Author's note: I do not own anything having to do with Supernatural, only Leah belongs to me. Just a reminder SUPERNATURAL signifies a break in time. As always please remember to ~Read and Review~
How horrible of a person am I? I know, I'm the worst kind of writer because I left you hanging for over a month! Who does that? Me, apparently. I am so very sorry for the wait, I was away on vacation for some time but also trying to make these chapters super original isn't the easiest of things to do but I hope I have met those high standards you have all set for me.
Quick couple of shout outs and then I will get to the chapter.
First, HUGE thank you to my beta SPNxBookworm who isn't just my beta but my friend as well. This amazing person got this chapter back to me in less than 24 hours! Give her a round of applause ladies and gentlemen! (Or just go check out her stories!)
Second, I want to say how happy that wandertogondor is back from vacation as well. My muse has returned people! Hallelujah!
Third, I put a special part at the end of this chapter for ispiltthemilk. Who after the month from hell is still functioning, something I wouldn't be able to do.
And last but certainly not least I am dedicating this chapter to EmilyRose475 who is possibly one of the sweetest people I have ever met.
Ok, I'm done rambling now, enjoy my lovies!
Chapter 44- Lucky Deception
"What do you mean dad has a storage unit?" Dean asked for the hundredth time as we flew down the highway on our way to New York.
I groaned and rubbed the back of my neck, "Dylan got a call saying that it was broken into, thought we would want to handle it ourselves and called me."
"Yeah, that's the other thing how does Porter know about some secret lock up that dad kept?" Dean questioned while looking at me in the rearview mirror like I was the one to blame for this.
"I don't know!" I shouted getting real sick of the twenty questions. I was just as confused as they were.
Why wouldn't dad just tell us about the unit? Why wasn't there any mention of it in his journal? What was he keeping there that was so horrible? Why did Dylan know about it? What else was Dylan keeping from me? Whoa. Rewind. Who cares what Dylan's secrets are? Well, I do. Crap, no, no I don't. No, there will be no more talking, thinking or fantasizing about the way his jeans fit so tight…NO!
"Leah!" Dean hollered breaking me out of my internal debate.
"What?!" I yelled back ready to smack my head against the seat.
"What else did he say?" Dean demanded in an exasperated tone that told me he probably asked the same question a few times before I actually heard him.
"Oh, nothing really, just that we'd meet up soon for kinky sex in the bed of his truck complete with fuzzy handcuffs, a bottle of Jack and a leather whip," I replied sarcastically and under different circumstances I would have laughed at the look of horror and disgust that washed across my brother's faces but now was not the time.
"Leah," Dean gave me a warning growl his knuckles almost turning white from the tight grip he had on the steering wheel.
"Nothing, Dean, he said the storage place locked it back up, he's in Missouri," I answered with a sigh. You know, he wasn't the only feeling a little betrayed at the moment and I didn't think it was fair he was taking it out on me but I supposed that was in the little sister's handbook right after the page of pranks and torture.
I watched as Sam shifted once more in his seat which either meant Dean put itching powder in his boxer briefs again or he was hiding something.
"You know, if you're having issues they have vaccines for that," I commented nudging Sam's shoulder trying to change the topic.
"That would mean he'd have to get laid first," Dean joined in with a smirk. It was amazing how quickly he would end an argument if it meant teaming up with me to tease Sam.
"Ha ha," Sam mocked before letting out a long sigh.
"Spill," Dean instructed turning the music all the way off picking up on the tells that he was hiding something.
"I met her," Sam started and as soon as I heard it was about some girl I laid down in the backseat not wanting anything to do with it.
"Well, well," Dean smiled patting Sam on the shoulder. "It's about time you got back in the game. What's her name?"
"Ruby," Sam replied and I shot up in the backseat. What? No way, it had to be some weird coincidence. I mean there are millions of people with the name Ruby, right?
"Ruby, huh? I've had a Sapphire and a Diamond before," Dean curled his lip and scrunched his forehead trying to remember. "But never a Ruby. Let me guess, she's a forceful one and likes to take control, huh? Well let me give you a piece of advice, Sammy. Stick with cash, if she asks for a credit card say no and never and I mean never order off the menu."
"What?" Sam questioned. "No, she's not a stripper, she's…"
"Exotic dancer," Dean cut in pointing a finger at Sam.
"Whatever," Sam rolled his eyes. "I meant the girl with the knife from Lincoln. She showed up at our motel room. She's no hunter, guys, pretty far from it actually, she's a demon."
"You mean was, right?" Dean questioned as I felt my heart in my throat. Demon. That's why she knew about Sammy. I should have kicked her ass when I had the chance that lying blonde bitch.
"No," Sam answered quietly causing the level of surprise to go up about thirty notches.
"N-n-o?!" I stuttered out finding my voice again. "Why the hell not?"
"Why would I?" Sam asked a little louder than a whisper.
"Because demon, that's why, Sam! I mean the second you find out this Ruby chick is a demon you go for the holy water, you don't chat!" Dean shouted his knuckles getting white again on the steering wheel.
"No one was chatting, Dean!" Sam argued.
"Oh really?" I piped in. "Then why didn't you send her ass back to hell?"
"Because…because she said she might be able to help us out," Sam replied turning in his seat so he could face both Dean and I.
"A demon? Helping us out? How?" I asked incredulously.
"Dude…" Dean started when he didn't answer right away.
"She told me she could help you," Sam looked me in the eyes. "Help you out of the crossroads deal."
"She's lying," I replied softly as I backed away from him as much as I could in the small space.
Sam gave me those sad eyes that he's always using on victims to get the information we need. "I don't think she is."
"Pull over," I mumbled my hands starting to shake with fear and anger but I was ignored. "Pull the fucking car over, NOW!"
Dean brought the car to a screeching halt on the side of the road and turned to see what was wrong but I was already out the door and pacing next to the car. Even out in the wide open space I felt as if the walls were closing in on me as I tried to pull much needed air into my lungs.
Why would a demon want to help me? She wouldn't. She would want me to fry in hell like the rest of her demon buddies. She has to be lying to get to Sam. But why? And why did she want me to look into my mom's friends? Was she trying to throw me off to get to Sam? Why would he risk everything? He knows what could happen. Doesn't he care? Talk about reckless, it sounded more like something Dean or I would do but not my Sammy. What the hell was going on? When had the world started rotating the opposite direction?
"Le?" Sam took a tentative step towards me sharing a look of concern with Dean who had walked around to our side of the car.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I demanded snapping out of my thoughts as I picked up a rock and chucked it in his direction. Of course I missed.
"Whoa," he barely dodged it before putting his hands up. "Look, I'm not an idiot Leah, I'm not talking about trusting her, I'm talking about using her. I mean we're at war, right? And we don't know jack about the enemy; we don't know where they are, we don't know what they're doing. I mean, hell, we don't even know what they want. Now this Ruby girl knows more than we will ever find out on our own. Now yes, it's a risk, I know that but we need to take it. If she can keep you out of…"
"You're ok, right?" I questioned cutting him off. "I mean you're feeling alright?"
"Yes," Sam grounded out. "I'm fine. Why are you always asking me that?"
Oh, you know because yellow-eyes was nice enough to put the idea in my head that when you got brought back you aren't one hundred percent pure Sam and though I didn't believe him before you're now becoming besties with a demon bitch from hell.
"No reason," I lied kicking the gravel with the front of my shoe before picking one up and rolling it around in my hand.
"Are you done with your little freak out?" Dean leaned against the Impala with his arms crossed. "Because I would like to get to New York some time this millennia."
"Sam, you can't listen to her," I easily ignored Dean. "She knows what your weakness is, it's us. We already went through this there is no breaking the deal. So please just leave it alone."
"No," Sam shook his head with a hopeful expression on his face. "I've been thinking about it. There has to be a loop hole there always is. We'll take every precaution there is but nothing's going to happen to Dean."
"What? To me?" Dean questioned pushing off the car and standing straight up.
"You didn't tell him?" Sam asked me before turning back to our brother and giving him a sad look. "We try to get her out of this deal and…Ow!" Sam exclaimed as I hit him in the head with the small rock.
"And you're dead, I know," Dean finished as I picked up another rock and chucked it at him this time. "Would you knock it off?!" Dean growled, "If you break a window I promise it will be the last thing you will ever do!"
"Wait…I'm dead?" Sam questioned tilting his head to the side slightly causing his hair to fall in his eyes. "Le told me it was you."
Oh, for the love of God just kill me now.
"You know, he is right we should be on our way to New York," I started to get back in the car until Dean grabbed my arm.
"So, which is it? Him or me?" Dean questioned studying my face looking for any indication of a lie.
"It's neither, isn't it," Sam spoke up taking a step closer. "Dean was right all along. You're being selfish and just giving up!?"
"I'm not giving up," I protested ripping my arm out of Dean's grasp. "You know, it's so nice to hear that you both think I'm going to put a gun in my mouth at any second to end it all. Now listen, and listen good, because I'm not going to say this again. I…am…not…suicidal! Do you hear me? There's just finally a light at the end of the tunnel."
"That's hell fire Leah!" Sam shouted.
"We're still waiting for an answer," Dean said crossing his arms again.
I groaned in annoyance at their need to know everything. "It's both of you," I replied softly digging my fingernails into my palms trying to contain my emotions.
"I don't believe you," Dean stated.
"I'm telling you the truth," I looked from him to Sam. "I promise."
"There you go throwing that word around again, Leah," Dean shook his head angrily. "'I'm fine' or 'I promise' do you even know what they mean anymore? What else are you hiding? I mean did dad know you and Porter were shacking up? Did Caleb? Where does Ash fit into all of this? Hmm? Hell fire must look real appealing compared to the life you have here. Two brothers, what, cramping your style so you can't go screw whoever you want?!"
Is he serious right now? The ability he had to jump from one argument to the next had thrown me for a loop but as always if he wanted a fight he was going to get one.
"Go fuck yourself, douche bag," I seethed clenching and unclenching my fists trying to shake off the urge to punch him in the face. "How come every time I do something you don't agree with, you bring up who I've slept with? We should be talking about your sex life, shouldn't we? I mean you're the one with who fathers a kid and then leaves!"
"Ben isn't my kid!" Dean hollered taking a step closer to me so that we were toe to toe. "I know how to use protection, do you? I mean how many times have I almost been an uncle?"
"Probably less times then I've almost been an aunt because newsflash asshole, Lisa has no idea who the father is!" I screamed and watched as his face faltered for a minute. "See, she didn't mention that little detail, did she?"
"Guys," Sam pushed his way between us with his back to Dean breaking up our little argument. "We need to know, Leah."
I took a deep breath as Dean rubbed a hand over his face. "I'm telling the truth. It was the only way the demon would seal the deal. We're Winchesters, we've pissed off a lot of demons, and he wouldn't bring you back unless I put both of you on the table." I watched as Sam and Dean took in what I was telling them. "Look, I'm sorry I know I shouldn't have gambled with your lives but it's not really a problem. Just leave it alone and you'll both be fine."
Sam dropped his head. "So, what now I live and you die?"
I shrugged, "That's the general idea."
"You shouldn't have done that," he stated, the guilt on his face clear as day.
"I couldn't live in a world where either," I glanced over to Dean before turning back to Sam, "of you didn't exist. I wouldn't do it. I couldn't do it. I don't regret what I did and I would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant I could save either one of you. So, I'm sorry if you're pissed at me and I am sorry that I so carelessly put both your lives in danger…"
"You think that's what we're worried about?" Sam asked snapping his head in my direction and looking at me like I had six heads. "Leah, you're our little sister, there's nothing we wouldn't do for you."
"Not sure jerk face would agree," I tried to lighten the mood because in all reality we really did need to get to New York at some point in the very near future.
"Just get in the freaking car," Dean replied walking around to the driver's side but stopping to give me a wink before getting in.
The ride was a quiet one for awhile all lost in our own thoughts. I knew my confession had thrown both brothers for a loop. Sam sat with his body turned towards the passenger side door almost as if he was trying to block out the fact that we were in the car with him but I saw his face in the side mirror and the defeated guilty look that had washed over him. Dean, on the other hand, had resumed his ever tight grip on the steering wheel and though he tried to nod along with the music his pursed lips and furrowed brow told me everything was far from fine.
I tried flipping through a tabloid magazine that I found stuffed under the seat but even the celebrity drama couldn't take my mind off of our little argument on the side of the road. Dean finally broke the silence when he announced we needed to stop for gas as we pulled into another random station on the side of the road.
As soon as the car was parked in front of the pump Sam scurried his way to the bathroom barely closing the door in his hurry. I got out off the car on the driver's side and reached my arms as high as they would go over my head trying to stretch out when a hit to my stomach made me curl into myself. I looked over to Dean who was trying, and failing, to pull off an innocent look as he lifted the nozzle. I couldn't help but roll my eyes and went into the convenient store for some much needed sweets. Things weren't as good as they could be but Dean's childish antics let me know they weren't as bad as I thought either.
SUPERNATURAL
"Did Porter give you the unit number?" Dean questioned and though I knew he was trying to let it go, there was still a hint of aggravation in his voice.
I got out of the car and wrapped my jacket a little tighter around me, blocking out the cool breeze. "Yeah, it's…"
"Can I help you?" A young man in his late teens questioned cutting off our conversation as he walked out of the office.
"No thanks, we're fine," Sam tried to brush him off as we walked towards the metal fence that surrounded the units.
"I'm sorry but if you don't have a container here I'm going to have to ask you to leave," the teenager stated crossing his arms. I almost had to bite my lip to stop the laughter from coming out that he thought we would be able to stop three determined Winchesters. His eyes darted from Dean to Sam and he let his shoulders drop slightly intimidated by their size. "I'm sorry, it's just we've had a break-in recently. The boss wants us to be extra careful and question anyone that looks suspicious."
Dean looked to Sam and I with an amused look on his face before turning his attention back to the teenager. "And we're suspicious?"
"Well…yeah," he answered hesitantly still trying to stand his ground.
"That's because we're undercover," I spoke up quickly flashing him my badge that if he asked to look closely at it he would see that it actually said 'Certified Bitch' courtesy of Dean for my eighteenth birthday. "You're facility isn't the only one in the area that has been broken into recently and we're trying to piece together a pattern."
"O-o-oh," he stuttered out shoving his hands in his pockets while his cheeks got flush with embarrassment.
"Now, my partners are going to go check out the unit that was broken into and you're going to show me the security footage," I stated in as much as an authoritative voice that I could muster up without letting the disappointment seep through.
There was a part of me that was happy to hear dad kept a storage unit. It was like a part of him was still here, that I was still connected to him in someway.
"Of course," he nodded before walking back to the small office.
"Unit 617," I whispered to my brothers as I turned to follow the worker.
"Hey," Sam caught my arm before I got too far, "we can check the footage after if you want to check it out too."
"No, it's fine," I plastered on my smile as the scrawny teenager waited for me. "Just see what they took, I'll see if I can get any clue on who or what they are and we'll go from there."
"Are you sure?" Sam questioned studying my face.
"Yeah," I nodded as I turned and walked into the air conditioned office.
Dad must have had a reason that he kept it a secret, right? Was there something dangerous in there? Was walking into that container just going to bring more questions? As thrilled as I was to feel like a part of my dad was still around I was equally nervous to actually walk in.
"What's your name kid?" I asked while rubbing my hands up and down my arms in an attempt to keep warm.
"Jesse," he answered pulling out the desk chair for me to sit down.
"You do realize it's freezing outside, right?" I questioned taking the seat as he clicked through a few screens on the computer before the security cameras came up.
"I sweat a lot." I gave a slight nod to let him know I had heard him and instantly cringed feeling the need to shower. "Here this is from the night of the break-in."
I watched as two men went down the service elevator, walked down the hallway and stopped right in front of my dad's unit using a lock pick to get in. This was definitely not some random act, they knew exactly where to go and what they were there for. One walked out carrying a something no bigger than a shoe box while the other held his shoulder. I rewound the tape, zooming in at the moment they walked out of the unit, one of them looked like they had been shot. Good old dad, I thought to myself. He must have had traps set up for anyone he didn't want to enter.
"Is that everything you need?" Jesse asked as he nervously chewed at the skin around his nails.
"One more minute and I'll be out of your hair," I assured as I found the camera for the parking lot and copied down the license plate number of the car they got into. "You know, actually, would you mind getting me a cup of coffee?" I pouted my lip slightly and watched as he nearly ran into the staff room door.
Once he was out of sight I quickly clicked on to the internet and onto the Department of Motor Vehicles site easily hacking my way in to get an address or at least a point in the right direction so we could find these two. I printed the page off and had just stuffed the paper in my jeans pocket when he came back out with a Styrofoam cup.
"Thank you, I'll let you get back to work now," I smiled.
Jesse looked relieved as I made my way back to the Impala and slid into the backseat patiently awaiting my brothers. I was a little shocked to say the least when I saw them walking across the parking lot with matching smiles on their faces.
"Well?" I asked as they slid into their seats and Dean started the car up and thankfully put the heat on noticing how cold I was.
"That…was awesome," Dean commented with a smirk. "He had land mines, enough guns for a small army, there was a trip wire set-up for intruders but the best part…he kept the sawed-off shotgun I made in the sixth grade."
"Yeah," Sam continued in the same amused tone, "I even found my 1995 Division Championship soccer trophy. I mean I know we went head to head about it for years but he actually kept it."
"That's great, Sammy," I tried not to show the hurt in my voice that they didn't mention anything of mine but pushed my emotions down remembering I was dealing with tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumb and that they probably only looked for their own stuff. "So, I got an address for the two that took whatever it was."
I handed the paper to Dean so he knew what direction to go in when Sam gave me a grave look, "We think it was curse box."
"Like a Pandora deal?" I questioned moving more towards the middle of the seat so I could get in front of the stream of heat blowing from the vents. Sam shook his head while I saw Dean trying to hide a smile. "What?"
"I said the same thing," Dean answered full on grinning like an idiot now.
"Guys, curse boxes were built to contain the power of the cursed object," Sam stated and it finally clicked what he was saying.
"Well, maybe they didn't open it," I replied hopefully but Winchester luck told me otherwise.
SUPERNATURAL
Dean pulled up next to the car I saw on the tape. "Should've blacked out their plates before they parked in front of the security camera," he basically sang.
"Well, they're not as smart as we are," I smirked as he parked the car and we all made sure the clips in our guns were loaded.
We made our way into the apartment building and readied ourselves outside their door.
"Le, you grab the box, Sam and I will take care of the guys," Dean whispered.
Sam and I nodded letting him know we were ready and he picked the lock on the door quietly. We could hear someone talking in the apartment and snuck our way in our backs pressed against the walls not wanting them to see us until we were ready.
"Freeze! Freeze! Nobody move!" Dean hollered storming into the room with his gun raised.
"Don't move!" Sam yelled as one of the guys got off the couch and took a step backwards.
"What is this?" One of them asked.
"Stop!" Sam shouted in his I'm-bigger-than-you-I'll-kick-your-ass voice.
Sensing that these guys really wouldn't be any trouble I lowered my gun and started looking around the room for the box. My eyes almost bulged out of my head when I saw it open and empty. "Uh…Dean…"
"What?" He questioned not taking his eyes off of the guy in front of him.
"They opened it," I answered slowly unsure of what that actually meant.
Did some thing come out of the box? Was it a puff of black smoke? Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.
"You opened it?!" Dean exclaimed shoving the man up against the wall.
"Are you guys cops?" the man Dean had a hold on asked.
"Huh?" Dean questioned.
"Are you guys cops?!" the man yelled this time.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes as Sam kept his gun pointed at the other man in the room in case he went to try something.
"Did the British chick send you?" the second man questioned. "Look we were going to hand the box over as soon as we could!"
"What was in the box?" Dean demanded lifting the man off the wall a little before shoving him back against it.
I followed the man's line of sight to what looked like an old key chain. However, I wasn't the only one who followed his gaze and the man took that second of distraction to throw a punch at Dean successfully knocking him in Sam. Now any other day the idiots I call my brothers would have fought back but Sam was knocked off balance and tried to steady himself by grabbing Dean's arm causing both of them to tumble to the ground and for Dean's gun to go flying through the air before skidding to the feet of the man that punched him. We'll call him bad guy number one and his partner bad guy number two.
Bad guy number one quickly picked the gun up and aimed it at my brothers almost like he forgot I was even in the room. He took the safety off the gun ready to shoot them. In one swift motion I grabbed the rabbit's foot off the coffee table and pulled my own gun back out but before I even had my finger on the trigger bad guy number two stumbled backwards for what seemed like no reason whatsoever into a bookshelf knocking himself out. The sudden loud noise distracted bad guy number one and when he went to go check on his partner he tripped over his untied shoelaces and fell to the ground hitting his head on a toolbox.
I stood there with my mouth hanging open like a fish. What the hell just happened? "Uh…you guys alright?"
Dean pushed himself off the floor and held a hand out to help Sam up as well.
"What is this our lucky break?" Dean questioned as he straightened out his jacket.
"Is that a rabbit's foot?" Sam chimed in his eyes falling on the thing I had scooped up.
I held it up to show them, "I think so."
"Huh," Dean nodded.
"So…now what?" I asked a little grossed out that I was holding an actual rabbit's foot. I mean, sure, when I was younger I had bought one hoping it would bring me some good luck on a spelling test but that was fake and this one I could actually feel all the little bones inside. "Can't we just put it back in the box and call it a day?"
"I don't think it's that easy," Sam shook his head still staring disbelievingly at the foot in my hand. "There's rituals and steps that need to be followed for a curse box to work. This one was already opened, it's not like a shopping bag I don't think they are reusable."
"Ok, then we make another one and lock it back up, right?" I questioned more pleadingly wanting to get rid of this nasty thing.
"Right," Dean confirmed but the look on his face told me he was less than sure. "Come on, we should get out of here."
Sam and I both agreed and silently followed Dean out of the apartment and back down the stairs towards the car when something shiny caught my eye. I walked a few feet away from my brothers and crouched down to see a very expensive looking watch. I looked around but the alley where we had parked was completely empty. It was weird, this was definitely not the part of town someone who could afford something like this would hang around.
"Hey, you coming?" Dean called over from where he was halfway into the driver's seat.
I nodded and stuffed the rabbit's foot in my pocket. When I slid into the backseat Sam was already flipping through dad's journal for answers. I stared at the journal with a sad smile on my face. I don't know what we would do if we ever lost that book. It was our life line to our dad, to this life and just having it around made me feel like he was watching over us.
"You're not going to find anything in there," I said softly.
"He has to have something in here," Sam disagreed turning the page and scrutinizing every word, every picture and every scribble.
"I'm telling you there is nothing about the storage unit or the curse boxes in there. The only thing remotely close to what you are looking for is a short little sentence towards the beginning of the journal that simply states, 'cursed boxes contain an object and protects it from causing destruction and damage'," I recited from memory.
"Fine," Sam huffed snapping the journal closed, a scowl spreading across his face.
"Get your panties out of a bunch," Dean shoved Sam's shoulder, "and call Bobby, I'm sure he'll know what to do or at least know who to get in touch with."
Sam grumbled a few words under his breath that I wasn't able to pick up but I'm sure I wouldn't want to know what was said. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number we were all forced to memorize at a young age. When I heard him fully engrossed in conversation with the old hunter I turned my attention to Dean who was undoubtedly looking for a diner since we hadn't eaten in the last six hours.
"Hey, De?"
"Mmm?" He grunted his eyes scanning each and every building we passed.
"Think you could drop me off at the storage unit?" I asked softly praying he wouldn't question my motives.
"Now?" he asked though I knew he was barely paying attention.
"Yeah," I answered before adding, "please." He didn't answer so I took the watch that I had found in the alley and laid it over his shoulder. "Look, I was going to wait to give this to you until your birthday," I easily lied and tried not to smirk as his eyes lit up at the shiny thing. "But seeing as I lose everything I figured I'd give it to you now."
"You got this for me?" he questioned in shock but I didn't miss the small smile playing at the corner of his lips as he took it out of my hand and slid it onto his wrist securing the clasp in the back.
"Of course," I automatically replied stuffing down the guilt that was building in the pit of my stomach that I, in fact, did not buy him a birthday present for at least the last five years. Seeing as this was my last year though I'd have to make a note to get both brothers not only birthday but Christmas presents as well.
SUPERNATURAL
"What are we doing here?" Sam questioned as Dean pulled into the storage facility.
"Le wanted to get dropped off," Dean responded and I swear I could see his eyes drop to the watch every few seconds, his smile growing every time they did.
"I think we should all stay together," Sam argued, "Bobby said that the rabbit's foot really does work. You will get a run of good luck to beat the devil but you lose it and you're luck turns south so quick you're dead within a week. He's making a few calls to see how we break the curse."
Great, guess my year will be up in a week, I thought cynically.
"So she won't lose the foot," Dean tried to brush the information away but Sam and I both turned and stared at him in disbelief.
"Come on, man, this is Le we're talking about," Sam smiled apologetically letting me know he was saying it because it was true and not to be mean or hurtful.
Dean let out a long sigh before agreeing, "You want to go in there alone, that's fine, but you give the foot to Sam for safe keeping."
I dug the foot out of my pocket and handed it over to Sam grateful that Dean seemed to understand my need to be alone with dad's things.
"We'll go eat and be back in an hour," Dean told me as I got out of the car.
I watched until they had pulled back out onto the street before making my way towards the long hallway. I was just about to get into the service elevator when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
"Hey," the teenager from earlier waved at me enthusiastically.
"Hi," I half smiled turning back around so I could step into the elevator. I was just about to close the door when he stepped inside.
"Going down?"
"Yeah, need to check out a few more things with unit 617 but I'll be out of your hair as soon as possible," I answered trying to remember what I used as a cover. I wasn't F.B.I or a reporter for some paper so I must have been a cop. I hope.
"No problem," he smiled closing the door and pushing the button to start the elevator.
We started moving down, floor by floor passed by as I began feeling anxious about what I would walk into but the feeling only intensified when the elevator let out a loud screeching noise before stopping between floors.
"Uh, Jesse, isn't it?" I questioned praying I got his name correct. "Why did we stop?"
"I…I don't know," he replied pushing the only two buttons the service elevator had. "I think we're stuck."
"Ok, so just call one of your co-workers to come get us out."
"Uh…" he smiled at me innocently.
"What?"
"I'm the only one here. The next person doesn't come in for another five hours. We do twelve hour shifts," he explained as he bit his nails.
"Awesome," I sighed as I slid down the wall and sat on the floor.
"What about your partners?" he questioned as a bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face.
Great, not only was I stuck in an elevator but I was stuck with the world's sweatiest teenager. I pulled my cell phone out and dialed Dean's number it didn't even ring before going to voicemail.
Leave your name, number and nightmare at the sound of the beep.
"Hey short one, call me back."
I hung up and quickly dialed Sam's number only for the same thing to happen.
You've reached Sam's voicemail. Leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
"Ugh! Come on, tall person, answer your phone!"
I placed the phone back in my pocket and banged my head against the wall in frustration.
"Want to play a game while we wait?" Jesse asked sitting down opposite of me. "How about truth or dare? I'll go first. I pick truth."
"I don't play games," I sighed only thinking about how I was going to get into the storage unit.
"Ok, then dare."
I stared at him for a minute trying to figure out if this kid had mental problems or was just lonely when an idea came to me.
"I dare you to be a step stool," I smirked standing up and brushing the back of my jeans off.
"Umm…excuse me?" he questioned his face scrunched up in confusion.
"Get on all fours," I instructed pointing to the spot on the floor. He obliged but the look of confusion never left his face. "Now, don't move, I'm getting us out of here."
I placed my right foot on his back before using the wall to steady myself so I could bring my left foot up. I ignored the little 'oomph' that escaped his lips as I stood on his back and tried very hard not to tell him off. I was all muscle. I raised my arms up and pushed and prodded at the ceiling tile until it came loose. Sliding it to the side I took hold of either side of the opening and pulled myself up into the small space where thankfully I could see the next floor.
"What about me?" Jesse called up nervously.
I groaned in annoyance but the little angel on my right shoulder out ruled the little devil on my left as I laid down and reached my hand out to him so I could pull him up as well. Once we were both on top of the elevator we climbed to the next floor where he fell over sideways out of breath. I went to take off down the hallway when he stopped me.
"You're unit is down one more floor."
"I know, I'm taking the stairs," I replied as my cell phone started ringing.
How did the night ever get like this? One shot and the whiskey goes down. Down, down. Bottom of the bottle hits, waking up my mind as I throw a fit.
"Awesome song," Jesse smiled following me to the stairs so he could get back to the office or so I assumed.
"Hello?" I answered ignoring the comment scrawny boy had just made.
"Hey, you alright?" Sam's words came out quick and full of concern.
"I'm…" I went to answer when I could hear rustling from the other end before Dean's voice came across so loud I had to pull my ear away from the phone.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing, just a little technical problem, nothing I couldn't handle," I replied as I walked down the stairs.
"Good," I could hear him sigh on the other end. "We're up fifteen grand and just won free food for a year at Biggerson's."
"That's awesome. What's a Biggerson's?...Dean?...hello?" I glanced down and noticed my phone had completely shut off.
I had full battery less than a half hour ago. I pushed the power button but nothing happened. What the hell was going on? First, the elevator then my phone, definitely not a coincidence.
"They are a great restaurant chain that drops the whole onion in the fryer," Jesse spoke up as I scanned the units for the right number.
"What?" I questioned turning to notice him matching my every step.
"You asked what a Biggerson's was."
"That was a private conversation," I snapped. "This is an ongoing investigation and if you don't want to be brought up on charges for stalling me then I suggest you run along."
Unit 617. I stared at the door awhile before I even had the nerve to open it. Sam and Dean had come out smiling so certainly it couldn't be that bad. I took a deep breath and opened the door my eyes instantly falling on the devil's trap on the floor. No demons allowed. I carefully stepped over the trip wire and inhaled deeply trying to keep the tears at bay as the scent of my dad filled the air.
I wasn't sure where to start or what I was even looking for. I looked at the camping chair that was set off to the side and thought about curling up in it but decided against it. Dean had given me an hour and though he was usually pretty strict about what time he was going to pick me up from somewhere they had stopped to get food so I could easily add on an extra hour or so.
I walked over to the filing cabinet and thumbed through a few of the files but nothing really caught my eye. Slamming the drawer shut I noticed Sam's trophy he was talking about and remembered the day he received it. He was covered from head to toe in dirt and mud with grass stains on both of his knees but I don't think I've ever seen him happier than he was in the particular moment.
I made my way further into the unit and saw a table set up where Dean's sawed-off shotgun was laid carefully on top of some more papers. I was brought back to that moment in time. Dad and Dean had been so proud while Sam threw a fit because we had to change schools. Apparently making a working gun in the sixth grade was unacceptable but the words that came out of dad's mouth that day before we left were bad enough to make even Dean blush.
What struck me as odd was the little Jesus he had on one of the shelves. My dad wasn't the religious type in the least but what unnerved me more was the way it seemed to watch every move I made. I picked it up and turned it side to side the eyes never leaving my own. Getting creeped out I placed it back on the shelf but not before facing it towards the wall.
That's when something caught my eye a simple gold band handing from a chain on the corner of a picture frame. I'd never seen someone so breathtakingly beautiful her blonde hair cascading over her shoulder as her smile lit up the whole picture. I carefully took the ring between my fingers and noticed an inscription inside.
To: Mary With all my love, John
I gasped as a few tears escaped. This was mom's wedding ring. Sam and Dean obviously hadn't noticed it. The thought of it being kept in a storage unit bothered me so I gently unclasped the back of the chain before removing it and sliding it onto my own necklace. For the first time ever I felt like I finally had both parents with me.
I took a few minutes to compose myself before curiosity got the best of me and I searched more thoroughly through everything he had. Could there be more mementos of mom's? Was there anything of mine in here?
I found a bottle of scotch that looked older than I was but figuring no one would be drinking it I broke the seal and took a swig the liquid burning my throat as it warmed me inside. I sat down at the table and thumbed through a few of the pages when one caught my attention. He had kept it, after all these years there was my acceptance letter to Stanford. I couldn't believe it, no, I couldn't understand it. I remembered that day like it was yesterday. The anger and disappointment in my father's voice when he thought I was trying to leave the family. The weeks of drinking he ensued after Sam left. Was this some horrible joke?
I angrily stuffed it under some other papers on the table and ended up knocking a few on the floor. When I bent over to pick them up I saw two ticket stubs for a baseball game from the year he passed away. Then I found a few more always a pair, always on the same date year after year and always in Minnesota.
SUPERNATURAL
"What the hell happened?" I exclaimed running over to Sam who looked like he went a few rounds with a sumo wrestler. His pants were torn and bloody around his knees and he was wearing only one sneaker.
"I lost my shoe," he replied softly looking more like a child than the grown man that he was.
I saw Dean run a tired hand over his face as we stood in the parking lot of the storage unit. "You wouldn't believe us if we told you but it's all thanks to Sam…he lost the foot."
"You what?!" I screamed hitting Sam repeatedly in the arm.
"I didn't mean to some waitress stole it!"
"Yeah and I'm the one that loses things," I mumbled angrily.
"We've got a name, Bela Talbot. Now Bobby has it on good authority that this Bela chick lives about two hours from here but I'm dropping you and Sam off at a motel first. I can't have your bad luck getting us killed."
"Actually," I spoke up as I went to get in the backseat. "Can you drop me off at the library instead?"
"No," Dean answered simply as he got in and started the car waiting for Sam to do the same.
I watched in disbelief as Sam hit himself in the side with the door as he opened it and after he basically fell into his seat he shut his foot in the door.
"Look, I'm not a walking accident for whatever reason like Sam is," I smiled apologetically at him as he rubbed his side. "No offense. Just drop me at the library there are a few things I have to check out and then I'll take a taxi to the motel."
"Yeah, why aren't you having bad luck like Sam is?" Dean questioned pulling out of the parking lot and back out onto the street.
"Well I got stuck in an elevator with the kid no one picks for seven minutes in heaven and my phone won't work," I replied furiously as I took my phone back out of my pocket to try it again but still no luck.
"You with no phone? The world is going to end," Sam teased before becoming serious again. "Why can't I just go to the library with Leah?"
"Because I don't need the place burning down or a stack of books falling on you or something," I answered.
"What do you need to research that you can't do from Sam's laptop?" Dean challenged but when I couldn't think of a good enough excuse that wouldn't bring even more questions he made the decision for me as we pulled into a dingy motel.
SUPERNATURAL
After being given strict instructions not to move Sam and I were placed in chairs facing one another as Dean went to steal back the foot from this Bela person. Dean was gone for exactly twenty minutes when I got up from the chair causing Sam to raise an eyebrow.
"Look you're the one with a flashing arrow above your head for accidents not me. I'm going to the library but since my phone isn't working give me yours," I demanded with my hand out and watched as he fished through his pocket before smacking it into my hand. "Alright, I'll be back as soon as I can. Don't move! Don't even scratch your nose!"
I stepped out the motel room door and called the cab company to bring me to the library. I sat down on the curb and forty minutes later the yellow car showed up. Forty minutes? Anyone else think that is absolutely ridiculous? I told the man who I hoped spoke English that I wanted to go to the library and we were there in five minutes flat. Really? A forty minute wait for five minutes down the road? I should have walked. I would have walked if my knee wasn't still bothering me and to be honest climbing out of an elevator didn't really help it much. I paid the man and pulled out my dad's journal that I had snuck out of the Impala when Dean dropped us at the motel.
I claimed a table towards the back where I wouldn't be bothered. My first order of business was to figure out who in Minnesota my father knew well enough to go to a baseball game with every year. I went through every contact in his journal and though only a few were friends from Kansas the rest were hunters he had met over the years. And I don't know if it's just me or not but I couldn't picture any of these hunters enjoying themselves at a baseball game. I didn't know much about baseball and just thinking about it reminded me of Michael. The only two teams I could even remember were the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs. I made my way over to the computers where I found there was a baseball team from Minnesota and shockingly their name was the Minnesota Twins.
Not having anything else to go off of I started on my second task at hand; researching what actually happened to my mom's friends. It took me over two hours to lie to coroners and to hack into different files but what I found shocked me. I wanted to call Ruby to confront her but her number was conveniently stored in my phone that wasn't currently working. I did some quick addition in my head and realized Dean was probably on his way back to the motel room. I quickly pulled out Sam's phone to call a taxi when I accidentally hit his contact list. Being the nosey little sister I am I scrolled through his list to see who he had in here but froze when I saw her name. I didn't think twice before hitting the send button.
SUPERNATURAL
"You called?" Ruby said walking around the side of the library and closer to me.
"Why did you want me to look into my mom's friends?" I questioned careful to keep my distance.
"Did you?" she took a step closer.
I mirrored her movements taking a step back. "They're all dead."
"Ding, ding, ding, give the girl a prize," she crossed her arms with a sickeningly sweet smile. "It's all about Sam, Leah, it's always been all about Sam."
The slight hope I had that she might actually be able to get me out of my deal went straight out the window when she started talking about my Sammy. "What the hell do you want with him you black eyed bitch?"
She blinked, her eyes filling with the evil she really was before blinking them back to her normal color. She tutted and shook her head, "Now didn't we have this conversation about this whole bitch thing?"
"Fine, you nasty hell whore, what do you want with my brother?" I demanded, no longer cautious about our distance as I moved towards her.
"He's going to help me with a little something," Ruby shrugged, "and in return hell won't melt the skin off that pretty face of yours."
"No!" I shouted, "He's not going to make some deal, not for me. Not now and not ever!"
She turned her head to the side and looked down the street. "We'll have to finish this some other time."
In just like that she was gone but before I even had a chance to process what had just happened the Impala pulled into the parking lot with a very angry Dean behind the wheel.
"What happened to you staying at the motel?!" he hollered as he got out of the car and strode over to me.
"I…" I went to try and explain when Sam got out of the car with a few cuts on his face and his left eye already swelling. I instantly ran over to meet him. "Are you ok? What happened?"
"You left him there!" Dean bellowed walking up behind me. "I sure hope that whatever you had to so desperately research was worth it!"
"Sammy, I'm so sorry," I apologized rubbing my thumb over his cut cheek.
"It's fine, babe, I'm ok," he flashed me a smile.
"It's not fine!" Dean yelled again. "They almost shot him! If I hadn't walked in when I did and played Batman he would have been dead!"
"They who? Who tried to shoot him?!" I questioned the worry quickly building inside of me before the last part of Dean's statement sunk in. "Wait Batman?"
"Don't ask," Sam whispered.
"We don't have time for this; we need to go burn this foot."
SUPERNATURAL
Dean laid his jacket over a tombstone as he and Sam prepared to burn the foot. It was absurd what they had to do; dig up some grass, sprinkle some bone ash and cayenne pepper on the ground before lighting it on fire. The last step was to drop the foot in the fire but Dean insisted on playing a few more scratch-off tickets.
After securing the tickets in his jacket he pulled the rabbit's foot from his jeans pocket and held it above the fire. "Goodbye 'wascally wabbit'."
Just before he dropped it we heard the sound of a gun being cocked and he turned around to see a lady in a trench coat standing there with her gun aimed at us. "I think you'll find that belongs to me. Or, you know, whatever. Put the foot down, honey."
"No," Dean shook his head as a cocky smile spread across his face, "You're not going to shoot anybody. See I happen to be able to read people. Ok, you're a thief, fine, but you're not…"
Dean was cut off as the shot of the gun rang through the air, the bullet hitting Sam.
"Sammy!" I screamed in horror before I realized it was just in his shoulder and I helped him up from the ground.
"Son of a…" Dean stood there shocked.
"Back off, tiger, back off. You make one more move and I'll pull the trigger. You've got the luck, Dean. You I can't hit but your brother or sister? Them I can't miss," she stated and took in Dean's stunned look on his face. "Relax, it's a shoulder hit, I can aim."
I took that one second of distraction and pulled out my own gun firing it at her hitting her in the arm. She dropped her gun in surprise as Dean stood there whipping his head back and forth between her and me.
"What the hell is wrong with you two?!" He screamed in disbelief, "You don't just go around shooting people like that!"
"Oh, shut up," I grumbled snatching the foot out of his hand and dropping it on the fire watching as it turned a few colors before finally burning to ash.
"Thanks very much," Bela groaned as she held onto her arm. "I'm out one and a half million and on the bad side of a very powerful, fairly psychotic buyer."
"Oh, don't go away angry, just go away," Dean whined.
Bela started to walk away until she stopped by his jacket and leaned over the tombstone. "Hey, Dean's sister."
"It's Leah," I corrected with a sigh. That was something I had always hated. I was not Dean or Sam's sister or John's daughter. I was Leah Winchester.
"Nice shot," she complimented before walking away for good this time.
"You good?" Dean asked Sam as he handed him a handkerchief to put pressure on it until we could stitch him up.
"I'll live," Sam replied with a grunt.
"Well, at least now everything is back to normal. No bad luck, no good luck…" Dean started until I cut him off.
"Just Winchester luck."
"Wait," he stopped jogging over to his jacket. "We're up forty six thousand dollars," he grinned from ear to ear until he realized his pockets were empty. That's when Bela drove out of the cemetery and beeped her horn. Dean looked from Sam to me before shouting at the top of his lungs. "SON OF A BITCH!"
SUPERNATURAL
Sam actually requested the backseat after we stitched him up so he could lie down and catch a couple hours of sleep. Dean flew down the highway on the way to nowhere in particular. I suppose he really did let the road take him to where he was going next. I waited until I knew Sam was asleep before asking the question that had been rolling around my head for sometime now.
"Dean, can I ask you a question?"
"Yes, you were really adopted," he shook his head slightly. "You were just left on our doorstep one day and though we didn't want to keep you…" he trailed off when he saw no amusement in my face whatsoever. "Lighten up," he playfully hit the side of my leg, "I was just messing with you. What did you want to ask?"
I pulled my legs underneath me and shook my head, "Never mind."
"No, don't do that," he nearly growled. "I'm sorry, I'm all ears, ask away."
I wasn't even sure how to bring this up, this was definitely a topic that got avoided at all costs growing up and I was always the last one in our family to want to talk about it but I needed answers.
"Le?" Dean questioned with concern when I didn't answer right away.
I checked one more time that Sam was really asleep before letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
"After the fire…I mean all those years ago…when mom…" I couldn't get the words to come out but the tears certainly did as they rolled down my cheeks. "It's just…I thought there was nothing left."
Dean had gotten real still and eerily quiet. I was just about to apologize for even talking about it when he spoke up so softly I had to strain to hear him. "Just the nursery was destroyed. The house was rebuilt, but you knew that, we were there for Sam's vision thing."
"I meant mom," I just as quietly admitted.
"There was nothing left," he replied quickly as his jaw set into a firm line.
I hated how I was bringing up hard feelings for him but I needed answers. "Then how come her ring was in dad's storage unit?" I asked my hand coming up to touch the ring on my necklace.
"Are you sure?" Dean asked after a minute of silence and several glances in my direction at the small piece of jewelry my fingers were rolling back and forth.
I nodded, "I can take it off if you want. I mean you and Sam should have the right to hold on to it. I just couldn't leave it there, you know. It kind of seemed like I was leaving her behind."
"You can ask Sammy later but its fine with me," he gave me a sad smile.
We drove in silence for the next half hour or so when I realized there wasn't many chances that I got to have these types of conversations with my eldest brother.
"Hey, De?"
"Yeah?" he replied running a hand through his hair probably preparing for the worse.
"I'm not saying he is," I started carefully not wanting this to turn into an argument, "but if Ben is really your kid what would you do?"
"He's…" He went to dispute but I cut him off.
"Hypothetically then. Just for conversation purposes."
He let out a sigh, "This isn't the life a kid should be brought up in."
I nodded my head knowing full well where he was coming from, "But you're not dad." He glanced over at me shock written clear as day across his face. I couldn't blame him. I was the last person on earth who would ever talk down on our father but I was only speaking the truth. "Do you want to know? I mean would things change if he was your kid?"
Dean thought about it for a minute. "I need to know for sure. Even if nothing changes," he looked over to me for a minute trying to convince himself I'm sure more than me. "It's not fair to the kid."
"I'm so happy you said that," I smiled reaching over and pulling out a few of Dean's hairs.
"Ow! What the hell?!" Dean exclaimed loud enough to make Sam stir in the backseat but not enough to wake him completely.
I opened the glove box and pulled out the small envelope I had stored in there. "Now we can know for sure. Ben might think I'm nine shades of crazy especially when I pulled his hair but I need to know if I'm an aunt or not because if I am that kid is going to be so spoiled."
"You're a special kind of insane, you know that?" Dean shook his head as he reached down to the shoebox full of cassette tapes and shuffled through them. "Been a rough couple of days, huh?"
"You can say that again," I agreed checking on Sam in the backseat who had his mouth hanging slightly open as soft snores escaped.
"He dead to the world?" Dean asked as he popped the cassette in.
"Oh, yeah."
"Good," he smirked turning the volume up and letting the music fill the car. "Been awhile since we rocked out to some good AC/DC together."
"Too long," I agreed a smile forming on my lips as well as Dean started singing.
"She was a fast machine she kept her motor clean. She was the best damn woman that I ever seen. She had the sightless eyes telling me no lies," he sang at the top of his lungs before hitting me in the leg again as the song played on. "Come on, I need my backup singer."
I let out a laugh before picking up the tune, "The earth was quaking. My mind was aching. And we were making it."
Dean joined back in as we both sang at the top of our lungs, "And you shook me all night long. Yeah, you shook me all night long!"
Dean continued singing as I faded out with a smile on my face. This was what life was supposed to be like. Driving down some highway in the middle of the night, singing AC/DC at the top of your lungs without a worry in the world. This is what life was supposed to be like but for me it was a new memory. One I would cherish and keep close to my heart.
Sam was right. Time was ticking. Every second that passed was one I would never get back and in less than a year I was going to be gone.