Author's Note: I have only seen up to the beginning of season 2…..so yeah, I'm kinda majorly behind on character development…and plotline…and the current state of the impala. Please remember this if you want to critique the story at any point (Well-crafted critiques are welcome, by all means). I just really really really want to be surprised by what happens next when I watch the next few (six) seasons, so no spoilers please. So if I do anything that' s not cannon, it's probably due to blind ignorance…so we might hit A.U. at some points. Thanks for being courteous. Please enjoy.

"We're always racing. After each other, the next hunt, against time. The windmill's always spinning, always catching air, never really running out of breath. We just don't expect it to end, ya know? And then, all of a sudden, when it does…I don't know what to do with myself. For the past three years it was him and me, me and him, ripping apart demons and shooting down monsters. And now…now he's gone. One moment I could feel his crossbow vibrate next to me…the next…he's gone. Gone, gone gone. That word doesn't taste right. I've hit the finish line. Don Quixote actually took down the windmill, but it doesn't feel right. I'm missing my partner, my best friend, my lover…and it just feels so wrong. " Her hands started shaking. "I mean, look at me. I'm drinking beer." She giggles, near hysterics. "And I hate beer. You know I hate beer Ellen."

Ellen sighed. "Sweetheart, give me the beer," Iris peered up, and sighed. She handed over the beer, but not before taking a swig and grimacing. Ellen glanced at her, weighing the options in her mind. She chucked the beer in the trash. "Iris," she stated calmly. "We need to find you a partner." Iris's eyes widened.

"No," she snapped. "Nononononono no way—"

"Calm down darling," Ellen said, "I misspoke. We need someone for you to hunt with." Ellen smiled kindly, compassion and empathy filling her eyes. When Will had passed, the only thing that kept her going was Jo. Iris didn't have children with Matt. Her heart had been split once. Without Matt, the hunter would just wander, fighting to survive. What she needed was a vacation. Unfortunately, with the reputation her and Matt developed in this line of work that was impossible.

"I'm not getting another partner," Iris began to argue, but Ellen cut her off.

"Sweetheart, I'm not giving you another partner," Ellen's voice hardened a little, like a mother with her child. "You just need someone to roam around with, to watch your back. Fair?" Iris sighed and nodded.

"Alright. Fair."

Ellen relaxed. Iris (unlike some hunters) knew when to take good advice. Now, all Ellen needed to do was find her some good, strong, compatible hunters. Someone who wouldn't dare make a move on the grieving widow.

"Hey Ellen. Who's this beautiful babe you're talking to?"

Well, that was one option shot out the window. "Dean, this is Iris Whitlock. Iris, this is –"

"Dean Winchester," Iris finished. Her lips curled up half-heartedly. "Who hasn't heard of John Winchester's amazing boys?" Mistaking her praise for flirtation, Dean moved in. After all, it wasn't often that a hot hunter occupied the bar.

"So you've heard of us?" he said, "Anything you'd be interested in?" He flashed her a grin that usually had the ladies in his bed by eleven. The girl had curves; she had a good rear end that Dean wouldn't mind squeezing. Pretty eyes, soft lips. This could be his catch before their next hunt.

Iris closed her eyes. Breathe deep. This is a person, not a demon. "Hon, if you try making a move, I will shoot you right in the crotch." Dean slid two barstools over. She gave him a tight smile. "Thank you." Awkward silence thickened the air. Iris bit her lip, trying so hard not to cry. Nothing seemed right without Matt. "Ellen, would you excuse me? I need to go use the restroom." Before Ellen could even reply, Iris took off. Ellen shot a hard look at Dean.

"Good job," she growled. Dean's jaw dropped in shock.

"Me? Whoah whoah whoah. How am I in trouble? She just threatened to shoot me! You heard that, right?!" Dean stared at Sam for backup. Sam just shrugged. He knew better than trying to argue Dean's side at this point. Ellen sighed.

"She just lost her husband. Did your dad ever tell you about the Wendigos in Wyoming?"

Sam and Dean nodded. "Yeah, that was a tough one. " Sam recalled, "Turned out to be three of them there. Heard the hunters on the job took them out in one night. Pretty impressive." Ellen nodded.

"Do you remember their names?" she asked. Sam's eyes lit in recognition. Dean's mouth became a tiny "o".

"Iris and Matt Whitlock…." Dean said softly. He sighed. "Well, that's a shame. So her husband died on a job, huh?"

Ellen nodded. "They were close. Strong hunters, but Iris refuses to go after anything with a human origin. Says something about a tainted soul and insufficient information." Dean and Sam's eyebrows rose at that point. "So they specified in creature hunts. Two of the best I'd ever seen…and they were in love. You could see it in their eyes, boys. I'd never seen two hunters who worked so well together…or argued so much." Ellen chuckled, and then her eyes began to shine. "What she's going through…it's like losing half her soul. She doesn't know what to do. She needs to be with people for a little while, until she can figure out what to do again."

Dean snorted. She sounded a little crazy. Not going after spirits because of "insufficient information"? Didn't sit right. Had to hunt them before they killed someone. "Well, I hope she can find so—"

"She can come with us."

Dean started incredulously at Sam. "Sammy—"

"Dean." Sam stared at Dean. For a split second Sam tried imagining life without his brother…and just couldn't. There was no way Sam could survive without Dean. No, it wasn't like a wife, or being in love, but this was his brother. His hunting partner. His best friend. To have someone that important to you standing by your side one minute, then ripped away from you the next…well, he came too close to the feeling too many times to even think about it. Staring at his brother's bewildered face, Sam knew he felt the same way.

"Dean, I think she needs somebody right now. Besides, she's good." Sam turned to Ellen. "How's she with demons?"

"She's got no problems casting them back into hell, if that's what you mean."

Sam nodded. Dean groaned.

"Fine. Fine. I'll do it. But only cause she's cute, ya hear?" Ellen and Sam nodded. They both knew it was more than that. Right at that moment, Iris walked out of the bathroom. Sam approached her.

"Mrs. Whitlock?"

Iris laughed. "Oh hon, don't do that. I'm only a couple years older than you. Call me Iris."

Sam chuckled. "Fine. Iris then….Iris, would you mind joining me and my brother for a little while?"

Iris eyed Dean cautiously. "If he even tries to bat an eye at me—"

"Please feel free to shoot him wherever you like." Dean's arms flew up into the air, jaw now barely hanging by its hinges. Sam laughed inwardly, noting a fleeting smile crossing Iris's face.

"Alright then. You've got yourself a deal, Mr. Winchester," she said, holding out her hand. Sam smiled and clasped her hand.

"Call me Sam."