Author's note: Y'all I tried to get this out quicker, but I hit a really rough patch. Many tears were cried, some hair was probably lost but hey, I took my last final earlier today. Now I get a break.

(Before Kate and Hannah left)

Kate could feel the tension as soon as Taylor got home. She could nearly see it in the air. She avoided Taylor like her life depended on it.

Dean had already spoken to John and wasn't thrilled to be the one attempting to calm Taylor down. He met him outside and took a deep breath.

Taylor sat on the back of one of the trucks and cracked his neck. "Are you going to say something?"

Dean scratched the back of his head. "Like what? Did the nymph help?"

Taylor snorted.

Dean studied the set of Taylor's jaw. He was obviously not completely calm. Great. Typically, Dean could knock Taylor out of his head before things escalated but based off the week they were having, Dean didn't think it would be so simple.

Kate pushed into Taylor's head to talk to him and immediately stumbled back and held her head.

Dean looked from Taylor to the house. "What was that?"

Taylor shrugged.

"Taylor." Dean said. He sighed heavily and walked up to the house to see what the flash of light meant.

Kate was holding her head but dropped her hands and tried to act like nothing happened as the door opened.

"Did he hurt you?" Dean asked.

Kate shook her head.

"Were you in his head?" Dean asked.

Kate frowned.

"Go get stuff together. You and Hannah can leave early. I don't want you getting hurt, but I also don't want you antagonizing him." Dean said.

Taylor gritted his teeth as Dean's footsteps returned to his side.

"What was that?" Dean repeated his question.

Taylor looked up at the sky. "Princess Kate is fine. You baby her."

Dean changed his stance. "You don't use abilities on each other. Did the ordeal with my car teach you nothing?"

Taylor lowered his eyes to meet Dean's. "Then go cuddle her or whatever the hell you do when she doesn't get her way."

Dean counted to 10 in his head. "She is going to Stanford."

Taylor snorted.

"Did you zap her?" Dean asked.

"I told her to get out of my head." Taylor said.

"Why was she holding her head?" Dean asked.

Taylor jumped off the back of the truck and turned so he wasn't looking at Dean. "She would do that if the wind hit her."

Dean touched Taylor's arm to get him to face him. "She is emotional, but it takes a lot to hurt her."

"Bull." Taylor said.

"I don't know what your problem is, but you need to get rid of the chip on your shoulder." Dean warned.

Karen stepped outside with Kate. She gave Dean a head nod. "I'm going to take her to Hannah's house. Let me know if there is anything I can pick up at the store."

Dean gave her a nod back. One less kid to set the world on fire. He intended on approaching Taylor man to man but Taylor wasn't meeting him halfway. "I didn't come out here to fight with you. I came out here to figure out what is going on."

Taylor rolled a rock with his foot. "Yeah, right. I got angry. You aren't going to let that go without bitching about it."

Dean turned on his heel to let Bobby know that things were likely about to get dicey. "Call Karen, she might want to spend time with April." He returned and walked around Taylor so that they were face to face. "Pull your head out of your ass." He braced himself as Taylor's eyes glowed. He felt pressure build around him but maintained his stance.

Taylor started to walk away but was stopped by Dean. "Dude, get your hand off of me."

"You can get angry, but this has to stop. You had time to control yourself and that time has run out." Dean said through gritted teeth.

Taylor flicked his eyes, pushing Dean back a few inches. He was weak from earlier and didn't have the energy to push him back anymore.

Dean caught Taylor's arm before he got hit. He wrenched it behind Taylor's back and pushed him so that he fell onto his knees.

Taylor whirled around. He was just angry, and Dean made himself a target.

Dean growled. He and Sam fought when they were younger. Some of those fights got nasty. He wasn't about to fight Taylor, but he could stay on defense and let Taylor wear himself out.

Taylor couldn't use abilities and was relying on everything he learned while sparring. He just forgot that Dean taught him every move he knew.

Dean caught Taylor's fist in his hand and pushed against it. He tensed and gritted his teeth as electricity flowed through his body. He couldn't follow Taylor as he walked away because his legs wouldn't move. He felt the tingling start to leave and bent forward to catch his breath. He was just about to take off when he got a phone call. It was Sam. He was too pissed to talk. He spoke briefly before a wave of energy snapped a tree. He hung up the phone with a growl. "Taylor Winchester!"

Taylor kept walking. He didn't have a rational thought in his head. He was so focused on being angry that it hadn't registered that he shocked Dean. He was mad about demons and life. He was mad that Kate was treated differently. He was just mad.

Dean stalked through the woods until he saw Taylor. "Get your ass back to the house."

Taylor didn't respond.

"You fucking shocked me." Dean said.

Taylor tensed slightly.

"If you have something to say, say it to my face. Don't storm off and sulk like a damn 6-year-old." Dean said.

Taylor slowly turned around. He didn't say anything but just stared Dean down.

Dean approached him in a few strides. He was ready to strangle Taylor, but part of his brain prevented him from doing it. "I put up with a lot, but you've found my limit."

Taylor snorted softly.

Dean snapped his fingers. "Look at me." He caught Taylor before he made contact and flipped him so that he landed on his back. He did it two more times before Taylor decided not to get up. "Without your abilities you're just a kid with a temper. I taught you everything. You aren't going to win in a fight, kid. I'm not going to throw a punch back but I'll sure as hell knock you on your ass. You can get up and get back to Bobby's house or we can continue with this little song and dance until you're too tired to walk back."

Taylor sat up slowly.

"You rely on those abilities, and they are nice to have, I'm sure. You're going to get hot headed and do what you're doing now to something big and bad and get yourself killed. Maybe we should go back to training every day." Dean said.

Taylor winced. He was quiet and looked at his shoes, searching for a clear thought. "Would have been better had you hit me back."

Dean held his hand out for Taylor to grab. He pulled and helped Taylor to his feet. "One, you didn't land any of those attempted punches and two, I've got experience and size on you."

Taylor rubbed his elbow where a knot was forming. "If I wanted to land a punch, I would have."

Dean cleared his throat. "The day you think you are big enough to take an honest to god swing at me, I'll have no problem knocking you back down."

"Isn't that dad's policy?" Taylor asked, ruefully.

Dean smirked. "Something like that. I've never been stupid enough to test it out. You go right ahead though."

Taylor grimaced. He followed Dean back to Bobby's house without saying anything. His pride was wounded. Being at a total disadvantage against Dean was a wake-up call. Dean just prevented him from hitting him and knocked him off his feet and Taylor still couldn't best him. Without abilities he was too normal for his own comfort. He felt more like a 14-year-old than he had in months.

Dean stopped at the impala and leaned against it. "Let's clear some stuff up. What is going on with you and Kate?"

Taylor studied his hands. "Nothing."

"I don't have an ounce of patience left, Taylor." Dean said.

Taylor set his eyes on something behind Dean. "She got on my nerves." He sighed. "She is so emotional. She talks in her head and keeps me awake. She is whiny and needy, and you treat her like she is a baby."

Dean nodded. "I swear I thought the same thing about Sam growing up." He chewed his cheek. "I am harder on her than I am on you."

Taylor flicked his eyes to meet Dean's.

"She is emotional. She throws herself off cliffs left and right and I keep a closer eye on her because she is constantly one step away from jumping into the fire. You, for the most part, are easier to deal with. I check in and do my best to connect with you, but I can only meet you halfway. I can't force you to be honest with me." Dean said.

Taylor frowned slightly.

"You tell me what you need. What am I doing that makes you think I don't treat you the right way?" Dean asked.

Taylor felt his anger slipping away. "You don't do anything like that. I just… got annoyed."

"I hang out with you, spar with you, taking you to target practice, involve you on errands, ask multiple times per day where your head is at…." Dean trailed off.

"I'm sorry." Taylor said.

"I don't want an apology. I want everyone on the same page. If I am a shitty brother, tell me. If you really think I favor her, tell me. I'm human. I make mistakes. I'm only 24, Taylor. I have experience that other people my age don't but I'm making all of this up as I go." Dean said.

Taylor slumped.

"I want to help you. I want you to be able to come to me but apparently you can't. I know Kate is crumbling. I know you are struggling. I'm fully aware. Sometimes, I don't think either of you stop to think that you aren't the only ones going through it right now. All of us are struggling. All of us are terrified that something is going to happen. Hell, we know something is going to happen. Every day is filled with worry and stress because you two got thrown into the center of all of this. I'll wake up with that worry every day and not complain about it because I love both of you. I don't see you any different than Sam. I won't say it is easy though. It sucks. I don't know what is going to happen. Are you going to snap and blow up the house? Are you going to beat yourself up or hurt yourself because you think you are some type of monster? Is Kate going to make another trip to hell or kill herself? No one should be faced with that type of stuff. No one should have demons on their tail. We do though and dammit if it isn't a bitch to deal with." Dean continued.

"I'm really sorry. I lost my head. I don't even know why. Things built up." Taylor said.

"Had you accepted that weeks ago, and let one of us help you, we wouldn't be out here right now. I wasn't talkative at your age. Hell, I'm still not. I didn't want dad's help working through rage. Things aren't the same now. Things are more dire. We all have to put aside our pride and work together or things are going to get a whole lot worse." Dean said.

Taylor nodded. "I feel like shit."

Dean looked him up and down. He had mud on him and a few red marks from how careless he was being. "You look like shit."

Taylor got a look at himself in a nearby window. "I tried to hit you."

Dean nodded. "Failed too."

Taylor hung his head.

"If you want to come at me like that, because you are pissed off and need to work through it, I'm not going to be angry at you. I'll knock you on your back a few times, but you should have done that a long time ago." Dean said.

Taylor furrowed his eyebrows.

"Man to man, I get it. Sparring is a good way to let off steam." Dean said. "Where is your head at?"

Taylor shrugged.

"You don't look like you want to tear my head off." Dean suggested.

"I'm tired and feel stupid." Taylor admitted.

Dean sucked air through his teeth. "Not one of your finer days, kid."

Taylor looked toward the house. "Where is everyone?"

"Kate and Hannah are in Stanford; Bobby is inside, and Karen is at April's house." Dean said. "You're going to have a lot of apologizes to make."

Taylor felt awful. "My coach."

Dean nodded. "Nate." He got a look at Taylor's feet. "I'd suggest getting cleaned up and not tracking mud through the house."

Taylor started to walk toward the house but stopped as Dean cleared his throat.

"I didn't tell you to leave." Dean said.

"I was going to talk to Bobby." Taylor said.

Dean tilted his head toward the shop.

Taylor groaned. "Seriously?"

"Bet your ass I'm serious. You shocked me." Dean said.

Taylor's eyes widened. He licked his lips. "Did I hurt you?"

"It didn't tickle." Dean said.

Taylor rubbed the back of his head. "I'm sorry, man."

"Aside from that, you've caused damage and been a real pain in the ass to deal with." Dean said, lightly. He raised an eyebrow. "Dad's not here. I'm the one you challenged."

"I know." Taylor said. "I just….."

"Your pride is already shot; this isn't going to hurt it much more." Dean said.

Taylor pulled a face.

"Some lessons are hard to learn." Dean said.

((TW))

"I'm not angry anymore." Taylor said.

"I'm not either." Dean countered. "This day has been long and hard. I intend on going inside and clearing my head. You can take your licks out here or in the shop. Either way, you're taking them." He looked at his watch. "Think fast."

Taylor reluctantly walked toward the shop. "If it makes you feel any better, I really regret my choices."

"I know you do. I'm not going to baby you though." Dean said.

Taylor groaned. "I didn't mean that."

"You did." Dean said. "We can discuss that as a family. Things aren't working too well the way they are going right now." He pulled his belt off and doubled it in his hand. "I'd rather be out drinking but you kids are set on aging me early."

Taylor grimaced. "Not on purpose."

Dean snorted. He tilted his head to tell Taylor where to go and took a deep breath. "I ought to turn you over to dad for the stress this is causes me."

Taylor buried his head in his arms. "I don't think you feel stressed about it. I think you are holding a grudge because I shocked you."

"You're hard to crack down on most of the time but that does make it a little easier. Thanks for reminding me." Dean said. He laid down the first lick across Taylor's seat and added a second before talking. "If you get angry again, you let someone know so they can get you out of the city before you start making things rattle."

Taylor gritted his teeth through three licks that landed too quickly for him to process.

"If you feel a certain way about someone, you tell them or talk to someone else in the family because I don't like assumptions being made and then people getting mad about those assumptions because they don't bother to confront me about it." Dean said. He placed two across Taylor's thighs.

Taylor hissed.

"How old are you?" Dean asked.

Taylor slowly let out a breath. "14."

"I'd say an even 15 should do it." He said. He put a hand on Taylor's back. "I do feel slightly sorry for you."

Taylor whimpered slightly before bracing himself for the additional ten licks. He was grateful that Dean was making quick work of it but definitely felt the frustration behind the licks. Somewhere, in the back of his head, he remembered Dean jokingly threatening his life if he shocked him again but maybe he misunderstood that as a threat when it was meant as a promise. He rocked back onto his feet the moment that he was allowed to and clinched his fists.

Dean let him have a moment as he threaded his belt back through the loops of his pants. "If you want to sit in my lap to calm down, let me know."

Taylor slowly turned around. "Uh no, Kate can have that to herself."

Dean raised an eyebrow. "Don't want to be babied?"

Taylor shook his head. "Stupid argument on my part."

((ETW))

Dean nodded. "Are we good?"

Taylor nodded.

Dean held out one arm to offer a side hug since Taylor wouldn't accept a full hug. He got it, he strayed away from hugs when he could. "After you get cleaned up, I expect an honest conversation about what is making you angry."

Taylor let out a shaky breath. "I think I'd rather go up to my room for a bit."

"Tough." Dean said. "I want this hashed out before Kate gets back." He gently shoved Taylor toward the door. "You should ask Sam about throwing a knife at me."

Taylor paused. "He threw a knife?"

Dean nodded. "Once."

Taylor blinked slowly.

"That little story might have saved you a lot of misery had you asked him a week or two ago." Dean said.

"You didn't tell me until just now." Taylor said.

"Didn't think about it." Dean said.

"What is the moral of the story?" Taylor asked.

"As a brother, I have my limits. I'll kill anyone that messes with you, but I only put up with so much and that limit is a bitch to run into." Dean said.

"I'd say you two still like each other though." Taylor said. "You didn't hold a grudge."

"I never hold a grudge." Dean said. "Clean slate and all that." He had Taylor stand to face him. "Shock me again and you'll find out."

Taylor nodded slowly. "Can I shock you if we are joking around?"

Dean shrugged. "There is a fine line between brave and stupid. Figure out which side you're on."

(Later that night)

Taylor was out of his funk.

Dean was glad he was out of his funk.

It was getting dark, and Kate was due home soon.

Dean told Sam she could come back. He felt his phone buzzing and answered it. "Hey, dad."

John wanted to check on the kids, but he also wanted ask Dean for help. He did not want to put Dean in harm's way, but he needed a hunting partner he could trust. The hunt he was on took a weird turn and he wanted a second set of eyes.

"Uh, hey, Bobby." Dean said. "I'm going to meet dad."

"Is everything okay?" Bobby asked.

"He has an off feeling about the hunt." Dean said. He really needed to hunt anyway. He had been at home too long and needed to clear his head.

"Are you driving?" Bobby asked.

Dean shot him a look.

Bobby waved him off. That was a silly question. Dean loved driving that car.

Kate was dropped off by the nymph. She didn't feel a heavy feeling in the house but there was tension. She hugged Dean and asked where he was going.

"Dad is on a hunt and needs backup." Dean said.

Kate frowned. "Be safe." So much for telling him about the blood.

Taylor gathered food items and tossed them in a bag. "Do you feel like dad right now?"

Dean snorted. "Dealing with you and then leaving for a hunt? I should have had him nymph back over here."

Taylor winced. "No thanks."

Kate's stomach had a growing pit in it. "I love you. Drive safe. Please let someone know if the hunt is too dangerous."

Dean kissed the top of her head. "Been doing this a long time, kiddo." He narrowed his eyes at Taylor before putting him a headlock and kissing the top of his head.

Taylor shook his hair out. "I was not in my right mind. You can stop trying to make a point."

Kate giggled.

"I said he coddled you one time." Taylor said.

"Don't want you bitching about me leaving without kissing you on the head." Dean said. "I do it to Kate."

"Can we go back to how it was before?" Taylor asked, lightly.

"Before you lost your head? Yeah, we can do that." Dean said. He stopped at the door. "Don't think that means you can't shock me."

Kate turned to Taylor as Dean left. "What did you do?"

Taylor blushed. "Said some stupid stuff." He chewed the side of his cheek. "Might have thrown a few punches and shocked him."

Bobby shook his head. "Did he flip you?"

"Yeah, and knocked the breath out of me." Taylor said.

"He learned that trick with Sam. Couldn't hit him back because he was younger so he just prevented himself from getting hit instead." Bobby said.

"I feel dumb." Taylor said.

"We all do sometimes." Bobby said.

(The next day)

Kate was groggy. She barely slept. When she did sleep, her mind was deep in the weeds of visions. She struggled to decide if she was truly awake or just in another vision. Dean was still on his way to meet John. She needed to tell them about Hannah and the blood. She just couldn't. John sounded worried. He called Dean in. Did he just want Dean to help so Dean got to hunt, or did he only trust Dean?

Taylor stepped into the kitchen.

Karen smiled. "Good morning."

Taylor rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry I was rude to you."

Karen placed a bowl of oatmeal on the table. "It is okay. Today is a bright new day."

It was a bright new day. The sun was up. The clouds were gone. It looked like spring outside.

They heard a sound outside so Bobby looked out. He grumbled and opened the door. He picked up a half empty tin of cat treats that one of the kids left on the porch. He shook his head. "Damn racoon opened the treats for the cats."

Kate grinned. "That's so nice of him."

Bobby left the trio to their snack but brought the tin inside. The cats and Robby had become best friends and what mischief the cats couldn't get into by themselves, they found a way to get into with Robby.

Kate checked on Dean's progress an hour later. Still driving. He was okay. It was just a long drive. "Can I hang out with Hannah later?"

Bobby scratched his chin. "Did you get all of your chores done for the day?"

Kate sighed. "I can get them done quickly."

Taylor followed her out of the kitchen. "Hey, um…. I'm sorry?"

Kate gave him a small smile. "It is okay."

"It isn't okay. I was a jerk to you." Taylor said.

"I forgive you. We all have bad days." Kate said.

Taylor felt lighter. "Or weeks."

"I'm sure you can make it up to me when I see fit." Kate said.

Taylor snorted. "Clean slate, remember."

"With Dean." Kate said. She skipped away to finish her chores. She was glad that Taylor was okay and that he apologized. The tension between them had been killing her.

(Hannah's house)

Hannah was excited for Kate to go to her house. She tidied up her bedroom and set out activities they could work on. She looked outside and felt the warmth of the sun radiating through her window. "She ran downstairs and found Mandy. "Hey, mom. I'm going to go outside."

Mandy told her to be careful and stay near the house. With the hellhound incident happening so recently, she didn't want Hannah to leave the warding.

Hannah chose to swing in the backyard. She liked to swing as high as she could so she could pretend that she was flying. The weightlessness was something she craved. She heard faint sounds of other kids that had ventured into the sunlight. She saw Austin, her younger brother, at the door and slowed her momentum. "Hey."

Austin smiled. "Can I swing too?"

Hannah said he could. He was slightly older than Andy at the time. He had grown and wasn't that much smaller than her anymore.

Hannah tried to be nicer to Austin than her other siblings were to her. She tried not to act like he was a baby and tried to include him. She asked him about school and if he had any new friends.

Austin liked school but he was quiet. He had a hard time introducing himself and just stayed to himself.

Hannah wished he was more confident. "I like English class too. I like to read."

Austin told her about a book he was reading. He was animated as they had approached a subject that he was passionate about. The books were about Greek mythology although it was a kid's story full of adventure.

Hannah let her eyes scan the area as she swung. She spotted something and hopped off the swing.

Austin gasped. "You are gonna break your leg."

Hannah bounced on her toes. "Nope. No breaks."

Austin slowed down. "Where are you going?"

Hannah looked behind him. "I'll be right back."

"Mom said to stay here." Austin said.

Hannah made eye contact with him. "I'll be right back. If mom asks, can you cover for me?"

Austin shrugged. "Yeah."

Hannah stepped out of the backyard onto the sidewalk. She looked both ways before crossing the street and stepped into the trees. Everything was silent. She paused and looked around. She heard a twig snap and turned around.

"I knew you were curious but thought you were smarter." A woman said.

Hannah slowly turned around. "You were watching me."

"Was I?" The woman asked.

Hannah narrowed her eyes. "You have been."

"Observant, are we?" The woman said. "Looks like you've learned a thing or two."

"I saw you at my old house." Hannah said, remembering all the places that she had seen the woman's face.

"I guess I stopped by a few times." The woman said.

"Why are you watching me?" Hannah asked, firmly.

"I get bored sometimes. I like a good show." The woman said with a smirk.

"If you are watching me, you know enough about me to know trying to hurt me is stupid." Hannah said.

The woman leaned against a tree and crossed one foot in front of the other. "You assume I want to harm you. Can't someone be on your side?"

"No." Hannah said, dryly.

"Gotta love a cynic. You and your little friend are stirring things up and I haven't decided who's side I'm on." The woman said.

The breeze shifted causing Hannah to tense. "You are a demon."

The woman tapped her finger to her nose. "Right on the nose." She changed her stance. "I wouldn't call in reinforcements. I just want to talk."

Hannah eyed her suspiciously.

"We do know that your friends make our lives hell." She smirked at her pun. "So, relax, I'm not here to hurt you."

"You can't possess me." Hannah said.

The woman motioned to her arm. "Oh sweetie. If you think that little bracelet is going to prevent one of us from possessing you, you are wrong. Sure, it will block most demons but what happens when your arm is separated from your body?"

Hannah paled slightly. "You can't do that."

"Don't tempt a demon, honey. You are right though, I can't possess you." She popped a piece of gum into her mouth. "Not because you have a friendship bracelet though. You went and spruced yourself up, didn't you?"

Hannah pulled a face.

"Got something extra running through those veins." The woman said.

Hannah was very uncomfortable. How could a demon tell? "I'm going home. Go bug someone else."

The woman blocked her path. "I said I wanted to talk. I have valuable information for you."

"Yeah right." Hannah said. "I know how crossroads demons work."

The woman looked at the ground. "This doesn't look like a crossroads to me."

"Demons lie. You're going to feed me a line hoping I trust you and I'm not going to." Hannah said.

"Don't trust anyone. Human or not." The woman said. She reached a handout like she was going to shake Hannah's hand. She dropped it after Hannah refused. "Name's Meg. I know things that you don't know. I am only out for myself, so I don't care what you do with the information. I work for the king of hell but only because it suits me right now. If someone was to come along and take him out, my feelings wouldn't be hurt."

There were obvious red flags being thrown and Hannah was aware that she was in a dangerous position. "What do you want to tell me?"

Meg studied her nails. "If our friend, Kate, loses this war, things get more complicated for me."

"My friend. Not yours." Hannah said.

Meg shrugged. "We could be excellent friends, but her family aren't fun to be around."

"Why did the hell hound go after me?" Hannah asked.

Meg raised an eyebrow. "Did it go after you?"

"It knocked me off my bike and stood over me." Hannah said.

"Sounds like he was playing to me." Meg said.

"I can have you sent back to hell in the blink of an eye. You had better start talking." Hannah said.

Meg snorted softly. "Such a brave girl."

Hannah's nose flared.

"I don't control the hounds. I can't stand the disgusting little things. The breath. The mess. The hair…" Meg trailed off. "If it wanted to hurt you, we would be meeting in hell, not here."

"Kids can't go to hell." Hannah said.

Meg laughed. "Sure, they can."

Hannah's heart quickened. "Well, we can get people out of hell."

"You think they would know where you went? You are supposed to be home. A demon can't get into your home. Something else would have to take you." Meg said.

Hannah gritted her teeth. She crossed her arms and glared at Meg. "Start talking or I exorcise you."

Meg held up her hands to placate Hannah. "I've been nothing but helpful so maybe cool your jets." She blew a bubble with her gum and popped it. "A nudge, a hint, trying to gently push one of you in the right direction."

"You are the one helping them?" Hannah asked.

"I don't know why I try." Meg said with a dramatic sigh. "Puts my neck on the line."

Hannah looked toward her house. She was too far away. "Kate said she saw signs. She knows someone is doing stuff to distract her."

"She's a smart girl. My goal isn't to distract her. I want to work with her." Meg said.

Hannah rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that isn't going to happen."

"No, of course not. If I give you some helpful hints, you can pass them along, though." Meg said.

"I'm not going to do that." Hannah said.

"Not even if it saves a life?" Meg asked.

Hannah froze.

"Think about it." Meg said.

"Tell me. I'll decide what to do later." Hannah said.

"What do I get in return?" Meg asked.

"Not dying today." Hannah said.

Meg leaned back against the tree. "I have no reason to harm people around the Winchesters. I have, though. I'm just trying to make them realize how easy it is to do."

"Me?" Hannah asked.

"I didn't send the pup after you." Meg said. "I did mess with other people. Just a little work accident."

"Cameron's family." Hannah said, connecting the dots. "You killed an angel?"

Meg produced a shiny silver blade. "Do you realize how difficult it is to kill one of those things? Broke a sweat and nearly lost my head."

"Why?" Hannah asked.

"I can't have my boss figuring out anything. Might as well blame it on another angel." Meg said.

"How did you kill it?" Hannah asked.

Meg winked at her. "A girl has her secrets."

"So, you are trying to scare everyone." Hannah said.

"Not scare." Meg said. "Think of it like the static before lightening strikes. A cute little warning to tell you to get out of the way."

"I don't believe you." Hannah said.

"You don't have to. I can say my peace and go home. Hell's best and brightest are making plans. It isn't just Crowley and Abaddon you should worry about. Everyone knows how special your friend is. You are valuable too, you know." Meg popped her gum again.

"I'm not valuable. I'm just a kid." Hannah said.

Meg got closer to her. "The things that could be done should someone figure out how to possess you."

"I'm warded." Hannah said, confidently.

"Don't be fooled by false security. You are a sitting duck." Meg said.

Hannah looked worried.

"Alone out here in the woods with a demon. No one knows where you are." Meg paused. "Your adorable little brother knows. If you are gone to long, he will come looking for you."

Hannah picked up a stick and swung at the demon. "Do not threaten me."

"I can't touch you right now. That doesn't mean I can't some other time. Do not be too confident. I'd hate to see you torn apart by being foolish." Meg said. She pulled a book from her jacket pocket. "This has some fun little bedtime stories for your sleepover tonight."

Hannah stepped back. "How do you know about that?"

"I know things." Meg said.

Hannah took another step back. "You can't get near my house."

"I have good hearing." Meg said.

"Bull. I don't know what you are doing but it wont work." Hannah spat.

Meg crouched to place the book on the ground. "I help you. You help me. Everyone wins."

"I'm not going to help you." Hannah said.

Meg laughed softly. "That's cute that you think you have a choice." She took several steps back from the book and looked at Hannah. "I'll even give you a lifesaving tip before I go."

Hannah carefully grabbed the book.

"Demons can't possess nonhumans. We can't possess a vampire or werewolf." Meg said.

"And?" Hannah asked.

"I can't possess you because you have poison in your veins. Hellhounds can possess things that are a bit like them." Meg said.

Hannah gasped. "No."

"Cute little puppies that pack a punch." Meg said.

Hannah heard a yippy dog down the street. "That is not true."

Meg shrugged. "I guess I have no way of proving it to you. I'll say hounds and demons aren't the only things in hell. Our critters aren't as cute and cuddly, but they do grow bored in the pit. An olive branch…" She tossed a small bag to Hannah.

Hannah caught the bag. "What is this?"

"Warding won't stop a hellhound." Meg said.

Hannah blinked and the demon was gone. She heard a crow cawing and looked up as one flew over her head. She shoved the bag into her own pocket and ran back to the house.

Austin let out a big breath of air. "You're back!"

Hannah hushed him. "Shh."

"Mom asked where you were. I said playing hide and seek." Austin said.

Hannah smiled. "Thanks." She ran up to her room and sat down on her bed to open the book. She paused and felt of the bag in her pocket. What was in the bag? Was Meg serious about the animals or was she trying to make her paranoid? If hellhounds weren't stopped by warding, how did they not attack Bobby's house?

(Dean)

Dean spotted John's truck and pulled to park beside it at a motel. Everything looked rundown and a bit dirty. There were puddles on the pavement that looked as though they were there year-round. He stepped out of his car and squinted his eyes. There had to be a factory or livestock around somewhere.

John opened the motel room door and waved Dean over. He had coffee brewing and several stacks of files taking over the small table.

"The parking lot looks a little empty." Dean said.

John nodded. "Seems like the locals don't go outside much."

"Is that a new thing?" Dean asked.

John motioned to a stack of newspapers.

Dean picked one up. The front page had a large photo of a marching band. A smaller photo was of a large trophy. Other newspapers had parades, school events, small concerts, and festive activities. He opened a more recent paper and chewed his cheek. Missing people. Each update in the newspaper showed even more missing people. "Something is making its way through town."

"I've ruled out most of the stuff I know about. This is weird, Dean. This makes no sense." John said.

"Well, Rufus ran into a creature we've never seen before. It was taking people." Dean said.

"I saw one the bodies." John said. "I haven't had time to go in person. I don't know if they've stayed hidden well enough or if new creatures are evolving."

Dean knew that things were changing but held out for a small bit of hope that it would only be a few things. "Have you checked any of these places out?"

"Yes." John said.

Dean looked over the research and studied John's body language. "Why did you ask me to come?"

John sighed. "I need someone I can trust." He downed his coffee. "I just have a feeling that I'm not supposed to be out here alone."

"You getting visions now?" Dean asked, lightly.

John blew air through his nose. "No. Just a feeling."

"I've got your back." Dean said. "Times are changing. The new generation is taking over. Maybe this is something that I'm more equipped for."

John appreciated Dean's humor. "Check out those crime scene photos."

Dean reached for a folder of photos. He blinked rapidly. "Damn."

"They don't find the bodies. Just the aftermath if they are lucky. Other times, they don't have anything to go off of." John said.

Dean sat down on the bed. "Well, it isn't a vamp. Too much blood left behind."

"It is gory and brutal. I can't find a reason for it. Vampires drain people. Werewolves go for the heart. Wendigos don't come into town and take people from their homes." John said. "There are no signs of ghosts. No signs of demons."

"Are you thinking it could be a freak thing?" Dean asked.

John leaned back in his chair. "It could be. I don't know how they would get someone out of their bed though."

Dean shrugged. "A window."

"Maybe." John said. He rubbed his face. "I've got a house to go check out. I could use a second set of eyes."

Dean jingled his keys. "Let me grab some coffee and I'll be right behind you."

(Sioux Falls)

Hannah swung her front door open and hugged Kate. "Hi."

Kate smiled. "Hi."

Hannah pulled her into the house. "You'll never guess what I just found out."

Kate sat her bag down. "What?"

"You know Ashley R, but not Ashley R with the glasses. Ashley R with the pink bands on her braces." Hannah began.

"Yeah." Kate said. She waved to Mandy and followed Hannah out into the backyard.

"Apparently she is dating an older guy who doesn't go to our school." Hannah said.

Kate cleared her throat. "Where does he go?"

"She won't say." Hannah said. "So, I think she is faking having a boyfriend."

"Or he is a little too old and she doesn't want to say he's in high school." Kate said.

"So?" Hannah said. "Taylor is in high school."

"He is a freshman." Kate said.

"Still, it makes you a whole lot cooler to date someone in high school than in middle school." Hannah said.

"Jess warned me about that." Kate said.

Hannah sat down on the swing. "About what?"

"She said sometimes older guys will make you feel special but just think you are vulnerable enough to fall for whatever they tell you." Kate said.

"Yeah, in extreme cases." Hannah said.

"I don't know. She gave me a whole spiel about it." Kate said.

Hannah had been talked to by one of the high school guys and felt flattered. Maybe it was a tactic. Her first thought was to disagree with Kate, but Jess was pretty cool and wouldn't lie. "Well, she is either faking the boyfriend or maybe doing what you said. Kind of scandalous either way."

"I don't even think about guys." Kate admitted.

"Well, duh, you are out saving the world." Hannah said.

Kate pulled a face. "Not lately."

"You are thinking about saving the world." Hannah countered.

"I do think a lot." Kate said. She was split between too many things. The brain fog was getting worse, and she could barely focus on what Hannah was saying.

Hannah chattered knowing that Kate wasn't fully paying attention. That was okay. She swung high and spotted April and Andy walking their dog. She bailed off the swing and grabbed Kate. "Your friend is over there."

Kate looked at her weird.

"You know… the one with the kids." Hannah said.

Kate looked over the fence. "Hey, April. Hey, Andy."

April smiled. "Hi. Are you having a sleepover?"

"Yeah." Kate said.

Hannah needed to ask April something. She asked April to wait and ran around the house.

Andy saw Austin and waved. He hadn't talked to Austin but saw him around school. He didn't hang out around many kids, and he was in a grade above Andy.

Hannah had Austin go out with her to introduce him.

April let Andy go into the backyard to play with Austin for a few minutes.

Kate followed because she thought that was what Hannah wanted her to do.

Hannah crouched down to pet Riot and looked at his collar. "He doesn't have warding on his collar?"

April furrowed her brows. "No."

"What if dogs can get possessed?" Hannah asked.

April was concerned. "I don't think they can."

Kate tapped Hannah. "Why would you think that?"

Hannah met eyes with Kate but didn't answer her. "I'm going to ward my dogs' collar."

April looked between the girls. Kate was uncomfortable. Hannah was nervous. "Do you think something happened to your dog?"

"No." Hannah said. "It is just better to be safe than sorry."

"Did you read somewhere that animals could get possessed?" Kate asked.

"Just a fantasy, I'm sure." Hannah said. She heard another crow and let her eyes follow the black bird as it moved between powerlines.

April felt uncomfortable as well.

Hannah blushed slightly. "Forget I said anything."

"No." April said. "You have a point." She wanted to get back to her house to feel safe. "Andy."

Andy popped his head over the fence. "Yes, mama?"

"We need to head home." April said.

"I just met a new friend." Andy said. "I can't leave now."

Kate wished Dean was home. She felt her throat getting tighter. She pulled Hannah to the side. "Do you have something going on?"

"I just learned stuff." Hannah said.

Kate met eyes with her. "How?"

Hannah looked away.

"Hey, April. Would you mind if we went to your house? I think Austin would like the treehouse and I want to talk to Caleb." Kate said.

"Oh, ask Hannah's mom first." April said.

Hannah ran inside and returned with permission to take Austin with them to April's house. She had not planned on doing anything besides letting April now a warded collar wouldn't hurt. April and Caleb were chill though. Plus, Lauren was super cute.

Caleb raised an eyebrow as April showed up with three extra kids.

April unclipped Riot's leash. "I hope you don't mind. I brought company."

Caleb picked Ian up. "No, not at all."

"Where is the baby?" Hannah asked.

"Sleeping." Caleb said.

Hannah frowned.

"She should wake up any minute now." Caleb offered.

Andy looked at his feet. "Do I have to take my shoes off if I'm going straight outside?"

April put a hand on his head. "No, you boys can go to the backyard. Be careful."

Andy motioned for Austin to follow him. "Me and my dad built a treehouse. A real treehouse that has a door."

Ian ran after them after he was placed back on the floor.

April spoke quietly to Caleb in the kitchen.

Caleb returned to the living room. "I didn't think about warding the dog."

"It was a random thought." Hannah said.

Caleb got her side of the story and chewed his cheek. "You may not want my two cents."

Hannah looked confused.

"I've been a hunter most of my life. So, I pick up on things. I've done at least a hundred interviews with victims and their families. That's how we figure things out." Caleb said. "Then I've been around Andy just long enough to know when he's telling a fib."

Hannah gasped. "What?"

"Where did you get the idea that dogs could be possessed?" Caleb asked. "I'm not going to yell at you or anything. I do need to know where it came from though. If it is a bad source, we need to get rid of it."

Hannah licked her lips. "Someone told me."

Kate flicked her eyes to Hannah. "Who?"

"They could totally be pulling my leg. I just thought it was worth mentioning." Hannah said.

April got Hannah a drink and had her sit at the kitchen table.

"I'm a neutral party." Caleb said. "If there are demons approaching kids I would like to know. My boys are vulnerable."

Hannah took a long drink and slowly sat her cup down. "I saw a person outside my house, just standing there. I have seen her before. She was around before we moved to Sioux Falls. I just didn't realize it until I saw her this morning. I walked over to her to ask what she wanted."

Kate's eyes got big.

"We talked. She gave me a book and a bag of something." Hannah said.

Caleb took a deep breath. "You didn't happen to bring those with you, did you?"

Hannah blushed.

"Katie, do you mind getting those for her?" Caleb asked.

Kate took a few steps back before leaving to get the book in question. She found them on Hannah's desk and zapped back within moments.

Caleb took the book. It was old. Probably more of a Sam or Bobby thing than a Caleb thing. "Continue."

"She said that she doesn't like Crowley or Abaddon either. Of course, I didn't believe her. She said that she was the one leaving hints. She killed the angel." Hannah said.

Kate felt herself being swept away.

"She said if Kate loses things will get worse. She said she has been trying to lead everyone in the right direction because she is safest if Crowley and Abaddon are gone. She said hell has more than hellhounds. I don't know if animals can actually be possessed but it would be dumb not to at least consider it." Hannah said.

Caleb bounced his leg. "How long were you alone?"

Hannah's mouth dropped open.

"Can I read you?" Kate asked.

Hannah squirmed. "Yeah."

Kate viewed the exchange and absorbed information that Hannah hadn't spoken of or hadn't committed to memory. Meg said her blood prevented a demon from processing Hannah.

April touched Kate's arm. "Your nose is bleeding."

Kate touched her nose. She took a cloth from April and held it to her nose.

"I wasn't in any danger." Hannah said.

Kate gave her a wild look.

"I am going to make a phone call." Caleb said.

"To who?" Hannah asked.

"Bobby." Caleb said.

Hannah gasped. "Don't do that."

"I don't know what is in this bag and I don't know what this book says." Caleb said.

Kate glanced at the book.

Caleb put his hand on the book. "Not today, kiddo. You look rough. I'm not letting you look into a book right now."

"I read some of it." Hannah said.

Caleb flipped through the pages. "You read it?"

"Kind of." Hannah said, softly.

"This isn't English." Caleb said.

Hannah shrugged. She understood some of it but didn't want to admit why she thought she understood part of it.

"You two stay here. I'm going to talk to Bobby." Caleb said.

Kate shot Hannah a look once Caleb walked away. She pushed into her head and asked why she would approach a demon.

Hannah swallowed. She just gave Kate a look and finished her drink.

Kate felt sick. Hannah didn't feel the right amount of fear when talking to Meg. She saw it. She saw what Dean was talking about. The disregard for safety and feeling of power over powerful things. Was it a blood thing?

"I think we should let your parents know." April said.

Hannah snapped her head up.

"They will want to help figure this out." April said.

"They will be mad." Hannah said.

"Probably but they will also be worried. I'd be worried if Andy met up with a demon." April said.

"Yeah but…" Hannah trailed off.

"If demons are comfortable talking to you, they are getting too comfortable." April said gently.

Hannah's mind raced. Reality was sinking in, and she was certain her dad would kill her. She bit her lip and steadied her breath.

Kate put her head on the table. Everything was overwhelming. She was mad at Hannah, but she had done the same things so many times. She wanted to protect Hannah but couldn't. She couldn't protect anyone. She wanted Dean home, but it was probably good that he wasn't home. He wasn't as calm as Caleb about those types of things. Although, she thought some of the calmness was because Hannah was her friend. Had she been the one to rendezvous with a demon, she wasn't sure Caleb wouldn't physically drag her to John.

Caleb had a quick conversation with Bobby and announced that Bobby would be stopping by.

Hannah shrunk. She was embarrassed.

"Katie, do you think you could whip up some sigils for the dogs?" Caleb asked.

Kate just nodded.

"Demon sigils don't stop hellhounds." Hannah said.

Caleb scratched the back of his neck. "We will figure that part out."

April heard Lauren and left to grab her from her crib. She returned with a well-rested and happy baby.

Lauren's arrival helped distract Kate and Hannah for a few minutes.

"She is so cute." Hannah said. She held her arms out so she could hold Lauren. "I wanted a little sister. Austin is cool though."

April checked on the boys. "He and Andy seem to have hit it off."

"He is quiet and has trouble making friends." Hannah said.

April laughed. "Andy has never met a stranger."

(John and Dean)

John turned the doorknob to a building. It wasn't locked. Everything was eerily quiet. He turned the lights on, grateful that the electricity still worked. He kept Dean by his side and carefully cleared rooms. "Up here."

Dean looked up a dark staircase. He turned on a large flashlight and aimed it up the steps. He followed behind John, careful to keep the light from being blocked by John's form.

John tested the door and slowly turned the knob. He stepped through the door and paused, listening for any sign of life.

The upstairs of the building was an open concept. There were a few desks, but it looked like whoever was building the upstairs portion hadn't finished what they were doing.

Dean looked around John. To the left of the door were traces of droplets. There was a wall that blocked the view of what was behind it. He had a feeling he already knew. He followed John, never letting his eyes settle.

John walked around the wall and paused again.

Dean glanced at what John was looking at. He quickly looked away, finding his limit for what he could stomach. "What would do this?"

John was slightly stunned. He heard the faintest noise and flipped the safety off of his gun.

Dean was right with him. He took a step back and heard a scurrying noise. He was reminded of being trapped downstairs with Caleb. He whipped his head around and ducked.

John followed a creature wit his eyes. He wasn't sure if more were downstairs somehow.

"Freak." Dean hissed. It looked like a freak but not the kind he had run into. There were large windows that were covered by heavy blinds. They needed to get those opened. Apparently, John thought the same thing. Dean was able to back his way to a window and pull the string that lifted the set of blinds.

The creature growled.

Dean reached another string and pulled it as more growling was heard.

John raised a third one. If they were afraid of sunlight, having three floor to ceiling windows open would help. He noted that the creatures were staying back, not lunging endlessly like the freak in the cage. Their faces were distorted. The claws were the same though. The eyes were draining some type of liquid, and their skin was peeling.

Dean swallowed hard. There were a lot of them. At least 6. Knowing how quickly they moved and how sharp their claws were, he didn't have a great plan to take them out.

One rushed toward them, momentarily getting knocked back by a bullet to the chest. That did little to stop it and a lot to make it mad.

An intense fight broke out with John and Dean losing sight of each other and unable to do anything but fight.

Dean reached for his knife and drove it into one's head, dropping it. He had a busted lip and spat blood on the ground, noticing the slightest reaction from one of the creatures. He saw John and barely beheaded the creature that was about to take a slice out of him. He got knocked back into a window and heard it start to crack. The window caused him to cut his hand. The creatures were less interested in him than they were John. He used that to his advantage. He yelled. "Window." And let his and John's momentum carry him through the window, down to the ground below. He had the air knocked out of him and rolled onto his knees, looking up at the creatures looking out the window.

John was breathless too. He saw one falling to the ground but killed it before it got to its feet.

There was at least one left up there.

"Fire." Dean croaked. He stumbled around the building to his car. He swung open the trunk and locked eyes with something that he had confiscated from the bunker. It was a bit like napalm. Just smaller. He ran back around and aimed at the creature looking down at them.

John made sure the creature on the ground was completely dead before getting a good breath of air. "Dean!"

Dean whirled around. "Dad."

They didn't want to leave the broken window incase there were more. So they backed themselves against the neighboring building and waited for the sounds to stop.

John got a good look at the creature on the ground. He used a stick to turn its head. The fangs were at an odd angle, partially going back into the mouth. There was no way that the thing could eat. It might take a bite out of someone but not effectively.

Things grew quiet.

Dean got a look as well. "I thought the other ones were ugly."

John asked Dean to be alert and crouched down. From the neck down, they looked almost exactly like the other freaks. The skin was in worse condition. The eyes were cloudy, and the face deformed. "I don't think this batch formed right."

Dean took a turn to look at it while John stood guard. He chewed his cheek. "I got cut."

"By the creatures?" John asked.

"No. I don't think so. Got my mouth busted and then my hand went through that window." Dean said. "Kind of got the feeling they didn't want me as much as they wanted you. Do you think it is a blood thing?"

John didn't know. He wanted to get things taken care of so that he could make sure Dean was okay. He felt pain sinking in. He also needed to make sure that he was okay.

"I've got more of those cans that I lit that one up with. I'm all for round two but I wouldn't mind a third set of hands." Dean said.

John agreed.

"Big tree hands." Dean said. He called Rod to request aid from the nymphs. He was weak and sore. He didn't know if there was a whole nest hidden in the walls.

John briefed the three nymphs that showed up.

They searched the building and surrounding buildings. There were no signs of additional creatures, but they offered to look through the two and surrounding areas while John and Dean cleaned up.

So many of the towns' people were up in that building that John didn't feel the need to sweep it under the rug. The survivors knew something was out there.

"What do you think they used to be before they turned into those things?" Dean asked.

John didn't know. He wanted to move some of the bodies to the facility to study them. "I think I know why they are messy, though."

Dean placed towels over his seat. "Why's that?"

"I don't think they could eat. I think they were starving." John said.

Dean could agree with that. "So were they trying to puree the food or just frustrated they couldn't eat it?"

John shook his head. "I don't feel right leaving this town until we know we took care of them all."

"What about the one that turned them?" Dean asked.

"Let's get you back to the motel so I can patch you up. We will talk to the nymphs once they do a search." John said.

Dean got a look at himself in the rearview mirror. "Damn. Might want to take a few days for the swelling to go down."

John rolled his shoulder. "You could show up spotless and she'd know."

"Hey, at least I saved our asses this time and got my reputation back." Dean said with a smirk. "She can't swoop in every time we get into a sticky situation."

(Sioux Falls)

The Hannah incident had devolved into slight chaos. Hannah was right in thinking her dad might kill her. Caleb and Bobby were on top of figuring out what was in the bag and what the book was.

Kate wanted to help but couldn't focus whatsoever. She remembered that Dean and John were on a hunt but couldn't scry. She couldn't do anything. No dream walking. No visions. No sifting through memories. She was useless.

Caleb finally got a call through to Dean after being unable to. It seemed like they were out of service for a long while. "Hey, some stuff happened here."

Dean was freshly out of the shower getting stitched up by John. "Define stuff."

"Hannah left her house and talked to that demon that has a thing for you." Caleb said.

Dean flared his nose.

"Meg." Caleb said. He smirked, knowing he ruffled Dean. "She had a long talk with her. The demon gave her some information, an old book and a suspicious bag of an unknown substance."

John told him to put the phone on speaker. "She left her house?"

"Uh, yeah." Caleb said. "Her parents are getting all of those details."

"What did this demon tell her?" John asked.

"Animals can be possessed, and the demon was the one giving us hints. She killed that angel at Stacy's apartment." Caleb said.

"Did Kate have anything to do with this?" John asked in a hard tone.

"I don't think so. She looked shocked and is currently out of it. You can't even get her to acknowledge you if you talk to her." Caleb said.

Dean wanted to zap back but the way he looked would push her over the edge.

"How did your hunt go?" Caleb asked.

"Freakier freaks than the freaks we ran into." Dean said.

Caleb's heart dropped. "Yeah?"

"From the neck down, they were about the same, but the fangs were deformed." John said.

"I'm not going to say anything to the kids." Caleb said. "I'll let you sort that out."

Dean flexed his fingers. "Thanks, man."

(Later that afternoon)

Taylor found Kate sitting on her bed. "You okay?"

Kate didn't respond.

Taylor sat beside her. "I heard what happened with Hannah."

Kate still didn't respond.

"You may not want to talk but I know you are struggling." Taylor said. He touched her arm to try to read her but what he saw was confusing. Her view was spinning. Everything she was seeing she was seeing as a blur as things whipped by. He gave up on trying to read her and left her alone with Millie. He would just talk to one of the adults and tell them what he saw.

Kate couldn't respond or move or blink. Her head was on fire, and she wanted everything to stop. She wanted to go to the time stream, but she couldn't see straight. The walls were closing in. Crowley was pressuring her. Abaddon was hunting her. Hannah was reacting to her blood. Dean and John were gone. She couldn't even snap out of it long enough to see if they were okay. The spinning started to slow down but the images remained blurry. She saw a dark path ahead of her with glowing footprints. The glow was faint, hardly able to be seen. She felt her feet moving, nestling into each print against her will. Everything else grew dark. She reached the end of the footprints and reached forward, feeling a wall that she couldn't see. She was jarred from her vision by Bobby's voice.

Bobby was talking to Ellen and seemed worried.

Kate felt the coolness of the glass on her hand and looked outside her bedroom window. She saw a familiar glow where the rift had been created but when she blinked, it was gone. She decided to go downstairs to see what had Bobby so worried.

Bobby was writing down names and dates as quickly as he could. He was calling Rufus with a different phone than he was using for Ellen. He also had Karen looking for the numbers of people that he was writing down. "Yes, Ellen. I am on it. You spread the word on your end. I'll get it spread here." He noticed Kate standing in the doorway to his office and paused.

Kate blinked slowly.

Karen guided Kate to the kitchen.

"What is wrong?" Kate asked.

Karen sighed. "There have been a lot of reports of freak-like creatures popping up."

"More than normal?" Kate asked.

"I'm afraid so. Something stirred them up like shaking a hornet's nest." Karen said.

"What are we going to do?" Kate asked.

"Tell people to stay inside and not hunt alone. I am about to call Marie and ask if she wouldn't mind sparing a few of her friends for surveillance." Karen said.

"What can I do?" Kate asked.

"Nothing yet. We are sounding the alarm to see if everything slows down enough for everyone to talk about it." Karen said.

Bobby stepped into the kitchen. "Your dad wants to sit all of you kids down to get you on the same page. Nate and Hannah too." He couldn't read the look on Kate's face. "It looks like things are getting more dangerous. That means all the adults need to know what is going on but also all of the kids. This isn't something we can sugar coat or hide from you guys."

Karen gave Kate a warm hug. "You know what you could do? It is time that we tell parents about the nymphs. You can help me figure out how to do that as gently as possible."

The footprints were back although Kate could still see everything in Bobby's house. They left the kitchen and turned down the hallway. She assumed that they continued to the upstairs window. She ignored them because she knew that getting too close to the rift would draw her in. She was on autopilot, desperately fighting to control her body. "Can I draw?"

"Of course." Karen said. "Let me grab your bag."

Bobby ran into Taylor on the way back to his office. "Is she alright?"

"I don't think so." Taylor said. "Is anything alright?"

Bobby rubbed his face. "I don't think so."