Sorry for how short this is. I'll try to make the next chapter longer to make up for this teeny chapter. :)
Krissy slammed her fist into the shapeshifter's stomach, channeling her anger into killing the creature. She and Ben just had their first real fight, and it was over Ben's desire to go back to Sioux Falls.
Despite everything that she has done to provide for them, all the training she's bestowed upon Ben, the sleepless nights before a hunt worrying about that if she screwed up, Dean would hunt her down herself, and she'd let him because she failed in keeping Ben safe. Despite all of that, all Ben cares about is his stupid sheriff, Claire, and that Alex girl.
Okay, and he misses his foster parents like crazy. That one she gets.
It's just.
Ben wanting to go back to Sioux Falls this badly, it makes Krissy feel like she's not doing enough - that she's not enough to keep Ben with her. Krissy is well aware that her feelings are illogical but it doesn't mean they aren't valid, to some extent.
The thing is, she has no idea whether or not the threat to Ben has passed. If it will ever pass.
Krissy ducked from a goddamn spinning kick (Seriously?!) and rolled next to a thick branch. Picking it up, Krissy let out a roar of rage and swung as hard as she could, using her hips like her father taught her to, and grinned darkly when she heard the crunch of broken bones from the shapeshifter's face when she hit home. She followed the now stumbling shapeshifter and swung the branch again, this time hitting the creature on the side of the head.
She'd love nothing more than to make it suffer, using it as an outlet for her anger, but Dean taught her not to go down that path because there is no guarantee she'd be able to come back from it.
The groaning shapeshifter curled into the fetal position, whimpering pathetically while it waited for Krissy to decide when she was going to kill it. The blood oozing out from under it, the bloody mess of its face and the new head wound she gave it, made it look like she murdered at least three people instead of hurting one shapeshifter.
Snarling in disgust, Krissy dropped the branch and pulled the silver knife from its sheath. She rolled the creature over and stabbed it in the heart without preamble. Stupid thing didn't even give her a decent fight, and now she has to lug its body to all the way down to the stolen car so she could burn its body and any evidence of her deed. The last thing she and Ben needs is the cops coming after them for killing "Melanie Swift".
It might make Ben all that more certain that the best place for him is Sioux Falls.
...Away from Krissy.
Because there is no way Krissy is going to live in South Dakota. Not even for Ben. She tried staying at one place, she got sent on a murder spree by someone she trusted. She got used and lied to. That kind of betrayal is hard to get over.
Frustration took over and Krissy kicked the shapeshifter's dead body.
Chest heaving, Krissy felt tears start to form at the thought of being on her own again. Ben being with her for these past few months, they were a godsend... and a curse. She didn't know just how lonely she was until Jo brought Ben to her. He made her forget just how ugly this lifestyle is, how soul crushing it can be. And now with Ben pushing her to at least try to go to Sioux Falls, Krissy can feel the end of their journey coming to a close.
The thought sends panic through her body every time it crosses her mind.
"It's not fair!" Krissy shouted to the surrounding woods. It didn't answer back or offer comfort. She kicked the corpse again before repeating in a quieter voice, "It's not fair." And again the woods kept silent, letting her deal with her problem on her own.
She found someone who actually gets her, who not only understands her but the hunting lifestyle she leads, and all he really cares about is going back to his old life.
"It's. Not. Fair."
Krissy broke down, the canopy of trees above her and the surrounded brush, shielded her from sight; the only comfort the woods can give her at this moment in time, pleased she's finally letting her emotions out instead of forever bottling them up.
BW
Ben worriedly watched the hotel clock. Krissy's been gone for hours and she hasn't texted him back to let him know she's okay. The clock ticked on, unconcerned about Ben's worry and fear.
He didn't understand her anger this morning. All he wanted to do was try to go to Sioux Falls. That's it. He's not leaving her. He can't. He won't. He just wants to let everyone there know he's okay, that he's alive and unhurt... relatively. He still has a few cuts and bruises healing from their last couple of hunts. Jody, Claire and Alex will understand but he knows Logan and Maria won't.
Pain and homesickness hit him like a punch to the heart.
He shook his head to dispell the sadness before it took hold and all he'd end up doing for the next hour is crying and feeling bad for himself. All that would accomplish is him honing his self-pity skills and he's got that down pat, thank you very much. ...Maybe not a skill to be bragging about.
Instead of staring at the unconcerned and dickish clock, Ben stared out the window, watching as storm clouds gathered on the horizon. It seemed apropriate that a storm is on its way since Hurrican Krissy is out there somewhere, hopefully on her way home to him. He really does not like being out of contact with her for this long.
"Castiel," Ben started then stopped. He didn't know what he was going to say to the angel. "Castiel, I -," Ben stopped again, and took a deep breath before blurting out, "I want my dad. Do you hear me? I want my dad, Castiel. I just..." he ran his hands through his hair in frustration. He doesn't know why it's so hard to say what he means. He slumped against the crappy hotel chair and stared at the gathering clouds. "I want my dad to come get me and Krissy and have us live with him wherever he's at. I want to call the Sheriff and I want to see Claire and Alex again. I just want to go home, Cas."
Ben laid his head against the window. "I want to go home."
BW
Claire felt like shit. Her head hurt. She really, really, really hates finals. She'd rather be learning about exorcising and summoning demons than learning about Biology and the cycle of life and death. Although, they are similar if you squint and tilt your head Castiel style.
She also feels like shit because they just lied to Sam and Dean about Ben. Okay, they didn't outright lie. They omitted. There's a difference. Neither Dean nor Sam brought up Ben, and so, by that logic, they did not lie.
Then why is it eating at her?
All of them have been quiet since the brothers came and rescued them. It's not all bad, though. Her and Alex have been getting along a lot better since The Vampire Incident. Claire no longer picked fights with her just because, and Alex quit picking at her over every little thing that annoyed her. And Jody had been happy with the two of them, outside her own wealth of guilt over Ben and the brothers, of course.
All in all, things have been good with the three ladies.
...Until they ran into Logan and Maria Marks yesterday.
The amount of hatred and detestation aimed at them had Claire suddenly wishing for the Winchesters grilling them about Ben's whereabouts. Not a word was said between them but the venom glared their way spoke volumes of their anger towards them. And it's not like their feelings are unfounded and that they weren't undeserving of them.
Alex is still shaken from the encounter.
"Earth to Claire, come in, Claire," Jody sing-songed, waving her hand in front of the blonde's face. "You coming back down to the Earth soon?"
"Leave her be, Mom," Alex told her from her sprawled position on the couch. She's lazily flipping through the channels in lieu of doing her homework. "She's probably thinking about the cow mutilations over in Washington. Or even the weird storms that have been popping up lately. Who knows what hunter-like things that are currently residing in her mind."
Jody shushed her, and slapped her leg, the only part of her body she can reach without moving from the recliner.
"Watch Fear Factor," Jody ordered. Rolling her eyes when Alex saluted and stared intently at the TV like a smartass. "Claire, sweetie, return to Earth, please."
Claire blinked before looking and focusing on Jody.
"What?" she snapped.
Jody shot her a reproving look. "Watch it, Claire. You're still on thin ice."
"Whatever. I'm going out."
Jody and Alex watched as Claire stormed out of the house, barely slowing down enough to grab her keys and backpack on her way out. They winced when the blonde slammed the door shut behind her. The pictures rattled from the force of it, making Jody worried that the one of her son and husband would fall, but they merely shook like leaves in the wind.
"So," Alex started, "Ben, Logan and Maria, or the Winchesters?"
"All the above?" Jody didn't even have to ask for her to clarify what she's talking about. Which of the aforementioned things listed were bothering Claire tonight?
"I think it's Ben. She only ever gets this worked up over Ben." Alex fidgeted with her bracelet before asking, "Were her and Ben - Were they dating?"
Okay. What?
Jody stared at Alex in bafflement. Where the hell is this coming from? What brought it up? What is the thought process behind Alex's question?
"Um...no?" Sounded more like a question but that is all she's got at the moment.
"Oh," Alex said in a weird voice then she whispered so softly Jody had to strain to hear, "I miss him."
Oh. What kind of mother is she that she forgot that Alex and Ben were friends? She had been so focused on Claire and making sure she's not wallowing in guilt, she neglected Alex. Well, there's a girl's night Jody needs to organize sometime in the future.
"I think they were just friends," said Jody. "There was too much history of Dean for Claire to ever see Ben as anything more than just a friend. I think, maybe, that if Ben hadn't've disappeared, they might have become something more. I really don't know, Alex," she whispered. "Maybe they would have become that in-between state of friends and could be more than friends."
Alex nodded.
"I understand. At least I think."
Silence lapsed between them, the sounds of Fear Factor filled the room. They watched impassively as a woman completely freaked out when she found out she had to lie down with snakes slithering all over her for five minutes in order to pass onto the next round.
"Chicken," Alex hissed, and it made Jody laugh. Personally, Jody was with the woman. She'd freak out too.
"Yeah, chicken."
BW
Krissy returned to hotel they were currently staying at, covered in mud and grime. Ben didn't even wake up when she came in nor did he stir when she showered and crawled into bed, snuggling up close to him. He merely pulled her close to him and held her tight.
Maybe she can live with Ben's Sheriff for a while. At least until Ben graduates from school... or gets his GED, because at this point, she doesn't think he can make up all the days he's missed without repeating the entire year. Maybe that might be for the best. She can go to school with him. Maybe even go to the same college. They can hunt on breaks.
Would Ben go for it though? Once the danger has passed, of course.
Would Ben even want her around afterwards? She likes to think so. She likes to think they have something between them. Something not easily broken or thrown away. Her minor freak out earlier aside, her and Ben do share a bond, a deep bond.
So, what is she going to do? She's not giving Ben up without one hell of a fight. He's all she has left. Not even Dean can compare to Ben.
Krissy tugged Ben closer, trapping one of his legs between her thighs. She was the little spoon to his big spoon, her favorite position. Krissy liked the feeling of being held, of feeling safe, and Ben is the only person since her father - has she felt like this. Sure, Dean came to her aid when she needed him but Ben has been with her for months, watching her back and making sure they had an exit strategy should things go sideways.
Fine. If Ben wants to go back to Sioux Falls, she'll go with him. Jo and the Big Bad be damned. If Ben wants to go home, then he's going home. She'll find a way for Ben to see his Sheriff and Claire again.
She's never met Claire but something about the way Ben talks about the wannabe huntress irks her. Really riles her up whenever Ben talks so fondly of Claire and of the other girl, Alex.
Ben started to stir - nightmares no doubt of a life he can't remember - haunting him at night. It's rare but Ben does have nightmares. He'll wake up with no memory of his dreams but he'll he so shaken up from the experience, he'll follow her around like a scared puppy until the last vestiges of the dream fade away to nothing.
Claire or Alex can't have that part of Ben. It's for her only. Krissy takes care of him. She's been protecting him. Ben needs her more than he does them.
Ben needs her more but she's willing to give up their life for some stability. She just needs to find a way to get him home. There has to be some way past whatever spell is on them keeping them from Sioux Falls or even getting in contact with Ben's "family". She'll figure it out.
She won't fail Ben in this.
BW
Dean wanted to punch something. Anything. God Himself, if He ever shows His stupid face. He just wanted to punch something.
Cas, his Cas, allowed himself to be taken over by Lucifer. The idiot allowed the Devil to walk among them because he thought it would help against their fight with Amara. When he gets the angel back, his kicking Cas' ass from here to Heaven to Purgatory to Hell and back. He might just chain the angel to himself to keep him out of trouble. That seems to be the only way to keep him from making stupid decisions.
Every time something big goes down, Sam and Dean leaves to enact some hail mary to help them win, and when that fails, they come back to regroup with Cas and to think of another plan; only to find out the angel did something so stupid that Dean seriously wonders how they're friends. Oh yeah, Dean is definitely chaining Castiel to him. No more cockamamie plans that inevitably blow up in their faces and make the situation so much worse, and it makes Sam and Dean's job so much harder because they have to fix Cas' screw ups on top of everything else they have to do.
Yep, when Dean gets his angel back, he's never letting Cas out of his sight.
Now, how the hell do they get Lucifer out of Cas?