A/N: I'm back! Thank you for reviewing the last chapter. Now it's time to get on with the story!

Chapter 6

Dean blocked the attack with his left arm and then tried to swing in right arm around. But the woman in front of him was quicker. She grasped his arm and twisted it to the side. It gave her the opening to kick him in the stomach, forcing him to stumble backwards with a grunt.

Quickly getting his balance back, he charged towards the brunette. But she twisted and kicked her left leg out, connecting with his chest.

Dean suddenly felt the air leave his body. He stumbled and grabbed his chest and fell to his knees, trying to get the breath back in. Damn, he was out of practice.

"Are you okay?"

Dean looked up into the green eyes of his 'attacker'. She wasn't exactly an attacker, though.

"I'm fine, Mel," Dean sighed, "Just winded."

He stood back up to prove that he was fine, and then smiled.

"Looks like someone isn't out of practice. Guessing you had to fight a few demons off while in Hell."

Mel's soft features turned into a harsh frown. Dean couldn't help but feel guilty. She kept saying she didn't remember Hell, but Dean had an idea that it was something she was choosing to forget. Him bringing it up now and then wasn't really helping.

"You know I don't remember it, Dean," she said quietly, "But it looks like you are out of practice. Want to keep going?"

"I need a drink first." Dean shook his head. They could get back to training later. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to get her back into fighting so soon after coming back from Hell. He had hoped that it would help both of them. Dean would feel like the old Dean again, and Mel would feel safer. He'd guessed that was partially the reason for her not coming back to bed last night.

Dean had woken up at 5:30 to find that she still wasn't in the bed with him. When he went downstairs, he worried when she wasn't in the living room or kitchen. He'd checked to see that the Mustang was still in the driveway, where he'd left it last night, and his Impala was in the garage. There were only two places that he thought were possible. He checked the basement first and found her working out some frustration on the punching bag. Judging by the sweat running down her body, she had been there for some time and showed no sign of letting up. That's when Dean suggested they spar against each other. It was one of the things he missed over the last 10 months.

Dean walked up the stairs to the kitchen, half expecting it to be empty. But everyone was gathered round. By everyone, he meant everyone who lived there. The faces he'd been used to seeing right now. Leo, Chris and Dana sat around the small kitchen table, drinking coffee.

Dana glanced over with a worried look in her eyes, and Dean felt two hands grasp his sweaty t-shirt. The two girls were clearly worried about each other. This had been the first chance Dana and Mel got to see each other after his girlfriend coming back from the dead. Dana had been dealing with a charge, and Mel and Dean had chosen to turn in for the night before she got back. He'd guessed that Chris had filled her in when he got a chance.

"It's great to see you, Mel." Dana finally spoke.

"You, too." Mel nodded and then kissed Dean on the cheek before walking out of the room. Dean sighed disappointedly. This wasn't going to be as easy as he'd hoped. The family was weary and Mel was clearly worried. He would need to play the gap between everyone. It wasn't like he wasn't used to doing that. He regularly played the bridge between his father and his brother. How would this be any different?

"You've already got her training?" Chris now asked, standing up and pulling out pans to make a start on breakfast.

"She was down there when I woke up this morning," Dean explained, "She didn't sleep so great."

"I'm not surprised," Leo admitted with a sigh, "10 months in Hell is like 100 years. I don't want to think what my poor little girl has been through in that time."

"You and me both, Leo," Dean admitted, grabbing himself some coffee and sitting down. There was one person who would be able to help bridge the gap between Mel and the rest of the family, "I'm trying. I was hoping sparing with her would get her talking about it but she keeps telling me that she doesn't remember. Judging by last night, I'm not sure how much truth is in that. When she was in bed, it was a restless sleep."

"It may be her subconscious," Dana explained, a little more at ease now that Melinda was out of the room, "She may remember things in her dreams and they may be slowly coming back to her. Think of it like any difficult event. How well do you remember the torture you suffered last year?"

"Not much." Dean had glimpses in his dreams now and then but his memory had automatically suppressed so much from that month of the sewers. He didn't really want to get the memories back, but they still came to him in the form of nightmares now and then.

"Our brains have a way to protect us from the worst things in life," Leo nodded his head with a small smile, "Hopefully, Mel's brain will protect her from the majority of Hell and she can get back to living her life."

"Maybe you should hold off the training," Chris pointed out, beating the eggs in a jug, "That's not going to help her."

"But she needs to be ready," Dean sighed, "We have no idea how she came back and demons could attack any day now to get her back."

"The best thing to do is let the whole family know," Dana suggested, "If everyone knows, they're all ready should demons come to take her back to Hell."

Dean knew that would be the best thing to do. The question was whether Melinda really wanted it to happen right now.

Mel let the warm water run over her body. The training had been good. It felt great to get back into it with Dean, and just go back into some sort of normal routine. Now if only he would stop asking her about Hell.

Of course she still had her skills. And it wasn't because of fighting off demons in the way he believed. She'd spent the last 50 years or so training young demons up. She taught them how to fight while Alistair taught them how to torture. She was one of the best in Hell after spending her whole life fighting. And she knew each of her family's weaknesses. It made sense for her to teach them.

Turning the shower off, she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body. She didn't really want to get out of the shower. It felt good on her muscles. But that was part of her humanity seeping through the cracks.

Sensing movement on the other side of the shower curtain, her defenses went up. Who had come into the bathroom while she was in here? Pulling back the curtain, she readied herself for a fight. But it just turned out to be Crowley.

Rolling her eyes, she stepped out of the shower and walked over to the mirror. Did he really have to come here again?

"Training with squirrel, are we?"

"It'll help to lure him down there," Mel shrugged her shoulders, "The more he feels he can trust me, the easier it will be to trap him."

Crowley had a look of impress on his face. Did he really think that she couldn't do this? Did he really worry that she would give into her humanity? Was he seeing that she was becoming torn at the idea?

That was how she'd ended up in the basement at some stupid time in the morning. She was torn. While she was still a demon, her humanity was coming back through. Being around her family and being with him was affecting her in ways that she didn't think would be possible as Queen of Hell. But nobody could know this. Neither her human family or her Hell family. She would have to deal with this herself.

"Just make sure it happens. We're wasting time."

"If you really wanted it to happen in your time, do it yourself," Mel shot back, seeing her eyes turn white—yes, white. She wasn't just any demon as the Queen of Hell—in the mirror. She calmed herself, and her green eyes came back, "If you want me to do it then you let me do it in my own time."

"I just want you back in my bed, Princess," Crowley smirked, "Say, when he falls asleep tonight, come back to Hell for a few hours."

Melinda glared at him through the mirror. He had gotten close behind her, and she could feel something—her imagination didn't need much help—hard against her. Before anything could happen, a knock at the door interrupted them.

"Mel?" Dean's voice called out, "You in there?"

"Erm, yeah," Mel called back without looking at the door. She turned to face Crowley and smirked, "Looks like duty calls."

She blew him a kiss and then turned to the door, opening it wide. She knew that Crowley would disappear before Dean could see him. Getting caught wasn't a worry for Mel. Dean seemed a little taken aback as Mel stood there with just a towel wrapped around her. One minute she would be so timid and quiet, and then she'd just look at him as if she was ready to rip the clothes of his body—and more. She became the Mel that he remembered. Maybe it was some sort of PTSD as she fought through memories that would come back.

"Are you wanting the shower?" Mel now asked, with an expectant look in her eyes.

"Erm, yeah, that's where I was heading," Dean nodded, "Want to join me?"

"I've just got out," Mel smiled sweetly, "I'm gonna get dressed. I'll see you soon."

With that, Mel brushed past him, causing her to frown. She wasn't quite the girl that she'd been 10 months ago. The old Mel wouldn't have passed up the chance to jump in the shower with him. Dean was brushing it off as her getting used to being alive again, but Mel was purposely keeping her distance. She couldn't let any more humanity come through, otherwise she would never get the job done.

The family crowded around the sun room. Phoebe and brought her girls over, while Paige had convinced Haley to come with her. Right now, the only people missing were Hen and his two girls. Dean had wondered whether Hen would come. He'd been through the worst over the last year. He'd lost his wife, almost lost his two girls and lost his sister. To make it worse, he'd found out that Holly had broken. The only saving grace was that Holly hadn't come after them...at least, not yet. Dean didn't put it past Crowley and the other demons to think sending Holly would be the best idea. Like they would be able to kill Holly. They'd want to save her.

"What are we here for, Dean?" Phoebe now asked, looking over at the older Winchester. Dean hadn't want to say anything until everyone was here. But he guessed everyone who was going to show up were here now.

"Will Hen make it?" Dean thought he'd double check with Paige.

"He's not returning my calls," Paige shook her head, "I'd guess not."

Dean nodded his head, just as the door to the house opened and slammed shut. Hope filled Dean's green eyes, but it quickly disappeared as Sam walked into the room.

"Hey!" Sam smiled, "Guess who I found outside."

Dean's eyes did light up when he saw the man behind Sam.

"Bobby!" Dean embraced the aging hunter in a warm hug and then looked over to Sam, "You called him."

"Last night." Sam nodded his head.

"Of course he did, you idjit," Bobby sighed, "Why didn't you? I ain't talked to you in..."

"I know, Bobby, I'm sorry," Dean sighed, "I'm guessing Sam's told ya."

"He told me everything." Bobby nodded his head and then looked at the family congregating in the sun room. It was clear they didn't know yet.

"What's going on?" Pru asked, "I need to get back to..."

"Mel's back." Dean cut off the young girl, knowing exactly what she was going to say, "I don't know how or why, but she's back."

"She's alive?" Hope filled Haley's eyes. If Mel was back then maybe, just maybe, her sister would return too. Maybe Holly was already back.

"Yeah. Erm...Mel?" Dean called towards the living room. Mel stepped into the room, offering a small wave. She'd noticed Sam and Bobby walk into the house, but they hadn't seen her. Obviously knowing where Dean would be, they wanted to get straight to him. That and she'd been perfectly still not to catch their attention.

"Mel!" Poppy squealed with excitement and rushed to her cousin. Mel felt the 17-year-old's arms wrap around her tightly, "Oh my God! You're alive. You're back and you're...I can't believe it."

"Believe it, Poppy-Lop," Mel smiled, wrapping her arms around Poppy, "I missed you." And that was the truth. She had missed Poppy, especially now that she'd seen her. Poppy was the one cousin she could connect with the most, despite the six-year age gap.

Phoebe, Paige and Patience followed suit, hugging Melinda tightly. So tightly that she needed to ask them to let her breath. After all, she needed to make it seem like she needed the air right now. Guilt spread through her. She was going to break them all very soon. Once she had Dean right where she needed him, she'd make it clear that she had played them this whole time; that she was really a demon. She was giving them their cousin/niece to them and would snatch her away just as they thought life could get somewhat back on track.

Two people had held back from the hugs. Mel looked between Pru and Haley. They were going to be the hardest ones to appease. Haley wanted her sister back, and Pru wanted Riley back. Neither would see them. Holly was...well, Holly was a fully-fledged demon now. She'd broken long before Mel and had made it clear that she was on the side of the King of Hell yesterday.

"How long?" Haley was the first to speak, "How long have you been back?"

Mel looked over to Dean, who answered for her telling them about the day before. Haley slowly nodded and then looked back at her cousin.

"And Holly?"

"I don't know, Hales," Mel shook her head with a quiet voice, "I don't remember seeing her. I don't remember much about Hell. There's snippets of blood and I hear screams now and then, but I don't...I don't remember anything detailed."

"So, you didn't see Riley there?" Pru now asked, tears in her eyes.

"Riley? No." Mel shook her head.

"I tried to find out yesterday, Pru." Dean spoke up, shuffling his feet. He wanted to find his friend, too. Now that Mel was back, he could spare some resources to help Pru. He would spare some resources, while helping Melinda at the same time. Maybe the others would start pitching in now that Mel was back too. They'd seen that one could be brought back, the others could too.

"What happened, Pru?" Mel asked, looking into her cousin's eyes.

"He went looking for you," Pru explained, "He said he was going to the demon bar and...he just never came back. We've looked and looked but..."

"You think he was caught." Mel nodded slowly, tears forming in her eyes. Part of her was sad for her cousin, but she had been the one to torture him day after day while in Hell. He was her project, her "pet" as Crowley often put it. Torturing him brought her amusement while in Hell, and kept demons sweet. There was regularly talk that she was just faking her evil streak, but who would fake it by torturing someone who used to be a friend?

She looked forward to the day that Dean was in Hell. She would definitely have fun with him to keep demons sweet. But he would also help pass the time in other, more inventive ways. Crowley would try to stop her, but she would make sure she got her way.

"I think it's been too much for her." Mel felt herself being pulled out of her thoughts by Dean's strong arms wrapping around her. She looked around the room and realized that her family was looking at her. They all had matching concerned expressions, including Sam and Bobby. The two hunters worried her the most. They were the ones more likely to see through her ruse. But they were human. They didn't have powers, and she could deal with them much quicker and easier. It made it easier now that they were both together.

"We need to tell Hen," Paige turned her attention to Haley, "There's hope that Holly will come back if Mel is back."

"And Riley," Pru turned to her mom with hope in her eyes, "We can get him back, right?"

"We will keep trying to find him, Pru," Phoebe agreed, "We don't know if he's in Hell but we will try everything."

"You'll help, won't you?" Pru looked at her cousin, fresh tears forming in her brown eyes. Mel couldn't do anything but nod her head. How could she say no? The old Mel wouldn't say no, would she?

"We'll all help." Dean stated, looking towards Sam with a hopeful glint. Sam quickly agreed, but Dean could see there was doubt in his eyes. There was doubt in Bobby's eyes. Did they doubt that Riley was alive or doubt that Mel was really Mel? He would have to find out later.

"I'm sorry, I need to...I..." Mel couldn't finish her sentence before she rushed out of the room. She went straight up the stairs to escape her family. It was too much, but not because of the reasons everyone else thought. She was struggling to stop emotions come flooding through. Struggling with the humanity that was forcing its way through cracks. It was seriously putting a dampener on this plan. Maybe she would have to take a trip back to Hell for a few hours—maybe days. It would be enough to reminder her of who she was now. Remind her of being the Queen of Hell.

"Hey, everything okay?" Dean asked, but he knew the answer really. He'd followed her out of the sun room and up the stairs. She'd gone straight for the room they were now sharing at the Manor, for some peace he could only guess.

"I just...I need some time," Mel turned around to face him, rubbing her eyes. She looked tired, and Dean wasn't really surprised. She's slept so little last night. It would bound to be taking its toll on her right now, "Do you mind if I just have some time to myself right now? Just a few hours?"

"No, of course," Dean nodded and kissed her forehead, "Take all the time you need. Just give me a shout if you want me."

He didn't really want to leave her, but he did need to sit down with Sam and Bobby to talk them through this. He needed to make them see that Mel was herself. She wasn't a demon. If she was, she'd have killed him by now. This would be the perfect time to talk to them about it, and give Mel the time she needed.

As Dean left the room, Mel closed the door behind her. She needed to get back to Hell.

With a click of her fingers, she was out of the Halliwell Manor and back in her room in Hell. She felt better already. The weight on her shoulders of constantly being around people from her old life was gone. She was back where she really belonged.

But the resent and distaste came back. She was back to loathing herself because of what she would be coming back to. It was Crowley.

Maybe getting Dean down here with her would be the best thing for her. They could overthrow Crowley and rule Hell together. That would be perfect.

With a grin about her newly forming plan, Mel walked out of her room to come face to face with two demons who seemed to be standing guard. They were taken aback by the Queen of Hell walking out of the room, especially dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. That was not the usual clothing for the Queen of Hell.

"My liege," one of the demons said as they bowed quickly, "We were not expecting you. The king said..."

"I know what the king probably told you," Mel waved them off and started walking down the hallway, "I'm back for now, though."

She went straight to the room that she knew her pet was being kept in. They wouldn't move him. Not without her permission. As she opened the door, she grinned. There he was bounded on a rack. He had obviously been tortured while she was gone. It made sense. A few hours on Earth was a few days in Hell.

"Mel!" Riley said from the rack in a hoarse voice.

"Pru's been asking about you," Melinda taunted, running her finger over a fresh cut. Riley cried out in pain, but she didn't stop. She just looked deep into her eyes, "She's scared. Misses you so much and wants to see you. How would you like me to bring her down here."

"Don't do it, Mel," Riley shook his head, "You need to fight all this. You need to go back to the witch that you are."

"You mean the witch you allowed to die?" Mel asked him, slamming her hand through Riley's chest and grabbing his heart. She grabbed it gently, but it was strong enough to make Riley scream, "I'm happy as the demon I am. Now tell me, do you want her down here or shall I just kill her? Your call."

"Mel...p...p...please," Riley screamed as tears flowed down his cheeks, "Leave her alone."

"I can't do that," Mel shook her head and removed her hand, "I think I'll bring her down here. Let her see the weak, half-manticore that you've become. Maybe you'll live long enough to see her first round of torture."

"Son, I know you want to believe that it's Mel but it could be anything," Bobby sighed, sitting at the small kitchen table, "Please tell me you did all the tests. The holy water, silver, everything."

"I did it all, okay?" Dean shouted from the island, where he leaned. He slammed the glass of scotch on it, turning around. He couldn't look his father-figure in the eye when he lied. But he couldn't give away the fact that he was lying. They'd never trust him again, "It's Mel. I know it."

"Dean, we're just trying to look out for you and this family," Sam sighed, "We have no idea how Mel came back but everything I've read says that only Lucifer could bring someone back."

"We know that ain't true, Sammy. Dad escaped Hell."

"Yeah but as a ghost," Sam pointed out, "Mel is corporeal. She's a walking, breathing, talking person. The only people like that from Hell aren't exactly people."

Dean shook his head with a sigh. He couldn't believe that his girlfriend was something other than Mel. Yes, there were signs that she wasn't the same person, but she'd been through decades of torture. It made sense that she'd come back as someone different, especially when thrown back into her large family.

Maybe Dean could take her away somewhere. They could get a break and enjoy their time together. As Mel felt more at ease, she could share what she did remember from Hell. Clearly, there were snippets. That's what she'd told her family. It was more than she'd told him so far. A break would do the two of them good.

"Dana is talking to the Elders at the moment," Sam now continued, "She's finding out everything she can about Mel's return to Earth. Doesn't it seem a bit strange that she's back in her own body?"

"Exactly, Sam," Dean sighed, "If she was a demon, she'd possess someone else. But she's in her own body. I don't know how that happened, but that's not the usual case after escaping Hell. Maybe someone Up There brought her back. I mean, Castiel said he was looking for a way."

Sam sighed and looked at Bobby cautiously. Dean was going into this blind and he didn't seem to care if he ended up dead because of his blind faith.

A/N: I know it's quite a short chapter, but I do hope you enjoyed it! I'll be back with more later this week, I promise.