You never realize how boring four hour car rides are until you don't have anyone to talk to. I'd experienced this terrible sensation the several times that Dean had died, and I honestly despise it. Also there was the time that I became soulless, which was really strange. Bits of that time are still coming back to me, and I can't help but wonder if I will ever fully remember my time. I was in two places at once, so it was, let's just say, a rather interesting experience. Of course, one of those places was Lucifer's cage.
Anyway, I get to the town where the possible demon attack occurred. Demons kept attacking these poor people, and it was so terrible. This time, no matter what, I would make sure that Skylar did not have a brother or sister to play with. I would make sure they were safe, but I would not take it upon myself to adopt them. It was the stupidest thing I could possibly do.
I get a motel room in town, and start digging up as much research I can about the town as I possibly can before going to sleep. I don't find anything that I'm not expecting, so I go to sleep rather quickly.
The next morning, I go on a jog before heading out to investigate. It's early, so very few people are out. When I come back, I shower and then put on my suit and tie and leave the motel.
I get to the crime scene about ten minutes later. Guess who was there already? You got it-Garth. "Sam, my man!" he says when he sees me and gives me a hug. I don't have enough time to do anything, so I'm just smooshed by Garth's arms. "Hey, I hate to break it to you, but there's no case here. Just a couple psycho teenagers. I already checked them out-no demonic possession. Sometimes people are just crazy," he says.
"Are you sure?" I ask him.
"Yes, I'm positive. Sometimes, people are just bad." Garth holds such sadness in his voice, it's almost crippling. "Sorry you came all this way for nothing, Sam," he says.
Truthfully, I'm not upset. I needed to get out of the bunker, and away from Skylar. "It's not a big deal," I say.
"Hey, before you head back, wanna have lunch?" Garth asks. I know that I don't really have a choice in the matter, because Garth is going to make me, so I say that I would.
We head to a diner a couple miles away. "So, Sammy, how's life been?" he asks me when we get our food. I shrug. "Come on, Sam. I know there's more than that," he says, urging me on and giving me a smile.
"Our latest case had a few complications," is all I say. Garth looks at me with werewolf puppy dog eyes that freak me out more than anything. "It was that demon killing of the whole Russell family bloodline," I explain.
"Oh yeah, I heard about that. It's terrible. Children died, and that Skylar girl is missing. What do you think happened to her?" Garth asks me. I look down at my plate of salad. "Tell me more," he says with a smile.
"She had no family, and we barely saved her. Dean, being the idiot that he is, decided that we should adopt her. He's at the bunker right now with her. I was looking for an excuse to get out of there," I say.
Garth looks really confused. "Why would you want to leave? You have a chance at a family, even if it is some girl you just saved," he says.
"Dean gets too attached to kids, and it forces him to make stupid choices. We don't need this," I say and take a bite of the salad I have decided to order. The dressing on it's disgusting, but I continue eating.
"I'm guessing you haven't been the nicest to the girl," Garth says. I shrug. "Sam, she's just a little girl! She's frightened out of her mind! Her family just died and the least you can do is try being nice to her! Be there for her and she might grow to like you. You might grow to like her, even!" Garth practically yells at me, just like Dean.
"Garth, calm down. I'm just concerned for my brother," I say.
"No, you're concerned for yourself. Be a little selfless and be nice to the kid. She deserves all the help she can get. How do you think she feels? She saw her whole family die. The least you can do is not be a douche," Garth says.
Honestly, I'm not surprised that he's taking Dean's side on this. He's the same exact way as Dean. Always rooting for the underdog, but I still don't see why I can't have my own thoughts. Why do I have to push everything that I'm feeling aside for one little girl who is ruining my life? Garth takes a bite of his extra rare steak. "How the hell do you eat that?" I ask him.
He shrugs, and says, "Listen, Sam. I know you think she's going to ruin your life and all. But she might do the exact opposite. Have you ever considered that she might make your life better?"
"She's only going to bring Dean more sadness. Something is bound to happen to her, because something always happens to the people who get close to us," I say.
"If you keep her safe, Sam, nothing is going to happen to her," Garth says. I snort, because he's making it sound so easy. "Being nice to her is the first step to keeping her safe."
"Even if we do manage to keep her safe, she's going to grow up a hunter. I don't want that life for her. She should have grown up like a normal person, go to college, have a career, get married at 26 or whenever, have three kids, worry about retirement. Hunters never have a pleasant life, and it's always short. Way too short," I say.
"She might choose to get out of hunting when she's older. She may not want this life," Garth reasons.
"Even if that is the case, Dean and I probably won't be there for her when she's an adult. We are going to die, sooner rather than later, and this time it might actually be permanent," I say. It's crazy how many times I've died, and come back. It doesn't make sense that a person can die so many times.
"That means that you have to give her your all every day. Just be there for her, Sam. You don't have to be her father or anything. Just be like her uncle or something," Garth says.
"She calls me Moose," I say, looking down at the plate of very disgusting vegetables.
Garth starts laughing. "Does she now? I'm starting to like her already," he says.
"Wait, you think I'm a moose?" I ask him.
"Dude, everyone thinks you're a moose. Most people just don't have the nerve to say it to your face," Garth says, laughing. I feel really offended, but I have to admit that I do look somewhat like a moose.
I finish up my lunch with Garth, and promise that he can see Skylar once she gets settled into the new life. I also promise that I'll try to be a little bit easier on her. Garth, of course, gives me a hug before I go. I head out on the open road, and debate what I'm going to say to Dean when I get back.