Born in Blood

Chapter Six

Dean's POV

"We're only about an hour away from Bobby's, now." I said, more to myself than the others.  The sun was starting to come up now, and Leah slept in the back seat. 

"Yeah.  We should stop at the next fill up joint and top off the gas tank." Sam said, looking over a newspaper that had been previously shoved into the glove compartment.   I looked at the gas gage and pursed my lips.  We still had plenty of gas, but it wouldn't hurt to fill up. 

Leah stirred in the back seat, rolling over and adjusting her duffle she was using as a makeshift pillow.   I wondered what Bobby was going to say when he saw her? I'd probably never hear the end of it. 

"I still can't believe you're letting her come with us." Said said, turning around to steel a look at her.  He didn't look angry or anything, just confused. 

"Well...she's my kid, Sam.  I couldn't just abandon her.  Besides, I've always wanted a family...I only gave that dream up because of how we have to live.  I mean, I know I'm not exactly Dad material, but still."

"Yeah, I know." Sam replied, though he didn't really sound convinced. 

"Are you sure it's a good idea, though?" He asked, turning his attention back to me. I gave him a quizzical look before looking back to the road.  I wasn't entirely sure where he was going with this. 

"What do you mean?"

"Dean, come on...you want her to go from a stable life to growing up like us? Weekends at Bobby's and days on end of sleeping in low rate motels? Or in the car on the side of the road? She doesn't have any training so we can't take her on the actual hunts.  What if something happened to us while we're out there, doing our job?  You want her to spend days wondering if we're just elbow deep in a hunt or dead somewhere? Don't you remember how hard that was on us with Dad?"

"I know! Sam, I know! But what else was I supposed to do? Turn her away? I couldn't just leave her when I know what's out there.  What if I left her with some new family and they get targeted by a spirit or something, huh? What if she dies? What if she's killed by some monster because I wasn't there to protect her?" I hissed

My knuckles were turning white as I gripped the steering wheel and tried to ignore the grinding of my teeth.  This hadn't been an easy decision. 

"Dean, you don't even know her."

"It doesn't matter! She's still my flesh and blood." I replied, glaring at my younger brother.  Sam held up his hands as if in defeat and chuckled. 

"Fine. Whatever you say." 

We continued to ride in silence after that.  I had turned the radio down hours ago so as not to wake Leah and the only other sound was  her breathing as she slept.  It was a peaceful sound and I enjoyed listening to it as I drove.  According to the road signs we would be coming up on a town soon so it would be the perfect place to top off the tank.  I was about to ask Sam to pull out the map when he broke my train of thought. 

"Would you give up any chance at knowing her if it meant she'd always be safe?" Sam asked.  He sounded genuinely curious, so I couldn't fault him for asking. 

"Yes. I'd do the same for you, too.  Hell...even Bobby.  If you guys never had to worry about what went bump in the night, then I'd be able to sleep peacefully."

"Even if it meant that she'd never know you exist?"

"Yes."

Before I could say another word, a head popped up in my rearview mirror, looking around groggily as she yawned.  Leah had woken up and looked all but menacing with her post sleep glare. 

"I'm sorry; did we wake you?" I asked, watching her through the rearview mirror.  She shook her head, but said nothing as she stretched and yawned yet again.  Her hair looked like a rats nest, and I wanted to laugh at it, but thought better of it.  Despite the fact that it didn't seem to be bothering her I didn't want to hurt her feelings.   She scooted over closer to the door and looked out the window, presumably reading the signs as we came into the small town. 

"Where are we?" She asked

"Hatfield."  Sam and I replied at the same time.  I slowly pulled up into the first gas station I saw, shutting the engine off as I got ready to get out and pump the gas. 

"And where are we going?" 

"Sioux Falls. We've got around an hour left."

"Oh, okay." She replied.  Her voice was still slurred with sleep. But she didn't seem to notice.  I got out of the car, getting ready to pump the gas, when I saw her get out as well and start heading towards the grimy little store part of the gas station.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

"I have to pee." She said as she stopped and turned back around, agitated. 

"Oh, in that case, here." I said, pulling out my wallet and digging out a small wad of cash.  She casually bounded over, snatching the money out of my hand. 

"Pay for $20 in gas and you can use anything that's left over to grab a Coke or something." I told her.  She nodded and gave me quick smile before heading back towards the store.  I watched her, to make sure she made it inside, before I started pumping the gas.  I listened to it hum as it flowed inside the car and kept an ear out for the resounding little click once it reached it's limit of $20.  I took the nozzle out, shaking the left over little droplets into the gas tank, before hanging the nozzle back up on the pump.   I got back into the car, and started the engine, as Sam and I waited for Leah to come back out. 

"She sure is taking a while." Sam pointed out, looking up from whatever was on his phone that had previously been keeping his attention and over towards the store.  

"I'm sure she's fine.  How much trouble can she get into in a convenience store?"