Post by anomaly on Feb 7, 2016 7:23:48 GMT
MAC:
There was a smile, as she was already formulating ideas. This… spring would be good for the project, he was entirely right. Less chance of issues then. And maybe he could help figure out whatever plan she decided to go with. She ….needed that sort of help. Distractions. It was just one of those things.
||That and you want to see him again. -there was that giggle again-||
Dear god help her now.
She was smiling warmly to him, as he said he hadn’t gotten to do that, agreeing with her statement. “Oh wow really? That… I think kind of trumps a foal. What did the baby get named?” She was still smiling. “Were you delivering the baby?” She always had questions it seemed. She was a smart girl, and getting to know him more.
If he ever got to the point where he trusted her that much, she would keep his secret. That was just how she was. Besides. That was what friends did. Right? right.
“I won’t…. worry about that… I mean…” She said softly, “The… best paths are the ones we make ourselves…no?” She smiled quietly at that, fingers brushing that cross again. “Faith… belief… its… a tricky thing right now… but… talking helps.” She said honestly.
“So thank you, Raleigh…”
She smiled a little more, he hadn’t detained her in the slightest. She knew that it was he that was the busier of the two. “I’ll… text you… let you know how the mare is doing…” She said softly. “I promise it won’t be during the middle of the night.” She chuckled a little, she didn’t think the mare was that far along in things.
She brushed his hand, and squeezed it gently.
“Be safe.”
She might have hugged him. But it was his work, and she didn’t know if it was appropriate. But… that little smile was there for him, as she peeked up to him.
She waved to Posey, as she was passing by her, and headed back to her car with a little smile.
||You… are adorable… y’know that?||
Shhhhhh. She grabbed her phone out of her pocket as it was starting to go off, and she answered quickly. “Ello?” She smiled a little. “Hi Nan… how are you?” She was talking back and forth with her for a little bit, making a list on a piece of paper as she sat in her car. She got the address and everything and smiled. “I promise… I don’t mind one bit. I am already in town… and this won’t be bad.” She said rather softly. “I don’t mind helping. Really. I’ll let you know as soon as I am done.” She said as she said goodbye and then pulled the two papers from Raleigh out of her pocket. She stuck the one number in her phone, for the station. And then Raleigh’s number in there.
-Hi, Its Mackenzie. Thank you again…-
That was the first text, followed by one of Zara on her pillow… just so he could laugh. There was a little caption on it –Zara claiming a pillow- She headed out, it would be a quick sort of errand.
It wasn’t long until Mac arrived at the store, picking up everything on the list, and a few extras. The one thing that was repeated on the call was no alcohol. So. That was not gotten. Sorrynotsorry. She paid for everything, packed up her car, and then glanced to the address again. She hummed a bit, as she drove, and then slipped the radio on.
||Wait… Mackenzie.||
Mackenzie shook her head. “Seriously… stop it. I don’t know… I’m losing it… obviously.” She pulled over for a moment, she rubbed her cheeks quietly, and very nearly called the station number, her fingers hovering over her phone before she shook her head.
||Mac… you need to pull it together… really. Suck it up buttercup. Not going anywhere. You aren’t crazy. Things will make sense eventually.||
Mac shook her head and got back on the road. “Then leave me alone.” She said it softly, brushing her cross.
She drove up to the house, popping the trunk as she was collecting the first bag of groceries. She tilted her head again, carrying it up to the door, knocking and waiting patiently. She remembered what Nan said, and she breathed in slowly. She knew that he was in a bad place at the moment, but she could do this. Really. It would be fine. She’d get home, check on the horses, and then… maybe see Raleigh tomorrow. It was a good plan. Decent plan.
||Well then…. little one… aren’t you on the most interesting of paths…||
She took in a slow breath. Waiting and smiling, yup. She was breathing. Yup. Nothing to see here people.
CHRIS:
After a couple hours at Kelley’s, a promise to Nan that he would come back in a couple days, and he couldn’t promise that he’d keep his nose clean. He tried not to make promises he couldn’t keep. He was glad he had gone after all, Nan had managed to lift his spirits and set his head straight after that moment of delirium. That’s all it was, he had been delirious from hunger.
Whistling, he slipped into his truck and headed home, his hand reached for the knob of the radio, then pulled away. What if it wasn’t a dream?
He shook his head and scoffed at himself, reaching in to switch on the radio, it was singing about old-time rock and roll. He sang with the words while heading home. Once he pulled into his driveway, it was about the Devil and Georgia. He went into his place, turned on the tv to watch the news, even if he wasn’t hunting anymore, he still watched for the signs.
Then he fell asleep on that full belly.
Until a knocking on the door woke him up. “Huh?” He jerked, no one knocked on his door. Ever. Dean and Sam never knocked on his door, they just walked in – even if it meant getting a gun in their faces. He called out from his couch, “yeah?” Slowly sitting upright, he winced, expecting there to be a banging headache, but none came.
Right. No alcohol.
Maybe he was just tripping again, like earlier. He stretched a little, groaning before moving to stand. He’d check it out anyway.
MAC:
Needless to say the one thing keeping her mostly sane right now was Raleigh. She had a new friend, that… was able to call it like he saw it. And it made things easier. She was always happy to help Nan out… and might do so more now. Maybe… a couple of days a week or something like that.
Raleigh’s influence at work here. He should be so proud.
At Chris’ door it was for certain not Dean and Sam… sorry Chris. Not nearly that cool. Not in the slightest. Instead. It was a grocery delivery. Short and sweet.
She could hear something just barely from inside. “Delivery!” She said with a bit of a smile.
Yep. No headache. No alcohol. It was like… an intervention minus the talking and the arguing. She was pretty ok with that. She bit her lip some, and sighed. She could hear a groan from inside.
||….Gotta be kidding me… just go in.||
She just looked down at the bag a moment. Unless she heard someone falling or something she wasn’t just going to barge in. Good heavens. That little voice in her head was trying to get her shot. Seriously.
CHRIS:
“Yeah, yeah, coming.” He hadn’t expected Nan to send someone so soon, then again, this is Nan he was thinking about. He shook his head with slight amusement while rubbing at his face, at least he had fallen asleep in clothes instead of just his boxers.
He opened the door, lifting his eyebrows, “sorry.” He muttered a bit, looking past her for a minute, “no one came with you right?”
He refocused on her again, intense stare before taking a step back, “sorry for the…” he gestured behind him, it wasn’t a horrible mess, but it wasn’t well-kept at all. This was the place he had taken up after Emma died, putting their cottage up for sale, and taking up in a cabin that they had purchased right before everything went to hell.
--
Of course Nan had already planned this, please. Nan thought of everything. So it was no surprise, and amusing that she was already here. All ready to go. Thankfully she had a good vehicle for getting up here.
Last thing she needed was to get stuck.
“Its ok, no worries.” She smiled a bit. “Just me.” She said as she was tilting her head a little bit. “Nan said you needed some groceries delivered. So… here I am.”
That stare made her fidget a little, as she adjusted the bag in her arms. “Its… fine… honestly. Don’t even worry about it. I…. get it.” She said as she watched him. “I’m Mackenzie.” She glanced back to her vehicle, then back to him. “I have a few more bags… but it won’t take me long to get them in and put away. Nan’s orders.” She chuckled.
||Wow… he looks… like hell.||
She was ignoring that. “It should be enough for a week… and then I’ll bring you more. Also per Nan.” She chuckled and shook her head again.
||God…Chris…||
She was mentally wishing that one away. Trying so very hard, as she was still waiting patiently to go inside. She wasn’t going to go against Nan’s orders, but she could tell that he seemed more than antsy about something.
--
“Right,” he gave a slight smile, “Nan’s orders.” He knew better than to mess with Nan, he shook his head, “ahhh…” His hand rubbed at the back of his neck, “can I help or…?” He wasn’t sure what to say, it was awkward having to deal with people.
“You know what, you do what you do, I’ll…” He took a look around, “Oh, by the way, Chris.” He pointed at himself, giving a slight nod before stepping back again to let her in. “I’m going to…” He trailed off again, giving a slight gesture towards the porch.
He’d at least look around instead of standing there staring at her. He couldn’t remember the last time he had someone there besides the brothers. He didn’t wait for her to answer, he slipped past her, giving an awkward nod as he stepped out onto the porch, his hands on his hips as he scanned the horizon, a scowl settling onto his features.
--
“You know Nan, she is… quite specific when she wants or needs something done. And she wanted to make sure that you were getting groceries.” She smiled a little. “I got it, I promise. I’ll be out of your hair in no time.” She said rather easily.
“Chris… Its nice to meet you. You can call me Mac.” She said as she was watching him let her by to head inside.
||Jesus Christ… he wasn’t kidding…. I haven’t been dead that long… I’d give him such crap…||
Mac blinked and almost dropped the bag that she was holding when she heard that, but was good. She didn’t. She got it to the counter, and headed back out for the others. She was gathering a couple of the other bags, bringing them in as she grabbed the last one, closing the trunk and headed in with that.
||You have to talk to him. Mackenzie. You have to. He looks like utter hell. You have to talk to him. Get him to open up. He’s being himself again. Jesus.||
-I am doing no such thing… I don’t even know this man…- She thought silently as she put away everything refrigerated, and then tilted her head, getting things put up in the pantry and whatnot, cleaning up after herself as she went.
||You don’t understand, Mackenzie… you… I know you are going through a rough time yourself…. I do. This isn’t fair.||
-Life isn’t fair.- She thought quietly. –But we make of it whatever we can- Needless to say she had been learning quite a bit from Raleigh.
--
When she stepped outside, he stepped a bit to his left to give her a bit of room, his eyes following her to the truck. He wanted to ask if he should help, but he decided not to. The quicker she was gone, the quicker things were back to normal. A slow nod as he noted with satisifaction that no one had followed the girl.
“Did you bring pie?” He finally asked as he followed her into the cabin, tilting his head again.
“Oh, and thanks.” He bobbed his head awkwardly, unsure what to do with himself as he hung back near the threshold of the door – still open behind him.
--
She wasn’t sure what to say to him to be honest. And that voice in her head was getting all the more insistent on it. To the point of it getting a bit much. A little overwhelming.
“I did. Actually.” She slipped it out and onto the counter for him. “Nan said its your favorite.” She brushed some hair behind her ear.
“You are welcome… honest. If you need something, you can call Nan… or…” She scribbled down her number, she left it on the counter by the pie. “I don’t mind stopping by and dropping things off if you think of something I mighta forgotten.” She saw him standing by the door. “I have to come into town twice a week anyway to get stuff for the animals.”
||Mackenzie. Swear to god. Don’t you dare leave. You can’t leave him like this. You are kidding me right now. If I was there… I could…||
The words drifted off, and like that, it was silent in her head again. Blessed silence.
“Sorry… I’m sure that you don’t need me babbling.” She said as she headed back that way. “I’ll… see you next week, Chris.” She said softly.
--
He gave her a smile, a more genuine one, “thank you.” He bobbed his head, “it’s fine it’s…” He did a little gesture, “it’s nice having someone else talking.” He hesistated, “you didn’t happen to see…” He trailed off, making a face as he looked away.
He wasn’t sure how to approach this without seeming like someone who belonged in an insane asylum.
A slight gesture to the door, before he stopped, “wait.” He frowned, “okay, I’m gonna seem crazy,” he blurted out, wrenching what courage he had left. “Did you see a woman, dark hair, blue eyes, out there?”
--
She smiled a little more, as he smiled that more genuine smile. It put her more at ease. For someone that had been tending her dying father, and not out all that often. This… had been a bit of an experience. Raleigh… was different. He was able to help her, and sort of get in her head. It was hard to explain.
Chris though, she smiled for again. “I um… I can stay… for a few minutes if you want.” She said easily. “Didn’t happen to see?” She paused a moment, and looked up to him.
||HOLYSHITHETHINKSHESAWME.||
God… see… he was thinking he was crazy… but… her she was. Hearing this… and paused, she didn’t give him that …. God you are nuts look, like so many would considering.
||MACKENZIE YOU TELL HIM RIGHT NOW.||
-God….. tone it down a little… if I tell him I’m hearing someone… in my head… he is going to think ME crazy. As it is…. I already told Raleigh I’m going to see a psychologist. Because this isn’t real. You. Aren’t real.-
She breathed in slowly. “I… didn’t…. but I would be more than happy to go looking… how long ago did you see her? Which way was she? I have one of those high powered lamps in the back of the truck.” She said as she was more than willing to go help him, obviously.
||Mac. Sweetie. You aren’t crazy. You are so far from crazy its ridiculous, considering what you have gone through. I know. That I am not being fair. Not… in the slightest. But I need your help. I need… you.||
--
He exhaled slowly, studying her, unsure how much he should tell her, she was probably just humoring her. Once again, he gave her that intense stare of his before giving a slight nod, “come here.” He waved her over to his room, holding up a hand. “I’m not one of those people,” he gestured to the bedroom, “just… stay here.” He ducked into his bedroom, whether she followed or not was her decision. He wouldn’t even blame her if she bolted.
He hurried to the makeshift nightstand near the bed, grabbing the only picture he had out of Emma. He had plenty of pictures of her, but all were in the storage. It still hurt him to look at her, almost like stabbing himself in the heart every. Fucking. Time.
He cleared his throat as he saw her smiling up at him, he could remember the very moment this picture was taken. She was laughing, trying to get him not to do it.
“Mac?” He finally spoke as he made his way back out of the room, holding the picture out in front of him. “Have you seen her?”
--
She saw that look, that way that he was studying her. She wasn’t humoring him, and if he knew her he would know that. Good god. Raleigh could more than agree with her on that one. That intense stair again, but this time she wasn’t fidgeting. Thank god.
She came closer as he waved her over, and she tilted her head. “Didn’t think y’were.” She said honestly. She stayed put, she wasn’t going into his bedroom…noooo.
||Good. Stay put.||
-For once you are agreeing with me? It’s a bloody miracle.-
||Just… close your eyes for a moment Mac…||
She did that… she shouldn’t have… as she was surprised.
||That… what you saw? That was me. Before I died.||
She blinked some as she opened her eyes, composing herself as she was hearing him coming back. It had taken a moment, and she was grateful that it had taken him time to get back out to her.
||…. Say yes… Mackenzie. Say yes. Say that you hear me. Let him know that I’m not gone. Come on, please… god… help me here Mackenzie. You are my only hope. ….God that sounded cheesy. But you are. Just… please….||
Mackenzie heard the way he said her name, and then she was quiet… so quiet for a moment as he held that picture out, and her cheeks paled just ever so slightly. She nodded quietly a moment. The words were lost. All ability to speak… absolutely lost. What on earth was happening to her.
||I told him not to take that picture… but he was so insistent….||
The voice was so quiet as Mac took a step backwards. “You… You aren’t the crazy one, Chris…” She didn’t even trust herself to speak as she was trying to pull it back together.
--
When she looked, he spoke again, his voice soft – full of pain, “This was Emma,” he pulled the picture away from her sight, staring down at it. “she was…” He was trying to figure out what to say about her, finally, he just simply said, “my wife.” There were so many words, but none made sense.
He looked up from the picture to Mackenzie’s face, seeing her pale. “What’s wrong?” He blinked, quickly putting a hand on Mac’s shoulder, “go, sit, sit.” He was worried that she’d pass out and he would get in trouble.
Man, Nan would bring down the wrath of all angels on top of his head if that really happened.
--
“Emma…. So…. That’s…. that’s her name…” She frowned, that voice… so full of pain, and then he was staring at that picture. “Your… wife…” She bit her lip, telling herself that she needed to breathe, not that it was doing any good.
||…. Hi Mac…. I’m Emma… it’s a pleasure to meet you in some form or another…||
That breathing thing was sort of out the window, as she was feeling his hand on her shoulder, heard his words and moved to do just that. This… was never going to be spoken about with Nan.
God knows.
She rubbed her cheeks quietly, trying to get color back there, even if she couldn’t really breathe.
||Mackenzie… sweetheart… I know this is a lot… but you are fine… you need to pull it together.||
She ducked her head more, her breathing needed to calm or she would pass out. And she couldn’t have that.
--
When she sat down, he moved to the kitchen, putting Emma’s picture down on the counter. “I’d offer something stronger than water, but…” He shook his head, trying to remember if he even had any cups, he opened a couple cupboards before happening on one with mixed mugs. He grabbed a random one, filled it with water and carried it over to her.
“What’s going on?” He held out the mug.
“Did I…” He stood there awkwardly, “did I do something?” He tried to remember what he did or said, it wasn’t like he had done much.
--
She tilted her head a little bit, as she heard him talking to her, Emma, trying to calm her down at the same time. “Nan said no.” She managed that out at least, as she accepted the mug. Her fingers were shaking and she was trying to decide quietly.
“You… didn’t do anything… Chris… honest…” Her voice was quiet, so very much so. “Y’might… think I’m crazy… and… I… can’t tell you I’m not…” She whispered.
She bit her lip. “I… “
||Come on… Mac…. You got this… I promise you… he’s heard and seen stranger.||
She was still looking at her hands. “She…. She…. That picture… she hadn’t wanted you to take it… grumbled with you… but then let you…” She whispered, then drank a little of the water, knowing that it would help at least a little bit.
--
“Of course Nan did,” he smiled at her, amused by the fact that Nan managed to make sure that Chris wouldn’t get into the stuff. “Thanks,” he was glad that she had listened, there was at least someone who cared.
He moved back a bit, ready to sit down, but decided against it. Something in the tone of her voice made him tense up. He studied her, waiting for her to just say it.
“Excuse me?” His voice dropped, he looked down at her.
--
She heard that, saw the smile, but she breathed in shakily. “You are welcome…” She was listening… he had been listening. And… she did care. Probably a little more now… considering what was going on.
“My… dad… he died…. The night of his death… I started… hearing… things. This… girl.” She saw him looking down to her. “I saw her before you showed me… because she showed me. Because… I hear her.” She shook her head. “And… you don’t believe me…” She sighed. “That tone….” She was shoving herself to her feet, “You think I’m crazy.” She bit her lip, setting that mug in the sink, before she was moving to the door.
“She said you should clean up… if she were here… she would have given you shit.” The way she said a curse word was the most awkward thing in the world. And it was obvious that she didn’t curse much. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything…”
||Mackenzie. I was pregnant. Not many people know that. Use that. He’ll trust you… I hope.||
-He won’t. He doesn’t. I can’t. I’m sorry.-
She was starting to open the door back up again.
--
“I didn’t say crazy,” he started up, studying her. “I just…” He was wrestling with himself internally, a part of him wanted to attack her and violently shake her, scream at her for fucking with him like this; another part of him hoped. Hoped so hard that it made it difficult to breathe.
“Just…” He trailed off again, flexing his hands at his sides, “what the fuck?” He finally whispered, staring at her, watching her move.
It was true, Emma would have given him shit, hell, she would have held a strike until he cleaned the place.
“What the fuck?” He muttered again.
--
“You are thinking it…that…look… your tone.” She whispered it, “I’ve… thought I was…. I…have been certain of it. She didn’t tell me her name… until today. And she asked me to help her.”
||…Ok lets not overshare shall we Mackenzie.||
“I’m a farmgirl.” She said simply. “I…. have… watched my father… wither away and die. The last thing that I would ever… do… is screw with someone else… especially when they lost so much in the process.” Her voice quite nearly sounded hurt. But she couldn’t blame him. Not at all. Not even a little bit.
“I don’t know… why I hear her. I don’t know… I just… with… as fast as you tried to … make sure I was ok… before all this… you would have made an excellent dad… and… I’m sorry.” She whispered, she was slipping out the door. Honestly her head was absolutely killing her, the sharing… the talking… it had been more pronounced, and Emma had overdone it with Mac to a degree, as she felt something.. a trickle and brushed her nose, blinking as she saw a bit of blood.
This was just the worst.
--
He stood there, his fingers curling – his hands making fists. He was unsure what to do, everything in him was at war now. His shoulders hunched around his shoulders, he tilted his head, trying to remember where he had stashed the holy water. Or had he forgotten to do that when he moved everything he needed over into this place.
Fuck.
` You would have made an excellent dad ` hit him hard. He immediately gasped, trying to catch his breath, he doubled over, hands on his knees. He wasn’t sure anymore.
“Emma?” He finally whispered as he stared at Mac, his eyes on the blood trickling out of her nose.
--
She didn’t know what to do, or how to handle this, if she could call Raleigh she would, but she knew that he was still on his shift. And….calling him for this… well. She would have to talk to him. She knew that.
She heard that gasp, from behind her. And she wasn’t evil… really she wasn’t… she moved back over to him, not concerned about herself as she touched his shoulder with trembling fingers.
||Mackenzie… you need to rest when you get home. I… shouldn’t have pushed you…I’m sorry for that.||
Mac looked to him, biting at her lip. “I… promise… I wouldn’t lie about this… she… is worried about you…”
--
He just kind of shook her hand off his shoulder, a slight nod, he straightened up, his hands sliding over his sides to dry off his palms. He didn’t trust himself right now. Was that really Emma in her? He did know that angels grabbed vessels. The past events told him that much, but he had thought that mess had stopped.
Then again, after he got out, he didn’t keep his ear to the ground; he chose blissful ignorance. Well, whatever bliss he got from drinking himself to sleep every night.
He shook his head a bit.
“Of course,” he mumbled, then frowned at her, “why you?”
--
She frowned and backed up as he did that. “I…. can’t answer that… and… she is quiet right now. She thinks she pushed me. And … is afraid to hurt me.” She was getting to where she could…read between the lines a bit with Emma’s words.
“I…. don’t know why this is happening.” She whispered that, her hand brushing her nose again. “I don’t know why it was me… I’m… no one special.” She said softly. She had no idea about… any of it. Vessels. Angels. Demons. Hunters.
She was born and raised on a farm. And her faith… was shaky at best. Raleigh was working on that. But this? This… she didn’t know what it fell under.
--
Chris stared at her, unsure how to process those words. Why would his wife suddenly come back now? He had made sure everything of hers was burned, he had been sure of it. Chris shook his head slowly. “Okay,” he wasn’t even sure what the hell was expected of him now.
“Just…” He shifted away from her to go get a dishtowel for her nose, he walked back over to her. “Here.” He frowned a bit at her nose, “maybe you should go home and rest.”
Silence, he chuckled, “there’s no rhyme or reason for possession of a vessel.” He stopped himself, frowning. He shouldn’t even be thinking like that, he was done being a hunter.
--
“Ok?” She blinked, how was she supposed to know how to deal with this?! Um. She promised she didn’t ask for his dearly departed wife to take her over in some way.
She blinked and pressed that to her nose, tipping her head back slowly. “That’s… what she told me too.” She paused. “Dear sweet …. I will. I’ll… rest… after I check on the horses.” She mumbled. She would rest… then call Raleigh. Because… god knows. He had said he would come by and help her when the mare was ready to deliver, at least as long as he was off his shift.
“I’m sorry… ….. A vessel what? Possession?” She blinked more, now she wasn’t sure how to take any of that. “What are you talking about, Chris…”
--
“Do you have someone to take care of you?” He remembered her talking about her father passing away, he moved to drop into one of the chairs, “you said your dad…” He trailed off, looking over at her with a concerned little look. “Are you taking care of everyone else?”
Pieces were slowly falling into place, it explained why Emma would come to Mac. It was how she had been in life, makes sense she would continue to be like so in death.
But why now? Why a year later?
He gave a soft chuckle, “you really don’t know do you?” His voice was soft, he tilted his head as he studied her, choosing his words. “Sometimes a person is in need of…” He gestured with a hand, “some sort of intervention, good or bad, and they get taken over.” He frowned for a moment, “sometimes it’s with permission, sometimes it’s not.” He shifted to stand, “you’re not hurting, are you?”
--
“Someone… to…” She bit her lip some. “My… family…has… been checking in with me. My mom… is staying with my Aunt. But… someone has to watch after the farm… so that’s me.” She said as she looked to him. “I… have a friend… new friend… he… is a paramedic… he… said I could talk to him too.” She tilted her head some. “I’ve… been watching out for them as much as I can though…” She brushed some hair away, moving the towel a moment, to test things.
“I… really… don’t… I … was to the point of going to see a psychologist… because I have thought myself crazy…” She said quietly. “I um… usually not… my head hurts right now though…” She said as she was watching him standing back up now. “Why?”
--
“Do I need to call him to make sure he can check on you later?” He watched her, concern in his eyes and voice. It wasn’t just because his late wife might be possessing Mackenzie, but because this was a young girl sitting there with a bloody towel on her face.
“I think she took you over to help you,” he frowned a bit, “with your dad.” His voice was soft, he wished he had something like that when it happened to him.
A shake of his head, “sometimes a possession physically hurts. Like… your body can’t hold the being.” He watched her, “if it gets to that point, tell me.” A pause, he wasn’t even sure what to do or say. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He fretted.
--
“Nono… I um…. He’s on his shift right now… I don’t want to worry him… but I did tell him I would text him when I got back and checked on the mare. So… I’ll do that. I promise.” She said softly. It seemed to have stopped for now.
“I…. she… is encouraging. She is… but… it wasn’t just for me. I know that much… it was for you too… though…” She knew that much without a doubt now. “My… dad… had been sick for some time… its hard… without him… but… he’s in a better place now.” She said it with more of a reassuring tone. Raleigh would be proud of her.
“I…. will let you know.” She said, sighing a little bit. “I’m… I’m ok… are you ok?” She asked softly. “I mean… I can text you too. When I get back.” She said as she was getting up slowly. She didn’t want to stain his towel, and was washing out the blood in the sink.
--
“Okay,” he frowned a bit, “call me when you get home, or text me, whatever works.” He flapped a hand, he wasn’t even sure what young people did nowadays. Well it wasn’t that he was that old, he just felt so disconnected. He bobbed his head a bit, checking her nose quickly, he wasn’t going to reach out and touch her. The girl was freaked. Hell, he was freaked.
“That’s…” He trailed off, nodding, choked up. “Emma,” he finally managed, wrenching so many words into one simple word; her name.
“Uh,” he chuckled when he was asked if he was okay, how could he be okay after realizing his wife was still around, in another person’s body? He wasn’t even sure if he believed it. If he hadn’t seen some crazy shit in his past, he wouldn’t have believed it at all. “Okay,” he gave a quirk of a smile. I’ll be here.” He tilted his head, “when you come back next time, if you want to…” He trailed off, rubbing at the back of his neck, “I might have a book somewhere about possessions, might help you make some sense of this.”
--
I… will do that….” She said softly, as she was trying to figure all of this out. I mean… this …. This was a lot for her. She saw him checking her nose. “I… think I’m ok… I do… If I’m not… I’ll call you.” She said as she was ready to sort of run. But not.
“It… seems like it… I’m learning…” She said softly. “Make sure you eat… I’ll…. I’ll be checking back…” She paused. “I… do have orders from Nan after all… and… I want to.” She nodded all the more. “I’d… like that… to read about it.” She said softly. “Thank you… for looking for it for me…” She said as she watched him.
--
He gave her a smile, it was soft and unsure all at once, he dropped his eyes from her to the ground. “I’ll look for it,” then he bobbed his head, “I’ll eat. Nan will come up here and kill me if I don’t, I can’t picture her up here.” A chuckle fell from his lips, he gestured to the door, “you can go if you want. You don’t need to stay here.”
--
There… was a little smile from her as well. “I’ll… come back soon… I will…” She said softly. “Yea… I … can’t picture her up here either… and… good heavens knows… she would be grumpy.” She chuckled a little “I… we… I… there is a mare… that is pregnant. She is just going to give birth at any time… so… I should get back… check on her.” Her words… quiet a moment. “If… I didn’t have that. I would stay.” She said rather honestly. This… was a weird situation for the both of them. And she wasn’t sure how to feel about it.
--
Chris chuckled at her, “go take care of her. I hope she has a good birth.” He rubbed at his hands and walked over to the door, “drive safe.” A tilt of his head, “and thank you for the food.” He paused, “and for…” He gestured to Mac in general, he wasn’t even sure what he was supposed to say - `thank you for carrying my dead wife`? He opened the door, “I’ll even clean up next time,” he looked around the cabin, “you’re right, Emma would give me shit.”
--
“Thank you… me too.” She was walking over with him, and then up to him as he started to thank her for things. “You… are welcome.. and.. um… you are welcome...” She sort of knew what he was thanking her for… but god there was NOT a card at Hallmark for that. “Yup…so will I.” She smiled a little more. “I’ll drive safe. And let you know as soon as I am home.”
And… she did just that. There was a text when she got to her house. –Mare is still good… upstairs and going to get some sleep… text me if you need me… M.-
There was a smile, as she was already formulating ideas. This… spring would be good for the project, he was entirely right. Less chance of issues then. And maybe he could help figure out whatever plan she decided to go with. She ….needed that sort of help. Distractions. It was just one of those things.
||That and you want to see him again. -there was that giggle again-||
Dear god help her now.
She was smiling warmly to him, as he said he hadn’t gotten to do that, agreeing with her statement. “Oh wow really? That… I think kind of trumps a foal. What did the baby get named?” She was still smiling. “Were you delivering the baby?” She always had questions it seemed. She was a smart girl, and getting to know him more.
If he ever got to the point where he trusted her that much, she would keep his secret. That was just how she was. Besides. That was what friends did. Right? right.
“I won’t…. worry about that… I mean…” She said softly, “The… best paths are the ones we make ourselves…no?” She smiled quietly at that, fingers brushing that cross again. “Faith… belief… its… a tricky thing right now… but… talking helps.” She said honestly.
“So thank you, Raleigh…”
She smiled a little more, he hadn’t detained her in the slightest. She knew that it was he that was the busier of the two. “I’ll… text you… let you know how the mare is doing…” She said softly. “I promise it won’t be during the middle of the night.” She chuckled a little, she didn’t think the mare was that far along in things.
She brushed his hand, and squeezed it gently.
“Be safe.”
She might have hugged him. But it was his work, and she didn’t know if it was appropriate. But… that little smile was there for him, as she peeked up to him.
She waved to Posey, as she was passing by her, and headed back to her car with a little smile.
||You… are adorable… y’know that?||
Shhhhhh. She grabbed her phone out of her pocket as it was starting to go off, and she answered quickly. “Ello?” She smiled a little. “Hi Nan… how are you?” She was talking back and forth with her for a little bit, making a list on a piece of paper as she sat in her car. She got the address and everything and smiled. “I promise… I don’t mind one bit. I am already in town… and this won’t be bad.” She said rather softly. “I don’t mind helping. Really. I’ll let you know as soon as I am done.” She said as she said goodbye and then pulled the two papers from Raleigh out of her pocket. She stuck the one number in her phone, for the station. And then Raleigh’s number in there.
-Hi, Its Mackenzie. Thank you again…-
That was the first text, followed by one of Zara on her pillow… just so he could laugh. There was a little caption on it –Zara claiming a pillow- She headed out, it would be a quick sort of errand.
It wasn’t long until Mac arrived at the store, picking up everything on the list, and a few extras. The one thing that was repeated on the call was no alcohol. So. That was not gotten. Sorrynotsorry. She paid for everything, packed up her car, and then glanced to the address again. She hummed a bit, as she drove, and then slipped the radio on.
||Wait… Mackenzie.||
Mackenzie shook her head. “Seriously… stop it. I don’t know… I’m losing it… obviously.” She pulled over for a moment, she rubbed her cheeks quietly, and very nearly called the station number, her fingers hovering over her phone before she shook her head.
||Mac… you need to pull it together… really. Suck it up buttercup. Not going anywhere. You aren’t crazy. Things will make sense eventually.||
Mac shook her head and got back on the road. “Then leave me alone.” She said it softly, brushing her cross.
She drove up to the house, popping the trunk as she was collecting the first bag of groceries. She tilted her head again, carrying it up to the door, knocking and waiting patiently. She remembered what Nan said, and she breathed in slowly. She knew that he was in a bad place at the moment, but she could do this. Really. It would be fine. She’d get home, check on the horses, and then… maybe see Raleigh tomorrow. It was a good plan. Decent plan.
||Well then…. little one… aren’t you on the most interesting of paths…||
She took in a slow breath. Waiting and smiling, yup. She was breathing. Yup. Nothing to see here people.
CHRIS:
After a couple hours at Kelley’s, a promise to Nan that he would come back in a couple days, and he couldn’t promise that he’d keep his nose clean. He tried not to make promises he couldn’t keep. He was glad he had gone after all, Nan had managed to lift his spirits and set his head straight after that moment of delirium. That’s all it was, he had been delirious from hunger.
Whistling, he slipped into his truck and headed home, his hand reached for the knob of the radio, then pulled away. What if it wasn’t a dream?
He shook his head and scoffed at himself, reaching in to switch on the radio, it was singing about old-time rock and roll. He sang with the words while heading home. Once he pulled into his driveway, it was about the Devil and Georgia. He went into his place, turned on the tv to watch the news, even if he wasn’t hunting anymore, he still watched for the signs.
Then he fell asleep on that full belly.
Until a knocking on the door woke him up. “Huh?” He jerked, no one knocked on his door. Ever. Dean and Sam never knocked on his door, they just walked in – even if it meant getting a gun in their faces. He called out from his couch, “yeah?” Slowly sitting upright, he winced, expecting there to be a banging headache, but none came.
Right. No alcohol.
Maybe he was just tripping again, like earlier. He stretched a little, groaning before moving to stand. He’d check it out anyway.
MAC:
Needless to say the one thing keeping her mostly sane right now was Raleigh. She had a new friend, that… was able to call it like he saw it. And it made things easier. She was always happy to help Nan out… and might do so more now. Maybe… a couple of days a week or something like that.
Raleigh’s influence at work here. He should be so proud.
At Chris’ door it was for certain not Dean and Sam… sorry Chris. Not nearly that cool. Not in the slightest. Instead. It was a grocery delivery. Short and sweet.
She could hear something just barely from inside. “Delivery!” She said with a bit of a smile.
Yep. No headache. No alcohol. It was like… an intervention minus the talking and the arguing. She was pretty ok with that. She bit her lip some, and sighed. She could hear a groan from inside.
||….Gotta be kidding me… just go in.||
She just looked down at the bag a moment. Unless she heard someone falling or something she wasn’t just going to barge in. Good heavens. That little voice in her head was trying to get her shot. Seriously.
CHRIS:
“Yeah, yeah, coming.” He hadn’t expected Nan to send someone so soon, then again, this is Nan he was thinking about. He shook his head with slight amusement while rubbing at his face, at least he had fallen asleep in clothes instead of just his boxers.
He opened the door, lifting his eyebrows, “sorry.” He muttered a bit, looking past her for a minute, “no one came with you right?”
He refocused on her again, intense stare before taking a step back, “sorry for the…” he gestured behind him, it wasn’t a horrible mess, but it wasn’t well-kept at all. This was the place he had taken up after Emma died, putting their cottage up for sale, and taking up in a cabin that they had purchased right before everything went to hell.
--
Of course Nan had already planned this, please. Nan thought of everything. So it was no surprise, and amusing that she was already here. All ready to go. Thankfully she had a good vehicle for getting up here.
Last thing she needed was to get stuck.
“Its ok, no worries.” She smiled a bit. “Just me.” She said as she was tilting her head a little bit. “Nan said you needed some groceries delivered. So… here I am.”
That stare made her fidget a little, as she adjusted the bag in her arms. “Its… fine… honestly. Don’t even worry about it. I…. get it.” She said as she watched him. “I’m Mackenzie.” She glanced back to her vehicle, then back to him. “I have a few more bags… but it won’t take me long to get them in and put away. Nan’s orders.” She chuckled.
||Wow… he looks… like hell.||
She was ignoring that. “It should be enough for a week… and then I’ll bring you more. Also per Nan.” She chuckled and shook her head again.
||God…Chris…||
She was mentally wishing that one away. Trying so very hard, as she was still waiting patiently to go inside. She wasn’t going to go against Nan’s orders, but she could tell that he seemed more than antsy about something.
--
“Right,” he gave a slight smile, “Nan’s orders.” He knew better than to mess with Nan, he shook his head, “ahhh…” His hand rubbed at the back of his neck, “can I help or…?” He wasn’t sure what to say, it was awkward having to deal with people.
“You know what, you do what you do, I’ll…” He took a look around, “Oh, by the way, Chris.” He pointed at himself, giving a slight nod before stepping back again to let her in. “I’m going to…” He trailed off again, giving a slight gesture towards the porch.
He’d at least look around instead of standing there staring at her. He couldn’t remember the last time he had someone there besides the brothers. He didn’t wait for her to answer, he slipped past her, giving an awkward nod as he stepped out onto the porch, his hands on his hips as he scanned the horizon, a scowl settling onto his features.
--
“You know Nan, she is… quite specific when she wants or needs something done. And she wanted to make sure that you were getting groceries.” She smiled a little. “I got it, I promise. I’ll be out of your hair in no time.” She said rather easily.
“Chris… Its nice to meet you. You can call me Mac.” She said as she was watching him let her by to head inside.
||Jesus Christ… he wasn’t kidding…. I haven’t been dead that long… I’d give him such crap…||
Mac blinked and almost dropped the bag that she was holding when she heard that, but was good. She didn’t. She got it to the counter, and headed back out for the others. She was gathering a couple of the other bags, bringing them in as she grabbed the last one, closing the trunk and headed in with that.
||You have to talk to him. Mackenzie. You have to. He looks like utter hell. You have to talk to him. Get him to open up. He’s being himself again. Jesus.||
-I am doing no such thing… I don’t even know this man…- She thought silently as she put away everything refrigerated, and then tilted her head, getting things put up in the pantry and whatnot, cleaning up after herself as she went.
||You don’t understand, Mackenzie… you… I know you are going through a rough time yourself…. I do. This isn’t fair.||
-Life isn’t fair.- She thought quietly. –But we make of it whatever we can- Needless to say she had been learning quite a bit from Raleigh.
--
When she stepped outside, he stepped a bit to his left to give her a bit of room, his eyes following her to the truck. He wanted to ask if he should help, but he decided not to. The quicker she was gone, the quicker things were back to normal. A slow nod as he noted with satisifaction that no one had followed the girl.
“Did you bring pie?” He finally asked as he followed her into the cabin, tilting his head again.
“Oh, and thanks.” He bobbed his head awkwardly, unsure what to do with himself as he hung back near the threshold of the door – still open behind him.
--
She wasn’t sure what to say to him to be honest. And that voice in her head was getting all the more insistent on it. To the point of it getting a bit much. A little overwhelming.
“I did. Actually.” She slipped it out and onto the counter for him. “Nan said its your favorite.” She brushed some hair behind her ear.
“You are welcome… honest. If you need something, you can call Nan… or…” She scribbled down her number, she left it on the counter by the pie. “I don’t mind stopping by and dropping things off if you think of something I mighta forgotten.” She saw him standing by the door. “I have to come into town twice a week anyway to get stuff for the animals.”
||Mackenzie. Swear to god. Don’t you dare leave. You can’t leave him like this. You are kidding me right now. If I was there… I could…||
The words drifted off, and like that, it was silent in her head again. Blessed silence.
“Sorry… I’m sure that you don’t need me babbling.” She said as she headed back that way. “I’ll… see you next week, Chris.” She said softly.
--
He gave her a smile, a more genuine one, “thank you.” He bobbed his head, “it’s fine it’s…” He did a little gesture, “it’s nice having someone else talking.” He hesistated, “you didn’t happen to see…” He trailed off, making a face as he looked away.
He wasn’t sure how to approach this without seeming like someone who belonged in an insane asylum.
A slight gesture to the door, before he stopped, “wait.” He frowned, “okay, I’m gonna seem crazy,” he blurted out, wrenching what courage he had left. “Did you see a woman, dark hair, blue eyes, out there?”
--
She smiled a little more, as he smiled that more genuine smile. It put her more at ease. For someone that had been tending her dying father, and not out all that often. This… had been a bit of an experience. Raleigh… was different. He was able to help her, and sort of get in her head. It was hard to explain.
Chris though, she smiled for again. “I um… I can stay… for a few minutes if you want.” She said easily. “Didn’t happen to see?” She paused a moment, and looked up to him.
||HOLYSHITHETHINKSHESAWME.||
God… see… he was thinking he was crazy… but… her she was. Hearing this… and paused, she didn’t give him that …. God you are nuts look, like so many would considering.
||MACKENZIE YOU TELL HIM RIGHT NOW.||
-God….. tone it down a little… if I tell him I’m hearing someone… in my head… he is going to think ME crazy. As it is…. I already told Raleigh I’m going to see a psychologist. Because this isn’t real. You. Aren’t real.-
She breathed in slowly. “I… didn’t…. but I would be more than happy to go looking… how long ago did you see her? Which way was she? I have one of those high powered lamps in the back of the truck.” She said as she was more than willing to go help him, obviously.
||Mac. Sweetie. You aren’t crazy. You are so far from crazy its ridiculous, considering what you have gone through. I know. That I am not being fair. Not… in the slightest. But I need your help. I need… you.||
--
He exhaled slowly, studying her, unsure how much he should tell her, she was probably just humoring her. Once again, he gave her that intense stare of his before giving a slight nod, “come here.” He waved her over to his room, holding up a hand. “I’m not one of those people,” he gestured to the bedroom, “just… stay here.” He ducked into his bedroom, whether she followed or not was her decision. He wouldn’t even blame her if she bolted.
He hurried to the makeshift nightstand near the bed, grabbing the only picture he had out of Emma. He had plenty of pictures of her, but all were in the storage. It still hurt him to look at her, almost like stabbing himself in the heart every. Fucking. Time.
He cleared his throat as he saw her smiling up at him, he could remember the very moment this picture was taken. She was laughing, trying to get him not to do it.
“Mac?” He finally spoke as he made his way back out of the room, holding the picture out in front of him. “Have you seen her?”
--
She saw that look, that way that he was studying her. She wasn’t humoring him, and if he knew her he would know that. Good god. Raleigh could more than agree with her on that one. That intense stair again, but this time she wasn’t fidgeting. Thank god.
She came closer as he waved her over, and she tilted her head. “Didn’t think y’were.” She said honestly. She stayed put, she wasn’t going into his bedroom…noooo.
||Good. Stay put.||
-For once you are agreeing with me? It’s a bloody miracle.-
||Just… close your eyes for a moment Mac…||
She did that… she shouldn’t have… as she was surprised.
||That… what you saw? That was me. Before I died.||
She blinked some as she opened her eyes, composing herself as she was hearing him coming back. It had taken a moment, and she was grateful that it had taken him time to get back out to her.
||…. Say yes… Mackenzie. Say yes. Say that you hear me. Let him know that I’m not gone. Come on, please… god… help me here Mackenzie. You are my only hope. ….God that sounded cheesy. But you are. Just… please….||
Mackenzie heard the way he said her name, and then she was quiet… so quiet for a moment as he held that picture out, and her cheeks paled just ever so slightly. She nodded quietly a moment. The words were lost. All ability to speak… absolutely lost. What on earth was happening to her.
||I told him not to take that picture… but he was so insistent….||
The voice was so quiet as Mac took a step backwards. “You… You aren’t the crazy one, Chris…” She didn’t even trust herself to speak as she was trying to pull it back together.
--
When she looked, he spoke again, his voice soft – full of pain, “This was Emma,” he pulled the picture away from her sight, staring down at it. “she was…” He was trying to figure out what to say about her, finally, he just simply said, “my wife.” There were so many words, but none made sense.
He looked up from the picture to Mackenzie’s face, seeing her pale. “What’s wrong?” He blinked, quickly putting a hand on Mac’s shoulder, “go, sit, sit.” He was worried that she’d pass out and he would get in trouble.
Man, Nan would bring down the wrath of all angels on top of his head if that really happened.
--
“Emma…. So…. That’s…. that’s her name…” She frowned, that voice… so full of pain, and then he was staring at that picture. “Your… wife…” She bit her lip, telling herself that she needed to breathe, not that it was doing any good.
||…. Hi Mac…. I’m Emma… it’s a pleasure to meet you in some form or another…||
That breathing thing was sort of out the window, as she was feeling his hand on her shoulder, heard his words and moved to do just that. This… was never going to be spoken about with Nan.
God knows.
She rubbed her cheeks quietly, trying to get color back there, even if she couldn’t really breathe.
||Mackenzie… sweetheart… I know this is a lot… but you are fine… you need to pull it together.||
She ducked her head more, her breathing needed to calm or she would pass out. And she couldn’t have that.
--
When she sat down, he moved to the kitchen, putting Emma’s picture down on the counter. “I’d offer something stronger than water, but…” He shook his head, trying to remember if he even had any cups, he opened a couple cupboards before happening on one with mixed mugs. He grabbed a random one, filled it with water and carried it over to her.
“What’s going on?” He held out the mug.
“Did I…” He stood there awkwardly, “did I do something?” He tried to remember what he did or said, it wasn’t like he had done much.
--
She tilted her head a little bit, as she heard him talking to her, Emma, trying to calm her down at the same time. “Nan said no.” She managed that out at least, as she accepted the mug. Her fingers were shaking and she was trying to decide quietly.
“You… didn’t do anything… Chris… honest…” Her voice was quiet, so very much so. “Y’might… think I’m crazy… and… I… can’t tell you I’m not…” She whispered.
She bit her lip. “I… “
||Come on… Mac…. You got this… I promise you… he’s heard and seen stranger.||
She was still looking at her hands. “She…. She…. That picture… she hadn’t wanted you to take it… grumbled with you… but then let you…” She whispered, then drank a little of the water, knowing that it would help at least a little bit.
--
“Of course Nan did,” he smiled at her, amused by the fact that Nan managed to make sure that Chris wouldn’t get into the stuff. “Thanks,” he was glad that she had listened, there was at least someone who cared.
He moved back a bit, ready to sit down, but decided against it. Something in the tone of her voice made him tense up. He studied her, waiting for her to just say it.
“Excuse me?” His voice dropped, he looked down at her.
--
She heard that, saw the smile, but she breathed in shakily. “You are welcome…” She was listening… he had been listening. And… she did care. Probably a little more now… considering what was going on.
“My… dad… he died…. The night of his death… I started… hearing… things. This… girl.” She saw him looking down to her. “I saw her before you showed me… because she showed me. Because… I hear her.” She shook her head. “And… you don’t believe me…” She sighed. “That tone….” She was shoving herself to her feet, “You think I’m crazy.” She bit her lip, setting that mug in the sink, before she was moving to the door.
“She said you should clean up… if she were here… she would have given you shit.” The way she said a curse word was the most awkward thing in the world. And it was obvious that she didn’t curse much. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything…”
||Mackenzie. I was pregnant. Not many people know that. Use that. He’ll trust you… I hope.||
-He won’t. He doesn’t. I can’t. I’m sorry.-
She was starting to open the door back up again.
--
“I didn’t say crazy,” he started up, studying her. “I just…” He was wrestling with himself internally, a part of him wanted to attack her and violently shake her, scream at her for fucking with him like this; another part of him hoped. Hoped so hard that it made it difficult to breathe.
“Just…” He trailed off again, flexing his hands at his sides, “what the fuck?” He finally whispered, staring at her, watching her move.
It was true, Emma would have given him shit, hell, she would have held a strike until he cleaned the place.
“What the fuck?” He muttered again.
--
“You are thinking it…that…look… your tone.” She whispered it, “I’ve… thought I was…. I…have been certain of it. She didn’t tell me her name… until today. And she asked me to help her.”
||…Ok lets not overshare shall we Mackenzie.||
“I’m a farmgirl.” She said simply. “I…. have… watched my father… wither away and die. The last thing that I would ever… do… is screw with someone else… especially when they lost so much in the process.” Her voice quite nearly sounded hurt. But she couldn’t blame him. Not at all. Not even a little bit.
“I don’t know… why I hear her. I don’t know… I just… with… as fast as you tried to … make sure I was ok… before all this… you would have made an excellent dad… and… I’m sorry.” She whispered, she was slipping out the door. Honestly her head was absolutely killing her, the sharing… the talking… it had been more pronounced, and Emma had overdone it with Mac to a degree, as she felt something.. a trickle and brushed her nose, blinking as she saw a bit of blood.
This was just the worst.
--
He stood there, his fingers curling – his hands making fists. He was unsure what to do, everything in him was at war now. His shoulders hunched around his shoulders, he tilted his head, trying to remember where he had stashed the holy water. Or had he forgotten to do that when he moved everything he needed over into this place.
Fuck.
` You would have made an excellent dad ` hit him hard. He immediately gasped, trying to catch his breath, he doubled over, hands on his knees. He wasn’t sure anymore.
“Emma?” He finally whispered as he stared at Mac, his eyes on the blood trickling out of her nose.
--
She didn’t know what to do, or how to handle this, if she could call Raleigh she would, but she knew that he was still on his shift. And….calling him for this… well. She would have to talk to him. She knew that.
She heard that gasp, from behind her. And she wasn’t evil… really she wasn’t… she moved back over to him, not concerned about herself as she touched his shoulder with trembling fingers.
||Mackenzie… you need to rest when you get home. I… shouldn’t have pushed you…I’m sorry for that.||
Mac looked to him, biting at her lip. “I… promise… I wouldn’t lie about this… she… is worried about you…”
--
He just kind of shook her hand off his shoulder, a slight nod, he straightened up, his hands sliding over his sides to dry off his palms. He didn’t trust himself right now. Was that really Emma in her? He did know that angels grabbed vessels. The past events told him that much, but he had thought that mess had stopped.
Then again, after he got out, he didn’t keep his ear to the ground; he chose blissful ignorance. Well, whatever bliss he got from drinking himself to sleep every night.
He shook his head a bit.
“Of course,” he mumbled, then frowned at her, “why you?”
--
She frowned and backed up as he did that. “I…. can’t answer that… and… she is quiet right now. She thinks she pushed me. And … is afraid to hurt me.” She was getting to where she could…read between the lines a bit with Emma’s words.
“I…. don’t know why this is happening.” She whispered that, her hand brushing her nose again. “I don’t know why it was me… I’m… no one special.” She said softly. She had no idea about… any of it. Vessels. Angels. Demons. Hunters.
She was born and raised on a farm. And her faith… was shaky at best. Raleigh was working on that. But this? This… she didn’t know what it fell under.
--
Chris stared at her, unsure how to process those words. Why would his wife suddenly come back now? He had made sure everything of hers was burned, he had been sure of it. Chris shook his head slowly. “Okay,” he wasn’t even sure what the hell was expected of him now.
“Just…” He shifted away from her to go get a dishtowel for her nose, he walked back over to her. “Here.” He frowned a bit at her nose, “maybe you should go home and rest.”
Silence, he chuckled, “there’s no rhyme or reason for possession of a vessel.” He stopped himself, frowning. He shouldn’t even be thinking like that, he was done being a hunter.
--
“Ok?” She blinked, how was she supposed to know how to deal with this?! Um. She promised she didn’t ask for his dearly departed wife to take her over in some way.
She blinked and pressed that to her nose, tipping her head back slowly. “That’s… what she told me too.” She paused. “Dear sweet …. I will. I’ll… rest… after I check on the horses.” She mumbled. She would rest… then call Raleigh. Because… god knows. He had said he would come by and help her when the mare was ready to deliver, at least as long as he was off his shift.
“I’m sorry… ….. A vessel what? Possession?” She blinked more, now she wasn’t sure how to take any of that. “What are you talking about, Chris…”
--
“Do you have someone to take care of you?” He remembered her talking about her father passing away, he moved to drop into one of the chairs, “you said your dad…” He trailed off, looking over at her with a concerned little look. “Are you taking care of everyone else?”
Pieces were slowly falling into place, it explained why Emma would come to Mac. It was how she had been in life, makes sense she would continue to be like so in death.
But why now? Why a year later?
He gave a soft chuckle, “you really don’t know do you?” His voice was soft, he tilted his head as he studied her, choosing his words. “Sometimes a person is in need of…” He gestured with a hand, “some sort of intervention, good or bad, and they get taken over.” He frowned for a moment, “sometimes it’s with permission, sometimes it’s not.” He shifted to stand, “you’re not hurting, are you?”
--
“Someone… to…” She bit her lip some. “My… family…has… been checking in with me. My mom… is staying with my Aunt. But… someone has to watch after the farm… so that’s me.” She said as she looked to him. “I… have a friend… new friend… he… is a paramedic… he… said I could talk to him too.” She tilted her head some. “I’ve… been watching out for them as much as I can though…” She brushed some hair away, moving the towel a moment, to test things.
“I… really… don’t… I … was to the point of going to see a psychologist… because I have thought myself crazy…” She said quietly. “I um… usually not… my head hurts right now though…” She said as she was watching him standing back up now. “Why?”
--
“Do I need to call him to make sure he can check on you later?” He watched her, concern in his eyes and voice. It wasn’t just because his late wife might be possessing Mackenzie, but because this was a young girl sitting there with a bloody towel on her face.
“I think she took you over to help you,” he frowned a bit, “with your dad.” His voice was soft, he wished he had something like that when it happened to him.
A shake of his head, “sometimes a possession physically hurts. Like… your body can’t hold the being.” He watched her, “if it gets to that point, tell me.” A pause, he wasn’t even sure what to do or say. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He fretted.
--
“Nono… I um…. He’s on his shift right now… I don’t want to worry him… but I did tell him I would text him when I got back and checked on the mare. So… I’ll do that. I promise.” She said softly. It seemed to have stopped for now.
“I…. she… is encouraging. She is… but… it wasn’t just for me. I know that much… it was for you too… though…” She knew that much without a doubt now. “My… dad… had been sick for some time… its hard… without him… but… he’s in a better place now.” She said it with more of a reassuring tone. Raleigh would be proud of her.
“I…. will let you know.” She said, sighing a little bit. “I’m… I’m ok… are you ok?” She asked softly. “I mean… I can text you too. When I get back.” She said as she was getting up slowly. She didn’t want to stain his towel, and was washing out the blood in the sink.
--
“Okay,” he frowned a bit, “call me when you get home, or text me, whatever works.” He flapped a hand, he wasn’t even sure what young people did nowadays. Well it wasn’t that he was that old, he just felt so disconnected. He bobbed his head a bit, checking her nose quickly, he wasn’t going to reach out and touch her. The girl was freaked. Hell, he was freaked.
“That’s…” He trailed off, nodding, choked up. “Emma,” he finally managed, wrenching so many words into one simple word; her name.
“Uh,” he chuckled when he was asked if he was okay, how could he be okay after realizing his wife was still around, in another person’s body? He wasn’t even sure if he believed it. If he hadn’t seen some crazy shit in his past, he wouldn’t have believed it at all. “Okay,” he gave a quirk of a smile. I’ll be here.” He tilted his head, “when you come back next time, if you want to…” He trailed off, rubbing at the back of his neck, “I might have a book somewhere about possessions, might help you make some sense of this.”
--
I… will do that….” She said softly, as she was trying to figure all of this out. I mean… this …. This was a lot for her. She saw him checking her nose. “I… think I’m ok… I do… If I’m not… I’ll call you.” She said as she was ready to sort of run. But not.
“It… seems like it… I’m learning…” She said softly. “Make sure you eat… I’ll…. I’ll be checking back…” She paused. “I… do have orders from Nan after all… and… I want to.” She nodded all the more. “I’d… like that… to read about it.” She said softly. “Thank you… for looking for it for me…” She said as she watched him.
--
He gave her a smile, it was soft and unsure all at once, he dropped his eyes from her to the ground. “I’ll look for it,” then he bobbed his head, “I’ll eat. Nan will come up here and kill me if I don’t, I can’t picture her up here.” A chuckle fell from his lips, he gestured to the door, “you can go if you want. You don’t need to stay here.”
--
There… was a little smile from her as well. “I’ll… come back soon… I will…” She said softly. “Yea… I … can’t picture her up here either… and… good heavens knows… she would be grumpy.” She chuckled a little “I… we… I… there is a mare… that is pregnant. She is just going to give birth at any time… so… I should get back… check on her.” Her words… quiet a moment. “If… I didn’t have that. I would stay.” She said rather honestly. This… was a weird situation for the both of them. And she wasn’t sure how to feel about it.
--
Chris chuckled at her, “go take care of her. I hope she has a good birth.” He rubbed at his hands and walked over to the door, “drive safe.” A tilt of his head, “and thank you for the food.” He paused, “and for…” He gestured to Mac in general, he wasn’t even sure what he was supposed to say - `thank you for carrying my dead wife`? He opened the door, “I’ll even clean up next time,” he looked around the cabin, “you’re right, Emma would give me shit.”
--
“Thank you… me too.” She was walking over with him, and then up to him as he started to thank her for things. “You… are welcome.. and.. um… you are welcome...” She sort of knew what he was thanking her for… but god there was NOT a card at Hallmark for that. “Yup…so will I.” She smiled a little more. “I’ll drive safe. And let you know as soon as I am home.”
And… she did just that. There was a text when she got to her house. –Mare is still good… upstairs and going to get some sleep… text me if you need me… M.-