Demons, Demigods and Hunters (Percy Jackson/Supernatural)

Chapter 36

Anna

Anna leaned against the wall of the motel room as Dean paged through a magazine and quietly recounted his wish world. He was acting strangely, and Anna knew something was wrong. And it probably had something to do with her. She sure she wasn't making it up in some insane fantasy, hoping Dean might actually...

Anna shook her head sharply, clearing away the stray thought. She knew something happened because Dean was alternating between staring at her and avoiding her gaze entirely. He refused eye contact and seemed to be struggling with talking to her at all. Anna isn't an idiot. She'd spent her entire life learning how to read people, it's what kept her alive all these years. She could spot a monster nearly as fast as a satyr could sniff them out. Human lies were nothing compared to her skills.

And everything in Anna said Dean was lying to her about something. Something important.

Sam was on the phone with the hospital, a small frown on his face.

"Ok, uh huh. Thank you for the update. Ok. Bye." He hung up and looked over at the two of them.

"And the verdict is?" Anna asked, Sam gave her a small smile.

"The girl's been stabilized. Good chance she's gonna pull through." Dean and Anna both nod in approval.

"That's good." Dean said.

"Yeah.' Sam nods back. He clears his throat awkwardly. "How 'bout you? You alright?" Sam asked his brother. Anna watched Dean's reaction closely. Dean cleared his throat, stealing a guilty glance at her before studiously examining the wall. Anna's eyebrows raised slightly.

"Yeah, I'm alright. You should have seen it Sam. Our lives. You were such a wussy." Dean deflected. Sam laughed while he shook his head.

"I thought it was supposed to be a perfect fantasy or something." Dean's face darkened and Anna jumped in before Dean could say something terrible.

"It wouldn't be. It's a twisted wish. Djinn wishes are one of the main origins of the idiom 'be careful what you wish for.'" She nodded at Dean to continue

"I wished... For Mom to live. That Mom never died, we never went hunting and you and me, Sammy, we just never uh... You know." Sam sighed and looked at his brother. Her heart twisted a little. She may hate being a demigod, but it was part of her identity, who she was. Take that away and what would she become? Anna wasn't sure she wanted to know. Even if she wanted to retire, she wouldn't wish her life on anyone else, it was her cross to bear.

The two brother's exchanged a long glance, seeming to share something important and Anna suddenly felt like she was intruding. This wasn't her family, she wasn't even really a hunter, not like these two anyways. Anna started to back away when Dean caught her eyes. He shook his head slightly, and Anna froze, staying in the room. Sam answered his brother quietly.

"Yeah. Well, I'm glad we do. And I'm glad you dug yourself out, Dean. Most people wouldn't've had the strength, would have just stayed." Dean scoffed.

"Yeah... Lucky me. I gotta tell you though, man. You know, you had Jess. Mom was gonna have grandkids, I had... Uh, well, it doesn't matter. It was nice." Anna finally spoke up.

"Yeah, but... Dean... It wasn't real." Something in Dean's eyes changed. He looked... hurt. Like he was grieving something he'd lost. Like she had hurt him somehow. Strange. She filed away his odd reaction for later analysis.

"I know. But I wanted to stay. I wanted to stay so bad. I mean, ever since Dad... all I, all I can think about is how much this job's cost us." There was a pause.

"We've lost so much. We've... sacrificed, so much." Anna walked over to sit next to Dean, wrapping her arm around his shoulder. Anna studiously ignored the way he first flinched, then leaned into her touch. Sam just watched the exchange.

"But people are alive because of you." Dean scoffed at her, pulling away from her stiffly. Anna frowned slightly and gave him a light shove.

"It's worth it, Dean. It is. It's not fair, and it hurts like hell, but... It's worth it." Dean just looked away from her.

Again.