Sam rocked back on his heels, one hand in his pocket while the other held a cup of coffee. He brought the cup to his lips as he watched his brother and sister-in-law fight in the back yard. The scene would have been comical if it were under any different circumstance. Dean was smiling ear to ear as he dodged each impending blow. Skylar turned her body a bit too much, causing Sam to wince. As expected, Dean caught her in a locked hold before throwing her to the ground. His brother's normal fighting style was much more relaxed and lacked its usual effort, but he was doing anything but taking it easy on Skylar.
"That had to hurt," Sam muttered to himself, taking another sip.
Buzzzzzz Buzzzzzz
Sam's cell came to life in his pocket. He cocked one eyebrow, wondering who in the hell could be calling him? The only calls he ever received were from Dean and Bobby, and he had been in the presence of both men continuously for nearly a month. He couldn't understand what was taking so long for Lucifer to show himself. Castiel would pop in every now and then to give them the run down while they continued living 'in hiding.' Himself and Dean loathed the thought of cowering, but it wasn't just the two of them anymore.
If Skylar really was the key to hell, they couldn't go in, guns blazing. They actually had to be smart and prepared for any step they took. So, Dean spent this time training her in the same way that John had trained them…with little mercy; even if he was taking it a tad easier on her than their father had with them. After all, she was clearly his biggest weakness.
Reaching in to retrieve his phone, he noticed a number he failed to recognize.
"Hello?" he asked with a question in his voice.
"I'm surprised you answered your fucking phone, Sammy."
Sam held the cell away from his ear and closed his eyes. Each day continued to get worse and worse. It was the one voice he had hoped to never hear from again. The only voice who made him pray for the sweet release of death.
"What do you want, Olivia?"
Olivia tsked, "Now is that any way to speak to your intended bride?"
"We are not getting married," Sam growled. "You made that decision for the both of us when you ran off to Louisiana. Or have those chemicals you use to bleach your hair seeped into your brain a bit too far?"
"Ouch. No need to get all testy, Sammy. Maybe Dean is right. You have always been a little bitch."
"I'm hanging up now," Sam said. He had to get off the phone before he lost his temper, which didn't happen often, but Olivia seemed to have that kind of effect on anyone she came into contact with.
"Wait!"
"What?!" Sam barked.
"Ummmm. I was thinking about coming to visit you…or something. I'm just not sure where to find you. I was hoping you could help a girl out." The sudden nervousness in her voice did not go unnoticed.
"Why would you ever want to visit me? In case you've forgotten, we can't stand each another, Liv."
The back door swung open and an amused Dean came sauntering in, followed by Skylar who was clutching her right shoulder. The door slammed shut, cutting into Sam's concentration.
"We will put some ice on it, Baby. It'll be good as new before ya know it, and then I'll have you throw knives at a makeshift target."
"Shhh," Sam waved his arm to quiet down his brother. "Olivia's on the phone asking where I am," he whispered.
Dean's face fell, replaced by an instant scowl. "Or better yet, I know where we can get a moving target."
Sam gave his older brother a look of warning, but it did nothing to deter Dean from moving forward and reaching to grab the phone. Sam attempted to fight him off, but Dean held firm.
"Givemethedamnphone."
"LetgoDean. Thishasnothingtodowithyou."
"Thehellitdoesn't. Letgoofthefuckingphone."
Their rushed whispers ended when Sam gave up and released his hold, wincing the moment Dean began to speak. "Oliviaaaaa! How's my favorite cunt been?"
"Dear God," Sam closed his eyes.
Dean chuckled as he took a seat at the table, propping his feet up and leaning back. "Those are some choice words coming from some insignificant bitch I can huff and puff and blow the fuck away."
"Can I have my phone back now?" Sam said, tapping his foot out of frustration. Dean's gaze wondered downwards towards Sam's boot, an amused smirk touching the corner of his mouth.
"Oh, you know," Dean spoke into the phone once again. "Sam's just being a little bitch, as per usual."
Sam halted his tapping, realizing that he could be a bit dramatic at times, but he would never understand how Dean could remain casual about nearly everything. His nonstop smirking, eating, laid-back attitude, and up until recently, whoring, were still a mystery to Sam. Unless Sam or Skylar's lives were hanging by a thread, Dean could care less about the curveballs thrown their way.
"So what's this I hear about you wanting to visit Sammy? Something tells me you aren't hoping to rekindle what little "romance" the two of you had going."
"Mmhmm…Ah…well, isn't that nice." Dean rose from the wooden chair and made his way into the kitchen, reaching in to grab an icepack. He seemed to be listening intently at whatever Olivia was saying on the other end as he reached up to remove Skylar's jacket before placing the cold object against her already bruised shoulder. "I'll tell ya what. Why don't you tell us where you are, and we'll come there. We're about to hit the road, so it's not like you'll catch us in time anyway. Take it or leave it."
Sam furrowed his brow. They didn't have plans to leave anytime soon, but similar to his own hesitation, it was evident that Dean wasn't going to give up their current location.
After a few more choice words, Dean told Olivia to text them the address before hanging up.
"Why don't you go take a shower, Beautiful," Dean told Skylar. If there were anyone who hated Sam's ex-fiance more than he and Dean, it was Skylar. Her face had been frozen in annoyance ever since finding out who had been on the other end of the line. Dean showered her scowling face with kisses before a smile cracked the corner of her pink lips. "That's my girl. And while you're upstairs," Dean said, turning his voice up several notches, "I'll have Bobby make you some pancakes and bacon!"
"What does this look like, a damn restaurant?!" The older man yelled back from the bathroom.
Once Skylar was out of earshot and Bobby was still doing his business in the small bathroom on the other side of the kitchen, Dean turned to Sam, a grimace set across his features.
"We have a problem."
Olivia shut her cell phone slowly, her hand shaking violently.
"They…they won't tell me where they are. They want to come to us."
"So I heard," the soft voice spoke from behind her. "Do you always use choice words like that when speaking to others?"
"They would have suspected something was up if I suddenly changed my attitude and acted nice."
"And you're sure they will bring the girl if we tell them where we are?"
Olivia scoffed. "Dean's always been obsessed with the little tart her whole life. I doubt he will let her out of his sight unless…"
"Unless?" he perked up, listening intently. "Go on…"
"Unless they're at Bobby's," she shrugged hesitantly. "That's the only person they trust more than anyone; even their own Dad when he was alive. Plus, these are the Winchester's we're talking about. They don't the reputation of being the best hunter's to ever live for nothing. They have to know something is up."
"So, we must stay one step ahead of them then. And this Bobby's? Do you know where it is?"
"Somewhere in North Dakota. I don't know where exactly. I've never been there," Olivia confessed, forcing herself to stay rooted in place and not make any sudden movement. Her heart was on the verge of beating out of her chest, and she could feel her blood running cold. He was moving closer to her, and the hair on the nap of her neck was beginning to stand.
She closed her eyes, willing herself to breathe deep, attempting to calm the fear inside her.
"Now, now, child," he cooed, taking one finger to tuck her blonde hair behind her ear before leaning close to whisper. "I promised that I wouldn't kill you if you deliver me my true vessel and my key. If you think they are hiding at Bobby's, I trust your judgement."
"I'm not certain. What if I'm wrong?"
"We will cross that bridge in due time."
For the first time, Olivia turned her head slowly, lifting her dark eyed gaze to the pair of devious ones that stared back at her, beaming a bright red.