I grinned as I followed Dean through Sam's apartment, my gun tucked snugly in the back of my jeans and my dagger in my boot... you know, just in case. Dean was muttering something about where we had to go next and what we may have to do to convince Sammy into coming with us, but before he could finish what he was saying he was grabbed around the neck by a very tall silhouette before the two of them started fighting. With a small smirk, I leant against the wall to wait... it wasn't long until Dean had the form pinned.

"Whoa, easy, tiger," Dean grinned as I flipped the light on.

"Dean?" Sam asked in shock before looking up at me, "Izzy?"

"Hiya Sammy," I smirked in greeting.

"You scared the crap out of me," he accused angrily, making me shrug.

"That's cause you're out of practice," Dean told him smoothly, only to be flipped so he was the one that was being pinned. "Or not... get off me." With that the two of them got to their feet and I strolled over to Dean, letting him drape his arm around my shoulders as I leant into his side.

"What the hell are you two doing here?" Sam asked us irritably.

"Well I was looking for a beer," Dean replied smoothly, making me duck my head and smirk.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Sam asked firmly, aiming it at me this time, making me sigh and straighten up.

"We gotta talk," I replied honestly.

"Uh, the phone?" he offered, making me frown at him.

"Right cause you answered the last ten times I tried that," I snarled at him, making Dean pull me to his side again as a way to tell me to shut up.

"Sam?" a voice asked curiously, making me turn my head. My gaze landed on a pretty blond girl wearing a small Smurfs shirt and very short shorts.

"Jess, hey," Sam greeted quickly, making me turn back to him, surprised to see that his expression had completely changed upon her arrival. "Dean, Izzy... this is my girlfriend Jessica."

"Wait, your brother and best friend?" Jess asked in shock, making me scoff at the last part.

"I love the Smurfs," Dean smirked at her, "You know I gotta tell you, you are completely out of my brother's league."

"Just... let me put something on," Jess offered as she moved to walk out the room.

"No, no, no, I wouldn't dream of it... seriously," Dean smirked at her, making me elbow him before I turned to her.

"We need to borrow your boyfriend here," I told her simply, "talk about some private business. But, uh... it was nice meeting you." I strained a smile before starting for the door.

"No, no," Sam shook his head, making me turn to him in disbelief, "Whatever you wanna say you can say it in front of her."

"Really?" I asked with a Cheshire Cat grin.

"Iz," Dean warned making me pout at him before shrugging again, he smirked before turning back to Sam, "Dad hasn't been home in a few days."

"So he's working overtime on a 'Miller Time' shift," Sam shrugged, making me narrow my eyes at him, "he'll stumble back in sooner or later."

"John's on a hunting trip," I snapped, "And he hasn't been home in a few days." Sam's smug smirk dropped off his face at my words.

"Jess, excuse us," he told the blond, "We have to go outside." I glanced up at Dean with a nod before I walked past the girl, heading out the door ahead of them.

"I mean, come on," Sam's voice sounded as he followed us down the stairs, "You can't just break in, in the middle of the night and expect me to hit the road with you."

"We can actually," I replied as I reached the main door, and headed out, "And we just did, now pack a bag and let's get going!"

"Guys!" Sam protested.

"You're not hearing us, Sam," Dean interrupted him as they walked behind me towards the Impala, "Dad's missing, I need your help."

"You have Izzy," Sam countered, "It looks like you guys are doing pretty well without me." I rolled my eyes at him, just because we were coping doesn't mean we liked it. "And remember that poltergeist in Amherst, or the Devil's Gate in Clifton? He was missing then too, he's always missing, and he's always fine."

"Not for this long," I told him as I stopped to face him, causing them to skid to a stop, "Sam... your dad knows how much we'd freak out at him if he was doing this on purpose, he wouldn't put us through this unless absolutely necessary... translation, he's in trouble, and he needs us... all three of us."

"So are you coming or not?" Dean asked as he joined my side, his arm draping comfortably around my shoulders.

"I'm not," he replied making me scoff before walking away from them again, moving to the trunk of the Impala to sit on it, looking pointedly away from them.

"Why not?" Dean asked irritably as he followed me.

"I swore I was done hunting for good," Sam replied as he trailed behind, making me glower up at him before looking away again.

"Come on, it wasn't easy but it wasn't that bad," Dean argued as he leant on the car next to me.

"Yeah?" Sam laughed, "When I told dad I was afraid of the thing in my closet, he gave me a .45."

"Yeah, so what?" I asked as I looked up at him again.

"I was nine years old, he was supposed to say 'don't be afraid of the dark'," Sam insisted, making me throw him a look of utter disbelief.

"Don't be afraid of the dark?" I smirked, "Really!?"

"You know what's out there," Dean added in agreement.

"Yeah I know, but still," Sam sighed, "The way we grew up after mom was killed, and dad's obsession to find the thing that killed her... we still haven't found a damn thing, so we kill everything we can find."

"And save a helluva lot of people doing it," I shouted at him.

"And if we didn't we'd have never met Izzy," Dean added.

"Chalk one up for the hell yes," I grinned at him making him grin back and side hug me before we looked back at Sam who was watching us in annoyed amusement before he shook his head.

"You think mom would have wanted this for us?" Sam asked before looking at me, "Or yours?" My whole body tensed at the mention of my mom as I glowered up at him, "The weapon training, melting silver into bullets? We were raised like warriors."

"So what are you gonna do?" Dean asked him bluntly, "You just gonna live some normal, apple-pie life? Is that it?"

"Not normal," Sam shook his head, "Safe."

"So that's why you ran away?" I asked him, my voice trembling with my anger, "You were scared?"

"I was just going to college," he argued, "It was dad that said if I was gonna go, I should stay gone... that's what I'm doing." I shook my head at him at that before looking down and taking a breath to calm myself down.

"Iz..." Dean started.

Clearing my throat, I looked up at Sam before standing up so I talked to him properly, "John is in a lot of trouble right now," I told him quietly, "and that's if he isn't already dead, I can feel it Sammy." His anger was wavering, I could tell as I looked him in the eye and watched them soften slightly, "Sammy, we need your help, we can't do this without you."

"Yes you can," he countered making me close my eyes and shake my head as I tried to keep my anger down again.

"Well we don't want to," Dean told him, as I looked up at him again. Sam sighed slightly as he looked between us, making me tuck my hands in my pockets and level my gaze with his.

"What was he hunting?" he asked after a moment or two, making me turn to Dean as he got up and opened the trunk to root through it. "Why weren't you with him anyway?"

"We were working our own gig up in New Orleans," I replied as Dean rooted through the trunk, "Some voodoo crap. Assface here almost got us killed... again."

"Shut up bitch," Dean grumbled in reply.

"Jerk," I smirked at him as he looked over his shoulder.

"Dad let you go hunting by yourselves?" Sam asked in shock, making me turn to him.

"Dude, I'm 25," Dean scoffed, "I think I can look after myself."

"As long as I'm there to stop him doing something stupid, that is," I smirked, making Dean throw his leg out to kick me, I jumped back with a laugh before pushing my hair from my face. "Anyway, John was checking out this two-lane blacktop outside of Jericho, Cali. About a month ago, there was this guy... they found his car but he'd disappeared, completely MIA."

Dean handed over a newspaper article out of the file he'd finally found, "So maybe it was a kidnapping?" Sam suggested as he glanced it over.

"See that's what I thought," I nodded, "Except we found another in April, one in December... 04, 03, 98, 92..." I trailed off and Dean carried on.

"Ten of them, over the past 20 years," he explained, "All men, all the same five mile stretch of road." Sam glanced between us in shock.

"It started happening more and more," I picked up where Dean left off, "So John went to do some digging. That was what...? Three weeks ago?" I asked Dean, who nodded, "Which as you can guess is bad enough, but then we got a voicemail."

Dean pulled out a recorder and pressed play, letting John's voice stream out to us, "Dean, Isabella, something's starting to happen, I think it's serious. I need to try and figure out what's going on..." there was a space of interference, "Be very careful you two, we're all in danger."

"You know there's EVP on that," Sam pointed out as it finished, making me roll my eyes slightly.

"Not bad Sammy," Dean commented, "Kind of like riding a bike, isn't it?" He glanced at me before draping his arm around my shoulders, "Sweets here slowed it down and ran it through Gold Wave to take out the hiss, here's what we got." He pressed play again.

"I can never go home!" A breathy female voice sounded though the speaker, making me shiver slightly as Dean's arm tightening around my shoulders almost instinctually.

"Never go home?" Sam asked in confusion, making me clear my throat and nod.

"Look, Sammy," I sighed, "It's been almost two years and we've never bothered you... never asked you for anything."

"Alright," he sighed after a minute or so, "I'll go. I'll help you find him." A grin stretched across my face, "But I have to be back first thing Monday. Just... wait here." With that he started back for the apartment.

"Wait!" I called after him, "What's Monday?"

"I have an interview," he called back as he turned to face us.

"A job interview?" Dean asked, "Skip it."

"It's a law school interview," Sam replied, making me arch a surprised eyebrow.

"Law school?" Dean asked in shock.

"Do we have a deal or not?" Sam called over, making us swap a look before nodding. Sam nodded back before turning and heading inside as I frowned at his retreating back before I turned to Dean.

"So... Sammy has a girlfriend," Dean started, making me roll my eyes.

"Yeah, good for him," I shrugged it off before moving for the car, Dean swooped between me and the door.

"Izzy," he started.

"What Dean?" I asked him angrily, "You think him having a girlfriend after two years is gonna bother me?"

"You guys were..." he started.

"Whatever it was it's been over for a long time," I interrupted him as I crossed my arms across my chest, "Are we done now?" He sighed before nodding and moving out of the way as Sam re-emerged from the apartment building and jogged towards us, making me throw Dean a 'keep it zipped' look before I slid into the back to let Sam sit up front.

I bobbed along to my iPod as I lay across the hood of the Impala, soaking in the sun as Dean went to pay for gas. Sammy was sat in the passenger seat flicking through Dean's cassette collection. "Hey Legs!" Dean snapped as he tugged my earphone out, "Get your fat ass off my car."

"Excuse me?" I snapped at him as I hopped off the car, turning to face away, "my ass is far from fat." I yelped slightly as he slapped my ass and grabbed slightly, making me glower at him.

"No, you're right, it's not," he chuckled, making me punch his shoulder.

"Jerk," I grumbled.

"Bitch," he replied cheerfully before miming a kiss, "Nice ass though. Hey Sammy, you want breakfast?"

"No thanks," He laughed at us as I wandered over, grabbing the bag of Cheese-its and the bottle of Mountain Dew from Dean's arms before I slunk into the car. "How'd you pay for this stuff anyway? You three still running credit card scams?"

"Hunting isn't exactly a pro-ball career," Dean shrugged, "Besides, we just fill out the applications it's their fault for sending us the cards."

"Yeah and what names did you write on the applications this time?" Sam asked us curiously as Dean slid into the driver's seat.

"Bert Aframian, his son Hector and daughter-in-law Miranda," I replied simply as I opened my cheese-its, "Got three cards out of the deal."

"Sounds about right," Sam chuckled slightly and went back to flipping through the cassettes, "I swear man, you gotta update your cassette tape collection."

"Why?" Dean asked with a pout.

"Well for one, they're cassette tapes," Sam replied, making me smirk, "And two, Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Metallica? It's the greatest hits of mullet rock."

"House rules Sammy," Dean snatched a cassette from him and put it in the system.

"Driver picks the music and shotgun shuts his cakehole," I said along with him, making him glower over his shoulder.

"And if you keep it up backseat won't even get a lift," Dean growled at me making me sit forward and lean over the seat.

"Your ass wouldn't last five minutes without me, pretty boy," I smirked at him, "And you know it." He pouted slightly as Sam chuckled.

"Wait, you think I'm pretty?" he grinned at me making me shove his head forwards before sitting back again.

"And by the way guys, Sammy was a chubby twelve-year-old," Sam told us, making me turn my gaze to him, "It's Sam, okay?"

"I can't hear you," Dean smirked, "The music's too loud." I laughed lightly as he turned the music up before peeling out of the gas station, making me roll my eyes before I leant forward and looped my arms around Sam's neck as I leant my chin on his shoulder.

"Twelve year old Sammy wasn't chubby," I told him making him turn his head slightly, I grinned at him cheekily, "He was short, but never chubby."

"Bitch," he laughed slightly making me grin before dropping back into my seat again.

"Don't worry Sasquatch, your height more than makes up for it now," I laughed at him, making him toss me a glare over his shoulder.

My gaze scanned over the articles and clippings that made up the case file for the missing persons as we got closer to Jericho, I could half hear Sammy on the phone talking to someone about John, trying to see if he'd turned up anywhere, but I was too caught up in what I was reading to pay full attention.

"All right," Sam's voice caught my attention, "There's no one matching dad's description at the hospital or the morgue, so that's something, I guess." I nodded absently as I flicked to an article about a woman who'd committed suicide or something, but Dean had stopped the car, making me glance up curiously.

My gaze landed on a blockade up ahead by a bridge... which seemed to be some sort of crime scene, "IDs," Dean told me, making me drop the file and root under the seat for a box of Ids, pulling three US Marshall ones out before sliding out of the car and handing the guys one each as we headed over.

"You fellas had another one just like this last month, didn't ya?" Dean asked as we reached a couple of cops, I moved past them to walk around the car as he talked to them.

"Hey," one of them snapped at me as I crouched, "Who the hell are you?" I raised my ID before putting it back in my pocket.

"Federal Marshalls," Dean answered for us all as I turned away from the cop and went back to checking for anything that would suggest a struggle, or a ghost, or a demon.

"You three are a little young for Marshal's aren't you?" one of the other cops asked as I stood up and strolled back to them, Sam moving to inspect the car instead.

"That is awfully kind of you," I smiled up at the man, "But you did have another just like this one... correct?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "About a mile up the road, there have been others before that."

"And this victim," Sam asked as he joined us, "You knew him?"

"In a town like this, everybody knows everybody," The cop replied, making me nod.

"Any connections between the victims, besides they're all men?" Dean asked as he took his turn checking out the car.

"No," the cop shook his head, "Not as far as we can tell."

"So... you got a theory or what?" I asked bluntly, making Sam nudge me slightly, I glanced up at him before looking back at the cop.

"Honestly?" he laughed lightly, "We don't know. Serial murder? Kidnapping ring?"

"Well that is exactly the kind of crack police work that I'd expect out of you guys," Dean told them seriously as he rejoined us, only to wince, making me glance down and smirk as I noticed Sam had stomped on his foot.

"Thank you for your time," Sam nodded to the cops before glancing at the others, "Gentlemen?" A grin spread across my lips as I turned and started out, Sam and Dean behind me hissing at each other. "OW!" I heard Sam snap, "What was that for?"

"Why did you have to step on my foot?" Dean growled back.

"Why did you have to talk to police like that?" Sam snapped back making me roll my eyes and turn to them.

"Ladies, please," I interrupted, "Sammy, those cops don't know what's going on, we're on our own on this." Dean grinned, "Dean, you're a jerk, stop trying to get our asses arrested." With that I turned and walked again, smiling as I locked gazes with a Sheriff and two Federal Agents.

"Can I help you kids?" he asked curiously.

"No sir," I smiled innocently, "We were just leaving." With that I walked past him.

"Agent Mulder, Agent Scully," I heard Dean greet making me cringe at the fact that he'd called FBI agents that.

"So where to?" Sam asked as they slid into the car, I was already sat in the back so I reached forward and flicked Dean's ear making him hiss and glare at me.

"You freaking deserved that," I told him sternly, "Now, you two are gonna go talk to the girlfriend while I go to a bar and see if anyone knew him."

"Yeah right," Dean scoffed at me making me roll my eyes at him, "You don't get the awesome job of bar hunting."

"It's my turn," I told him simply, "And if you let me within three feet of a grieving teenage girl who thinks she was in love, I may do something irrational." He sent me a look that translated into him agreeing with me making me grin lightly and sit back. "Bar please."

As soon as I walked into the slightly grimy bar, my gaze landed on a group of guys who'd be around the missing kid, Troy's, age making me nod to myself before I sauntered past them , my head held high and my hips shaking a little more than necessary. "Dude," One of them hissed as a thump sounded, making me smirk to myself and lean on the bar, arching my back slightly to give them a great view of my amazing ass.

"What can I get you?" the girl behind the bar asked stonily.

"Jack on the rocks would be great," I smiled at her simply, she rolled her eyes before walking away to do it, making me roll my eyes back and stand up straight, turning so I was leant back on the back, running a hand through my hair as I did.

"Is this seat taken?" a voice asked, making me glance sideways at one of the guys, indicating an empty space next to me.

"Wow, looks like it's been stolen anyway," I couldn't resist, saying, making him give me a confused look. "Different pick up line would have been better, but I'll swing it as a complement." He grinned sheepishly at that making me offer him a nicer smile instead of my smirk, turning back to the bar as the girl came back.

"Put that on my tab, yeah?" the guy told her as I went to my pocket for money, making me arch an eyebrow at him.

"Well that's really kind of you," I smiled at him brightly this time.

"Can't have a beautiful girl like you paying for her own drinks," he told me smoothly making me grin at him. "Kevin." He offered me his hand.

"Isabella," I told him, "Call me Izzy." He grinned and nodded as I shook his hand.

"I've never seen you before Izzy, so you must be new," he commented, making me chuckle slightly, glancing sideways to where his friends were watching intently.

"Visiting, actually," I told him simply, making my smile drop and my eyes turn darker, "I came to help look for my cousin, Troy."

"You're Troy's cousin?" the guy choked slightly as I sipped my drink, nodding slightly. "He uh," he cleared his throat, "he never mentioned he had a... uh... cousin."

"Yeah well, that's Troy for ya," I laughed dryly, "I'm not really around much... I'm actually up in Modesto."

"College?" the guy asked curiously, I grinned and nodded, fully aware of the glitter in his eyes making me practically proving my theory of him being in High School right.

"Actually," I interrupted as his opened his mouth to say something else, "You know Troy, right?" He nodded, "You mind if I ask a few questions? Might help me know him a little better than I think I do."

"Yeah sure," he nodded making me grin before I picked my drink up and walked away, he stayed where he was making me roll my eyes and turn to him.

"You coming or not hot shot?" I asked him smoothly, making him grin and throw his friends a look of victory before he grabbed his beer and followed me away from them to a booth.

"We were all at a party," he was told me a little later, "He left early. Apparently he was on the phone with his girl Amy. Said he'd call her back but he didn't."

"What's Troy like with her?" I asked him curiously, as I leant closer to him. Kevin tensed slightly before relaxing and draping his arm around my shoulders, making me hold back a smirk. "Is he a good boyfriend?"

"He uh," Kevin hesitated, making me glance up at him, he obviously knew something.

"Look, Kevin," I sighed innocently, "I get it. You know him better than I ever will because you're a guy and he tells you things right? I'm not gonna be mad at him, I just want to know everything that might help find him."

Kevin sighed as I placed a hand on his thigh, "Let's just say Troy wasn't exactly... faithful," he told me hesitantly, making me nod and keep my reactions in. "It wouldn't surprise me if he'd picked a girl up and forgot to call Amy back."

"Right," I nodded, "See, not mad. That may help." He cleared his throat and stood up.

"Another drink?" he offered, I grinned and nodded.

"Yeah I'd like that," I nodded, brushing my hair out of my face as he walked over to the bar, where one of his friends swooped on him and started muttering quickly. Both looked in my direction as I watched, making me smirk at them and bite my lip.

A few minutes later he was back, and my gaze landed on a tattoo on his forearm as he put the drinks on the table, "This..." I started as he sat down, making me scoot closer and take his arm, "I really, really like this."

"You like tattoos?" he asked in surprise making me bite my lip and nod with a pointed look, stroking my finger over it. "I uh... I only got it to piss my parents off, scare them a little with the devil worship stuff." I chuckled at that, still stroking the pentagram tattoo before I pretended to just get a thought.

"There haven't been any... strange disappearances lately, have there?" I asked him curiously, he froze, making me glance up at him. "It's just... the way Troy disappeared, something isn't right. So... if you know of anything?"

"Uh it's..." he hesitated, "Just you know, with all these guys going missing... people talk."

"And they say?" I asked curiously.

"There's this... local legend," he offered, "A girl got murdered out on Centennial decades ago. People say she's still out there... hitchhiking. Whoever picks her up – well they're gone forever." My eyes glittered slightly at that making me pick up my drink and sip it to hide my grin.

"Izzy!" a familiar voice greeted enthusiastically, making me put my drink down and drop back against Kevin as Dean grinned and walked towards me. "There you are honey."

"Here I am," I replied smugly as I slipped on the prop engagement ring we used... a lot, "What do you want asshole?"

"Aww, c'mon baby," he whined slightly as my gaze flickered to Sam who was watching from by the bar. "I said I'm sorry."

"You're..." Kevin started as he looked between us, his gaze landing on my hand for the first time, "...engaged, shit." He moved to get up.

"Oh, no," I shook my head, "Don't worry about him, see he thinks it's okay for him to sleep around so I figured, hey why not try it out myself?"

"You might want to leave," Dean told him angrily. With that Kevin was out of the booth and back with his friends, all of whom were laughing at him as Dean slumped into his seat. "Get anything?"

"A bit yeah," I nodded, "You?" He grinned and stood back up, offering me his hand. I accepted it and let him lead me out of the bar, neither of us sparing a glance at the teenage boys who were still laughing at Kevin as Sam joined us.

"Something tells me you've done that before," Sam commented as I took the ring off and put it back into my pocket.

"A few times, yeah," Dean nodded, "It's our go to thing if one of us is being hit on by someone we don't like." I nodded in agreement as I slipped into the car. "What'd you get?"

"Female hitchhiker out on centennial," I replied, "Oh and Troy is apparently a very naughty boy."

"We heard he was a great boyfriend," Sam countered as he turned in his seat, Dean starting to drive us to a library.

"Yeah well the girlfriend didn't know he was cheating on her with anything in a skirt," I replied, "that's why you gotta talk to the best friend too."

I stood flirting with the geeky yet cute library assistant guy as Sam and Dean worked on a computer trying to get something, only apparently they weren't getting very far, making me roll my eyes. "Excuse me," I sighed at the guy before walking over to them.

"I got it," Dean snapped at Sam, smacking his hand away, only for Sam to push his hair, wheeling Dean away. "You're such a control freak."

"Ladies, please," I sighed before dropping down on to Sam's lap since he was sat in front of the computer. He tensed slightly at my action but I ignored him and pushed my hair from my face as I kept my gaze on the screen. "What've you tried?"

"Well you'd already know if you weren't trying to get into the Librarian's pants," Dean accused, making me toss him a look, "That's my job."

"Go right ahead," I laughed, "I didn't think he'd be your type." Dean glared slightly at that making me chuckle before I shifted on Sam's lap, only for his hands to dart up to my waist and hold me still, I threw him a confused look over my shoulder. He just grimaced back making me arch an amused eyebrow before turning to the screen.

"So if Female Murder Centennial Highway isn't working," I started as I read the search box."

"We tried hitchhiker too," Sam offered after clearing his throat, making me nod.

"Angry spirits are born out of violent deaths, not just murders," I told them, "Meaning car crashes, accidents... suicides." Dean darted over to my side as I shifted and started typing.

Female Suicide – Centennial Highway

One result popped up making me smirk, "Here we go," I shifted again, making Sam grip at my waist again, which I just ignored. "1981, Constance Welch, 24 years old... she jumped off Sylvania Bridge and drowned in the river."

"Does it say why?" Sam asked tensely as Dean chuckled slightly.

"Uh huh," I nodded as I scanned the article which was starting to look very familiar, "An hour before they found her she called 911... her two kids were in the bathtub, she left them for a minute and when she came back they weren't breathing. Both dead."

"Hmm," Dean muttered as I frowned at the article, Sam sitting forward slightly, his chest pressing against my back as he read over my shoulder.

"Listen," he told Dean, "Our baby's were gone and Constance just couldn't bear it – said husband, Joseph Welch." I started putting two and two together at his words, before I stood up and started pacing, not missing the slight sigh of relief Sam gave at me getting up.

"Izzy, think out loud," Dean told me, making me shake my head at him and run a hand through my hair.

"I'm running on a theory," I told them, "Not a hundred percent yet." Dean sighed before nodding and turning back to the computer as Sam scrolled down the article.

"Does that bridge look familiar to you two?" Dean asked making me turn, my gaze locked on the image of the bridge we'd been on that Troy had disappeared from.

"So this is where Constance took a swan dive?" Dean asked as we walked down the bridge, me flipping through the case file again as I wandered behind them.

"So you think dad would have been here?" Sam asked curiously.

"Well he's chasing the same story and we're chasing him," Dean replied as I paused in my walking, my gaze flittering through the article on Constance Welch, which I knew I'd already seen once.

"Okay so what?" Sam asked as I snapped the file closed.

"Now we keep digging until we find him," I replied as I joined them, "Might take a while."

"Guys, I told you, I've gotta get back by..." Sam started.

"Monday," Dean nodded, "Right, the interview." I sighed slightly at that, moving to lean on a railing as I opened the file again.

"Yeah," Sam muttered.

"I forgot," Dean admitted, "You're really serious about this aren't you? You think you're just gonna become some lawyer? Marry your girl?"

"Maybe," Sam replied simply, making me wince inwardly, "Why not?"

"Why not?" I laughed bitterly without looking up at them, "Does she even know the truth about you? Does she know about all the things you've done?"

"No," Sam replied through gritted teeth, "And she's never going to find out."

"Well that's healthy," I told him sarcastically, only for him to snatch the file out of my hands, making me glare up at him.

"What is your problem?" he snapped at me.

"My problem?" I asked irritably, "My problem is you!" he gave me a confused look, "You need to fucking accept who you are. You can pretend all you want, play house, bake apple pie! One day, sooner or later, you're going to have to face up to who you really are."

"And who's that?" Sam growled at me.

"One of us," I replied simply before snatching the file and walking away from him, ignoring the concerned look Dean threw in my direction.

"I am not like you!" Sam shouted after me, "This is not going to be my life!" I shook my head and turned around to glare at him.

"You have a responsibility Samuel!" I shouted at him.

"To what? Dad and his crusade?" he bellowed back, "If it weren't for pictures, I wouldn't even know what my mom looks like... and I seriously doubt you'd know what yours looks like either." The file hit the floor, "And unlike you, we don't even know what killed our mom... and if we do find it, she's gone, she's not coming back!" I glared, tears stinging my eyes as Dean grabbed Sam and pinned him against the railing.

"Don't talk to her like that," he growled, "Don't talk about mom like that." Sam glared down at him before his head suddenly snapped up to something over my shoulder.

"Dean, Izzy," he muttered, making me turn my head, my gaze locking on a woman in a white night dress stood on the railing of the bridge beside me.

As I watched, she turned so she was facing us, her back to the water before she leant back and fell. "No!" I shouted, darting forward, slamming into the railing as I looked down... no splash, no movement...

"Where'd she go?" Dean asked from next to me.

"I don't know," I muttered in shock, jumping slightly as something wet hit my hand, making me glance at it before I reached up to my cheek... I'd been crying.

"Iz," Dean started as he saw me wiping my cheeks.

"I'm fine," I muttered before freezing at the familiar sound of the Impala's engine, making me turn my head to see the headlights on and the car rumbling.

"What..." Dean started.

"Who's driving your car?" Sam asked curiously, Dean just pulled the keys out of his pocket making me groan slightly... backing away slightly as the car slowly started to drive towards us, picking up speed.

"We gotta go," I muttered before we darted down the bridge, trying to outrun the car, which was just getting closer.

"Come on, let's go!" Sam shouted as a hand locked around my wrist, "Go!" Turning my head I saw the car getting closer before we swapped a look and the three of us ran for the railing, vaulting over it... the car barely missing us.

"Aah!" I yelped as I started to fall, only the grip around my wrist tightened and I was left suspended over open air... the sound of a splash making me look down at the water.

"Izzy," Sam breathed, his voice strained, making me look up to see him holding me, "C'mon, a little help would be great." I nodded and gulped as he started to haul me up, letting me grab the railing and hold myself up as I looked back at the water.

"Dean," I muttered in horror.

"DEAN!" Sam shouted down to the water.

"What?" Dean's voice shouted back up, making me let out a breath of relief, my gaze following movement as he crawled out of the water.

"Oh thank God," I muttered as Sam shouted down to ask if he was okay.

"I'm super!" Dean shouted back sarcastically as I climbed over the railing, Sam not far behind as I walked over to the car, pausing to pick up the case file as I did.

"Izzy," Sam started, making me glance up at him before I looked away and climbed into the back of the car... maybe he did just save my life, but I was not letting him get away with what'd said that easily.

I didn't say a word as Dean got to us and checked the car, I didn't even say anything as we drove to the nearest cheap motel so we could get cleaned up and some sleep... not a word was uttered as Dean left me with Sam so he could go get a room...

"Izzy," Sam attempted as we walked towards Dean, our bags on our shoulders as I carried Dean's too. I didn't even look at him Dean just gave me a look of concern before clearing his throat.

"Dad's been here," he told us, "Guy at the desk said he bought out a room for the month." I nodded before taking the key from him and heading to the door, unlocking it and stepping inside, dropping my bag near the bed as I did, my gaze moving over half eaten food, cats-eye shells and salt on the doors and windows before locking on a wall of pictures and articles.

"Whoa," Sam muttered as he walked in, I ignored him again and moved to the wall, my gaze sliding over the articles of all the missing persons.

"I don't think he's been here for a couple days, at least," Dean commented simply.

"Salt, cats-eye shells," Sam observed, "He was worried, trying to keep something from coming in." I pulled one of the articles off the wall as everything finally clicked into place. "What do you have there?"

"Centennial Highway victims," I muttered, more to myself then them. "Different men, different jobs, ages ethnicities... there's always a connection..." I moved towards more images, before picking up the article on Constance again, "Oh my God."

"What?" Dean asked curiously.

"Constance," I replied as I turned to them, "She's a Woman in White." I watched as comprehension dawned on their faces.

"Oh you sly dogs," Dean laughed making me smirk. "Okay, so if we're dealing with a Woman in White, dad would have found the corpse and destroyed it." I nodded in agreement, no doubt at all that John had already figured it out.

"She might have another weakness," Sam pointed out.

"John would have wanted to make sure," I shook my head, "He'd have dug her up." I read through the article again.

"Does it say where she's buried?" Dean asked curiously.

"No," I shook my head, "But if I was John... I'd ask her husband."

"If he's still alive," Sam threw in, making me roll my eyes.

"Alright," Dean nodded, "You two find an address. I'm gonna get cleaned up." I nodded before moving to my bag, digging through it to grab my laptop.

"Hey Dean," Sam started, "What I said earlier, about mom and dad... I'm sorry." I glanced up to see Dean raise his hand.

"No chick flick moments," he told Sam simply, making me smirk slightly.

"Alright, jerk," Sam replied smoothly.

"Bitch," Dean countered before heading into the bathroom, making me roll my eyes before moving to the table and starting my laptop up.

"Izzy..." Sam started again, making me glance up at him uncaringly, "Please... please don't do this."

"Don't do what?" I asked apathetically.

"This," he sighed as he walked over, taking a seat at the table next to me as I watched my computer load. "Don't block me out."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I replied simply as I inwardly flinched at the background image on my computer. It was the four of us from just before Sam had left for College... his arms around my waist from behind, his chin propped on my shoulder as he kissed my cheek, Dean and John stood either side of us swapping a look of distaste and amusement.

"I shouldn't have said what I did about your mom," Sam sighed quietly as I brushed my hair from my face and attached the router to get the internet up, clicking on the icon to block the picture.

"No, you shouldn't," I replied simply, clicking into the search bar.

"I'm sorry," he tried, making me glance at him before shaking my head and typing into the search bar for local addresses. "Please Izzy..."

"Forget it," I told him smoothly.

"Does this mean I'm forgiven?" he asked hopefully.

"I said forget it," I told him angrily, turning my head so I was looking at him, "Not that I forgive you." He flinched slightly, "You're not..." I trailed off and shook my head again, looking back at the screen.

"I'm not what?" he asked.

"You're not the Sammy I remember," I told him smoothly, "I get it. It's been two years you finally got out of a life you didn't want to be in to start with but the Sammy I remember..." I glanced at him as I felt tears stinging my eyes, "The Sammy that actually cared about me... he'd never have said what you did on the bridge. He knew how much it hurts whenever my mom was brought up... whenever someone let slip about my dad... the Sammy I love..." I laughed dryly, "Apparently he's not around anymore."

"Love...?" he hesitated, making me roll my eyes and turn to the door of the bathroom as Dean stepped out with a towel around his waist.

"You two getting along now?" he asked with a smirk.

"Get dressed Assface," I told him simply before turning back to the computer, quite glad he'd interrupted the conversation since Sam had gotten up and pulled his phone out. I went back to my search, finally finding where Constance's husband lived and scribbling it down on a piece of paper as Dean walked out of the bathroom, fully dressed this time.

"Hey I'm starving," he told us as he emerged, "I'm gonna grab something to eat at that diner down the street. You want anything?"

"Ooh, get me a burger," I told him quickly, making him grin and nod.

"No thanks," Sam told him.

"Aframian's buying," Dean told us as he walked out of the door, I chuckled and snapped my laptop closed, unplugging it and putting it in my bag as my phone buzzed in my pocket.

"You forget your keys?" I laughed as I answered it.

"Five-0 take off," Dean replied, making me shoot up and move to the window.

"What about you?" I asked as I looked out to see cops on their way over.

"They kind of spotted me," Dean replied, "Go find dad." With that he hung up making me sigh and put my phone back in my pocket, turning to Sam and nodding for him to follow me.

"What is it?" he asked curiously.

"Cops," I replied as I grabbed my bag and Deans, Sam grabbed his before we slunk out of the door while Dean had the cops distracted. I pulled him a few doors down and dropped the bags as the cops approached. "Kiss me."

"What?" Sam hissed at me, "I have a..."

"It's not cheating, it's hiding," I snapped at him before pulling on his collar and locking my lips on to his as the cops got closer. I backed up against the door of the room we were near, making it look like we were fumbling to get in as Sam started kissing me back, pressing himself against me, pressing me against the door.

"Kids," one of the cops laughed as they passed, making me open my eyes and pull away slightly as Sam ducked his face into my neck to make it look like he was kissing me still. We waiting until they'd gone into our room before we pulled away from each other grabbed the bags and took off.

"I can't believe..." Sam started in a groan as we drove down the street since Dean had left the keys for the Impala behind the right front wheel like always.

"Sammy, forget it," I told him for what felt like the hundredth time, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles were turning white.

"I just cheated on Jess," he snapped at me, making me throw him a disbelieving look.

"It was a kiss," I snapped back, "A kiss that needed to happen so that we wouldn't get caught by the cops. She'll understand... it's not cheating."

"It felt like cheating," he snapped at me, making me glare at him. "I can't kiss my ex-girlfriend and act like it wasn't cheating."

"I'm not your ex-girlfriend," I told him smoothly, making him glare slightly, "From what I remember you never asked me out. We were sleeping with each other."

"And you wouldn't call that you being my girlfriend?" he asked sarcastically, making me glance at him and shake my head. "So what would you call it?"

"I don't know Sam," I sighed at him, "But if we were together, we didn't break up." I glanced at him again, "Which makes it me you've been cheating on." He paled slightly at that making me shake my head again before I pulled up outside the house we were looking for.

I climbed out of the car without sparing Sam a glance and headed to the front door, knocking on it as Sam jogged over to join me. "Hi," I smiled in greeting to the guy who answered, "Are you Joseph Welch?"

"Yeah," he nodded in agreement making me smile widely.

"Hi," Sam greeted, "You wouldn't happen to have seen this man, would you?" Sam offered him a picture, making me glance at it in surprise. It was the four of us, only from a long time ago. Sam and I must have been around fourteen in it.

"Yeah," he nodded, "He was older though, but I've seen him. He came by three or four days ago. Said he was a reporter."

"Yeah," I nodded as I indicated him to walk with us, "We're working on a story together."

"Well I don't know what the hell kind of story you're working on," Joseph sighed, "The questions he asked me."

"About your late wife Constance?" Sam asked him.

"He asked me where she was buried," the man replied.

"And where was that again?" I asked him innocently.

"What, I got to go through these twice?" he snapped at me.

"It's just fact checking," I told him politely, "If you don't mind, that is."

"In the plot behind my old place over on Breckenridge," he replied with a sigh, making me nod as Sam pretended to take notes.

"Why did you move?" he asked curiously.

"I'm not gonna live in the house where my children died," he told us simply making me nod, part of me wanting to be sympathetic, but the other knowing full well he was the reason she'd killed the kids and herself.

"Mr Welch," I started, making him turn to me, "Did you ever marry again?"

"No way," he shook his head, "Constance, she was the love of my life. Prettiest woman I ever knew."

"So... you had a happy marriage?" I urged.

He hesitated for a second, "Definitely," he replied after a second.

"Well," I smiled brightly, "That should do it. Thanks for your time." I turned and started for the car, assuming Sam was following, until...

"Mr Welch, have you ever heard of a Woman in White?" Sam asked him curiously, making me turn and give him a 'what are you doing?' look.

"A what?" the man asked in confusion.

"A Woman in White," he replied, "Sometimes a Weeping Woman."

"It's a ghost story," I told him, "Time to go Sam."

"It's more of a phenomenon really," Sam countered making me roll my eyes, "They've been sighted for hundreds of years in dozens of places, like in Hawaii and Mexico, lately in Arizona and Indiana. All these are different women, you understand. But all share the same story."

"Boy I don't care much for nonsense," Joseph told him, his gaze angry.

"See, when these women were alive their husbands were unfaithful to them," I interrupted as Sam finally joined my side, "These women, basically suffering from temporary insanity, murdered their children... then once they realised what they did, they took their own lives. Now their spirits are cursed. Walking back roads, waterways... if they find an unfaithful man, they kill him. And that man is never seen again."

"You think..." Joseph choked, "You think that has something to do with Constance?"

"You tell me?" I replied smoothly.

"You bitch," he growled making me smirk.

"I think we touched a nerve," I commented lightly.

"I mean maybe – maybe I made some mistakes," he cried slightly, "But no matter what I did, Constance would never have killed her own children. Now you get the hell out of here, and you don't come back." I nodded again before turning and walking away, definitely a Woman in White.

"I thought we were going to the old house?" Sam asked in confusion as I pulled up a few streets away from the police station.

"You are," I nodded, "I'm gonna get Dean out." Sam gave me a curious look before nodding and sliding over as I got out of the car, tucking my gun into the back of my shorts and my knife into my boot. "Don't get yourself killed."

"That sounded like concern," he smirked up at me making me roll my eyes before pushing the door shut.

"Think again Sasquatch," I told him simply before heading over to a phone booth.

Making myself sound horrified and scared on the phone to the cops I came up with some crap about hearing gunshots and screaming on Whiteford Road... far enough from the police station for Dean to find a way out. After I hung up I headed to the police station, hanging around far enough away so that I didn't look suspicious.

"Fake 911 call?" Dean's voice asked from behind me as I leant against a street light, his arms sliding around my waist, "I don't know Sweets that's pretty illegal." I grinned slightly.

"You're welcome," I told him simply as I leant against his chest before pulling out of his hold and turning around to face him, handing him my phone. "Sam's gone to burn the corpse, we're gonna go meet him, c'mon."

Dean nodded before calling Sam on my phone as we started walking, "Listen we gotta talk," Dean told Sam smoothly as he answered. "Sammy would you shut up for a second?" I smirked as Dean sighed, "Well that's what I'm trying to tell you. He's gone. Dad left Jericho." I snapped my head around to give him a look of shock, he rolled his eye and handed over a very familiar leather backed book. "I've got his journal."

"Dean," I started in shock, John never went anywhere without it.

"Yeah, well he did this time," Dean told Sam as I flipped through it. "Same old ex-marine crap when he wants to let us know where he's going." My gaze landed on a post it note with co-ordinates. "I'm not sure yet."

"I'll figure it out," I told Dean, making him nod in agreement before his eyes widened.

"Sam? Sam!" he shouted into the phone, making me freeze mid step. "Sam answer me!" With that I took off down the street, not even caring if Dean was behind me or not.

I skid around the corner at the bottom of the grounds of Breckenridge and bolted towards where Dean's car was parked outside, Sam's screams of pain echoing through the dark. I stopped at the driver's side window to see five bloody holes in Sam's chest as he screamed, the woman flickering in and out of sight... pulling out my gun I let off three shots right at her head.

Apparently it distracted her enough because Sam started the car, "I'm taking you home," muttered before driving straight through the wall of the house.

"SAM!" I screamed after him, bolting to the house, Dean at my side now, both with our guns out and ready. "Sammy..."

"Are you okay?" Dean asked him as Sam unbuckled himself and tried to climb out of the window.

"I think so," he muttered as I took his weight and helped him, letting him lean against me once he was on his feet.

"You're a fucking idiot," I growled as I glared up at him.

"I got that, thanks," he replied weakly before we all snapped around at the sound of smashing. Constance had thrown a picture on the ground... and now there was a dresser flying right for us. I did the first thing that I could think of and dove out of the way, leaving Sam and Dean to get pinned to the side of the car by the dresser, scrambling to my feet as the ghost turned her attention to me.

She flickered out of sight, making me look around in confusion before she appeared right in front of me her hand at my throat as she lifted me off my feet, cutting off my air. "Izzy!" Sam and Dean shouted over to me as I tried to grip at her ghost hand.

"St-stop," I choked out, as I tried to get my breath, or footing, or anything. The lights around us started flickering on and off as I felt the world around me getting darker, my lungs screaming for air. The last thing I remember is the sound of leaking water, and two small voices.

"You've come home to us mommy."

"Is she..." I heard faintly as I felt myself coming back to consciousness.

"She'll be fine," Dean's voice replied as I registered I was lying across the back seat of the Impala, "She'll be pissed when she wakes up and you're gone without a goodbye... again. But she'll fine."

"Dean," Sam sighed as I kept my eyes closed, "I can't just..."

"I know Sam," Dean sighed back.

"You'll tell her I said bye?" Sam asked.

"Yeah sure," Dean replied as I heard a door open and the car shifted as Sam climbed out. "Sammy..."

"Yeah?" Sam asked curiously.

"You gotta tell me man," Dean started, "What happened with you two?"

"Nothing," Sam replied.

"Yeah that's what she keeps saying," Dean muttered, "One minute you two are sickeningly in love... and the next you're gone. You broke her heart."

"No, I didn't," Sam replied, "Trust me." I heard one of them sigh loudly, "You'll call me if you find him?"

"Yeah," Dean muttered.

"Maybe I can meet up with you later, huh?" Sam offered.

"Sounds good," Dean nodded, "Sam? You know we made a hell of a team back there?"

"Yeah," Sam replied with a slight laugh before the door snapped shut. The car started up before I felt us driving away, making me snap my eyes open as I frowned up at the ceiling.

"I know you're awake," Dean commented after a second, making me sigh and sit up, pushing my hair from my face, "You okay?"

"I'm always okay," I replied as I climbed over the seat.

"Watch the leather!" Dean snapped making me roll my eyes at him before slumping down.

"Nice try," I commented, making him glance sideways at me, "Like I said Dean, nothing happened." He shook his head, obviously not believing me before I reached forward and turned the radio on... only to hear static.

"What...?" Dean started as I felt myself burn up, my head whipping around towards Sam's building.

"STOP THE CAR!" I shouted making him slam on the breaks... I was out of the car and running to the building before he could ask me what was wrong.

"NO!" Sam's voice screamed in immense pain and heartache seconds before I burst through his door, freezing at the sight of him on his bed staring in horror up at Jess on the ceiling... who'd just burst into flames.

"Sam!" I shouted at him, he stayed frozen, screaming for his girlfriend as I dashed across the room and pulled him off the bed to make him leave.

"No!" he shouted, "Jess!"

Dean finally got to us and started to help me pull his screaming brother from the room, seconds before the whole room lit up in flames...

"How did you?" Dean started as I stood near the front of the car, watching Sam as he loaded a rifle near the trunk. The firemen and police were everywhere as they tried to get the fire out.

"Not now Dean," I told him simply making him frown, "Your brother needs you." Dean sighed and nodded before heading over to Sam as I watched them.

Sam muttered something to him before snapping the trunk shut, glancing up at me with a determined look in his eyes... guess who's back on the revenge train?