Chapter 4

Less than a day later, the two of us are on my motorcycle on the way to Sam's new apartment. The wind in my face feels great and brings me back to Earth; back down from the high I've been on since Dean knocked on my door. We park outside Sam's block and look at each other. I knew I hadn't seen Sam in four months and I was nervous, but God knows how long it had been for Dean in Hell.

I knock on the door and we stand back. A girl a little taller than me with dark red hair, pale skin and cherry red lips answers the door. She smiles friendlily, "Can I help you?" she asks.

I look over to Dean who is just staring at her in silence so I speak instead. "Is Sam here?" I ask.

"Yeah, who are you?"

Smart, I say to myself; Sam must have told her something. "I'm Vicky, and this is Dean. I'm Sam's sister."

The girls face lights up. "Really? That's great! I'm Erica by the way. Wait here until I get him, okay?" she speaks in a rush and turns her back to us. "Sam, your sister's here!" She turns back around and smiles and I return the favour.

Dean just keeps staring at her. Sam rounds the corner and freezes on the spot the moment he sees us. He looks great; I can't help thinking when I see him. "Erica, get back here." He says, pulling her back to him. I roll my eyes; I totally saw this coming. "Sam, it's us, I swear." I walk into the room and Sam flinches. "Got any water for us?" I ask, hinting heavily.

"In the fridge." He nods towards the kitchen, while keeping his arms around Erica, who quite frankly just looks a little confused.

I know I've passed the demon trap when Sam's posture relaxes slightly. I walk over to the fridge and predictably right at the back, behind the beer; is Holy water, perfect. "Hey, Dean!" I throw him a bottle and he gulps some down.

This whole time Erica's huge hazel eyes are watching our every move with Sam absentmindedly stroking her arm reassuringly.

Then I take out my favourite knife which (as Sam knows) is made of pure silver, and I make a small cut across my palm and hand the knife to Dean who does the same thing. Once this is done I stare Sam in the eyes, "I told you; it's us."

His face is unreadable and I wonder if he's just trying to protect Erica from the truth, even though personally; I don't think she needs protecting. Eventually he just asks us, "What are you doing here?" I look at Dean, silently signalling that I can answer this. "Well, when Dean turned up outside my front door this morning, perfectly, well… alive; I figures I should probably let you know."

Sam looks pointedly at Erica, warning me not to say anything to tip her off about our life. "Oh, and we need Dad's stuff," I tell him, "Not all of it though, just the stuff with his contacts."

Sam nods. "Sure, I'll get them for you." He walks away but his arm stays on Erica's arm for a moment, his face concerned. She whispers something to him quietly and he leaves the room.

"Can I get you anything?" Erica asks politely. "Got a beer?" asks Dean, throwing himself down on the nearest chair and I glare at him but he just smiles cheekily back.

"So, Erica, how long have you known Sam?" I ask, really interested.

"Three months and a bit." She answers and sits down beside Dean and me. "But we've only been living together for just under a month."

"Wow." Says Dean; obviously thinking that Sam didn't hesitate to start his new life. I elbow him swiftly and he grunts.

Sam comes back in and I rise out of my seat to take the box out of his hands. "Thanks so much for this, Sam, and sorry to have called." I say, as if we barely knew each other. Dean gets up and follows me to the door. I put my hand on the door but then turn back around to say something to Sam.

"Sammy, we can do this without you, but it would be great if you could join us. So, if you're around, maybe give me a call or something, 'kay?"

"Yeah." Sam says, putting his arm around Erica's shoulders. "And Dean?" he calls as I turn away again. Here it comes, I say to myself. "It's good to see you, man." He says and I smile to myself. "Yeah," Dean says. "You too."

I close the door behind us. "Well!" says Dean, his face so indignant that I burst out laughing. "It's not funny Vick." He says, only making me laugh even more. Eventually I calm down enough to actually listen to him.

"So I die and come back to life- and that's how he treats me?" Dean says, thoroughly offended. "Dean, just let it go. It's not like he could say half the things he would have it Erica hadn't been there."

We start walk down the hall and Dena smiles to himself. "Speaking of Erica, damn, did you see that ass?"

I look at him, completely horrified. "Dean!"

"What? It's true, I mean, wow."

I stop walking and glare at him. "Stop it. That's Sam's girlfriend you're talking about."

"Yeah, and she's hot!"

"Dean, you're scarring me for life, now shut up." Dean laughs and we climb onto my motorbike. "Let's get out of here."

We're back at the hotel and I'm lying on the bed. Dean's sitting beside the door, the both of us looking through Dad's stuff. I glance over at my brother again, as I have been doing repeatedly for the past ten minutes.

"Okay, why are you smiling? Is there something on my face?" asks Dean and I shake my head, laughing. "I'm just glad you're back. I really missed you."

Dean looks up at me, his face scared. "Don't worry," I assure him. "No chick flick moments." He smiles. "No chick flick moments."

The next day, Dena and I walk into the local bar together where we're meeting Sam and Erica, who now knows everything- and I mean everything. They're sitting in a corner booth at the back talking to each other. I can't see Erica's expression, but Sam's is serious.

He looks up and catches my eye as we walk towards them. He says something to Erica, who nods. I slide in beside Erica and smile across at Sam. "Hi!" I give Erica a quick hug, leaving her slightly surprised. What can I say, I'm a friendly person. I turn around to Erica and start up a little conversation.

"So, you know everything, huh?" I ask. She laughs openly. "Yeah, I used to I was weird, but now…" she shakes her head exasperatedly and I laugh in agreement.

The waitress comes over and takes our orders. "Sam," I say. "We found a psychic. Her name is Pamela Barnes. I rang her up and asked if she could help, and she said she'd do whatever she could."

"Help how?" asks Sam rudely and I respond in the exact cold tone.

"I want to know how Dean got out of Hell, even if you don't." I tell him and Erica is quick to defend her boyfriend.

"Sam wants to know too, Vicky. It's just, how is she supposed to help? Ask the spirits or something?"

I hate to admit it to myself, but she has a point.

"I was talking to her too, don't worry, she can help us." Says Dean confidently. "Sam, please. Anything is worth the shot."