Sam got up and got ready for school early. He took the extra time to enjoy a cup of coffee and center himself. He tried to let John's words roll off his back and not get angry that he left. His dad didn't process emotional well and didn't handle anyone challenging his wants. It would be just a few more days and then Sam would be eighteen and free.

Bobby shuffled into the kitchen and rubbed his eyes. "You are up early."

Sam shrugged. "I just needed time to think."

Bobby poured his own cup of coffee. "I'd knock some sense into him if I thought it would work."

Sam blew air out of his nose. "There is no helping him."

Bobby tapped his fingers on his cup. "What do you want to do for your birthday and graduation?"

Sam bit his cheek. "Nothing I guess."

Bobby snorted. "That is going to go over great with Dean and Kate."

Sam smirked. "I'd like to sleep in."

Dean slid into the kitchen. "No sleeping in. It is a tradition."

Sam groaned. "Fine."

Dean grabbed a bite to eat and then went to wake Kate up. "Out of bed. Let's go."

Kate reluctantly left her bed. "Why are you so grumpy?"

Dean smirked. "I'm not... yet."

Kate grumbled but went down to the kitchen.

Bobby handed her a plate of food. "Is everyone just up early today?"

Kate grumpily ate her food. "I didn't wake myself up."

Dean bopped her head and sat down. "We have some stuff to talk about before you go to school."

Kate rested her elbow on the table.

Bobby sat his mug down. "Have you been practicing using your abilities?"

Kate didn't look up. "A little."

"How?" Bobby asked.

Kate sighed. "It is like target practice. I just think about stuff."

"Are you practicing on other kids?" Dean asked.

Kate looked up. "I'm not hurting anyone."

"That isn't what I asked."

"Yeah, sometimes I do but it is harmless stuff like willing them to pick up a stick." Kate said.

Bobby rubbed his head. "You don't know what that does to people. You don't know for sure that it is harmless."

"Why are you practicing?" Dean asked.

Kate shoved her plate away. "What is the use in having something special if you don't use it?"

Bobby sighed. "The point is that you have plenty of time for that and you are still doing stuff behind our backs."

Kate frowned. "I wasn't. I didn't think it was an issue."

Bobby tapped the table. "We will have a longer talk when you get home."

Kate glared at him. "Why? I haven't even done anything. I can't do anything right."

Bobby glared right back. "I said a talk. You can turn into a 'talk' if you want."

Kate dropped her eyes. "No."

Bobby stood up and took her plate to the sink. "We aren't attacking you. Things are just changing and we want everyone on the same page."

Kate excused herself and got ready for school. She didn't like change. If this was all over her run in with John she had a few choice words for them.

Dean looked at Bobby and shrugged. "That went well."

Bobby chuckled.

Sam washed his own plate. "I'll talk to her."

Dean nodded. "Thanks."

#######

John drove most of the night until he reached a quiet cemetery on the outskirts of Lawrence. He walked through the rows of headstones until he found the one he was looking for. He sat down on the ground and put his face in his hands. "Mary, what do I do?" He asked desperately. Mary was the love of his life and he had lost a large part of himself in that fire. She would know what to do. She would be proud of Sam. Things weren't simple or black and white. Sam leaving meant Sam wasn't safe. He knew he needed to let go of his fear but the anger controlled his thoughts. It wasn't fair to any of them. He sat on the ground as the sun rose and spoke to Mary.

#######

Taylor was happy to see Kate. "My dad called and apologized. He never does that."

Kate smiled. "That is great. Maybe this will help him."

Taylor asked if she would be able to stop by the gym that afternoon.

Kate shrugged. "I don't know yet."

Taylor gave her a gentle shove and ran off to his class.

Ellie wrapped her arm around Kate. "Are you two dating now?"

Kate recoiled. "Ew. No. He is a friend and besides we are kids."

Ellie rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Kate shook her head as they walked. Taylor was nice but he was just a friend; a really good friend. They had similar lives and understood each other. Kate chewed her pencil as she looked at the paper in front of her. She hadn't studied for the test and overestimated how much of the material she knew. She answered the questions she knew and went back to narrow down answers on the other. Time was running out and she had five questions that she was completely stumped on. She nervously tapped her pencil on the desk and came up with an idea. She focused on Ellie and closed her eyes. Ellie was smart and studied for everything. Kate got the information she needed and quickly finished the test.

Taylor noticed that Kate was off when they went outside. "What's wrong?"

Kate shook her head. "Nothing. I just don't feel good." It wasn't a lie. She was queasy and the guilt was suffocating. She had never cheated on a test before and she wanted to confess to her teacher but she couldn't because she couldn't explain how she had done it. She felt bad for reading Ellie and mentally kicked herself for doing it.

After school Sam swung by to collect Kate. He also noticed that something was off.

Kate got in the car and kept her eyes down. She chewed her fingers and fought back the urge to cry. She held it together until they got to the driveway. She broke down and sobbed into her hands.

Sam parked. "Whoa, hey what is wrong?"

Kate took a shaky breath. "I messed up."

Sam put his arm around her. "Calm down and talk to me."

Kate wiped her tears away and tried to calm her breath. "I cheated on a test."

Sam furrowed his brows. That was unlike her. "Why?"

Kate swallowed. "I thought I studied enough but I didn't and I panicked and got the answers from Ellie."

Sam turned toward her. "Did you tell your teacher?"

Kate shook her head. "I can't. I got the answers from Ellie's head and I can't explain that. I'm so stupid."

Sam sighed. "You aren't stupid. How did you get them from Ellie's head?"

Kate slumped in the seat. "I focused on her."

Sam rubbed his face. "I think you were told this morning to not use abilities on other kids."

Kate started crying again. "I know and I realized as soon as I did it. I have been sick all day because I know it was wrong."

Sam took a deep breath and motioned for her to get out of the car.

She wiped her face and grabbed her bag. She felt like she was constantly messing up.

Sam squeezed her shoulder and quietly told her to go upstairs and compose herself.

Kate ran up the steps and dove onto her bed. She covered her head with her pillow and willed herself to stop crying.

Sam looked around to find Bobby or Dean. He heard voices in the basement and went down.

Dean and Bobby both looked up. "Hey Sammy." Dean said.

Sam walked over. "What are you working on?"

Bobby held up a wooden box. "Trying to crack this open."

Sam looked at it and stepped back. "There is a bit of a situation."

Dean groaned. "What kind of situation?"

"I picked Kate up and she is hysterical. She made a bad choice and is really upset about it." Sam said.

Bobby sat the box down. "What did she do?"

"She cheated on a test at school by reading Ellie." Sam said.

Dean turned on his heel to go upstairs.

"Wait Dean. She knows it was wrong and wanted to turn herself in. She can't because of how she got the answers. She is remorseful and upset. She told me right away. She didn't hide it." Sam said.

Dean huffed. "She used her ability on another kid hours after we told her not to."

Sam nodded. "She did. I think you should use this as an example when you go to talk to her. She already knows what she did was wrong and this is a perfect example."

Dean stepped back. He looked over to Bobby for confirmation. "Would you mind talking to her first? I have a lot to say and it isn't going to make a difference if she thinks we are against her."

Sam shrugged. "I'll see what I can do." He left and ran up the steps.

Bobby chuckled and shook his head.

Kate heard the door open and assumed Dean or Bobby had come up to talk to her. She moved the pillow and was confused to see Sam.

Sam sat on the bed and patted the spot beside him.

Kate sat up wide eyed. "You.. you aren't... you aren't going to..." Kate stuttered.

Sam tilted his head and then it dawned on him. "What? Oh.. OH.. no. I just want to talk to you."

Kate let out a breath and sat down beside him.

"I talked to them about the test." Sam said.

Kate whimpered.

Sam put up his hand. "We, as a family, have some stuff to talk about and what happened today is a good example of why the talk needs to happen. It isn't all bad. I will be going to California in a couple months and everyone needs to know how things are going to work."

Kate hugged him. "This is a bad time to ask but Taylor wanted me to go to the gym tonight."

Sam patted her back "Let's see how this goes first." He stood up and led her back down to the kitchen

Dean and Bobby came up from the basement. "Is anyone hungry?"

Kate didn't make eye contact. "I can make sandwiches."

Bobby nodded. "Alright."

Sam helped her make the sandwiches and grab drinks. He gave her a reassuring hug and sat down.

Bobby sighed. "I'll cut right to the chase. John brought up some concerns that we agree with, to an extent."

Kate bit her tongue.

"You are getting stronger and while that is great, it could land you in a bad situation." He said.

Kate looked up. "How?"

Dean sat forward. "You aren't taking the gifts seriously. It isn't a party trick. Remember all that happened before? We are worried."

Kate scowled.

Bobby closed his eyes and took a breath. "We aren't fussing at you."

Dean watched her reactions. "When geek boy here goes off to California, you and I are going to be on the road sometimes. If you are using your abilities at the wrong times, we both could get hurt."

Kate looked at him. "You think I would hurt you?"

Dean shook his head. "No. I think that your temper and emotions cloud your judgement sometimes and as you get stronger, it gets more dangerous."

Kate sat back. She couldn't believe what he was saying.

Sam stepped in. "I know how to fight. I even know how to kill. If I get in a fight with someone at school and I punch them, they will have a bloody nose but that is it. However if I use my skills I could easily really injure them. If I was really angry or thought I was doing the right thing but was misguided I could harm or kill someone who didn't deserve it. With your abilities, if you can't control them, they do become dangerous."

Kate thought about it. "Okay, that makes sense."

Dean scoffed and made a face.

Sam smugly shrugged.

"I haven't done anything like when I got burned." Kate said.

Dean nodded. "We know. Think of it like handling a gun. Use the gun rules for your abilities."

Kate mulled it over. "Okay. Will I still get to practice?"

"Yes, safely." Bobby said.

Kate slumped. "Okay."

Dean rubbed the back of his neck. "You've got to drop the attitude. Especially around dad. I don't mind banter and like joking around with you but you know where the line is between joking and being disrespectful. Always ere on the extreme side of respect around dad and show Bobby the same respect."

Kate blushed.

"Just follow directions and we will be golden. You have been doing much better but I may have let you by with a little too much." Dean said gently.

Kate dropped her head.

"If you can handle that, how would you feel about taking a road trip to drop Sam off?" Dean asked.

Kate perked up. "Can we?"

Dean nodded.

Kate sat forward, excited about a road trip.

"I don't think we need to drag the conversation out, you know what is expected and what happens if rules aren't followed." Bobby said as he gathered the plate.

"Uh yes.. sir, yes Bobby?" Kate stammered.

Bobby chuckled. "Bobby is fine unless you are in hot water."

Kate smiled. "Yes, Bobby." She drummed her fingers on her knees and shifted in her seat. "Could I maybe go to the gym tonight?"

Dean smirked. "Taylor's?"

Kate nodded.

Dean leaned back. "I can take you."

Kate groaned. "Sam can."

Dean laughed. "Oh no. I'll be supervising. Besides I want to see if you get your butt kicked."

Kate scrunched her face. "You are mean."

He smiled. "Not even a little bit."

Kate ran to change into different clothes.

Dean yelled after her. "No more cheating on tests!"

Kate stopped and dramatically said. "Yes Dean."

He shook his head.

Kate found a t shirt to wear but stared at her dresser hoping something would appear.

Sam knocked on the door and walked in. "What's up?"

Kate frowned. "I don't want to wear shorts."

Sam shrugged. "Then don't."

She groaned. "I can't wear a dress or jeans."

"So wear those stretchy things you wear with dresses."

"Ugh, those are leggings and are kind of see through." Kate whined.

Sam stepped over and looked through her clothes. "Wear leggings under shorts."

Kate smiled and hugged him. "Thanks, you are a genius." She took her stuff and went to the bath room to change. She skipped back out and handed Sam two hairbands.

He took them and quickly braided her hair back. "You will have to learn how to do this."

Kate grumbled. "It is easier when you do it."

"I could teach Dean." Sam said.

Kate recoiled. "No thanks."

Dean called her down and grabbed his keys. "Are you ready?"

Kate bounced on her toes. "Yeah, duh."

Dean opened the door and poked her in the ribs. "Hey, respect, remember."

Kate dramatically bowed. "Yes your lordship, I am ready."

Dean snorted. "That's more like it." He tugged one of her braids and hopped down the steps. "Is Taylor going to be able to do much?"

Kate shrugged. "He said that what he couldn't do he would sit out for."

Dean felt of his own arm. "I think these heal faster than normal stitches."

Kate paused. "They do."

Dean sighed. "What did you do?"

Kate blinked at him. "Okay this was before you told me not to do things."

Dean chuckled. "Go on."

Kate got in the car and shut her door. "I compelled your body to grow new cells more quickly."

Dean looked at her. "What now?"

Kate sighed. "There are meditation techniques and stuff that ancient cultures used for healing. You can direct blood flow to a wound and it heals faster. If your body is under a lot of stress or if you do not have enough nutrients in your body, you heal slower."

Dean turned the car on. "So you just tell someone to heal and they do?"

Kate shrugged. "Pretty much."

Dean made a face. "I can't get mad at you for that."

Kate smiled. "It isn't instant but I think it helps a little."

Dean nudged her. "If you find a way to make it instant let me know."

Kate rolled her eyes. "I can't because you wont let me practice."

Dean side eyed her. "That was a test."

Kate grinned. "I passed?"

Dean laughed. "Yes." He focused back on the road and followed Taylor's written directions to the gym. The building was small and tucked behind some other buildings.

Kate scrunched her nose. "It smells like sweat."

Dean raised a brow. "Do you want to know why?"

Kate scoffed and shoved him. "You wonder where I get all of my sarcasm from."

A man greeted them and asked how he could help.

Taylor heard their voices and walked over to them. "Hey! You made it." He said and smiled at Kate. "This is my friend, Kate. She wanted to check out the class."

The man handed Dean some paperwork. "Just fill this out and the first three classes are free."

Dean took it and started to fill it out. He wondered how much classes were after those three days. He and Sam had never done sports or any kind of class. He paused at her name. Her last name had been Winchester since John signed the papers but he hadn't written it often. The amount of information made him uncomfortable but all of the questions were normal. He handed the clipboard back and followed Taylor to one of the rooms.

Taylor drug Kate over to speak to the coach.

Kate looked nervous and unsure of herself. She shook the man's hand and introduced herself.

Dean found a seat in one of the corners so that he felt comfortable and could keep an eye out.

The class was mostly boys but there was one other girl, which made Kate feel more comfortable. She stuck by Taylor and he explained each new thing to her. Kate caught on quickly and found that she enjoyed the class. She was paired with the other girl when they broke up to go over certain moves. She found it interesting as she didn't know the names for things that Dean had taught her. She quickly found that the other girl was catty and unfriendly. She switched partners and sparred against Taylor for the second set of moves.

Taylor was nicer and could blame some of the gentleness on his side. He didn't want to hurt Kate but didn't want to look like he was treating her like some helpless girl. He sat out the live rounds because of his side. He showed Kate what live rounds were and stood by her until she got a turn. He stepped back beside Dean and crouched down. "She is doing really well."

Dean sat forward. "How long have these other kids been at this?"

Taylor squinted. "Natasha has been here since she was 5 I think. She is really good but is cocky." He pointed to a few other kids as well.

Dean was interested to see how well his training had paid off.

Kate groaned inwardly as they paired her with Natasha again. She knew it was because she was a girl but Kate really didn't like her attitude. They slapped hands and posted up. Kate quickly found herself on the ground and tapped out soon after. She didn't know how Natasha fought and needed the first go to figure her out. The second round took longer and Kate caught an elbow to the mouth. She could taste the blood and felt her anger bubbling up. She knew it was purposeful. One look at the smile on Natasha's face confirmed that.

Both Taylor and Dean cringed as Kate wiped the blood from her lip with her shirt.

The coach touched Kate's shoulder and asked if she needed a break.

Kate grinned. "Nope."

Dean held his breath. "Oh no."

Taylor looked at him "What?"

Natasha had gotten cocky again.

Kate went back over the moves in her head and calmed her breathing. She smirked and slapped Natasha's hand.

Dean watched Kate's face and hid his own smirk. He had pissed her off enough times while sparring to know she wouldn't hold back.

Kate let her instincts take over and won the next two rounds, once by knocking Natasha flat on her back and the second by getting her in a choke hold.

The coach was impressed and used the spirit of competition to pit them against each other.

Kate knew that Natasha fought dirty when she couldn't get the upper hand. She was prepared for it though. She caught her foot and twisted it the way that Dean did to her so many times. She flipped Natasha and moved with lightening speed to wrap her legs around her torso and put her back in a chokehold.

Natasha was pissed but tapped out. She had been at the gym for years and wasn't used to someone beating her. She ignored Kate's handshake and walked over to grab some water.

Kate grinned at Dean and Taylor. She felt really good, even though her lip was still bleeding.

The coach released them and stepped over to talk to Kate and Dean. "You did really well out there. Not many people come in and knock Tash of her feet. She does hold a grudge though."

Kate smiled sweetly.

Dean looked at her lip. "She got you pretty good there."

Kate shrugged. "It is okay."

The coach asked if she had practiced at a different gym.

Dean awkwardly answered that she had been fighting for a while.

The coach invited her back to the next class and excused himself.

Taylor and Kate were both buzzing with excitement. "Man, you really can fight." Taylor said.

Kate squeaked. "It was so much fun!"

Dean steered her toward the car. "I was worried there for a second."

Kate scrunched her face. "For me or her?"

Dean laughed. "First you then her. It is nice to see that you do listen to me sometimes."

Kate brushed him off. "I guess the hours and hours of sparring do pay off."

Dean smirked. "Don't forget the running and pushups. Knowing how the fight doesn't get you far if you have noodles for limbs."

Kate looked at Taylor. "When your side heals I want to fight you."

Taylor cringed. "I don't know about that."

Kate grinned. "Are you afraid I'll beat you?"

Taylor's eyes twinkled. "I'm afraid I'll hurt you and then your brother will beat me."

Dean smirked. "If she gets hurt while training, I will keep my gun holstered."

Taylor laughed nervously.

Dean smiled. "I don't shoot kids."

Kate rolled her eyes. "Oh will you hush?" She pushed him toward the car door.

Taylor waved and grabbed his bike to ride home.

"You'll keep your gun holstered, seriously?" Kate said.

Dean nudged her. "I haven't embarrassed you in a while."

She scoffed.

Dean looked at her. "He is a good kid. I'm just giving you a hard time."

Kate smiled. "Thank you for being nice to him."

Dean furrowed his brows.

"His brothers aren't nice to him or just don't act like he exists. It means a lot to him that you and Sam let him target practice and stuff." Kate said.

Dean sighed. He hadn't really thought about it. "Not all brothers can be as awesome as I am."

Kate rolled her eyes. "You are pretty awesome."

He tilted her chin. "How is the lip?"

Kate licked her lip. "My tooth cut into it but it is fine."

Dean let go of her face. "I think ice cream could help with the swelling."

Kate dabbed her lip. "Banana split with extra chocolate?"

Dean turned toward the diner. "It was really cool watching you in there."

Kate shrugged. "I had fun."

"Do you want to keep going?"

Kate looked at him. "We can't afford it."

Dean shrugged. "We can figure something out if it is something you want to do. This could really help you become a rounded fighter. It might help with some of your anger too."

Kate smirked. "Are you afraid I'll start kicking your butt?"

Dean smiled. "The day that you are able to do that, I wont even be mad." He knew that Kate took pride in things she was good at and jiu-jitsu was something she could excel at that didn't involve using her abilities. He paused for a moment. He wondered if the amount of enjoyment he got from watching her knock that kid off her feet was indicative of how protective he was or if he enjoyed watching kid fight club. He shook his head, it was definitely because Natasha got a cheap shot and Kate put her in her place.

################

John checked into a motel and drank until the pain went away. He slept it off and woke up with a massive headache. He had poured his heart out to the memorial of Mary and he felt like hell. He missed her every day but it was so much worse on days that he failed as a father. She would shake him and tell him to pull it together. He pulled out his journal and planned how this particular hunt was going to go. He checked dates and circled the day of Sam's graduation. He wasn't sure if he would be able to talk to Sam. He wasn't sure he would ever be okay with Sam leaving but he could at least show up to the ceremony. He packed up his stuff and drove to Missouri's house. He needed an unbiased opinion and Missouri was full of those. He smirked, she was the one person who didn't sugar coat things when speaking to him. She was the sweetest person he had ever met but she had no qualms about knocking someone down a few pegs.

Missouri opened the front door before John even got out of the truck. She put a hand on her hip and gave him an exasperated look. "John Winchester, you idiot, get yourself on in here."

John sighed and walked inside. "I guess you knew I was coming."

Missouri clicked her tongue. "Mhm and boy do we have a lot to talk about." She gave him a hug and told him to sit down in the living room. She made tea and brought him a cup. "If you are planning on losing that boy, this is the right way to go about it."

John grimaced. "I don't want to lose him."

Missouri pursed her lips. "You have an awful way of showing it."

John rubbed his neck. "I know. Now are you going to fuss at me or help me?"

Missouri huffed. "Lucky for you, I can do both." She took John's hands and let the emotions wash over her. "You all just don't tell me much of nothing."

John shrugged. "I'm not in the loop these days."

Missouri nodded. "First, let's talk about Sam."

John sat back. "He's running."

Missouri tsked. "He's his father's son."

John flinched. "I'm not running."

Missouri looked at him. "Then why are you here and not back at Bobby's congratulating your son?"

John rolled his shoulders. "I was seeking advice from an old friend."

"I've got a phone, John"

"This was on my way and I stopped to talk to Mary." John said.

Missouri nodded. "You aren't mad at him for running."

John shook his head. "No, I guess not. I can't say I blame him but what we do is important."

"You are scared." Missouri said.

John furrowed his brows.

"Don't think I don't remember you coming in here with those two little boys after Mary passed. That is fear I feel rolling off of you." Missouri said.

John drank the tea. "What do I do?"

Missouri sat her cup down. "Oh honey. Let's talk."

#############

Author's Note: Loving all the reviews. As always thank you thank you thank you. Some things will mirror the story line of the show because I feel like the story wouldn't be Supernatural if certain things didn't happen. Other things I am putting my own spin on.