A/N: This story is taken from a story I wrote called Is it in my Head? I decided to expand the AU.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, just taking what's there and playing with it for my own evil pleasure

The Seeker

Jessica Moore was preparing for a night out on Hallowe'en. Her boyfriend, Sam had been complaining all day about how much he disliked this particular day but that did not dampen her spirits. She was looking forward to going out and celebrating Sam's LSAT score.

"Sam! Get a move on would ya," she called coming out of the bedroom. Something was wrong, she could tell. Sam was nowhere to be seen. "Sam? Where are you? Come on, this isn't funny," she called, feeling increasingly annoyed at her absent boyfriend. But he didn't appear. He was gone. Noticing a piece of paper folded on the table; Jess picked it up, opened it and began to read. She felt her legs give out under her in shock when she saw what it said.

Jess,

I'm sorry but I have to leave, it's for your own safety.

I don't want you to get hurt. I hope you'll understand.

Love,

Sam

Sam had gone. She was confused at what he meant. Why was he leaving her for her own safety? It didn't make sense. Running to the bedroom, she picked up her phone and dialled Sam's number. She waited anxiously for him to pick up but he didn't. She heard the phone buzzing; he hadn't even taken it with him. Feeling confused and alone, Jess sat down on the bed and started to cry.

She hadn't even realised that she had fallen asleep when she was woken by a crash. Fear took over the sadness as she quietly grabbed hold of the baseball bat and crept to see what the hell was going on.

Jess could make out the dark shadow of a tall man, though not as tall as Sam. She made her way silently across the room; not wanting him to hear her before swinging the bat round. He gave a cry of pain as it connected with his back. She hit him again so he fell to the floor then she turned on the light and grabbed the phone; ready to phone the police.

"What the hell?" The man groaned.

"Don't even think about getting up," she told him with more bravado than she actually felt. "I'm going to call the police."

"Don't call the cops; I'm not going to hurt you. I just came to see my brother."

"Sam?"

"Yeah."

"You're Dean?"

"I am," he was confused now as well as in pain. "Can I stand up?"

"Ok," she didn't put the bat or the phone down as he slowly pulled himself to his feet. It was only now that she could get a good look at him. Dean was several inches shorter than Sam but he was wider. He wasn't fat though, it was mostly muscle. He wore a pained and confused expression on his face. "I'm Jess."

"I know," Dean said cheekily.

"How do you know that?"

"I check up on Sam. He doesn't know I do but I swing by every once in a while, make sure he's okay."

"Sam isn't here, you know?"

"What do you mean he isn't here? Where is he?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "He took over earlier. Left a note but didn't say where he was going."

"What did the note say?" Dean asked.

"That he was sorry but he was leaving for my own safety. Here," she handed him the note, "read it for yourself." Dean looked at the note and his expression changed from confusion to alarm. "I'm guessing from the look on your face you don't know where he's gone."

"No," he confessed quietly, so quietly she nearly didn't hear him. "This isn't good," he told her.

"What do you mean?" There was a note of alarm in her voice.

"I came here to see Sam because our dad had gone missing and I find out that he's taken off too," he said as he sat down on the chair; his legs didn't seem to be able to hold his weight. Jess finally put the phone and bat down and made her way over to him, sitting down next to him.

"Your dad's missing?"

"Yeah, about three weeks ago."

"Do you think they're connected?" Jess already knew what he was going to say and she really didn't want to hear him say it out loud.

"I think they are."

"What was you're dad doing when he disappeared?"

"How much do you know about our family? About what we do?" Dean asked. He was fairly sure that Sam had told her nothing but he wanted to hear her say it.

"Not a lot," Jess admitted. "He doesn't really talk about you that much."

"I didn't think so."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing," Dean sounded defensive. "I just didn't think Sam would have told you, is all," he paused for a moment before continuing. "You're probably not going to believe me when I tell you this but my father and I hunt evil," he confessed to her.

"What?" She didn't believe him, he could tell by the tone of her voice.

"We hunt evil, spirits mainly. Dad was on a hunt when he disappeared.

"You're right. I don't believe you."

"Just here me out okay?" She nodded so he continued. "My mom died when Sam and I were small."

"I know that."

"She died because something killed her."

"I thought she died in a fire," Jess said.

"There was a fire," Dean continued his story, "but something attacked my mom first. My dad found her pinned to the ceiling before the fire started. Ever since my dad has been trying to find out what killed her."

"So you go around killing ghosts."

"Yes," he gave a mirthless grin. "Wait here, I have something I want you to listen to, I'll be right back." Dean left the building and re-appeared a couple of minutes later with several leaves of paper and a small black tape recorder.

"What are those?" She thought she would regret asking.

"This was what my dad was doing before he vanished," he handed the papers to Jess who flicked through them. They were newspaper articles about men who had mysteriously disappeared over a twenty year period. She glanced up at Dean, who was waiting for her to finish so he could continue. "He went to Jericho, California and I didn't hear from him for three weeks until yesterday when I got this message," he played her the tape recording. It was heavily distorted with static.

"What is that?" She asked

"The static? It's EVP?"

"What's that?"

"Electronic Voice Phenomena," she still looked confused. "White noise," he elaborated.

"Like the movie?"

"Yeah, like the movie. Anyway, I slowed the message down, and ran it through a Gold Wave took out the hiss, and this is what I got," Jess heard a woman's voice;

"I can never go home."

"Never go home?"

"Yeah. I came here to see Sam because I thought dad was in danger and I wanted him to help me look for him."

"But now Sam has vanished and you think the two are connected," she finished for him.

"That's right. I'm gonna go to the last place I know dad was and see if he left any trace behind," Dean stood up again and prepared to leave.

"Wait," Jess called. "I'm gonna come with you."

"What? No you're not coming with me, it could be too dangerous."

"I don't care," Jess insisted adamantly. "I'm coming with you. Sam might be in danger and I'm not just going to sit around and do nothing."

Dean had to admire her pluck. A few minutes ago she didn't even believe that spirits were real and now she was obstinately refusing to be left behind. He gave her a huge grin and said;

"You know, I think I know why Sam likes you so much. You can come but you gotta get changed first. A hunt is no place for a naughty nurse." Jess looked down at her Hallowe'en costume. She'd completely forgotten she was still wearing it.

"It was for Hallowe'en," she explained. "We were supposed to go to a party."

"I bet Sam was happy about that. He hates Hallowe'en."

"I know," she gave a small smile. "I'll just go and change and then we can head out."

John was no longer in Jericho. Dean realised that when the cop threw his journal at him. The co-ordinates he left pointed to Colorado; which was where Dean was planning on heading next. Jess had been a little freaked out to find out that ghosts were actually real, especially when she had seen one first hand. They had destroyed the woman in white and Dean took Jess back to Stanford.

"How do you know your dad will be there?" Jess had been quiet for most of the journey back. She was miserable that they hadn't found Sam ad she didn't want to go back without him.

"I don't," Dean admitted, "but I have to go."

"Let me come with you," she pleaded.

"I can't, it's too dangerous. You're not a hunter; Sam would kill me if anything happened to you."

"But I want to help you find him."

"I will call you if I find anything," he said as he pulled up outside her home. "I promise."

"Okay," she gave in and stepped out of the car. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye," he gave her a small wave as he pulled away, leaving her standing there alone and afraid.

Jess unlocked the door and made her way back to her bedroom. All she wanted to do was curl up in bed and cry for a week. She felt useless; Sam was missing and Dean wouldn't let her help. Wallowing in her misery, she heard a noise in the bedroom. Panicking once again she turned to run but it was too late. Whatever it was knew she was there. It said nothing as it moved towards her and threw her against the wall without ever touching her. Jess gave out a cry of shock and pain as she felt herself being lifted from the ground. She was going to die, she knew it and no matter how hard she struggled she couldn't free herself.

Dean burst through the door, shotgun in hand and fired several rounds at the dark figure. They did nothing to hurt it but he succeeded in distracting it long enough for it to let go of Jess and she went crashing to the floor. The dark figure disappeared as Dean ran over to her and helped her to her feet. Then the room burst into flames.

"Come on," Dean yelled, "we gotta get out of here." He grabbed hold of Jess and led her out of the building.

Jess leaned quietly against the bonnet of the Impala; not wanting to say anything. She was exhausted by the events of the last few days and didn't know how much more she could take. She saw Dean return to her from talking to the Firemen.

"You okay?" He asked; his voice full of concern.

"Not really," she confessed. "It hasn't been the greatest of weeks."

Dean gave a small laugh, "No it really hasn't."

"What happens now?"

"I go to Colorado just as I planned," he leaned against the bonnet next to her. He didn't touch her but just knowing he was stood there next to her made her feel safe. It was the same feeling she got with Sam.

"I'm coming with you."

"I though we already discussed this."

"That was before I was nearly killed. I want to find Sam and I'm coming with you whether you like it or not."

"You're very pushy when you want to be, you do know that?" It was Jess's turn to smile this time. "It's too dangerous," he argued. "You can't fight."

"Then you can teach me. I'm not taking no for an answer so you might as well let me come."

"Fine," he gave in, "you can come. And I'll teach you to fight."

"Thank you."

"You probably won't be saying that for long, it's going to get pretty ugly."

"I understand," she replied, "and I'm ready for whatever happens."

"Besides," he told her. "You coming with me is probably the best way to keep you safe." Dean moved off the hood and opened the door of the Impala. "Come on, we've got work to do."