Stronger Than Ever Δ SPN [3]

054. I NEEDED MY DAD

They're taking some time off after Sam, Cas, and Ophelia's latest hunt, Sam just needing the time to cope and he knows Libby does too.

Libby still doesn't do much, but she does talk when she needs to and she'll go to the kitchen to get her own food, even though she does like when somebody brings it to her so she can eat in bed. She also manages to take a shower at least every few days, not having enough energy to have one every day.

Nathan has been keeping a closer eye on her, still freaked out from her meltdown. He keeps his eyes out for any warning signs that one could happen, though luckily, that seems to be her only one so far. But he thinks part of that is because she's managed to completely avoid the library.

Dean, Jack, and Cas occasionally check in on the youngest Winchester, making sure she didn't fall back into the deep end. Libby can tell Jack's going through his own stuff and isn't very open to talking so she leaves him alone, knowing he's going through his own things.

Sam and Ophelia both do what they usually do -- making sure Libby's eating, sleeping, showering, getting out of bed. Sam hasn't gotten the chance to talk to her, Libby avoiding him whenever he attempts to bring it up. 

Libby spends most of her time with Nathan and Ophelia since they just watch movies with her and don't push her to do anything too much, knowing when her limit is.

It's the middle of the night and Libby walks to the kitchen, rubbing her eyes out of tiredness.

"Hey." Libby jumps at the voice, a small whimper escaping, as she spins around to spot her dad sitting at the table. "Sorry. Sorry." He whispers, his heart strings pulling at her scared reaction. "Just me." He assures.

Libby seems to calm down, though she still messes with her rings. She grabs the box of cereal she wants, milk, and a spoon and bowl before sitting across from her father at the table.

"What are you doing up?" Libby asks as she pours the cereal into the bowl.

"Couldn't sleep." Sam offers her a gentle smile. "You?" He asks, watching her pour the milk in.

"Uh... couldn't sleep." Libby says, but Sam knows there's more.

"Why?" Sam pries.

"Just, uh... nightmares, I guess. Haven't-- sleep hasn't been the easiest thing since, um... that." Libby mumbles, sticking a spoonful of cereal into her mouth.

"I'm glad to see you eating without one of us making you." Sam tells her.

"Mm-hmm." Libby mumbles.

"Baby, we have to talk about it sometime." Sam quietly says, Libby immediately wanting to go crawl back into her bed for weeks.

"No. No, we-we really don't. I-I talked to Nathan. I'm good." Libby says, not looking up from her bowl of cereal.

"Avoiding it isn't gonna make the pain go away. If anything, it's just gonna make it worse." Sam says.

"Well, that's for me to deal with." Libby remarks. "Why don't you just go talk to Nathan? He can tell you everything I said."

"Because I wanna talk to you." Sam replies.

"Well, then, guess it isn't your lucky day." Libby grabs her bowl of cereal and gets up.

"Bessie--" Sam calls, but she doesn't turn back, returning to her room. Sam sighs, running his hands over his face.

+++

Libby is in her bed and coloring while The Game Plan is on TV, though she's not paying a lot of attention to it, focusing on her coloring book.