WINCHESTER AND YOUNG – CHAPTER 17 – INTERLUDE – SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
FEATURING SAM AND DEAN WINCHESTER, JADE YOUNG, AND LAMONT CRANSTON
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THE SAILWEAVER AND SUPERNATURAL CHARACTERS, THEY BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CREATORS. DON'T SUE ME PLEASE.
It was approaching dawn and they only had a few bells before they had to report for their classes at the guild. "We have to get back, Alden will kill us if we're late to class," Dean whispered from where he knelt next to Sam.
"Yeah, I know," Sam said. "Gusion hasn't made a move all night, and we're running out of time. Let's go, we can continue this tonight," he said, getting up.
At that moment, Gusion left his house and headed towards his car. Both Sam and Dean saw him. "We should follow him," Sam said, turning back.
"No, it's too late to do it now, and I'd rather not face a pair of angry Masters," Dean said, pulling Sam towards Baby. Reluctantly, Sam followed, knowing that Dean was right on both counts. One, there would always be tonight, and two, facing angry Masters really wasn't a great way to start the day.
They arrived just in time for their history class, as the eighth bell in the morning watch struck. Sliding into their seats as if nothing out of the ordinary happened, they found they had a guest teacher. They were really surprised to find out it was Jade.
Jade walked into the history classroom. She was actually replacing the teacher who had come down sick. Today's coursework was to be space programs of various countries from 1961 to 2022. She had always loved those topics, so they asked her to stand in for today. Her eyes passed over the students, noticing the Winchesters slip into the classroom just as the last bell struck. "Good morning, class," she began, speaking clearly without raising her voice. "Mr. Yami, unfortunately called in sick, I was asked to replace him for today to teach you the current lesson plan. The topic is the space programs between 1961 and 2022, hundreds of years before magic was reintroduced. Before we begin, Sam and Dean Winchester, be more mindful of the time. You were almost late," she said, looking at them both to ensure she'd made her point. "Now, class, let's begin."
"I can't believe she called us out like that," Sam said as they left the classroom.
"That look she gave us, I'm surprised she didn't do worse," Dean said, agreeing with his brother.
"You're right, you should be very happy I didn't do worse," a voice said from behind the brothers.
"Ah, hi, Jade," Dean said, recovering first.
"Dean, what were the two of you doing that made you late? The two of you know what would happen if Master Alden or Master Peth found out that you weren't keeping your schedules," Jade said, looking at them.
"Nothing, we were just taking Baby out for a morning drive, and lost track of time. Right, Sam?" Dean said, looking at his brother.
"That's exactly right, the masters both know about it, and they said as long as we're back in time for class that they are fine with it," Sam said, picking up on the hint from Dean.
"I see," Jade said, looking at them again. "You aren't by chance doing something incredibly risky without me being in on the plan are you?"
"Not at all," both Sam and Dean said, trying to look innocent.
"Of course, you wouldn't dare do something like that," Jade said, letting it pass but not believing them for an instant. "Have you made any new progress on the case?"
"Gusion the Duke of Hell, is someone we are looking into," Dean said. "We haven't made any plans yet to go after him, we are in the investigation phase."
"Well, if you do plan to go after him, let me know," Jade said. "You do not want Muher mad at you for pulling stunts without his knowledge, trust me on this. It ends badly."
"I hear he has you training with Captain Cranston," Dean said, grinning. "Sam said they're taking bets on whose temper will explode first. My money's on you, and what you'll do to him afterwards."
"That is a pretty accurate assessment of the situation," Jade said. "In fact, I'm due for another training session with him in a couple of hours. He scheduled it for the afternoon today, because of my teaching the history classes. I'll be working with him at eight bells in the afternoon watch."
"Has your aim gotten any better?" Dean asked before he could stop himself. He regretted that seconds later when Jade grabbed his arm and threw him to the floor in one fluid motion. She held him there, with a grim smile on her face.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Winchester, would you care to repeat that question?" Jade said calmly, as the other students were looking on.
"No, Ms. Young, I would not," Dean said, winking at Jade. "But what would the masters say if they saw you doing that to me?"
Jade held Dean's shoulder a moment longer before she released Dean's shoulder. "My mistake, I must have misheard you then. Alright students, enough gawking, get to your next classes before the bells finish ringing," she said, grinning at the assembled students who dispersed. Then she turned and walked towards the faculty room, which was in the opposite direction of the Winchesters' next class.
That afternoon, at eight bells into the afternoon watch, Jade arrived on the practice field. "You're late," Lamont said, glaring at her.
"You're always saying that, and you knew I had those classes to teach this morning," Jade said, stretching.
"It worked out, I had a new class of recruits I had to put through their paces this morning," Lamont said, setting up the targets. That was true, but he also had to report to Muher on Jade's progress, which wasn't terrible, and if he'd heard anything more from the Winchesters since the meeting the other day.
"They're investigating a demon named Gusion," she said, grabbing a knife. If Muher had assigned him as her trainer, he likely also wanted him to be the liaison between herself and the general.
"Investigating? They haven't tried to go after him yet?" Lamont asked, watching her throw the knife, retrieving it before the next throw. Her aim was getting better, a little more and she'd be hitting the bullseye.
"I think they're trying to make sure he's the one behind the murders. The person or being they think is the culprit, is not always the one they're looking for," Jade said, throwing the knife again. "They were almost late to class this morning, getting there right as the eighth bell struck in the morning watch. Dean made the mistake of muttering about me calling them out about it in class, after the class had dismissed."
"What did you do to him?" Lamont asked.
"Threw him to the floor in the hallway, and pinned him by his shoulder," Jade said. "I could have marked him tardy in the books like some of the other teachers would have."
"I trust he took the hint?" Lamont was trying not to grin.
"He did," Jade said, picking up a gun, and firing some shots. "I have to say, you are a very good teacher. Just a couple months ago, when Muher forced us into this arrangement, I couldn't even hit the target."
"Thank you, and you are a decent student," Lamont said, nodding. "At the start of this, I thought teaching you would be hopeless. So, when are you going to start your investigation again?"
"That depends," Jade said, grinning. "When do you think you could spare the time to help me?" she asked, as her shot hit the bullseye.