8. The Bat Cave

The Winchesters ended up burying Henry. I wasn't present and didn't help; I remained in the car during the time. Not long afterwards, I ended up hanging around with the brothers on their next venture. Our destination: the coordinates Larry Ganem had given Sam before his untimely demise thanks to Abaddon. We had the key on us, so it was a matter of finding this place.

Ever since the whole thing with Henry Winchester and Abaddon finished, there's been an awkward air between the three of us. I've barely said a few words unless someone talks to me. Sam's been more approachable than Dean has been since the incident. I like Sam a little better, only because he hadn't pointed a gun at my face the first day that we met.

We've driven for a little while now, since this morning. I can feel the Impala slow, so I decide to wake myself up from my catnap. Dean pulls off from the road and cuts off the engine. I'm intrigued by what we're stopped in front of. It looks like a bunker that's built into a bank.

"So, what's this place again?" I yawn as we all get out of the Impala. "Their panic room?"

"More like a safe house," Sam tells me. "Or I guess a library. Larry said it has everything that's been collected for thousands of years are tucked away in here. All things supernatural."

I let out a low whistle. "Could be a huge jackpot for you guys." I don't refer to the three of us as a unit, as I'm still an outsider.

"When's the last time somebody was in this place?" Dean wonders aloud.

"Sixty-five, seventy years ago," Sam murmurs.

I'm the first to start down the stairs that leads to the door, eager to see what's inside this place now. Once I'm at the last step, I look up and realize just how hidden this staircase is when you're driving by it. I bet this place gets overlooked a lot.

I wait a bit impatiently as Sam and Dean take their time. Dean puts the key into the door and gets it unlocked.

"Oh, I didn't realize we were keeping flashlights on hand," I say as the boys bring two out and click them on. "Nice of you to include me."

"Just don't get ahead of us and you won't get hurt," Sam tells me.

We get through the first pair of doors. There's a short hall that leads to another set. Dean gets those open, and we're plunged into darkness. Their lights shine on a railing, so I assume we're at the top of some stairs. I go to the railing and grip it, peering down where the lights go.

"Son of a bitch," Dean whispers.

"Look at this," Sam murmurs in awe. I see that Sam's light is on some rather ancient-looking equipment. Okay, it's not ancient, but it's probably older than us. "Ham radio, telegraph, switchboard. This was their nerve center."

"Henry did say that they ran dispatch on their own team of hunters."

I stumble in the dark, my hands fumbling along the walls to be safe. I keep an eye on the brothers, seeing what they see. Sam's gone downstairs, while Dean is up with me still. Dean's light is on a table with an unfinished game of chess, an ashtray, and what looks to be a very nasty-looking coffee cup.

"Wow. Halfway through their coffee and a game of chess-looks like whoever was manning the hub left quick."

"On the alarm call that ended the Men of Letters."

"Wait a sec," I say, feeling something other than wall. I hiss slightly as Dean's light flashes onto me. I can barely see. I try and look at him. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" I get to the panel before he does and open it. With his light, I pick a lever and flip it upwards.

I jump as lights flicker to life. Dean's light moves away from my eyes, and they're able to adjust to the lights that are coming on.

"Son of a bitch," Dean whispers. With an exchange of looks, I push up the second lever.

"Son of a bitch." This time, it comes from Sam.

My eyes go wide like plates as Dean and I realize what Sam means. I take the steps two at a time to catch up to the brothers. This is...is...

Awesome. Amazing. Vast. There are bookshelves galore, the floors are wooden, and there are a few large wooden tables. I lowly whistle. This is a nice place.

"Sammy, I think we found the Bat Cave."

I snort a laugh. Leave it to Dean to make a pop culture reference.

I walk through the lavish room and find the hall on the opposite end. I look down both ways. There are doors on each side, and the halls look to branch off into others.

"Guys, you gotta explore this place!" I duck out of the hall and back into the room. "You got a nice thing here." I look up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "The Men of Letters had nice taste, I'll give them that."

"Whoa, whoa," says Dean, "where's this tone of voice coming from?"

I look at him strangely. "Um, last I checked you want me out of your hair. I'm not overstaying my welcome, I've done way too much of that."

"Since when do you want to cooperate? You seem more like the you-have-to-drag-me-out-by-my-hair type."

"Your lives have given me good reason to cooperate. There hasn't been a proper time for me to leave before now."

"There's not a proper time now," Sam cuts in. "I mean, we're a ways away from any civilization. We're not letting you take the car, either."

"Fine, then somebody can drop me off somewhere." I shrug. "Why are you both looking at me like that?" Both pairs of eyes scrutinize me, like I've grown extra limbs all of a sudden.

"You really want to go back out there, on your own?"

"I've been on my own for years, Sam. I can handle myself." I walk past the tables. "It's been a fun run with you guys, but I need to get back to reality." I'm just in the doorway when Dean's hand grabs my arm. I grit my teeth as I compliantly take two steps back and grimace at him. "You don't want me to go? Wait...oh my God!" My mouth is agape. "So this is where I'm gonna die! Well, it's not a bad place to go in..."

"Cut the crap," Dean scolds me. "We're not gonna gank you."

"And you're not letting me go, either. So what's the matter with you two?" I look between the brothers. "Why can't I go? You've clearly wanted me gone!"

"Actually, I haven't," Sam says quietly.

"And I've talked to you about that," Dean snips. "We're not gonna bullshit you with crap about how you're safer here with us. I know Sam would love to try that speech again."

I look at Sam questioningly. "Wait a sec, you said 'we.'" I tilt my head at Dean. "Is somebody siding with his brother?"

"Recent events have made me see things differently," he says gruffly. "And between Sam's badgering and my guilty conscience, it would bother me if we just took you back where you came from."

My brows raise at this. "You're...you're siding with Sam."

"It's my decision, not his."

"Oh, because, what, you're the oldest?" I tease. "I figured you two decided on things together."

"We used to, not so much now." Dean shakes his head fervently. "Point is, we're not letting you back out on the streets, and we're not dropping you off anywhere. You're staying here with us. This doesn't mean you have to go with us whenever we get a case."

"So I can think of this as a hotel."

"If you want to think of it that way, sure. But we've got to set some rules-"

I groan loudly. "I didn't know you becoming my father came with the stay." I pull my arm out of his hand. "Give me the lecture later." I start backing towards the hall. "You better explore like I'm about to, because who knows what this place has?"

And before Dean can stop me, and before Sam can either, I pick a direction and begin my venture.

* * *

By the time my exploration is done and over with, I'm open to the idea of staying in the Bat Cave. I end up discovering the kitchen, and the shooting range (which the boys would enjoy a lot once I told them about it). I also go through a bunch of rooms before I call one my own. It's pretty plain and has the bare necessities. Really, that's all I need. Sam and Dean find a bit of inventory including robes, clothes, slippers, towels, etc. Unfortunately, when we stumble upon the kitchen, the food available is not edible.

I find out, between the three of us, that there are multiple bathrooms, which works out nicely in my favor. Now I don't have to worry about sharing one and risk being walked in on by either one of the brothers. I don't want a repeat of the incident back in Normal.

The brothers are more interested in what the place has to offer than I do. I'm back in what I deem the library, having found a pencil and paper. I start thinking up what food we'll need in here. For some reason, thinking up items is hard. I don't know why, I can go for just about anything at this point. No more scraps.

"Becoming the den mother?"

I snort, not looking down from my list. "If somebody doesn't do it, it'll be forgotten." I tap my chin with the eraser. "I'm not sure how much you two eat, but I know I'll probably be stuffing my face for a while." I twist to look at Sam, who's back to the bookshelves. "Anything interesting?"

"So far, yeah. It's hard to find a place to begin or stop." His fingers run over the spines of the books.

"Where's Dean?" I look around. "He's not trying to salvage that decades-old food is he?" I wrinkle my nose.

"He loves food, Natasha, but he's not desperate. He's probably taking a look around."

"This place is a labyrinth," I note fondly. "Must've been busy at some point in time." I let a heartbeat of silence pass. "Hey, Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"When did Dean suddenly become an advocate of letting me hang around?"

"Truthfully, I don't know. It's out of the blue."

"Least I know I'm not the only one who's surprised by his turn-around." I go back to my list. "I hope you guys aren't picky."

"I think at this point we'll eat anything."

"You got money for all this?"

"We'll figure out something."

"Even if it means leaving Dean behind to help pay for the food?" I joke. "Because I would do that in a heartbeat."

"I heard my name," comes Dean. I roll my eyes. "Got tired of exploring for the day, Tasha?"

I pick my head up at the nickname. "Figured I'd do something productive. Somebody's driving to the store so we can stock."

"Did you make a list or a novel?"

"We'll need a lot." I shrug. "So, we can make a run soon, right?"

"Sure, in a few days once we get settled. Speaking of settled-"

"Come on, how come Sam doesn't get this?" I throw my pencil at the table.

"He's blood, you're not. You need rules."

"Need I remind you I don't listen?"

"These you're gonna want to. We let you stay here, we can just as easily toss your ass back out on the road. Since you're here, you don't have to tag along everywhere we go. This'll at least give you the chance to stay out of danger since clearly you didn't take the previous opportunities. And if we find you doing anything shady-"

"My ass is grass, I know," I say shortly. "Basically, I don't step on toes, and we'll all get along like a happy family." I smile sarcastically at Dean. "Anything else, sir?"

"Watch the tone."

I mock-salute Dean, and he rolls his eyes. Hey, he's letting me stay here. I can make his life a little hellish. He can handle it. I'm human. I would think Dean is too, but considering his job...I'm not too sure.

**Yay, so the Winchesters are an adoption agency! Now Tasha's with them!

Now the fun begins :)**