Purgatory Line

"i've got a funny feeling, something that i've missed or misread."

"i've got a funny feeling, something that i've missed or misread. my feet are on the ceiling, running, but i can't get ahead. i've got a funny feeling." - california king - larkin poe

content warnings: graphic descriptions of violence & blood, mention of death, described death, descriptions of physical/mental/emotional abuse, mentions of parental death, in depth descriptions of guns and knives, religious overtones

The next day Jude found herself slumped over the kitchen table, blearily cleaning her gun. She was the first awake, dressed comfortably but tactically. She had put her hair back up in the bun, hooked her holster around her waist, and tucked her knife into her boot. Jude was hoping that she would see Dean, Sam, or Castiel before she left but she also wanted to get to the hunt before three in the afternoon or something.

If she left after she finished cleaning her gun she'd roll into Branson around noon. That would give her enough time to case the town, find the grave, and prepare to dig it up;

Jude was almost done cleaning her gun - she had moved on to polishing the barrel - when Dean wandered into the kitchen. He looked as ready as she did, and when he turned to pour himself a cup of coffee she saw the telltale outline of a gun in a holster at the small of his back. She remembered that Sam said they were sitting out of hunts for awhile - so did Dean walk around his house strapped?

"Good morning." She hesitated to say anything, but Dean sat down next to her and smiled into his coffee. It wasn't one of those smiles where he seemed smug that he knew something more than she did, but a genuine smile that made him look younger and calm.

"Mornin'." He nodded to the gun that she was polishing, "How'd you get your hands on that pistol? Looks familiar. Is that... Is that the gun from Miami Vice?" Jude snorted and nodded at Dean, moving to holster the gun and put the rag she was using back in her duffel bag. "It's a nice gun."

"Thanks," Jude played with her hands, swinging her feet. It was awkward in the kitchen but she wasn't sure if that was her feeling awkward or if that was the room filled with a weird tension. "It was my Nan's gun, and my Mom gave it to me on the hunt before she kicked the bucket." She busied herself with making sure she had everything for the hunt ready in her duffel - the one containing her clothing was already packed in her Corolla so it was rally just her weapons that she had to tuck away. "So, are you serious about last night? If you were I'll... I'll head back this way after the hunt." Dean turned toward her, another serious look on his face as he held up a hand to stop her fidgeting.

"About that." Dean paused and Jude did her best not to look dissapointed. Dean saw the look on her face and rushed to continue, "I know it's an easy hunt, and I know you said you wanted to go solo, but what if I came with you?" He let the question hang in the air between them, and Jude's eyebrows furrowed. She tried to process what he meant - did he not think that she could take care of the hunt? Or was he not comfortable with her going alone? "I'll let you take the lead on everythin', it'll just make me feel more comfortable is someone is there with you. It doesn't even have to be me, it can be Sammy or Cas."

"Six to one, half dozen to another." Jude shrugged. "I wouldn't mind some company on the road, but I'm drivin' my Corolla." Dean's face split into a grin and he slapped Jude on the back and she smiled, jolting with the impact. It was strange to her, how the impact stung her shoulder but she didn't flinch. There was something about the casual nature of Dean as he moved that let her know he wasn't going to hurt her.

"If you don't care who it is, then I guess it's bondin' time, right?" He stood, abandoning his coffee on the table. "Give me ten minutes to pack my bags and let Sammy know I'm takin' off, kid, and we'll be on the road." Jude couldn't lie to herself; she was excited but weary. If this was another Djinn induced dream, she was fine to stay. She'd get years, they had told her. She was okay with that. She'd die inside the hallucination and everything would be better. Jude wondered if she'd go to heaven or hell when she died.