The Hunter's Daughter (A Supernatural Fanfiction)

Chapter 16: Danger

"Any idea of what this danger might be, Cas?" Dean asks, sitting down on the couch next to me with his beer.

Sam stands off to the side, leaning up against the wall while sipping his beer, one hand in his pocket. We got here later than expected and Bobby had been heading to bed when we arrived.

"No," Castiel says, "but I do not think that it is a big threat. Though, Emma here would explain why I kept getting her name through the signals."

I look down. "How much you want to be that it's Chester?"

Dean puts an arm around me. "If it is, I'll kick his ass if he comes anywhere near you again."

I put my face in my hands. "This is exactly what Mom was trying to protect me from," I say through my fingers.

No one says anything for a while. "Emma?" I look up and see that it was just Dean and me in the room now. "You know that I'm never going let anyone hurt you, right?"

I laugh. "I feel like that's impossible in what we are dealing with, Dean."

Dean grimaces. "Okay. You know what I mean. You are going to get hurt. A lot. You're going to want to quit, but just remember one thing: you are a Winchester. You hunt things. Save people. It's the family business. And you are going to be damn good at it," he says and I let out a big sigh.

"I know, Dean. But... What if this life just isn't for me?" I ask.

Dean shrugs, putting his arms on his knees and leaning forward. "Then that's your choice. I will never force you to stay in this life, Emma. I won't force you to do anything you're not comfortable," he says, a distant look in his eyes. "I'm your father. Not someone you need to be constantly obeying. I'm not going to bark orders out to you and expect you to follow them like Dad did to Sammy and me."

I lean my head against his shoulder. "Even if I decide to stop hunting, I'm never going to stop being hunted."

Dean nods. "This is true. But I will do everything in my power to keep that sick bastard from hurting you. At least, as best as I can. Because you are going to hurt. It's in part of the job. Hunting isn't safe, which is why I completely understand if you want to walk out that door right now."

I sit up and shake my head. "No, Dean. I can't stop now. I know that this isn't the life that Mom wanted for me, but it's the life I was always destined to have. I'm a Winchester, just like you said. As much as I don't like it, I'm a hunter now."

"You sure?" He asks. "Because once you're in, and I mean like, really in, there's really no way of getting back."

I nod. "Yes, Dean. I'm sure."

He gives me a hug and I close my eyes. "I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe," I hear my dad whisper. "I promise."

I squeeze him and he squeezes me back. "I know."

"You should go get some rest," he says and we both stand up.

"You too. Goodnight, Dean," I say.

He smiles and walks out of the room. I walk up the stairs and into my room, shutting the door behind me. I lay down in my bed and it doesn't take me long to fall asleep.

***

I open my eyes to lightening illuminating my room. I look at the clock: 1:06 am. I sit up and yawn and walk out of my room, my mind on getting a glass of water.

When I walk out of my room, though, I am no longer in Bobby's. Instead, I stand outside in pouring rain, thunder making the ground shake. I hear a scream off in the distance and I start running towards it.