Prologue

As most people know, The Roadhouse has been a popular stop for hunters between jobs or in the middle of them for years. With this knowledge, Lucy knew it was as good a place as any to start her search. She opened the door and looked around the bar, then down at her own clothes. Clearly she was over-dressed, her favorite bad-ass boots would start to draw attention soon.

Right on cue one of the men swiveled his head in her direction, a seedy smile on his face. Lucy shuddered then walked to the bar. She approached the only woman in the room, a bartender serving beer to the men as they attempted to hit on her.

"Excuse me, I was wondering if you might be able to help me," Lucy leaned over the counter to grab the attention of the female bartender.

"I can help you gorgeous," one of the men perched on the barstools said to her.

"Can it Phil," the female bartender told him. She turned her head in Lucy's direction, her stance defensive, "What do you want?"

"I'm looking for a pair of hunters. I thought you might be able to point me towards them." Lucy asked the woman but her eyes wandered around the bar, searching for the men she was about to ask for.

"I got your hunter right here," the man leered at her again. Lucy made a face then turned away.

"I'm warning you Phil," The bartender's glare mirrored Lucy's. She studied the strange woman in front of her before responding, "Depends on who you are looking for."

Lucy paused for a moment, considering her audience, "Sam and Dean Winchester."

Immediately all movement in the bar stopped and all heads turned towards her. Lucy noticed that the looks she was receiving were not at all friendly, especially the one from the bartender in front of her. One of the men in the corner started chuckling. "You ain't gonna find those two around here girlie," he took a swig of his beer then continued chuckling. A couple of the other men snickered with him.

The bartender came out from behind the bar, grabbed Lucy's arm, and started to drag her into the back. Without stopping she called to a girl sitting with a man in the back of the bar, "Jo, cover for me!" Lucy stumbled after her as all eyes followed her into the back room. As soon as the door closed behind them the bartender whirled on her. "Alright, who are you and why are you looking for the Winchesters?"

Lucy paused, she knew the Winchesters were well-known but she had not been expecting a reaction quite as extreme as this. "My name is Lucy, I have a case I thought the boys might be interested in. Who are you?"

The bartender crossed her arms, "There are dozens of hunters out there looking for a case right now. You have no good reason to be looking for the Winchesters when any one of them would be happy to have a case."

It did not escape Lucy that the bartender hadn't answered her question. Lucy sighed and started to turn around, "Look, if you didn't know anything you could have just said so. Thanks for all of your non-help." She walked through the door and through the crowd of hunters still focused on her. Standing outside the front doors she rubbed a hand over her face. Back to square one in her search.

Lucy started to walk back towards her motel but stopped as the bar's doors opened behind her. The girl named Jo stood behind her, looking everywhere but at Lucy. "Look," she started, "Sam and Dean aren't all that popular around here. But you seem like a decent person so I'll tell you where they are." She took out a piece of paper and handed it to Lucy. "I don't know exactly where they are right now, but last I heard, this was the case they were working. Maybe you can track them down. I just hope you know what you are getting yourself into."

Lucy smiled in gratitude and took the crumpled piece of paper, "Thanks, it's the best lead I've gotten in months," she thought for a moment, "Actually it's the only lead I've gotten in months." She stuck out her hand to Jo, "It was nice meeting you."

Jo nodded and shook Lucy's hand. Without another word Jo spun around and re-entered the restaurant. With a smile on her face Lucy continued walking down the dusty road to the motel. Finally she had found a lead.