Author's note: WHEW! This is a bit of a long one folks! But I am SUPER excited for you all to read it and tell me what you think about the direction Emily's story is moving. There is A LOT of new information ahead and I can't wait to build on that in the coming chapters. This chapter is 100% original and doesn't follow one of the episodes so I apologize if it is at all scattered or dragged out. There is also a very special flashback in here for those who have asked! I love you all SO very much and I appreciate your patience with my chaos I call life right now! I really wanted to have this chapter out a week ago but I hope it was well worth the wait! Please READ and REVIEW! I LOVE YOU ALL!
(THIRD PERSON POV)
"I can't…" Emily whispered as she shook her head.
Every bone in Dean's body demanded he burst through the door and dismantle the boy on the other side of it. But something small stopped him. He needed to hear what the boy said next. He needed to know why the angels were watching her so closely, otherwise he wasn't going to know exactly what it was he was protecting her from. And he'd do anything to keep her safe… so he waited, holding his breath for the next words to be spoken.
"I know I hurt you baby… but I never meant to. Emily. I never meant to fall in love with you. I never meant to put you in this place. It wasn't supposed to be like this." Judson blurted out before she could cut him off again.
"What? What wasn't supposed to be like this!" Emily scoffed.
"All of it! I just. I thought I could keep it under control and get what we needed. I tried so hard."
"Tried to do what Judson! What the hell are you talking about?"
"I'm what they call Earthbound. Sort of like a guardian… The angels give us charges to monitor, to observe or to protect if need me. I was assigned to you."
"…. Are you human?" Emily asked as a thousand questions flooded her mind. But this was the one that made its way to the surface.
"Yes… but I've been 21 years old for a very long time. I don't age."
"So what you're immortal or something?"
"No. I can die, I just don't age. If I was to be harmed to the point of death then I'd die like any other person. But I have some small scale of healing abilities, not that I can use on anyone else, but to help my body to recover quickly. The most I can do to others is provide a calm sense of feeling."
'Well that explains a few things' Emily thought to herself.
"So I was your job then? Is that what I'm understanding."
"It's so much more than that, but in its simplest form, yes. Em. You were my charge. You were the person I was supposed to watch."
"Just watch?"
"No… I was asked to gather intel on your abilities. Someone like you has never existed before. We have never seen another person carry the blood of Lucifer and survive."
Emily shook her head and turned to face away from him as she leaned against the window frame. Her mind running a million miles a minute. Her stomach in her throat, and panic flooding her body. Every time she thought about who's blood ran through her veins she felt this heavy weight on her entire body. It was suffocating at times… and at this moment she felt like she was drowning.
"Em I swear. Everything I ever said about us.. about you. I mean every fucking word of it. I love you! I love you so much it hurts every day that I don't see you… touch you. Baby. Please…"
Emily dropped to her knees as sobs shook her shoulders in the slightest of movements.
"How am I supposed to believe any of that?" She asked.
Judson moved to kneel behind her.
"Baby, please believe me… I don't know how to prove that it's true. I just need you to believe me."
"I can't Judson!" She spun. "I can't believe a word out of your mouth. Everything you ever said to me was just to use me… you FUCKED me to get information from me!"
The ground softly shook beneath them. Emily knew she was getting too upset to be in Bobby's house. She didn't want to destroy it… again.
"Dammit Em that is NOT true! I fucking love you so damn much! Everything I ever said about us was real, I meant every bit of it and I still do, baby please! You have to believe at least that much. What do I have to do to make you believe me?"
"I don't know!" She said dipping her face in her hands as she leaned back against the wall. Judson sat back and faced her, not touching her, not reaching for her, just watching as she pushed her fingers against her temples. Trying to calm herself some. Closing her eyes and trying to pretend she couldn't sense him sitting just inches away. That his lips. His body wasn't within her grasp.
She cursed herself for thinking that way… but the truth was she couldn't stop. She wanted nothing more than to wrap herself in him. Fuck the angels. Fuck the truth. Fuck anything that ruined her idea of being with him and being happy again.
"Emily." He said so softly that Dean struggled to hear it from outside the door. "I'll do anything. Anything. To prove that I'm telling you the truth. I never meant for any of this to happen. I didn't mean to fall in love with you, but I did… because Dammit you are the most amazing woman I've ever met and I can't imagine living my life without you in it. I don't want to… please. Don't make me do that."
"I don't know… I don't know how to make this work anymore. I don't know how we can be together when I can't trust you at all. And even if I could… my brothers would murder you if they knew you were here right now."
Dean rolled his eyes and had to resist the humorless laugh that wanted to escape. He was unsure of what to do next at this point. Surely Emily would know they are getting suspicious. Surely she knew they would ask questions. Is it better to get this over with now?
Dean's mind was made for him as he twisted the knob and opened the door.
The sight of Emily in the floor in tears was enough to let him know he made the right decision.
"I think we should move this chat downstairs… share with the class. What do ya say?" He said glaring at Judson- who while also terrified refused to look away from Dean. Refused to run away from the situation. He knew this was unavoidable. He would have to face them eventually.
(Emily's POV)
Dean was literally spitting fire from his eyes when he looked at Judson. My breath left my body in fear of what would happen next.
"Dean." I mumbled. He finally put his eyes back on me, then he walked forward and reached out for me. I immediately took his hand and he pulled me to stand. "Dean I'm sorry." I began apologizing… not even sure what for.
"C'mon. Go find Sam." He said as he possessively pulled me into him and then gently pushed me to walk downstairs. It began to dawn on me that he could have been outside the door for how knows how long… who knows what he heard. Who knows what he's going to do. I padded down the stairs quickly until I practically ran into Sam at the bottom.
"Whoa, hey… where have you been? You and Dean have been up there forever."
Dammit… he was outside the door.
"Uh. Umm.."
"Em what's wrong?"
"Judson's here." I whispered. His eyes went wide and his face filled with anger.
"WHAT?!"
Just then two sets of feet began to descend at the top of the steps. I moved so that they could make their way down and stepped into the kitchen where Bobby was opening a beer.
"Might want to crack a few more of those." I told him as I reached into his whiskey cabinet and bypassed the glass. The burn on the way down was almost therapeutic.
Whatever was coming next wasn't going to be pleasant for Judson, and just the thought made my stomach roll with anxiety.
"What did I miss?"
"Judson's here."
"What?! In this house?!"
I simply nodded as Bobby stormed passed me and into the other room. I took another long sip of the whiskey and walked back into the living room, where all four men stood in what could be the most tense circle I've ever seen in my life.
My eyes met Judson's, who despite how bad he probably wanted to shit himself looked strong. Looked determined. I however was petrified. I can't even tell you why… it's not like I'm the one in trouble. Its not me who stands on trial. So why is it my stomach in my ass and my throat growing tighter by the second.
"You got some serious balls kid." Bobby said as he took his seat on the edge of the desk against the wall, tipping his beer to his lips.
"I just wanted to tell Emily Happy Birthday… that's all."
"Oh I heard a lot of things up there. None of them however were happy birthday. Why don't you share with everyone else what you shared with Emily"
"Do you want the professing of love while I'm at it?"
"You are in no position to take that attitude with me." Dean quickly shot at him.
"I'm an Earthbound. We're like human guardians that serve the angles. The angels give us people that are to be watched or protected and it's our job to do it… Emily was assigned to me the day Sam died. The day she got her abilities."
"Why?" Sam instantly asked.
"Because no one has ever survived with Lucifer's blood in their veins. The angels were sure that once she died, and the blood was 'activated' sort-a-speak that it would be too much for her… it would kill her, and then that would be the end of Azazeal's army."
"I was supposed to die?"
"Expected to Em… not supposed to. But you blew them all out of the water, sent the heavens into a fit. You were top priority."
"And they asked you?" Dean scoffed.
"Castiel has worked with me for many years. He knows I'm focused and dedicated… was focused. I never expected to have feelings for Emily, okay? I've had dozens of charges and not once have I ever felt anything for them."
"Look you don't gotta convince us she's something special… we get that part of it. But you can explain to us why the hell you weren't honest with us all a long damn time ago. If you had any honest interest in pursuing my girl over there you shoulda come clean with her or with all of us from the get go."
Dean's point was valid. Something I hadn't even pondered. It just reinforced the idea that he was using me from the get go… but if that's true then why is he here now? Standing in front of a firing squad with his eyes glued to me.
"Emily doesn't trust anyone… hell she still struggles to trust the three of you sometimes. Do you think for one second that if I told her or any of you the truth she would have opened up to me at all?"
"Oh so this is my fault?" I interjected feeling slightly offended.
"No, no Em not at all. None of this is your fault… I'm just answering the question."
"And what exactly was your plan now that you two were so involved? Were you ever gonna tell us the truth?" Sam asked crossing his arms.
"I don't know. Okay, I couldn't find a way to come clean, and I couldn't find away to keep myself away from her, and I was still trying to do my job… look. If it came down to her or them, then I'd choose Emily without hesitation. I just. I don't know… I hoped the angels would back off, and I was going to leave them behind." Then his eyes focused on me. "I would give up all of it for you."
My heart swelled, and ached all at the same time. Every bone in my body begged for him to be telling the truth, but the walls surrounding my heart stood tall and strong, shouting doubts to my brain.
"So what do you know about Emily's abilities that we don't?" Bobby asked, thankfully taking me off the hook from having to respond.
"Not much. She's just unpredictable. It's really kind of a limitless situation, Lucifer is the most powerful angel to ever exist, he was God's best friend. His blood has powers that we couldn't even begin to explore. We know that she can kill demons, humans, probably any monster she faces, and possibly angels. I think that's what scares them the most. But you have to look at that power like a ball of energy. She's not controlling it enough to focus it the way she could… the more focus she learns to have then the more powerful she'll be. These little spurts of emotion related stuff is nothing… child's play. Dean, when you died. She was more focused than I'd ever seen her. Imagine that- but doubled, or more."
I could feel the air in my body grow cold. I could feel my heart beat faster yet my blood flow slower. Taking in the words like they were being tattooed onto my skull.
Me?
He can't be talking about me can he?
… I'm just a person.
I just want to be a person.
"Em!" Dean slightly yelled. I jumped and looked up to him. "I've been trying to talk to you… You still with me kiddo?"
I nodded in response. Afraid my voice would come out shaky.
"What are the angels saying?" Bobby asked him next.
"To me? Not much… but I have a friend that sits in on the council meetings and from what I understand the angels are pretty divided on the matter. Half of them want her to continue to explore her abilities and see if they can be used for Heaven's armory."
"And the other half?" Dean asked.
"The other half thinks she's too much of a threat to let her live. They want her dead."
"What? How can they just decide something like that! I mean she's just a girl!" Dean yelled in outrage.
"They can't." Judson answered. "That's why they have the meetings… as long as there is one angel still fighting her for her then they can't kill her. The vote has to be unanimous for death. So again, they sent me to watch, and observe as she learned more about her abilities… and then I report back and they continue the debate based on the information I give them."
"And what happens when that information stops rolling in?"
"They'll either send someone else… or they'll take her."
"Take her?" Sam stepped up.
"Yes. They'll take her, and keep her locked away until they reach a unanimous decision."
"They… they can't." I stuttered. "Right?"
My eyes scanned the room, and the four men in it. Judson's eyes were honest, but they couldn't be. NO. That can't be true. Angels can't just take people can they?! Lock them away… I scanned the other three pairs of eyes in the room as they exchanged worried glances with one another.
"De… they can't do this right?" I mumbled to him. He looked at me and even though he was quick to hide it I could see the split second of panic in his eyes.
"No one. I repeat NO ONE is taking you anywhere Emily Anne. Over my dead body."
"I missed my last report… one more and they'll start getting curious."
"So lie to them!" Dean yelled.
"I can't! They know when I'm lying… the most I can do is what I've been doing. Feeding them honest but censored information. They don't just ask me to give a detailed report okay, they can sort of hack your mind, watch glimpses of your memory. I'm very careful to only focus on certain things in front of them, but I was too scatter brained to report last time… I would've blown it all."
"So what now? We're just supposed to let you keep tagging along? Reporting back to the angels and 'supposedly' sway them to see our side of things? How are we supposed to know that's what's really happening?" Bobby asked.
"You don't." Judson admitted. "That's where you have to trust me… just a little."
"Ha, nice one." Sam scoffed.
"Look. I lied to all of you, I get that. I don't blame you for feeling the way you do about me. But I am here for her. To protect her… from anything and everything, which now includes angels. But I can't do that from a distance. I need to be nearby at the least. I need to be close enough that I can gather what they want to keep them at bay."
"Yeah yeah… we get the picture Romeo." Dean said as he ran his hand through his hair. "I don't know what to tell you right now. The only thing I want right now is to beat you till you stop breathing."
"Agreed." Sam smiled as he stepped forward slightly.
"But… If I kill you, then they're gonna come looking for her and they're not going to be happy they're missing a guardian."
"Yeah." Judson mumbled.
"So where does that leave us boys?" Bobby asked.
"I don't know… we don't make any decisions that she isn't comfortable with. So… Em?" Dean asked. All sets of eyes fell on me. Puke made its way up my throat slowly, just slow enough for me to turn and jog into the bathroom, shutting the door before emptying the amazing meal Bobby had made us.
I waited for my stomach to settle before standing and washing my shaking hands. Splashing my face with water, and looking up to the mirror.
"Em open up." Dean tapped on the door.
"Just a minute." I replied as I took deep breaths.
"C'mon babygirl… open the door."
I reached over and undid the lock, but allowed Dean to open the door himself. He promptly closed it behind him.
"Hey, you good?"
I simply nodded as I leaned over the sink.
"Kiddo, you don't gotta play tough for me."
"De… I'm scared. I just want to be a person. I don't want to be a weapon." I trembled.
"Shhh, no. You're not." He said as he pulled me to him. "You are just a girl Em. A very special girl, but that doesn't mean anything… you don't have to be or do anything you don't want to do."
"What if I can't help it? What if I can't stop myself."
"You will sweetheart, you always have. You are the strongest person in this family, and this family is known for taking hits and getting back up. So you just keep your head down, we keep hunting, we keep moving, and we stay the fuck away from the angels. Okay?"
"What about Judson?"
"I don't know Em. That's up to you. I'll back whatever move you wanna make here."
"I can't be around him every day… I just. I can't. Not right now. Not after all this."
"Okay. Then we tell him to back off… he can just meet up with us every once in a while. Report back to the dicks, and you just keep your distance."
"I hate this… I hate all of this. I just want to get some sleep, and pretend none of this is real."
"C'mon, lets get you to bed then okay?"
I nodded and leaned against Dean as he opened the door and walked me out and past everyone else towards the stairs.
"Em." Judson called out as I walked by, reaching for my hand. I pulled it away. "Emily please."
"Back off." Dean warned him before we turned to go up the steps.
I felt guilty, and therefore I kept my eyes on the ground, not looking to meet what I'm sure was some god awfully sad look on his face, or the pity on Sam or Bobby's. I just want to be alone.
"I'm good from here De." I said pulling away some.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. I just. Want some time. Take a nap, gather my thoughts for a while."
"Okay. We'll be downstairs."
I smiled slightly at him as he turned to walk back down the stairs, and I shut the door to my room, locking it behind me. I sat and looked at the bed.
Fuck me, I couldn't sleep if I had a half a bottle of pills. Every word he said rattled in my head. Echoing and repeating… Lucifer's blood. A weapon. Heaven's armory.
I don't want this. Any of this. I just want to be left alone.
…
(Third Person POV)
"Is she okay?" Judson asked as Dean came back down the stairs.
"Does she look okay to you?" He replied
"No." He sighed. "Look. I'll just leave okay, but the angels are going to expect another report next week. And If I miss another they'll come looking for themselves."
"We'll be in touch." Bobby said with a roll of his eyes, the three men watched as Judson exited the house and waited for the sound of his motorcycle starting before they faced each other.
"What the hell do we do now?" Sam asked.
"Panic?" Dean sarcastically suggested while secretly pondering the thought.
"Now listen, there is one thing we all have to get on the same page about before we take this any further. No one is taking that girl anywhere… so once we have that we're left with a plan. Keep the angels at bay." Bobby reasoned.
"How?" Sam shrugged. "Keep that dumbass punk around?"
"Pick your battles Sam. There's a war brewing."
"Well I'd say this is a battle worth picking! I mean we can't just bring him back into our lives after all this… we can't trust him. Right Dean?!"
"… We don't have another choice right now." Dean resigned. "Bobby's right… we gotta keep the kid around and keep the angels off our backs as much as we can until we can figure out what to do next."
"Ugh… Emily get a say in this?"
"Of course she does. And she knows we will all back her, but you and I both watched the two of them in this room. They're not finished. She's not done with him… and she would rather have him around then never see him again."
"You don't know that."
"Yes I do! Sam. I know her. WE know her… just get past the urge to beat the fuck out of him and think about it. Its not easy, okay. I get it. But we still don't know how to fight the bastards- with the exception of maybe Emily we don't even know how to kill them. So until we know more about the enemy, we keep him close by."
"Whatever." Sam huffed. "I'm going to check on her."
Sam stormed out of the room and up the stairs.
Dean's eyes met Bobby's.
"Bobby. We're making the right choice here aren't we?"
"Boy this ain't about what's right… its just all we got."
"That's not comforting in the least."
"Yeah well, I'm not Ghandi."
"Dammit man. I'm not sure where the hell we're supposed to get a break here? I mean. She's just Em. And we're supposed to believe she's some sort of almighty weapon? Is that even possible."
"… I don't know. The night you died, I gotta admit. She sent chills down my spine. And ain't nothing ever done that before."
Dean's stomach sank at Bobby's words. But before he could open his mouth to respond he was cut off.
"DEAN!" Sam yelled from the top of the stairs. Dean and Bobby instantly jogged up the steps to meet Sam in Emily's room.
When they did they found Sam holding a note.
"Oh you've gotta be fucking kidding me!" Dean growled snatching the note.
"I just need some time alone, don't worry. I'll be back for dinner."
"She's gone." Sam sighed.
"Where would she have gone?" Dean shrugged.
"I don't know, I mean she lived with Bobby for about a month, I'm sure she explored around town a little."
"She was gone every day, but I don't know how much of it was spent in that bar." Bobby reminded them.
"She wouldn't go back there. She's not that stupid." Dean shook his head. "But she's gotta be somewhere."
…..
I walked down the road coming into the edge of town. It had been a while since I was last on these streets, passing by the old shops, bars, diners and liquor stores on the corner. I pondered whether or not a drink would be appropriate at the moment, but I worried adding alcohol to my scattered mind might only make it more confusing.
I wasn't here to run away from my problems. I was here to find a clear head. To breathe some fresh air and try and figure out who the hell I even am anymore… and alcohol wasn't going to help me do that. So I continued to walk past them.
There was a diner with large windows all in the dining area giving you the view of the street outside. I decided this was as good a place as any. I wandered in and picked a table against the glass. Ordering just a rootbeer when the waitress walked over to take my order.
Out the window I could get a half view of the park at the center of the downtown area. A small playground and a few sets of swings. I watched as the children swang back and forth. Laughing. Living an innocent life. They have no idea of the horrors walking around every day. They don't know the pain and suffering the world often curses you with. They don't know what It's like to question your entire existence. To question who you are… what you are.
They don't know. And I envy that.
I thought back to a time when I knew nothing of that world. When I didn't know the truth. When the only horror in my life was not understanding why my mommy had to be in heaven, and everyone else's walked them to school everyday.
But that couldn't last forever. It wouldn't… because my life never gave me the chance to hold onto that piece of innocence.
….
(FLASHBACK)
(Third person POV)
Emily- 7
Dean- 18
Sam- 14
"Em, Sam, dinner's ready!" Dean called out as he put ramen noodles into two different bowls and set them on the small table in the corner.
"Thanks De." Emily smiled as she plopped in her chair and started slurping at her soup. Her dark hair falling into her face. Dean moved around and used the band on her arm to pull it back into a ponytail so that she could slurp freely.
"Ramen again?" Sam sighed as he sat at the table.
"Well if you'd like to buy us all surf and turf I'll be happy to pour this down the sink." Dean shot at him.
"What's surf and turf?" Emily asked through noodle stuffed cheeks.
"Steak and seafood."
"Yumm! I love steak!" She smiled as she slurped a long noodle all the way up until it popped the tip of her nose. She giggled and Sam smiled to her.
"Did dad call today?" Sam asked as Dean straddled the third chair and watched his siblings.
"Nope. Just yesterday."
"Of course not."
"He'll be back in a few hours. He said he was coming home at some point today."
"Is daddy working again?" Emily asked.
"Yes sweetheart." Dean answered.
"How come daddy works so much?"
"Em, we've been over this a million times." Sam sighed.
"But, doesn't he run out of things to sell?" Emily whined in return.
Sam and Dean exchanged a look. Over the last year Emily had become increasingly curious about their father's absence and the lifestyle they lived. She was becoming more aware that it wasn't normal to move and have new schools every few weeks or so. When John was home she would be so excited that she wouldn't ask him, but when he was gone she would badger the boys about where he was, what he was doing, and when he was going to come back.
"Nahh, Dad's the best in the business. He just works hard kiddo." Dean winked.
"How come we can't go work with him?"
"Because you have to go to school."
"But. I could do home school?"
"Who would teach you? Dean?" Sam mocked with laughter.
"Hey!... I got my GED."
"What's a GED?" Emily asked.
"Why do you ask so many questions?" Dean asked in return before ruffling her hair and walking away. Truth was he didn't have always have an answer for her like he used to. She was smarter by the day, never missed a damn thing.
That night after Emily had bathed and brushed her teeth Dean tucked her into bed next to Sam, who was reading by the light of the lamp.
"Alright babygirl. Bed time."
"But Deeeeee… I'm not tired."
"Well why don't you ask Sammy to read to you?"
"Will you really?" She turned and asked him with big brown doe eyes.
"Sure Em." Sam smiled. "But I can't promise you'll like it."
"What is it?"
"A book about a lightning theif!"
"Whoa! Cool, read it to me Sammy!" Emily said as she turned and cuddled into his side. Dean smirked as Sam began to read aloud.
"I'll be back in an hour." He called out as he pulled his Dad's leather jacket on over his shoulders.
But as he reached for the door knob there was banging on the door.
Sam and Emily jumped, Sam grabbing her and pulling her behind him slightly as he sat up and reached for the sawed off shotgun he had under his side of the bed. Dean quickly pulled his pistol from his waist band.
"Sammy what's happening?" Emily whispered in fear.
"Shhhh." He said calmly.
Dean moved to open the door.
"Dean… Sa-am." Their father coughed.
Sam instantly dropped the gun.
"DADDY!" Emily jumped up. Dean threw open the door confused, but the sight of his father covered in blood and using the wall to hold himself up answered the questions in his mind.
"Dad?!" Dean said as he quickly dipped under John's arm and helped carry him into the room.
"Daddy? Daddy what's wrong!" Emily asked running over to him.
"Daddy's fine sweetheart… Dean. Get her out of here."
"Sam, take her to the vending machine or something. Sam nodded and quickly pulled Emily by the hand outside the door, shutting it behind them.
"I wanna stay with Daddy!" Emily fought as they walked towards the vending machines.
"Em we'll be right back, okay?"
Inside the motel room Dean helped his dad over to the bed where he laid back, Dean helped him out of his shirt where his shoulder was displaced and the deep cuts on his chest bleeding heavily.
"What the hell Dad?"
"Wendigo got a little wild on me." John admitted through gritted teeth as Dean popped his shoulder back into place. "You remember how to stitch?"
"Yeah, I gotcha. How come you didn't call? I'd had Em to bed over an hour ago so she'd been asleep… or at least anywhere but here"
"Lost my damn phone."
"Oh." Dean said as he sterilized the needle and prepared to stitch his father's wounds.
"They okay?"
"Yeah. They're good… she's getting curious though Dad. Every time you're gone she has new questions."
"I know." John sighed. Telling Dean about the world around him was one of the hardest things John ever had to do. Then to tell him his mom died because of it… even harder. But Dean was tough like him. He took it like a man would. He dug his heels in and prepared for the battle that would become the rest of his life. He caught on quick to everything. Telling Sam, he felt more prepared. Knew what to expect… and while Sam held a little more resistance than Dean did he still took the news well.
But to tell Emily?
To steal that kind of innocence from his little girl? His baby.
He couldn't bring himself to do it. He knew deep down it was inevitable, but he couldn't even ponder the thought without breaking his own heart over and over again.
Sam and Dean both felt the same. If it were up to Sam… She'd never know. Dean only wanted her to know so that he could train her to protect herself, so he could always keep her safe.
But at the end of the day all three of them knew that time was coming, and it was coming soon.
There were knocks on the door.
"Almost done." Dean hollered out. Sam walked over and sat Emily on the hood of the impala, then he cracked open the door, mumbling something inside to Dean.
Emily however was occupied with the blood she could see through the windshield. It was all over the steering wheel, and the glass of the window on the driver side. On the door handles, and all over the jacket laying in the seat that John must have used to hold pressure against his wounds.
All of it quickly became too much for her and she began to cry.
She slid off the hood and went to the trunk, where they usually kept a bag of quick need toiletries including Kleenex to blow her now runny nose, but when it clicked and opened the trunk was filled with things she had never seen before.
Large sharp knives, multiple guns, various items covered in blood. Books, and crosses, and a rosary in the corner. In the middle was a journal. One she had seen before in front of her father as he poured himself whiskey at night when he thought she was asleep.
"Emily!" Sam called out. She quickly grabbed the journal and slid it into her jacket before quietly closing the trunk and running to Sam.
"Where were you kiddo?"
"I went to get a tissue."
"You okay?"
"Is daddy okay?"
"I don't know, wanna go in and see for yourself?"
She nodded quickly. Sam opened the door and pushed her lightly to walk in front of him. This time when she saw her father he was leaned against the headboard in a tshirt and jeans, clean and blood free with a smile on his face. Dean was burning something in the a trashcan in the bathroom, but Emily didn't get the chance to see what it was because all she could do was run to the man with the big brown eyes just like hers.
She leapt towards him, and even though it pained him he swept her up and squeezed her like a teddy bear.
"There's my babygirl." He mumbled against her soft hair.
"I missed you daddy."
"I missed you too babygirl."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes I'm okay."
"You were bleeding." She said as she pulled back to look at his face.
"I'm okay Em, tell me about what you've been doing!"
Emily looked down, not answering him.
"Sweetheart?"
Her eyes stayed glued to her hands.
"Emily what's wrong?"
"I don't want you to be mad…"
"Why would I be mad sweetheart?"
His word's caught Sam and Dean's attention and they began to nonchalantly pay more attention to the conversation.
"Because I took it."
"Took what sweetheart?"
With hesitation she reached into her inner jacket pocket and pulled out the journal from the trunk. The one she had a feeling she wasn't supposed to see.
Dean's heart sank. He exchanged a look with Sam that he would never forget, and then they stood in silence to watch what would come next.
"Emily where did you get this?"
"I went to get a tissue out of the trunk… but there were other things in there."
John swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Did you read any of this?"
She shook her head back and forth. For a moment John contemplated lying to her… again. Right to her pouty little face. But something in him told him that he just couldn't do it. He can't lie to her because she would know. She would know he was lying, and then that would only prolong and delay what was coming next.
"Babygirl, you know I love you sooo much, right?"
She nodded.
"And you know your brothers and I would do anything in the world to keep you safe."
"Yes daddy."
"I need to tell you something… but you have to keep it a secret. Its just for us okay. Me, you, Sammy and Dean… no one else can know."
"I'm good at secrets Daddy."
"I know you are sweetheart." He tried to force himself to smile. Dean sat down on the bed across from them, and Sam stood against the small sink in the corner of the room. "Emily. Do you remember when Dean let you stay up and watch that scary movie? And you thought there was a monster sleeping under the bed that night?"
"Yes, De told me that monsters are only in the movies. And that I don't have to be afraid, because he'll protect me."
"Well… Dean told you that because you were too young to understand. There are monsters sometimes. They're very real, and they hurt people."
Emily's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. As if the words he said were weren't in English. Then she turned to face Dean.
"De… you said it wasn't real."
"I know kiddo. I'm sorry… I didn't want you to be scared."
"Does he live under my bed?"
"No." John shook his head. "No sweetheart there is no monster under your bed. But there are monsters in the woods, in the dark, under other kid's beds."
"… What kind of monsters Daddy?"
"All kinds of monsters. Monsters that look like people. Monsters that eat people. Ghosts… sometimes when people die their bodies leave but their spirit stays."
Emily just stared into her father's big brown eyes… looking for any sign that said he was just kidding. Or playing a joke on her. But all she could find was honesty. Sadness.
She stared until her lip began to quiver. John reached up and rubbed his thumb against her chin, lifting it up slightly.
"Whatcha thinking kiddo?"
"… I'm scared. I don't want monsters to find me."
"They won't." Dean told her immediately. "Those monsters will never get you. Because you have us."
"What about the other kids?"
"Well… you know how I have to go to work for a long time?" John asked.
"Yeah."
"That's because I'm out trying to save the other kids from monsters too. Your brothers and I. We help people, we save them and kill the monsters."
"Really?"
"Yes babygirl. Really… I was bleeding because I was fighting a monster today, and it hurt me. But I was able to kill it, and save someone's life."
"Am I gonna have to fight the monsters too?"
John looked between Sam and Dean. Tears flowed down Sam's cheeks as he kept his eyes pointed to the floor, and Dean's were becoming glossy and full of emotion. None of them wanted to answer this question. None of them wanted their lives to be forever changed from this day forward… to never have a normal day again.
They knew it would be question after question. Having to remind her constantly to keep the secret, teaching her about weapons, and hand to hand combat. Telling her about the monsters that they knew would plague her dreams because she was too young…
She was too young. But she was also too smart.
Too smart to be fooled any longer. Too smart to fall for their lies anymore.
"Yes Emily. One day you'll fight the monsters too." John finally told her.
Sam finally snapped. He kicked the chair and fled from the room. Slamming the bathroom door behind him. Emily watched and her eyes watered.
"Did I make Sammy mad?" She asked with a quivering lip.
"No sweetheart. It's not you." John said as he kissed her forehead.
"I got him." Dean said as he stood and walked toward the bathroom, prompting Sam to open the door. Emily watched as they both disappeared again.
"Do Sammy and De kill the monsters?"
"Dean does. Sam has only helped me a few times… he likes to stay with you."
"Are they scary?"
"Yes. Sometimes they are. And its okay to be scared, but you have to learn how to be brave if you're going to help save the other kids."
"… I don't know if I can be brave Daddy."
"Oh, I know you can." John told her confidently with a smile. "Wanna know why?"
She nodded.
"Because you're a Winchester, Emily Anne. You're part of the toughest bravest family out there."
"Like you, Daddy?"
"Just like me babygirl."
Emily fell back against John's chest, where he cradled her until Sam and Dean left the bathroom. Sam moved straight to the other bed and laid down pretending to be asleep, not wanting to discuss anything else for the night. Emily was nodding off, and John prompted Dean to take his place so that he could clean out the car and shower.
Dean took her into his arms and leaned back on the bed next to Sam. Emily realized the transfer of warm bodies, and she reached up and wrapped her arms around Dean's neck, squeezing slightly. He let a small tear slide down his cheek as he realized she was still awake because she was scared to go to sleep. Scared of what else might change in her world the next time she closed her eyes.
"Go to sleep Em… I gotcha."
She sniffled slightly and squeezed him harder. He squeezed her back and ran his fingers through her soft hair until her grip loosened and she became lax. Once he knew she was asleep he slid them both further down and tucked her safely between himself and Sam.
….
(Present time)
(Emily's POV)
One of the girls had pigtails… bouncy and curly and shining in the light of the sun. She giggled and laughed and she kicked the dirt as her feet scraped the ground.
I sipped my drink and watched the children play until their mothers gathered them and they all dispersed in separate directions. I decided it was probably time for me to disperse as well… I picked up the phone I had turned off and turned it back on. Sighs escaped me as I read the dozen texts from both Sam and Dean… but none from Judson.
I began my text back.
Chill out. I told you I needed some time. I'm heading back to Bobby's now.
Then I stashed my phone and left some cash before wondering back down the road towards Bobby's.
What am I becoming?
Am I going to ever get to live my life again, or am I going to be on the run from everything and everyone that has their own agenda for me? For my abilities. I would give anything to just give them up. To stop them forever. Or turn them off, or whatever. I just want to get away from it all.
I want to get away from myself.
I walked into the sunset and back down the road outside of town and towards Bobby's, but I could quickly hear a car approaching from behind me. I assumed it was Bobby or my brothers and sighed. But when I turned I found a large black SUV coming towards me.
An odd feeling crept up my spine.
I tried to cover the headlights with my hand and see who was climbing out of the passenger seat.
"Hello! Who's there?"
No reply. I reached around in my pocket and realized I had forgotten my gun in the midst of my hurry to leave. Dammit!
"Who are you!" I asked as the person approached me in the dark.
"It's been a long time Emily." A familiar voice called back to me.
Chase.
I'd know that voice anywhere. The way I respond to it instantly against my will, as if I was his trained bitch.
"Where have you been baby?" He asked as he stepped in front of me.
"I… I'm sorry Chase. My brothers. They came back, and I had to leave."
"Yeah, yeah… I met one of those brothers." He nodded slightly, and I could faintly see the large scar above his left eye, and another on his chin. Dean damn near beat his face off.
"I'm sorry Chase. He… he didn't know about the drugs."
"Speaking of that. You owe me some money babe."
"Okay. I'll get it to you… I promise. I just. I don't have any on me right now."
"Ohhh. Well. That's just not gonna work for me."
Something inside me screamed. Scratch, clawed, and dug at me to get angry. Get angry at him for what he did… fight. Run. Scream. Anything.
But the other part of me that learned to obey him without hesitation took over. I can't even explain why. I can't explain why his presence was more threatening to me than any angel or demon…. Or why I submitted to him when he pulled me forward and asked me to get in the car.
…
(Third person POV)
"Where the hell is she?!" Dean stomped as he paced the kitchen. "She texted me an hour ago!"
"Maybe we should go back out and look agin." Sam suggested.
"Boys… I know you've been avoiding it all day. But call the damn boy. He could probably help."
"No.. NO. The last thing I need is to owe that son of a bitch anything!" Dean argued.
"How do you think the angels keep up with her?"
"What?"
"The angels… how do you think they keep track of her? How did the boy always know where she was."
"I don't know." Dean shrugged missing the whole point. But Sam quickly caught on.
"Well then we should find out." Sam said standing. "We should know that kind of information, and this is the perfect excuse to get it. See if she's tagged with some angel lowjack or something?"
"… Okay. Fine. I'll call." Dean surrendered pulling out his phone. Dialing Judson's number.
"Hello?" Judson answered on the second ring.
"We need your help."
"Yeah. What's up?"
"Emily's gone…"
"WHAT?! What do you mean gone?"
"Shut up… she's gone and we need to find her."
"Where are you now."
"Bobby's."
"When was the last time you saw her?"
"Earlier when you were here. After you left we went to check on her, and she left a note saying she needed some space, and she'd be back for dinner. We looked but no luck, figured she'd be home soon… She texted saying she was on her way an hour ago. Now nothing. We need help."
"Dammit. Okay… give me five minutes." Judson said as he hung up the phone.
Bobby and the boys paced the floor, waiting for a call back. But what they got instead was a knock on the door. Dean instantly opened it.
"Okay I've got her narrowed down." Judson said barging through the door with a map.
"What?" Dean said following him into the kitchen where he laid it down on the table.
"I can sense her, but it's not exact. I just know she's in a certain part of town."
"Is that how you followed us?" Sam asked.
"Yes." He said without hesitation and he bit the cap off a pen and drew a circle. "Here, she's somewhere in here."
The other three men leaned over the table.
"Bobby, what's there?"
"Nothing? A few bars, crappy apartments. Its just an old part of town."
"… Not that bar right?" Dean asked.
"No." Judson answered quickly. "That one's across town."
"You knew about that bar?" Bobby asked.
"I only knew she was hanging around there… why, what's with the look on everyone's faces?"
"The guy at the bar she was 'hanging around' with had her strung out… fed her some heroin the night we found her there. Wasted out of her damn mind." Dean explained.
"What?!" Judson and Sam asked simultaneously.
"Apparently he was supplying her with her pills, and feeding her other stuff on the side. Having her work for him, using her." Bobby explained.
"And she allowed some stupid drug dealer to boss her around? Are we talking about the same person?" Sam asked confused. HIS sister would never let some dumbass guy own her.
"Dark place, Sam… she wasn't herself."
"I didn't know." Judson sighed. "I was only watching her come and go from a distance. I couldn't get close without her finding out about it. I just figured she was drinking a lot. She did that while we were on the road."
"You've gotta be kidding me…" Sam sighed as he ran his hand down his face. "So where is she?"
"Somewhere in this three block radius."
"Let's go." Dean said pulling on his jacket.
…
(Emily's POV)
My vision was blurry, my head swimming.
Everything was louder. Then quiet… but at the same time still blaring in my ears. I don't know what was in the needle, but when he asked for my arm I could only close my eyes and wait for it to be over.
"I'm gonna have some friends come see you, okay?" He said as he took my face in his hands. "When this is all over you won't owe me anything anymore beautiful. Then he leaned in and kissed me… his hands working their way under my shirt and up my body giving me chills.
Something inside still screamed at me to come alive. Save myself. Run. Fight… kill the bastard.
But that something was caged by fear. Obedience to a man who at one time was the only thing I felt kept me alive. Kept me going… not because I loved him. Or wanted him… but because he wanted me. Because he supplied me. Because he knew me, at a time when I didn't know myself he stepped in and took the place of everything else. Him and the drugs. They took the place of everything else.
"Chase… can I go home?" I asked weakly. "Please. Just let me go home."
"Not yet baby. Not till the debt is paid."
"I'm sorry." I whispered to him.
"Oh baby, not yet but you will be."
"Don't hurt me, Chase… please."
"Shhh… it'll feel good. Just take this… and it'll all feel good." He said as he injected the needle in my arm. Then he left me alone and in the dark, unsure of where I was, of whether or not my feet were on the ground.
….
(Third person POV)
The impala parked in the center of the circle drawn onto the map. The men splitting up into two groups searching the bars.
"She's close… I can feel her." Judson said as he and Dean entered the third one on their half of the map.
"Feel her?"
"Yes. When I've been with a charge for a long period of time, or been close to a charge then I form a bond. And this bond allows me to kind of sense them. When they're anxious, or afraid… when they're angry."
"And what are you feeling right about now?"
"Not much… just that she's close. Its almost like things are muted in her mind. Unfocused. I can't pick an emotion to zero in on."
"Something tells me that's not a good thing." Dean said as he began to scan the bar. Judson did the same, they moved up to the upper deck and used the overhead advantage to get a better look.
"Hey…" Dean said tapping Judson. "Look. That's the guy."
Dean pointed down to a man with dark shaggy hair and big brown eyes. He moved through the bar like he was very familiar with hit. Like a snake in the grass. Movements distinct and smooth as he made his way through the crowd and then behind the bar.
"Let's go." Dean said as he rushed down the steps and through the crowd to the bar, jumping the counter with Judson on his tail.
"HEY! You can't be back here!" The bartender yelled. Dean pulled his gun, and the bartender backed up with his hands raised.
"DEAN!" Judson yelled from the back. Dean moved to the sound of his voice and found the door to the back room locked.
"Hey! Open the door!" Judson said as he pounded against it.
"EMILY!" Dean yelled. Both men were silent waiting to see if she replies…
"Deee." A weak voice mumbled. Then there was the sound of a slap, and her cries on the other side of the door.
Dean's foot raised and collided with the door, busting it off the lock and one of the hinges as he shoved his way through it and found Chase with his hand holding her face as he had her shoved against the wall.
"HEY!" He yelled as he yanked him backwards by the collar and slammed him repeatedly against the ground. Judson ran to Emily as her body collapsed against the wall.
"Emily… Emily, what did you take?" He asked as he tapped her cheeks and noticed her dilated pupils and slurred speech.
"I do'know Jud… hurts."
"Hurts? What hurts?" He asked as he started to search her body for wounds. Beside the red hand print on the side of her face he couldn't find anything indicating the source of pain.
"Arm.."
He grabbed her arms and slid her sleeves up, revealing an injection site in the bend of her arm.
"Dean, he shot her up with something… she's burning up. We gotta get her outta here." Judson called out, but he turned and found Dean spalttered in blood still pounding the guys head into the floors.
"Dean! DEAN! He's not breathing, okay! He's done… she needs you!"
Dean's vision was nothing but red, but when the words 'she needs you' hit his ears he stopped, not realizing he had been holding his breath. He took in a gasp of air as he dropped his grip and moved towards them.
"Em, Emily… what was it babygirl? What was it?"
"I d'know De. It hurts." She whined and slurred, falling over in Judson's arms with her eyes still closed.
"Hey, c'mon kiddo wake up!" He said shaking her. Her body was covered in a cold sweat.
"We gotta get her out of here. Call Sam. Have them meet us at the car.
"..Jud." Emily whispered as he carried her out of the bar.
"I'm here baby, we got you."
"I'm sorry. I. Couldn't say no… he would be mad."
"Shhh… we'll talk later sweetheart. Let's get you out of here."
Judson rushed her out of the bar with Dean hot on his tail, they met Sam and Bobby at the car.
"Is she okay?!" Sam asked as he rushed over to them.
"She's been drugged. We don't know what it was."
"I'll fucking kill him!" Sam growled.
"Too late." Dean said as cop sirens echoed in the distance. The four men rushed into the vehicle and slammed on the gas, Sam and Judson in the backseat with Emily. Sam pulled her from Judson and cradled her in his arms.
"Dean she's sweating all over the place, we've gotta get her temp down fast. We have no idea what she took?"
"No. None!"
"We may need to get her to a hospital boys… we can't fix what we don't know."
"Bobby you know how she feels about those."
"Well she can't feel at all if she's dead!"
"Alright! Alright… fine. We're going." Dean caved as he punched the gas and turned towards the hospital.
"Emily, can you hear me?" Sam asked softly as her flushed cheeks laid against him.
"No feel good…" She mumbled.
"I know sweetheart. We gotcha, we're gonna fix it okay?"
"M'gonna die?" She asked with a tear rolling out of the corner of eye, smearing her mascara along her face.
Judson's heart sank at her question and he reached out and grabbed her hand.
"No baby, no ones gonna die. Okay? You just stay with us."
"M'scared." She admitted with a whine. "He's gonna be mad at me…"
"Shhh. Sweetheart he's dead." Sam told her. "He can't hurt you ever again."
"Did I kill'm?" She asked with concern.
"No, you didn't." Judson told her. "But he's gone. He's gone Em."
"He said… owed him." She mumbled as her eyes closed again. "I.. debt to pay."
"For what the drugs?" Sam asked.
She nodded slightly and then became unconcios.
"Emily!" Sam shook her. "EM! Wake up!"
But she didn't respond, she just laid in his arms.
"Dean! Step on it, I can barely feel her pulse!" Sam panicked. Dean drifted the corner bringing him to where he could see the large lit up letters of the hospital. He drove faster than he ever had before and skidded into the ambulance bay at the back of the ER. Sam jumped out of the car, Emily in his arms and burst through the doors.
"HELP! Help us please!"
A rush of nurses flew to his aid and before he knew it Emily was laid out on a stretcher before him, being rushed down the hall and into a trauma room he and Dean rushed in behind her while Judson and Bobby moved the car and began to answer the thousand and one questions from the registration staff.
Sam and Dean watched as they cut off her sweaty clothes and connected her to a heart monitor and placed IVs.
"Watch her arm… he injected her with drugs." Sam called out.
"What kind?" A doctor called back.
"We don't know." Dean admitted with panic in his eyes. "Please, just SAVE HER!"
"We're doing everything we can… please. Step out and let us work." A nurse said walking over to them.
"No, please… we'll be quiet please let us stay. She's our baby sister. She's all we have!" Sam pleaded.
"I'm sorry, you've got to let us stabilize her and we'll bring you back." The nurse insisted.
"NO! Dammit, we are NOT leaving her again."
"Dean!" Bobby's voice called out from behind them. "Get your ass out here before they call security and throw you out of this building! Now."
Dean reluctantly backed out of the room, dragging Sam with him. The three of them were escorted to the waiting room where Judson was pacing the floors.
"What'd they say?" He rushed over.
"Nothing yet. They kicked us out to work on her." Dean said as he walked past and then went out the doors. Sam watched from the large glass windows as he walked over to the parked impala and began slamming his fist against the trunk.
"He needs to change clothes… he's covered in that guys blood." Bobby pointed out.
"Yeah. Yeah… I got him." Sam said moving to join his brother outside. He approached Dean from the front.
"Dean… you've gotta change before people start asking questions." Sam told him calmly.
Dean took a moment to look down at his blood stained shirt. Then he quickly ripped it off and traded it for a new one in the trunk, using a rag and holy water to wash his hands and face.
"Let's go back inside. I wanna be there when the doctors come out."
….
The four of them sat in the waiting room for what felt like several hours, but according to the clock was only one or two. Finally the double doors swung open and the same doctor from the trauma room walked towards them pulling off his gloves.
"Are you four with the overdose?"
"Overdose?" Sam asked concerned.
"Yes. She had a deadly amount of drugs in her system. She would have died if you had waited any longer to bring her in."
"Hey we didn't wait at all! Some guy drugged her ass and we got her here as soon as we could!" Dean argued.
"Okay… okay. My apologies. We see a lot of young girls with accidental overdoses these days. There's a bad batch of meth going around. Deadly. We think that's what was used."
"He shot her up with meth?!"
"Well. Its not exactly real meth. There's someone mixing the batches wrong and swapping ingredients with household chemicals. Its cheaper to make, and quadruples the effects. Causing many people to overdose on it because it only takes a fraction of what you would usually use to get high."
"So… what happens now? Is she okay?" Judson asked.
"We're working to flush out her system. We've got her on a few drips to regulate her heart rate and blood pressure until the drugs are out of her system. We're going to keep her in the ICU overnight and watch her very closely. She's still unconscious for now and probably will be until morning. The next few hours are critical. We can take you back two at a time, and when she gets moved to her room there's room for one person to stay the night. Visiting hours won't start again until tomorrow morning once she's in the ICU."
"I'm staying." Dean instantly answered. "Can we see her now please?"
"Yes. You and one more."
Dean and Sam followed the doctor back to the trauma room and moved to stand at her side. Sam grabbed her head while Dean gently pushed her hair away from her face. She had an oxygen tube in her nose, but thankfully not tubes down her throat. The monitors beeped, showing her high heart rate and low blood pressure. Her oxygen levels wavering slightly.
"Why didn't she fight him off?" Sam asked out loud, but more to himself than anything.
"What?" Dean asked.
"He's just some guy… Dean. We know what she can do. She knows what she can do. She could have killed him with the snap of her fingers, so why didn't she? She could have stopped him."
"I don't know Sammy… you shoulda seen her when we found her the first time. She was more worried about making him mad then anything. I mean I just got back from hell and all she could think to do was call him and start apologizing for leaving without asking permission first… it was sick. Like, he owned her. Like she had to answer to him for everything. I've never seen her submit to anyone like that… not even Dad."
"… I'm sorry Dean."
"For what?"
"For leaving… if I knew it would have turned out like this."
"You couldn't have known any of this was going to happen Sam. Hell, we didn't even know she had the drugs in the first place. For months."
"I know… I just. I could have been there. I could have prevented all this. But I wasn't."
"Well. You're here now."
"Yeah." Sam sighed. "Doesn't feel like I'm doing much good."
"I know what you mean… I feel useless just standing here."
"Is that guy really dead?"
"I'm pretty sure he stopped breathing long before I stopped slamming his head against the floor."
"Good."
"We should let the kid come see her for a minute, before she gets moved for the night." Dean sighed.
"Seriously?"
"She'd be dead if he hadn't helped."
"… yeah. I know." Sam surrendered. "You stay with her, I'll send him in. I don't want him alone with her."
Dean nodded and waited as Sam left the room, minutes later Judson entered it. Acting as if Dean wasn't even present as he rushed to her side and leaned over her, kissing her hand as he wrapped it in his own.
"Thank god you're okay…" He mumbled against her skin.
"You call this okay?" Dean asked.
"She's alive."
"She nearly died… because she was too overwhelmed by what was going on in her life. She felt like she had to run off to catch her breath because she wasn't ready. She wasn't ready to see you! She was avoiding you because she knew she wasn't ready to deal with this shit yet… and there you come barging in like you have a right."
Judson took Dean's words like a punch to the gut, but he still stood his ground. Refusing to leave her side.
"I'm sorry Dean. I didn't know she would run off. I had to tell her, tell you all the truth… or like I said the angels would come to look for themselves."
"Yeah, and what do we tell them now?"
"This actually sways in her favor… even though I think it's a load of bullshit. They'll look at the fact that she didn't obliterate him as a sign that she has weaknesses, and that weaknesses mean she can be taken down easier. Reminding them that she's not bulletproof lessens her as a threat in their eyes."
"Fucking bastards." Dean hissed under his breath.
"Like I said. I don't agree, and I wish we weren't here. But it does help her in one way."
"How long you been working for these jackasses anyways?"
"About 70 or 80 years or so… I don't know. I don't keep track anymore."
"Excuse me?" Dean asked. "You don't even know how old you are and you're dating MY girl? Does this not count as robbing the cradle for you?"
"I'm 21. I'll be 21 until I die… I've just been 21 for a very very long time."
"So… you do this often then? Swap girls every decade or so?"
"No. I've never fell in love with a charge before, and I've made sure to never be intimate with one. I told you. I told her. I NEVER meant for this to happen… I just couldn't stop myself. She pulls people in, and. You just want to be there for her. You just want to make things a little easier on her. That's all I ever wanted Dean."
"Yeah well… life's not looking so easy right now."
"Yeah. I'll uh. I'll take that as my cue to leave. They said they'd be taking her upstairs soon anyways. I'm gonna hang with Bobby for the night if that's okay with you."
"Whatever." Dean sighed as he pulled his attention back to Emily. Pulling his fingers through her hair again, watching her chest rise and fall gently as the boy left the room.
"Emily… If you can hear me in there somewhere. Just know that I'm here. I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere. None of us are. We're here babygirl."
With the words off his chest and out in the open Dean pulls up a chair and holds her hand as he waits… waits for them to come and move her. Waits for her vitals to improve. Waits for her to wake up.
If one thing had become clear by the end of the day it was this… no one was taking this girl away from him. Dead or alive, in heaven or hell.
He'd fight to the death for her.