The three of us went in guns cocked and ready.

"Bobby?" Dean called as dad and I moved forward to the kitchen.

Nothing. Dean joined us as we looked in the study now. There wasn't anything noticeable, until Dean snapped his fingers getting our attention and pointed into the hall. We followed him as he looked at an iron poker on the ground.

"I'll go. You check outside." Dean whispered to us.

We nodded walking out into the junkyard. Dad nodded one way before I went the other. I kept my gun up and ready as I walked quietly.

"Bobby?" I called looking around me. "Bobby?"

I could hear dad calling in the distance as I kept checking around the scrap yard. I was not getting dice on this. I went in dad's direction when I heard noises from the house.

"Dean!" I shouted running for the door.

I heard a woman shouting as I stood at the stairs and I rushed up looking around corners when I saw a woman kicking my uncle.

"Because of you, Dean! Because all you were thinking about was your family, your revenge, and your demons! Fifty words of Latin a little sooner, and I'd still be alive. My baby sister would still be alive. That blood is on your hands, Dean!" She shouted.

"Hey bitch." I said. She turned around and I fired my gun. "Don't mean you can hurt my family."

"Thanks kid." Dean groaned.

"No problem." I told him coming over and offering my hand and he took it.

I supported him as I led him back downstairs as Bobby and dad came.

"What happened to you?" Dad asked.

"Meg." Dean answered letting go of me.

"Meg? The demon Meg?"

"No." I said for Dean. "Meg, the one that was being possessed."

The four of us went into the study and started prepping for more upcoming ghosts as Bobby started his research on what the hell was going on. Dean and I loaded our guns as dad spoke.

"So, they're all people we know?" Dad questioned.

"Not just know. People we couldn't save." I sighed putting my gun down and leaning on the desk.

"Hey, I saw something on Meg." Dean said. "Did she have a tattoo when she was alive?"

"I don't think so." Dad answered as I saw him looking at me concerned.

"It was like a-a mark on her hand – almost like a brand."

"I saw a mark, too…on Lizzy." I told them.

"What did it look like?" Bobby asked us.

"Uh, paper?" Dad took some and handed it too me. "Thanks."

I started to draw the symbol and showed it to Dean once I finished.

"That's it."

I handed it to Bobby.

"I may have seen this before." He went over to his bookshelves grabbing a few books as Dean handed dad a loaded gun when the lights flickered. "We got to move." Bobby handed dad some books as I picked up my own gun. "Follow me."

"Okay, where are we going?" Dad asked.

"Some place safe, you idjit."

Bobby picked up some books and led us down towards the basement and brought us to a room with what looked like a solid iron door and devil trap in front of it. When he opened it there were loads of weapons and things to survive anything a hunter might face as the floor was a devil's trap and the ceiling where a fan was had one as well. We went in as I smiled at that awesomeness that was this room as dad touched the walls.

"Bobby, is this…" Dad started.

"Solid iron. Completely coated in salt. One hundred percent ghost-proof."

"You built a panic room?" I asked still smiling as I ran my hands on the walls.

"I had a weekend off." He shrugged.

"Bobby." Dean said holding one of the weapons.

"What?"

"You're awesome." He laughed then looked somewhere and I followed his gaze raising an eyebrow. "Oh."

After that dad, Dean, and I sat making salt rounds in silence while Bobby was looking through the books he brought down.

"See, this is why I can't get behind God." Dean said after a while breaking the silence.

"What are you talking about?" I questioned.

"If he doesn't exist, fine. Bad crap happens to good people. That's how it is. There's no rhyme or reason – just random, horrible, evil – I get it, okay. I can roll with that. But if he is out there, what's wrong with him? Where the hell is he while all these decent people are getting torn to shreds? How does he live with himself? You know, why doesn't he help?"

I sighed thinking about the same questions I asked Castiel. Where's God? Why does he let demons and monsters roam the Earth? He pitched me the same stuff. "God works in mysterious ways." It frustrated me but after a while I settled. God gave us free will, and we had to learn how to use it differently.

Now I noticed my family looking towards Bobby and I glanced back seeing him look between the both of them.

"I ain't touching this one with at 10-foot pole." Bobby told them.

"Yeah." Dean said.

"Found it." Bobby also told us.

"What?" I questioned looking towards him.

"The symbol you saw – the brand on the ghosts…"

"Yeah?" I nodded waiting.

"Mark of the Witness."

Oh crap. I got curious after finding out about angels so when I wasn't working on school at the time or hunting I researched. Witnesses I had seen before.

"Witness? Witness to what?" Dad asked.

"The unnatural." I answered before Bobby standing and going over to him sitting on the desk and crossing my arms. "None of them died what you'd call ordinary deaths. See, these ghosts – they were forced to rise. They woke up in agony. They were like rabid dogs. It's not their fault. Someone rose them…on purpose."

"Who?" Dad continued to question.

"Do we look like we know?" Bobby scoffed. "But whoever it was used a spell so powerful it left a mark, a brand on their souls."

Now dad came over to us.

"But whoever did this had big plans." I told them. "It's called "the rising of the witnesses." It figures into an ancient prophecy."

"Wait, wait. What – what book is that prophecy from?" Dean asked coming over too.

Bobby and I shared a look and I shrugged answering him. "Well, the widely distributed version's just for tourists, you know. But long story short – Revelations. This is a sign, guys."

"A sign of what?"

Bobby leaned back in his chair as I put my hand through my hair.

"The apocalypse." We answered.

"Apocalypse?" Dean repeated.

"Yup." We nodded.

"The apocalypse, apocalypse? The four horsemen, pestilence, five dollar-a-gallon-gas apocalypse?"

"That's the one." Bobby told him.

"The rise of the witnesses is a – a mile marker." I explained.

"Ok, so, what do we do now?" Dad questioned.

"Road trip." Dean scoffed turning his back to us. "Grand Canyon, Star Trek Experience. Bunny Ranch."

"First things first. How about we survive our friends out there?" Bobby reminded them.

"Great. Any ideas aside from staying in this room until Judgment Day?" Dean asked.

"It's a spell," Bobby pointed to the book in front of him, "to send the witnesses back to rest. Should work."

"Should? Great." Dad rolled his eyes.

"If I translate it correctly. I think I got everything we need here at the house."

"Any chance you got everything we need here in this room?" I hoped.

"So, you thought our luck was gonna start now all of a sudden?" Bobby looked at me and I shrugged as he got up. "Spell's got to be cast over an open fire."

"The fireplace in the library." Dad said.

"Bingo."

"That's just not as appealing as a, uh, ghost-proof panic room, you know?" Dean muttered.

I nodded agreeing but the four of us got ready any way getting what we needed from the panic room.

"over each other. And aim careful. Don't run out of ammo until I'm done, or they'll shred you." Bobby warned us. "Ready?"

We nodded and Bobby opened the door. Dad took point out and we followed with our guns ready watching all around us. When we got to the stairs there sat a man on the top waiting for us. He smiled when he saw us standing there. He looked familiar…

"Hey, Dean. You remember me?" He asked Dean who was in front.

"Ronald, huh? With the laser eyes? I wish I could say it's good to see you."

I vaguely remembered him. He was the guy at the bank. The one with the gun where a shapeshifter knocked me out and pretended to be me.

"I am dead because of you." He told Dean standing up and I rolled my eyes taking aim. "You were supposed to help me!"

I shot Ronald.

"If you're gonna shoot, shoot. Don't talk." I said before walking up, holding my gun ready.

We went into the study now setting up everything we needed. Bobby getting the desk ready as dad and I took two bags of salt and made a circle around us from opposite ends.

"Upstairs, linen closet – red hex box. It'll be heavy." Bobby commanded dad once we finished.

"Got it." Dad nodded running off.

"Bobby." A voice said behind me and I turned seeing two little girls.

I took my gun firing at them as Dean stood up.

"Kitchen. Cutlery drawer. It's got a false bottom. Hemlock, opium, wormwood." Bobby said to Dean as he stepped out of the circle and I took point to defend Bobby.

"Opium?" Dean questioned now looking back.

"Go!" I demanded and he held up his hand going for the kitchen.

The girls reappeared again and I gave them no time to talk as I fired again glancing back at Bobby seeing him give a grateful look and I nodded standing guard. Then all the sudden the kitchen door closed.

"Dean?" I called going to the edge of the circle.

"I'm all right, Alyssa! Stay in there!"

I looked at the door but stayed where I was to protect Bobby. Lizzy appeared and I pointed at her.

"You swore it was fine! I was safe!" She screamed. "And look what happens when you try to say thank you."

I shot her taking a deep breath as I reloaded. "I'm sorry…"

Then I heard a gunshot in the kitchen and a few moments later dad walked out with Dean. They were both carrying what was asked.

"You ok?" I questioned them both.

"No." Dean answered putting the stuff down then reloading his gun as well when he noticed Ronald.

"Ronald. Hey, come on, man. I thought we were pals."

"That's when I was breathing. Now I'm gonna eat you alive."

"Well…come on, I'm not a cheeseburger." Dean told him cocking his gun and quickly raising it but Ronald disappeared.

The three of us stood ready with weapons as Bobby started the ritual to expel the spirits back where they came from. As he did though the windows burst open and wind filled the room and the wind moved the salt. Not good. Bobby kept going as the room was filled with the ring of gunshots as we kept shooting at any ghost that appeared. We shouted when one of the others was in trouble making them duck as we shot moving as quickly as we could to protect Bobby and ourselves as one would reload and the others would cover them. Soon though we were out of ammo. I dropped my gun when I was out patting my pockets and pulling out the iron knife Jo gave me in another time it felt like.

I slashed at Lizzy as she appeared when I saw the other desk move and slam into dad.

"Dad!" I shouted.

"Cover Bobby!" He commanded me.

I glanced at Dean who only had an iron poker now so we stood next to each other holding our iron weapons as Bobby kept reciting the spell. Then all the sudden I heard Bobby cry out in pain. I whirled around to see Meg with her hand in his back. I ran over as Bobby dropped the bowl jumping and catching it keeping everything inside as I fell to the ground.

"Fireplace!" Bobby yelled.

I did as I was told throwing the ingredients into the fire. The turned bright blue and I had to turn away as I could hear the shouts of the ghosts leaving. I looked up again to see Bobby had fallen.

"Bobby." I said getting up Dean also quickly coming over.

We helped him up as I heard dad grunt freeing himself from the desk. Bobby now nodded to Dean and me telling us he was ok. We let go of him and we looked around. Just another eventful day at the office.

~W~

I blinked my eyes opened looking around wondering why I woke up. I stood from my bed going downstairs glancing into the study to see dad on the couch and Dean on the floor just like when I left them. Then I heard a flutter of wings. I followed the sound and walked into the kitchen sitting on the tabletop.

"What have I said about my dreams Castiel?" I asked looking at him leaning on the counter.

"I have come to praise you on the witnesses."

"The apocalypse?" I questioned him and he nodded. "Well thanks for the info feathers."

He shook his head at the name I had used around him. I looked down now.

"Lizzy was a witness."

"I was aware."

I looked up at him sighing as I looked at the wall. "Right, no emotion. You wouldn't understand."

Both of us were silent until I heard him walking until he was in front of me still standing neutral.

"Then explained it to me."

"Castiel, you can't explain emotions. They just happen." He still waited and I sighed. "Ok. You know as well as I what happened. Lizzy was a seventeen year old girl. Her parents, hunters, extremely religious. A few years back her parents killed a nest of vampires but one lived because he was out getting food for the nest. That vampire grew the nest again, making itself a new family and went after her parents but Lizzy escaped barely.

"You came into my dreams again telling me about this girl because her parents prayed that their daughter would live. You know I had the same story as her. Right? Young girl with no knowledge of the supernatural. That and you can't interfere with anyone but me. Jo and I went, after I lied to her about you saying it was a vision, and we found Lizzy. We brought her to a safe place. We found the new nest. Killed everyone…everyone but one. One I didn't kill.

"I made the call and told her she was safe as Jo and I drove away. So you told me about her and her life rested in my hands and I thought I fixed it. Lizzy thought I fixed it. She wanted to thank me. Well, you know what happened because you had to save me from the vampire. Lizzy though, long gone." I looked away from him tears filling my eyes. "That vampire saw me slaughter it's nest. Smelled me. Followed my scent to my room waiting for me as Jo and I decided to get some food after killing whole nest. It…it was after me. And…and it found Lizzy instead."

I looked up at him. "I had Lizzy's life in my hands and I said it was ok. I let go of her life letting her live it and she wanted to thank me. I made a bad call, I let go, and I got her killed. The vampire didn't give two shits about Lizzy, it wanted me. I should be dead." I looked down tears falling down my cheeks. "But no…Lizzy's dead and I'm still alive! It was my stupid call again that got someone killed!"

I ran my hands through my hair tears coming down faster. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up slightly seeing Castiel. He actually had a sorry look.

"Do you understand what it's like to know you failed to save someone's life, who rested it in your hands in the first place?" I asked.

"I have gotten close." He answered watching me.

I smiled slightly. "Right, you tend to bring me back often. But not everyone has you. Everyone isn't you. So when we fail…it hurts in so many different ways."

He looked to be thinking. He always did before speaking to me sometimes. He was really trying with his people skills when around me.

"It will be ok." He said now.

"Honestly, do you believe those words?" I asked.

It took a moment but he nodded. "I do."

I watched him and nodded. "If an angel believes it who am I to question it?"

I didn't know if it was a trick of the mind or if it was real, but either way, there was a ghost smile on Castiel's face until he took his hand off my shoulder and looked towards the study. I looked too seeing Dean coming over. I glared slightly at Castiel for allowing Dean into my head but he just brushed it off as he spoke to Dean.

"Excellent job with the witnesses." He said to him.

"You were hip to all this?" Dean asked.

"I was, uh, made aware."

"Well, thanks a lot for the angelic assistance. You know, I almost got my heart ripped out of my chest."

"But you didn't."

"I thought angels were supposed to be guardians. Fluffy wings, halos – you know, Michael Landon. Not dicks."

I sighed. "Read the Bible." I scolded my uncle. "Angels are warriors of God. He's a soldier. There are the cases like me but nine out of ten, they're all solider."

Castiel nodded to me saying I was right and Dean shook his head.

"You two going to gang on me often?"

"Depends if your idiot or not." I remarked earning a glare from him but I just smirked as I though I saw a ghost smile of Castiel again.

"Well, then, why didn't you fight?" Dean asked Castiel.

"I'm not here to perch on your shoulder. We had larger concerns."

"Concerns? You seem to be perched on Alyssa's shoulder."

"No he's not." I shook my head. "Dean, how often has a miracle occurred for me? When I was in peril. Angels aren't always available."

"There were people getting torn to shreds down here!" Dean protested to me then turned to Castiel. "And, by the way, while all this is going on, where the hell is your boss, huh, if there is a God?"

"There's a God." Castiel told him.

"I'm not convinced. 'Cause if there's a God, what the hell is he waiting for, huh? Genocide? Monsters roaming the earth? The freaking apocalypse? At what point does he lift a damn finger and help the poor bastards that are stuck down here?"

"The Lord works…" I started but he gave me a look.

"If you say "mysterious ways," so help me, I will kick both your asses." He looked back at Castiel as he threw up his hand looking be giving up on making Dean understand. "So, Bobby and Alyssa were right…about the witnesses. This is some kind of a…sign of the apocalypse."

"That's why we're here. Big things afoot."

"Do I want to know what kind of things?"

"I sincerely doubt it, but you need to know. The rising of the witnesses is one of the sixty-six seals."

"Okay. I'm guessing that's not a show at Seaworld."

"Those seals are being broken by Lilith."

I looked over at him shocked. "She did the spell. She rose the witnesses."

"Mm-hmm. And not just here. Twenty other hunters are dead."

"Of course. She picked victims that the hunters couldn't save so that they would barrel right after us." Dean said and I looked down.

"Lilith has a certain sense of humor." Castiel told us.

"Well, we put those spirits back to rest."

"It doesn't matter. The seal was broken."

"Why break the seal anyway?" Dean asked and I looked up again.

"You think of the seals as locks on a door." Castiel started.

"Okay. Last one opens and…"

Castiel and I shared a look. I had spoken to him about Revelations. He told me about seals vaguely before. Even about a few. Now explains why. We both turned to him.

"Lucifer walks free." I answered.

"Lucifer? But I thought Lucifer was just a story they told at demon Sunday school. There's no such thing."

"Three days ago, you thought there was no such thing as me." Castiel reminded him. "Why do you think we're here walking among you now for the first time in two thousand years?"

"To stop Lucifer." I said.

"That's why we've arrived."

"Well…bang-up job so far. Stellar work with the witnesses. That's nice." Dean sassed and I glared at him.

"They tried Dean. And there are other battles, other seals. Or did you just miss the part that there's sixty-six seals to break? Some they'll win, some they'll lose. This one they just happened to lose." I defended the angels standing up.

Dean just scoffed and rolled his eyes. Now Castiel got defensive as he stepped close to Dean. "Our numbers are not unlimited. Six of my brothers died in the field this week. You think the armies of Heaven should just follow you around? There's a bigger picture here. You should show me some respect." Dean looked a smidge scared. "I dragged you out of Hell. I can throw you back in."

Then Dean vanished and Castiel looked at me meeting my death glare.

"You throw my uncle in, I swear…"

"It was only a threat Alyssa." He cut me off. "I do not plan to."

"You better not. And while I'm angry at you about the subject of my family, you are in trouble for not telling me you pulled him out."

This time I knew it was really there, a smile.

"I know but perhaps that is a conversation for another time? I am invading your dreams after all."

I glared at him holding back my own smile. "Don't think you're getting off that easy. I'll see you around feathers."

He gave a small nod before leaving. We were getting closer to actual good byes. We were also getting closer to emotions and knowing what to say. Apocalypse on the horizon and twenty hunters dead aside, today was an ok day.