So I got some response to last chapter so it's time for round 2! I forgot to mention, this story is set directly after the events of "Changing Channels", mainly the events with Gabriel (him telling Sam and Dean to play their roles, Dean telling Gabriel he's too afraid to stand up to his own family).
Thanks for the responses!
Disclaimer: Supernatural is not mine but I really wish I owned Team Free Will.
Now onto the story!
When Lindsey woke up, she was staring into her own green eyes. 'Huh?' she thought. As her vision cleared, she realized that her eyes were on the face of the man and her eyes belonged to the agent who was questioning her back in the ambulance.
"Why do you have my eyes?" she asked blearily, still trying to regain consciousness.
"I'm not sure. I could ask you the same question," the agent replied as he helped her sit up in the hospital bed. Dean, his name was Dean. She remembered the other agent calling him that.
"So can you two tell me what's going on?" she asked.
"We were hoping you could tell us," the taller one answered. Sam, she recalled. "I looked you up. Lindsey Layman, 23 years old. A second year med student at John Hopkins University. You graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with honors in 2008. Nice thesis paper, by the way. Your research was interesting," he complimented.
"Thanks," she beamed proudly. That thesis had gotten her into the best medical school in the country.
"So it says here that you were adopted by Cristy and Michael Layman when you were a month old. Who were your real parents?" He seemed almost hesitant to ask, like he was already anticipating her answer.
"I don't know," she reluctantly replied.
"You don't know like you don't want to tell us, or…" Dean trailed off.
"I don't know, like I don't know," she snapped back. "I was found in an abandoned church by a group of teenagers when I was a week old. They never found my real parents."
"Son of a bitch," Dean swore.
"Dean, come on! You can't actually believe your hair-brained theory! It's impossible, I'm telling you!" Sam protested.
"And I'm telling you that looking at her, it feels like I'm looking at Mom with my eyes and you hair," Dean pressed. "Lindsey, would you be willing to take a blood test?"
"For what?" Blood test? She was beginning to wonder what these two were playing at. Not to mention self-conscious with them scrutinizing her facial structure and comparing it to their own and their mother's.
"I think we might be related," Dean replied, clearly skeptically but willing to offer up his veins for poking.
"That's—that's crazy," Lindsey insisted. "How the hell could we be related?"
"Look, I know you've been through hell in the past twelve hours and you really don't want us bothering you, but we would really appreciate this," he nearly begged. He gave her a look that was clearly well rehearsed but still did the trick on her.
"Fine," she huffed, sticking her arm out.
"Thanks, sweetheart. I'll go get a nurse," Dean smiled, patting her hand reassuringly.
"I need to go make a phone call," Sam announced as he stood from the uncomfortable hospital chair. "Thank you for doing this, really."
"It's no problem," Lindsey shrugged as Hayley walked through the door, hot chocolate in hand. Lindsey smiled lightly. Hayley hated coffee.
"Lindsey! You're awake, thank god! You're parents are threatening to hop on a plane and fly up here," she exclaimed.
"Oh, we can't have that," Lindsey chuckled, imagining the fit her mom would pitch on arrival.
"I'll leave you with her," Sam said, leaving the room to make his phone call.
"What's going on with them?" Hayley asked quietly.
"Well, currently, we're about to take a blood test to see if we're related," Lindsey explained.
"Related?" Hayley demanded. "How would that even be possible?"
"Sam, the tall one, doesn't think it is. Dean almost seems sure of it. Hey, I've always wanted brothers," she shrugged.
"Why are you the most well-adjusted person on the planet," Hayley chuckled.
"It makes life much easier to get through," Lindsey laughed as Dean reentered the room with a nurse in tow. Lindsey gulped at the IV box she carried with her. She was going into the medical field to stick people, not be poked herself.
"No need to be nervous, dear," the little nurse said as she wrapped a tourniquet around Lindsey's arm. Hayley moved away—blood wasn't really her best friend. Lindsey looked around, panicked. She was 23 years old and still needed to hold someone's hand when she got an IV. Dean huffed and rolled his eyes before striding over to her a bedside and offering his hand.
"I'm the one making you do this. The least I can do is comfort you for the bad part," he explained. Lindsey nodded her thanks, going over IV procedure in her head to distract. When she felt the nurse palpating a vein, she took Dean's outstretched hand. He smirked lightly and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze.
"This one look good, honey," the nurse smiled. "Just relax and I'll be done in no time." Lindsey nodded and took a deep breath to steady herself. The nurse took the IV and gently slid it under Lindsey's skin. She squeezed Dean's hand tightly and swore she heard him chuckle. The nurse smiled as she began getting blood return through the catheter.
"Got it," she smiled as she began filling vials with the flowing blood. She made quick work of the samples, slid the catheter back out of Lindsey's vein and put a bandage over the puncture. Lindsey released Dean's hand as the nurse finished her work.
"Your turn, handsome," the little, old woman smiled, patting the side of the bed for Dean to sit on it. Shrugging out of his jacket and flannel, Dean sat where she gestured and rolled up his sleeve.
"Oh, big veins," the nurse grinned. "Just like I like to see." Dean grinned at her and made a fist to pump his veins up more. The nurse made quick work of getting blood from him and soon had her samples.
"I'll get these to the lab," she said as she exited the room. "You kids just yell if you need anything."
"Thanks, ma'am," Dean said politely as he pulled his shirt and jacket back on. "Where'd Sam go?" he asked, looking at Lindsey expectantly.
"He said he needed to make a phone call," she replied as she pulled her covers up.
"So, med school, huh?" Dean tried to make conversation.
"Yeah," Lindsey replied, wondering just how much she should tell this guy. She mentally shrugged. It wasn't like she would ever see him again. "When I was seventeen, I was in a car wreck with my aunt. I laid on top of her until the paramedics arrived so she wouldn't bleed out. She didn't make it. Since then, I've kind of been obsessed with saving people." Dean chuckled slightly. "I don't see anything funny about that."
"Oh, no—no, it's not," he defended. "It's just—well, that's Sammy and I do. It's kind of the family business." As if he heard his name, Sam reentered the room.
"I just passed the nurse. She said they put a rush order on your blood work. Didn't want to delay the family reunion," he chuckled.
"So when will we know something?" Dean asked, impatient.
"Soon," Sam replied, "within the hour." Lindsey looked up to the clock on the wall and gulped. It was twenty til. What if these guys really were her brothers?
Right on time, the elderly nurse returned to the room at 4 o'clock on the dot, positively beaming.
"Congratulations, kids! You're family!" she announced happily. Hayley and Lindsey exchanged a look of utter shock. Sam and Dean seemed to be having a silent conversation between themselves.
"Thank you!" Sam said, feigning excitement. The old woman grinned ear-to-ear.
"I'll leave you alone now," she smiled. "Give you a chance to catch up." With that, she took her leave and shut the door behind her.
"Dude, what the hell?" Dean demanded.
"I don't know," Sam shook his head. "We need to call Cas," he looked at Dean expectantly. Dean huffed and rolled his eyes.
"It's always me," he nearly whined.
"Because he always comes when you call," Sam reasoned.
"Who is Cas?" Lindsey asked. She didn't want anymore long-lost brothers. Two was plenty, thank you very much,
"He's a friend," Dean waved her off and he folded his hands and bowed his head. "Cas, we need you, man. Some real freaky shit is going on down here and we need some help." Hayley and Lindsey shared a horrified look. Was he praying? Who were these guys and who the hell was Cas?
There was a rustle of wings and trench coat before a man appeared in the room. Hayley screamed while Lindsey grabbed whatever weapon was nearest to her—in this case, it was a TV remote.
"Who the hell are you?" she demanded, chucking the remote with all the force she could muster. Cas easily caught it and turned to Sam and Dean, confusion written across his features.
"Hayley, get out of here," Lindsey nearly begged. "Don't tell anyone about this. I'll call you when it's over." Hayley shook her head in refusal but quickly gave in when Lindsey shot her a pleading look. She quickly crossed the room, careful to give Cas a wide berth and shut the door behind her. All the while, Cas observed Lindsey in bewilderment.
"What creature have you two found?" Cas asked, regarding Lindsey hesitantly.
"Creature?" Sam questioned. "Cas, that's no creature. That's our sister."
"Sister?" Cas tilted his head. "But that is not possible."
"You're telling us," Dean huffed. "Do you know anything about this, Cas?"
"I know nothing of this, Dean," Cas replied. "What I do know is that this girl's soul is more tainted with grace than I have ever felt. Even vessels who are housing an angel don't radiate with this much grace."
"What? Are you saying she's half-angel or something?" Dean demanded, giving Lindsey a sidelong glance.
"No, Dean," Cas shook his head. "I'm saying the only possible way for her soul to be encapsulated with that level of grace is if she was surrounded by angels in her early development."
"Lindsey, have you ever been to heaven?" Sam asked.
"What? No!" Lindsey scoffed. "What are you guys talking about? What's grace? How the hell did he just zap in here?"
"It will all be explained in due time," Cas said gently. "Dean, I know nothing of this, but this girl is important. Keep her safe."
"Of course, Cas," Dean nodded.
"And not 'safe' like Adam," Dean visibly flinched at the name. "Keep her with you at all times."
"Alright, alright. I'm not gonna let another sibling get killed by some monster," Dean assured.
"Monster?" Lindsey demanded. "Look, I don't know what's wrong with you two or your freaky friend either, but I want nothing to do with this. You guys need help, and I'm sorry I can't be the one to give it to you, but I'm done with whatever this is." She began to untape the IV in her arm when Cas grabbed her by the shoulders.
"You are in danger right now. If you walk out that door right now, you put everyone you care about in danger. Anyone you see, your friends, your family—they will be hunted by heaven and hell. These boys—your brothers—they can protect you until we find out what the angels wanted with you in the first place," his voice was low and gruff. Something in his eyes told Lindsey he was telling the absolute truth about everything. She felt her tears prick with tears.
"But if angels want me, it can't be bad," she reasoned, clearing her throat of the lump that refused to go away. "I mean, come one. They're angels!"
"Yeah, and angels are dicks," Dean explained. "Not you though, Cas," he backtracked as Cas shot him a look.
"Ok, fine. For argument's sake, if angels are 'dicks', why should I trust you?" she demanded, shrugging her shoulders from Cas's grip.
"Because we trust him," Sam responded.
"And why should I trust you?" she looked at her new brothers.
"Because we're family," Dean said. Lindsey sucked in a breath to keep the tears from falling.
"I don't want to be a part of this," she moaned, burying her face in her hands. Sam looked to Dean. They didn't comfort each other much, but they would be damned if this girl, their little sister, tried to shoulder things like they did. Dean walked to her bedside and sat down, pulling her to his chest.
"Shhh," he hushed her, gently rubbing circles on her back. "It's alright. Sam and I are going to keep you safe. Cas is going to find out what the angels want with you."
"What about my parents?" she cried. "You said I put them in danger. Who's going to protect them?"
"We know some tricks," Sam assured her as he sat on the other side of the bed, patting her knee. "Cas can ward their house against angels and we can plant some hex bags on them to hide them from those winged-douchebags and the demons." Lindsey hiccupped and nodded as she wiped the tears from her face.
"Can you really keep them safe from whoever is after me, Cas?" she asked.
"Yes, I'll do that on my way to find someone who can tell us what is going on," Cas assured.
"Thank you," Lindsey sighed.
"You two need to get her out of town," Cas told the boy. "Go at least three states over and ward your hotel room. Pray to me tonight and I will come to you."
"Cas, man…" Dean trailed off, "should we be expecting a fight?" Cas looked at Dean for a long time, to the point that Lindsey became slightly uncomfortable, but when she looked at Sam, he only looked vaguely annoyed, like her was very used to this.
"I do not know what we can expect, Dean," Cas responded. "All we can do is keep the girl safe and find out what role she plays in this."
"What role I play in what?" Lindsey demanded.
"The apocalypse," Cas answered before disappearing just as quickly as he had arrived.
So now we have a little more to work with! Any guesses as to who knows what's so special about the boys' sister? Any suggestions to make this better? Let me know! Please review!