Before We Learned to Carry On: Shadow
AN: Welcome to the third Season 1 episode with Jameson, who recently turned 12, as this episode aired Feb 28th, 2006. Which is 15 days after her birthday.
~BWLTCO~
Jameson's Perspective:
Dean pulled the Impala into a parking space, across the street from the apartment complex where our latest victim was found. Sam had been surfing the web when he came across an article out of Chicago about a stealthy killer who left no physical evidence behind. Nor did they seem to have broken in to any of the places that they hit. Surprisingly, local law enforcement was baffled. Lucky for them the Winchesters were on the case, well two Winchesters anyway. Apparently, it raises questions when two grown men bring a little girl to a crime scene.
"I still don't see why I can't come with you." I repeated, as Dean put the car into park. He sighed tiredly.
"I already told you, you can't come, and that's final." He replied sharply.
"Sa-." I started to whine, but one look from Dean and I clammed up. Instead I crossed my arms with a pout, and fell against the backseat. Dean shook his head and got out of the car. Sam looked back at me, with a sympathetic look in his eye.
"We shouldn't be too long," he said, "and then we'll go out for a deep-dish."
"How about you convince Dean to let me go with you, and I'll convince Dean to spring for something healthy?"
Sam rolled his eyes.
"Nice try."
I made a face at him, before flopping down on my side. I hate being side-lined like I was some civilian who needed to be saved.
"There's some snacks in the bag up front here. And, please, will you try to stay out of trouble?"
"Eh," I replied non-committedly. Sam sighed and got out of the car. I felt the wind from a closing door before the clicking sound of the door sealing. I closed my eyes, and waited for Dean to come check back up on me to make sure I wasn't doing anything to his precious car out of revenge. I smiled knowingly when he came over to the passenger side of the car, but didn't open my eyes.
"Great," I heard him mumble, before he walking away. I counted to 100, before springing up. Dean and Sam were nowhere in sight, which meant it was time for me to move. Like I said, I hated being sidelined. It takes all the fun of hunting.
I unlocked my door, and hopped out. Using the copy of the Impala key, that no knew I had, I locked it back up. Dean was going to be pissed enough that I left the car, but if somebody stole it… I would, in the true Chicago style, get fitted for a pair of cement shoes.
Now with the easy part done, all I had to do was cross the busy city street without holding anyone's hand, get buzzed into the building, sneak up some stairs, and then get into the apartment. And I think I can do all of that without a fancy get-up, so take that Sam.
I followed the natives' behavior and walked casually down the street, and feigned innocence when I asked the man on the top floor to buzz me with a classic I forgot my keys sob story. And thanks to the listing out front, I knew exactly what floor and what apartment was the victim's. I made my way up the stairs, lowering my head when a couple passed me going down. I finally made it to the vic's floor, and popped out of the stairwell into the hall. I was two doors away from the apartment when I saw the door open.
"Shit." I cursed under my breath. Seriously to come this far only to get busted would totally suck. I quickly ducked down a side hallway, I get down on one knee and pretend to be tying my shoe, waiting for the person to pass. I hear the jangling of keys as the person walks by. I take a quick look and see a woman with an official looking set of keys in her hand…the super maybe? But there are no Sam and Dean. Must be still in the apartment.
Once the woman enters the stairway, I get up and quickly walk down the hall. I grab the door handle, and twist it slowly until it's completely turned. I gently push the door in.
Sam and Dean where kneeling on the flooring surrounded by blood splatter. Dean had an EMF detector out scanning the area. Yet apparently, their kid sister detector was broken. With a grin, I eased the door shut, keeping my hand on the handle until I could slowly release it. Padding softly across the floor, I crept closer to where Dean and Sam were working. Oh, I was going to mess with them good, I get a few feet away, and open my mouth to yell boo and…
"Sam, how to you spell grounded?" Dean asked suddenly. Sam chuckled and looked over his shoulder.
"Easy. J-A-M-E-S-O-N."
"Yeah, that sounds about right." Dean said looking at me with a smug look on his face, "And I just made about 5 bucks."
Sam chuckled again.
"You guys suck." I told them.
"We're your brothers, it's our job." Sam replied.
"Nice job getting in though. We didn't even notice until you started closing the door." Dean added, standing up. I puffed up at the praise, "Your still grounded though. No TV for the rest of the week."
"Ah come on!" I complained, "I'll miss Smallville, and it will be months before they replay the season."
"Them da breaks." Dean said. I huffed, before looking around the room.
"So, well, what we looking at?" I asked, changing the topic.
"No windows were open, everything was locked from the inside, and there are no signs of forced entry." Dean rattled off the facts, "And this EMF is off the charts."
"Looks like you were right, Sam." I said to him. He had been so sure that this was our kind of thing when he read the article.
"Had it our using calling cards," Sam replied getting up.
"And how." Dean agreed.
"Hey, were you able to get ahold of the police earlier?"
"Uh yeah," Dean said looking around, "I spoke to Amy. A, uh, charming, perky officer of the law."
"Yeah," Sam asked using his own EMF detector to look around, "What did you find out?"
"And please spare us from the stats about her boob size and about how she likes long walks on the beach." I said in a mocking breathless voice. I made sure that Dean saw me with the back of my left hand resting on my forehead, while the other clutched my heart dramatically. Sam snickered, adding to the annoyance in Dean's eyes.
"You want make it two weeks, sass mouth?"
"I was just looking out for my little virgin ears." I replied innocently.
"Seriously Dean, you wouldn't want to corrupt her or anything, would you?"
Dean dragged a hand down his face, revealing that long-suffering Why-Me-God face he wears when Sam and I push him a bit too far.
"Can we just get back to work please?" Dean begged. Both Sam and I nodded, "Good, Jamie put some gloves on and see if you can find something in the splatter areas that the cops missed."
I saluted him before digging in their bag for some gloves.
"So what did this Amy have to say?" Sam picked up the conversation.
"Uh, nothing we don't already know. Except for one thing they are keeping out of the papers." Dean replied, "Meredith's heart was missing.
"Her heart?" I asked, as I snapped on a glove.
"Yeah, her heart."
"So, what do you think did it to her?" Sam asked. Dean turned around to look at us.
"Well, the landlady said it looked like an animal attack. Maybe it was. Werewolf?" Dean proposed as he walked over.
"Not a werewolf. The Lunar cycle's not right."
"And are we forgetting the fact that there are no signs of forced entry, everything was locked from the inside, and no windows were left open."
"She's right," Sam agreed, "It has to be spirit or something similar. There's not physical trace of the thing."
"Hmm…" Dean said thoughtfully as he looked down at the ground, "Hey, Jamie, do we have any masking tape in that bag?"
I dug around in the bag that brought with them, but found nothing.
"That's a negative, Ghost Rider."
"Start looking around for some, I think I got something."
"Yeah, sure." I replied. The three of us split up and start looking for some tape of any kind. A few moments later, Sam announced he found some, and handed to Dean. He took the tape, and walked around a concentration of blood splatter that was in the middle of the living room. He then crouched down, and started connecting the plots of blood together with tape. Sam and I watched him in confusion, it wasn't until he stood up that we saw what he had. The blood splatter wasn't random, the placing was too precise. It actually formed the outline of a symbol.
"Have you ever seen the symbol before?" Sam asked. Dean shook his head, "Me, neither."
I pulled out Sam's digital camera from my jacket pocket, and got a little closer before snapping a shot. I took some from a couple different angles so we have images of it in different positions. Because this was going to mean a whole lot of work for us tonight.
~BWLTCO~
Sam's Perspective:
I entered the bar where Meredith had been working in up until her death. Dean was already he somewhere, he went ahead of me to scope out the place, which was code for flirting with anything that moved.
I did a quick scan of the place, and found Dean exactly where I expected him-at the bar chatting up the pretty bartender. Dean nodded when he saw me, and I rolled my eyes before finding a free table. I place Dad's journal on top of it, and opened the clasp. I started to pull out the newspaper clippings of the murders that led us to Chicago, when Dean pulled up to the table.
"Where's the kid?" he asked.
"Dude, we can't just bring her into a bar." I reminded him.
"I know that, I meant what did you do with her."
"I checked us in to a place nearby, it's got a pull-out couch for Jamie."
"Pf—ft." Dean made a dismissive noise, "Even if she starts out there, she won't stay there. One of us will end up with a kick in the kidney before the night's over. Does it have a TV?"
"I requested that they remove it from the room." I told him. Dean nodded approvingly.
"So, I was just talking to the bartender…" Dean switched gears.
"I saw," I said, "Did you get anything from her…besides her phone number?"
Dean made a face.
"Seriously, what do you two think I do all day?" Dean shot back, "Okay, I actually did get her phone number."
He proudly held up the 7 numbers printed neatly on a napkin.
"This is what Jamie and I think you do all day." I told him pointing to the digits, "You think you can take a break to think with your upstairs brain, Dean?"
"There's nothing to find out." Dean replied, "Meredith worked here. She waited tables. Everyone here is her friend. Everyone says she's normal. She didn't do or say anything weird before she died. So…What about the symbol? Did you find anything?"
"Nope. Nothing." I told him, "It wasn't in Dad's journal or in any of the usual books. Jameson said she would send the pictures to some other hunters after she ate. But until we hear back from him, I'm going to keep digging."
"There was a first victim, right? Before Meredith?"
"Right, yeah. His name was, uh…" I said searching through my notes, and finding the right article, "His name was Ben Swardstrom. Last month he was found mutilated in this town house. Same deal. The door was locked, the alarm was on."
"Is there any connection between them?"
"Nothing I could tell. At least not yet. Ben was a banker. Meredith a waitress. They never met, never knew anyone in common. They were practically from different worlds."
"So to recap, the only successful intel we've scored is the bartender's phone number." Dean summed up sarcastically. I rolled my eyes, but stop mid-roll when something behind Dean caught my attention. It can't be her?
"What?" I vaguely heard Dean asked as I started to leave the table, "Sam?"
But I ignored him and headed for the short haired blonde a few tables away. Her back was turned towards me and I could see she was talking to some guy. I waited until he left before tapping her on the shoulder. She turned towards me, and I saw the happy surprise look in her eye.
"Meg?"
"Sam." She greeted happily, "Is that you? Oh, my gosh!"
She rose up from her seat and engulfed me in a hug.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, as she pulled away.
"Uhh…my kid sister just turned twelve, and she wanted to go to the Shedd Aquarium for her birthday." I rattled off the place Jamie was oohing about earlier.
"Oh, how sweet."
"So what about you?" I asked her, "I thought you were going to California."
"Oh, I did." She said with an annoyed sigh, "I came. I saw I conquered. Oh, and I met…What's his name…something Michael Murray at a bar."
"Who?"
"It doesn't matter." She said waving her hands, "Anyway, the whole scene got old, so I'm living here for a while."
I heard someone clear their throat behind, and out of the corner of my eye I see Dean standing there waiting to be introduced.
"So you're from Chicago?" I questioned Meg, deciding to keep Dean out of the loop for a while longer.
"No," she replied, "Massachusetts—Andover. Gosh—Sam. What are the odds we'd run into each other?"
Yeah, what were the odds?
"Yeah, I know. I thought I'd never see you again."
"Well, I'm glad you were wrong."
Dean coughed again, this time louder and more insistent.
"Dude, cover your mouth." Meg snapped at him.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, Meg." I said jerking a thumb back at Dean, "This is, um-this is my brother, Dean."
She makes an oohh… face, as she recognizes the name.
"So this is Dean?" she said.
"Yeah."
"So you've heard of me?" Dean said smugly, using the voice he reserves for pretty girls.
"Oh…I've heard of you," Meg replied, "Nice—the way you treat your brother like luggage."
"Sorry?" Dean said, totally lost.
"Why don't you let him do what he wants to do? You're already damaging your little sister; do you really need to drag Sam around all over God's green earth?"
"Meg," I interrupted, touched by her defense, "it's all right."
Dean dragged out a whistle, as he shuffled from side to side.
"Okay, awkward," he finally spoke, "I think I'm just going to cut out of here, and check to see if the little sister I'm damaging, saved me some deep dish."
He gave me a look that clearly said we would talk about this later, before heading towards the exit with Dad's journal in his hand. Was not looking forward to that?
"Sorry about that," Meg said, recalling my attention, "It's just, the way you told me he treats you and your little sister…if it were me I kill him."
"It's all right," I told her, "He means well. And if you ask Jameson…Dean is like…her hero. But… probably didn't leave him any of the deep dish."
Meg chuckled at that.
"Hey, so we should hook up while you're in town."
"Yeah."
"I could show you a hell of a time."
"You know what, that sounds great. Why don't you give me your number?" I asked as I pulled out my cell.
"Uhh…312-555-0143." She recited, and I typed it in as she talked.
"Hey, I never got your last name." I asked her.
"Masters."
"Masters?"
"So you better call."
"Scout's honor." I swore.
"I hope to see you around, Sam."
"Yeah, I'll see you around." I promised, just not the way she was thinking. Something about this was off.
~BWLTCO~
Dean's Perspective:
"Hey, Jamie, open up." I said knocking on the door of the room Sam got us. I had to call Jamie to get the room number, since Sam and Meg seemed to be having some kind of I Hate Dean Day.
I heard the sound of someone running into something followed by a hissed curse word. I cringed, maybe I was teaching her some questionable things.
A moment later there was a chain rattling noise coming from the other side of the door, and clicking turns of lock. Jameson peeked out, and I saw the chain across the doorway. Apparently, she was chaining the door, not unchaining like I thought she was.
"Password?" She asked.
"Not in the mood, kid."
"Sorry, try again." She replied, shutting the door closed. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before knocking again.
"Password?" She repeated.
"I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world, yada, yada it's fantastic." I sang. I heard the chain slide across the slit and the door open revealing a grinning Jameson. She was already dressed for bed in one of my old shirts, and her hair was wrapped in a towel on top of her head.
"I could do without the sarcasm, but I appreciate the effort," She said.
"Yeah, yeah, just let me in."
She grinned wider, before stepping aside to let me in.
"Did you save me any of that deep dish?" I asked her coming into the room, taking off my coat.
"Yeah, the box is in the fridge." She said as she closed the door. I walked over to the tiny fridge, and pulled on the door. I grabbed the box off the top shelf, and lifted the lid.
"Yes," I exclaimed when I saw the 4 remaining pieces, "Is that bacon?"
"Is there any other kind of super meat?" she replied, as a I sat down at the little table.
Maybe not all questionable things. She does know the power of bacon.
"This is how I know we're related."
She rolled her eyes, and sat across from me on the nearby bed. She unwrapped the towel, and let her hair drop around her.
"Have you heard from anybody about the symbol?" I asked, as I stuffed my face.
"Caleb, Dad's friend said he recognized it, but couldn't remember what it was. He's going to look through his books and call us back."
"Grrreaatt ssoo w—'re sstill nnoo-w-re." I replied, not waiting to swallow the pizza.
"Yeah, but we got beds, a hot shower, and a deep dish."
"We do that."
"So, did you get anything useful from the bar…besides the bartender's number?" she asked smartly.
"Ha ha, everyone's a comedian."
"So, that's all you got then?"
I narrowed my eyes at her, but all that did was cause her to respond with a knowing smirk. Sometimes, her and Sam were too much alike. Speaking of Sam…
"Hey, did Sam ever mention a girl named Meg to you?"
Jameson frowned in thought.
"No, why?"
"No reason, we just ran into her tonight at the bar."
"Aww... are you worried about Sam's virtue?"
I let out a small laugh.
"Yeah, something like that." I said thoughtfully, "Which is why I'm so glad I don't have to worry about you, because you're not going to date…like ever."
"Sure, Dean," she said rolling her eyes, "whatever you say."
"I'm serious, I will shoot any guy who even thinks about asking you out."
Jameson got off the bed, and moved the pizza box out of the way before sitting on my lap. She pulled her legs up to rest on the arm rest, and laid her head on my shoulder.
"Don't worry, Dean," she said, "It's you and me…to infinity and beyond."
I smiled and kiss the top of head.
"Thanks, kid." I said as I rested my head-on top of hers. To hell with that Meg chick, I did an okay job after all.
~BWLTCO~
Sam's Perspective:
I had spent the last fifteen mentally preparing myself for the string of questions from Dean, and was finally ready to deal with him and hit the sack. Slipping the hotel key into the locked, I opened the door.
The room was almost pitch black, if it wasn't for the light coming from under the bathroom door or the neon light outside the window, I wouldn't be able to see anything. I stuck a cautious head in, and heard Dean humming the opening bars of Smoke on the Water in the shower. And Jameson must be out if it's this dark.
I full entered the room, and quietly shut the door behind me so as not to wake her up. I started to take off my jacket, when a light came on. I opened my mouth to apologize for disturbing my sister, but stopped short when I saw her. She was sitting at the little dinette, her chair was facing me, her legs were crossed, and she was leaning back with her arms draped over the armrests. Her eyes were narrowed, and her lips were pursed like Dad and Dean's when they were absolutely pissed.
"What did you say to him, Samuel?" she asked icily.
"Excuse me?" I replied, shrugging out of my jacket.
"I said, what did you say to him?"
"Nothing."
"Oh, really? So why did he stumble back here with that Sam kicked my puppy look?" she said as she pushed herself out of the chair. Oh, he must have taken what Meg said to heart. "God, Sam do you ever think about anyone yourself?"
"Me? I'm the one that doesn't think about anyone about myself?" I asked, completely forgetting to clear up what happened.
"Yeah, Sam, you." She hissed, "It's always about you. You're always running off or saying something stupid, and never giving a damn about how your actions are going to affect other people. You are going to apologize, alright. And I want a legit damn apology out of you."
She jabbed her finger in my chest for emphasis before stalking off.
"What Dean can't fight his own battles?" I shot at her retreating back. She spun around, and got up in my face.
"It's my job to protect Dean, and I will do so, even if it means protecting him from you."
I look down at her and instantly deflate. This is not the way a family should be. A little girl shouldn't feel the need to protect a grown man from his own brother.
"Is everything all right out here?" Dean's voice cut in.
"Yeah," I lied, not looking away from Jameson, "We are just arguing over who got the couch bed. I lost."
"Did she sucker you?" I heard him ask amused.
"Something like that." I said, before looking over my shoulder. Dean was leaning on the wall by the bathroom in a t-shirt and boxers, rubbing a towel over his head.
"That's my girl."
Jamie "accidently" stepped on my foot as she passed me to get to Dean. She gave him a proud grin, before slipping an arm around his waist. Securely curled into his side, Jameson shot me a dark, urging look. I narrowed my eyes back, before sighing.
"Hey, man, I'm sorry about Meg. I was upset, we had just had that big fight when I was at that bus stop in Indiana."
"Was any of that stuff true?" he asked. I could tell he wanted to get into it further, but Jameson's presence stopped him.
"No, of course not. I was just blowing off some steam."
"Okay," he said nodding his head, "What were the odds though, that a girl you spilled your guts to in a bus station, winds up here?"
"Yeah, I thought so too." I agreed with him, "Something about it just doesn't sit right with me. I mean I met her the bus station weeks ago, and then she random shows up in the same town at the same bar our victim, who supernaturally died, worked at."
"Crazy coincidence?" Jameson offered, her tone calmer.
"Maybe for other people, but not for us. There's just something about this girl that I can't quite put my finger on."
A perverted glint appeared in Dean's eye.
"Dude." I admonished.
"What? Maybe you just like her, and this is you freaking out about getting back in the game."
"Or, just or," Jameson started, "maybe she's a bitch and Sam should stay away."
"Who knows," I said to the pair of them, "I just…got a bad feeling about her."
"Okay, so what do you want to do?" Dean asked.
"I think you two need to see if there actually is a Meg Masters from Andover, Massachusetts and see if you can dig up anything on that symbol."
"And what are you going to do? Isn't the nerd stuff usually your department?"
"I'm going to watch Meg."
"Yeah, you are." Dean laughed.
"Shut-up. It's better to be safe than sorry. I just want to see what's what."
Dean shook his head, still not believing me.
"I think this is one stake-out I'm okay not going to," Jamie stage whispered to Dean. Which only caused him to laugh harder.
"Course not," he said, "We talked about this, you don't need to know that kind of stake out because you're never going to date."
Jameson rolled her eyes.
"It's not that kind of a stake-out." I insisted with a huff, "Just start researching. I'll call you in an hour."
I stormed passed them and grabbed my jacket and keys on the way out. Something was up, and I was going to prove those two wrong.
~Carry On~
Jameson's Perspective:
"Hey," Sam greeted as he answered my call.
"Ask if he's being creeper." Dean whispered to me, as he flipped through the pages of the book in front of him.
"Dean wants to know if you're being a creepy pervert?" I asked. Dean came me a thumb's up.
"Yeah, well, tell him to shut-up."
"Sam says to shut up." I told my oldest brother, causing him to smirk.
"Did you find anything on her or are you just calling to hassle me?"
"No, I found her," I said looking at the computer screen in front of me, "There's a Meg Masters in the Andover phone book. I even pulled up her high-school photo. It came with her some hobbies, she's a giant geek, just like you. But she does have those potentially crazy girl eyes, so again I repeat you should probably stay away from her."
Sam scoffed.
"What about the symbol? Any luck?"
"Yeah, Dean found something." I told him, "Let me hand you over to him."
I passed the phone into Dean's waiting hand.
"Hey, yeah, Jameson sent the pictures to Caleb, you remember him, Dad's friend. He said that the symbol for a Daeva."
Dean paused to listen to what Sam had to say.
"He said It translates to "demon of darkness"— they're Zoroastrian demons and they're savage, animalistic, nasty attitudes, kind of like a demonic pit bulls. He also that these things have to be summoned-conjured…Yeah, that's what I'm saying. And from what I gathered, it's pretty risky business, too. These suckers tend to bite the hand that feeds them and the arms, and torsos."
Dean paused again.
"That's the thing," he continued, "nobody knows. Nobody's seen them for a couple of millennia. Summoning a demon that ancient, someone really knows their stuff. I think we have a major player in town. Now, why don't you go and give that girl a private strip-o-gram?
"Okay, and that's enough from Dean." I said taking the phone away from him.
"Sam, ignore Dean, come back. That girl is trouble." I told him.
"Don't listen to her Sam!" Dean spoke loudly.
"Don't listen to Dean, "I insisted, "I have no TV, Dean only does one trick, so I need you to come back home and knock me out with your nerd facts."
"Keep it up little missy, and I'll feed you to the Daeva."
"Sam he's threatening me." I informed him.
"Well, keep him busy, I'll be back in about 15 minutes."
"Please and thank-you."
"Bye." he said before hanging up.
"Seems he finds my advice to be better than yours," I said with a sniff. Dean rolled his eyes.
"You really need to let that kid have some fun."
"Who's more fun than us?" I asked in offense.
"You know what I mean."
"No, I don't Dean, I'm not allowed to date, ever,"
"And don't you forget it." He said.
"How could I?"
~BWLTCO~
Sam's Perspective:
I toss my phone on the seat, shaking my head at my siblings. How quickly they went from defending/protecting each other to death threats. And I know it didn't take a much to figure out that Jameson was against Meg, because she upset Dean. Now that I knew Meg was legit, she still wasn't worth the hassle that I would face at the hands of Jamie. So, the only thing left to do was to go back to the room, and put her to sleep by reading her nerd facts.
I started to turn the key, when I saw Meg's door open. I quickly pull out the keys and duck down so she doesn't see me. I poke my head up just enough, so I can see where she goes. She crossed the street, tugging her jacket around her more snugly. She passed right by the car, before ducking down another street. Once she's gone, I sit up and slide of the car.
I follow her for 5 blocks, before she starts to slow down next to a graffiti-covered wall. She looks around, and I duck in an alley. I guess she didn't see me or anyone else, so she starts to pull on the wall revealing a door. I wait about two minutes before emerging from the alley and heading towards the camouflaged door. I sneak inside, and start looking for Meg. I find a staircase not too far from the door and walk up them. I follow the stairs to a door on the second floor. When I try to open it, it doesn't budge, it must be locked. I look around and see a broken-down elevator gate. I push the door to the side, and tilt my head up. Hell of climb, but…
I grab a metal decorative molding, and use it to pull myself up. With the help of the metal cage bars and braces, I pull myself up to top floor where I saw a light shine through. I peer in through the bars to see what's going on. In the center of the room is a black altar. Two tall black candles stand like sentinels at all four corners of the table. There were also a few totems, something that looked like a human heart, and a tarnished chalice. Looks like I found the summoning chamber of the Daeva.
I heard footsteps echo throughout the large room. I tucked my head into my shoulder until I felt the shadow of the person pass-Meg. She walked up to the table, and picked up the chalice. She stuck a finger into the chalice, and swirled it inside as she said an incantation.
"I don't think you should come," she suddenly spoke, "because the Winchesters—they're in town. I didn't know that-."
She stopped talking almost like she was interrupted, but I didn't hear anyone speak.
"Yes, sir." She conceded, "Yes, I'll be here…waiting for you."
She gently set the chalice down, before blowing out the candles on the altar. I had to duck again, to avoid being seen. But once she had retreated down the steps, I side-climbed over to an opening in the industrial elevator gate. It was just big enough for me to pull myself through. I stood up and straightened myself out. I kept any eye on the door, as I headed over to the altar. I looked at the various pieces on top of it, I was right that was definitely a human heart, and that was a lot of blood. What really caught my attention was what was drawn in blood on the center of the altar—the same symbol from the crime scene.
"What the hell?"
~BWLTCO~
Jameson's Perspective:
I head the click of the lock, and jumped out of the bed. Sam came tumbling through the door, looking wildly around.
"Where in the hell have you been?" I demanded, crossing my arms so not to hit him, "You were supposed to me back a half hour ago."
"Where's Dean?" he asked frantically.
"Out looking for you, ya jerk. You weren't answering our phone calls."
"Call him! I know who's been summoning the Deava."
"Who?"
"Meg."
"Meg?" I repeated, "Oh God, tell me you didn't sleep with her?
"No, shut-up, she left her house and I followed her to a warehouse. She started talking to someone in a chalice full off blood, and there was this altar with the signal painted on it.
"You sure know how to pick Sammy," I said walking over to the bedside table to grab my phone, "It's like Tawnie from your senior year all over again."
I dialed Dean's number, and waited for him to pick up.
"Hello?"
"Hey it's me, Sam's back and he's got proof that he should listen to me for all his potential girlfriends."
~BWLTCO~
"So, wait, hot little Meg is the one summoning the Deava?" Dean asked. Sam nodded, "Wow this like a repeat of that girl you dated back in high school, you know the one that was a witch, what was her name?
"Tawnie." I supplied.
"That's right Tawnie, hot and crazy Tawnie, seems like you have a type Sam."
"I didn't like her either, you should really start listening to me Sam." I told him.
"Okay, enough about Tawnie." Sam exclaimed. Dean held his hands up.
"Not fun when the shoes on the other foot is it, Sammy?" Dean teased. Sam gave him a look, "Fine, so take us through it again, there was an altar with the Daeva symbol painted in the middle. And what was she doing with the bowl thing again."
"It's a chalice, and she was talking into it, the way witches used to scry into crystal balls or animal entrails. She was communicating with someone."
"With the Daeva?"
"Couldn't be, Caleb said those things were savages." I injected.
"Besides, this was different she wasn't summoning someone or giving orders, in fact I think she was the receiving orders. And whoever it is coming to that warehouse."
"The major player." Dean said, "Holy crap."
He plopped down on the bed behind him.
"What?" I asked.
"I got a call from Amy, my uh…friend from the police station when I was out looking for you. She found something in the records that we missed the first time."
"What did she find?" Sam wanted to know.
"The old man, the first victim, he spent his whole like in Chicago, but he wasn't born here. And Meredith, the second vic, was adopted. She wasn't born here either."
"So where were they born?" I questioned.
"Lawrence…Kansas."
"Holy crap." Sam plopping down next to Dean, "I mean, that is where the demon killed mom."
Lawrence, Kansas. Probably the town I hate most in the world. And that demon… wouldn't I like to take a crack at that asshole. Not for the same reason as my brothers, but still a pretty good one. Maybe if we kill him, we can finally go after the vamps that killed my Mom. Just maybe Dad could put a portion of the effort he put into avenging the Saintly Mary into a helping me avenge my mother. Who I lost in a vampire attack, along with my grandparents, and my cousins. But that's nothing compared to what John Winchester lost. What do I know about loss and pain? What I do know is that this mother effer was going to fry.
"—thing started," Sam's voice broke into my thoughts, "You think Meg's tied up with the demon?"
"I think it's a definite possibility." Dean said. Shit! This means…
"Should we call Dad?" I piped up, really hoping the answer was no.
"No," Sam objected, "Dad might tip her off. She could run, and then we'll never know who's really in charge here or if it is the same demon that killed Mom. No, we've got to stake out that warehouse. We've got see who or what is coming to meet her."
"The three of us can't do this on our own, Sam. No one knows this demon or its patterns better than Dad. If it's the demon coming to see Meg, he'll know for sure. And besides from what Caleb said about these Daeva's we could use the help."
"Fine, call Dad." Sam said, but from his tone I could tell he was not thrilled with the prospect of John Winchester showing up either. I plop down next to Sam, next time I'm just going to keep my mouth shut.
~BWLTCO~
Dean's Perspective:
"We think we got a serious lead on the thing that killed Mom," I said into the phone. I heard the hotel door open, letting someone in, "So, uh, this warehouse. It's 1435 West Erie. Dad if you get this, get to Chicago as soon as you can."
I closed the phone shut, and I heard whoever came in drop off something on the bed behind me.
"Voice mail?" a small voice asked.
"Yeah." I said shortly.
"You know what next time he calls, you should screen his call."
I smirked, before getting off the bed.
"So what did you get?" I asked nodding towards the bag in front of her.
"Sam ransacked that trunk, okay?" Jamie replied in a huff, "He then dropped it in a bag and had me carry it up here. I think he's still down there deciding if he should bring the machete or small daggers."
"Is there anything left in the trunk?"
"Some knives, a gun or two, and an assortment of baseball cards from 1991."
I chuckled and opened the bag to see flasks of holy water, books on exorcisms, and various weapons. My chuckle soon died out into a slow whistle.
"Yeah," Jamie agreed, "But a fat lot of good it will do him though, not even the bag goes with his shoes."
My reply was cut off short by the sound of someone unlocking the door, seconds later Sam came in the room. I looked him up and down.
"She's right this bag doesn't go with your shoes."
"What?" Sam asked before shaking his head, "Did you get a hold of Dad?"
"Apparently, he's still screening our calls." Jameson answered tersely, "If he wasn't I would probably call to complain about you breaking child labor laws."
She pointed to the bag.
"We do not need half this stuff, Sam." She added.
"I just want to be prepared, we still don't know for sure who or what Meg is meeting, and we still got to take care of the Daeva."
"You're such a boy scout." Jameson teased, before reaching into the bag. "Hey look, my favorite sawed-off. I didn't even see you put this in here."
She pulled the gun out along with some bullets, and started loading it up.
"So, are you nervous?" Sam asked. I looked up to see he was looking right at me.
"No." I answered. I had been waiting for a shot like this since I was 4 years old, "Are you?"
"No. No way." He replied too quickly.
"Well, I am." Jameson spoke up, "Because if this is the demon and we fail, Dad is go all Category 5 Hurricane. And I do not want to be anywhere near him when that happens."
Sam and I share a look over Jamie's head. Silently agreeing with her, but not able to say it out loud. I cleared my throat, before lying to her.
"I'm sure he'll be proud that we did our best."
"Geez, how much did you have to drink at that bar?" she replied giving me a questioning look. I motioned for her to shut up and start loading more guns.
"But what if it is the demon, and we don't fail." Sam mused, "This whole thing would be over. Man, I would sleep for a month. Go back to school—be a person again."
"You want to go back to school?" I asked in surprised. I just assumed…
"Yeah, one we're done huntin' the thing."
"Huh."
"Why, is there somethin' wrong with that?"
"No. No, it's, uh, great."
"Bullshit!" Jameson called me out, before turning to Sam, "You're going to go off to school again, and pretend we don't exist for another two years."
"That's not going to happen." Sam quickly assuaged her.
"Oh, really. So, you didn't forget my 10th or 11th birthday? Or Dean's birthdays? Christmas even?"
"I didn't think you wanted to hear from me, after what Dad…"
"Umm… I called you about 3 times a month for at least 6, and never got a call back. So yes, Dean and I do take offense to you going back to college and ditching us again."
"Haven't you two ever wanted anything for yourself? Something besides hunting?" Sam asked us both.
"No, not really." Jameson answered, "I was literally born to hunt, that's the only reason Cole hunters reproduce—to create the next generation of hunters."
"You never wanted to do anything else? Have your own room, make friends, or take art classes?
"A-I don't like sleeping alone, B- I got Dean, and C-how does learning about shading help me kill vampires?" She shot back. Sam just stared at her, not understanding how she could really want this. It didn't make sense to a guy who spent the last 10 years escaping from this.
"Dean that's not healthy," Sam said turning to me, "You have to realize that."
"Well maybe if she had her whole family around…" I said defensively.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I turned around not trusting myself to reply. I rested my palms on the nearby dresser and took a second to collect myself.
"It's why I drag you around everywhere. It's why I went and got you from Stanford." I started to explain, "You, me, Jamie, and Dad –I mean, I want us…I want us to be a family again."
"Guys we are a family. I'd do anything for you. And you're right, Jamie, I should have done a better job of staying in touch with you guys. And will. But things will never be the way they were."
"They could be."
"I don't want them to be. I-."
"And Sammy Selfish strikes again. Why don't you stow it, and put in the Christmas card you're never going to send." Jamie hissed at him, as she gathered her weapons. With a final glare at Sam, she takes her stuff and storms out. I pick a few things and make to follow her.
"Dean…" Sam begins to speak.
"Look Sam, you have your own life, I get it. After everything…I get it. This kid and I will be fine. We always are."
Sam looked like he wanted to say something else, but I held up my hand and walked out. So much for that dream.
~BWLTCO~
Jameson's Perspective:
"Geez, Sam, you couldn't have found an easier way in." Dean whispered to Sam, as he pulled himself up on the metal bars of the elevator cage. Sam smirks up at Dean, before turning back to me to give me a boost. I scoff, and whack away his hand. I pull myself up, and quickly catch up with Dean. A moment later I feel the rails shake as Sam starts to scale the wall as well.
Dean and I reach the top first, and I stick my face out of the grate to get a better look. That bitch Meg was standing by the altar that Sam described earlier. I could see the candles and the hearts on the pedestals. She had her back to us, and I could hear her chanting in Latin, I didn't understand all of it, but I definitely recognized some of the words from exorcisms we had performed.
I felt Sam come up next to me and he peeked out quickly and took a look around. He then pulled away, and motioned for me to follow him. He side-stepped over to an opening in the grate. Keeping an eye on Meg, he pulled himself through. I felt something cold against my hand and turned towards it. Dean was trying to give me a gun. I grabbed it from him, and he nodded towards Sammy. I made a face before sticking the gun out towards Sam. He took it, and then I hoisted myself through the hole.
I turned and helped pull Dean out, while Sam covered us with the gun Dean gave him. Once all of us were up, Dean and Sam kept guns pointed at Meg until we could duck behind some old crates and things. While we were out of sight. I went into Sam's bag to pull out my sawed-off. Not that we were all packing, we moved behind another pile of stuff closer to Meg. I found a spot that good cover, and a nice resting spot for my sawed-off and set up shop. I was in the middle of prepping the gun, when a sickly-sweet voice began to speak.
"Guys. Hiding is a little bit childish, don't you think?"
The three of us shared a look, seriously?
"Well, that didn't work out like I planned." Dean commented. Med turned her smug mug towards us.
"Why don't you come out?"
"Son of a bitch." I mumbled under my breath, before sliding out of my perfect spot.
"Oh, look, you brought the littlest Winchester." She said, smiling at me.
"Ttcch-Great not only is she a bitch, she's a patronizing bitch." I said to Sam, "You sure can pick 'em, boy."
"Cute." Meg said. I just raised my gun a little higher. At this point, I call dibs on killing her if she isn't human. But Meg had seemed to lost interest in me, and her eyes were on Sam only. "Sam, I have to say, this puts a real crimp in our relationship."
"Yeah, tell me about it." Sam replied tersely.
"So, where's your little Daeva friend?" Dean asked. Meg turned her dark gaze towards him.
"Around." She answered coyly, "And that shotgun's not gonna do much good."
"Oh, don't worry sweetheart. The shotgun's not for the demon."
"So, who is it, Meg?" Sam asked. She smiled, which made my whole body go tense. I scanned the room for a sign of…well anything, "Who's coming? Who are you waiting for?"
"You."
A chill followed Meg's words, and I clutched the gun tighter.
"Guys, I've got a bad feeling about this." I announced.
"Uhh..." Sam groaned in pain, followed by a loud clunk. I turned and saw Sam lying on the ground, clutching himself in pain.
"Sammy!" I exclaimed. I move towards him.
"Jamie look out." I heard before I was pushed to the ground. The next thing I hear is Dean crying out, and a crash. To my left, Sam cries out and pain. I start to get up, to try to stop whatever the hell is out there, when I feel deep claws dig into my back.
"Ahh!" I cry out, before I feel myself lifted into the air and tossed liked a ragdoll. My head hits something hard before world starts to grow dim.
~BWLTCO~
Sam's Perspective:
The first thing I notice is the pain-pain everywhere. The pain in the back of my head, the sting of the cuts on my cheek, and the tears in my back. As I become more conscious I roll my head, and take inventory of every gash.
Eventually, I blink my eyes open to see where I am. The lightening is dim, and takes a while for my eyes to adjust, but when they do my eyes immediately fall on Jamie and Dean, who are tied up against a post across from me. There predicament shed light on my own as I realized why my arms couldn't move freely. They were pinned behind my back as well.
Seeing I was awake Dean offered me a sarcastic smile.
"Hey, Sam, don't take this the wrong way, but Jamie is right your girlfriend…is a bitch."
"And the last straw, from now on I will be making all of your dating choices from now on." Jamie tacked on, sending a scathing look towards Meg, who was sitting on a crate not too far away. "So, what's the deal, blondie? Daddy never loved you enough."
"Does yours?" Meg shot back smugly. But there was something about the way Meg said it, that got my mind working.
"This, the whole thing, was a trap." I said under my breath.
"What was that Sam?" Meg asked.
"Running into you at the bar, following you here, hearting what you had to say- it was all a set-up, wasn't it?"
Meg begins to laugh.
"And with the victims all from Lawrence."
"It doesn't mean anything. It was just to draw you in, that's all."
"No, not us." I said to her. Meg leaned back with a grin.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Dean asked.
"Not very quick on the uptake are you, Dean?" Meg mocked him, "Always needing your little brother to break things down for you."
James growled warningly at the other girl. Meg just smirked.
"This trap isn't for you, Dean." Meg continued.
"It's for Dad." I finished, "It's a trap for Dad."
With that, Jameson started cracking up. Meg kept her smirk, but as I locked eyes with her I saw confusion and a loss of some of her earlier confidence.
"Somebody didn't do their research." Jamie sing-songed once she calmed down, "Thanks for setting us blondes back a few decades, we were this close to proving we had at least had some brains."
Meg pushed herself off the crate she was sitting on, and walked towards my sister. She leaned down and got her in her face
"The damage was already done, littlest Winchester, between you and your precious big brother here."
"Yeah, but we didn't come up with a trap that isn't going to work." Jamie said with a smirk.
"And why is that?"
"Because, bitch, even if Dad was in town, which he's isn't, he's nowhere stupid enough to fall for this bullshit."
"He is pretty good, I'll give you that." Meg agreed crouching down so she was now eye level with my little sister. I could see Dean twisting around so he could keep his eyes on Meg, "But you see, he had one weakness."
"Jameson Irish Whiskey?"
"No," Meg replied with a small laugh, "It's you three. He lets his guard down around his kids, lets his emotions cloud his judgment. I happen to know he is in town. And-"
"Sure, he is." Jameson interrupted, "And like I said you really haven't done your research."
"Well, then the Daevas will kill you anyway." Meg said happily, pulling back from my sister, "Nice and slow, and messy."
"Ehh…" Jameson said, "Is that the best you got? A death threat? Seriously, I have always known I was going to die young. But it's not going to be here or by you and your Zoroastrian demons."
"Hell yeah," Dean agreed loudly, "And even if Dad is here, he's going to take a lot more than a shadow to kill him."
"Oh, the Daevas are in the room here." Meg corrected him, looking around, "They're invisible. Their shadows are just the only part you can see."
"Well as long as they keep their butts out of my face." Jameson quipped. Despite the circumstances, I rolled my eyes. Honestly, how could she make jokes at a time like this? What we really needed to figure out was the reasoning behind all of this, not if a demon's butt is in our faces.
"Why are you doing this, Meg?" I cut in to my siblings bantering with our captor, "What kind of deal you got worked out here, huh…Or with who?
"I'm doing this for the same reasons you do what you do," Meg replied sharply, "Loyalty, love. Like the love you have for mommy…and Jess."
"Geez lady, you really are a bitch." Jameson snarled, "Why don't you pick on someone your own size."
"There's no one here my size." Meg quipped back flashing her teeth.
"Well then…go to hell." I told her.
"Ooohh baby, I'm already there." She teased, before started to crawl towards me seductively, "Come on Sam, there's no need to be nasty."
She sat up, and pressed herself against my side. Skimming her nose up the skin of my neck, she follows a line up to my ear.
"I think we both know…how you really feel about me," She whispered in my ear, moving so she was straddling my waist, "You know, I saw you…watching me changing in my apartment. It turned you on, didn't it?"
"Get a room, you two." Dean complained.
"I think I threw up in my mouth a little."
"I didn't mind," Meg continued, "I liked that you were watching me. Come on Sammy, you and I can still have a little dirty fun."
"Ahhh… come on. Not in front of the kid!" Dean exclaimed.
"Then tell her not to look," Meg suggested, before pressing her lips against my throat, "Because I think Sam's getting oh board with this whole fun thing aren't you Sam?"
"You wanna have fun?" I asked her, "Go ahead then. I'm a little tied up right now."
I could feel her grin against my skin, before she returned to leaving open mouth kisses on my throat. She bit down hard on one spot, when we heard a metallic swoosh across the room. Meg froze for a second, before releasing my skin. She turned towards Dean and Jamie and I saw her eyes narrow. She stood up and walked over to the pair. Jamie was giving her, her most innocent smile. But Dean looked pissed off at himself.
Meg crouches down between them where their hands are joined at the post. She reaches down towards their hands, and snatches something out of Dean's hand. She holds up the knife before tossing it away from the pair. She then reaches into Jameson's pockets to see if anything is in there.
"Where is it Squirt?" Meg asked.
"Don't call me squirt." Jameson said in a babyish voice. Meg huffed and patted her cheek before standing up.
"It was a nice attempt Sam, distracting me so your brother could get loose. I particularly liked the part where you bucked your hips into mine. But I'm not going to fall for that again."
"That's okay." I replied, "Because I have a knife of my own."
Meg tilts her head in confusion, right before I jump up and grabbed her. I slammed my head into hers, causing her to fall back. She hit the ground hard, I think she might be passed out.
"Sam, get the altar!" Dean yelled. Shaking to clear my head, I bolted towards the table. Not exactly knowing how to end the ritual, I just picked the table up and turned it over.
A loud shrieked pierced the air, and I watched the Daevas' shadows crowd around Meg. I saw them slams down into the back of the shadow. Meg let out a scream as her body was dragged across the floor and launched out of the window. I rushed towards the broken opening, and look down. Meg's broken body laid on the sidewalk below, her body was bent in a few different unnatural angles. And she didn't seem to be moving.
"Sam!" Dean yelled sharply, "A little help."
I jogged over to my siblings and used my pocket knife to cut them loose. Jameson immediately rubbed her raw wrists.
"Shit!" she hissed, as she soothed the wounds, "Is the bitch down?"
"Go see for yourself." I told her. She didn't need to be told twice, and walked over to the window with Dean right behind her. Dean whistled after a quick look out the opening.
"I guess the Daevas didn't like being bossed around." He said.
"I guess not." I agreed as I came up behind them.
"Hey, Sam…"
"Hmm?"
"Next time you want to get laid, find a girl that's not so buckets of crazy, huh?"
Jameson loudly cleared her throat.
"And one that Jameson had picked out for you." Dean added. I let out a dark chuckle.
"Sure, I'll keep that in mind."
"You do that, now, I don't know about you boys, but I'm in the mood for tacos." Jameson said. Dean laughed, and wrapped an arm around her and led her away. I smiled looking after them.
"Only you, James," I said jogging after them, "Only you."
~BWLTCO~
Jameson's Perspective:
"Why didn't you just leave that stuff in the car?" Dean asked Sam, as we headed down the hall of out motel.
"I said it before, and I'll say it again—better safe than sorry." Sam replied, as Dean unlocked our door.
"I would just give up, Sam, that bag still doesn't go with your shoes." I told him, filing in the room behind my brothers. The next thing I know, Sam is shoving me behind him, squishing me between him and the door.
"Hey." Dean barked out. I tried to peak around Sam to see what was going on, but the Sasquatch ran a good interference, "Dad?"
Dad! Dad's here? All of the sudden, I don't want to peak out from behind Sam anymore, and try to make myself as small as possible.
"Hey, boys." A deep, voice sounded. I heard footsteps followed, but pats on the back-Dean and Dad. Suddenly Sam started to stumble forward, and I was exposed. He continued to stumble over to Dad, still not sure of how he would be welcomed.
"Hi, Sam." The impossibly tall man greeted. This was when I finally got a good look at my father. The man commanded the presences of the room, with his imposing height and worldly eyes. His weathered skin told the stories of his exploits, and hid many truths. His hands where what I really focused on, never sure if I was going to get a hair ruffle or a slap across the face.
"Hi, Dad." Sam replied, leaving the 3-foot distance between them. I watched a confused expression come over Dad's face, as he started to look around. It only went away when his eyes landed on me. The odd smile, that seemed to be reserved for just me, appeared on his face.
"There's my baby-girl," he said, holding his arms out. I gave him a tense smile, and cautiously walked into his open arms. He pulled me into him, wrapping himself around me. I took a deep whiff of his clothes, and was surprised they lacked their usual smell of smoke and alcohol. They smelt like Original Old Spice, gun-powder, and leather, like when he didn't drink as much. With a small, smile I hug Dad back. I felt a kiss pressed atop of my head, before he slowly pulled away, "Hey, I got you something."
I gave him a questioning look, as he pulled something out of his pocket. He revealed a poorly wrapped square shaped box with a crushed pink bow on top.
"Sorry, about the bow, it was the only colored they had." He said noticing the look I had on my face when I spotted the bow. He then handed me the box, "Happy Birthday, Jameson. Sorry, I missed your birthday."
I gave him another questioning look. Sober? Remembering birthdays? Apologizing? Who is this and where is John Winchester? Nonetheless, I took the box from him and headed over to the bed to unwrap the gift. I tore into the cracked wrapping paper to reach the inside box.
"Dad, it was a trap." I heard Dean, said as I began to pull back the paper, "I didn't know, I'm sorry."
"It's all right." Dad told him, "I thought it might have been."
"Where you there?" I heard Dean asked, and I looked up from the box in my hand to see Dad's reply.
"Yeah, I got there just in time to see the girl take the swan dive." Dad answered. Figures he missed all the good parts. I ignored the rest over the conversation, as I lifted off the lid of the box. Inside was a long bear claw on a brown leather string. I cocked my head to the side as I lifted it up out of the box. Out of the corner of my eye, I see something white flit towards the floor. I look down and notice a piece of notebook paper. Setting the box down, I reached for the piece with my free hand. I opened the folded note, and read the inscription inside.
Baby girl,
A claw from your first were-bear. Now you have some power to back up that bite.
Dad
He seriously didn't keep this, did he? I mean that was four years ago.
"What do you think?" the old man asked. I looked up from the note, and found myself looking right into my Dad's tired brown ones. Something glistened in the corner of his eyes. Was he crying? "Baby girl?"
"It's great Dad," I told him snapping out of it, "I didn't realize you kept this."
"Are you kidding?" He asked with a smile, "It was one of the proudest moments of my life, my baby girl shot and took down a werebear that seasoned hunters had been trying to get for years."
I smiled, basking in the rare praise. But part of me was hesitant to accept all of this. Dad has tried to sober up several times before, and each time I get taken in by it. And just as soon as I'm comfortable, the rug gets ripped out from under me and I get another bruise to add to the collection.
"Thanks, Dad." I said, trying to mask my emotions. Dad raises a hand toward my face, and before I can stop myself, my left eye closes and that side of my face scrunches up. Dad falters for a moment, and that odd smile comes back, but his hand keeps coming and cups that side of my face. He presses another kiss on my forehead.
"Happy Birthday, baby girl." He whispers against my skin. Without any warning, Dad is ripped away from me. I open my eyes and he's hitting the wall across from us. A catch a glimpse of something moving out of the corner of my eye. The Daeva! And that's the lost thought I got to have before I felt nails ripping back into the holes already there. I'm then flung sideways and my right side takes the brunt of the impact of me hitting the wall.
I hear Dean's voice, but can't make out what he's saying over the ringing in my head. Slowly my hearing comes back, there is some grunting and thudding noises, but what comes through the loudest is the screaming. Who's screaming?
I open my eyes, and try to sit up, but I'm immediately knocked back down by something slashing my chest.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" I hiss against the sting, "Dean! Dean, where are you?"
"Jamie!" I hear him call back, but it was hard to hear him over the screaming, "Stay where you are?"
"Shut your eyes!" Sam's voice rose over the confusion, "Theses things are shadow demons, so let's light 'em up!"
I turn my face, closing my eyes. Through my lids, I could tell that the room was growing brighter by the millisecond. There was a high-pitched shriek, and the nothing. I partially opened my eyes to see what was going on, which was not much, it was still really bright and smoke was quickly filling up the room. I could barely see the area around me.
"Dad!" Dean called out.
"Over here!" Dad replied.
"James!" Sam asked.
"Sammy," I coughed. Sam appeared in my vision, and he hissed when he saw my chest, "Do you think I pissed off Meg?"
Sam rolled his eyes and picked me up. He rolled me in his arms until my face was pressed into his chest to protect me from the smoke, and he picked his way out of the room. Sam burst through the door, and didn't stop until we hit fresh air. And even then, he only took time to take a deep breath, before running down the gang plank to the stairs to get to the car.
"All right, come on. We don't have much time." Sam said, as he dipped down. He opened the back door of the Impala to let me in, "As soon as that flare is out, they'll be b-."
"Wait, wait!" Dean interrupted, "Sam wait. Dad you can't come with us."
"What?" Sam and I both asked. Sam let me down, still looking at Dean incredulously.
"What are you talking about, dude?" Sam demanded.
"You three—you're beat to hell," Dad said, "Your sister's got a gash across her chest."
"We'll be alright." Dean assured.
"Dean, we should stick together. We'll go after thos-."
"Sam, listen to me." Dean stopped him, "We almost got Dad killed in there. Don't you understand? They're not going to stop. They're gonna try again. They're gonna use us to go to him. I mean, Meg was right Dad's vulnerable when he's with us. He's-he's stronger without us around."
"Dad…" Sam appealed to our old man, resting a hand on his shoulder, "no. After everything. After all that time we spent lookin' for you—please. I got to be part of this fight.
"Sammy, this fight is just starting. And we are all gonna have a part to play. For now, you've got to trust me son." Dad reason with him, Sam shook his head denying what Dad was saying, "You've got to let me go."
I could see Sam contemplating Dad's words, but eventually he realized that he was right. Reluctantly Sam nodded, and patted Dad's shoulders. Dad then looked to Dean, who also nodded. Dad then moved around Sam, and took a knee in front of me.
He reached for my hand and took the bear claw that I had been clutching since the attack. He looked at the old claw fondly before placing the necklace around my shoulder. He ruffled my hair, before getting up. He started walking to an old truck not too far away. He didn't look back until he opened the driver side door.
"Be careful." Dad warned. With that said, he climbed into the cab, and slammed to door shut.
"Come on," Dean ordered. He helped me fully get in the back of the car, before climbing in the front. Sam walked around in and got in on the other side, sitting in the back to most likely keep eye on me.
Dean, surprisingly, didn't turn on the car, but when I followed his line of sight I saw why. Dad hadn't left yet. I saw the back red lights come on in the truck, followed by the roar of the old engine. He started to pull out, and it wasn't long before he disappeared behind the corner. It wasn't until he was completely out of sight that Dean turned on the car. The engine purred as it came to life, he backed up the car, going in the opposite direction of Dad. We found him only to lose him again. Like always.
~BWLTCO~
We finally get to see a real interaction between John and Jameson. I hope their complicated relationship came over well. Please let me know what you think.