This story takes place during season 5 after Dean and Sam are reunited. Hope you guys enjoy!

Dean is 30, Sam is 26, and Ella is 23.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Supernatural, or any of the associated characters, so please don't sue.

Chapter One

Dean Winchester lay awake on the creaky mattress that was his for the week. He pulled his arms behind his head and stared at the popcorn ceiling in silence. Sam was fast asleep, his broad chest moving up and down every few seconds. Things were still awkward between them, and although Sam had chosen to hunt again, Dean could sense the animosity that his little brother felt towards him.

Dean sighed. The smell of mildew and cigarette smoke hung heavily in the small motel room, disrupting his train of thought. He smoothed his hands down the sides of his face and sat up. He couldn't do this. He couldn't sit around and feel sorry for himself. He had to keep busy.

Dean stood up, his feet hitting the rough, patchy, 1970s era carpet. He walked over to the small table in the corner of the room, and sat down in front of Sam's laptop, logging in easily. Sure, Sam tried to keep his brother from watching Busty Asian Beauties on his computer by constantly changing his password, but Dean knew Sam better than anyone, and could guess his passwords within thirty seconds.

Googling 'freak accidents', Dean scrolled through the search results, scanning for any case that caught his eye.

"Three Harvard students die mysteriously within a week," Dean mumbled, reading the article out loud. It sounded like their kind of case.

"Sammy!" Dean called out, startling Sam out of his sleep.

"Dean, its four o'clock, what do you want?" he mumbled, one eye still closed. The older brother grinned and walked over to Sam's bed, slapping his hand against the sleepy giant's back.

"I found us a case. It's in Cambridge, though, so we better get going if we want to make it by tomorrow night." Sam shot straight up.

"Cambridge? Dean, do you remember who lives in Cambridge?" Dean put his hands in his pockets and rocked back onto his heels.

"Yeah, Ella, right?"

"Yes, Ella," Sam growled, "Our sister, in case you forgot." Dean rolled his eyes.

"Your point?"

"Do you remember what happened last time you guys saw each other? Dean, I've never seen her that mad."

"Look, she didn't want to live this life, I get that, okay? But she didn't have to shut us out completely."

"Dean, you pretty much disowned her." Dean stiffened at Sam's comment.

"She chose her mother over us, even though we're the ones who raised her."

"She was just a kid, and her mom was sick. After Dad died, she didn't want to lose anyone else."

"We lost Dad, too, Sam. We should've stuck together. That's what a family does." Sam stood, pulling his jacket sleeves over his large arms.

"Maybe you should apologize to her," Sam suggested, "It's been three years."

"We'll see," Dean cleared his throat, "Let's pack everything up." The two packed in silence, Sam with anticipation, and Dean with dread.

The '67 Impala roared into the tightly packed parking lot of the apartment complex. The apartments were inside an attractive brick building, covered in ivy and charming white windows.

"You sure we should just show up like this, Dean?" Sam asked nervously.

"Yeah, I'm sure. It'll give her less time to come up with smartass remarks to say to me. Besides, it's Saturday. And if I know Ella, she's not exactly going to be out clubbing." Sam shrugged as they made their way inside the apartment's lobby. It had a contemporary design, with hardwood floors and beige walls. A plain young woman was working the front desk. Dean walked up to her, grinning his trademark grin.

"Excuse me miss," the woman blushed to her ears, "I'm here to see my little sister. Do you think you could let me go upstairs without calling her? It's her birthday, and we want to surprise her."

"O-Okay," the mousy woman replied, still flushed, "What's her name?"

"Ella Winchester," Sam chimed in.

"Her apartment is on the third floor, number four."

"Thanks," Dean smiled at her and winked. Lying came way too easily to him. Sam rolled his eyes and made his way to the elevator.

"What are you going to say to her when we get there?" Sam asked on the way up.

"I have no idea."

Sam knocked on the door marked '304' loudly, and listened as the quick footsteps of his younger sister neared the door. There was a pause as she presumably looked through the peephole. The door whipped open, revealing the petite young woman, her dirty blonde hair thrown into a messy ponytail, a shocked expression on her face.

"What the hell…?" Her hazel eyes drifted from Sam to Dean, before her pretty face broke into a grin.

"Hey Ellie," Sam smiled and hugged his sister gently. Ella glanced at Dean out of the corner of her eye.

"Hello Dean," she said curtly, "Why don't you guys come in?"Dean nodded, biting his tongue. The two followed her into the small apartment. She nodded at the couch before walking to the kitchen, grabbing two beers out of the fridge. She placed them in front of her brothers before sitting across from them.

"So what are you doing here?" She was clearly addressing Sam, ignoring Dean's presence.

"There's a case in town. That's why we came here," Dean snapped. Ella met Dean's harsh gaze bitterly.

"Something you wanna say, Dean?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Stop it, guys," Sam groaned, "Let's just focus on the case." Dean cleared his throat and Ella leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs.

"Have you heard about the Harvard students dying?" Dean asked, composed. Ella looked confused.

"Weren't those just suicides?"

"Three suicides in a week? That's sure as hell no coincidence." Ella glanced at her lap.

"Do you think that whatever it is, is attacking people connected to the school?" As an alumni herself, this was a real concern for her.

"We don't know yet, but we'll take care of it, okay?" Sam reassured her.

"Yeah, so we should get going," Dean got up, leaving the beer untouched, "Don't get involved." Ella stood and cocked her head to the side.

"Why would I? I'm not a hunter. And when I was, I was a 'shitty one', right Dean?" She said angrily. Dean furrowed his brow. Sensing the tension, Sam grasped Dean's shoulder quickly.

"Don't worry, Ellie. We'll be back soon, after we figure everything out. Just be careful, and call us if anything happens." Ella held her arm with her hand and nodded, calmed down. Sam smiled at her and dragged Dean out the door.

Ella sighed and walked into her bedroom. A visit from Dean had been the last thing she had wanted. She walked into her closet and separated her clothes briskly, revealing a wall of photos, and a box filled with holy water, a cross, rock salt, a knife, and a rifle.

"Don't get involved my ass," she mumbled. As if she was going to let Dean solve a case in her own backyard.

Should I continue? Please review! Tell me what you think, and feel free to ask any questions!