Five months later the guys were tracking a rogue vampire. It was rare, but some vampires didn't like belonging to a nest. They stayed on the move, traveling solo. This one seemed to be causing more damage than a typical rogue vamp. Rogues usually kept a low profile since they had no back up. Not this one. Bodies were popping up pretty consistently, drained of blood, in random cities along the interstate. It made tracking a little easier, but they couldn't figure out where he would go next.
They finally caught a break when they were passing through a town in Nebraska. They stumbled upon the crime scene and knew immediately it was the work of the vamp they were after. They began searching the area for any place a vamp would call home, even temporarily, and discovered an out of the way cabin.
Dean parked far enough away that the vampire wouldn't hear his car. They made their way to the cabin, machetes in hand. Dean motioned for Sam to stay low as they approached the door, but they both stood straight when the door opened and the mysterious brunette walked out. The large blade in her right hand was covered in blood.
"Looks like I beat you again."
She walked past them, almost as if they weren't even there. Sam called after her.
"Wait a sec."
She turned around with an annoyed look and waited for Sam to continue.
"You took that vamp out alone?"
"Yeah.I
"It killed a 250 pound fitness trainer."
"So?"
Sam realized he wasn't getting anywhere, so he tried again.
"Okay, let's start over. I'm..."
"Look," she interrupted, "I don't mean to be rude, but I don't really care who you are. I work alone, and I don't trust random hunters."
She turned and walked away, heading in the opposite direction the boys would be going to get back to the car. Dean had watched the entire exchange in silence. When Sam turned back to him with a look that said "what the hell," Dean only had one thing to say.
"I don't think I like that chick."
They decided to hang it up at Bobby's for a few days. Dean thought Bobby might know who the girl was. He and Sam described her as best as they could, but, without a name, Bobby just wasn't sure. He knew a few brunette hunters, but none of them hunted solo, as far as he could remember.
"So you've run into her twice now?"
"Twice on a job. The first time I saw her was in a bar... though it turned out she was tracking that djinn."
"Three times then?"
"Yeah."
"Am I the only one whose alarms are goin' off?"
"Bobby," Dean said, "you know we all feel the same way about coincidences, but I honestly think that's all it is. She's always there before us, and she leaves and treats us like we're interfering."
"Dean's right, Bobby. It doesn't feel like she's after us or anything."
"This girl's definitely a hunter. Plays it real close to the vest. She barely says two words, unless she's telling us off."
Bobby grinned at Dean. "Sounds like she's gettin' under your skin, boy."
"She's a Grade A bitch, if you ask me, and I hope we never see her again."
The next few cases Sam and Dean worked, they kept an eye out for the girl. They expected her at every turn. They never saw her. Several months passed and they eventually forgot about her.
They were back at Bobby's after handling a low level possession in Colorado. Dean had just gotten up when his phone rang. He scrambled to pulled it out of his jeans and checked the caller ID. He didn't recognize the number.
"Hello?"
"Dean Winchester?" asked a female voice.
"Who wants to know?"
"An old friend of John's."
Dean hesitated for just a moment. "Who is this?"
"My name is Kathleen. John told me several years ago that you could help me if I ever needed it... well, I need help."
"Where are you?"
"I'm in Chicago now, but I can meet you somewhere."
"Let's meet up half way. My brother and I will head to you, you head to us. South Dakota. I have your number on my ID so I'll call you once we've made some miles."
"No, I'm calling from a public phone. I'll call you."
The call was disconnected. Dean stared at his phone and shook his head. He shook Sam to wake him up and told him about the phone call. After talking to Bobby, they agreed they should check it out, but they would be prepared for a trap. After all, John had been dead for a few years. Why would someone be calling now, mentioning his name?
Later that night Kathleen called Dean again with her location. She wanted to meet in public. There was a pub where she was. She gave Dean the address along with a time to meet.
"I'll get there before you and get a table, then call you to tell you which one so you'll know who I am."
She hung up before Dean could respond. "Well, she sounds pleasant."
"Sounds like she's running," Sam said.
"Yeah, maybe. But from what?"
Another call from Kathleen came fifteen minutes before their scheduled meeting time.
"When you come in head left. I'm at the table all the way in the back."
"Got it."
They made it to the pub a few minutes early, and went straight to the table. Dean rolled his eyes when he saw the brunette at the table.
"You've got to be kidding me."
Kathleen looked up in surprise. "You're Dean Winchester? John's son?"
"The one and only."
Sam and Dean sat at her table. Dean noticed she had a beer again, but he hadn't seen her drink from it since they walked in.
"First things first," Dean said. "How do you know our dad?"
"He saved my life."
"When?"
"About fifteen years ago."
"You must have been a teenager," Sam said.
"I was."
They waited for her to elaborate. When she didn't, Dean started asking more questions.
"What do you need our help with?"
"Not here. I have a motel room a few miles from here. Follow me there and I'll fill you in."
Sam and Dean exchanged a look. Sam nodded and Dean agreed. They followed her out and climbed in the Impala. The pulled out of the parking lot, following her car.