Life's Essence Taken

Sam and Dean had been on the road for weeks now. Once again their hunts have taken them, especially Sam, away from where they wanted to be. He had gotten an E-mail from Kira, four days ago. She wondered when he'd be in town next. She said she wanted to see him. He wanted to see her too- to touch her. It had been two months since they last spent any time together. Most of that he was recovering from time spent in a coma. He had made time for the two of them before hitting the road with Dean yet again. He'd made love to her all night, the last night he'd seen her. He was itching to touch her again. Something he couldn't quite put his finger on began bugging him about her E-mail, the more he thought about it. He had a weird feeling that she needed him. He called her on his cell when Dean got out of the car to get gas.

"Morrison Inn. This is Jill. How can I help you?" What the hell? Where's Kira?

"Hi, Jill is it? I was hoping I could speak to Kira. Is she around?"

"Is this Sam? She said you might call. I'll get her for you, hang on."

"Thanks." He heard the phone being handed off.

"Sam?" She sounded sad, distracted.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Sam picked up on the distress in her voice right away. It sounded just like the morning after the pool playing townies had attacked her, trying to get even with him and Dean. When she was in pain from the cut on her arm- the one that had sported eighty stitches for three weeks.

"How… how quickly can you get here, Sam?"

"We're only six hours out. We were headed that way when I got your E-mail."

She just sobbed.

Sam's heart stopped. "Baby, I'm coming. It'll be okay, I'm on my way."

"Okay." She whispered.

Dean was coming out of the gas station; his arms loaded with the usual junk food, and mouth full of peanut M&M's, when Sam hung up the phone. He opened the door and hollered at Dean.

"We have to get to Tacoma, NOW! Something's wrong at Kira's."

Dean rushed to the driver's side and got in. He fired the engine and they took off. Sam's fear was making Dean determined to make the trip in way less than the six hours it should take.

"We'll get to her as soon as possible, Sammy. I promise."

Four hours later the Impala pulled into the parking lot at Morrison Inn. A door was flung open in tune with screeching brakes. Sam leapt from the car and made a mad dash to the office, Dean quickly moving at his heels. Flinging the door open, Sam rushed into the office. A girl with long brown hair looked up from the desk as Dean stumbled into the room behind Sam.

"Oh, hi. You scared me. You must be Sam."

"Where's Kira?"

"She's resting." Sam bolted off to Kira's apartment; which was located off the back of the office. Dean moved further into the room to cover Sam's hasty retreat.

"Hey, I'm Dean. Sorry about Sammy, he can be overprotective at times. He was worried about her."

"I'm Jill. And it's okay. He has a right to be worried about her."

"What do you mean?"

"I guess it's okay if I tell you. I mean you're bound to find out sometime. Kira only told me she wanted to tell Sam before anyone else knew. I'm sure she's telling him now."

"Tell Sam what?"

"Her Aunt- the one you and Sam helped her find- was found dead at the other motel she managed."

"Oh God. Poor Kira."