Chapter 2
The town was quiet on a Monday. The small coffee stop was on the outside of all that noise of the Quarter. The inside was large enough that they would have space to themselves, though Brooke planned on casting a little charm to keep their voices from being understood by passers byers.
"I'll have a raspberry hot chocolate, please."
Even though she came here a lot, Brooke still liked to voice her order. Despite them already heating up the kettle upon seeing her walk in.
Dean and Sam ordered their coffees while she found them a table by the window. Dean slid a croissant in front of her when he sat down. Brooke caressed her mug, she raised a single brow at him. Dean just stared back at her, daring her not to eat it.
He knew she had to be hungry, she had not eaten a thing the four days they had spent at her home. So he took to making her a croissant with cream cheese with jelly type sandwich for her. She only ever ate half of it, but at least it was something.
Finding herself in a stair down over a sandwich Brooke found herself giving in with a shake of her head, Brooke threw up a little spell for privacy, ripped off a corner of the snack and put it in her mouth.
"So, you've found me. I'm safe and clothed."
"You look like crap."
"Dean!" Sam slapped his brother's arm. "You grew up not too far from where you are staying now, right? I've never heard of covens living so close."
Brooke shrugged, "They were close, but you're right, usually we keep a good distance from one another. A lot harder to do in a city like this."
"Why come back here?" Dean asked.
Bobby had told them her family story, what happened to her. Dean couldn't believe it given how happy and bubbly she was, but he could see in her quiet moments, the guilt and sadness she had over what happened that day.
Brooke frowned, "Where was I supposed to go?"
Dean pulled an unimpressed face, "Don't you guys own the house? You could have stayed there."
"Not without her." Brooke blinked quickly, feeling her eyes start to burn, "I left things unfinished here eighteen years ago, figured now was as good a time as any to clear the air."
"Bit of a pattern for you, huh? Running" Dean's eyes looked her over like she might run now.
"I left these people with no alliance, no explanation as to why their friends were dead. I just went missing. I erased all traces of myself from that house so I couldn't be tracked. I figured there was no way they'd want me after what I did."
Dean's jaw ticked, "But they do. Who's the bodyguard?"
Sam looked at his brother, "You guys seem close."
"Daniel's complicated," They waited, wanting to hear more, "Covens arrange alliances through marriage, it keeps things peaceful, mostly. Daniel and I were supposed to be the ones to solidify the alliance."
"By getting married," Dean said in disbelief.
"Exactly. But when they died- when I killed them, the alliance became moot. While I spent the last two decades making alliances with a Massiour-approved coven, assuming they hated me back home. While Daniel spent that time looking for me and assuming one day I'd find my way back to them and marry into the coven anyway."
"Is that why you came back?" Dean's voice was tense.
Brooke eyes him over her drink, "Like I said, I needed to clear the air about what happened. I didn't come back for him... My spot in the coven is still open, they've made it very clear they'd take me in. I just don't know if I want it, but being without a coven isn't smart."
Sam leaned forward, arms folded on the table, "What about the coven you've been studying with, couldn't you join them?"
"Maybe. As much as they've helped and accepted me, I have ties here that I don't have there."
"You don't owe them anything, you know that right?" Dean asked.
"But I do. Maybe not a marriage but the power that would have come along with it."
"Your power."
"It's not just mine. I was conceived under a blue corn moon I was- there was a lot that went into me being here. To make sure I was this powerful. I know it might not make sense to you but I took that from them."
"Are they keeping you here?" Dean said, clearly ready for a battle.
Brooke shook her head, ripping off another part of the bread. "They wouldn't do that. Daniel may have his hopes about our fates but he wouldn't force it on me. We were best friends until I left, he just wants me to be happy."
The boys went silent for a moment, Dean was clearly thinking things over in his head. He tapped Sam and the younger brother nodded, taking their cups to the front for a refill.
"You know Missouri showed me something once, I asked to see it again the day I met you. I've learned a lot about fate and divine intervention over the years, no matter how much you fight it or try to mess with the path, you can't beat it. When I first met you, one second you were smiling and the next your eyes went blank, like you were seeing something not there. When you came back you gave me this look. I thought you were scared of me because I was a hunter. But Sam's a hunter too and you never seemed uncomfortable around him."
"So when Missouri showed me, what I assumed was a version of what you saw when we met. Well, if I hadn't had my run-ins with profits, the devil and angels, I maybe not have believed it."
Brooke did not want to give herself away, but the way Dean had been taking care of her last week, the way he'd been looking at her. It made a little more sense now. It was like how he looked after Sam, after family.
"She shouldn't have shown you that." She said cautiously, testing the waters.
"Because you don't believe in it?"
"Because I do. I also believe in a person's right to decide. Showing you that, violated your future. How are you supposed to plan your life if you feel like it's already decided for you."
"You heard what I just said about my run-in with fate right? It's inevitable Sweetheart."
Brooke shook her head, "That's why you followed me out here?"
"One of the reasons. You also weren't looking too hot after all the spell work you did during her cremation."
"I couldn't let Missouri go into the next life without protections, especially with what's over there. She deserved every protection and then some, I owe her everything. I just got a little headache, it's not a big deal."
"A headache so strong it made you nauseous, you were practically green seems pretty severe to me. Look, I'm not getting down on one knee here, we don't know each other. But here isn't the only place open to you, you could come with us."
"Hunting?"
"No." Dean shook his head, no way did he want her hunting. "We have a bunker we work out of, it has thousands of books and witchy objects in storage. You would be closer to the coven you've been training with. Set up a home base there, you are more than welcome to stay, but if you decide not to, that's ok too."
Though she could see it in his face, he had already imagined a future there, with her in it. He'd prefer it if she came with him.
"I'm not done here, there are still things I need to do. I made a promise and at one point we were going to be family."
Dean pulled a paper out of Sam's computer bag. He wrote an address and a phone number on it, he slid it across the table to her.
"This is my number and the address of our bunker. I know a little something about 'family' obligations. You said this was the only place that you had to go and it's not true. You have a place with us and one day, maybe, that little blue house on the corner."
Brooke shuttered as Dean mentioned the home she saw them in in her vision. Confirming that Missouri had shown him their intertwined fates.
"You don't know me."
Dean smirked so sure of himself, "But I do."
Sam slid into the booth beside his brother, abruptly ending their conversation.
"You guys staying in town?" Brooked asked to get the spotlight off herself.
Sam nodded, "We booked ourselves at a little motel a couple of miles from here. It took a couple of days to find your place. You have some kind of boundary spell set up right, to deter people from coming up there?"
Brooke smiled, Sam's brain and curiosity to learn more always made her smile.
"Yeah, all coven homes have it. Magic can feel really inviting so it keeps people from being accidentally lured in."
"Like what you did when we sat down? As soon as I left for more coffee I couldn't really hear you talking but all I wanted to do was come back and when I sat back at the table it was like being surrounded in a warm bubble."
"Exactly. It's why everyone who's entered has taken a seat at these tables, the hum of its energy feels comforting."
"Does all magic feel like that?"
Brooke shook her head, thinking of her family, "No. Magic is all about intent. If the person's intentions are devious or the person themselves soul has been darkened, it feels almost like pinpricks or TV static, it's an uncomfortable feeling, like something is telling you to run but you don't know why. It's the same as any person. Some people draw you in and some make you feel unwelcome or uncomfortable."
Sam nodded, "That makes sense. You've always felt like a warm person."
"I've seen the bad, we all have. So we work to right those injustices and make things better. You two have warm Auras. It's why people trust you, even when you tell them insane things that are hard to believe, they trust you anyway, because of the safe feeling you give them."
"Is that how you can tell that this coven has good intentions?" Dean asked.
"They have never hurt anybody and they don't plan on it if that's what you're asking."
Dean tilted his head, "Retract the claws, it was just a question."
"A pointed one."
Now every time Dean spoke, it felt layered with their future.
"I think what he means is, you've just lost someone you loved and you came back here because you felt like it was your only option. We care about you, we just want to make sure you are safe and if you're not we can help."
"That's sweet, Sam. But I'm where I need to be."
"Fair enough." He smiled satisfied.
Dean dropped back in his seat annoyed.
.
About three months after their visit to New Orleans Dean turns up again. When she gets back from town, Libby is having coffee with him on the front porch.
"Hey." He stands.
"Hi? Is Sam okay?"
"He's checking us in at the motel not far from here and I thought I'd come see you, and let you know we were in town."
Brooke cocked her hip and pulled a face, "Working a case?"
Dean smirked and stepped a little too close to her. "Between jobs."
His smirk widened as he caught the shiver that went threw her body. He had always affected her, but she was usually prepared for his visits when she lived with Missouri, she could always see him coming.
"New Orleans isn't exactly somewhere you drive though."
"It is when someone you want to see lives here. Nice boots."
Brooke did not need to look down to know she was sporting Leather boots and a whitchy outfit of leather and lace-like when he had last visited.
Taking a step back Brooke looked to Libby who was watching the two with a knowing smile on her face. She stood and came to stand beside them, "I am going to head inside and start dinner."
When the door closed Brooke crossed her arms.
"Why are you really here? It can't be to see me." She had not heard anything from him since he and Sam left.
"Why not? We were just a couple hours away in Mississippi for our last job, you're just down the highway."
"Fine. You're here to see me." Brooke walked down the porch to sit on the bench Dean had been sitting on. "Let's sit."
He sat next to her, but he did not pick up his coffee, "Have you eaten today?"
"You want a list?"
"I want you to take care of yourself. Bobby mentioned Rufus hasn't been able to reach you."
Brooke scoffed, "So you are here with an agenda."
"Hey." Dean dropped his hand onto her knee, "You have people who care about you, in our line of work if you don't check in and ignore calls it usually means you're in trouble or already dead."
"I'll call him tonight, ok? It's been a bit busy around here and the people I regularly talk to live down the hall. I don't usually have my phone on me."
"How's Daniel?" Dean's thumb moved in a circular motion against her thigh.
"You care how Daniel is doing?"
"Humor me."
"He's good. He's in town collecting something we need for tonight."
"What are you doing tonight?"
"Witchy stuff... My emotions have been a little all over the place since Missouri died. Channelling helps, it gives my magic a purpose and it helps out the coven having someone channelling, it raises the energy and elevates their magic, makes it easier to access."
"What do you mean your magic has been all over the place?"
"I mean I've always had control of it, even when I was little and still learning. I didn't need to channel my magic through an object because I could control it inside my body. The one and only other time I lost control was when I met you, saw that vision. It's not something I'm used to dealing with and thankfully Libby and Daniel have had practice with this when he was growing up." Brooke huffed, "Basically I'm regressing."
Dean's thumb paused, "Does me being here make it worse?"
She thought about lying, thought about saying yes and sending him on his way. It's what she should do, let him pick his future. But he showed up here, he came to see her. Wasn't that him picking her, in a sense?
"This is the most in control I've been in months." She sheepishly confessed.
Dean looked shocked, whether by the information or that she had been truthful, she could not tell.
"Does that have something to do with our fates?"
"It's called a match, humans call it soul mates. We are fated like a lot of people are. Some find each other, some don't. For witches- Witches have objects to ground them when they are learning. That's how you feel to me. When you are around it's like my magic has a gravity, but when you aren't it's more aimless. It never felt like that before I met you, and I've been able to ground it since on my own. But I think with everything that happened three months ago and you giving the match more attention, my magic feels that."
Dean slid his hand higher up her thigh and watched her eyes flutter before she threw them open.
"What does that mean?"
Brooke stood up, facing away from him. Her arms wrapped around her.
"It doesn't have to mean anything. No matter your thoughts on fate or whatever. No matter how inevitable this is, we still have a choice, Dean."
She heard him stand up and felt him at her back. His aura warm and inviting. He had always been a dominating personality, which wasn't helping her now. For a moment she strongly considered leaning back into him.
"What makes you think I wouldn't choose you?"
Brooke turns, "You're a hunter, I'm a witch."
"My best friend is an angel." Dean shrugs. "And the world isn't that black and white, not to me. Not anymore."
He placed his hand on the railing beside her, stepping into her personal space.
"It's just the Magic Dean, the pull of the match-" Brooke put her hand out to press against his stomach.
"You think I haven't thought about you these last few months?"
"I think those visions messed with your head."
"You know, my mom dad and I lived in a house, in a neighbourhood with a yard, till I was four. My mom, she was my everything. Dad worked, she stayed home with me. I remember those days before she was killed. Then it was all motel rooms and hunting, protecting Sam. When he went off to college, I was so damn happy for him, and so jealous. As much as I took to hunting, I knew it was the type of life where we lose people."
"So I never let anyone close, was suspicious of anyone who tried. I met Lisa, she was someone I cared for a lot, and when I would pass through her town I would stop in for a few days. She never asked questions, maybe that's why I kept coming back. Until I came into town and met her son. I was so sure he was mine and I didn't hate the idea. The idea that I had a family. And so for a year, when Same was in hell, I had that family. Ben wasn't mine, but that didn't matter."
"Then they were used against me, got hurt because of me and I let them go. Had an angel erase me from their lives like we'd never met. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Because I loved them, but more because I lost my one shot at a family. Because I was never going to let what happened with them, happen to anyone else. When I met you, I thought you were hot and funny, you looked like the kind of girl I always dreamed about settling down with. Quick wit, always challenging me, but so kind and despite all you've seen, you smile and care for others so freely."
"But I had already promised myself, that life wasn't meant for me. I tried it, Sam tried a couple of times and it never ends well. The only sure things in my life have been predestined." Like her.
Brooke took a steadying breath, he had just ripped out his heart and handed it to her, "You know I've dreamt of you my entire life. I never got to see your face, it was always blurred, but I saw you playing catch at Bobby's, running around in the scrap yard. Saw the fight, the night Sam left for college. Saw your dad die, and Sam get knifed in the back. Had nightmares of you in hell and saw you with a dark-haired girl, Lisa I'm guessing. I've always seen moments of you and your life. I only found out a couple of years ago what it meant. It's not a coincidence your dad went to Missouri for help, or that you and Sam were led back to her. That you eventually met me when the time was right."
"Then why the distance?" He looked down at the hand on his stomach.
"I've always had a bit of an authority problem, and right now the universe, the biggest authority is screaming at me to kiss you and despite all the evidence, maybe I'm scared that it's wrong about us."
Dean's eyes were already on her mouth, but he was holding himself back, waiting for her green light.
"It's not."
Brooke pushed up on her toes and Dean wrapped both arms around her and they both nearly passed out as their lips met.
A car door slammed, breaking them out of the kiss. Brooke pushed Dean back and dropped onto flat feet.
"Son of a bitch." Dean gasped.
"Did you get everything?" Brooke asked Daniel.
"Yeah." He eyed the pair, he had to have seen them when he pulled up, "I have it all here, I'm going to set up then help with dinner."
"I'll be in, in just a second. Leave the bags by the living room, I should be the one to set up."
"Sure." Daniel kept his eyes on them, tracking for a moment longer before heading inside. "Don't take too long."
"I-" Brooke turned to face Dean, "I'll meet you in town tomorrow. The sun is starting to set, I have to start this spell before twilight."
Dean clenched his jaw, his hands in fists so he wouldn't reach for her. His whole body was tingling, either from her magic or their kiss, he didn't fucking care when it felt so damn good.
"I'll meet you for breakfast at the same coffee shop as last time. 9?"
"9, yeah, wait. I- the water ritual tomorrow morning, it takes forty minutes. Let's say 9:30?"
"Sure 9:30."
Dean stood on the porch after she left. His body was screaming at him to chase after her but she closed the door dismissing him. He would see her tomorrow. That verbal promise was the only thing that got his feet moving.
.
Dean called and they texted a couple of times a week after that day. They were, dating? She still lived with the coven and Dean still tried to convince her to come live with him, but he stopped in to see her when he could.
That lasted about two months before Dean showed up again and Brooke met him with two bags in hand. His smile had been bright as he pulled her into his chest and threw her things into his car. He didn't even stay for a visit he picked Sam up and the three of them drove back to their 'home'.
(BACK TO THE PRESENT)
Brooke wished they had been able to see Jodi while they had stayed in her home, but the fates were against them and they had to leave, having caught another hunt.
"Just a salt and burn Sammy. Were you looking for an easy one?"
The younger Winchester snorted, "This was all I could find, it's gone quiet out there man."
"Which means nothing good," Dean grumbled. "Brooke we're going to drop you at the bunker on the way ok?"
She nodded, reading one of the books she had pulled from the men of letter library weeks ago.
"Unless you want to come with us?" Sam teased.
Brooke's nose scrunched up, "No, ghosts are your thing. The last time I came along, I go ectoplasm puked up all over me."
Sam laughed, he remembered that fondly. Dean had been knocked out and Brooke was distracting the spirit while he burned an old toy. Before he could get his lighter lit, she had been covered head to toe in thick smelly ectoplasm.
"We'll check in at night, but if we catch a case after this one, we may hit that on our way home."
"Yeah, no rush. I haven't seen Rufus in a while so I thought I would drive out to the cabin. See how he's doing."
"Alone?" Dean asked like it wasn't obvious.
"Well, eventually Rufus would be there." She said slowly like he was stupid.
"Smartass, I meant driving down alone."
"I mean I guess I could bring Bobby, but I don't think those two are talking right now."
"Why don't you ask Cas-"
"Hello." The angel treated them as he landed in the seat next to Brooke. "You called."
Dean swirved, not expecting the angel to appear, though he should be used to it by now.
"I didn't call- never mind. Are you free right now?"
"Yes."
"Could you take Brooke to Rufus's cabin?"
"Yes the hunter, I remember him."
"Dean, I don't need an escort."
Castiel frowned, "Why would you need a prostitute? Are you guys fighting? Did you two break up?"
"Not an escort like a prostitute, an escort like someone to accompany her safety on a trip."
"Oh." Castiel nodded, "You can see why I would be confused. Yes, I can take you to see your friend."
"Wait!" Brooke exclaimed and leaned away from the angel that was reaching for her. "Seriously?"
Dean looked at her in the rearview mirror, "Dangerous times babe."
Brooke rolled her eyes and held out her hand for the angel to take. She liked Castial, she did, but she also liked her freedom, which was not so easily accessible these last couple of months.
With a flutter of wings, they were gone, and in a breath of silence and another flutter of wings, a bloody Angel and Hunter landed in his back seat.
"Cas!? What the fuck."
Rufus gurgled and spat blood from his mouth.
Dean pulled over, throwing his car in park he turned around like Sam, they both wore shocked faces as they took in the sight of the two.
"Jesus, what the fuck happened?"
"Cas, where is Brooke?"
The angel blinked, his hand landed on the man's head and then Rufus was silent, completely healed and Castiel was gone.
"Rufus, what the hell happened?" Sam asked.
"Hell hounds." Dean's blood ran cold, "I couldn't see them, I couldn't get away and then Brooke was there- oh lord no."
"Hell hounds? You selling your soul now?"
Rufus shook his head at Sam, "No Crowley came for me, looking for you. I told him to suck my ass and he set his pets on me."
"What's taking Cass so long," Dean growled.
"I don't know man." Sam shook his head.
Dean's phone rang and he grumbled pulling it out of his ass pocket.
"Hello?"
"Baby." Her breathing was ragged, "I'm at a gas station off I-70, I need you to pick me up."
"What? Brooke are you ok!? The fuck are you doing at a gas station?"
She looked down, she was covered in blood but Cass had managed to heal her before he was blasted away.
"I'm alright, did Rufus and Cas make it out?"
"Yeah, and why weren't you with them? There the hell is Cas"
"Rufus was dying, I went to help but Cas blasted me here, I assume he went back to help. Dean, Crowley was there. I can tell you the rest when you get here. This place is run down and closed, I don't even think you can pump gas here anymore."
"I know where you are. You're not hurt?"
"No, I'm not. Just hurry, I hate the dark."
"I'll be there soon, ok. Stay on the phone with me."
"I can't, this is an old payphone, I have about 25 seconds until the line goes dead."
Dean threw his car in drive and sped off toward home. He knew the old gas station she was talking about, it was at least another 50 minutes from them, Dean intended to make it there in 30.