In the beginning...

John entered the hospital on his own, leaving Dean in the car with Sam. The call he got a couple of hours ago had been more than disturbing: Leaving the tragedy itself aside he couldn't believe that someone had left him in charge as a guardian. Striding through the corridors with long steps he finally found the office door with the name "Dr. Alexander Bloom" written next to it. He knocked and entered. Inside he found a typical doctor's office: everything in plain white or grey, a desk, some cupboards filled with folders, a lonely and thirsty plant in the corner. Behind the desk sat an old man, in his early 70s, studying the papers in front of him. As John closed the door behind him, he looked up: "Yes? Can I help you with something?" John took a step towards the desk and replied: "I should think so... My name is John Winchester, I got a call that I should come here as soon as I could....". Cutting him off midsentence Dr. Bloom got up: "Ah, Mr. Winchester, of course. I didn't think you could come this early!" "I was in the area so I could swing by rather quickly." That was a lie. They had been a state over, but hearing the news he had been driving all night. "Excellent! Please, take a seat!" Dr. Bloom gestured towards a chair while he sat down again as well. "Mr. Winchester, I'm very sorry to inform you about the deaths of...". This time it was John's turn to interrupt the Doctor. "Yeah, I know... you told me on the phone. Can I see her?" "Right, right... now, in the papers that were left in our department you are named as a guardian... which involves certain duties and rights." "I know. I researched my duties on the way here... education, providing a home and general caretaking, you can spare me the details." Dr. Bloom shifted his glasses back in place. "Alright... Are you willing to take your role as a guardian then?" John leaned forward in his seat. "Would I be here otherwise?" Slowly but surely he lost his patience. "Can I see her?" "In a moment.", the doctor replied "first I have to ask you to sign these..." He handed the papers over, eyeing John very carefully. John didn't bother reading through everything, it wasn't the first time he saw these papers. He had filed the same once a long time ago... leaving Bobby in charge of his sons, should anything happen to him. He snatched a pen from the Doctor's desk and quickly signed. Handing him the signed form he put some more urgency in his voice. "Can I see her now?" Dr. Bloom looked at the papers, studied them for what seemed an eternity, then he looked back up at John. "Just wait here... I'll get her." As he got up and walked past John, opening a door to his right and vanishing behind it, John got up as well. He blinked several times to keep the sadness away that sat deep in his chest. His best friend and his wife, both gone in a flash. Just like that. He knew that this hazard always came with a job like theirs but still... they were taken far too soon. The turning of the doorknob yanked him out of his trail of thoughts, as Dr. Bloom came back into the room. Behind him, barely visible in the shadows, stood a child.

Her blonde hair in a braid, some loose strand falling over her round face, still in her sleeping clothes, she looked even smaller than John remembered her from his last visit. As he looked closer he noticed the bandage on her left arm, the red marks on her cheeks and her rattling breathing. The nurse behind her gave her a small nudge: "It's alright...". Turning to John she added: "We dressed up her injuries, luckily they're just superficial. Please have them checked at a hospital in about 4 days, just to make sure." John nodded at her and returned his full attention back to the child. She didn't look up at him, just stared blankly on the floor. Small wonder, John thought, after all she has been through. He crouched down in front of her, trying to catch her gaze. "Emily...?", he said softly. "You remember me?" It seemed ages before she finally looked up, her eyes so tired and full of pain as they met his. She didn't say a word. She didn't have to. John extended his hand towards her. Emily took two small steps towards him, ignoring the hand he offered her, just leaning against his chest, her face buried in his shirt. Without saying anything John laid his arms around her, holding her close, stroking her back a little, before picking her up. He took his leave from Dr. Bloom and the nurse and headed towards the door. Emily wrapped her tiny arms around his neck, still refusing to look up. Pushing open the hospital doors John headed towards the Impala, where Sammy was still asleep on his brother's shoulder. John heaved a sigh. Somehow he would have to explain to them that they just got a new sister.