Hi there! This is the third Supernatural fic I've written so far, and, in case you wanted some more info, here's some trivia about it.

The name of the story came from listening too much 80's rock, and seeing too many Sebastian Bach's videos. You might know the song "18 and life" from Skid Row, and if you don't and wanna understand what I'm saying, read the lyrics, and imagine the Ricky in the song is a girl instead of a boy.

Anyway, please review, and tell me how's the story going, it helps me focus if I have other's opinions. And there is a romantic side to this fic, I'm developing it, and you might find some clues in this chapter and the next, which I'll publish as soon as people can read it. Yes, I'm an attention whore, I admit it, I just happen to have my weakness with writing, that's all.

A friend of mine did a drawing of Erica's character in her teen years, which is where this story begins, I'll leave the link on my profile, if you're curious. In case you wondered, this is an old fashioned Erica/one of the boys, I love those stories, they're always fun to read, and in my case write.

So, peace to all, listen to Skid Row if you can, review, and happy reading ;)

Love, Maggie

It was a cold night, like every one during winter in Denver. Erica Elkins, aka Ricky, was sitting in her old and dusty chair, enjoying a good shot of whisky. It wasn't her usual, but it'd have to do. She had her favorite Colt revolver in her hand, and was studying it. Since she left her home town almost 9 months ago, she never had the courage to fire it. She had this weird feeling, in the pit of her stomach, that told her that gun wasn't a kid's game. She had learnt as a child that no gun was a game, that she was supposed to take them seriously. And she did, she was a good shooter at the age of 13, and a perfect aim at the age of 18. She practiced every day, just not with the Colt.

All those thoughts left her mind as the front door burst open and a dark haired man walked in. Okay, maybe calling him man was a little too much, but he wasn't a boy, and since he was the one feeding her, she decided to call him man, bread winner and all that. It could've been her working her ass off in a super nice winter resort in the mountains, but she was a known felony and a drinker, nobody wanted her in their important hotels.

-Hi- she greeted him warmly. She studied him with her eyes and sighed. Like every other time she looked at him, she felt amazed. Her best friend, Julian York, was no one to take lightly. He'd been her salvation since the moment she left her house, leaving her mother and son of a bitch step- father behind. In fact, Julian had been the one who helped her and prevented a bigger fight between her and her so-called new paternal figure. Damn, she hated that man, really, really hated him.

-Hey- Erica snapped out of her inner thoughts and stared at Julian. He was different. His voice was cold, and none of his usual good mood was present. He was tense, even with his back to her; she could see his jaw working to unclench itself. Something was very wrong. She put the Colt in her jacket's pocket, and slowly put the whisky glass down on the tiny coffee table. She took a look around, and the hairs in her neck stood up anxiously. She didn't like feeling trapped and alone. And though her rational mind told her that this was her best friend standing there, not her enemy, her gut told her that was most definitely not Julian.

"But how?" she wanted to ask to no one specific. How could it be him, and not him at the same time?

-Julian?- she inquired softly, trying to sound more sober than she was- J, are you okay?-

-Perfect- he replied, still not making eye contact. She moved towards the door, her instincts taking over. But he was there almost in a blink, blocking her way out. And hell, he looked scary. Crazy scary, like maybe he'd lost his mind since that morning when she last saw him.

-I, uh, finished El Diablo- she said with a barely there accent. She had lived in Argentina during her childhood, after all and could speak Spanish as well as English.

-Good- he told her, staring straight into her eyes. His were a darker than usual shade of brown, and she had to suppress a shiver- At least you did something useful today- he mocked, making her take a step back.

-What?-

-You heard me, it's what you do best, right? Drink, work on that hellish car, shoot your big bad guns- he laughed, and she swallowed, ready to bolt at any moment- you're just like your father, useless, obsessed with that gun-

-What…- she cleared her throat, never being the one to back down from a fight- what do you know about my dad? You barely knew him-

-Oh, sweetheart- his voice was sickly-sweet and it made her want to throw up- I know him longer than you imagine- She let out a scream then, she couldn't help it. Julian's usually beautiful chocolate brown eyes turned completely black suddenly. His smile was wicked and she had to use all of her strength to get rid of him and run out of the house. Luckily, she had her guns. Though something told her that normal bullets weren't going to save her this time.

-Come out, come out, wherever you are!- Julian, or the thing inside him, yelled. She was hidden under a big pile of stashed newspapers, from the editorial across the street. Her Black Panther Camaro, newly restored, was resting on the street, ready to be ridden, almost calling to her. But she had to struggle with her pockets to get the key, and needed some time to think of a strategy to get away from Julian, or whatever it was in him, safely.

-Please, Ricky, I'm not gonna hurt you- the use of her nickname didn't work. It only made her panic more- I just want to take a look at that old revolver you had there-

She was driven by a reflex. She took out the Colt and studied it quietly. What was so special about it, if a… she didn't know what that thing was, but it wasn't her friend. "A demon!" something inside her mind stirred with recognition. She didn't have a clue as to why the hell she knew that, but she did, and was glad. "If he wants the Colt, must be a big deal" she gripped the revolver firmly, wishing to God that Julian would be gone.

But of course, as she took a step away from her hidden spot, she cursed under her breath. God hadn't proven his existence so far, and wasn't doing it now. Julian stood there, in the dark, almost lost in it. He was a monster, a creature of darkness, and an attractive one as it was. But her blood was burning hot in her veins, an ancient and ingrained command screaming at her. "Get rid of the threat! He's unnatural, a monster! It's him or you, act fast!". And she could only obey.

Erica made her way silently, like a freaking ninja. The demon was good, but she was somehow better. She ignored it, but her blood was stronger than her mind, and in that instant, it was also wiser. She cocked the gun in her hand and readied it, getting off the safe. Julian turned around, all black eyes and creepy appearance, and smirked at her.

-There you are- he seemed to notice the gun for the first time, and though his smirk shook a little, it didn't vanish- Little girl- he said- you don't know how to use that, better give it to the grown-ups- he tried to grab the gun, but she aimed it at his chest, directly where his heart would be.

-Don't move- she warned, fighting to sound confident- Or I swear I'll shoot you-

-And damage this fine package?- he chuckled- I doubt that-

-Try me- she hissed. She couldn't deny it, she was a fighter, a warrior, strength and spirit ran in her veins, and she felt right. Killing that monster felt right, though it came at a high price. The demon sensed her determination, and backed away, only slightly.

-Erica- it growled- give me the gun, and nobody will get hurt-

-No- her tone was blunt and hard, perfect- get the hell out of my friend, or I'll shoot you-

-You wouldn't dare-

-Even then, accidents will happen- But her mind wasn't into the threat. What she was seeing, with a jolt of joy, was that the demon was afraid of the gun. So, even when she didn't know a single fuck about monsters, she knew that gun was powerful. So powerful a demon feared it. And that demon was going to get the hell out of her friend, or die in him. One way or the other, the fucker wasn't going to get away with it.

-Ricky, please- he tried the soft approach again, but she was too tense

-Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. Friend!- she enunciated each word, and for the first time in her life, she sounded dangerous. The demon smirked and lounged for her, but she was quick. She heard the shot before she felt herself actually fire the revolver. With her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open, she watched as a light, much like a thunderbolt ran through Julian. And much like an electric storm, it killed him. And she fell down along with him.

-Julian? Julian, c'mon!- she was frantic and desperate, tears were blurring her vision. She searched for a pulse, and found a weak one by his neck- Oh, God, J, it's okay, it's gonna be alright, I'm gonna get you…-

-Ricky- he whispered

-Yes, yes, I'm right here, I'm gonna get you to the hospital and you're gonna be alright-

-Ricky…- He coughed, spluttering her hand with blood and she sobbed harder-Ricky, thank you-

-No, no! Listen to me! You're gonna be fine, You're gonna get better, and we're gonna get the fuck out of here, you hear me? You're gonna be fine- She was desperate, and her entire body ached from the pain of seeing her best friend die. But Julian looked peaceful. He smiled a calmed smile at her, telling her everything was going to be okay, that she was going to survive, she was strong and pigheaded, how could she not?

-Julian…- she wept, hugging his now dead body tightly to hers. The last thing she saw was his beautiful smile.

And then she woke up. She sat up on the bed, breathing heavily and with tears running down her cheeks. She cursed out loud. Every night for the past five years had been the same. That nightmare haunted her dreams, and didn't let her rest. She needed a good night sleep, damn it, she had just finished a hunt.

Erica decided she wasn't going to get more sleep that night, and got up. The nightstand clock said it was a little past 5 in the morning. She patted Kovu's, her cat, head softly and he purred, and jumped to the floor with her. She smiled at him, picking her running clothes from her duffel bag. She changed her Minnie Mouse sleeping T shirt for a cotton tank top, shorts and her snickers. She put on her hoodie, plunged her mp3 player, put her switchblade in her pocket and patted Kovu's head again on her way out of the room and he followed.

It was a warm July morning in Colorado. She had stopped in a small town motel when the night had caught her off guard, returning to her grandfather's house from a hunt in Minnesota. She was a few hundred miles from Manning, she did the math mentally, calculating an hour run, half hour shower, half hour breakfast, and then she'd be on her way back to the mountains. She really missed them.

-Alright, K, go do your thing, meet you here in an hour- she told her cat, like he could understand. Kovu meowed and rubbed himself against her bare legs. She petted him softly and he sat, watching her as she literally ran away. But after a couple of steps, she stopped, glanced back, and Kovu was gone.

The town was strange to her, never had visited it before, but it was small, and she spotted a little café in her way to the park she had passed last night and smiled. Good small town folks liked their coffee early. Okay, maybe running at 5:30 in the morning isn't the safest thing to do, but after killing a Wendigo with a Molotov, one can take such risks. Erica had been in Minnesota hunting with a friend of hers, Lucas Stinson, but they'd parted ways after taking care of the monster in question.

Erica remembered she had promised Lucas to call, she cursed herself and turned around, going back to the motel. Her running time was up, and as she made her way through the park, she got her cell phone out, dialing Lucas' number from memory.

-Hello?- his usually charming voice was husky from sleep

-Shit! I woke you, didn't I?- she asked, feeling kind of guilty. After all, she wasn't the only one who had hunted a Wendigo a few days ago.

-Ricky? God, girl, I was worried about you!- she heard movement on the other line and guessed Lucas was sitting up or something- where are you?-

-Colorado- she replied, slowing her pace to a jog- hours away from Manning- Lucas was one of the few people who knew about her history, not like her mother or brother, who had no idea what she did for a living.

-You got there okay? Everything's cool?-

-Yeah…why?-

-I heard some news, but I'm not sure they're accurate-

-What news?-

-I'll e-mail them to you, okay? Call me when you finish reading- and with that he hung up. Erica shrugged and began running again. She wanted to see what the big deal was about, Lucas wasn't the one to fuss about petty things.

She paid for the room, and left her stuff in the car, since she wasn't planning on coming back there. She didn't find Kovu, so she walked to the closest café in town, ordered a white mocha and a bagel, settled with her laptop on a nice and solitary corner, and took advantage of the free wi-fi.

She was half-way to finishing her coffee when she came across Lucas' e-mail. She almost dropped the cup and the computer. She could have sworn her blood froze on her veins when she read the article he sent.

Manning, Colorado. Local translator, Daniel Elkins. Found in his house drained of blood. Animal attack.

-God, no!- she whispered, horrified. Good thing she had already paid her breakfast, because the moment Erica registered her grandfather's death, she was out of the café, running to her car. It was a short distance, and in a minute she was struggling to get her car keys out. Kovu was already by her side, waiting patiently. She didn't even glance at him. When she finally got the door opened and jumped inside, her heart was beating at an abnormal rate.

Erica took a deep breath and tried to stay calmed. She was about to suffer a panic attack, and that couldn't help the situation. After almost two minutes of measured breathing, her hands had stopped shaking and she was able to drive safely the few hundred miles to Manning.

It was almost midday when she arrived at Manning. She decided to go check the official report first, and headed to the small police station in town. A few locals recognized her car, and threw sympathetic looks her way. She continued to stare straight ahead as she drove, avoiding strangers' gazes. After all, it was a small mountain town, and she was just an outsider. She'd came to live with her grandfather 4 years ago, and people still looked at her funny most of the time. She made her way into the community, working at the bar, or the local diner, but deep down, she was an outsider, much like she was anywhere else.

The sheriff watched her get out of the car and held the door of the station open for her. She didn't look at him either, just marched in, and positioned herself in front of the sheriff's desk. Michael Thompson was a regular guy, like everyone in that place. With blonde short hair, hazel eyes, 5'8' and a belly you just knew was from all the beer and donuts, Michael was your average sheriff, usually good for nothing except scaring teenagers off private forests.

-Ricky…- he had taken in use her nickname, since he'd been a close friend of her grandfather, just for the convenience of that, of course- sit down, okay? We should talk…- he moved to place a hand in her arm and she snapped, jerking it out of his reach. His eyes softened and he nodded lightly.

-What happened?- she asked, her voice tense and strained

-Animal attack, with human involvement. We're thinking one of the guys that train wolves, but we can't prove anything yet-

-Can I see the report?-

-There're some nasty pictures in there, Ricky, I wouldn't…-

-Let me decide what I can or can't handle- she cut him off-please, the report- she wasn't usually so unfriendly, but she always disliked Mike, and didn't feel like playing nice that day.

The sheriff gave her a copy of the official report, and she left. She jumped in her car and took a few minutes to read. Kovu sat next to her patiently, like he could sense her distress. Erica was convinced it hadn't been an animal attack what killed her grandfather, but she needed proof. And she found it. The police originally thought it was a simple wild animal attack, but later they found signs of robbery.

-Please don't let it be the Colt, please…- she murmured desperately. There was nothing of use in the report, so she decided to go check it out herself. She drove to her grandfather's house and parked on the other side of the road, behind the house, so if someone would come looking for something, they'd found the path empty.

-Stay here- she told Kovu and the cat meowed in discomfort but stayed in the car. She grabbed her gun, a beautiful silver M1911 Colt, with her initials carved in it. It'd been a gift of her grandfather when she started hunting. She used her key to get in the house, and secured the locks once inside. She knew where the most damage was done, and immediately walked to Daniel's study. And almost screamed when she saw the mess. Her grandfather's study, the room he valued the most, was a total and gruesome mess.

-Oh por Dios- she whimpered, covering her mouth with her hand. Whenever she was nervous or panicking, she started talking in Spanish, it was an old habit born of living in Argentina when she was a kid. There was the usual salt line in the windows and doors, but that didn't stop whatever came for him. And the minute she saw the place, she knew. It had been a revenge murder, payback, sadistic payback, only achievable by supernaturals. And they had taken the Elkins' treasure. The Colt was missing, along with its bullets. She cursed as she checked the old case.

Blood everywhere, that meant her grandfather fought, which was pretty obvious if you knew him. Damn vampires made sure he suffered. It was nice to see they keep their traditions of torturing people. Just like they did her father.

A sudden noise in the living room startled her. She clenched her gun in one hand and walked silently. Another loud noise and a meow of complain. Erica lowered her gun and smiled tensely.

-Kovu- she said in relief- come here, baby- the cat went to her side and she continued her check-in. Everything was there, in a mess, but there. So, next move would be getting her stuff out of the house. It was funny, Erica thought, as she packed her clothes and belongings, how shock worked. She felt numb, not angry, not sad. She just felt nothing. Maybe she was some kind of sociopath, who knew?

She remembered when her father died, how fucked up she'd been. How miserable her mother had been, how her brother wasn't there. All that year, she cried herself to sleep every night, thinking about her dad. She had had to take over the gun shop he owned and make it valuable, because her mother couldn't do it, and her godfather alone couldn't either. Josh Colbert, or J.C. was her father's best friend, and later she learnt, hunting partner. He wasn't killed by a supernatural being, but by a heart attack, brought on by his life style.

But now, after her grandfather's death, she had no desire to cry. It didn't feel real, she didn't feel like he was gone. Mike had told her the memorial service was the next day, but she would have to change a few things, since she wanted him to be cremated. That was his grandfather's last wish.

"Burn me" he once said to her "salt me and burn me, give me a hunter's funeral". And she'd be damned if she wasn't going to do just that. But first things first, she needed to figure out who had killed him. She knew it'd been a vampire, but, was there a nest nearby? Were these vamps crazy or stupid enough to locate in a town where the most prestigious vampire hunter lived? Or did they have a secret agenda, and they wanted to kill Daniel all along?

Too many questions, too little time. Erica finished packing and began moving the baggage to her car. It wasn't the biggest, but it would do. She moved to his grandfather's weapons and put them all in her trunk, where she kept her hidden storage. Back in the house, while she was putting some of his papers away, she heard a noise by the front door. As fast as she could, she hid in the kitchen, and waited for the intruders to finally get in.

It was night time, not a safe moment for a petite girl to fight two big men as she could see from her hidden spot. Good thing she had her gun. Erica listened carefully, trying to understand if they were vampires or other hunters, who would be the next most likely choice of people to break and enter her grandfather's house. They headed straight into her room, which was more like a personal office of weirdness, which was the closest room from the entrance, and Erica adjusted her position to have a better look at the guys.

One was tall, maybe a little taller than her brother, who sported a good 6'4'. This tall stranger also had dark shaggy hair and broad shoulders. The other one was shorter, maybe 6'2', with short dark blonde hair and a brown leather jacket that looked oddly familiar.

-Looks like the maid didn't come today- The shorter blonde one said. Erica couldn't see what they were doing, but she heard one of them move, probably the big guy from the noise the wood made under his feet.

-There's salt in here- Erica could tell from the voices who was who, so she cleared the conversation pretty fast.

-Like for protection against demons salt? Or like Ooops I spilled the popcorn salt?-

-It's clearly a ring-

-You think this guy Elkins was a player?- "So…they're hunters" Erica thought "freaking awesome". Now she only had to figure out who they were, maybe she knew them, though she doubted it.

-Definitely- "Shit! What did I miss?" she figured she was thorough when she searched the study, but she obviously missed something important if the guy found out her grandfather's work so easily.

-That looks a hell of a lot like Dad's- "Fuck!" Erica decided that wasn't her lucky day "I forgot the journal, freaking great"

-Yeah, except this one dates back to the 60s-

After that, they made their way to the stairs, looking for the place where he'd been killed most likely. Erica waited a minute, then followed as silently as she managed.

-Whatever attacked him looks like it was more than one-

-Looks like he put up a hell of a fight too-

More walking noise as the men searched the room.

-Found something?- one of them asked after a little while

-I don't know. Some scratches on the floor- She had also missed that, but in the state she was, if was understandable. Erica moved closer to the room to hear better and missed part of the conversation.

-Or maybe a message- she caught after settling near the hall window-Looks familiar?-

-Three letters, six digits, the location and the combination of a post office box- "Granddad's mailbox!"- It's a mailbox- Erica narrowed her eyes at his deduction and hurried downstairs to follow these guys. There was no way they were going to get to that mailbox before her.

Erica made her way down the stairs pretty quickly, but in her quest lost the chance to hear a piece of information that would have clear things out a bit. She jumped into her Camaro and drove to the main route that crossed her grandfather's state to wait for the men to get out of the house. They took half an hour to pass by her on the road. She followed slowly after them, though whoever was driving liked to speed. They made it to the mail office and as the guys walked in, she waited outside. She ordered Kovu to stay put and lurked in the dark, gun in hand, waiting for the right moment to pounce on them.

While she waited, she took a look around. The guys were driving a Chevy Impala that immediately hit a nerve. She knew that car. She knew the owner of that car, and she sure as hell would like to talk to him. But as far as she heard, John Winchester wasn't hunting regularly anymore. He sent his kids to do his jobs most of the time. And so now everything made sense. Those were Sam and Dean Winchester, John's sons.

"Interesting" she thought "but if John knows Granddad's dead, he must be close". John had an unhealthy obsession with the antique revolver her grandfather had. The revolver she gave him after she found out the truth. The revolver her father kept hidden for a reason, to avoid people from misusing it. The revolver the vampires stole.

The boys stayed inside long enough for her to start looking for John. She found a truck that could be his now, she wasn't sure, but no real sign of John. She waited by the Impala, ready to bust the window open and get in. It wasn't the smartest move, but it was the only one she had, after all, she was running out of time. Sam and Dean walked out with two letters, and got in the car fast. She listened for a few seconds, long enough for John to materialize on the other side of the car. He scared the living shit out of his sons and asked them to open the doors. Perfect opportunity for her to get in.

-Erica?!- John was surprised, and that was an understatement. The three Winchester men looked at her like she might bite them

-John- she greeted, a force smile on her face- long time no see-

-What are you doing here? Sheriff said you were out of town-

-Got back today, just in time to see your gorgeous boys breaking into my house- she grinned at them- nice job covering your tracks, by the way- she complimented. John decided to ignore her until he knew more about the situation. Instead, he pointed to the letter in Dean's hand

-I should look at that-

-And I should look at that- Erica stared at the second letter, the initials E.J.E written in it- Erica Janine Elkins, not proud of my second name, though-

Dean looked at his father for approval and John nodded. Both her and John read their respective letters.

-So, wait- Sam said, his voice showing shock and annoyance, maybe- you came all this way for this Elkins guy?- Erica glared at him

-Yeah, Daniel was a good man. He taught me a hell of a lot about hunting- Erica groaned internally. Now John was willing to talk about her grandfather, sure. But there was one subject he couldn't mention, ever, her father's death.

-And now you're coming back for your mentor's funeral? I doubt that, John- Dean shot a seriously nasty glare at her, but she just pretended not to see him, there was too much going on in her head to add an annoying guy in the mix.

-Who the hell are you?-

-Erica Elkins, last name doesn't ring a bell?- she asked sarcastically- maybe it's too hard for you, let me spell it-

-Ricky…- John was back to his instructor self, and she could see the man who taught her how to exorcise demons and shot werewolves again. She relaxed a bit, but there was so much she could do in a situation like that.

-Sorry, John, but your boy isn't the brightest-

-She's Daniel's granddaughter- he answered for her- she'd been hunting for the past five years-

-And we've run into each other a couple of times- Erica added

-Why didn't you mention it to us?- Sam inquired, getting frustrated

-I think that's a question for family time- Erica interrupted- right now, your father and I need to discuss something-

-He had it the whole time, didn't he?- John obviously knew from Daniel's letter the truth, but it was nice to hear it from her anyway

-Yeah- Erica nodded- but they took it-

-Who took what?- Sam was getting seriously pissed off right now. He didn't like his father leaving them in the dark, but he liked even less that a girl was into it

-Whoever killed Daniel- John pierced Erica's eyes with his own-you know who killed him, Ricky?-

-What my grandfather killed best-

-What is that?- Dean asked

-Vampires-

-We need to pick up the trail. We've gotta find this gun-

-The gun, why?- Sam asked. "Still playing little annoying brat, big guy?" Erica thought

-'Cause it's important, that's why-

-Okay, guys, too much testosterone in this confine space, I'm gonna head out- Erica interrupted their pissing match- John, care to join me?- she wasn't going to let him out of her sight. He nodded and they got out of the car, after John gave his sons some instructions.

-I thought they were extinct- John finally spoke after half an hour of drive. Both he and Erica were in his truck, she had left the Camaro in town.

-Of course not- she scoffed with her usual non-caring-ness that made her so difficult to talk to- And I'd bet my non-existent paycheck that these vampires knew my dad-

-Why?-

-C'mon, John!- she shot back angrily- this wasn't a random murder, and it sure as hell wasn't a hunter murder either. These guys knew what they were doing, and to who-

-Your grandfather's been off the radar for a long time-

-Yeah… but I'm in now, and they know. I killed a few vampires in a little town in New Mexico a couple months ago. Two escaped; a male vamp and his mate. I tried to follow the lead, but they just freaking vanished-

-So you think they told this clan where you lived-

-Doubt it-she answered, sighing loudly- They didn't know where I lived, but they've known where Granddad lived all along. There was a shallow truce between vampires and my grandfather, John, you know that-

-You might be just right. The way they did it, they were seriously pissed off. Makes me wonder how long they'd been waiting for the opportunity-

-To kill Granddad? Not long. I left for two weeks to Minnesota-

-What did you find?-

-Wendigo. I really appreciated your tricks, thanks- she smiled, for the first time that night, for real. John couldn't help but return the smile, not matter how nasty things looked right then. There was always a part of him that loved Erica like his own daughter. He knew that if Tyler was alive, he'd be proud of her. And he also knew that he would've wanted for him to look after her, so that was what he did. Or tried to anyway, Erica could be pretty hard to look after some times.

-Don't mention it- he dismissed- okay, I sent my boys to go find us a motel…-

-Find us?- she questioned-sounds crowded-

-Ricky…- he resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her

-John, you know I work better on my own-

-Do not- he argued good-naturedly-the times we worked together, I saved your ass more often than I thought possible-

-Did not!- she chuckled- I handled that werewolf in Louisiana pretty well myself-

-Yeah….until he had you pinned against a wall with his drooling jaw a few inches from your pretty neck-

-Okay, now you're exaggerating-

-If you trust me you can trust my boys, they're good hunters-

-I don't have a problem with them- she admitted- I don't even know them. But I know you'll want to kill as many bloodsuckers as possible, but I want 'em all dead-

-And, you're afraid I'll take the Colt-

John had parked outside the motel Dean had found for them and she could see his reflection in the windshield mixed with the red lights of the motel sign. It read "No vacancy".

-I don't doubt you, John- she took a deep breath and decided to go with the truth- for a while now we've heard the conspiracy theories about you and that demon-

-You know I need the Colt-

-Don't guilt-trip me- she warned- Granddad thought it'd be fair for you to have it, at least until you kill that son of a bitch. But then the gun has to return to our family, John, there's no discussion about that-

-And I think that's fair- he agreed- if you've heard things, you know I'm getting closer to that demon-

-Yes. Everybody knows that-

-You've been around the Roadhouse lately?- he asked in suspicion

-A few times…- she lowered her gaze and then focused it in the black Impala parked next to the truck.

-How are things there?-

-Same old same old. Ellen's convinced Ash can help, but you've gotta get there first-

-No…- for a moment, Erica thought he looked sad- I can't. Ellen and I…-

-Yeah, I know what happened. And I know that Ellen doesn't blame you for it, she's willing to see past that, John. And you need the help-

-I'm not so sure…-

-That you need the help? Please, I'm sitting right here, ya know?-

-Not that part-

-That Ellen is past that?- she arched her eyebrows- John, we all make mistakes, we don't deserve eternal isolation for it-

-We don't have time for this now- he shook his head and got the door opened, but stayed in the car- look, I say we find the vampires first, get the Colt second, and decide what to do with it third, what ya think?-

-I think that's fair- she nodded and got out of the car- God, I hope your kids got me a separate room-

John shook his head in exasperation and started walking towards their room.

-One room, two beds. We'll take turns-

-Aw….c'mon! I'm tired as hell and I need to make some calls-

-Then let the boys take the first shift and you stay up with me listening to the police scanner-

-Oh, joy!- she murmured sarcastically

-I heard you-

-Whatever- she waved her hand in front of her in a flip off gesture. Suddenly, she stopped walking.

-What's wrong?- John moved to grab his gun from his belt quickly

-I totally forgot my car, and my cat!-

-Oh, God, you still have that thing?-

-If you mean the Camaro, of course. And if you mean Kovu, double of course-

-You're not going for it now, are you?-

-I left it outside the mail office- she said, retreating fast- I'll make a fruitful round and go talk to Mike. Arrange Granddad's…- she paused- funeral pyre-

-I'm sorry, Ricky- John put a comforting hand in her shoulder- Daniel truly was a great man-

-He was…- she was staring ahead blindly, her eyes watering, her whole frame began to shake-I hadn't…- she repressed a sob and continued- I hadn't had time to fully comprehend what happened- she bit her bottom lip hard, drawing blood. It helped her focus- I just found out today…-

-They didn't call?- now he sounded angry

-No…- she shook her head and sobbed once- Mike thought I was out of town, which I was-

-Still, Ricky, they have the obligation to communicate with you in these cases-

-Well, they didn't-

-Then how did you find out?-

-Lucas emailed me. He called, and was worried. You know him, if he sounds worried, then shit just got serious-

-Goddamn it!- John cursed and fisted his hand in frustration- I'm gonna have a few words with the sheriff when this is over-

-It's alright. I always knew he was a dumbass-

-Yes, but he's the sheriff, he's got responsibilities-

-Okay, if you say so- she sighed and wiped her eyes- I'm gonna walk there, clear my head-

-Alright, call me if you need anything- he turned to knock on the door- we're in room 55-

-Okay- and with that, she left, walking slowly towards downtown Manning.

When she got to the Sheriff Office, it was closed, but she knew where Mike lived, so after going to a 24/7 store and buy some food for the guys and Kovu, she went to see Mike. And to say he was surprised was an understatement.

-What the hell are you doing here?- he almost yelled at her. He opened the door in pajamas and his gun in hand- Erica, it's 2 in the morning!-

-I know- she tried to smile at him, but failed- I just needed to talk to you-

-Okay- he sighed and opened the door wider- come on in-

-It's okay. I just wanted to ask you to cancel my grandfather's funeral-

-What? I can't do that-

-Yes. I was the one who was supposed to do it, but you never called, took the responsibility and arranged everything. I'm fine with it, you were always a dick, and you never liked me- by this point, he had an expression of shock on his unhandsome face- but my grandfather wanted to be cremated. And I'm sure as hell gonna respect that. And I'll make sure you will too- she stared at him straight into his eyes, and he swallowed hard.

-I'll call the funeral home tomorrow-

-Tomorrow's supposed to be the service, so call them now, and tell them I'm coming. I wanna say goodbye to my grandfather since I didn't have the chance before-

-You wanna go now?-

-No, probably tomorrow morning- he nodded in relief

-Okay, I'll tell them that-

-Alright then, bye Mike. Say hello to Suzy for me-

-Mm-mmm- he couldn't close the door in her face any faster than he did. Erica sighed and walked to her car. She had totally messed up the already trivial relationship with the Sheriff. But it was worth it. She was pissed beyond belief for what he did, and it was nice to have him scared of her. He should be. She'd hunted things he couldn't even imagine, killed evil with her very two hands. So, yes, she could totally mess up anything if she wanted, she had the right.

And she arranged the visit to the funeral home because sooner or later they were going to need dead man's blood to hunt the vampires. And though she wasn't going to take it from her grandfather, there were always more dead people around.

It was half past two when she arrived at the motel room where the Winchesters were. She knocked, since she didn't have keys, and John welcomed her with a mumbled "hey". She walked in, bags of food in hand, and Kovu following, and looked around. Sam and Dean were sleeping on the two queen size beds that looked pretty inviting to her right then. She shook her head and set the bags on the table. The room wasn't big. John had two chairs next to the table and was sitting in one, waiting for her to sit in the other, she guessed. She took out the cat's food and fed Kovu. He must have been starving from how he attacked the food when she put it on the floor.

-You're still carrying that thing?- John asked her, eyeing Kovu suspiciously

-You know his name- she scolded- and yes, that cat saved my life a couple times actually, I'm not getting rid of him anytime soon- He rolled his eyes at her and got back to whatever he was doing. Erica took a bagel out of the bag and began chewing it while she sat.

-So, what's up?- she asked quietly, taking in consideration the two guys sleeping a few feet from her

-Police scanner- John pointed to the piece of black plastic he illegally brought from a retired sheriff in Michigan-Nothing so far- he said before she was able to question

-Okay. How do the shifts work? I can hold on a few more hours easily-

-Boys went to sleep almost an hour ago. I'll wake Dean up in two hours if things stay quiet and you can take his spot-

-Great- she nodded and stood up to make coffee. Erica was nothing if not practical. John threw her a grateful look and continued his work.

An hour passed by slowly. Nothing promising on the police scanner that would make them think the vampires attacked. Erica was beginning to doze off, one hand under her chin, legs crossed under her on the chair. They hadn't talked since she arrived, and that didn't help her boredom. She was trying to cope with Daniel's death, and by trying to cope, she meant ignore it until there was something she could do to avenge him. That was the Elkins' way. Or at least her way.

Half an hour later, she was looking forward to lay down on the bed. Dean seemed pretty comfy. Her mind mumbling was interrupted by the operator voice in the police scanner

-"Possible 207. Better get the forensics out here"- she had missed the first part, but that sounded like a lead. And John confirmed her suspicion when he nearly jumped from his chair and began to shake his sons awake. Erica shook her head and got up too, preparing to leave.

-Sam, Dean, c'mon- the guys began to stir in their sleep and were quickly awake- A couple called 911. They found a body in the street. Cops got there, everyone was missing. It's the vampires-

-How do you know?- Sam questioned

-Just, follow me, okay?- Erica could tell his patience was already wasting away, and she needed him

-Alright, John, I'll follow behind, lead the way- The boys glanced at her funny, probably wondering where did all the familiarity came from, but she ignored them.

-Aren't you a little under-dressed?- Dean asked her, eyeing her from head to toes. Erica looked at herself and shrugged

-These were the only clean clothes I had left when I came back, I didn't have time to change. Does it bother you?- there was a slightly tone of defiance in her voice that John internally cringed away from.

-Ricky, let's go- he almost pushed her outside, while Dean smirked in response to her question. Did it bother him? Not at all. She was after all wearing a pair of cute little jean shorts with a plaid shirt with the sleeves cut off. She had tied it at her waist, showing a tattoo on her back and a very feminine body underneath. She was one of those women who had curves, slim waist and wide hips. Exactly the kind of women he liked.

Sam rolled his eyes at his brother as he walked out of the room

-C'mon Dean- he urged him. Dean shook his head and tried to compose himself.

-Vampires. Gets funnier every time I hear it- he smirked one more time and they made their way to the Impala to follow John. They didn't know what car Erica was driving, but she was gone as well as their dad, so they hurried to catch up with them.

Erica drove behind John the entire ride. The sun was rising when they got to the crime scene. Due to her attire and the fact that the every cop in town knew her, John decided she should stay behind with Sam and Dean, which she really wasn't willing to do. But like every other time she tried to argue with John, it was useless and he always ended up winning.

So, now the three of them were standing next to the Impala, waiting. She had left Kovu at the motel, but her Camaro was parked a few feet away, to avoid suspicion from the police. Everyone in town knew her Black Panther Camaro, it was an odd car to have, beautiful and weird to find.

-Nice ride- she complimented as a way to break the ice. She could tell they were tense and didn't really trust her, though she couldn't blame them. It was John's fault to never have mentioned her, though she didn't blame him for that either. Once again, Dean smirked at her and Sam rolled his eyes.

-You're not bad yourself- he replied, gesturing to the way her car was. Erica smiled, nodding

-It was my dad's- she explained- but he hadn't used it in a decade when I got it. It took me a year to fix her up-

-I'm sure it was worth it-

-It was- she agreed- It's the best car for a runaway. She'd never seen a tail light- Sam could see challenge in her eyes. Her beautiful sky blue eyes that shined with the morning sun. He hadn't realized, hadn't paid much attention, but she was gorgeous. In that moment, while she chatted with her brother about trivial things, she twisted her black hair in her hands, tying it up in two pig tails that made her look beyond cute.

Sam shook his head and tried to focus on the important matter there. And as he did that, his previous annoyance towards his father returned.

-Is he gonna take too much longer?- he asked to nobody in particular, making Erica nod in understanding and Dean sighed in exasperation- I just don't get why we can't go with him-

-Oh, no, tell me it's not already starting!- Dean said

-What's starting?- Erica didn't understand but luckily, John decided to appear right that moment

-What you've got?- Dean inquired, grateful for the change of subject

-Oh, it's them alright. Looks like they're heading west. We're gonna have to double back to get around that detour-

-How can you be so sure?- Erica was starting to get John's usual attitude towards his son. She always wondered why he was so bitter about it, and now he knew. The guy was one of those rebel kids that always questioned everything. Right then though, she didn't completely mind.

-Sam…- came Dean's warning voice. John threw a glance Erica's way but she stayed where she was. She was already too deep into it; she wasn't going to leave for a capricious big man.

-What? I just wanna know if we're going in the right direction- "Valid point" Erica thought

-We are-

-How do you know?- Sam seemed pretty angry right then, Erica doubted that was a wise idea for John to piss him off even more

-I found these- Erica stood on her tip toes to see John's stretched hand. And cringed away the instant she saw what he was holding. Dean instead, grabbed it between his fingers and studied it

-It's a, uh, vampire fang-

-No fangs- Erica qualified- teeth. The second set descends when they attack- she shivered involuntarily remembering previous experiences with vampires. She resisted the urge to touch the scar tissue on her neck. They all looked at her and John nodded, appreciating the interruption

-Any more questions?- he asked, eyes fixed on Sam, who stayed quiet-Let's get outta here, we're losing daylight-

He walked around the Impala to his truck, Erica following

-Hey, Dean, why don't you touch up your car before you get rust? I wouldn't have given you the damn thing if I thought you were gonna ruin it- Dean looked shocked and kind of embarrassed while Sam chuckled and Erica fought the urge to laugh as well.

On the way to the vampires' nest, Dean read the information they had from John's journal while Sam drove.

-Vampires nest in groups of eight to ten. Smaller packs are sent out to hunt for food. Victims are taken to the nest, where the pack keeps them alive, bleeding them for days or weeks. I wonder if that what happened to the 911 couple-

-It's probably what Dad's thinking- Sam answered- Of course, it would be nice if he just told us what he thinks-

-So it is starting-

-What?- Sam glanced at his brother, not getting his reaction

-Sam, we've been lookin' for Dad all year. Now we're not with him for more than a couple of hours, and there's static already- he explained

-No, look, I'm happy he's okay, all right? And I'm happy that we're all workin' together again-

-Good-

-It's just the way he treats us. Like we're children-he sounded annoyed. And he was. It was what bothered him the most about working with his father, his usual bossiness and sergeant attitude -He barks orders at us, Dean- Sam kept going-he expects us to follow him without question. He keeps us on some crap need-to-know deal-

-He does what he does for a reason- Dean defended

-What reason?!-

-Our job! There's no time to argue, there's no margin for error, all right, it's just the way the old man runs things-

-Yeah, well, maybe that worked when we were kids, but not anymore, all right? Not after everything you and I have been through. I mean, are you telling me you're cool with just falling in line and letting him run the whole show?-

-If that's what it takes…-

-That's just, plain stupid!-

-Erica doesn't seem to mind- he commented, nonchalantly

-We know jack squat about her, man-

-She's Ekins' granddaughter. And Dad trusts her with the job, and she trusts Dad too. That's enough information for me, thanks-

-So, you're telling me you're okay with her knowing more about this than us?-

-Again, Dad didn't tell us for a reason. He thought vampires were extinct-

-She found them before, they couldn't have been extinct, and he must have known that-

-How you figured she found them before?-

-The scar on the right side of her neck? She tries to hide it with her hair, but it's there if you pay attention. She's a vampire hunter, like her grandfather was, and if Dad knew her, he must have known what she hunted-

-I don't think Dad knows much about her either- Dean accepted- but there's a story there we don't know-

-I'd be happy to hear it, but of course, he wouldn't tell us anything-

-Maybe is for the best…- Dean murmured, but Sam didn't hear.

While she drove, Erica tried to remember everything she knew about vampires. Her grandfather had taught her well, he was one of the best vampire hunters out there. But still, as good as he'd been, they still caught him. She shook her head; that train of thought wouldn't take her anywhere. "Focus, Ricky, vampires, you know those bloodsucking monsters better than you know yourself". And she was sure this was the same clan that killed her father, they just fitted the M.O. Torturing hunters, stealing weapons, taking trophies. Damn parasites, she hated them with all her soul.

If these vampires were the ones who killed her father, that meant running into an old friend. Luther. The vampires' leader and her slutty mate, Kate. Jesus, she really hated that vamp too. But there was no reason for them to kill Daniel, after what she'd put them through. Two years ago, she'd killed half the clan in Missouri, and after that, she'd thought they were going to leave her and her family alone. Well, apparently, vampires weren't good at forgiving. Unfortunately for them, neither was she.

Ten years ago, Luther and Kate killed her father. It wasn't a normal murder in action either. They chased him down to his cabin in Texas and slaughtered him right there. Josh Colbert, J.C. her father's hunter partner had been out for food, and that's why he lived. He didn't have the chance to kill the vampires, they were gone by the time he returned. Luther had a grunge against the Elkins family. According to Daniel's history lessons, her great great grandfather, Joseph Elkins, killed Luther's family, it was almost by the time Colt had given him the revolver to take care of it.

Yes, her family's history was old and tumultuous. They were one of the first hunters in the country, along with the Campbell family. Samuel Colt trusted Joseph Elkins with his most precious possession. A revolver that could kill any supernatural being. And since then, the gun had been in her family's vault one way or the other, and they had looked after it all those years. And now, it was her responsibility to get it back and decide what to do with it. God, it sucked to be the last hunter in her family.

Erica hit the gas and sped down the quiet roads of Colorado, driving probably to her death. But it didn't matter, if she got the Colt back, and avenge her grandfather's death, it didn't matter, it'd be worth it. And not for the first time, she was glad she had John fighting on her side. Though his sons were a weird plus, she accepted that. Maybe they could even make a good team, who knew?