No Longer Will Darkness Prevail

"Can I Come Out Yet?"

I was quiet for probably longer than I should have.
Dean and Sam just stood in front of me, waiting for an answer.
Finally, Dean got a little impatient.
"Ashley, you need to tell us," He said.
I was quiet for a few more minutes.
Sam crouched down in front of me and held my hands in his.
His hands were so big that they completely covered mine.
"Ash, come on, this is important," Sam said gently.
I sighed again and decided I would tell them.
"Okay, five years ago, after my parents died, Jason and I were going to have to be I'm foster care. I remembered that dad's parents were still alive, so when I told them, they said they would give them a call. I told them that I'm the only one who has their number, which isn't a lie. They told me to call them, but I didn't.
"They left me alone to call, but instead I called the only people my parents truly trusted. I told them what happened and we came up with a plan. They would come get Jason and I, and tell the cops that we were going to be moving back into my house.
"But the thing is, they didn't move, they just left us at the house and they check in every month.
"I've been living by myself, with only Jason, for the past five years. Nothing bad has happened until last night," I finished.
They guys stayed quiet as I told them.
Sam got up and started pacing.
"So let me get this straight," Sam started. "You lied to the cops, you've lived by yourself for the past five years-even though you were a minor at the time-took care of your younger brother, and you haven't been caught?"
I shook my head.
"When my parents died, I stopped hunting, I've trained in secret, kept Jason in the dark about everything demon related, but made sure he was trained so he would be somewhat safe," I explained.
Once again tears were in my eyes.
Dean sat on the bed next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, protectively.
He hasn't said a single thing this whole time.
"Do you know how much trouble we will all get in, if we get caught?" Sam asked stopping his pacing.
"Less trouble than anything else you've done," I said.
"We'll be pinned as the kidnappers," Sam added.
"Then we don't get caught," I said kind of sarcastically. "And if we do, we'll do what we do best."
"And that is?" He asked.
"Lie through our teeth to save our asses," I said with a grin.
He just sighed and continued to pace.
As Sam paced, I turned the TV back on, but kept in on mute.
By what I could tell, they were still talking about me and my brother. They were talking about a tip line for anyone who thinks they've seen me.
"Why are they trying so hard to find us?" I asked.
I was expecting anyone to answer, but to my surprise, Dean did.
"Cause there are people who care," He said.
"Why? It's not like they know us," I said
I felt Dean shrug.
"If anything, they're making it harder on us, if we're to save my brother," I said.
"Dean, can I have a word with you?" Sam asked. "In private?"
Dean nodded, and I got up.
"I saw a pop machine, can I have a dollar?" I asked.
Sam pulled out his wallet and handed me a dollar bill.
I left the room and went to the left, away from the diner.
Why was Sam acting this way?
This is something Dean would do.
I found the pop machine and inserted the dollar.
I pushed the Mountain Dew button and the bottle came down.
I took a detour all the way around the motel to give them some time to talk.
By the time I returned I heard something weird on the other side of the door.
When I opened it I found Sam and Dean on the floor, wrestling.
And this wasn't the fun, brotherly type of wrestling either. It was more I want to break your face type of wrestling.
I smiled despite myself, put my pop on the table next to the door, and shut the door.
I walked over to them and pinched the top of their ears.
They immediately let each other go and kind of froze.
I slowly pulled my hands up, making them scramble to follow so the pain might stop.
They also had to bend over since I was only five foot eight.
I went to one side of the room and let go of Sam's ear.
"Sit," I commanded. "Facing the corner."
He was nursing his abused ear.
"What?!" He asked incredulously.
"You heard me," I said.
I pulled Dean to the other corner.
"You too," I said.
"You are not seriously putting us in the corner?" He asked rubbing his ear.
"Yes, I am," I said going to the bed.
I sat down facing them.
"I said, sit," I said with more command.
They knew they weren't getting out of it, so they sat down grumbling under their breath.
They sat cross legged facing the corner and rested their heads in their hands.
I smiled satisfied and pulled out my phone.
I signed into Netflix and started watching a movie.
I had one headphone and one out so I could hear around me still.
About five minutes later, I was interrupted.
"Why are treating us as if we were five?" Dean grumbled.
"Because your acting five," I said not looking up from my movie. "Now shush, I'm watching Netflix."
He was quiet for a moment.
"Can I come out yet?" Dean asked a few minutes later.
"Are you going to behave?" I asked putting my movie on pause.
"I don't know," He said.
Sadly, I knew he was being honest.
"Have you learned your lesson?" I asked.
"From what?" Dean asked crossly.
I stood up.
"That you should stop acting five and start acting like the twenty-five year old man that you are?" I asked.
"I don't think-"
"Hell, I'm twenty years old, not five, I'm not sitting in a stupid time out," Sam said standing up.
I smiled at him.
"See," I said to Dean who was still sitting in the corner. "He's figured it out."
A moment later Dean realized what meant and got up.
"Now that's my good big boy," I said patting his arm.
He shook me off and I laughed.
"If it makes a difference," Dean said looking at me. "I was just defending you."
I raised an eyebrow, then slowly turned towards Sam and put my hands on my hips.
"And why would I need defending?" I asked Dean not taking my eyes off Sam.