Chapter Text
Morning in the home of the Naturals doesn't announce itself or start at a set time. It just seeps in slowly.
Cassie wakes up first, before her alarm because the silence is wrong. Its too clean, too deliberate. The air feels heavier than usual. The floorboards creak like someone is outside her door, yet no one is. She exhales and starts to get up anyways, like she doesn't already know today has only hell to hold.
Briggs is already awake. He is seated at the kitchen table, his coffe cold and untouched as he stares at the report he's holding from a case he's working on. His jaw in clenched, not in anger nor stress, rather alert.
Solane sits on the table across from Briggs, legs crossed. Her posture is relaxed in a way that fools nobody in the tense silence.
Sterling enters next, her hair pulled back in a low ponytail, expression netural. She pauses in the doorway as her eyes scan the two.
"Who'd like to admit to being nervous this early?"
Sterling asks as she crosses her arms across her chest. Solane raises her hand halfway.
"I'd admit to being mildly entertained"
"Thats worse"
Sterling says, bluntly.
Deam comes down shortly after Sterling made her arrival. He looks tired, emotionally over physically. His gaze flickers over the three, reading them and then stops short.
"Somebodys hiding something"
He declares. Brigg's voice is slow as he speaks. "We're not hiding, we're anticipating."
Everyone goes quiet when the're actions were just into words. Anticipation is never good in the home of the naturals.
Cassie walks downstairs and makes a B-line for the tea kettle to make a glass of tea she'll never drink. Her mind is running through last nights case, the way Brigg's checked the door locks twice rather than once.
"..the timeline doesn't fit."
Cassie mutters quietly to nobody.
Solane looks at her, intriuged.
"For what?"
"For nothing," she replies. "Thats the problem"
Micheal finally walks in, the most awake and aware one in the bunch. After a heavy silence he speaks, not waiting for any bull to happen.
"I have the feeling theres something wrong, someone."
Another loud silence that speaks for than words. Cassie's hand stills on the kettle. Solane shifts uncomfrtably. Sterling narrows her eyes.
"Are you sure?"
"Unfotunetly. Meaning Judd, Lia, or y/n is about to have a bad day."
He says, knowing that the only possible choices are the three still in bed, not yet awake to share whats wrong.
"I hate it when you're right."
Dean says, running a hand through his messy, bedhead hair.
Like a siren cutting through the thick silence, a phone rings on the table. Brigg's. He doesn't reach for it when he reads the number, he stares at it like its a bad dream.
"Unknown number?"
Cassie asks, not knowing why Brigg's is acting like the phone will burn him if he touches it.
"No. Someone I haven't heard from in a while."
He says quietly, offering up few details. The only sound heard is the ticking of a clock and the heavy breathing of those in the room. Solane softens, Sterling stiffens. Brigg's carefully picks up the phone, knowing he can't ignore whos calling. Its a short call, the only things Briggs says are a few 'mhms' and a 'yes sir' before he hung up.
"Well?"
Sterling asks, inpatiently. Her arms are crossed. She knows who called and she doesn't seem to like the fact that they called.
"We're needed in Texas."
Is all Briggs says, not giving away any details. Solane jumps off the table.
"Knew it!"
She says as she disapears upstairs to pack quickly. Dean sighs.
"I was going to shower."
"You can get clean later."
She says as she grabs her coat off of the coat rack near the door. Cassie just watches. Her mind is already running through every possible worst case senerio.
"Get in the car with your bags, we leave soon"
Is all Brigg's says before he dispears as well with Sterling following after him, probally to discuse the call.
"Guess that means I have the honor of waking the sleeping beautys"
Micheal pipes up as he heads to the door to go upstairs and get Judd, Lia, and y/n.