Author's note: It is a few days from Halloween in the story. I forgot Ian's birthday was Sept 8 so he's three now. Just pretend I wrote about that. As my surgery date draws near, my brain dies a bit more each day... edit: actually Ian is 2. I didn't forget. I wrote about his birth. good lord.
Once school was over, Dean let Kate know that she could take her artwork to the high school. He kept an eye on her and waited. He didn't know who was at the school earlier but John's theory that creatures would start coming out of the woodwork sounded plausible.
Kate grabbed her stuff from Dean's car and ran up to the school. She walked down to the art room and knocked on the door. "I need to drop these off for the contest."
The art teacher looked at each item. She was truly amazed by Kate's talent. "I will be very surprised if anyone is able to win much of anything with you around."
Kate smiled. She had placed her string art into a box and carefully pulled it out. She had four frames, each with a different layer of string. She fastened them together and put it in a box for transport.
The teacher was curious. "What is that?"
Kate shrugged. "I guess this is what I think time looks like."
The teacher moved the piece of art so that it was under a light. "Kate, this is amazing." She moved around. The figure in the middle of the frames moved around as the viewer moved. She couldn't wrap her head around how Kate had pulled it off. She looked through the opposite side. The figure was not the same as it was from the front view. The 'top frame' had lighter colored string where the 'bottom frame' had black string. One side looked cheery, and the other side looked very dark and depressing.
Kate chewed her thumbnail. "I don't know if it will make sense to anyone but me."
The teacher couldn't take her eyes away. "How did you do this?"
Kate was nervous. "Uh, I did four separate frames and put them together." She looked at her phone. "Um, my brother is waiting to pick me up. I can write details on cards to place next to my work."
The teacher smiled and sent her off. She returned to the frames and sat down across from a window. She had seen many painted flowers and landscapes. She had sculptures of animals. Even her most talented students lacked one crucial element to their work. Emotion. She felt as though she was being drawn in by each layer of string. Kate was an old soul. She didn't know much about Kate but staring at the dark sided figure, she knew the girl had felt far more pain in her lifetime than she should have.
(John)
John instructed Dean to get the kids to the bunker. He and Cas needed to question the man that he had captured. He walked into a room and saw that the man was restrained and sitting against the wall. "Who are you?"
The man was fearful.
"Are you human?" John asked.
The man looked up at him. "You are a hunter."
"You were watching my daughter." John said.
The man was silent as he considered what he was going to say to John.
"You aren't a demon. You aren't an angel. You aren't a shifter, werewolf, vamp or ghoul. So, what are you?" John asked.
"I'm a lamia." The man answered.
John was confused by the way the man acted.
"There is a rumor that the girl heals. She can turn a vampire to a human again. She can kill but also cure." The man said.
John tensed. "Where does the rumor come from?"
"We talk just like hunters talk." The man said. He was desperate. "Lamia, like vampires, are humanoid. We have control over our needs until they become too strong. A vampire must be turned. We carry the lamia gene and only some of our offspring are born afflicted." His head was aching. "I have a son. He is young and will not suffer until he becomes an adult. I have to save him. He has a mother and two brothers that are human. He cannot live every day with this hunger."
John tapped his fingers on his knee. "So, you are stalking my daughter?"
"I just wanted to see if the rumor is true. I know I will not get out of here. I am dangerous when hungry. Please just save my son." The man said.
"Why should I believe you?" John asked.
The man pulled a wallet from his pocket and tossed it toward John. "That is my family."
John didn't want to trust the man just because he was using his children as a cover. He needed to talk to the others and do some research. What did worry him, immediately was that rumors were going around about Kate. They were already worried about hunters, but creatures were worse.
(Kate)
Dean checked in with Caleb to make sure they were on high alert as well. He rounded up the kids and got ready to return to the bunker. Kate was getting accurate with her ability, and it was handy.
Kate might have been a little distracted. She couldn't get the strange man out of her head. She had gotten a quick glance at his face, and she didn't know what to think of it. She had her backpack with her and gave the cats to Taylor to carry. They'd be fun to have at the bunker, even if it was only for a night.
Taylor was used to being zapped around and bent his knees, so he didn't land stiffly. He let Millie and Liam down to the floor and started to go find Marie and Rod. He spun around. Kate and Dean weren't there.
Kate felt herself being pulled and grabbed Dean's shirt. When she landed, she didn't know where she was. She heard Taylor in her head.
Dean whipped his head around. "What?"
Kate felt incredibly uneasy. "Taylor is at the bunker. I didn't do this." She was shaky and couldn't pinpoint why.
Dean looked around. They were standing outside of a strip mall. It was eerily quiet, aside from a car alarm.
Kate ran out into the street. She saw someone on the ground and looked ahead. "Dean!"
Dean felt of the woman's neck. "She's dead."
Kate darted around. "They all are."
They searched but it was like everyone had died at the same time.
Kate saw movement inside of a building and opened the door.
Dean tried to stop her.
Kate froze. There was one man. He had his back to them. He was wearing a black suit and she was overwhelmed.
Dean raised his gun. "What happened here?"
The man motioned for them to come closer but didn't turn around.
Kate was wide eyed.
Dean walked around to the man's side and flipped the safety off of his gun. "Did you kill all of these people?"
Kate swallowed hard. The man's face and eyes were sunken in.
Dean kicked a chair, demanding another answer.
The man raised two fingers, effortlessly freezing Dean in place. He slowly turned his head. "Dean, the only reason you are not dead right now is that I am more curious than annoyed... only slightly."
Dean felt his gun being taken away and sat down against his will.
Kate put her hand on him.
The man bit into a sandwich and chewed slowly. "Take a seat, Katelyn."
Kate was scared. "How do you know our names?"
The man patted his mouth with a napkin. "I know everyone's names."
Kate saw that Dean was scared too. "Please let him go."
The man sipped his drink. "Let's talk."
Kate had never felt power like his. "Who are you?"
The man answered after taking another bite of his sandwich. "Death."
Kate looked to Dean and back to the man. "Death?"
"You've gained my attention." Death said.
Kate smoothed her hands over her knees. "Why did you bring me here?"
"To talk." Death said. His movements were slow but intimidating.
Dean narrowed his eyes. "So, you did kill all of those people." He winced as a pain built in his chest.
Kate put her hand on Dean's chest to help him. "Stop, I'll talk."
Death returned to his food. "You have the reapers excitable. I rarely find anything interesting enough to waste my time, but you are a conundrum."
Kate explained what happened with the reapers. "Are you going to kill me?"
Death eyed her. "No."
Kate flicked her eyes to Dean.
"Dean is fine as long as he can mind his manners." Death said. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. "Do you know who created humans?"
Kate bit her lip. "God?"
Death nodded. "Do you know who created monsters?"
Kate shook her head.
"Eve. Petulant brat she was." Death said, taking his time to speak between bites. "Eve used bits and pieces of god's creations to make her own. There is one thing that all of these things have in common, a life force." He studied Kate. "Strong beings can shape that life force."
Kate wasn't following.
"Do you know who created you?" Death asked.
"Gabriel." Kate said, quietly.
"An archangel cannot create life." Death said. "This is what raises my curiosity. Humans, animals, angels, vampires, demons... they all share the same life force. You, however... do not have that."
Kate felt her heart sink. "I'm not alive?"
Death had been around longer than any other being and knew more than anyone. He was puzzled by the nephilian though. "Only god can create another form of life force. He didn't create you though. That leaves me wondering, why do you exist?"
Dean felt a bit of give and reached out for Kate, pulling her to him.
Death allowed it. He could see Dean's intentions.
"I don't understand." Kate said.
"I will not reap you. I cannot reap you. I can only reap things that god created." Death said. "That doesn't mean you will not die."
"But I'm just a kid with angel grace." Kate said.
Death waved his hand and the restaurant filled with lights that looked like stars. He controlled the images and brought forth what looked like cells. "God chose carbon as his building block. All things are made out of carbon."
Kate watched the images. "I'm carbon."
"You are carbon adjacent. Somebody created an atom so close to carbon that god hasn't noticed it yet." Death said. "Since only god can create something like that, I am unsure how you are here."
Kate was about to melt. "Am I bad?"
Death furrowed his brows. "That is entirely up to you. I am very very old. I find little joy outside of food." He nudged a plate toward Dean. "This place has the best barbecue sandwiches."
Dean reluctantly took a bite but instantly agreed.
"Little interests me. You do. You are something that I have not had the chance to see yet. There are many universes. There is one death and one god. Each universe has duplicates of everyone and everything else. I was alerted to your existence. If you make enough waves, god will be as well." He stood after wiping his hands. "I will leave you with that."
Kate approached him. "Wait, all of these people can't die."
Death turned to look at her. He waved his hand and people slowly started to get up.
Kate chewed her lip. "Is it only me? Why did you take me and not Taylor?"
Dean wanted to tell her to be quiet. The being in front of them was terrifying.
"The boy is the same. I wouldn't summon you both." Death said. "I am invested in your future, don't screw it up."
Kate gasped loudly and stumbled into a brick wall. She groaned and held her head. "Dean!"
Dean rolled and called out for her. "Here."
Taylor ran down the hallway. "Where the hell were you guys?"
Dean yanked him into an empty room. "Death."
Taylor blinked.
"Death pulled me and I accidentally pulled Dean." Kate said.
Dean shook his head. "Explain later. We need to find dad."
John was still at the facility with Castiel and the lamia. He had Castiel put the man into a deep sleep so that they could return and question him. Dean's phone call made him abandon that problem and head to the bunker.
A family meeting was needed but the bunker was full of other people. Dean spoke to Bobby and ironed out a plan. Karen, Marie and Rod would manage the others so that Bobby, Pamela and Missouri could help with the discussion.
Charlie wanted to hear what was being said but John looked extra prickly. She didn't push it. She could chat with Cameron.
Kate sat at the big table in the library. She wanted to blurt everything out but had to wait.
John spoke up when everyone took a seat. "Today, at Kate's school, I caught a man that was watching her."
Kate and Taylor traded looks.
Taylor sat forward. "We both felt something off."
"He is a lamia." John said. He pulled out a sheet of notes. "He claims that he heard that Kate could cure creatures. He wants his son cured."
Kate's eyes brightened.
John narrowed his own eyes. "I do not trust him. He could be lying. The immediate issue is that he claims that creatures talk. There are rumors."
Dean glanced at Kate. "We have to worry about hunters hunting her but now blood suckers?"
Kate was connecting things in her head. "Uh, Dean and I had a run in."
John flicked his eyes to her.
Dean took over because Kate was melting into her seat. "Taylor, Kate, and I were going to zap over here. Taylor got here right away. Kate and I got pulled in another direction. We met death."
No one knew what to say to that.
"Death with a capital d." Kate said. "The horseman. The big guy."
"You are just now sharing this?" John asked, loudly.
"Instead of telling the story 50 times we waited for you to get here." Kate said.
Missouri patted Kate's hand. "How did you escape?"
Kate shrugged one shoulder. "He was actually kind of nice about-"
John smacked the table. "You are NOT befriending death."
Kate opened her mouth but shut it soon after.
Dean grimaced. "He spoke to us. He said he was curious. He said that Kate and Taylor were not made by god, but some other being. He was interested because only god can create stuff, apparently."
John just stared at his oldest son.
"How we got the grace, and the genetic mutation is still correct. We are just not quite the same as everyone else. He really didn't' seem like he wanted to hurt me. He said he was invested in my future." Kate said.
Dean swallowed. "After having met death himself, I'd say we named that look accurately."
John turned the death glare on Dean.
Pamela gently touched John.
John relaxed but only slightly.
"I thought Gabriel made us." Taylor said.
Kate took her eyes away from John. "From what death showed us, he helped mutate the genes. Death said everything is made of carbon and you and I are not quite carbon."
Bobby was dumbfounded. "No, you two are human."
"Human adjacent. Looks like I was right this whole time." Kate said, bitterly.
Pamela ran her hand up John's back. "So, a few different creatures know about her. Do they know about Taylor?"
"The lamia didn't mention him." John said.
"Cas can do some digging." Dean said.
Kate was flickering inside. She had moments of panic that she quickly shoved down.
Missouri could feel Kate's emotions and wished that life was easier for her.
"Matt and his friend helped us. If I help the lamia, maybe he would help. I know it isn't ideal but even Crowley-"
John stopped Kate. "No."
"Tessa-" Kate started to say.
"No. No creatures. We can't trust anyone or anything right now." John said.
Kate slowly stood up. "Well, I'm a creature so maybe I should have the right to finish a sentence." She spun on her heel and walked out to seek the comfort of Millie and her favorite blanket.
Pamela stopped John. "Let her go for now. She met death. She is processing."
John rubbed his face and walked to another room with Pamela.
Dean traded looks with Taylor. "Trip wires... trip wires everywhere."
Taylor groaned. "Hailey asked me to go to her house for Halloween."
Dean raised an eyebrow.
"Her parents will be there. It isn't a party. We would hand candy out to little kids." Taylor said.
Dean shook his head. "Well good luck asking him about it."
Taylor frowned. "I was going to ask if you could."
Dean scoffed.
Bobby resituated his cap. "Idjits. I'll talk to him in a bit. You two keep yourselves out of the way." He gave Dean a hard look. "Boy when you're nervous you just don't know when to shut up."
Missouri chuckled.
"Okay, the death thing was weird. Dad does have a death glare. I was just comparing them." Dean said.
Bobby smacked his head. "Do that in your head."
Missouri followed Bobby out of the room. She wanted to talk to Kate.
Taylor tapped his fingers on the table. "Since it is just you and me... my coach talked to me."
Dean sat back. "Go on."
"I almost snapped. I got hit in the back of the head." Taylor said. He sighed. "He didn't send a note home or anything but wants me to get my head on right."
Dean nodded. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I want to punch a wall." Taylor said.
Dean chewed his cheek. "You'll have to hold off on that. I think the walls down here are sturdy, but I don't really want to find out if you punching through one would bring the whole place down."
Taylor sighed. "You could offer me a drink."
Dean snorted. "Water or juice. No way in hell am I going to even joke about giving you alcohol."
Taylor smirked.
Dean got up. "How about a run?"
"Dad won't let us go outside." Taylor said.
"Good thing we have a maze down here." Dean said. He told Taylor to grab his shoes and went to find John. He could hear Bobby and Pamela chatting with him and the conversation didn't sound as if they were trying to hold him back.
John looked up when Dean stepped into the room. "So, I have a look that rivals death's?"
Dean grinned sheepishly. "Uh, death wasn't angry at us at the time."
John had his journal open. "This was always a worry of mine. Gordon showed us that a hunter can be dangerous. I am not comfortable with rumors."
Dean searched for the words he wanted to use. "This is bad. I think... I think Kate had some sort of a point. If creatures already know about her, it would be wise to be one step ahead of them."
John considered it. "We are not forming alliances with monsters."
Bobby grumbled. "No, but it would be better for them to think they can contact one of us than wait until she's alone and take her. Science went into curing that vampire."
Pamela was holding John's hand and squeezed it. "Look at hunters. It all seems black and white until they can gain something from it. If it was easy to ask for favors, a hunter wouldn't want to step out of line."
John saw something cross Dean's face and narrowed his eyes. "What were you about to say."
Dean's eyes grew wide. "Huh?"
"I saw the smirk. What were you thinking?" John asked.
Dean stepped back.
Taylor heard that bit of the conversation and poked his head in the door. "He was thinking that you could control the situation instead of fighting it and that you would like that."
Dean whipped his head around.
John pinched the bridge of his nose and chuckled. "Why are your shoes on?"
Taylor shrugged. "We were going to run laps."
John nodded. "Dean, run until you're done being a smart ass."
Dean feigned offense. "He didn't even use my voice and I'm getting blamed for that comment."
John rocked back in his chair. "I'm assuming what went through your head was closer to a Kate comment."
Dean grimaced.
Pamela sat on one of John's legs and put her arm around his shoulders. She spoke after the boys left. "Look at you with a sense of humor."
John pinched her playfully. "The whole situation is ridiculous. I need to talk to Kate. Dean cracks jokes when he is tense."
Bobby had been quiet. "He is the most respectful smartass that I've met."
John shifted so he could stand up. "That sums him up." He gently knocked on Kate's door and let himself in. He sat down at the foot of her bed and sighed. "Can we talk?"
Kate looked confused.
"I'm not mad. I'm stressed. I want to talk about what you were trying to say." John said. He saw her face change and his eyes twinkled. "Keep all smartass comments to yourself. Your brother already used up my patience for the day."
Kate smiled. "Which one?"
John rubbed his chin. "Sam is the only one not giving me gray hair at the moment."
Kate let Millie stand on her shoulders. "Obviously, we don't want to buddy up with a bunch of creatures. It may be the lesser of two evils. If a few creatures decide I need to stick around, they are more likely to not hurt me. I'm not going to go nuts and try to cure everyone. Death kind of warned me about god finding out I exist. If word got around that we were willing to work with them, they could provide samples and research could be done in a lab. We also need to get the word around that my blood could kill them. They'll want to dive in and take a bite out of me. Well, seeing what I do to demons could deter them. I'm just saying, if I can help this lamia, he might help spread the right information."
John was tense and wanted an easy fix.
"Crowley is interested in protecting me for some reason. I don't trust him but maybe we should think about that." Kate said.
John clenched his fists. "Kate, you cannot be friends with him. He is a demon."
"I'm not trying to be friends. I want to know why he wants to protect me. I know you don't want me to make a deal." Kate said.
"Your older self did. You have to do it differently this time." John nearly pleaded.
Kate groaned. "Remember when I was little and my dad left me at a motel? I told you guys about the vision. He brought my dad back safely. He said he'd ask a favor of me later on. Then, when I summoned him to fight the other demon, he insinuated that I would be paying him back. I may have already made the deal."
"I still expect you to stay clear of him." John said.
"I will." She picked at a stray thread on her socks. "I'm scared. Death pulled me out of thin air. He wanted to talk to me. We were kind of joking about him being nice but he was so powerful."
John held an arm out for her to scoot over. "Are you okay?"
Kate melted into his side. "Right now, yeah. Give me a few days and I'll have a proper meltdown."
John squeezed her. "Missouri and Pamela both plan on talking to you. Dean and I are here, of course. They just both have abilities."
Kate smirked. "Can Pamela be around more often? She got you from livid to lovable in no time."
John looked up at the ceiling. He smiled slightly. "We need to loop everyone else in. Charlie is about to go off the deep end with research."
Kate scooted back. "You would never do anything to her, right?"
John furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"
"Like... she isn't like us. You wouldn't swat her or anything... right?" Kate pushed.
John slowly answered her. "I wouldn't."
Kate grinned. "Okay."
John waited for her to explain.
"She is rightfully antsy and on the verge of deep diving into things. All I'm saying is she would have a heart attack if she thought you were upset. I don't want her to actually die though." Kate said.
John got up. "I don't enjoy always being cast as the bad guy."
Kate smirked. "Then don't play the role so well." She whined when John swatted her. "I'm going to complain to Pamela."
(The roadhouse)
Ellen brought a table of hunters a pitcher of beer. The roadhouse had been busy for a few days as a wave of hunters filtered through. She caught part of their conversation and stopped them. "What are you yapping about?"
"My buddy, Gordon. He went after something and never came back. I figured he just didn't keep in touch but I've heard some things." The man said.
Another man whipped his head around and approached the table. "You don't know what you're talking about. He was... he was a lunatic. Damn fool talked me and a few other guys into hunting this big monster. We meet up and he and some little shit took a family hostage." He pointed to his nose. "Lee Chamber's kid was there. She broke my nose because she was so scared. There wasn't a monster."
That got the attention of a few other tables.
"Well, where is he then?" The original man asked.
The man with the crooked nose winced. "A hellhound carried him off. I bet you he made a deal and went crazy when it was up."
Ellen relaxed as the conversation turned into stories of times where Gordon almost got people killed. She had gotten the alert from John and couldn't stand for anyone questioning Kate. She thought of the kids like a niece and nephew. She wasn't around them often enough but her heart broke when they were hurting. She wished that Bill could meet Taylor at least once. He'd be so proud. Ellen didn't even care that Taylor was the product of infidelity. He was a great kid and a great brother to Jo. She also had fully forgiven John for what happened to Bill. Her heart was full.
Jo checked on Taylor and Kate. As much as she wanted to be part of the action, she didn't want to complicate things. She could stay back and listen to conversations like Ellen had. She didn't really want to take off but she was itching for some kind of adventure. It would have to be parent sanctioned because John didn't exactly seem pleased the last time she took off. Ellen sure as hell wasn't pleased.
(Sam and Jess)
Jess didn't want to go to Brady's family's party. They stayed home and watched tv instead.
Sam explained that Jess was still torn up over her family and Brady understood. He invited them over for dinner on a different day. It would be less people.
Sam had never been to Brady's house. He stood outside and looked at the number of windows. How could people live in houses that big when they didn't have a ton of people living there? Marie's house was big but purposeful. Each room held a warm bed for a traveler or shelves to hold food. Brady's house was just space.
Jess was more comfortable since she didn't think she would run into any of her parent's friends. Her dad spoke if she called him but generally acted like he never had a wife or daughter. That was fine with Jess. Sam's family was better.
Brady welcomed them in. "Fire pit is out back."
Sam followed behind him, but Jess froze.
Jess heard a tiny cry and her eyes darted around.
Brady smiled. "My other sister had a baby."
Jess flicked her eyes to Sam.
Brady thought her reaction was funny. "You can see him if you want."
Jess grabbed Sam's hand and yanked him into the large living room.
Brady introduced them and left Jess with his sister.
The sister looked tired. "Hi, I'm sorry you guys are friends with Brady. He's kind of an asshole."
Jess smiled. "Ah, he isn't so bad."
The sister, Ashley, tilted so that Jess could see the baby's face. "His name is Thomas."
Jess reached out and touched his tiny foot. "How old is he?"
"A month." Ashley said, squinting her eyes. "I think. Wow, it has been a month." She could tell Jess really wanted to hold him, so she handed him over.
Jess cradled him in her arms and freed one hand so that she could touch his fingers. "He is so perfect."
Ashley straightened his socks. "Isn't he though?" She relaxed into her seat. She was exhausted. Her family helped but weren't as eager to hold him. Jess looked like she knew what she was doing so Ashley leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
When Sam checked on Jess, she had her feet on the edge of the couch with her knees bent. Thomas was resting on her legs, and she was talking softly to him. "Hey, we can't take him home with us."
Jess frowned. "Look how tiny his feet are."
Sam kissed the top of her head. "Sorry, when we have kids, they'll never be that tiny."
Jess grinned. "John said you were smaller than Dean when you were born."
Sam touched the baby's foot. "Seeing Ian, I can't image a baby ever being that small."
Jess gently brushed Thomas's head. "They are so tiny and fragile."
Brady walked in. "She ditched you with him?"
Jess told him to be quiet. "She is a new mom who is exhausted. Don't wake her up."
Brady told Sam to follow him. "That's how it starts. She will want one."
Sam groaned. "She already does."
"You should probably tie the knot first." Brady said, lightly.
Sam blushed. "I will. I mean, I have the ring. I just haven't asked yet."
Brady spun around. "What are you waiting for?"
"The right time?" Sam said, tentatively. "We are both young. I know we are going to get married. I just want to ask at a good time."
Brady handed Sam a drink. "Where did you get the ring."
Sam sipped the drink. It was strong but one wouldn't hurt. "My dad gave me my mom's ring."
Brady's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yeah. She wasn't wearing it when she died. She had taken it off for baths or something. It means a lot. I didn't think he'd be that happy about Jess." Sam admitted.
"I get a finder's fee, right?" Brady asked.
Sam snorted. "I'll just say thanks for introducing us."
Brady warmed his hands by the fire. The two chatted about life and Jess until she walked outside.
"Did you steal him?" Sam asked.
Jess made sure the blanket around Thomas was snug. "No. Ashley is just resting. I asked before bringing him out here."
"It is a good thing you didn't bring a backpack or large purse." Sam said.
Jess playfully kicked him. She sat down and made sure that the baby was comfortable. He had fallen asleep, and his hands were tucked under his chin.
Sam scooted closer to her. In that moment, he could see their entire future mapped out.
(Hannah and Kate)
Hannah was up to date on what was going on with Kate. She told her mom about the man at the school and was following safety protocols.
Kate was able to talk to her on the phone. "There is too much going on. We are still figuring out the Cameron thing. I don't know when I will be back."
Hannah sat down on her bed. "You've been hunted for a while. Can't we make everything safer? We can add symbols to the school. That way, certain things can't enter."
Dean had Kate sitting by him and cleared his throat. "That is something we will do. The principal at the high school wants her to paint a mural. She can ward that school and it shouldn't be too hard to ward yours."
"Especially while things are touchy, can you have something guarding the school?" Hannah asked.
Kate furrowed her brows. "Like dad?"
"No like... an angel." Hannah said.
Kate sighed. "Cas wears a trench coat. He's going to stick out like a sore thumb. He's busy too."
"Okay but someone at the school could be on standby as a vessel. Then, if something happens, an angel can take over." Hannah said.
Dean eyed Kate.
"I don't think any of our teachers would agree to be a vessel. They have to have permission." Kate said.
Hannah knew that. "Me."
Dean sat forward. "No. Absolutely not. You don't want to be a meatsuit."
Hannah rolled her eyes. "I already am."
Kate gasped. "What?"
"My image has been used by an angel before." Hannah said.
"Yeah, in a vision." Kate said.
Hannah shrugged. "So, if something happens, I'll just be a vessel. That way, everyone can be safe."
"No. An angel can tear you to shreds. You can't trust all of them." Dean said.
"So, I die protecting other people. So what?" Hannah asked.
Dean palmed his face. "You're every bit as insane as Kate is."
Hannah grinned. "That is why we work so well together."
Kate jumped away from Dean. "No! I didn't work on this. I didn't know. This isn't conspiring."
"It has nothing to do with the freaks so you can't get mad." Hannah said.
"Did you already say yes?" Dean asked.
"Yeah." Hannah said.
Dean growled. "I'm going to talk to Cas. We are going to get you out of this."
Hannah didn't want to get out of it. "This is a way I could help. If you felt like you couldn't protect her, you'd do the same thing."
"I'm not being a meat suit!" Dean said.
"I can't really shoot anyone. I might as well sit back and be a disguise." Hannah said.
"I don't think you fully understand what can happen." Dean said.
"I'm not going to hand over the wheel for something small. It would be if something awful was happening." Hannah said.
Dean ran his fingers through is hair. "Can you all just stop doing crap for five minutes? We will talk to your parents. Just let us figure out this stuff first."
Hannah sighed. "Fine."
Dean went to talk to John and ran into Krissy. She had something in her mouth and looked at him with worried eyes. "What are you doing?"
Krissy was trying to chew and talk. "Nuffing."
Dean narrowed his eyes. "Did you sneak brownies?"
Krissy batted her eyelashes.
Dean held his hand out for her to grab. "Show me where they are and we can keep the secret between us."
Krissy took him to the kitchen and climbed on the counter to show him where the pan of brownies had been placed.
Dean got one and gave her a bit of another one. Dean poured her a glass of milk. "You know, you're the only kid not making me lose my mind right now."
Krissy swallowed and sipped her milk. "Is it 'cause I gave you brownies?"
Dean smiled slightly. "Yeah, that may be it." He dramatically grabbed her and ran out of the kitchen when they heard voices.
Krissy giggled wildly.
Dean hushed her. "So much for being covert if you're going to laugh like that."
Krissy calmed down. "It was funny." She studied him. "You aren't a hardass."
Dean put her on her feet. "Lead me to who told you I was."
Krissy looked worried. "Why?"
Dean held his hand out for her. "Oh, I just want to talk to them, that's all."
