Wayward Mother

Henry’s quick to run through his family tree in his mind while he shakes her hand. Off the top of his head, he can’t remember a member named Mary. But then he puts little details he saw on two different faces onto hers. “You are Sam and Dean’s mother? The boys look like you.”

Mary’s hand fell out of his and hit the table with a clunk, and her jaw dropped. She was honestly too stunned to even react with violence, which said a lot about the effect of the words just spoken to her.

“You look like John,” she blurted, and then swore under her breath, trying to collect herself. Runhideswearpanicwantfear all ran through her and she had to swallow, then shotgun her coffee before she could say something else really stupid.

She was at least familiar with that term, because lord knows her kids at the home were quick to bring her up to speed on every important thing about them. 

Mary might not know much about what it meant to be transgender, but she knew how important the right name and pronouns were to the runaways.

“I… yes, please. I’d appreciate that a lot.”

The noise that came out of Mary’s mouth was part delighted and part confused.

“Stephanie? I… don’t understand, wasn’t Captain America a guy?”

Mary might not know much about what it meant to be transgender, but she knew how important the right name and pronouns were to the runaways.

‘for what it’s worth, i only got to truly know shane when he was sixteen.  not the same as missing thirty years - but i get it to a degree.’  she said gently - though a smile formed as she spoke about shane.

‘yeah, he’s a good kid.  dean’s good for him too.’  nat smiled.  ‘they’ve strangely been through a lot of similar things.  not something shane finds often and i imagine it’s just as rare for dean.’

“Pretty much. Hunting... it’s not a life that allows for much in the way of what most consider normal. You try to escape and it still finds its way in.”

Her mouth twisted in frustration a moment, and she took another pull of the vodka. She’d kill John if he wasn’t already dead.

‘i’m shane’s mom, by the way.  from what i understand , dean’s your kid?’  nat asked with a smile, forgoing shotglasses and just drinking out of the vodka bottle before passing it over.

Mary’s eyebrows rose and she took a pull of the vodka when offered before answering.

“Yeah. Him and Sam are mine. I missed out on their entire lives, but they’re mine,” she spoke, fiddling with the whiskey glass and glancing towards the living quarters.

nat was visiting her son - and getting to know the man he loved.  as a result, she had been hanging around the bunker. the expression on mary’s face wasn’t difficult to read and so she just went out and got the best vodka she drank.

coming back, she set the bottle down in front of the other woman with a faint smile.  ‘thought you might appreciate some variety.  fancy a drinking partner?’

Mary tipped her head up at the clank of the bottle and looked at the woman before her. Red hair, and a face that seemed kind, but there was something underneath.

cw: death under the cut

It was enough, he leans back a little more to give them both some breathing room. “A talented hunter then. Not many I’ve ever come in contact with can speak Greek. Even a simple sentence like that.” 

“I’ve heard that on more than occasion. But I’ve managed to slip by most of their radar. Not too important I guess.” Taking a few more sips of his coffee, Henry shook his head while holding out his hand again. “I suppose I should be honest with you then. Henry Winchester.”

Mary cocked her head to the side, curious in that moment. She’d ask what the chances were that two people would meet with the same last name, but there was no such thing as a true coincidence.

Slowly shaking the re-offered hand, she couldn’t quite help the half-smile on her lips.

Mary took a long pull from her coffee as she considered his question. At best, he was a hunter, at worst… well, there was a lot to be worse.

“Hell, quite literally. October’s meaningless when every day is Hell.”

“In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti,” she spoke gently, to reassure him. “I could say it in Greek too, but that would just be overkill.”

“That isn’t what I wanted for you, Sam, not ever,” she spoke softly. The hug was so unexpected she almost didn’t manage to return it.

Had to wonder where he’d gotten his height from, but imagined it had to be John as he lead her towards an escape, a hiding place.

“No demons can get in, right?”

The whole car ride, Mary couldn’t quite stop staring at Sam. She was still stunned that this man was the baby she’d had what felt like no time at all ago and eons.

It didn’t even really occur to her until they were pulling in to a garage that the seats and even the engine felt familiar. Looking around finally at her surroundings, something approaching a laugh rolled from her lips.