AUTHORS NOTE: If you're just dropping in on this chapter I'd like you to know that I edited the first two chapters. Go take a look if you'd like. It might be necessary. This chapter isn't going to be very long, sorry. But the next one is going to be longer. And to all my new viewers, reviews are love!

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Sam stared at Jess in horror as Dean left their room. She dutifully ignored him as she got ready for bed. He never took his horror struck expression off her. Not even when she made him change for bed. "Jess." He whispered, strangled as she turned out the lights and they tucked themselves in.

"Lucifer's rising." Jess whispered to the devil's trap above them. Sam swallowed thickly. "We're going with Dean because I want to know what the hell is going on."

"I'm going to have nightmares for the rest of my life." Sam whispered into her shoulder, curling around her. She stroked his hair absently. "Dean giggled when he was talking to that man." Sam gasped in horror. Jess laughed loudly and smacked the back of his head.

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The car ride to Blackwater ridge was weird. Dean wasn't used to having a third passenger. He especially wasn't used to having a girl tagging along. Female hunters were terrifying hurricanes, best to be avoided. So Dean did his best to not get in Jess' way.

Jess and Sam bored him for the first couple hours with their analysis of Sam's interview. They went over every question, how Sam answered it. They even studied his voice inflections and facial expressions. Dean rolled his eyes and pulled into the gas station.

He let Sam fill up the impala while he went inside to piss. Cas popped up while he was washing his hands and he didn't even flinch.

"Well, at least you waited until I was done pissing." Dean sighed, turning to look at Cas.

"The wendigo took another human last night." Cas declared without preamble. Dean sighed and ran a hand through his hair while Cas stared at him.

"We'll be there in a few hours. Hopefully it will be in time."

"Hmm." Cas hummed, absently reaching out and placing his hand on the handprint on Dean's shoulder. Dean quirked an eyebrow at him. "Stay safe, please." His voice sounded strained. "I can't protect you from this monster when the others are there. I know that you will sacrifice yourself to save them."

"Right." Dean swallowed thickly. "Can't have the righteous man getting killed by something as mundane as a wendigo." Cas scowled at him.

"You're the only friend I have, Winchester. If you die, I'll kill you." Dean smirked.

"So, you gonna ride with us, or meet us there?"

"I…" Cas cleared his throat. "I have a new, temporary assignment. "I'm afraid I won't be able to help for a day or two."

"Hey that's ok man." Dean punched his arm, playfully. "That's not even that long a time for you."

"Yes, but it could be your last days. I do not like it." He growled. Dean's eyes crinkled.

"I lasted 26 years without you Cas. I'll last two days. Promise." Cas hummed and as Dean went to open the bathroom door he spoke.

"Sam knows that you're faking it." Dean turned to him in shock, fear flickering across his face. "Jess heard that you had died. She told him. He thinks that you faked your death. He doesn't know that you didn't. But he does know that the Dean he used to know is changed. He can see you trying to be the old you."

"What wrong with being pre-hell Dean?" Dean swallowed thickly.

"He was naive, and a bit of an ass." Cas smirked. "Lie to your brother all you want about the apocalypse, but don't lie about who you are." And with a fluttering of wings, he was gone and Dean was standing in the bathroom doorway like an idiot.