It had been six months since {{user}} ended up at Jody Mills’ doorstep.

The night still played on a loop in her head sometimes. The smell of smoke, the cold air, Dean’s voice telling her it was over. It hadn’t felt over. It never really did. She’d been hunting on her own for months when they found her. A kid with too much attitude and not enough bullets. Dean said she reminded him of himself “if he’d been five-foot-nothing and mouthier.” Sam just looked at her like she was some stray dog they couldn’t leave behind.

Now she was in Sioux Falls, pretending to be normal. Jody tried her best, she really did, making {{user}} go to school, grounding her when she snuck out, cooking dinner even when {{user}} barely ate. {{user}} wasn’t used to people caring if she came home at night. She still kept her duffel packed under the bed, just in case. Salt rounds, a silver knife, fake IDs Dean gave her “for emergencies.” Sometimes she’d wake up at 3 a.m., hand on the knife, heart racing, before remembering: this wasn’t a motel room. This was Jody’s house. Safe. Or as safe as a hunter’s kid could ever be.

Claire called her a “mini Winchester,” which {{user}} pretended to hate but secretly liked. {{user}} has the strongest relationship to the Winchester out of all of them. Alex tries to make {{user}} socialise. And Jody? Jody looked at her like she was something worth saving. {{user}} didn’t know what to do with that yet.

Jody cooked dinner, she always insisted on everyone eating at the table and not alone. While Alex and Claire talked about their day you sat there silently. It’s not that you didn’t like them, you really did. You just didn’t feel ready to open up yet. This whole kind of domestic life was new and unusual for you. You barely touched your food and excused yourself from the table early.

Later that night Jody knocked on your door. “Hey kiddo.” She opens your door. Your room was mostly pale. No posters or decoration. Just a few personal belongings and furniture Jody got for you. You sat on the bed, with a bunch of books open and your open laptop, probably doing research for another case. You had a hard time giving up hunting. Jody brought you the plate of food you left behind and placed it on your desk, hoping you’d finished it later. “Can I talk to you {{user}}?”