They were taking me to her grave first. Even though Kevin was still technically missing (presumed dead), she was buried back where they used to live in Neighbor, Michigan, maybe three hours from where I'd grown up. I let Crowley know the second before we took off with a short text. He didn't reply, but I trusted him. He tended to keep his end of a bargain.
Once we were in the air, Ketch got down to business on briefing. "As you have been aware, Mick Davies has been in America while you trained in London. His work has been to recruit American Hunters to work with us and collaborate."
"How's that been going?" I asked, offering a small smirk. Ketch pursed his lips for a moment, displeased at his own answer.
"Not well." He answered. "We have had yet to make any inroads with Hunters, which is unfortunate and partially due to the bad first introduction that was made with Sam and Dean."
"What happened to them?"
"Lady Bevell." Enough was said then. She really was a bit of a bitch, wasn't she? How in the hell did she have a kid?!
"Great." I muttered. "Hunters get word, get antsy about working with you."
"Exactly."
"So what am I supposed to be doing, exactly?"
"Helping make better inroads." He answered. "Giving us intel on how to better communicate with these people."
"You realize what you're asking is the equivalent of trying to get a thousand or so pissy wasps to organize under one flag, right?"
"I believe it is simpler than that." Ketch stated.
"Really?" I raised an eyebrow at him. "How many have you gotten work with you so far?" When Ketch didn't answer, I did my best to avoid giving him an "I thought so" look. "They're solo people. They don't even like working cases with each other. Tell them where one is, and if they know you they'll go for it."
"Like you did?" Ketch asked. "As well as Robert Singer and…" He paused for a moment, checking a file in his hand. "Garth Fitzgerald the Fourth, I believe. The three of you ran calls and sent Hunters out on assignment, as well as sent information when it was asked of you."
"I'll be honest, I haven't met this Garth guy," I said. "But I've heard of Bobby, and yeah, he did that. If he called you, he had a case for you. If you called him, you got information in a day or so, or you got the fake government."
"As well as for you." Ketch said, holding up his phone. He looked through recordings for a moment before pulling up one.
"This is Commander Johnson." My voice, commanding and determined. It was the alias I used when I was living with Cas, for fake FBI.
"This… This is Commander Johnson?" A male voice asked.
"Yes, and might I ask who this is?" Rough, a little pushy, won't take nonsense. It was the same voice I'd used with my brothers sometimes.
"This… This is Sheriff Ornell out in Canyon City." He said. "We've got two agents here, Townshend and Entwhistle…" His voice trailed off. He was uncomfortable.
"What about them?"
"I… I'm sorry ma'am, but could I speak to your supervisor?"
"Excuse me?"
"You sound a little young and… albeit dainty to be the ma-…" A short pause. "Person in charge."
"Are you saying that you don't believe that a woman can work this hard to acquire the position of Commander?" I challenged him. "Sir, are you even aware of what kind of training and testing I have gone through to get to this position?"
"I can imagine, but," he tried to get a word in, but I stopped him.
"No, I don't think you can if you aren't willing to take instruction from a woman in charge." I argued. "Maybe I should get in contact with your supervisor, sir, and tell them that you've decided to take a sexist stance against authority figures within your very government. Do you know what that would mean?!"
"I… I…" I remembered this conversation, now. I'd enjoyed it a lot. Castiel had looked up, surprised and amused, the second I started this rant.
"That would mean immediate expulsion of your current position, Sheriff!" I threatened. It had been complete and utter bullshit, but the guy believed me. "And you know what, I think afterwards I'll make sure a woman is instated in your place. How's that sound?"
"Please don't, ma'am."
"Are you willing to accept my authority now?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good!" I'd had to put him on hold for just a second, just so I could fight back laughter. "Townshend and Entwhistle are two of my finest agents. I expect you'll help them with anything they need, right?"
"Yes, ma'am."
There was a click, then, and the recording was over. "You did well with that. Your voice can be very demanding when you want it to be."
"I had brothers." That was all I answered with. They had information on my backstory. They didn't need a recap.
"We're hoping that Hunters will trust a familiar face alongside Mick." Ketch continued. "Or at least a familiar voice."
"They all think I'm dead." I said. "And I didn't meet many of them. I just got the information passed along from other Hunters. And that was only because they trusted Sam and Dean first. They didn't ever meet me."
"But they'll remember your voice."
"They'll remember I'm dead."
"Then what would you suggest?" Ketch offered. "Because you seem to be extremely negative about this subject and the possibilities of our success."
I thought, reaching in to my back for a notebook. "You need a Hunter they'll know." I said. "You need them to know someone, to trust them, then you've got a shot. All you need is one, one good Hunter, and you're set."
"And who would you suggest?"
"Sam and Dean would be prime candidates." I said. "They're well known. Stories get around well."
"Who else?"
"Mary." I didn't even pause before saying her name. "The Winchester name is well known in general for American Hunters. Mary's come back from the dead. She doesn't have all of the connections, though I bet by now she has some." I thought for a minute more. "I… I can't think of anyone else."
"Really?" Ketch asked. "Because I can."
"Who do you have intel on?"
"You."
"What?!" I exclaimed. "What the hell?!"
"You're well known among Hunters in America as well." He said. "Adopted family of Sam and Dean Winchester. Fought off demons without any formal training for years on your own. Came back from the dead, now twice." I didn't like this. I didn't like any of this. "You ran the Hunter's phone network, the closest any of you had at the time to a formal system like the Men of Letters. You were the protector of the prophet, about to marry an angel," he took a small sip from a bottle of water. "Add to it the fact that you helped defeat Amara and Lucifer, and that you have a hellhound for a pet," he took one more sip before setting it down. "You'll be more well known than either of the Winchesters."
"You're forgetting one small detail." I reminded him, twitching my finger. His water bottle floated in front of him, doing slow rotations between us. "Hunters don't trust anything non-human."
"We actually have information as to twins that are Hunters," Ketch corrected me. "And the sister happens to also be a witch."
"What?"
"Their specialty is witches who have crossed the line." He finished. "Their talents are known, and yet for some reason they're still alive. Thoughts?"
"I… I've never met them." Was all I said. "Never even heard of them."
"They do most of their work in Canada, but it's still a part of North America, and still a part of the chaotic system." He answered. "And tend to keep mostly to themselves."
"You seem adamant on putting me in." I said. "What's your plan?"
"To do exactly that." He explained. "Put you back in as an American Hunter, and let you do your work. Extol your story to who will listen. Become endorsed by other Hunters. And once you believe they're ready, send them to Mick."
"I still think you should get the Winchesters, too." I said. "They've got the most expertise and knowledge, and access to the Bunker."
"So do we."
"They won't give it up without a fight." I reminded him. "And the data in there is different, I know it is. I've gone through it all. I started making electronic copies myself, as well as catalogued where every book is."
"Alright. Valid reasoning." He said. "I also want you to work with other witches."
"Why?"
"Call it study abroad." He answered. "There are other witches with more knowledge, or different knowledge, than you have. It could prove very valuable later on. We want copies of their grimoires, too. Preferable the physical book as well if you can, but if you can only acquire electronic copies that is acceptable."
"I can see the sense in that." I agreed. "The problem is that that will make Hunters trust me less."
"I'm certain you're used to disguising yourself in to multiple identities." Ketch pointed out. "As well as able to make people forget they saw you, if need be."
"Will I…" I thought for a minute. "Will I have to be in contact with Sam or Dean or Castiel?"
"If need be, that exists as a distinct possibility."
"They'll kill me." I said the words flat-out. "Sam and Dean will hate me if they find out the truth. They already do a little bit from what they know."
"And Castiel?"
"He's loyal to the Winchesters." I said.
"But would he kill you?" I didn't answer that one. I wasn't certain which answer was correct, much less which one I wanted to be right. If he would, then he hated me, and he would never forgive me. If he wouldn't….
I couldn't think on that. I couldn't. It was more important that I focused on what was known versus unknown.
"I see." Ketch finally said. "Then only if absolutely needed will you be put in direct contact with them."
"Thank you." I muttered. "Besides, I have other contacts that I can easily sub out for them, ones that can keep better tabs than I could."
"And who would these people be?" He asked. I shook my head a little.
"I promise, this isn't a question you want answered." Was all I said. I knew he wouldn't be happy about my contacts being a demon and a reaper.
"Alright." He conceded. "So do we have a plan?"
"Yeah." I nodded a little with it. "Yeah, I can do this."
"Excellent!" He reached for his water bottle, and I relinquished my hold on it. I'd almost forgotten I'd even been keeping it floating in the first place. "We'll land in eight or so hours. Why don't you rest?"
"Sounds good." I said. The faster the eight hours went by, the better.
