Lunch had been a whole new experience for Arielle. To any eye watching them during their meal, they would be nothing but a trio of siblings, laughing and teasing each other while enjoying home-style burgers. Even Dean managed to lighten up during the meal before their drive back to Arielle's home.
They made a pit-stop at the library before arriving at the house, and now Sam and Arielle sat with multiple books sprawled around the living room table while Dean sat on the recliner, drinking a beer. Arielle listened attentively, memorizing the details of the second hunting story Sam was sharing. "So then we lit it on fire," Sam finished as Arielle studied an image carefully.
The blonde took a swig from her own beer. "With a homemade flamethrower?" she asked afterwards, running a finger down the page before flipping it.
"Yea. They're easy to build. I'll show you," he said with a smile.
Arielle never had anyone teach her anything, aside from her father. Her mother was always busy with work at the hospital, so Arielle had grown up learning to be independent quickly. She read voraciously and kept to herself. While all the other town kids were out playing and, later on, going on dates, Arielle spent her time at home with her books and writing.
Being an only child wasn't as big a blessing as many of the other kids thought it to be. Her serious personality made many think she was a snob and consequently caused many of the town children to exclude her from events or outings. None ever really tried to befriend her.
It was a lonely life, and for a second, she felt a flash of anger against her father for not allowing her to meet her brothers earlier.
Shaking her head, she collected herself. "That's some job you got here."
"Being a hunter isn't a job, Arielle. It's life," he corrected as he flipped the book close. "You're pre-law. You got a boyfriend, friends?" The blonde shook her head, her cheeks slightly reddening from embarrasment. "Good. If you're really gonna do this, you can't have those kinds of connections, ever. They're weaknesses. You'll just put those people in danger, get them killed." Arielle caught Dean shaking his head from the corner of her eye. "That's the price we pay. You cut 'em out, and you don't look back. There's only one thing you can count on. Family."
"Sam," Dean called out, causing the younger Winchester brother to break eye contact with the blonde to face him. "Can I talk to you?" Arielle rolled her eyes as the two went to the stairs. "What the hell was that?" she heard Dean start.
Sam remained impassive, arms crossed. "What?"
"'Hunting is life. You can't have connections'," Dean said then followed it with a scoff. "Dad gave you the exact same speech, remember?" he pointed out, angry. "It was just before you ditched us for Stanford. You hated dad for saying that stuff, and now you're quoting him?"
"Must I remind you I'm not 12 anymore, mommy and daddy?" Arielle interrupted sarcastically. "So he's quoting dad after bailing. Big deal. People change, Dean."
"And as it turns out, dad was right, "Sam added.
Dean gave him an incredulous look. "Since when?" he asked.
"Since always. Dean, when I look at her, you know what I see?" Sam asked.
The oldest sibling gave Arielle a look over, shifting his weight. "A normal kid."
"No. Meat," Sam corrected. "Because to the demons and monsters out there, that's all she is. I hated dad for a long time. I did," he admitted, shrugging a shoulder. "But now I think I understand. So we didn't have a dog and a white picket fence. So what? Dad did right by us. He taught us how to protect ourselves. Arielle deserves the same."
Dean shook his head, running a hand through his hair. "Listen to yourself, man."
"You think I'm wrong?" Sam challenged.
"I think it's too late for us," he stated, Dean's green eyes going to Arielle now. "This is our life. This is who we are, okay? And it's fine. I accept that. But with you, you still have a chance. You can go to school You could be a lawyer."
"What makes Arielle so special?" Sam questioned.
"What, are you jealous of the ki- uh, of her?" Dean said, glancing again at Arielle.
"Are you?" the younger brother shot back. Dean stayed silent. "All this… it's not real. The dad Arielle knew – he wasn't real. The things out there in the shadows – they're real. The world is coming to an end. That's real. Everything else is just part of the crap people tell themselves to get through the day."
Dean shook his head again, turning away. Arielle noticed the frustration edging towards anger. "Dad didn't have a choice with us," he reaffirmed. "But with Arielle, he did. Arielle doesn't have to be cursed."
"I must be a Winchester already, because if this isn't a curse, I don't know what is," Arielle said, hesitating before stepping up to Dean and placing a hand on his shoulder. "I can handle myself, Dean. Haven't I proved that?"
"No," he stated forcefully, taking a step back and causing Arielle's hand to fall off him. "No, whatever's hunting you, I'm gonna find it first."
Sam rubbed at his eyes, giving an exasperated sigh. "You already looked everywhere, Dean."
Yanking his jacket from the back of a chair, he gave him a final look before heading to the door. "Well then I'll look again." He shut the door behind him and Arielle bit her lip to keep back from saying something she'd regret, eyes narrowed as she lost herself in the tirade in her thoughts.
Sam's hand on her shoulder quickly snapped her out of it. "You alright?"
"No," she answered flatly. "I'm tired of you both trying to fill in the father role. Neither of you are John. And even if he was here, he couldn't have stopped me from going after that monster. I am my own person and I make my own choices."
Grabbing a couple of books, she stuffed them into her backpack. "Where are you going?" Sam asked, his features immediately filling with worry. Arielle rolled her eyes.
"My room. Is that okay? Or should I call Dean and let you both continue fighting over where I spend every minute of my life?" Sam flushed as the blonde pushed past him and marched up the stairs, slamming the door behind her.