It's never been about the honor or the knowledge of being an unseen hero.

I've always had a bad feeling about this life, because it's always been about protecting what I've got left. My mother is a psychic as well as a former hunter; there are just as many hunters and creatures that want her dead as there are who want her help. She always tells me she doesn't need me to watch her back 24/7, but that will never stop me from staying at home to protect her. At least, that was how I felt until an old friend of my father's walked through our threshold. Bobby Singer didn't look the way I remembered when I was a little girl, he was older, more weathered.

"Athena, you're looking well." Bobby said as he and my mother clasped hands like good friends.

"Thank you Bobby, now what has taken you all the way to Mississippi to see us today? I don't think you're on a job." My mother put her hands on her hips and raised a brow, looking like a goddess of old in her long flowing gray dress and all of the gold she wore. I remained behind her, saying nothing, on stand-by. My father's untimely death has left me on edge; I'll be the first to admit it. I don't enjoy life the way I once did.

My thoughts were broken when I felt Bobby's gaze hit me. "Andi, is that you? Cripes, you've grown!" He smiled at me. "How are you, still hunting?" I shook my head, and he frowned.

"She believes that her place is here with me, since Aaron passed." My mother said with some disappointment. I knew she wanted me hunting, fighting the oncoming apocalypse.

"That's too bad. I've come to see if you were interested in a job. Speaking of, the boys should be here soon, Athena."

While they waited for these 'boys', my mother brought out the spread she had already prepared, in knowing that Bobby was going to show up today. We all sat in the parlor, and I had to sit through small talk. The Marlowe Estate, which has been the home of my family for generations, was of extremely Victorian designs inside and out. Everything in my house was old fashioned, and we hardly had any modern technology in the house. My mother always said it was too dangerous to have too many items run by electricity in the home, and she had a point. Bursting light bulbs from massive supernatural activity could potentially burn our precious home down. A good 45 minutes passed before my mother rose from her seat and walked to the door just as someone knocked on the door. She welcomed into our home two men who seemed to be brothers, they wore simple, but rugged clothing. One wore a leather jacket; the other wore a denim jacket. Bobby rose and I did as well.

Bobby spoke before I could. "These boys are Sam, and Dean Winchester. Fellas, this is Athena Marlowe." The two men made mild pleasantries with my mother. "And this is her daughter, Andronika." He added. Dean smirked at me and I could feel my skin prickle with anger. The younger one, Sam, smiled kindly at me, and I felt much more at ease.

I cleared my throat, and made sure my tone was disdainful. "Please, just call me Andi." And I shook hands with them both.

"Nice to meet you, Andi." Sam said.

"So, you're a hunter?" Dean asked, and I frowned at him. I was beginning to like this setup less and less.

Bobby cleared his throat. "We're here to ask Athena for help with the job." My mother laughed at this. I'm still unsure as to what she found so funny. "We need you to find this demon that has been continually slipping through our fingers. He's a nasty mother."

"Oh Bobby, are you losing your touch?" My mother clucked playfully. I smirked slightly at that. "I think that if you take Andronika with you, your search will end quickly. She… Has some sense for demons as I do. I am too old for demon hunting."

I nearly choked on the cracker I had picked up from the spread on the coffee table. My coughing alerted the others, and suddenly all eyes were on me. Dean actually laughed.

"We're not bringing her anywhere, lady—OW." Sam jabbed his brother in the ribs. "Son of a…"

"Mrs. Marlowe, I'm not sure if that's a good idea." Sam said, more politely. "This demon is extremely dangerous and I would hate to put more people in danger than need be."

My mother was not convinced. "If anyone can locate and help defeat this demon it is my daughter, that is my price for what you seek. Don't you think for a second that I don't already know what kind of weapons you have at your disposal, Sam Winchester." She was a powerful psychic, and so she probably knew everything about the Winchesters that ever came through their minds. They both tensed at that statement. It seemed to me that the Winchesters had their secrets, but I didn't care. I have my own agenda.

"Don't I get a say in this? I should not leave the estate! You need me—"

"Nonsense, child! I can handle myself just fine, thank you."

"That's what dad said before he was slaughtered." I spat, storming out of the house and into the depths of our gardens. Some time passed before Bobby came out to find me. I sat among the tiger lilies, picking at blades of grass, not wanting to be found. I just wanted to be left alone to do as I pleased.

"Now why would you say that to your mom? I know losing Aaron was hard, Andi. It was hard for a lot of people, but that doesn't mean you have to stop being who you are because of it. What happened to the adventurous little girl I used to see running around and away whenever you had the chance?"

"That was before I lost half of all the family I have."

"Now you're just bein' an idjit." He rumbled. "Athena can sure as hell take care of herself."

"What would you know?" I yelled. "You weren't there when dad died! You didn't see it!"

"Well then don't you want to kill all of the sons of bitches that are related to the one who killed him? Doesn't this make you hate demons? Don't you want to hunt them?"

"I do, but…"

"There's no buts. You're a hunter, born and raised. We need someone like you out there to help fight off the damn apocalypse!"

After much yelling from both Bobby and my wrathful mother, I finally broke down and agreed to go with the Winchesters. I got ready, bought a cell phone, and packed my equipment. I agreed to go, only on the condition that I could go in my own car. I love my 1960 Thunderbird. I've spent much of my free time restoring it to its former glory in the garage near the house. The car was my father's but it was nearly falling apart, and now it's the perfect hunter's vehicle. Devil's traps are on the doors and underneath the trunk door. Like Dean's car, my trunk has a false bottom to hide all of the necessary tools of the trade.

There are also some luxuries to my wheels, like the red leather seats, the smooth black paint job, and the 6-disc CD-player. I have a pile of CD's in the back seat with all of the good music. Journey, Foreigner, Styx, AC/DC, Survivor, Queen…. I could go on for hours. I guess you could say I'm a bit of a classic rock lover.

There's a kind of freedom in seeing the road out in front of you for miles upon miles, and somewhere on that pavement, I started to feel more like my old self.

I started to forgive myself for not making it in time.