The Road So Far

chapter 11

Hunter stirred awake in her bed, disoriented and groggy. The hotel room felt oddly unfamiliar, and she couldn't quite recall how she had gotten inside. As she turned over, a sharp pain shot through her body, causing her to groan involuntarily. Opening her eyes, she was met with the piercing gaze of Dean, who was sitting beside her. The expression on his face was a mixture of concern and something else—frustration, perhaps.

"Hey, what's going on?" she croaked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Let me see," he said firmly, his tone leaving little room for argument.

"What are you talking about?" she replied, trying to push herself up but finding it difficult to move.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about," he shot back, a sense of urgency creeping into his voice. "You're obviously hurt, and I need to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine," she insisted, but the words felt hollow even to her.

"Hunter, don't you dare start that. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Let me see," he said, his tone stern but caring.

"Fine," she relented, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She slowly got up and walked toward the bathroom, Dean following closely behind her.

Once inside, Dean lifted her up and set her gently on the sink. "Okay, now where are you hurt?" he asked, his voice softer now, but still full of concern.

Hunter hesitated for a moment, her hands trembling as they moved to the hem of her shirt. Slowly, she lifted it up, revealing the bruises that marred her abdomen. Dean's face fell as he took in the sight, the color draining from his cheeks.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions.

She lowered her head, tears brimming in her eyes as she struggled to hold them back. The last thing she wanted was for her big brother to see her like this. She had never wanted anyone to witness her vulnerability, not like this.

"Oh, babygirl. I'm so sorry this happened to you," Dean said, his eyes filled with sadness and regret.

"It's not your fault," she whispered, feeling a swell of shame wash over her.

Dean nodded slowly, his expression unreadable as he stepped out of the bathroom, only to return a moment later with Sam and Cas. She could hear Cas quietly instructing Jack to wait outside.

When Sam stepped in, his face mirrored Dean's—shock and concern etched into every feature. He dropped to her level, kneeling on the floor so they were eye-to-eye. She couldn't hold back anymore; tears began to fall freely, and she buried her face in her hands.

"Hey, munchkin," Sam said gently, placing his hand under her chin and lifting her head to meet his gaze. "It's gonna be okay. We're gonna fix you up and take care of you, alright?"

She nodded, though the knot in her stomach remained. Cas told Jack to come in, and when he entered, Hunter felt her heart ache at the sight of him. The hurt in his eyes was palpable.

"Ash," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why didn't you say something? I could have helped you. I could have healed you so you didn't have to walk around like this."

"I'm sorry," she hiccupped, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.

"It's okay, kiddo. Don't be sorry; it's not your fault," Dean reassured her.

Jack stepped closer, placing his hand on her stomach. As his fingers ran gently across her bruised ribs, she flinched at the unexpected jolt of pain.

"Sorry," she whispered, wincing.

"Stop apologizing," he replied, his voice firm yet soothing. He kept his hand in the middle of her abdomen, steady and warm. Cas then knelt beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her knee.

"This may hurt a little," Jack warned, his expression serious.

Feeling a rush of anxiety, Hunter quickly grabbed Cas's hand off her knee, holding it tightly as if it could anchor her. As Jack concentrated, she squeezed Cas's hand harder, the warmth of his touch providing some comfort amidst the pain.

"Alright, all done," Jack announced after a moment that felt like an eternity.

Hunter looked down in astonishment, seeing her stomach clear and free of bruises. A rush of relief washed over her, and she turned to Jack, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you."

He offered her a small, encouraging smile before stepping out of the bathroom, though she could tell he was still hurt. Guilt gnawed at her—she hated that she hadn't talked to him sooner.

"You okay now, kid?" Dean asked gently.

Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder as fresh tears spilled over. "I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "I should have told you guys, but I didn't, and now Jack hates me because he thinks it's his fault, and you all probably hate me a—an—and I'm so sorry."

Dean tightened his embrace, offering her comfort as he stroked her hair. "Hunter, calm down. You're okay; we don't hate you."

"And Jack most definitely doesn't hate you," Sam chimed in, placing a hand on her back. "He's just upset that he couldn't protect you better. We all are. We're all very overprotective of you, and it's because we love you. We all want what's best for you, but this isn't your fault."

"I'm sorry for everything I put you guys through," she sniffled, feeling a wave of shame wash over her.

"Hunter Ash Winchester! If you don't stop apologizing for things that are not your fault, so help me I will kick your ass," Dean said, trying to inject some levity into the moment. They finally broke the hug, and he made her look him in the eyes.

"Listen, kiddo. Stop being sorry for things that aren't your fault. I know I've acted like a jerk lately, but it's because I love you and worry about you. I just want the best for you, and so does Sammy, Cas, and Jack. We all love you, and we'd do anything for you. So can you at least stop crying for me?" He looked at her earnestly, his expression softening.

Hunter sniffled, wiping her eyes as she took a deep breath. "Yeah," she murmured, feeling a bit lighter.

"I love you, kiddo. Now you're obviously worn out, so why don't you go back to sleep?" he suggested, gently nudging her toward the bed.

"I love you too," she replied, her voice still shaky but filled with sincerity. As she settled back into her bed, she felt the weight of her worries beginning to lift, exhaustion taking over. Within minutes, she succumbed to sleep, feeling safe and loved, cocooned in the warmth of her family's support.

hey everyone. i hope you enjoyed reading chapter 11 of my story. i'm sorry it's sort of short. updates will be coming soon hopefully. until next time. carry on.