A/N- I do not own Supernatural or Charmed
Chapter Seventeen
After Paige and Addie left, Dean went upstairs to think about Addie. He paced his room thinking, Addie had lost her memories, and they were coming back, but he worried about what that would mean for her. She had found something here that would not be easily replaced by him, Zoe or even Sam, even though he knew Addie loved Sam more than anything and would walk on fire for him. What Dean feared most was that Addie would remember everything and not want to be a part of his family anymore. He knew the Halliwells considered her family, but he didn't know if Addie would want him around anymore.
He had missed his younger sister more than he would ever willingly admit, and wanted her to want to choose to be with them. He knew, however that Addie would not want to go back on the road. Hell, if he admitted it to himself and no one else, he didn't want to go back on the road either. He felt that there was so much to be done, that so much was needed that he didn't have a choice. His phone rang, and he snapped it up.
"Hello?" He asked.
"Dean?" Bobby's voice came over the line.
"Yeah, Bobby. What is it?" Dean asked.
"I found where you and Sam need to be for a while," Bobby stated. "It seems to be where all the demons are congregating."
"Where?" Dean asked, dreading the answer. He knew it could possibly take him away from Addie and Sam.
"San Francisco," Bobby said and Dean raised his eyebrows in surprise. "It's pretty well protected by some witches I know, but they could use your help. How soon until you get there?"
"We are in San Francisco right now, Bobby." Dean said, "Addie's here."
"You found her?" Bobby sounded happy. "How is she?"
"She's good," Dean said. "She lost her memories, but they've been coming back slowly."
"Okay then, I need you to contact Piper Halliwell somehow. Tell her I sent you." Bobby said, hanging up. Dean stared at his phone, wondering if fate had given him a reprieve or something. It was this moment that he made the decision not to take Addie away from here. Even if she said she wanted to go back on the road. He would say he didn't and that he wanted to stay here. He would say it because it was true, he was done chasing the demons down, if they were smart enough to stay away from him, he wouldn't go out of his way to kill them. A weight that he didn't realize had been on his chest suddenly lifted and he was happier than he had been in a long time. He walked down the stairs to find Piper and ask her opinion, as it was her house.
He found her in the kitchen with Phoebe and Zoe, trying to salvage breakfast. The bacon was now burnt beyond all recognition and the eggs hadn't even been started.
"Pheebs, I think you're just going to have to start over with the bacon. Only Paige likes it like this, and she and Addie went to go see what Darryl wanted," Piper said. "Just make new bacon, I'll throw this out. Zoe, will you make toast?" Zoe nodded and started on it. Piper looked up to see Dean, standing there kinda anxious about something. "Do you need something, Dean?"
"Uh, yeah. I just wanted to talk to you," Dean said. "It can wait, though."
"It no problem, I have to throw this mess away anyway. Walk with me." Piper said. Dean walked with Piper out to the trashcan. "What's up?"
"I got a call from a guy named Bobby Singer today," Dean said, noticing that Piper raised her eyebrows. "He said that all of the demons are congregating here in San Francisco and that Sam and I should help you guys with them."
"Okay, so what's the problem?" Piper said.
"After we take care of this issue. I want to stop hunting. I don't know what Addie and Sam want to do, but I can guess that Addie needs to be here," Dean started rambling, "and I know Sam will stay wherever Addie is, so I guess what I'm asking is, is it okay if we stay here indefinitely?" Piper looked at him with smile.
"If you didn't I'd have to shoot you." Piper said, smiling. "I can't lose another sister, and that's what Addie has become to me. I would love it if you stayed." Dean smiled at the woman and they walked back into the house as Addie and Paige orbed in.
"Addie, I need to talk to you." Dean said, smiling at her. Addie felt a wave of nervousness wash over her. Paige gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before letting go.
"I'll be in the kitchen, seeing if there's anymore burnt bacon." She said, walking out of the room with Piper. Addie turned to face her brother.
"What's up?" She asked him.
"I want to stay here." Dean said, not beating around the bush. "I know you like it here and that you view these girls as family and I want to be here with you. I'm tired of always being on the road." Addie looked at him in confusion and he continued, "I don't want you to feel like you have to choose between us, I love you too much to force you to do that. So even if you get your memories back, I'm not leaving. We're family, we stick together." He stopped talking as he saw Addie's face split into a large grin.
"Do you mean it?" She asked, slightly hesitantly. He nodded and she hugged him, tightly. "Thank you so much. I love you too, Big Brother." She kissed his cheek and let go before grinning at him. "Oh yeah, I got my memories back today, De. They just flooded in." Dean grinned at her. "Are you really going to be okay not being constantly on the road and not having to hustle at pool or poker for a living?" He nodded
"Addie, I really and truly want this. We need to be here." Dean said, "if only because you feel safe here." She smiled at her big brother who'd truly just given her the best thing he could have ever done.
"I have to tell the girls!" She said, running out of the room excitedly. Dean chuckled and followed her to the kitchen. An excited squeal came out of the room and Phoebe and Paige came running out of the room to ambush Dean.
"Welcome to the family, Dean!" Phoebe said, hugging him tightly. He hugged her back and Paige then hugged him too.
"I knew you were going to want to stay," she whispered in his ear. Dean grinned, knowing he was stuck in the middle of a chick-flick moment, but for once, he didn't care. He didn't see Zoe walking out of the kitchen, looking kinda pale and unhappy. Addie came out of the kitchen to see her brother being mauled by her sisters and grinned, until her eyes landed on Zoe.
"What's wrong?" Addie asked her, sitting down next to where she was standing.
"Dean," Zoe said. "I don't know why he suddenly wants to stay here. "He lives for the road, not that you would remember or know that right now."
"Actually-" Addie started to say, but Zoe cut her off, not noticing Dean walking over to them.
"I know, I should be happy because Dean wants to be somewhere homelike, but he's only doing it for you." Zoe said, "he's going to be miserable within a week." Dean stopped and wondered where that came from, Zoe continued. "You used to be the same way, Addie. You two always had to be on the road and now you're both content to just stay in one spot. I don't get it."
"Zoe-" Addie again tried but this time Dean interrupted her.
"It's because we've been traveling our whole lives and we need some constant," Dean said, looking at her. "It doesn't mean that we're going to not hunt evil stuff, we're just going to be more centered here." Zoe looked at him with understanding.
"I think I get that, Dean." She said, nodding. She walked away from them to the dining table and sat down with sadness. Addie and Dean looked at each other.
"Should I tell her I remember her?" Addie asked him, "that I'm glad she's here?" Dean nodded and she walked to sit beside Zoe.
"What?" Zoe asked, a little frustrated because she felt overlooked. Addie just reached over and hugged her.
"I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry, Zoe." Addie said, "I know how I'd feel if you forgot about me completely." Addie looked at her with large blue eyes. Zoe snorted at her, her hair turning red and orange.
"I get that you don't have a choice of what you do or don't remember, Addie." Zoe said, shaking her head. "It just hurts that you didn't really have any hints as to who I am before this morning." She lowered her head, not wanting to say that she didn't feel needed, but she continued, "and now to hear Dean say he wants to stay here, even after you get your memories back because you need consistency. The Addie that you were before loved being on the road with Dean and she totally loved the hunt. I just don't understand why you want to stay here. I wish you were the you that you were when you came to Colorado to help save my cousin from the Wendigo, but I don't see you returning to that."
"Zoe," Addie said, taking a deep breath. "I am that Addie, I have all my memories, they came back this morning while I was out on an errand with Paige." Zoe looked at her with surprise.
"Then why do you want to stay here?" She asked, "these people are nice, but they aren't us."
"It's hard to explain, but they are my family too." Addie said, "I have a connection with the girls that I don't have with anybody else, not even you. I'm not saying that you are any less important to me because of this, but I need to be here." Zoe looked at her for a moment before nodding her head, she made up her mind of what she needed to do. She didn't say anything to Addie about it because Sam and Leo came into the room. Sam sat down next to Addie and kissed her. Leo sat down next to Dean and they started talking about cars. Phoebe came out of the kitchen and placed a plate in front of Zoe.
"Dean said that you think sausage and mushrooms are toxic," she said to her. "So I made your omelette with just cheese. I hope you like it." Zoe smiled at the woman.
"It looks delicious, thank you." She said before taking a bite. Phoebe smiled and set a plate in front of Addie that was a bit larger than Zoe's. Addie cut a bite and fed it to Sam before taking one for herself. The two were soon lost in a world of shared breakfast, ignoring everyone around them.
Phoebe placed omelettes in front of Dean and Leo, who started eating immediately. She also put plates where she, Piper and Paige would sit. Piper came out and put bacon on everyone's plates while Paige came out and dished out toast. Sam was now feeding Addie bacon in between bites of omelette. Dean looked up and saw Sam and Addie completely wrapped up in each other while they ate and smiled to himself, knowing he made the right choice. Zoe just picked at her omelette because she felt that no one really cared if she was around or not, and the overcuteness of her best friend and Sam was really pushing her over the edge.
After breakfast, Addie helped clean up the table, not really looking forward to the conversation that she had to have with Dean. She really didn't know how he would react to the details of the newly discovered aspect of her life, but she knew he loved her and would hopefully understand her. She also knew that she couldn't tell Zoe, and that keeping this secret from her until she had the okay from the elders was going to throw a wrench into their friendship. She loved Zoe just as much as she always had, but sometimes she wondered if Zoe was a little bit insecure about them as friends.
After stacking the dishes and being shooed out of the kitchen by Piper, who promised her a special lunch if she just got it over with, Addie went to find Dean. He was sitting in the dining room, still talking to Leo. Sam and Zoe were not. She took a deep breath, and walked over to Dean.
"Sorry to interrupt you guys, but Dean and I have to have a conversation." Addie said. Leo nodded, immediately knowing what about.
"I'll just go see if the girls need help in the kitchen." He said, getting up to go help with the dishes. Addie turned and looked at her older brother.
"Come to the attic with me?" She asked him. He nodded and stood up, following her. She led him upstairs. Before she turned around, she looked at Dean and said, "you already know I'm a witch, so it's not like I have to break it to you, but I need you to know why it's important, and not evil." Dean nodded.
"I get that you guys aren't evil, Addie." Dean said, cautiously. "Hell, even Bobby knows Piper, I just don't understand how you can be one."
"I'll try to explain, Dean." Addie said, "but this is something that we don't understand either." She opened the door to the attic and let them in, activating the sound wards so no one could eve's drop. She motioned for him to sit on the couch, which he did and she sat beside him, turning to look him fully in the eyes. "First of all, let me state the obvious. We both know I've had telekinetic powers since I was ten right?"
Dean nodded, "I remember you were freaked out because you could suddenly make things come to you from across the room and stuff. I thought it was a weak thing and that you couldn't use it very much."
"It's like a muscle, you have to work it out to get it to be stronger." Addie said, she then glanced at a crystal that was still on the floor from having Cole trapped in it the previous night. Dean watched in amazement as she made the rock hover above her hands, flipping over in a slow state. "It used to make me so tired to even do this but now, I can lift much heavier things. Like you."
"Show me." Dean wasn't afraid of her, he was genuinely curious. She stopped playing with the rock and lifted Dean up a good three feet. She hovered him there for a minute before letting him down. The exertion had her breathing slightly heavy. "Are you okay?"
"Heavier things are easier to push than lift. If I was pushing you away from me, it wouldn't exhaust me so easily." Addie explained, "but it wasn't the telekinesis that clued everyone in. It was this." She reached up to brush her fingers through Deans blonde hair, adding a streak of neon pink. She pulled out a mirror and showed him before letting him watch her change it back. "I suppose I could turn you into a frog, but I've never tried. I did turn Paige into a guy once though." Dean was amazed.
"So the pink hair last night was you?" He asked. She nodded and he asked, "why?" She raised an eyebrow at him before answering.
"Because you came in and called Sam as we were testing a theory on how to bring my memory back." Addie said, smirking a little.
"What kind of theory?" Dean asked, getting a little off subject, but truth be told, this witch thing really didn't bother him as much as it would if she were evil or something. She smiled a little before answering.
"Sam and I discovered that physical contact helped bring back my memories," Addie said. Dean looked at her, confused and she continued, "the more intimate, the more memories."
"What does that have to do with... Oh." His eyes widened as he got it. "So is that why all your memories came back?" Addie nodded.
"We didn't expect it to work so quickly, and it did take a couple of hours for them all to settle in, but I remember everything about our lives." Addie confirmed. "I also remember how much you hate witches, which is why it's so important for me to explain this to you." Dean looked at his baby sister, his little Adora, she'd been his to protect since his father let him name her. He'd failed her too many times to count recently and looking into her eyes, widened with fear of rejection, he couldn't let her think he hated her.
"Addie, I get it. I do," Dean said. "You were born with magical powers and they started manifesting themselves for you when you were ten. I know why you think I hate witches, because for the most part when we've been hunting them, we only come across the evil ones who like to fuck with people. I know that you and the Halliwells and other's like you aren't evil." He paused for a moment to pull her into his lap and cradle her to his chest like he did when she had a nightmare when they were kids.
"Don't you think that if I thought you were turning evil that I would have drug your ass out to the Impala and been well on the way to Bobby's right now to fix it? I could never think you were evil, Addie. You don't have it in you." She smiled and leaned against Dean's chest, taking comfort in the security of her big brother's arms. Dean continued, "I meant it when I told you I knew you needed to stay here. They can help you learn and control your gifts, you're complete with them because they are your coven." Dean smiled, looking at her. "You aren't a solitary person, you could never be a solitary witch. Plus, you know Sammy will never leave you willingly, and neither will I."
"But what if you get bored?" Addie asked.
"With the demonic activity in this town?" Dean chuckled, "I think I'll see plenty of action." Addie smiled at him.
"So you're really okay with this?" She asked. Dean nodded and she grinned at him.
"I love you, big brother." She kissed his cheek and stood up, walking over to the book.
"I love you too, baby sister." Dean said, joining her at the book, "what is this?"
"The Halliwell Book of Shadows," Addie said. "It's kinda like Dad's journal, but better. It's centuries old, going back to the first Halliwell Witch, Melinda Warren." Dean reached out to touch it, but was surprised when it jumped away. "Sorry, Dean. It only lets Witches of the Warren/ Halliwell line touch it."
"But you aren't a Halliwell," Dean pointed out.
"I know, we don't know why it recognises me as one though." Addie said, picking it up an placing it back on the stand. Dean frowned.
"Well, we really don't know anything about your birth family, you could be distantly related," he said.
"Maybe we can check into it." Addie said, "Piper would know who to ask. Come on, I want to show you where we train."
"Train?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, in fighting." Addie said, "Piper's the only one of us with an active offensive gift. I mean Telekinesis is great and all, but we still need to know how to fight. Paige is also telekinetic, but her gift is connected to her being part Whitelighter and Phoebe gets visions and it's just easier to train in fighting. Follow me." Dean smiled and followed her out of the attic and they went to the room that was at the bottom of the stairs.
Dean followed her in and saw weapons of all different types, a couple punching bags and a large sparring mat. "Phoebe and I are usually the only ones who actively spar and we're pretty evenly matched. Paige will come and watch, and she knows basic defense, but she makes sure she's stocked up on potions when we go after something. Piper has no need to come in here, but Leo will come and coach us sometimes or check to make sure we haven't seriously injured ourselves." Addie explained, "Paige and Leo sometimes bet on our sparring matches, Paige always bets on me." Dean raised his eyebrows and Addie explained, "I hardly ever lose." Dean chuckled and ruffled her curls.
"That's my girl," he smiled at her and she blushed before hugging him.
"I'm so glad that you're okay with everything I've thrown at you." She said. Dean smiled at her and pulled her into a hug.
"It's part of being a big brother," he said, kissing the top of her head. Sam came downstairs to catch the last of the conversation and shook his head, smiling. Dean always waived his no chick-flick rule for Addie. Dean looked up as he heard someone enter the room and grinned at Sam over Addie's head. "Hey Sammy, Addie just showed me this nifty room. Come see." Addie looked over at Sam and grinned, reaching out for his hand and taking it. She showed him the workout room.
"This is where we train," Addie explained to Sam. "By we, I mean Phoebe and I. Paige is usually armed with potions and only knows basic self-defense whereas Piper doesn't really need to know how to fight." Sam nodded, looking around the room before looking back to her.
"Why doesn't Piper need to train?" He asked.
"She has an offensive power," Addie explained. "In a day or two, we'll go out to where we can shoot, and I'll have her show you." Sam nodded showing that he understood. Addie closed the door to the room and pointed at some weird markings that were at the top corners of the doors. "These are soundproofing wards," She explained. "We have them drawn around all the bedroom doors and down here. When active, they block sound from leaving or entering the room." Dean nodded with a smirk and Sam blushed. "So be sure you have the door closed if you want total privacy. Like now," she looked both of them in the eyes and took a deep breath. "You know I tell Zoe everything, but I can't tell her about this. One, because it's not just my secret to tell, and two, because there are forces beyond what Phoebe, Piper, Paige and I can do. It's as much to protect her as it is to protect us. I could tell you because your family, unfortunately Zoe isn't seen that way, no matter how much I would like it to be different." Addie looked at them seeing the realization hit them at the same time.
"That sucks," Dean said. "You do tell Zoe everything. Even when you and Sam first got together, you had to be on the phone telling her less than four hours later. She's going to know you aren't telling her something and I don't think she will take it that well." Sam nodded in agreement.
"I know," Addie said. "It's stupid because I know I can trust her with all of my secrets, but they aren't all mine to tell, And I would have to get permission from Leo's bosses to explain completely. I was only allowed to tell two people, you." Dean nodded and Sam looked surprised that she would tell them.
"What if she figures it out?" Sam asked, "she's naturally inquisitive and she's seen both Paige and Wyatt orb."
"I hope she does, because then I could explain it to her." Addie said, honestly. Sam then just realized something.
"Not to change the subject or anything, but how's your memory recovery going?" He asked. Addie smiled at him, knowing the question would come eventually.
"All of my memories are back," she said, grinning happily. "They came back while Paige and I were out this morning." Sam smiled, truly relieved.
"So our theory worked?" He asked, causing Dean to raise his eyebrows and Addie to blush as she nodded. "And we're leaving?" Addie and Dean looked at each other before answering.
"No, Sammy." Dean said, "we aren't leaving."
"Really?' Sam said, looking confused.
"I need to be here, Sammy." Addie said, "they are my coven, my sister witches. Asking me to leave them is like asking me to break up with you. I can't." Sam nodded.
"Addie needs to be here, and we need to be with her," Dean said. "So we stay, or at least I do, you make up your mind on what you need to do, Little brother." Dean walked out of the training room, closing the door behind him. He knew Addie and Sam needed to talk, and he needed to find Leo and talk about cars or something else manly.
Sam looked at Addie, "you really need to stay here?" He asked. She nodded and he took a deep breath, "and Piper is okay with us all being here?" She nodded again and he smiled. "Then it looks like I'm staying too. There's no way in hell I can be separated from you again." Addie smiled and pulled him in to kiss her. The kiss quickly deepened and they were really getting into it when Paige walked in the room.
"Oh dear God!" She said, causing them to jump apart. "You two are like horny teenagers!" Addie snorted and grinned at Paige.
"You'll have to get used to it, Paige." Addie said, "you are stuck with us for a while after all." Paige rolled her eyes in mock disgust.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She said, smiling. "And it's my fault for just walking in, but Phoebe sent me to find you, she wanted to know if you still want to go shopping so she can settle her debt."
"Yeah," Addie said, "I thought we were going after lunch." Phoebe came in, smiling.
"We are, I just wanted you to know it's almost lunchtime, I figured you'd want to know." She said with a grin. "Oh, and welcome to the family Sam." She grinned and hugged him.
"Phoebe's always wanted brothers," Paige explained. "So I'm guessing she's in seventh heaven at the idea of two of them." Addie laughed.
"Are you coming with us to the mall, Paige?" She asked.
"Yup, Phoebe even talked Piper into coming too." Paige said, "it'll be loads of fun."
"Girls' afternoon?" Sam asked Addie, "or can I come too?"
"We are going to be doing some serious shopping Sam," Phoebe said, "you can come if you want, we do need someone to carry our bags." Sam grinned.
"I'd love to." He said, earning a grin from the three of them. They walked out of the training room to see Zoe sitting in the living room, looking sad about something.
"Hey Zoe," Phoebe said, smiling at her. "Are you still coming to the mall with us?" Zoe looked up at her and nodded. Phoebe beamed at her. "Great! I was so hoping you would. We're leaving after lunch, okay?" Zoe nodded again, still wondering why this girl was being so nice to her. She got up and followed the four of them into the dining room, where Leo and Dean were talking about cars, again.
"So how about I show you what my baby can do after we eat lunch while the girls are out shopping?" Dean offered. Leo nodded and Piper groaned.
"Don't forget, I need you to go set up the stuff for karaoke night at the club." Piper said, "and you have to watch Wyatt."
"Sam can babysit," Dean offered, grinning at Sam, who suddenly blushed.
"Actually, Sam has volunteered to be our bag carrier this afternoon." Paige said.
"I'll watch him," Zoe said unexpectedly.
"You're supposed to come with us." Addie said, pouting slightly. "It's a girls' day out after all."
"She's right, Zoe." Leo sighed. "We'll just harness him in really good." Addie snorted at the identical looks of horror on Dean and Piper's faces. "I'm kidding, Piper. Dean, we'll have to do the thing with the car another day." Both of the concerned individuals lightened their looks a little. "We will go set up the sound equipment at the club since the guy who normally comes in is an idiot and we'll take Wyatt with us. He can amuse himself with the shiny lights."
"Okay," Dean said. "Wait, your club does a karaoke night?"
"Once a month," Piper said. "Usually we just have a band or a dj and people dancing, though." Dean nodded.
"So is this a girls' night thing?" Dean asked.
"No, we have a babysitter that comes to watch Wyatt and we all go," Leo said. Dean nodded.
"So the girls and Sam are going to spend a few hours at the mall, come home, we all eat dinner then go to the club?" Dean asked.
"Yup!" Addie said, "typical karaoke thing for us." Zoe rolled her eyes, but nobody paid her any attention.
"What are we having for lunch?" Sam asked.
"Soup and Sandwiches," Piper answered. "The soup is almost done and we set out a sandwich board so everyone will get what they like, if it's available."
"Cool," Sam said. Piper went to check the soup which was Addie's personal favorite, potato, while Phoebe and Addie made meat and cheese platters for the table. Sam helped out by setting the table and Paige sliced bread for lunch. Leo helped by carrying out the soup and Dean carried out the platters as they were finished. Zoe stayed out of the way, feeling unwanted and unnecessary.