Kate shoved stuff into her backpack. "I'm done with homework!"

Dean gave her a thumbs up.

Kate laid down in the floor beside Jo and rested her chin on her hands. "What have you found?"

Jo reached for a book and turned it. "It may be a symbol to a club or something."

Kate studied the symbol. She inched closer to Taylor who was sitting up reading a book that sat on the coffee table. "We could search it."

Taylor frowned. "I think I'm tapped out."

Kate sighed. "Does your head still hurt?"

Taylor offered her a small smile. "A little. I can help you look at it later but I'm trying to take it easy."

Bobby put dinner in the oven and walked back into the living room. "I was looking for something that could be in that third box."

Kate slid back onto her knees. "We can open it?"

Bobby shrugged. "I don't know yet. I put red tape on the one that we know is bad news."

"Somebody spent ages carving that box with ancient symbols, finding a spell to protect it and they could have saved time by just putting red tape on it." Kate said.

Bobby chuckled. "Well, with how many people are in and out of this house lately, I didn't want confusion since those three boxes are similar."

Ellen looked up from a list she was making. "Do you mind if I look at them?"

Bobby pulled the boxes from the shelf. "This one had the knife in it. This one was deemed malignant and this one we do not know about."

Ellen tilted the box toward the light. She gently shook the box and held it to her ear. "If it was something breakable, it wouldn't be sliding around like this."

Bobby reached for the box. "Huh, you have a point."

Ellen looked down when she felt small paws on her foot. "Well aren't you just the cutest thing I've ever seen?" She said as she picked up one of the kittens. She let him lay across her shoulder and he purred into her ear.

Dean scoffed.

Kate looked around before clicking her tongue. "Millie." She grinned when she heard shuffling. "Hi baby." She picked up Millie and walked to Ellen. "This one is Millie."

"Who is this little one?" Ellen asked.

Taylor laughed. "Dean."

Dean smacked the back of Taylor's head. "You aren't naming the damn cat after me."

Kate rubbed Millie's head. "He is really calm and cuddly. Dean never suited him anyway."

Ellen was smitten with the kittens. It had been a long time since they had a pet and she didn't now why. "You could name him Liam."

Taylor walked over. "I like Liam."

"If Jo had been a boy, she would have been Liam, after Bill." Ellen said, absentmindedly.

Jo didn't know that.

Taylor swallowed hard. "Liam it is then."

Ellen moved Liam from her shoulder to the crook of her arm.

Jo tilted her head. "Can we get a kitten?"

Ellen gave her a warm smile. "I think that is a good idea."

Dean rolled his eyes. "I don't see what the deal is with cats."

Ellen merely smirked and sat down in one of the chairs.

Kate gave Millie to Jo. "I think I read somewhere that people with controlling personalities tend not to like cats because they have a mind of their own."

Dean grabbed her and pulled her to him. He dug his fingers into her ribs. "Where'd ya read that?"

Kate giggled. "I don't remember."

Dean moved his hands to her collarbones which he knew were her ultimate weak spot.

Kate started to fall forward, unable to function except to laugh. "Stop. Stop."

Dean stopped tickling her. "What was that about controlling personalities."

Kate dropped to her hands and knees. She scooted away from him. "You're mad because it is true."

Dean grinned and tried to grab her foot but she scrambled to her feet and tried to run.

Kate nearly collided with the door as Caleb opened it. She spun to miss the door and tripped over someone's shoes. She regained her balance and had to hop so that she didn't squish Millie, who had made her way across the floor. Her ankle twisted and she fell back, nearly falling onto Ellen. She finally hit Bobby's desk with her back and hit the floor. A few papers and other items slid off the desk and fell to the floor as well.

Ellen reached down and touched Kate. "Are you okay?"

Kate scrunched her nose. "This was your fault, Dean."

Dean chuckled. "That was like watching the three stooges."

Kate went to stand up but her hand landed on something. She picked it up and held it in front of her. She furrowed her brows. "What is this?" It was a box about the size of a pack of playing cards. It had carvings on the sides and rattled.

Bobby stepped over. "I have never seen that before. Oh.." He looked a few feet away. The mystery box and fallen off his desk and opened on impact.

Kate froze. "Oh no."

Bobby crouched in front of her. "Are you feeling anything?"

Kate shook her head. "No."

Bobby held his hand out for the small box. "That was strange."

Ellen thought the same thing. The entire sequence of events were bizarre."

Bobby felt along the top of the box. A wooden piece slid forward, exposing another strip. He turned the box upside-down and tapped it. A key fell into his palm. "Well I'll be damned."

Kate tiptoed to look at the key. "It has the symbol!"

Bobby pulled a face. "There is no need to yell."

Kate jumped up and down. "It has the symbol. Oh my god. What if it is the key to that door?"

The question hung in the air.

"What are the chances that you'd fall into that and it just so happen to expose a key for the door we found because Jo ran off?" Dean asked.

Jo shot him a glare.

Kate beamed. "Thanks Gregory!"

Ellen raised an eyebrow.

"We call the Grigori, Gregory." Dean said. "She thinks this is his doing."

Ellen didn't know how else to explain it. She handed Liam to Taylor. "That key looks unique."

Jo looked at Dean. "I can go with you to check it out."

Ellen scoffed. "You, young lady, have school. You aren't going anywhere with anybody."

Jo turned red. "If you wait."

"No, Joanna." Ellen said.

Jo slumped. "Just call me when you go."

Dean gave her a wink. "I'll see what I can do."

Kate shifted from foot to foot. "When can you go?"

Dean rubbed his face. "I just got back. I am tired."

Kate hugged him. "There is coffee."

Dean nudged her. "I want a few days to recover."

Kate frowned. "Fine."

Taylor had been quiet. He was processing everything. He couldn't transition through emotions as quickly as Kate could and couldn't push them down as far as Dean could.

Jo put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I just have questions, of course. Who was my great grandfather? I mean, I know who he was but the man had some big secrets." Taylor said.

Jo squeezed his shoulder. "I think he was a good man. He took care of all of this lore and made sure it was put somewhere safe."

Ellen looked at the time. "Jo, we need to head home. I told Ash we would be back before too late."

Jo hugged Taylor and then Kate. "Keep me updated."

Dean gave Jo a smirk and gave her a side hug.

Taylor rested his elbows on the porch railing as Ellen and Jo left. The day had drained him although the events were minor compared to Kate being shot or Craig blowing up their house. In a way, the problems of the day were like normal people problems. Luis was going to be an issue but he wasn't a demon of vampire. Maybe that is why it was harder. He couldn't dispatch a hunter to take care of the situation.

Bobby walked out onto the porch. "You look like you are deep in thought."

Taylor yawned. "Sometimes the traumatic stuff is easier to handle than the mildly annoying stuff."

Bobby nodded. "Dean told me about a.. uh.. punk ass kid is what I think we are referring to him as."

Taylor smiled. "That was Kate's name for him." He dug a fingernail into the worn, wood railing. "His name is Luis. He has a couple buddies that usually run with him. I guess I'm target number one for this year. He said that David has been saying stuff about me. Apparently I'm the one that started the fire."

Bobby bristled. "A bully will say anything to get a rise out of you."

Taylor dug his phone out of his pocket and handed it to Bobby after he scrolled down to a conversation.

Bobby read a few of the messages and frowned. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Taylor shrugged. "He usually doesn't reply. When he does, it is usually just telling me he doesn't want to talk to me. I figured if I have records that I have tried to be civil, he can't claim I haven't... at least from a legal standpoint."

"Son, why are you worried about this from a legal standpoint?" Bobby asked as he read more of the non conversation.

Taylor sighed. "I have backups and I guess... proof of things. I have for years. If I ever needed my word backed up, I had documentation. It kept me from going crazy and thinking what Craig told me was true. David took the explosion as a way to get attention and sympathy. Every story needs a villain. I guess that is me."

"Taylor, he can say what he wants but that doesn't change what really happened. I'd like to think part of the reason that you are not the type of person that David is is your father was a good man. He had a good heart and helped people. Ellen said that you remind her of him." Bobby said.

Taylor bit into his cheek.

"Where do you have this.. proof?" Bobby asked.

Taylor sighed again. "My duffle bag."

Bobby furrowed his brows. "What kind of stuff is it? Is it anything you could use now?"

Taylor shook his head. "No. I can't really build a case against Craig. David is a minor too so I guess one day he could try to take money from me or something but he doesn't have a whole lot of power."

Bobby could see the delayed fear in Taylor's eyes. "I'd like to see the stuff you have."

Taylor's eyes widened.

"It obviously bothers you. I can tuck it away somewhere safe. Having that stuff shoved under your bed each night has to wear on you."

Taylor frowned. Bobby was right.

Bobby followed him inside and up to his room.

Taylor pulled his duffle from under his bed and took a deep breath. He felt around for the folder that lived at the bottom of the bag. He clutched it to his chest and flinched.

Bobby sat down on the bed but didn't say anything.

Taylor blushed and looked away from Bobby. "Please don't show anyone else."

Bobby took the folder being presented to him. "I wont." He opened it and leafed through the papers and felt sick to his stomach. Taylor had copies of papers he had gotten from doctors each time he visited an emergency room. He also had photos spanning several years. "Why didn't you use this?"

Taylor blinked a tear away. "I was saving it for if he ever hit my mom. I could handle it but if he hurt her, she wouldn't have done anything. I was going to show someone this stuff if that happened. I guess I was too late."

Bobby put the folder down and motioned for Taylor to sit beside him. "You are such a brave kid. You didn't deserve any of this. You could have a future as an investigator but I'm so sorry that you went through that."

Taylor let Bobby put his arm over his shoulders. "It doesn't do me any good now."

Bobby looked at the folder. "Do you want to burn it?"

Taylor looked at him. "Why?"

"Sometimes that can help you say goodbye to something." Bobby said.

Taylor considered it. "Can we make a big fire and do marshmallows?"

Bobby chuckled. "You can do what ever you want."

Taylor nodded. "I want to burn it all. I have some stuff on a disc. You could keep that somewhere."

Bobby gave him a small smile. "I'll get the pit out."

Taylor felt a little lighter. The ordeal had been traumatic but he did have the opportunity to leave it behind and start over. Sure, Luis and David were an issue but he could handle it.

Bobby requested Dean and Caleb's assistance in gathering the stuff for a bonfire.

"What are we doing?" Dean asked.

Bobby flicked his eyes toward the stairs. "Taylor has some stuff he wants to burn. We can roast marshmallows."

Dean shrugged and gathered kindling and a few small logs for the pit. Fire could be cleansing and he didn't need to know what Taylor wanted to let go of.

Kate skipped outside. "Are we building a fire?"

Dean nodded.

Kate spun around and quickly went for campfire snacks. She didn't care why the fire was being made.

Taylor looked through the folder one more time before he shut it again. He carried it down the stairs and out to the fire pit. The fire was lit and growing.

Bobby put a hand on Taylor's shoulder. "Are you ready?"

Taylor nodded and rolled the folder to make it easier to place in the fire. He pushed it between two pieces of wood and stepped back as the edges started to turn black. He stared as the flames moved across the top of the folder and ate away at the papers inside. It felt as though he was burning away that portion of his history.

Kate grabbed a stick and poked at the fire. She let her stick catch fire before pulling it out and blowing the flames away.

"I don't think I like the look on your face around fire." Dean said.

Kate scoffed. "What does that mean?"

"You get the same look on your face that Dean gets with pie." Taylor said.

Dean furrowed his brows.

Kate smirked. "I don't plan on eating the fire though."

Bobby sat down with a beer. "If there is anything else you want to let go of, now is the time."

Taylor didn't really have anything else to burn. He didn't have many things from his old home. Most of his clothes were new or from Sam and Dean. He hadn't gotten anything out of the house that he didn't want to keep.

Kate nudged him to lean a little so she could whisper in his ear.

Taylor grinned and side stepped toward the house.

Dean looked between them. "If you try burning that I'll get another."

Kate rolled her eyes. "How'd you know?"

Dean smirked. "I've tried it before."

Bobby chuckled. He remembered that story.

Caleb sat down on a bucket he had brought over to the fire pit. "Now would be a good time for those embarrassing Dean stories."

Dean threw a stick at him. "How about you keep your mouth shut."

Caleb smirked. "All those in favor of Dean stories, raise your hand."

Dean scoffed at the four raised hands. "I have embarrassing stories about each of you too."

Kate put a marshmallow into the flames. "This is Dean story time though."

Caleb grinned and launched into a story about when they were teenagers and got caught swimming at night.

"Ew, why would you swim naked?" Kate asked.

Dean rolled his eyes. "It is called skinny dipping and Caleb, you can just skip those details."

Caleb chuckled. "Either way we wound up in the local jail wearing nothing but our skivvies."

Taylor wondered how many times Dean had been arrested.

"They didn't give you any clothes? Where did your clothes go?" Kate asked.

"They are probably still thrown over a log somewhere. " Dean said.

Kate was amused. "So, who picked you up at the station?"

Dean groaned. "Who else?"

Taylor gasped. "John picked you both up?"

Caleb nodded. "Sam was kind enough to grab extra clothes before they left. I'm pretty sure John would have made us make the trek back to the motel in underwear."

Dean didn't doubt that. "Sammy was always good about thinking ahead like that."

There was a brief lull in conversation as Sam's absence was felt.

"You had to walk back?" Taylor asked.

"Run, actually." Dean said with a snort.

"He bailed us out and told us to be back at the motel before he and Sam got back from getting food." Caleb said.

Kate scrunched her nose. "How far away was the station?"

Dean shrugged. "Five miles or so?"

Kate did the math in her head. "Did you get back in time?"

Caleb laughed. "Not by a long shot."

"The food was cold and he tacked on extra miles to morning runs until he felt like I had shaved time off my run time." Dean said.

Caleb nudged him. "I didn't have to run extra. I went back home."

"Bastard." Dean mumbled.

"You owe me two more stories." Kate said.

Caleb gladly retold a few of Dean's less than stellar moments.

Bobby told a few stories as well.

Dean suffered through the amusement at his expense. The memories weren't necessarily bad. Sure, some were embarrassing but they'd been worth it at the time.

Kate had curled up beside Dean as night fell. She put her head on his leg and let him rub the back of her neck. The fire was warm on her face and she liked hearing stories about 'life before adulthood.' She liked knowing that other people did stupid stuff and lived to become decent adults.

Dean watched her eyes flutter. "Come on, up to bed with you."

Kate grumbled. "I'm not sleepy."

"Bull. I'm not carrying you up the stairs. Hop up." Dean said.

Kate sat up. "You are rude."

Dean smirked. "You and Millie do the same thing when someone rubs the back of your head."

Kate eyed him. "How do you know that?"

Dean froze.

Kate gasped. "Have you been petting the kittens, Dean?"

Dean nudged her. "What? No! I've seen her fall asleep in your lap."

Kate grinned. "Just admit you like the kittens."

Dean groaned as he got to his feet. "I tolerate them."

Taylor got up and stretched. "I'm going to bed too. Thanks for the fire, Bobby." He put a hand on Bobby's shoulder as he went by and continued into the house.

Kate stepped into the bathroom to take a quick shower. She didn't want to smell like smoke the next day.

Taylor ran his hands through his own hair. "Does Bobby have clippers?"

Dean nodded. "You're starting to look like Sam."

Taylor smiled. "Can I borrow them?"

Dean looked around downstairs for the clippers that Bobby kept on hand. He usually cut his own hair and offered to cut Taylor's.

Taylor shrugged. "Okay. Can you leave a little on top?"

Dean scoffed. "I am a professional. Take a chair outback. I'm not going to be cleaning hair off the floor tonight."

Taylor did as Dean suggested. He grabbed a towel and draped it over his shoulders. He hadn't had a haircut in a while and was tired of the heat that it trapped.

Dean quickly gave Taylor a hair cut and sent him upstairs for a shower.

Kate stepped out of the bathroom with a towel in her hair. "Whoa."

Taylor grinned. "You could get a haircut if you get down there before he puts the clippers away."

Kate rolled her eyes. "I'll pass." She didn't comment that his hair looked like Dean's. She wasn't sure who had the idea but it suited him. She ran her fingers through her hair and squeezed more of the water out. Jo had told her how to manage the curls and she was trying to follow what Jo said. She twisted the curls around her fingers as she detangled her hair. She slipped a t shirt over her pillow and laid down.

Taylor washed the stray hair away and brushed his teeth. His head felt several pounds lighter and he wondered how Sam kept his hair as long as he did.

Dean cleaned the clippers and put them away. He checked to make sure both kids were good for the night before he went back outside. He opened another beer and sat in front of the fire. "Did I miss anything?"

Bobby chuckled. "No. We were talking about a hunt."

They shared a round of beers as they talked. Eventually, Bobby put the lid on the pit to put the fire out.

Dean claimed the third shower of the night. He didn't mind the smell of smoke but didn't want it in his car. He peaked into the other room to make sure they had gone to bed.

Caleb lightly chuckled. "Watching your children sleep?"

Dean rolled his eyes. "Making sure they aren't still up."

"Do you kiss them on the head too?" Caleb asked.

Dean had done that but wasn't going to admit it. He saw a fuzzy shape move and had to shut the door before Millie tried to befriend him.

Caleb felt better about the threat the kids posed. He had gotten to know them a little better and saw that Dean kept an eye on them. They were good kids and could do a lot of good things in their lives. Taylor seemed calm and collected and Kate... well Kate was entertaining.

By the time Dean hit the hay, Caleb was already passed out in the other bed. Dean didn't watch him sleep. He wasn't creepy like that.

### ###

Kate woke up before Dean woke her up. She felt at peace and woke up refreshed. She went downstairs and put more coffee in the pot that had started to empty. She poured the last bit in a cup and took a sip. She scrunched her nose and made a face. She didn't like black coffee.

Dean heard the sound of the coffee pot being refilled and walked into the kitchen. He grinned. "Well hello Shirly Temple."

Kate turned. "What?"

Dean motioned toward her hair. "I don't think I've ever seen it like that."

Kate touched her hair. She tiptoed to look at her reflection in the window. "Oh my god." Jo's suggestions worked and weren't difficult to do. "Jo told me how to do my hair."

Dean was used to seeing her hair on the frizzy side, thrown in a bun or a braid. She suddenly looked more like a teenager than a little kid. He took one of the strands and pulled on it and watched it spring back into place. "Huh, magic."

Kate took another sip from her cup.

"Is.. is that coffee?" Dean squinted his eyes.

Kate shrugged. "It is paint thinner."

Dean snorted. "Put the cup down. You don't need coffee."

Kate put it down and grabbed a bowl for cereal. She ate her breakfast as Dean sipped his fresh coffee.

Dean studied her. She had lost some of her youth. Sure, she was still very young but she didn't look like she did when she was 8. She had gotten taller and, while she was always thin, her cheek bones were more noticeable.

Taylor brought the kittens down the stairs and deposited them on the floor. He stopped in the doorway of the kitchen. "Whoa."

Kate groaned. "I know. My hair is curly."

Taylor grinned. "It looks nice."

Dean refilled his cup. "We could open a barber shop at this rate."

"You can only do one type of hair cut." Kate grumbled.

Bobby and Caleb joined the crew. Neither expected the hairstyle changes. They didn't comment on it though.

"Caleb and I were talking. The kids do not have school Monday. We could drop Caleb off on our way to that door. Missouri wants to see us anyway." Bobby said.

Kate perked up even more. "Can we?!"

Dean raised an eyebrow at Bobby. "Who said I wanted to go on a road trip?"

Bobby shook his head. "You did as soon as you saw that key. You said it with your face."

It was true that Dean wanted to figure out what the surprise was sooner than later. He had made a promise to himself not to stay gone too often for long periods of time because of Kate and Taylor. If they were going with them, then he could budge.

Kate swallowed her last bit of cereal. "Should we pack now or after school?"

Dean looked at the time. "After. I'll make sure that all your stuff gets washed if you bring it down to the laundry room."

Kate sat her bowl in the sink and ran upstairs to gather the clothes she needed cleaned. She ran a mental check list of things she wanted to pack but she'd have time after school.

Taylor grabbed his own basket and brought it down stairs. "Thanks, Dean." He finished his quick breakfast and got ready for the day.

Bobby covered a laugh when Taylor came back down. He was wearing a band t-shirt, jeans and boots. The haircut just tied the outfit together.

Dean followed Bobby's eyes. "Looking good Taylor."

Kate appeared behind Taylor. She fake gagged. "You aren't Dean, Taylor."

Taylor blushed. "I dress like this all the time. He is washing my other stuff."

Dean poked Kate. "I remember you dressing like me for Halloween."

Kate grinned. "To scare people." She slipped her shoes on and grabbed her backpack. "My shirt like that is dirty."

Taylor rolled his eyes. "It might fuel Luis's tirade if we show up wearing matching clothes."

Kate frowned. "He can go-"

Dean cleared his throat and leveled her with a glare that dared her to finish the sentence."

"He can go to another area of the playground." Kate said with a shy grin. She had to remove the 'f' word from her vocabulary before it got her into more trouble.

Bobby shook his head and sipped his coffee. "One of us will pick you up this afternoon. Have a good day."

Kate stopped walking toward the front door and turned around. She gave Bobby a kiss on the cheek and skipped away.

Bobby felt warmth in his cheeks.

Taylor reorganized his binder as they drove. He always spent the first week of school figuring out a system for his papers. Dean said it was a Sam thing to do but Taylor thought that cramming folded worksheets into one's pockets was reckless.

Kate shuffled her feet along the fabric that covered the floorboard of the backseat. Converse didn't have much traction but she loved them. She had on shorts underneath a summer dress. The burn scar on her arm was much less noticeable. Only the bottom part of it was visible from the sleeve on the dress. She wondered if she could get her body to heal scars. She could do without the claw marks that took up a large portion of her thigh. Then again, those scars reminded her of what she did for her dad. She survived the hounds of hell. To her knowledge, she was the only one that had managed that for more than a day or two.

Dean dropped them at the door and reminded them to be outside waiting as soon as school was done. If he was going to be driving all the way to Kansas, he didn't want to leave late.

Taylor knew Luis was going to cause problems that day. He had ignored him during their first class but felt the eyes on him and hadn't missed Luis 'accidentally' knocking his book and binder off his desk. Taylor stayed calm though. If Craig taught him anything, it was to not react when someone was baiting you.

Kate had gotten a few compliments about her curls and it made her feel good. She wasn't a girly girl but the teacher said that she liked her hair and it made Kate beam. It was a simple thing but it felt good.

Ellie asked Kate how she did it. Her own hair was wavy and she was envious of the ringlets. They were eleven now and needed to present themselves like young ladies and not grubby little kids.

At lunch, Kate found Taylor. She placed a slip of paper on the table. "I'm trying to think of anything we need so when we go home, we can quickly pack."

Taylor looked at the list. "Snacks for sure. Probably pillows and blankets. I don't know if we are getting a motel but either way, we will probably get demoted to the floor."

Kate wrote those down. "If we put something from the freezer into the ice chest, it should stay cold long enough to still be good when we get a room. I'm assuming they'd have a microwave."

Luis appeared over Kate's shoulder. He snatched the paper away and backed out of her reach. "What's this?" He taunted. "Oh you planning to burn down another house and run away?" He read some of the items out loud.

Kate knew a few things were related to haunting. She tried to get the list back but Luis pulled it away. She hissed, "drop it." under her breath.

Luis let go of the list and let it drift to the floor.

Kate grabbed it and folded it into her hand. "What the hell is your problem? Do you seriously have nothing better to do than going around and picking on people?"

Luis smirked. "I just wanted to know about this trip you are planning. Seems a little odd, doesn't it?"

Kate ignored Taylor's words in her head. "If it was any of your business I'd have asked for your opinion." She seethed.

Taylor cringed at the number of people that were tuning into the argument. "Kate, come over here."

Luis snorted. "Yeah, Kate, run along. Do what your boyfriend says."

Kate very much wanted to compel him but there were too many people watching and a sudden change in his stance would raise questions. She stepped back to put distance between her and the older boy. She didn't want to make more trouble for Taylor. She turned her back to him to make it obvious that she wasn't playing his game.

Luis cleared his throat. "What is up with that family? I know your real name isn't Winchester. Do they just take kids and change their names? Who is that old dude?"

Kate tried to ignore him until he insinuated Bobby was doing things to them. She spun around. "That is sick. You are a sick person for thinking of anything like that. Go away."

Luis was having too much fun.

Kate didn't budge as he moved closer. She could snap his neck if she wanted to. She dug into his head for ammo. She smirked. "I mean, you could go away or I could announce your little problem to everyone."

Luis glared at her. He did have a problem but no one knew about it. She was bluffing. "I don't have a problem."

Kate smirked. "The nighttime one?"

Luis stepped forward and knocked her backwards with a shove to the chest.

Kate fell back as Ellie's foot was behind hers. She landed and slid a few inches. She felt air on her leg and swiped the edge of her dress back down. Too late, people saw the scars.

Luis reached like he was going to expose her leg again. He saw the scars and she was obviously trying to hide them. He got as far as touching her knee before he was stunned.

Taylor slid across the table and felt his fist connect with Luis's face before he had time to think.

Luis staggered and put his own fists up. He tried to punch Taylor but Taylor blocked the punch and slammed his head into the table.

Taylor heard Kate's voice in his head telling him to stop. He put his hands up and stepped back until he got to Kate. He helped her up and wrapped his arms around her. She was shaking and upset.

A teacher appeared and pulled Taylor back and assessed Luis. There was commotion and everyone was shooed away from the scene.

Luis was bleeding from his nose and mouth. He tried to lunge at Taylor again but the PE teacher stopped him.

Questions were asked about the fight and what lead up to it. Unfortunately for Taylor, he had thrown the first punch.

Kate stayed right by Taylor. "Luis shoved me and I fell, then the creep tried to pull my dress back up."

The principal rubbed his face. "You tell a teacher, you don't assault another student."

Taylor hung his head. "I'm sorry, sir. She hit the ground and her dress came up. She pulled it down and he touched her leg and tried to move it. I reacted to that."

Kate was beside herself. "I think you are missing the part where a boy who is twice my size shoved me."

The principal eyed her. "Luis was sent to the hospital. You seem fine. Now, I'm not saying that this was his fault too."

Kate heard Taylor in her head and pushed him away. "Luis has been a bully for a while. He has left notes in my locker and gone out of his way to torment us. Taylor lost his entire family not that long ago and Luis is spreading rumors that he killed his mom. Then, my family takes Taylor in and Luis said, in front of all of those kids that Bobby makes us pay to stay there... and not with money."

The principal was a little stunned. He didn't disagree that Luis had the punch coming. "Settle down. I understand that you are upset. Luis has a reputation for that kind of thing. His friend said you taunted him."

Kate threw up her hands. "He read a list I had written for our day trip. He grabbed it from me and tried to read it out loud. Taylor has turned the other cheek each time Luis came at him. So, yes. I made a comment about telling people about his problem. I don't know if he has a problem or not, I mean... he obviously has issues. I wanted him to walk away."

Taylor was quiet. It was obvious that he had injured Luis and nothing he could say would change that. He hit him hard too.

"I have to call in a guardian. We can discuss everything then."

Taylor put his head in his hands. "Can she go back to class? She didn't do anything. This is on me."

Kate crossed her arms. "I was going to punch him if you didn't."

Taylor gave her an 'are you kidding me?' look.

The principal watched how the two acted around each other. Taylor may have hit Luis but he was much calmer than Kate. Kate had been wronged and he wasn't denying that. He looked through their paperwork and found the number to call. "Both of you stay put. However, Mrs. Ray might be willing to get you new lunch trays if you ask nicely."

Kate took that bit of kindness and hoped that it meant the principal was on their side. She stood slowly and made her way out of the office and to Mrs. Ray's desk. "Excuse me, Mrs. Ray."

Mrs. Ray looked up at the girl. "Yes, sweetie?"

"Mr. Morris said that we could maybe have lunch trays or something. We didn't get to eat earlier." Kate put on her most adorable smile and spoke softly.

Mrs. Ray gave her a wink. "I'll have Suzie grab those for you."

Kate thanked her and went back into the office.

Soon, Suzie returned with two plastic bags with cheese sandwiches, apples and chocolate milk.

"Thank you, ma'am." Kate and Taylor said at the same time.

As they finished the sandwiches and apples, they heard a knock at the door.

Kate didn't have to turn around to know it was Dean. She could hear his footsteps as soon as he stepped into the main office.

Dean stepped into the office and shook Mr. Morris's hand.

"Thank you for coming so quickly." Mr. Morris said.

Dean sat in a spare chair. "What happened?"

Mr. Morris cleared his throat. "There was an altercation in the lunchroom."

Dean looked at the kids. "An altercation, huh?"

"Luis, the other boy, is currently at the hospital. He received some severe facial inquires but we do not know the extent of those injuries yet." Mr. Morris informed him.

Dean had a feeling he knew how the 'altercation' went down just by looking at Kate's and Taylor's body language. "Taylor, explain."

Taylor sat up straight and looked Dean in the eye. "Luis approached us at the table. He grabbed a paper from Kate and read it out loud. Kate got it back and Luis was saying stuff to her. He said some inappropriate stuff and it hurt Kate. She said something to him and he pushed her. She fell and her dress came up. He saw the scars on her leg and tried to expose her leg after she pulled her dress down. Um, then I punched him and slammed his head on the table."

Dean gritted his teeth.

Taylor saw his jaw twitch and his heart dropped. Dean was pissed.

"I'd like for you two to step out for a moment." Dean said.

Kate reluctantly walked with Taylor out of the office. She glanced back at Dean and gave him puppy eyes.

Five minutes later, Dean left the principal's office and ushered both kids out of the school after he signed a few papers.

Taylor was horrified.

Kate was antsy.

Dean waited until they got into the car before he spoke. "So, anything you want to say?"

Taylor shook his head.

Kate frowned. "He was protecting me."

Dean eyed Taylor. "You know, I told him there would be no need to suspend you because I'd take care of it at home."

Taylor winced.

"I had to elaborate on that." Dean said, studying Taylor. "He seemed satisfied with that."

Taylor resigned himself to his fate. He had hit another kid and wasn't gentle about it.

"So, what is going to happen is we are going to go home, you are both going to your room and you are going to pack." Dean said.

Taylor snapped his head up.

"I'm not saying a damn thing to you over this. You are keeping me out of jail because I don't think I could have kept my hands to myself had I learned he touched Kate." Dean continued.

Taylor squeaked. He wasn't sure what was going on.

"We are going to Kansas and have an early start." Dean said with a smirk.

Kate cleared her throat. "So.. so we aren't in trouble."

Dean scoffed. "You are trouble." He gave her a wink and cranked the car. "Now, if that principal asks you anything, assure him you have learned the error of your ways."

Taylor relaxed. "What if Luis's parents press charges?"

Dean rolled his eyes. "You let me and Bobby handle that."

Taylor and Kate exchanged looks. They had expected a lot worse.

Dean flicked the back of Taylor's head. "Don't ninja slide over a table and punch someone midair. I mean, he deserved it but try pulling back next time. Fighting is frowned upon but maybe don't use skills I have taught you on another kid."

Taylor eyed him to make sure he wasn't mad. "I don't think their will be a next time."

Dean smirked. "I thought you two were trying to outdo me and Sammy as kids."

Taylor blew air through his nose. "Not me! Kate."

Kate leaned forward and punched Taylor's shoulder. "Am not."

Dean shook his head. "You know, last time a boy tried to lift your dress and you punched him, dad took you to get ice cream."

Kate grinned. "Yes!"

Dean pulled a face. "I'm sure the tale of Winchester vs Luis is going to spread fast. So, I can't be seen rewarding you with ice cream. When we leave though..."

Taylor raised a brow. "Winchester vs Luis?"

Dean snorted. "Sorry, kid. You may be half Harvelle but knocking the kid out was all me."