Tessa's bedroom had always been painted blue.
She didn't know why, but Hannah loved the color, and insisted that their daughter didn't go down the stereotypical bubblegum pink and barbie doll route. And Tessa didn't. After Hannah died, Daniel respected her wishes and raised their daughter on classic rock and novels. She was never the type of child who would want to play with a barbie. Instead, she would follow her brother around outside, and even on chubby toddler legs, would ride tricycles and have races with him.
As Tessa grew older, Hannah's beloved blue walls were covered with band posters and bookshelves, but Tessa always made sure a little bit of the color peeked out. As foolish as it was, she refused to change it. In a way it made her feel close to the mother that she never really had gotten to know.
Now, Tessa was ripping down the Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Journey, and Metallica posters. She was leaving, and the less of her stuff she left behind, the better. The furniture would have to stay, of course; She'd let her uncle deal with that one. But Tessa was determined that anything of real value was going with her.
She had already gotten most of the photographs in the house out of their frames and into a folder for safekeeping. Sam had assisted her with that part, getting the things out of her dad's bedroom that she wanted. It was still too painful and fresh for Tessa to go up there. She doubted that she'd ever see the inside of the third floor bedroom again, and she was very much okay with that.
Then came the more tricky part- Keepsakes. Tessa knew that anything she left would be going to her other family, and she hated to leave some of her parents and brother's most valued things behind. She had to be picky, though, because she had a very limited amount of space for things in her car. Tessa had managed to pick a few things that belonged to her deceased family members to take with her, including Tyler's high school football jersey and her mother's engagement ring, which she now wore on a chain around her neck.
Finally, the hardest part came. Ridding her bedroom of her beloved posters and books. It killed her to leave so many of her novels behind, but they took up so much space that she only allowed herself to bring twenty. The room looked so empty, and it hurt Tessa.
She was really doing it. Leaving her childhood home, a place that held the best and worst memories of her life. It was different than leaving for college, because she knew she was coming back when she packed up then. A part of Tessa knew that she would never see this house again.
She didn't want to, really. For all of the good that it had, there was still so much darkness. She would never be able to climb up the stairs without picturing herself and her father running up them moments before his death; she couldn't sit in the living room without remembering the night her mother died; she refused to even enter the third floor of the house.
Her room was a good place, though. Nothing bad ever happened in there. But she had to go. Staying wasn't even an option for her at this point.
Tessa took once last look at the blue walls her mother had so carefully chosen all of those years ago before picking up her bags. She ended up with two large duffels and a rolling suitcase, which she lugged down the stairs. It was a day of last times, but she was ready.
Tessa pulled her house key off of her key ring and sat it on the counter. She had scribbled a very vague note and left it on the fridge, telling her relatives that she was leaving, and to do whatever they liked with the things she had left behind. Tessa had already taken the initiative to change her phone number and email address, so there wasn't a way for them to contact her. She had also transferred a large sum of money from her dad's bank account over to hers, just in case.
The door opened, and for a wild second, Tessa was worried she'd been caught. But as soon as the thought had left her mind, the Winchester brothers came strolling in. A smile came over Tessa's face, and she momentarily forgot all of her anxiety and grief.
"Hey! Why're you here?" she stepped around her bags before being engulfed in Sam's arms. He held on to her briefly before Dean took over, pressing his lips to Tessa's forehead in a now familiar gesture.
"I told you I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, didn't I?" Dean said gruffly, disentangling himself from Tessa. She blushed, having realized that she held on to him for a beat too long.
"Good on you for keeping your promises, Winchester," Tessa teased. She caught Sam looking at her bags on the floor and frowned. "I was just getting ready to head out myself. Where are you boys off to next?"
"Not really sure yet. We're still digging around for our next case. We might just head out. You got any stops planned for your little trip yet?" Sam elbowed Tessa gently.
"I was thinking of heading East, maybe up to New York or something. I know it's a haul, but going somewhere completely out of the ordinary might do me some good. I'll let you know how it goes," Tessa paused, then held out her hand. "That reminds me. Give me your phones, I need to put my new number in."
"Good girl," Dean said approvingly, handing over his phone. "Covering your tracks. Would've thought you'd been raised with us."
"Thanks... I think." Tessa finished programming her number in and gave the phones back to the boys. "Would you two mind helping me get all of this out to my car? It took me six years to get it all down the stairs."
Dean and Sam nodded, loading up with Tessa's bags before heading to the door. "Jesus, woman! What's all in here?" Dean faked a wince, dramatizing lugging one of the duffels down the front steps.
"I think that one has clothes and books." Tessa was carrying the most fragile bag, filled with photographs and other keepsake objects. Sam had the rolling suitcase, holding the rest of Tessa's clothing and other odds and ends.
"No one needs this many books," Dean said, earning him a glare from both Sam and Tessa. "Woah, don't shoot, nerds!" He grinned.
While Sam was busy loading bags into the trunk of Tessa's car, Dean pulled her over to the Impala. He fumbled around in a bag before producing a small, sleek pistol. "Take this, just in case."
"I don't even have my Conceal and Carry!" Tessa hissed, glancing around to make sure none of her neighbors were nosily watching. "And besides, I don't know anything about bullets or-"
Dean cut across her. "Do you really think I have mine either, sweetheart? Just don't be stupid and you won't get caught. Oh, and I may or may not have slipped a rock salt gun and some extra rounds into your bag."
Tessa gaped at him. "You're kidding, right? Holy shit, Dean! What if I get pulled over or something?" Tessa's mind was already picturing the worst-case-scenario, where she gets arrested for illegal use of weapons or something and her relatives have to bail her out of jail.
"Relax. Sammy and I haven't gotten caught yet, have we? It'll be fine, I promise." Dean's eyes traveled down to Tessa's throat, where the chain bearing Hannah's engagement ring was hanging. "That's new."
"It was my mom's. I didn't want to risk it getting lost. I'm going to keep it tucked under my shirt, you know, in case I get jumped or some crazy shit like that," Tessa managed a weak laugh.
"All done!" Sam came strolling over to the Impala, a grin on his face. "Tessa Lynn, you're officially ready to leave," he handed her her key ring, which she'd accidentally left on the kitchen counter.
"Thanks, Sam. And you too, Dean. Without you two, I may have been dead by now. If you ever need anything, and I mean anything, you call, alright? I'll be there in an instant," Tessa's throat was tight as she hugged Sam again. She reached up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek, giggling softly at the blush that rose to his cheeks.
"Be careful out there, kiddo. Don't get into too much trouble. We're only a phone call away, just remember that." The tears were threatning to fall down Tessa's cheeks by the time Sam finished speaking. He climbed into the car, most likely trying to give Dean and Tessa a little bit of privacy.
"Well, this is it. Be safe, okay? And just so you know, the offer's always open," Dean didn't have to explain which offer; Tessa already knew. She was touched by his kindness, though.
"You too. I'm not the one who's out there hunting monsters to save the world," Tessa laughed through the pain in her chest. "And I'll definitely keep that in mind."
Tessa pulled Dean in for another hug, and she was startled when his lips came down to her cheek. For an instant, she thought he was going to kiss her. She was glad that he didn't, because it would have made going her seperate way that much harder.
Dean slowly got into the car, and just as he began backing out of the driveway, he rolled down his window. "Hey, Tess? Where's the nearest gas station? I remember we saw one on our way in, but I can't remember where."
"Seven miles that way," she pointed down the street. "It's cash only, though!" She hurriedly called, smiling as she heard Dean laugh.
Tessa stayed standing in the driveway until she could no longer see the black Impala driving away, taking two of the few people she cared for in the world away. With a sigh, Tessa turned around and climbed into her car.
As she slowly pulled out of the driveway, she spared one last look at her childhood home. For a brief instant she considered going back. But then the urge faded, along with all of her worries and doubts.