What Is and What Should Never Be.

chapter fifty , What Is and What Should Never Be

a/n : you're lying. we're on chapter fifty and we're barely done with this book...

I did skip a good chunk of episodes because I'm trying to get this storyline MOVING YALL 🤭

Also, the layout of this chapter/episode might be a little different. So, don't question it, just enjoy 🫶

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Dean Winchester woke up in a cold sweat.

He also woke up next to a naked woman. A smirk forms across his lips, then he pulls his brows together. He doesn't even remember getting into bed with anyone. Dean gets out of bed and rummages through the drawers of clothes that...were exactly his size. He slips on some clothes and walks out of the room. Dean flicks the light on in the front room. He pulls his brows together, the room was unfamiliar and yet it had him written all over it. Dean spots his phone on the kitchen table. He quickly makes his way over to it. He scrolls through the contacts and his eyes land on a familiar name.

Dean places the phone against his ear.

"Dean?"

"Sam."

"What's going on?"

"I don't know. I don't know where I am." Dean states.

"What? What happened?"

"Well, the Djinn--it attacked me," Dean says.

"The Gin? You're drinking Gin?"

"No, Ass-hat, the Djinn, the scary creature. Remember?" Dean tries to jog Sam's memory, which he shouldn't have even had to do since it couldn't have been longer than a day since they last talked. "It put it's hand on me, and then I woke up next to some hot chick."

"Who--Carmen?" Sam laughs.

"Who?"

"Dean, you're drunk. You're drunk-dialing me."

"I am not drunk," Dean says. "Have you heard from Athena?"

Sam laughs, "Yeah, of course I have. She's our sister, man."

"Okay, well, where is she?"

"Home." Sam scoffs. "Sleeping. Like you should be. Look, it's late. Get some sleep, and I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Wait, Sam! Sam!--"

Sam ends the phone call and Dean curses. Dean stuffs the phone into his pocket. His eyes trail over to the envelopes on the table and he grabs them. He reads the name 'Carmen Porter' but his eyes shift to the location and his chest tightens. "Lawrence?"

"What the hell?"

"Honey?"

Dean turns to the woman from the bed that was now in a robe. "What are you doing up?" she walks over to him.

"Hey...Carmen." Dean smiles and nods at the woman. "Carmen, uh, I just, uh--"

"You can't sleep, huh?" Carmen places her hands on Dean's chest.

Dean slightly opens his mouth and slowly nods. "Yeah." he chuckles.

"Well, why don't you come back to bed," She wraps her arms around his neck. "and let's see if I can do anything to help."

Dean's smile widens, "Sure. Yeah. In a minute."

"You go ahead."

"Okay. Don't stay up too long."

"No..."

Carmen stands on her toes and connects her lips with Dean's. She walks back into the room and Dean's smile drops, "What the fuck?" he scratches the back of his head. He looks at the shelf that was filled with picture frames. His eyes shift to around to all the pictures of him and Carmen. Together. As a couple. Dean turns away from the pictures, but his eyes land on another picture that causes his stomach to painfully twist. He quickly walks over to the picture frame. Dean picks up the picture and keeps his shaky eyes on the person in the photo. His hands begin to shake and the photo slips from his hands, shattering.

Dean runs out of the house, needing to see her for himself.

...

Dean couldn't believe it...

She was here. His mom was breathing. Alive in front of him.

But was it really her?

"Let me ask you a question..." Dean starts, his eyes never leaving his mom. "...when I was a kid, what did you always tell me when you put me to bed?"

"Dean, I don't understand--"

"Just answer the question." Dean's voice begins to shake.

Mary smiles softly, "I told you angels were watching over you."

Dean couldn't help the tears that brimmed his eyes. He slowly shakes his head, "I don't believe it." he walks over to her and wraps her in a long overdue hug, he never thought he would be able to give her again.

"Honey, you're scaring me." Mary says.

Dean pulls away from the hug.

"Now, just tell me what's going on." Mary searches her son's teary eyes. "You don't think that wishes can--can really..."

"What?"

Dean softly chuckles and shakes his head. "Forget it." he hugs her again. "Forget it. I'm just--I'm happy to see you. That's all."

Dean pulls away from the hug, "You're beautiful." his voice cracks.

"What?"

He steps away from Mary and looks around the house. His eyes shift to the picture frames on the shelves. "Hey, when I was young, was there ever a fire here?"

"No, never." Mary pulls her brows together.

"I thought there was," Dean speaks softly. He looks at all the pictures. "I guess I was wrong."

The pictures all had each milestone of him, Sam, and Athena. There was a picture of the three siblings, Athena was on both her brother's shoulders with a baseball cap on her head. It was the happiest he's ever seen her. Did the three even have pictures together?

"Is Athena here right now?"

Mary pulls her brows together, "No, of course not. She's home."

Dean slowly nods his head, "Right, of course."

His eyes shift to another picture and he raises his brows out of disbelief. "Dad's on a softball team." he then chuckles. He turns to his mom and she was looking at him with a face filled with worry. Dean slightly opens his mouth, "Dad's softball team--that's--that's funny to me."

"He loved that stupid team."

Dean watches as Mary's eyelids lower, her body language saddening.

"Dad's dead?"

Mary raises her brows.

"And the thing that killed him was a..."

"A stroke," Mary says. "He died in his sleep. You know that."

"That's great..."

"Excuse me?"

Dean raises his brows, "That's great that he went peacefully. I mean, it--it sure beats the alternative."

Like making a deal with a demon and collapsing on a hospital floor.

"You've been drinking."

Dean softly chuckles. I guess one thing that didn't change was his drinking problems. "No, I haven't, Mom." he turns to her.

"I'm gonna call Carmen and have her come pick you up, okay?" Mary reaches for the phone and a fear settles into Dean. What if he left and his mom were to disappear too? He'd never see her again.

"Wait, no, no. Don't do that." His voice was filled with panic. "I want to stay here."

"Why?"

A painful lump forms in his throat. He swallows and looks around, "B-Because I miss the place."

"It's okay. You go to bed, okay?" Dean sits down on the couch and takes a moment to soak in the house that used to be just a memory to him. Mary's eyes soften and she walks over to Dean. He looks up at his mom and softly smiles. Mary cups her son's face, "Are you sure you're all right?"

"I think so..."

"Okay." Mary kisses Dean on the head and walks away.

☆

The professor he went to see was a bust. He only told Dean things he had already known. Then he asked if he was drinking. And for the first time ever Dean wasn't.

Dean made his way back to his mom's house. He trots up the front steps and knocks on the door. Dean waits for a moment. His legs moving, not able to contain the excitement of being able to see his mom again.

The door swings open and Dean's jaw goes slack. The girl's face lights up, "Dean! You're here!" she looks at her watch.

"You're late...but you're here." The girl shrugs her shoulders.

"What the shit?"

"Swear." she grabs the jar and holds it out to him. "Gimme all your money."

Dean pulls her brows together, "Athena?"

"That's my name. Don't wear it out." The auburn-haired girl smiles.

Athena's hair was longer than normal. But it was still curly and forced into pigtails. Both her eyes were healed. And she was wearing a white floral dress with sandals. And there was an irreplaceable smile across her face that could light up the room.

She looked happy.

"You're here...how are you here?"

"Well..." Athena sighs. "Our dad met my mom at a bar and they had too good of a time if you catch my--"

"Athena, what the hell are you talking about?!"

Athena covers her mouth and mischievously laughs. Dean looks at the woman approaching and he pulls his brows together. "And now you've e got me swearing in front of a 12-year-old."

"Dean, why are you talking to her about that stuff?"

Dean slightly opens his mouth, unable to comprehend who the woman was from his actual world. "I-I'm sorry...?" He saw a picture frame of her in Mary's house. It was the unrecognizable woman posing with Athena.

Athena turns to the woman, "Mom, can I help with lunch?"

Dean's eyes slightly widen. And just like that it clicked in his head. Athena and the woman had the same smile, the same twinkling blue eyes.

This was Faye Clarke.

Her hair was a chestnut brown with a fringe brushing her forehead. Faye was wearing a pink polka-dot romper with open-toed wedges. She was beautiful.

"I think I'm capable of making sandwiches by myself," Faye says. Athena purses her lips. "I dunno...seems like you're taking your time 'making' them."

Athena then scrunches her nose. "I'm saying you're a snail."

Faye's mouth drops open, "Oh, that's it you little gremlin—come here!" She pulls Athena into a hug and begins to tickle her. Athena laughs, "I'm gonna pee my pants!"

"And we're done." Faye pulls her hands back. "You've gotta get that bladder under control, bug."

"Yeah, it's a problem." Athena bites the inside of her cheek.

"You can help make the sandwiches." Faye taps Athena's chin and the girl giggles.

"And they're not just sandwiches." she then looks at Dean. "Tell her."

Dean opens and closes his mouth. "They're not just—"

"Okay, you're talking too slow--everyone's outside, come on!"

She grabs Dean's hand and tugs him through the house.

"Hey, Bug? Please, be carefu--"

Athena trips over her shoe. Before she could fall to the ground, Dean grabs the back of her arms. Athena blinks, "You've got the Spidey Senses!" she exclaims.

Dean sets her back on her feet. Athena looks at her brother and smiles. "Everyone's in the backyard."

Dean watches Athena darts out of the house and joins everyone else.

"Hey, you okay, honey?"

Dean turns to Faye. The brunette pulls her brows together, noticing his eyes become teary. Dean's chest tightens to the point, he thought he wouldn't be able to answer her. Dean wanted to apologize for what happened to Faye in his world. He wanted to apologize for the way he treated Athena and he wanted to apologize for how awful Athena's life has gone since then.

But then he remembered that this isn't his world and that wasn't his Athena.

"Uh, yeah, I'm good, just...good to see you guys is all."

Faye laughs, "It feels like it's been forever." she snorts.

The same snort Athena had.

"You really could've joined us in Florida, y'know?" Faye's eyes light up. "We went to Disneyworld!"

Dean smiles softly, "And...Athena had fun?"

"She always has fun." Faye laughs. Her face brightens talking about her daughter. It made Dean want to cry.

"Is that what you're wearing to the dinner?"

Dean looks down at his jeans and jacket. "Uh...no."

Faye softly hums, "You...forgot, didn't you?"

"I might've. What did I forget?"

Faye raises her brows, "Mary's birthday."

Dean nods his head, "Yeah, yeah. That's what I forgot."

Faye walks past Dean, "Come on, kid. Follow me."

Dean confused, follows after Faye. The brunette grabs the suit and holds it out to him. "Athena said you might forget."

Dean laughs softly and nods his head. Even in this world, Athena was always 10 steps ahead. "And she was right."

"Mom, mom--mom, mom!" Athena runs back into the house. "Jessica said we could go to the movies and get manicures with her and Mary tomorrow. Can we?"

Dean smiles at Athena's excitement. It was something he hasn't seen in such a long time, it caused his heart to sink.

"Dude, you even have to ask?" Faye holds her arms out. Athena's eyes light up and she holds her hand up. Faye gives Athena a high five. Athena looks at Dean, "So...you did need a change of clothes, huh?"

Dean looks down at the suit in his hands and chuckles. "Yeah, I guess so."

Athena smiles and turns to her mother. She holds her hand out. Faye rolls her eyes and hands Athena a 20-dollar bill.

"Wait--you guys betted that I wouldn't have my clothes for tonight?"

Athena and Faye look at each other then back at Dean. "Duh."

☆

"Wow. That looks awesome."

Athena looks at Dean's plate and turns her nose. "But...they're vegetables?" she points at Dean. "You hate vegetables."

Everyone at the table laughs and Athena pulls her brows together.

"All right. To mom." Sam holds his glass up. "Happy birthday."

"Happy birthday."

Athena claps her hands, "Happy birthday--yeah!" she then reaches for Faye's champagne. Faye lightly smacks Athena's hand, "Dude."

"Worth a shot." Athena bunches her shoulders. She then reaches for her apple juice and casually sips it.

"You're making me look like a bad mom," Faye says.

Athena pulls her brows together, "You're not a bad mom." her voice had dropped the playfulness and it was firm. "You're an amazing mom."

Faye snorts softly and keeps her eyes on her daughter. Her smile lessens when she notices the seriousness on Athena's face. Faye pulls her brows together and cups Athena's face. "Hey, I know. You make me a good mom."

Athena swallows the lump in her throat and forces a small smile on her lips. "Of course, I do. I'm an amazing daughter."

Faye rolls her eyes and lightly taps Athena's nose. Athena laughs and looks away from Faye. She quickly notices that Dean was looking at her, like he was slowly suspecting something. Athena's jaw clenches and she looks down at her food.

"All right, Jess and I actually have another surprise for Mom's birthday," Sam pronounces.

Dean looks away from Carmen and looks at his brother. Sam looks at Jessica, "Uh, you want to tell them?"

Jessica raises her brows and smiles, "They're your family."

"What? Tell me what?" Mary's smile widens.

Sam holds Jessica's hand out, revealing the ring on her finger. Athena and Faye's eyes widen, "Whoa baby!"

"Would you look at that rock?!" Faye laughs and gently grabs Jessica's hand. Jessica laughs at the woman's reaction.

"So, you two must be in debt now, huh?"

Sam laughs, "A little yeah. But...it's worth it." he kisses Jessica's head.

A smile forms on Athena's lips. Everyone congratulated the couple. Dean shakes Sam's hand, a smile on his lips. "Congratulations, Sammy."

"Thanks."

"I'm really glad you're happy."

Sam pulls his brows together at the words. Dean's eyes trail behind Sam and he sees the girl in a white dress. The same girl that he saw outside of the college facility. Dean quickly brushes past Sam and walks over to the girl. A man passes Dean and before he could get to the girl, she vanishes. He lets out a frustrated breath and turns back to his family. All of them had a look of worry across their faces. All except one. Dean pulls his brows together, noticing Athena's expression was different. She wasn't worried, more so, afraid.

Dean starts to walk back over to them, but he steps on something. He lifts his shoe and looks down at the strawberry milk pin on the ground. He picks it up with his brows furrowed. "Huh..."

☆

Everyone makes it back to Mary's house. She thanked everyone for a good birthday before making her way up the stairs. Faye inhales a breath, "Yeah, guys, this squirts got school tomorrow." she bumps Athena with her hip. Athena laughs and goes to bump Faye back, but the woman doesn't budge.

"We should get going."

Sam nods, "Yeah, I'm beat." he looks at Jessica. "Ready to turn in?"

Jessica agrees. "Night guys." Sam looks at his little sister. "I'll pick you up from school tomorrow, okay?" he gives her a warm hug.

Athena smiles and hugs Sam back. "Then ice cream?"

"Always." Sam kisses the top of her head. He stands up, "We'll see you guys later."

Athena then hugs Dean, "Bye, Dean."

"I'll see you later, kiddo." Dean hugs her back. "Oh, hey." he pulls away from the hug and crouches in front of his little sister. "I found something of yours." he holds the strawberry milk pin up.

Athena pulls her brows together and looks at the pin. She slowly reaches for the pin, "I haven't seen this since..." The girl trails off her sentence and stops her hand from touching the pin. "Uh, I don't...think that's mine."

"But, you love strawberry milk," Dean says and chuckles, confused.

"Mmm no...she doesn't." Faye laughs and touches the top of Athena's head. Athena inhales a breath, "I'm more of a chocolate milk girl myself." she then shrugs a shoulder. Dean looks back at the pin. "Oh. My bad."

Athena shakes her head, "You don't have to apologize."

Faye then gives Dean a hug, "I'm gonna need you to wash that suit and give it back to me. It's my favorite."

Dean hugs Faye back, "Wait, this is your suit?"

Faye laughs, "Duh."

"Oh, well...you've got a good style."

Faye rolls her eyes, "You're telling me like I don't know, Dean." she waves a hand and walks away with Athena. The mother and daughter leave the house. Sam and Jessica begin to walk towards the door, but Dean speaks.

"Wait a second. Wait a second." Dean speaks. "It's not even 9 o'clock yet. Let's go have a drink or something."

"Yeah, maybe another time," Sam replies.

Sam has been so distant in this world and Dean was trying to get a chance to hang out with him.

"Come on, man. Look at us, huh? We both have beautiful women on our arms." Dean chuckles. "You're engaged. Let's go celebrate."

A silence settles in the house. Sam looks at Dean weirdly for a moment. He then looks at Jessica and Carmen. "Guys, can you excuse us? I just to talk to my brother for a sec."

"Sure." Jessica and Carmen walk away from Sam and Dean. Sam looks at Dean, a confused smile on his lips. "Come here." he walks into the kitchen.

"What?" Dean chuckles, and he follows after Sam.

"Okay. What's gotten into you?"

Dean blinks, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, this whole warm, fuzzy, ecstasy-trip thing." Sam clarifies.

Dean smiles, "I'm just happy for you, Sammy." he pats his brother on the arm.

Sam points at Dean, "Yeah, right. That's another thing. Since when do you call me 'Sammy'?" he chuckles. "Athena said the same thing earlier and it was just bizarre."

Dean pulls his brows together.

"Dean, come on. We don't talk outside of holidays." Sam says.

Dean's heart sinks, "We don't? Well, we should. I mean, you're my brother."

"You're my brother?" Sam questions the phrase. "You know that's what you said when you snaked my ATM card. Or when you bailed on my graduation or when you forgot to pick Athena up from school because you were out day drinking." Sam then holds a finger up. "Or when you hooked up with Rachel Nave."

Dean slightly opens his mouth, "Who?"

Sam cranes his neck forward out of disbelief. "Uh, my prom date--on prom night."

Dean slowly nods his head. "Yeah, that does kind of sound like me--well, hey, man, I'm sorry about all that."

"No, look, it's all right, man." Sam shakes his head. "I just--you know, I'm not asking you to change. Hell, Athena's not even asking you to change either. She fucking loves you, man."

"I just, uh--I don't know. I guess we just don't really have anything in common, you know?" Sam sighs. "And with Athena and Faye moving away soon--"

"Wait. What?"

Sam pulls his brows together, "Yeah, they're moving to Arizona." he nods. "Said they needed a new start, I guess. There's still that slight tension with Mary and Faye."

Dean tenses. He never really thought about the tension between the two mothers. I mean with John having a kid with Faye before he died, it was something that he should've thought about.

Sam presses his lips into a small line before walking past Dean. The eldest Winchester grabs Sam's arm. "Wait. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Yes, we do. We all do."

Sam shrugs, "What?"

"Hunting."

Sam frowns, "Hunting? I've never been hunting in my life, Dean. And Athena sure as hell hasn't either. She's a kid."

"Yeah, well, then we should go sometime. I think you'd be great at it."

Sam pulls his brows together and exhales through his nose. He slightly rolls his eyes, brushing Dean off. He walks away from Dean, leaving him feeling defeated.

☆

The good life Dean had thought he was living came crumbling down hard and fast. In between all the reveals that everyone he has saved has died and the hallucinations, Dean ended up at John's grave. It made him sick to his stomach thinking that standing in front of his father's grave was the only place he could clear his mind.

"Everyone that you saved, everyone that Sammy, Athena, and I saved...they're all dead. And there's this woman that's haunting me. I don't know why. I don't know what the connection is--not yet, anyway." Dean lets out an exhausted breath. "It's like my old life is coming after me or something like it doesn't want me to be happy. Of course, I know what you'd say. Well, not the you that played softball, but you'd say "go hunt the djinn. It put you here. It can put you back. Your happiness or all those people's lives--no contest." Right?"

Angry tears fill his eyes. He wanted to stay. He wanted to be selfish for the first time in his life.

"But why? Why is it my job to save these people? Why do I have to be some kind of hero?" Dean inhales a shaky breath. "What about us, huh? What mom's not supposed to live her life? Sammy's not supposed to get married? Athena isn't supposed to know and love her own mother? Why do we have to sacrifice everything, dad?"

"It's..." A tear slips from his eye. He shakes his head, already knowing the answer. It's the right thing to do.

"Yeah..." Dean whispers softly, a dull ache in his body that won't go away anytime soon. He stuffs his hands into his pocket, and he pricks his finger against something. A small wince escapes his lips. He pulls the object out of his pocket and looks at the strawberry milk pin. A small huff leaves Dean's lips. He goes to stuff the pin back into his pocket, but freezes. Dean shifts his eyes back to the pin and he pulls his brows together. The last time he saw a pin like this was when Athena gave hers to Max.

Even though Athena said she preferred chocolate milk, he still couldn't help but wonder. Why the hell would the same identical pin show up in this world--

"I haven't seen this since..."

Dean's eyes widen, realization hitting him like a bag of bricks to the face. "Holy shit--holy shit!" he sprints out of the graveyard and to the Impala.

...

"Oh, Oh--I'm gonna beat you--I'm winning!"

Faye shakes her head, "Nuh-uh!" she covers Athena's eyes. The 12-year-old lets out a squeal and moves her mom's hand out of her face. "You're cheating!"

"No, I'm not--I just got...so sleepy all of a sudden." Faye dramatically yawns, she throws her arms out and covers Athena's face.

"Mooom--"

"I think I'm gonna sleep for a second." Faye leans her body to the left and Athena's eyes widen. "Wait, don't--"

Faye flops onto Athena, squishing her. Athena groans, but she laughs. Faye continues to play the game and pokes her tongue out of the corner of her mouth. "Oh! Oh! Ohhhh!" She throws her arms up and jumps off the couch. "I win!"

Athena huffs, but she sets her controller to the side and looks at her mom with a small smile. "Congratulations, mom." she sighs and stands up. "That will be the only time you win. Ever."

"Is that another challenge, young Jedi?" Faye cracks her neck.

Athena then cracks her fingers and smirks. "It is, indeed."

"Well then--"

A panicked knock is heard at the door, causing both Clarke's to turn to it. Athena pulls her brows together. Faye walks over to the door. The woman looks through the peephole and opens the door.

"Dean, hey...you're here pretty, well not pretty--very late."

Dean lets out a small breath, "Yeah, I know, and...I'm sorry. I just...Athena, is she here?"

Faye takes a step aside and Dean enters the house. He connects his eyes with Athena and just from the look, she knew that Dean knew. Athena's chest tightens and she looks at Faye.

"Athena--"

"I'm gonna go to sleep," Athena says. "I have school tomorrow, so I'll see you later, Dean. You should go home."

Athena quickly brushes past Faye and Dean. Faye purses her lips, "Jeez, what'd you do to make her mad?"

Dean follows after Athena and sees her running up the stairs.

Dean knew there was one way he could test out his theory.

"Athy!"

The girl stops in her tracks. Dean lets out a breath of disbelief. "So, it is you..."

Athena's hands start to shake, she slowly closes her hands into fists. She forces herself to turn around. The girl walks down the stairs, no words spoken. She keeps her eyes on the ground. Dean looks at the woman. "Hey, Faye?"

The brunette raises her brows, "Yeah, I'm kind of tired, so I will leave you two crazies to it." she kisses Athena on the head and ruffles Dean's hair. Faye makes her way up the stairs to her room.

Silence fills the house. Athena sure as hell wasn't going to speak first.

"You're not from this...perfect world?" Dean asks.

Athena's stomach twists and she keeps her eyes on the ground. "No, I'm...your sister." she nervously scratches her brow.

Dean slumps his shoulders. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Athena opens and closes her mouth. She then begins to fiddle with her fingers. "Because this world is what you said...it's perfect." she shakes her head. "It's everything that I've always wanted."

Dean's eyes soften, hearing the pain in Athena's voice. "Listen to me, Athena. Whatever you think this is...this world isn't what it's supposed to be. I saw this spirit--"

"Yeah, I know." Athena sighs. "I saw it too."

Dean nods his head, "Okay, then. We have to figure out what we're going to do, right?"

Athena looks away from Dean and he pulls his brows together. "Athena--"

"I'm not going back."

Dean cranes his neck forward, "What the hell are you talking about? You're going back--"

"No. I'm not." Athena looks at Dean with a strong expression. "I have nothing left back there except people who lie and people who don't like me."

"Athena, I am gonna drag your ass through whatever portal we have to go through--"

"There's no portal." Athena pulls her brows together and slightly shakes her head. "This isn't a video game--"

"You might not think so now. But your life will get better." Dean says. "And I know we're not on good terms, but I love you. You're my sister--"

"Half."

"No, stop it--screw the half. You are my sister and we are going to get back to our world and see Sam again--"

"You guys don't need me." Athena huffs. "Stop pretending that you do."

Dean shakes his head, he stays silent for a moment. Athena wasn't budging. She didn't want to leave. Dean didn't even know how he was supposed to get out of this, so there was no way he could force her to leave.

"I can't get out of this without you, sis."

Athena's lower lip trembles. She rolls her lips into her mouth and clears her throat. The girl quickly recovers and looks back at Dean, her eyes glassy. "Fine...I'll help you leave. But I'm staying."

Dean's chest tightens, but he reluctantly nods. "Okay."

☆

"Well, that was pathetic..."

Sam pulls his brows together, "Dean?" He then looks at the girl in pigtails. "Athena?"

"Sadly..." Athena turns back to the drawer and continues to rummage through it.

"What the hell are the two of you doing here?"

Dean helps Sam onto his feet. "I was looking for a beer."

Athena shivers, "Deja vu."

"In the chin a cabinet?" Sam asks.

"Damn, we've been caught."

Sam flicks the light on and he scoffs. "That's mom's silver."

"Sam—"

"Wait, you broke into the house to steal mom's silver?" Sam raises his brows.

"It's not what I looks like, okay? I didn't have a choice." Dean says.

Athena frowns, "Well, we had a choice," she grabs a knife and bites on it. "and we chose to come here and still Mary's silver."

"You're not helping."

"And you dragged Athena into this..." Sam covers his face. "Why am I not surprised..."

"What's so damn important that you go to steal from your own mother?" Sam asks. "And bringing a 12-year-old into it too? This better be good."

"You want the truth?" Dean asks.

Athena snorts, "Don't do that."

"Yeah. Yeah, I did."

"No, you don't..."

"Athena."

The girl rolls her eyes and turns to her brothers, waiting for the scene to unfold.

"I owe somebody money." Dean shrugs.

Athens frowns and nods her head. Sam sighs, "Who?"

"A bookie. I lost big on a game. I got to bring him the cash tonight."

"And why is Athena here with you?"

"Well, I thought I would at least get some sympathy from the guy if I brought this charmer with me. I mean, come on..." Dean pulls Athena into his side and squished her face. "Look at this face!"

Sam shakes his head, "I can't believe we're even related."

Dean's chest tightens, "Sam, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry that we don't get along. And I wish to hell I could stay and fix it. But I got to do this. People's lives depend on it."

Athena clears her that, it comes out muffled, but she still speaks. "You're still squishing my cheeks."

Dean looks at his sister and winces, "My bad." He releases her face. Athena groans and rubs her cheeks.

"What do you mean, 'People's lives depend on it'?" Sam asks.

Dean shakes his head, "Nothing. Forget it. Just, uh...tell Mom I love her." he then walks toward the door.

Athena purses her lips, "Don't say anything to my mom. I'm coming back, so..." She quickly follows after Dean with the silver. Athena lifts her head up and looks at her big brother, a solemn look across his face. Even though Athena was never good at reading expressions, she knew how he was feeling. Athena lets out a small breath, "Hey..." she takes his hand.

Dean looks down at his sister and she gives him a small smile. No words were exchanged, but there didn't need to be. Dean felt more at ease. More determined to get back to his world. They both get in the Impala.

Athena sighs softly, "You ready?"

Dean looks at his little sister and nods. "Yeah, let's do it."

Before Dean could start the car, the passenger door swings open. Athena turns and sees Sam. He gets in the passenger seat, squishing Athena more into the Impala.

"Aw, what the hell?" Athena groans.

"Get out of the car." Dean orders.

"I'm going with you guys."

"You're just gonna slow us down," Dean says.

"Yeah, and suffocate us!" Athena wheezes.

"Tough--"

"This is dangerous, and you could get hut." Dean cuts in.

Sam raises his brows, "Yeah? And so could the two of you."

"Sam--"

"Look, whatever stupid thing you're about to do, you're not doing it alone--and you're especially not doing it with just Athena," Sam pronounces. "And that's that."

Dean pulls his brows together, "I don't understand. Why are you doing this?"

Athena rolls her eyes, "Oh, you're kidding--even I know the answer to that." she scoffs. "You're still brothers and nothing can change that--now, give me some space, Samantha!"

Sam tenses from Athena's stern voice. "Uh, sorry." he slightly scoots towards the window, giving Athena room.

"Bitch."

Athena snorts.

Sam snaps his eyes over to Dean, "Wh-what are you calling me a bitch for?"

"You're supposed to say 'jerk'." Athena voices.

"What?"

Athena and Dean look at each other. Then they look back at Sam, "Nevermind."

☆

"What the fuck is this?"

Athena winces.

"Blood," Dean answers.

"Yeah, I can see that it's blood, Dean--what the fuck is it doing in here?" Sam asks, his voice increasing in volume.

"You...don't want to know." Athena looks at Sam and innocently smiles. "Just be a good Sammy and sit there...silently."

"No, I do really want to know," Sam says. "I really really do."

Athena rolls her eyes. She looks at Dean. He shakes his head and Athena shrugs. "He's gonna find out sooner or later."

Dean lets out a breath, "We needed a silver knife dipped in lamb's blood."

Sam's eyes begin to widen, "You needed a silver knife dipped in lamb's blood. Why?"

"Because there's this creature, A Djinn, and we have to hunt it." Athena adds.

Sam looks from Dean to Athena, his eyes practically bulging out of his skull. There was something genuinely wrong with them.

"Okay, um, stop the car."

"No," Athena speaks, her eyes forward.

"I know how it sounds," Dean says.

"Great. Just...stop the car."

"It's the truth, Sam." Dean glances at his brother. "There are things out there in the dark. There are bad things. There are nightmare things. There are--"

"Spooooky things." Athena wiggles her fingers in Sam's face.

Sam pulls his face back away from her hands.

"You're freaking him out," Dean says.

Athena rolls her eyes and scoffs, "Oh, please. He's already freaking out from the lamb's blood." she then looks back at Sam, who still had wide eyes. "Look, there are scary things out there and people have to be saved, and if we don't save them, then nobody will." she then moves her head from side to side. "Well, besides other hunters. Other hunters will save those people."

"H-Hunters? Wait, so earlier when you were asking me about hunting--this is what you meant?!" Sam asks. "I-I thought you meant...animal hunting!"

Athena gasps, "How dare you?!"

"We would never hunt animals." Athena then winces. "Except that girl you fell for." her eyes then widen. "She's not an animal, she was just a werewolf...rest in peace."

"I'm sorry--what?--Okay, listen to me, guys." Sam presses his hands together. "I want to help you, I really really do. But it seems as though you two are having some kind of linked psychotic breakdown, so I just--"

"I wish." Dean sighs. Athena scratches the corner of her eye. "That would be nice. All my issues are because of a psychotic breakdown..."

"Right?" Dean turns to her. "Just one reason why we are the way that we are."

Athena looks to the side and sees Sam dialing a number. "Oh, no..." she clicks her tongue. "Dean, can you roll your window down?"

Dean nods, "On it." he rolls the window down.

Athena grabs Sam's phone and tosses it out the window. Sam's mouth hangs open, "What the hell was that, Athena? That was my phone!"

"Oh, was it?" Athena's back straightens and she frowns. "I thought it was a brick that was just randomly lying in the car--I know it was your phone, Sam!"

"We're not going to any rubber rooms--"

"Or therapists." Athena holds up a finger. "I'm not seeing a therapist."

"I'm just trying to help you guys out. I don't want you to hurt yourselves."

Athena yawns, "Why haven't we tossed him out of the car yet?" she turns to Dean. "I'm sure he'll survive."

Sam tenses. With the way Athena and Dean were acting right now, he wouldn't have been surprised if they did throw him out. Athena theme waves a hand dismissively, "Why don't you just take a seat and try not to get us killed? Thank you."

Sam cranes his neck forward. He then snaps his eyes over to Dean, wanting back up. Dean glances at Sam and shrugs a shoulder, not phased by what Athena said. Sam's eyes widen, he tangles his hands in his hair and lets out a groan of frustration. He then sinks deeper into his seat and stays silent.

☆

"This is real?"

Sam looks at Dean, "You're not crazy?" he then looks at Athena with his eyes wide. "You're not crazy?"

Athena pulls her brows together, "Why'd you emphasize 'you're' like you expected me to be crazier than him?" she lets out a heavy sigh. "Let's go." She walks out from behind the shelf with her brothers behind her.

Athena keeps her good eye on the girl hanging by her wrists. "This is what the Djinn does..." she voices. "It doesn't grant you a wish. It just makes you think it has."

Dean slowly nods, "And this is the place you're choosing to stay at?"

Athena looks at Dean and clicks her tongue. "Yep."

"Look, guys, that thing could come back, all right?" Sam speaks, interrupting Athena's thoughts. Dean looks around and his eyes land on an empty space where there were chains hanging from the ceiling. His eyes shift to the lightbulb and his brain starts to get fuzzy. His head begins to hurt as soon as he starts to remember. He sees himself in the chains and hanging up by the ceiling. Dean then sees Athena hanging across from him, blood being drained from her body.

"Dean, please," Sam speaks, snapping Dean out of his thoughts. Athena looks at Sam with her brows furrowed. She then looks at the woman hanging from the ceiling. Dean looks at Athena, "This is all in our heads."

"N-No, guys, that makes no sense."

"It makes perfect sense, actually," Athena says. "That's why she keeps appearing to us."

Sam looks between Dean and Athena.

"She's not a spirit." Dean voices. "Just a girl trying to get back to her father."

Athena's eyes sadden, "We need to help her--"

"We can't help her."

Athena and Dean turn to the panicked Winchester. Sam inhales a breath, "Look, you guys were right. I was wrong. You're not crazy, but we need to get out of here fast." he grabs Athena's arm and starts to walk towards the door of the building. Dean's eyes widen, he grabs Athena's hand and pulls her out of Sam's grip. Sam turns back to his two siblings, his eyes wide.

"You're not real," Dean states.

Sam walks back over to his siblings and grabs their arms. "Did you feel that? I'm real. This is not an acid trip."

No matter how often Sam said it, it wouldn't be true. He wasn't real.

"I'm real, and that thing is gonna come down here and kill us for real." Sam's voice begins to shake. "Now, come on."

Athena raises her brows, a thought coming into her head. It was a dangerous idea. But it was the only idea she had.

"There's only one way to be sure." Athena tugs on Dean's sleeve. He looks down at his sister and watches her pull out a silver dagger. Sam's eyes widen.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." Sam looks at Athena then the knife. "What are you doing?"

"It's an old wives' tale." Athena voices. "If you're about to die in a dream, you'll wake up."

"No, no, no. That's crazy, all right?" Sam shakes his head.

Dean looks at her, "You really think this could work?"

Athena shrugs, "Maybe."

"You're gonna kill yours—"

"Or he's gonna wake up." Athena holds the knife out to him.

Dean looks at her. Athena then looks at him, "You're gonna wake up."

Dean swallows and nods his head. He grabs the knife from Athena.

"You guys, no. This is insane!" Sam cries.

Athena inhales, "Okay. So...if you hurt yourself. You can get out."

Dean nods, he looks at Athena. "Thank you."

Athena presses her lips into a smile. "Tell, Sam that I'll miss him." she shrugs.

Djinn Sam looks between the two, confused.

Dean's eyes soften, "Yeah...or you could tell him yourself."

"I told you--"

"That's not happening, Athena." Dean sighs. "I'm sorry..." his eyes sadden. "I'm sorry that I made you feel like you have to run to a fake reality to be happy."

Athena exhales a nose. "Dean, I'm not changing my mind." She folds her arms. "This is where I want to stay, all right?"

Dean takes a moment to look at Athena, a lump forms in his throat. She was really going to hate him. "I know...and I am so sorry."

Athena pulls her brows together, "What are you--"

Dean plunges the knife into her stomach and Athena cries out in pain. Her eyes fly open and she coughs loudly. Her ears were ringing and her vision was blurred.

Why was everything spinning? Why did she feel like shit?

"Athena?!"

Athena opens and closes her eye, forces the blur to be removed from her eye. Her heart sinks into her stomach and she feels sick. Just one good eye?

Her eye focuses on her brother. "S-Sam?"

Sam lets out a chuckle of relief. He cups her neck and wipes the blood from her mouth. "Hey, I'm here, let me get you down, all right?"

Athena's chest tightens. That's her Sam. Her big brother. Sam gently gets the girl down lays her against the wall, sitting her up. Athena looks at Dean and sees him waking up. Tears form in Athena's good eye and her breathing quickens. Sam runs over to Dean to help him down.

"No..." Athena quietly cries.

Sam sets Dean on the ground and he looks at his sister. The middle Winchester notices her hyperventilating and crying. Sam's worry increases and he stands up.

"Athena, are you--"

"I told you not to bring me back!" Athena cries, and her voice shakes. Dean's eyes land on Athena and his chest tightens.

"Athena, I'm sorry—"

"No, you're not. You're not sorry!" Athena shouts. "You don't care that I'm miserable and hurting. You're just glad that I'm here with you and you're not grieving me."

Athena inhales a shaky breath. She hears a small scuffle and her eye snaps over to the corner. Glowy blue eyes shine in the corner, cutting through the darkness. Her eyes widen, "Sam!"

The Djiinn emerges from the darkness, revealing itself. Sam turns around and his eyes widen at the Djinn walking towards him. He swings the knife toward the supernatural being. The Djinn grabs Sam's wrist and slams him against the wall. He twists Sam's wrist, forcing him to drop the knife.

Athena and Dean look at each other, their eyes wide. Athena inhales a sharp breath and attempts to stand up. Her body felt like a pile of bricks, she slumps back against the wall and she winces in pain. The Djinn throws Sam towards the staircase. The Djinn forces a hand around Sam's throat and opens his palm, revealing a glowing blue energy. Sam grits his teeth and grabs the Djinn's wrist, keeping the energy away from him.

The Djinn's hand gets closer to Sam's face. Before he could force Sam into his own slumber, Dean comes from behind and thrusts a knife into the Djinn's back. He twists the knife, causing the blue light to disappear from the Djinn's eyes. Dean yanks the knife from the being's back and the Djinn falls to the ground.

Dean lets out an exhausted breath, his body still weak. He turns to Athena and slowly makes his way over to her. Athena was staring at the Djinn's dead body. He holds a hand out to her, "Hey, are you--"

Athena slaps his hand out of the way. Sam knits his brows together, watching the tense interaction between his siblings. Athena's good eye had tears. She manages to stand up by herself. Dean lets out a small breath, "Athena, I'm sorry."

"I didn't even get to say goodbye!" Athena snaps, her voice was shaking and soft. She didn't have to say who she was referring to. Because Dean knew who she was referring to.

Faye.

The pain in Dean's chest becomes unbearable. He wouldn't be able to say anything to make Athena feel better. He practically took her away from her mother. You're just like your father. Dean thinks.

"Why couldn't you just..." Athena looks down at the ground and wipes at her eyes. She looks back at Dean, her sadness now exchanged for anger. "Leave me alone." she walks past Dean and out of the building.

━━━━━━━━━━

author's note.

We're almost done with season two 🤭

Rebellious Athena is approaching

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