Us Against The World

by January Lily

Sisfic! Campbell "Elle" Winchester, the youngest Winchester sibling, has never led a normal life—unless one considers ganking ghosts "normal." She teams up with her brothers to take on the world, but there are always bumps in the road. Every family has a story, welcome to the Winchesters. CURRENT SEASON: 2 ON HIATUS

3. S1: Wendigo

Us Against the World

By January Lily

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The tightrope that I'm walking just sways and ties

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Chapter 3: Wendigo

Elle sat crossed-legged in the back of the Impala as they sped down some highway headed toward Blackwater Ridge, Colorado. The only sound inside the car was Dean's music. To say that this past week, the week following Jess's death had been awkward for the three Winchesters would have been an understatement. Sam flat-out refused to have almost anything to do with Elle—it seemed like he was taking out his anger on his sister. If she walked in on a conversation that he was having with Dean, things would suddenly get quiet. Or if they were forced to be in the same room, Sam made it blatantly obvious that he wanted nothing to do with her by facing the opposite direction. Sam was being childish and stubborn; but that didn't make Elle a saint about things either. If Sam was going to play that game-she could play it better. Of course, the behaviors of the two youngest Winchesters did nothing to keep Dean sane. He wasn't exactly sure what to do. He needed Elle to stop acting like a little bitch to Sam—but how long was Sam going to go through this grieving process? The past week of trying to track down any clues about Jess's death had been absolutely useless and Dean knew that staying in that town—where Jess died—where Sam and Elle had their huge blowout fight—wasn't going to help them. Being the oldest—and wisest—Dean made a family decision for the three of them to hit the road and head for Colorado. This was what he needed to do to keep his siblings from killing each other, not to mention to keep his sanity. Who would've thought that ganking whatever the hell was out there would be a way to stay sane? But with the situation being what it was—it was the only way he figured things could get somewhat back to normal or as close to normal as possible.

Sam suddenly bolted upright and looked around the car. He must have been asleep. Not wanting to catch her brother's eye, she reached down toward the floor for her backpack. As Dean began to interrogate Sam about how he was doing, Elle pulled out her sketchbook and pencil to distract herself. She knew that attempting to draw in the car was practically useless, but she needed something to busy herself with. She flipped to her most recent sketch—a drawing of Constance aka the Woman in White. Some might consider it a terrible habit—the fact that after they ganked whatever it was they were after—she would sketch a picture of it. She wasn't a great artist by any means, but it was a way she found a sort of release. Besides, it was one thing she at least knew she was better at than her brothers. One of the few things in life where she came out on top. As Sam and Dean continued to talk, Elle shaded Constance's hair a bit darker with her pencil. Constance was probably the one thing she had hunted that she had a personal sense of hatred for. Normally, it wasn't good in this business to get emotionally attached to anything—whether in a good or bad sense—it could prove to be one's downfall. With a sigh Elle set her sketchbook down as she heard Dad being brought into the conversation. Sam was convinced that they needed to see Dad immediately but Dean argued that they needed to follow Dad's coordinates he had given them. Elle was hesitant to agree with either of them because it would somehow come back to bite her in the ass. Either way both of her brothers agreed that they needed to find Dad—something she fully supported. Deep down, Elle hoped that they would find their father and that maybe he would let her hunt with him. That maybe he would let her prove herself to him and then he would finally express the sentiments she had waited years for.

"Why is he sending us to the middle of nowhere?" Sam asked.

"It's Dad—you think you would have learned by now to stop asking stupid questions," Elle commented sarcastically.

"Elle," Dean hissed. "Shut up."

"You think you would have learned by now that Dad doesn't give a shit," Sam said as he turned around toward his sister, ignoring Dean.

"Didn't you just say that we need to find him? Hypocrite much?" Elle retorted.

"Just because I said that we need to find him doesn't mean I'm not realistic about the situation—unlike you."

"If I'm being unrealistic than you're just as bad maybe even worse—thinking you could live an apple-pie life and somehow not drag an innocent person into all of this."

Elle instantly regretted those words as soon as they came out of her mouth. That was low—and she knew it. She actually liked Jess, but now she was using her as a gimmick to shove in her brother's face. Sam's jaw was set and Dean didn't look any happier about what she said, but he was keeping his mouth shut because he knew that the two of them had to hash things out some time or another. Besides, wasn't that part of his purpose for the whole trip? But no one spoke for a moment—trying to process the harsh words that had just been spoken. It was Sam who faced the front again that finally broke the silence as they drove past the National Forest sign that read "Welcome to LOST CREEK COLORADO National Forest."

"Well that plan's gone to hell, hasn't it?"

"Sam—I didn't mean—"

"You said them, Elle. So somewhere deep inside—you meant them."

"Don't go all Freudian slip on me. People say things they don't mean."

Sam didn't respond.

"Sam," Elle pleaded. "I'm sorry. God, how many more times do I have to say it? I'm sorry."

"That's just it Elle—you haven't said it. At least not a time that I believed it."

"Because you won't let me."

"Dr. Phil's going to have to be continued later because we're here," Dean interrupted as the Impala came to a stop. "Do we need the leave your shit in the car while in public speech for the two of you?"

"You're one to talk," Elle scoffed.

"Hey man, I'll behave if she does," Sam offered.

"Real mature," Elle hissed.

"Sam! Elle! I don't want to do this but—" Dean started, but before Dean could finish his sentence, both Sam and Elle were already out of the car and had slammed their car doors on him. "Who would've thought that I'd actually be the mature one."

Elle made a face to Dean through the window to hurry up as she and Sam walked a distance a ways from each other toward the Ranger station. Dean muttered under his breath. Did he really have to do everything? He just hoped this cold war between Sam and Elle would be over with soon. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take—because he didn't want to take sides—it would only make things worse. He knew that the longer they stretched this out—the more likely he was to have to choose a side. Dean quickly fixed his hair using the rearview mirror before he stepped out of the car and caught up to Elle who was a few paces behind Sam.

"Don't say anything, Dean," Elle said rather shortly.

"Who said I was gonna say something?" Dean asked gruffly.

"Because I know you—not to mention that I already know what you're gonna say anyway. 'Quit being a little bitch, Elle.' Well, I'm not doing it on purpose, Dean. So just save your breath."

"Actually, I was just gonna ask if you thought this place had any beer."

Elle rolled her eyes at Dean. She knew he was lying about the beer thing—well, he was probably using it as a cover up; but she knew him better than that. After all, she had spent her whole damn life with him—she knew most of his tells by this point. Surprisingly, Sam actually held the door open for her; but it was probably because there was a little old lady in front of her and he didn't want to look like a dick in front of the elderly woman. Elle muttered her thanks to Sam, but was careful to avoid any eye contact with him as she stepped into the rustic decorated Ranger Station. She looked around and moved slowly behind the old lady to the 3D map of the national forest. Sam must have had the same idea as her because they both reached the display at the same time. The siblings looked to each other awkwardly before Dean slapped both of their shoulders before he gave them a warning.

"Play nice."

That was all Dean said before he walked around and mimicked the faces of the stuffed mounts on the wall. Elle shook her head at Dean before she looked to Sam as she pushed a strand of hair that had fallen from her ponytail behind her ear. She looked at him innocently, biting her bottom lip. She should say something, right?

"I—um—I suppose it couldn't hurt to have two sets of eyes on this," Elle commented lightly.

"I was—uh—thinking the same thing," Sam said.

"Good, Dean probably can't read the damn thing."

"I heard that!" Dean called.

That managed a choked back chuckle from Sam before he focused his eyes on her seriously.

"But this doesn't change anything, Elle. We're going to work together for Dean—and to find Dad—but you and me—"

"Yeah, I get it."

Elle defensively folded her arms across her chest as she looked away from Sam and back to the map.

"So it's looking like Blackwater Ridge is pretty remote," Sam said.

Sam pointed to the ridge appropriately labeled Blackwater Ridge. Elle nodded her head as she looked to where he pointed. She traced her fingers along the ridge and slid down what was a steep fall before looking to Sam once more.

"It's cut off by these canyons right here—" Elle started.

"And according to the legend, it's also rough terrain and dense forest in the area too. Not to mention the abandoned silver and gold mines all over the place," Sam added.

"Think we can get rich quick?" Elle joked.

"They're abandoned for a reason," Sam said flatly.

"I was just kidding," Elle sighed. "Trying to lighten the mood."

"Don't—just work. That's all."

"If that's what you want."

"It is."

"Dude, check out the size of this freaking bear." Dean said in amazement.

Surprisingly, Sam and Elle had the same reaction. They both shook their heads before looking to each to each other—just like old times—but when they made eye contact with the other they quickly looked a different direction before walking over to the picture Dean was examining. Sam and Elle each stood at one of Dean's sides. Seemingly, ignoring the tension between his siblings, Dean pointed to the picture where a man stood behind a much larger bear.

"You know what? That almost looks like a picture of the two of you," Dean teased.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Elle squealed. Was her brother really comparing her actions to that of a killer bear?

"You know because Elle's so short and Sammy's so tall."

"Thanks for clarifying," Elle groaned.

"Hilarious man. Real hilarious," Sam said sarcastically.

"You two need to quit acting like sour-pusses, otherwise we're never going to solve the damn case," Dean said.

"Dean, you do realize that there are a dozen or more of those grizzlies in the area. The place is no nature hike," Sam said.

"I'm sure I can always offer you both as a peace offering to the ferocious beast," Dean said with a shrug. "Then the bears can deal with you both."

"You three aren't planning on going out near Blackwater Ridge by chance?"

Sam, Elle, and Dean all turned around to see a man in his forest ranger attire standing behind them. His name tag read Wilkinson and he didn't appear to have the friendliest of expressions on his face. None of the Winchesters answered his question, so he repeated himself. The three Winchesters looked between each other before Sam was the one to bite the bullet.

"Oh, no, sir, we're environmental study majors from UC Boulder, just working on a paper," Sam said.

"A freaking insanely long paper," Elle added. "How our professor expects the three of us to work together is beyond me."

"Recycle, man!" Dean grinned raising a fist.

"See, what I mean?" Elle asked the ranger. "He's just a pretty face. No brains."

"Bull," the ranger said in a rather scathing tone.

"See, even he can tell that I'm more than just a pretty face. I'm the total package," Dean added leaning toward Elle as he reached for where his boobs should be, if he was a girl, with his hands. "They're real by the way."

"That's not what I meant," the ranger said stiffly. "You three are friends with that Haley girl, aren't you?"

"Yes. Yes we are, Ranger—" Dean said removing his hands from his 'breasts', as he checked out the nametag." Wilkinson."

"Yeah, you caught us—Haley and I go like way back," Elle added.

"Well I will tell you exactly what we told her. Her brother filled out a backcountry permit saying he wouldn't be back from Blackwater until the twenty-fourth, so it's not exactly a missing persons, now is it?" Wilkinson stated.

"Haley's quite a pistol, isn't she?" Dean grinned.

"That's putting it mildly," Ranger Wilkinson said shaking his head.

Well—what could help us is if you'd get us a copy of that backcountry permit," Dean commented. "You know—to show her."

The ranger looked to Dean with his eyebrows raised before he shook his head. Dean raised his eyebrows back at the man, fumbling to come up with a response to his rejection. Elle rolled her eyes and took a step closer to the ranger, tucking her hair behind her ear and looking up at the man innocently.

"Do you have a sister, Ranger Wilkinson?" Elle asked.

"Yeah—got two of 'em."

"See the thing about sisters is that we worry about our brothers. We know they're supposed to be the strong ones and whatnot, but sometimes we just get a feeling in our gut that something's wrong. Haley has that feeling, she just needs something to tell her the contrary of what her gut is telling her," Elle rambled.

"Like I said before, miss. The permit says the twenty-fourth; so you tell that poor girl to quit her worrying. I'm sure her brother's just fine."

"I'm sure you're right sir—but Haley's the kind of girl that needs some sort of proof—something solid to go off of—maybe if we could show her a copy of that backcountry permit. This way she could see with her own eyes her brother's return date—maybe it will help a little keep her from pestering you for at least a few days."

Ranger Wilkinson looked at Elle, who was using her sad-looking blue eyes to her advantage, before he looked to Sam and Dean. He looked like he was about to say, no when he looked back to Elle—then something changed. Her look must have gotten to him because he muttered something about just like his little sister before he moved to find the binder with the backcountry permits. Dean refused to meet Elle's gaze while she looked at him rather smugly. Wilkinson handed over the copy over to Elle before she flashed him a grin and thanked him. The three Winchesters then headed for the Impala. Once outside, Elle held the copy of the permit behind her head and Dean snatched it from her hands.

"You're welcome," Elle said.

"I was doing just fine without you," Dean responded.

"Yeah, your boobs really get you places," Elle retorted sarcastically.

"Don't judge my boobs," Dean commented.

"Guys, as much as I hate to interrupt this conversation—what the hell are we supposed to do with that? It doesn't tell us crap," Sam interrupted.

"It tells us, Tommy here's, address," Dean answered.

"By Tommy, he means Haley," Elle quipped.

"No, you don't say. It's like you know me or something."

"What are you cruising for a hookup or something?" Sam questioned.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dean questioned.

"The coordinates point to Blackwater Ridge, so what are we waiting for? Let's go find Dad. I mean, why even talk to this girl?"

"I don't know—maybe we should know what we're walking into before we actually walk into it?"

"What? Who are you and what have you done with my brother?"

"Maybe you're rubbing off on me."

"Sam's right you liar, you just want to see if Haley's hot," Elle interrupted. "Because then maybe you can score some sympathy sex."

"I'm offended you would think that highly of me," Dean shot back. "Besides, Sammy—since when are you all shoot first ask questions later anyway?"

"Since now," Sam responded.

"Really?" Dean grunted. "If this has to do with you two—"

Both Sam and Elle hopped into the Impala and slammed their doors shut before Dean could finish what he was saying. Dean made a gesture as if he were asking why, up toward the sky. Not that he believed in all that; but still. He just needed things to get back to normal with Sam and Elle—for the Winchester Cold War to cease and desist. One second they were civilly working together against him and the next they were playing tug-of-war with him. Dean exhaled slowly before sliding into the tension in the Impala. The car ride to Haley Collins' house was completely silent—awkwardly silent. The silence was slowly beginning to drive Elle insane—but her stubbornness refused to let her cave into Sam. Hadn't she done what she could and it still wasn't enough for him? She knew that even if it was for Dean's sanity she should just get over it—but she just couldn't. She probably got that from her father. Instead, Elle ran her fingers through her hair in frustration and sighed when Dean stopped the car outside a house she assumed belonged to this Haley Collins person. Elle leaned forward and placed her outstretched hand near Sam.

"ID me," Elle said.

Without looking at her Sam leaned forward and dug one of Elle's ID badges out of the glove compartment. He placed it in her hand before continuing to dig for badges for himself and Dean. Elle examined her badge momentarily and for a brief second she wondered what it would be like if the life she lived wasn't an entire lie. As much as she hated to admit it—she was torn between wanting a normal life and the approval of her father. Sadly, both of which she would probably never get. With a sigh, she put the badge into her jeans pocket before she looked between Sam and Dean, as she leaned forward against the front seat of the Impala. She rested her chin against the seat as Sam handed Dean a badge. Dean motioned for them to exit the car before the walked up the drive to the Collins' residence. Elle squeezed herself between Sam and Dean and stopped them before they went up the stairs by holding her hands out in front of them.

"Let me talk to her. I have experience at losing a brother," Elle stated.

"Is that supposed to be some kind of dig?" Sam scoffed.

"No," Elle groaned. "I'm just saying that I can empathize with her. She's more likely to talk to someone who can relate to her. That's all I meant by it; but if you have to read more into it—I can't stop you."

"Elle c'mon, can any woman resist this face?" Dean asked as he made a circle around his face with his fingers trying to diffuse the tension between his siblings.

"Your charms are useless on me and I'm a woman," Elle retorted.

"We've been over this before—you don't count."

"Guys, there's an easy way to solve who gets to talk to her," Sam sighed.

"Ladies first?" Elle questioned.

"Yeah right—the oldest gets to decide and I choose me," Dean scoffed.

"Try old school rock, paper, scissors," Sam said shaking his head.

Elle couldn't help but smirk to herself before she looked to Sam. He had suggested it on purpose because they both knew that Dean always picked scissors. It was almost too much to hope for that Sam was actually siding with her on this—then again, logically it made sense. It would take less time for Elle to get some facts out of the girl than it would for Dean to try and hook up with the girl. Predictably, Dean chose scissor and Elle picked rock. She crushed Dean's scissors with her fist before smirked up at Dean. Dean swore under his breath as Elle marched up to the house and rang the doorbell. Elle looked to Dean, who appeared quite peeved, as they waited for someone to answer the door. The front door swung open, revealing a dark haired woman behind the screen door.

"Can I help you?" the woman asked.

"You must be Haley Collins. I'm Elle. They're Dean and Sam. We're ah—" Elle began.

"Park rangers," Dean coughed.

"Really? I'm not completely incompetent."

Elle glared at Dean before she rolled her eyes at him and turned back to Haley.

"Ranger Wilkinson sent us over to ask you a few questions about Tommy."

Haley looked to the three of them hesitantly.

"Lemme see some ID," Haley said before she moved closer to the screen door.

The three Winchesters held their fake IDs up against the screen. Haley quickly glanced between the three ID badges, but examined Elle's a little more carefully. The girl glanced several times between Elle and her fake ID.

"You look a little young to be with the Park Service," Haley said to Elle.

"First job, fresh out of college ma'am. It would really mean a lot to me if you could help me out even a little. Between you and me, Wilkinson's a pain in my ass and I would really like to come back to him with something so I can lose having these two tailing my every move. I can hardly do my job with them constantly scrutinizing everything I do."

Haley looked to Sam and Dean before she nodded her head in understanding and invited them inside. Before Haley led them further inside the house, she looked outside and spotted the Impala. She asked Elle if it was hers; but when Elle said that the car belonged to Dean, Haley's impression of Dean seemed to change. Of course, Dean, gloated with a smirk on his face as Haley seemed to check him out. Sam and Elle couldn't help but look to each other with a slight look of disgust on their faces; but when they realized that they were falling back into their old routine of looking to each other when Dean was acting full of himself, they both quickly looked away sheepishly. Dean pushed past Sam and Elle, to be closer to Haley as she led them back to the kitchen where boy, not much younger than Elle, sat at the table with a laptop. Haley introduced the boy as her brother Ben. Ben's eyes flashed from the computer screen to Elle before he grinned her direction. Dean not missing what had just occurred turned his head to Sam and mouthed something which caused Sam to roll his eyes. Elle moved to sit in the chair beside Tommy, but Dean blocked her path and sat down in the chair himself before he pointed to the chair furthest away from Ben.

"Seriously?" Elle scoffed.

"Can't have you gettin' distracted on the job, now can we?" Dean responded before he turned to Ben. "How old are you"

"What does that have to do with finding Tommy?" Ben questioned.

"Just answer the question," Dean muttered.

"We—we just need to establish a base for truth with questioning so we start with questions we already know the answers to," Sam added.

"You guys really don't believe us do you?" Ben asked.

"Like my partner said, we need to—uh—whatever it was that he said," Dean responded.

"Establish a base for truthful answers," Elle sighed.

"Yeah, that— So if you want our help, you better answer our questions. All of our questions."

"Just do as they say, Ben. We need their help," Haley sighed.

"Nineteen. I'm nineteen—but I'm assuming you already know that," Ben responded.

"Nineteen. A little young to be flirting with my ranger, aren't you?"

"Is that an actual question? What kind of park ranger are you?"

"He's joking. This one has quite the sense of humor, doesn't he?" Elle said forcing a chuckle before she punched Dean hard in the arm. She hadn't been expecting him to flinch as much as he did.

"So—uh—if Tommy's not due back for a while according to his permit, how do you know something's wrong?" Sam asked, taking over the interview.

"Finally, a question that actually applies to our situation," Ben groaned which caused Haley to gently smack her younger brother in the back of the head.

"What Ben means to say is that Tommy checks in every day by cell. He emails pictures and these stupid little videos—he's a dork like that. A dork, but responsible-and now we haven't heard anything in over three days now," Haley responded.

"Maybe he can't get cell reception," Sam suggested.

"He's got a satellite phone, too."

"Could it be he's just having fun and forgot to check in?" Dean asked.

"Dean, Haley already said that he was the responsible type," Elle retorted.

"That doesn't matter, Elle," Sam started. "Sometimes a guy's just got to get away from everything for a while."

"Leave everything, including a sister and brother? Well, not being a guy, I suppose I wouldn't understand that."

"No, I guess you wouldn't."

There was an awkward silence that came over the group as Sam and Elle seemed to glare at each other. The comments spoken between them were more dealing with the Winchester family drama—than the Collins. Dean cleared his throat and asked for a glass of water to try and ease the tension in the room. Haley nodded her head and turned the tap on before sticking the glass under the running water. She handed the cup to Dean before she brought a couple plates of food over to the table. Haley sat back down and looked between Sam and Elle, both of whom were nibbling on the food she had brought, attempting to ignore the other.

"There's probably something that you should know to understand Tommy and his situation better. Our parents are gone. It's just my two brothers and me. We're all we have, so we keep pretty close tabs on each other."

"I understand that," Elle said sympathetically placing her hand on Haley's. "Believe me, I do; but as much as I hate to admit it, Sam does make a fair point. Sometimes, they just leave despite family being all they have. Boys do stupid things."

"Let me show you something and you decide for yourself about him. I think you'll see what I'm saying."

Haley made a motion toward Ben to pass the laptop over to her. Reluctantly, Ben pushed the computer in Haley's direction and she pulled up some pictures. Haley tilted the computer so that Elle could see better. Sam and Dean moved to stand behind the girls as Haley flipped through several pictures of Tommy. Haley pointed him out in a group shot with some other guys. Elle had to admit, the guy was cute—well, more than cute, but now really wasn't the most appropriate time to think such things. Besides, the guy could be dead for all they knew. Not to mention that it was better not to form an emotional attachment in their line of work. Too many people died—and it seemed easier to not grow overly attached. Haley clicked to a video that he had sent the last time he communicated. Tommy didn't seem to be showing any signs of distress. In fact, to the normal untrained eye, things seemed practically normal.

"We'll find him," Elle said squeezing Haley's hand. "Brothers always seem to find their way back. Sometimes, they just need a proverbial push to find the right direction."

Elle wasn't sure why she said that last part: whether out of hopefulness or spite. Either way, she couldn't bring herself to look at Sam because to be honest, she wasn't sure how he was processing it. Dean cleared his throat before he folded his arms across his chest.

"We'll be heading out to Blackwater Ridge first thing tomorrow," Dean said.

"Then maybe I'll you there," Haley responded. "I know it probably sounds crazy, but I can't just sit around here anymore doing nothing. So, I hired a guy to take me up there and help me find him. I'm going to head out in the morning and I'm gonna find Tommy myself."

"I think I have an idea how you feel."

"He's lucky to have a sister like you," Elle smiled.

"One who's willing to go after go after him no matter how dangerous," Sam said much to Elle's surprise. How exactly was she supposed to take that? Was he complimenting Haley or backhanding her or both?

"That's what family does, isn't it?" Haley responded reaching for Ben's shoulder.

"Yeah—or at least they should," Elle sighed.

"Hey—so um—would you mind forwarding these to me?" Sam asked uncomfortably changing the subject.

"Sure," Haley said with a nod of her head.

Haley emailed Sam the pictures and videos of Tommy. The Winchesters then left the Collins' place before heading out to one of the local bars for dinner and beer. They found an empty table and a pretty blonde waitress came over and couldn't seem to take her eyes off Dean. This annoyed Elle, so she interrupted the eye sex going on with her order. The waitress did not seem happy; but she took all three Winchesters' orders and then left to place it. While they waited for their order, Sam pulled Dad's journal out of his bag and placed it on the table. Elle reached for it and began flipping through it.

"So, Blackwater Ridge doesn't get a lot of traffic," Sam commented before he took the journal from Elle's hands. "Mostly local campers; but there were two hikers that went missing and were never found."

"Usually when you say they went missing, it's assumed that they weren't found," Elle retorted.

"Really, are you looking for an argument?" Sam groaned as he slammed Dad's journal to the table.

"I'm just saying—God, Sam, it's what I do. If you knew me anymore, you would know that."

"Guys," Dean muttered.

"You're such a god-damn hypocrite Elle," Sam growled. "You say that it's not possible for me to know you, so shouldn't it be the same for you about me?"

"No, because I know you, Sam. I've known you my entire life," Elle argued.

"Exactly my point! I've known you your entire life."

"Guys—c'mon," Dean hissed.

"But where your argument falls short is that you're still the same stubborn, egotistical asshole you always were. I on the other hand had to change and grow-up once you left," Elle said in finality as she stood to her feet. "If I didn't know any better—I'd say you were just like Dad and we both know he doesn't give a shit about me."

"Well, this isn't about you," Sam said also getting to his feet.

"Exactly my point," Elle said struggling to hold back the tears.

With tears threatening to fall down her cheeks, Elle turned her back on her brothers before walking to a different table on the other side of the bar. She needed some space from them—well, more Sam; but Dean wasn't exactly helping matters by not picking a side. She could hear Dean cussing a bit as she walked away. Once at the table, she pulled out her sketchbook and looked at the picture she had done of her mother. If only Mom hadn't died. Maybe then they could have had completely normal lives. She certainly wouldn't be in her current situation if Mom was still alive. With a sigh, Elle flipped to an empty page and began to sketch the face she couldn't get out of her head: Tommy Collins. There was just something about the guy that she couldn't quite peg that she empathized with.

"Hey, that actually kinda looks like Tommy."

Elle flipped her head quickly, cracking her neck in the process, to see Ben Collins standing beside her table. Without asking for her permission, he took a seat across from her. She didn't even need to look the other direction to know that Sam and Dean had noticed him. She could practically feel their gazes upon her—but when she looked their direction, they quickly looked away and at the laptop Sam had pulled out. Elle returned her attention to her sketchbook, switching to a different drawing. Well, one that Ben wouldn't recognize.

"Are you just going to ignore me?" Ben asked.

"That was the plan."

"Are you rangers always this grumpy?"

"When you have to work with those two," Elle said pointing to Sam and Dean. "Yes. Now what are you doing here, Ben?"

"Followed you guys. Wanted to see if you had any leads that you weren't sharing."

"That's not creepy at all."

"You honestly don't strike me as a park ranger."

"It's not like I wanted to be doing the job I am. If things were different, I certainly wouldn't be doing this; but my dad—"

"Not to make things awkward—but you should feel lucky that you even have your dad around."

Elle bit her tongue, holding back the retort she wanted to use because she understood what he was saying. Hell, she had probably even used the same line a couple times when people went on about their mothers. But in all honesty, she didn't have her father. She never really did—and that was something she wanted more than anything. She wanted him to see her the way he saw Dean—hell, even Sam: with some sort of speck of pride. But there was no point in arguing her point with Ben. She didn't know him. She wasn't going to get to know him. When this job was all said and done, she would continue on with her life: never looking back. It sucked not having any real relationships beyond those of her brothers—which currently were strained—making yearn for any sort of relationship. Elle sighed as she glanced toward Ben before she returned her focus to her sketchbook. In the corner of her eye, she saw Dean motioning her toward them. She was about to put her sketchbook in her back when Ben snatched it from her hands. She put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. She knew what he was trying to get at: taking her things so that she would have to come back. If that didn't scream desperate, she didn't know what did. Elle walked toward Dean and stopped at the boys' table. As she approached it, Sam abruptly stood up and walked toward the bar. Elle assumed he wanted to get away from her but was using paying the tab as an excuse. She then turned her attention back to Dean with her arms folded across her chest defensively..

"What do you want?" Elle snapped. "I moved away from you two for a reason."

"What's the kid doing here?" Dean asked lowly.

"Following us. Seems to this we're not sharing our leads with him or so he says."

"Smart kid. Too smart for his own good," Dean said before growing quiet for a moment. He then turned to Elle. "Keep him distracted."

"Excuse me?" Elle questioned.

"You know—keep doing that girlie thing you do and distract him while Sam and I go check up on a lead."

"Wait a minute, why do I have to distract him? You're the one whose always flaunting your—uhm—assets."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures. He's into you, that much is obvious. Just go with it. Besides, if I stayed you and Sam would probably kill each other before learning a damn thing."

"So you're pimping me out now?" Elle hissed.

"Sam and I are not being compensated for your work, so I don't see how it qualifies," Dean said with a smirk.

"I thought you were completely against him even talking to me earlier. Something about him being too young for me."

"You into him or something?"

"Good God, no. He's the annoying little brother I never wanted. I just want to understand what the hell you want from me."

"Then it shouldn't be a problem. Like I said, keep him distracted. We don't need him following us over to this Shaw guy's place and you're the only one he seems to be interested in."

"I hate being the distraction."

Elle begrudgingly made her way back to Ben and her sketchbook. He seemed pretty impressed by her work. Honestly, she didn't think it was much; but it felt good to be complimented nonetheless. Either he was just a nice guy or looking for a hook-up. Given what she knew about guys, from her brothers—she assumed the latter. His hand brushed against hers as he handed her back her sketchbook, causing her eyes to flash up toward him once more.

"I—uh—I think your partners want you," Ben said.

"Excuse me? I would never sleep with either of them or you for that matter. Disgusting," Elle snapped.

"Not what I meant. They're watching us again. And that was freaking harsh."

"Oh my God." Elle's hand immediately flew to her mouth. "Look, Ben, I'm sure you're a great guy; but I don't do that."

"Relationships or hooking up?"

"Both. I have brothers who will kill anyone that even looks at me wrong. Believe me; I've seen bad things happen to decent guys. Especially ones just looking to score. Consider it me looking out for you, an act of kindness."

"You really think that bad of me?"

"If you have another reason, I'm all ears."

"Since we seem to be in the speaking what's on your mind mood—Honestly, Haley's driving me crazy and you kinda remind me of Tommy. That's all."

"I am such an idiot. I thought you were hitting on me and sometimes things just come out of my mouth. Word vomit, basically. If I could think of a non-awkward way to apologize, I would—but-"

"They're still glaring."

"I'll be right back and I will attempt to atone for my awkwardness. I promise."

With her face growing redder and redder, Elle walked toward her partners who were standing by the door. She replayed the conversation she just had in her head. Talk about embarrassing. While Dean's tallies on his scorecard were too many to count these days, hers was zilch, nadda, zero; something she knew Dean worked very hard to keep that way, which seemed hypocritical. It wasn't that she was embarrassed by it, it more just awkward being the twenty-one year old virgin, especially when she got compared to her more—uh-experienced brothers. She fanned at her face as she stopped in front of her brothers. Sam once again seemed to be avoiding looking at her. Whatever. If he was going to act like an immature preschooler, then fine, she could do the same thing and ignore him too. She looked to Dean, continuing to fan her flaming face.

"What the hell do you want now? I'm sort of busy at the moment."

"Just wanted to tell you to meet us at the motel," Dean said.

"You couldn't have said that in a text like a normal person?"

"Well—I—uh—I-just"

"You got nothing. Typical. I'm going back to my distracting while you and Sam hurry the hell up so I can get some sleep."

Elle turned quickly on the heel of her red Converse sneaker before walking back over to Ben. As she sat back down, she watched Sam and Dean walk out the door when Ben turned to the picture she had started of Tommy. He acted as if the last awkward conversation they had hadn't actually played out, for which Elle was thankful for. One bad habit she had learned from her brothers was to always assume the worst as far as guys were concerned. For the most part her brothers were right—but she couldn't help but be slightly cynical of Ben. He had flat out told her that he wasn't looking to get in her pants; but there had to be something more to his Tommy reasoning.

"So, tell me something about Tommy. Something real."

"Tommy's kinda the one that holds our family together. Don't tell Haley that I told you that. She likes to think that she is; but Tommy's the glue of our family since my mom and dad. I don't know how Haley and I are even holding it together as well as we are without him."

"Seems like quite the guy."

"He is."

"It's getting late and you don't need Haley worrying about you too."

"You're probably right."

"And I'll even walk you home."

"Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? The guy walking the girl home?"

"Think of it as me making sure you don't go off and do anything stupid."

"You sound like Tommy."

Elle walked Ben back to his house before disappearing to the motel. Sam and Dean hadn't made it back from Shaw's yet, so she found that she had the room to herself. That meant she had first dibs on the beds, leaving Sam and Dean to rock-paper-scissors-it-out for who got the other full size bed and who got the twin-sized rollaway bed. She knew that Sam was going to beat Dean; but part of her hoped that Sam got stuck with the small bed after how irritating he had been tonight. Well—part of her thought this. Another part of her just wanted everything with Sam to go back to the way things were. The way they were before he left for Stanford. Back to the days when their inside jokes drove Dean crazy, when they took the Impala out for joy rides while Dean was sleeping, when everything wasn't so damn complicated and emotional. Since she was all by herself, she let the tears fall freely. It wasn't often she got a chance to cry. She could practically hear John Winchester's berating words in her head about crying; but she needed this release. As her sobs began to subsided, her ears perked up to hear Sam and Dean talking as they walked down the hallway to the room. Elle quickly slipped under the covers and turned off the bedside lamp only seconds before she heard them trying to get in. She closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep as they walked in and flipped the light on. She made sure to slow her breathing down so that her brothers would buy her sleeping act.

"Looks like she's sleeping," Sam said.

"More looks like she cried herself to sleep," Dean responded.

"What makes you say that?"

"Oh I don't know—maybe the fact that there's a pile of used tissues on the table and her face is all blotchy."

"Girls get emotional over nothing—you know that."

"I told myself I was going to stay out of this; but I can't keep working with you two if you're gonna act like this."

"So you're taking her side?"

"I'm not taking a goddamn side, Sam. I just want this shit over. We're never going to find Dad if you two keep this up."

"I'm the one she verbally attacked, Dean. I'm the one who watched my girlfriend die."

"This is exactly what I'm talking about. You both are so damn concerned about playing the victim. Shit happens. You both know that and have lived it for almost your entire lives. Get over yourselves and grow up. We have a job to do. That goes for you too, Elle. I know you're awake. You made a face when I said it was blotchy."

Dean threw himself onto the bigger bed as Elle opened her eyes. She looked to Sam who looked at her with a hard expression on his face. Neither said a word to each other. Sam growled something low to himself before he unfolded the roll-away bed and spread out on it. He muttered for someone to turn off the light. Elle waited for Dean to make a move toward the switch, but he didn't. It wasn't until Dean's snores began to fill the room that Sam made his request again. Elle slowly sat up and sighed before she reached for the switch, plunging the room into complete darkness. She lay back down and thought about Dean's words. He was right. She knew that. She was pretty sure that Sam knew it too. Her thoughts turned to the Collins family and what Ben had said about Tommy being the glue. She thought of how they relied on each other and loved each other—no matter what. That's what family was supposed to be like, right? While she certainly wasn't ready to surrender to Sam—the question became was she willing to do it for Dean. She sighed once more. Silence hovered over the room. She wanted to bring up something light-hearted to Sam and get the first step over, but she was scared that it would completely fall flat. Instead, she turned her pillow to the cold side before slowly falling into a deep sleep.

The next day, Elle, Sam, and Dean pulled up at the park in the Impala to find Haley, Ben, and their guide just about to head out on the hike. Elle pulled her hair into a ponytail as they stepped out of the car. She wore a holey pair of shorts, a sweatshirt, and her trademark Converse. Sam pulled a duffel bag out of the back as Elle leaned against the car and Dean flirted with Haley. Part of Elle wondered if Haley and Dean were both flirting with each other to get what they wanted—and they knew that was exactly the same thing the other was doing. Either way, Dean's flirtations seemed to be working on Haley—it was the new guy that wasn't buying it.

"Who are these guys?" the man asked gruffly.

"Could ask the same about you," Elle responded with a flip of her ponytail.

"Roy, apparently this is all the park service could muster up for the search and rescue," Haley said to him. "Guys this is Roy. He's the guy I was talking about yesterday."

"You three are rangers?" Roy scoffed.

"That's right," Dean said with a nod.

"Looks like they'll take just about anybody these days."

"Just about. Although it looks like you didn't quite pass the test."

"Dean," Elle hissed elbowing him as Sam walked away toward the trail.

"We'll see just who's laughing in the end. I'll tell you now it's gonna be me. You're never gonna make it in what you're wearing."

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"You're hiking in biker boots and jeans?" Haley asked.

"Well, sweetheart, I don't do shorts," Dean quipped.

"He gets embarrassed by his cankles," Elle smirked. She swore she could have heard a laugh from Sam; but when she looked his direction he purposely turned his back to her.

"I don't have cankles," Dean hissed at Elle before turning toward Haley. "I don't."

"You guys think this is funny? It's dangerous country back there and you're arguing about whatever the hell you're talking about—Her brother might be hurt. Get your heads on straight," Roy argued.

"Believe me, I know how dangerous it can be out there. We just wanna help them find their brother that's all. Same as you."

Dean walked past Roy, purposely brushing the man's shoulder with his own. He walked toward Sam who was waiting at the start of the trail. Elle looked to Ben and Haley before she shrugged her shoulders and followed after her brothers. Family. It was always complicated. She found Sam and Dean waiting for her—and the rest of them. Elle was about to ask which one of her brothers wanted to lead the way when Roy pushed past and assumed his rightful place at the beginning of the group. He was followed closely behind by Dean and Haley, then Ben, Elle, and Sam brought up the rear. Dean and Roy seemed to be the only ones talking. Probably because Ben and Haley were too deep in thought about Tommy and well—Sam and Elle had nothing to say to each other—well, at least nothing nice. Roy and Dean were talking about hunting. Elle turned around and gave Sam a knowing look to which he responded with a nod of his head. Suddenly, Elle slammed into Ben who had stopped. The whole group was stopped because Roy took hold of Dean by his collar. Dean wasn't happy with the situation and he tried to fight away from Roy; but the old guy took a stick and poked it right where Dean had been about to step. The stick snapped in a bear trap. Elle's hands flew over her face as her eyes widened. Sam pushed her back with his hand, urging her to continue.

"He's fine," Sam muttered. "Foot still attached. Keep going."

She looked to Sam curiously. How had he known that her mind had immediately gone to the "what-if?" But his face had no emotion to be read on it. Next thing they knew, Haley had a hold of Dean's arm and him pushed up against a tree. Ben just continued to walk on past. Sam and Elle looked to each other before looking to Dean. With his head, Dean indicated for them to keep walking. The younger Winchesters looked to each other once more. Sam moved to keep going. He reached for Elle's arm, but she quickly withdrew her arm from his grasp with an icy glare.

"Elle-Belle, go on," Dean said.

"You call all your rangers like that?" Haley snapped.

"Nah—Elle's my little sister and she was just leaving with our brother Sam."

Dean glared at her until Elle rolled her eyes and walked away. She muttered under her breath as she saw Sam waiting for her. She tried her best to ignore him and keep on walking; but being short and with his long stride he easily caught up to her. But thankfully, he didn't say word. Although, she could tell that there was something on his mind that he wanted to say to her. They continued walking for what seemed like forever. Elle managed to pull some trail mix out of her bag and snack on it as they were walking—well, until Dean stole it from her. She chased him for a few feet until she tripped over a root and fell to the ground. She swore under her breath as she slowly stood wiping away the dirt and blood away from her knees. Elle sarcastically thanked Dean and he responded by throwing her an M&M. Boys. She wasn't sure how much farther they walked, but Roy came to a stop when they reached Blackwater Ridge. It really wasn't Elle had pictured in her head—much more beautiful actually; but given that there was suspicious activity going on around here, it couldn't be all that beautiful. Sam asked for the coordinates and Roy listed them from his GPS.

"Thirty-five and minus one-eleven."

"Isn't that—" Elle started.

"Sh! You hear that?" Dean asked.

The three Winchesters stood side by side and listened for a moment. There wasn't a single sound to be heard which was very odd for being in the middle of a forest. One would think that you would hear some sort of wildlife: a deer running, a rabbit hopping, birds chirping; but there was nothing. They looked to each other knowingly. There was definitely something off about this place. Roy mentioned that he was going to take a look around their current location. That definitely wasn't a good idea and the Winchesters knew it. Sam was the first one to try and stop him, but Roy waved his gun around and pushed between them. Ben and Haley caught up with them and Dean stated that they should all stick together. But that didn't last long when Roy found Tommy and his friends' campsite. The place was a mess. Tents were torn open and bloody. All the supplies were scattered across the ground. Roy commented that the place looked like it had seen a grizzly. Haley then began to scream Tommy's name and Elle's stomach dropped at the pain and heartbreak evident in the girl's voice.

Haley set down her backpack and began to run through the camp. Sam quickly took after her. He grabbed her firmly around her waist as she continued to scream her brother's name. Sam told her to be quiet, but she continued to shout for Tommy. Eventually he moved his hand to cover her mouth. He told her that he would remove his hand if she didn't scream to which she responded with a nod of her head. Slowly, Sam removed his hand and Haley demanded to know why she needed to be quiet. Sam explained that there might still be something out there—which was an understatement. There was something out there. Dean motioned for Sam and Elle to come a little closer. Both the siblings walked to their brother who was crouching near the ground. Dean pointed toward the campsite.

"The bodies were dragged from the campsite to right about—here—" Dean started.

"And then the tracks suddenly vanish," Elle commented. "Poof."

"Which is weird if you ask me."

"Like I said last night it's got to be something corporeal," Sam said. "Maybe—"

"Well I'll tell you what it ain't—it ain't no skinwalker or black dog."

"So then what the hell is it?" Elle asked.

"Whatever it is—it can't be good," Sam groaned.

"No shit, Sherlock," Elle said before she cringed. "I didn't mean that to come out as harsh as it did. I was just—"

"Whatever, Elle," Sam said shaking his head before standing up. "Looks like Haley found something."

Dean was the first one to rush over to Haley's side. Sam and Elle slowly made their way over where Dean was crouched beside Haley. She was clutching a bloody cell phone. Elle looked to Ben—who face was pale. She deduced that the phone must have belonged to Tommy. She watched as Dean tried to comfort Haley. It actually looked sincere, which was an odd sight to see on her brother. Beyond her and Sam, Elle had never seen Dean act so compassionately. Not that she didn't think her brother was capable of it—but she knew that he knew not to get too attached in their line of work. Out of nowhere a voice began to cry for help. The group scrambled behind Roy as they ran to aid the shouter. The voice called again for help; but they couldn't find anyone in dire need of help—hell, they couldn't find anyone beyond their own party. Sam urged the group to head back to the campsite. Elle's mind seemed to spin as she tried to put the clues together. What the hell could leave tracks but suddenly vanish, move insanely fast, mimic a human voice….They arrived back at the campsite to find all the supplies except for the duffel Dean had slung over his shoulder missing.

"Shit."

"That's right," Ben responded.

"No. No. This is not good."

"What are we supposed to eat?"

"That's the least of our worries at the moment."

Elle ran over to Dean and ripped the duffel bag from him. Dean seemed somewhat surprised, but he seemed to understand when he saw Elle pull Dad's journal out of the bag. Elle flipped through the pages and groaned when she saw it all standing right before her on the pages. The First Nations style drawing—mimicking a human voice. She swore aloud as she ran her fingers through the back of her ponytail. She definitely needed to consult her brothers on this one—but she was fairly certain what they had stumbled upon.

"Dean, Sam, I need to speak with you both—in private."

Sam, Dean, and Elle walked a little ways away from the group so that they could have a little more privacy. Elle was about to explain when Sam snatched Dad's journal from her hands. Sam flipped through the journal and Elle noticed when he stopped on the same page she did.

"Looks like we're thinking the same thing," Elle whispered.

"You came to this conclusion as well?" Sam asked looking up to his sister.

"It makes sense."

"I agree."

"Care to share with the class what the hell you two think we're up against?" Dean asked.

"Wendigo," Sam and Elle said simultaneously.

Sam held the book out for Dean to see it better and Elle pointed to the drawing of the figure and underlined a few key phrases. Dean seemed to scoff at the thought. But for the first time during the mess of emotions between Sam and Elle; they were one the same page, so to speak. The way they explained things to Dean made things seem just like old times—which sort of scared all three of them.

"Come on guys, wendigos are in the Minnesota woods, or northern Michigan. I've never heard of one this far west before."

"Since when has the crap we hunt actually followed their own god-damn rules?" Elle pointed out.

"She's right, Dean," Sam said. "Think about it—the claws—"

"The way it can mimic a human voice."

"It fits."

"Great. That's just freaking fantastic," Dean groaned as he took out his pistol. "Well this is useless."

"As is most of what we packed," Elle sighed. "But I'm sure we'll figure something out."

"It's not us I'm worried about," Sam said. "We gotta get these people to safety."

"You can try, but I can guarantee that Haley and Ben aren't going anywhere without Tommy."

"They can't stay here, Elle. They could get killed."

"You misunderstood me. I agree that they should get the hell out of Dodge; but don't expect them to go willingly."

"Point taken, but we gotta try."

"Is it just me or does this feel just like old times?" Dean smirked.

"It's just you," Sam commented.

"Definitely just you," Elle said rolling her eyes.

"C'mon guys. Don't do this just because I pointed something out," Dean groaned.

"It's called a habit Dean and habits aren't always good. Take smoking for example. It can kill you."

"Well aren't you just little Miss Sunshine?"

"You two keep doing whatever the hell it is you're doing. I'm going to try and save some people," Sam said.

Elle and Dean watched as Sam marched over to where Haley, Ben, and Roy were standing. Just as she predicted, they didn't appear to be moving anywhere fast; but it was Roy where the biggest fight was coming from. He probably didn't want to be told by a group of youngins what was going on. Elle looked to Dean and he nodded his head toward Sam, like he expected her to help him. Then again, she usually was the one to help out in these types of situations. It was in her personality to avoid conflict for the most part—to find a compromise—to make people see things from both perspectives. Unless it came to herself, then she was stubborn as hell. With a sigh, Elle walked to Sam's side as he seemed to be acting very defensive.

"Yeah? It's a damn near perfect hunter. It's a smarter than you, and it's gonna hunt you down and eat you alive unless we your sorry, stupid ass out of here."

"You know you're crazy, right?" Roy laughed.

"Really? You ever hunted a wen—"

Elle pushed into Sam before he attempted to get in Roy's face. Sam gave her a disgruntled look as she placed a hand out before him, to try and hold him back; but before he could say anything, Elle began to speak to Haley and Ben, hoping to get somewhere with them.

"Sam's not crazy, he's right," Elle said. "This—thing—is a perfect hunter and we're its target. Ben, Haley, what would Tommy tell you to do?"

"Tommy might still be alive. We can't just stop," Ben argued.

"That's not what I asked you."

"He would tell us to stay safe—"

"Exactly."

"But if one of us were in this situation, he'd come after us. Why should we do any differently?"

"Which is why I'm not leaving here without him. Tommy might still be alive, so everybody stop this bickering because it's not going to change my mind any," Haley said in finality.

Elle looked to Sam and Dean before she shrugged her shoulders at them. She couldn't exactly find fault with their logic. If either of her brothers were in the situation—she would go after them—even despite how pissed she still was at Sam. Roy made a comment that even if they wanted to—they'd never make it out of the park before the sun went down. That left only one choice: they were spending the night. Elle felt a shiver go down her spine at the thought. Not only was a freaking wendigo a great hunter during the day; but it was also unbelievably skilled during the night as well. They were really going to have to stay together if they intended on surviving the night. She was fully intending on spending her time as close to her brothers as possible. Yes, even hunters can be a little frightened; they just usually never told a single soul about their moments of weakness.

After they had built the campfire, Dean began to draw Anasazi symbols in the dirt around their site. Sam sat against a tree away from the fire, but within the protection of Dean's symbols. Elle looked between Ben who was talking with Roy or Sam. She decided to take her chances sitting with Sam. After all, if the wendigo came calling she trusted Sam to protect her more than two people who had no idea what the hell a wendigo was. The leaves crunched beneath Elle as she sat beside Sam. He seemed to scoot away from her without even looking at her.

"What do you want?" Sam asked, no taking his eyes off Dad's journal.

"Thought you could use the company," Elle said with a shrug.

"You know that lying to my face just makes me even more pissed off at you."

"Fine, that's my minor reason. I just figured that I'd be safer around the wendigo with you by my side than those two."

"Unless I let it take you."

"This is true, but then not only would you feel slightly guilty afterwards, but you'd have to put off with an extremely pissed off Dean which I'm pretty sure is worse than a creepy wendigo."

"I'd manage."

"And you do realize that even hypothetically saying you'd let me die makes me even more pissed off at you."

"I can't leave you two alone for a second can I?" Dean groaned as he walked toward them. "Either of you want to tell me what else is going on now?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Elle retorted as she stood up.

"You're not going anywhere until we get this settled," Dean said grabbing hold of Elle's arm.

"I'm not a child."

"Well you certainly fooled me. I'm supposed to be the belligerent one—not you two, remember? Now I'm no Dr. Phil, but I don't think it's each other that you're really mad at. I mean—at least not to the extent that you two are taking it out on each other."

Elle refused to meet Dean's glance. She was surprised when it was Sam who actually responded.

"You're wrong. I'm pissed at Elle; but what do you want me to say, that I'm pissed at Dad? Well, it's no big surprise Dean. It's been that way for years, man. He's not here. What kind of person just sends his kids out like this? Why then hell are we still even here?"

"Actually, I'd like the answer to that one as well. You've never been the attachment kind of person. That's usually mine and Sam's job," Elle added.

Dean bent down and snatched John Winchester's journal from Sam's hands. He held it up in front Sam and Elle before he began speaking in harsh tones.

"This is why. This is Dad's single most valuable possession—everything he knows about every evil thing is in here. And he's passed it on to us. I think he wants us to pick up where he left off. You know, saving people, hunting things—"

"The family business?" Elle scoffed.

"The family business."

"You really have gone soft."

"It's not soft. It's our job. It's what we're supposed to do, I just know it. I can feel it."

"I don't have the same feelings."

"It makes sense."

"It makes no sense," Sam said shaking his head. "Why wouldn't dad just—call us? Why doesn't he tell us what he wants, tell us where he is?"

"Probably because it's Dad," Elle said rolling her eyes. "When does the inconsiderate ass ever give a damn."

"I don't care what you two think, but the way I see it, Dad's giving us a job to do, and I intend to do it," Dean said with finality.

"Dean—I'm not going off on this crusade of yours. I just gotta find Dad. I gotta find Jess's killer. It's the only thing I can think about right now," Sam hissed.

"Why? So you can leave again?" Elle muttered.

"Honestly, I haven't thought much beyond finding Jess's killer, Elle. I'm not going to apologize for wanting to see her death avenged. I thought you of all people—with your empathy crap—might understand that."

"I do! I get it! But I don't want to see you let this consume you. I just got you back and I-god-damnit-I just want to have my brother back for a while."

"And right now I don't know whether to believe you're being sincere or saying it because you think it's what I want to hear."

"There you go twisting what I said into something negative and completely off the point. You asshole."

"Whoa—easy now. Sam, we'll find what you're looking for, I promise; but you gotta listen to me. You need to prepare yourself. Elle's right about all this anger and it ain't gonna do nobody any good because I'm gonna be straight with you—this search your take a while. You can't let that anger keep burning over the long haul—it's gonna kill you. You gotta have patience, man. And Elle—Sam's probably going to be with us a while, so stop acting like you're about to lose him at any second. Because you're not," Dean stated.

"How do you do it, man?" Sam questioned.

Dean pointed over to Haley and Ben who were playing tic tac toe in the dirt. He told his younger siblings that since their family was so screwed up, helping others keep a so-called normal family made things a little more bearable. Elle could understand that—but it didn't make her yearning for a normal family any less. But it was something she was never going to have. She was never going to do the things normal people did—be in relationships, get married, have kids—she couldn't pull someone else into this life. Not if she could help it. That only left her with what little family she had left.

"I'll you what helps with it all though—killing as many evil sons of bitches as I possibly can," Dean said with a grin.

Suddenly, the sound of twigs snapping begins to fill the void in the air. A voice, presumably the wendigo begins to call for help again. Dean stood up and readied his gun. Elle shot Dean a look of confusion before he slowly lowered his gun. His weapon was useless against the wendigo. Sam then pointed his flashlight around the area.

"He's trying to draw us out. Let's just stay cool, stay put," Dean said calmly.

"Inside your magic circle?" Roy scoffed.

"I'd say it's a hell of a lot safer than whatever's outside of it," Elle retorted.

"Ya'll are crazy."

The wendigo began to growl.

"Wanna try that one again?" Elle said snidely.

"Okay—that's no grizzly."

"You catch on fast," Sam said sarcastically.

The wendigo rushed past them again, causing Haley to shriek. The girl clung to her brother Ben. Elle wasn't sure whether it was for comfort or to keep him safe. Unconsciously, Elle moved closer toward Dean when Roy began to start shooting off into the dark woods. Idiot. He wasn't actually going to kill the thing—just piss it off even more. Roy shot his gun again, but this time there was no sound of the bullet ricocheting. The older man assumed that he actually hit the thing and took off to find what he shot. Sam, Dean, and Elle shouted for him not to leave the protected area, but the old man didn't listen. He practically took off in a sprint but Dean made sure to stop Haley and Ben from going after him. He told Elle to stay with them, while he and Sam ran after Roy to try and save the old man's ass. Elle tried to put herself between the barrier and Ben and Haley as Roy shouted that he found it. Sam and Dean were just about to where Roy was standing when there was the sudden sound of twigs snapping before something that wasn't a twig snapped. Elle hoped that it wasn't Roy—but she had a feeling that it was. Her suspicions were confirmed when Sam and Dean came back inside the protection with a somewhat somber expression on their faces.

"Where's Roy?" Ben asked.

"Gone," was all Dean managed.

"What do you mean he's gone?"

"I don't know how much more plainly I can spell it out for you kid. The thing got him. He's gone."

Elle sighed as Ben came up to her with a questioning look. He didn't say anything, just looked at her as if he had been betrayed. She felt quite uncomfortable with the situation and tried to relieve any tension.

"I'm sorry about Roy," Elle said.

"Haley told me you guys aren't rangers," Ben said.

"We're looking for someone too," Elle explained. "My dad."

"So how is it that you guys know about this stuff?" Ben asked.

"This has been my whole life," Elle responded. "And my dad."

"So what, you go around lying to people for a living?"

"Ben, it's not like that. Okay—well—it sort of is—"

Ben walked away from her toward his sister.

"Ben, c'mon."

Ben seemed to ignore her for the rest of the night. Elle, Sam, and Dean took shifts staying awake while everyone else managed to get a bit of sleep. If they were going to get this thing, they needed to do it when the wendigo didn't have a nighttime advantage. Elle took first watch and Dean relieved her. She slept straight through until morning. She was awoken by the sounds of talking coming from Dean and Haley. With atrocious bedhead, Elle walked over to the conversation when Sam announced that they had to kill the son of a bitch. Dean was of course up for it. Ben and Haley looked to each other hesitantly.

"Maybe we should give them a bit more information before they sign their lives away," Elle said.

Sam agreed and showed them the pages on wendigos in Dad's journal.

"Wendigo is a Cree word. It means evil that devours," Sam said.

"They're hundreds of years old. Each one was once a man—" Dean started.

"Or woman," Elle added.

"Rarely. Usually an Indian, or old times frontiersman or a miner or a hunter."

"You're telling me that thing was once a human being?" Haley questioned. "How does a man turn into one of those things?"

"It's not pretty," Sam said.

"Always the same thought. During some harsh winter, a guy finds himself starving and cut off from supplies or help. A man gets desperate. Desperate enough to do anything to survive," Dean continued.

"By that he means they become a cannibal to survive. They eat other members of his tribe or camp," Elle added.

"That's disgusting," Haley gagged.

"Like the Donner Party?" Ben asked before Dean gave a slightly confused look.

"Yes—for those of us who actually paid attention in history class," Elle retorted.

"Anyway—cultures all over the world belive that eating human flesh gives a person certain abilities: speed, strength, immortality—" Sam started.

"If you eat enough of it—over the years—you become a thing that is less than human. Something that's always hungry for human flesh."

"So if all that's true, how can Tommy still be alive?" Haley questioned.

"You're not gonna like it," Dean said.

"Tell me."

"More than anything, a wendigo knows how to last long winters without food. It hibernates for years at a time, but when its awake it keeps its victim alive. It, uh, it stores them, so it can feed whenever it wants. If our brother's alive, it's keeping him somewhere dark, hidden, and safe. We gotta track it back there."

"And how exactly to we go about stopping it?"

"Guns are useless," Sam said.

"So are knives," Elle added.

"Which leaves us with what?" Haley asked.

"We gotta torch the sucker," Dean said as he held up a can of lighter fluid, a beer bottle, and a white cloth.

Sam and Dean took turns leading them through the woods. They followed trees with claw marks and blood—but it almost seemed easy. Too easy. These things were supposed to be smart. Was it really leading them right to its lair? Maybe it planned on ambushing them once they were trapped in the dark. Sam must have thought the same thing, because he stopped and waited for Elle and Dean to catch up.

"What's up?" Dean asked.

Sam pointed out what Elle had already observed. She wasn't the only one with a gut feeling about the situation. The trees began to rustle after some growling. Elle took a step closer to her brothers. She tried to put on a brave face with all this shit—but honestly it scared the hell out of her. But she needed a brave face more than ever, especially with Haley and Ben around. Blood began to drip onto Haley's shirt, she looked up and moved out of the way quickly as Roy's corpse came free-falling onto the ground. The growling continued.

"Damnit, it's a trap," Elle hissed.

"Okay, run, run, run, go, go, go!" Dean shouted.

Dean and Haley took up the lead as they began to sprint through the woods. Ben tripped over something and grabbed Elle to break his fall. The youngest Winchester and the youngest Collins scrambled to get off the ground. Sam stopped for a moment and looked both directions before he raced back to help Elle back to her feet and then Ben. The group had been divided into two. Haley's screams filled the air; but there was no one in front of them. The wendigo had taken Haley and Dean, leaving only the Molotov cocktail Dean had made; but its bottle was broken rendering it useless. Sam and Elle began to shout Dean's name and Ben shouted for Haley; but it was no use. Elle's face paled. She looked about to pass out. She tightly closed her eyes and leaned against a tree. She couldn't break down. Not here. Not now. She felt two familiar arms wrap around her. She leaned into her brother's embrace, forgetting whatever crap was going on between them. Her body began to shake, but she refused to release a sob or a single tear.

"We'll find him."

"I can't lose him. We can't lose him."

"Dean's not going down without a fight, you know that."

"But what if—"

"Now's not the time for those. Right now we need to go drag his sorry ass back to the light of day so I can kick it for being so damn reckless."

"I'm sorry—I'm sorry for everything."

"Guys, I hate to interrupt your moment, but I think I found something," Ben said.

Sam patted Elle on the back before he released her and walked toward Ben. Ben examined a peanut M&M in his hand before pointing through the trees. Ben walked a few more steps before picking up another one.

"They went this way," Ben said continuing to follow the M&M trail.

"It's better than breadcrumbs," Sam laughed. "But I thought he ate all the M&M's in his bag last night."

"You know, if it wasn't helping save his life, I'd probably be pissed that he picked all the M&M's out of my trail mix," Elle said holding up her trail mix that was M&M free before she wiped at her misty eyes.

"Dean," Sam chuckled.

Sam smiled up at his sister. Elle put the trail mix back into her bag before she followed Sam and Ben along the trail. She wasn't sure how long they walked, but they stopped at an entrance to a mine. There was a sign that read: Warning! Danger! Do Not Enter Extremely Toxic Material. Sam looked to Ben and Elle before he shrugged. He walked inside, followed by Elle and then Ben. They completely ignored the sign that said KEEP OUT. Sam pulled out his flashlight as Elle grabbed one from her pack. They walked a few feet when growling began to echo through the mine. Sam and Elle looked to each other before they quickly shut off their flashlights. Sam slid past Elle and pinned Ben against the wall as the wendigo came right for them. Sam's hand covered Ben's mouth so that his scream wouldn't escape his lips. Elle clutched Sam's other arm and buried her face against her brother. Thankfully the wendigo went down a different tunnel at the crossing. Elle breathed a sigh of relief before Sam looked down at her.

"I forgot how tight of a grip you have," Sam said.

"Right. Oops!" Elle said removing her grasp of her brother's arm.

Elle, Sam, and Ben continued walking further into the mine. The floorboards creaked underneath their weight until they finally gave in, causing Ben, Elle, and Sam to fall through the floor. Elle's high-pitched scream reverberated through the mine. Hopefully the wendigo didn't hear her. She groaned as she landed in a pile of bones. Disgusting. All the thing's years' worth of hunting was down here. Ben instantly shot up and looked about ready to vomit at the sight of all the skulls and bones on the ground. Sam assured him that it was going to be okay. Elle rubbed the back of her neck, but she froze at the sight above her.

"Guys, look," Elle said pointing up.

The boys looked up to see what Elle had seen: Dean and Haley hanging by their wrists from the ceiling. Sam quickly helped Elle to her feet before the Winchesters ran to Dean while Ben ran to Haley. Sam gently smacked Dean's face while Elle shook him by his arms. Dean's eyes flashed open before he winced in pain. Both Sam and Elle asked him if he was okay.

"Haley," Dean muttered.

"She's right here," Sam answered pointing toward Ben who was still trying to wake Haley up.

"Tommy," Haley gasped when she was finally awake. "Where's Tommy?"

"Let me get you down first, Haley," Ben said.

"We need to find him," Haley said struggling to free herself.

"I—I'll go find him," Elle said.

Elle quickly scanned the room and found the young man who looked like the one in her drawing. She had only seen pictures and videos of him, they hardly did him justice. If one got beyond the beaten and scratched face, Tommy was very attractive. Elle gently pressed her hand against Tommy's cheek causing his head to jerk up.

"Hey—it's okay—you're safe. My name's Elle. I'm with your brother and sister. We're here to save you. We'll get you out—I promise."

Tommy's eyes stopped looking frantically around for a moment and focused on her. He seemed rather calm despite being tied up. His gaze was rather intense that it caused Elle to blush. Elle called for Sam to come over and cut him down. She reached for his face one last time and as her fingertips barely brushed against him, she felt herself being pushed aside by Haley as Sam cut him down. As Haley whispered words of comfort to her brother, Dean pulled Elle aside toward a corner where the stolen supplies were piled.

"We need something to light this bitch up," Dean muttered.

Elle began to dig through the supplies. She came across a box of matches, it was a weak option; but then her hand stumbled across a gun—a flare gun. She tossed it toward Dean who grinned before he got Sam's attention.

"Check it out. Look what Elle-Belle found," Dean said.

"Flare guns? Nice. Those'll work," Sam responded.

"Now let's get the hell out of Dodge," Elle said.

Tommy was leaning heavily against his siblings, but he managed a smile at Elle's response. Sam, and Dean were packing heat—well, flare guns actually. They led the way down the tunnel as Haley and Ben who were supporting Tommy followed behind them. Growling once again echoed through the air. Elle swore under her breath.

"Looks like someone's home for supper," Dean commented.

"A little early," Elle muttered.

"Hey, it's five o'clock somewhere."

Elle shook her head at her brother.

"Now what? We're never going to outrun that thing," Haley added.

Dean looked around to Elle and Sam. He then began to look around the tunnel, examining it. Elle knew what he was doing. He was looking for an escape route so that he could distract the wendigo.

"You two thinking what I'm thinking?" Dean asked.

"Yeah—I think so," Sam said.

"Don't do anything stupid. You owe me some freaking M&M's," Elle said to Dean.

"Love you too, little sister," Dean chuckled. "Now you guys stay with Sam and Elle. They're gonna get you out of here."

"What's are you gonna do?" Haley asked.

Dean didn't say a word about what his plan was, instead he winked at Haley before he walked away from them. Crazy ran in the family, that was for sure. Dean then began yelling at the wendigo, telling him that it was chow time. Elle couldn't help but shake her head at her brother's distractions. He was confident; but sometimes Elle wondered if he was too confident and that it would eventually catch-up with him. But today, was not the time for such thoughts. Dean was going to be okay. He had to be. Or at least that's what she told herself in order help Sam lead the Collins siblings safely out of the abandoned mine. They tried to get out quickly when the growling grew closer to them rather than farther away toward Dean. Damnit. These things were smart and it probably knew that they were trying to outwit it. The group froze for a moment behind Sam who was pointing the flare gun at the freaky bastard. Sam looked back at Elle and the Collins siblings and then back to his sister.

"Elle, get them out of here," Sam said.

"No, not without you," Elle argued.

"Just go! Make sure they're safe."

Elle's eyes met Tommy's once more. He looked so helpless. She had promised him that she was going to save him. She had to keep her word. She had promised him that much. Reluctantly, Elle led Haley, Ben, and Tommy down the path as Sam acted as a barrier between them and the wendigo. He shot his flare gun at the wendigo who was practically in his face; but he missed. Sam then took off in a sprint after Elle and the Collins siblings. Elle continued to lead them until she lead them to a dead-end. She screamed in frustration. Now what were they supposed to do? They couldn't go anywhere and the wendigo was right behind them. Sam yelled for all of them to get behind him. Elle found herself squished between the wall and Tommy, his breathing rather uneven. She wanted to reach up and comfort him; but that would probably be a little awkward—afterall, she didn't even know the guy. The wendigo slowed down it's pace, taking its time and probably savoring the hunt. Next thing she knew, Dean shouted at the thing, distracting it before he shot the flare gun and the thing went up in flames. The small group breathed a sigh of relief.

"Not bad, huh?" Dean said with a grin.

"Next time, don't make it such a close call," Elle muttered.

The group slowly made their way back to the Ranger's station. An ambulance was called for Tommy. Elle sat with him as Ben and Haley had to go over their story first with the rangers. She had her sketchbook out and was flipping through the pages. He looked about ready to fall asleep, but Elle gently tapped his cheeks. His eyes focused directly on her.

"You need to stay awake. You could have a concussion or something," Elle said.

"After all that and you're worried about a concussion?" Tommy asked.

"Fine, if you want to fall asleep and never wake up, leaving your brother and sister alone for good this time; be my guest, but don't say I didn't warn you."

Tommy smiled at her, making Elle feel slightly uncomfortable.

"What?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For finding me. For helping Haley and Ben. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

"You're giving me a little too much credit, buddy."

"No. I'm never going to forget what you did."

"I—I think I hear the ambulance." Elle said as she stood to her feet.

Escaping the awkwardness, Elle walked outside to the Impala. She sat on the hood by herself until Sam joined her. Sam folded his hands and looked up to the sky.

"Now what?" Elle asked.

"We find Dad," Sam responded.

"Not that. What about us?"

"I don't know. What do you want to happen?"

"I could ask you the same thing?"

"I think if this is going to work—we need to be honest with each other. No more bottling it all up."

"You're ripe."

"What?"

"You said we should be honest with each other and you smell—disgusting."

Sam chuckled before he wrapped his arm around his sister. She was engulfed by his sweaty smell that made her want to gag; but even she couldn't help but laugh. Dean approached them with a grin on his face.

"Maybe I should go missing more often," Dean suggested.

"No!" Sam and Elle shouted simultaneously.

"So are you two back to normal now?" Dean asked.

"Dean, we can't go back to normal. Normal doesn't exist anymore," Elle stated.

"It's gonna be a long road to get wherever the hell we're going," Sam added. "It's not as simple as when we were kids. But I'm willing to give it another try."

"Me too."

Dean nodded his head before he took a seat on the Impala's hood in between his siblings.

"I hate camping," Dean said.

"Me too," Sam laughed.

"Then let's get the hell out of here," Elle suggested.

"You guys know we're gonna find Dad, right?"

"Yeah, I know. But in the meantime—I'm driving," Sam said.

Dean smirked before he tossed the keys to Sam. Elle tried to intercept them; but there was no possible way she could have reached them.

"What? No fair. Baby likes me better," Elle moaned.

"You don't even like Baby—or driving," Dean commented. "Oh—shotgun!"

"Not if I beat you to it."

"I don't think so."

"You guys better hurry or I'm leaving without you," Sam said.

Sam was leaning on the driver's side of the car as Elle and Dean scrambled to get to the front seat. Dean playfully shoved Elle, causing her to biff it on the gravel. He beat Elle to the door and did a little victory dance as Elle tried to kick him in the ass. She then was relegated to the backseat once more; but things actually looked like they might be okay. Okay—being relative, that is. One missing father. One brother with a mending relationship. One brother with whom she probably had an over-attachment. The three Winchesters got in the car and shut their doors almost in sync. Then they headed out on the open road—heading wherever was going to lead them to their dad next.

---

Author's Note: I apologize for taking so long to get this chapter out. That was never my intent. Life just gets in the way sometimes and gets crazy busy. I also apologize that this chapter isn't anywhere near as good as the others—so, I'm sorry for a crappy chapter! Haha. I hope that you'll still manage to stick it out with me—at least for a while yet. Thanks so much to those of you who have favorited/followed/reviewed/hell—even read my story. It really means a lot to me!