The heavy metal door scraped against the floor and pulled Rena's attention from the books in front of her.

"You got back quick," she called out.

"I didn't know you were expecting me," a British accent called back.

Rena stood, grabbed her gun, and pointed it at the entryway as Ketch walked in.

"How the hell did you get in here?"

He put his hands up as he strode toward her.

"This is a Men of Letters bunker. We have access."

"Stay put."

Ketch stopped walking. "I'm looking for Dean and Sam."

"They're on a job."

Ketch folded his arms and pursed his lips. "Aren't you supposed to pretend they're just a shout away so I won't hurt you?"

"Maybe if I were afraid of you."

"And you're not, of course." Ketch grinned and took a deep breath.

"Nope. So you can just turn around and leave."

"May I be honest with you?"

"I'd prefer you leave."

"Why would I leave when I really came to see you?"

"Me? Why?"

"Because the first time I saw you fight, I was in awe. Your skill, your movement was... graceful. Lethal. The Winchesters leave you down here doing research. You're like me."

"I'm nothing like you."

"You should be out there hunting. Killing."

"Except I kill monsters, not innocents."

"Is anyone truly innocent, Rena?"

"Oh, now you're Mr. Morality?"

"Quite the opposite, really. Morals are for the weak."

"Then what's the point of the Men of Letters? Why kill monsters? Why protect people?"

"Monsters go against natural order. Saving people is just a side effect."

"You're all sick."

"And yet, you won't pull the trigger. Why is that?"

"Because despite what you've done, you're human. I don't kill people."

Ketch took a step closer.

"But I will defend myself! Back off!"

"I don't want to harm you. I want you to fight with me."

"I'll pass."

"We would be an amazing pair, you and I."

"I already have amazing partners."

Ketch scoffed. "Ah, yes. The Winchesters."

"That's right."

"Tell me, do they know what a masterpiece you are? Truly? They couldn't possibly or they wouldn't leave you behind."

"I chose to stay behind on this one. I was injured two days ago."

The smirk on Ketch's face was gone. "Injured how?"

"What do you care?"

Ketch sighed. "Do I strike you as polite? I don't ask questions I don't want to know the answers to. And would you please put the gun down? I don't want an itchy trigger finger to be my demise."

Rena lowered the gun, but kept her finger near the trigger. "I was in a tangle with a demon who happened to have an angel blade. He caught me across my side before I shoved it through his throat."

Ketch smiled. "See... perfect. You enjoy it."

"Ok, you know what?" She pointed the gun at him again. "You've got three seconds to start walking."

Ketch took two steps forward.

"The other way!"

"You only told me to walk."

The barrel of Rena's gun was pressed into Ketch's chest.

"Go ahead. Shoot me. Kill me."

He stared down at her for a moment, then knocked the gun from her hand. He wrapped his arm around her waist and spun her as he pulled her so that her back was against him.

Rena cried out with pain.

"Oh, come now. I didn't hurt you."

"I'm injured, you asshole!"

Ketch let her go and she put a hand to her side.

"Let me see it," he said.

"Go to hell."

"I probably will. Let me see your side."

Rena hesitated, but lifted the bottom of her shirt to expose her right side. Ketch stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder.

"This stitch work is awful," he said.

"Thanks. Kinda hard to do when you're bleeding and the pain is so bad you want to pass out."

"Where were your precious Winchesters?"

"It was a solo hunt, and they don't know about the injury."

"Ah, so you keep secrets from them."

"Only to stop them from worrying. Never anything important."

"You nearly dying isn't important?"

"I didn't nearly die."

"Darling," he said as he brushed a finger over her stitches, "the only thing that saved you was that the blade hit your rib. Half an inch lower and it would have run you through."

Rena let her shirt fall back down, but Ketch's hand stayed beneath it. He splayed his fingers across her lower back and pulled her closer.

"We would be so good together," he said.

"I told you, I already have a great team."

"I'm not talking about hunting."

Ketch leaned down and Rena stood still. Her brain screamed at her to knee the guy in the groin, but having him so close was throwing her off. She couldn't deny he was attractive or that she loved the way he looked in a suit.

His lips brushed over hers and she slapped him. Ketch grunted. He backed away just a step and rubbed his cheek.

"It's interesting that you chose only to slap me, when I know you have a knife in your waistband."

"How do you-"

He just winked before he backed away.

"You should be feeling better in a couple of days, yes? I'll make sure Sam and Dean have a hunt, courtesy of the Men of Letters, and I'll text you a location. Meet me there for a job... or don't. Your call. But, oh, I am hoping you show up."

"Don't hold your breath."

"Maybe I should. After all, you wouldn't let me die, would you?"

"There's a difference between killing you and letting you die of your own stupidity."

Ketch smiled, then sighed.

"You are feisty. I would love to channel that into something productive... or at least something fun."

"I'd hate to know what your idea of fun is."

"I think you would enjoy it."

He winked at her again and then was gone.

The text came fours days later. Sam and Dean were off on a job passed along to them by the Men of Letters. She wasn't sure why she lied about not feeling well. She should have gone with them, but she stayed behind.

Now she debated whether or not to meet up with Ketch. She waited half an hour to see if he would follow up, but he didn't. Just one text with a location. He was baiting her, and she knew it. She also knew, as she grabbed her keys and her jacket, that she would end up regretting her decision.

She wanted to smack the grin off of his face when she pulled her car in next to his in the hotel parking lot. He sat behind the wheel and stared straight ahead until Rena walked over and tapped on his window. He rolled down the glass and stared at her a moment.

"Get in."

"Yeah, sure. Sam and Dean have no clue where I am, you haven't told me where we're going or what we're up against, and I'm supposed to get into a car alone with you?"

Ketch got out of the car and stood in front of Rena. Her eyes traveled down his body before she could stop herself. He was in dark jeans and black leather, and it made her stomach flip.

He smiled at her reaction. "Did you think I wore a three-piece suit to fight monsters?"

She was determined not to let him win whatever this was. Her eyes snapped back to his.

"What are we going after?"

"It's a wraith."

"How far?"

"About fifteen minutes from here."

"I'll take my own car."

"Yes, because more cars are less conspicuous. Just get in." He motioned to his car and Rena crossed her arms over her chest. "Please?"

"You need to work on your begging."

Rena got in the car on the passenger side, and Ketch slid back behind the wheel.

"My apologies. Begging is one thing I don't have much practice in."