Taylor's ears were ringing as he tried to process what just happened. He couldn't. He was torn between grief, anger and fear. He couldn't settle on one emotion and felt himself shredding.
Karen quietly sent Dean to Bobby's office when he came back inside. "I've got him."
Dean was unsure. "He may boil over."
Karen gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "You help Bobby." She went back into the kitchen and asked Kate if she needed anything.
Kate didn't need anything necessarily. She was also torn. She did the thing she swore she'd never do. No one knew. Everyone was focused on Taylor. Would telling them at that moment be the best choice? She wasn't going to hide it. She just didn't know what to do with the information.
Taylor put his cup in the sink and started to walk out of the kitchen but his feet were stuck.
Karen gave him a hug and patted his back. She gave him a minute and smiled when he let his muscles relax. "Sit and talk."
Taylor didn't want to talk. He summoned a demon. He put people in danger. What was there to talk about?
Karen guided him to the table. "You two wanted me to take up for you. I cannot promise to change anyone's minds but you can stop fretting about your dad for a minute. You are going through something and need to sort that first."
Taylor shuffled his feet. "You don't want to get into the middle of it."
"Yes, I do. Your dad isn't home. Dean told you to focus on the grief tonight. I don't think this is nearly as black and white as you think it is." Karen said.
Taylor crossed his arms on the table and rested his head. "Seems cut and dry. I summoned a demon."
Kate brought her knees to her chest. "Did you mean to?"
Taylor was silent for a while. "I was in a blind rage. I didn't set up a summoning spell but I was ready to rip a hole through the earth if they didn't show up." He sighed, "but I knew you had the ability to do that."
"I don't know if I have the ability or I have impeccable timing." Kate said.
Taylor met eyes with her. He didn't know what he saw on her arm in the car but he had a sinking feeling.
Karen was soft spoken. She wasn't afraid that Taylor would snap but she thought that he might if he felt threatened. He was already beating himself up, he didn't need a lecture at that time. "Tell me about Kyle."
Taylor sat back. "What about him?"
"I know most of your previous family treated you poorly." Karen said.
Taylor had spotty memory. "Kyle was so much older than me that he was out of the house before I really got to know him. He wasn't mean. I remember a few times when he would come home and visit. He brought a candy bar from one of the places he was stationed in. He always seemed a little distant. I guess, looking back, I know why. Meg said that he made a deal to protect me. Craig couldn't trigger one of my abilities. We thought my abilities were just dormant."
"It sounds like Kyle cared about you." Karen said. "He is in heaven now?"
"Yeah." Taylor said.
"Regardless of how it happened, that is one thing you don't have to worry about." Karen said. "He's lucky to have you as a brother."
Taylor felt like he got punched in the stomach. "He wasn't even really my brother." He caused someone to sell their soul and he wasn't even blood related. He was a burden to everyone he met.
"This bunch isn't your family by blood but would you be as shocked if someone here cared?" Karen asked.
"No but I live here." Taylor said.
Kate chewed on her knuckles. "He probably knew a lot more than we think he did. I mean, he wouldn't make a deal if he didn't have good reason. People don't just make deals out of nowhere. I mean… some people do but most people don't. That isn't even on the radar for most people."
Taylor rocked slightly. "How deep does this go?"
"Someone back in Scotland just signed the whole family up for trouble." Kate said.
"It hurts." Taylor said.
"I cannot say that I know how badly this hurts you. I know how badly I hurt when Lauren was lost. This wasn't your fault." Karen said.
Taylor snorted softly.
"Taylor, look at me." Karen said, "This is NOT your fault."
"It basically is." Taylor said.
"Do I need to go get Bobby since you insist on arguing with me?" Karen asked.
Taylor couldn't help the slight smile that crept across his face. "Dad can't kill me if Bobby does it first."
Kate cringed. "He'd make me revive you."
Karen was happy to hear some humor although it was morbid.
When Dean reentered the kitchen he could tell right away that both kids were at ease.
Karen gave him a slight smile and a nod of her head.
Kate turned around. "You can't start lecturing because Karen said you can't."
Dean smirked. "Is that so?"
"I'd listen to her. I don't think Bobby would hesitate in kicking your butt." Kate said.
Dean grimaced. "I didn't come in here to fight."
Taylor sighed. "He's mad, isn't he?"
Dean ran his fingers through his hair. "Well, he isn't happy but there is more to this than you jumping out of the car." He held his hand up to keep Taylor from arguing. "I'm in older brother mode. He got a phone call from Missouri before we were done talking. So, I'm assuming she has some strong opinions."
Kate loved Missouri. If anyone was going to calm John down, it would be Missouri.
Karen rubbed Taylor's arm. "Maybe now is a good time to get some rest."
Kate stood up. "Pick a dream and I'll knock you out."
"That's what I used to do to Sam when he wouldn't go to bed." Dean said, jokingly.
Taylor was balancing on a very thin thread of calmness. The slightest move would send him down a spiral. He knew that about himself. He figured that he did need the rest and if Kate could help him, he wouldn't cause anymore trouble for the night.
Kate followed him up the stairs. She waited for him to get ready for bed and asked him if he was really okay.
"No." Taylor said.
Kate frowned. "What can I help you dream about?"
Taylor was blank. He didn't deserve nice dreams.
Kate switched to sitting on his bed.
Taylor remembered her arm and grabbed it.
Kate looked into his eyes. "Not now." Taylor started to sit up but Kate forced him into a dream about Hailey. What happened with Crowley was a burden that Taylor didn't need. No one needed that burden. Dean was exhausted. Should she wait and tell him later? Should she get it over with so that he didn't think she was hiding it? How would she explain something like that. She shut the bedroom door behind her and slowly descended the stairs. If Missouri was talking to John, she might already know. She felt her stomach drop. Dad mad and Dean mad were just different enough that she preferred making Dean mad and not John.
Dean heard Kate shuffling down the hallway. "Kiddo, come in here."
Kate turned the corner. "He's asleep." She looked from Dean to Karen. If Karen was there, Dean was less likely to strangle her right away.
Dean saw Kate's face and his own fell.
Kate met eyes with him. "I think we need to talk."
Dean schooled his features so she didn't see the grimace he held back. "About Taylor?"
Kate's lip wobbled. "No."
Dean pulled a chair out beside him. "What's on your mind?"
Karen started to walk out but Kate told her to stay.
"This is all complicated. You are stretched thin. I need to tell you something and I know you are going to be angry. I was going to wait until tomorrow because you already have enough on your mind but then that would look like I was hiding it and backfire horribly. But it isn't exactly time sensitive and it is pretty late so I could just tell you tomorrow after you get some sleep." Kate rambled.
Dean tilted her chin so she'd look at him. "Tell me tonight."
Kate frowned deeply. "What if you can't sleep?"
"I'm already going to be up." Dean said.
Kate considered her options. "If you can't function or are too angry, I can help you sleep. You need the rest."
Dean narrowed his eyes.
"I'm not going to compel you. I wish I could but I learned that lesson. I am truly scared that you are going to crumble." Kate said.
Karen sat down across from them. "If I feel as though something needs to be done, I can make an allowance."
Dean trusted Karen. "Okay."
Kate chewed on her thumbnail. No matter what, he was going to be broken. She hated doing that to him. He looked older than he was at that moment. His eyes were tired. She couldn't decide how to break the news. She didn't want to put any of the blame on Taylor because it wasn't his fault. She didn't mean to get pulled to him but he didn't mean to pull her either.
Dean turned Kate's chair so she was facing him. "I'm listening."
Kate's eyes were teary. "Maybe don't tell dad until things with Taylor blow over."
"I can't promise that." Dean said.
"Make sure he doesn't get into additional trouble over this since it wasn't his fault." Kate said.
Dean sighed. "I think I can swing that."
"I think when Taylor got out of the car and Meg showed up, I got pulled to the scene. I don't know if he was in such anguish that it created a magnet effect or if I sensed something." Kate said.
Dean took a tissue from Karen to give to Kate. "So, you saw everything?"
Kate shook her head.
Dean pulled her to sit in his lap.
Kate panicked momentarily but Dean put his arms around her. She didn't have to look him in the eye and she felt more comfortable. "Crowley was there."
Dean was slightly confused. "Meg said he sent her."
"To the frontlines, yeah." Kate said. She wished she could go back and change things. "Maybe he is the one that pulled me."
Dean had an eerie feeling building in his bones.
Kate didn't know how to tell him so she decided to show him.
Dean watched writing appear on Kate's arm and neck. "What the?"
Kate gave him a second and let it fade away.
Dean's breath hitched. He quickly shifted her so that he could see her face. "Katelyn."
Kate avoided his eyes.
Dean grabbed her arm by the wrist and held it up. "What was that?"
"He was going to kill you." Kate mumbled.
Dean was certain his heart stopped. "What is on your skin?"
"There were hellhounds." Kate said a bit more quietly.
Dean stood her up and took both of her hands. "Tell me why you have writing on you."
"Crowley stopped me. Kyle's soul was in hell. Taylor was trying to get Meg to let his soul go. Crowley had hellhounds and cornered me." Kate said, trailing off.
"Did you make a deal?" Dean asked.
Kate couldn't look at him.
"Katelyn, did you sell your soul?" Dean asked more firmly.
Kate shook her head. "He wants Abaddon gone too. He didn't want my soul. He wanted me to promise to get rid of her. He wanted a partnership."
"No. No you can't work with a demon. They are demons, Kate." Dean said.
"You had a hellhound on you." Kate said.
Dean blinked rapidly. He did have one try to lunge at him. "Then you let the hellhound have me."
"No." Kate said. "I couldn't. There were several of them and my hands were tied. If I didn't say yes, everyone would die."
Dean wrapped his arms around her and crushed her in a hug as though he was trying to keep her from blowing away. "You promised to get rid of Abaddon?"
"I have to. He took my blood too." Kate said.
Dean held her back at arm's length. "What for?"
Kate shrugged. "I don't know but he can't do anything bad with it."
"Katie, he's a demon." Dean said.
Kate looked down at her feet. "It's kind of written in blood."
Dean was terrified. "He let Kyle go."
Kate nodded her head. She thought Dean was about to start the expected ass kicking but he sat her back in his lap and wrapped her in his arms. Was he angry? Was he trying to calm down?
Dean bounced one of his legs. He saw Brian's decline as his deal drew to an end. He could never let Kate feel fear like that. She didn't sell her soul but did she, in a way? Once Abaddon was gone, would Crowley honor his end of the deal? Somewhere in the back of his mind he wanted to throttle Kate but he was scared that letting her go would mean that she'd get dragged away. He saw older Kate give Crowley a vial of blood. What did that mean? He should have been able to do something. "Shit."
Karen slowly got up and put a hand on his back as she left the kitchen.
Kate started to get worried after a while. "Dean?"
Dean brushed hair from her face. "Yeah?"
"Do you hate me?" Kate asked.
Dean gave her a stern look. "Why would you ask me that?"
"I messed up. I did the thing that you told me not to do." Kate said. "Is dad going to double up on whatever you do?"
Dean's heart broke a bit more. "I'm not going to whip you."
Kate looked at him like he had three heads.
"I am not a parent. I am stepping back. It is nothing that you did. I just don't know how to deal with any of this. It sounds like you didn't have much of a choice." Dean said.
Kate's mouth dropped open.
"Tonight, is not the night for me to hand out lectures or ass kickings." Dean said. He furrowed his eyebrows. "How did that conversation go?"
Kate blinked.
"Did you just hash it out or what happened?" Dean asked.
Kate mumbled something under her breath.
Dean cleared his throat. "You called him a coward?"
"I mean… yeah." Kate said.
Dean popped the side of her leg. "How many times do I have to tell you not to sass demons?"
Kate rubbed her leg. "I don't know any other way to communicate." She saw a slight smirk on his face and was relieved that he wasn't pissed off. "As far as sass goes, using it on demons has proven to end far better than with you and dad."
Dean snorted. How could the tiny person in his arms get herself into such a horrible situation? How could she face a demon and argue? How could she keep herself together? Was she not scared?
Kate went back to chewing her nails. "I can ask Karen if I should help you dream."
"I don't need help." Dean said.
"You've aged 20 years." Kate said.
Dean took a deep breath. "I feel like I have."
"I'm really sorry." Kate said.
"Me too." Dean said. "I guess this explains that drop that you felt."
Kate dropped her hand from her mouth. "I do have the same feeling now."
Dean patted her leg so she would stand up. "You need to get ready for bed."
"How do you expect me to sleep?" Kate asked.
"I'll crash in your room." Dean said.
"To make sure we don't conspire or because you want me to feel safe?" Kate asked.
"I can multitask." Dean said.
Kate left him to go upstairs. She thought she knew how that conversation was going to end and it didn't involve being hugged to death.
Dean heard the bathroom door close and went to Bobby's office.
Bobby had gotten the short story from Karen. "Maybe you need a drink."
Dean sat down. "I don't know if that is the best idea." He stiffened slightly when Karen put her hand on his shoulder. He felt like she was going to knock down the rest of his wall and he was going to embarrass himself.
"I am proud of you." Karen said.
Dean gritted his teeth. Dammit how was he supposed to except that?
"This is all heavy but you handled it well. Those kids are lucky to have you." Karen said.
Bobby raised an eyebrow. "You might need to give him a minute."
Karen looked at Dean's face and stepped away from him. He was too proud to breakdown. She knew he needed to but gave him the space to breathe.
"I'll crash in their room." Dean said.
Bobby thought that was a good idea for all three of them.
Dean got up and made his way upstairs. Everything hurt. His head and heart hurt. He saw Kate's bed empty but quickly realized she had taken a spot on the floor.
Kate sat up. "Don't try to argue with me about sleeping on the floor."
Dean raised an eyebrow. "You do not make the rules."
Kate gave him a small smile. "I'm comfortable and feel guilty. You taking the bed helps me feel a little better."
Dean stepped out to get his own stuff and returned to the kids' room. The next day was sure to be difficult as the shock wore away. He desperately needed a word with older Kate but had a feeling she wouldn't be showing up any time soon.
(John's conversation with Missouri)
John closed his eyes and took a deep breath before answering Missouri's phone call.
"You best park and talk for a while." Missouri said.
John had just gotten the news about Taylor and his head was about to explode. "I need to get home."
"No you need to park so we can talk." Missouri said.
John knew that there was nothing he could say to Missouri that would get her to let it go. He reached a good place to turn off the interstate and parked his truck.
"Don't tell me you're about to go do something stupid." Missouri said.
John pinched the bridge of his nose. "I hadn't planned on it."
"That isn't what I saw." Missouri said.
John leaned his head back. "Something happened with Taylor and yes, my first reaction was anger. I know things aren't that easy." He took Missouri's silence as one of her tactics. "Do I need to give you the run down or is that something you saw too?"
Missouri tsked. "Sarcasm isn't your strong point, John. I don't know everything that happened."
"I don't either. Dean and Bobby tried to tell me but I think there is still a lot to figure out. Kyle, Taylor's oldest brother from his old family, he got killed overseas. Somehow Taylor knew it wasn't a normal death. He jumped out of the car and ran into the woods screaming for demons to show up. They did and he got his brother's soul out of hell." John said.
"You were angry at him?" Missouri asked.
"I was. Maybe I still am." John said.
"Don't you think for a second that you wouldn't have done the same thing given the chance. I don't care if he is fourteen. If anything, that excuses him more than it would you." Missouri scolded.
"I took that into consideration. I'm angry that shit like this happens so often." John said.
"You mean you are scared." Missouri said.
John wanted to argue. He wanted to get back on the road and get home.
"So is everyone else." Missouri said, pointedly.
John let her do the talking. He couldn't disagree with anything she said but it was not information he wanted to deal with.
"So, what are you going to do?" Missouri asked.
"I'm going to go home and figure out what this means." John said. He closed his eyes. "I don't plan on skinning him over it. He made a mistake but given the circumstances…."
"How much does he remind you of Dean?" Missouri asked.
"Too much and that is why I don't expect everyone to remain calm when shit hits the fan." John admitted.
Missouri had been friends with John since Mary died. She had guided him where she could although he was as bullheaded as he could be. "Talk to your son."
John turned the truck back on. "I plan on it."
"Not him." Missouri said.
John groaned. "Dean."
"Give him a chance to sleep and then talk to him. Do that before you try to talk to Taylor." Missouri said.
John agreed to doing that. He could drive straight through and get to Bobby's in a few hours. Did he need to do that? Was that the best choice? He would be tired and strained. He watched road signs as he drove. He just needed a good truck stop and then he'd call it a night.
(The next morning)
Kate slowly crept onto her knees. She moved quietly and reached a height in which she could look over her bed. She furrowed her eyebrows and crossed her arms. "You are supposed to be sleeping."
Dean smirked. He had gotten up to get coffee and returned to Kate's bed to keep an eye on the kids. He tilted his head toward the hallway.
Kate wrapped her blanket around herself and followed Dean out of the room.
Dean had her sit on his bed. "Why are you trying to sneak around?"
"I wasn't." Kate said. "I thought maybe you got some rest last night."
"I got some." Dean said. The lines on his face said differently.
Kate held her hand out. She wanted to get rid of his fatigue. She hated seeing him so exhausted.
Dean sat down beside her. He let her touch him and sighed as some of the fatigue was drained from his body. "Thanks."
Kate was nervous. "Did you tell dad?"
"Not yet." Dean said.
Kate frowned. "I am okay if I get into trouble. I just don't want to make him madder and him take it out on Taylor. What I did was worse so maybe it is better if he takes it out on me instead."
"You let me worry about that." Dean said. "Don't try to make him mad." He saw he was getting a phone call and gently shoved her over sideways. "Sleep."
"I'm not sleepy." Kate said.
Dean raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to argue with me?"
Kate furrowed her eyebrows and grabbed one of his pillows to shove under her head. "Apparently I just got rid of the fatigue and not the grumpiness."
Dean shut his door and answered his phone. He was dreading it. "Hi, dad."
John heard some nerves in Dean's voice. "I'll be home in a few hours."
Dean let out a slow breath. "Taylor is still asleep."
John was thankful for that. The kid needed the rest. "Missouri and I had a long talk."
Dean sat down across from Bobby's desk. "What about?"
"All of this. She told me to talk to you." John said.
"Do you want me to report?" Dean asked.
"Yes. Let's start with that." John said.
Dean gave him more details about Taylor before freezing. He swallowed around the hard lump in his throat. "Something else happened."
John felt a pain in his chest. "What?"
"Kate." Dean said. He bounced his leg. "Crowley showed up. She didn't sell her soul.."
"Excuse me?" John felt his temper flair.
"I didn't know when we talked. He forced her hand, dad. She didn't have a choice." Dean said.
John gripped his steering wheel. "How? What happened?"
"She told me that he showed up and stopped her. He wanted to make a deal. She tried to decline but he had hounds with him. One went after me and I told her that was okay but I guess they would have gone after everyone." Dean said.
John felt like his heart was being ripped through his ribcage. His head was spinning.
"She had to promise to get rid of Abaddon." Dean continued. He knew John was processing. "Uh, he took her blood but I guess it is written that he can't do anything with it."
"I couldn't protect them." John said.
Dean was a little startled. "I was there. It is my fault."
"No, it isn't. I swore I would prevent her making a deal with him and I was off somewhere else." John said. He wanted to be angry with Kate. He wanted this to be her normal impulsive behavior. It wasn't though. Older Kate made it clear that it would happen. How much would happen that he couldn't change no matter what he did. He knew Dean was digging himself a pit of despair and guilt. "You did what you were supposed to do. He would have gotten to her regardless."
Dean chewed the side of his cheek. "Taylor blames himself."
"Of course he does and I bet Kate blames herself." John said. He remembered what Missouri talked to him about. "I'm not coming home to take a belt to either of them. This is beyond any of that."
Dean was silent due to shock.
John didn't need to see him to know what his face looked like. "Dean, what do you remember about the striga?"
Dean scoffed. "I screwed up and left Sam alone and he almost died."
"What do you remember about how I reacted?" John asked.
Dean was blank for a second. "I didn't sit for a few days."
"Why?" John asked.
"Because I almost let Sam die." Dean said.
"Are you sure about that? What about when Sam ran off to Flagstaff?" John asked.
Dean cringed. "I seem to remember you not being happy about that either."
"Think about that. Go through step by step and tell me what happened." John said.
"Sam ran off. You came home. I caught hell over it and we got him back." Dean said. He had no idea where John was going. Surely he wasn't planning on doing anything this time.
"I remember it differently." John said.
Dean thought those memories were vivid enough. "How?"
"After the striga was gone, you attached yourself to Sam and wouldn't leave his side. You were pissed off at yourself and kept apologizing." John said.
"Yeah, I remember that." Dean said.
"I knew you were distraught and thought that the experience was enough for you to not ever make that mistake again." John said. "Some of those lessons are better learned that way."
Dean knew for a fact that he got his ass kicked for that. There was no way he misunderstood that.
"We left that motel and headed back toward Bobby's house. You spent the first half of the drive beating yourself up. You spent the second half so mad at yourself that you lost your head and started getting mad at me." John said.
Dean did remember beating himself up. "Yeah?"
"I didn't do anything until we stopped for the night and you stormed into the motel room. You couldn't cope with the guilt and chose anger. Do you remember throwing a chair across the room?" John asked.
Dean's eyes widened. "Oh god."
"I didn't whip you for the Striga incident." John said.
Dean must have blocked that part out. "But…. But."
"I didn't whip you because Sam ran off either. You got reckless trying to find him and nearly got yourself killed. You didn't listen to anything I said and I had to pull your head out of your ass." John said.
Dean started connecting dots. "Okay but I think I'm less reckless now."
John chuckled. "Think about Taylor."
Dean rubbed the back of his head. "What about him?"
"After he killed David, what did he do?" John asked.
Dean cleared his throat. "Went off the deep end because he felt guilty."
"What about any other time he thought he screwed up bad enough?" John asked.
Dean heard Bobby approaching the office and planned to ask him about Flagstaff because he still wasn't convinced that John hadn't laid into him because he wasn't paying attention.
"Neither of you can handle guilt. You cannot get over it and wear yourselves to the bone." John said.
Dean felt a little embarrassed. "Okay, I see that."
"I told you I had a long talk with Missouri and she did not let me go until she felt like she'd made her points. I know Taylor didn't intend to do what he did. He did let his anger get the best of him but I'm aware that any of us would have done the same thing. I plan on sitting down and talking about what happened." John said.
Dean caught on. "He's going to spiral."
"I am assuming so." John said.
Dean rocked back in his chair. "Surely we can tell him that and he won't."
"What do you think I tried to do with you when Sam ran?" John asked.
Dean returned his chair to all four of its legs. "We seem to have different memories."
"Ask Bobby." John said. "I'm not saying I made the best choices. I was harsh on you and Sam. I could have made it more clear at the time that I was tired of you being a jackass and not still angry that you made a mistake."
"My whole life is a lie." Dean said.
"If anyone should know, sometimes being the one to crack down on people makes you the bad guy." John said.
Dean narrowed his eyes. "There were still times you could have done less."
"I'll give you that." John said. "Don't let this go to your head."
Dean snorted. "Well, I know your tactics now."
"Talk to them before I get there. It would be best if everyone stayed cool." John said. "I have a feeling Taylor won't but you might could talk some sense into Kate."
"It is usually the opposite." Dean said.
"Bobby told me that you needed to step back. I support that. I will handle all of it." John said.
Dean slowly put his phone back into his pocket. "Bobby, why did I get my ass kicked five ways to Sunday when Sam ran off?"
Bobby walked over to the side of his office and moved a picture frame to show Dean a fist sized hole in his wall.
Dean looked down at his hand. "That isn't that bad. Who hasn't punched a wall?"
"You did that before leaving and winding up in a farmer's field because you hit gravel going 80 miles per hour in the rain." Bobby said.
Dean scratched his chin. "Well damn."
(A bit later)
Taylor woke up but stayed quiet. He was questioning himself about the night before. Was that a weird dream or had it really happened? He was afraid to ask. He finally found the strength to leave his bed and go downstairs.
Kate whirled around. She gave him a small smile and let him know that it was safe to enter the kitchen.
Dean had been fielding Kate's rapid fire questions for a half hour so he was glad that Taylor was a good enough distraction to get her to hush. Before Taylor got up, Kate had asked Dean if he talked to John. He told her he did and gave her the short version of what the talk was about. She was very interested on hearing the stories from another point of view than she had originally heard them. She offered to read him so that she could clear up the fuzzier details. He quickly shut that down. He did not need her rooting around in his head.
Taylor was unsure of himself but sat down. He thanked Karen for the plate that she put in front of him and nibbled on his toast.
"I talked to dad." Dean said.
Taylor blanched.
"He knows that things aren't black and white and that last night was more complicated than you just getting out of the car." Dean said.
That helped Taylor relax slightly.
"I wouldn't worry as much as I'd say you normally should." Dean said. He looked to Kate. "If you keep your temper and your mouth in check, you will be fine." He aimed the comment at Kate although it was meant for Taylor.
Kate shot Dean a look. She had an interesting observation that she wanted to point out to John but she was waiting until she could judge his mood.
Things got quiet as John parked his truck in front of the house. His heart and head were heavy so he could imagine everyone inside was struggling as well.
Kate, having gotten 'the talk' from Dean, was less apprehensive about talking to John. He might still be mad at her but she was pretty sure he wasn't going to throttle her as soon as he entered the house.
John opened the door and nodded to Bobby in acknowledgement. The kids were on the couch. Kate was trying to read him without abilities. Taylor was frozen. He walked around and took a seat on the coffee table. "I heard Kyle got killed overseas."
Taylor nodded. "Yes, sir."
"I am sorry that happened. It doesn't matter why someone dies, it is still hard to deal with. His soul got to heaven, right?" John asked.
Taylor nodded again. "Yes, sir."
John briefly touched Taylor's knee as he stood up. "If you want to know, I'll see what I can find out about what happened."
Taylor slowly met eyes with him.
Kate raised an eyebrow. "He's not a shapeshifter if that is what you are wondering." She whined when a hand clamped over her mouth.
"Excuse her," Dean said, "She is just going to go hang out in her room."
Kate licked Dean's hand as he pulled it away from her mouth. She dodged him before he could swat her and walked up the stairs backwards.
Bobby was amused but taking Kate out of the equation was probably smart.
"I'm not going to condemn you for reacting the way that you did. If I thought any of you kids were in danger, not even in hell, I would try to do the same thing." John said. "We need to talk but all of us would raise hell if we had the ability to do so."
Taylor didn't know what to do or say.
"I need food and a few cups of coffee. You are welcome to join me in the kitchen or I can come back in here when you are ready to talk about this." John said.
Taylor awkwardly nodded his head. Dean told him beforehand that John wouldn't be as reactive as he normally was. Taylor wasn't expecting that gentle of a reaction though. What was he supposed to do with that?
Kate scooted back on her bed as the door opened. She squeaked. "Hi."
Dean shut the door behind him. "Do I need to wear you out?"
Kate gasped. "No."
"What was that?" Dean asked.
"Taylor was trying to process why he was being so nice and I was just letting him know he was human." Kate said.
Dean leaned back against the door with his arms crossed. "Bobby, Missouri and I have worked strategically to approach all of this with him in a way that suits everyone. You do not get to unwind that with sass."
Kate crossed her arms to mimic Dean. "It is called comedic relief during a difficult time."
"You are nervous. You tend to get yourself into hot water when you are nervous." Dean said. "Remember what I said about the sass."
"Save it for the demons?" She screeched and shot to the corner of her bed. "I was kidding!"
"The only reason I'm not kicking your butt right now is that it would upset Taylor and he needs to remain calm." Dean said.
Kate snorted. "Or you know I'm funny and it looks bad if you laugh."
Dean shook his head. "If you mouth off and he gets mad, you are on your own. I will not attempt to mediate."
"I save you from a hellhound and this is what I get in return." Kate said.
"Please behave yourself." Dean said.
Kate gave him a sweet smile. "I will. I promise that I am just giving you a hard time."
Dean ruffled her hair. "I don't need the extra stress." He left her to continue to think about her actions although he was certain she would not be doing that. She was comical but he wouldn't admit that. He was delicately balancing everyone and a distraction could cause everything to come crashing down. She did get him out of the super awkward position he was in downstairs so for that he was grateful.
John gave Dean an odd look as he walked through the kitchen door.
"She can't shut up when she is nervous." Dean said.
John didn't say anything because Dean already knew what he was going to say.
"Why isn't Sam getting bit in the ass for all the shit he pulled when he was younger? Why is it only me?" Dean asked.
"Give him some time. I'm sure it will come." John said.
"I hope his future kids are hellions." Dean said. "What was it that you did as a kid that earned you all of this?" He motioned vaguely to his surroundings.
John snorted softly. Dean couldn't shut up when he was nervous either. "Jess conned some old men and they are going to sell one of the bunker cars."
Dean's eyebrows shot up. "She did?"
"She heard them talking and saw the photos they were looking at. She acted like a dumb blonde and said her grandfather left the car but she has no use for it."
Dean was in disbelief for a split second but quickly remembered that Jess was a firecracker. "I'm assuming Sam wasn't happy."
"He is along for the ride." John said.
Dean thought it was appropriate that Jess age Sam the least bit. "Well, that's going to pad their pockets."
"That is the plan." John said. "We aren't using the cars."
Dean got lost in his own thoughts for a minute. "I need to call her."
John eyed him suspiciously.
"I'm just going to ruffle his feathers a little bit." Dean said.
John was still waiting on whatever would transpire between him, Caleb and Kate. With two of the three being adults, he didn't need to referee. When the boys were younger, he'd have to end prank wars. He was less interested in ending them now. Kate could hold her own.
Taylor tensed when he heard footsteps headed back down the hallway. He wanted to sink into the couch until he became invisible.
Kate heard her name and slid out of the bedroom. She did a mood check of the living room and sat down beside Taylor.
"I'm trying to piece together the whole of last night." John said.
"I screwed up." Taylor mumbled.
"Walk me through it." John said.
Taylor felt a little numb. "I got angry. I yelled and they showed up."
"When did you decide that it was a demon kill and not a casualty of war?" John asked.
"I just had a gut feeling." Taylor said.
"Then was it Meg that showed up?" John asked.
"Yes, sir." Taylor said.
"You didn't do anything besides yell?" John asked.
"No, sir." Taylor said.
John was trying to understand what happened, not grill Taylor. Taylor wasn't giving him much to work with. He turned to Kate. "What about you?"
Taylor's eyes flashed blue.
John met Taylor's eyes. "Cool it."
"I got pulled." Kate said.
"You didn't follow him?" John asked. He saw Taylor flash again out of the corner of his eye and cursed silently. He had made assumptions about Taylor's reaction but damn the kid for making him right.
"I got yanked. I don't think Taylor meant to. I think the gravity of the situation pulled me." Kate said.
"Continue." John said. He wanted to hear details about her conversation with Crowley so he could begin the process of getting her out of the deal.
"Crowley stopped me." Kate said.
Taylor snapped his head around.
"I didn't want to talk to him but you know how that goes." Kate said.
Dean gave her a gentle nudge.
"He and I talked and he had hellhounds. One went after Dean. My hands were tied." Kate said.
Taylor instantly connected the dots. He stood up quickly. "You sold your fucking soul?"
John snapped his fingers. "Sit."
"No." Kate said, pleading with Taylor in her head to calm down. "I have to kill Abaddon."
Taylor was shellshocked although he quickly realized how she got into that situation. "You wouldn't have been out there if I hadn't…."
John told Kate to continue. "Is this a promise or a deal that you sealed?"
Kate licked her lips. "A sealed deal but it is in writing."
Taylor mistook the anger on John's face as anger at Kate and not at the sleezy demon. "Don't get angry at her. This was my fault. I pulled her there. We were vulnerable because of me."
"He isn't angry-" Dean started but was interrupted.
"Bull. Look at his face." Taylor said.
John took a deep breath. "I'm trying to get to the bottom of this so I know what I am dealing with."
"He has my blood but can't harm me or anyone else." Kate quickly said.
"Why was your blood necessary?" John asked.
Taylor was focused on being protective and not on using his head. He glared at John. "She was forced into a deal." Guilt was cutting into him like a razor blade. He caused it. She made a deal because of him. Had he not gotten out of the car. How could John be mad at her? Why wasn't he angry at him?
"We saw your older self give Crowley a vial of blood and we have been trying to prevent that for months." John said. It was an observation and acceptance that some part of their timeline was set in stone. He was powerless to prevent it.
Taylor's eyes flashed again. He was dealing with the amount of guilt that came crashing down on him. "Don't say anything to her. I had a choice, she didn't."
"I am not condemning you-" John was cut off.
"So you are pissed at her for doing something you knew she'd do anyway?" Taylor asked.
"Taylor." John said. "Mind your tone."
Taylor knew on some level he was out of sorts because he had prepared himself for John to be angry at him. He did a horrible thing and John wasn't angry. No one was angry. Taylor was angry.
Dean flicked his eyes between Taylor and John. He saw what John meant earlier. Taylor was getting eaten alive by guilt and was lashing out like an animal caught in a trap. "There were hellhounds. Kate had to make a choice-"
Taylor made the floorboards vibrate.
Dean bit his tongue. Anything either of them said was going to set him off. He wasn't thinking straight. "We are going to work to get you out of the deal."
Kate swallowed hard. "We can't. I just have to kill Abaddon."
"Crowley does not get to pull you around by a leash." John said. "I don't care what his threat is." His tone had a slight edge to it, again, due to Crowley and not Kate. He felt the floor under him vibrating and the lights started to flicker. He gave Taylor a minute and it just got worse. "Stop!"
Taylor froze.
"Kate, go outside." John said.
Kate scrambled back. Taylor was pissed off and she didn't want to be in his path. She flipped over the back of the couch and grabbed Dean. She was aware that John was telling her to leave because Taylor was too angry to handle. She didn't feel like she was being sent away. She tried to tell Taylor that but his head was a mess of ringing and a rapid string of self-hatred that came from his core.
"Can you control yourself and go to your room or do you need to take some time in the panic room?" John asked.
"Don't touch her." Taylor growled.
John leveled him with a stern look. "Basement."
Taylor turned on his heel and went down to the basement. He didn't slam the basement door but couldn't control himself with the panic room's heavy metal door. It stayed on the hinges atleast.
John took deep breaths and steadied himself.
"He is mad at himself." Kate said, softly.
"I know he is." John said. "He expected me to come in yelling and freaked out that I tried to level with him."
Kate frowned. "Please don't be too hard on him."
"Officer assisted suicide." Dean said with a grimace.
"I have got him." John said. "Look at me. I know you didn't have a choice."
Kate let him hug her. "You aren't mad and going to do anything you threatened to do if any of us ever made a deal with a demon?"
Dean palmed his face. "Good lord."
John sat her on the back of the couch so he was closer to her eye level. "I can if you want to have an attitude."
Kate batted her eyelashes. "I'm helping you not be so angry at Taylor."
"I am not angry at Taylor. I'm annoyed with his attitude and I know when I go to talk to him he's going to snap. I'll deal with that." John said.
Kate pushed into Taylor's head although he probably didn't hear her. She looked into John's eyes and swallowed. "I need to say something about the deal and I want you to promise not to be mad at me."
John stood up straight. "Is there something you are hiding?"
Kate twiddled her thumbs. "No."
John studied her body language. "What?"
"I'm glad you aren't angry at me because I didn't have a choice but also in other timelines you sold your soul to save Dean and all I did was make a pinky promise to save everyone and that would have been really hypocritical." She fell backwards onto the seat of the couch. She jumped up and attempted to prevent Dean from grabbing her. "No! If you whip me Taylor will think it is because of him and it will make the situation worse."
Dean wrapped his arm around her middle so she couldn't escape. "We have plenty of trees out there. I don't even have to take a belt to you."
Kate met John's eyes. "I'm kidding."
John raised an eyebrow.
"It was a calculated risk. 1, I am right and 2, I have a track record for providing enough humor that you don't murder Taylor." Kate said as she tried to twist away from Dean.
"Take her outside." John said.
Kate gasped. "Daddy."
"Don't wear her out unless she gives you trouble. Go get shakes or something." John said. He hid his smirk.
Kate grinned and stopped fighting Dean so she could stand up straight and smooth her shirt down.
Dean was thankful that John didn't react badly to that little comment. "I did tell her to keep her mouth shut."
Kate put her hands behind her so Dean couldn't smack her.
"Apologize." Dean said, jabbing her in the ribs.
Kate stepped away from him.
Dean narrowed his eyes. "Say something cocky and I'll bust your butt no matter what he says."
Kate opened her mouth a few times but decided each comment would be sassier than Dean was allowing at the moment. "I was kidding and I am sorry if it made you angry."
John held an arm out for her. He gave her a side hug. "You are worried about Taylor. You don't need to be. I've taken everything into consideration and got Dean to adulthood in one piece."
Kate made a comment before she caught herself. "Yeah, but Dean's got tons of issues."
Dean threw her over his shoulder and grabbed his keys. "She might not make it back in one piece."
Kate didn't fight him as he walked outside and to the car. She yelped when his hand connected with the back of her leg.
"What part of shut up don't you understand?" Dean asked.
Kate dug her elbows into his upper back. "He's more level headed when he's amused."
Dean put her back on the ground. "You are insane."
Kate crossed her arms. "I'm stressed."
Dean ruffled her hair again. "You are a pain in the ass."
Bobby let Karen know that it would be a good time for them to go out as well. He eyed John and asked what was on his mind.
"Missouri asked me to pretty much make a prediction. She said she had abilities but I had reasoning skills. I thought Taylor would spiral and I thought Kate would try to dig him out by being a smartass." John said.
"Are you seeing the future?" Bobby asked.
"I'd say so." John said. "Maybe it is the past replaying itself."