Bobby was sitting on the porch when he finally caught sight of his charges coming up the lane. He jumped to his feet in an instant, it was damn near midnight and they'd never, neither of them stayed away from the house that long. He was just about to lay into them about worrying him to death, he walked all over the yard trying to find them, when he noticed that Josh was keeping his arm pinned awkwardly to his body and Eddy was gingerly holding her nose.

"Great Almighty you two look like hell," he yelled when he saw their black eyes and Josh had a nasty bruise spreading down his cheek up under his chin. "I said talk to her you idgit, not beat her up!"

If Eddy's strong voice hadn't broken through his anger Bobby was ready to give the man another good blow. "I started it Bobby," she said her eyes looking between him and Josh who looked ready to protest. "Swear, Josh was only defending himself until I started provoking him."

Bobby turned to Josh, "and what in the hell could a teenager say to you that made you hit her back?" Both of their faces flooded crimson and he held up his hand. "Wait," he said closing his eyes, "I really don't want to know that, do I?"

"Trust me," Josh mumbled.

He sighed, really Bobby had no one to blame but himself; he'd told the boy to talk to Eddy. He just hadn't expected it to come to blows. "Get yer asses inside. Lets see what we can do about that shoulder and nose." They made their way up the stairs, "and you young lady can explain why you don't have your crutches."

"Shit," she breathed.

Josh let his hand fall onto her shoulder for the briefest moment, "don't worry," he said before pulling away. It didn't go unnoticed that it was like they both had been burned.

After the shoulder was popped back into place and Bobby had Eddy's nose set best he could he had them sit down in the living room with him in between them. "Start slow and don't leave nothing out."

Josh looked at Eddy and Eddy shrugged her shoulders. "We've been changed by our respective guests. You've noticed and I won't insult you farther by trying to pretend that there isn't anything wrong with me. We're both stronger, faster than we were before; we know things we hadn't before. It's unique to me, I was able to contact Azrael's vessel, and though he had more memories than was to be expected he was not changed in any way."

"You talked to another vessel?" Bobby cut in.

"I had to know," he said strongly, "if there was something wrong with me." Bobby wasn't sure how he felt about Josh's choice of calling it 'wrong.' It sounded more like something had gone awry but he wasn't quite seeing what was wrong about it. "When Eddy came here I could feel the demon that was left in her."

Bobby's eyes snapped to the young girl but she was looking shamefully at her feet. "Eddy?" he called her softly.

"Like Josh said, I'm stronger, faster. I know things that I hadn't before, how to fight, how to hurt someone." Bobby felt for this young girl as she looked at him with pleading eyes. "I don't want to be like this. I don't want to look at Josh and wonder what his blood would look li-" she cut herself off with a small gasp and covered her mouth. "I'm not evil," she bit through clenched teeth.

"Damn it child I know that," the shock of everything caused him to be a lot more harsher than he wanted to be. Softly, "Eddy of course you are not evil."

"I feel evil," she said before looking away.

Josh saved her from having to say anything else by speaking up, "I think it would be best if you went and got some sleep." He said softly to her. She nodded jerkily before standing and leaving the two men alone. "I'm sorry for dumping all of this on you at once."

Bobby shook his head, "don't worry about it Kid. Trust me those crazy brothers have shocked me a lot worse than this. Is she gonna be alright?" Josh watched where Eddy had disappeared to, Bobby saw a new look in those eyes. A fierce protection he'd seen in Dean's gaze many times when the boy looked at his brother. Bobby hid his groan, it was just what he needed. Another man willing to do anything for family. "You don't do nothin' stupid," he said sternly.

Josh looked at him, "I will try and keep that promise." He stood then and walked from the room. Bobby leaned back in the chair he was seated in and sighed. Damn kids were going to be the death of him.

Dean woke to the sound of Sam moving around the motel room. He cracked in eye open and groaned at the sharp sunlight coming through the open door. "What the hell are you doing?" he croaked.

Sam was stuffing clothes into his bag, which was weird on it's own. They rarely kept their shit in bags anymore, a change of clothes came in with them and the dirty ones went in the laundry mat pile. Which was becoming ridiculously large since they were both stubborn as all get out and weren't slowing down to eat let alone wash dirty clothes. What was stranger was the determined look in his eyes, the same eyes that were avoiding contact with his at all costs. "I've got a rental, I'm going to go ahead and start on the New Orleans doors. You can handle this hunt, right?"

"Yeah," Sam nodded his head once, "but dude can you handle the gates on your own?"

Sam rolled his eyes, "don't worry about me, alright."

"Of course I'm going to worry about you Sammy. You want to go off and close gates to Hell on your own!" Dean hadn't meant to start shouting.

"I can handle myself Dean," Sam spat. "I've taken care of myself before."

"I know that Sam, but we shouldn't split up." Dean wasn't going for this, no matter how bitchy Sam got.

He knew his brother was repressing the urge to roll his eyes. "The faster we get this done the sooner we can go back to doing our job." Sam was at the door with his hand on the knob, "be careful Dean."

"Sammy please, man we need to think this through." Dean knew he was pleading and couldn't bring himself to care.

"Look, maybe the sooner we get this done the sooner we'll stop being Heaven's bitch." Sam looked at Dean, "be careful." He pulled the door open and Dean knew it was force of will that kept it from slamming shut.

Dean threw his fist and he couldn't have been happier that there weren't any angelic healers around to make the pain go away. He should have known that Sam wouldn't be satisfied until they were done and pass this. He held his slightly swelling hand with the other, damn it he was an idiot, fighting alone with a sprained wrist. He gathered the change of clothes that he'd brought in with him and stalked out of the room; there was not any reason to bother with cleaning up. He had a feeling it was going to be one of those days.

*cough* yeah, it's very short, and disappointing, but you know how sometimes holes in plots will open up. Yyyeaah, hmm. That sort of happened here. You see I write most of this down and then type it, but there are things I write on the fly. Well, those things on the fly, grumblegrumble, screwed me up. So if it doesn't flow and feels strange from the last chapter I apologize. The whole thing is I forgot about them actually talking to Bobby, and I felt that it was important and could not be ignored.

On a happier note! The next chapter is finished and will be posted tomorrow or Monday!

Also me and the muse have been fighting again, stupid bugger that it is. I gave it a freaking five course meal and it still wouldn't talk to me so... I've been begging. Hopefully it'll see that I'm sorry and I don't mean to call it a bugger and tell it that I will not listen to it, no matter how brilliant it's ideas are from time to time. I should also probably stop saying I'm going to bury it with the last muse if it doesn't start agreeing with me.

Toodles, and thank you you guys rock!