The Road So Far

chapter 1

"How could you be so careless Hunter!" Dean's voice was ice-cold, his eyes fixed on his little sister in the rearview mirror of his 1967 Chevy Impala, affectionately named Baby.

"I wasn't being careless Dean. I saved our asses." Hunter shot back, her tone sharp.

They had just finished hunting a Wraith. It would of hurt a kid if she hadn't used herself as bait. Sure, it nearly killed her and there was a small hole in the back of her neck to prove it, but she couldn't care less. She saved the kid, and her brothers. As far as she was concerned, the risk was worth it. if she died, it was a small price to pay.

Dean's stare didn't waver. "Did you even hear a word I said, Hunter?"

"What?" She mumbled, barely listening. She was too busy trying to wrap her head around why he was so mad at her.

"I said, stop being so damn reckless. You're a Winchester. You don't make stupid, careless decisions like that.

"I'm not stupid," She argued, frustration bubbling. I did you all a favor. Sam, back me up here."

Sam, sitting in the passenger seat, gave her a look full of regret. "Dean's right Hunter. You were reckless."

Her temper flared. "I hate you both!" she yelled, yanking her headphones from her jacket and shoving them into her ears, cranking the volume up to drown her two older brothers out. She knew they'd chew her out the entire drive back to the bunker, so what was the point of listening.

As soon as they made it back, Hunter bolted to her room, slamming the door behind her. She dropped her bag and flung herself onto the bed, screaming into her pillow. The tension from the car followed her, wrapping around her like a suffocating blanket. She just hoped Castiel and Jack hadn't noticed her storming in. She adored them, but explaining human emotions, especially hers, to them felt impossible.

"Are you alright, Hunter?" Cas's voice came from outside the door.

She groaned. Of course, he noticed. "I'm fine, Cas. Just tired from the hunt," she lied, forcing her voice to sound steady.

"Alright," he replied before walking away.

Hunter flopped back onto her pillow, a mix of anger and exhaustion weighing her down. The pain in her neck pulsed, reminding her that she should probably patch it up. But she couldn't bring herself to care. Not yet.

Her mind spiraled as she lay there. She thought about her dead mom, absent dad, and how Sam and Dean got stuck with her. "I know they hate me," she thought bitterly. "I'm just a burden. A mess they never wanted." She replayed the people she failed, the lives lost because of her. "I'm not good enough. I'll never be good enough. I'm supposed to be a Winchester, but I'm just a disappointment."

A knock on the door broke her train of thought. "Hunter? You okay in there?" Sam's voice was soft.

She sighed, sitting up. "I'm fine, Sam. Just need some space."

He hesitated. "Alright. Let me know if you need anything."

Once his footsteps faded, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding in.

"You're lying to everyone, Hunter."

Hunter jumped, startled. "Jack!" she snapped. "How many times have I told you not to do that?"

Jack looked down, sheepish. "Sorry. I forgot."

"just... remember next time."

"Why are you lying, Ash?" he pressed, using her middle name, a habit of his when he wanted her to open up. Somehow, hearing him say it always made her defenses crumble, no matter how hard she tried.

"I'm not lying," she muttered, hoping he'd drop it.

Jack frowned. "Yes, you are. I can read your mind. I know you're upset."

Hunter's frustration grew. "How many times do I have to tell you not to do that? We've talked about boundaries, Jack. You're crossing a line."

"I don't care about boundaries right now!" Jack's voice rose, uncharacteristically loud. "When you walked through that door, I knew something was wrong. i felt it. You're not fine, Hunter. Stop lying to everyone."

"Jack, please," she said, her voice cracking. "I just need some space. I'll talk to them when I'm ready. You need to respect that."

Jack stepped closer, his fingers brushing her forehead. 

"What are you doing?"

"Healing your neck," he murmured.

She blinked, touched by the gesture. "Thanks'

"Will you be okay now?" he asked, his voice softening.

"Yeah. Just... give me some space."

With a nod, Jack vanished, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She collapsed onto the bed, tears she didn't understand rolling down her cheeks. "Why am I even crying?" Nothing had happened to warrant the tears, yet the wouldn't stop.

"I'm too weak to be a Winchester." She wiped her eyes, sniffling. "I need a spell to keep Jack out of my head."

------------------

It had been a few days since the Wraith incident. Hunter managed to get Rowena to cast a spell, keeping Jack out of her thoughts. He hadn't noticed yet, which was a relief. Dean, however, was still grumpy, giving her short, snappy answers. It wasn't anything new. She was used to his lack of letting things go.

Walking into the bunker's library, Hunter saw Sam and Dean waiting for her. She raised an eyebrow. "Morning," she greeted, sliding into a chair.

"We've got a case," Sam said. "Down in Texas."

"Great. What's the Target?" she asked, already half-standing to pack. 

"Hold up," Dean interrupted. "It's ghouls. At least seven of them. It won't be quick, or easy."

"So? Let's go.'

Sam exchanged a glance with Dean. "You'll have to go undercover," Dean finally said, his tone flat. "At a high school."

Hunter's eyes widened. "What?"

Dean shrugged. "We need to figure out where the ghouls are hiding. You're going in as a student."

"No way," she said, crossing her arms. "I'm not doing it.  High schoolers are the worst- rude, judgmental. There is no way I'm going."

"You don't have a choice," Dean replied. "Do it, or I'll drag you there myself."

"Try it, and I'll ditch you," she threatened, her temper flaring again. 

"I'd like to see you try," Dean growled.

Sam stepped in, trying to mediate. "Come on, hunter. It won't be that bad. You'll get to help us, and maybe even have a little fun. Besides, you'll get a bit of an education out of it."

Hunter smirked. "Time to mess with Dean" she thought. "Okay Sam. You're right. I'll do it."

Dean glared. "Why don't you ever listen to me like that?'

Hunter chuckled, turning to leave. As she headed for her room, she heard Sam call after her, "Jack's coming with you, by the way."

"Great," she muttered under her breath. "At least I won't be a total freak. Plus, maybe this undercover thing will be good for Jack. He needs an education more than I do."