A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed or read this story …. this chapter's for the Cult of SamandDean (or GeekandSunny if you prefer) and a special thanks to MMarieB who beta'd for me and convinced me to keep writing!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Rachel…

Let Loose From the Noose

Chapter 4: Over The Hills And Far Away

'What the hell are we supposed to do now Sam?' Dean yelled as he drove the Impala into the night.

'We couldn't just leave her there Dean.'

'So then what are we supposed to tell her when she wakes up? Hi Rachel, we're hundreds of miles away from your home and now we think you're an orphan…where do you want us to drop you off?' Dean snickered

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Rachel awoke in a panicked sweat. Realizing she was in the back of the Winchester's Chevy Impala she tried to sit up. Bad idea, her head throbbed with pain where she had hit it. The memories of that morning rocketed in front of her mind like a torpedo, finally remembering her father she blocked them out and tried concentrating on the present. Moaning she glazed her eyes over to the passenger side where Sam with his puppy dog eyes filled with concern was watching her intently.

'You're awake.'

'Yeah.' Rachel replied wearily 'Where are we?'

'Right now we're in Massachusetts.' Dean replied not once glancing from the road in front of him

'Have I been out that long?' asked Rachel calculating in her head 'Wow, almost 5 hours…' she said wincing from her throbbing forehead.

'Yeah, you took a pretty bad fall back there, are you sure you're alright?'

'Mmhmm' she nodded. 'So, where are we going exactly? Or do you just plan on kidnapping and raping me here?'

Dean chuckled as he gave his reply 'Well, we were trying to go up north away from your father, but no specific location... and no, I don't think we're going to rape you… unless Sammy has plans that I don't know about.'

'Good one Dean.' mocked Sam rolling his eyes

'Well, if you're going up north you can go to my mom's lake house up in New Hampshire… we haven't been there in a while but it'll be a place to stay, and it has a magnificent view of the lake… very peaceful..' Rachel said scribbling down the address and handing it to Sam with shaking hands.

'That'll sure beat any motel room we can find.' Sam said glancing at Dean

'Sure, we can go for now, but we'll have to stop at a motel anyway, it's another 3 hours to New Hampshire and I'm getting hungry.' Dean said giving Sam an odd stare.

Rachel was starting to drift off into another hour of sleep as the Winchester's argued in the background… 'Bickering like an old married couple.' she laughed as she compared the brothers to Fred and Ethel from "I Love Lucy" 'I wonder which one would be Ethel' she thought to herself before falling into peaceful slumber once more.

'Sammy, what are we going to do? We can't keep her with us forever.' Dean said looking into the rearview mirror to make sure the girl was asleep

'And why not Dean? She knows about hunting, she's tough, and we can't just drop her off somewhere and say here have a nice life.'

'Sammy-'

'No Dean, please, just look at her, she's been through so much in her life, the only parent that ever truly loved her died and she was left with a monster of a drunk for a father… she deserves something better.'

'And our life is so much better Sam? We're running from the cops, hunting demons, doing loads of illegal activity and we carry a frickin' artillery rack in the back of my car!' Dean yelled

'Dean please, I want to help her out the way you did with me when we were kids… just, just let her come with us for now and if it doesn't work out I'll personally give her to Ellen myself.. I'm sure she wouldn't object too much. And at least Rachel will be safe.'

'Sam-' Dean sighed giving in to his brother's pleading face as usual. 'Fine…. but if she gets even a little bruised up you have to give her to Ellen right away.' he said, almost grinning at the thought of having a "little sister"

'Thanks Dean' Sam said pleased 'You won't regret this.'

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Rachel awoke in another panicked sweat, this time she was in a bed, a very clean bed… it took her a minute to notice that she was sleeping next to someone... someone who was very close to her back… she panicked and fell out of the bed.

'Ow.' she muttered to herself rubbing her elbow

Sam laughed wryly as he watched her sit up next to the bed. 'You're up.' he said facing the girl

'What the … why was I sleeping with Dean? … Did something happen? I can't remember a thing.' she said looking at Dean's sleeping profile

'No, nothing happened, you were out like a light when we pulled in, so Dean carried you in… it was too late to ask for a cot for him, so he figured you wouldn't mind to much if…'

'Oh no, I don't mind, it was just a shock that's all'

'That's alright, if I woke up in the morning next to him, I would be in shock too' he laughed

'I heard that Sammy!' Dean said chucking a pillow at Sam's face

Rachel chuckled as she eyed the pile of clothes by the door 'What's all that?' she asked

'Clothes for you, we figured you'd want something more to wear then just one shirt and a pair of jeans…' Sam replied 'And the lady at the store-'

'Her name was Alyssa!' Dean cut in

'Fine... Alyssa picked out … those.' Sam said rolling his eyes at Dean and pointing to the other pile of lingerie.

'Oh yeah… those.' Rachel said blushing as she walking into the bathroom to change 'Thank you so much!'

'No problem' Sam replied

'MMM… Alyssa, she was hot.' Dean said sitting up and exposing his bare chest

'Dean… is that all you ever think about?'

'NO! Of course not…. I think about lots of stuff.' He said getting dressed

'Like?'

'Um-' Dean began to say but was cutoff by Rachel

'Do you two know where I can get a cup of coffee? I'm dead tired right now.'

'That's my kind of girl' Dean said beaming 'Yeah Rachel, we were just getting ready to go get breakfast'

'Cool, I'll go wait outside.' she said as she walked out

'I'll wait by the car Sammy' Dean said grabbing his jacket and walking outside next to Rachel

'Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend, somewhere along in the bitterness. And I would have stayed up with you all night. Had I known how to save a life-' Rachel sang, oblivious to Dean. standing next to her.

'You have an amazing voice' Dean said staring at her

'Oh, I didn't notice you there…' Rachel replied blushing 'But thanks, I don't normally sing out in public to much… my shower was very jealous and wanted me all to itself'

Dean chuckled as Sam came outside

'Was that you singing, Rachel?' Sam asked putting on his jacket

'Yes…'

'I liked it a lot! You should sing more often.'

Rachel blushed again as she looked up at Sam's eyes filled with joy and a certain distant sorrow only he could know about.

'I hate to break up your lovely moment Mr. Conductor, but I'm hungry and if you want to make it to this place before sunset we have to hurry.' Dean said getting into his car

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'So I take it you did a check on this place?' Dean asked Sam as he stepped into the crisp New Hampshire air, staring at the beautifully built wooden house in front of him.

'Yeah, it looks like we have a small disappearance case we can work about eight or so miles north of here.'

'Alright, we'll start tomorrow.' Dean said taking in the amazing scenery

'I'm home.' Rachel replied as she ran down to the dock facing the lake in front of the house.

'She looks so happy here.' Sam said

'I'm going to go check out the lake Sammy, Rachel said the keys in the lockbox ... here is the combination.' Dean said handing Sam a paper and walking towards the dock

'It's beautiful here.' Dean replied sitting next to Rachel

'Yeah, I used to sit on the dock for hours during the sunset'

'So, tomorrow, Sam and I are going to be working a case-'

'I'm coming with you.' Rachel said grimly

'No way it's too dangerous…'

'Please… I want to help… I need to feel useful.' she pleaded

Taking pity on the girl Dean solemnly agreed. He was starting to like Rachel, even if she was just as stubborn as he was.

'I hope you brought a towel Ethel…' she laughed as she pushed Dean into the water. What she didn't expect was for Dean to grab and pull her in along with him. 'No fair!' she said shaking her wet her.

'Is too fair!' Dean replied doing the same and trying his best to hide a smile.

'Hey Dean! Get your ass out of the water and help me with dinner!' Sam yelled out the second story window

'Give me a second there Betty Crocker!' Dean replied picking up Rachel (despite her protests) and carrying her inside.

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Rachel sat on the porch looking at the sunrise. She sipped her coffee and thought to herself. 'Six thirty am… the best time to watch a sunrise. Nothing but the lake, the sun, and the birds… it's always so peaceful.' The door behind her squeaked, and she turned to see a sleepy Dean walk towards her and sit down. 'I thought you liked to sleep in.' she said watching the lake in front of her

'Something about this place made me want to get up early.' he replied taking in the brisk morning air

'I know what you mean.' she said looking into his eyes. She had never before noticed the intense shade of green that they were. She could get lost in them forever. And even though it was early, his light brown hair was slightly spiked in the front, accentuating his perfectly curved eyebrows. Rachel smiled to herself as she watched the hummingbirds pass above her head.

'Are you still sure you want to come with us today?'

'Dean, I'm positive, nothing could possibly change my mind.'

Dean laughed and took in a breath of fresh air. 'You're a stubborn one aren't you?'

'So I've been told' Rachel smirked

Dean smiled to himself. He couldn't remember the last time he had truly smiled in the last month. It felt nice to get away from everything and take a vacation. And he had to admit, Rachel was turning out to be a great person… even if she did beat him in Monopoly twice in a row. Dean sipped his coffee and stared at the rising sun.

Looking at the simple serenity of the lake Rachel thought to herself, 'It's the calm before the storm.'

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