Chapter 12

"Bobby how do you like your chili?"

She heard a loud crash.

"Balls!"

She ran out of the kitchen and into the study to see Bobby with several books in chaos around his wheelchair and a broom in hand pointing at the top shelf.

"You could have asked me," she said with a small smile and began picking up the books and putting them back.

"I can handle it," he gruffed, rolling back over to his desk.

"Because that ended so well," she teased, standing back on her tip toes to reshelf the books," Which one did you need?"

"The green one with the white binding."

She pulled it out, set it in front of him, and gave him a kiss on the cheek," If you won't ask for help for your own safety then can you do it for my peace of mind?"

"Is that why you asked the boys to leave you behind?" he asked as she went back to shelving books," To take care of my wheelchair condemned ass."

"Bobby Singer I'd be taking care of you whether your ass was in a wheel chair or not," she said with a chuckle.

"So why are you here then?" Bobby asked," Somethin' happen I should know about?"

"Uh…no," she mumbled," I just needed a little time."

"It's been a week," he said, crossing his arms.

She glanced at him with a smirk," If you're getting tired of me than just say so."

"I could never get tired of you," Bobby said sincerely," I just know you're itching to be out on a hunt."

She sighed, putting the last of the books away, "Is it that obvious?"

"Yes," he said without hesitation, "So why are you still here? I just gave them a maybe case not too far from here. If you leave now you can be there the same time as them. You don't need to watch over me."

"Me being here has nothing to do with that," she said quickly," It's just… I need some time."

"You said that already," he relied carefully," You just didn't give me a why."

She didn't answer.

"And from that I glean I ain't gonna get one," he said and because he knew her better than most he did what she knew she wanted, dropped the subject," I could use some of that chili."

"You got it," she said with a grateful smile and went back into the kitchen.

SUPERNATURAL

Dean glanced at a woman who was eyeing him across the bar. She gave him a wink and he mustered a smile. He was trying to get information about the poker game, but all he could think about was Addy. He needed to clear his head of her.

"Fuck it," he muttered to himself and picked his phone out of his pocket.

He dialed the number and waited, leaning against the wall.

Addy rolled over in bed, her phone's ringtone going off. She glanced at the clock to see it was way too late. She'd passed out right after dinner and hadn't gotten up since.

She picked up her phone without checking the caller ID, "Whoever this is can it wait until morning?"

"Hello to you too princess."

"What is it Dean?" she asked, rolling her eyes.

"I just thought I'd tell you we're making progress on the case," he said and slapped his palm to his forehead.

"And you couldn't wait until a decent hour to tell me this?" she teased.

"I know. Sorry for waking you I just…" he trailed off.

She sat up, very much awake now," Is everything okay?"

"I needed to hear your voice," he said.

"What's wrong?" she asked, curling her knees to her in anticipation of bad news.

"Nothing," he said with a chuckle," I just… I…uh…"

"You miss me," she finished for him in realization.

"Yeah," he admitted," I miss you."

"I miss you too," she said with a small smile and a flutter of her pulse, but then she snapped out of it," but seriously Winchester. It's too late for this."

"I thought a guy calling at two in the morning to hear a girl's voice is romantic and shit like that," he complained.

"Well go call a girl who thinks that then," she said with a chuckle.

"So what do you think about guys that call at two in the morning?"

"In my experience it's for one of three reasons."

"And what's that?" he asked.

"Drunk dial, booty call, or phone sex."

"Well get to dirty talking," he teased and she was glad he couldn't see her because the blush on her face was growing.

"Too early for that," she said with a nervous chuckle.

"And I'm not wasted enough for a drunk dial."

"Guess you have to call later than."

"Or you could join us?" he blurted out.

She sighed," I'll join you guys on the next one."

"Is this about what you told me the other day?" he asked, "Because it doesn't change-"

"Dean, I just…"

"Just what?" he asked, sounding exhausted," Needed some time. Some space. Some distance. I've heard it all before, but what I haven't heard is the truth."

"Dean, let's not do this now."

"So what's the right time to talk about it then?" he asked," Tomorrow? Next Week? Next Month?"

"How about never?" she asked into the phone, raising her voice in annoyance.

"Oh yeah and that's healthy," he snarked back.

"Because you're so good at communication?" she countered.

"At least I make an effort," he said, his frustration coming through," I tell you how I feel, which ain't a picnic by the way, and you just shut me down."

"You know why!"

"Oh yeah because of Sam," he said with a scoff," Do us both a favor and admit this is less about Sam and more about the fact that what we have, whatever the hell it is, scares you! You can't handle falling for me so you just shut me down and pretend like it's not happening."

"Oh I can't handle you!" she yelled," Let me tell you something Dean. I can handle whatever the hell you or any other cocky son of a bitch throws at me!"

With that she ended the call, angrily slamming her phone down.

Dean pulled the phone from his ear and stared at it in his hand," Stubborn little…"

"I know that look anywhere," the bartender said, pouring another shot of whiskey for him," This one's on the house. No man gets that frustrated unless it's 'cuz of a woman."

"You got no idea," he said and shot back the amber liquid down his throat," Frustrating doesn't even cover this one."

The man chuckled," Does it ever? Maybe I can help."

"Doubt it," Dean replied and slid a bill across the table," but there is something else you can help me out with. What do you know about poker games 'round here?"

Addy flopped back into her pillows with an angry huff. There was no way she was sleeping now. She crept out of bed quietly, despite her angry spirit and tip toed down the stairs. Making her way into the kitchen, she flicked on the lights in the study and flopped down on the couch.

"Screw you Dean Winchester," she mumbled under her breath.

Suddenly, something dawned on her. In all the time she'd spent with Bobby and in all the times she'd woken up from nightmares and wandered down here, he'd always been up in the middle of the night reading a book or having a late night snack.

"Son of a bitch," she said, shooting straight up and running up the stairs to Bobby's room to see it was empty. She searched the entire house, screaming his name and finding no signs of him. She saw the keys and the file he'd kept on the case were gone.

"Stupid, stubborn, son of a bitch" she mumbled, barging back into her room and furiously packing her belongings and getting dressed. She grabbed her cell phone and began calling Bobby. It rang once and then went straight to voicemail. She tried Dean and Sam with the same result.

"Well now there's gonna be hell to pay."

SUPERNATURAL

She'd driven all night and day like a maniac. The rules of the road were not even in her vicinity of thought as she sped down back roads and highways with a permanent scowl. She'd tried calling every single one of them nonstop and still no answer. She'd left so many angry voicemails that she was sure her voice was horse from all the threats.

She'd finally made it and after doing some research she'd narrowed down a few motels they could be. She'd already gone to two and hadn't found anything. The sun was beginning to set and when she pulled into the parking lot in one of the busted ass cars from Bobby's junkyard and saw the Impala amidst mini vans, she knew she was in the right one.

She pulled a hairpin from her messy bun and stepped towards the car. With a cautious look around, she began picking the car's lock. It gave way and she slid inside. She knew Dean shoved receipts in the glove compartment. She grabbed a handful and looked for the ones with the newest date. She found the one for the hotel and on it was stamped the room number.

She made her way to the room and stopped at the door. She saw movement through the room window and she banged furiously on it and stepped back, her arms crossed.

When it opened, she stpped back with a gasp and whispered," Dean?"

He smirked," You recognized me. Guess I don't look that bad."

She stared at him with her mouth agape. The door opened wider to reveal Sam and Bobby.

Dean waved a hand in front of her face," You gonna stand there and stare all day or are you gonna get in here?"

"How…why…" she stuttered as she walked inside and looked to Sam," What the fuck did I miss?"

Not too long later, they'd explained everything to her. She sat on the bed with a dazed look.

She looked to Bobby," Okay let me get this straight. So you decided to come here all on your own and help out. You found the poker game, you played, you lost, and you started dying."

She looked to Dean," And then you went in there, half assed, lost, and now you're Chuck Norris' older brother."

"I saved Bobby's life," he added.

"And lost most of yours in the process," she countered and all of them looked like scolded children," Oh and let's not forget about the part where no one thought to call me and tell me this was happening."

They sat in silence as she got up and went over to the window, her back to them.

"Addy I know you're upset but-" Bobby began and she turned back to them and said," Oh I'm not mad."

"Wait for it," Dean mumbled under his breath.

"I'm fucking furious," she screeched at them and all of them flinched," What the hell were you two thinking?"

"I was thinking I was saving Bobby's life," Dean defended.

"Shut it old man," she screamed at him and looked to Bobby," What's your excuse?"

"Don't you yell at me, girl," he said, matching her tone," I don't expect you to understand."

"Oh I don't understand," she said with a scoff," I understand just fine. You're getting old, you're in a wheelchair, you feel useless and you're losing your will to live."

He didn't respond and sat in silence.

"You knew as soon as you went in there that this guy wasn't some sell your soul devil bitch working black magic 'cuz she's a bored housewife," she continued, still fuming," You knew this wasn't going to end well. Do you not understand that for all the years he wins off of you he takes them for himself? He was probably playing poker when Shakespeare was born. This is some old level magic. It would take me years to learn this shit and I cannot believe that either of you was stupid enough to even touch it!"

"Addy we-" Sam began, speaking up for the first time.

"And you knew damn well that you should have called me," she yelled, turning to him," All three of you are dumbasses!"

"I was saving Bobby's life!" Dean repeated.

"I know, Dean! I get it! That doesn't mean I can't still be pissed alright! I mean look at you! You're thirty! Thirty!" she finished her rant.

"Well there's no use sitting around here and bellyaching about it," Dean gruffed.

"Bellyaching could kill you at your age old man," Addy snarked under her breath and he shot her an un-amused look," Do we even have a plan?"

"We were gonna do some recon on him," Sam said and she sighed heavily.

"You're gonna follow a possibly centuries old Dark witch?"

"That's the plan sweet cheeks," Dean said with a smile.

"Don't call me sweet cheeks while you look like that," she said with an angry huff.

SUPERNATURAL

Addy stood look out outside the apartment's door, waiting for Sam and Dean to come back with the chips. She tapped her foot impatiently as she made sure to survey her surroundings.

She turned her back for a second and sensed something behind her. She turned abruptly to see a man standing behind her with a smug grin on his face.

"Now what's a pretty little thing like you doing outside my humble abode?" he asked in a thick Irish accent.

Quickly, she glanced at his door," Waiting for you of course."

He chuckled," My reputation has brought me a Detrov. How lovely. What brings you here? I thought Lucifer might have you all tied up…literally."

She didn't answer as she clenched her fist involuntarily at her sides.

"I didn't mean to offend you, love," he said with a smirk," Just making conversation. My name's Patrick."

"Addy and I came here looking for help," she lied, trying to buy Sam and Dean some time," You've been around for a long time. Maybe you know a few secrets that I don't about Lucifer."

He leaned in close to her ear and whispered," You and I both know that's not what you're here for beautiful."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath," You have something I want."

"Let me guess," he said, circling her slowly," I took years from someone near and dear to you."

"And I want them back," she said simply.

"Or what?" he asked, stopping behind her.

She gulped, "Or I'll kill you."

He laughed deeply and she turned to him with a frown," You don't think I'll do it."

His face sobered," I know you won't. Besides do we have to be so uncivilized? I'll give your friend his years back…if you play me for them."

"Not gonna happen," she said, staring him down," I'm not letting you screw me over."

A loud crash was heard from inside the apartment and Addy let out a deep sigh. He turned to her with a smug look," I see you have friends. So do I."

She rushes past him into the apartment to see a woman causing Sam and Dean to double over in pain.

She throws out her hand and the woman goes flying back. She runs over to the brothers. Sam gets up easily, but Dean can barely move.

"Are you alright?" she ask, slowly pulling him up.

"I'm fine," he grumbles as she turns back to the two witches.

The woman was getting back up with Patrick's help and glared at Addy with murder in her eyes. He put a gentle hand on her shoulder to stop her from retaliating.

"It's all right, sweetheart. It's all right. They're harmless," Patrick said to her and then looked to them," You boys want chips? Take 'em. They're just chips, Einsteins. It's showmanship. This may come as a shock, but the magic does not lie in a pile of crappy plywood or in any phony abracadabra. It's in the nine-hundred-year-old witch. You would have known that Addy if you hadn't run away from your abilities. Hell, you could actually fix him yourself or even take me on, but of course you can barely control the vast power you hold."

She clenched her jaw in anger," Go to hell."

"Oh I'm sure I will one day, but not today. You boys want years? Score 'em the old-fashioned way. Texas hold 'em."

"Fine. Let's do it," Dean said, stepping forward and Addy pulled him back with a warning in her eye.

Patrick pulled a card from his pocket," What card am I holding up?"

Dean strained to see it and didn't give an answer.

"That's what I thought. If your eyesight's that bad, what about your memory? I'm not a murderer. You, on the other hand..." he looked to Sam.

"Not a chance in hell," Addy said, stepping up to him," I may not be able to beat you but if you so much as try to take years from him I'll give you a fight. I might not win but you can bet your ass I'll do some damage to you and your little bitch."

"Feisty," he said with a smirk," Oh I like that, but still not enough for me to change your boyfriend back."

She glared at him and then her gaze softened," I'm asking you as one of our kind to another…please?"

He seemed to take pity on her," Once the magic's done…it's done. The only way you can get it back is if you play the game."

His lapse in cruelty just made her angrier," Than be prepared to find out who you're messing with."

With that, she shoved past him and shot the woman a look. Sam and Dean followed after her.

"Addy wait," Patrick called after her when they were out the door," I truly am sorry."

She turned to him with a gaze full of hatred," Shove it up your ass."

SUPERNATURAL

Addy quickly descends the stairs with Sam and Dean following behind her.

"Addy," Sam calls after her, but she doesn't stop.

"Addy," he calls again and she still doesn't stop.

"Addy," Dean calls softly and finally, she stops mid step and turns to him," What's wrong?"

"You're dying," she said her voice cracking.

"I'm only seventy five," he attempted to joke.

She shook her head," You don't understand."

"What don't we understand?" Sam asked as she looked up at them from the bottom step.

"You wanna know why I automatically knew it was you opened that door?" she asked, looking at Dean," When Patrick took your years and you didn't get them back it left behind this…energy."

"What do you mean?" Dean asked.

"I can see you wasting away, Dean," she said with sad eyes," It's like you have this light around you and ever so slowly…it's fading. I can see you dying and because I don't know how to use the power I have I can't stop it."

Both of them were silent as she waited for one of them to say something. When neither of them responded she turned around and continued down the stairs.