A/N: Okay I just watched Flight of the Phoenix and nearly cried. I won't say anything in case you haven't seen it, but be warned it is sad. Anyway, you people are my heros. I love you all to death. Please keep reviewing, I live for them. Last but definitely not least to Irish Anor. I heart you so much!
P.S. No Sam or Dean in this chapter, but I hope you don't hate it too much.
See first chapter for disclaimer.
Warning: Violence and slight language, but nothing too bad.
My Brother's Keeper
Chapter 9: Kara (I put her in to shake things up for the Winchester family. I hope you find her as much fun as I did.)
"What did you just say?" John asked, confusion settling in. Had she just called him 'hunter'?
The woman laughed, sounding generally amused by his question. She shook her head at him as she replied, "Is it really so hard to believe that your reputation proceeds you, John Winchester?"
"Who are you, and how do you know who I am?" John demanded, going on the defensive. He wasn't comfortable about this strange woman knowing who he was, when he knew nothing about her.
"My name is Kara. And as I said, you have quite the reputation in the underground."
"The underground?"
Her face took on a thoughtful expression, "It is a surprise that you've never heard of it. We've certainly heard of you."
"Yeah, you keep saying that. And as much as I'd like to hear more, I don't have time for this."
"You're hunting what is in this house."
"Nope. It's already gone." John replied. He turned his back to Kara, walking towards the house. He hoped that she would get the hint and go away. He had already wasted too much time talking to her, and even though he wanted to hear all of what she knew about him, it didn't take precedence over his sons.
"Then what are you going in there for?" She asked, following him.
He turned around quickly to face her, making Kara step back in surprise. He repeated, "I don't have time for this." It came out in a growl, showing that he was truly getting frustrated with her. Finding one son near death and the other possessed was fraying his nerves. This woman's knowledge of him was not helping.
"I can help."
"How can you help me? Go away before you get hurt!" He said turning away again. He wanted to add, 'It'll most likely be by me if you don't leave me alone.' But he kept his mouth shut.
"You're here because of the curse, yes?" Kara waited until she had his attention before continuing, "Let me guess, one of your boys stepped into it. Was it Sam or Dean?" She stumbled back as he took a threatening step closer. She was starting to wonder if it had been a good idea to bring up his children.
"What the hell do you know about it?"
"I know that there is a curse here. A pretty strong one. I can feel it. Am I right? About your sons?"
John swallowed hard, giving her a slight nod.
"I can help you." Kara assured softly.
"How?" John's voice wasn't hard or angry this time. He believed her, and was interested in how she could be of service to them.
"Anyone can set a curse, but not many can remove one, and cleanse the surrounding objects and people. I can do that. Please, let me help." she pleaded.
"Why are you even offering?" John asked, wary of the woman's sudden appearance. He didn't want to take the chance of trusting her if she was dangerous.
Kara suddenly blushed and smiled shyly at her shoes. She hid soft giggles behind her hand. When she looked back up she gave him a sheepish apology, "I'm sorry. It's just... you're kind of a hero where I come from. You've done a great job of staying off normal people's radar, but word kind of spreads among certain people. You've done a lot of great things."
John couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed at the stranger's praise. He took the chance to have a long look at her. She looked incredibly young at the moment--no older than Dean. It was an amazing change of character. He could see very few similarities between the calm woman who had first exchanged words with him and the girl that was now hero-worshiping him. He could hardly see her as a threat now.
"Well, if you're done figuring out where my loyalties lie, could we head inside and find this demon statue." Kara recommended, her composure returning instantly and without warning.
"How do you know it's a demon statue?" John asked. His confusion over the woman's strange characteristics seemed to rise every time she opened her mouth. It was no different for her next answer.
Kara looked up and took a deep breath, bringing it in through her nose, "I can smell it. It reeks!" She looked back at him and gestured to the house, "Shall we?" She didn't wait for an answer, but started walking.
She passed John who just stared at her, before shaking his head and following.
It had taken some time for Kara and John to get passed the rotting stairs and into the room Dean had been in. He relayed some of the more important issues, telling her how his oldest son had passed out in this room for a few minutes and then how he had been acting different ever since. He didn't elaborate, wanting to keep his personal failure private.
John led her over to the spot he had found Dean, at that time with a frantic Sam at his side. He felt a stab of guilt as he remembered his anger towards the boy. Looking back, he could reason that he was at fault as much as Sam was. He hadn't been checking in on either of his boys, instead trusting them to take care of themselves. The younger boy had definitely paid the heavier price.
"John." Kara said, bringing him out of his thoughts. She continued, "I think I found it."
"Don't!" John said, rushing forward to grab her wrist. She had her hand reaching out to touch the small statue, which had been half hidden behind books on a shelf. "Are you stupid? I thought you were supposed to be an expert!"
"Calm down! It only has room to hold one curse. It's just a regular old statue now." She said, shaking her wrist so he would let go. She added, "I am the expert, you know."
"I don't think we should take the risk."
"Well after you bring Dean back the curse will have to go back into the statue. And how are we going to destroy it if it's still on the bookshelf? We need to set it in a charm circle to destroy it."
He relented, "Fine."
Kara didn't even hesitate before picking the statue up and setting it in a clear space on the floor. John watched her as she took small pouches from her bag and spread the contents in a circle around the statue. He recognized some of the items, but others were a complete mystery. She did her work skillfully, as if she had done it hundreds of times before.
When she was finished she turned to him, "We will need another person to help."
"Why?"
"One to hold Dean. He will struggle. I imagine that would be your job. And another to help me perform the cleansing. I will remove the curse from Dean, but someone else must destroy statue right after. What about your other son, Sam?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"He's not exactly up to... par at the moment."
Kara stared at him, her face blank. She was expecting John to explain it to her.
"He just can't, all right. Are there any people from this underground that could help?"
"Not any close by. I really think that Dean's brother should do it. Trust me."
John sighed, "We should go get Dean. I'll see how Sam's doing. Maybe... he could do this."
"Good." Kara smiled.
TBC
