Nightmare.

Flashback

Before he could even take a sip of his beer, he was greeted with a light knock on the door. With a huff, he sets the beer down and stalks over to the door. He opens the door and pulls his brows together, noticing no one there.

Someone clears their throat. The man looks down and sees the auburn-haired girl.

"Hi, Mr. Singer." Athena waves.

"Balls..."

Athena frowns, "Fine then, I'll go somewhere else." She turns on her heel. "Granted, I have nowhere else to go, but I'll find somewhere."

"Uh—hold it there, kid." Bobby holds a hand out.

Athena turns around and presses her lips into a timid smile.

"Where's your daddy?"

Athena's smile drops and she looks away from the man for a second. Bobby pulls his brows together.

"He, uh...needed a break from me." Athena scratches her wrist. Bobby notices.

"Liar."

Athena looks at Bobby, her mouth agape. "How did you know?"

"I'm Bobby. I know everything." The man shrugs.

Athena looks away for a second, her brows pulled together. "He killed Antonio."

Bobby's eyes widen. "He what?"

Athena finally was able to name her teddy bear. She named him Antonio, his nickname—Tony. Athena thought she lost him, but she ended up finding John giving her a new lesson.

"Sentimental things make you weak."

And every time John looked at Athena, all he saw was weakness.

"Dropped him right in the fireplace." Athena walks into the house.

Bobby closes the door and follows Athena. The girl sets her bag on the couch as she's done thousands of times. Athena walks into the kitchen and grabs a chair. She drags it over to the kitchen sink and sits on her knees. Athena turns the sink in and starts to wash her hands.

"Why the fu—"

"Swear."

"—fridge. Why the fridge would he do that?" Bobby quickly corrects himself.

Athena turns the sink off and starts to dry her hands on the towel. "I'm weak. And he wants me to become stronger—no distractions." She hops off the chair. "Can I have that?"

Athena points at the beer bottle.

"No!"

Athena frowns, "But I'm thirsty."

"That's beer."

Athena raises her brows, she looks at the beer bottle and tilts her head. "Oh. I thought all beer was in a can. My dad gets that kind."

"I don't drink it though!" Athena quickly says. "Just wanted to make that clear."

"That's clear." Bobby raises her brows.

"Okay, good." Athena grabs the chair and starts to drag the chair back. "Why do people make fireplaces in Motels anyway?"

Bobby sighs quietly, he walks over to Athena and grabs the chair.

"I got it, kid."

Athena lets the chair go and smiles. "Awww, Bobby Singer has a heart—"

"Knock it off."

Athena chuckles, "Soooo...do you have any apple juice?"

"No. I have Strawberry Milk."

Athena's eyes widen, "Well, don't mind if I do..." she trots over to the refrigerator and opens it. She grabs one of the bottles of strawberry milk.

Bobby sets the chair at the table and turns to Athena. She quietly hums while opening her milk. Bobby smiles softly, but his smile soon saddens. How could Athena be so okay with John calling her weak? He wanted to find John Winchester and blow his brains out.

"You're not weak, Thena."

Athena stops drinking her strawberry milk and pulls her brows together. She looks at Bobby with wide eyes. "Wh-what?"

Bobby walks over to Athena and touches the top of her head. "You're not weak. Being who you are and standing up for what you believe in? Sounds pretty strong to me."

Athena presses her lips together as tears form in her eyes. She holds her arms out and opens and closes her hands, signifying Bobby to hug her.

Bobby quietly chuckles, he crouches down and Athena wraps her arms around his neck. The man touches the back of her head.

Bobby hears Athena quietly sniffle and his throat tightens.

"I've got ya, kid."

Bobby pulls Athena from his grip and wipes her tears. "How about we go to the toy shop today. We can get you something else?"

Athena raises her brows, "A board game?"

Bobby's brows furrow. "I don't know..."

"You don't know what a board game is?" Athena tilts her head.

"I don't know if you're gonna want to play a board game with me. You'll never win." Bobby ruffles her hair and stands up.

Bobby walks toward the door and opens it.

Athena's mouth hangs open. "Hey!"

The girl follows Bobby out the door.

Present

"Sam, we got here as fast as we could."

"Not fast enough."

Athena looks at her brother, the solemn and guilt-ridden expression across Sam's face.

"This doesn't make any sense, guys." Sam shakes his head. "Why would I even have these premonitions unless there was a chance I could stop them from happening?"

"I don't know," Dean says.

"We're all just going through this together." Athena shrugs.

"Yeah, but I'm the one with the premonition nightmares."

Athena presses her lips together and exhales a breath through her nose. "Well, that's obvious."

"So, what do you think killed him?" Sam inquires.

Dean shrugs, "Maybe the guy just killed himself."

"If Sam had a premonition about it--It's likely that it was something supernatural." Athena states.

"I watched it happen," Sam says. "He was murdered by something, Dean. It trapped him in the garage."

"A spirit, a poltergeist, what?" Dean questions.

"I don't know what it was." Sam states. "I don't know why I'm having these dreams. I don't know what the hell is happening."

Sam notices the expression across his brother's face and that just irks him. "What?"

"Nothing. Man, I'm just worried about you." Dean says.

"Well--don't look at me like that." Sam snaps.

Dean bunches his shoulders, "I'm not looking at you like anything."

"Though I got to say, you look like crap."

Athena nudges Dean with her elbow, "Don't be rude." she looks at Sam and grimaces. "On second thought...Dean has a point."

"Nice. Thanks, guys." Sam rolls his eyes.

Athena mouths an, 'I'm sorry'.

"Come on. Let's just pick this up in the morning, all right?" Dean speaks. He rounds the car. "We'll check out the house. We'll talk to the family."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Athena asks, pulling her brows together.

"Athena's got a point, Dean. You saw them. They're devastated." Sam says. "They're not gonna want to talk to us."

Dean thinks for a second. "Yeah, you're right. But I think I know why they will talk to."

Sam and Athena look at each other.

"Who?"

☆

"I cannot believe this..."

"This has got to be a whole new low for us." Sam shakes his head.

Athena looks down at the white gown she was in. Her hair was braided into two pigtails and she had a bible in her hand.

The door opens, revealing a man.

"Good afternoon," Dean speaks. "I'm Father Simmons. This is Father Freely."

"And this..." Dean pulls Athena into his side. Athena grunts quietly. "...is sister in training Minnie."

Athena waves a hand and smiles timidly. "Hello."

"We're new junior priests over at St. Augustine's. May we come in?"

The man steps to the side and lets the three inside.

"We're very sorry for your loss," Sam speaks.

"It's in difficult times like these when the Lord's guidance is the most needed--"

"You want to pitch your whole 'Lord has a plan' thing, fine." The man cuts the girl off. "Don't pitch it to me. My brother's dead."

Athena presses her lips together, "I understand. I'm sorry." she takes a step back and slightly stands behind Sam.

"Roger, please."

The man looks at the quiet girl and lets out a quiet sigh. "Excuse me." he walks past the siblings.

Sam and Dean look at the youngest Winchester. "You okay?" They chorus.

Athena slowly nods, "Yeah, I'm good. Thank you."

"I'm sorry about my brother-in-law." The woman walks toward the three. "He's just so upset about Jim's death."

"Would you like some coffee?" She inquires. The woman looks at the girl, "And what would you like?"

Athena scrunched her brows, "Do you have any strawberry milk?"

The woman raises her brows, "That's my son's favorite drink."

"No way!" Athena's mouth hangs open.

"He's right through that room if you wanna talk to him." Joan points at the kid sitting in the chair.

Athena starts to play with her charm bracelet, she looks at her brothers; wondering what to do.

Dean gives Athena a small smile, encouraging her to go ahead. They needed every perspective for this case. And if that meant Athena had to make new friends and ask questions about the case, then that's what had to be done.

Athena walks over to the kid, who was staring out the window. "Uh...hello." she holds a hand up in a comforting manner. "I'm Athena...what's your name?"

The kid looks at the auburn-haired girl. "Max."

"Well, it's...nice to meet you, Max." Athena looks at the ground. "I'm sorry about your father."

Max looks away from Athena for a second and she pulls her brows together. "Yeah--me too."

"So..." Athena sits in a chair across from Max. "...your mom tells me you like strawberry milk."

Max pulls his brows together, "Uh...yeah...?"

Athena raises her brows, "I do too!"

"Usually I meet people who like chocolate milk and they always bash strawberry milk..." Athena shakes her head in disbelief. "...It's nice to have someone on my side, y'know?"

Max couldn't help but crack a smile at Athena's odd excitement from strawberry milk. Athena's smile slightly grows. "Wanna see something cool?"

A crease forms between Max's brows, "Sure."

Athena grabs her bag from her shoulders and flips it toward Max. She points at the pin that had a strawberry milk carton on it. "I got it from the mall."

A small chuckle leaves Max's lips. Athena looks at Max and she tilts her head. She couldn't help but feel an intense pain coming from him. The girl takes the pin off her bag and holds it out to him. "Here."

Max raises his brows, "But, you seem so excited about it--I can't take this."

Athena shakes her head, "I'll get another." she shrugs. "I can just annoy my brothers to the Max--pun intended."

A soft laugh escapes Max's mouth and Athena laughs. He accepts the pin. "Thanks, Athena."

Athena smiles and dismissively waves her hand, "Pfft--don't worry about it."

The girl's smile becomes smaller, thinking about her next topic. "Max...can I ask you something--about your father?"

Max stops spinning the pin around and looks at her. Athena's jaw goes slack, seeing the fear in his eyes. But Max quickly recovers and clears his throat. "Yeah--go ahead."

"Well, what was he like?" Athena asks.

Max bunches his shoulders, "Just a normal dad."

Athena slowly nods her head, "Are you going to school?"

"I'm trying to save up for school, but it's hard," Max replies.

"Yeah, I bet." Athena lets out a breath. "I've always wanted to go to school--college or regular."

"Well, why don't you?" Max asks.

Athena shrugs, "I mean...I have other things that are important. Or I guess they're more important."

"Well, if it's not important to you then that shouldn't be your priority," Max advises. "Do what makes you happy."

Athena raises her brows, and a smile twitches onto her lips. "Oh...I can do that?"

Max raises his brows, "Yeah--and I'm just starting to realize that too."

The girl frowns, "Huh..."

Athena never thought about that before. The girl looks at the ground for a moment. "So when you found your dad..."

Max tenses. And Once again, Athena notices.

"I woke up." Max looks out the window. "I heard the engine running."

Max glances at Athena. "I don't know why he did it."

Athena chews the inside of her cheek. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. I know you want some answers."

Max slowly nods his head. Athena saw the way Max would get quiet and avoid eye contact as soon as she mentioned his father. The fear in his eyes was all too familiar to her.

"Athena."

The girl turns to her brothers. Athena raises her brows and looks back at Max. "It was nice meeting you, Max. I'm sorry it was under these conditions."

Max cracks a smile, "It was nice meeting you too, and...thank you for the pin."

"You cherish that with your life," Athena says in a dramatic tone.

Max chuckles. Sam and Dean look at each other, a knowing look on their faces. The way their sister was able to talk to anyone and have them warm up to her was something special.

☆

"So, what do you have?"

"A lot of nothing," Sam answers with a sigh.

Athena looks up from her math problems and at the wall of information, Sam pinned up.

"Nothing bad has happened in the Miller house since it was built," Sam informs his siblings.

"What about the land?" Dean asks.

"No graveyard, battlefields, tribal lands, or any other kind of atrocity on or near the property." Sam sits on the bed in defeat.

"Hey, man, I told you." Dean shrugs. "I searched that house up and down. There were no cold spots, no sulfur scent, nada."

"And the family said everything was normal?" Sam asks.

"If there was a Demon or Poltergeist in there, don't you think somebody would have noticed something?" Dean inquires. "I looked at the Infrared thermal scanner. There's nothing."

"Well, maybe the scanner's broken," Sam suggests.

Athena's mouth hangs open.

"Well..." the girl forces out a chuckle. "...that would be impossible since I was the one who made it."

Sam looks at his sister and winces, "Right--I'm sorry."

Athena squints her eyes and looks back at her math book.

"So, what, you think Jim Miller killed himself and my dream was just some sort of freakish coincidence?" Sam asks.

"I hate coincidences...they're so frustrating." Athena sighs. "I think that this is still a case."

"It just might not be something Supernatural about that house," Dean adds.

Athena taps her pencil against her chin. "Maybe it has nothing to do with the house..." the girl trails off her words, noticing Sam pressing his palms against his brow bones. Dean notices as well. "...maybe it's connected to Jim in some other way--Sam are you okay?" Athena stands up from her seat.

A pain-filled gasp comes from Sam and he sits on the floor, "My head!"

Athena's heart jumps into her throat. "Sam?!"

Dean and Athena run towards their brother. Athena falls to her knees while her breathing quickens. "Sam, what's going on?"

"Sam, talk to us."

Sam's eyes widen from the images running through his head. "It's happening again."

"Something's gonna kill Roger Miller."

☆

Flashback

"Look at where you landed!"

Bobby pulls his brows together, he looks at the game board and his eyes widen. His face scrunches up and Athena smiles.

"Balls!"

Athena snorts softly. She holds her hand out, "Pay up, Mr. Singer."

Bobby sighs, he flips through the pile of his money while grumbling. He holds out the colorful money toward Athena. The auburn haired girl's browns furrow.

"What?"

"You owe me $50."

Bobby's eyes widen, "Like hell!"

"I have two railroads." Athena folds her arms. "I get $50 if you land on either of them."

"Where does it say that?" Bobby squints his eyes.

Athena sighs, she grabs the paper and holds it out to Bobby. He grabs the paper and his eyes scan across the rules.

Bobby's jaw goes slack and he drops the rules. He looks at the smug girl. Athena shrugs a shoulder.

"Them's the rules, Singer." Athena presses her lips together.

Bobby grabs a 50 from his money pile and hands it to Athena. The girl grabs the money and snickers.

"Yeah, yeah...laugh it up." Bobby rolls his eyes. "Take all my money."

Athena blinks, "I am. That's what I'm doing."

The girl organizes her Monopoly money with content across her face. Bobby's smile lessens.

"Hey, kid."

Athena stops messing with her money and looks at the man. "Yeah?"

"Did your dad ever say when he was going to come back?"

And just like that Athena felt the pit in her stomach grow. The smile on her face lessens and she sinks into her seat.

"Does he ever?" She starts to pick at her knuckles. The girl quietly winces.

"I'm gonna tie your hands together if you keep picking at your skin like that." Bobby says.

Athena presses her lips into a timid smile. She stops picking at her knuckles and exhales through her nose.

"I think..." she trails off her sentence and looks at the table.

Bobby's eyes sadden. It broke his heart that Athena was afraid to speak her mind.

"Thena, listen to me." Bobby's voice was gentle.

The auburn haired girl looks back at him.

"In this house. You don't have to be afraid."

Athena's jaw goes slack. She looks off to the side and wipes her eyes before her tears could fall. She inhales a soft breath.

"I think he doesn't have any hope in me." Athena scratches the side of her nose. "My dad doesn't have hope that I'll be strong like Sam and Dean."

Bobby pulls his brows together.

"And honestly...he's right." Athena shrugs, a sad smile on her lips. "I'm just...a burden."

A deafening silence settles in the house. Athena wipes her nose, "Sorry, I just ruined game night."

Just like you ruin everything else.

"Looks like we're gonna have to prove your dad wrong then."

Athena blinks, she looks back at Bobby, noticing the comforting smile he had. "And we're gonna have to prove you wrong too."

Bobby stands up, "If you were a burden, I wouldn't take you in, y'know? I would most definitely kick you to the curb."

Athena chews the inside of her cheek. "Well, I'm glad that's not the case." she stands up. "Do you wanna play Uno?"

"Absolutely not."

Athena's mouth hangs open, "What? Why?"

"You get scary when we play Uno." Bobby shudders. "That game is banned in this house."

"Banned?"

Bobby nods and walks through the house, "Banned."

Athena follows after the man, "But...I only get scary when people double-card me or triple card or, or, or quadruple-card me! And I have to grab all the cards when I'm two cards away from winning--"

"We have apologized for that so many times." Bobby sighs.

"And I have forgiven you." Athena nods.

"So, you say."

"So, I say."

Bobby inhales and folds his arms. "How about instead of Uno we try knife throwing?"

Athena's eyes widen, "Wait--really? You always tell me no."

"Yeah, well...will that cheer you up?" Bobby questions.

"...maybe..."

"All right then. Let's go."

Author's Note:

Athena and Bobbys's relationship is very near and dear to me.