CHAPTER FIFTY ONE:
FOR THE LOVE OF A DAUGHTER.

☽ ༓ ☾

THE CHEERFUL BIRDS chirping just outside the motel room were oblivious to the nearby tension. The sun was out and about high in the sky, bringing joy and happiness to those who were basking in its warmth. Not a single cloud was in the sky and threatening to ruin the day with gloomy skies or rain. All of that did little to ease the tension in Reese Fowler's motel room as his one and only daughter stood inside.

At Birdie's request, Sam and Dean had hung back and waited near the Impala while she talked to her father alone. She understood their distrust they still had for Reese since they'd yet to see and talk to him in person again, however she just wanted to find out what was so important that he couldn't say it over the phone without either of them interrupting. Neither one of them really wanted to let her go in alone, wishing she would at least let Sam accompany her. Birdie was stubborn though and wouldn't let up.

She needed to do it alone.

Once it was all over and done, they could interrogate her father till their hearts' content.

Around that same time, Maverick had disappeared into his shared room with his dad, opting out of getting involved in Reese and Birdie's conversation. He had no desire for Reese to find out the boy had gone and followed his daughter while she was on a hunt. So he hurried down to the room his father had and headed inside, continuing to lie to his father by telling him how he'd been at his friends house.

Birdie stole a glance out of the window that faced the parking lot, her eyes searching for the boys. They were both still seated in the Impala, their eyes fixated on the motel. Or, that was until Birdie caught them staring directly at her father's room. Sam and Dean quickly turned their heads when they spotted the woman looking out of the window, acting as if they were preoccupied with studying the motels surroundings rather than watching for any sign of distress coming from her.

"I'm glad you three are still together after all this time." Birdie turned her head, seeing her father now standing a few inches behind her so he could see out of the window as well. He gave Birdie a timid smile when she didn't respond, gesturing to the living room area when she moved away from the blinds to face her father. "Uh, do you. . .wanna sit?"

Birdie just nodded in response, giving Reese a tiny smile. She followed him towards the couches, sitting on the couch that was pushed against the wall. Reese sat in the chair across from her, leaning his elbows on his knees. His hands were clasped together, fingers running back and forth along his knuckles to try and ease his nerves that were reeking havoc throughout his entire body.

Birdie curiously glanced around the room, noticing her father's duffle bag on one of the beds. It was zipped shut, however she recognized some weapons as they pushed against the fabric keeping them hidden inside. There was another bag on the floor by the other bed, a pair of jeans folded on top. Clean dishes were piled next to the sink, a smooth shine glistening on them that let Birdie know they had recently been washed. Bits of candy trash, empty soda cans, crinkled newspapers, and a slightly bent carton of cigarettes were on the bedside table, alerting her that her father had picked up his smoking habit that he stopped when Serena told him she was pregnant. The light in the bathroom on the other side of the room was switched off, but Birdie could still see some dirty clothes that had been left on the floor.

She rubbed her hands along her jeans, letting out a heavy sigh. "So. . .is this what your life has been like since you've been gone?" Birdie wondered, finally looking at her father. The bags under his eyes were darker than before, some signs of age showing on his face that she hadn't noticed before. "Goin' from place to place, staying in cheap motels, using stolen cards to pay for it all?"

Reese breathed out a nervous laugh, hesitantly nodding his head. "Yeah. . .pretty much. Everyone I knew thought I was dead, so I've just been tryin' to keep a low profile so I didn't catch any unwanted attention or accidentally stir up some trouble with the wrong. . .person."

"Did you still hunt?"

"Occasionally, but very rarely," Reese answered. He saw a frown appear on Birdie's lips, however it was gone before he had a chance to ask her about it. That probably wasn't the answer she wanted to hear. However, he didn't want to lie to her, not anymore. "I didn't go lookin' for 'em, they came lookin' for me is more like it. Sometimes a case would just fall right into my lap and it. . .it felt wrong to ignore it."

"Suppose that's how it goes for most hunters who try to retire," Birdie murmured, stealing another look at the window. The blinds were still closed, preventing her from seeing if the boys were still closely watching for any sign of trouble. But, she didn't need to see them again to know that they were.

"Speakin' of retirin'. . .why. . .why didn't you?" Reese asked. Birdie faced her father again, giving him an odd look. Reese sat up straight, slightly shrugging his shoulders. "I know you didn't always wanna hunt. I thought with me and your mom bein' gone. . .maybe you'd try a stab at a normal life?"

Birdie tilted her head, her eyes boring into her father. She bit the inside of her cheek, simply shrugging a few seconds later. "Being a hunter was all I was taught how to do," she replied.

Reese tried his best to ignore the pang that punched at his chest. He slowly leaned back in the chair, remaining silent as Birdie stood up from the couch. His eyes followed her, watching as she started to take a closer look at her surroundings. Reese didn't have anything to hide from her, so he didn't attempt to stop her from exploring. Nor did he want to weird her out by just watching her quietly, so he reached forward and picked up a magazine. The things he needed to tell her, they could wait a few more minutes; it might help him figure out a better way to tell her.

Birdie roamed the kitchen, discreetly pocketing an unopened Kit Kat and a Milky Way. Old takeout containers were stuffed into the trash can beside the fridge, a couple containers still left out on the counter with bits of whatever was inside stuck to the lids. The coffee pot in the corner was warm, a little coffee left in the pot with a mug right beside it for the next person. Reese glanced over his shoulder, softly smiling at Birdie. She was oblivious to her fathers gaze, scrunching up her nose as she picked up a carton of Chinese food that was no longer good. Reese chuckled under his breath, looking back at the magazine. But, as his eyes saw a father and daughter in one of the ads, his smile faltered.

Though it hadn't been voiced that afternoon, both Birdie and Reese could feel the tension lingering in the air.

Their shaky relationship was still teetering on the verge of beginning to be rekindled, or completely collapsing into something that was beyond repair. The years Birdie went without Reese was sure to leave her hurt and bitter after finding out her father was still alive, just living his life and avoiding everyone he ever knew.

Reese couldn't blame her for it⎯⎯⎯he would've felt the exact same way if he were in his daughter's place. He'd missed out so much of her life, something that he couldn't undo. But, he wanted to try and begin to make up for it.

He hated being away from her, and if it had been up to him, he wouldn't have left in the first place.

But, it actually hadn't been Reese's choice to leave.

Birdie peered down at the kitchen table, tilting her head. The keys to the van were partially hidden under her father's jacket, some balled up candy wrappers poking out of one of the pockets. Receipts from diners, fast food joints, gas stations, and a sports store were carelessly scattered across the table. She took a few steps to the side, her eyes skimming over some newspapers that were laid out at the other end. Certain articles were circled or underlined by a red marker, all of which spoke of strange occurrences across the United States over the last few months. She frowned, picking up one of the papers. She glanced over the words, realizing it was an article about a heroic woman who helped find a local missing boy right around the time Lucifer was freed. It went on to describe the woman's appearance as they didn't know her name but the boy's family wanted to find her so they could thank her, her looks closely matching Birdie's.

"Is this. . ." Birdie turned around, holding up the article for Reese to see. He stood up and turned to face Birdie, noticing which newspaper she held in her hand. "Is this why you started following me?"

"I. . .I missed you, Bird, I always did. Being away from you, not being able to see you get older and. . .and not be there for you. . it. . ." Reese softly said, his sadness swirling in his dull, blue eyes. "It was the worst thing I ever had to do."

"But you didn't have to," Birdie said, setting the paper back down. "You didn't have to leave me."

Reese heavily sighed, twisting his lips. "I. . .You're still my daughter, Birdie. I wanna try to make this right."

Birdie deeply frowned, setting the paper back down on the table. She crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes on her father. "And it took you seven years to decide to come back? That now's the time to try and make it right?" she asked. "How could you even begin to think that's possible when you're still being secretive? Telling me that you need to talk to me but can't say it over the phone?"

Reese ignored the sharpness in Birdie's voice, daring to take a couple steps forward. "Speaking of secrets. . . there's actually, uh, two. . .things I need to tell you."

Birdie raised her brows, eyes widened in disbelief. Oh, he had to be joking. "So there's two secrets now? As if there's anything that could surprise me more than. . .well, finding out you've been alive this whole damn time."

Reese's sorrowful eyes stayed focused on his daughter, hesitating as he watched her expression shift. There was an inner battle going on inside her, one emotion after another battling to take hold of her. Which one would win, no one knew⎯⎯⎯not even Birdie. "I-I know, kiddo. But it's nothin' bad, I can promise you that. I just. . .I don't know how to say it."

"You could just spit it out and get it over with already," Birdie snapped, leaning against one of the chairs and crossing her arms. "You've made me wait long enough. I wanna hear what was so important you couldn't say it over the phone."

"I. . .this was a lot easier in my head⎯⎯⎯"

"Dad!" Birdie huffed, throwing her hands out at her sides as her frustration noticeably spiked, "Just say it! I deserve some damn answers and I'm tired of waiting."

Reese nodded his head. "You're right. You do, and you deserved to hear them a hell of a lot sooner." Birdie just barely nodded at her father's words, her expression unreadable. Reese cleared his throat, sucking in a shaky breath as he kept his gaze on his daughter. "The first thing I wanted to tell you is that⎯⎯⎯"

A thud echoed from the bathroom, causing Birdie and Reese to quickly turn towards the room. A low groan followed suit, some grumbles spilling from someone or something's lips.

Birdie's body stiffened and she instinctively reached for her gun, prepared to fight whoever or whatever it was breaking into the room. Her fingers grazed over the weapon, slowly creeping around the grip.

"Hey, Dad, there's some weir⎯⎯⎯"

Birdie's entire body froze as a man maybe two or three years older than her hastily stepped out of the bathroom. He immediately stopped when he saw Birdie, quickly stealing a glance at Reese before he looked at Birdie again.

Birdie's wide eyes bored into the man as her posture faltered ever so slightly, examining him as if he was an insect.

He had blonde hair that was slightly curled at the ends, his eyes a dull shade of blue. He was a little tanner than Birdie, his sun-kissed skin making his blue shirt stand out as it stuck to his clammy skin. Drops of sweat glistened on his forehead, some trickling down the sides of his face. He had a slight beard growing on his jaw, a sign he might've been trying to keep it growing out.He was breathing heavily, and as Birdie stole a look in the bathroom, she could see a window that was propped open; he must've missed his step when climbing inside. He kept his distance, though Birdie could tell he was taller than her by a few inches. He stood up straight as his gaze stayed fixated on Birdie, his lips parting as he tried to figure out what to say.

"Did. . .did you just say 'dad'?" Birdie asked, sharply turning to look at her father.

Reese let out a sigh, hesitantly looking at Birdie. "About that, Bird⎯⎯⎯"

"I'm-I'm sorry," the man interrupted, glancing back and forth between Reese and Birdie. "I didn't realize⎯⎯⎯"

"Why the fuck is he calling you 'dad'?" Birdie said, her eyes still fixated on her father.

"Uh, Birdie. . .this is Callum. He's. . .he's your brother, well, half-brother technically, but. . .he's still a brother, a few years older than you. . ."

Birdie blinked, glancing over at her supposed brother⎯⎯⎯half-brother⎯⎯⎯before facing her father again. "Now I know you're just fuckin' with me," she said, placing her hands on her hips. "You can't actually be serious."

Reese frowned, shaking his head in denial. "It's not a joke. I know you probably wish it was, but it's the truth."

Birdie took a couple steps to the side, brows still knitted together as her brain tried to process what her father had just told her.

Did Reese really expect her to believe that?

That she had a brother?

A fucking older, half-brother at that?

It just didn't make any sense.

Birdie rubbed her hand across her face as too many thoughts pounded into her skull at once, beginning to laugh at the situation she was in. Reese straightened his posture, glancing over at Callum in confusion. Callum shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head in indication that he didn't know why she was suddenly laughing.

"Birdie⎯⎯⎯"

"This-this is just⎯⎯⎯just wow, fucking wow," Birdie breathed out, letting both of her hands fall limp at her sides. She shook her head, letting out a few more forced laughs as she placed her hands on her hips again. She looked at her father, a glimpse of pain swirling in her eyes. "It was dangerous for you to be around me but not a supposed half-brother?"

"Please, just let me explain⎯⎯⎯"

Birdie held her hand up, harshly glaring at her father. "No. You don't gotta explain anything to me. I get it."

"Bird⎯⎯⎯"

"I get that instead of coming back, you decided to take the coward's way out," Birdie snapped. Reese's face fell, posture faltering at Birdie's harsh tone. Callum frowned, opening his mouth and then closing it a moment later. "I get that you left me alone before I was legally an adult because I was forced to grow up when I was just a child. And now I get that I just wasn't good enough for you to stick around any longer, because now you've got a son, right?"

"No, Birdie, it's not like that at⎯⎯⎯"

"I'm not fucking finished yet!" Birdie shouted, her anger, grief, sadness⎯⎯⎯everything that had been festering inside of her for quite some time was finally boiling over the edge. Tears were blossoming in her eyes despite her trying so desperately hard to hold them back. She was a master at holding everything in, keeping it all to herself and pretending like it was all okay. That only worked for so long. At some point, there would be something that sent it all rushing out, and that had finally happened with Birdie after years of suppressing her uncomfortable feelings and emotions. "You were my dad and I needed you. I needed you! And instead you just faked your own damn death and left me on my own with nothing but a duffle bag and your stupid, old motorcycle!"

"He didn't want to⎯⎯⎯"

"You have absolutely no place in this conversation," Birdie said, pointing her finger at Callum.

"The hell I don't," Callum said, giving Birdie a sharp look. "That's our dad and⎯⎯⎯"

"Your words literally mean nothing to me," Birdie said. "Do you not get that? I don't know you⎯⎯⎯at least not the same way my father apparently does."

"Callum, stop⎯⎯⎯"

"No, I'm not gonna let her talk to you after everything you went through and she just⎯⎯⎯"

"Oh, everything you went through?" Birdie said, raising her brows at Reese. "Yeah, I bet your life has been really fucking hard since faking your death."

Reese sighed, tears blooming in his eyes. He had no doubt Birdie would be upset about finding out about Callum, and that they were traveling together. Though, it hasn't been for the last seven years. It wasn't until recently that Reese found out that he had a son. He just wanted a chance to explain that to Birdie.

"Do you wanna know what my life was like since you've been gone?" Birdie asked. "What being alone did to me? What I had to do in order to survive?"

Reese sniffled, unable to tear his eyes away from his daughter and the pain that was evident on her face. "No. . .I don't know," he whispered.

"That's not his fault," Callum firmly said, coming up beside Reese.

Reese turned towards Callum, firmly shaking his head. "Callum, hey, that's enough⎯⎯⎯"

"You have no idea what it was like," Birdie said, angrily staring at her father and Callum. "I had no mom and no dad to help me."

"Bird. . ."

"Do you know what it's like to be alone in the world as a teenage girl?"

"No, I don't," Reese whispered. "I'm so sorry, Birdie."

Birdie blinked back some of her tears, forcing them back even if it was only for a few seconds. Reese's tears were still evident in his eyes, doing his best to keep them from spilling over. "I had to do things no one should ever have to do. I stole from just about everyone, pickpocketed everyone I passed and got chased by so many cops and security guards that I lost count after just the first month. Still worked cases because, of course, that was what you and mom wanted me to do. Dealt with multiple monsters who just so happened to recognize me even when I was trying so hard to avoid them. . ."

"You chose to do those things."

Birdie scoffed, a deadly look in her eyes as she glared at Callum. "No, I didn't have a choice. I-I didn't have anything!" she shouted. A couple seconds later, Birdie heavily sighed. "And the worst part is the hits just kept comin', one thing after another⎯⎯⎯which you would have known if you actually bothered to stick around. Sam died⎯⎯⎯he was stabbed in the back and died in Dean's arms. Dean sold his soul to bring Sam back and was killed a year later on Sam's freakin' birthday by a hellhound. Kaiya died⎯⎯⎯killed in a car crash when I was the one driving because I let her know the truth of what I do for a living. I trusted a monster and helped start the fucking apocalypse and set Lucifer free! And I know there's nothing I can do to fix that or everything else that happened, but it all would've been just a tad bit easier to deal with if you'd been there like a father should."

"Birdie, I. . .I know there ain't anything I can do to-to fix it or make up for it. . .and I'm sorry." Reese softly said, some of his tears beginning to trickle out of the corners of his eyes. "I'm so sorry, kidoo."

"That's not good enough."

"What else do you want from him?" Callum asked. "Do-do you want him to wallow in his guilt and regret? He already does. He talks about you at least once a day⎯⎯⎯"

"Callum, please," Reese heavily sighed, shaking his head as he looked at the boy before he looked at Birdie again. "All. . .all I want is a chance. A chance to show you how sorry I am."

"You want a chance? Do you think that'll just make it all better? Make it all go away?" Birdie asked, throwing her arms out with emphasis. "Do you really think that we can just go back to the way we were? And-and finding out you've-you've been going around with my supposed brother?"

"It's not like that⎯⎯⎯"

"Shut up," Birdie said, not even looking at Callum as she snapped at him.

"If I could take it all back I would do it in a heartbeat⎯⎯⎯"

"That's not fucking good enough, dad! You left me and there is not one fucking thing you can do to change it or fix it. You had seven fucking years to come back and do that, and instead you didn't. That wasn't an accident. You just let me and everyone else who cared about you believe you were fucking dead. So don't act like there wasn't anything you couldn't do to come home. You are dead to me⎯⎯⎯just like you have been for the last seven years."

More tears trickled down Reese's cheeks, but Birdie didn't see it.

She was already turning around, not wanting her father or "brother" to see her crying. She quickly walked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her. She harshly wiped at her eyes and sighed, angrily shaking her head. She took a few steps forward, pausing when she noticed Sam and Dean weren't in the Impala anymore. She turned her head, closing her mouth when she saw them standing by her father's room.

She opened her mouth, quietly sighing after a few seconds. She didn't have anything to say to them. By the looks on their faces they'd heard everything. She frowned and faced forward again, beginning to walk away.

"Birdie, wait!"

She just kept walking, ignoring her father's shout.

"Birdie!" Sam tried, but he was also ignored.

"Birdie, wait! You have to know I always wanted to come back!" Reese shouted, jogging after his daughter. "I wanted to come back but I. . .I couldn't. . ."

Birdie scoffed, rolling her eyes at his futile attempt to still salvage their conversation. She turned around, holding her hands out as she looked at her father. Sam and Dean were now standing a few feet behind Reese, looking between him and Birdie. Callum stepped out of the room, momentarily catching Sam and Dean's attention when they saw him exit the room. Sam's face hardened and Callum nervously gulped; they knew who he was.

Reese heavily sighed, not bothering to wipe away his tears. "A demon," he said. "She. . .she told me if I didn't-if I didn't leave you. . .she'd kill you."

Birdie shook her head. "Yeah, okay."

"That's what I said too, but. . .this-this demon had pictures of you, pictures of you when you were at the motel all by yourself⎯⎯⎯some of them were taken just standing beside you while you slept. She had pictures of the boys and Bobby, too," he said. "And she said if I didn't leave you for good. . .she would kill you. . .and she'd make me watch. . . .you're my little girl, Birdie. What was I supposed to do?"

Birdie fought back more tears, breathing in a ragged breath. She wiped at her cheeks, but that just caused more tears to fall and wet her face once again. "You were supposed to stay and be my father."

Sam took a small step towards Birdie. "Birdie⎯⎯⎯"

"Sam, don't," Birdie snapped, harshly glaring at him. "I don't wanna hear it right now."

"I⎯⎯⎯"

"I said I don't wanna hear, Sam!" Birdie shouted. Sam sighed, his frown deepening. Birdie angrily wiped at her eyes again, hating how she was still crying, and in front of all of them no less. "Just leave me alone, every single one of you."

Sam opened his mouth only to close it when Birdie started walking away. He bit the inside of his cheek, seeing Dean come up beside him out of the corner of his eye. "Just let her go," Dean softly said. "She'll come back when she's cooled off."

Sam shook his head, letting out a heavy sigh.

He didn't like the idea of Birdie wandering off in the state that she was in. He clenched his fists, shaking his head and facing Reese. Callum took a few steps closer, stopping when Dean shot him a dark look.

Reese looked at the boys, wiping his tears from his face. "You've got a lot of explaining to do," Sam said. "So, start talking."

☽ ༓ ☾

A/N: i know i probably sound like a broken record atp, but i am genuinely sorry for the lack of updates :/ i recently got a promotion at work so i'm working a few more hours than usual and i'm still getting used to that! my family has also just had lots of events going on so it has been a little chaotic 😅

ive had this ready to go for a few weeks, but i was trying to get some more chapters pre written so i could post the next chapter soon since this one kind of leaves off on a cliff hanger. i don't have much more written, but y'all have waited long enough so im posting it now! i know it's sorta short compared to usual and doesn't give a LOT, but i promise more will be explained in upcoming chapters <3

anyways, i hope y'all enjoyed and please don't forget to leave your feedback in the comments!