May, 1992

Natalie stared in awe at the huge roller coaster ahead of her. She was twelve years old. Her younger sister, Jane, stood beside her, clinging on to her hand. Her dad, Gregg, was holding her other in his own rough hands.

"Dad?" Natalie asked.

"Yeah, Bear?"

"Can we ride that?"

Her father chuckled. "I think your sister is too little, hon. We couldn't leave her on her own while we ride. It'll have to wait a couple years, alright?"

Natalie shook her head. "Dad, Janey isn't too little! Right, Jane?"

Her younger sister cowered into her. "No," she responded.

Natalie looked triumphantly at her father. "See?"

Gregg sighed. He moved so he stood in front of Jane and knelt so that they were eye level. "Jane, do you really want to ride this coaster?"

Jane nodded, timidly. "Sissy wants to," she said.

Gregg shook his head. "I didn't ask if your sister wanted to," he said. "I asked if you did."

Jane stopped and stared at her father. "No," she admitted. "It's scary."

Gregg winked at his youngest daughter. "It's okay to be afraid sometimes, Janey. Don't worry about it."

He raised and grabbed Jane's hand. "Let's go find a ride better suited for you, hm?"

Jane nodded eagerly, skipping as she walked. Natalie pulled her hand from Jane's in anger and folded her arms across her chest.

Gregg looked back at her. "Nat, don't be like this."

Natalie turned her head. Gregg walked to her and tapped her chin lightly. "We'll talk later, Nat, alright?"

Later that night, after Gregg had already tucked Jane into her lumpy motel bed, he walked over to the pull out couch where Natalie was setting up her own bed. "Hey, Bear."

Natalie glowered at him, still angry about earlier at the park. "What?"

Gregg chuckled and sat down at the edge of the couch. "Don't be mad, sweetheart."

"I'm not mad," Natalie huffed. She sat with her back to her father.

Gregg poked Natalie in the side. "Come here," he said. His voice was gentle but commanding.

Natalie sighed and went to stand in front of her father. She looked at the ground, avoiding his gaze. "Natalie, look at me."

Natalie looked up, suddenly shy. Her father sighed. "Look, I know you aren't happy about the ride situation. Believe me, the ride was calling for me, too. But Jane was scared."

"So what if Jane was scared? It's not fair!" Natalie cried.

Gregg shook his head. "Nat, she's eight years old, and she's your baby sister. What if we had forced Jane on that ride? She would've been scared just for you to have fun." He stopped, letting it sink in. "Would that have been fair to your sister?"

Natalie sighed. "No."

"Exactly," Gregg said. "Now, did you notice how Jane was willing to ride something that terrified her for your sake?"

Natalie shrugged. "I guess so."

"That's called sacrifice, Nat. Jane would've put herself through a hard time so that you could enjoy yourself."

Natalie's face was hot. Her father tapped her chin lightly. "Listen, Natalie. One day, I won't be here any more. And when that day comes, you'll be the one to start having to take care of Janey. She's going to need someone to be strong for her, and she's going to need someone to make sacrifices for her. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Natalie shook her head.

Gregg smiled softly at his daughter. "She's going to need her big sister, Natalie. She's going to need you. I need you to promise me that you will make sacrifices for that girl, do you understand me? She comes before you, and she comes before me. Alright?"

Natalie nodded. "Yes, dad. Jane comes first."

Gregg kissed her forehead. "Now why don't you climb into the other bed? I think I can handle this old pull out for a night or two."

Natalie grinned and hugged her dad. "Goodnight, dad."

"Goodnight, Bear," he said.

December, 2007

Natalie Reynolds sat in the passenger seat of her dad's '98 Toyota Camry. Gregg Reynolds, father to Natalie and her younger sister, Jane Reynolds, drove along some quiet road near the border of Utah and Nevada, his fingers drumming along to a Chicago song, "If You Leave Me Now".

It was pretty dark outside, considering it was two in the morning. Natalie looked back at her sister, Jane, who was sleeping soundly, sprawled across the back seat of the car. Natalie then glanced at her father, who's eyes were tired.

"Hey, Dad? Why don't you let me drive for a bit?" Natalie said.

Her father shook his head. "No, no. Why don't you try and get some rest, Bear? We've had a long day."

Natalie sighed. "I'll stay up with you."

Her father smiled. "I'm fine. As soon as we get to Nevada we're going to tackle this spirit, alright? I don't want you at anything but your best. Sleep, Bear."

"But-"

"Natalie, relax. Lean your head back against the window, recline the seat, do whatever it takes to get comfortable, I don't care. But sleep, okay?"

Natalie nodded, defeated. "Sure, dad." She turned her head and leaned it against the window. She yawned suddenly, and it dawned on her how tired she actually was.

"Goodnight, Bear."

"'Night, Dad," she murmured.

.

The next evening, Natalie and her family stumbled into their motel room late, around three A.M. Natalie was covered in dirt and sawdust, her father a sweaty mess and Jane sporting a bloody lip. Natalie took her sister to the bathroom, where she checked out her lip. "Well, it's bleeding a lot," she informed her sister, "but I don't think it's too bad."

Jane rolled her eyes. "I could've told you that," she said. "Will I need stitches?"

Natalie shrugged. "Maybe. Ice it for a bit before you go to sleep, and I'll check you out in the morning. It's too bloody and swollen for me to tell right now."

Jane nodded. She gingerly put her fingers against her lip and hissed when they touched. "Ow, ow, ow," she moaned.

Natalie shrugged and looked at her sister sympathetically. "I'll give you a couple Tylenol, that and getting the swelling down with some ice should help the pain a bit."

"Thanks Nat," Jane said. "Are you showering now or can you run and get me some ice?"

Natalie sighed. "Well, I was planning on showering, but I guess I can get your ice first."

Jane grinned at her. "Thank you, Nat."

Natalie nodded and began to walk out of the bathroom door. "Nat?" Jane called.

Natalie turned. "Yeah?"

"I love you."

Natalie smiled softly. "Love you, too, Janey."

.

Natalie slowly opened her eyes. Someone was shaking her, and saying something in her ear but she wasn't listening. She was too tired. She looked up and saw her father standing over her. He was shaking her shoulder. "Natalie, get up! We're leaving!"

Natalie yawned and slowly sat up. "What time is it?" she mumbled, rubbing her tired eyes. She glanced at the motel alarm clock next to her bed on the nightstand. It was blinking. She focused her eyes.

7:13

7:13

7:13

Natalie groaned and flopped back onto the pillow. "Why are we leaving so early?"

Her father shook her again. "Get up, Bear. I'll explain in the car."

Natalie sighed and sat up again, stretching her arms. Her father glanced at the other bed. "Wake your sister while I take our stuff to the car," he instructed. He grabbed her and her sister's duffel bags with each hand and flung his own over his shoulder. "I expect you to be down in no more than ten minutes!" he called as he shut the motel door on his way out.

Natalie pulled the blankets back and slipped out of bed. She had on a pair of jeans and a sweater that she hadn't bothered to change out of last night. She pulled on her combat boots and went to wake her sister.

"Jane," Natalie called, poking her sister in the arm. Jane murmured in her sleep and turned over. Natalie rolled her eyes. "Jane," Natalie said, louder this time. Still no response from the sleeping Jen. Natalie sighed and reached over her sister, her fingers grasping for a pillow. She lifted the pillow above her head and brought it down on her sisters head.

Jen cried out as the pillow struck her. She sat up, fists clenched. She looked at her sister and rolled her eyes. "Natalie, what are you doing?" She glanced at the clock.

7:16

7:16

7:17

"It's too early for this, Nat," Jane complained. "We didn't even go to sleep til four, if that."

Natalie shrugged. "Dad's orders," she replied. "Let's go."

Jane groaned and got out of bed. She, too, was still dressed from yesterday. "Shit, I've got blood all over my shirt," she exclaimed.

Natalie sighed and pulled off her sweater, leaving her wearing nothing but a tank top. "I want that back in the car," she said as she handed it to her sister. Jane looked at her gratefully. "Thank you!"

The girls exited the motel, Jane wearing Natalie's sweater and Natalie shivering against the brisk morning weather. They spotted their father leaning against his car and walked towards him. When they reached him, he winked. "That's a pretty lip you got there, Jane."

Jane swore and her fingers fluttered to her lip. "Natalie, how is it?"

Natalie looked at it. "You'll be fine without stitches," she said. "Just ice it, and be careful not to bust it again."

Jane groaned and opened the car door, stepping in. Gregg winked at Natalie over the hood of the car. "It's nice to have a doctor in the family," he said.

Natalie blushed. "I took a couple of basic first aid/survival classes at the Red Cross, I don't think that qualifies me as a doctor."

Her father smiled. "You've got the brains to be one," he said.

Natalie shook her head. "No way."

Gregg opened his car door, then hesitated. "You're a smart kid, Bear. Don't doubt yourself so much." He got in the car then, and shut his door.

Natalie smiled softly to herself then got into the car, as well."

.

Jane stuck her face in between the seats after a few hours of driving. "Dad, I'm starved. Can we please stop?"

Gregg looked in the rear view mirror at his daughter. "Jane, do you see where we are? Look around you. Is there anywhere to eat?"

Jane looked out of the window, disgruntled and hungry. He was right though. There was no where to eat for miles. They were near Wyoming, and God knows what's there. "Where are we even going?" she asked, bitterly.

Gregg winked. "It's a surprise!"

"Aren't we a little old for surprises?"

Gregg looked at his youngest daughter. "How old are you?"

Jane rolled her eyes. "I'm twenty two, why?"

Gregg laughed. "Because you aren't two old for surprises at twenty two. Besides, the surprise isn't even for you."

Jane flopped back on the seat, crossing her arms. "Then who's it for?"

"Your sister," Gregg replied.

Natalie looked at him. "Why?"

He chuckled. "Did you think I forgot your birthday?"

Natalie smiled. "Dad, my birthday was ten days ago."

"Sure, granted it's a little late, but we've been busy. I've got a clear schedule now, so we're off to get your present now."

"Dad, you didn't need to get me anything-"

Gregg laughed. "Don't be bashful, Bear. It's your 27th birthday. How many times do you turn twenty seven?"

"Once," Natalie said, laughing.

Gregg winked. "My part of the present is the driving, of course. But, since you had to wait so long, I'll throw something else in: you get choice of music until we arrive at our destination."

Natalie gasped. "Seriously?"

Her father chuckled. "Musics in the glove compartment."

Natalie grinned and eagerly reached for the glove compartment. She immediately knew what they were going to listen to first, and her hands searched the compartment. After a minute or two of searching, she sat back, disgruntled.

"Whatcha looking for, Bear?"

"Where's mom's Heart album?" she asked.

Her father cleared her throat. "I uh, I threw that out."

Natalie glanced at him, shocked. "Why?"

He shrugged. "I- I didn't see any point in keeping it."

Natalie took a deep breath, calming herself. "Dad, that was mom's favorite album. She had it signed by the band."

Jane sat forward suddenly, sensing the tension. "You know what, Nat? Check for some Queen, yeah? What could possibly sound better than some Bohemian Rhapsody right now?"

Natalie looked at her sister sadly. "I guess so," she responded. She reached into the glove department and removed the Queen CD and put into the player. She sat back with her eyes closed, letting the music fill her.

.

June, 1986

Sarah Reynolds was cooking a pot roast in the kitchen of their home. Heart was blaring from her radio as she threw ingredients into the pot, bobbing her head in time with the music and singing along softly. She heard the front door open and turned the radio down.

Her daughter, Natalie, ran into the kitchen, holding a pie. "Look what I picked out for desert, mommy!"

Sarah smiled as Natalie proudly set the pie on the counter. "Nat! That's fantastic! I was just about thinking how much a pumpkin pie would compliment this meal!" She kissed her daughters forehead.

Her husband, Gregg, walked in then. "Hi, hon," he said as he kissed his wife sweetly on the cheek. "How was your day?"

Sarah grinned. "It was alright, I cleaned a bit. Get this: Jane only cried three times!"

Gregg chuckled, kissing his wife again. "I'm glad to hear it. Maybe she'll finally stop, eh?"

Sarah giggled. "Don't jinx us, Gregg," she replied.

"All I wanna do is make love to you
Say you will you want me too
All I wanna do is make love to you
I've got lovin' arms to hold on to"

Sarah cried out, startled, as the song blared from the radio. She whirled to look at it and saw Natalie standing by it, hand still on the knob. Sarah laughed and lifted her five year old into her arms. She began to sway along to the music and hummed along, dancing with her daughter.

Gregg was laughing. "Are you still obsessed with that Heart album?"

Sarah smiled. "You know it's my favorite, it's even signed by the band!"

Gregg nodded. He walked over and kissed her forehead, wrapping his arms around both her and Natalie. He pressed his lips against her shoulder. "I know, hon," he whispered.

.

Natalie startled awake. She was in the car, but her family wasn't. She looked around, bewildered, trying to remember where they were. She looked out of the front windshield and grinned as she recognized the old house. She exited the car and walked to the front door, knocking excitedly. The door opened and Natalie grinned at the man standing there.

"Bobby," she said.

Bobby Singer stood in front of her, all smiles. "How ya doin' kid?"

She shrugged. "Pretty good," she replied.

Bobby opened his arms and Natalie flung her arms around his waist. "It's been too long, Nat," Bobby exclaimed. He pulled away after a moment and stood by. "Come on in, everyone's been waiting for you to start dinner."

Natalie followed Bobby into his living room, where her father and sister sat with two men she didn't recognize. Gregg grinned when he saw her. "Sleep well?"

Natalie blushed. "You should've woken me up," she said.

Gregg flipped a hand in dismissal and took a swig of beer. "This is your birthday party, Bear. You can do what you like."

Bobby came up behind her and put his arm around her. "Natalie, you remember Sam and Dean?"

Natalie looked at them for a second. "Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed when she recognized them. "Winchester, right?"

The tallest of the two smiled at her. He had long, shaggy brown hair. "I'm Sam."

Natalie gasped. "No way! Sam?" She walked over to him. "When the hell did you get so tall?"

The other chuckled. "Just shot up one day," he said.

Natalie smiled. "Dean?"

Dean winked as he took a sip of his beer. "Happy birthday, Natalie."

She looked at her dad. "Is this my birthday surprise?"

Gregg shook his head, tipping his beer in their direction. "These two? Nope. They're just free-loaders, here for the free food."

Dean shrugged. "What can I say? I heard there'd be pie."

Natalie laughed. "Well, I'm here. Let's eat!"

.

After dinner, Natalie stood out on Bobby's porch, holding a beer in her hand. She wore a sweater, but the temperature was extremely cold and dry. It was a wonder her beer didn't freeze over. She shivered and took a sip of beer. She heard the front door open.

"Hey," a voice said. She turned and saw Dean walking up.

"Hey, Dean," she replied, tipping her beer at him.

He smiled softly at her. "It's been awhile," he said.

Natalie nodded. "So it has. It's been what, twelve years?"

Dean shrugged. "Something like that. Why'd you come out here?"

Natalie sighed. "Tonight's the first real birthday I've had since I turned twenty one."

Dean laughed. "I don't remember the last time someone threw me a party."

Natalie nodded. "That's the problem."

Dean glanced at her. "What do you mean?"

She sighed. "My dad's great and all, he really is. He just doesn't do birthday parties. Something else is going on, something he doesn't want me or Jane to know about that involves Bobby. My birthday was just a convenient cover up, I'm sure."

Dean took a sip of beer. "I'll let you know if either says anything to me."

She looked at him and smiled softly. "Thanks, Dean."

He winked. "Happy birthday, Natalie."