(Monday, March 15, 2004)
Hailey ran to Taylor as soon as she saw him. "Hi."
Taylor smiled. "Hi. I'm sorry I didn't message much. We went to my grandmother's house for a birthday party."
"Totally okay." Hailey said. She prattled on about planning and committees. "So I could really use your help hanging banners."
Taylor nodded. "Just let me know when. At times he felt like Hailey was from another world. She had no idea what was out there. She was normal and focused on cheer bows and colorful banners. She was from the normal world. He was from another world. Everyone he spent time with knew about demons. Everyone except Hailey. Other students didn't know either but he wasn't close to them. Even Nate knew. His coach knew. He thought about Kim and Dean and it hurt his head. Would it be easier if Hailey knew? No. She was happy. She didn't need to know. It just sucked that he couldn't tell her what he was really doing outside of school.
Hailey waved to another girl in the hallway. "Meet us in front of the school right after the bell rings."
Taylor squinted his eyes. "What?"
"I was telling Sadie to meet us in front of the school later." Hailey said. She sat down at her desk right beside Taylor. "You know… so we can walk to Sonic."
Taylor looked confused.
Hailey smiled sweetly. "You agreed to go with me."
Taylor grimaced.
"My sister got a job at Sonic so a group of us are going to walk there after school to surprise her." Hailey said.
Taylor blushed. "I'll make sure it is okay with my family." It wasn't a long walk. It was less than a mile but they needed to walk through a wooded area to get there. It was lightly wooded and nearly all angles were visible from the road or the school. He was breaking down points of safety that Hailey would never worry about. "What would you do if someone tried to kidnap you?"
Hailey gave him an odd look.
"Sorry." Taylor said. "I was thinking about the walk to Sonic. It is safe. I just don't think I've asked you about stuff."
"I never go anywhere alone." Hailey said. "I always have my phone on me. There is safety in numbers." Hailey's mind was on strange men waiting in the woods for distracted young girls.
"Right." Taylor said. Taylor's mind was on demons and freaks.
"I hope I never have to but my dad also showed me where to hit someone that will give you a chance to run." Hailey said.
Taylor gave her a small smile. "That is helpful."
Hailey opened her notebook and started labeling the page for the day and class. She always took time to add doodles of flowers and butterflies.
(Middle school)
Kate felt better after she and Sam talked. He helped her explain things to other people. Still, she couldn't focus on anything but the demons. If they could free a soul from hell, it would likely do whatever they wanted. What if they didn't, though? What if they deserved to be in hell and they just chose the wrong one? Would they live out a natural life like Karen? Would they need a host? They got Kyle and Bill out of hell but Crowley orchestrated that. Would being locked in a box be better than being in hell? Could they convince someone to spend eternity locked away? What about purgatory? Freak victims went there. Their souls were tarnished but not so badly that they went to hell. There was a loophole there, she just knew it.
A soft hand touched Kate's arm.
Kate startled and pulled her arm away. It was her teacher and the room was empty.
"You are deep in thought. Hannah said that you have a lot on your mind. The other kids went to gym but you are welcome to hang out here or go speak to the councilor." The teacher said quietly.
Kate licked her lips. "I think I'll just stay here."
The teacher patted Kate's arm and went back to her own desk to grade papers.
Kate chewed on her fingernails until she met skin. According to Noah, the people in purgatory were not in pain. They just existed there. Could Noah go in and out of purgatory? Could she? Someone had to be able to.
(Elementary school)
Andy showed off his new shoes that he got for his birthday. His mom wouldn't let him get the kind with wheels but his new ones were black and red and it looked like flames were going down the side as though he was running.
The teacher smiled. "Those look like they'd make you run really fast."
Andy tested her theory and smiled back.
Owen pulled a few pencils out of his backpack before sitting down again. He handed one to Andy. "Brand new. Smell it."
Andy sniffed the pencil. "Watermelon."
"Yeah. They don't taste good though. They just smell. They have a number on there because my mom said they hand them out to families at the station." Owen said.
Andy eyed the number and the name of the organization that was branded above the number. He didn't mind too much because it looked cool and smelled good. He paid attention in class because he was a little bit older since his birthday. He was supposed to gain maturity each year or something like that. Having heard stories about his dad as a teenager, he thought it was unfair that Caleb expected him not to be the same way. Hearing the ending to those stories made him grateful that he was probably not going to be as bad when he got to be a teenager.
Between lessons and worksheets the boys discussed a sleepover at Owen's house. They discussed epic Transformer battles and the possibility that Shaun might build a small fire in the backyard for smores. They had until Friday to talk their parents into the sleepover and plan it to involve the optimal amount of fun.
With morning lessons behind them, Andy and Owen's class headed to the music room for music class. Andy paused while walking, making Owen bump into him.
The teacher kindly told them to continue.
Andy was worried. He heard someone crying.
The teacher heard it too. "It's okay sweetie. They are probably just having a hard time."
Andy shook his head. "That is TJ."
"It might be. We are going to give him privacy." The teacher coaxed.
"He talks with his hands and sometimes people don't understand him. I want to go help him." Andy said.
The teacher sighed and motioned to a teacher's aid. "I'm going to see if our friend needs assistance."
Andy stood back while the teacher spoke to a woman standing outside of the room that TJ was in. He nearly ran over when she waved to him. "I'm his friend."
"He is very upset and I do not want you to get injured if he throws something again." The woman said.
"He won't hurt me. Please let me talk to him." Andy said.
The teacher stepped inside with Andy, leaving the woman at the door. She had irritated TJ in some way and he got angry when he saw her.
Andy found TJ laying on the floor on a rug. He laid down too. "Hi."
TJ didn't react.
Andy gently tapped him and signed to him.
TJ sniffled and signed back.
The boys laid on the floor for a while until TJ fully relaxed.
Andy asked him if he wanted him to tell the teacher what was wrong. He got a head nod and stood up. He walked over to where TJ typically sat and listened intently. There was a very faint whine that sounded like nails on a chalkboard. He looked up at the vent in the ceiling and pointed. "If you stand here you can hear a noise."
The teacher joined him and could barely hear it. She understood how the sound would become irritating to someone with a heightened sense of hearing.
The woman was a paraprofessional. She was wonderful at her job but TJ had been off all morning and insisting that he stay in his seat backfired horribly. She listened as well and frowned, realizing that the whole meltdown probably stemmed from the sound. She called maintenance right away to investigate what was making the noise.
TJ didn't want Andy to leave. He held onto his arm and shook his head.
"Can he go to music class?" Andy asked.
TJ had one or two classes with Andy's class but he was usually in the resource room in a smaller group.
The teacher decided to give it a try since just being in the room hurt TJ's ears. "Will the music hurt him?"
TJ shook his head. He followed Andy and covered his ears when he entered the music room. He enjoyed the rhythms in his own way. He could hear through his hands while dampening the sound.
Andy asked if TJ could join the class when they went back to the classroom to do math.
TJ was granted the opportunity to hang out with Andy until the vent was fixed. He was nervous with the change in schedule but both Andy and Owen were in the class.
The teacher explained what they were doing and handed out a worksheet to each student. She slowly made her way around the room helping small groups with the harder word problems. She saw TJ rocking in his chair, seemingly looking off into space. Her heart twisted a bit. She walked over to ask if they needed help.
Andy and Owen talked through the word problem and messed up twice. They got it right just as the teacher approached them.
The teacher smiled and placed a checkmark on each of their papers. She started to walk away but Andy stopped her.
"Aren't you going to look at TJ's?" Andy asked.
"He won't get a grade." The teacher said. She took the paper that Andy handed her. She flipped it over to the back and furrowed her brows. Both sides were completed while all of the other students had stopped on the front page as she suggested. TJ's answers were correct and very neat.
"He likes numbers." Andy said.
"I'm very impressed, TJ." The teacher said. She didn't get much of a response but expected as much. If TJ performed so well in math, she wasn't sure why he spent that class in the resource room. While the students worked on the back of the page, she sat down to write a note for the overseer of the children that required extra help. Seeing Andy interact with TJ reminded her that children on the spectrum were often underestimated. TJ seemed very bright but struggled to communicate that.
(Caleb's house)
April stumbled back into the house after an eventful trip to the gym with Ian. He was a fan favorite at the gym as the male gymnasts thought he was amazing. That meant she would struggle to stay calm as they let Ian flip and tumble somewhat recklessly. He was safe. They were watching him but she knew how quick he was.
Ian ran to the table and climbed into a chair. "Snack."
April sat her bags down and placed Lauren in her swing. She gathered fruit and crackers to feed Ian before they would need to go get Andy. She tidied up the kitchen and picked Lauren up to feed her as well. She heard the phone and pulled it off the wall to answer it. "Hello?"
It was TJ's mom. "TJ has been in mainstream classes with Andy today."
April grinned. "Oh how exciting."
"He had a meltdown due to a noise. It was pretty bad but Andy was able to talk to him. I've told them he didn't need to be in special education for each class. Oh, April, Andy is just the sweetest kid." She added.
April's heart warmed. "I'm so happy to hear that."
"Would you want to get ice cream with us after school?" She asked.
"Yes." April said, hoping Ian didn't hear her. If he did, she'd hear about it every second until they reached the parlor. She sat down and fed Lauren and talked to Ian about cars and trucks. She wanted to share the news with Caleb too but thought he would be busy. She also wanted more details about how or why Andy was able to help TJ. Why had he even needed to?
(Matt's house)
Wittman really liked Matt's family. He liked his friends and the town as well. No one judged him for the sins of his father or for what he did as a vampire. He learned more about the freaks and watched security footage of a few that tried to get close to the perimeter. He felt strong as a vampire. He could run fast and attack other creatures. As a human, he felt weak. He wouldn't stand a chance against a freak but apparently vampires didn't either. If his dad was alive, he'd have a whole lot to say to him. The older Wittman didn't believe anything he didn't see with his own eyes. He wouldn't believe that angels or freaks were real. He even got into a few arguments with other hunters about their hunting stories. Young Wittman hated it. He would get embarrassed and go behind his father's back to apologize to the scorned hunter. He had a new life now though. His father was gone and he got to start over.
Matt attended a meeting that morning with a few of the town representatives. They confirmed that all citizens were accounted for although livestock had been attacked. Cows were killed but not eaten. Pigs went missing and were found in random places with no damage aside from a fatal wound that likely ended the pig's life instantly. None of the vampires were out killing livestock as they didn't need to. They had a supply of human blood and designated times to take from livestock when they were butchered for meat.
This was a relatively new problem as the freaks rarely went after animals. It seemed as though the freaks were trying to send a message. They couldn't get to the humans but they could reach animals that people needed for their own food source. Farmers started locking their animals away at night with bright lights flooding all corners of their barns. The day before the meeting took place, a farmer noticed something strange going on with his crops. An area outside of the lights had been torn down in a way that made the crops unsalvageable. He had no proof that the freaks were responsible but other members of the town agreed that it was possible.
If the freaks were trying to cut off their food source, it meant they were intelligent and coordinated. They had already shown signs of intelligence but this new tactic required the knowledge of human behavior and basic needs. What if they started messing with the electricity or water? Could they poison the water in some way? If they cut wires, the lights would no longer keep them away from town.
Wittman attended the meeting with Matt and had a unique point of view that the others didn't. He had hunting experience. He knew that people had gone missing from other towns but those people were few and far between. The car that Matt had shown Dean had belonged to a couple that went missing. Other cars were found in similar condition. While the missing people lived in other towns, they went missing on or around a stretch of road that bordered Matt's town. He knew why the freaks wouldn't target a larger city. There were more lights. People lived in apartment buildings instead of small houses. There were other small towns though. Why were the freaks only attacking in a certain area? Were they angry that the town figured out how to keep them away? Were they looking for revenge? With weeks passing between meals, what was preventing them from leaving this specific town?
Wittman's line of questioning caused the meeting to take longer than planned. Each member went home with a lot to think about. Was something in their town trapping the freaks? Could they use whatever it was to prevent breakouts in other areas?
(The Roadhouse)
Ellen placed a cold beer on the table and slid into the booth opposite of John. "Didn't expect to see you here."
John picked up the beer and took a long drink. "I wanted to see how the operation was going."
Ellen glanced at the large board in the corner. "We still have missing hunters. They are still hunting in groups so most of those missing people went missing before the ghosts got out."
"Wittman called earlier with an interesting theory." John said. He explained what Wittman told him during the call.
"So you're here to look at that map." Ellen said.
"I'd like to see what the hotspots have in common but I'm passing through here anyway." John said. "How is Jo?"
Ellen sighed. "She's good. I think she's good. She and I aren't arguing so I'm a little worried."
John nodded. "I've got one of those."
"Kate is a good girl. She just has a lot on her mind." Ellen said.
"I want to set eyes on that gun Jo told us about." John said. "I called them earlier and placed an order. I don't know if I'll get a chance to step into that room, though."
"Jo will be out of school in a few hours and she'd likely be able to help." Ellen offered. She heard a whistle and flicked her eyes to the side and sent a hunter a hard glare. "I know damn well you didn't whistle for me."
The hunter was a few drinks in, as he typically was. "Ain't no one serving the bar. How am I supposed to get something to drink?"
"Pay your tab and you'll get another drink." Ellen shot back.
The man grumbled and staggered back over to a table in the corner of the bar.
Ellen shook her head. "I don't know how long I can stay open with no one paying their tab." She made enough money to get by. She was just fed up with a few of the hunters. If she kept them too drunk to walk straight, they wouldn't be out hunting or driving while drunk. She got up to talk to one of the girl's in the kitchen and stopped back at John's table. "There is a bit of a rumor bubbling up that I don't think you're going to like too much."
John finished his beer. "What is that?"
Ellen smirked. "A hunter or two mentioned you might not be as horrible of a person as they originally thought."
John grimaced. "Why the hell would they think that?"
"Hunters talk." Ellen said. "Don't worry about it too much. I told them right away that they were confused." She winked and made her way back to the bar.
John pulled out his journal and a stack of papers to research while he waited for Noah's dad to call him about the weapons. He earned his reputation although he was sure some of the stories that got passed around were exaggerated for theatrical purposes. Not putting up with shit is what kept him alive and made him a good hunter. He could soften a little for his family and keep his sharp edges for outsiders. He made a mental note to call the kids later in the day but put his focus on the case ahead of him. He thought about Bill and how different hunting would be if he was still alive. He quickly pushed the thought away. Thinking and wishing wasn't going to do him any good.
(Taylor)
Taylor got the okay from Bobby to walk with Hailey after school. He invited Kate but she didn't want to join them. He had been in her head and knew she was overwhelmed. He could hang out with Hailey and the other kids for a bit and then try to help Kate sort through things when he got home.
Hailey skipped over to the big sign in front of the school and waited for her friends to show up. She tossed her backpack onto her back and stumbled slightly from the sudden shift in the weight.
Taylor steadied her. "How many books do you have in there?"
"Not that many." Hailey said.
Taylor took the bag from her and slipped one strap over his shoulder next to his own backpack. It had weight to it but didn't bother him. He saw Nate place his own bag in his mom's car and run over. "Are you going with us?"
Nate smiled. "Yeah. I told my mom these girls needed a few strong men walking with them to keep them safe."
Taylor pulled a face. "And she sent you?"
Nate playfully shoved him. He knew Taylor would feel tense about needing to protect the other kids from real danger and wanted to be there to help. He was bigger and taller than some of the others but Taylor could outdo him in a fight without trying. He knew what Taylor was really worried about and hoped that his presence eased Taylor's fears slightly. If Taylor reacted to something, he could lead the others away from danger without Taylor explaining what was wrong.
Taylor did feel a little better with Nate there. Nate could call a nymph if things went south.
The group of eight students left the school and walked down the path to the wooded area that would lead them to the next road. The sun was out and cast rays of light through the trees. Two of the girls stopped to check out a mushroom and discussed what type it was.
Taylor answered them.
The group kept getting distracted and took another detour off the path where there was a small footbridge over a patch of water. The whole area used to be underwater but the creek had been rerouted by culverts to make room for one of the roads. Now, there was just stagnant water under a rotten bridge.
"Ew. Don't step in the water. You'll grow another set of legs." One of the girls said.
"I wasn't going to step in it." Another girl said. She tiptoed onto the bridge and leaned against the railing. "Take my picture."
A third girl pulled out her camera to do just that. She always had a camera on her and would be the reason Taylor's class would have hundreds of photos when they graduated.
The photo op was making Taylor uncomfortable. He tried to hide it but ended up asking if they could leave. He was quickly branded a 'killjoy' by some of the girls.
The walk was taking forever as they ran around, carefree, taking photos with mushrooms and oddly shaped trees.
A cool breeze ripped through the trees, causing Taylor to flinch.
"Oh my god. It's the wind. Lighten up." One of the girls said.
Taylor gritted his teeth.
"What are you afraid of? You think the boogeyman is out here?" Another girl taunted.
Taylor was struggling with a feeling that had nothing to do with the supernatural.
"You are jumpy and paranoid." The first girl said. "What is your problem?"
Taylor stopped walking and whirled around. "The last time I was out here, my step dad was trying to kill me."
Everyone got very quiet.
Taylor covered his mouth.
The girl that started picking on him frowned. "I didn't know that."
Taylor shrugged. "Forget I said anything." It was true though. He had run through that same area trying to hide from Craig. He just wound up back near his house when he was picked up by Dean. He wasn't even sure why he ended up in the woods by the highschool. He just ran and found a safe place to catch his breath at the time. People knew about the explosion and rumors made their way around town. He hadn't told many people about the days before Craig killed his mother.
Hailey touched his arm. She didn't even know about that. "He's gone and can't hurt you." She suggested that they get out of the woods and stop messing around.
Taylor felt awful about ruining the mood.
The other kids weren't angry, though. They were concerned and heavy hearted. They looked at Taylor in a new light as he had been mysterious beforehand. Knowing he escaped an attempted murder made him more mysterious and brave.
Nate asked Taylor if he was okay as they reached the road.
"Yeah." Taylor said.
"They are whispering about how brave you are." Nate said, lightly.
Taylor groaned and pointed to his ear. "I heard them."
Hailey reached for Taylor's hand.
Taylor took it and gave it a squeeze.
"You don't talk much about your old family." Hailey said.
Taylor sighed. "I block most of it out. No one needs to know about it. You are a bright light in the world and do not need any of that stuff weighing you down."
Nate caught up with the leader of their little pack and waited for cars to slow down before crossing the road. He turned around to see Taylor and Hailey as the last ones to cross the road. He never told Taylor that he felt guilty. He felt responsible for how bad things got. When Taylor would get kicked out or spend the night at his house, he'd help him bandage wounds or listen to his explanations of how another bone had gotten broken. He should have told someone. He could have saved Taylor the first time he found out about Craig. He knew that things had to happen a certain way for Taylor to end up with Kate's family. Did his parents know? They had to know to some degree. After the third broken nose, Taylor's excuse of falling off his skateboard had to seem suspicious. They were good parents. They would never overlook a kid who was so obviously abused. The only thing that made sense was that something caused them to be blind to it. He texted Taylor to tell him to ask about his parents when everyone was back home. He didn't want extra stress on Taylor but did want answers.
The group ordered food and sat at the tables outside of Sonic. Hailey's sister smiled brightly as she brought trays of food out to them. She hugged Hailey and chatted briefly before skating away to fulfill another order.
"Can you get free food?" One of the girls asked.
"I don't think so." Hailey said. "I don't even know if she can get free food since she works here."
Cars pulled in and out of parking spots as the crew ate at a slow pace. A few sparked their interest and conversation.
"Your brother has a really cool car." A girl said.
"He loves that thing." Taylor said. "It is nice.
They talked about dream cars and the types of cars they hoped to get once they got their driver's licenses. A sleek muscle car was usually out of reach for a new driver. Dean just got lucky. The bunker cars were collecting dust but Taylor wanted something somewhat newer. The 60s and 70s produced the best cars in his opinion. He thought he should probably choose something sensible.
"I want something with a lot of seats." Hailey said.
"Why? So you can put a bunch of kids in the seats?" A girl teased.
Taylor's heart dropped. He'd never be able to have kids. What if she did want a car full of little ones?
"So I can go on road trips with my friends." Hailey said.
"Where are we going?" The girl asked.
"Everywhere. We could go to the beach!" Hailey added excitedly.
Taylor read the message that Nate sent him and gave him an inquisitive look. A slight flick of Nate's hand made him school his expression. He'd just wait to ask him about it.
(Andy)
Andy sprinted toward April and hugged her. He showed her a blue ribbon with gold colored writing on it. The ribbons were reserved for exceptional students that stood out for one reason or the other. He had never gotten one before and the principal himself gave it to him. "I got a ribbon for being awesome."
April smiled. "I heard that you were an awesome friend today."
"TJ may get to be in my class all the time." Andy said.
"We are going to get ice cream to celebrate a wonderful day." April said. She waved to TJ's mom.
Andy waved as well but turned back to face April. "Can me and Owen have a sleepover?"
"I don't see why not." April said. "
Andy grinned. "At Owen's house." The opportunity to ask presented itself nicely because April was happy with him. Sleepovers didn't take a lot of bargaining but his parents were a little more hesitant for him to go to Owen's house because both Jodi and Shaun worked. They were afraid that the boys would be loud and rowdy, keeping Jodi up at night.
"I'll okay it with the other adults before I say yes." April said.
Andy thanked her and ran to TJ. Jimmy Morris stayed far away from him and the adults were proud of him. Best day ever.
(Bobby's house)
Kate curled up on the couch and pulled a blanket up to her chin. She wanted to stop thinking. She wanted to sleep a full night.
Karen checked on her. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired." Kate said.
"You look tired." Karen said. "You could take a nap."
"I'll just have visions." Kate countered.
"I do wish that I could help you." Karen said. "Unfortunately I don't know how."
Kate sighed. "I'm okay." She wasn't. Everyone knew she wasn't. She explained what had been on her mind at school.
"Oh, honey." Karen said. "That sounds like a lot." She didn't think the idea was necessarily a bad idea. In a perfect world it would probably work. However, they weren't in a perfect world and messing with demons and purgatory was risky. Pulling her from heaven had been risky. She imagined that anyone being pulled from hell would be happy to help if it meant they wouldn't have to go back. Could a soul be so twisted that the promise of salvation wouldn't be enough to turn them against hell?
"I think I'll try to nap. I guess just shake me if I start doing weird things." Kate said.
Karen patted her arm. "Let me get my book and I'll read while you nap." She let Bobby know that she was going to sit with Kate and propped her feet on an automan when she sat down. She just wanted to scoop Kate into a hug and take all of her worries away. She couldn't so she'd just sit nearby and wait for her to wake.
(Kim and Dean)
Dean stepped into the hot tub for the third time. He had to admit it was nice. He held a hand out for Kim and pulled her to sit next to him. "I could get used to this."
"We can come back a few times. My parents have a website that people can use to rent this place. We can come on days when it is empty." Kim said.
"So just how rich are your parents?" Dean asked, lightly.
"They are comfortable. They have money stashed away for retirement. I ate through a lot of it as a kid." Kim said.
Dean ran his hand up the back of her neck to massage the base of her skull. "Do they hold a grudge about that?"
Kim sighed and leaned into his hand. "It is complicated. I think my siblings do. They could have had bigger college funds or nest eggs." She closed her eyes. "They've always been a little distant. I always thought it was because I was an accident but they could have been like that before. They love us but we had nannies that raised us."
"The nice kind?" Dean asked.
Kim smiled. "Yeah. Mine taught me to do things like sew and cook. She was at the hospital with me most of the time. She sang songs to me that I catch myself singing at times."
Dean shifted so that he could support her better because the neck rub was making her go limp. "Uh…. is she…"
"She is still alive. She is working for another family." Kim said. "She is old now."
"Do you talk to her?" Dean asked.
Kim opened her eyes. "I haven't in a long time. I should. She would like you."
Dean furrowed his brows. "Why is that?"
"She told me stories about a young man she met when she was younger. He was a soldier and they had quite the romance while he was stationed in Italy." Kim said. She smirked. "Her parents did not approve."
Dean heard a noise and sat up suddenly, on high alert.
Kim sat up too. "What is it?"
Dean's eyes scanned the large window as he waited to hear the noise again. He heard rustling and moved to the other side of the hot tub, closer to the window. He spotted what was making the noise and motioned for Kim to join him. He pointed to fluffy black balls scratching in the dirt.
Kim covered her mouth. "Oh my god. They are so cute."
"Yeah, with a window between us." Dean said. It was a mother skunk with her babies. "I've been sprayed."
Kim got out of the hot tub and sat by the window. She could almost touch them. "I just want to hold them."
Dean pulled a face. "You don't want to. Trust me."
Kim lightly tapped on the window and squealed when one tried to sniff her hand through the glass. "The babies don't stink. I'm going to go get one."
Dean playfully pulled her back into the water. "Admire from a distance."
"You are being bossy." Kim said.
"I'm trying to save you from getting sprayed." Dean teased.
Kim leaned over the hot tub so she could still see the skunks a few feet away. The sun was shining through the trees, and into the window, making the red tones in her hair shine brightly.
Dean admired the copper hues. Her hair was dark auburn and she could pass for a brunette in certain lights. "Where did you get the red hair from?"
Kim turned to look at him. "I don't know. A grandparent maybe. I hated it when I was a kid."
Dean raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Kids make fun of redheads." Kim said.
"I like it." Dean said.
Kim floated back over to him. "Well I'm flattered. I've always liked boys with green eyes."
Dean looked into her eyes. "Would it have anything to do with yours being green?"
"Maybe." Kim said. "Where did you get your green eyes?"
Dean wasn't sure. Sam and John had dark eyes that were either brown or slightly hazel.
"We know where you got your height." Kim said. "And the jaw line."
"My dad's dad was a wiry thing. Sam looks like him. I don't know who my dad looks like." Dean said.
"Genetics are cool." Kim said.
"Kate is obsessed with genetics and DNA." Dean said.
"Oh that gives us something to talk about." Kim said.
"That isn't to my detriment." Dean added.
Kim kissed him. "Nothing is ever to your detriment. I like you just the same now as I did before I knew you almost died to a slime witch."
Dean snorted. "That was one time and I'll never live it down."
(Bobby's house)
Taylor told Bobby about the forest incident on the way home. He was embarrassed.
"You have every right to get spooked. WHat you went through was awful. Don't downplay it." Bobby said.
"In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't that bad." Taylor said.
Bobby parked the car. "If you watched the news and saw a news story about a 12 year old being hunted by their own father figure, you'd think it was pretty awful. Just because it is you that it happened to does not mean that it is any less heavy."
Taylor knew that but couldn't accept it. He held himself to a high standard. He still felt guilty about things and in a way, he felt like he deserved the things that happened to him.
"I've got blood on my hands too, Taylor." Bobby said.
Taylor snapped his head up and looked at Bobby like he had three heads.
"You are weighing things that happened to you against what you did to David." Bobby said.
Taylor blinked a few times.
"I can't read your mind but I can read your face." Bobby said.
Taylor narrowed his eyes.
"Son, I killed my own dad. I had to kill my sweet Karen. You don't think that messed me up? I know where your head is at because I have been there. Now, one could reason that our situations are different because you truly had your hands tied. With my old man, I could have walked away but he was a mean son of a bitch. I was trying to save my mama." He took a deep breath. "I didn't know how to save Karen at the time."
"I want to say not to beat yourself up but you're going to turn that around on me and I don't think I'm ready for a life lesson right now." Taylor said.
Bobby chuckled. "Maybe not."
"How is Kate?" Taylor asked.
"Seems to be sleeping but you know how that goes." Bobby said.
Taylor sighed. "I want to talk to her. I can feel how wound up she is."
Bobby got out of the car and stopped Taylor before he walked up the steps. He hugged him and clapped him on the back.
Taylor cringed. "What was that for?"
"For what is going on in your head." Bobby said. "This is a warning not to work yourself up."
Kate sat up right before Taylor and Bobby opened the door.
"You think too loud." Taylor said, lightly.
"You are just nosey." Kate shot back.
Taylor pulled a notebook out of his bag and tossed it to Kate. "Draw me a game play."
"No amount of x's and lines is going to explain what I'm thinking." Kate said.
"Well I'm tired of the tornado sirens in my head so add in some squiggles if you have to." Taylor countered.
Kate sat back and flipped through pages until she found a blank one.
Karen and Bobby joined them.
"I want to find a soul that we can pull from hell so that I can mark it." Kate said.
Bobby took his cap off and placed it on his lap. "That sounds like it's going to get you, and us into a world of trouble."
"Hey, I'm spit balling. I am not going to off by myself. You want to know what I'm thinking don't you?" Kate asked.
Bobby sat back and motioned for her to continue.
"Maybe a hunter or someone who made a deal. There is a gray area somewhere. Someone could be a great person but make a deal and end up in hell. We need intel. It has to be someone that has been there long enough to be turned into a demon." Kate said.
"Good person or not, if they are a demon, that good part of them is no longer there." Bobby said.
"It is better than pulling a soul that belongs to Hitler or someone. Bribe them with a way out of hell and they'll give us information." Kate said. "Then, if it works, we can move on to bigger demons."
"What if they give us false information and return to mass murder?" Taylor asked.
"We could send them to purgatory." Kate said.
"What if they hurt people that are already there?" Taylor asked.
"Well, gee, Taylor. I don't know. I don't have all the answers yet." Kate said.
"Don't get your panties in a twist." Taylor said, rolling his eyes.
Kate groaned. "Anyway, like I was saying, we could find someone that is low stakes and try it out to see if it is possible. I want to ask Wittman about purgatory too. Maybe he could be the middleman."
"How about I try to track down some names. I'm not saying this is a good idea." Bobby said.
Kate shrugged. "That is better than nothing. Thanks for not automatically saying no like dad always does."
"Your dad worries. Demons are nasty." Bobby said.
"Well sometimes things aren't black and white and he forgets that I'm part demon." Kate said.
"You are not part demon." Bobby started.
"I wasn't cured. My DNA is altered." Kate said.
"You were touched by demon blood. Sam and Andy are not part demons. That means you aren't either." Bobby said. "Don't argue with me. You can claim you aren't fully human but you aren't going to sit there and say you are anything but touched by a demon."
Kate shrunk.
Bobby looked at Taylor and then at Kate. "You two are tiptoeing a dangerous line and I don't want to see either of you taking it out on yourself because you somehow think that what has been done to you defines who you are as a person."
"What did you do to him?" Kate asked, looking at Taylor.
"I don't know. I just got mad at Craig." Taylor said.
Bobby replaced his ball cap. "Taylor is struggling with guilt. I think you are too. We have been down this road too many times. It ends with your dad or Dean having to knock sense back into you."
The kids traded looks.
"We have gotten used to you being nice since Karen came back." Kate said.
"I'm being nice by being blunt." Bobby said.
Karen smiled. "Oh you two just need to take the advice and not get him ruffled up."
"I don't know. It is a little fun." Taylor said.
Bobby got up and smacked Taylor's head lightly. "Just remember that I handed you off. If you don't listen the first time I've got John on speed dial."
Kate covered her chest as though it hurt. "Geeze, Bobby. We were only kidding."
"Kidding or not, I did my due diligence." Bobby said.
Karen winked at Bobby. "I'll never not be impressed how you kids can go from being at odds with each other to teaming up against people."
"I didn't have siblings so I can't say if it is a normal thing or not." Bobby said. "I can say that Sam, Dean and Caleb are just as bad."
"I was too busy to notice if my brothers did stuff like this." Karen said.
"We love you Bobby." Kate said, sweetly.
Bobby grumbled. "I'm sure you do."
(The Roadhouse)
Jo didn't need a lot of information to agree to go to Noah's house with John. She tossed her backpack into his truck and let Noah know that she was headed over. She asked if he would show John the gun. The request required little effort because Noah would do anything she asked him to.
John pulled up to the garage and made small talk with Noah's father. He paid for the weapons he ordered and followed him to the main part of the house. He claimed he was interested in old weapons like many hunters were. He wasn't big on collecting things that would collect dust but it was a reasonable excuse.
Noah's dad unlocked his office and pulled the gun off the shelf.
John studied the engraving. "I read about a gun like this in a book. Don't think it is the same one but it is well crafted."
"It just doesn't shoot too well." Noah's dad said. "I've tried the normal bullets for that type of gun and it leaves deep ridges. Clean as a whistle though."
John ran his fingers over the engraving. He knew it was the right gun. He wanted to put it somewhere safe but couldn't draw too much attention to it. It was probably useless without ammo but he didn't know where the ammo was. If the papers that older Taylor brought Ellen were correct, that gun could kill Taylor and Kate with no issue. It almost felt heavy in his hands. It felt dark and ancient.
Noah's dad proudly showed off a few of his other finds. Some were rusty and broken but still nice to look at.
Jo pointed to a set of ninja stars. "Taylor would like these."
John looked at them. "Dean would too." He asked before grabbing one. The edges were incredibly sharp. The engraving on the side told him they were old but not meant to fight anything supernatural. They'd do plenty of damage to a human, though.
Jo walked away with Noah to chat with him, away from the adults.
Noah stopped outside and lifted her to sit on the tailgate of his truck. "So, how do you feel about line dancing?"
Jo raised an eyebrow. "It can be fun."
"Sully's is hosting a teen friendly line dance night. They'll put away the alcohol for a few hours." Noah said.
"I'm around alcohol all the time, Noah." Jo said.
"Yeah but I don't think your mom would let me take you somewhere if I didn't at least mention it." Noah said.
"So we are just going to dance?" Jo asked.
"I figured we could go for a little bit. Work up a sweat and go somewhere else to cool off." Noah said. He leaned in to kiss Jo and run his hand down her side.
Jo smirked. "And where would that be?"
"I know a spot." Noah said. He suddenly took several steps back and looked rather sheepish.
Jo followed his eyes and groaned. She gave John a small wave. "Wasn't he in your dad's office like two seconds ago?"
John had been in his office but stepped into the hallway when Noah's dad offered for him to look at some newer weapons. He just happened to see the couple from the window.
Jo turned back to Noah. "Ignore him."
Noah scoffed.
"He's not my dad." Jo said. "You were telling me about a spot."
Noah tentatively stepped toward Jo and opted to sit on the tailgate beside her. "He isn't your dad but I know what that look means." He swept hair out of her face. "What is his story?"
"What do you mean?" Jo asked.
"He doesn't seem keen on your mom the way that West guy is." Noah said, lightly.
Jo smiled. "That West guy is too afraid to say anything to her. Uh, John was my dad's friend. I guess when he died John promised to keep an eye on things. You know, make sure we are safe."
"I'm harmless." Noah said.
Jo leaned her head against him. "You are a young guy. I'm pretty sure he's worried you'll take advantage of me or something."
Noah lowered his voice to a whisper. "God, I would if we ever had time away from people that kind of want to kill me."
Jo laughed. "No one wants you dead."
Noah smirked. "Yet."
(Sam and Jess)
Sam checked his email and sucked in a breath of air.
"What is it?" Jess asked.
"They want to do an interview." Sam said. He had gotten an email from the law office outside of Sioux Falls that had shown interest in having him as an intern. He had not heard anything for a while so he assumed they forgot about him. He was too shy to send another email asking if they were still interested.
"Exciting!" Jess said.
Sam rubbed his hands on his jeans. "They gave me three days to choose from."
Jess looked at the days. "Why do you look faint?"
"They want to interview me. I'm nobody. I mean… I know my councilor put in a good word for me but I'm not even in law school yet." Sam said.
Jess sat down across from him. "You are an exceptional student. Choose a day. We can nymph over there and someone can drive you to the office."
Sam responded as professionally as he could. He sent the message and felt butterflies in his stomach. "What do I wear to something like that? What do I bring? It isn't a super formal interview but I can't show up like this."
Jess got up and pulled him up so he was standing. "Babe. You've got this. I know what you should wear. You just focus on being yourself."
Sam paced. "Myself? I'm a nervous wreck. I have no idea what I'm doing. You've met me. I definitely don't want to be myself."
"Sam." Jess said.
Sam turned.
"They absolutely expect you to be nervous. If you aren't, they may think you're arrogant. They are working off the word of an old friend that is a high school counselor. They aren't looking for some big shot that just graduated from law school." Jess said.
"Right." Sam said. He hugged Jess.
"They'll ask why you are interested in law. You may want to iron out that answer before you go." Jess said.
Sam sat back down and drummed his fingers on the table.
"I couldn't see you as a corporate lawyer." Jess said.
"I don't really want to defend criminals either." Sam said. "Although there is the hunter thing."
"You could work with me." JEss said. "Help get kids out of bad homes while also helping hunting families."
Sam thought about it. "You know, I like that. I could see myself in family law." He explained his vision of what that would entail.
"Everything you just said was perfect." Jess said.
Sam relaxed. "Thanks."
Jess ran her fingers through his hair. "You're going to do big things one day. Big things that don't involve demons."
"That would be wonderful. I don't think we are going to be able to do away with them though." Sam said.
"No but they don't have to be a daily issue." Jess said.
Sam heard Jacob fuss and smiled slightly. "Someone is feeling left out."
Jess lifted Jacob from the mat that he had fallen asleep on. "Was that a good nap?"
Jacob babbled and chewed on his fist.
Jess cuddled him and kissed his cheek. "I just want to squeeze him."
Sam watched her for a moment. "Still feels weird."
"It will take time to get used to it. I love him so much. I don't know how something so perfect could be mine." Jess said.
"I was thinking the same thing about both of you." Sam said. He felt a twinge of guilt as he caught sight of the charm that was attached to Jacob's ankle. It was there to keep him safe from the demons that they had just agreed wouldn't be a daily issue. He sighed and refocused on the time of day. "I'll make food."
Jess sat Jacob on the table and supported him to keep him from falling backwards. "One day you'll get to eat food too."
Sam pulled a bag of fries from the freezer. "Hopefully soon. He grabs everything."
Jess grinned. "It was just a carrot."
Sam preheated the oven and grabbed a few more things. Jacob's carrot incident happened because he was sitting in Sam's lap during a meal. In a split second he had reached out and grabbed a steamed carrot with the intention of putting it in his mouth. It took a considerable amount of effort to pry it out of his hand and only served to piss him off. The shrill scream almost made Sam feel bad for trying to prevent him from choking. "Acts like Dean does with pie."
"Just a few more weeks, little man." Jess said. She poked his stomach and smiled when he did.
Sam tossed food in the oven and sat back down to read emails. He got a confirmation from the law office and let out a slow breath. "I'll let Bobby know. Surely he or Karen could drop me off." He got a call from Dean and placed it on speaker phone.
Dean asked how everyone was doing and chatted about a couple of things. "Oh, so you can work there?"
"Intern." Sam said. "Unpaid."
"That sounds lame." Dean said.
Sam shook his head. "Not if it helps me get into law school."
"Winchesters and law just don't mesh." Dean said, lightly.
"Don't you work for the police?" Sam asked.
"Hey. I have worked a few jobs. That doesn't mean I'm buddy buddy with them." Dean said.
Kim chimed in. "You have a badge."
"I have a neatly folded slip of paper." Dean said.
"I saw it up close." Kim said. "He only admits to working with the police when he thinks it makes him attractive."
"You have enough fake badges and IDs. Surely a real one isn't going to ruin your reputation." Jess said.
"At least I get paid." Dean said.
"I will get paid. One day." Sam said. "I, unlike you, am going through the motions instead of skipping steps."
"Well being a lawyer doesn't get you chicks." Dean said.
"He doesn't need to get any. He has me and I love him as a simple college student." Jess countered.
"Just proves you're a little crazy, just like I have told him since the beginning." Dean said. He flicked Kim's hand away after she pinched him.
"He's insufferable Kim, I don't know why you insist on hanging out with him." Jess said.
"I think he's cute." Kim said.
Dean scoffed. "I'm not cute."
Kim gently pinched his cheek. "Absolutely adorable."
Dean announced that they were no longer picking on him and that it should only be directed at Sam. He heard Jacob in the background and snorted. "Jake agrees with me."
"He's defending Sam's honor." Jess said.
They went back to talking about boring stuff like typical brothers did. They had a lot of little things coming up that made them feel awkwardly normal.
"Oh, I can make Jacob another appointment for his 6 month visit. I just need to know when." Kim said.
Jess looked at the calendar. "Let me get back to you on that."
The conversation turned slightly because it was impossible not to bring up hunting. The brothers discussed what John was up to although neither of them knew much about it.
Dean rolled off the bed in search of drinks to enjoy while they finished the conversation.
"Oh Jo said he got a look at the colt." Jess said. She didn't know Dean had stepped away.
"A horse?" Kim asked.
"No. A gun that is supposed to be able to kill anything." Jess said. She missed the look Sam was giving her.
"I mean… isn't that what guns usually do?" Kim asked.
"A typical gun won't kill everything. Can't really shoot a vampire." Jess said.
Sam relaxed but only slightly. He pulled food from the oven and sat it on the stove to cool.
Jess explained a few things to Kim that were okay for her to hear. Things like silver bullets and devil's traps.
Kim soaked in information. It was all so fascinating.
Dean walked back in with two glasses of wine and handed one to Kim. He took a sip and leaned against the headboard of the bed. It wasn't as comfortable as his one at home but the cabin was likely not meant for long term stays.
Jess was so used to chatting with people like Marie or Sam that she lost track of where the line was and made a comment about Kate and Taylor that caused an eerie silence to fall on both sides of the conversation.
"What does that mean?" Kim asked.
Jess covered her mouth.
Dean quickly picked the phone up and mumbled. "I'll call you later."
Jess still had her mouth covered when the line went dead. She met eyes with Sam and shrunk.
"She wasn't supposed to know about that." Sam hissed.
"I didn't mean to." Jess said.
Sam rubbed his face, sure that Dean was likely pissed off. He paced again.
Jess felt awful. "He doesn't have to tell her what I meant."
Sam turned around. "You can't cover that up."
"I mean… he could just say she doesn't need to know." Jess said.
"He can figure it out." Sam said.
"Sam, I'm sorry." Jess said.
Sam softened. "I know. It's okay." He hugged her and kissed the top of her head.
Jess still felt horrible.
"It was going to come up at some point." Sam said. "I'll talk to Dean in a little bit."
"Kate can wipe her memory." Jess suggested.
Sam raised his eyebrows. "What was your reaction when I said that?"
"I told you not to." Jess said.
"Just… don't worry about it." Sam said.
"I'm used to talking to Marie." Jess said.
"Babe." Sam said. "It's okay." He made a plate of food for Jess and sat it down. He lunged and grabbed Jacob's hand before it grabbed a fry. "Those are hot."
Jacob burst into tears and wailed at his foiled attempt at grabbing the food.
Sam pulled the plate back. "Kid. You are going to burn yourself."
Jess suppressed a laugh.
He let go of Jacob's hand but only for a moment before he made another quick grab. He held his hands out. "You have to let people eat." His heart twisted at how upset Jacob was. He eyed the fries on his own plate. "Do you think he could just hold it and chew on it?"
Jess shrugged.
Sam took a fry and put it in the freezer for a minute to let it cool down. He handed it to Jacob and winced when it went directly to his mouth. He watched him carefully to make sure he didn't choke himself.
Jacob very happily gnawed on the fry. He kicked his feet and settled into Sam's arms to enjoy the new experience.
Sam sat down but kept Jacob far away from his plate. "Growing into the last name."
Jess smiled. "It is like a curse. They get your last name and at midnight that night they turn."
Sam took a bite of his own fry. "Nah, I think that is just because the other two are around Dean." He bounced Jacob on his leg. "This one will be taught better manners."
Jess watched Jacob with his fry. Her heart warmed. Just a few short months and she could share the last name too.
(Kim and Dean)
Kim shot back and stared at Dean due to how quickly he snatched the phone away and turned it off. She couldn't read his face and she was a little worried.
Dean didn't know what to say. He didn't want her to know about Kate and Taylor because it was complicated and the more people that knew, the harder it was to keep them safe. Up until that point, what she knew wasn't dangerous. If something read her mind, they'd see conversations about how to get rid of demons. They might see views of the bunker but not how to get there. Anything about Kate and Taylor raised the risk tenfold.
Kim was frozen in place, unsure what to do. She wanted to know what Jess meant. The kids had powers. Okay. She knew psychics existed and weren't bad. Why did Dean react like that? She licked her lips and swallowed hard. "I… I don't judge."
Dean slowly turned to look at her. "What?"
"Just because someone is different doesn't make them bad." Kim offered.
Dean squinted his eyes.
"I won't tell anyone. I'm not going to try to hurt them." Kim said.
"What? Why?" Dean trailed off trying to settle on one thought.
"I understand wanting to protect them." Kim added.
"No." Dean said. "No thats…."
Kim stayed quiet and just watched Dean process.
Dean slowly snapped out of it and really looked at Kim for the first time. She looked small and a little scared. He frowned and sat back down on the bed. "I am not trying to scare you."
Kim scooted over to sit beside him. "I feel like I asked too many questions."
"Jess just doesn't know when to shut up." Dean said.
Kim gently touched his arm. "Did I?"
"No." Dean said. He sighed heavily. He couldn't blame Jess. He could be annoyed but it wasn't like she went out of her way to make the comment. "Things are so complicated and we are staring down this unknown… hell that is headed our way."
Kim stayed quiet but gave him her full attention.
"Kim." Dean started. "There are things I haven't told you because it is unsafe. Even if you have no intention of telling anyone, just the knowledge alone puts the kids at risk." He searched her eyes for words that he couldn't come up with. "I think you should know a few things but I do not want you put into a position where you are used against us. If you are going to know any of this, I think you should be compelled to forget it if push comes to shove."
"Okay." Kim said.
"Okay? Okay?" Dean asked. "Just okay?"
"You want to protect your family. If you have to compel me in order to do that, yeah, I'm going to say okay." Kim said.
"You are fine with someone messing with your head?" Dean asked, skeptically.
"I would prefer they didn't but this is obviously important." Kim said. "I don't really know how the process works but when it comes to your family, you don't even have to ask."
"Jess outright refused to let us wipe her memory." Dean said.
"Am I Jess?" Kim asked.
"You confuse the hell out of me." Dean said. "Look, everything I said about creatures is true. Things just got a little fuzzy a few years ago when we got Kate."
Kim nodded. "Her dad made a demon deal."
"Yeah." Dean said. He chewed his cheek. "Our family has some kind of destiny. Way back in the day, our grandfather or someone made a deal or something. I don't know. We don't really have all the answers. Somehow Kate is related to us on my dad's side and Taylor is related to us on my mom's side. I guess some kind of being has been pulling strings for us to wind up together. The kids do have powers." He cracked his knuckles. "Big powers. Powers like no one has seen. Not even our angel friends."
"So that is the big secret?" Kim asked.
"Kind of." Dean said. "It is more complicated than that. There is this god thing and them not being made by him and them supposedly being strong enough to take out archangels."
Kim pulled the covers back on the bed and scooted so that she could cover her legs. She patted the spot beside her. "I'm listening."
Dean spent at least an hour telling her little details about everything they had going on. Explaining it to someone who wasn't knee deep in it helped him understand it a bit more while also making him understand just how complicated things really were."
"She went to hell?!" Kim asked in shock.
Dean pinched the bridge of his nose.
"No wonder you are always on her case. I thought it was just annoyed older brother stuff." Kim said.
Dean dropped his hand. "At least you see where I'm coming from."
Kim offered to rub his neck and shoulders so he wouldn't be quite as tense. "I see where you are coming from but I mean…. That is also kind of cool."
Dean reached to pinch her leg lightly.
Kim pushed his hand away. "Vaporizing hellhounds? I'm not saying the hell trip was cool."
Dean snorted softly. "Nice save."
Kim smiled and worked on the knots on his shoulders. "I guess some of the stuff about Taylor's step dad makes more sense now." She paused. "Did you kill him?"
"What?" Dean asked. "No."
"Dean." Kim said. "There's no way he just got to keep on living."
"You don't know that." Dean said.
Kim returned to the knots. "I am observant. So what happened to him?"
"Took his own life as far as I know." Dean said.
Kim rolled her eyes. "You can't not tell me about this. You are telling me other stuff."
"I actually can choose not to tell you." Dean said, lightly.
Kim scoffed. "Kate was right, you are mean."
Dean chuckled. "You can't trust anything she says."
Kim raised an eyebrow. "She told me a few things that worked in your favor."
"What things?" Dean asked.
Kim patted his shoulder. "I'm choosing not to tell you."
They continued chatting until the setting sun started to cast shadows throughout the cabin. They needed to go back to Sioux Falls.
Kim changed the bedding and tidied up the room and pool area where they spent most of their time. "When are you going to wipe my memory?"
Dean tied up a trash bag. "You mean compel you?"
"If it is too dangerous it's okay if you wipe everything." Kim said.
Dean sat the bag down and pulled her into a hug. "I don't think we have to do that. Kate can compel you though."
"You should probably call Sam back." Kim said.
Dean sighed and grabbed his phone. He waited for Sam to pick up and cleared his throat. "I have a few choice words I'd like to say."
(Bobby's house)
Kate opened the front door. "Why not just nymph inside?"
"I'm not Cas." Dean said. "I don't like scaring people."
Kate blew air through her nose. "Yeah right."
Dean spoke to Bobby briefly and had Kate go to the kitchen. He explained what happened with Jess and that Kim knew everything and asked Kate to compel her to forget if necessary.
Without missing a beat, Kate put her hand on her chest. "Oh thank god. I no longer have to wipe her memory after showing her stuff."
Dean's eyes narrowed. He bent so he was eye to eye with Kate. "What?"
Kate slid down in the seat. "Just kidding." She screeched and tried to escape as he pulled her out of the chair. "I'm kidding! Kim, tell him I'm kidding!"
Kim winked at Dean. "How would I know if you have wiped my memory or not?"
Kate gasped and stopped fighting.
"He told me a story or two about you." Kim said.
Kate was righted and whirled around to look at Dean. "That wasn't very nice of you."
Dean ruffled her hair. "I said whatever you told her could come back to bite you."
Kate crossed her arms. "I'm not going to compel her then. You are on your own."
Kim laughed. "Oh, Katie. I told him the stories were cool." She looked at Dean. "Except the hell one. Why on earth would you do that?"
Kate pulled a face. "Oh if we are sharing stories I might as well tell her about your good friend."
Dean grabbed her again, wrapping his arm around her neck like he was going to put her in a choke hold. "Thin ice, kid."
Kate licked his arm. "I'm going to compel her anyway. So, he went on this trip…" She shot forward and yelped, rubbing the sting out away. She shot Dean a look. "You didn't have to smack me."
Dean raised an eyebrow.
Kate huffed. "Fine. She approached Kim. You'll remember everything unless someone asks you about it. Then you will forget." She touched Kim's head and stepped back, making sure Kim was okay.
Kim shrugged. "I don't feel any different. I do want to hear about this good friend though." She laughed when Dean's face turned red. "Oh it can't be that bad."
Dean pointed to the doorway. "Kate, if you do not get out of here in 2 seconds."
Kate ran out of the kitchen but stopped outside of the doorway. She stuck her tongue out at Dean before turning on her heel to skip to the living room. She smirked at Taylor and gave him a thumbs up.
Taylor smirked back.
Kim rested her elbow on the kitchen table. "So, story time."
"No." Dean said. "Nope, you don't have to know everything."
"I'll just wait until you're busy and ask someone." Kim said.
Dean rubbed his face. "Okay, so my own mind was messed with and none of this is my fault…."