Chapter 1
"Five years, boys. It's been five years since anyone has seen so much as hide or hair of her, and I tell you, I saw her in some backwater town not three days ago. She didn't recognize me—even when I introduced myself. Y'all remember how good of an actress she always was—but not THAT good."
Jonas Zane swigged his beer in silence. Dean glanced at his younger brother Sam to gauge his reaction. It had been common knowledge that Nora and Sam had reached an, uh, "understanding" when they'd both been left behind on a hunt. Sam nursing an injury—Nora nursing him. But he'd been just as shocked as everyone else when they'd all walked in on the two of them in bed together. After the big fight with her brother, Nora had disappeared into the wilderness, with only a backpack full of provisions.
At the look of misery on Sam's face, Dean winced. Sam had never spoken of that day, but whatever Nora's parting words had been, it had caused Sam many sleepless nights. And now this. Nora spotted in the Appalachian Mountains, living another life, seemingly no memory of who she had been. Jonas broke the silence: "If we're gonna get Nora back, we need to know what we are up against. Is this retrograde amnesia or some bad mojo keepin' her from rememberin'?"
"Maybe she just doesn't want to come back." Sam's misery was obvious in his tone and face, and Jonas, never comfortable with overt emotions, walked over to where Sam was slumped, putting one weathered hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Well, let's just round up some of the gang and go find out. Family don't end with blood and we take care of our own."
That last statement propelled Sam into action. His movements were almost frantic when Dean finally caught up with Sam in their temporary room. Dean leaned against the door frame, arms crossed across his chest. Sam jerked to a stop. "What?!"
"Oh, nothing. Just wondered what you meant by that comment back there." A shadow passed over Sam's face, but Dean wouldn't back down from his line of questioning. "What happened? What did she say to you before she left?"
"Nothing…everything." Sam fumbled for the small medicine bundle he wore under his shirt. The one Nora had given to him. He up-ended a small piece of metal into his palm and laid it on the table, revealing the Brotherhood ring. It was too small to be Sam's. Then Dean's heart dropped at a sudden revelation. It was Nora's. She had left the Brotherhood.
"She left the ring with you Sam. She didn't throw it in her brother's face—she gave it to you. For safekeeping. And I know that's not the only thing of hers you've held onto all this time." Sam's eyes darkened, and his fingers curled slightly. "Don't get all defensive, bro. Whether it's just amnesia or binding spell, we're gonna need all the ammo we can get our hands on." Sam relaxed. "Besides, we have a little time while Jonas rounds up the posse—we'll need to rest up before hitting the road. And develop the best strategy." Sam just nodded—afraid to speak.
In the dark, both brothers stared up at the ceiling in their respective beds. Dean planning out his "strategies" (and alternately worrying about Sam). Sam remembering Nora's healing touch as it deepened into an intimacy they'd both denied themselves for way too long. And the memory of falling asleep with Nora in his arms, only to be awakened by Nora's horrified brother, along with Dean's recent words, all swirled together in his head.