AN: So I know things moved kind of fast in the last chapter. This is sort of filler but sort of not. Well, you'll see.

Do You Recall

"There's a feeling that's gone
Something has gone wrong
And I don't know how much longer I can take it
House made of heart break it
Take my head in your hands and shake it,"

REM, "Near Wild Heaven"

IV: Departure

It was a long drive back to Hill City. Sam was relieved to see Elena had dozed off in the backseat to the lull of a slower REM song on one of many mixed tapes collected in the Impala. He noticed how Dean skipped over the heavier rock tracks.

Sam saw the immediate change in his brother once there was someone who was hurting; he returned to the person he was before making the deal. As per Dean's nature, he was a fixer. And Sam could see him trying to mend the situation the best he knew how. By picking up pieces and propping up a fallen friend, and by taking her home, where the only family she had left would be waiting. Sam had suggested they stay in Cedar City for at least the morning to let her sleep a few hours comfortably, but she'd declined, preferring to just get on the road to home.

So they checked out and hit the highway by morning. The three of them cleaned up the research in Jack's old room and Elena put his duffel bag in the back of the Impala, saying she'd go through it later. Both brothers knew she probably wouldn't.

"Dean?" Sam said quietly. He didn't want to disturb her moment of peace either.

"Hmm."

"When we get to Hill City…"

Dean spared him a cursory glance.

"We leave her with Bobby."

Sam hesitated. It felt kind of wrong to just dump her on her front porch and drive off.

"Look, Bobby will take care of her a hell of a lot better than we could," Dean assured, guessing at Sam's thoughts by the look on his face. He could read Sam well enough by now, especially when he sighed that way.

It reminded him of the time their dad accidentally nicked a stray cat with the car, and an eight-year-old Sam was determined to fix the mangy thing's broken leg, or at least take it to an animal hospital. Even then, it had been a battle of wills between him and John, but eventually the man caved and drove to the nearest animal shelter that took care of the cat.

It didn't make it through the night, and Dean had to be the one to tell his little brother that he'd tried, and that was all he could've done.

She woke to Dean's gruff voice telling her they were here, at her house. In her driveway in front of a small, white house so nondescript it almost didn't warrant description. Save for the arch over the walkway that Jack had built years ago at her mom's insistence, because she'd seen it in a catalog and thought it would add a bit of appeal to the front yard. The grass that had once been kept trim was now getting a bit wild, the stone path from the driveway cracked in places.

It took every screed of energy she had to keep herself blank, calm, outwardly numb. But every step she took toward the door, to this house, to the small life she'd tried to attain for herself was another she wanted to back away and run for miles. But Sam and Dean were only a few feet away. They would probably stop her.

Elena forced herself to unlock the door and step inside. Her eyes took inventory of the place. The couch and TV in the living room with shelves of books, movies, and CDs, the kitchen toward the back, and the beginning of the hallway to the left where three bedrooms were once occupied. One had been converted to an office, the second remained Elena's.

Like the rest of the house, the third—the master bedroom—was empty. Always would be, now.

"Lena?" His voice reminded her of who was waiting behind her, and of who wasn't. Who would never be coming home.

She didn't realize she was crying until a heavy hand gripped her shoulder, and she looked up into green eyes that understood; that knew her hold on her emotions was much more tenuous than she'd tricked herself into believing. Dean let her lean forward onto his chest, cling to his shirt with fisted hands as her body shook. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. It was the second time she'd let herself unravel in front of him, and she wondered if he was sick of her yet.

But if he was, Dean didn't say anything about it, just led her to her room and into her bed, Sam following close behind with her forgotten duffel. She didn't even bother changing, but did kick her shoes off. Sam left her bag by the door just in case.

"You two probably have to get going now," she said in a small voice, bringing the covers closer to her chin as she curled further into herself. The brothers looked to one another, understanding passing between the two.

"Not if you don't want us to," said Dean. "Not until Bobby gets here."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, it's no problem."

"Okay," she nodded, gratitude in her eyes.

"I can order some Chinese," Sam offered. Elena told him where the menu brochure was, but her expression said she was clearly not interested in food. Dean nodded in appreciation. It had been a long two days, and they hadn't eaten since the diner.

"Get me some egg rolls," said Dean. "Don't forget my egg rolls like you do my pie."

"Yeah, yeah." Sam rolled his eyes but nodded. There was a small smile on his face, even as he left the room.

"Right," Dean slid his hands into his pockets. "You get some rest. Come out if you get hungry, or feel like watching a movie or whatever."

He gave her a parting smile and turned towards the door. She stopped him at the doorway.

"Dean?" He turned back to her.

"Yeah?"

This had been bothering her for a while, but she hadn't really had the chance (or the guts) to ask.

"What she…what the demon said…about your life being on the line?"

Dean stilled. After a few seconds he sighed and went back over to the bed, sitting on its edge near her feet.

"Yeah."

"What happened?"

Reluctantly, he explained Azazel, who John had been tracking since his mom died. He explained the demon trying to recruit Sam as part of some kind of army, kidnapped him, and summarized in the briefest detail how he'd ended up being literally stabbed in the back. It had killed Dean. So he made the crossroads deal, and only got a year. Well, a little over two months now.

"So now we're looking for a way out of it…hasn't been going so well," Dean admitted with a weary chuckle. He watched her go from shock, to sadness, to finally concern.

"Can I help you?" she asked, sitting up a bit. "At all?"

He waved her off and shook his head.

"Don't worry about it. Sam and I are working on it. You just chill here, unless you want some company."

He got up and headed for the door. Her voice stopped him yet again.

"Dean?"

"Yeah, Lena."

"…Thanks." Her mouth tried to form a smile, but wasn't quite there. He returned it anyway, even though he didn't think he deserved any kind of thanks.

"Anytime."

"She's got some good stuff here," said Dean, eyes skimming her extensive DVD collection. He pulled one out and grinned over at Sam. "Here, Sammy, you can see the dinosaurs."

"We're not watching Jurassic Park, Dean."

"Aw, come on," he teased. "You used to love this as a kid." Though he didn't actually want to see those fake-ass robot-looking things, he might've watched it just for Samuel L. Jackson being his usual badass self.

"All right, what about something more your speed?" He held up Pride & Prejudice, to which Sam rolled his eyes. "A little Mr. Darcy to get you through the night?"

"Just pick a movie, Dean." Then as an afterthought, he added, "Nothing too loud. Don't wanna wake her up."

Dean's grin faded at that.

"Yeah."

So that meant no action or horror (not that he would seriously want to watch a horror movie), and definitely no rom-coms. Eventually Dean put on Tommy Boy, the 1995 comedy. He remembered watching it as a teenager while at Bobby's for those few days John had been on the wendigo hunt. He remembered that had been one of the few things to make Elena laugh and get Sam out of his brooding.

It was fifteen minutes in before the delivery guy came with the food, and Sam came back into the living room holding up a small white bag from the tray.

"Your precious egg rolls," he said, and set down the tray on the coffee table in front of the couch. "Think we should ask Elena if she wants something?"

Dean paused the movie and glanced over at the dark hallway.

"Yeah, she needs to eat somethin' too."

"All right, I'll make her a plate. You can take it up there if you want." Dean looked over at his brother suspiciously. He didn't like the seemingly innocuous smile on Sam's face as he started opening cartons.

"What the hell is that?" Dean asked. Sam gave him a look of innocent confusion.

"What?"

"That face," said Dean, his tone boding no bullshit runaround.

"Nothing, Dean." Still with that stupid smile.

"Don't try to bullshit me. I taught you that," he said, but still got up to find some plates and utensils. And get himself a beer.

"Nothin'. I can tell you like her, that's all." Sam's tone irked him, so casual and sure of himself.

"You're kidding, right?"

It was entertaining for Sam to watch Dean flounder for once—actually kind of surprising, with how sure of himself Dean usually was when it came to women. It was also a little payback for all the heckling and not so subtle nudging when he met Sarah Blake.

So Sam shrugged with a grin and scooped some rice onto the plate.

"You mean to tell me you don't?" Dean asked. "I heard you two that night. Before I walked in you were being pretty chummy."

"Yeah, she's nice," Sam acknowledged. "But I've never seen you shy before. This is actually pretty incredible."

"Get the fuck outta here, that's not what this is," he refuted. "She's Bobby's niece…she's more like a sister or somethin'."

Sam nearly choked on some rice. "Pfft, right." He was hedging his bets, only because Dean hadn't been his normal overly flirtatious self with her all that much. But it was there, he could tell. Something was, anyway.

Meanwhile, Dean didn't have to like what his little brother was insinuating. Despite what Jack had thought, Elena was a decent hunter. The last time they had met up, she had a refreshing personality after months of watching back and forth arguments between his dad and his brother. More than that, she had been someone he was able to talk to, if only briefly, about Sam leaving for Stanford and understood both sides of it. She hadn't judged him or his family. Just listened.

Goddamn it, I sound like a damn female.

Dean shook his head and set the plates down on the coffee table. "Now's not the time, Sammy."

That surprised Sam, hearing that come out of his brother's mouth, but he conceded with a nod. It really wasn't the time, with what happened. Dean hadn't denied it, though.

It was nearly nightfall by now, so it was pretty dark when he walked into her room. Elena hadn't moved from where she lay on her side, hands tucked under her head with the covers drawn nearly to her chin. He chanced the possibility of her yelling at him and turned on a lamp, illuminating the room and her peacefully sleeping face.

Dean set the plate down on the white desk by her bed and lightly shook her shoulder.

"Elena." She stirred and clenched her eyes shut at the light, but eventually she shifted onto her back and blinked sleepily at him. It made him smile a little, though he hated to wake her. He didn't want her to starve herself.

"Hey, brought you dinner." He nodded over at the plate on her desk. She frowned.

"'M not hungry." Her voice was gravelly with sleep.

"You will be once you take a couple bites, come on." He gestured for her to get up, but she stubbornly clung to the bed sheets. "We're watching Tommy Boy."

She paused and gave him a sideways look.

"How far are you?" she asked.

"Not far, like twenty minutes in." He flashed another smile and grabbed the plate. "Look, I gave you one of my egg rolls."

Her mouth twitched into a small smirk.

"How generous of you," she remarked. He nodded like it seriously was, which made her smile a bit more genuine, if a bit tired. She pushed the covers away from her body and shivered from the sudden chill that made as she sat up next to him.

"Did you…ever wonder why Bobby sent you guys instead of coming himself?" she said. He quirked a brow. "Besides the fact that he was working a job."

"Is there a story there?"

She sighed.

"Yeah…you could say he and my dad had a falling out. It's why Bobby and I aren't particularly close."

"How so?"

"Well, if you know how Bobby got into hunting, then you know that too." Dean remembered that Dream Root-induced nightmare all too vividly. But that didn't explain—

Wait…

"I was young when Aunt Karen died, so I don't remember her much," said Elena. "But I do remember she was warm, nice…after that, Dad started going on extended 'business trips.'"

When in reality, he had started researching what Bobby had claimed was possessing Karen. He had to record the incident as self-defense on Bobby's part after hearing (and eventually believing) his story, but he hadn't forgiven him for killing his sister. He learned the truth from a hunter, Rufus Turner, who had been working the case and identified it as a demon.

He only dropped her off with Bobby when her mother wasn't…able to. When he had no one else that he trusted to take the proper precautions and she was just too young to be on her own.

"You think he didn't want to see Jack?" Dean asked.

"More like Dad didn't want to see Bobby," she said with a sigh, then more wryly, "Doesn't matter now, though, does it?"

Dean shook his head, but instead of answering her question, said, "Sam's probably started without us. Come on."

He then pulled away and handed the plate to her when they stood, and the two went over to the living room where Sam was waiting to un-pause the movie.

"Bout time," he said with a welcoming smile to her. Elena returned it and sat in the middle of the couch, leaving Dean to fill in the other side. It wasn't long before the food was long gone, fortune cookies read, and the movie made all of them relax. It was the deer busting through Richard's car that finally made Elena laugh a little, just like the first time, if only for Dean's reaction when Sam whispered, "What if that was the Impala?"

"Betcha it took a shit in there too," she added.

"You shut your mouth."

But he got her to agree on another movie after that had finished: the copy of Iron Man she bootlegged with surprisingly good quality. Nice and action-packed for the boys, and some eye candy for her with Robert Downey Jr.

Eventually though, worn out from the long drive and nearly twenty-four hours without sleep, the brothers were sound asleep against their respective ends of the couch. As the credits rolled, Elena grabbed the blanket folded behind her head for times such as these, and made it stretch the length of the couch. It covered all three of them as she nestled in the middle, closed her eyes and allowed the sounds of their light snoring lull her to sleep.

Bobby's hug was warm. Like her father's used to be when she was a kid. A tear escaped her eye before she could stop it.

When he pulled away it was only a little awkward, but he didn't say no to an offer of a beer as the four of them made their way to the kitchen.

"You have like, an endless supply in here," Dean commented, a note of jealousy in his tone.

"Remember that job I told you about?" she supplied.

"It can't pay that well." She smiled a little and sat down at the dining table.

"So…how're you holdin' up, kid?" asked Bobby. The question seemed to make the air suddenly tense, but eventually she shrugged casually.

"Okay…considering. I've been taken care of," she said, aiming a small smile at Sam and Dean. It might've been easy to blame them for what happened…but she couldn't. They'd tried their hardest, and in the end, it wasn't their responsibility. It was hers.

Sam took a seat next to her while Dean sat down next to Bobby.

"I'm real sorry I…couldn't make it out here in time."

"…It's okay, Bobby," she said eventually. "I wouldn't be alive right now if it wasn't for them."

"They're good," Bobby agreed, but before Dean could get a word in he said, "For idjits."

"Thanks, Bobby," Dean mocked and sipped his beer. The older hunter rolled his eyes.

"Anyway…I don't think I've ever seen this place," he said tentatively, adjusting his baseball cap. "It's nice." It had been years since he came for a visit, before Elena's family moved to Hill City. Since before Karen died.

"Yeah…same stuff, different place, I guess," she said, a little bitterness coloring her tone. Not directed toward Bobby, just in general. The house was fully furnished with things a family should own; pictures, knickknacks, books, and everything else that made up a home. But it was also void of the one thing it needed. Life.

"Well, how about some burgers?" Dean suggested. "I think I saw some meat in the fridge."

As it went, Elena wasn't a bad cook (and Sam helped). She sucked at almost anything else domestic, like cleaning (hence the dust on any furniture that wasn't used daily) and gardening (weeds and grass growing wild in the yard). She couldn't really count herself as hospitable since she hadn't had to take care of anyone but herself, and not many people came over.

But cooking, she could do. It wasn't too hard for her to follow recipes, and she'd had to pick up the skill pretty early on if she wanted meals to be edible and not fast food all the time.

The guys seemed to enjoy it well enough, besides Dean's good-natured teasing about his being burnt. She could tell by the way they didn't talk much, just devoured the small stack of patties and buns and cheese and ketchup, but sadly for her, no pickles.

"If you like them so much why don't you have any?" said Dean around a rather large mouthful of beef patty. Her face and Sam's expressed the same disgust, but she replied,

"I ran out. Didn't exactly have time for a grocery stop before you two got here."

"Doesn't need it," said Bobby. He and Dean were on their third burger, while she was still on her first. She glanced over at Sam and noted he'd eaten just as much as the other two, but was better at disguising it. Maybe he just had better table manners.

But Bobby stayed the night. The next morning he said he was going to Cedar City, Utah to pay his respects at Jack Hayes' grave, and that threw the Winchesters for a loop. With Bobby and Elena talking in the kitchen, the brothers stole to the living room.

"I thought he would stay a little longer. Make sure she was okay," Dean said. Sam looked over at Elena, talking calmly and even smiling a little here and there.

"Well…she looks like she's holding up all right," he said. "And I've already found us a case in Wisconsin. Possible vengeful spirit."

"Yeah, you're probably right," Dean said after a moment. They had already stayed too long as it was, and she had things to get to—a job and friends here in the city. The longer they stayed, the more she would be reminded of Jack. "We're just holding up her life here."

Sam saw the bit of disappointment in his brother's eyes, even if to anyone else his expression would seem blank.

But Elena walked Bobby to the door, thanked him again for coming to see her and for sending her help when she called.

"I just wished I coulda done more," he said, and after a brief nod, "…You know you can always call me."

She nodded, the corner of her mouth lifting. He gave a flicker of a smile.

"Take care of yourself. You too, boys…you know where I'll be, if you need anything."

The three of them watched his car pull out of the driveway and down the road. Dean was the one to reluctantly break the silence.

"We should be heading out too, Lena." She looked up at him with a sort of resigned look, though he could see she didn't really want to see them go.

"Yeah, I figured as much."

They went back inside to grab their bags and Elena made them some sandwiches for the ride.

"Something not flash-fried in grease," she teased, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"We'll keep in touch," Sam promised, and her smile turned a bit more sincere.

"You better," she said, and he gave her a warm hug. When she pulled away and looked over at Dean, she could smile a bit more, despite this being goodbye for now. The hug he gave her was tight and just as warm as his brother's, and unlike before when she was blinded by grief, she could actually enjoy it.

"Thanks, Dean," she whispered in his ear.

"No need," he said, and finally pulled away.

He and Sam walked out the door, and it felt like they were taking something with them.

And it took her all of five seconds to run out after them, nearly knocking into Dean who had barely cleared the steps of the porch.

"Whoa, whoa, what's the matter?" he asked in alarm, steadying her by grabbing her arms.

"Do you need a hand out there?"

"…What?"

"Can I come with you?" she rephrased. Dean let go of her once he thought she was set on her feet. After a few seconds of staring at her hopeful expression, he sighed.

"Let's talk inside."

"Lena, you've got a whole life here," said Sam sighed. "To be honest, there was a time where I would've been jealous of that. You've got a job, coworkers, friends, a house. You want to give it up to hunt?"

Elena's mouth twitched into a melancholy smile.

"Sam…" She shook her head and sighed. "I only took that position at the museum so I could stay in Hill City…so my dad would have somewhere to come back to. Now what the hell is left?"

It was as Sam thought. She'd never really liked it, even if it paid the bills. He looked over at Dean, who sat on the edge of the couch's arm, arms crossed with a pensive look.

"Even if you do want to hunt," said Dean, "It shouldn't be with us."

Sam and Elena gave him a confused look.

"We don't attract the nicest of people…or things," he explained, and understanding lit Sam's expression. "You'd be better off going with someone like Bobby."

"Come on, Dean. We've hunted together before," she said.

"It's not like how it used to be…look, Lena, you've been through a lot," he said, and looked into her eyes, a bit sad and confused. His were serious, and honest. They were in some deep shit right now, and she was out of practice. "Back in Cedar City, I promised we would have your back, and we almost got you killed…I'm not doing it again."

The silence was tense, but Elena looked up at Dean with honest eyes, revealing the vulnerability there.

"Everything about this house…is a memory. Everything about this town…" She stopped herself and forced a sigh, collecting herself. "It was me trying to hold onto something that just wasn't there. And I still want to help you break your deal, Dean. Especially after everything you two did to help me."

The mention of his deal made Sam look over at Dean in surprise that he actually told her about it, but Dean ignored him for now.

"The way I see it," she said, "I owe you."

"No you don't," he refuted, point blank. "Let's just clear that. I wasn't anglin' for a favor, and we don't need one."

Elena crossed her arms and tilted her head at him, her gaze firm. "But you've got one anyway."

He breathed a sigh through his nose and crossed his own arms in front of him. He honestly didn't get her. He couldn't even help her, why would she want to help him?

"…Fine. But there might come a time when I say you're done. And if I say you're done, I'm taking you back here or to Bobby's. Understand?"

She gave the ghost of a real smile.

"Deal."