John Winchester pulled his pickup truck outside a home in Windom, Minnesota. He furrowed his brow as he rubbed at his mouth and nose. It had been a rather long drive, but it was a drive he needed to make, especially being this close to whatever had killed his beloved Mary. This was probably going to be the last time for quite a while that he would be able to do this. He hopped out of his truck and walked up to the front porch of the home before he exhaled out loud. He forced his finger to push the doorbell and it hardly seemed like seconds later when a gangly teenage boy opened the door with a goofy grin on his face.

"Dad!" the pubescent voice exclaimed—going rather high before sharply dropping.

"Adam-son," John responded.

"What—what're you doing here?"

"Just figured I'd drop in and say hello—or is now a bad time?"

"Nah, c'mon in. Ma's at work and I could use a distraction from my homework."

Adam motioned for John to come inside and John followed his youngest son inside. His little secret. His fifteen-year-old secret. He hadn't told his other children about Adam. Hell, he hadn't even really known for the longest time. For a long time it had pained him that his youngest child wasn't with Mary, but as time passed he saw how he could repay for the sins he had committed against his other children and start afresh with Adam and not drag him into the hunter's life. It was better for Adam to not be a part of the mess that Sam, Dean, and Elle were a part of. At the thought of Elle, John Winchester cringed for a moment. His relationship with his daughter was complicated at best. He had royally screwed that up—but it was to keep her safe. If he allowed her to know just how much she meant to him, none of them would be alive. When this thing was dead and gone, then and only then could he….

The teenage boy led his father into the kitchen where textbooks and notebook paper were sprawled out all over the table. The kid muttered something under his breath before he stacked the books and papers into a pile and nodded for John to take a chair. John sat down in a chair and Adam took a seat across from him before he quickly popped back up and ran to the fridge, asking if his father wanted anything to drink.

"We have water—and uh—water," Adam suggested.

"I'll take the water," John said rather gruffly.

"It comes highly recommended."

The kid had a grin on his face as he pulled the water pitcher out of the fridge. He opened the cupboard to see that there were no clean glasses before he took two out of the dishwasher. Adam explained that he was supposed to get the dishes put away, but with his mother working nights—he didn't really have anyone to hold him accountable to actually do his chores, but he still tried for his mom's sake. John said nothing. Adam shouldn't have to live a life like that—but he was pretty sure Sam or Elle would gladly trade places with him to have a so-called normal life. Adam set a glass of water down in front of John before returning to his seat.

"How you been, kid?" John asked.

"Busy," Adam said after a gulp of water. "As you can see: school, work, sleeping—you know, the basic life of a teenager."

"Girlfriends?"

"You say that like I have a bunch of them."

"Do you?"

"No. I ain't no playa," Adam grinned at his father who responded with a chuckle at the joke. "Besides, don't really have time for girls…you know—with life and all."

"Good man, good man."

"And how's your—uh-job?"

"It's taken an interesting turn."

"Does that mean you'll get to stay?"

There was a long pause as John looked away. Adam sighed and shook his head, clearly upset.

"Adam…"

"No, I get it. Got my hopes up that's all. I mean what kid doesn't want both their parents around."

"Son, I don't know where my—uh—job is going to take me; but when it's over, I'd like us all to be a real family."

"Mom told me not to get too attached to you, you know."

"For good reason, but kid, I have a feeling this is going to be done soon."

"Sounds like what you said last time."

"You're just as stubborn as Elle," John muttered. "It must come from me."

"What?"

"You're stubborn—just like me."

Adam didn't voice a response. Instead, he just took a drink of his water when John's phone began to ring. John looked down at the number and was surprised to see that it had a Lawrence area code. It was suspicious. He stood up and told Adam that he had to take the call before he slipped out the back door and onto the porch—missing a snarky remark from Adam. He pressed the answer button and put the phone up to his ear.

"Who is this?" John grunted.

"Is that how you answer all your calls?" a woman's voice chuckled.

"Missouri?"

"It's me, honey, and we gotta work on your people skills."

"My people skills are just fine. It's you who needs to work on not…"

"You don't wanna finish that if you want me to tell you what I know."

"What do you know?"

"Are you sitting? You might wanna sit."

"Missouri."

"Sorry, but honey, this is big."

"You got something on what killed my Mary?"

"No, but it might be related. It has to do with your other great mystery."

"And that would be?"

"Elle."

"Not interested."

"Liar."

"Why would I be interested in something with Campbell? She…"

"Let's just say I've been enlightened on your situation since our last chat."

"You don't know anything about the situation…because it's non-existent."

"You keep telling yourself that, Johnny-boy, but old Missouri knows better."

"I'm hanging up now…"

"Castiel."

"What?"

"That's who returned Elle to you, baby. You might wanna write that down in case you forget."

John rolled his eyes before he took out a pen and an old receipt out of his pocket to write on.

"And what is this thing?" John asked looking over his shoulder to make sure that no one was looking.

"Honey, all I got was a name. You're gonna have to do some work on your own if you want more than that."

"I don't have time to go on another hunt, Missouri. I'm close to this thing that killed Mary."

"And Elle."

"What?"

"It killed Elle too—and there had to be a reason to it. It just makes sense."

"Is this your rambling or a psychic thing?"

"A little of both."

"I'm hanging up now."

"Call her. Call that precious daughter of yours and tell her. You and I both know you want to—or there will be a bitch slap waiting for you on your next visit to Lawrence."

"Good-bye."

"Call her."

John hung up the phone and slipped it into his pocket before he examined the piece of paper on which he had written down the name. This thing, whatever it was, had saved his daughter. He didn't know how—he didn't know why, but it did and Elle was living today because of whatever this thing was. For a moment, he wondered if this thing could help him hunt the other thing—but John knew better than to trust. But if he found this thing—maybe, just maybe he could salvage his relationship with Elle. For a fleeting moment, he thought that maybe he could make things better. John looked inside the window to see Adam working on his homework once again before he pulled his phone out of his pocket once again and dialed Elle's number before he put the phone to his ear once again. John could feel his heart beginning to beat a little faster at the thought of fixing things with his little girl. It rang three times before it went to voicemail.

Hello? *two-second pause* Hello? I can't hear you…just kidding! Congratulations, you've reached my voicemail. If you don't know who this is then you shouldn't be calling me. Otherwise, leave a message and stuff and I may or may not get back to you. Bye!

John's heart sank for a moment. She had ignored his call—because it didn't go to voicemail that soon. He hung up the phone before the beep and shoved the phone back into his pocket. He looked at the piece of paper before he crumpled it in his hand. He had been stupid to get his hopes up. He needed to focus on his priority—taking down the thing that killed Mary. But this wasn't information he wanted to forget. He looked down at the piece of paper in his hand and sighed. John walked back into the house and told Adam that he needed to go to his truck for a minute. Adam didn't even look up from his homework. Teenage angst—probably the only thing he was glad he didn't have to put up much with anymore. Although, Elle could probably give Adam a run for his money. John sighed at the thought of his daughter—his beautiful daughter—the daughter he loved more than life itself. It was just too bad that in order to keep her safe, he had to keep her in the dark…but hopefully not for long.

Author's note: This takes place when Elle ignored John's phone call in "Nightmare" in Us Against the World.