Taylor opened his eyes. The sky outside was painted in pink and orange as the sun rose behind the trees. He stretched and rolled over. He wasn't immediately surprised that Dean wasn't in the room but his bed was still made from the day before. He kept his steps quiet as he walked down the stairs. He needed to be on high alert just incase something was wrong. He heard soft snoring coming from Bobby's office and poked his head in. Dean had fallen asleep in the chair and Bobby had his head rested on his desk. He glanced back over his shoulder and saw Sam passed out on the couch. He back tracked and went to the kitchen. He quietly made a pot of coffee and grabbed a tray of cinnamon rolls from the freezer. He turned the oven on and placed them inside. He made two cups of hot coco and grabbed a few of the papers from the top of the box that Marie had found. Kate wasn't downstairs so she must still be asleep. He carried the mugs and papers up and sat at the top of the steps so he could prevent her from running down too early while also being able to hear the oven timer.
Kate woke up not long after and was surprised to see Taylor sitting on the steps. "Taylor?"
Taylor pointed to the extra mug of coco. "Sit. they are all asleep downstairs. I didn't want to wake them up."
Kate sat with her back against the wall and sipped her coco. "Why are you out here?"
"So I can hear the oven. I put some cinnamon rolls on." Taylor answered.
Kate smiled at him. "Are those the papers?"
Taylor handed her one. "Yeah. I just grabbed a few. I figured if we look at each piece we can try to connect some dots. This one is just an old deed."
Kate fought the urge to sneeze. She rubbed her nose and looked at the paper in her hand. "This doesn't look important."
They looked over the pages and made a few notes but overall they were underwhelmed. The oven beeped and they both went down to check the rolls.
Kate grabbed some stuff from the box and sat it on the table. "Maybe we should sort it by time period."
Taylor nodded. "That is a good idea. Do you think bacon is too loud?"
Kate snorted. "What?"
Taylor flicked his eyes toward the hall way. "It crackles when you cook it."
Kate grinned. "I can't speak for Sam but I don't think Dean or Bobby would be mad if they got woken up by bacon."
Taylor grabbed some that Marie had sent. "I'll bake it."
Kate scrunched her nose. "That they may get mad at."
"Just trust me on this." Taylor said with a smile.
Kate stretched. "Do you want to take a bet on what Dean's first word will be when he wakes up?"
Taylor thought about it. "He will probably wonder why we didn't wake them up."
Kate giggled. "5 dollars it is a single word that is either bacon or coffee."
Taylor shrugged. "I'll take that bet. If it is two words you lose."
Kate looked back down at the papers. "I'll work on sorting this while you do that."
Taylor pulled out a pan and lined it. He knew how to crisp bacon in the oven. He was fairly certain that Dean would still approve. He grabbed some fruit and sliced it too. He knew his way around a kitchen, thanks to Marie, but when he was home alone he felt like he would be wasting food. Having five people in the house meant he could show his skills a bit more.
Dean started to wake up and sat up in the chair. He popped his back. They had stayed up looking over the demon information. He rubbed his eyes and yawned. His brain registered the smell and he looked at the clock. He saw Bobby resting his head on the desk and quietly left the office.
Kate heard Dean's unmistakable sock footed shuffles coming down the hallway. She grinned at Taylor and waited.
"Bacon?" Dean said, groggily.
Kate grinned bigger. "Pay up."
Taylor faked a frown. "That isn't fair. You've known him longer."
Dean rubbed his face. "What?"
Kate handed him a mug of coffee. "We made a bet. I said you'd wake up and the first thing you said would be coffee or bacon. Now he owes me 5 dollars."
Dean ruffled her hair. "Do I smell bacon or not?"
Taylor tilted his head toward the oven. "You do. It is almost done."
Dean licked his lips. "Oh, cinnamon rolls too?"
Kate motioned for him to sit down. "Yup."
Taylor pulled the bacon from the oven. "Kate said you'd have an opinion about baked bacon but try it first."
Dean scoffed. "I'm not a snob."
Kate eyed him. "Turkey bacon?"
"Is a crime." Dean finished. "I do not question Taylor though."
Taylor laid out paper towels and placed the bacon on top. It took some of the grease away. He put a few pieces on a plate with a large cinnamon roll and handed it to Kate.
Kate sat it down in front of Dean. "I'm going to start writing down reviews on this stuff. I think Marie would like that."
Taylor grinned. "Oh she would."
Dean looked at the bacon. It was thick cut. "Is this from her too?"
Taylor nodded. "The pigs are really cute but also really tasty."
Dean took a bite. "Five stars." He said while chewing.
Kate tossed him a notebook. "Write it down."
He pushed it away from him. "I can't right now." He dug into the cinnamon roll and thought that he might tear up a little. "How are these so good? You can't mess up a cinnamon roll but damn."
Taylor made two more plates. He added fruit to Bobby's with an additional helping to Sam's. "Katie, can you carry one of these or grab the coffee?"
Dean smirked.
Kate grabbed the coffees and followed Taylor.
Taylor put one plate on the coffee table by Sam and the other next to Bobby. He tilted his head as he read the notes under Bobby's arm. He took the coffee from Kate and sat it down. "I maybe shouldn't have read over Bobby's shoulder but is that true?"
Dean nodded. "Yesh." He said with a mouth full of food.
Kate cocked her head to the side.
Dean waved her off. "One of those books that Marie sent had some stuff on how to kill demons. Kill them, not just send them back to hell."
Kate's mouth dropped open.
Dean nodded again. "We are still working on what some of it means but Marie's dad has information that none of us has ever seen before."
Taylor made his own plate. "That is crazy."
Kate took a slice of bacon from the pan. "How long have those books been there?"
Taylor furrowed his brows. "I'm not sure. Before my mom was born so 40 years or so."
"We are also trying to figure out what symbol is on some of them. Maybe that will help crack a few codes." Dean said.
Kate went back to sorting through papers. She couldn't look at the books until Bobby woke up.
Bobby eventually stirred and cracked his neck. He was too old to be falling asleep at his desk. He looked down and saw the food and coffee. He took a sip of the coffee and carried it to the kitchen. "I wasn't aware we did breakfast in bed."
Kate let him set his coffee down and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Bobby patted her back and then swatted her. "Stop using your abilities."
Kate let go of him and smirked. "If you aren't in pain you'll be less grumpy."
Bobby poked her side. "I'll show you grumpy."
Taylor saw Dean's cup getting empty and refilled it.
Bobby raised an eyebrow. "What is all this?"
Dean unquestioningly sipped the coffee. "He's like the mother we never had."
Taylor looked at Dean. "Oh but you get all bent out of shape if someone claims you use a dad voice."
Dean put his hands up. "I'm not complaining."
"So what is this about killing demons?" Kate asked from her end of the table. She pulled out another stack of papers to sort.
Bobby swallowed his bite of bacon. "There were a few knives forged that are said to have the power to kill a demon on the spot. Those may or may not be real and if they are, there is no telling where we would find something like that. However the book mentioned a spell or potion that may kill demons. The problem is, some of the ingredients are so rare that no one has been successful, according to that book. We have some of the stuff and I can get my hands on a few more things but it calls for blood of a Nephilim."
Kate chewed her fingers. "What is that?"
Bobby rubbed the back of his neck. "The bible mentions them but that is all I know for now."
Sam opened his eyes and saw the plate and coffee in front of him. He reached for an apple slice and popped it in his mouth. He sat up and drank some of the coffee.
Kate looked up to see Sam in the doorway. "No, shoo. The table is being used."
Sam scoffed. "I'll use the counter then."
"What is the purpose in bringing you food if you don't eat it in there?" Kate grumbled.
Bobby picked up his plate. "It appears we aren't wanted."
Sam shrugged. "I'll grab my computer."
Kate added an additional stack to the table and placed sticky notes above each one.
Taylor thumbed through a folder. "This looks promising."
Dean eyed the pan of cinnamon rolls and wondered if he could eat another. He was used to scarfing down food but perhaps, when it was Marie's food, he should slow down and savor it.
Kate looked up and giggled. "The only other time I've seen you look at something like that it was Lacy."
Dean's face gained a pink hue. A dozen come backs ran through his mind and had it been Sam in the room he might have used them. "Shut up."
"Is that information about Scotland?" Kate asked, acknowledging Taylor.
"Yes. More deeds and random papers that prove some of my family lived there but I haven't found anything about Ada or Ewan. I'd be surprised if there is any documentation since most of the clans were wiped out." Taylor said, deep in thought.
Kate read over his shoulder. "It is a start."
Dean took the coffee pot to refuel the forces. "How is it going in here?"
Bobby patted his stomach. "Good but now I need a nap."
"What are we going to do if he decides to go home?" Dean said.
Bobby smirked.
"So get this." Sam said. "Nephilim do come up in the bible but there isn't much about them in the last couple centuries. Apparently they were so powerful that angels hunted them and killed them."
Bobby sighed. "Does it say what they are?"
"No, just that they were more powerful than an angel and were a danger to all." Sam said.
Dean furrowed his brows. "That is vague."
"We are hoping that Marie's father has some information in one of these books." Bobby said.
Dean tapped one of the boxes. "What is in these?"
Bobby shrugged. "Haven't even begun to look at those."
Dean heard a whistle from the kitchen and rolled his eyes.
Kate grinned when she saw him. "You're right. It works."
"What do you want?" He said and put the coffee pot back.
"If I use an ability, I can sort through this. I can connect things more easily." Kate said.
Dean sighed. "Go ahead but you stay here."
Kate scrunched her nose at him.
He sat down at the table and nodded his head.
Taylor watched Kate center herself. He had gotten good at messing with his dad but she had so much more control. She was stronger and had more abilities. It frustrated him a little. He wanted to be helpful but he lacked the skill needed to handle this part of the operation. He had the natural ability to sort but he felt like he was only using a small portion of his brain. If he could learn how to open his mind the way Kate did, he could breeze through lore.
Kate snapped out of her daze and searched through the folder. "Here. Something is off with this one."
Taylor looked at it. "What?"
Kate shrugged. "It is different."
Taylor squinted his eyes. "Maybe it is coded."
Dean scooted his chair back. "Let me know if you find something." Research wasn't his strong suit. Each set of information had two sets of eyes so he didn't see why he would be needed. Lacy had the day off and he had promised her some alone time. "Hey, Bobby. I'm going to hang out with Lacy. Call me if anyone finds anything."
Bobby waved him off with a chuckle.
Dean took a quick shower and freshened up. He let the kids know he was headed out and hit the road. He knocked on Lacy's door and wrapped his arms around her and lifted her. "Good morning."
She rubbed her head against his. "Good morning."
He carried her inside and shut the door. "No kids today, right?"
"No kids."
Dean smiled. "Good. Pack a bag."
Lacy raised her eyebrows. "Where are we going?"
Dean pulled her back to him. "I do believe you are the one that brought up cabins."
Lacy grinned but went to her room to pack a day bag.
Dean's heart felt light. Bobby and Sam were on their way to figuring out how to snuff demons and the kids were happily wading through documents that could answer their questions. He had an actual day off and was going to enjoy it.
Taylor let Kate sift through the endless papers as his mind wandered. He had something sitting at the edge of his thought line. It was like a smell that he knew he had smelt before but couldn't place where. He starred at his hands and furrowed his brows. What did those numbers mean? They had been important enough to be welted into his own skin but it felt like he had forgotten about them. He took out a pad of paper and wrote the numbers down. He thought that they could be a phone number but he couldn't find an area code that matched the numbers he had written down. He broke the numbers into possible patterns. Maybe they were phone numbers but two separate ones. That didn't work. He filled the page with possible configurations and felt his head begin to hurt. He found the paper with the original symbols and rubbed his eyes. One symbol bugged him. He rewrote the numbers but stopped at that specific symbol. He skipped it and wrote down the others.
Kate sat her papers down. "What are you doing?"
Taylor didn't look up. "Looking at the numbers."
"Any new ideas?" Kate asked.
Taylor shook his head then froze. He ran down the hallway and slid into Bobby's office, slamming his shoulder into a shelf.
Bobby startled. "What in Sam hell?"
Taylor rubbed his shoulder. "Sorry. I got an idea."
Bobby raised an eyebrow.
Taylor held up the paper. "The numbers are 38155589." He held up his hand. "Then 06890893 This symbol here, we thought was another 3 but it is slightly different so I took it out." He reached for a new sheet of paper. "We now know that you read this right to left so the numbers are actually 39806860 and 98555183."
"I'm still not connection how that sent you in here like a bat out of hell." Bobby said.
Taylor cleared his throat. "Can you type that in your computer?"
Sam did but shrugged. "Nothing came up."
Taylor looked back at the paper. "Try putting a period here and here."
Sam did. "Coordinates?"
Taylor shrugged. "Maybe."
"Well those are coordinates in China." Sam said.
Taylor growled and frustration. "Its right there and I feel like it should be obvious." He focused hard on the paper in his hand. "Try a hyphen in front of the 9."
Sam sighed but did it. He stared at the screen as it slowly loaded a new page. "Huh, Kansas."
Taylor let his breath out. "Where in Kansas."
"Lebanon. The center of the US." Sam said.
Bobby rubbed his chin. "You might be onto something."
Kate couldn't figure out what that meant. "Should we go check it out?"
Sam shook his head. "That is over five hours away."
Bobby rolled his eyes. "Your road trip buddy is out frolicking about in the woods at the moment."
Kate cringed. "Ew."
"We could see if anything comes up about the area." Taylor said.
Bobby pushed his chair back. "I've seen mention of the place." He looked through a few books and found what he was looking for. "Your great grandfather mentions it here but doesn't say what is there."
Kate traced her toes along the rug. "I could check it out."
Bobby eyed her. "You have no connection and that is a sure fire way to push yourself too hard."
Kate sighed.
"I can call my nana and see if she knows anything about it." Taylor offered.
Kate shrugged and went back to the papers.
"Should we fill Dean in?" Sam asked.
Bobby raised one eyebrow. "Do you want to be the one to interrupt him?"
"I'll pass." Sam said.
Taylor called Marie. "Nana, do you know anything about Lebanon, Kansas?"
Marie tried to recall. "My momma and daddy argued sometimes and I remember a rather nasty fight that involved the place but I can't remember why. Truth be told I was busy trying to tune it all out."
Taylor knew that he was right about the coordinates. He had to be. "Anything you can remember can help. It is like putting together one of those big puzzles."
"I don't want you to get too mixed up in this stuff." Marie said.
Taylor sighed. "I'm in it either way. I'll be safe." He paused. "They all really like the food. Thank you."
Marie felt her heart warm. "Don't be a stranger. I'd like to meet the rest of your crew."
Taylor sat his phone down. "The place means something. At least it did to my nana's dad. It is strange that it would come up with the light and also with my great grandfather."
"We can go into town in a little bit and see if the library has anything." Sam said.
Kate was standing over the table with her head bowed. Her neck hurt and she was becoming frustrated. New information meant they could find new leads but it was too much at once.
Dean parked the car in front of a small cabin. It was a hunter's cabin so it wasn't fancy but it was private. He checked his cell signal. It wasn't strong but if there was an emergency one of the kids could do the mind tricks. He opened the cabin door and was glad that it was clean.
Lacy put her bag down. "Cozy."
"Hey, it was short notice." Dean said.
Lacy let him sweep her off her feet. "I like it."
He kissed down her neck. "How about a dip in the lake?"
"I didn't bring a swim suit." She said.
Dean looked at her. "Neither did I."
She gave him a smirk. "I'm not that kind of lady."
Dean pulled her to stand up. "I know for a fact that you are exactly that kind of lady." He took his shirt off and started working on his pants. "Besides, no one is around."
Lacy disrobed and followed him to the lake. "You've been nothing but a bad influence, Dean Winchester."
Dean swatted her playfully. "I've heard that before." He waded into the water and winced at the nip of coldness. He ducked under the water before coming back up and shaking his hair out. "Are you coming in or do I need to come get you?"
Lacy grinned. "I like the view."
Dean swam back and held his hand out. "Come on, I promise I wont dunk you."
She eyed him. "Is that a lie?"
"Bad influence, remember?" Dean said.
She squealed as he pulled her into the water. She loved seeing him at ease. He always seemed to have something on his mind but the childish twinkle was back in his eye. "I thought boys outgrew being mean to girls they liked."
Dean tugged on her hair. "I didn't get that memo."
She swatted at him. "Get back here."
Kate's ears felt warm. She felt her body getting weak. She sat down and wiped her nose. She stuffed the tissue in her pocket and got some water. Taylor had gotten a lead on Lebanon but she was stuck. At times her abilities were strong and at other times she felt like she had run out of fuel. She wondered if the white substance that they had been given was a one time thing.
"Maybe we should look through this stuff for mention of Lebanon." Taylor said as he returned to the kitchen.
Kate rolled her eyes. "I have been looking through it."
Taylor stopped. "I know. I didn't mean to upset you. I just meant looking for that specifically and narrow it down."
Kate leaned her head back in the chair. "Go for it."
Taylor felt like he had entered the room with an angry cat. He stepped back out of the room and went back to Bobby's office. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Bobby looked up at him. "I thought you were looking through that other stuff."
Taylor leaned over his desk. "Kate is a bit grumpy."
Bobby snorted. "Alright, pick a book and look at it."
Taylor sat down in the floor and opened a handwritten book. He felt a slight connection by touching something that his great grandfather once touched. He wasn't sure what had set Kate off but didn't want to be caught in the undertow. He didn't have sisters but Dean had warned him one day to steer clear of her when she was grumpy. So he was steering clear.
Kate covered her eyes. Her head was pulsing. She could feel it every time her heart beat. She had used her abilities but briefly and it wasn't an intense one. She didn't know why it was making her head hurt so bad. She realized she had snapped at Taylor but it was from the pain and frustration. She would apologize later. The sound of the washer spinning and Sam talking filled her ears. She left the table and stumbled through the back door. Outside was less noisy. She saw a bee zip by her and the buzzing sounded like an airplane. She needed to let Bobby know she was in pain but there was no way she was going to make it to the front of the house. She sat down on the ground and tried to calm her heart rate. It was too bright outside.
Taylor stopped reading and looked down the hallway. He didn't hear shuffling in the kitchen. He got up quickly and saw the back door ajar. "Katie?"
Kate glared at him. "Be quiet."
Taylor swallowed. She looked to be in pain. He gently closed the door and let Bobby know something was wrong.
Bobby walked with him and opened the door. He approached Kate slowly. "Are you okay?"
Kate threw her arms around Bobby's neck. "Make it stop."
Bobby carried her inside. "Make what stop?"
"I feel like my head is going to explode." Kate whimpered.
Taylor fidgeted with his hands. He reached out to touch her and felt the tingle of electricity.
Sam put a hand on Kate's head. He moved his hand and ran his fingers down to the base of her skull and massaged.
Kate closed her eyes and focused on the magical fingers that took some of the pain away.
Taylor went back to look at what she was looking at before the headache started. Nothing really jumped out at him. Was she trying to use an ability and overworked herself? Was it some sort of attack? He tried to think like Kate. She was frustrated. He knew that. When he had walked into the kitchen, she had just sorted a stack of papers. He looked through those and stopped when his hand touched a sheet of some type of paper. It felt different. He got a closer look and realized it wasn't traditional paper. He didn't know what it was made of. He read the faded writing. It was just a receipt. He went to place it on the table but the light reflected just right. He tilted it and got a better look at the writing. He wondered why his family member had kept a receipt to begin with?
Kate started to get sick to her stomach. She felt like she had the flu.
Taylor heard her groan and walked back into the living room. "Is it getting any better?"
Bobby shook his head.
"Alright, I'll run a bath. That seems to help." Sam said. He ran up the stairs and turned the water on. He hated seeing her in pain. It went straight through him and he couldn't stand it.
Taylor frowned deeply. He went back and looked through the papers. He closed his eyes and tried the refocusing thing that Kate did. If he could figure out what she was looking at, he could figure out why she was in pain. It had to be ability related.
Sam returned and scooped Kate out of Bobby's arms.
Kate grumbled about her clothes getting wet.
Sam came back with one of his own t shirts. "Here."
Kate was dizzy but managed to swap shirts.
Sam took her arm and helped her get into the bath. "Easy does it."
Kate lowered herself down into the water and closed her eyes. She could still feel her heartbeat in her head but the warmth was welcome.
Taylor was growing frustrated with himself. He just wanted to help. He held the paper up again and then held it to his face.
"Son, what are you doing?" Bobby asked.
Taylor turned red. "Um, smelling the paper."
"I see that but why?" Bobby chuckled.
Taylor swallowed. "This paper is different than the rest. There is something weird about it and I think it is what made Kate sick."
"So you thought sniffing it was a good idea?" Bobby asked with a raised brow.
Taylor held the paper out for Bobby. "Look at it."
Bobby held it with two fingers and glanced over it. "It does feel different." He walked outside with it to make it easier for his eyes to take in. "That is some interesting ink too."
"Why would someone keep a receipt that long? It has to be important." Taylor said.
"What did it smell like?" Bobby asked.
Taylor blushed again. "I don't know. I couldn't place it."
Bobby looked him over. "You feeling anything?"
Taylor shook his head. "No sir."
Bobby held it closer to his face and cringed. "Son, that ain't ink."
Taylor tilted his head. "What is it?"
Bobby went back to holding it with two fingers. "We could test it but I do believe that may be blood."
Taylor looked down at his hands. He had the sudden urge to wash them. "Why would someone write that in blood?"
"I don't think this is paper either."
Taylor's mouth dropped open.
Bobby took it inside and put it in a plastic bag. "If she is reacting to something I'd say that is it."
Taylor used the sink in the laundry room to scrub every inch of his skin from nail tips to elbows. Was he going to get sick too?
Bobby took the paper up to Sam and Kate. "We think that you may have touched this and didn't react too well to it."
Sam reached for it. "What is it?"
Bobby shook his head slightly.
Sam peaked into the plastic bag. "Is that papyrus?"
Bobby grimaced.
Sam didn't see the grimace and touched the edge of the paper. He drew his hand back and instinctively went to put the tips of his fingers in his mouth due to the burn.
Bobby smacked his hand away. "Don't do that."
Sam ran his fingers under the water. "Bad habit."
Bobby shut the top of the bag. "It isn't paper. It is skin."
Sam's face flashed a look of horror.
"Did it burn you?" Bobby asked.
"Felt a bit like pins and needles but stung." Sam said.
Kate turned her head. "So what does that mean?"
"It means that I am going to double bag this and put it on the highest shelf possible. I can take it down to my buddy in a few days and he can figure out what type of skin that is." Bobby said.
Kate shifted lower in the tub. That would explain why her head was killing her. The paper was important but something was blocking her. If she could clear her head and approach it at a different angle she might be able to tell what type of animal the skin was from. If she could do that they could look up what type of people used hide for paper.
Down at the lake, Dean wrapped a towel around Lacy's shoulders and went back to the cabin. It was a warm day and he was thankful that the trees offered enough shade to make the cabin comfortable. He checked his phone but had no new messages. He wanted to relax but the hunter in him knew that he wouldn't relax until salt lines were in place. He glanced over at her to make sure she wasn't looking. Part of him felt guilty for being with her. She was not aware of the supernatural and just being with him made her a target. She deserved the apple pie life and he would never be able to give her that. Was he leading her on by being around so often? It wasn't his usual. He was usually on the road. When the kids were back in school, he would be gone more often.
He replaced the salt line and locked the door. He heard her towel hit the floor and sucked in a breath of air. A grin spread across his face and suddenly his worries were gone. "Hey, I thought I was the bad influence."
