The Joys of Being a Winchester

Chapter 13

It had only been a few hours since Jayde first woke up in her lie, and she was conflicted, fighting with herself to decide whether she loved or hated it. She couldn't help but enjoy the new life she had always wished for. She had a loving mother, roof over her head and more, but she couldn't help feeling guilty. After careful observation, Jayde realised that Sam, Dean and herself had no relationship, the two boys pulling her aside not long after the dinner. While everyone had wandered inside, Sam and Dean stopped Jayde before she could get a foot through the door.

"Alright, what's gotten into you?" Sam looked at her menacingly, as if there was a serious problem with his little sister.

"What?"

"Jayde, you're acting like you're on some, dripping in rainbows and unicorns ecstasy trip!" Dean wore a similar demeanour, stature emotionless and unchanging. He hesitated, thinking for a moment and then turner his stern tone to an even more serious whisper. "You aren't on ecstasy, are you?"

"Dean! Don't be stupid! What's up with you two is the real question, I'm acting perfectly normal. I'm happy to see you, I'm happy for you Sammy!"

"Yeah, right. That's another thing. Since when did you call me Sammy?" Such a statement almost beat the breath out of Jayde, so shocked at Sam and Dean's complete behavioural changes. Why were they so different now? "Jayde, come on. We don't talk outside holidays."

"What? Why the hell not? We should, we're family"

"'We're family' has never really gotten us far kid, not since you left home unannounced that one time..."

"... Or when Dean snaked my ATM card, or when you both bailed on my graduation..."

"...Or since Sam completely ignored you..."

"...Since you quote: 'never wanted anything to do with your idiot brothers'."

Jayde was in a complete state of shock, not being able to say anything as the brothers continued bringing up various pressure points that had seemingly destroyed any hope of a relationship. Soon enough they started to argue, Jayde simply staring as she tried to get it all through her head; she and her brothers weren't close. They had never bonded over hunting stories, Jayde had never been held in their arms when she was scared or sick of the fighting, Sam and Dean never teamed up with her on prank wars. All of the memories that Jayde treasured were non-existent in this world, every second that was the compilation of her calm solace and love had never happened. It was destroying, crushing to learn such a horrible and unfair truth. Nevertheless, Jayde wore a brave face as if this was no new revelation, simply saying, "Well, Mom would like it, don't you think? Don't forget my acting skills boys, I've always been able to keep you in my loop of lies." and walking back in the house to join the women, laughing about some irrelevant gossip or juicy news straight from a magazine.

"And on this note, I think I'll be off to bed." Jayde sighed, smiling when she felt her mother's hand rest on her shoulder, accompanied by a nod and wish for good sleep. She trudged up the stairs, closing her bedroom door to only lean against it, face in her hands. So, there was the catch, the consequence of getting her wish granted. The big sacrifice of her mother's life, the missing abuse, a house to call her own, was the relationship between her brothers. She sniffled, still covering her face, even though she felt her eyes soften as tears began to form and press against her palms. It wasn't a perfect world after all, but could she still get used to it? She hated the thought of it, but maybe being stuck in this world wasn't so bad, at least not as bad as it seemed right now. Jayde could fix it, create a new, even better relationship with her brothers. She wouldn't have to go back to the cruel reality that stole her home in Concord, her mother, her innocence...