A/N: Hey guys! Sorry if this chapter feels a bit rushed, I was struggling to get through this one last night. I've been having a hard time lately with my mental state, but writing really helps me to be honest. Still, I apologize if this chapter feels kind of rushed. I'll try to make the next chapter better! Love y'all~
~*~
Dean walked into the kitchen as Sam loaded up shot gun shells with salt rounds. "How is this possible? I thought you said this was the safest place on the planet." He checked the coffee maker before turning it on and grabbing a glass.
"Look, I know nothing got in. I mean the bunker is awarded and sigiled from top to bottom. There's no way something came in from the outside." Sam explained.
"Okay, so whoever's haunting us died here." Dean grumbled before his eyes widened, Sam got the idea and they both raced to Ashleigh's room to check on her and see if she was still alive.
When they reached the room, Dean was the first to enter, stepping over to her bed quietly. His eyes scanned her helpless form before he reached out, placing his finger against her throat. The two hunters were silent before Dean let exhaled the breath he had been holding, shaking his head "Thank god... Her heart's still pumping." The man sighed before turning towards Sam.
"But... If it isn't her... Then maybe it's.." Sam muttered, making Dean shake his head in disbelief as he interrupted him. "No."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I burned his body myself, okay? Its not him."
"Okay, so you cremated him." Sam steps closer to his brother, glancing at Ashleigh for a second "We cremated Bobby, too. And he came back."
"Sam, I'm telling you--this ghost, its not Kevin." Dean argued. Just then, the lights in Ashleigh's room began to flicker, causing both brothers to freeze slightly.
"Kevin..?" Sam asked, the light bulb in the nightstand lamp shattered as an answer. Sam turned his head towards his brother with wide eyes.
~*~
Ashleigh was sitting at the war table, groaning in frustration. She wasn't dreaming now, this was all real. She had watched as Sam and Dean raced to her room to check on her and when her attempts to be noticed failed, she gave up.
She ran her fingers through her hair, jumping slightly when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around, she sighed "Dammit Kevin, you scared the crap outta me." Kevin smiled lightly as he sat down "Sorry... What's got you in such a sour mood? I mean you're technically still alive aren't you?"
The woman sighed, shaking her head slightly "Yeah.. But for how much longer, I don't know..." She lifted her head, looking up at him "Hey, so how's it going? Have you gotten through to those knuckle heads yet?"
Kevin shrugged "Well.. They believe it's me now. Sam's sitting in the kitchen asking questions to a coffee maker." he chuckled, earning a small giggle from the woman. "I'd love to see that." she stood up as her and Kevin stepped into the kitchen to see Dean just walking in.
~*~
"Anything?"
"Eh, a couple of dings.. A little EMF but mostly... Silence." Sam said as Dean stepped down the few steps that lead into the room.
"So, he's back in the veil." Dean spoke as he sat down on the edge of the table.
"I guess so." Sam nodded before looking up at Dean "How's Ashleigh?"
Dean sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose "She's still alive but still unresponsive."
Sam nodded with a sigh before slowly pushing himself to stand "Alright, you're up." He stepped out of the room, running his fingers through his hair as Dean stared down at the coffee maker with an unreadable expression, on his face.
He slowly took a seat, turning the coffee maker towards him with a grunt "Kevin?" He called out, running his hand across his face when he didn't get an answer. "Kevin." He called out again, shaking his head. "Alright, I can't do this. Coffee-buzzing, bump in the night crap." He turned in his seat with a shake of his head.
"I got serious things to say to you, okay?" He looked around the room "And I'm not gonna say them to this."
He paused, staring off towards the wall with a sad look in his eyes "Kevin, I'm sorry. You did not chose this life. You busted your ass.... You lost everything, everyone you've loved.... And your reward? Getting killed.. On my watch."
He choked, clearing his throat "if I..." He shook his head "it was on me. It was my fault and.. And there's nothing I can do to make that right.." He placed his hand over his eyes as he sighed "I am so sorry." The lights in the room began to flicker.
Sam ran into the room, stopping slightly once he saw his brother "Hey, did you see that? The.. The lights were..." He stopped mid sentence as a voice slowly came into focus around them.
"No, this.. Is not happening. Didn't spend months struggling to break through the veil just to get stuck listening to Dean Winchester having a self-pitty session. Didn't hear enough of those when I was alive." He paused before whining, seeming to have a one-sided conversation "I'm sorry, but I can only handle so much." His form, after struggling, finally came into focus for the brothers to see.
"Kevin?" Dean asked in disbelief, causing Kevin to lift his head with wide eyes. He quickly turned to his left, looking at someone they couldnt see "They can see me?" He turned his head back to the brothers "You can see me?"
The boys slowly took a step closer as Kevins form flickered "Hey, take it easy Kevin." Sam spoke softly. "You might not hold this form for too long okay? I-it takes a while."
"Then we should talk fast." Kevin spoke with urgency.
"Wait, wait, wait... Why arent you in...in heaven?" Dean questioned. "I mean, if anybody deserves an express pass to paradise-"
"I couldn't. I can't. No one can" Kevin answered, looking between the boys before glancing to his left again "I know, hold your horses would ya?" His form flickered in and out as he focused back on the boys. "Heaven's closed for business. Everyone who's died since the angels fell are just stuck inside the veil, waiting. And it's bad in here. Like, DMV line times infinity bad."
"Well. I mean.. What can we do?" Sam asked hurriedly.
"I need a favor.. A big one.. Well, I guess two."
"Okay.." Sam nodded his head.
"Find my mother."
"Kevin." Sam pleaded.
"Crowley only told you she was alive to mess with you." Dean spoke softly.
"I'm not going off his word alright? I have my own sources. Its crowded in the veil. Really crowded. All of us are stuck near the sites of our deaths. But I've been able to pass messages spirit to spirit. I made contact with another new arrival. She said she saw my mom just a week ago, alive."
"Okay, this.. This spirit that you're playing ghost telephone with, I mean, what do you even know about her?" Dean argued quietly.
"Her name's Candy. Says she's in a forest in Wichita."
"Candy?" Dean inquired, lifting an eyebrow.
"That's...that's it? That's all you got?" Sam questioned the flickering form in front of them.
"Long-distance communication within the veil... Its not ideal. That's why I need you to go there, summon her, see what else she knows."
"Okay... If thats your first favor.. What about the other one?" Sam asked curiously. "And who do you keep talking to? Is there someone else here with you?" Dean added.
"Yeah, Ashleigh wanted me to tell you both to snuck it up and stop fighting already, she's so tired of hearing you two bicker." Kevin sighed, looking up at the boys "Just...Don't let her die... Thats my second favor to ask of you."
Sam and Dean exchanged quiet glances, their eyes wide before Kevin continued "you say you want to make it right? This is now." His form then flickered out, leaving the two brothers staring at where he once was.
~*~
Wichita, Kansas
"Alright, thats the release. Candy said her spirit was stuck nearby." Sam spoke as him and Dean trugged through the woods.
"She died here?" Dean asked, almost in disbelief.
"Yeah." Sam answered simply.
"Dude, what got her? A bear?" Dean looked around as the two swung the duffel bags off their backs. "Do you think it was a good idea just leaving Ashleigh at the bunker?"
"She's safe Dean, there's not really much we can do now other than wait for her to wake up or wait for Cas to show up and heal her." Sam set his duffel bag on the ground "Besides, I'm still stuck on the fact that we're trying to summon a ghost named, Candy. You know, just 'cause Kevin said he heard his mom is alive doesn't mean she-" he nodded his head to the side, his point made.
"Hey, we at least owe it to the kid to try, right?" Dean shrugged, placing a radio against the nearby tree.
"What'd you bring?"
"Well, she's only been dead a week, so I figured she could use as much help as she can get. So..." He pulls out the coffee maker, pressing his lips in a thin line.
"Really?"
"Whatever works." Dean stated with a shrug as he began setting everything up to summon Candy.