"They are home early!" she whispers urgently, shaking him.

"Wha- what?" He mutters, becoming more alert. He fumbles with the sheets and falls into the small space between the mattress and Mai's bedroom wall.

Maybe I am dreaming… Please, PLEASE be a nightmare!

Jett pops up from the side of the bed, "Mai!"

She can hear her uncles opening the front door and stepping through with loud boots. It's unmistakably them. She sends a thankful prayer that they remain downstairs. Mai's eyes flick back and forth across her room looking for a place to stash a boy. There's no space in her closet, she wouldn't risk sending him out her window for fear Sam and Dean would hear, the only place left is the guest room or… She throws her body over the edge of the bed and looks under. It's mostly empty except for a few shoe organizers.

Feet are heard walking upstairs.

Step.
Creak.
Step Step.
Creeeaakk.
Step.

"Get under the bed!" She hisses at Jett and pulls out the shoe organizers.

Where am I gonna put these!?

Jett wiggles under her queen sized bedframe.

Step.
Step.
Step. Down the hallway

SHIT!

Step.
Step. In front of her room.

Mai sees the shadow under the doorframe. Pulling the covers over her head, she burrows into her pillows and hopes he won't open the door. Her breathing stops, her heartbeat hammers through her ears, she waits.

"Mai…?" she hears Sam whisper as he cracks her door open.

I'm going to die. Jett's going to die. Dean will pull out his black eyes and skin us both alive. We are dead. Dead.

She squeezes her eyes so tight, she begins to see stars on the inside of her eyelids. She hears Sam walking across her bedroom floor and stumble over her shoe organizers. The bed sags as he sits down at her back.

"Mai," Sam shakes her. She turns her head to him slowly faking grogginess.

"Uncle Sammy," she mutters in a sleepy tone, "You're home early."

He gives her a sad smile, "Yeah…"

"You okay?" Something is off with him. He rarely wakes her when they come home. She just knows he found out about Jett. Nervous adrenaline makes her sweat, but she remains composed.

"I'm fine, we're both fine. It was just a long trip…" He looks down at her with relief in his hazel eyes. He reaches down and pulls his niece in for a hug, holding her awkwardly with his long arms.

"Oh… okay?" Mai mumbles into his chest. She tries to return the embrace but he has her arm pinned in. They remain hugging for what feels like an eternity, but he finally releases her.

"Why are you're shoes all over the floor?" he asks indifferently.

"I… uh, I'm organizing… my… shoes? Trying to declutter." She smiles awkwardly, and remains thankful that Sam didn't turn the lights on when he came in. Her poker face still needs work.

In the shadows she can see her uncle nodding.

Mai shrugs, feeling unsure of what to do next.

"It's late, I'll let you get some sleep." Sam says as he gets up and walks to the door.

"Goodnight Uncle Sammy." She bids him.

"Goodnight Mai"

As the door clicks closed, she collapses into her bed.

"You're still awake aren't you?"

"Yep."

Jett shuffles out from under her bed. It's six in the morning. A few minutes ago she heard one of her uncles –presumably Sam – drive away –presumably for coffee since they are out. Mai didn't sleep a wink with Jett hiding underneath her; she just fretted and tried to devise a plan for sneaking him out. He sits on the floor against the bedframe awaiting her call.

"You gotta go." She says.

"I was thinking window." He points to the window overlooking the backyard.

"No, no, no, no." Mai shakes her head, "too much risk of them seeing you and then they will attack you and questions will fly and then it's over."

"Over?" he tilts his head to the side.

"Over." She won't go into details.

"Well okay then."

With a grunt she buries her face in her hands. "You just gotta' hide in here, okay?"

"Okay."

"I'll bring you coffee or something."

"That would be appreciated."

"How are you so calm about this?" she asks.

He shrugs, "When you've battled the spawn of hell, this stuff is child's play. This is literally a game of hide and seek."

"Without the seeking. No seeking." She states adamantly.

Mai slides out of bed, feeling envious of Jett's sang-froid. Grabbing a robe she nods to him and slips out the door and down the steps. The kitchen is empty when she enters. The calm before the storm, she thinks. She takes a seat at the table as Sam walks through the front door.

"Good morning." Sam greets her.

She smiles at him and watches him brew some morning magic.

"You're up early." He says as he scoops ground beans.

She doesn't respond, but walks over to the cupboard and takes a mug out to pour herself a cup of coffee. Through the reflection in the front window she sees Dean walk in from the bathroom. A large bruise is forming under his chin and a batch of fresh stiches sit at his hairline just above his left ear. They always come home broken.

"Good morning Dean." She says as she sets the pot of coffee back on the warmer. She turns and smiles at him warmly, all fear and animosity being pushed aside. Sam and Dean glance at each other wearily, Mai catches this.

Clearing his throat, Dean returns her greeting stiffly and sits down with a newspaper. Mai takes the seat next to him, glancing back and forth between her uncles as she takes sips from her mug. Dean peers up at her, noticing her eyes skirting around the room.

"So Dean," she says to him, "How uh… how was the hunt?" she sets down the mug, clasps her hands together, and sends him a polite smile. Out of the corner of her eye she can see Sam has stopped, standing across the table from them with a bowl of cereal in his hands.

Dean peers up at her, "We came back alive." There's a harsh quietness in the air that's only disturbed by Sam's loud chewing.

"Do you guys want to go out for breakfast?" She offers, "It's been forever since we last went to Waffle King as like a family, you know?" She bites the inside of her lip nervously.

Dean shuffles his paper, not looking up, "No, I want to be home. I've eaten out for the past two weeks."

"I'm good with cereal." Sam responds, shoving another spoonful in his mouth and walking out to the living room.

"Sounds like a plan then…" she mutters, taking another sip of coffee.

Dean turns a page of the paper, the sound of rustling newsprint cuts through Mai like a knife. Anxiety is killing her. Her phone buzzes.

'1 New Message'

Jett Rhone (8:45 A.M.): Are you going to be okay?

Dean looks up at his niece for a second, "Who's that?"

"A friend." Mai answers

"A friend…" she hears him mumble under his breath.

Mai Winchester (8:46 A.M.): I'm fine.

'1 New Message'

Jett Rhone (8:48 A.M.): Bring me up one of those doughnut things from yesterday!

Mai Winchester (8:50 A.M.): okay.

"Which friend?" Dean probes.

"Walter" she lies.

'1 New Message'

Jett Rhone (8:52 A.M.): How long do you think till they leave?

"Who's 'Walter'?" Dean asks, setting down his paper.

"My friend from school," she doesn't look up from her phone, "Sam knows him."

"This is the first time I've heard of him."

'1 New Message'

"Uh… Mai?" Sam walks in from the hallway, "When'd you get these?"

In Sam's hands is a pair of Jett's black skinny jeans and one of his graphic tee-shirts. Dean's mouth falls open slightly then snaps shut; he furrows his brow. Sam looks at her questioningly but waits for a decent explanation. Mai can feel her face turning red in panic.

Does he think he's moving in; just throwing his stuff wherever?

"That is! Uh…"

"Oh god," Dean moans, rubbing his face with his hands, "She's sneaking boys into the house." His tone is sarcastic, but the words make her freeze.

"No!" Mai nearly shouts. Both uncles stare at her.

"I bought them." She announces, "They are mine. I bought them at the second hand store."

"Guys clothes?" Doubt is laced in her elder uncle's voice.

"They didn't have any girls black pants; I was going to take them in."

"'The easiest thing to do is say fuck you'?" Sam tilts his head to the side as he reads the shirt.

"Who doesn't love… uh, Bad Religion…?" She covers.

Lying. Lying liar.

Sam sets the clothes on the table and pulls a chair up next to the small girl. She tries her best to maintain eye contact without flinching. She can cover this, she's got this lie. He tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and holds her left lobe in his fingers, eyeing it carefully.

"Uh… What are you doing?" she asks.

"Looking for obscure piercings."

"What?" she pulls back, pushing his hands away. He places another hand on her shoulder and looks down at her with deep puppy dog eyes.

"Mai, am I going to walk into the bathroom and find hair dye and a razor?"

"I'm confused…"

"Hey, you know what, if you want to go punk, I support you," he smiles jokingly, "But give us some heads up. And I'm not cleaning your hair off the floor after you shave the sides for a Mohawk."

"No! I'm not a punk." She pushes herself out of her chair and walks over to the coffee pot, "Also that's awfully stereotypical."

Sam laughs, "Come on, 'Bad Religion', black jeans, that's just… different for you. What are you doing?"

Mai looks down at the mug in her hand, "Getting coffee…?"

"You don't put sugar in your coffee." Dean interjects, "You don't put anything in your coffee."

You know that?

"You know, people can change. I'm allowed to experiment." Snagging a doughnut from the box on the counter, "You guys are gone all the time anyway…" she mutters to herself and grabs Jett's things from the table, "I'm going to my room."

"Mai." Sam shouts as she hurries up the steps. She hears him say something to Dean but is too far up to discern their whispers.

Either they are talking about me, or talking about me and Dean… either way, not good.

When she opens her bedroom door, the place is empty. She closes the door and locks it just to be sure.

"It's me. I brought you coffee." She sets the doughnut and mug on her desk. She checks under the bed; no one. Looking around the room, Mai begins to panic. Her phone buzzes.

'2 New Messages'

Jett Rhone (8:53 A.M.): Actually forget about the doughnut.

Jett Rhone (9:06 A.M.): I left. Till next time Miss Mai.

Mai stares at the screen for a moment and processes that he's gone. It's what she wanted, but it saddens her.

Mai Winchester (9:09 A.M.): See you soon?

'1 New Message'

Jett Rhone (9:12 A.M.): See you soon.

She pulls her hair up out of her face and pulls Jett's tee-shirt on. It smells like him. Given that it's his shirt it should smell like him. Mai looks at herself in the mirror. "The easiest thing to do is say Fuck You" it reads. It doesn't say much for Jett, in fact she doesn't think he even listens to Bad Religion, but it does smell like him. That cigar/amber mix is the key to Jett; it's his signature. She clicks the roof of her mouth with her tongue and gives herself another once over. The shirt is so big you can't tell she's even wearing shorts underneath it. Mai doesn't care though. This is Jett's shirt.

It isn't her first time eaves dropping. She prides herself on knowing all the best spots for listening in on conversations. To hear what her family is saying about her now, she squats on the fourth step from the top and peers through the banisters. In this position she's just out of view from said individuals she's spying on, and quickly able to return to her room if they suspect she's listening. Her legs are already beginning to cramp.

"I've stayed out of this for the most part, but it has to stop Dean."

"It's not my fault that she's so damn stubborn!"

"You can't keep being at odds with her, she's your family. I figured last night would have helped you see that."

"We're fine Sammy!" there's a pause; "…I'm not her father."

"…we're the best she has Dean…"

"I know!" he raises his voice in irritation.

"Honestly, the more I… the longer I think about it I worry that we failed."

"Whoa, whoa, no. Don't go down that road."

"No, seriously Dean."

"Sammy, we already had the 'What the hell are we doing, we can't be parents' conversation; years ago after we ran her mom's case."

"I know, she didn't have anywhere to go but with us, but-"

"But nothing, she's our responsibility, and we didn't fail her, she's fine."

"You guys have been cold to each other for two years Dean. Two years of awkward silence and stiff conversations and it's not getting better."

"What do you want me to do Sam? Have a slumber party and talk about our feelings and bake friendship cookies?"

"If that's what it takes."

"We are fine. I'm over it. I don't know why she acts like she does."

"Dean, she's hurt!"

"She kicked me out Sam!"

"See, you're not over this!"

"I'm done talking about this."

"…"

"…"

"…what do you make of the new clothes?"

Dean sighs, "I think… I think! I think teenage girls are the worst."

Sam laughs, "You never thought that when you were younger."

"Yeah, well, raising one is a whole other animal …Hey who's this 'Walter' guy she's talking to?"

"Just a friend of hers from school. I checked him out, he's harmless."

"You sure about that? Sure that he's not into 'Bad Religion'?"

The conversation goes silent. Mai imagines Sam is shrugging.

"Maybe this really is just a phase."

"Maybe," Dean says, "Or maybe…"

"Yeah…"

Maybe What?

"I should go pick up some food." Sam's tone has changed, but Mai can't place how, "We're out of the essentials." Sam gets out of his chair and Mai scoots back trying to remain out of sight. She watches him walk out of the house keys in hand. Behind him is a trail of boot tracks.

One rule. No shoes in the house. I only have one rule!

Dean doesn't get up. Mai tentatively leans in and sees him sipping from a coffee mug. He tips it sideways revealing that it's empty. With a grunt he pushes away from the table, out of Mai's sight range. She can hear him rustling though a cabinet. Glasses click together, dishes shift across the shelves. He pulls something out of the back and unscrews a cap.

Whiskey…

Her foot has gone completely numb; a nerve is probably being pinched. She leans back and sits on the top step, out of sight. Without thinking, she pulls her phone from her back pocket and scrolls down to Jett's texts. He ran off without a proper goodbye again. Granted this was a unique situation, but it doesn't sit right with her.

I thought I told him not to leave like that… She bites at her cheek and thinks back to last night; back to holding onto him in the dark and feeling something. Safety? Possibly. Comfort? Probably. But there was something else that stirred inside her. She doesn't want to think about it.

"Cas…" she barely hears Dean's voice.

Cas? Mai perks up her ears and holds her breath.

"I don't know where you are or if you can even hear me... But I… I need to know you're okay out there."

Voice mail?

"We need you Cas." Dean murmurs. He tilts his glass and takes another drink, "Call us; just call us okay?"

…Hunting buddy maybe?

"…Amen or whatever."

The house phone rings. Dean answers and walks into the living room. Mai ducks around the corner trying to remain hidden.

"No, I haven't heard from him-" Dean's voice fades as he walks deeper into the house.

Cas. She feels like she should know that name, but she can't remember any mention of it. Eight years she's lived with her uncles and they've never talked about a 'Cas'. Dean's tone held concern and almost anxiety. Mai feels slightly bitter about the worry he expressed. He used to show that kind of distress when she was hurt. Apparently there's someone more important out there.

Maybe "Cas" is a woman. Why the "amen"?

"I see you up there."

Mai jumps at Dean's voice. He is standing at the base of the steps with his arms crossed. She clenches her chest and feels a wave of adrenaline wash over her.

"Jesus Dean."

"Come on," he turns to the door and waves for her to follow.

She shakes out her stiff leg muscles and walks down the steps. Dean is already halfway to the barn by the time she's gets out the door. Mai doesn't bother putting on shoes. The gravel pricks her soft feet so she steps carefully. Dean is already working on removing the rusting dashboard when she enters. Without being asked Mai drags a heavy toolbox over and roots through for a screwdriver.

"Have you worked on her at all?" He asks from inside. His voice echoes against the body.

Mai shakes her head, "Not much." She taps the screwdriver against his leg. He reaches down and takes it from her hand.

For a few hours they work together peacefully. Few words are shared except for Dean's instructions. He never mentions her listening in. Sam still isn't back when Dean calls for a break. Mai walks towards the house but he pulls her back. There's a grave look in his green eyes as he wipes oil and grease off his hands with an old towel.

"We need to talk." He says.

"About what?"

He frowns at her, "About that night." He stops rubbing is hands.

Please don't do this. Please don't be trying to have this conversation.

"We're fine Dean." She has an overwhelming urge to run but refuses to move.

"Mai, we both know that's crap. Things are different than they were two years ago."

"We're different people than we were two years ago," she says softly, leaning against the car and looking out towards the house.

"Yeah, I know that…" he pauses. "I'm sorry." Dean waits for a response but she doesn't give him one, "And…" he takes a breath, "I don't know what else there is to say. I don't know what you want from me."

"I don't want anything from you."

She can feel his stare burn into her back. The image of the monstrous Dean flashes in her head. Mai pushes it away and focuses on the peeling paint of her dilapidated farmhouse. Dean shuffles his feet and runs a hand over his face. She wonders what her uncle is thinking. She figures he must hate her. Her fists squeeze into tight balls.

I know he's only doing this for Sammy…

"I can't change what happened." he tries, "I can't change how I reacted."

"I'm not asking you to."

"You hate me."

You hate me too.

"No."

"Then what is it?" His exasperation is evident in his voice and on his face. Confusion is also blossoming but Mai is still looking out away from him. She can't bear to talk to him face to face. She figures she'll start crying; from pain, fear, or harbored anger, she doesn't know which.

"I'm not mad at you anymore…" she sighs.

Liar.

"Then what? You're just done with me?" Dean snaps. He rests his elbow on the truck and runs a hand through his hair. She digs grooves into her palms with her nails. Turning back to her, "It was a mistake." he imparts, "Mai, I'm sorry. I was sorry two years ago, I was sorry for two fucking years." He takes a step toward her, she takes a step back. Dean sighs. "You wanted me to leave and I left." he mutters.

She laughs a sharp breath, "You act like you didn't want to go back out there, like you don't love hunting." Her arms fold over herself.

He turns to his niece, jaw clicking and frustration in his eyes, "I wanted to be together. We're family!"

"You wanted to save people." Anger wells up inside her. Only now does she realize how embittered she had become. "You always hated that I held you back!" her palms sting from squeezing so tightly.

"Hey!" He pulls her to face him and holds her arms to prevent her from moving away. "Mai, look at me." She won't look at him; her face is stern and tight. "Mai Winchester, don't you ever think that you held me back from hunting. …Mai!" He shakes her, trying to catch her eye. Mai just feels small and helpless in his grip. She tries to wiggle free, but his hold is strong.

"You're my niece. You're my family. I don't have a lot of that left." She figures he's trying to be reassuring, but his voice comes across harsher. "I chose to stick this out and put hunting on the shelf. I chose that."

"Then why did you leave me?" Tears begin to form in her eyes. She struggles to free herself. The anxiety of being held defenseless by Dean causes her to heart race. The last time she felt so powerless, she dreamed she was being pinned down and burned alive but said uncle.

"You kicked me out!" he exclaims.

"I was fucking fourteen!" She screams at him, "You're the fucking adult Dean!" tears fall down her cheeks. "Let me go!" She says through her shaky breathing.

Dean softens his grip and steps back. Mai just falls to the side of the car and cries harsh, sad, ugly sobs. She tries to bury her face into the chipped green paint and hide from her uncle. His face has softened but he just stands and stares at her. A few seconds pass and he attempts to form words but can't seem to verbalize a response. Mai hates everything about this moment. She hates feeling these emotions again, being reminded of that night, being reminded of how shitty her life had become, feeling a whole new level of abandonment, feeling scared and feeble and broken. She hates feeling anything.

"I… I messed up." Dean says finally, "I should have stayed with you…"

Mai's tears begin to dissipate, "No shit."

He paces the barn, rubbing a hand over his face. She hears him mumble obscenities under his breath. While he has his back turned, Mai wipes her face with the hem of Jett's shirt. She tries to regain control of her breathing, but it remains weak. Sniffing and frowning with glassy eyes, she wraps her arms around herself. As Dean turns around her gaze drops. He squats a couple feet from her. Even squatting he still looms over her.

Too tall. Is all she can think.

"I'm sorry…" he says softly.

The teenager pulls herself in tighter, "it doesn't matter now."

"Yes it does." He drones.

"…Why did you leave Dean?" her voice is hallow.

He leans against the car next to his niece and silently stares at a workbench and for a few moments. She looks up at his face. There is sorrow and guilt in his eyes.

"We were supposed to be better than this…" there's a rasp in his speech. He looks lost and frail. She's never seen her uncle so distraught, so broken. He tightens his fists now, visibly frustrated with himself. This low, sad Dean is nothing like the demon in her dreams. This is her uncle. He's just a man. He's her family.

Fuck…Dean… that's not an answer.

She waits for answers, for him to say anything at all, but he never responds. A few moments pass before she stands up and walks back to the house, slamming the front door behind her.

Asshole. Still an asshole. Just pitiful one…

A/N: Thank you to everyone who followed and favorited this fic! And to those who commented thank you as well! I love hearing from my readers, you guys are the best! xoxo