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Disclaimer: I don’t own Supernatural
———
Of all the things that could describe her life, Claire Novak mused, leaning against a window sill and staring out at the setting sun, stable probably wasn’t one of them.
Maybe before she was ten it could have been, but Claire couldn’t really remember that far back. Alex tended to smirk and blame it on all the times she’d been hit on the head by a monster. Claire tended to tell Alex to shut up.
She didn’t mind the instability of her life. She would have when she was younger - in fact she did for many years - but now she was used to it. Normal and stable were not adjectives one could use in conjunction with a hunter’s lifestyle. Claire was used to it. When three of your honorary parents were Winchesters, normal was not something you could hope for.
Though life for a lot of people was becoming more and more normal - well, normal for hunters. Monsters weren’t disappearing, unfortunately, but with Chuck gone, Jack in charge of Heaven, Rowena controlling Hell, the Shadow asleep again, Purgatory closed and all rifts and portals sealed, the only things they had to worry about were generic hunts - and with the network Sam Winchester set up before his death, they were easily handled.
And so, despite the instability of her life, Claire was happy. Sure, she’d had many events that sucked, she had traumas she may never fully get over, but by and large, she had a happy life. She had her wonderful wife, the sisters that she loved no matter how much they annoyed her, her gaggle of lost kids, and a family that she would be reunited with very soon.
Smiling softly, Claire turned from the window to see one of those lost kids she mentioned walk in.
Claire and Alex had come up with the idea, after finding a small group of kids who’d been trapped by monsters for years, and had no family to go back to. They couldn’t help but sympathise with them - having been in similar positions themselves.
So they decided to imitate Jody, and pass on the help that they’d been given.
The four of them - Claire, Kaia, Alex and Patience - had set up a sort of foster system between them for kids who got trapped by the Life.
Patience took the ones with abilities - the non humans, though Kaia assisted her sometimes with training or therapy sessions that were needed. Whether they were psychics, werewolves, vampires or any other species, Patience welcomed them and worked with them to harness and control their abilities. With Sam Winchester’s help, she’d even managed to reach out to some other friendly creatures, such as the werewolf Garth Fitzgerald, as well as a werewolf girl named Kate which they had met a few times, and create a network of support.
Alex took those who wanted to get out of the supernatural and have a normal life again. She created fake documents, fake ID’s, and gave them lessons to catch up to where they should be, before sending them out to schools. She helped them integrate back into normal society and normal education tracks, and guided them into getting proper jobs and careers. Many of them were still willing to lend a helping hand here and there to hunters - patching up injuries, searching databases for information about witnesses and victims, ect, but most lived normal lives away from the supernatural world.
Claire and Kaia took the final category - the humans who didn’t feel they could leave the Supernatural behind them. Those who would go on to become the next generation of Hunters. They trained them, introduced them to other hunters, linked them into teams who learnt to work together and trust each other. They helped them disappear from the system, showed them to the Hunter safe houses, their meeting areas, their social spaces. They introduced them to the community, and helped them get their identity established.
They had a nice little system set up - one that would hopefully continue on even when the four of them passed on.
Claire smiled at the girl who walked over to her. Sara was the oldest of her rabble - the one who’d been with her the longest. She was fourteen when Claire and Kaia found her, the victim of a Djinn den. She’d been there since she was ten, and had been trapped for four years in a fantasy universe. Her parents had given up on finding her and had declared her dead, having a funeral and then moving on.
When she’d been freed, Sara had decided to stay with them. She told them she couldn’t bring herself to go back to her parents after they’d moved on with their lives and overturn everything. Her parents had made peace with her death - she didn’t want to ruin that.
She’d also further admitted later that she knew she wasn’t the same person they’d thought her to be. They wouldn’t have been able to cope with her trauma, wouldn’t be able to give her the help she needed. Claire and Kaia understood. They could help her get through it, and then she could help others.
Sara was now forty nine, and had retired from active hunting almost five years ago, moving on to helping at their bar and manning phone lines and information searches.
Claire knew she was leaving her work in good hands.
“Is something wrong?” Sara asked quietly, and Claire smiled and shook her head.
“Nothing’s wrong.” She replied softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I’m just preparing myself.”
“For what?” Sara asked curiously, looking around the bar as if she was going to see a ritual or something.
“For death.” Claire admitted, and Sara spun to look at her in horror.
Claire smiled softly. “My brother came to warn me a week ago.” She told her honorary daughter. “It helps to have friends in high places.” She laughed, before cupping Sara’s face. “I’m ready, Sar. It’s time for me to move on. I know I’m leaving my work in good hands.”
Sara let out a small sob. “D-do you have to go?”
“Yes sweetheart.” Claire whispered. “It is my time. But do not fear. You’ll see me again. It’s not goodbye for good.”
“A-and Kaia? Patience?”
“Kaia will be joining me soon. She still has a little time. Patience still has almost three months.”
Alex had passed on almost four months prior.
Sara took a shaky breath. “We won’t fail you.” She said, trying to keep her voice strong. “We will continue your work.”
Claire smiled. “I know you will.” She reached up and unlatched her necklace. The four of them had one, each with a different symbol on it. Alex had given hers to Feri - her oldest girl. Now Claire’s would be carried by Sara.
“You’re stronger than you realise Sara.” She said quietly. “You’ve helped so many people, and I know you will help many more. I’m so proud of you.”
Sara was crying for real now, silent tears streaming down her face. Claire lifted her arms and she ran into them, hiding her face in Claire’s shoulder.
“Shhh.” Claire soothed her gently. “It’ll be alright Sara. I’m not going anywhere that you can’t follow eventually. We’ll see each other again.”
Sara nodded and drew back, her face stained with tears. With shaking fingers, she clasped the necklace around her neck, and stood up.
“Goodbye Claire.” She said softly. “Thank you for everything.”
“Until we meet again.” Claire told her gently, and Sara turned and left the room, leaving Claire to curl up on her favourite armchair. Kaia came and sat next to her in silence, and the two lovers sat entwined, watching the stars as they appeared in the sky.
Claire Novak died peacefully, with her wife next to her, knowing that she had left the world better than she found it.
————
She opened her eyes to a flawless blue sky. Not a cloud was in sight, nothing to hide the bright sun as it beamed down on her.
She was standing in a lush green yard, wild flowers dotting the grass, just to the side of a gravel parking lot. Quite a few cars were parked there, and the sounds of music and laughter drifted from behind her.
“You took your sweet time.” A familiar voice came from behind her, and she turned to see Alex smirking at her from her position in the branches of a tree. Her sister looked twenty again, and she dropped from the tree with the fluidity of the same age. “I’ve been expecting you to show up for days now.” Alex told her. “We’ve been waiting on tenterhooks, come on.”
The other girl grabbed her wrist and tugged her towards the bar where the sounds were coming from. Claire looked down at herself and noted that she’d also reverted to her early twenties. It was nice, she’d missed the benefits youth gave.
Alex pushed the doors open, and dragged her into the building. “Look who’s finally arrived!” She yelled, and cheers burst up from all around the room.
“Claire!” A voice called, and she snapped around at the familiar voice, her eyes frantically searching before landing on her honorary mother.
“Jody!” She yelled, throwing herself at the women. Jody caught her easily, dragging her into a tight hug.
“You did so well!” Jody whispered in her ear. “I’m so proud of you!”
Claire smiled into the woman’s shoulder, before pulling away.
Jody looked over her shoulder and smiled. “I think someone else might like to say something.” She said teasingly, and a deep chuckle came from behind her.
“Oh I’m just wondering if Miley Cyrus here remembers us, or if we were forgotten in her old age.” An amused voice remarked, and Claire found her mouth moving before she realised it.
“Hey, I make the age jokes here old man.” She huffed, before blinking and spinning around again.
Sure enough, Dean Winchester leant against the wall, smirking, one arm wrapped around Castiel, who was leaning next to him, shaking his head in amusement.
“Just for that, I might not give you a hug.” Claire told him, trying to sound serious, but the effect was ruined by the lump forming in her throat.
“Please.” Dean scoffed, grinning at her. “You missed me too much.”
Claire gave up the pretence. “Damn right I did.” She whispered, and the next thing she knew, she’d thrown herself into their arms, clutching onto them almost desperately. Dean and Cas wrapped her up easily, hugging her tightly as she let a few tears fall.
Losing Dean so soon after Castiel had torn a hole in her life that she’d never really been able to fill. It was almost like losing her parents all over again - and not even being able to say goodbye.
Jody and Kaia were probably the only things that kept her going for several days after that - though Alex, Donna and Patience helped a lot. Talking with Sam once the original grief had passed also helped her - he may not know exactly what she was going through, but he was going through something similar.
It took her several minutes before she felt like she could pull away from their embrace, blinking and wiping her cheeks, a little embarrassed.
“I’m sorry.” She muttered, her eyes down. “It’s just…”
Castiel lifted her head with one palm, giving her a small smile. “We don’t mind Claire.” He whispered. “We missed you two.” He gave her another tight embrace, before gesturing around the bar. “Now come on. Let us introduce you to everyone you don’t know yet.”
‘Everyone she didn’t know yet’ basically seemed to refer to all the Winchester’s family members who had died before (or very soon after) Castiel found her. Over the course of the next half an hour, she was introduced to Ellen Harvelle, Bobby Singer, Jo Harvelle (whom she instantly got along with), Rufus Turner (who interested her at first before she realised he no relation to Patience at all), Charlie Bradbury (another one she got along with instantly), Kevin Tran (who was quiet but seemed like he’d be fast friends with Kaia, so Claire liked him) and a few others - most of them hunters, but some of them civilians or psychics or victims.
Everyone seemed to take to her immediately, welcoming her with open arms and bright smiles. Claire almost felt a little overwhelmed - she’d never been so popular in her life.
She was halfway through a group conversation with Charlie, Jo and Eileen when Jody approached her and tapped her shoulder to get her attention.
“Claire?” She asked, quiet and a little hesitant. “There’s...um...there’s some people here who want to see you.”
Claire turned around, raising her eyebrows in question.
Jody walked to the door, motioning for everyone to quiet down. They did, stepping to tables and sitting down, leaving Claire standing by the bar, with Dean, Sam and Cas flanking her, a step back, but close enough to provide support.
Claire was wracking her brains to try and think of who would want to see her, when the door swung open.
Her first thought was Cas - but he was standing to her right. For a second, she was confused, and then she saw the woman, and suddenly everything clicked into place.
“M-mom?” She stuttered. “Dad?”
Jimmy Novak smiled at her. “Hey Clairebear.”
Claire didn’t move. She was stunned. She didn’t know how to react. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, but nothing came out.
She hadn’t thought of her parents in a long time. For years now, she’d considered Jody her Mom, Cas and Dean her Dads and Sam a favourite Uncle or something along those lines. Her actual parents hadn’t crossed her mind for decades.
“I-I don’t - ” She tried to speak again, her eyes wide.
“Are you okay sweetheart?” Amelia Novak asked worriedly, coming closer to her, arms lifting towards her.
On instinct, she flinched back. She didn’t enjoy being randomly touched - there was a list of people who could touch her, and Amelia Novak hadn’t been on it for years.
Amelia drew back, looking hurt, and Claire pushed back into Dean behind her. Dean’s hand rested against her back, a silent reassurance.
“We’re here to take you home Claire.” Jimmy said, coming towards her. He was still smiling, his face somehow innocent, naive. He held himself as if he still believed that everything will eventually be alright, that faith triumphs all evils, that there is a loving God out there who will guide you with a benevolent hand.
Claire looked at them, and her mind went to Sara’s words when they offered to take her home after they rescued her.
“I’m not the same girl I was four years ago. I’ve changed, and I don’t think my parents will be able to handle that change. They won’t be able to cope.”
Claire felt as if she was in the same situation. Her parents still saw her as that innocent little ten year old who believed her parents without question, who needed their guidance down the right path.
Her parents didn’t understand her. Couldn’t understand her.
Claire gave a sad smile.
“I am home Jimmy.” She said softly, and Jimmy Novak’s eyes flashed in shock and surprise.
“Claire…” he trailed off.
“I’m not the same girl you think I am.” She continued, and felt Castiel’s hand rest against her shoulder in support. “I’m a hunter. I’m a trainer. I’m a wife and a mother. I’m sorry, but I can’t be the little girl you want me to be anymore.”
Jimmy and Amelia stared at her in silence. Tears welled in Amelia’s eyes, slipping quietly down her cheeks.
“I want my daughter back.” She said softly. “I just...I just want my daughter back.”
Jimmy looked up at Castiel, anger in his eyes. “Why?” He spat, his voice cracking. “I asked you for one thing - to protect my family and keep them out of it. Why did you have to take Claire?”
Castiel met his eyes, a sad smile touching his lips. “I cannot make Claire’s decisions for her. Nor can I make Amelia’s. I did my best, but outside of giving them my protection, I could do little else. They weren’t attacked by demons, they weren’t attacked by an Angel lower than a Seraph. That is all the protection I could give them. I could not watch them every minute of the day, I’m sorry. My mission had to come first. I could not control what they did or where they went. When I could, I found Claire and I brought her to a safe place. Once again, that is all I had the power to do. I’m sorry Jimmy Novak, but I did all that I could. Claire made her own decisions.”
Jimmy clenched his jaw. “You’re not coming with us?” He said to Claire, who drew herself up and shook her head silently. “Fine. Come on Am, let’s go home.”
Amelia buried herself into Jimmy’s arms, sobbing into his shoulder. The two of them walked out of the Roadhouse and disappeared around the corner.
Claire felt herself shaking slightly, a lump forming in her throat.
“Oh, Claire. Come here sweetheart.” She was drawn back into a three way hug by Jody, Dean and Cas, and she clung to them, shaking silently.
Jody whispered calming words in her ear as she slowly gathered her composure again. That wasn’t how she ever thought a reunion with her parents would go.
“Did I - did I make the right choice?” She asked, swallowing through her sobs, her face still hidden in Jody’s shoulder.
“We can’t tell you that.” Dean said softly. “Only you can decide that. Does it feel right to you?”
Claire hesitated for a second, but nodded.
“Then it was the right choice.”
Claire let out a shuddering sigh. “I feel like I want to go to sleep for a week.” She admitted quietly, and the three nodded.
“Come back to our house for the night.” Castiel offered gently. “We’ll make you your own home tomorrow.”
Claire nodded again and allowed the angel to lead her out and bundle her into the back of the Impala. Comforted by the familiar smooth leather seats and rumble of the engine, Claire leant her head against the window and just breathed.
———-
Dean and Castiel’s home - well, Dean, Castiel, Sam and Eileen’s home technically - was a mid-sized building on the edge of a forest. It was large enough that two families could live there comfortably, but small enough that you never felt lost or truly alone.
Castiel guided her gently through the door into a large open entrance hall - a lot like in the Bunker, with corridors leading off it in every direction. The carved table from the Bunker was in the center, and Claire felt like a weight had lifted off of her at the familiarity.
“You want something to eat first or do you just want to sleep?” Dean asked her, and Claire thought for a moment.
“Sleep now.” She said eventually, feeling the exhaustion of the emotional day she’d had. “Food later.”
Dean laughed slightly, but placed a hand on her shoulder to start steering her down one of the corridors.
“Me and Cas are in the first left room.” He explained, indicating the appropriate door. “Sam and Eileen are the second right. Jack has the second left. First right is the utility room. Each bedroom should have an adjoined bathroom.”
He pushed open the third left door, revealing a room almost exactly like she had left behind at her and Kaia’s house back on Earth.
“Pretty.” Dean said, nodding approvingly.
Claire yawned, stumbling into the room. Dean lent against the doorway, watching her with a sad smile.
“Sleep well kid.” He said softly, and Claire just nodded once before collapsing on the bed and falling asleep almost instantly.
———
For a moment, when she woke up, she wasn’t sure where she was.
Then everything came rushing back - dying, heaven, meeting everyone, seeing her parents again, everything.
Claire lay there for a minute, letting herself absorb everything that had happened in the last day. Then, she took a deep breath and rolled out of bed.
The house smelt like toast, pancakes and bacon, and Claire followed her nose to the kitchen, where she found Sam, Eileen and Jack sitting at the table with juice, coffee and tea in front of them, chatting quietly. Dean and Castiel were almost dancing around the kitchen, perfectly in sync as they cooked.
Claire leant against the door for a second, taking in her family being so happy and at peace.
Jack was the first to notice her (though Claire was pretty sure he’d known she was there all along and was just feigning his surprise) and waved at her with a bright grin on his face.
“Hello Claire!” He chirped, and the others looked over with warm smiles. “We have food!”
Claire laughed a little at her honorary brother. “I can see. It looks good.”
Cas and Dean gave small smiles at the compliment and the angel handed her a plate of pancakes and bacon, which she took to the table, sitting next to Jack.
The Nephlim God tilted his head at her, his eyes wide and somehow innocent. “Do you like Heaven?” He asked her, a little shyly. “I've been looking for small issues that I could fix since we rebuilt it, have you noticed any?”
Claire thought about it for a minute. “No, not really.” She replied honestly. “It’s a lot like earth, just a more perfect peaceful version of it.”
Jack smiled happily. “Good.” He nodded in satisfaction. “That’s what we wanted it to be.”
Dean clapped him on the shoulder with a proud smile. “You did good kid.” He said, and Jack’s smile got even brighter.
Claire sat and listened, eating as they joked and laughed together, an air of lightness that they never really had on earth covering the room. There was this feeling of happiness, safety, calm , that they never had whilst alive.
Up here there was no need for fear, no need to always be ready to run, fight, defend. Up here, you could finally relax, let go of all your worries and just be.
It was perfect.
Later, Claire would find her place in Heaven. She would build her own house, forming it just as she and Kaia had always dreamed. She would greet old friends and make new ones. Kaia would come, and they would build a new life together.
But for now, she would sit, surrounded by her family and bask in the peace she now had.
Her life was over. But her eternity was just beginning.
THE END
AN: I know this is slightly different, but it was just kind of stuck in my head, kept banging until I let it out. I kind of like it though, a new perspective on Heaven.
I don’t know. I hope you guys enjoyed it.
Demonic_Angel_511