Everybody Loves a Clown.

John Winchester was dead.

Athena wasn't by Sam and Dean's side when it happened, but after almost an hour of trying to come to terms with their father's death; the brothers went to Athena's room to tell her. The girl thought it was a joke at first. I mean, she just told him to get out of her room. Then, it hit her, Athena was the last person to talk to John. And she told him she was done with him. Athena then did something that caused both brothers' blood to run cold.

She laughed.

It just slipped from her mouth. But as soon as the first bit of laughter escaped, it was almost like she couldn't stop. Athena didn't know why she reacted like that. But it was out of her control. Just like almost everything else in her life.

After, putting John's body on a pyre and having a silent funeral for him. The siblings made it to Bobby's place so they could recuperate. The entire house was quiet, Athena was still in terrible shape from the car crash. Sam was looking over the files that John had left behind and Dean was working on the Impala outside. Sam has tried many times, trying to get Athena and Dean to talk to each other; but sadly there was nothing he could do. Athena wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, especially Dean. And Dean was still trying to understand why Athena laughed when she heard about their father being dead.

Athena inhales a soft breath from the hydrogen peroxide dabbing against her eye. She slightly pulls her face back.

"You gotta hold still, kid."

"I'm trying..." Athena's voice was scratchy.

Bobby presses his lips into a small line as Athena slightly shakes her head. She looks back at the wall and gives the man a curt nod, telling Bobby to continue.

Bobby places the cotton swab against Athena's cut over her eyelid. Her body tenses, but she doesn't move.

"So, how bad is it?" Athena voices. "Am I still horrifying to look at?--"

"Knock it off." Bobby's voice was soft but firm. "You're just banged up. Every hunter has their moments."

Athena chews on the inside of her cheek. "Yeah? And what about every 11-year-old?"

Bobby doesn't respond and Athena glances at the ground. "Has Sam got anything from dad's files?"

"Nah, he said there's nothing he can really make of it." Bobby shakes his head. He sets the cotton swab down and grabs new gauze and bandages.

"Maybe I can take a crack at it." Athena shrugs.

Bobby huffs, "No, absolutely not."

"Bobby--"

"You can barely stay awake for a few hours without getting a migraine." Bobby shrugs. "You need to rest, Athena. And I'm not asking."

Athena's shoulders sag and a small defeated breath leaves her lips. "I'm tired of sleeping. I just want to help."

"The only way you can help your brothers—"

"Sam," Athena speaks. "I only want to help Sam. 'He who shall not be named' is just a part of the deal."

Bobby places the gauze over Athena's right eye and places the bandages over it too. Athena stands up from the toilet seat and Bobby stands up as well.

"You're gonna have to talk to him sometime, y'know?" Bobby raises his brows. "He's your brother."

"Half."

Bobby's eyes widen, "Thena—"

"What? He's said it so many times. I'm just finally getting on the same page as him." Athena sputters her lips.

"Dean doesn't feel that way. Not anymore at least." Bobby states. "He loves you."

Athena slowly nods her head. "Right..." she presses her lips together. "Thanks for changing my bandages."

"Of course. You need anything else?" Bobby asks.

"Uh, can you give me some pigtails?" Athena points at her frizzy hair. "I would, but..." she points at her left arm in the sling. "...my arm is pretty occupied being immobilized."

Bobby lets out a soft chuckle. "Sure, kid. And I'll even braid them pigtails."

Athena raises her brows, "The last time you tried to give me braided pigtails. They turned out to be a nightmare." She snorts. "No offense."

"Well, I've been practicing." Bobby shrugs. "And not to brag, I think I've gotten pretty good."

Athena cracks a small smile. "Okay, I'll give you a shot."

Bobby smiles and ruffles Athena's hair.

☆

Athena quietly groans trying to cut her French toast. "This is bullshi—"

"Hey..." Bobby says in a warning tone.

Athena presses her lips into a firm line and exhales through her nose. Bobby chuckles at Athena's frustration. He walks over to her, grabs the knife and fork, and he starts to cut her French toast.

"I'm not a kid anymore." Athena voices.

"Yeah, you are."

Athena inhales, "Well, I can cut my own food."

"Not with one arm you can't," Bobby replies.

"Well—"

"Athena, just let me help you."

Athena clenches her jaw and sinks into her seat, allowing Bobby to help her. Bobby continues to cut her food. The front door swings open, causing both Bobby and Athena to look over at the door. Sam and Dean walk in.

"Hey, Bobby, can we use one of your cars? We have to make a stop." Sam speaks.

Sam looks at the auburn-haired brunette and chuckles softly. "Hey, Athy—I mean, Athena." He quickly corrects.

Athena presses her lips into a small smile.

"How are you doing?" Sam asks.

"Uh, do you mean shoulder-wise or eye-wise?" Athena asks. "Because, either way, I'm doing pretty shi—I mean, badly." She looks at Bobby. "Sorry."

Bobby sets the utensils down and Athena starts to eat her breakfast.

"I have a van you guys could use—"

A small laugh comes from Athena's lips, catching everyone's attention. She looks at them and raises her brows. "Sorry, just...imagining you guys in a van. It looked funny."

Sam smiles softly, "Glad to see you smiling."

It's better than breaking down in front of everyone.

"Why wouldn't I be smiling?" Athena continues to eat.

Sam notices Dean tense and he looks at his brother.

"Sam found an address from a lady that called our dad a few months back," Dean states, brushing off Athena's behavior.

"A lady? Calling your father?"

"Yeah, uh...Ellen?"

Athena's ears perk.

"Ellen?" Bobby and Athena chorus.

"You two know Ellen?"

"Of course," Bobby says. "She's helped us out a lot."

"So, when are we leaving?" Athena asks.

Bobby sighs and looks at the 11-year-old. "You're staying here and getting your rest."

Athena's mouth hangs open. "But...Ellen and J--"

"Do you want me to open the blinds right now?" Bobby asks.

Athena's back straightens, "Just because I have a sensitive eye doesn't mean I can't handle a car rid--"

"You know, Bobby's right. You should stay here."

Athena looks at her eldest brother and tilts her head. "Seriously? This is the first thing you have said to me in a week. And it's probably--surprisingly, one of the stupidest things that have ever come out of your mouth."

"Yikes." Sam looks away.

"Athena." Bobby snaps.

"What? He can't just ignore me and then boss me around." Athena hops off the chair. "He's not my dad."

The room falls silent. For a second, Athena forgot John was dead. But then she remembered and her jaw slammed shut.

Dean shakes his head and lets out a bitter chuckle. "You know, Athy--"

"Athena--"

"--I don't think you should really be referring to a guy, you didn't even love."

Athena pulls her face back and her eye widens.

"Dean shut the fuck up." Sam seethes, pinching his brother's arm.

"You know what?" Bobby claps his hands together. "Athena, you are going to go with them. You all need to hash some things out--"

"I'm going with them to see Ellen and Jo." Athena quickly says. "I don't need to hash out shit."

Bobby clears his throat and Athena clenches her jaw. She snaps her good eye over at Dean. "I can't believe you, Dean Winchester, are judging me about love." Athena shakes her head. "You can't even express love to your own siblings."

Athena jumps off the chair. "I'm not hungry anymore. I'm going to get my stuff." she runs up the stairs.

Dean lets out a scoff and Sam hits Dean on the back of the head.

"Ow! What the hell?"

"What the hell is right, shitbrains--what was that?" Sam scoffs.

"Sam, she laughed." Dean holds his hands up. "Sorry, if I'm the only sane person here who finds that weird."

"What'd you want me to do sob?" Athena snorts, holding her bag.

Bobby runs over to the girl and grabs her bag. Sam and Dean look at their sister coming down the stairs.

"Oh, oh wait!" Athena lets out an exaggerated gasp. "Maybe, you wanted me to scream and hit people. Like you? Did you want me to get angry--"

"Well, I sure as hell didn't want you to laugh, Athy--"

"Call me that again!" Athena raises her voice.

Dean laughs, "Right? Am I supposed to be afraid of you?!"

"Can we please stop arguing?!" Sam shouts.

"I know you three better stop yelling in my house!" Bobby's voice booms.

The siblings instantly fall silent.

"Sorry, Bobby."

"Now, you three are going to get in that car and go see Ellen." Bobby's voice was filled with stress. "And you may not resolve your issues now, but you sure as hell better try. And one of you better change Athena's bandages in two hours--"

"I can do that myself--"

"One of you..." Bobby continues and Athena closes her mouth once again. "...better change her bandages in two hours."

"You got me?"

"Yes, sir."

Bobby wrinkles his nose, "Jesus, you don't have to call me sir." he rolls his eyes. "Now get out of here."

Bobby holds Athena's bag out to Sam. He grabs it and throws it over his shoulders. The three siblings hustle out of the house and Bobby lets out a sigh.

"These kids are insane..."

☆

Sam clicks his tongue together as Dean drives down the road in the van. "So...anyone want to listen to some music?" he leans forward and reaches for the radio.

"No, I like silence. Silence is good." Dean says.

"Oh...are you sure? I mean...Athena, how about you?" Sam looks at his sister.

Athena had her headphones on while she was leaning her face against the window, sleeping.

"And she's sleeping." Sam sighs.

"Good." Dean huffs. "She needs to cool off."

"You both need to cool off." Sam scoffs. "I don't want these awkward situations happening. And I do not want to be in the middle." he shakes his head.

"I didn't put you in the middle of shit." Dean voices. "I was voicing my worries for our sister."

"No, you weren't." Sam snaps. "You were judging her."

"You don't get that she probably already feels like crap and you're just adding onto that. It's exhausting, Dean." Sam flicks the side of Dean's ear and he groans. "Do it again and I'm gonna punch you."

"Right, then I'll just punch you back." Dean scoffs. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat and groans. Dean then turns up the music and Sam sighs.

"Oh, thank God."

They get to the roadhouse and Sam wakes Athena up. As soon as her eye landed on the roadhouse her face lit up.

"Okay, so, how do we get in?" Sam huffs.

"Did you bring the--"

"Yeah." Sam tosses him the lock pick kit.

Athena presses her lips together, "Of course, breaking and entering. Have you no shame? Spoiler Alert: You don't."

"You're acting like we haven't done this before." Dean huffs. "If you wanna be a hunter, you've gotta be okay with things. This is one of them."

Athena rolls her eye and quietly mocks Dean in a nasal tone. Then she whispers, "Asshole."

"And can you watch your mouth please?" Dean snaps. "God..."

Athena holds her good hand up, "Sorry, I don't have a swear jar anymore."

Dean gets the door open and Athena trots in. "Dickhead." she murmurs.

Dean rolls his eyes.

"Athena, come on." Sam sighs.

"Sorry, Sammy," Athena says.

As soon as Dean goes into the roadhouse, Sam raises his head to the sky and lets out a frustrated groan. The middle Winchester enters the building and looks around with his siblings.

The siblings walk deeper into the bar and make it to the man laying on the pool table.

"Hey, buddy?"

The man doesn't move.

"I'm guessing that isn't Ellen." Sam lets out a soft breath.

"Yeah...you think he's dead?"

Athena frowns, "Nah. He's just being Ash."

"You know him?" Dean asks.

Athena glances at the ceiling. "I wouldn't just call random people Ash, Dean."

Sam lets out a breath, he walks away from Dean and Athena; making his way into the next room.

"It was just a question." Dean walks away from Athena, hoping to end this unnecessary argument.

Athena walks around the pool table and grabs one of the billiard balls.

"Oh, God, please let that be a rifle."

Athena lifts her head and her eyes land on Dean being held at gunpoint by the familiar blonde. The auburn-haired girl tilts her head with a smile, debating on whether she should interfere.

"No, I'm just real happy to see you." Jo cocks the gun. "Don't move."

"Not moving--copy that." Dean keeps his hands up. "You should know something, miss. When you put a rifle on someone, you don't want to put it right against their back, cause it makes it real easy to do..."

Dean quickly spins around and snatches the gun from Jo's hands.

"...that."

Jo punches Dean in the nose and he stumbles back. Athena's mouth hangs open. Jo snatches the gun from Dean's hands and aims it back at him.

"Sam! I need some help in here." Dean grips his nose. "I can't see, I can't see..."

The door to the backroom opens, revealing Sam with his fingers intertwined behind his head. "Sorry, Dean. I can't right now. I'm a little tied up."

Ellen pulls her brows together, "Sam? Dean?"

"Winchester?"

"Yeah?"

Ellen raises her brows, "Son of a bitch."

Jo shifts her eyes from Dean to Sam. "Mom, you know these guys?"

"Yeah, I think these are John Winchester's boys."

Jo and Ellen look at each other, the same thought running through their head.

"Where's Athena?" The two women chorus.

"Present."

The four adults look over at the girl standing in front of the pool table with her hand raised. Jo's eyes widen and she smiles. "Oh, My Gosh!"

A smile spreads across Athena's lips and she runs toward the blonde. Athena wraps her good arm around Jo's waist with enough force to cause the blonde to stumble back. Jo laughs and touches the top of Athena's head.

"Have you gotten taller?" Jo asks.

Athena pulls away from Jo, allowing the blonde to crouch in front of her. The blonde's smile becomes small, noticing the bandage over Athena's right eye. "Jeez, Attie, what happened?"

"Oh, you know...demons causing car crashes." Athena shrugs her good shoulder.

"And your shoulder?" Ellen asks.

"Demon."

Ellen inhales a breath, "You guys have been dealing with a lot of demons lately, huh?"

"You have no idea." The Winchesters chorus.

"Well, let's sit down..." Ellen lightly touches Athena's back. "I'll get you some strawberry milk. On the house."

Athena scrunches her face. "I usually drink my strawberry milk on a table, but--"

"She means it's free, Attie," Jo says.

Athena slightly opens her mouth, "Oh...well, I would love free strawberry milk. Thanks, Ellen."

☆

"Was there an article in the Demon Hunter's Quarterly that I missed?"

Jo's lips pinch together in annoyance.

"I mean, how do you know about all this?" Dean inquires.

"Hey, I just run a saloon, but hunters have been known to pass through now and again, including your dad a long time ago," Ellen explains. "John was like family once."

"How sweet..." Athena murmurs, she starts to drink her strawberry milk. Some of the milk drops on Athena's overalls and her eye widens. "Aw, shit."

Ellen and Jo look at each other shocked. "I beg your pardon?" the woman looks at the auburn-haired girl.

Athena looks at Ellen and blinks, "What? Do I have something on my nose?"

"You said crap." Jo clarifies. "She's surprised and so am I."

"Oh...well, change is a surprising thing, right?" Athena nudges Jo with her elbow. "This change was long overdue."

The blonde raises her brows and slowly nods her head. She looks at the brothers with wide eyes, wondering what was with Athena's new attitude.

Dean looks away from the blonde in a dismissive manner, while Sam sends her a small smile.

"So, why exactly do we need your help--"

"Hey, don't do me any favors." Ellen immediately cuts Dean off.

A small smile forms on Athena's lips.

"Look, if you don't want my help, fine." Ellen continues. "Don't let the door smack your ass on the way out. But John wouldn't have sent you if..."

The woman trails off her sentence, the realization hitting her. Ellen looks from the boys and her eyes land on Athena's. The young girl quickly looks back at her strawberry milk before Ellen could see the solemn expression across Athena's face.

"He didn't send you." Ellen looks back at Dean. "He's all right, isn't he?"

Athena raises her brows, "Mmm not really..." she takes a loud slurp from her cup.

"Could you try and be a little more sensitive to the situation?" Dean snaps.

Athena swallows and looks at Dean with a blank expression. "I could..." she presses her lips together and looks back at her cup.

"Can we not do this, right now," Sam speaks. It wasn't even a question. Sam was growing tired of their arguing. He looks back at the mother and daughter, who shifted uncomfortably. "It was the Demon, we think."

"It just got him before he got it, I guess."

Ellen slowly shakes her head, "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. We're all right." Dean brushes Ellen off.

"Really, I know how close you and your dad--"

"Really, Lady, I'm fine." Dean snaps.

Athena's eyes slightly widen, and she obnoxiously slurps the last bit of her strawberry milk. She finishes her drink and burps.

"Uh, look, if you could help..." Sam inhales a soft breath. "...we could use all the help we can get."

"Well, we can't." Ellen sighs. "But Ash will."

There's that name again.

"Who's Ash?"

"Ash!"

The man laying on the pool table jolts awake with a yelp, causing Sam and Dean to jump.

"What?" Ash looks around and his eyes land on Ellen. "Closing time?"

Sam points at the man, "That's Ash?"

Jo nods her head, "He's a genius."

"Ash, we need your help with something. Get your ass over here." Ellen calls out.

"Y-Yes, ma'am." Ash stumbles off the pool table and walks over to them.

Sam grabs the files out of his bag and walks over to the bar table. Dean lets out a scoff, when Ash sits down.

"You got to be kidding me. This guy's no genius." Dean voices. "He's a Lynyrd Skynyrd roadie."

"I like you." Ash points at Dean.

"Well, that makes one of us..." Athena voices.

Ash looks at the young girl. "Sick burn."

Athena straigthens her back and smiles, "Thank you." she looks at Dean with a smug expression. "I've had a lot of practice."

Dean rolls his eyes.

"How 'bout you just give him a chance?" Jo raises her brows.

Dean looks at the blonde, "All right." he sits down next to Ash. "Well, this stuff's about a year's worth of our dad's work, so let's see what you make of it." he gives Ash a cocky smile, as if he knew Ash wasn't going to understand John's research.

Ash looks over the research and raises his brows. He lets out a soft breath and looks at Athena. "You weren't able to figure this out?"

Athena exhales through her nose. "I never got a chance to." she looks at her brothers.

"Athena your eyes have been killing you since you woke up." Sam says. "This would just make it worse."

"Well, anyway, there ain't no way this crap is real." Ash speaks. "Ain't nobobody that can track a demon like this."

Sam and Dean raise their brows and look at each other.

"Our dad could."

Ash looks back at the research. "These are nonparametric statistical overviews, cross-spectrum correlations. I mean...damn. They're signs, omens."

"If you can track them, you can track this demon--you know, like crop failures, electrical storms." Ash looks at the brothers. "You ever been struck by lightning? It ain't fun."

Athena cranes her neck forward, "That's like less than one in a million."

Ash nods his head, "I know. I must be pretty lucky, huh?"

The girl slowly shakes her head, "N-No. Not at all."

"Can you track it or not?" Sam asks.

Ash looks at Sam, "Oh, yeah, with this, I think so. But it's gonna take time."

"Give me...51 hours."

Ash stands up with the folder and ruffles Athena's hair.

"Aw, man!" Athena whines. She looks in the mirror at her now frizzy braids. "Dammit."

"Excuse you, little lady!"

Athena snaps her eye over to Ellen and it widens. She slightly opens her mouth, "I...I...Uh..." her eyes trail over to Sam, begging for his help.

Sam slightly shakes his head with fear. Ellen snaps her eyes over to Sam and the boy looks away from Athena and Ellen. The woman looks back at Athena. "In this roadhouse, you're gonna watch your profanity."

Athena keeps her mouth shut. "Yes ma'am." she immediately says. "Of course."

Ellen squints her eyes at Athena before walking away. Athena lets out a soft breath of relief. She turns her head and her eye land on Jo and Dean talking. Athena rolls her eye, "Barf." she looks at Sam.

"Whatcha looking at?" Athena asks.

"Looks like a case." Sam states. "Ellen let me look at it."

"Is it something that seems...exciting?" Athena shrugs.

Sam inhales a shaky breath, "Uh, I don't know, you tell me." he holds the picture out to her.

Athena raises her brows, "No way." she grabs the picture of the clown.

Sam shudders, "Way."

"You hate clowns." Athena states.

"That I do, Athena." Sam nods. His watch starts to beep and he looks down at it. Sam turns off the watch. "All right, time to change your bandages."

Athena's body tenses. "Uh, it's okay. I can do it myself."

"Athena, with your arm--"

"I'm capable of doing it." Athena pronounces. "Trust me, I've got it."

Sam shifts in his seat, "Bobby seemed dead serious about me helping you."

Athena shrugs her good shoulder. "Then, we'll just tell him that you did help me."

Sam raises his brows, "What? Like...lie?"

Athena purses her lips and nods.

Sam cranes his neck forward and looks into Athena's eye. Athena blinks, "Uh, are you okay?--"

"You want to lie? Are you feeling okay?"

Athena massages her temple. "Okay, I'm gonna go change my bandages."

She hops off the stool and walks to the backroom. Sam takes a stress-filled breath and lays his forehead against the bar surface. Jo walks over to the middle sibling and sits next to him. "So, what's going on with her?" she motions her head in the direction Athena went.

Sam looks at the blonde and lets out a soft breath. "Honestly? I don't know." he runs a hand through his hair. "And I want to know, but she's not really sharing her feelings."

"She never did." Jo shrugs a shoulder. "Over the course of time she would come and stay with us, she got quieter. I'm guessing that was thanks to your dad." Jo presses her lips together, trying to relieve the awkwardness. "No offense."

"Uh, none taken. My dad was...hard to get along with." Sam says. "And he was terrible to Athena and Dean."

Sam looks at his hands for a moment, "Hey, Jo?"

"Yeah?"

"How do you guys know Athena?" Sam asks. "I mean, she's never talked about you before."

Jo twists the rag in her hands. "Well, John would drop her off here whenever he had enough of her." she tilts her head. "Usually Bobby was the first place Athena would go, but when he and John were on bad terms. Athena would come here." Jo then points at Sam. "Anytime John told you and Dean that she ran away or some shit like that?"

Sam slightly tilts his chin up. "She was here?"

Jo nods her head, "Bingo."

A small breath escapes Sam's lips. They will forever learn new things about their father even after his death.

"And she didn't you guys cause she was afraid that John would stop her from coming over." Jo shrugs a shoulder. "I mean, this was her safe space."

Sam's eyes soften and his eyes fall on the door to the backroom. Jo notices Sam's guilt-ridden expression and she chews on the inside of her cheek. "Look, it seems like you and Athena have cleared the air about a lot of the things that have happened." the blonde states.

Sam looks at Jo with teary eyes.

"But, I think there's still some...things inside of Athena that she isn't ready to share with the two of you." Jo explains.

Sam pulls his brows together and the blonde starts to feel nervous about what she just said. "Uh, I'm gonna go check on her." Jo points to the door. The blonde quickly walks toward the door and enters the backroom while exhaling a breath of relief.

Jo keeps her eyes on the bathroom door and her hand starts to shake. The blonde knocks on her door.

"I'm fine, Sam." Athena voices.

"Oh, no, it's me..." the blonde let out a soft chuckle. "...Jo."

"What..." Athena stops talking. She inhales a soft breath, hoping her voice doesn't start shaking. "...what's up?"

"I just wanted to check on you. See how you were doing."

"I...can't tie it."

Jo pulls her brows together. "Can I come in, Attie?"

The sound of the door unlocks. "Come in."

Jo slowly opens the door and steps in. She looks at the young girl, who was looking at the ground. The blonde closes the door and leans her back against it with her hands behind her. "Is there a reason, you're not looking at me?"

Athena opens and closes her mouth. "Bobby is the only person who has seen me without my bandages." she taps her fingers against her legs. "I don't want to scare you."

Jo's throat tightens and her eyes soften. "Come on, dude. It's me." the blonde holds her arms out. "Remember that burn you got on your arm? I took care of that. I listen to you, when you need it most, right?"

Jo takes a cautious step toward the timid girl. "You're not gonna scare me, Athena. I love you too much to be scared of you."

Athena starts to pick at the skin on her fingers and she inhales a soft breath. Bobby didn't even flinch when he first saw her eye. The man didn't know it, but that meant the world to Athena. And when Athena lifted her head, Jo saw the deep scar that was now stitched. The scar was from Athena's forehead to her right cheek and the color of her iris was gray.

"You can't see?" Jo asks.

The Winchester presses her lips into a small line and she shakes her head. Jo's eyes start to water and she inhales a soft breath. "You know what?" she stands up. The blonde grabs the hydrogen peroxide and grabs more bandages. "Scars, are actually pretty cool." she sits on the edge of the bathtub.

Athena raises her brows. "Really?"

"Oh, yeah!" Jo exclaims. She places the hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball. The blonde places a hand under Athena's chin and slightly tilts her chin up. Jo lightly dabs Athena's stitching with the cotton swab.

"Each scar tells a story." Jo explains. "And each story ends with how you survived it." she shrugs a shoulder. "You're a survivor, Attie. And these scars are going to tell the most badass story."

"Your story."

A small smile forms on Athena's lips. "Thanks, Jo."

Jo chuckles softly and kisses Athena on the top of her head. "Come on, let's get this bandage on."

Jo finishes wrapping Athena's eye and they walked back into the bar. The blonde pulls her brows together, not seeing the brothers. "Hey, mom?"

Ellen looks over at Jo and Athena. The woman's eyes slightly widen, seeing Athena. "Hey, Athena, uh--"

"Did they leave without me?" Athena asks, a panic rising in her.

Jo's eyes widen and she snaps her eyes over to Athena. She looks back at her mom.

"No, not at all." Ellen crouches in front of the girl, who was staring to breath quickly. "They just went to go work a case. They'll be back, okay?"

Athena looks into Ellen's calm eyes and the girl relaxes. "They didn't say anything?"

Ellen slightly shakes her head and Athena lets out a frustrated breath.

"I'm sorry, sweetpea."

"They're such dicks." Jo crosses her arms.

"Jo." Ellen snaps.

"No, Jo's right." Athena "They're dicks."

Ellen and Jo look at the girl, who's expression was unreadable. "I'm starting to get a migraine."

Ellen raises her brows, "Well, we can set up the cot for you, let you get your rest." Ellen suggests with a small smile.

Athena swallows the lump in her throat. "Yeah, that sounds good." her voice was quiet and empty.

"I'll see you later, all right?" Jo goes to touch Athena's back, but the girl flinches and pulls away from her. The blonde quickly retracts her hand with her mouth open. "I-I'm sorry."

Athena shakes her head, "It's fine, I'm okay." she manages a weak smile and follows Ellen to the other room.

Jo lets out a sharp breath and her hands start to shake. The girl knew how hard it was for Athena to even share some of her story with her. And seeing Athena flinch like that, made Jo's heart wrench.

━━━━━━━━━━

A/N

Jo calling Athena 'Attie' 🫶

Words : 5080