𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝙷𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛[𝙳.𝚆]

073

"Hey, Kathleen? I don't wanna press my luck or anything..." I start hesitantly. It was just me and her walking back to the car with freshly brewed coffees. Something that was very much needed.

"Your luck is so pressed."

"Uh, yeah...right." I chuckle nervously. "Anyway, I was wondering—why you helping us out? You could easily just take us to the station." She didn't answer right away, glancing down at her coffee lid before meeting my gaze.

"My brother Riley disappeared three years ago—a lot like Sam. We searched for him, but...nothing. I know what it's like to feel responsible for someone and for them..." she stops, looking away from my gaze. I shift my weight onto one foot and nod.

"Yeah." I agree quietly. She smiles sadly at me.

"Come on. Let's keep at it."

We spend the early morning driving around, just as we did the day before. I was tired, barely getting any sleep last night, but I forced myself to stay awake. I had too. I had to stay sharp.

"Ww-wait, wait. Pull over. Pull over here. Pull over." Dean says quickly. Kathleen does so without question and I stare out the window, curious as to why he said too. That's when I spot the separate dirt road. "This is the first turnoff I've seen so far." He says after we've all exited out the SUV. I silently agree and move up next to him until we walk together at the same pace.

"You two stay here. I'll check it out." Kathleen says. I look at her humorously.

"You're joking." I laugh a bit.

"No way." Dean says more seriously.

"Hey." She pulls my arm, stopping me, which stops Dean. I stare at her hand still on my jacket, the humor in my eyes gone. "You are civilians—and felons, I think. I'm not taking you with me." I snatch my arm away from her grip.

"You either take us both, or one of us, but not neither." I say stubbornly. She breathes out sharply, caving in quite easily.

"Alright. You promise you won't get involved? You'll let me handle it?" She asks. I narrow my eyes a bit.

"Yeah, I promise." Dean says immediately, shrugging.

"I guess." I drag, still suspicious.

"Shake on it." She sticks her hand out to me. I huff, grabbing a hold of her hand. In a flash, I'm in cuffs and my eyes blow wide. She quickly cuffs Dean too in his moment of surprise.

"Damn it." I grumble as she cuffs us to her car.

"This is ridiculous." Dean says under his breath as she walks away.

"Tell me about it."

"Kathleen, I really think you're gonna need our help." Dean speaks more loudly this time so she can hear us.

"I'll manage. Thank you." She locks the car door and continues walking off. I yank at the cuffs angrily, which will only result in me bruising my wrist.

"I gotta start carrying paper clips. You got a bobby pin or somethin'?" Dean asks me. I shake my head with a sigh, slumping against the car.

"I can't believe this. I should've seen it coming." I scold myself.

"Don't beat yourself up over it." I pull at the cuffs again.

"I should've just stayed with Sam—walked with him to the car-" I shake my head, cutting myself off.