Author's Note: I've been trying to nail down when this would actually take place, and my thought is after Season 11, after (spoiler alert) Amara is gone and reunited with Chuck. It's AU, obviously, as if (again, spoiler alert) Mary didn't come back and the British Men of Letters haven't been in contact with the Winchesters. I hope that makes sense! And thanks for reading :D -Kathleen

Chapter 2 - Family

Her sister's eyes were huge, pleading. But it was too late. Riley looked down as her sister gasped, the blade pushing out through her stomach.

Riley screamed, pulling against the chains that bound her. "Sarah!" She could feel them biting into her skin but she didn't care.

The knife twisted and pulled back out, blood pouring down Sarah's shirt. Riley could hear it splatter on the concrete beneath them. "Sarah, it's okay. Just stay with me. You're going to be okay." Sarah's eyelids started to close and her eyes went blank. "No. No! Saraaaah!"

Riley woke with a gasp, and before she knew what was happening her knife was at the throat of the man leaning over her.

"Whoa, hey..." He trailed off, holding up his hands and leaning back. "I was just trying to wake you up. You were having a bad dream."

Riley tried to catch her breath and took in her surroundings. She was in the back seat of a car outside the bar she'd been in last night. Outside the opposite window was her car. Right.

She backed down, lowering the knife. "Sorry," she mumbled, embarrassed. She tucked the knife back against her hip and sat up, smoothing her hair. After a moment, she looked back up. The man was still staring at her.

"I'm sorry," she said, a little louder. She moved toward the door. "I'll get going."

"No, hey, uh... Let me take you to breakfast. There's a great diner down the street." She looked at him, curious. She had just pulled a knife on him... and he wanted to take her out to eat?

"Is that your normal response when a woman pulls a knife on you?" she challenged.

He grinned, laugh lines forming at the corners of his eyes. She found it strangely endearing. "You're not the only hunter who's jumpy when they first wake up."

She was taken aback. "Hunter? I'm not-"

"It's Riley, right?" She nodded, slowly, cautiously. "It's okay. My brother and I, we're hunters, too."

She suddenly remembered last night, when he introduced himself. She sat up, curious. "You said your name was Dean?" He nodded. "Are you... Dean Winchester?"

He tilted his head, grinning again, cocky. "The one and only." He raised his eyebrows. "So, we hittin' that diner, or what?"

Riley looked at him, considering, then nodded. "Let me go grab my keys from that asshole."

"So, where you heading?" Dean sat across from her in the booth. He shoved a huge bite of hash browns in his mouth.

Riley watched him, amused and a little queasy. "I don't know how you're eating so much already. My stomach's still pissed."

"Hangover cure," he said between bites. "Grease and starch is a cure-all. And you're avoiding the question." He raised his eyebrows, waiting.

Riley took a sip of her coffee. "South Dakota." She stared down into her mug. "I found out about a week ago that my uncle died." She paused. "I mean, not that he died a week ago. It's been awhile, apparently. I just... I just wanted to go and pay my respects."

Dean put down his fork. "Oh. Riley, I'm sorry. That's rough, losing family."

Riley looked up, hesitant. "I, uh, I think you knew him. At least, if you're the Dean he talked about." She took a breath. "His name was Bobby. Bobby Singer."

Dean stared at her, taking it all in. After a moment, he spoke. "You knew Bobby?" His voice was filled with emotion. "Bobby was your uncle?"

Riley nodded. "His younger sister, Elaine, was my mother."

Dean stared at her, still shocked. "I didn't know he had a sister."

"They weren't close. My mother was ten years younger than him, only a few years old when Bobby... When their dad died." Riley looked down again. They both sat in silence, remembering Bobby.

"Anything else I can get you two?"

Riley looked up, startled. She hadn't heard the waitress approach them. Pay attention, Riley. She smiled up at the waitress, reading her name tag. "Could I trouble you for another cup of coffee, Debbie?"

"Of course!" Debbie answered, reaching for the cup. Riley handed it to her, Debbie's hand brushing against Riley.

"Thank you, Debbie," Riley answered with an appreciative smile. Debbie turned, walking back to the front of the diner, and Riley watched her leave.

She turned back to Dean, who was staring with his mouth open. "You did not just do that."

Riley raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"

"You're... you... you were hitting on that waitress!" He looked equal parts confused and impressed.

Riley smirked. "Uh, yeah. Welcome to the twenty-first century."

Dean seemed lost for words. "No, I mean- I had a friend, she was- I just-"

"Oh my god." Riley tilted her head. "You were not just about to tell me you had a friend who was gay. You're actually killing me right now."

Dean blinked. "Well, not literally killing you."

Riley nodded. "Literally killing me. I can't. I can't even with you right now."

Dean looked at her for a moment, then back down to his plate, shrugging and taking a huge bite of sausage.

Riley started laughing.

"What?" he asked, confused.

She shook her head, trying to control her laughter. "Nothing..."

The waitress came back with Riley's coffee and slid the receipt onto the table, smiling at Riley.

"Thanks, darlin'," Riley said, taking a sip of the drink. The waitress walked away and Riley smirked at Dean. "See?" She lifted the receipt, showing Dean the bottom of it where the waitress had scrawled her phone number.

He nodded, clearly impressed. "Well done." He looked up at the clock behind Riley. It was almost noon. "So, you hittin' the road today?" Dean looked back at the waitress. "Or you gonna stick around, and, uh..." He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

Riley sighed, looking away. "I should probably get on the road before it gets dark. It's a good six hours to Sioux Falls." She took a sip of the coffee, finally starting to feel human again. "I don't know how many more nights I can sleep in the backseat of my car."

Dean considered that. "You know, I'd be doing Bobby a disservice if I didn't ask... Do you want a place to sleep tonight? We've got plenty of spare rooms, food, a hot shower..." Riley just looked at him, her expression blank. "You don't have to. If you just want to get going, I mean, I get that..." He trailed off, unsure.

She finally spoke, her voice quiet. "You don't have to do that."

"What are you talking about?" Dean shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth. "That settles it, then," he said, his words jumbled around the food. "You're coming home with me."