p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The noisy engine of the well loved car ran with a rumble as I waited patiently outside of a creepy old farm. My heart hammered with a mixture of excitement and dread, and I glanced down at my phone screen that displayed a number that I had memorised. The anticipation of this conversation had been long standing and I felt a strange sense of disbelief that the time had come. There was a slight tremble to my hands as I pressed the call button and I gulped at the nauseating sound of the dial tone. I acknowledged that this likely would be challenging, but I knew that I had to share this decision with him. I owed him that at least./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Singer autos." Bobby answered sharply and I felt my heart ache at the subtle difference of age in his voice. Despite all of my mental rehearsals, I still couldn't find the words and felt myself silently hesitating./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Hi Bobby." I forced myself not to mutter so that he could properly hear me and I could tell from the sharp intake of breath that he recognised me immediately. It was a battle to contain the wave of emotion that crashed over me, but I maintained a careful control./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Faye? I'll be damned." He breathed and although I had expected to be met with hostility, I was surprised to find that he sounded relieved. "It's been a long time. You alright, kid?" He enquired and I smiled to myself in the small space of the car./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'm good, really I am." I confirmed and I caught a small sigh as I pictured him relaxing at my assertion. I took a deep breath to prepare myself to reveal the true motivation for my out of the blue call. I knew that any initial warmth was likely to dissolve back to our overworn arguments and steeled myself for his inevitable criticism of my behaviour. "Bobby, I found him...I finally found him." I announced with a frustrating quiver in my voice as my eyes filled with tears. There was a horrifyingly long pause as Bobby processed my statement and I could hear my heartbeat hammering in my ears as I awaited his response./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Are you sure?" He asked in an even tone that threw me off guard and I startled in my seat. I had expected him to yell, curse or at the very least criticise me for continuing to chase a thread that he'd instructed me to drop years before. The carefully measured response felt out of character for the version of him that I recalled and I felt the uncomfortable sense that we no longer knew each other./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"br /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'm sure, I'm parked outside the fuckers house right now." I growled in an aggression that escaped my calm facade and felt Bobby groan in concern./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Faye, I know how much you want to kill this lowlife piece of shit, but don't be stupid." He appealed. Although this was closer to the reaction that I'd have received before, it lacked the same veracity as the scoldings that I remembered and I found myself wondering if the Winchesters had softened him over the years./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I won't, but I have to do this. I need it to be over." I explained reluctantly and heard him hiss under his breath. In the momentary silence, the image of Bobby filled my mind; he stood by the phone, rubbing his forehead in frustration under the brim of his old cap and I knew that he would break into pacing soon in an attempt to prevent himself from losing control./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Just stop for a second you damn idjit! Tell me where-"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I terminated the call and stared up at the house with a quietly seething temper. There was a substantial risk that this choice would result in my death, I knew that, but it was a price that I was willing to pay if it meant that I could remove this scourge from the world. I settled into place to wait for nightfall and kept my eyes obsessively trained on the paint chipped, rundown building with rage bubbling in my chest./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"***/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"My head burned as I stumbled out into the refreshingly cool night air and I coughed to clear the smoke from my lungs. The sound of the flames crackling behind me were practically deafening and I battled to maintain my balance as I dragged myself toward my car. I squeezed the set of fangs tightly in my fist as I felt the world spinning around me and every part of my body throbbed in pain. I knew that I had to be close, but my vision was so blurred that it was impossible to concentrate. Without any warning, my legs gave way and I collapsed to the dirt road with a thud. I could've sworn that I heard voices calling out to me but I couldn't make them out as I lost myself to darkness./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"My eyes gradually opened to a poorly lit room and a repetitive beeping that caused a pounding in my head. I struggled to pull myself from the heavy exhaustion that still hung over me and as my surroundings came into focus, I recognised the figure slumped asleep in a chair beside me in alarm. Dean Winchester was curled up in a position that looked entirely uncomfortable in the suffocatingly small hospital room and I glanced down at myself to discover that I was wearing a gown as I laid in the bed, connected to numerous wires. I couldn't comprehend how I'd ended up here and the presence of Dean only made the entire situation worryingly surreal. Carefully, I lifted the covers to find a large dressing over my abdomen and winced in pain at the slight movement. There was a tube in my nostrils that provided oxygen and I noticed a burning sensation in my lungs as I gasped in surprise. Before I could make any further progress on piecing together my circumstances, Sam Winchester paused mid stride in the doorway to the room, holding a tray of coffees and a small paper bag. He halted so dramatically that he almost dropped the drinks and stared at me with wide, disbelieving eyes./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Hey!" He gasped as he rushed into the space and threw the bag at Dean in a rude awakening that resulted in flailing limbs and cursing. "You're awake." Sam breathed in relief as he fell into a chair on the other side of the bed from Dean and viewed me with a warm expression that seemed entirely unwarranted. Dean bolted upright to examine me with a riveted attention and I stared between them in confusion./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I feel like I've said this way too often lately but…" I paused to clear my throat as my voice came out hoarse and weak. "...what the hell are you two doing here?" I interrogated as I examined their worried demeanours with a deep feeling of bewilderment./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Saving your life." Dean stated with his usual overconfident attitude and I cocked a brow at him. "Bobby asked us to make sure that you didn't get yourself killed. We pulled up just in time to find you collapsed on the ground outside a burning vamp den. Is that what you call smart hunting?" He accused with a line of questioning that he could only have learned from the master. Everything came flooding back to me at once and I frantically searched the area around me for the fangs that I remembered gripping just before I passed out. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Looking for these?" Sam's voice drew my attention and I returned my gaze upward to find him holding the teeth up calmly. I reached out and he handed them to me without any hesitation. The moment that they landed in my palm I sighed in relief and my posture dropped it's tension. "This was a personal one, huh?" Sam enquired and I stared at the teeth with an intensity that burned from my soul. I replayed the memory of the vampire's head rolling across the floor at my feet several times in satisfaction and could easily have lost myself to the feeling of elation./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You could say that." I remarked in a vague fashion as I forced my focus away from the fangs and placed them carefully on the bedside table. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What were you thinking, going into a vamp den alone like that? You could have been killed!" Dean lectured in a manner not dissimilar to that which teachers had always addressed me in school and I met his eyes with a building feeling of aggravation./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""But I didn't die and the vamps did. Mission accomplished." I stated coldly with my well ingrained teenage attitude and he scoffed in obvious frustration./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Only because we drove you to a hospital. What would have happened otherwise? You'd have either bled or burned to death, some plan!" He exclaimed as he utilised my own previous scoldings of their poor performance against me and my face contorted into a frown at his indignant attitude./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What do you care? You don't even know me, don't act like you're invested in my methods. I'll do my jobs however I see fit, Winchester." I argued with my voice containing a level of spite that was completely unintentional and Dean threw his hands up in exasperation./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I care because another dead hunter is no good to anyone!" He snapped and I couldn't contain a flinch as his voice raised. I dropped my gaze to my lap to avoid his scrutiny and he sighed in an effort to calm himself. "I'm gonna call Bobby, let him know that she didn't die." He spoke directly at Sam as he stormed from the room and I maintained my avoidant position with my arms crossed defensively. Once we were alone, Sam cleared his throat awkwardly./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Sorry about that, he was just worried. I know he can get kinda condescending sometimes, but he has good intentions, you know." Sam explained with an understanding smile and I sighed thoughtfully./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It's okay, it happens to the best of us. It's a long term side effect of growing up around Bobby." I mumbled and felt an immediate pang of regret at my accidental slip of information. I hoped that he wouldn't notice it, but he obviously perked up in interest and I felt dread pooling in my stomach as I wracked my brain for an excuse./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You grew up around Bobby too?" He enquired and I hissed with annoyance at my mistake. In my mind, the less these boys knew about me, the better and thus far every time that we had met, I seemed to accidentally stoke their interest in me./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I really don't wanna talk about it." I groaned and although he seemed disappointed by this, he accepted it without argument. I was impressed by his understanding of my privacy and we sat in tense silence for a few moments whilst I mentally prayed that he would leave./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Look, I don't know what happened between the two of you and I won't pry but...it's obvious that Bobby still cares about you. I know it would mean a lot to him if you visited." Sam spoke in a careful manner and I fiddled with my hands in a gesture of stress. "Are you gonna be okay on your own?" He asked with an evident worry remaining behind his words and I nodded fervently. He smiled warmly at me as he stood and grabbed his things to leave. My mind raced with things to say and although I willed myself to simply allow him to leave without mending our strained interactions, the desire to not be an awful person overwhelmed my bitterness./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Sam?" I called as he reached the door and he glanced back at me over his shoulder. "Thank you...for saving me. I do appreciate it." I admitted with a painful reluctance and he chuckled under his breath./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Don't mention it. And don't worry, I'll let Dean know too." He winked mischievously before disappearing from sight. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"***/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Weeks had passed since I discharged myself from the hospital and Sam's words had played havoc in my mind almost constantly since. I'd kept the phone that I called Bobby from switched off so that I couldn't see the missed calls that I inevitably knew would be there and was thankful not to have had any further run- ins with the boys in the meantime. Although I felt a huge weight lifted by the destruction of the vampire that I had hunted for almost half of my life, I knew that I couldn't fully consider the skeletons in my closet resolved until I had confronted the one mistake that required a face to face conversation. I could hardly concentrate on the road as I drove to what felt like my ultimate demise and was glad that my last job had been in Iowa, leaving me with a relatively short journey to my destination./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The car grumbled to a stop in the hauntingly familiar drive and felt my hands shaking as I gripped the steering wheel tightly. As I exited the car, I knocked a stack of comic books off the passenger seat in my fluster and cursed under my breath. Amongst the collection of vehicles that lined the drive, I was glad that the statement Impala seemed to be absent as I approached the door with butterflies filling my stomach. I knocked on the paint peeled wood and held my breath as I waited for an answer. There was a barrage of heavy stomping and cursing from inside as I hesitated on the porch with my heart hammering in my chest. When the door finally swung open, the passage of time slapped me in the face and I forced myself to smile through my shock./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Hi." I whispered as I stared up at the colour drained face of Bobby Singer and tried to convince myself that I wasn't about to have a heart attack. The silence that hung around us was practically suffocating and I wracked my brain for something to say that could lighten the mood. I opened my mouth to speak but before I could manage it, Bobby suddenly pulled me into an embrace. He smelt familiarly like whisky and motor oil, and I was struck with a pang of nostalgia as I returned the hug appreciatively. After a few minutes of gripping me, he sniffed back tears in an effort to disguise them and stepped back to examine me./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""The wanderer returns." He commented as he scanned me from head to toe and I smiled awkwardly under his father like scrutiny. "What did I say about blending in? This is…" He broke off as he gestured to my entire appearance and sighed in disappointment. "...well, exactly what I'd expect from you." He finished in a scolding tone but I could easily recognise the hint of a fond smile in the corner of his lips. "Well, don't just stand there, come inside." He ordered as he wandered into the house and I followed obediently./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I was shocked to discover that everything was almost exactly as I remembered and although this provided a warm feeling of returning home at last, I also felt a pang of sadness for him. The house continued to exist as some kind of shrine to his late wife and the only thing that was different was Bobby himself. There were wrinkles around his eyes, and especially his forehead, from excessive frowning that had barely begun to show when I saw him last and I was immediately regretful that I had waited so long to return. He led me into the still pale green kitchen and rustled around in the cupboards whilst I absorbed the sensation of safety that the room radiated. He grabbed a bottle and two glasses, and took a seat at the table as he indicated for me to join him./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Don't have to worry about you stealing my whisky any longer, you're a legal adult now." He stated with a smirk as he poured out the glasses and I found my usual place opposite him at the table. "Don't have anything softer I'm afraid, haven't bought any of those fancy British tea bags since you…" He stopped mid flow and cleared his throat. I glanced around at the room that contained some of my best and worst memories and considered my words carefully. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'm sorry." I mumbled as I fidgeted with my hands and his eyes widened at me. "I shouldn't have run away, it was childish and stupid. I wasn't your daughter to raise and I shouldn't have demanded that from you. You didn't deserve what I put you through." I confessed with a gathering of tears in my eyes and Bobby observed me with an awestruck expression./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You were a teenager, being childish is par for the course." He remarked with a clear understanding and I was shocked by the calm, controlled manner that was entirely unfamiliar on him. "But...why didn't you just come home? It's been nearly ten years, Faye. I've done what I can to keep tabs on you, but you're almost impossible to track. My own darn fault for training you so well." He chuckled bitterly on his last statement and I sighed./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I don't know. At first, I guess it was pride. Then, the longer I was out there...it just became harder to think about facing you." I explained with remorse filling my face and he nodded patiently./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'm sorry too." He breathed and I blanched. I had never known Bobby to apologise so easily and I certainly couldn't think of any reason for him to do so now. "I wasn't ready for the responsibility of training you, much less being your guardian. I couldn't admit it at the time, but I was still trying to bury my grief, not deal with it and having a fourteen year old with an attitude problem thrown into the mix was more than I could handle." I was blown away by the honesty of his words and it was clear to me how much he had developed in the years that we had been apart./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I didn't exactly make it easy for you." I commented and he chuckled in agreement./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You lost your parents and then were handed over to some random hunter you'd never met to finish your training. You were treated like a dog being rehomed, you had every right to be angry." He empathised and I smiled at him with tears in my eyes. "I should've told you the truth from the beginning. I was more than just a friend of your mothers, I loved her. We were together before she met your dad and even after we split, she was always an important part of my life. Having you here, looking almost exactly like her, just after I found out she'd died and that she'd left you to me without ever discussing it...it was challenging." He revealed and although I felt my brows shoot up in surprise, some part of me was simply relieved that he had finally decided to confide in me. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I knew that if you were mine, if your mother and I had stayed together and we'd had you, you would've never been raised the way that you were. I would never have allowed Katie to breed you to be a hunter, but by the time you reached me, the damage was already done. I took that frustration with her out on you and that wasn't fair on you. I'm sorry that I drove you away, kid." Bobby's face was filled with emotion as he spoke and I understood that he needed to have this conversation as much as I did. We had both held onto our feelings for years too long and it was a relief to finally free them./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I always suspected it was more than friendship." I admitted and he sighed deeply at this confirmation. "You did your best. You put a roof over my head, fed me, clothed me and trained me to keep myself alive. Bobby, you did right by me." I advised and he quickly wiped away a tear before it could be noticed. "I should never have asked you to choose between me and the Winchester's. I know how important they were to you and it was unreasonable. I hate to say it, but those boys turned out pretty well. Looks like I can even credit them with straightening you out, even if they did turn you into a total old man." I teased with a smirk and he sniggered./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Don't get too big for your boots there, donut." He warned and I smiled at the nostalgic nickname that I had long forgotten. "You left quite the impression on those boys, you know. You work some hoodoo shit on them?" He commented as he sipped at his glass of whisky and I snorted in laughter at his accusation./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No, actually I was kind of a cold bitch. I think there might be something wrong with them, proper gluttons for punishment." I remarked, earning a fond smile from him. "Where are the giants anyway?" I enquired as I peeked into the library for any sign of them potentially listening in to our conversation./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""They're out on a job in Washington, won't be back for at least a couple of days if you want to stay." He offered and I breathed a sigh of relief. After our last encounter I was pleased that I wouldn't have to deal with a second awkward conversation today and I enjoyed the idea of spending some time with Bobby./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Speaking of the boys, how did you know where to send them to find me? I didn't tell anyone where I was going." I questioned with furrowed brows and he rolled his eyes at me. This had been bothering me since I first woke in the hospital and I couldn't comprehend how he'd been able to break through my careful planning./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You left your damn GPS on, you idjit." He confirmed and I hissed in annoyance at my past self. "Yeah, rookie mistake, not like you either. But I guess that's what happens when it's a case that you have more heart than head in." He added with a sympathetic tone and I nodded in agreement./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Well, either way, it's done now." I stated as I fidgeted around to reach my pocket and grabbed the item that I had been saving to reveal to him. "Mum and dad can finally rest knowing that their killer's gone. It's over." I breathed as I dropped the fangs onto the table and Bobby stared at them with a heavy sense of malice. He snatched them from the surface and began to stride from the room purposefully./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Come on, bring the bottle." He called over his shoulder and I clumsily grabbed the bottle of whisky as I rushed to follow his lead./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"We arrived in the garage, which was easily the space that I had spent the largest portion of my time living here residing in. He rustled around in a crazed effort to gather supplies of some sort and once he had finished his preparations, he waved me over to join him. I found the fangs lying on a sturdy surface with a selection of hammers and he presented them with an impressive flourish./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Would you like to do the honours?" He offered and I smiled widely at his deviant mind. I took a long swig straight from the bottle and approached the table. We spent some considerable time drinking whisky and smashing the teeth into powder in the one of the strangest bonding activities that I'd ever experienced, which is a lot when I considered the bonkers upbringing that I'd known. As we reached the point of destruction that left nothing to hit, Bobby threw an arm around my shoulders in a half hug, half head lock. "I'm glad you're home, kid."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The next couple of days passed in a blur of shooting ranges, alcohol fuelled reminiscing over the good times and trashy tv. I gave my best effort to cook something resembling actual meals from the measly contents of Bobby's cupboards and for the first time in years, I felt a sense of continent that was wholly unfamiliar./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"By the third morning I knew that it was time to leave, as I knew the boys would likely return soon. Bobby had thoroughly stocked my car with new weapons, supplies and a set of numbers to call for any verification that I needed. I noticed that he now had a full set of phones in the kitchen labelled with each agency that he could answer as and was impressed with the efficiency of his system nowadays. As we walked to the car, I could sense a sadness in Bobby that I felt in my own chest as I left the last place that I considered to be home. As his attention landed on the Jeep, he chuckled with a bitter amusement./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I can't believe you had the gall to steal my favourite project." He stated accusingly and I faced him with a guilty shrug./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I didn't steal it, I borrowed it." I excused with a poorly attempted innocent tone and he scoffed./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Does that mean I'm gonna get it back at some point?" He suggested and I shook my head with a smug expression. "That thing is practically an antique. You sure you don't want me to check it over before you go?" He probed and I smiled fondly at him./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It's fine Bobby, that relic is my pride and joy. I know how to take care of a car, I learned from the best." I commented as I slapped him playfully on the arm and his face was the picture of pride./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You don't have to go you know, there's always space for you here." He offered and I felt a tug at my heartstrings as I glanced back up at the house that contained numerous treasured memories for me. I returned my gaze to Bobby with sadness in my eyes./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I know, thank you. But I can't just crash at my crazy Uncle's forever. Like you said, I'm a wanderer, my place is on the road." I asserted and he shook his head with amusement at the term of endearment. "Don't worry, I know how to keep out of trouble. I'll call you if I ever need help and I promise to visit more often than once a decade this time." I teased and he smiled appreciatively. "You look after those boys of yours." I added as I flashed him one final smile./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Bobby watched me climb into the car and as I drove away from the house, I felt like a completely new person. /span/p