They picked up Emma's trail almost immediately. She didn't see the boys in their stolen minivan as she performed a U-turn and doubled back, parking round the back of the neighbouring diner.
Dean smiled grimly. "You gotta hand it to her Sammy, I'd never have started looking that close to home. Okay lets get this done." He pulled up behind the Impala and unlocked it using Sam's keys. Quickly rifling through their supply of fake ID's he held up two wallets. I've got CDC or US Marshals. Sick or criminal?"
"Whatever, sighed Sam as he pocketed a pair of handcuffs."
"Let's do both, smirked Dean. "Escaped nut job."
They spotted her sitting hunched down in a booth, going through the contents of her purse "Hello, little one," Dean murmured as they both slid into the booth, one on either side of her. Dean's deep, rumbling voice sent a shiver of fear down her spine as her head snapped up. "Oh crap," she exclaimed, looking from one to the other.
Dean smiled wickedly, enjoying her look of horror. "What's the matter, sweetheart, weren't you expecting us?"
"No way!" she declared forcefully. "This isn't happening. I'm safe now and the police are on the way. I just called them so you'd better take off."
Dean leaned in closer and Emma put both hands on his chest to push him back. From behind, Sam quickly frisked her and retrieved Dean's phone. He scrolled through recent calls and was relieved to see that the last number displayed was Bobby. He tossed the phone to Dean with a quick shake of his head.
"I used the payphone over…" her head spun around looking for a payphone.
"Emma, shut the f….hell up! We followed you in here and you didn't have time. Now you listen up because I mean this," he warned. "I swear to God, if I have to, I'll pick your sorry little ass up and carry you kicking and screaming out to the car!"
"Oh that will go down well with the locals," she sneered. "See those huge truckers sitting at the counter. They wouldn't let you get ten yards!"
Dean smirked and flipped open his wallet. Emma peered down at a US Marshall ID showing a smartly suited and smug looking Dean.
"He's got a matching one," said Dean, nodding towards a more sympathetic looking Sam. "So I suggest you don't embarrass yourself darlin' cause nobody would lift a finger."
Emma ground her teeth with rage and looked around for a possible rescuer. Sam rolled his eyes at Dean's handling of the situation and tried a calmer, more reasonable approach. He stood and gently took hold of one of Emma's elbows.
"Emma, I'm truly sorry but I'm afraid that this isn't open to negotiation," he stated firmly. "You have my word we're going to get this sorted, but I need you to do exactly as you're told. Now walk quietly to the car."
"Oh yeah. That will work," grinned Dean, reaching for his badge and his weapon at the same time.
Right on cue, Emma started creating. She screamed out that Dean had a gun. Most of the customers shot under their tables or dropped to the floor. A couple of the truckers leapt to their feet and foolishly took a step towards Sam and Emma.
Holding his badge up, Dean called out. "Everybody stay calm. US Marshals." He beckoned one the truckers forward to inspect his badge.
"There's no cause for alarm." Sam stated calmly. "This young woman absconded from a secure psychiatric unit. We need to take her back for the treatment she needs."
"Don't listen to him!" she cried. " They're both nut jobs. Please, you have to believe me"
One of the other truckers moved closer and looked at their badges. He shrugged and said to Emma. "I'm sorry Miss."
"No listen," pleaded an increasingly desperate Emma. "They think I'm a witch and this one wants to drown me and they even made me..."
Putting on his most caring face Dean interrupted her babbling. "Miss, please. Don't make this any harder on yourself." He smiled apologetically at their waitress as he dropped some cash on the table. "Sorry for the scare folks. Enjoy your meals."
The waitress looked at Emma sympathetically and said, "I'm so sorry. Best you go with them and let them take care of things. You get well honey."
Taking Emma firmly by both upper arms, Sam steered her towards the door. When they got outside and out of sight Dean leaned towards her and hissed, "When I get you somewhere alone, I'm gonna kick your little bitch ass, so help me. You stole my freakin' car!"
"Oh stop whining. There isn't that much damage. Well, nothing a little panel beating, some T-cut..."
Sam was alarmed by the murderous expression on his brothers face. "Enough Dean! She's yanking your chain."
Dean grabbed hold of her shoulders, shaking her hard, his fingers digging in painfully. "You ever pull anything like this again, I swear to God, I'll beat the crap out of you."
"Never happen." she mocked. "You ever lay one cloven hoof on me, I'll cut your throat whilst you're sleeping."
"You listening to this Sam? Still think she needs your protection?"
He threw Emma roughly back towards Sam who caught and steadied her. Putting her hands on his chest, she reared back and broke his hold.
Tossing Sam the keys to the van, Dean moved up quietly behind her. Slowly and deliberately, he wrapped one hand around her throat, the other around her waist, using just enough force to hold her still, but not enough to cause any real pain. His strength was terrifying, even more so because she knew he was struggling to hold his rage in check. Dean ducked his head down to bring his lips against her ear. Very calmly, he murmured, "Not one more freaking word from you or I swear to God, I'll finish you."
Emma felt the adrenalin drain from her body. Her legs started shaking and if Dean hadn't been holding her so tightly, she'd have dropped. Staying in the shadow of the diners' porch, Dean watched Sam bring the stolen car over. As he started to release his grip, he felt Emma tense, ready to make another break for freedom. His voice was still dangerously soft as his hand snaked out and grabbed her wrist. "You just settle down," he said with quiet deliberation, as he led her back to Sam's car. Aware that the people in the diner could now see them, he put a careful hand on the top of her head, then gently pushed her down into the rear of the car before taking the cuffs from Sam and securing her hands to the passenger headrest.
Sam and Emma watched him stride over to the Impala. He moved around his car, giving her a good looking over before getting in and following Sam. "Emma," sighed Sam. "If you ignore everything else I tell you, just listen to this. Don't ever mess with Dean's car because even I couldn't protect you."
"That's truly pathetic. He does know it's just an old, kind of ugly car, right? Drives like a tank. I wouldn't be seen dead in a heap of crap like that."
"Say that to Dean and you just might," sighed Sam. "You had an out just now. Why didn't you phone for help?"
"Like Dean said, I didn't have time."
"Who's looking for you Emma? What are you running from?"
"None of your business."
"So what brought you to Mount Angel?" persisted Sam
"Job opportunities are limited this close to the end of the semester. It's a nice little town and I love my kid's. It was that or Toad Suck, Arkansas."
"You made that up!" grinned Sam.
"No, it's a place. I hear it's all right really."
"So you left San Francisco in a hurry."
Emma ignored him. She was looking at the headrest and working out how to remove it.
"You're not planning on letting us help you are you?"
"Well duh! What do you think? Stick around with a couple of deluded psychos or rabbit to safety. However will I choose?"
They stopped in a deserted looking industrial area and abandoned their second car. The boys' agreed that they had to move on despite their exhaustion. Emma had drawn too much attention to herself. Dean still refused to let Sam drive. Twice over the next hour Sam caught Dean's eye's drooping. When the car strayed over onto the wrong side of the road Sam yelled out a warning and grabbed at the wheel. Dean was furious. "Hey! No need for hands on, I was on it!"
"Out of it more like. Dean pull over man. Come on!"
Dean refused to hand his car over to his equally exhausted brother and a shouting match followed.
"Ooh…catfight! Can I watch?" grinned a delighted Emma.
Both boys turned in their seats and yelled, "Shut up!" Dean added, "Just one more word out of you and swear to God, I'll tie your ass back up and you can spend the rest of the journey face down on the freakin' floor."
"Been there, done that and I have to tell you Dean, you need to think about cleaning this heap of crap up a little."
Dean ground his teeth. Nobody talked about the Impala like that. He didn't give her the satisfaction of a response. Emma tried again. "Which one of you lost your special interest magazine? It's down there too if you need it." They continued to ignore her, but Emma grinned as she watched the back of Sam's neck turning brick red. She ducked down and pretended to search under the drivers seat. "Oh Dean! I've found your panties. At least I think they're yours. Can't see sweet Sammy in red and black."
"Can I shoot her yet Sam? Can I.?"
"Not while you're driving Dude. Just pull over when you see a good spot."
Emma had a plan. If she could be as obnoxious as possible, whilst at the same time avoiding a bullet in the back of the head, they might just cut their losses and dump her. Not the best plan, but it passed the time whilst she came up with something better. She rambled on, pouring scorn on their belief in the supernatural, their lifestyle, the car and finally Sam's need for a haircut. To his credit, Dean swallowed every insult and managed to appear outwardly indifferent.
"Oh God I'm so bored! I'm on a road trip with dumb and dumber. This is what my life has been reduced to."
Sam grabbed the first tape he could reach and rammed it in the player, before cranking up the volume in an attempt to drown her out. Dean grinned and started to relax a little as the sound of 'Back in Black' by ACDC filled the car. His relief was short lived. She started to sing along with the lyrics. As the song progressed, she managed to hit every single note just off key or outright flat. She also substituted random words. Sam had to admire her talent. She was obviously very familiar with the song and her deliberate muck-up was truly masterful. He snapped the music off quickly before Dean had a stroke. Emma wasn't going to be silenced. Using her feet to tap out the rhythm on the back of their seats, she started on Ted Nugent's 'Stranglehold.'
"That's it! Enough's enough. You're coming on a hunt."
"I don't do blood sports."
"This one will be bloodless sweetheart, unless you do us all a favour and get yourself starched. Sam!" he snapped. "What have we got that's still outstanding?"
"We got the time for this man?" Sam asked doubtfully.
"It's this or I take her into the woods and put a bullet to her right now!"
Sam sighed and started tapping away on his laptop. After a few minutes he said, "Not that much. Still heading towards Bobby, there's a salt and burn in Hays that's been waiting a while, but he's not that active. We might have to hang about for a spell."
"Hell no Sam!" shuddered Dean as he looked at Emma in his rear view mirror. "What else have you got?"
"Jeff Roberts has been tracking some vampires. He's wiped out most of the nest and thinks there are no more than two left. Police are reporting a suspicious death due to extreme blood loss in Colby."
"Sounds like our thing. Won't Reynolds be pissed off if we jump in?"
"No. I heard he's been nabbed by the Fed's. Gone to super max for multiple counts of decapitation."
"God!" huffed Emma from the back. "You boys know the nicest people."
"Vampires on her first trip out? I don't know Dude. It's a little harsh."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," snarled Dean. "I think our girl here has earned something a bit special, don't you?"
"Ooooh, vampires. For real? Can I be Buffy? Can I?"
Both men ignored her as she jumped about and yanked on the back of their seats. Emma slumped back and folded her arms, pretending to sulk. "I bet Dean always has to be Buffy doesn't he?"
Dean started bickering with Emma again five miles outside of Burlington, Colorado, on the seemingly endless Interstate 70. He realised that he was just too tired to keep driving. They hadn't had a decent nights sleep since before they picked the girl up. He pulled into the first motel with a vacancy sign. Even by Winchester standards it was a dive. Inevitably, Emma launched into another tirade as Dean returned with the key.
"Emma," barked Sam. "I've had enough. You too Dean…I can't do this any more. Just move."
Emma looked towards Sam with wary expression. Sam was the voice of reason. The one who protected her from Dean. He wasn't allowed to get mad with her. "Emma! Do it!" he snarled. "Don't make me move you."
"Lighten up Rapunzel! God! Keep your hair on!" she muttered as she stalked off.
Dean grinned after her and turned to look at Sam. Sam just glared at him, daring him to say another word. Dean rolled his eyes, then grabbed a couple of bags and followed Emma into the room. Sam leaned back against the car for a moment and took a deep breath. He wasn't joking when he said he couldn't take any more. This situation had to be resolved before one of them actually killed the other.
When he felt ready, he moved reluctantly towards the motel room. Even before he reached the door he could hear the start of the next battle.
"No way I'm sleeping on the sofa. I get one bed. Stretch will never fit, so he gets the other. It's your turn Winchester, so suck it up! I know. Why don't you go sleep with your car? Go on, you know you want to!
As Sam walked in Emma was already lying across the bed, her tiny frame trying to take up as much space as possible. Dean always slept in the bed nearest the door. It was just another one of those protective things he did that exasperated his brother.
"Not gonna happen," snapped Dean as he dumped his bag down beside her. Emma booted his stuff across the room. With a roar Dean lunged at her, only to be intercepted by Sam.
"Dean! Take off. Just go find a bar, get hammered, get laid, I don't care. Just go. I've got her tonight."
Dean collected his wallet, weapon and keys and moved to the door.
"Happy hunting Dean," she hissed. "Hope you catch something. Slag!
Sam stared open mouthed at Emma. She had the decency to blush and look away.