Author's note: This has been my longest gap between chapters, and it has been killing me. I want to write and have several things preventing me. I'm still recovering from surgery (the recovery time is 8ish months). All of the well wishes made me emotional. You guys are amazing and those definitely helped me shake the blues. ALSO: I've published over 1 million words. I've written many more or thought of many more. I forget things. I think I wrote things, and I didn't. So, if you notice gaps or something I've written doesn't make sense with something else, let me know. I'd like to blame all of my blunders on my leg but that only works for these new ones. College and parenting are a good scape goat.
(((((Chapter Note! This will bounce around between 2002 and the future. I tried to make it clear which time we are in but here is a note just to remind you.)))))
Caleb had a lot on his mind. John's crew were still at the bunker. Rod's crew would be heading home to get Krissy out of the bunker. Were they safe? Did he need to worry about his own little family? They had nothing to do with Cameron, but bad guys didn't really care as long as they could use someone as leverage. He went to bed with his arms wrapped around April, one hand resting on her stomach. Lauren had gotten more active, and each little kick and jab made his heart melt.
The house was well warded. That could lull them into a false sense of security. What if one of the symbols were removed? They had plenty of layers. Caleb just remained paranoid. Around midnight, he woke up suddenly. The bedroom door was slightly open although April was still by his side. He sat up but didn't see anyone. He quietly called out for each of the boys, to see if they had opened the door. No answer. His hunting instincts kicked in as he felt a weight at the end of the bed. He swept his leg, tossing the blankets off of him in an effort to get up. The weight rolled off the bed and hit the floor with a loud thud.
April quickly sat up.
Caleb turned the light on and saw Ian laying on the floor, shocked. "Oh no. Buddy. I'm so sorry."
Ian blinked a few times and started giggling. He let Caleb pick him up but demanded that Caleb repeat the move.
Caleb tried to get him to calm down and go to sleep but the toddler was thrilled with his temporary flight and wanted to do it again.
Caleb sighed. "I'll take him downstairs. You go back to sleep."
April smiled. "Okay. Let me know if he won't calm down."
Caleb wrangled Ian out of the blankets and pulled him from the bed. "A shot of whisky will knock him out." He swatted the pillow away before it hit him in the face. "Or a snack and some milk." He carried Ian down to the kitchen and made a small snack of crackers and cheese. He sat Ian on the counter and stayed close by.
Ian munched happily and drank from his cup. He rubbed his eyes but shook his head when Caleb asked if he was ready for bed.
Caleb studied Ian's features. He looked like less of a baby than he did, but he still had the chubby cheeks and big eyes. He didn't care that Ian wasn't his own blood, he loved him as though he was. He didn't even know he was capable of that. It all happened so fast but felt so right. "You're going to be a good big brother, right?"
Ian stared at him for a moment before going back to his snack.
Caleb chuckled. "You'll get used to it."
Ian finished his snack and reached out for Caleb to hold him. He laid his head on Caleb's shoulder and closed his eyes.
Caleb walked around for a few minutes before Ian's body went limp. He carefully placed him back in his bed and went back to his own. April was sound asleep, so he placed a kissed on the side of her head and rolled onto his back. The only monster he wanted to fight was a particularly small one that hated shoes and clothes. He'd help other hunters if they needed him, but he was right where he needed to be.
(Future Kate and Taylor)
Kate slammed her hands down on the table. "Oh, come on, Taylor." She motioned to Atropos "You're going to let her dictate what you do?"
Taylor, always the voice of reason, took a slow breath. "Things aren't that easy. We have to be careful. You know that."
Kate turned her glare to Atropos. "I won't be changing anything important. I will go back, and we will leave the bunker a few days early. Taylor will go to Hailey's house. No one will really know why I am going back. The change will happen in the future. You can't gatekeep the future."
"Why can't you go to a different point in time?" Taylor asked.
Kate bristled. "You know why!"
Taylor threw his hands up. "Do what you want. Don't come crying to me when dad catches on and kicks your ass."
Kate crossed her arms and dared Atropos to stop her. When Atropos didn't try, she stormed out of the room and gathered the items that she needed. She ran into Dean as she was leaving the house.
"Hold up, where are you headed?" Dean asked.
Kate shrugged. "Wherever I want."
Dean raised an eyebrow.
Kate slumped. "2002."
Dean groaned. "Kiddo, you can't keep changing things."
Kate rolled her eyes. "I'm not kiddo anymore, Dean."
Dean pulled her to him and hugged her. He put a hand on her head and stepped back, to show where her head reached his chest. "Until you can look me straight in the eye without tilting your head, you are a kiddo."
Kate smirked. "So, Taylor can call you kiddo?"
Dean jabbed her in the ribs, lightly. "Time travel never goes the way you want it to."
Kate shrugged. "It goes well enough; besides, you can't stop me."
Dean stumbled slightly when a small child ran into his legs. He picked them up and eyed Kate. "Don't get cocky. I can still beat you up."
Kate poked the child's stomach. "Have fun babysitting."
Dean moved the child to sit on his shoulders and scoffed. "When have I ever not been babysitting?"
Kate started to comment but chose to grin sheepishly.
"I'm serious. Be careful. I'm trusting you. Please don't make me come after you again." Dean said.
Kate gave him a quick side hug. "When have I ever not been careful?"
Dean blew air through his nose when she disappeared. He opened a pack of goldfish crackers and handed them to the child on his shoulders. "You had better eat those quick. I only have one pack and the rest of the seagulls will flock if they hear the wrapper."
(2002)
"I'm not staying here." Taylor said.
John pressed on his temples. "We may not have a choice."
"We do and I'm choosing not to stay. Hailey invited me to her house. It is a normal, safe, parent approved event." Taylor said.
John cracked his neck. "Taylor."
Taylor backed down. "Fine."
Kate had chosen to stay quiet. She'd talk to Taylor later and try to get him to calm down.
"Everyone needs to go to bed." John announced.
Krissy had successfully eaten her last brownie and was hyped up on sugar. She wouldn't be going to bed anytime soon.
Dean almost felt bad for encouraging her brownie habit but dammit they were good. "Hey, stop running. You are going to get hurt." He cringed and grabbed her before she pulled an empty pot onto her head.
John walked into the kitchen and poured himself a drink. He gave Dean an odd look.
"Uh, she's a little hyper." Dean said.
Krissy giggled and tried to do a cartwheel.
"Hand her off to Marie." John said.
Krissy grinned. "We are friends."
Dean covered her mouth and pulled her from the kitchen. "Shh, you'll blow my cover." He found Marie and nudged Krissy to go to her. "Uh, she had a bit of sugar."
Marie smiled. "That's okay."
Dean backed away and returned to the kitchen. "She had a few brownies."
John motioned to Dean's shirt where a few crumbs had been left. "She wasn't the only one."
"So, while you were arguing with Kate and Taylor, I chose to get brownies with Krissy." Dean said.
John savored his drink. "Taylor is going to be an issue."
Dean sighed. "I figured as much."
"Is Kate easier to handle?" John asked, almost to himself.
"No." Dean said. "You're just more used to dealing with her."
Pamela slowly entered the kitchen and joined John for a drink. "It is going to be okay."
"You get to go home at the end of the day. I'm stuck dodging arrows and holding back nukes." Dean said.
"Look me in the eye and tell me you'd want to trade places." Pamela said.
"Yeah, I can't do that. As much as I joke about getting rid of them, I'm kind of attached." Dean said.
John nodded slightly.
Pamela ran her hand up John's back. "You sent them off to bed, let's go unwind."
Dean pulled a face.
Missouri walked into the kitchen. "John Eric Winchester I'm this close to smacking you upside the head." She held her finger and thumb out to show how thin her patience had grown.
John's ears turned pink.
Dean grinned. "Why?"
Missouri shot him a look. "You just mind your business."
Dean wasn't quite sure what John was about to say but his reaction to Missouri made Dean hold back a laugh. "I'll just see you all tomorrow morning."
(October 29, 2002)
John woke up early, as usual. He felt better after a good night of quality sleep. He poured himself a large cup of coffee and sat down at the table. He closed his eyes for a moment to let the warm steam hit his face. When he opened them, there was an envelope on the table. He opened it as Dean walked in. He recognized the writing and his nose flared.
"That look is never good." Dean commented.
"Older Kate has requested a meeting." John said.
Dean looked at the note. "Cryptic."
Once Missouri and Pamela were awake, John asked them to stay so that they could turn Kate and Taylor around if they asked where John and Dean were.
Dean was almost surprised that John assumed they were both going. He didn't ask questions just in case he changed his mind. He even got to be the driver. The meeting place wasn't far from the bunker, likely for safety. It was a small house that looked as though it was being rented. There was a lockbox near the front door, but they had the code thanks to Kate's note.
(John, Dean and Older Kate)
Older Kate was already there and hugged them both. "You got the note."
"Did you stop time or how did you get it to me?" John asked.
Older Kate tensed. "I used a vortex. Of course, I'm not going to stop time because younger me would not be effected."
"A vortex?" Dean asked.
"Uh, think of it like a tube. I can get small items from point A to point B without disturbing anything." Kate said.
John cleared his throat before Dean could ask more questions about the vortex. "How do you plan to get us out of the bunker? How did we get out the first time? If we got out the first time, why do you need to come back?"
Kate counted to five in her head. "I can get us out sooner. Taylor is out of sorts and the Halloween activities at Hailey's house will be good for him. I just don't want him to get moody again."
John didn't believe her for a second. "Why are you really back?"
Kate gritted her teeth. "Everyone needs to go home eventually. Cameron deserves a normal life where he isn't stuck in a bunker for months. I can do a protection spell that gives everyone a blanket of protection for a few months."
"You know this how?" John pressed.
"I learned a thing or two along the way. A lot happens and we learn a lot. I don't know why that is so hard for you to understand." Older Kate said.
Dean looked around. "Who owns this place?"
Kate grinned sheepishly. "You."
"What?" Dean asked.
John was irritated that Dean changed the subject.
"Long story. Technically you own it. You don't have to pay for anything, but it is close to the bunker. It is warded. It can be a safe place for hunters. Then, if something goes down, they are close enough to the bunker that you could decide to take them there. We can't trust everyone, but we also can't just let hunters die, knowing that we have the ultimate bat cave nearby."
John nearly growled. "We can talk about the house later. You have been shifty for months. Now, tell me what is really going on."
Kate rolled her eyes hard enough that she thought she may have pulled a muscle. "I'm trying to save everyone and make life easier."
John eyed her. "Katelyn."
"What is your problem with me? I have the ability to help and all you do is question me." Kate said.
John changed his stance. "You have a tell."
Kate stiffened.
Dean grimaced. "You do."
"I'm nervous because time is fickle. Let me cast the spell and I'll go back to my time." Kate said.
"Tell me what you are really doing, and I might let you cast the spell." John said.
Kate scoffed. "Me asking you is just a courtesy. I can compel you or just do the damn spell without asking."
John raised an eyebrow. "Exactly. So, why are you risking me saying no?"
Kate's face fell. "Respect?"
John slowly shook his head. He reached for his belt and slid it through the loops of his jeans. He sat it on the table, still keeping a grip on the folded ends.
Kate's eyes widened. "Dad!"
"I don't know what you are doing but I know it is dangerous and something you know I wouldn't approve of. I've given you several chances. I'm not going to turn a blind eye and send you to your death." John said.
Kate shifted from foot to foot. "Dean?"
Dean stepped back. "I'm keeping my mouth shut."
Kate considered stepping behind Dean but had a sinking feeling that he'd just become cannon fodder. John looked determined. He had to have abilities. He had to have mind reading abilities or something.
John gave her a minute. "Do I need to motivate you to speak?"
Kate frowned. "I'm an adult."
"You are still my child." John said.
Kate stepped back. "What is my tell?"
John narrowed his eyes.
"It is a long story, and you won't understand yet." Kate tried.
"Katelyn Winchester, you either talk now or you talk after I light you up." John warned.
Kate chose to sit down. That seemed safer. "I'll try to explain, and you can ask questions. It isn't really a deal..."
John clenched the belt in his fist.
"Wait, wait. Let me finish." Kate said in a high-pitched voice. "I really can cast a safe spell to get everyone back home. Missouri will look at it and tell you that it is safe. I can show you. Taylor is hurting over his file. Spending time with Hailey will be good for him. I wasn't lying about that. To do the spell, I need a few drops of blood from everyone involved." She took a deep breath. "I just need a bit more from you."
"Why?" John asked.
"Things happen that I can't tell you about yet. I promise I can't. We will fix one issue, and another will come up. Just like I saved my dad's soul and then the doctor starts trying to hurt us. In my time, we are trying to defeat an angel. Taylor and I have been working with other beings." She licked her lips. "Like Atropos. We want to keep the angel away from earth. That is all. Then everyone can be safe and happy. There is a spell. It is a little more dangerous and complicated but keep in mind that I'm way stronger in my time."
John thought about what she was saying. "Which angel?"
Kate blinked a few times but didn't answer.
John started to move around the table.
Kate jumped up with a squeak and grabbed Dean, pulling him between John and herself. She wrapped her arms around his middle and squeezed.
Dean winced. "Real brave, Kate."
Kate had outgrown John's methods of discipline, but the threat was still effective. "Dad, wait."
John stopped but didn't back down.
"You already know that Sam and Dean were supposed to cause the apocalypse and Taylor and I were made to stop them. They were intended to be vessels for Michael and Lucifer. That is not shocking news." Kate said.
Dean grabbed Kate's hands and pried them away from each other so that he could yank her from behind him. "You want to make a deal with Lucifer?"
Kate tried to pull her wrist away from him. "No. Not a deal. We want him to go away."
"Why do you need my blood for that?" John asked.
"You always say your job is to protect us and like me, you don't always listen to reason..."
Dean interrupted her. "Not the time for sass. Trust me."
Kate swallowed hard. "You'd rather die or sacrifice yourself. I want to stop him without you getting taken down too. I can prevent you from being hurt."
"How?" John asked.
Kate chewed her lip.
"How, Katelyn Amelia?" John asked again.
"We were created to defeat him. You weren't. I can use your blood to bind you so that he can't kill you or send you anywhere." Kate said.
"Why do you need to travel back in time?" John asked.
Kate shifted from foot to foot. "The you of my time refused."
"So, you thought that you would come back and trick me into giving up enough blood for that when I have good reason to refuse?" John pressed.
"To keep you safe." Kate said. She had broken his trust in a big way before the Lucifer fight, but she couldn't tell him that. "Dad, please."
"No." John said.
Kate caught the eye roll before she made a complete circle. She closed her eyes tight.
"I don't think it is that simple and I'm not going to agree to something that I wouldn't agree to later on." John said.
Kate snorted. "Like adopting me."
Dean smacked her.
Kate jumped. "What the hell, Dean?"
"Better me than him. What do you mean?" Dean asked.
Kate shook her head. "Things aren't always sunshine and rainbows. I'm just saying, it would be human to regret adopting me."
John pointed to the spot in front of him.
Kate stared at him.
"Now." John said in a firm tone.
Kate reluctantly approached him.
John sat the belt down and wrapped his arms around her. He tightened his grip for a moment before he loosened it. I'm not going to regret adopting you. I may go gray faster or drink more, but I will never regret adopting you.
Kate melted into the hug. "You say that now." She whined when he smacked the back of her head.
"I'm not happy with being lied to. If you are going to come back to change things, you are going to be honest about it. I understand that there are things you can't say. However, you can say that. No more sneaking around." John said.
Kate took a deep breath when he broke the hug. "If I don't sneak around, it takes forever to explain, and you threaten to whip me."
"I threatened you because I knew you were lying." John corrected.
Kate pulled a paper from her pocket. "This is the protection spell. You can research if you want. Show Missouri."
John looked at the paper. It looked like light magic. "When will this run out?"
"A few months. It isn't exact science but will give us... or you a chance to figure things out. It will throw the doctor off our trail." Kate said.
"How?" Dean asked.
Kate sighed. "That is part of what I can't say."
John had a feeling he knew. "Do not make deals with the devil. Do not try to trick me into anything. Am I understood?"
Kate sighed. "Yes, sir." She looked at a watch on her wrist. "I used up the time I had. Please cast the spell. Everyone deserves to be home for the holidays."
Dean ruffled her hair. "Never stop being a pain in the ass."
Kate jabbed him. "Don't worry. I won't." She snapped her fingers and pulled a folder from a drawer in the kitchen. "Here is house information."
Dean took the papers. He smiled sadly. "Be safe. Be careful. I'm serious."
Kate smirked. "That is about what you told me before I left." She turned to John. "Yeah, Dean told me my plan was okay and encouraged me to come."
Dean whipped his head around. "What?"
Kate grinned. "Gotta go, have fun with that."
Dean cursed when she left. "She does this on purpose. She riles you up and then leaves."
John took the folder from him and read through it. "Maybe you are the one she riles up."
Dean took papers as John handed them to him. "I own a house."
"You own a small fortress." John said. He moved a frame. "Warding everywhere."
Dean stepped outside. "I have a yard." He narrowed his eyes. "Why me?"
John shrugged. "You'll have to ask her."
(Future Kate and Taylor)
Kate walked through the front door of the house and slammed it behind her. She was frustrated and fuming.
Taylor smirked. "Didn't go how you wanted it to?"
Kate gritted her teeth. "Shut the fuck up, Taylor."
One of the kids gasped and spun around. "Fuck is a bad word."
Kate groaned. "Then don't say it."
"You said it." The child responded.
"Well, I'm an adult and you're just a kid. So, I can say what I want. Unless you want to go ask your dad if you can say it." Kate said.
The boy's eyes widened. "No. Nope. I'm just gonna go play outside."
Kate scooped him up in her arms. "That sounds like a good idea." She tickled his sides until he became too difficult to hold. She put him down and patted him so that he'd run for the door. She stood up and glared at Taylor.
Taylor laughed. "You are going to get a kid into hot water."
Kate snorted. "If they don't pick something up from Dean, what makes you think they will pick it up from me?"
"You are cooler than Dean now." Taylor said, quoting one of the kids.
Kate cracked her neck. "Right, because he is old. I'm going to grab a few things. Clear the kitchen and meet me there. We need a new game plan."
(2002)
John, Missouri, and Pamela looked at the spell.
Missouri confirmed that it was a simple protection spell. The 'sacrifice' had been made already so they only needed to cast it over each person in the bunker. There was a small vial of substance that could have been blood. It wasn't from Kate though.
John called everyone into the library to explain the plan.
Krissy found Dean and discretely handed him something from her pocket.
Dean looked at his hand and gave her a forced smile. "Thanks." It was part of a chocolate bar that had been melted from being in her pocket. "I'll just save this for later."
Krissy sat next to Charlie and drew on a blank sheet of paper. She snapped her head up. "I don't wanna get poked."
Marie rubbed her arm. "It is just a tiny poke. I bet we could figure out how to make it not hurt."
Krissy was skeptical.
Charlie distracted her to keep her quiet. She traced Krissy's hand onto the paper and showed her how to make a turkey.
Krissy drew several more turkeys and colored them the way that she thought turkeys looked.
John continued. They could get Cameron and his family back home. "It would be wise to move. We could help with that if you decide that you want to."
Cameron's dad nodded his head. "We will do anything to keep Cam safe."
Cameron was excited about going home with his parents. He wasn't aware of most of the time he had been gone. He was still getting his memory back. He wanted to be in his own room with his own things. His mom said they had kept all of his stuff.
The group split up and went their separate ways in the bunker.
Kate stopped John. "Where did the spell come from."
Dean shook his head. "Where do you think? Don't ask a bunch of questions. Older you is on thin ice and now isn't the time to go ice skating."
Kate made a zipping motion across her mouth.
John worked with Cameron's family first. He took blood from each of them and added it to a drop of the solution. The spell was quick and made a buzzing noise when it was done.
Cas was called in to test the validity of the spell. He then took Cameron and his parents back home so that they could spend time together before needing to pack.
Rod's group was next.
Charlie didn't like being poked either but kept a brave face for Krissy.
Krissy was not okay with it at all. She put up a fight and refused to let John have one of her fingers.
Dean stepped in. "I have to get poked too. How about, if you let me poke your finger, I'll let you do mine?"
Krissy removed her head from Rod's chest and looked at Dean. "It's gonna hurt."
"It may hurt a little bit, but you are tough." Dean said.
Krissy let him take her hand and only fussed for a second because it didn't hurt that bad. He was right, she was tough.
Dean let her use a lancet on his finger and reluctantly let her choose a band aid for him. It was pink with polka dots. He didn't even need a band aid, but Krissy insisted. He shot John a glare, warning him not to comment.
With Rod, Marie, Charlie and Krissy gone, the bunker got quiet.
Missouri and Pamela agreed to have the spell done on them as well. It wouldn't hurt to have some extra protection.
Missouri held a cotton ball to her finger. "I'll talk to Rick again. I know he is genuine. He was just along for the ride, but both of those kids were stillborn. I asked him to do some research and I'll be doing the same."
John thanked her.
Dean smirked. "I know Missouri is headed home but are you coming back with us?"
Pamela's eyes twinkled. "Would it be a problem if I did?"
John dared Dean to say something.
Dean just sat back. "Are we doing the spell with Bobby and Karen? What about Caleb's family?"
John said that they would. He motioned to Dean's forehead. "You have 'sucker' written across your forehead."
Dean looked down at the pink bandage on his finger. "I handled Krissy. You get to handle Ian."
(Sioux Falls)
Karen felt the need to tidy up the house. Maybe it was her version of nesting. The bunker could hold a lot of people but so could their house. They'd have to move stuff around, but they could make it work. Bobby got grumbly when the house got too full. Karen had moved beyond getting anxious. She felt comfortable again. Bring on all the babies and all the young adults bringing girlfriends home for the holidays.
Bobby urged Karen to slow down. "I spent a lot of years letting the cobwebs grow. People won't know the place if you knock them all down."
Karen leaned into him. "I can't help with the big stuff. I can't cast spells or hunt down demons. I can clean and cook."
Bobby had an idea. "With this spell, things should calm down for a little while. You and I should get away for a few days."
Karen liked that idea. "Where?"
"Somewhere you don't have to cook and clean. As much as it pains me to say, I would agree to going to one of those places that has the spa deal." Bobby said, ears turning slightly pink.
Karen hugged him. "You'll like it."
"I'm not letting a man rub my back. That is my limit." Bobby said.
Karen laughed. "Just pretty girls?"
Bobby grumbled. "I'm going to let John and the kids know we will be gone for a few days."
Karen kissed his cheek. "I'll look for places to go."
Kate fell back onto her bed. She had so many questions, but Dean had spoken to her in private, after speaking to her in front of John. What was her older self doing? Had John actually taken his belt off? Her older self was 19 or 20. He had to be nuts. No, he was John. That sounded like something he'd do. She was annoyed that she had backed down so quickly but maybe that was the rational part of her brain. That was a good sign. That meant she eventually learned to stop challenging him. She let Millie jump on her and scratched her ears and chin. "What have you been up to while we were gone? I think I should find a spell that automatically brings you with me if I go to the bunker."
Millie purred and curled up on Kate's chest.
Taylor stumbled into the room. "Why does going to the bunker make me so tired?"
"Are you sure it isn't the drama of going to the bunker? We rarely go for fun. You get to go to Hailey's house." Kate said.
Taylor sat on his bed. "I do. It will be fun."
Kate gave him a cryptic look.
"We will hand out candy and watch movies. We won't be alone and I'm not Dean." Taylor said.
Kate sat up slightly, expecting Dean to appear in the doorway. "I think this proves that dad does have abilities. If you had made a comment about him, he would have shown up." She waited for a moment. "He totally heard me and won't say anything because that would prove that I'm right."
"You just have a big mouth." Taylor said.
Kate shifted Millie so she could sit up. "Mary had abilities. It isn't too much of a stretch to think that other family members have small abilities. Dean can talk to cats."
That time Dean did show up. "I can't talk to cats."
Millie mewed and turned to look at Dean. She gently swayed her tail and shifted her ears.
Kate leaned down. "What is he thinking?"
Dean narrowed his eyes.
"Why did you come in here?" Kate asked.
"You two were too quiet and I was investigating." Dean said.
Kate tapped her foot on the bed so that Dean would sit down. "We are discussing the 'dad has abilities' theory."
Dean blew air through his nose. "He has human abilities that come from years of training."
Kate shrugged. "You can't train your ears to hear a mouse sneeze, Dean."
Taylor tilted his head. "I mean, we do."
Kate nodded. "Exactly."
"Trust me, Sam, Caleb, and I got away with just enough to prove that he doesn't have abilities. You just always seem suspicious." Dean said.
Kate smiled. "Tell us what you got away with."
Dean chewed his cheek. He looked around and then quietly shut the door. "He was leaving for a hunt. Caleb was staying with us. We were told to stay inside the motel room no matter what. Two days in, we get bored. Keep in mind that I'm telling you this, so you don't try it. I just knew that if we opened the door, he'd know. There was a bathroom window, but it was small. We managed to break the molding around the window and push it out. That was just wide enough for us to get out. We put it back and left Sam to be on the lookout. We went to a local bar. We didn't drink that much but there were these two girls..." He skipped that part. "We got back to the room, back through the window and replaced it with super glue we bought. We were teenagers, not the brightest. We washed our clothes in the bathtub and dried them with the hairdryer the room had. That way, they didn't smell like anything. Dad got home four hours later and never found out."
The door slowly creaked open and John stepped into the room. "Are you sure I never found out?"
At that moment Dean was questioning if he did have abilities.
Kate's face betrayed her.
"What did you do?" Dean asked.
"I heard a voice in my head saying to come up here." John said.
Dean grabbed Kate in a headlock, scaring Millie and causing her to flee the room. "I'm telling them what not to do."
"I did know you had done something, but Sam suddenly had a lot of pocket money and was adamant that you had all stayed in the room. I figured you were dumb enough to not do too much and let it go." John said.
Dean got lost in a memory. "We did... so much."
John raised an eyebrow.
Dean looked from John to Kate. "We were perfect gentlemen."
John cleared his throat. "I was going to talk to you downstairs, but I will just say it. I need to pick up a few things from another hunter. After hearing that story, I might just go get it myself, but I was thinking you'd want to go instead."
Dean sat forward. "Yeah?"
"You do a lot with these two. You helped Krissy. I thought you might want some time to relax before things pick up again." John said.
Dean eyed him.
"You'd have to drive through Vegas. I don't know if that would be too much of a drive for you." John said.
Dean looked like a toddler in a candy store. "That isn't too much of a drive."
John glanced at the calendar on Kate's side of the room. "If you time it right, I'd say you'd have at least two days there, not counting driving."
Dean stood up. "When do I leave?"
John shrugged. "You can leave now. I can stay here."
Dean looked at Kate and Taylor. "Bye, call me if you want. I'm gone."
Kate rolled her eyes. "You offer him a trip to the city of sin and he's clicking his red slippers to get there."
Dean smirked. "At least I'm not chomping at the bits to waltz into Hell."
Kate gasped. "Rude. Never have I wanted to waltz into hell. I just considered taking out part of hell. There is a big difference. That is constructive. What will you do in Vegas that is remotely constructive?"
"A moral boost, Kate." Dean said. He turned to Taylor. "Have fun with Hailey."
Taylor furrowed his eyebrows. "Uh, you have fun too."
Dean quickly packed his bag with clean clothes and fired up his car. He met John on the porch when he walked out. "You're good to stay back?"
"Yes. I really do appreciate how much you do. I'm not going to have any fun there. You might as well." John said.
Dean started to make a Pamela comment but shut his mouth. "Watch the little one."
John chuckled. "Kate or Ian?"
Dean chewed his cheek. "Both for good measure."
(Caleb's house)
Andy wasn't excited about the blood thing but kept a brave face. He winced but that was it. He did feel bad for Ian.
Ian had been traumatized by the doctor's office and told John no and wagged his finger like April did.
John sighed. "I'll make it quick."
Caleb told John to try a different spot since Ian's fingers were so tiny. He tickled him Ian to distract him and they successfully got a few drops of blood without him knowing.
Ian immediately noticed the sticky bandage when Caleb stopped tickling him. He gave John the dirtiest look and ripped it from his leg. He threw it at John and rubbed his leg.
April sighed. "He really doesn't like those."
John chuckled and picked up the thrown bandage. He folded it into a napkin and got a sample from April.
The boys were sent outside with Riot so the adults could talk.
John told Caleb and April about what happened at the bunker and gave them a few tips on how to keep the kids safe. "The spell should work for a while, but it doesn't work with everything. I'll talk to Kate about warding the schools."
April felt better with the protection spell. She could relax slightly. She wanted both boys to remain safe, as well as Lauren.
Andy had a new rocket toy and placed it on its launch pad. It had a bubble at the end of a tube. He jumped on the bubble and sent the rocket into the air. He liked that Ian laughed when he did it. He got a running jump after the first few times and sent the rocket over the fence. He climbed to look over the fence and groaned. It was near Jimmy's house, and he just knew it would get stolen. He ran inside but was told to wait. He looked at Ian. When Andy had abilities, he could focus them. He knelt down. "Do you want to get the rocket back?"
Ian nodded his head.
"Can you hold your hands out and think about pulling it to you?" Andy showed him what to do.
Ian nodded again. "Rocket?"
"Yeah. I'll take this off for just a second, but you have to let me put it back on. If not, we will both be in trouble. Do you want to be in trouble?" Andy asked.
Ian shook his head.
Andy helped Ian climb to stand at the top of the fence. Ian was heavy so Andy had to act fast. He reminded Ian that he was supposed to grab the rocket and quickly took Ian's bracelet off.
The lights flickered in the house, causing all three adults to look around.
Andy got hit in the face by the rocket but quickly replaced the bracelet before Ian could do anything else.
Ian was sad and pulled at the bracelet but was easily distracted by the rocket.
Caleb stepped outside. "Did you see anything?"
Andy put a hand over his eye to hide that he was nervous. "No. I got hit in the eye by the rocket." That wasn't a lie.
Caleb had both boys go inside. "That was weird." He gave Andy a cold cloth for his eye and gave Ian a snack to keep him still.
John looked around the outside of the house. It couldn't have been a demon. It could have been an electrical outage but why? The weather was clear. It only happened for a few seconds.
Andy was glad when the adults moved to another room to look at the breaker box. He knew that Ian had caused the flickering. He got the bracelet back on though. His rocket was safe. Everything was okay. He looked at Ian for a minute. He had to be careful with that. It worked that time, but Ian was kind of crazy. He let out a breath and relaxed. Ian was too little to explain what happened. He was okay. No one really needed to know.
