Chapter Eighteen

Ella

We decided to head up to Bobby's that day. I'm glad too. We are going to lay low for a few days and no one has remembered my birthday which is a blessing in disguise really. Gabriel remembered and just one happy birthday really made my day. I didn't need any birthday wishes.

Pulling up to Bobby's, Bobby rolls up to meet us at his door Sam and Dean grin at him and walk past. I'm about to do just that but he catches my arm.

"Happy birthday El," he tells me. Just that one happy birthday makes me smile and tears shine in my eyes.

"Thank you so much Bobby. Really. You're the second person today."

"Which one of them idjits forgot?"

"Both. Gabriel, the archangel, remembered. He posed as the trickster y'all keep talking about and he told us today that he's actually Gabriel. Cas confirmed it."

"A frickin' archangel remembers and not them?" I nod sheepishly as if it's my fault. I don't tell him about the fact that he's seen every one of my birthdays.

"Bobby don't say anything, really. It's stressful and they'll remember. Most people forget the twenty-six of every month and it just so happens mine is in the middle of summer and people needed social media to remember otherwise. I don't need any happy birthdays, really. Two is quite enough. With my dad being gone, it just isn't something I really wanted to celebrate anyway." His eyes soften. "Today was our day every year." I sniffle and wipe at my eyes. "I would wake up and he'd be out in the kitchen getting coffee and I would walk out of my room and eat grape jellied toast and a bowl of raisin bran with him every year. That was usually our thing for Saturdays till I was in middle school. Then it became my birthday." I pause taking a deep breath. "I need a minute. Tell them I'll be in in a few minutes."

I walk away toward the car. I go to the other side and sit. Pain squeezes my heart and I cry. I've always been a loud crier when something really hurt, other times I just let the tears flow down my cheeks. This was a loud crying time.

I never got the proper grieving time that I probably needed. I threw myself into the cases and held myself together for the boys, sure that they wouldn't want a crying girl to deal with at all hours. I hold myself and rest my forehead against my knees. Tears stream down my face and land on my jeans. When I get into these bad crying fits it's always hard to breath and that's why it's so loud when I cry. People can hear me sucking in air and then I wail, letting everything come out. During times like these, I just need to be back home, holding my pillow.

As I was growing up, I always had this pillow that I held when I was feeling down or I was missing home. I always slept with it and it was with me through everything except for this. I just want my pillow, it's always been a comfort pillow. Is it bad that my grandma and I are still renting the apartment out? My lease is about to go up next month and I was going to find another place to live but she said she'd keep it for me so if we ever stopped in Kansas, we would have a place to stay.

I wipe my tears off of my face and I get up. I walk inside, my eyes still red and puffy. I walk up to Dean.

"What's wrong?" He asks, trying to draw me into a hug. I step back and he looks offended.

"I want to go home. Back to Kansas." He nods.

"We'll take you back tomorrow."

"Thank you." I wipe under my eyes again and I go to hug him then. He accepts with open arms and presses his lips to the top of my head. I'm sure he's looking around the room at Sam and Bobby. I just let the tears flow out again, this time I don't think I'm as loud but Dean does drag me outside and that's when I'm sure that I was wailing again.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"Can I tell you later? I just want to forget. I just want to sleep till tomorrow when we are supposed to leave." He nods and holds me.


The next day, it's a full nine-hour trip to my apartment in Coffeyville, Kansas. It was a straightshoot from Sioux Falls, South Dakota to here. That morning around seven, I said goodbye to Bobby and I didn't know if that was supposed to be forever or not. I don't know if I would want back into the hunting lifestyle. I liked having a job and a normal day. But I know nothing is going to be normal ever again since now I know for sure that everything evil and bad exists.

When we pull up to the apartment complex, I grab my bag and I dig my keys out from the bottom. I tell the boys to get their bags as well because I would like them to stay with me instead of a crappy motel. Sam can sleep in my guest bedroom and Dean with me. I take the key and push it into the lock. I open the door and walk in. I smell the air and it smells stale in here but it still smells like the cookies I had baked for my father and my brother's cologne from when he sprayed too much, nervous for a date.

"So this is your place?" Dean asks. I nod. "I like it."

"You two seem so out of place in here. It seems too small for you guys." I bite back a smile and I turn to Sam. "So Sam, guest bedroom is this way." I lead him down the hall and to the left. The last door on the left right before mine. "This will be your bedroom for the time being. You've got your own bathroom to use down the hall over here." I show him the door before my office if you're going to my bedroom. "Dean my room is at the end of the hall. I've got my own bathroom, feel free to use it. Make yourselves at home. I'm going to go get changed into my old clothes."

I walk to the bedroom and I see nothing has changed. My computer is still in my room, closed and probably off. My nail polish isn't on my nightstand, must be in the trash bin. I go to my closet and I take out an old sweater of mine and I hug it. That made me realize that my bed was just a few steps away. I run and jump onto it. It's always been the comfiest bed anyone has slept on ever. I grab my pillow and hug it to me, breathing in my old perfume. I smile and then get up, knowing if I take too long, they might get bored and that's not okay.

Once I've changed into my sweater and a pair of shorts, I grab some socks out of my drawer and I walk back out to the living room where the boys are sitting.

"Hungry?" I ask. "I need to go shopping if we are going to eat here. And I'm sure you'll want a homemade meal for once." Sam grins and Dean nods. "I'll go get some food."


When I get back, Sam and Dean are talking on the edge of my couch looking very uncomfortable.

"You're back," Dean says. I nod putting the groceries on the counter.

"Yeah, get comfortable guys. You don't need to be sitting on the edge of everything. My house is your house. Get comfortable. Act like it's a nice motel room."

"Are you sure?" Sam asks.

"Yes. Now make yourself at home. You'll be staying here for a couple of days. Today is day one." They nod and lean back.

"Okay," they agree.


Dinner was good, we talked about my old life here and what I used to do for a job.

"I was a writer and a part-time journalist and I had a part-time job at the library during the school year. I had a very eventful life. I had a boyfriend and school and family. Then I disappeared." I chuckle sadly. "I should probably go visit him. Break up with him. Maybe then he'll find peace."

"What do you mean find peace?"

"He didn't die," I tell Dean. "I was told by my grandmother that he wished me a happy birthday yesterday. He remembered."

"I'm sorry I never said anything yesterday," Dean says. "I knew you weren't having the best day and I just tried to stick with you as much as possible."

"I know. And I love that you did. Thank you. You were pretty great in bed last night too." I smile.

"Didn't need to know that," Sam says.

"Sorry Sammy."

"I'm going to take a shower, is that cool?"

"You don't need to ask. It's just fine. Do you have shampoo? Cause I'm obviously out. I've had to throw everything away."

"Yes. We always carry some with us." I nod and he walks away.

"You know when we worked the last case, Gabriel was looking at you weird."

"Like?"

"Like he knew you. Do you know anything about that?"

"Dean, when I got out bed to get something to drink a couple of nights ago, he was outside of the vending machine. We talked about a lot."

"Like?" Dean asks annoyed that I talked to him.

"My mom." His face softens. "You've heard the term, guardian angel and that's what he is. He is my guardian angel. He kept me alive even when I was in the womb. He also cleared up why I'm so special."

"Why?"

"Because I'm normal. I'm a normal human being with a lot of common sense and everyone, these are his words, 'adores' me because of that."

"Well we all do, that's a fact. We wouldn't have driven out here or taken you on as part of the team if we didn't. I wouldn't have shared my life you with you if I didn't have some sort of feeling toward you."

"I know."

"I just don't like the way he was looking at you."

"Just like I don't like the way some people look at you. You're my boyfriend and they need to back off." He laughs at me and pulls me into his embrace.

"I love you, Ella." Wait, what? Seriously? After I admit to getting jealous, he tells me he loves me? How odd.

"I love you too."

"You do?" I nod. "Thank God, well goodness. Not the biggest fan of God right at the moment."

"Dean, I love you and I want to be with you."

"That's great to hear. Because if you didn't, that would be awkward."

I laugh. "Didn't you say no chick flick moments?"

"For you, I'll make an exception."


The next morning was weird. I woke up in my own room and Dean was curled around me and to top it all off, he told me that he loves me last night. How weird, right? It's still dark outside and I look to the clock, it's two in the morning! How?

Dean leaned over and kissed my neck, effectively keeping me awake.

"Morning, Dean."

"Good morning, El."

"Guys!" We hear Sam shout. That's even more weird. He walks to my door and talks through it. "You guys awake?"

"Yeah Sam, what is it?" I ask, turning the light on and keeping myself covered. I am naked under the blankets.

He walks in and reads a text off his phone. " 'Pineview Hotel. Life or death situation. Come now.' From Chuck."

"Let's go then," Dean says. Sam backs out quickly and shuts the door just as Dean removes the covers.


We drive all night and make it the the hotel by morning. It's a stressful few hours because now I have the chance to properly pack some of my old clothes and my perfume and grab another duffel for other stuff that we may need, I may need. Just in case of anything, I grab my club dress and a fancy floral dress and my curling iron flat-iron to bring along. I take my laptop which has been sitting on the charger for the past year, not used at all. I wonder if it'll work. I grab my old phone and chuck it into the bag as well. The duffels I have are full to the brim with my stuff and some of Dean's actually.

We pull up to the motel and I'm on high alert now. We get out of the car and Dean stops and stares at something. I turn and find him looking at a bunch of 1967 black Impalas and he's confused.

"Dean. Come on," Sam says. I grab Dean's hand and lead him to where we see Chuck. "Chuck! There you are."

"Guys?"

"What's going on?" Dean asks.

"Ah, nothing. You know, I'm just kinda hanging. What are you guys doing here?"

"You told us to come," Dean says.

"Ah, no I didn't."

"Yeah you did, you texted me. This address, life or death situation. Any of this ringing a bell?" Sam says.

"I didn't send you a text," Chuck argues.

"We drove all night!" I say.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand what could...oh no."

"What?"

"Sam! You made it!"

"Oh, ah, Becky, right?"

"Oh, you remembered." Her voice deepens. "You've been thinking about me."

"I..." Sam stutters not knowing what to say.

"It's ok, I can't get you out of my head either."

"Becky, did you take my phone?"

"I just borrowed it, from your pants." That sounds like something I would say to Dean if my phone died and we needed Sam.

"Becky..."

"What? They're going to want to see it!"

"See what?" The three of us say at the same time.

"Oh My God. I love it when they talk at the same time!"

Someone comes out of the hotel and starts talking to Chuck. "Hey Chuck? Come on pal, it's showtime." Becky becomes excited and races up the stairs and inside.

"Guys. I'm sorry. For everything," Chuck apologizes. We look at each other confused and we go in with him.

"Ha-ha-ha. Hey Dean, looking good." Some random guy, dressed like Dean, says.

"Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Dean too. Duh. And you're Ella! You look just like Carver Edlund described!"

I turn to Dean as the man walks away. "Do I say thank you? What do I say to this? Did Chuck make me pretty? Is that a compliment?"

"I don't know but I don't like the way he was looking at you either."

"Dean, we've been over this. I love you." He looks down at me and grins.

"I know." He bends and presses a quick kiss to my lips.

"Becky, what is this?" Sam says as we all look around. People are dressed like demons and monsters, and Bobby, and someone I don't know but I think is the guy Ash that they always talk about.

"It's awesome! A supernatural convention, the first ever." We are soon ushered into a large room where Chuck comes out on stage after a brief introduction. The crowd goes into an uproar. When they die down, Chuck stutters and asks about questions. The entire crowd raises their hands.

"Hey, Mr. Edlund. Uh...big fan. I was just wondering, where'd you come up with Sam and Dean in the first place?" A guy asks when Chuck calls on him. He seems familiar.

"Oh, ah, I...it just came to me." Dean looks bored and Sam is showing off his legendary bitch face. I raise my hand and Chuck calls on me immediately.

"So Mr. Edlund," I start cautious with my words. "I talked to you before hand and you told me that you came up with a new character and the books you've written are on your website. Where'd you come up with the character Ella?"

His eyes go wide.

"Well I just thought it was time Dean got a girlfriend and we are going to see if he has any bad luck with the ladies like Sam does." That earns a bitch face from the boys. "Thanks for the question." They continue this questionnaire and we all are upset but the people aren't. They hear that Chuck is going to start publishing again and are very excited. Chuck smiles and I turn to Dean.

"Well shit," I say. We leave the room and wait for Chuck to become available. And when he is, oh when he is, Dean goes into a fit and starts yelling at him.

"In case you haven't noticed, our plates are kind of full, ok? Finding the Colt, hunting the devil. We don't have time for this crap."

"Hey, I didn't call you!"

"He means the books, Chuck. Why are you publishing more books?" I ask.

"Um...for food and shelter?"

"Who gave you the rights to our life story?" Dean asks. "Who told you it was cool to write about Ella now? Not Ella."

"An Archangel, and I didn't want it!"

"Well, deal's off, ok. No more books. Our lives are not for public consumption."

"Ah..Becky. Would you excuse us for just a second?" Chuck asks.

"Uh-huh!"

We follow Chuck into a hallway. "Do you guys know what I do for a living?"

"Yeah Chuck, we know."

"Then could you tell me? Cause I don't, all right? I'm not a good writer. I've got no marketable skills. I'm not some hero who can just hit the road and fight monsters, Ok? Until the world ends, I gotta live, all right? And the Supernatural books are all I've got. What else do you want me to do?" A woman screams and Sam and Dean are already running toward her.

"No, guys...wait!" I stay behind and Chuck explains to me that it is a fake scream and that it isn't a real case.

"Guys," I say walking up to them in the lobby.

"Did you know this was what these people call, LARPing? What the hell even is that?"

"Live-Action-Role-Playing. Yes I know what that is. And yes I figured it out when Chuck said to wait and he told me that it was seven already. The announcer guy said something about it."

"Dad said...he said I may have to kill you," someone said trying to be Dean. He's the guy that said I looked just like how Chuck described.

"Kill me? What the hell does that mean?" This must be his partner, who is playing Sam.

"I don't know."

"Oh."

"Did that actually happen?" Sam nods. "These people are too obsessed with your lives."

"Tell me about it," Dean says. He turns to Sam and gives him a look. Sam gets it because in unison they say, "I need a drink." In a bit, Sam and Dean and I are at the bar and Dean takes a shot then turns to me. "So, wanna have sex in the closet upstairs?"

"You are insatiable. But I would love to," I start as I hear talking.

"For the last time I'm not making this up, ok? She's upstairs, a real live dead ghost."

"If there wasn't a possible case here."

"Excuse me," Dean says as the three of us walk up to the man freaking out.

"I'm sure it was just one of the ghost actors."

"Who beat the hell out of me and then vanished?"

"You saw something?" I ask.

"This isn't part of the game jerk." He turns to his friend after yelling at me. I know Dean looks mad but I grip his hand and he calms a little, not much. "Look, I'm getting out of here and you should do the same."

"Alex, wait. Hey, come back!"

"What do you think?" Sam asks.

"I don't think that guy's a good enough an actor to be acting," Dean tells him. I nod, agreeing. We made progress in the case and we found these two guys, the same guys that were role-playing the scene where Dean tells Sam he might have to kill him, and we work together to burn Miss Gore's bones and we do. Before hand we do go to the top of the hotel and I make Sam and Dean wander into the attic.

"Help us," I hear a little boy say when I wait for Sam and Dean. "Help us, Miss Gore won't let us have any fun."

"Where is the body buried?" He just points and I turn and I see a kid with his hands over his head. Shit. He removes his hands and his scalp is cut. "Guys!" I shouted. "Get your asses down here or I'm leaving."

"El, what is it?" I hear Sam ask.

"Miss Gore's kids. They are haunting the place too."


We end up at the bar again after getting beat up by Miss Gore herself.

"That was...really?"

"Awful. Right?" I say.

"Exactly. Round's on us guys. See you around." We get up to leave.

"Hey. How'd you know how to do all that," the one playing Dean asks.

"We.. uh... We read the books." Sam says.

"Hey Chuck. Good luck with the Supernatural books, and screw you very much." Dean says as we walk away from them. We try opening the door and it won't open, same with windows. That's when we realize that we need to protect everyone and find where the boys were buried. The actors help us out by burning the bones while Sam and Dean recruited the girl playing Miss Gore. I keep the people inside the auditorium while Chuck answers more questions. One of them is odd but Chuck's answer was hilarious.

"No, there's really no such thing as a Croatoan virus for down there. You really should see a doctor."

The manager opens the door close to the end of the chaos and I have to take the microphone stand and run to the back of the room and I push it through the kid.

"He said nobody leaves damn it. Now somebody salt this door." I yell at the crowd. "And listen the next God damn time someone tells you to do something," I tell the manager.

"You know I gotta hand it to you guys. You really saved our asses back there. So ah, you know, thanks," Dean says standing next to me. "Guys, I don't even know your names."

"Oh. Well, I'm Barnes. This is Damian. What's yours? "

"Dean. The real Dean. And this is Ella."

"No seriously, my name is Ella. Do you want to see my driver's license?" They shake their heads after laughing at us.

"Ahhh, yeah right. Me too!"

"Get the hell out of here Dean! We believe you Ella."

"Well, anyway. Thanks. Really."

"You're wrong you know."

"Sorry?"

"About Supernatural. No offense but I'm not sure you get what the stories about."

"Is that so?" Dean asks, smirking. Just curious enough to stick around.

"All right. In real life, he sells stereo equipment. I fix copiers. Our lives suck. But to be Sam and Dean, to wake up every morning and save the world. To have a brother who would die for you. Well who wouldn't want that?"

"Maybe you got a point. You know, you two don't make a bad team yourselves. How do you know each other anyway?"

"Oh. Well, we met online. Supernatural chat room."

"Oh. Well it must be nice to get out of your parent's basement. Make some friends."

"We're more than friends." He takes the other's hand. "We're partners."

"Same here," I say entwining mine and Dean's fingers, mimicking them.

"Oh. Wow. Ahem. Howdy partners."

"Howdy," Barnes says. We tell them to have a good one and we leave, still holding hands.

"No not really. We have guns and we'll find you."

"Is this about the books?"

"Yeah." I nod and get into the backseat of the correct Impala while Sam and Dean talk outside of it. Dean is smiling and I know because Sam asks, "so you love her?"

"I do, Sammy."

"The only other person, girl, that you loved was mom."

"It was mom and you and dad. You're my family. But she's my family too and I love her Sam."

"Good. Now here's more good news. I think I got a lead on the colt."

"What?"

"Long story, I'll tell you on the way?"

"What are we waiting for?" They get in the car and we race out of the parking lot as Sam starts explaining what is going on regarding the colt.