Purgatory Line

"come on, make it easy. say i never mattered."

"come on, make it easy. say i never mattered." - young volcanoes - fall out boy

content warnings: graphic descriptions of violence, mention of death, descriptions of physical/mental/emotional abuse, argument, self-worth issues

Ellen and Jo saw her off the next morning and they both kept her wrapped up in their arms for much longer than necessary. Jude promised to call them both, but wasn't sure if she was going to keep that promise. Her mind was still reeling, and she was still going over the facts of her life - her real life and not the made up Djinn bullshit. Castiel raised one hand to her, leaning against the Impala, and Sam did the same. She waved to the both of them, reserving a small smile for Castiel. He had done so much for her when he really didn't have to.

Dean, however, just watched her climb into Desmond's truck and leaned against the motel. His eyes were hard and his arms wrapped around himself like he was trying to keep it together. Jude sighed and watched him as Desmond reversed out of the motel parking space - Dean's face filled with terror and regret for a split second before he turned, hitting his fist against the wall. It seemed too familiar to Jude - wasn't that what she had done that night that Gabriel visited her? Bruised her own knuckles against the truck? Desmond pulled out onto the road and Jude watched as Ellen moved to comfort Dean, but when she couldn't take it anymore Jude faced forward. Bile rose in her throat.

Jude wasn't sure what to expect after the drive was over, but it certainly wasn't Desmond pulling up to a storage unit facility close to dusk and telling her to get out of the truck. She followed him, pulling her hoodie tighter around her body. She was tired, her body was sore even though she had been healed by Gabriel. "What?" She asked, doing her best to keep a snark out of her voice, "Not goin' to teach me a lesson?"

"Your lesson is your hunt, bitch." Desmond led her through the maze of units until they were at the back of the facility and he stooped to unlock the unit. "It's a simple case. Family moved into house, family has a ghost. For ten years people have moved in and moved out six months later, all claiming paranormal. Figured I'd send you to cut them a break. You can't fuck it up that badly." Jude scowled, but didn't say anything. "Usually I'd leave this car here, in case the truck was every compromised, but there's no way in hell I'm letting you drive my truck."

"I'm twelve, Desmond, there's no way that I'll get anywhere drivin'." She scowled at the old Toyota Corolla and tried to date it. It was probably 1975, and a pale yellow color. Jude loved it - but she wasn't going to let Desmond know that. She had a hard enough time when he just thought she liked something because it usually ended up broken or missing. He couldn't let her have anything.

"They don't know that if we fake a driver's license, dumbass." Desmond took the keys off of a hook on the wall and tossed them to her, letting her inspect the car as he went to fetch the gas can from the back of the truck. Jude walked around it, looking at the wear and tear of time on the exterior. In the back of the unit there were at least twenty license plates in a stack, all in various states of rusting. She ran a finger over one, and then popped the trunk on the Corolla. It was empty, and smelled of stale smoke. Jude wrinkled her nose and shut the trunk, walking around to the front of the car.

Desmond was back, gassing up the car as she popped the hood. Surprisingly there was newer engine dropped into the Corolla, and Jude began checking to make sure everything would work when she tried to turn the car on. He'd probably take off the moment he was done giving her the information, and Jude really didn't want to hitchhike to the nearest auto store to fix a car when she didn't know the specs. Desmond tossed the gas can toward the back of the unit, grabbing her by the bicep as she leaned over to snag the dipstick to check the oil. He pulled her away, and she stumbled. Jude barely stayed on her feet, the vertigo hitting her all at once.