12. Off Limits

"I think it's time I did some shopping," I told Sam the next morning. "This isn't going to work if I'm on the road for the rest of my life."

"How're you gonna manage that?"

"Oh, I'll manage." I smiled mischievously.

"Dakota."

"What?"

"You're not shoplifting."

I gasped. "I wasn't going to go to a mall to steal, Sam. Just people's houses. Take clothes I don't think they'll miss."

"I can't believe I'm hearing you say this so casually." He shook his head. "Being on the streets has really changed you. I'm not sure I like it."

"Hey, it wasn't my first idea, but when you're desperate like me, that's the way to go." I shrugged.

"I think I would be okay with you with a fake credit card at this point."

"You burned everything, Sam. Should have thought about that beforehand. Hey, since that Lindsey girl is into you, mind trying to get her address?"

"No."

I grimaced. "You're a poor sport."

"You're not the Dakota I know."

"Knew," I corrected him. "And you're right, I'm not the Dakota from high school that you knew. A lot has molded me into this." I gestured to myself. "I'm not happy about it, but I got to make the best of it. Right now, this is the best I've been for some time, as bad as that sounds."

Sam sighed. "If you do go 'shopping,' be smart about it."

"You're talking to an experienced girl, Sam. Of course I'll be smart about it."

"If I get a call saying that you've been arrested—"
"Stop worrying, Dad," I joked. "I may be younger than you by a few months, but that doesn't give you authority over me. I'll be back in time to accompany you to work." I smiled. "Don't worry about me."

"I shouldn't have to, but I do."

* * *

Sam wasn't too proud of me when I came back with a decent stack of clothes. It was enough to get me by for a bit at least. And I managed to do laundry at one person's house. Some people were so naïve sometimes. What they didn't know wouldn't hurt them.

I made sure to freshen up before Sam left for work.

"Should I start calling you Catwoman now, or something?" Sam called from the other side of the door.

"I don't steal money, or jewels. Just clothes."

"I'm surprised you didn't steal food."

"I kind of do at the bar." I jumped around as I pulled on some jeans. "Like I said, this is the best I've been for a while. If I wasn't here, I'd be living on my own with a pack of ripe clothes."

We left the room shortly after so Sam could head to work. Once he clocked in for duty, I was free to move about the bar. I didn't order anything, just observed like I had been. I spotted Lindsey stealing looks at Sam again. Dangerous territory, sister, I wanted to say to her. Thinking that she had a shot with Sam was like me having a shot at a full, stable family again: it was impossible.

After a while of observation and eventual boredom, I was challenged to a game of pool. I couldn't resist making things interesting: whoever lost owed the winner dinner. I was betting I won, because I had no money.

My opponent was a rather cocky man who, I could tell, took an interest in me. I tried to play it off like I was oblivious to him, but the things he did weren't subtle at all. He was trying way too hard. And I knew I wasn't the only one who knew that; Sam from time to time watched our game. We were each other's lookout.

In the end, I somehow came out the victor. I almost did a victory dance but remained modest with a sly smile. The man didn't seem too upset though, but he couldn't hang around. He handed me cash and told me to get what I wanted before he left. Hmm, I should do this more often. Why didn't I think about it before?

I flipped through the cash, almost wanting to rub it all over myself. Yes, it sounded weird, but I didn't have tangible money in my hands for...well, I couldn't remember the last time I actually had money.

"Are we becoming a con artist?"

I jumped, nearly letting the bills spill on the floor. I glowered at Sam from over my shoulder. "I earned this."

"You got lucky."

I stuck my tongue out at him. "Back to work, bus boy."

"Hey now, you're talking big for someone who's relying on me for shelter."

"You wouldn't let me be alone again. Seriously, go back before you get in trouble." I nudged him off.

I spun around to lean against the table, fanning myself with some cash. I looked stupid, probably, to others in the bar, but I didn't care. I had something to my name now.

"Hey, Sam."

Those two words had me searching. Unfortunately, the voice didn't belong to Dean. Why would it when I hadn't had the chance to get a hold of him?

Sam completely ignored the man, which was smart on his part. I quickly located the man, he was flanked by two others—friends of his, probably.

"Sam," the man tried again. I folded up the money and tucked it in my front pocket, watching from a distance.

Sam put down the tray he'd been carrying and looked over, acting unaware. "Wait, what?"

"He called you Sam," Lindsey noticed, gesturing to the three men.

"Yeah. Uh, Sam's my middle name."

I bit my lip. Middle name, really, Sam? I restrained myself from face-palming, not that many would notice me do it.

Lindsey laughed. Even she didn't buy it. "Keith Sam? Man, I'm sorry."

"Well, actually, it's Samuel, so it's not quite as dumb as it sounds," the man said.

"Are you guys friends?"

"Hunting buddies," said another. "With his dad. Samuel here is quite the hunter himself."

I swallowed. Was this good or bad, that there were other hunters lurking around? They haven't been looking for him, have they? Could be just chance.

"Wow. You killed deer and things?" Lindsey asked.

"Yeah, and things."

"Um," Sam said awkwardly, "why don't I get you guys some drinks?"

I flagged Sam down as he was working his way to the table the men sat at.

"Old hunting friends of your dad's, huh?" I probed. "Not a big a world as you'd think."

"Apparently not."

"I think I should pop in and introduce myself."

"Dakota—"

"Why not? I'm sticking around for a while. I should immerse myself a little more."

"You've done enough of that lately. Besides, I thought you weren't a social person?"

"I don't know." I shrugged. "I think I'm just happy that I've got money that I feel bold."

"Whatever you say."

"Looks like you got a follower, Sam," one of the men noted as Sam handed them their drinks before sitting in the empty chair at the table.

"The name's Dakota," I said proudly.

"This is a private affair, Dakota."

"No, no, she's with me," Sam said on my behalf. I snorted at the one man.

"Well, then, I'm Tim. This is Reggie and Steve."

"Gentlemen," I said politely.

"So, you a hunter, then?"

"Sort of." I made a so-so gesture.

"Hey, Sam," Tim refocused, "didn't mean to bust you back there. Sorry."

"It's all right," Sam assured him. "So what's up?"

"Bobby called."

"And?"

"You were right. Major demon block party going on."

"W-what?" I stammered, looking down at Sam. "When were you going to say something to me?"

"Soon," Sam told me.

"Yeah, okay." I looked at Tim. "Why are they here? What are they up to?"

"Don't know yet," said Steve.

"Bobby told us you were off limits," Reggie told Sam. "That true?"

"Yeah, that's right," Sam confirmed.

"That's fine in theory and all, but we could really use all hands on deck here," Tim suggested.

"I know you could," Sam agreed. "But I can't. I'm sorry."

"Why not?" Steve probed.

"It's personal."

"And before you say anything, no, I have nothing to do with it," I snapped when Reggie and Steve looked at me strangely.

"Look, man, what baggage is so heavy it can't be stowed away for the freaking apocalypse?" Tim asked Sam.

"Like I said—" Sam tried.

"Yeah," Reggie interrupted. "You're sorry. Heard it the first time."

I scowled over Sam's shoulder at Reggie. These men were so ignorant and couldn't let Sam be. They wouldn't understand if Sam told them anyway, probably. Not that I fully understood myself, but I understood more than these three stooges.

"Suit yourself," Tim said. "More for us then, right?"

"Good luck," Sam told them.

"But hey, beers are on you when we get back." The three hunters left the bar, leaving me to rub Sam's left shoulder.

"You think the next time they come back and order, I can spit in their drinks?" I joked.

"Why don't you keep winning some money for yourself, Dakota?"

"You're a ball of fun tonight." I clapped his shoulder hard before I sauntered back to the pool table. By the time I grabbed a pool stick and looked around for my next opponent, Lindsey had swooped Sam up. I rolled my eyes.

For some reason, I didn't like the girl.

**These two, though <3 Gotta love some Sakota**