A/N: Sorry about the long wait. Things have been crazy at work and time is not my friend.

4

With effort Hermione opened her eyes as sunlight poured into the room. She winced as pain shot through her. "Of course I have a hangover," she muttered to herself, "That's what happens when you chug half a bottle of cheap whiskey." She knew she had something for it in her bag, but when she went to move she found herself restrained. She felt a momentary panic rise in her chest, but calmed down when she saw a pair of arms wrapped around her. Not just any arms, they were his arms. She thought about just staying there wrapped in him and never moving again. She wanted to live in the memories of him being there, but it was not to be. Dean stirred and let go of her, "What the hell?" he asked.

Hermione blushed, "Don't ask me. I guess I fell asleep, and when I woke up you were holding me. I should be asking that." Dean narrowed his eyes, "You listen to me Glinda!" Hermione spun to look at him, "Glinda?" Dean chuckled, "Never saw the wizard of Oz?"

Hermione felt more disappointment, "Glenda," she said, "You always said I was too feisty to simply be Glinda." Dean smirked, "We'll see on that, but in the meantime where do we go?" The witch looked at him and smirked, "Your favorite past time, research."

They both sprang into action when the doorknob started moving. The room door opened and Sam came in to find himself staring down the barrel of Dean's gun and Hermione's wand. "Hey guys," he said innocently, "Coffee?" Hermione found herself chuckling a bit as she put her wand away. She couldn't help it; she liked Sam even if he was destined to destroy the world, and Dean, well Dean was Dean, now even more so. "Coffee sounds delightful," she said as she disentangled herself from him. "Wow," Dean commented, "Could you be any more British?" Hermione sent her elbow backwards catching him in the ribs, "Be careful," she warned, "I can get worse." It was strange, last night he was willing to put a bullet in her, but now he was acting she was a person at least. He rolled over and got off the bed, "Witch says we need to do research."

As Hermione was about to say something, it was Sam who spoke up, "Dean, you could be a little nicer. It's obvious that she's not evil and you're just being prejudicial. Let it go man." Dean grumbled as he put his boots on and snagged his coffee from Sam, so much for a quick change in Dean. Oh well, more pressing concerns than her love life. "Fine," Dean grumbled, "So where to?" Hermione shrugged, "I'm here and nobody should be looking for me until my daughter finishes school for the term. So long as you promise not to shoot me again, I'll help out where I can while we research the new apocalypse."

Dean didn't look thrilled, but Sam was much more open to the prospect, "She'll need some training," he said to his older brother. "Fine, "Dean groaned out as he flopped back down into the bed, "Thanks Cas," he muttered sarcastically. As Dean pulled himself from the bed he looked at her, "Vampire," he said without acknowledging her in his way. Hermione sighed, "Decapitation," she said knowing he would have no interest in the magical ways of dealing with them. Dean nodded as he threw some shirts into his bag, "Let's go."

Hermione fell in behind Dean as he marched out of the cheap motel room and over to a large black car. She saw the sun gleam off of the car and the twinge of pride that Dean had in his eye when he looked at it. This had to be the Impala. She remembered stories about his life and growing up in this car. She also remembered him getting misty eyed when he talked about its destruction like he lost a member of his family. As she stood next to the car she couldn't help but press her palm to the gleaming black paint, "She's so beautiful." Dean's eyes sparkled, "She's my baby," he said like a proud father.

Without another word she slid into the cars back seat while Sam climbed in the front, "Where to Sammy?" Dean asked his brother. Hermione leaned forward, "I have an idea." Dean narrowed his eyes, "You don't get an opinion yet." She flopped back into her seat with a pout. "Dean," Sam said with a sympathetic tone in his voice, "She's not tried to hurt anyone yet, maybe you should cut her some slack." Dean looked at his broth and a brief hint of annoyance covered his face, "She's here because Cas says she should be, but she ain't our friend. If she earns trust we might listen, but until then we're simply babysitting the witch."

Hermione caught Sam's apologetic look as she focused on anything that wasn't Dean. She knew he was hard headed, but to have to go through all the prejudice again was heartbreaking. The thunderous engine came to life and Hermione watched the world shift as the car began to move. She had to admit that it had been too long since she had ridden in a car. As they pulled out of town and onto the interstate Hermione stared out the window of the car until she felt something poke her arm. Looking down, she saw a small toy soldier in the ash tray, "Hey what's with the soldier?" she asked nonchalantly. Dean grunted, "Everyone has their scars, even Baby." She made a few more attempts to start a conversation, but Dean wasn't having it. It was looking like she was going to spend a lot of time in her head, and that was never a good thing. She sat in silence staring out the car as the American scenery passed by. Before long she felt boredom begin to creep in and her eyes began to grow heavy.

Hermione grunted as she smacked into a gravestone. She felt the telltale snap that was one of her ribs. "I bloody hate demons," she muttered to herself as she clawed her way to her hands and feet. She didn't know that this was a demon nest or she would have brought more than herself. Having long ago run out of holy water this appeared to be her last hoorah. Watching as one of the black eyed monsters stalked towards her she dove for her lost wand. As she retrieved it and spun she saw the demon fall dead, "What in the hell?"

As the demon fell she saw a tall handsome man with short cropped hair pull a knife out of the demon's back. "What are you doin here Sweetheart?" he asks in a gruff, but caring voice. Hermione groaned and she picked herself up off the ground and gasped in pain. Yep those ribs were definitely broken, "Same as you I gather, hunting demons." He smirked at her. As condescending as it was she couldn't help but find it attractive.

Hermione found herself pulled from his features as a demon snuck up on him. Without thinking she swung out her wand, "Bombarda!" she shouted and the demon's meatsuit exploded. As she turned back to the attractive man she found herself staring down the barrel of a gun, "Witch," he muttered and he pulled the trigger. She felt searing hot pain explode in her as he mind overloaded from the pain she was already in causing the whole world to go black.

Hermione shot up from the hole she had dug herself in the back seat and nearly hyperventilated until she got her bearings. "Hey, no witch crap in the car," Dean said as he looked at her using the rear view mirror. Hermione sighed, "I woke up from a nap genius," she blurted as she rolled her eyes at the man. Sam looked at her apologetically, but knew better than to say something against his brother. "So where are we heading?" Dean smirked, "Little Rock, we got ourselves a ghost." Hermione smirked, "Standard salt and burn then?"

They spent another six hours in the car until Dean finally stopped for gas, "Rest stop Glinda, back in five." She felt her muscles protest and she climbed out of the massive black car and began stretching. She made her way into the old petrol station and promptly found the single restroom in the back. Not wanting to think about the state of it she held her breath and opened the door.

Outside Dean was filling the car and noticed Hermione come out with a shopping bag. "They sell hex supplies at Seven Eleven now?" he asked jokingly. She rolled her eyes grabbed a bottle out of the bag and shoved it into his chest, "And here I just thought I would do something nice since they had your favorite brand of root beer." Without another word she climbed into the back seat before he could see the small tear escape. Before long the boys climbed back into the car and they pulled out for the final leg of their journey.

Within a couple of hours they pulled up to a small motel on the outskirts of town. Sam got out to secure a room while Dean found a place to park the car, "Thanks," he said gruffly, "For the soda." Hermione allowed a small grim to show, "Any time," she said. Sam slowly walked back to the car and got in, "They need an hour to get the room ready," he said nonchalantly, "Food?" Before long they were sitting in a booth at the local Bigerson's restaurant looking over the menu. "Hey they have the Turducken again," Dean said with a smile. Hermione looked at Sam "Isn't that the?" Sam nodded and took the menu from his brother, "Why do you eat that thing?" Dean did his best to look indignant, "It's not like Dick the dick is around to dick with the food." HE then turned to Hermione, "And how did you know?"

Hermione mentally kicked herself for saying something stupid again, but did her best to smile at him, "You told me."

She didn't say another word for the rest of the meal. After they finished eating Hermione threw some American muggle money on the table and excused herself outside to wait for the boys. "Dude," Sam said, "I know you're not big on witches, but she doesn't seem so bad." Dean stared at her through the large window, "No, she doesn't. I just don't like her being as familiar as she is with what's in my gourde. She knew about things I would never tell anyone Sammy." Sam considered what his brother said as he counted tip to leave on the table, "She's from the future Dean, maybe you do. Either way, lighten up on her. She's been through enough." Without another word Dean grabbed his jacket and got up from the table.

They arrived back at the motel to find that Sam had requested a third bed be set up in the room for Hermione. Sam settled in to continue reading the book Hermione had lent him and Dean went to take a shower and shave. Hermione on the other hand decided she needed a moment and grabbed her bag and slipped out of the room.

Twenty minutes later Dean stepped out of the motel room when he found Hermione missing. At first he was so angry at her missing that he grabbed his gun to put her down, but his anger died in his chest when he found her simply sitting on a bench with a bottle of liquor in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other. "Those things will kill ya," he said sympathetically taking the seat next to her. To his surprise she smirked and a small chuckle escaped her thin lips, "It's not a full time habit," she responded, "It helps me clear my head." Dean nodded as he pointed towards the bottle, "You mind?"

Hermione shook her head as he put the bottle to his lips and took a swig. Almost immediately he started coughing fireballs, "Slow down there Tex," she said through a barely contained smile, "You don't drink fire whiskey like it's water until you've adapted to it. Slow sips." Dean looked at her like she was nuts but tip a sip instead. He felt warmth in his chest and a few small sparks came out on his exhale, "Better?" Hermione asked. She stamped out the remains of her cigarette, "I'm sorry, "she said quietly, "I know there are things I shouldn't bring up. It's so easy to forget, I'm not used to watching what I say around you."

Dean looked at this woman, who was wrong by every instinct and lesson he had learned in his life. She was sad, broken, and he could tell she had a mean streak, but evil? Nothing about her screamed evil, "What was I like in the future?" Hermione looked at his eyes. His eyes held so much pain and weariness, but they were younger and still they were fuller of hope than she remembered. "You were a right foul git," she answered with a mischievous smirk, "You swore too much, you drank too much, you fought too much, and I adored you. You taught my daughter how to hunt when I was dragged to Hell." Dean's eyes widened, "You went to Hell?"

"Yes," Hermione responded, "Demons kidnapped me as a present for their master. You and Rose stormed the gates of Hell and got me back. Once we got back to our safehouse we made love for the first time, and you told me your story." Dean felt his heart shatter for her, "Come on, let's get some sleep. Ghosts will be out in a couple hours" They went inside, and to Dean's surprise he found himself wrapping his arms around her as she leaned in to him. It felt strange because he didn't know the witch, but it also felt right. He doubted they would need the third bed.

A/N:Hope you are enjoying so far please read and review.