Flawed Perfection [Sam Winchester]

05 | the end [part three]

As Kendall watches her future self disappear into a cabin across the camp, Dean remarks, "Future you is hot."

That earns him a smack on the arm with the back of Kendall's hand. "And present you is still a dumbass." She studies the others steadily before gesturing to the cabin. "I'm gonna go talk to her while you find Castiel."

Dean looks iffy on the idea, probably not too keen on splitting up in an unknown environment. But Kendall can take care of herself just fine. She prepares to tell him that, but then he says, "All right, just don't go get yourself killed by..." he trails off, gesturing vaguely at Kendall with his hand and raising an eyebrow. "You?"

At that, Kendall snorts in amusement. "Yeah, same to you, hotshot."

Kendall's careful to keep her head down as she sets off to the cabin, just as a short and scruffy guy approaches Dean. She doesn't hear what he asks him, thoughts too focused on meeting future her.

It's a freak scenario she always wondered about but never thought possible. Now, here she was, in the future and preparing to converse with herself. Kendall didn't necessarily have any questions. She was only curious to see what 2014 Kendall had to say.

Though Kendall should probably knock, she doesn't bother as she eases inside. The cabin isn't much different from the one Kendall just left, but it has a little more life in it. Maybe that has to do with the smell wafting from the pot on the stove. Kendall inhales the heavenly scent, happy to know that her dad's gumbo recipe lives on in a world gone to shit.

Future Kendall's in the makeshift kitchen, stirring the pot with her back to Kendall. She doesn't seem to notice she isn't alone, so Kendall takes the time to gently close the door.

Soon as it's shut, however, is the moment Future Kendall whirls around and slings a blade Kendall's way. Kendall squeezes her eyes shut, feeling it whoosh past her head.

Kendall cracks open an eye to see it embedded into the wall next to her ear and lets out a sigh of relief, then turns a glare on herself. "No point in me asking for a plate with a warm welcome like that. The hell's wrong with you?"

Future Kendall uses the spoon she had been stirring her stew with to point it at Kendall. "I told Dean to keep you away from me."

"Wow," Kendall drags out, walking deeper into the cabin to take a seat on an old wooden chair, eyes on herself the entire time. "Between that amazing welcome party and this reveal, I'm not feeling the self-love here, Ken."

"Sorry if you're offended, but in case you haven't noticed, I'm in the middle of a war." Future Kendall returns the spoon to the pot, stirring it once more before switching the gas stove to a lower setting. She turns around to face Kendall, expression droll as she leans backwards against the kitchen counter. "Self-love is the last thing I'm worried about in times like these."

Kendall nods, far from understanding just what she's going through but trying to relate as much as possible. "So, I know you would never let Dean Winchester be the boss of us, which is why I'm going to go ahead and say you two are captaining this ship together."

"That's right. It's a sinking ship, but we've been managing to keep it afloat long enough for not many people to drown." Future Kendall switches off the stove, then grabs a chair to drag into the small living area in front of Kendall. The chair faces backwards and she straddles it, arms resting on the back. There are bags under her eyes, her face hardened by the things she's seen. And the charm bracelet Kendall's been wearing for years and very rarely takes off is nowhere to be found on her future self's wrist. "Truth be told, it's hard for me to think about anything but this. Dean, me, and Cas? That's all we've had for a long time."