"How's this going to work? Are you just going to drop me here and go?" Brinley asked worriedly as she stared at the dilapidated house. She wanted to trust that her brothers knew best, but the house spoke for itself and probably for Bobby too.
"Not at all," Sam replied. "We'll stay for a couple of days and depending on when Dad calls, it may be longer." Brinley felt somewhat relieved. Sam and Dean hopped out of the car. Brinley hesitated. The boys went around to the back of the car to get their bags.
"Let's go kid," Dean urged as he knocked on her door. Brinley sighed and slowly opened her door. She was surprised to see Dean just open the door and head inside the house without knocking. The door opened into a short entrance hall. She followed them to what was probably the living room. The living room was filled with bookcases containing a library of monster and demon related books. More books were stacked on the floor, and papers were pinned to the walls between the large, curtained windows. There was a red sofa against one wall. The dark red patterned wallpaper was decorated with a few landscape paintings. A desk was in front of the fireplace. A magnifying swing arm lamp was attached to the desk. There was a large wooden staircase leading to the second floor. The room felt unwelcoming to Brinley, and she was disappointed to see no television. "Bobby!" Dean called out.
"I'll be right up!" a gruff voice called back from the basement. Brinley followed Sam and Dean into the kitchen, which was just off the living room through pocket sliding doors. It had a table, white cabinets, and free-standing cupboards. It had green patterned wallpaper and white shuttered windows. There was a small, 1960's era white refrigerator and a matching stove. There was a desk and bookcase on one side of the kitchen and a wall of at least five cordless phones on the other side, each labeled with a different government agency and alias.
"Why does he need so many phones?" Brinley asked.
"For his job," Dean replied.
Brinley walked over to Sam and grabbed his hand nervously. "Do I have to stay here?" she questioned as he peered down at her.
"Yes," Dean interjected firmly before Sam had a chance to answer. "It's not up for discussion."
"I wasn't asking you," Brinley snapped.
"Hey boys!" greeted a voice from behind them before Dean had a chance to confront her. Brinley let go of Sam's hand and spun around to find Bobby. He was older and shorter than she thought he'd be, but his gruff appearance and beard didn't surprise her.
"Bobby," the brothers greeted as they gave him a hug. When they were finished with their hellos, Bobby focused his attention on Brinley.
"And you must be my houseguest?" he questioned her. Brinley nodded her head. "Well…. it's nice to meet you." Brinley could feel Dean and Sam staring at her.
"It's nice to meet you too," she replied awkwardly.
"I have a room with a bed and a desk upstairs for you," Bobby mentioned.
"Is there a television?" she questioned.
"Nope, no TVs here, just books and more books," Bobby replied. "I don't really care much for television. It rots the brain." He could see the dissatisfaction on her face. "No need to worry about being bored here, I heard you have some schoolwork, and I can teach you a thing or two about fixing cars." Brinley thought he seemed nice enough, but she had no desire to learn how to fix cars. "You boys can show her to her room. It's the first door on the right at the top of the stairs."
"Thanks Bobby," Sam replied as he grabbed her bag from the floor. Dean stayed downstairs to talk with Bobby while Brinley followed Sam upstairs. Her room was just like the rest of the house. Dark and dingy, with books covered in dust on a small bookcase, along with a bed and a rickety, old desk. "This is perfect for you," Sam commented as he set her bag on the bed.
"Yeah," Brinley sighed. "Please Sam, don't make me stay here," she pleaded.
"Brinley, you'll be ok here, I promise, and once this is over, we'll all be together," Sam said reassuringly. Brinley sat down on the bed and groaned as it squeaked. She could feel the springs pushing against the top of the mattress. She crossed her arms against her chest in dismay.
"I just want to be alone," she huffed. "I thought you were different, but you're just like THEM." Sam contemplated sitting next to her and trying to talk it out, but he knew nothing he would say could possibly make it better for her. He could relate to how she felt, and it was a life that he wouldn't wish on anyone.
"I'll be downstairs if you need me," he replied as he left the room. Brinley glanced around the room and then out the window. She had a magnificent view of the junkyard and beyond there were miles and miles of trees. She glanced at the books on the bookshelf and realized they were just really old encyclopedias and a dictionary. She grabbed her book from her bag and laid down on the bed.
"I hope you said your goodbyes to your dad," the demon growled. "He's next on my list, and then your pesky big brothers, and then I'm coming for you." Brinley tried to look away, but his eyes seemed to hypnotize her.
"Leave me alone!" she screamed. She tried turning her head, and then her body, but she was frozen there in front of him. "No!" she screamed.
"Brinley," she could faintly hear her name being called. "Brinley!" interrupted the voice again, louder this time. "Open your eyes…. you're dreaming!" Her eyes popped open to find Sam, Dean, and Bobby staring down at her.
"Ugh," she sighed, "I'm fine." Her head was pounding.
"Didn't sound fine to me," Bobby commented.
"Yeah, well, no one asked you," she snapped back angrily. "And all of you can just get out of my face!" The boys and Bobby were stunned for a moment.
"Fine kid, we'll give you a few minutes, but then we will talk about this," Dean stated firmly. They all left the room and headed down to the kitchen.
"She's a spicy one," Bobby commented. "And definitely a Winchester."
"Sorry Bobby," Sam mentioned, "She really is a good kid once you get to know her."
"I'm sure she is," Bobby replied. Dean paced the kitchen. He was pissed at his sister and also concerned that their plan wasn't going to work. Brinley was determined to make Bobby second guess his decision. "Listen boys, I know you're worried, but I've battled every kind of monster out there. I'm fairly sure I can handle an 11-year-old kid." The sound of breaking glass and thuds from upstairs interrupted their conversation.
"What now!" Dean groaned as he ran as fast as he could upstairs. He opened Brinley's door to find her launching encyclopedias through the broken window. She turned to face him and launched one in his direction, barely missing. "Enough!" Dean yelled as he took quick, purposeful steps in her directions and then restrained her from behind. Her struggles were no match for his tight grip.
"I hate you! I hate this place! I hate your job! I hate my mom for leaving me with him!" she cried. "He came to me, ya know, and said we're all going to die!" Tears streamed down her face. Sam approached them to help Dean calm her down, but as soon as he got close enough, Brinley lifted her legs and kicked out at him as hard as she could. She connected with his knee and caused the grown man some discomfort. Dean lowered himself to a sitting position on the floor and pull Brinley down with him, still grasping her tightly from behind. The child finally stopped struggling and resided in the fact that Dean overpowered her.
"Deep breaths," Sam said as he kneeled down in front of them.
An irritated Bobby stepped in beside Sam. "I will not tolerate this behavior in my house!" he stated sternly. "Is this your way of trying to get your brothers to take you with them?" he demanded. Brinley didn't respond. "Well, is it?" he demanded again. Dean released the grip he had on her, and she shrugged her shoulders. "That's what I thought," he sighed. "Your Daddy was pretty clear that this fight was too dangerous for you, and you need to respect that. Do you think he'd be happy to see you show up with Sam and Dean?"
"No," Brinley replied quietly. She looked toward Sam, and he wouldn't make eye contact with her.
"I love your brothers, but they coddle you want too much," Bobby commented with frustration to his voice. "You're going to clean up this damn mess. There's a broom and dustpan downstairs for the glass, and several encyclopedias on the ground outside that need to be picked up AND you'll be doing some extra chores to pay for new glass for that window." Brinley had no response. "Then, we'll discuss what to do about this disgusting display of behavior because I sure as hell know that John Winchester would not tolerate this. Now go on, get this stuff cleaned up," Bobby ordered. Brinley had a healthy fear of Bobby, so she stood up quietly and left the room to retrieve the books from outside. "She's manipulating you boys," Bobby sighed. "She thinks you'll feel guilty and decide to bring her with you." He took a deep breath and his frustration increased. "She destroyed my property, kicked Sam, and hurled a book at you, Dean," Bobby growled. "None of that is acceptable and she needs to understand that."
"I know, I'm sorry Bobby, I've never seen her act that uncontrolled before," Dean commented angrily. He knew Bobby was right about the manipulation and it really pissed him off.
"She wouldn't have tried any of that if Dad was here," Sam mentioned. "And I think you're right Bobby…she wasn't getting what she wanted, so she took it to another extreme."
"Now I can give her a good whoopin or one of you can," Bobby stated firmly. "But she definitely deserves one. I don't mind being the bad guy." They could hear her footsteps coming back upstairs and Brinley entered the room carrying a stack of encyclopedias. Once she placed them back on the shelf, without saying a word she headed downstairs to get the broom and dustpan. "I'll get a piece of plywood from the shed to board up that window until I can get to town for a panel of glass," Bobby commented. Brinley came back in with the broom and dustpan. Sam immediately went to help out since she did not have a good relationship with sharp objects while Bobby and Dean pulled the remaining broken fragments from the window. "I'm going to take this glass out to the dumpster," Bobby stated once they were finished.
"You can't make me stay here with him!" she pleaded once he was out of earshot.
"Brinley, that's enough!" Dean ordered. "I don't want to hear another word about it! You are staying here!" Brinley was surprised by her brother's reaction. She had never seen him so angry with her. "We know this tantrum of yours was your way of trying to guilt us into taking you and frankly, I'm disgusted by it and so are Bobby and Sam." Brinley looked toward Sam for support.
"He's right, you took it too far this time," Sam stated.
"But I wasn't lying, I did dream about the demon," she pleaded. "And he said he was going to kill all of you."
"We believe you," Sam replied calmly, "But we're not talking about your dream. We're talking about your tantrum."
"Three hours and you've already managed to piss Bobby off," Dean growled, "And I pleaded with you to treat him and his house with respect. Do you think breaking his window is respectful?!" he yelled. "Damn it Brinley! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Brinley was speechless, unsure of what to say or do next. Dean seemed so angry with her, and she knew he had every right to be.
"Dean, I got this, go take a walk," Sam interrupted. He could see his brother didn't have his emotions under control and didn't want him to say or do something he would regret.
"Oh no Sammy, I see how you coddle her and justify everything she does wrong," Dean growled.
"Dean, just go!" Sam ordered.
"Did you just try to give me an order?" Dean demanded as he stepped closer to Sam and got in his face. "Come on, show me what you got little brother!" Brinley hated to see her brothers arguing over her.
"Stop you idgits!" Bobby interrupted. "Both of you get out!" Stunned, they both turned toward Bobby. "Now!" Bobby waved his arms up in the air and shooed them toward the door. They both complied and headed out the door. "Work it out outside, not in front of the kid," he snapped. Bobby closed the door and turned toward Brinley. "I'm not going to beat around the bush or sugarcoat anything. I will not tolerate this type of behavior in my house. If you want us to get along, you will do what you're told when you're told. I can be a fun guy, but I can also be a miserable son of a bitch if I have to. Since your brothers can't seem to get their act together and are acting like children themselves, it appears I'll have to give you that whoopin." Brinley's eyes widened with worry as Bobby started to unbuckle the belt from his waist. "Your Daddy warned me you were a handful and that it may come to this, but I didn't think it would be so soon."
"My Dad or Dean have never used their belts to punish me," Brinley said worriedly.
"Did you ever break a window and throw encyclopedias at them?" Bobby questioned sternly.
"No…but I stole AND I was going to run away and got kidnapped by vampires," she replied. "I am a little kid, ya know…..only 11." Bobby sighed and set his belt down on the desk. Brinley couldn't believe she pulled the little kid card but was relieved to see that it may have worked.
"You definitely are a Winchester," he commented with a slight smile and a lighter tone. "Always trying to negotiate. Your brothers used to do it all the time when they were little. Fine," he sighed, "A spanking it is."
"I think being locked in this room with nothing to do would get the point across too," Brinley pleaded.
"Nice try, but I'm an old-fashioned guy with old fashioned values and you definitely earned yourself a sore behind," Bobby replied firmly. He grabbed the chair from the desk and turned it around, then sat down. "Do I need to explain to you what you did wrong?" Bobby asked.
"No," Brinley replied disappointedly.
"Then come on, let's get this over with," Bobby ordered. Brinley hesitated and her eyes darted for the door. "Don't even think about it," Bobby warned. But not only did she think about it, she acted on it, and crawled over the bed quickly and darted out the bedroom door.
~To Be Continued~