When we were at the house, I could see like... blurry shadows of the hellhounds running around outside the warding. People see stuff like that when their time gets close but this wasn't like what my dad was seeing." Her voice broke when she mentioned Brian. "They stopped running and sat there like they were waiting on a command." She finished piecing together everything up to when they got to the warehouse. "I still didn't know which one of you was affected but I tested Sam and Dean before I left with them.
Dean tilted his head. "When did you do that?"
Kate shrugged. "I drank holy water and wiped my tears and then touched you with my hand. Anyway, at the warehouse, I think he jumped between people a few times. It is all kind of blurry."
John patted her foot. "When did you figure out it was me?"
She furrowed his brows. "Well, I wasn't sure at first but you were so quick to tell us to go after the spell was done, before I completed the soul transfer. I needed to make you angry enough for the demon to show itself."
John rested his elbow on his knee and nodded for her to continue.
"You weren't concerned, you were angry. Then you pulled off your belt and I kind of knew for sure then." She said, quietly.
He smirked. "Why?"
She wrung her hands. "You said I was too young for that."
John chuckled. "I did say that."
Dean rolled his eyes. "He wasn't so considerate with us."
Kate sighed. "It was the look in your eyes. I just knew. I don't know how but I knew."
John patted her leg. "You are a smart kid. Tell me about the knife."
"It was part of a vision but I had been drinking the holy water and I knew my blood had a bit of power. I didn't want to really hurt you but needed to get you away from Dean so I hit your side." She said, reading his face for any trace of anger.
John held up his shirt. "Just a scratch."
Kate smiled a little. She told them about seeing the grate on the wall when she was with Sam and Dean and not understanding the importance until they were there with Brian. She told them about running and trying to keep the hounds away from them. "When it got me." She said, glancing at her leg. "I.. I think having my parent's souls together and the psychic link that my bracelet had created a power surge. I saw them, when the light faded away. They saved me."
No one knew what to say. They were all stunned.
Kate suddenly looked worried. "Where is my dad's..."
Dean patted her. "We will take care of that once you get out of here."
Kate frowned. "Did he suffer?"
Bobby shook his head. "He went peacefully."
"Good, I wasn't sure if things were going to work out." In the moments before she performed the spell, she had gotten his permission to help him let go. She didn't take his life but gave him the okay to leave her.
A doctor knocked on the door and opened it. "There is my favorite patient."
Kate tilted her head.
"You are quite the interesting case, young lady."
Kate furrowed her brows. "Thanks?"
He chuckled. "You were in rough shape when you came in here but aside from some nasty cuts, you are in good shape now." He gave John some papers explaining the recovery process and gave her strict instructions to rest. She would need to avoid using the leg due to how deep the lacerations were. "Do you remember what happened?"
Kate looked to Dean. She wasn't sure what story he had fed them. "I got mad so I ran away. Something grabbed me and I woke up here."
The doctor checked her leg and didn't ask anymore questions.
Once he was gone Dean nudged her. "How did you know that was the story?"
Kate grinned. "It seemed realistic."
"The police may ask you some questions too but the authorities are saying it was a bear and we scared it away." Dean said.
Kate rested her head. "Right, a bear."
John went to the nurses station to clarify a few things before wheeling a chair into Kate's room. "Are you ready to bust out of here?"
Kate perked up. "They are letting me go?"
John nodded. "You will have frequent checkups but you are good to go home."
Kate didn't like being babied and let Dean know her thoughts when he lifted her to sit her in the back seat. Her leg did hurt pretty bad so she kept the complaints short. She felt the sadness hit her when she saw the salvage yard. Last time she was there, her dad was still alive. "I want to do it today."
Dean looked back at her. "Katie, you haven't even set foot in the house yet."
She sighed. "He deserves to be at rest."
Dean put the car in park and let Bobby and John know what Kate wanted.
Kate didn't fuss as much when Dean carried her inside.
He carried her up to their bedroom and sat her down on Sam's bed. "I'm assuming you want something different to wear." He motioned to the hospital clothes she had been given.
Kate tried to stand up but rolled her eyes and stopped when Dean gave her a look. "My yellow dress, please."
Dean looked around and found it. "It is kind of cold outside."
"I don't care. My mom's favorite color was yellow." She said.
"Uh, do you need help?" He asked.
Kate chewed on her fingers. "No, I've got it."
He turned his back so she could change but stayed close enough he could help her if needed. Once she was done, he picked her up and carried her back down to the sofa. "Can I get you anything?"
She shook her head. She just wanted to feel better. She leaned her head back on the arm of the couch and closed her eyes.
An hour later Dean gently woke her up. "It is time, kiddo."
Kate wiped tears away from her eyes. "I want my crutches."
Dean sighed. "I can carry you. You got hurt pretty bad and need to let people help you."
She shook her head. "No, I need to do this by myself."
He reluctantly got her crutches but stayed right with her as she went down the steps.
The walk to the pyre wasn't that far but Kate felt herself getting weak. Part of it was the sheer emotional exhaustion. Seeing a body, wrapped in white linin was always somber but knowing that it was Brian hurt so badly that she could feel her chest ache. She consoled herself, knowing that he had went peacefully and was happy again. She hopped over to Bobby. "Let me light it."
Bobby put his arm out for her to grab. "You don't have to."
"Yeah, I do. He is my dad. I started this. I would like to finish it."
Bobby swallowed a lump in his throat. "Okay, just let me help you." He gave her a stick to light and held her arm so she didn't fall into the fire.
Once the timbers began to spark, Kate hopped back away from the flames. She felt the last of her defenses start to crumble. She felt herself falling.
Dean caught her before she hit the ground and sat down on the ground with her in his lap. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. "I've got you."
Kate sobbed into Dean's jacket as the flames roared. She couldn't believe it was over. She was an orphan and both of her parents had died because of demons. She felt a flame of bitterness growing in her chest.
Dean held on to her as she shook. He let a few of his tears drip down on to her head. "Let it out."
Sam sat down on the ground beside them and stayed there until the flames burned out. "We should go inside.
Kate was too weak to argue.
John helped Bobby dispose of the charred limbs.
Sam paid his respects to Brian and took a bit of the ashes and put them in a vial. He had finally figured out what kind of charm he was going to give Kate. He had snuck down to the blast site and found pieces of the crystal that had shattered. She could carry a bit of both her parents with her.
Dean sat Kate down and grabbed her medication. He gave her the pills and tried to get her to eat.
Kate took the pills but refused to take a bite of anything.
Dean gave up and helped her up the stairs. He used a warm cloth to wipe her face and laid her down on his bed. He covered her with his blanket and kissed her forehead.
Kate was too tired to talk, she just wanted to cry.
Dean soothed her with a gentle voice and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "I'm right here."
Kate finally gave into the exhaustion and let herself sleep.
Dean let himself break down once she fell asleep. He had been so scared for so long but she was okay. She was home and had lived. He would give anything to switch places but was so thankful that she was okay.
Sam crept up the stairs and opened the door.
Dean didn't hide his grief from Sam.
Sam joined him and put an arm around his back. "She did it." He smiled through tears.
Dean wiped his eyes. "Still a badass."
Sam nodded. "Yeah, she is."
Kate was still pale and looked so tiny and helpless. Dean wondered how she had gotten out of the woods alive. The odds were so stacked against her and yet, here she was, sleeping peacefully beside him. When he had seen on the ground and first got to her, he didn't think she was going to make it. He didn't have that kind of faith.
Sam cleared his throat. "I've got her. Maybe you should take a breather."
Dean patted his knee and got up to leave the room. He realized that it had been days since he had taken a good breath. He knew she would break down once the shock wore off but also knew he would be there to put her back together.
John met Dean as he came down the stairs and enveloped him in a hug. "She is okay." He said.
Dean clapped John on the back and chuckled.
"What is it?" John asked.
Dean leaned back against the wall. "You know, she basically set it up where you can never threaten her with a belt."
John laughed. "I didn't think about it like that but I guess she did."
"She even stabbed you but you can't even be mad about it." Dean added.
John chuckled again. "I think she is the only one who could manage that."
The tension faded as they found amusement. The awfulness of the whole ordeal chipped away, ever so slightly.
"You are going to have your hands full once she is up and running." John said.
Dean raised a brow. "Oh, I am?"
John steered him toward the kitchen. "She is your shadow."
Dean sat down and took the beer John was handing him. "You are passing the torch because she is too smart for you." He said in jest.
John grinned. "That may be it." He was still going to be after the yellow eyed demon but knew in his heart that Kate would want to be with Sam and Dean more than anything. He could stick around and be there through her entire recovery but he would never measure up, in her eyes, to Dean. Nope, his name was on the papers but in every other aspect she was Dean's.
"Will you be leaving soon?" Dean asked.
John sighed and sipped his beer. "Not yet, but I have a good lead on the demon and I don't think Kate needs me here."
Dean sat back. He wanted to argue and say that he needed to be there but he saw the truth in the situation. "Maybe run it by her, just so she doesn't get upset."
John smirked. "Of course, she has already stabbed me once, I don't plan on pissing her off."
Dean smiled at that. "You are going to have to 'fess up and tell people you got wounded by a little girl."
John offered him a dimpled grin. "With pride."
Dean shook his head. "Why do I feel like you would be less enthused if I had been the one to stab you?"
John laughed. "Well, son, you aren't a ten year old girl that faced down the hounds of hell, orchestrated a backup plan to an insane master plan and managed to throw a knife clear across the room and hit her target."
Dean smirked. "Just so you know, everything she knows, she learned from me."
John got up and grabbed another beer. "And who did you learn it from?"
Dean rolled his eyes but chuckled. His dad was an amazing hunter and had given Dean the skill set to be just as amazing. Dean took pride in everything that Sam and Kate accomplished so John's pride in Kate mirrored his pride in Dean. Dean tapped his fingers on the table and finished his beer. He had to get on his feet before she did because she was going to hit the ground running.
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Kate woke up and tried to roll over but the pain hit her like a freight train.
Dean jumped up and was at her side immediately. He put his hand on her and settled her.
Sam ran downstairs to grab her medication and brought it to her.
"Easy now, don't move your leg." Dean said.
Kate took the medicine and threw her head back into the pillow. "It hurts."
"I know it does. Here, squeeze my hand." Dean put his hand in hers.
The cause of the injury flooded back into Kate's mind and caused her to start crying.
Dean lifted her up and sat down. He had Sam turn on the light.
Sam looked at Kate's bandages. "There is a little blood."
Dean looked at her leg and then flipped the blanket back over it. "Not much, you're okay."
Sam moved the bottom of the blanket and rubbed her foot and lower leg. He looked at the bruising on her ankle. He was surprised that there were no burns. He got up and dug around in his dresser. He found the bracelet and held it up for her to see.
Kate hiccupped but reached for the pendant. It felt good in her hand. She ran her fingers down the broken chain and frowned.
Sam found some string and took the pendant off. He returned the makeshift necklace to her.
Kate picked up her head so Sam could slip it over her head. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. Is there anything I can get you?"
Kate shook her head.
"I can try to do the pain thing you do." Sam offered.
Kate shook her head again.
Dean rubbed her back and shifted so she was more comfortable. "Why not?"
Kate started crying again. "It was my fault."
Dean sighed. "Katie, no it wasn't. None of this was your fault."
Kate sobbed until she got sick to her stomach.
"Kate what is wrong?" Sam asked, concerned.
She tried to push herself away from Dean and stand up.
"If you want to sit on the bed you can but you can't stand up." Dean said.
Kate shifted so she was sitting on the bed and turned her head away from both of them.
Sam sat down beside her. "What was your fault?"
Kate reached for his hand and hiccupped. She closed her eyes for a few seconds and then pulled her hand away.
Sam hugged her to him and let tears fall down his face.
"What is it?" Dean asked.
Sam swallowed. "Them saving her wasn't part of the plan."
Dean's heart broke. "Kate, do you mean..."
Kate nodded and renewed her tears.
Dean pulled her back into his lap and hugged her. He rested his chin on her head and just held her. "Did you sacrifice yourself or were you hoping that.. that they..."
Kate slumped. "Both."
Dean sighed. He knew she was depressed and sacrificing herself was something he could wrap his head around but he didn't think she would purposefully put herself in that situation. "You are so incredibly loved, kid."
Kate sniffled. "I just want it to stop."
He squeezed her. "My threat still stands."
Kate crinkled her nose and looked at him. "Seriously, I'm injured."
He smiled at the glimmer of fire. "Well, not now. I'm telling you for future reference. I can't pretend that I know how you felt going through that. We are here for you and would be distraught if something happened to you. We like having you around and Sam makes fun of my music."
Kate rested her head on his chest. "You listen to it anyway."
He chuckled ."Yeah but it is better when it is two against one."
Sam rubbed her arm. "What, jerkwad here is trying to say is, we don't want you hurting yourself. You are important and I know it hurts but we will help you through it."
Kate smiled weakly. "I like that one... jerkwad."
Dean snorted. "Are we clear?"
Kate nodded her head. "I wont try to feed myself to hellhounds anymore."
Dean squinted at her. "Or try to hurt yourself or risk your life."
Kate rolled her eyes. "Okayee."
"Brat." He said with a smirk.
Kate smirked back. "I think maybe the pain in my leg isn't as bad now."
"I can still do the pain thing." Sam said.
She shook her head again. "I'm okay."
He sighed but sat back.
Dean looked at the clock beside him. "Do you think you can sleep for a few more hours?"
Kate whimpered. "I can try."
Dean laid her back down in the bed and rubbed her head.
Kate felt herself slipping away but didn't fight it.
Dean sat back in the floor and let out a huge breath of air. He wiped tears from his eyes and watched her sleep.
Sam put his pillow in the floor and moved Dean's. "I'll take the floor."
Dean sat down on Sam's bed and rubbed his face. "Thanks."
Sam turned off the light and laid down next to Dean's bed. He wanted to be close by incase she had a dream.
Dean laid on his back and stared at the ceiling. He wanted to think that the worst of it was over but he feared it had just begun.