Sorry it took so long, but work was crazy. Aaah well chapter 7 is up. Please review.

Chapter 7: Home, Hunts and Helping Friends

AJ POV

In the following days I grow close to John. He becomes like a father to me and our Marine background connects us even more. He tells me about his fight with Sam and that he regrets the things he said and that he misses him. He also tell me stories of when the boys grew up and how Dean use to take care of Sam. Thats the reason he can't blame Dean for visiting Sam. To Dean, Sam is the most important person in his life. I tell John about my childhood with Drew and I tell him that I get the relationship between Dean and Sam, because that it was the same relationship I shared with Drew and Jess. We talk for hours on end and it surprises me that I feel so comfortable with him. John gets a call on Saturday morning and leaves.

"AJ, you take care of yourself."

"You to John and call me if you need anything."

"I will and you do the same. And AJ, thank you for telling me about Sam. Dean never does."

"Call me anytime you want an update. And don't worry John I won't tell them I saw you."

John smiles at me and wraps his arms around me. He kisses my hair and release me from the hug. I watch him drive away in his truck and I know I made another friend in this business.

I check out of the motel and drive back to Stanford. Its five pm when I pull into the parking lot and head up to the apartment. I'm in pain and not in a good mood. On Wednesday morning John and I found out that I was too late to save the first child that was taken. A five year old boy went missing from his home, while the doors and windows were all locked. I failed little Joey Kellerman. John told me that we save as many as we can and we let the rest go, but at this moment I hate myself for it. Jess's yell drags me out of thoughts.

"Your back. I so happy. Your just in time too, because we're having a party."

"Jess, I can't tonight. I'm dead on my feet. This week has been hell. I just want to sleep."

"Well to bad. Its Sam's birthday party and we're holding it here, so suck it up Slut."

"Fine, whatever Bimbo."

I walk into the bedroom and see that the place was at least neat and clean. I open my bags and unpack. I notice that Dean has also unpacked, but he did leave me room in the closet for my cloths. After I unpacked, I take a shower and dress in black acid washed jeans and green shirt. The shirt is loose fitting and silk. I decide to put on black flip-flops with a small heal, instead of my normal safety boots. I also put on some make up. Normally I would only use eyeliner, mascara and lipgloss, but I need the foundation tonight to cover the bruise on my cheek. I let my brown hair fall in natural curls down my back. When I'm done I head into the living room and see that Jess was also done. She had on a body hugging red dress that stopped just above her knee. She looked beautiful.

"Sorry I was such a bitch earlier, Jess."

"Its okay, but whats up?"

"This consulting job I did this week, it just got to me a bit. We lost a man."

"I'm sorry AJ."

"Hey, its okay. I just need a few drinks. Where's the guys?"

"Sam's getting ready in our room and Dean went to pickup the booze. He should be back any minute now. By the way, whats up with you and Dean?"

"Nothing, why?"

"AJ, something is up between you two. He nearly drove Sam and me crazy until you spoke to him on Tuesday. He constantly wants to make sure your okay. That is not the Dean I know."

"Jess... I had a nightmare last Saturday morning. Dean woke up and we talked about Drew or at least I should say I talked, he listened. Thats it. Nothing more nothing less."

"Okay, I'm glad you talked to someone about Drew."

We are interrupted by Dean walking through the door. Dumping the boxes in his arms in the kitchen.

"Booze delivery."

I look at him, seeing the smile on his face and realize I missed him. His smile makes you smile before you even know it. I met the man a week ago and already I consider him a good friend. Maybe its because of what we both lost and because we are both hunters or maybe its because we are so alike. I don't know what the reason but I do know that this man is my friend.

"AJ, Babe your back and you look good."

"Hey Mr Hot, you don't look to bad either and its good to be back."

Dean pulls me into a hug. He wraps me into his arms and gave me a gentle squeeze. He whispers into my ear while his hugging me.

"Hows the wound?"

"Good, its healing."

I step out of his embrace and slide my hands down his arms and to take his hands in mine. I give his hands a squeeze and look into his green eyes. I know he can see the sadness in my eyes, but now is not the time to talk about it.

"Go get ready."

He looks down at me and squeeze my hands before he lets go and walk into the bedroom. Sam walks in moments later.

"There's the birthday boy."

"AJ you make it sound like I'm five years old and besides my birthday is not till Monday"

I feel guilt rush over me, over the child I could not save, but I try to ignore the feeling.

"Well you and Jess have finals coming up so we'll just have to party tonight."

"This coming from the girl that didn't want to party tonight."

Jess shouts from the kitchen where she was unpacking the booze.

"Hey I didn't know there would that much booze, Bimbo."

"Yeah, all you need is booze and the party animal come out, Slut."

"Whatever."

I laugh with Jess, but I feel dead inside. The guests start arriving at seven and by nine the party is in full swing. By eleven I had enough of the people around me. I grab a bottle of tequila and a bottle of Jack. I find the balcony deserted and close the doors behind me and sit down. By 01:30 am I can hear the last guests leave. I stay on the balcony and notice the lights in the apartment being turned off. I allow myself to finally relax as I down the last of the Jack. I had finished the tequila an hour ago and now I feel truly drunk, but I don't care. The booze dulls the pain I've been feeling for months and I feel myself letting go of everything. This is the first time in all most a week I'm alone and I just sit and think about my life, all the twists and turns it has taken. All the fights I had with Adrian, Drew's death, finding out the truth and leaving home. I cry and I sob and it feels good to get it out. At four in the morning I am done crying and I feel lighter. I walk into the living room and see Dean sitting on the sofa.

"What are you doing up?"

"I was just checking on you, but I figured you need some time alone."

"I did. Thank you."

I sit down next to him and he slings an arm over my shoulders, pulling me into his side.

"I spoke to my dad today. He told me he saw you. He also told me how your beating yourself up over the kid that went missing. We save who we can AJ and the rest we let go."

"I know, its just hard and I'm sorry I lied to you Dean, but I needed to do this on my own. I needed to know I could do this job by myself."

"This was your first solo hunt?"

"Yes and if you want to rip into me your too late, I already got the lecture from John."

Dean is quiet for some time. He keeps running his hand up and down my arm and I feel him kiss my hair a few times. I'm nearly asleep when he speaks again.

"I understand, but don't ever lei to me again."

"I won't, even if you don't like what you hear, I'll tell you the truth. I expect the same from you. Deal?"

He grabs my hand and we shake on it. After a few more minutes we both get up and head to bed.

On Wednesday Dean packs his car and leave. We talked a lot during the past two days and our friendship grew. I promise to call if I needed any help at any time and he promised to do the same. We talk on the phone everyday. John phones me weekly, as well, and I've even gone on a few hunts with him. He helps me and I treasure our time together. I learn a lot and I become a better hunter. In the passing months I grow close to Sam and he sort off reminds me of Drew. It surprises me to admit that the Winchesters have become my best friends. In August, Sam and Jess starts talking marriage. I'm happy for them. I have been on the road a lot. I keep hunting and at times I do eight or nine hunts a month. Adrian and I have mended our relationship somewhat, but we are still not back to the stage where I trust him completely, I don't know if we can ever get back to that. Between hunts I spent time with Jess and Sam. In June I bought an old house on the outskirts of Palo Alto, since I couldn't stay with Sam and Jess and hunt at the same time. The house needs some work, but at least I was on my own again and when I get hurt during a hunt, Jess doesn't know about it. The house is Home Base, but since I moved out of Jess and Sam's apartment he insists that I call him before and after every hunt and I try my best to do that. The 22nd of October comes around and I'm in a motel in Modesto, California on my way home from a hunt. I try to keep busy with research, but the whole day Drew's face appears before me. Its been a year and I can still not sleep through the night. I miss my brother and by eleven pm I need to talk to Dean since his the only one I really talk to about Drew.

"Hey AJ, Babe. I was just about to call you. You doing okay?"

"No not really."

"Whats wrong?"

"Its a year today, Dean."

"I know... You still getting nightmares?"

"Yeah, but their not just about Drew dying anymore. I get them about different things. Like when me and Drew were kids. Things we did, were nothing bad happened, but now its like I'm watching us from outside my body. Thats not whats scaring me, Dean."

"What is scaring you?"

"Every time I have one of those dreams, I'm overwhelmed by these feelings. Their dark and hateful and evil feelings. Its like I'm something else. Something not human. It really scares me Dean."

"Its probably the job thats causing this. You need to distance yourself from it."

"Your probably right."

We talk for another hour and that night I sleep without dreams. The next day, I find a simple salt and burn case in Modesto and that night I take care of it. The ghost banged me up a little, but I only have a few bruises, luckily no broken bones. I decide to stay in Modesto for two more days, to look for another hunt. A day later I get another nightmare, but this time I see Adrian and Jess trough the evil beings eyes. Its like I'm watching them do normal things, but the evil feelings are stronger and I wake up in a could sweat and phone Adrian and Jess. They are both fine and I write it up to the job.

On the same day of my dream I get a call from John. He needs my help on a hunt in Jericho, California. His investigating a two lane black top were men have gone missing. All the men disappeared on the same five mile stretch of road. I tell him I'll be there in two hours. I'm glad to have another hunt. Keeping busy helps take my mind of the dreams. I meet up with John and four days into the hunt we figure out its a woman in white. Her name is Constance Welch. She jumped of Sylvania Bridge. I head back to our motel and John goes to speak with the husband to find out where he buried his wife. I take a shower and head to John's room to get everything together for the salt and burn. In the room I feel a presence and look around and the room is empty. The next thing I know, I'm thrown against the wall and pinned there. In the shadows at the bathroom door I see the sam yellow-eyes I saw the night Drew died.

"You finally came for me. What are you waiting for? Kill me already."

"I did not come for you AJ. I came for John Winchester. You are to special to kill."

"John's not here right now but if you leave your name and number, I'll make sure he gets back to you."

The man with the yellow eyes laugh and I start to feel dizzy.

"Your unconscious body should be message enough for him."

I feel blood run down the back of my head as I fall to the floor. I fight hard to keep conscious and just as I start to feel like I can't hold on any longer John walks through the door. I hear panic in his voice as he rush over to me.

"AJ, what happened to you?"

I struggle to get the words out, but I need to warn John, before I blackout.

"Creature... Yellow-eyes... looking for you... killer... Mary... Drew."

I feel the blackout overtake me and I hope he understood me.