Chapter 102: birthday part 3

**Chapter: Wake-Up Call**

**6:30 AM**

Jensen groggily blinked awake, an eerie feeling washing over him—like someone was watching him. His eyes adjusted to the dim morning light, and sure enough, **Mrs. Faulkner** stood over his bed, arms crossed, staring at him with an expression that was both amused and expectant.

**"Morning, sunshine,"** she said, her voice way too cheerful for this hour.

Jensen groaned, rubbing his face. **"Please tell me you don’t do this to *everyone* who stays here."**

**"Only the ones who need it."** She smirked. **"Figured you’d want some answers about last night’s little revelation."**

Jensen sat up, blinking away sleep. **"Oh, right. The, uh... diaper situation."** He rubbed his temples. **"Okay, yeah. Spill."**

Mrs. Faulkner pulled up a chair and sat down, as if she had all the time in the world. **"It’s really nothing dramatic. Medical reasons, trauma, past experiences—each of the boys has their own reason. And before you go full Winchester and try to play hero, they’re fine. They’re healing, they’re supported, and they don’t need pity."**

Jensen nodded slowly, taking it in. **"Fair enough."** He glanced toward the door. **"So, uh… do they know you’re telling me this?"**

**"Not yet. But they will when they wake up, and if you make a big deal about it, I’ll personally make sure you’re on dish duty for a *month*."**

Jensen held up his hands in surrender. **"Message received, loud and clear."**

Mrs. Faulkner stood up, patting his shoulder. **"Good. Now get up, breakfast is in an hour, and today’s gonna be just as long as yesterday."**

**Jensen groaned again, flopping back onto the bed.** *What had he gotten himself into?*

Jensen let out a deep sigh, rubbing his face as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. **"Man, I knew there was a catch."**

Mrs. Faulkner smirked. **"You got a lot of folks to cook for. That’s why I’m getting you up early—everyone else gets 30 more minutes."**

Jensen rolled his eyes but pushed himself up. **"Fine, fine. But you better have coffee ready, or I swear—"**

Mrs. Faulkner cut him off. **"Already brewing. Now move it, Chef Ackles."**

As Jensen trudged toward the kitchen, he mumbled under his breath, **"Dean Winchester never had to put up with this."**

Mrs. Faulkner chuckled behind him. **"Oh, I bet if Bobby was around more, he would’ve."**

Jensen entered the kitchen, greeted by the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. He poured himself a cup, taking a long sip before letting out a satisfied sigh. **"Alright, what’s on the menu, boss?"**

Mrs. Faulkner leaned against the counter, arms crossed. **"Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, toast—the works. And you better believe I expect it all hot and ready when the troops come marching in."**

Jensen let out a low whistle. **"You do realize I’m just one man, right?"**

Mrs. Faulkner smirked. **"One man who lost a bet with me last night. Now, hop to it."**

Grumbling under his breath, Jensen rolled up his sleeves and got to work. Soon, the kitchen was filled with the sounds of sizzling bacon, eggs cracking, and the occasional curse word that earned him a sharp look from Mrs. Faulkner.

Thirty minutes later, Jared stumbled in, hair a mess, eyes barely open. He sniffed the air, then groaned. **"Why do I smell bacon but still feel like I got run over by Baby?"**

Jensen smirked. **"Because I’ve been up while you were drooling into your pillow. Grab a spatula and make yourself useful."**

Jared groaned dramatically but joined in, flipping pancakes while stealing a few bacon strips off the plate.

One by one, the rest of the household started filing in—Jack, Captain Singer, Misha, Jim, and even Bobby, who grumbled something about needing coffee before dealing with this much morning energy.

Then came the boys, still half-asleep, dragging themselves to the table. Jordan yawned as he plopped down. **"Smells good… too early, though."**

Mrs. Faulkner clapped her hands. **"Eat up, boys. You’ve got another full day ahead of you."**

Jensen groaned. **"Wait—what do you mean another full day? We’re still celebrating?"**

Mrs. Faulkner smiled sweetly. **"Of course. Like I said, in this house, birthdays last a whole week."**

Jensen nearly dropped his spatula. **"You’ve got to be kidding me."**

Misha laughed, patting him on the back. **"Better buckle up, buddy. You’re in for the long haul."**

Misha froze mid-laugh, his smirk fading. **"Wait, what?"**

Mrs. Faulkner grinned. **"You heard me. You boys had your fun chasing pies yesterday. Now, it’s your turn to handle cleanup."**

Jared burst out laughing, slapping the table. **"Oh, this is *gold*. Finally, someone making Misha suffer!"**

Misha crossed his arms, pouting. **"You’re enjoying this way too much, Padalecki."**

Here's a rewritten version without the games and without Tyler peeing on Jensen, but still wetting his diaper:

The morning moved along as usual, with breakfast finished and everyone gearing up for the day. Jensen stretched, still feeling the weight of the early wake-up call, but at least the coffee Mrs. Faulkner had provided was strong.

Across the room, Tyler shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Jordan, who sat beside him, noticed and nudged him lightly. "You okay?"

Tyler sighed, keeping his voice low. "Yeah… just need to get changed."

Jordan gave him a knowing look but didn’t say anything. He simply stood up and motioned toward Mrs. Faulkner, who nodded.

"Go ahead, Tyler," she said calmly, not making a fuss about it.

Jensen, mid-sip of his coffee, raised a brow. "Wait, what’s going on?"

Mrs. Faulkner shot him a look. "Nothing you need to worry about, Mr. Ackles. Just keep drinking your coffee."

Jensen shrugged. "Fine by me."

Tyler left the room with Jordan following, and the morning continued as planned.

Jensen, still groggy from the early morning, got up from the table and stretched. **"Alright, time for me to use the bathroom before we start the day,"** he muttered, heading upstairs.

Half-distracted, he pushed open a door without thinking—only to freeze in place.

Inside, Jordan was mid-motion, helping Tyler into a clean diaper. Both boys turned to look at him, eyes wide with surprise.

Jensen blinked. **"Uh… wrong door."**

Jordan sighed, shaking his head. **"Yeah, no kidding."**

Tyler groaned. **"Can we just pretend this didn’t happen?"**

Jensen quickly pulled the door shut. **"Yep, never saw a thing."** He backed away and made a mental note to knock next time.

Jensen walked back downstairs, his face a little paler than before. He sat down at the table, grabbing his coffee and taking a long sip.

Jared raised an eyebrow. **"Dude, you look like you just saw a ghost."**

Jensen hesitated for a second, then shook his head. **"No reason."**

Jared smirked. **"Uh-huh. Sure."**

Jensen just took another sip of coffee, determined to pretend nothing had happened.

Jensen nearly choked on his coffee. **"Wait, what? You want us to take the kids on a ghost hunt?"**

Mrs. Faulkner nodded, completely serious. **"You boys spent years pretending to hunt ghosts on TV. Time to put that knowledge to the test."**

Jared chuckled. **"You do realize we were acting, right?"**

Mrs. Faulkner waved a hand dismissively. **"Details. The boys love Supernatural, and I think it'd be a great experience for them. Besides, Captain Singer can back you up if things get too real."**

Jensen glanced at Jared, who looked half amused, half intrigued. **"Alright, where exactly are we supposed to find a ghost?"**

Mrs. Faulkner smirked. **"Oh, don't worry, I’ve already got a place in mind."**

Jensen sighed, rubbing his face. **"Of course, you do."**

Mrs. Faulkner pulled out a folder and set it on the table. **"There's an old house about twenty minutes from here—been abandoned for decades. Rumors say it’s haunted. People hear voices, see shadows moving, the usual spooky stuff."**

Jared raised an eyebrow. **"And you want us to take a bunch of kids into a real haunted house?"**

Mrs. Faulkner shrugged. **"Captain Singer will be there. You’ll have backup if anything actually happens. Besides, it'll be fun."**

Jordan, who had been listening from the doorway, grinned. **"Wait, we’re actually going ghost hunting? No way!"**

Jake, Alex, and Tyler quickly joined in, their excitement growing. Evan, on the other hand, looked a little uncertain.

Jensen shook his head. **"Alright, fine. But if anything jumps out at me, I’m blaming you, Mrs. Faulkner."**

Jared clapped his hands. **"Guess we better gear up, boys! Time to teach you how to hunt ghosts, Winchester style."**

Jensen groaned, rolling his eyes. **"Oh, come on, Charlie. Are we really bringing that up again?"**

Charlie smirked. **"Absolutely. That scream was legendary."**

Jared burst out laughing. **"Dude, she’s right. You sounded like a five-year-old who just saw the boogeyman."**

Jensen crossed his arms. **"Alright, laugh it up. But if something actually jumps out at us tonight, I expect every single one of you to keep that same energy."**

Mrs. Faulkner chuckled. **"Better hope there aren’t any stray cats in that house, Jensen."**

Jordan, Alex, and Jake all grinned, while Tyler tried (and failed) to stifle a laugh.

Jensen pointed at all of them. **"Y’know what? If anything happens, I’m pushing one of you in front of it and running."**

Charlie feigned a gasp. **"Wow. Real hero material."**

Jared clapped a hand on Jensen’s shoulder. **"Let’s just hope this doesn’t turn into another ‘Ghostfacers’ situation."**

Jensen groaned again. **"You just had to bring that up, didn’t you?"**

Both ghost facers say well you did punch us over pie.

Jensen sighed, rubbing his temples. **"Yeah, and I’d do it again if you keep bringing that up."**

Ed and Harry from the Ghostfacers grinned at each other. **"Oooooh, scary. Looks like someone’s still salty about losing the great pie chase of the century."**

Jared smirked. **"Hey, Jensen, maybe you should’ve screamed at them like you did in ‘Yellow Fever.’ Might’ve been more effective."**

Charlie burst out laughing. **"Oh, come on! That was gold. Someone needs to make that into a ringtone!"**

Jensen exhaled sharply and muttered, **"I hate all of you."**

Mrs. Faulkner, amused, clapped her hands together. **"Alright, boys, enough roasting Jensen. We’ve got a ghost hunt to prepare for."**

Ed perked up. **"Oh, now this is our element! Time for some real professionals to take over."**

Jensen shot them a look. **"I swear, if you two get us killed—"**

Harry held up his hands. **"Relax, man! We’ve only had like... one or two near-death experiences."**

Ed nodded. **"And only half of those were our fault."**

Jensen groaned again. **"This is gonna be a disaster."**

Ed and Harry immediately went pale, glancing at each other awkwardly.

**"Uh… well…"** Ed started, rubbing the back of his neck.

**"That was… unfortunate,"** Harry added. **"But technically, that was supernatural interference! Not our fault!"**

Jensen crossed his arms. **"So, yes."**

Charlie leaned in. **"Wait, didn’t you guys also almost die in a haunted asylum? And that time with the ghost in the abandoned house?"**

**"And the hellhound incident,"** Jared chimed in.

Ed threw up his hands. **"Okay! Okay! We’ve had some *hiccups!* But that’s what makes us seasoned professionals!"**

Mrs. Faulkner, unimpressed, folded her arms. **"Let’s make one thing clear—*none* of my boys are getting hurt on this little trip of yours, or you’ll have more to fear than ghosts."**

Jensen smirked at the Ghostfacers. **"You heard the lady. No screw-ups."**

Ed gulped. **"Loud and clear."**

Harry muttered, **"Man, she’s scarier than half the things we’ve hunted."**

Jared patted them both on the back. **"Welcome to our world."**

### **The Ghost Hunt Begins**

That evening, everyone gathered their gear—EMF detectors, flashlights, and salt rounds. The Winchesters, along with the Ghostfacers, led the way as Mrs. Faulkner’s boys eagerly followed.

**"Alright, listen up,"** Jensen said, taking charge. **"We’re heading to an old abandoned house on the outskirts of town. Local legend says it’s haunted by a woman who died there over a hundred years ago—Lady Whitmore."**

Jared continued, **"People say they hear whispers, see shadows moving, and some even claim they've been scratched."**

Noah nudged Evan. **"You scared?"**

Evan scoffed. **"No way. This is awesome."**

Tyler, though, stayed close to Jordan. **"What if she doesn’t want us there?"**

Mrs. Faulkner crossed her arms. **"Then you all *leave* immediately. No unnecessary risks."**

The group arrived at the old house, its wooden frame creaking under the wind. It loomed in the moonlight, an eerie presence against the dark sky.

**"Alright, let’s split into teams,"** Jensen said. **"Standard horror movie rules apply—no wandering off alone, no saying ‘I’ll be right back,’ and definitely no provoking the ghost."**

Jared smirked. **"Looking at you, Ghostfacers."**

Ed and Harry put their hands up. **"We learned our lesson!"**

With that, they entered.

---

### **Inside the Haunted House**

The air inside was stale, filled with dust and the faint scent of mildew. The floor creaked under every step, making it impossible to move quietly.

Alex and Jake held EMF detectors, their eyes glued to the flashing lights.

**"It’s spiking,"** Jake whispered.

Suddenly, a loud *BANG!* echoed through the house. Everyone froze.

**"What was that?!"** Jordan hissed.

Jared lifted his flashlight toward the stairs. **"Sounded like it came from up there."**

Jensen sighed. **"Of course, it did."**

They cautiously climbed the steps, the wood groaning beneath them. As they reached the second floor, Noah pointed at an open door. **"That wasn’t open before."**

Ed whispered, **"This is where people claim they hear the whispers."**

As if on cue, a soft, chilling voice filled the air. *"Why are you here…?"*

The temperature dropped instantly. Evan grabbed onto Alex’s arm. **"Okay, that was creepy."**

Jensen and Jared exchanged looks. **"She knows we’re here,"** Jared said.

A shadow flickered across the hallway. Tyler grabbed Jordan’s sleeve. **"Did you see that?"**

**"Yeah, we all saw that,"** Jensen muttered, pulling out his salt rounds.

Charlie, holding an EVP recorder, gasped. **"Guys, I just caught something—listen!"** She hit playback, and through the static, a voice whispered: *"Get out… before he comes."*

Jared frowned. **"He? Who’s he?"**

Before anyone could answer, a powerful gust of wind slammed the door shut behind them. The boys yelped.

Mrs. Faulkner, unfazed, stepped forward. **"Alright, Lady Whitmore. I suggest you tell us what’s going on before I bring in the big guns."**

The whispering grew louder, swirling around them. The air seemed to pulse with energy.

Jensen muttered, **"I *hate* ghost hunts."**

---

### **The Real Threat**

Just as they thought Lady Whitmore was the threat, the walls shook violently. The lights flickered, and a deep, guttural growl filled the house.

**"Uh… guys?"** Jared said, cocking his shotgun. **"I don’t think Lady Whitmore is the one we need to worry about."**

The voice returned, only this time, it was *deeper*. *"You should not have come."*

The boys huddled together, their excitement now replaced with unease.

Mrs. Faulkner cracked her knuckles. **"Alright, enough games. Winchesters, deal with it."**

Jensen smirked. **"With pleasure."**

Jared took out a flask of holy water. **"Let’s see what we’re dealing with."** He splashed some into the air. Immediately, an unseen force shrieked in pain.

**"Demon,"** Jensen confirmed.

**"And it’s pissed,"** Charlie added.

The Ghostfacers were already backing toward the door. **"Yeah, uh, we’ll just… observe from over here,"** Ed said.

Jensen rolled his eyes. **"Cowards."**

Suddenly, the entity lunged. A dark shadow formed at the end of the hallway, charging toward them. The boys screamed.

Jared pulled out a demon trap spray paint can and quickly drew a sigil on the floor. **"Everyone inside the circle—NOW!"**

The moment they stepped inside, the shadowy figure stopped, unable to move past the boundary. It let out a furious growl.

Mrs. Faulkner crossed her arms. **"Alright, you overgrown tantrum-thrower. Who are you, and what do you want?"**

The demon snarled, its glowing eyes narrowing at her.

**"Your souls… all of them."**

The room fell silent.

Jensen cocked his gun. **"Yeah, that’s not happening."**

---

### **The Exorcism**

Jared pulled out a Latin exorcism book. **"Alright, let’s send this thing packing."**

As he began chanting, the demon thrashed against the invisible barrier, screeching. The walls rattled, and objects flew off shelves.

Jordan, holding onto Tyler, whispered, **"This is insane."**

Tyler gulped. **"Awesome, but insane."**

As Jared’s voice grew stronger, the demon began to weaken, its form flickering. With a final, ear-piercing scream, it burst into black smoke and vanished.

The house went silent.

Everyone took a deep breath.

**"Well, that was fun,"** Noah said sarcastically.

Jensen sighed, rubbing his temples. **"Next time, *cake*. We’re just getting cake."**

Mrs. Faulkner smirked. **"That was just night one, Ackles. The week’s not over yet."**

Jensen groaned. **"Of course, it’s not."**

### **A Sudden Surprise**

As the group filed out of the eerie house, still shaken from the demon encounter, the night air felt a little fresher, a little safer. The ghost hunt was over, but Jensen couldn't shake the sense of unease lingering around them. He kept glancing over his shoulder, half-expecting something else to jump out at them.

**"Alright,"** Jensen muttered, his eyes scanning the surroundings, **"let's get back to the house before something else happens."**

Just as he started to relax, a sudden, guttural growl echoed through the air. Before he could react, a massive figure lunged out of the shadows, directly in front of him.

**"What the hell?!"** Jensen yelled, heart racing as he stumbled back.

A flash of movement—fur, claws, and sharp teeth—had him frozen in place for a split second before his instincts kicked in. Without hesitation, he pulled a salt round from his pocket and fired, a stream of salt hitting the beast square in the chest.

**"Ahhh!"** Garth let out a howl of pain, falling to the ground with a heavy thud. His eyes, now human again, widened in shock as the salt hit him. **"OK, that stung!"**

Jensen's heart hammered in his chest as he stood there, wide-eyed, the salt gun still raised. He blinked rapidly, trying to process what just happened.

**"Garth?!"** Jensen gasped, lowering the gun but still shaking from the shock. **"What the hell, man? You scared the living daylights out of me!"**

Garth groaned on the ground, rubbing his chest where the salt had burned. **"I was just trying to have a little fun! You know, a little payback for all those jokes."** He shifted uncomfortably, still looking a little bruised but mostly fine. **"Guess I forgot about the salt."**

Jensen sighed deeply, letting the gun fall to his side. **"I’m gonna be hearing about this for days..."**

Jared, who was standing behind him, laughed. **"Good one, Garth! But maybe next time warn us before you turn into a werewolf and jump out of the shadows."**

**"I wasn’t trying to scare anyone!"** Garth said defensively, his voice half apologetic, half amused. **"I just thought it’d be funny to surprise you, seeing as how you all were so spooked by the ghost hunt."**

Mrs. Faulkner, who had been quietly observing from a distance, smirked. **"You’ve learned an important lesson, Jensen."**

Jensen turned to her with a raised brow. **"What lesson?"**

She pointed at Garth, still on the ground, rubbing his chest. **"Never assume the night’s over until you’re back at the house. There’s always something else lurking around the corner."**

Jensen groaned. **"I’ll never get used to this. Maybe I should just start sleeping with a salt shotgun at this point."**

**"You should!"** Garth chimed in, now back on his feet, patting his stomach as he winced. **"You never know what’s coming."**

The rest of the group chuckled, and Jensen just shook his head, muttering something about needing a drink.

Mrs. Faulkner glanced at the boys. **"Alright, everyone. No more surprises tonight. Let’s get back to the house before something else happens, *please*."**

Jared, still laughing, clapped Jensen on the back. **"Come on, man. It’s all part of the fun!"**

As they all made their way back to the Faulkner house, Jensen couldn’t help but feel the weight of the night. Between the demon, the ghost hunt, and Garth’s unexpected attack, he was about ready to collapse. But deep down, he knew there was never a dull moment in this group.

And as much as he might complain, he wouldn't have it any other way.

Jared ok whats on the menu for dinner tonight, Jensen I vote for werewolf pot pie staring at Garth...

Jared grinned at Jensen's suggestion, clearly amused by the idea. **"Werewolf pot pie, huh? Sounds like a unique flavor."** He chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. **"But seriously, what are we actually having for dinner?"**

Jensen, still clearly flustered from the werewolf scare, shot a look at Garth, who was now playfully shrugging. **"It’s a family recipe, right, Garth? Special seasoning for... well, *special* guests."** He added with a smirk.

Garth rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but laugh. **"If you start cooking me into your pies, I'm going to start charging for my special appearances."**

Mrs. Faulkner, not missing a beat, stood up from where she'd been talking with the boys. **"Well, since everyone’s feeling so... *creative*, tonight is 'Make Your Own Pot Pie' night."** She raised an eyebrow, eyeing the group, then added with a teasing smile, **"That means plenty of pie tins for Misha to scrub if he wants a sip of whiskey later."**

Misha, who had been quietly listening, groaned in protest. **"You really know how to break a man’s spirit, don't you?"** He shot a dramatic glance toward the stack of empty pie tins on the counter. **"Fine, fine, I’ll scrub them... but only because I’m *desperate* for that whiskey."**

Jensen snorted. **"You’ve got to be kidding me. How do you *always* end up doing the dirty work?"**

Misha gave him a sly grin. **"Well, someone’s got to earn their keep around here."** He added in a mock serious tone, **"I am, after all, the *sacrificial lamb* of this operation."**

**"Alright, alright,"** Mrs. Faulkner said, a little more sternly. **"Get the tins prepped, everyone! There’s more than enough ingredients for everyone to make their own pies."** She turned to the boys. **"You get the choice of meats, veggies, and toppings. And don’t forget the pies will need to be cleaned up afterward. So, no funny business."**

Jensen looked around the room. **"Guess I’m cooking, then."** He glanced at Jared, who was already eyeing the pie tins with interest. **"But no werewolf filling, got it?"**

Jared snickered, clearly ready to dive into the pie-making process. **"No promises."**

As the kitchen buzzed with excitement, Mrs. Faulkner looked pleased. **"Everyone make your choices. And let’s not forget, we’ve got a whole kitchen to clean after this!"**

Misha sighed dramatically but started grabbing pie tins, muttering under his breath about how he would never underestimate the *chore* of pie tin scrubbing again. Meanwhile, Garth, Jensen, and Jared began gathering their ingredients with a mix of mischief and determination.

It was clear that despite all the chaos that had ensued over the past few days, the night was about to turn into something that felt almost... *normal*. Just a bunch of friends and family together, sharing a meal, even if it meant a few dirty dishes and endless laughter along the way.

Jensen rolled up his sleeves, grinning as he took control of the kitchen. **"Alright, people, step aside,"** he said with mock authority. **"Your personal chef is here to make sure nobody gets stuck with *mystery meat* in their pies."**

Jared, who was standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. **"Mystery meat? What, like Garth's 'special ingredient'?"**

Garth, standing with his arms crossed, shot a playful glare at Jensen. **"I *heard* that."**

**"Hey, don’t worry,"** Jensen shot back, **"You’re getting the 'VIP' treatment tonight. A werewolf pie just for you."**

Jared laughed, shaking his head as he picked up a pie tin. **"Alright, I’ll take one with extra cheese and a bit of bacon. I’m not afraid to live dangerously."**

Jensen nodded as he grabbed the ingredients. **"Bacon? You got it. This is going to be one serious pie."** He then turned to Garth. **"And for you, the special ‘Werewolf Deluxe’. Extra meat, some hearty vegetables, and for the *final touch*... a dash of hot sauce to make it *spicy*."**

Garth grinned. **"I like it. Make sure you throw in a little garlic, too. Nothing too fancy though, just keep it simple."**

Jensen then glanced over at Misha, who was quietly eyeing the ingredients, almost as if he wasn’t quite sure what he wanted. **"And what about you, Misha? You look like you’re about to pull a stunt with a *dessert pie* or something."**

Misha, already picking up a handful of mushrooms, shot him a mock serious look. **"Please. I’m a man of *sophistication*. I want a spinach and feta pie with a bit of extra garlic and some creamy sauce."**

**"Oh, you fancy, huh?"** Jensen chuckled, getting to work.

Jared raised his hand again. **"Wait, are we actually having dessert pies too? Or is this going to be a savory-only affair?"**

Mrs. Faulkner, who was organizing the prep station, chimed in. **"We’ve got plenty of dessert options for later. You’ll just have to get through these first."**

Jensen started putting together the pies, making sure each one had exactly what was requested. He filled the tins with a flaky, golden crust, adding the right amounts of veggies, meats, and spices. He hummed as he worked, moving around the kitchen like a pro.

As the pies began to take shape, Jensen looked over at the boys. **"Alright, guys, you've got your *custom orders*, but you better eat fast, because you’ll be cleaning up afterwards, and there’s no way you’re escaping that part of the deal."**

Tyler, who had been nervously watching the entire cooking process, smiled shyly and whispered, **"I’m just happy I’m not on clean-up duty right now."**

Jensen raised an eyebrow. **"You’re off the hook for now, kid. But you’re going to have to learn eventually."**

Tyler nodded enthusiastically. **"I’ll try my best."**

As the pies cooked in the oven, Jensen stepped back, wiping his hands on a towel. **"Alright, everyone! Get your plates ready, and when these come out, they’re all yours."** He smirked as he looked at Garth. **"Though, Garth, don’t be surprised if yours has a little *extra heat* in it. Consider it a reminder to never mess with me in the kitchen."**

Garth chuckled, nodding approvingly at the challenge. **"I wouldn’t have it any other way."**

Soon enough, the pies were ready, golden and bubbling with delicious fillings. Jensen carefully plated each one, handing them out like a gourmet chef.

**"Dig in, everyone,"** he said with a satisfied smile. **"I’d say enjoy it, but we all know what’s coming after dinner."**

As everyone sat down to enjoy their custom pies, there was a sense of camaraderie and laughter filling the air. Despite all the chaos and crazy events that had unfolded, moments like these—sitting down with friends and family and sharing a meal—made everything feel normal again. Even if it was a night full of strange ingredients, hot sauce, and the occasional pie mishap.

Mrs. Faulkner, who was wiping down the counters, gave Jensen a knowing look as she strolled over to the cabinet where the whiskey was kept. **"You sure you’ve earned it after all those pies you made, Mr. Ackles?"**

Jensen flashed her a grin. **"Come on, Mrs. Faulkner, I’ve been working all day. I could use a little reward. And after dealing with *that*,"** he gestured toward the mountain of dishes in the sink, **"I think I deserve a bit more than just a sip."**

Mrs. Faulkner raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. She pulled the bottle from the shelf and poured him a generous amount. **"You know,"** she said as she handed him the glass, **"there’s a saying—‘Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.’ I’m starting to think you’re pushing that a bit tonight."**

Jensen took the glass with a smirk, feeling the warmth of the liquid in his hand. **"I promise, no biting. Just a little sip."** He raised the glass in a mock toast before downing it in one smooth gulp.

Misha, who had been eyeing the dishes with dread, groaned loudly. **"I swear, I need to grow another pair of hands for this."** He picked up the first dish and began scrubbing it in resignation. **"And this whiskey better be worth every drop,"** he muttered under his breath, glancing at Jensen who was now leisurely sipping his drink.

Jensen, looking particularly satisfied with his drink, gave him a cheeky smile. **"Oh, trust me, it’ll be worth it. You might just need a little more than whiskey to get through this, though."**

Mrs. Faulkner, who was now watching the scene unfold, shook her head with a slight smile. **"I expect the kitchen cleaned, not just the dishes, gentlemen. It’s a full kitchen shift tonight. I’ll be inspecting."**

Jensen sighed dramatically. **"You know, this feels like a never-ending cycle of cleaning and pie making."**

Jared, who had been casually leaning against the counter, chuckled. **"What did you think was going to happen? It’s like a family dinner. Someone always ends up cleaning up."**

Misha, his hands still deep in sudsy water, shot Jared a look. **"Yeah, and I think *we* know who is going to be on dishes every time now."**

Jensen let out a laugh. **"I’d love to say this isn’t my usual fate, but I can’t deny it. At least this time, I got to make the pies."**

Misha gave him a knowing look. **"You made those pies, but I swear, if I have to scrub one more pie tin..."**

Mrs. Faulkner, not one to let her kitchen stay messy for long, walked over with a look of finality. **"You two better get to work. And you might want to remember, *next time*, the pie tins won’t be as big of a deal if you keep your hands out of the whiskey until after the work’s done."**

Jensen shot Misha a teasing look as he grabbed another dish to help out. **"She’s right, Misha. Get to it."**

Misha grumbled but nodded in defeat. **"Alright, alright. I’m starting a new rule—no more pie until the dishes are done."**

The kitchen echoed with the sounds of scrubbing and clattering as everyone pitched in, though there was a noticeable lightness in the air. Between the whiskey, the chaos, and the laughter, it wasn’t so bad. The work wasn’t easy, but it was part of the day, and after all the fun and games, a little dishwashing wasn’t going to ruin their spirits.

After what felt like an eternity of scrubbing, wiping, and putting away, the kitchen was finally clean. Mrs. Faulkner stepped in, giving the space a once-over. She nodded in approval. **"Looks like you boys managed to get through it after all."**

Jensen, wiping his brow, looked over at Misha. **"Well, it wasn’t the *worst* thing to have done today."**

Mrs. Faulkner, still holding the bottle of whiskey, glanced at Jensen one last time before putting it away. **"But remember, next time you want more, you’ll have to earn it again."**

Jensen grinned. **"Deal, Mrs. Faulkner. Deal."**

With the kitchen finally clean, the boys could finally relax, the night winding down with the satisfaction of a hard day’s work—and the knowledge that tomorrow was a new day with new challenges to face.

Mrs. Faulkner, with a slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth, poured Misha a small sip of whiskey. **"Here you go, Misha. A little something to make all that scrubbing worth it."**

Misha took the glass gratefully, his tired hands wrapping around the cool glass. He glanced at Jensen, who was already lounging back, looking satisfied with his own drink. **"Thanks, Mrs. Faulkner. I swear, you’re the only person who could make this whole cleaning ordeal feel a little bit worth it."**

He took a slow sip, savoring the warmth that spread through him. **"I could get used to this, if only there weren't so many damn pie tins to scrub."**

Jensen chuckled, tipping his glass toward Misha. **"Yeah, well, you know, *someone* has to do the dirty work around here. We wouldn’t want to disappoint Mrs. Faulkner."**

Mrs. Faulkner shot them both a look, her voice stern but with a hint of amusement. **"You’re welcome for the whiskey, but remember, I expect you both to keep up the good work around here. The kitchen isn’t the only place that needs tidying."**

Misha took another sip, his eyes twinkling. **"Don’t worry, Mrs. Faulkner, we’ll keep everything in order... *for now*."**

Jensen leaned back, enjoying the moment of calm after the chaos of the day. **"This is a nice way to wind down... although I’m still trying to figure out how we went from pies to cleaning to whiskey in one long, crazy day."**

Mrs. Faulkner smiled, setting the bottle down and looking between the two of them. **"It’s all part of the process, gentlemen. You’ll get used to it, just like everything else around here. Now, enjoy your drinks and get some rest. We’ve got another busy day ahead of us."**

With a shared glance, Jensen and Misha nodded, the weight of the day lifting as they settled back into their seats, the laughter and chatter of the boys filling the background. It had been a wild ride, but in Mrs. Faulkner’s home, that was just another day in the life.