"Every hunter has an origin story." Was the beginning of Clara's speech. She had no idea how to continue so she looked at Dean and he sighed with a nod. She didn't want to talk about her father but she no longer had a choice. "Mine starts when I was 16 and my father was killed by a hell hound." She said.
"What's a hellhound?" Rossi asked.
"It's like a demon's tax collector. If a deal is made then ten year later the debt must be repaid." She explained. "When I was 6 I got very sick and my father sold his soul to save me. He got ten year before his debt came due." Clara sighed looking down. "Most people aren't told that the debt is their life." She shrugged. At that point they all sat down, they all heard the hurt and sadness in her voice and needed to listen.
As Clara continued her speech and her explanation she watched as everyone's eyes started open wider. She sighed knowing she was probably confusing them. So she did her best to summarize her life so they could understand. She explained what her mother was, what she used to be, and what Azazel did to her brother and Sam. It was hard for her to explain her scars but she took her time. Everyone seemed a bit thrown off by that point that she decided to get back to the usual stuff. As she explained all the times she had disappeared they all seemed to look more worried. Dean and Adrian were quiet but Aaron helped her explain other things like Vampires and Spirits. Every so often there was a question that she answered and most likely confused them more.
She had talked for almost two hours and showed them the case files of typical supernatural killings. She told them all about how to handle cases like this and how she and Bobby used to work them as fake FBI agents. She saw a small smile creep onto Dean face when she mentioned some of the hunts they had one on years ago. A sad smile came to her face as well when she talked about the cases she used to work with Sam and Dean.
"We thought you were dead for four months but really you were out killing demons?" JJ asked with a small smile. Clara nodded. "Why did you decide to go back?" She asked quickly.
"That would be my fault." Dean finally spoke up. Everyone looked to him and Clara sighed, she hated that story. "Hunters aren't known for their brains." He chuckled a bit. "I sold my soul and when I died Clara and Sam were trying to get me back."
"Wait you died?" Rossi asked.
"A few times actually." He nodded.
"I thought you said if people sell their soul they get ten years..." Reid pointed out and Clara smiled a bit. It was almost like he was following along and understanding.
"Hell has a 'most wanted' list apparently." Dean added. "I got a year."
"You've actually been to hell... like it's a real place?" Reid asked and Dean nodded.
"Heaven too." He and Clara said at the same time. They both smiled at each other.
"You've died a lot haven't you?" Rossi asked.
"Occupational hazard." Clara shrugged.
The room was quiet for a second and then Clara looked at everyone. "I know this is a lot to take in but I am tell you the truth. I am tired of lying to you all and I don't want to hide anymore. The past is the past." She smiled.
"Let's say we believe you...How can you be sure none of this stuff isn't gonna come after you?" Morgan finally spoke after not saying anything since she started two hours ago.
"I don't." She answered truthfully. "All I can do is be ready for what ever comes." She smiled at him.
"Things have been coming at us all our lives... we have no illusions that is just gonna stop." Dean spoke up. Clara looked over at him and noticed how he looked down at Adrian. "Today is proof of that." He shrugged.
"What are the chances that things won't try to kill you?" JJ asked with a small little smile.
"About zero." Dean answered.
"Actually that's not true." Clara spoke up with a small smile. She had just remembered what Cas had told Crowley and she knew it would make them all feel better. "Castiel made Crowley a deal." She sighed.
"What?" Dean jumped to worst case.
"I don't know what his side entailed for sure but, I know part of the agreement was that we would go unharmed no matter what." She nodded. "So I'm pretty sure we won't have to worry about demons for the time being." She sighed in relief.
"What about all the other stuff that you say is out there?" JJ asked.
"Nothing has a bigger grudge against us than demons... if something else comes we deal with it. That's how it's always been." Dean answered looking at Clara.
The room was quiet for a long time. "I realize everything we just said seems impossible but trust me it's better that you know now." Clara sighed. "I have lost to many friends and family members because of this stuff and sometimes it's better to be prepared." Clara sighed.
"I think we should all get some rest." Hotch spoke up after no one said anything. They were all looking at the ground and it was hard to tell what they were thinking. "We got a new case to deal with on Monday, everyone take the weekend." Hotch said and they all nodded slightly.
"A case with humans right?" Penelope asked with a soft smile.
"Yes." Hotch smirked.
As the team slowly made their way out of the room, Clara couldn't help but feel she just made everyone hate her. She sighed once Hotch turned to her. "Well that went well." She huffed.
"Better than most..." He pointed out. "They could have taken it a lot worse." He offered.
"True." Clara nodded. "Alright..." She paused looking over at Dean and Adrian. "We are going home... you should to." She said to Hotch.
It was very late by the time Dean pulled into the drive way. Clara was to busy staring out the window to even notice they were home. Adrian was first out and Dean watched as he smiled at the sight of his home. Clara got out quickly and headed for the door before Adrian even had a chance to started walking. She unlocked the door and walked in quickly. She stood by the bottom of the stairs and turned just in time to see Adrian walk inside. She could tell by the smile on his face as he looked around he was happy to be home but once his eyes landed on her his expression changed.
Adrian's smile faded when he remembered the reason he ran away. Everything Clara had said pissed him off and even though she almost died trying to save him, he was still mad. He sighed and looked down. "I'm gonna go to bed now." He said as he made his way up the stairs.
"Okay..." Clara said as he passed her but didn't look up.
Adrian went straight to his room and when he closed the door Dean closed the front door. "Still mad huh?" He asked and Clara shrugged.
"I guess." She said looking down.
"Kid almost died Clara." Dean pointed out. "He'll come around once he deals with what just happened." Dean said placing his hands on her shoulders. She looked up at him and sighed.
"And if I would have taught him how to protect himself none of that would have happened." She shrugged and pushed away from Dean. "He was right." She said walking over to the kitchen table and sitting down.
"About what exactly?" Dean asked walking over and leaning on the chair across from her.
"That no matter what we do... things will always come after us, and we can't protect him." She said looking up at Dean with fear and anger in her eyes.
"Well if you keep thinking like that." He smiled. "Look he's 16. He just wants to feel safe. You and I both know what that feels like. Would it be so horrible if he knew all the things we knew how to do?" He asked.
"After what just happened, pretty sure he's getting hunter 101 tomorrow." She said quickly shaking the tears away before they could even fall.
"Problem solved." Dean smiled and Clara sighed.
Dean had gone to bed shortly after, while Clara stayed downstairs. She had read through John and David's journals all night and eventually fell asleep with her head on the table. The old paper had a whiskey smell to it but that didn't bother her. She slept quiet well for about two hours until she heard her name.
"Clara?" Adrian's voice woke her and she sat up slowly. "What are you doing down here?" He asked with a yawn.
"Sit." Clara said after rubbing her face. Adrian did as he was told and she looked up at him. "Where is it?" She asked and he tilted his head in confusion. "Don't play dumb." She narrowed her eyes. "There is a page missing from my father's journal and it just so happens to be the one about anti-possession." She said raising her eye as she sat forward.
"I didn't take it." Adrian said looking up and away from her.
"You do realize getting liars to admit their guilt like my job, right?" She asked with a small smirk. "So you could just tell me where the page is and we can move on to more important things, or I start the interrogation." She sighed staring at him.
Adrian huffed as he stood up stomped up the stairs and came back down a few seconds later. "Here's your stupid paper." He huffed.
"Sit down." She ordered again and he did. She reached forward and took the page and put it back in its place. "Now where did you put it?" She asked with a sigh.
"I was just looking at it. You have your dumb page back can I just eat my breakfast." He huffed as he was about to stand up.
"Crowley had you for almost two days." She pointed out before he stood. "He barley had Spencer for a second and he had no trouble putting a demon in him... so why didn't he do the same to you?" Clara asked with a sigh.
"I don't know? He's a demon Clara." He huffed crossing his arms.
"So you're telling me you don't have a tattoo stamped somewhere on your body that would prevent a possession?" She asked raising her eyebrows again. Adrian was quiet as he looked over with big eyes. "Let me guess..." She said as she stood and walked over to him. "Shoulder?" She guessed and pulled up his short sleeve to see the same black tattoo she and most hunters had. "That's what I thought. She said pulling his sleeve down and walking back over to her seat.
Clara and Adrian just stared at each other in silence for about ten minutes. "Well..." He blurted out rolling his eyes. "You gonna start the lecture again? Tell me what I did was dumb?" He asked with a huff.
"No." Clara shook her head. A few days ago she would have been furious about this but after what happened, it seemed like a ridiculous thing to be mad over. She sighed and tilted her head. "If I was a Windego, where would I hide out?" She asked crossing her arms over her chest as she sat back.
"What?" Adrian was actually confused. Did she just asked about a Windego?
"If I was a Windego where would I hide out?" She asked again and waited for his answer.
"Um... the Rockies, anyplace with caves?" Adrian answered but asked at the same time.
"That an answer or question?" She asked.
"Answer." He nodded.
"How would you kill me?" She asked with a deep breath.
"Um... fire." He answered again.
"Vampire, wooden stake or garlic?" She asked with a cocky smile.
"Trick question... everyone knows you cut their heads off." Adrian smiled very proud of him self.
"Ways to identify a demon?" Her smile dropped.
"Holy water or a Devil's trap works." Adrian said.
"What else?" She asked and Adrian shrugged. "Christo." She whispered.
"Latin for God... right." Adrian smiled. "Forgot about that one."
"Most do." Clara nodded. "But when you're in a crowd it is a lot less suspicious than reciting an exorcism." She shrugged.
"Clara why are you asking me all this?" Adrian asked after it had gotten quiet. "Few days ago you didn't want me to have anything to do with your world." He added. "And now your testing me?" He questioned.
"A few days ago I thought nothing would dare come face to face with me." Clara said. "I was arrogant and stupid." She said with a sigh. "And that led to Crowley kidnapping you... I don't want what happened to my family and friends to ever happen to you." She said.
"But you said it was better for me to be normal." Adrian argued.
"Point is... you're not normal." She sighed. "None of us are." She shrugged. "You just have the option of at least living a life, not having to be on the road and what not." She smiled. "I will teach you all that I know and I'm more than positive Dean will too... but you have to promise me something." She looked over at the young boy whose eyes kept getting bigger and bigger with happiness and excitement.
"Yes, anything." He smiled leaning forward.
"You have to promise you will never go looking for trouble or something to hunt." She said. "If we teach you what we know you can't go off on your own ad decide to be a hero." She said. "I'm serious..." She sighed.
"It was never about being a hero Clara." Adrian smiled. "I just want to know how to protect myself and others." He smiled. "So I promise I won't do anything stupid."
"Good." She nodded. "But don't think I'm gonna go easy on you just cause your a kid." She winked as she stood up to make him something to eat.
As the year went on things had become very simple for Dean, Clara, and Adrian. Dean would go to work everyday and come home, Clara would work with her team one case at a time, and Adrian did his best to keep up with his lessons. Dean and Clara had made it a priority to teach Adria how to defend himself. Everything else could wait until he could handle a knife or his own body well enough.
Adrian's hand to hand was exceptional. Dean had showed him everything his father had. The only problem was his knife wielding. He always managed to get to caught up in the defence than actually attacking. Dean had told him so many times that if he didn't learn to control his knife than he wouldn't last very long in any fight.
Adrian was happy to learn everything from two of the greatest hunters of their generation. Clara was obviously more knowledgable in Demons, while Dean knew a lot about Angels. He treated his lessons like another class, he never fooled around and he always listened carefully. Clara was actually quiet proud of how well Adrian was progressing. Dean was the only one who was hesitant to be a teacher.
He had spent a lot of his young adult life angry at his father and the world because of what his father pushed him into. It bothered Dean how much Clara had taught Adrian but he never said anything. He knew she had good reason and it was a smart thing to do but that didn't make him feel any better about Adrian being a hunter.
The team had suddenly become very comfortable asking Clara or Dean questions. Penelope already knew everything there was to know so she usually asked to hear certain stories and cases. JJ's questions revolved around protection. Being a mother, she wanted to make sure nothing could ever get to her son. Clara helped her through her anxiety of an attack and soon she calmed. Rossi and Derek didn't ask much because Rossi had always been open to the unexplained, but Derek didn't fully believe everything that Clara or Dean had told them. Even when Penelope made him read one of the books he thought it was just some sort of twisted out of proportioned story. Clara didn't bother trying to convince him because she knew he was a see it to believe it type. Spencer was the most involved team member. He came to work every week with a new set of questions and theory's. Clara loved that he was trying to accept something that science didn't uphold.
It had been a year since Sam's death and although life had steadied, it didn't get any easier for Dean or Clara. Every time Clara walked passed her mantel she saw Sam and Jessica's smiles and it broke her heart. She saw the pictures Bobby had taken of the three of them on the hood of the Impala and it always brought a sad smile to her face. When Dean walked past that stupid mantel he felt very different.
All he saw were people he had gotten killed or people who he almost got killed. The photo of Sam and Clara in college made his guilt hit the roof because it was his fault they had left, if he wouldn't have shown up Jessica could still be alive. The only picture that brought a smile to his face was the one Bobby took of them on the hood of the Impala. He knew Clara loved that photo as well but they both saw it differently. When he looked at how young they were all he could think about were those nights they used to stay up talking. Or the mornings he used to wake up with her next to him when they were teenagers. He used to wish he could wake up to those stupidly beautiful brown eyes for the rest of his life.