Charlie woke up in a dark room. She had no sense of time because the bunker was underground. She checked her phone and saw that it was still the middle of the night. She couldn't sleep, probably because she had slept so long in the car. She turned her light on and sat back on her bed. She rubbed her arms and pulled her hoodie over her head. She wanted to read. She stepped out of the room and used a flashlight that Kate had given her to find her way through the bunker. If she got lost, she would have to wait for someone to find her. She found the library and looked along the shelves for something to read. She found a section dedicated to mythology from around the world. "Gods, more gods, even more gods. Are gods real? Demigods. Oh, goddesses, now that's what I'm talking about." She said to herself. She pulled a book from the shelf and cracked it open. "An overview of mythological goddesses." She flipped the pages and saw that it had different chapters about Roman, Greek, Celtic, and other cultures' goddesses. She shuffled her feet and kept her flashlight on the page she was reading. She made it to the hallway and ran into someone. "Son of a biscuit!"

John reached out and grabbed Charlie's arm before she fell backward.

Charlie squeaked and dropped her flashlight and book.

John let go of her and turned the light on.

Charlie blinked. "Oh, hi."

"Why are you up?" John asked, his voice hoarse from sleep.

"I couldn't sleep so I wanted something to read," Charlie said.

John cleared his throat. "You've got to be careful down here, especially in the dark. You'll get turned around."

Charlie picked up the book and turned the flashlight off. "I used this and made sure I knew my way back."

John gently turned her around. "Rooms are that way, take a right and then a left. You left through the opposite door that you entered from."

Charlie blushed fiercely. "Oh." She looked down at the book. "I hope it is okay that I got this. Maybe it should stay in the library. I didn't even think of that."

John walked back down the hallway with her. "It is fine that you got the book to read. You can take it to your room."

Charlie stopped walking. "How did you find me?"

"Sound carries," John said.

Aside from talking to herself, Charlie thought she was exceptionally quiet. She also didn't hear John walking down the hallway. "What sound?"

"I've been at this for a long time. My kids complain about my hearing." John said with a slight smile.

Charlie gave him an awkward grin. She held the book to her chest and shifted on her feet. "I'll just hang out in my room."

John nodded. "If you need anything and you aren't sure where something is, wake one of us up." He checked the time. "I will be up in an hour or two. Dean gets up early too."

"Oh, um. Thanks." Charlie said. She shuffled into her room and shut the door, quietly, behind her. Well, that was awkward. She sat down on her bed and wrapped her blanket around her. "Is there a goddess of social interaction?" She found a Nordic goddess named Eir. The goddess was said to be a healer. Not only that, she bestowed the healing ability upon women who sought her out. "Hells yeah, female empowerment," Charlie mumbled to herself.

(Next morning)

Dean joined John in the kitchen for a cup of coffee. He really wanted to help with the hunt. Normally, he'd wait for orders. He sat up straighter. "I was wondering if you needed backup on this hunt."

John raised an eyebrow.

"You'd say if you did," Dean said. "I mean, I want to go with you. This creature sounds cool and I want to be a part of the hunt."

"What about the kids?" John asked.

Dean chewed his cheek. "I could get them back to Bobby's and then meet you."

John shrugged one shoulder. "Ask Bobby if he would mind meeting you halfway or driving down here. I don't think the kids will want to leave early."

Dean was expecting a resounding no although he was an adult and a great hunter. "Any ideas about what we are looking at?"

"Sounds like a mythical dragon," John said.

Kate slid on her socked feet. "I told you dragons were real!"

Dean pinched the bridge of his nose. "Dragons are not real."

Kate crossed her arms. "Killjoy."

"At least, a flying lizard with wings is fake," Dean said. He pulled a face. "Why are you up this early?"

Kate frowned dramatically. "I just wanted to spend time with you before you ditched me."

Dean sat back. "How much of our conversation did you listen to?"

Kate shrugged. "Only as much as it took me to walk in here."

Dean patted the bench beside him. "I am going to go with dad on this hunt. You and Taylor will go to Bobby's and Charlie will go back to Marie's house."

"With both of you away, Hannah and I could cover a lot of ground," Kate said, teasingly.

John narrowed his eyes.

Kate blanched. "We won't. I promise. I will remain at Bobby's house."

"Physically and mentally," John said.

"No day dreaming or does mentally just mean not scrying and stuff?" Kate asked.

"That sounds a whole lot like sass. I don't think she's taking you seriously." Dean said.

Kate shoved him. "Now who is the kiss ass?"

"The normal rules still stand. Do I need to repeat what those are?" John asked.

"No sir," Kate said. "I should ask myself 'what would Kate do?' and then do the opposite of that."

John blew air through his nose. "Katelyn, could you stop being a smartass for a minute?"

Kate nodded. "Yes, sir. I know the rules. I will abide by them."

John got up to get more coffee and refilled Dean's mug as well. He placed it back in front of him and made eye contact. "I know someone else that can't stop being a smartass."

Dean acted offended. "What, me?"

Kate smirked. "Name a Winchester who isn't."

John turned his head. "Katelyn."

Kate shoved her hands under her thighs and swung her feet. "Oh man, I have something I want to say so bad but I know I shouldn't."

"At least you didn't say dumbass," Dean said.

Kate high-fived him. "That was it!"

John chuckled. "Do not whine to me next time she turns this on you."

"I don't whine," Dean said.

"I have voicemails that say otherwise," John said.

Dean scoffed. "You wonder where I get it from." He got up. "I am going to shower as I am not wanted here."

Kate rested her elbows on the table. "That sounds whiny to me." She dropped her hands to rub her thigh. "Ow, dude."

Dean grinned. "Now that is whiny."

(A few hours later)

Taylor rolled out of bed. He had been awake but he was making plans for the school year. He was wrapping his head around being on a team again. It was a morale booster for sure. He made a vow to himself to not take part in any questionable activities that the other players took part in, even if it made him look like a dweeb. He thought about the last time that he had a name on his jersey. It was Kuznetzov back then. Now it was Winchester. He liked the second one better. No lame Russian jokes or butchered pronunciation. No one, that didn't already know, would connect him to the house fire and the deaths of his previous family members. He did wish he could honor Bill but that last name combination would be a mouthful. He walked by Charlie's door and saw that the light was on. He knocked and then entered when she said to. "You can get breakfast, you know."

"I ran into your dad last night when I went to look for books. It is hard to keep track of time down here." Charlie said.

Taylor motioned for her to follow him. "It is mid-morning."

Charlie carried her book with her. "Greek and Roman mythology is mainstream but look at this. There are goddesses from just about every culture. How does that work with the big g-o-d? Are all of these really not real at all? I mean, a myth is a myth but some of these are pretty badass."

Taylor looked at the book for a moment. "I don't know. We don't even know if 'god' is real."

"Well, you went to heaven," Charlie said.

"We did but we didn't meet him. Angels aren't like you would imagine them. Who knows what is literal and what isn't." Taylor said. "I guess, we don't sound real. If you read about us on paper, you'd probably picture something different."

Charlie smiled. "You mean not picturing kids?"

"Yep. I look pretty darn harmless." Taylor said.

Charlie eyed him. "You look like you could do some damage."

Taylor snorted. "I've been told I have kind eyes."

"Harmless or not, you guys are cool."

"Oh, don't name drop what we are. Don't ever say the word Nephilian out loud." Taylor explained.

"Who am I going to talk to?" Charlie asked. She stopped before entering the kitchen. "Your secret is safe with me. I wouldn't put you in danger."

"They do that enough themselves. It is a relief that you wouldn't add on to that." John said.

Charlie motioned to her ear and raised an eyebrow.

"We think he can hear a thought before it is spoken. There has been debate on whether or not he has abilities." Taylor said.

John warmed up the extra food. "When your mouth isn't running, you can hear so much more."

Taylor ignored the jab. "He also moves quietly. Have you seen how big he is?"

Charlie's eyes widened. "I know! I didn't even hear him last night."

John turned around. "What were you doing before you ran into me?"

Charlie gave him a sheepish grin. "Talking to myself."

Kate rolled her eyes. "He is just touchy because he doesn't want anyone to know he has powers." She smirked. "See, I can FEEL the look he is giving me. That is his doing, not mine."

"Does Dean have abilities?" Charlie asked.

"Not that we know of." Taylor said.

"No one besides these two," John said.

"Sam did for a while," Kate said. "You don't know for certain that you have no abilities at all. This was genetic, remember." She snapped her fingers. "Dad's girlfriend does!"

John leaned back onto the counter with his arms crossed. "Kate, go run laps."

Kate groaned. "I am providing comic relief."

"You can do that after you have done your laps. Let them eat in peace." John said.

Kate spun on her heel and walked down to the gym. She put her back to the wall and mumbled something under her breath. She waited for a moment and then snorted. "His hearing isn't THAT good."

Charlie ate her breakfast in silence. She listened to Taylor and John chatter. She still wasn't sure how to respond to John. Had he really been mad about the comment? Did they always have to run? How could she run laps inside? Well, the hallways were a maze so she could run laps in the maze.

Taylor washed his plate. "We can go to the gym too. There are thick mats in there which feel a lot better than the gravel when you hit them."

"I like to remain upright," Charlie said.

Taylor nudged her as he walked by. "We can show you how to do that if you ever get attacked."

Charlie rubbed her arm. "I feel attacked already."

John took her plate. "I've got this. You can go with him."

"I can just read books," Charlie said.

"Take one with you." John offered.

Charlie tucked her goddess book under her arm. She stepped into the hallway and looked both ways.

"Walk by the rooms and then it will be the last door at the end of the hallway," John said.

Charlie looked down the long hallway. "It's straight. I can't get too lost." She reminded herself out loud. She palmed her forehead. She really needed to stop talking to herself.

Kate ran by her. "By the way, you should check out the brain of this place."

"It has a brain?" Charlie asked, slightly alarmed.

Kate stopped running. "Well like a computer brain."

Charlie's eyes lit up. "Show me!"

Kate found the door and opened it.

Charlie gasped and ran her hand over the massive computer system. "She's beautiful. Oh my god. Is this all original?" She put her book down and started assessing each piece of equipment. She found the wires and tried to trace them back to a source of power. "So, does this place run on a generator?"

"I don't know," Kate said. "We got here and everything worked."

Charlie knelt down and opened a low cabinet that housed more wires. She held one up. "Where does this one go?" She poked the prongs with her finger. "It is attached to something but not plugged in."

"Don't plug in random things," Dean said. "The last thing we need is for something to blow up."

Kate handed Charlie the user's manual that they found. "She asked where it went. She didn't say she was going to plug it in."

"I thought you were supposed to be in the gym," Dean said.

"I ran laps. If Charlie can understand this stuff, imagine what we can do." Kate said.

Dean raised an eyebrow. "Do what dad said and then you can explain what you are wanting to look at."

Charlie frowned. "The computer is calling my name."

Dean tilted his head toward the hallway. "Ignore it for a minute."

Charlie sighed. She patted the computer's cover. "I'll be back for you later."

Kate skipped into the gym. "I get a pass since I ran, right?"

John raised both eyebrows at her. "No."

Kate put her hands on her hips. "What exactly do you have planned?"

"I want to go over a few things and discuss what will be expected while Dean and I are gone." John said.

"Why in here?" Kate asked.

John pinched the bridge of his nose. "You are wearing my patience thin. Sit down. Keep your mouth shut and wait."

Kate plopped down on one of the benches. She crossed her legs and put her elbows on her knees with her hands clasped, resting her chin on her hands.

Charlie followed Dean into the gym and sat beside Kate. She started to open her book but decided to wait.

"Dean will meet Bobby or Karen halfway. You will all ride back to Bobby's house. Charlie, Marie will meet you there." John said. "You are not leaving today. You will be able to do whatever kind of research that you want for the rest of today and tomorrow. The day after that depends on what time Bobby or Karen can leave. Kate and Taylor, I don't want either of you slacking on training. Dean will oversee that when he gets back. Charlie, you do not need to learn any of that but I do have a few things that I think would be beneficial." John said.

Charlie pointed to herself. "Me?"

"You should never need weapons training or hand-to-hand combat training. If you want to learn those things, one of these three can work with you. Unlike the rest of them, I hold no authority over you. My suggestion is to get comfortable with knowing how to escape restraints and escape in general." John said.

Charlie's face fell. "Why would I need to know that?"

Kate raised her hand and John told her she could speak. "You may not need it but if anyone ever ties you up, you'll be able to get free."

"Why would someone tie me up?" Charlie asked.

"You hack into things. If you step on the wrong toes and do not get an alert soon enough, you may be dealing with the people that you messed with. Running is always your best plan but what are you going to do before that?" John asked.

Charlie ran her hand over the cover of the book. "I'll just stay inside forever."

"It is up to you. That is just my suggestion. Jess knows." John said.

Dean snapped his head up. "How did that conversation go? 'Sam, you need to tie Jess up and see if she can get away.' or did she just decide to after the attack at Stanford?"

"Your brother taught her." John gave Dean an incredulous look and motioned to the three minors in the room. "My point is that it is a good skill to have for everyone."

Dean made a mental note to give Sam a hard time about tying Jess up.

John pointed to the spot in front of him. "Kate."

Kate stood up. "Why me?"

"You are built similar to how Charlie is." John answered.

Charlie put her book down. "I don't want to break my thumbs."

John nodded. "So you know about how to get out of handcuffs. There are other ways that do not require broken bones but if that is your last choice, broken thumbs are far better than whatever whoever handcuffed you have planned."

Kate held her arms out. "It also depends on if your hands are behind you or in front." Kate showed her how to make space between the restraints before they were put on. "If someone is tying you up, press against the restraints as hard as you can. Any space you create will keep them from being tighter. After they leave, you can use the space to slip the restraints." She wiggled her wrists and managed to get her finger into the knot that John tied.

Charlie was actually interested in what they were showing her. She learned a few things and then let Kate put zip ties on her wrists. She tried to break the ties like Kate did and whimpered. "Ow, that hurts."

"It does. I can't say you get used to it but if you hit it hard enough it just hurts for a moment." Kate said.

Charlie tried again and was successful. She rubbed her wrists and held them out to show Kate. They were an angry red and had two sets of welts.

Kate rubbed the welts. "Are you allergic to zip ties?"

Charlie smiled. "No, just a ginger."

Once John was convinced that CHarlie had a chance of escaping if she found herself in trouble, he dismissed them.

Kate returned to the control room with Charlie. "So do these work like a computer does?'

"Yes and no. These are radios and radars. This is all top of the line for the time it came from. Just keep in mind that if this place closed down in the 50s, all of the technology is going to be from that era. Although, maybe part of this," She pried open a plastic cover. "Looks like something they wouldn't have access to back then."

"We need internet." Kate said.

Charlie followed a set of wires to a spot behind the main machine. "It wouldn't be that hard to get." She felt along the edges and found out how to open the panel. "Whoever did the wiring on this knew how to organize the wires. It is so pretty. I just can't figure out what some of these go to and where they start."

Kate held a flashlight for Charlie and helped her trace the wires. "Maybe they run behind the wall."

Charlie got up and dusted her hands on her pants. "This is a lot of hardware. Why is it still working? Why isn't it all working? This place is massive but this," She pointed to a set of buttons and dials. "Would be a radar system. If the lights work, why doesn't this? Then, these other systems seem to go to nothing. Does this place have ventilation? Is it on?"

Kate flipped through the information booklet. "Maybe this will help."

Charlie took the booklet and read through it. She turned to put a name to each item. She ran into the panel that she removed and started to fall. She reached out to slow her fall and hit a button as she steadied herself.

An alarm sounded over the whole bunker causing everyone to cover their ears. Lights flickered and red beams bathed the main rooms in a dizzying array. Heavy metal shields fell in front of the outside doors and a voice message came over the intercom.

Dean ran to the control room and saw Kate and Charlie both looking incredibly shocked. "Shut it off!"

Charlie jumped and tried to find the button that she had pressed. She quickly jabbed the large red one and slid to the floor when the alarm stopped.

"What happened?" Dean demanded.

Charlie was hyperventilating. "I tripped."

Dean rubbed his face. He stepped into the hallway and saw John walking down the hallway.

"The emergency doors lifted," John said. He entered the room. "What happened?"

Kate took over because Charlie was turning colors. "We were using that booklet to find out what things were. She just tripped and her hand landed on that." She knelt down and reminded Charlie to breathe.

John looked down at the map table. It had different colored lights that hadn't been there before. He got Dean's attention and touched one of the lights.

Dean swiped his hand over the table and the map moved. "What the hell?"

Kate whipped her head around. "Whoa, dude. That didn't do that before!"

John looked at Charlie and then to Kate. "Kate, calm her down before she faints."

Kate gently apologized to Charlie and compelled her to calm down. "It's okay. Do you want to look at the map?"

Charlie nodded and let Kate help her up. "That definitely isn't 1950s tech."

"Probably something supernatural," Kate said.

Taylor joined them. "What is that?"

"We don't know," Dean said. "Charlie, did you hit more than one button?"

Charlie looked at the console. "Maybe."

"Don't try to push anything else," John said. "Grab that manual."

Research told them that the map table may be a radar-enhanced map. They just weren't sure what the colored dots were for.

"Maybe these are locations of other bases," Taylor said.

Kate placed her palms on the table and closed her eyes. She was getting a hint of something and was trying to focus.

Dean startled and threw an elbow. "Goddammit. Personal space!"

Charlie blinked rapidly. "Who, what?"

"That is Cas. I asked him to come." Kate said.

Dean shot Kate a glare. "A little warning would be nice."

"Cas, do you know what this is?" Kate asked.

Cas looked at the table for a moment. "I am unsure. It does have a magical property but it isn't like anything that I've encountered."

Kate pointed to one of the dots. "Can you go here and see what is there?"

Charlie was still processing where he had come from and then suddenly he was gone.

Taylor saw her confusion. "That is our angel friend."

Charlie chose to sit down on the floor. "Oh, just an angel." She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her face on her knees. "Bag."

John understood what she meant and sent Taylor to the infirmary to find a paper bag.

Charlie took it from Taylor when he came back. She opened the bag and took deep breaths in and out of the bag. She had finally started to breathe normally when Cas reappeared.

Kate rubbed Charlie's back. "You should sit in the chair."

Charlie was shakey but got into the chair, keeping her paper bag close to her face.

"That was a vampire nest," Cas said.

Everyone looked at him suddenly.

The dot was gone. "Was, huh?"

"There were two, they are both taken care of," Cas said, simply.

"So this thing can find creatures?" Dean asked.

"Surely there are more creatures between here and where those vamps were," Taylor said.

John moved the map around and made notes about the different lights and their colors.

Kate stood beside Dean and watched John swipe the map back and forth with a look of intrigue on his face. "Does he remind you of one of the cats when they get a bug?"

John slowly lifted his head. "Katelyn."

Kate sighed. "I'll just keep my mouth shut."

(Sam and Jess)

Sam sat down at the table and started to read through the course guidelines. Each professor had a different way of teaching and Sam always read the syllabus ahead of time. He made a list of books that he needed and asked Jess to do the same. The college book store often ran out quickly.

Jess wasn't as enthusiastic but added hers to the list.

"We can walk to the book store and then stop for a bite to eat on the way back. "Sam offered."

Jess shrugged. "How do we get all of those books back here?"

Sam held up a backpack. "I should be able to manage."

Jess pulled him down so that she could kiss him. "I sometimes forget that you are incredibly strong."

Sam picked her up in a hug. "A few textbooks is nothing."

Brady asked them if they were going to the party before school started. It was the same type of party that Sam and Jess met at.

Sam just told him he wasn't sure that Jess was up for it.

Jess walked hand in hand with Sam. "I don't really want to go this year. What if I meet another shy, adorable, geek?"

Sam squeezed her hand. "Hey, I'm one of a kind."

Jess smiled. "I just want to spend time with you."

Sam gathered his books and helped Jess find hers. Luckily, all of the books they needed were accounted for. He paid for them and strategically placed them into his bag.

Jess walked away as she got a call. She answered the unknown number and listened to the man on the other end. "Yes, you have the right number. Oh, you know John. He is my boyfriend's father." She felt her heartbeat harder. "The main house isn't in California but there are numerous places that you can use short term."

Sam walked outside and waited for Jess to be done with her call.

Jess continued talking to the man. "I'll text you the address. Of course. Okay, drive safe."

Sam touched her arm. "What is wrong?"

"That was another hunter that knows your dad. He has three kids and the mother went missing on a hunt. The dad is going to try to find her." She gave him a sheepish grin. "I told him that we would take the kids. It would just be for two nights at the most. Then, they could go to Marie's house if the mother isn't found by then."

Sam rubbed the back of his head. "Three?"

"The twins are 8 and the little one is 2." Jess said.

Sam saw the desperation in her eyes. "What are we going to feed them?"

Jess looked back down the sidewalk. "We could pick up some groceries."

Sam sighed. "Okay, they'll need mats too. I know I can't carry these and whatever we get at the store. I can order food while you call Marie. Then, I'll ask Brady to pick us up."

Jess hugged him. "Thank you!"

A lengthy shopping trip and too many bags later, Jess and Sam returned to their apartment to unload groceries from Brady's car.

Marie immediately sprung into action. Even if the children didn't end up at their house, they were going to have plenty of snacks and goodies to keep them happy.

Sam opened the door to the second room. It was small and empty. He wished they could do more but it was probably a one-time deal. He placed all three mats in the floor. They were actually really comfortable.

Jess unfolded sheets for each mat and placed a blanket and pillow on top. She made sure to get things that children would find appealing.

Sam put a nightlight in the room and placed two more, one in the hallway and one in the bathroom. Once the kids left, he thought about keeping the lights because Jess couldn't navigate in the dark. She could never get up in the middle of the night and not wake him because no wall or door in the apartment had been left untouched by her forehead or toes.

Jess put food and drinks away but also added a few things to a basket. She had learned that from Marie. If the kids were too nervous to leave the room, they could have the snacks from the box. She finished her checklist and stood back. "I hope this is okay."

Sam put an arm around her. "It is more than okay."

Three hours went by and Jess was doubting herself. What if the kids were scared? What if they didn't want to stay and cried? They didn't have many toys and Jess wasn't sure if they were bringing their own.

Sam stopped her and placed his hands on either side of her shoulders. "Babe, take a breath. Maybe sit down for a little bit."

Jess sat down and bounced her legs. "Are we doing the right thing?"

"Yes. They need somewhere safe to go. This is safe. The place is warded and neither of us is a serial killer." Sam said.

Jess frowned deeply. "Sam."

"I know. I'm trying to make you laugh. They'll be okay. They may be scared but this is new and they are worried about their mom and dad. If they go to Marie's house, imagine all the fun they will have." Sam said, sitting down to put an arm around Jess's shoulders.

Jess snuggled into his side and let his heartbeat soothe her. She was just about to fall asleep when the doorbell rang.

Sam rubbed his chin where the back of her head caught him.

Jess kissed him. "Sorry!"

"Look through the door first. You know, traps." Sam said.

Jess waited for him. "I'll let you take the lead on that."

Sam opened the door and greeted a father and three kids. He let each of them walk through the door and checked 'demon' off the list of threats as they crossed a devil's trap.

The man told the kids to take off their shoes and reached to shake Sam's hand. "You are John's younger boy?"

Sam smiled. "Yes, I am."

The man raised an eyebrow. "You were a scrawny little thing last time I saw you."

"I get that a lot." Sam said. "This is Jess. You spoke with her on the phone."

The man introduced himself as James. "This is Caitlyn and Caroline. The little guy is Ben."

The kids looked petrified so Jess got on their level. "Do you want to see where you will spend the night? We also have snacks."

The girls nodded.

Jess took them to the spare room. "This is your room. One day we can get actual beds but maybe it is a little like camping."

Caitlyn was less shy. "Benny likes Elmo."

"Oh, good. I wasn't sure." Jess said. She got to know the girls a little better and won their loyalties with rice crispy treats.

James gave Sam all of the information he needed and a folder with paperwork. "I'm going to try to pick up her trail tonight."

Sam told him to take his time. "Marie will head this way if it takes longer than a day. The kids will love it there."

Ben did not want to let go of his father and made that very clear. He screamed and held onto his shirt.

James felt like crud. "I'll be back, I promise." He gave Sam a sympathetic look. "He's going to be upset at first. Even if I just leave him with a sitter for a date night, he cries."

Sam steeled his heart. "I've got it." He helped pry Ben's hands away from James's shirt. He wrapped his arms around him and let James make a break for it.

Caitlyn frowned. "Ben cries a lot when our parents leave."

Jess went to Sam to see if she could help. She wasn't expecting Ben to leap into her arms.

"He's mad at me for pulling him away," Sam said.

Jess let Ben wrap his arms around her neck. She swayed and rubbed his back. "It will be okay. You're safe. It's okay."

Sam watched her. She had a natural caring instinct. "I'll go talk to the twins."

The twins were a little intimidated by Sam until he sat down on the floor. He looked nice and was just tall.

"Do you think Ben would like to watch a show?" Sam asked.

Caroline spoke up. "It is bedtime."

Sam shrugged. "Are you sleepy?"

Caroline shook her head although her eyes were tired.

"So we could pick a show or movie and watch it. Then, we could all go to bed. I bet we could find some popcorn too." Sam said.

The girls looked at each other for a moment and then both nodded their heads.

"Sometimes, when stuff like this happens, you get to bend the rules a little" Sam said with a smile. He returned to the living room and noticed that Ben was no longer screaming. He was sniffling and holding onto Jess.

Jess continued to sway. "What is the plan?"

"A show and some snacks," Sam said.

Jess helped the girls pick a show and sat down on the couch. Ben was heavy.

Sam gathered a few snacks and brought them back to the living room. He tried to offer Ben something but got a glare and Ben turned his head away from him.

Jess chuckled. She asked Sam to get a blanket and wrapped it around Ben. She finally got him to let go of her and moved him to sit on her lap. She got him to eat half of a snack bar and some milk.

The girls were both about to fall over by the end of the show and were more than willing to go to bed. Sam cleaned up the trash while they both brushed their teeth.

Jess sat down on the floor beside Ben's mat and asked the girls if they would be able to navigate to and from the bathroom and Sam and Jess's room if they needed anything. "If Ben wakes up, knock on our door." She took a book from Caroline and opened it. She read each page out loud and placed it beside their bag when she was done. "Do you want music or something to help you sleep?"

Caitlyn got a music machine from the bag. "This is Ben's favorite."

Jess plugged it in and sat back. She gently rocked Ben. She smiled at him as he looked up at her. "You're going to have to go to bed too."

Ben shook his head and held onto her.

Jess shifted. "Here, you can lay down and I'll pat your back." She barely managed to transfer him without him getting upset. She pulled his blanket over him and rubbed and patted his back. Once all three kids were asleep, she carefully moved her hand from Ben's back and tiptoed out of the room.

Sam had been at the door watching her the whole time. He wrapped her in a hug when she got to the hallway.

Jess turned to look at the kids and sunk into Sam's arms. "This is it, Sam."

Sam kissed her forehead. "What?"

Jess motioned to the kids. "This right here. This is what I'm meant to do."