The morning after the wreck was surreal. News had gotten out about the wreck and everyone was talking about it. Witnesses shared their story with a local news anchor and as the morning wore on, names started to come out. Someone, likely a police officer, called Smith's parents to tell them the news. It was devastating. The driver had been Smith's uncle on his mom's side. He wasn't much older than Smith and the wreck was in no way his fault. The passenger that was still alive was a friend of Dustin and Smith's. He was in the hospital in a coma. Nobody knew the extent of his injuries.
Taylor wanted to tell Smith's parents that he was actually pretty chill about the whole thing and he really was in a better place. He couldn't though. He couldn't tell them that he was there before a reaper took his soul to heaven. Telling them that he was in heaven would be cliche. He thought about asking Cas to check in on Smith to make sure he got there safely.
Heather and Dustin got endless messages about the wreck. Dustin was Smith's best friend and knew about it early on. He got in touch with the fourth member of their crew who had parted ways in his own vehicle.
Smith and his friends had been down at the dirt track racing. They had a blast. His uncle was an excellent driver that could have raced professionally. As it got dark, drivers left the track. Too many headlights in that neck of the woods would bring cops.
Dustin had survivors guilt from not being in the car. He wrestled with the idea that the wreck wouldn't have happened had they not just dropped him off at his house. He was worried about their other friend and fielding questions was wearing on him.
Hailey heard Heather and Dustin talking. She was heartbroken and seeing her sister sobbing physically hurt. She wanted to call Taylor to check on him but also so that his voice would soothe her.
Taylor had only slept because John made Kate knock him out. He vaguely remembered arguing with John and then he woke up well rested. Reality sunk in as he woke up, though. His heart was heavy and his memory was spotty. He ripped a door off. He needed to be more careful. Crap, Smith said the guys talked about him having powers. Did they really think he did? They couldn't actually think he had real powers. No, they were just talking about how good he was as a player. Would he be able to face them now that he knew that the thought had crossed their mind? How many players thought that?
"Go to the table. Karen has breakfast ready." John said.
Taylor looked up the stairs. The basement was dark and John turned the light on, causing him to squint his eyes. "I am not hungry." He couldn't see John's face but knew he was getting 'the look'. He groaned and stood up.
John waited for him to get to the top of the stairs and wrapped an arm around him in a half hug. "How did you sleep?"
Taylor snorted. "Like someone knocked me out."
Dean rocked back in his chair. "At least he wasn't the one to knock you out."
Taylor rubbed his face. He was still hazy and it reminded him of the morning after he went to that party.
Karen filled a cup with orange juice. She had her full memory of the night before and agreed with Dean about John not being the one to knock him out.
Taylor took a small sip of orange juice. "What did I do?"
Dean blew air through his nose. "You don't remember?"
"It will hit him." Kate said.
Taylor looked worried.
"You were angry at the driver and had held everything in until we left Hailey's house." Dean said. "You just felt rage that you couldn't control."
"Don't worry about it." John said. "I know you weren't in your right mind and you needed to blow off steam."
"I'm sorry to whoever I hurt." Taylor said.
"It didn't get that bad." Dean said. "Dad cut you off before you did anything."
John nudged Taylor. "Eat. You are okay. I did ask her to make you sleep for your own good but anything you said last night won't come back to haunt you."
Dean shook his head. "Must be nice."
"If I had been able to knock you out, safely, when you were a teenager, I would have, often." John said.
Kate giggled. "You couldn't physically knock him out because he has had enough brain damage already." She squeaked and dodged Dean's hand.
Dean smirked and went back to his food. Another calm before the storm. Kate was cracking jokes and Taylor was slowly starting to feel emotions again. The calm wouldn't last.
(Complicated Friendships)
Mandy had heard about the wreck. She thought about how hurt his parents had to be. She had nearly lost Hannah in several ways and the pain kept her up at night. She worried about all of her children but especially Hannah. She, her husband and John had already had a lengthy conversation that neither girl knew about at the time.
Hannah was Kate's Caleb. They weren't supposed to be apart and keeping them away from each other would do more damage than good. Andy and Owen could survive being grounded from each other and learn a lesson. Taylor and Nate could be split up and fall back together when they were allowed to see each other again.
John spent time trying to pinpoint why Caleb left such a mark. Sure, he had been around for years and dove into the fire with Dean more times than John could count but there was something else there. He had hunted with Caleb's dad a few times before they thought of introducing the boys to each other. Michael was frustrated with Caleb, who at the time, was a young teen with a hell of a lot of angst. Caleb had been raised with the same rules that John raised Sam and Dean so he was okay leaving them all alone in a motel room while he took care of a vamp nest or two.
Michael took this as his cue to hunt more. He didn't have to worry about his son because he had someone else to entertain him and they were safer together. He'd dump Caleb with John when they weren't on tandem hunts and eventually dropped him off at Bobby's house from time to time.
Caleb was certain he could hunt alongside his dad and voiced that opinion often. He got shut down though. That wasn't an argument he ever won. At least, with Sam and Dean, he could talk about hunting. He didn't have to hide what his dad did.
A year into the friendship, the boys got bold enough to hunt something down without their fathers around. They left Sam at a motel and snuck off to take care of some low level monster that they could get rid of with ease. That first hunt went well. They did their job and got back to the motel a few minutes before John did. It was a close call and they had to bribe Sam to keep him from saying anything. The second hunt went just as well and left them with a sense of confidence. That confidence was short-lived as John made it back to the motel before they did. Caleb thought his dad was going to kill him but Michael was out of state. That was the first time caught hell from John. While Dean couldn't remember it as well, Caleb had it burned into his memory.
John told Michael that Caleb couldn't stay with them for a while. He didn't want Dean to get a big head and think hunting was a good idea just because he had a partner. The month that they were separated was a doozy. Dean had a string of bad luck that John blamed on him sulking. He was sloppy and messed things up that he normally wouldn't. Toward the end of the month, John no longer thought he was just sulking. He then blamed it on being a teenager and hormones. Micheal called one night and asked if Caleb could stay with them again. He had a hunt to get to and Caleb had done something that made Michael think he couldn't stay home alone for any length of time.
The boys were contrite and promised not to hunt. They were even a little awkward at first. John kept an eye on them for a few days before he too needed to leave. He gave them a full lecture and made them swear to stay put. He told Sam to call him if they did anything and made it clear that it was a direct order. Then, Sam would do everything in his power not to make that call, making Dean want to protect him by not doing anything wrong. It was a loophole that John found with the boys. He'd strategically pit them against each other so neither of them would want to ignore the order.
Through the years, John could think of several instances where Caleb was kept away for one reason or another. Dean always seemed to be affected. Even if it was just a phone call to vent about school, Dean did better with Caleb around. He didn't have the strange strings of bad luck unless Caleb was purposefully out of contact. Come to think of it, Caleb might have had a string of bad luck too. He returned after being grounded from Bobby's house with a broken arm and a few stitches in his head. He had a freak accident that John never got the full story over.
John was starting to see the same string of bad luck happening with Hannah and Kate. He voiced that thought to Hannah's parents.
Mandy and her husband named a few odd things that happened during the times that the girls were grounded. That is part of why they decided that Hannah would have to face John should she do something supernaturally related. Things were going to happen and preventing them from communicating could prove to be dangerous. Hannah would just have to learn her lessons alongside Kate until one of them stuck.
John thought of it like banning Dean from seeing Sam. They were brothers. Dean got to talk to Sam often and still missed him each day. Caleb was like another brother for Dean. Dean just didn't have to raise him like he did with Sam, and now Kate and Taylor. They were equals. Hannah and Kate were as well. Hannah was supposed to be there for a reason and it would take time to figure out what that reason was.
(Marie's house)
Never one for conflict, Charlie stayed far away from the conversations about the mimic. She did some research but didn't say anything when James and Desiree were at the house. She gathered that they were not angry at Caitlyn and Caroline, so that was good. They were worried though.
The nymphs didn't know who the mimic was working for but found out more about what she was. The twins were correct in thinking that her asking to be Caitlyn's friend forever was an attempt at binding her. Once a mimic bound someone, they had control of their body and mind. They used the person as a puppet without leaving a trace like a demon did when it possessed someone. They could shift their appearance along a spectrum to suit their prey. They couldn't shift exactly like shapeshifters could. They had a general form that could be altered to be older or younger, taller or shorter, but always with the same characteristics.
Krissy didn't avoid conflict like Charlie did. She wanted to be in the middle of it and curiosity always got the better of her.
Lee was kept in the loop since he had chosen to remain calm about the nymphs. He wanted to keep Krissy out of school but two nymphs had worked their way into her school as a lunch lady and recess monitor. She was safe.
Sam and Jess popped in to visit Jacob but also to talk about the security situation.
Jess thought through their week. Had she run into anyone suspicious? She didn't think so. She didn't talk to that many new people and would notice a difference in her friends. "I don't hang out with people. I'm always at school or home with Sam."
"You don't hang out with friends?" Marie asked.
Jess covered her mouth to cover a laugh. "No, Sam keeps me away from them."
Sam startled. "I do not."
Jess laughed. "We started dating and my circle got smaller."
Sam cringed. "I'm sorry. I tried to erase your memory and you threatened me."
Marie knew Jess was giving Sam a hard time. "If he starts controlling the money, you let me know."
Jess gasped. "He did make me put the car money in the bank."
Sam flicked Jess's leg. "You read too many books."
Jess laughed. "See, he hits me too." She squealed and crumbled forward as his fingers dug into her ribs. She had gone over the signs of domestic abuse in one of her classes and had talked to Sam about it. It was a serious issue that plagued many families but she couldn't help but tease Sam. Sam would never. He was gentle and spoiled her. Her circle had gotten smaller because her priorities changed. She would rather hang out with Jacob than go to sorority parties.
Krissy was slightly confused. She heard laughing but what Jess said seemed bad. She didn't think Sam was mean anymore but she wasn't his number 1 fan either. She scrambled up the stairs before anyone saw her eavesdropping. She opened Charlie's door and asked her to play.
"In a minute." Charlie said. She was talking to Cyrus and asking him about mimics.
Krissy got on Charlie's bed and bounced for a minute thinking Charlie's conversation would be quick.
Charlie saw Krissy on her bed but turned to type another message to Cyrus. She left her computer to get a snack and stepped into the kitchen.
"Hey, have you seen Krissy?" Marie asked.
"She is on my bed." Charlie said.
"Oh, good." Marie said. "She doesn't need to hear anything."
Charlie nodded and got her snack. She ran back up the steps and sat down at her computer again, not looking too closely at her bed.
Sam rubbed his face. "Kate couldn't heal him and he sadly died." He told Marie the wreck story that he had gotten from Dean.
Marie sat with Jess and Sam and discussed a lot of what was going on with Kate and Taylor.
"I don't know how but she tagged his soul so he couldn't go to hell." Sam said. He heard the softest noise and turned his head toward the doorway. He slowly got up and walked to the edge of the wall before looking around the corner. He gritted his teeth. Great, everything he had just said had been heard by an extra set of ears.
Krissy gasped and scrambled back. She was going to run down the hallway but Sam had long arms and grabbed her before she got to her feet.
Sam carried Krissy into the kitchen. He didn't have to say anything for Marie and Jess to know that she had heard everything.
Charlie ran out of her room when she heard Krissy screeching.
Sam looked up the stairs. "I thought she was in your room."
"She was." Charlie said. "I…. I thought she was."
Sam groaned. "Where is Lee?"
Marie pulled the phone out to call him.
Jess was alarmed for a moment before she got annoyed. "Do you want me to take her?"
Sam sighed. "She is going to take off." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "If you scratch me I'm going to tell your dad."
Krissy smacked his back. "Let me go."
Sam did not let her go. He was incredibly annoyed as well but also fearful. Things were already delicate without Krissy knowing details about Kate and Taylor.
Lee ran up to the house and swung the door open. He had enough information from the phone call with Marie to know Krissy was in the wrong. He growled Krissy's name.
Krissy immediately stopped fighting Sam. She froze and stared at Lee.
Sam carried her over to Lee and passed her off to him.
Lee got the details from Sam and glared at his daughter.
"I wasn't listening. I just came downstairs." Krissy said.
"How much did you hear?" Sam asked.
"I didn't hear anything." Krissy said.
Lee told Sam that he and Krissy would be back after a discussion. He was irritated that she didn't listen and kept eavesdropping on conversations. On top of that, she was confident with lying about being caught.
Jess gave Jacob to Marie and rubbed Sam's shoulders after he sat down. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Sam said. He slowed his breathing to clear the tension in his head and neck.
"You have the patience of a saint." Marie said, gently.
Sam shook his head. "I don't think I do." He had guilt surfacing because he got so frustrated with her. "Growing up, I thought I was more evolved than Dean or my dad. Turns out I may not be."
Marie chuckled. "Oh, Sam. You have the gentlest soul."
Jess sat down beside Sam so she could look into his eyes. "What is wrong?"
"I believe Sam is upset that he considered popping her." Marie said.
Sam grimaced. "The thought crossed my mind."
Jess hugged him. "She is a handful."
Sam shook his head. "She is a kid."
"That heard something she shouldn't have and fought you." Marie said.
Sam looked up at the ceiling. "I don't know how much she heard."
"We can figure that out." Marie said. "Don't worry about your character though."
"You're more evolved than Dean in a lot of ways." Jess said, lightly.
Sam smiled slightly. "Thanks."
Charlie tiptoed into the kitchen. "I am sorry about that. I thought she was still on my bed."
"It wasn't your fault." Marie said. "She is sneaky."
Charlie still felt bad but she had been distracted. "So, Cy and I may have found something."
"What kind of something?" Marie asked.
Charlie met eyes with Sam. "I think you might want to look at the message."
(Sioux Falls)
While Austin excitedly told Ryan and his dad all about Andy's house, Hannah was subdued and quiet. She was tired and still embarrassed. No one else in the family knew about the ordeal but Kate's whole family knew. Hannah wasn't sure how she would ever face them again. Dean had said they weren't going to get rid of her but John was very mad at her. She didn't have true confirmation that they wouldn't get rid of her.
Mandy decided that she and Hannah needed to talk, away from the boys. She had Hannah go to her room and asked her husband to keep Austin and Ryan busy. If Ryan caught wind of anything, he would make Hannah's life hell.
Hannah didn't want to talk. She wanted to sleep until she woke up and realized everything was one big nightmare. Except, that wouldn't happen. She'd keep waking up and facing reality.
"Hannah, please talk to me." Mandy said, sitting on Hannah's bed.
"I don't want to." Hannah said.
"That isn't an option." Mandy said.
"Mom, please let it go." Hannah said.
"You are sulking." Mandy said.
Hannah shot her a look. "No, I'm not."
"Then what would you call this?" Mandy asked, motioning to Hannah's face and posture.
"I'm embarrassed, okay? So, please leave me alone." Hannah said. She frowned and fell onto her bed. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Dean called to check on you this morning." Mandy said.
Hannah gasped. "No!"
Mandy reminded her to stay relatively quiet so as not to alert her brothers.
"That is so embarrassing." Hannah said in a near whine.
"Well, he meant well by it." Mandy said. "I think you'll get through the embarrassment and it won't be so bad."
Hannah picked her head up. "Mom, seriously."
"I talked to John last night." Mandy said.
Hannah groaned and put a pillow over the back of her head. "Why did you and dad let him do that?"
"You made the choice." Mandy said.
"You are my parent. Not him." Hannah said.
Mandy sighed. "You didn't listen when your dad tried to talk to you."
"I didn't even get a chance. The blood thing was before the demon thing." Hannah said.
"Hannah." Mandy said, trying to get Hannah to look at her. "As you know, things are complicated. I adore Kate. I think she is good for you, most of the time. You two are young and have a lot to learn. You are going to make bad choices. Unfortunately, those choices may be more dangerous for you than an average kid. John shared his feelings on you continuing to be her friend."
Hannah sniffled. "I knew they were lying about not getting rid of me."
"It is the opposite, actually. John said that you were a lot like Caleb. Caleb has been Dean's best friend and a surrogate brother. He mentioned that Dean had negative effects when they were split up. He sees the same thing happen with you girls. It is different than other types of friendships. He explained it better than I can." Mandy said. "We agreed with him that simply splitting you up when you make bad decisions is not going to work well. So, what do we do?"
Hannah rolled onto her side and shoved a folded pillow under her head. "Not what you did yesterday."
"You don't think you earned that?" Mandy asked.
"No." Hannah said, wiping her face.
"Hannah." Mandy said.
"Fine, maybe I did but I don't like it." Hannah said.
Mandy brushed hair from Hannah's face. "That is the point. Your dad and I know about the supernatural but not enough. I think that you would prefer to face your dad."
Hannah's brows furrowed.
"You are in a dangerous position that we can not get you out of. Demons know about you. Nothing your dad or I can do is going to fix that. That is hard for us to accept. You know that things are dangerous but deep down, you are willing to risk your life. That is unacceptable. We all want you to grow up and live a long and full life. I can't stop thinking about how hurt that boy's mother is this morning. She lost her child. The other boy is in critical condition. His mother is probably at his bedside praying that she doesn't lose him as well. I have almost lost you and it scares me that I can't protect you. So, I need you to learn to not take chances." Mandy said.
"I understand." Hannah said.
"I think you should call Kate." Mandy said.
"I'm too embarrassed." Hannah said.
"She might be as well but I know she is worried that you'll hate her." Mandy said.
"Why would she think that?" Hannah asked.
"Something about you being traumatized." Mandy said, lightly.
Hannah scoffed. "I am but it isn't her fault."
"Go ahead and call her. I'll be here in case you need support." Mandy said.
(Bobby's house, a few hours later)
John and Bobby were deep in the lore about mimics and reforming a game plan. They had each been on the phone with different people making sure everyone had new information and a reminder to be careful.
Dean took Taylor out to target practice and sparred with him. Kate, like Hannah was subdued. That gave Dean the opportunity to hang out with Taylor. He wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to knock Taylor off his feet in a friendly mannor but had to admit that Taylor was a good fighter when he wasn't blind with rage and angst. He got knocked down once and thought he probably had gravel prints on his back. He set the ground rule that Taylor wasn't allowed to use abilities.
Taylor claimed he wasn't using abilities and thought long and hard about zapping Dean a time or two. He thought it was possible that Dean would allow him one or two shots due to losing Smith in the wreck. He was dealing with a lot emotionally. He wasn't sure though. He was pretty sure Dean would make good on his threat so he decided not to shock him.
John stepped out of the house to call the guys back inside. "We have a problem."
Dean was sweaty and wiped his face with the bottom of his shirt. "What now?"
John had Dean and the kids gather in the living room. "Sam is at Marie's house. They sat down to talk about some of what is going on and unfortunately Krissy heard a lot of it."
"Heard it or listened in?" Dean asked.
"Listened in." John said. "We are not sure how to go about doing damage control yet."
"So she knows what we are? What does she know?" Kate asked.
"I'm not sure." John said. "Lee is going to work on figuring that out."
"What do you mean work on it?" Dean asked. He shook his head.
"Lee is handling that." John said.
"If he had handled that sooner, she wouldn't be such an issue." Dean said. He felt a hand connect with the back of his head and glared at Kate.
Kate held her hands up. "Dad was going to do it if I didn't."
"We know she is an issue." John said, eyeing Dean. "I don't disagree with you. Now, I would like to get through the conversation without being interrupted."
Kate smirked. Nothing brought her more joy than John being mildly annoyed with Dean. "Do I need to wipe her memory again?"
"I don't know." John said. "I think it is going to be more complicated than that. I am going off of what Sam told me when he called."
"We could go over there." Kate said.
"You are not using your abilities." Dean said.
"Only if it suits you." Kate said. She hissed and glared at him. "Ow."
Dean raised an eyebrow. "Don't be dumb enough to sass me after dad has gotten ahold of you."
John rubbed his face. "I am going to call Sam back."
(Marie's house)
Jacob fell asleep on Sam's chest. He had a grip on Sam's shirt and Sam didn't want to wake him up by prying his shirt out of Jacob's hand. He quickly grabbed his phone to answer it before the ringer woke Jacob up. He took a moment to pat his back and hush him as his eyes opened.
John gave Sam a moment before speaking.
Sam's voice was quiet. He gradually stopped whispering as Jacob fell back to sleep.
"What are you doing?" John asked.
"The baby fell asleep on me." Sam said.
John nodded knowingly. "Do you need to call me back?"
"No. He can sleep through a lot once he is fully asleep." Sam said. He tucked his phone between his ear and his shoulder and continued to softly pat Jacob. "No luck on finding out how much she knows."
"What do you mean?" John asked.
"She just won't tell Lee anything." Sam said. He knew that John was used to getting the truth out of people. "She told us a few things but I don't know if that is the full extent of what she knows." He looked across the room to where Krissy was sitting. She had been under constant supervision because no one trusted her to stay where she was told to stay. He met eyes with her and narrowed his eyes.
John heard a faint noise that he had been told was a signature Winchester noise of annoyance. "What was that?"
Sam looked away from Krissy. He slowly stood up with Jacob to go into another room. He tilted his head back to the livingroom to tell Jess that she needed to keep an eye on Krissy. "Krissy is angry at me and blames me."
"She what?" John said in a low tone.
"She claimed that she wasn't listening and I just grabbed her to be mean. I'm debating how childish it would be to tell Lee she keeps rolling her eyes everytime I make eye contact with her." Sam said.
John cracked a small smile. "That bad?"
"No. I am just annoyed." Sam said. He wasn't going to tell Lee that unless he asked. It was just an eye roll.
"Did you figure out what Charlie found?" John asked.
"Oh, yeah." Sam said. He stepped back into the other room to grab a sheet of paper with notes on it. "I guess the guy's family works with a few demons. They are high level. He found the name of a demon that might be working with Abaddon. The name is Alastair."
John scratched his chin. "We do not truly know if this kid is trustworthy."
"No, but it is worth looking into." Sam said.
John cleared his throat. "Bobby, does the name Alastair ring a bell?"
Bobby shook his head.
Kate slid into the office. "Alastair?"
"What do you know about it?" John asked.
Kate bounced on her toes. She chewed on her lip and let her eyes drift.
"Katelyn." John said.
"I am sorry. The first three things I wanted to say would have gotten me in trouble." Kate said. She gave him a sheepish grin. "He is one of the main demons that tortures people in hell. The voice alone is torture."
John pinched the bridge of his nose. "Hell isn't a joke."
Kate's mouth dropped open. "No, sir. It isn't a joke. I'm sorry. I'm nervous. I just know of him. I'll shut up now."
Sam got off the phone with John and scratched the back of his head. He told Marie that they were going to drive over so that everyone could talk in person.
Jess stepped one foot into the kitchen. "Do they know anything?"
Sam flicked his eyes toward where Krissy was sitting.
Jess quickly slid back into sight of the chair. "Hey, get back up there."
Krissy crossed her arms. "I didn't even move."
"Why are you in the floor?" Jess asked.
"I like the floor." Krissy said.
Sam traded looks with Jess. Krissy was being testy.
Marie walked around them and over to Krissy. She lifted her and sat her back on the chair. "Cut it out. Stay where you were told to stay."
"I'm bored. I don't want to sit here." Krissy whined.
"You did something you know you aren't supposed to do. Now you have consequences." Marie said. "Your dad is not the least bit happy with you so I suggest you cut the attitude."
Krissy crossed her arms but stayed on the chair.
Sam wondered if he was having one of those divine test moments where god just wanted to see how far he could be pushed. He chose to go back into the kitchen since Krissy was only going to remain angry at him.
Jess brought a small blanket from a basket and handed it to Sam to put over Jacob. She pulled the door open and walked outside. "Wanna go for a walk?"
"Yeah." Sam said. "Thanks."
"Don't let her get to you." Jess said.
"She isn't getting to me. I know she is mad at me and that is okay. She is a kid." Sam said.
"She is having a bad day. I'm sure she will snap out of it." Jess said.
"Are we sure she isn't a mimic?" Sam asked, jokingly.
"I'd wonder too if she hadn't given John such a hard time the first time she came up here." Jess said.
Sam had to give John credit for how calm he was with Krissy considering she actually bit him. "I wasn't nearly that bad as a kid but I feel bad for the times I was a pain in the ass to deal with."
"Every kid is like that at times." Jess said. "I had my days."
Jacob smiled in his sleep and let out a content sigh.
Jess smiled. "Except Jacob. He could never act like that."
"It would be great if Tony got out of the life so if Jacob did kick off one day, it would be over candy at the grocery store and not something life or death." Sam said. He needed to call Tony again. His previous two calls went straight to voicemail so Tony was probably out of service for a few days. He had a general idea of where Tony went and it was a rural area so no cell service wasn't an immediate cause for alarm.
Jess looked back at the house and saw Milo in the windowsill. He had gotten so used to visiting when they did that he looked offended when they left him by himself for a few hours. He also got offended when they removed him from Jacob's bed when Jacob went to sleep. He wanted to cuddle the baby but they were worried that Jacob would suffocate. Jess waved at the window and nudged Sam. "I think he is jealous."
Sam looked up. "Marie is making him some chicken. I don't think he will be jealous for much longer." Boiled chicken was a treat for Milo that he only got at Marie's house. Sam and Jess didn't eat a lot of boiled chicken so they never had any on hand. Not Marie. She would make a small bit just for Milo and cut it up into small pieces. He didn't think Marie had ever met a human or critter that she wasn't ready to spoil.
(Dean)
The two hour drive to Marie's house was a piece of cake. Plus, he got to be behind the wheel without being in stop and go traffic. He snapped his fingers and looked into the rearview mirror. "Hey, can you draw a star?"
Kate looked at him like he was crazy. "Yes."
"Draw one." Dean said.
John knew by the tone of Dean's voice that he was up to something.
"Just a star?" Kate asked.
"I want to give Sammy a gold star." Dean said.
"Why?" John asked.
Dean smirked. "I think he may be the first person to ever have someone like them less than you."
John snorted. "She isn't a fan of me either."
"Yeah but you let her draw on you." Kate said. She covered her mouth. That was a secret.
John turned to look into the backseat. "Katelyn."
Kate shrunk. "Sorry." She understood he wasn't angry at her and the use of her whole name was somewhat teasing.
Dean wanted to ask what she meant but caught a look from John.
Kate got busy doodling an impressive gold star with an inscription. She showed it to Taylor and laughed.
"Sam is pretty beat up over her being so mad at him." John said.
"He will live. It is nothing he did. I just think it is funny." Dean said.
"I wasn't aware that I was so severely disliked." John said.
Dean flicked his eyes toward John to make sure he was joking. "Some say you have a habit of being abrasive. I wouldn't say that. I'm just saying some people say that."
John knew he had that habit. He was never concerned with being liked as everything he did was efficient. He was gruff and rough around the edges but was far more likable in recent years than right after Mary died.
"Pamela likes him." Taylor said.
John's face almost turned pink.
"How long has she liked you? We haven't gotten a straight answer." Dean said.
"Years." Taylor said. "That is vague enough."
"I wouldn't keep talking, guys. He doesn't like either of you as much as he likes Pamela." Kate said.
"Alright, enough of that." John said. "Kate, you are still on thin ice."
Kate frowned. "I tried to warn them."
"So are you, Taylor." John added.
"Me?" Taylor asked. "What did I do? I said two things."
"You said enough." John said. He flicked Dean's head. "Don't encourage them."
"He isn't on thin ice?" Kate asked. "He has been spicy today."
"Keep it up and you can be in charge of Krissy for the afternoon." John said.
Dean tapped his breaks. "Hold on now. I didn't sign up for that."
Kate leaned forward in the seat. "I wouldn't argue with him."
"Yes you absolutely would and do often." Dean said.
John heard Taylor snicker and looked back at him.
"I didn't say anything." Taylor said.
"You three are just about on my last nerve." John said.
"Just because you don't remember last night doesn't mean we don't." Dean said.
"I was excused for that." Taylor countered.
"Barely. Don't test the waters." Dean said.
"I get a break because of trauma." Taylor said.
John blew air through his nose. "If I gave you kids a break due to trauma you'd all be lawless."
(Marie's house)
Sam stood outside and watched the impala make its way up the long gravel road.
Dean pulled up in his usual spot and turned the car off. He held his hand out for the gold star and winced after John smacked the back of his head.
Sam raised an eyebrow after John also smacked the other two. "What did you do?"
Taylor rubbed his head. "Just good natured teasing."
Dean handed Sam the drawing.
Sam read it and scoffed. "Jerk."
"It is something for the records, Sammy. I don't think it's been done before." Dean said.
John gave Sam's shoulder a squeeze as he went by. "Good luck."
Krissy had fallen asleep and woke up less grumpy. She still made sure to give Sam the stink eye if she saw him. She was allowed to be out of the chair to play with her toys but had to stay around an adult. She heard the front door open and looked to see who it was.
The look John got made him question who she disliked more at that moment.
Krissy heard Kate and her eyes got wide. She ran to the front door to ask Kate about heaven and stuff.
Lee cleared his throat and told Krissy to go back to her toys.
"But daddy, she knows about heaven." Krissy said.
Lee gave John an apologetic look. "Go."
Krissy stomped back over and sat back down next to her toys. The adults were being incredibly bossy.
Dean teased Sam a little before going inside. When Sam wasn't around, he had to pick on the younger two and neither of them fought fair.
Lee and John went to the side room to talk, leaving Krissy with Marie.
Sam opened the door to let Dean and the kids inside. He jabbed Dean in the side and pulled Kate in front of him before Dean could retaliate.
Kate yelped. "Sam! No."
Sam laughed and playfully pushed her into the house. He closed the door and slipped his shoes off. He sighed and looked across the room to where Krissy was glaring at him. He made eye contact with her but didn't look away.
Krissy eventually got uncomfortable and made a show of dramatically rolling her eyes before turning her back to the door.
John saw the interaction and asked Lee what he was doing about Krissy.
Kate followed Sam and Dean to the kitchen. "Holy crap. I didn't think you looked that much like dad but you do."
Sam furrowed his eyebrows.
Kate motioned to his face. "Now you don't."
Dean squinted his eyes. "I saw it. It is the eyes"
Sam waved them off. "I am going to go talk to Jess. I see why you got smacked in the head."
John told the kids to join him in the conversation about what to do.
"If I compel her she is just going to find out again." Kate said.
"You could compel her not to listen to conversations." Dean said.
"That is complicated. Compulsions don't always stick and it isn't like making someone forget something." Kate said.
"Her knowing anything is dangerous but what Sam was talking about is detailed. If she says anything to anyone, you are instantly at grave risk." John said.
"All it would take is for something to get close enough to read her." Taylor said. "There goes the big secret."
"I have considered pulling her out of school and having her do home school here." Lee said.
"You can't lock her away for the rest of her life." Kate said.
"Just until this passes." Lee said.
Dean grimaced. "This isn't going to pass. The danger level might but Gordon got one whiff that Taylor might be different and hunted him without a second thought."
Lee was at a loss. Even if he made an impression on Krissy, she was young. She lacked situational awareness that the older kids were developing. She didn't know that some people couldn't be trusted.
"Maybe she didn't hear enough." Taylor said.
"I can read her." Kate said.
"She would remember that you read her." Dean said.
"Not if she is distracted." Kate said.
"Wanna be bad cop?" Dean asked.
"No." Sam said.
"If Lee goes over there she is going to keep refusing to say anything." Dean said.
"You think she is going to see me and start talking?" Sam asked with a hint of annoyance to his voice.
"She doesn't want to get into more trouble with Lee. If she thinks he is not around, she might spill." Kate said.
"You know this from experience?" Sam asked.
Kate huffed.
A few minutes later Lee announced that he was going outside. He went through the front door and walked down to the barn to see if he could help Rod with anything.
Sam lost rock paper scissors with Dean which was a shock in and of itself. That rarely happened. He growled and quietly entered the living room.
Krissy sat up from laying on the floor.
"I want to know what you heard." Sam said.
Krissy ignored him and played with her toys.
"Might as well start talking before your dad gets back." Sam said.
"Leave me alone." Krissy said.
Kate slid around Sam. "Hey, we do really need to know. It is about me and I don't want you to misunderstand something or for Sam to have said something that isn't true."
"Why would he do that?" Krissy asked.
"Information gets mixed up." Kate said. "Sometimes it's an accident."
"I'm not telling him nothing." Krissy said.
"You don't have to. You can tell me." Kate said. "Sam, give us some space."
Sam shrugged and rejoined Dean and John. "I guess that worked."
"Always does." John said.
Kate prodded Krissy for answers to see how much she would say before she attempted to read her.
John tilted his head toward the kitchen door.
Sam was unsure why John wanted to step away from everyone but went outside with him.
"What are you thinking?" John asked.
"I'm not thinking anything." Sam said. "I'm annoyed I guess."
"You have something in your head." John said. "Do you have a plan?"
Sam looked down at the ground. "This shouldn't be my problem but I know I messed up and said something out loud."
"You thought it was just you, Marie and Jess. Charlie told you she was upstairs." John said.
"I should have checked." Sam said.
"So that she could have snuck in after you walked away?" John asked.
"She has footsteps." Sam said.
"She is light and was trying not to make noise." John said.
"I feel stupid. There were 100 other ways to have that conversation and I got too comfortable." Sam said.
"Sam." John said.
Sam looked away from him. He was frustrated with himself.
"This isn't your fault." John said. He studied Sam's face and the set of his jaw. Maybe he did look a bit like him. "You have grown up a lot."
Sam bristled.
John rubbed the back of his head. "I'm impressed with you." He chided himself for how he worded the first comment. It would have been fine with Dean but Sam was used to being the clueless kid that had to be protected. "You figured out she was listening and kept your cool. You got her to her dad. What are you upset about?"
"I got so mad at her. Who does that? She is 5." Sam admitted.
"Why wouldn't you get mad at her?" John asked.
"She is a kid." Sam said.
"I've clearly gotten mad at kids before." John said.
"We put you through hell." Sam said.
"At times but that is part of learning." John said.
"Exactly." Sam said.
"You can get mad at people. That doesn't make you a bad person." John said. He leaned against the railing. "I think you have changed your view point and didn't realize it."
"I am not this person." Sam said.
"Do you want to know what I think?" John asked.
"Yes." Sam said. He honestly did want John's opinion.
"When you first babysat Jacob, you were nervous about everything. You didn't know how to calm him down and needed help because you weren't sure of yourself." John said. "You have settled into it and are more sure of yourself. You don't need to ask for help as often. You are a natural with him."
"He is a baby." Sam said.
"I am trying to make a point." John said.
Sam sighed. "Sorry."
"What happened at the Christmas carnival was big for you. You used your skills and got everyone out. You beat yourself up but you did good. Then you took on the responsibility of Jacob and haven't complained. Growing up, you weren't sure of yourself. I am mostly to blame for that. I told Dean to protect you and prevented you from figuring things out. I don't like that you live so far away but I think you needed this year alone, to find yourself. I'm glad you are moving back, though." John paused. "You got mad at Krissy because you thought ahead and knew how bad things will be if she tells someone."
Sam soaked in the words and processed them slowly.
"When you are young you can step back and let the adults handle everything. You don't have to worry as much and it is a lot less stressful. You got older. You are smart. So, you notice things" John said.
"None of it was purposeful. It just happened." Sam said.
"Welcome to adulthood." John said.
"It isn't the same thing." Sam said.
"As me? Or as Dean?" John asked. "He will say he makes it up as he goes. He does and I still do at times. It takes a long time to be sure of yourself and you are just now experiencing it for the first time."
Sam wasn't sure what to say.
"I guess what I am trying to say is that you are doing great and need to trust yourself." John said. He clapped Sam on the back. "Let's see if your sister got anything out of Krissy. Oh, and Dean is giving you a hard time. Krissy is going to be mad no matter what. You are just an easy target today."
Kate gave John and Sam a look as they entered the house. She had gotten a lot from Krissy, most from reading her. Krissy had heard a lot and it was going to be an issue.
John sent a message to Lee telling him to come back up to the house.
Marie took Krissy upstairs for a bubble bath so that the others could talk without her trying to figure out what they were talking about.
"She knows that Taylor and I have abilities. Everything about the wreck that you said, she heard. She knows a lot about all of it. Basically that entire conversation." Kate said.
Sam swore quietly. What all had he said?
Lee entered the house and wiped his hands on his jeans.
Kate told him what she told Sam. She wasn't sure how much Lee was supposed to know but they couldn't hide things that Krissy was going to wind up blabbing about.
"She doesn't know how heavy any of that is." Lee said. "I can tell her to keep it a secret but she doesn't have a good concept of why it is so dangerous."
"She doesn't feel the least bit guilty either. I'm sure that helps." Sam said. He almost covered his mouth. He hadn't meant to say that out loud but he did and he couldn't take it back.
"She blames Sam for all of this." John said.
Lee rubbed his face angrily. "She knows better. She knows not to listen to conversations. I don't know where she got the idea that her being in trouble was anyone's fault but her own."
"If looks could kill, I'd be dead." Sam said.
"I am sorry." Lee said. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"
"She is a kid. I thought she would get over it after she got up from that nap." Sam said.
"Where is she?" Lee asked.
"Getting a bath." Taylor said.
Lee sat down and let out a slow breath of air. "I… I don't know what to do."
"I can try to erase her memory." Kate said. "She's going to find out again, though."
"I won't talk about that type of stuff while I'm here. If we need to discuss it, we can do it at our apartment and a nymph can bring Marie and Rod over." Sam said.
"I'd have to erase everything." Kate said.
"So she isn't going to learn anything from today." Dean said.
"Give me a minute or two to think about this." Lee said.
John decided that they should leave him alone and go to the living room while Krissy wasn't in there. He heard Jacob and asked Sam if he had heard from Tony.
"He is out of service, I think." Sam said.
"I'll track him down." John said.
"Oh, Charlie." Kate said.
"Have her come down so we can talk about what she found." John said.
Kate ran up the steps and knocked on Charlie's door. "Hey, can you share the Alastair thing with us?"
"Yeah, totally. Let me get some of this printed off." Charlie said.
"Are you and Cy friends now?" Kate asked.
"His family wants me dead. That puts a damper on the friendship." Charlie said.
"He doesn't though." Kate countered.
"He seems nice and helpful. He is a good gaming buddy." Charlie said.
Sam helped Charlie explain what was found. He understood it on a deeper level than she did. "He is the henchman."
"He seems like a real peach." Dean said.
Kate wondered if she should tell Dean that when she had visions of him in hell, Alastair was there. She grimaced. She got a bit closer to Dean. "When I had all of those visions of you in hell, he was the one torturing you."
Dean pulled his head back. "That son of a bitch."
"I wasn't sure if you would want to know." Kate said. "I didn't piece it together until now."
"Thank you." Dean said. "See how people stay calm when you don't intentionally keep secrets?"
"Dad." Kate said.
John just gave Dean a look before shaking his head. "It is like when you and Sam were little."
"Don't be too hard on him. His frontal lobe hasn't fully developed." Kate said. "This is something we have in common so you'd think he would understand heightened emotions and irrational behavior."
Marie let them know that Krissy was going to be coming back downstairs. She had spoken to Krissy while she was in the bath and thought she got through to her.
Krissy padded down the stairs and into the kitchen. She looked at Marie and then sighed. "I am sorry, Sam."
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you were really mean and that is why I was so mad at you." Krissy said.
"What have I done to make you think that?" Sam asked.
"Jess said you were mean." Krissy said.
Jess picked up what she meant before Sam did. "I guess you were listening earlier today too."
"Isn't that what happened at Christmas too?" Sam asked.
Krissy just nodded.
"He is actually the nicer one." Kate said.
"I explained to Krissy that it might be a good idea to develop some better people reading skills. She misunderstands intentions and the opposite of what happened with Sam could happen when she is away from the house." Marie said.
Kate stepped away to think about how she could assist with that. Could she compel Krissy to have better observation skills? She needed to talk to Cas before she tried anything. She was angry at Tessa even though Tessa had done nothing wrong. She was hurting from Smith's death and didn't want to talk to a reaper. Cas could compel people sometimes so he had to be a good resource. Were kids harder to compel? Atleast, was it harder to get a compulsion to stick? It could have been because a child's brain grew so rapidly. Did compulsion work on the actual structures of the brain? Is that how she could erase memories?
Krissy acted genuinely sorry for being rude to Sam. Marie told her he was nice so that had to be true. She just didn't understand why she wasn't allowed to know things.
"You don't need to know everything." Lee said.
"Andy does." Krissy said. "I told him about the angels and he already knew."
"What exactly did Andy say?" Dean asked.
Krissy shrugged. "That was a long time ago."
Dean excused himself so that he could call April. If anyone was going to get a clear idea of how that conversation went, Andy would have to be the one to explain. Andy knew how important the secret was but it would have been easy for him to make a mistake.
Andy said that she did tell him about the angels but he reacted like they were obviously real. That is how any religious person would act. He promised he was careful and told Dean to stop making him think he did something bad.
Lee took Krissy after they talked about things. He figured that the others needed to talk more about what Charlie found without Krissy listening. Plus, he needed to have a heart to heart with her to back up what Marie told her about intentions.
Charlie was asked to explain precautions that she was taking with communication. "We still use encryption and code our messages."
"How much does he know about us?" John asked.
"Not much but I told him I can't confirm or deny anything he says." Charlie said. "He knows more about me because his family has a price on my head."
"Do you go out alone?" John asked.
"Not really. I don't like driving and kind of prefer how quiet it is here." Charlie said. "The only place I go alone is Aislinn's house."
"The bad guys are looking for any weak spot they can find." Dean said.
"You think I'm a weak spot?" Charlie asked. "I have been avoiding getting murdered since I was 12."
"We have to think ahead. If I was a bad guy I wouldn't directly go after people like Andy or Kate." Dean said. "That is too obvious and would get them caught immediately. I'd go after someone who slips through the cracks sometimes because they are either independent enough to take care of themselves or they are easy to trick."
"I am careful. I can have a nymph hang around when I go to Aislinn's house." Charlie offered.
John rubbed his face. "Stacy's boys."
"Do you think Jo too?" Dean asked.
"I don't know." John said.
Kate got out a pad of paper. "Think like the enemy. I'll write stuff down."
Charlie listened as they went through a list of ideas. She furrowed her eyebrows. "Wow, you guys are good at that."
"You have to think like whatever you are hunting sometimes." Dean said. "That is how we found that guy for Jodi."
"Maybe think about how you would trap someone that is like you." Kate said. "You know, computer virus or something."
"My system is unbreachable." Charlie said.
"Could you breach it if it was someone else's?" John asked.
"Well….. Yeah." Charlie said.
"So assume someone else can get to you." John said.
Charlie rattled off a variety of ways that she would hack into her system. She got a little excited and realized no one was following her very well.
"Was that english?" Dean asked.
"It is coding." Charlie said. "My camera and microphone are disconnected so I don't have to worry about anyone turning those on."
"Could things that happened with the wreck be a trap?" Jess asked.
"Yes." Kate said. "It is more complicated than that though. Apparently Atropos and I have a history."
"If I was going to lure you into something, I would put someone in danger. You dive in without thinking." Dean said.
Kate frowned. "So maybe I am the weak spot."
"Is that why she kept making you redo the day? The trap didn't work so she kept resetting things." Sam said.
"There is a natural order that the Fates follow. Everyone has a time to live and a time to die. She wanted me to accept that I couldn't save him and to let him go." Kate said. "I got a lot of my memories back so I remember the other days. I have saved other people and she didn't force me to let them go."
Taylor had a thought that was difficult to verbalize. "Who have you saved?"
Kate looked offended.
"No, write it down." Taylor said.
Kate sighed. "Not my dad."
Dean put his arm around her shoulders. "Caleb, for sure."
"Me." John said.
"When you got shot?" Kate asked. "You might have made a recovery and lived."
"Me." Dean said. "I've gotten injured but you have saved me from the brink of death several times."
"So I can't save anyone that isn't a hunter." Kate said, bitterly.
"I don't think it is that." Dean said.
"I can't save kids at the children's hospital. I can't save Taylor's friends." Kate said. Her mood was starting to darken as the wreck was at the front of her mind.
"We can't save everyone." John said.
"First rule of hunting." Dean said.
"This isn't hunting. The wreck had nothing to do with hunting." Kate said.
"Hold that thought." Taylor said. He needed to sift through his own memory. "I have something but I need a minute to find it."
"Are you missing time too?" Dean asked.
Taylor held up his hand.
Kate sat beside him. "Can I help?"
With Kate talking him through how he could find a specific memory, Taylor finally landed on the conversation he was looking for. "One of you has far more blood on their hands than the other. Someone so young can walk around with only so much blood on their hands before someone notices."
Kate's face fell.
"I thought it was about me." Taylor said.
"So I'm a monster." Kate said.
"No." Taylor said. "You have had a lot of blood on our hands but it is from saving people. You had physical blood on your hands. Not that you killed anyone. What if you not being able to save everyone has something to do with that?"
"I still left the wreck with blood on my hands." Kate said.
"You tried to save him though." Taylor said.
"So someone will notice I have saved a few people?" Kate asked.
"Atropos did." Dean reminded her.
"Great, I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't." Kate said.
"Welcome to being a Winchester." Dean said. He pulled her into a full hug. "No matter how you look at it, you are good. You save people. You have a heart of gold. I think it would be a good idea to table this for tonight."
"I'm sorry." Taylor said.
"You had a good point." Kate said. "Again, I'm just so tired of being a puppet." She sighed. "You can answer your phone."
Dean furrowed his eyebrows and then checked his phone. He was expecting it to be April and Andy. He told Kate that he would be right back and stepped into the other room. "Hello?"
Kim almost hung up. "I am sorry. You know what… nevermind."
"What is going on?" Dean asked.
"I was going to ask for a favor but it is too much and it is stupid and silly." Kim said.
"What is it?" Dean asked.
"Nevermind." Kim said.
Dean pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just tell me."
"Fine. I want to be released from the hospital but they won't let me drive so I have to have someone pick me up and none of my siblings want to help. My friend can't because she is visiting her aunt in Florida and I said I could just take a bus but they won't let me do that either." Kim blurted out.
"So you are asking me to pick you up from the hospital?" Dean asked.
"No." Kim said.
"What time are they releasing you?" Dean asked.
"I'll figure it out." Kim said.
"Good grief. Just tell me when they will release you." Dean said.
"Whenever someone can get me." Kim said, quietly.
"Hold on." Dean said. He put the phone to his chest and talked to John.
"That is a two hour drive." John said.
"So it will be late by the time I get there." Dean said.
"Just nymph over and borrow one of Bobby's cars." Kate said.
Dean looked pained.
John patted his pocket. He pulled his keys out and tossed them to Dean.
"I will need to drive baby home." Dean said.
"I can." John said.
Dean sighed. "I'll come get you. My car is up on blocks so I'm borrowing a truck."
Kate was giddy and stared at Dean until he looked at her. "You are letting someone else drive your car just so you can go pick her up."
"Hush." Dean said.
"That is so sweet." Sam said. "I haven't seen this side of you."
Dean groaned. "She is at the hospital and they won't let her go. What am I supposed to do?"
"Exactly what you are doing." John said. "We will see you at home."
Dean narrowed his eyes. "You think these two are going to hold it together that long?"
"We will see." John said.
Dean stopped at the door. "I can drop her off and nymph back. You don't have to drive baby."
John waved him away. "It was my car first. I know how to drive it."
Sam cracked a smile as Dean walked outside.
"He claims they are causal." Taylor said.
"Don't harp on him about it." John said. "He doesn't need to call it anything officially."
"I think they are cute together." Kate said.
"It wouldn't be a bad idea to wrap this up and head back to Sioux Falls." John said.
Taylor frowned.
"You aren't going to be around anyone until Monday." John said. "You can keep your phone off or tell people not to call you."
"They just want to know what happened." Taylor said.
"They can get information from the news or wait until his parents have more to say." John said.
"Monday is going to suck." Taylor said.
"It will. Do you want to go to the funeral?" John asked.
"Yeah. I bet all the players will." Taylor said.
"We will go with you." John said. "Kate, how are you feeling?"
"I am mad that Atropos wouldn't let me save him but I guess I've gone through it eight times and don't think I can figure out a way to change anything without her finding out." Kate said.
"Jess and I will need to head home too." Sam said.
Jess found Milo and scooped him into her arms. She said her goodbyes and let one of the nymphs transport her back to their apartment. She and Sam landed in the living room. She sat Milo on the couch and slipped her shoes off.
Sam was in front of Jess in an instance. He put an arm out to stop her from moving and motioned to his ear.
Jess froze.
Sam had heard a noise coming from another room in the apartment and he was on high alert. "Who is here?"
A person walked out from behind the wall. "I didn't even hear you two come in."
Jess put a hand to her heart. "What are you doing?"
"I own the apartment." Jess's uncle said.
"I just didn't know you would be here and got spooked. Is something wrong?" Jess asked.
"I was just checking on the place." Her uncle said. "Needed to make sure there was no damage."
Sam furrowed his brows. "Why would there be damage?"
"Some tenants do stuff like that. I want to make sure this place is ready to go." The uncle said.
"Are you going to rent it to someone else?" Jess asked.
"Yep." The uncle said.
"When?" Jess asked.
"By the end of April." The uncle said.
"Why didn't you call me?" Jess asked. "This is sudden."
"I'm giving you over a month's notice." He said. "New people can pay full rent."
"You never raised the rent for us." Jess countered.
"You don't have your father's money to fall back on. I know how much you can afford." The uncle shot Sam a dirty look.
Sam was tired of people looking at him like that. "We are moving after this semester anyway, Jess." He was trying to comfort her.
"Excellent, so you'll get a head start." The uncle said. "Well I'll be back with papers."
"Could you atleast call before coming?" Jess asked.
"Why?" The uncle asked.
Jess rolled her eyes. "Gee, I don't know. What if I am in the shower?"
"You will just come into my office." The uncle said. "Shouldn't be too hard to walk there from here."
Sam had so much he wanted to say but kept it to himself.
Jess fell apart after the uncle left.
"Hey, it's okay." Sam said. "We have plenty of places to go. It will be alright."
"I know but why is he so mean? What did I do to him?" Jess sniffled.
"I think he is annoyed at me, not you." Sam said.
"What?" Jess said. "Why?"
"Don't you know I'm single handedly pulling you into poverty and tarnishing your family name." Sam said.
Jess pressed her head against Sam's chest. "I can't wait to get out of here and be somewhere that we aren't disliked by everyone."
Sam rubbed her back. "Just a few people. One specifically."
Jess smiled. "She just misunderstood you."
"I don't think for a second that she has forgiven me." Sam said.
"Maybe not." Jess said. "It is a little comical."
"She has no issues with Dean and barely has an issue with my dad." Sam said.
"Let me take your mind off of it." Jess said with a smirk.
Sam smirked back. "Already forgot about it."
(Dean)
Dean had driven John's truck before but he felt awkward driving it each time. He sat low in the impala but John's truck was so far off the ground that it almost felt weird. He told Kim how long he would be and drove to the hospital. He turned the truck off and stepped out. He turned around to make sure all hunting paraphernalia was out of sight. He made his way to the front desk and asked which room Kim was in. He wasn't even sure why she was there. She wasn't keen on telling him over the phone.
Kim was sitting at the edge of the bed, focused on replacing the hospital grippy socks with her normal socks. She gasped. "Oh hi."
Dean tilted his head. She wasn't looking at him and her hair was over her face.
Someone came in with a clipboard and gave Dean a list of instructions as to what Kim could and couldn't do for the next few days. No heavy lifting, no driving… the usual.
"Can you hand me those?" Kim asked, pointing to a stack of clothes.
Dean touched her leg. "Is there a reason you won't look at me or are you just embarrassed?"
"I don't want you to freak out, which is stupid that I assumed you would." Kim said.
Dean gently moved her hair out of her face and hissed. "What happened? Did someone do this to you?"
Kim shook her head. "It is just a bump."
Dean crouched in front of her. "That is more than a bump."
Kim's eyes were bruised and she had a bandage covering stitches across the left side of her forehead. She leaned forward to put her legs through the legs of her pants and lost balance for a moment.
"I'm driving you home. I want to know what happened." Dean said.
"I just got a little dizzy and fell." Kim said.
Dean raised an eyebrow. "It is either that or a bike accident isn't it?" He still thought someone had hurt her.
Kim let out a small laugh. "I'm serious. I fainted and hit my head on the corner of the counter. I'm okay."
"How many days have they kept you here?" Dean asked.
"Overnight for observation." Kim said.
"Are you okay?" Dean asked.
"Yes. They just overreacted and wanted to keep me here." Kim said. She stood up and thought for sure she was standing straight up but Dean had to steady her.
"Are you sure they are letting you leave?" Dean asked.
"Yes." Kim said.
"Is it against medical advice?" Dean asked.
"I'm just going to go home and sleep." Kim said.
Dean scratched his head. He wanted Kate to pop in and take a look at Kim but he couldn't. He couldn't have her help the bruising or pain. She wasn't like April. She didn't know the secret. "I could spend the night with you here."
"No." Kim said. "I really don't like hospitals and they gave you a list of things to do. Just drop me off and I'll be good."
"I can't do that list of things if I just drop you off." Dean said.
"They don't know that." Kim said. "You don't actually need to do anything. Those are just precautions."
Dean had her sit back down. "I'm going to make a phone call. Please don't try to walk. If you fall, they will keep you here for sure." He stepped out of her room and called John. He told him what was going on and was told to spend the night.
John was more than capable of managing the kids and the heavy emotions were due to hit Monday when they had to step back into reality. He also wasn't sure what they were going to do with Krissy. Kate needed to do something but not without guidelines. "The kids and I will probably stay the night here and see how Krissy is in the morning."
Dean returned to Kim. "I want to stay the night."
"You don't need to." Kim said.
"I think it would be safer." Dean said. "I can't force you to let me stay, of course, but I'd feel better if you had someone with you."
Kim looked uncomfortable.
Dean tried to read her expressions.
"I need to wash my hair and tidy up and a bunch of other stuff." Kim said.
"Believe it or not I have to do that quite often." Dean said, lightly.
"I just wasn't expecting company." Kim said.
"I've seen your apartment." Dean said. "Relax."
Kim just nodded.
Dean needed to grab a few things because he left his duffle at Bobby's house. "Would you mind riding over to my uncle's house with me? I should grab some stuff." He gave her a wink. "You'll see the dump I live in."
Kim gave him a small smile. "A dump?"
"Salvage yard." Dean said. "It isn't pretty but it was a ton of fun as a kid." He never thought he'd be bringing a girl back to the house and he didn't plan for her to get out and meet anyone. He pulled the truck to the front of the hospital so someone could wheel her out. He helped her into the truck and ran around to get in as well.
"Thanks." Kim said, quietly.
"No problem." Dean said. He let Bobby know before he drove over. He slowly pulled into the driveway, by the large "Singer's Salvage Yard" sign. "I'll run in and grab stuff."
Kim waited while he ran into the house. There were old cars stacked on top of each other and car parts laying around. It wasn't messy. The house had character. She could understand why the place would be fun as a kid. Not that she ever really ran around like that. She was usually inside where she wouldn't get sick as easily.
Karen stopped Dean as he came back down the stairs. "Do you need anything?"
"No." Dean said, his face slightly pink.
"Are you going to get food? Do you want me to make dinner?" Karen asked.
"It is okay. I'll get food in town." Dean said.
"He doesn't want to introduce us to her." Bobby said.
"Yeah because she is just a friend with benefits." Dean said.
Bobby chuckled. "Alright, drive safe."
Dean hurried back to the truck but stopped because something heavy ran up his pants leg. He nearly dropped the clothes he was holding.
Kim gasped.
Dean was unamused. "Dammit Robby. I don't have food."
Karen stepped out and whistled for Robby. She snuck a small wave and handed Robby a snack.
"What is that?" Kim asked.
"Oh. Uh…. my brother's racoon." Dean said.
"What?" Kim asked, almost laughing.
"I guess he saved the thing during a storm and taught it tricks. He throws away trash and organizes stuff." Dean said.
Kim covered her mouth. "You all are even more mysterious than I thought."
Dean rubbed the back of his head. "I don't know if we are mysterious. Weird maybe. Peculiar. I'm the normal one." He said, lightly. "Will you be able to eat?"
"I think so." Kim said.
"We will grab something. Then you can make sure it doesn't make you sick since we have to drive back." Dean said. He shared a few family stories on the drive out of town. Peculiar was putting it lightly. He ordered food at a nearby drive through and stopped by a gas station to top off the truck's tank. He shut the door and pulled out his phone. He waited for Kate to answer and lowered his voice. "If you don't get out of my head I'm going to strangle you."
Kate rocked back in her chair. "I'm not in your head."
"Why does my head hurt?" Dean asked.
"You aren't used to smiling and the muscles get tired quickly." Kate said.
"Give the phone to dad." Dean said.
Kate groaned and handed John the phone.
"She is scrying." Dean said.
"I don't think she is." John said.
"I can feel her in my head." Dean said.
"Katelyn, you had better not be scrying." John said. "After the Halloween incident I am not sure she'd try again."
Kate scrunched her nose. "Trauma."
Dean shook his head. "Brat." He tucked his phone back into his pocket and shut the gas cap.
Kim enjoyed his family stories and shared a few of her own. His family was a lot more fun.
Dean parked by Kim's apartment and helped her out of the truck.
"I can get out by myself." Kim said.
"This thing is high enough off the ground on a day you don't have a concussion." Dean said. "I'd feel bad if you fell on your face."
Kim laughed pitifully. "It is a little high." She unlocked the door to the apartment and froze in the doorway. "Can I tidy first?"
"I'm not judging." Dean said, expecting things to be messy. He stepped inside after her and tilted his head. There was a towel over the back of the couch and a few dishes that hadn't been washed. "What do you need to tidy?"
Kim sighed.
Dean saw a few red splashes and a small red pool. "Here, I've got that. You go run a bath."
Kim frowned. "I've got it."
Dean raised an eyebrow. "Let me take care of you."
Kim relented. "Kills the romance."
"If the salvage yard didn't, this isn't going to. I don't like admitting my sister is right but I do turn into a caregiver when I think someone needs help. And right now you need help." Dean said. He didn't say that cleaning up blood was a frequent and normal job for him. He heard the bath water start to run and Kim humming. He couldn't figure out what he was feeling. It was almost painful. There was a tightness in his chest that he thought he had felt before but couldn't remember when. He cared for Kim like he cared for Lacy. That was just part of his character. Hearing her hum and seeing the bruises on his face felt different though. He finished cleaning and rinsed the cloth in the sign. Was he feeling protective of her because Kate was right and he had a savior complex? Was it just something he did with everybody? That was not a conversation he wanted to have with someone else but the two sides of his mind were in conflict and he didn't know what to do.
(That night)
Sam fell asleep quickly next to Jess.
Milo had to squeeze between them and flop his tail over Sam's face as he did every night.
Jess was woken up right after midnight by the sound of Sam's breathing. He had beads of sweat on his face and his breathing was heavy. She touched his shoulder. "Sam, you're having a dream."
Sam was able to wake up with Jess's insistence. He sat up quickly, spooking Milo into shooting off the bed.
"What was it?" Jess asked.
Sam held his stomach. "Tony took Jacob with him finally. Except after a week he caught wind that the wolves were looking for him. He left Jacob asleep and went after the wolves but died. Jacob was left in his crib alone and no one came for him."
Jess hugged Sam. "Was it just a dream?"
"I don't know." Sam said. "It felt like when I had those dreams of you dying."
"I'm alive though. We know those were visions but I'm alive." Jess said. "Things can change."
"Why am I having visions again? Kate isn't boosting me." Sam said. He rubbed his face. "I've had others but they've been simple. None scared me that bad."
"Even if Tony does decide to take Jacob, a nymph can follow them." Jess said. "Jacob will never be left alone and we will always know where he is."
"You are right." Sam said. He fell back onto his pillow and wiped his face with the corner of the blanket. "You're right."
(Marie's house)
John was having an off night of feelings too. He tried not to spend too much time in his head as it was a scary place.
The kids were in bed and only Rod and John remained awake.
John tried to talk to Rod about some of what he was thinking but he was having a tough time putting thoughts into words.
Rod announced that he needed to get to bed. Usually he tried to get to bed by 10 but he stayed up after midnight to talk to John.
John figured that he should get to bed too. He didn't have to wake up at the crack of dawn but knew his body would naturally do so. He moved the cover back on his bed and sat down. He grabbed a few advil and popped them in his mouth before taking a drink of water. Before he could plug his phone in to charge he got a call. "Hello."
Missouri was on the other line. "Boy do we need to talk."