[The last chapter was a bit dark, but in this one...another curveball! A calmer Cat, a Tipsy Sammy and...an extremely funny reaction from Dean when new light falls on the Wolves and their connection to Cat. All in all, this chapter will be quite entertaining...and on that note, Enjoy! -Huggles-]


Sam had been shown his room on the second floor, along with Dean who's room was right across from his. Cat hadn't spoken much after the comment about her late fiancé being in a cemetery. It's as though she had completely shut down, unable to pull anymore strength out of herself to speak any further. Sam felt for her, more then she would ever know. When she had spoken about being found in the arms of her burnt father…he felt his stomach clench into a thousand knots. And then the fiancé comment…god how was he going to get through the night not being able to talk to her?

She was cold, distant in a sense. As though she had said too much and was regretting it. Even Dean picked up on it, and as much as he hated the whole chick flick stuff, he wished there was a way he could comfort her. He wasn't sure if she'd react well to him wanting to make amends for the way he spoke earlier. It was buggin' him real bad, kinda like that ache of guilt swelling in the back of your mind giving you a migraine.

He hated the feeling, but he decided it best to leave that warm and fuzzy shit to Sam. Besides it was his fault we got into this mess in the first place…right? I mean I shouldn't get all hell bent over some emotionally screwed up chick with a rap sheet worse then me and Sam's put together. Still…I kinda like her. She's a pistol with a bad temper and a sharp tongue. Always liked that in a woman. But Sam's already got his eyes on her. Heh…he'll probably end up with her with that puppy act he's got. Hmmm, well…maybe not. She doesn't seem too happy with either of us, can't blame her there. Poor kid's been shit on by men all her life. Dean thought to himself while flipping mindlessly through channels on the TV set up in his room. It wasn't even 8pm yet and there he was, lying back on his queen sized bed, happy he had cable but he couldn't seem to get himself to focus. Driving had taken a toll on him and he was tired… He just, couldn't get her out of his head.


Cat had exited the second floor and went back out onto the patio sporting a large black shirt and gray loose sweat pants. She carried a bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand, cigarette in the other. She knew the boys were upstairs, and even if one of'em decided to make their presence known…she could give a flying fuck. Cat was set on drinking as much as she could until it forced her into a drunken stooper. That would at least make the anxiety in her chest settle down and allow her to finally get some sleep. Maybe the alcohol would stop the nightmares.

* * *Twenty Minutes later* * *

Unable to sleep, Sam got up and left his room. He snuck over to Dean's room and cracked the door open. There was Dean, snoring softly with his hand still clutching the TV remote. Sam smiled at that and closed the door, making a point not to wake his exhausted brother. Finding himself a little thirsty, he crept down the old flight of stairs and turned to walk into the kitchen when he noticed the patio was still well lit. Figuring Cat might still be up, he went to the fridge, got out a coke and then made his way to the patio.

Sure enough, the scent of smoke danced on the cool night breeze as Cat sat at the table, looking off into the distance while taking a drink of straight whiskey. Sam was a little surprised at how well she handled her liquor as she let out a very soft sigh and took another drag of her cigarette; as though she had done this every night of her life.

"Can't sleep?" He asked gently, hoping he wouldn't surprise her and stepped onto the patio.

Cat merely shrugged, didn't look at him and flicked the ash of her cigarette into an ashtray on the table. "Nope." She replied and heard the chair opposite to her get pulled out and then sat in. With a slightly aggravated sigh she turned her head and gave a questioning smirk at Sam's attire. He was just wearing a gray shirt and black boxers. "You got a pair of nice legs there, Sammy." She chuckled, finally feeling the whiskey taking its effect on her system. She smiled at how her comment caused a blush to invade his cheeks.

He cleared his throat and tried to push the feeling of embarrassment away when he finally met her eyes. "Thanks…" Sam said in a bashful tone and tapped his fingers on his thighs, trying to think of a way to get his thoughts out without getting her upset.

She noticed he was thinking and set the bottle of jack on the table. "Spit it out, I know you want to ask me something." Cat mused softly, knowing that she was buzzed, and not caring.

Sam suddenly felt like he was under a spot light by the way her eyes seemed to burn into him. "I do, I'm just trying to word it right." He answered truthfully.

"Uh huh… Here have a drink." She stated and pushed the bottle across the table. "That should help a little."

Sam took the bottle in his hands, looked at it and shook his head, "no…I shouldn't." He replied and went to push it back to her when her hand stopped its progress; her small fingers brushing against his. Sam thought about it for a moment, especially the cool touch of her flesh against his and finally got his courage. "Alright…but I warn you now, I'm a shitty drunk." And with that said he took off the cap and brought the opening to his lips.

Cat let out a laugh while clapping as he swigged at least two rather large gulps and put the bottle back on the table, gasping for air. "Good job Sam! You should catch up to me in no time." She exclaimed with a wink and saw the look on his face. "Now hurry up and drink down some of that coke before you throw up." She giggled and took the bottle back, had another small gulp and put the cap back on.

Sam's chest burned at the harshness of the whiskey and was instantly relieved as the cold soda took the burn away and settled nicely in his stomach. After finishing nearly half of the can's contents, he set it gently on the table and gave a smile.

Cat tried to keep a straight face as she motioned to her chin, indicating he'd missed. "You got a little right here…" She said and Sam immediately wiped his mouth and chin with the back of his left hand. "It's okay, happens to the best of us." Cat mused with a chuckle, set her cigarette at the edge of the ashtray and got up. Before Sam could ask where she was going, she walked right up to him and gently patted him on the shoulder. "Easy there tiger, I'll be right back. I just want to get a coke."

Sam watched her stroll into the house, grab a coke from the fridge and he swore she seemed to saunter back over. He found himself watching the elegant sway of her shapely hips and tore himself away quickly when she noticed him staring at her.

"How the hell can you drink that without getting heartburn?" Sam inquired with another drink of his coke, playing off the fact that she had caught him basically drooling over her.

"Lots of practice." Cat chimed with a chuckle and seated herself across from him, took a drink of the cold coke in her hand and added, "I'm a little buzzed right now, so go ahead and take advantage of the opportunity."

Sam nearly choked mid drink of his coke. Fighting to breath he choked out, "I'm sorry, did you just say…?"

Cat barked out a soft laugh and shook her head. "What I mean by that is I'm more capable of answering questions without getting defensive. I'm the kind of person that admits I use being drunk as a way to be more entertaining." She explained with humor dancing in her eyes at the look on Sam's face.

"Ah…gotcha." Sam replied with a knowing smile and found that he was…in fact, a light weight. The alcohol was already streaming through his blood, which felt nice at first… Loosening up the nervous tension that had settled in his stomach. Sam cleared his throat at the warm and fuzzy feeling that replaced his anxiety and met her gaze with a little more confidence. "I couldn't sleep because I was worried about you…"

"I figured as much." She replied and took another drag off her half smoked cigarette. She paused as she blew the smoke away from her lips, looked to the cigarette and then to Sam. "My smoking doesn't bother you…does it?"

He shrugged, feeling the warmth in his stomach spread into his chest. "Yes and no… Personally if you kissed me I don't think I'd care much." Sam blurted out when suddenly his eyes widened at his own blatant comment and turned as red as the coca-cola can in his hands. "I am so sorry…I don't know why I just said that…wow…" He said and then softly added, "I really must be a lightweight."

Cat licked her lips, a smile spreading across her face. "You wouldn't care about my smoking if I kissed you?" She repeated the question in a very soft spoken voice, her eyes sparkling with a hidden mischievousness.

A lump formed in the back of Sam's throat as her voice seemed to flutter against his spine, trailing his flesh with a feather like touch. He looked away, unable to meet her intense gaze and tried to reply. "I uhm…" He didn't know what to say to that. He had said it himself, but he really didn't know how to answer it without sounding like a little boy with a crush. "Uhm…wow," he laughed and ran a hand through his hair, still avoiding her eyes. "I'm really embarrassed."

"Don't be." Cat replied softly and gave him a warm smile, one he'd never seen on her face before. He actually sat up straight at the sight of it and couldn't tear his eyes away. There was a glow to her skin as she looked into his eyes, as though she was showing herself for the first time.

Her voice brought his attention back. "What? What is it?" She asked with that smile on her face, a slight raise in her high arched brows.

Sam grew a slow and very stupid smile on his face. "Nothin'…" He said in a voice that was nearly a breathless sigh of amazement and added, "you have a very beautiful smile."

Now it was her time to blush as she took her eyes away and gave a bashful giggle, something she hadn't done in years. Realizing this, she seemed to sober a little, a slight smile dancing on her lips as her cheeks continued to flush from his compliment. "Thanks…haven't had anyone tell me that in a very long time." Cat admitted in a quiet voice and snuffed her cigarette into the ashtray, her cheeks still warm.

Suddenly another presence appeared out of the kitchen, arms held across his chest. "So, havin' a party without me?" Both Sam and Cat looked toward the source of the voice and saw Dean standing just under the light of the patio, a grin plastered on his face.

"We couldn't sleep." Sam said with a slight hint of irritation in his voice and watched Dean give a slow nod.

"I can see that…" Dean chimed and looked to the Jack Daniels on the table and raised a brow. "Cat, you should be warned…" He said and pulled up a chair next to Sam. "He doesn't know how to hold his liquor."

She studied his face for a moment and pushed the Jack toward him, which he took without hesitation. "So far he's doing okay." Cat said in Sam's defense and saw a grateful smile slip across Sam's lips. He mouthed the words thank you as Dean took a swig from the bottle and set it down, not seeing the wink Cat gave his little brother in reply.

"Damn woman, this is some strong whiskey." Dean announced with a sigh and stole Sam's coke, draining it of its contents.

Sam groaned, "thanks…" at his brother drinking the rest of his coke and got up to get another one.

"No problem," Dean quipped with a grin and then tilted his head back, "hey since you're up, get me one." He called after Sam who just flipped him off as he walked to the fridge. "Yea well I love you too, bitch."

"Jerk." Sam retorted in the house, grabbed two cans of coke and walked back out onto the patio.

Dean looked Sam up and down and grew a very cocky smirk. "Someone looks very relaxed." His voice just oozed sarcasm causing Sam to just roll his eyes and drop the coke in his brother's lap, nearly hitting his crotch. "Hey! Watch where drop that thing."

"Oh sorry…" Sam mused with a low giggle and made a point to grab his chair, took it over to Cat and sat down to her left, a triumphant smile on his face.

Cat took a sip of her coke, trying to hide the smile on her lips at the way the brothers were acting. She could tell they were having a slight competition as to who would be able to win her affection first. She actually not only found it very amusing, but very flattering as well.

May the best man win… She thought with the swallow of her soda and leaned back in her chair…waiting for the games to begin. "Hey…since I'm in the mood for sharing." Cat started, noticing how both delicious young men were hanging on her every word. "You guys want to know about the wolves?"

"We're always in the mood to listen to a pretty girl speak." Sam chimed and chuckled at his own words.

Dean just gave him a raised brow on the other side of the table and rolled his eyes. "Go ahead Cat, we're listening." He replied and chuckled inwardly at his baby brother.

"Now this is going to seem really nuts, so I'm going to need an example." Cat stopped and let out a soft howl, one that made every hair along Dean and Sam's body stand completely on end. She knew what must have been going through their heads, but she didn't really care. If they were ever going to really believe her…she was going to have to go for good old fashioned shock treatment.

After the sound echoed softly into the cool night air, a ruckus could be heard throughout the house when all five wolves made it out onto the patio and all sat back on their haunches, in a semi circle in the grass not more then a few feet away.

"Alright kids…drop the act." Cat announced softly and watched as the wolves seemed to just blink at her. "Guys it's okay…they need to know I'm not lying."

Dean and Sam shared a glance and Dean started to make the crazy sign with his hand when a very deep, baritone of a voice growled into the air causing him to freeze in place.

"If they had any kind of respect, they'd believe a lady when she told'em the truth."

Dean's mouth was completely dropped when Riddick stepped forward and sat down again, just a foot ahead of the other wolves. Dean wouldn't have believed it until he watched the wolf's mouth move, "What kid? Gotta problem?"

Sam had to rub his eyes. "Did you…he…just talk?" He blurted out softly, sobering at the very sight of the massive black wolf physically opening his jaws and literally speaking with a very deep growling voice. "I…I'm not that drunk am I?"

Riddick set his eyes on Sam and gave that wolfish grin. "Nope, sorry kid. You heard right, 'cuz this ain't no parlor trick." He drawled out, thoroughly amused and craned his head to Dean; narrowing his electric blue eyes, "it's the real thing."

Dean's mouth hung open, his eyes wide with shock. "He even sounds like Riddick…" He said in a whisper of disbelief and was startled at the deep, full bellied laugh echoing from Riddick's jaws, his head thrown back as though about to howl.

"And no Dean…" Came an older woman's voice, one he recognized immediately as he glanced to Riddick's right only to see that Ripley had a sparkle to her dark brown eyes. "Cat didn't poison the whiskey."

"Whoa, wait a fuckin' minute here!" Dean barked and jumped to his feet so quickly he nearly knocked his chair over. He was visibly shaken by what he was experiencing and shot his eyes at Cat, pointed at her and said. "Wolves don't talk…and they sure as hell don't sound exactly like the characters they're named after!" He looked very comical as he pointed from the wolves back to her and then just put his forehead in his hands.

Another, distinctive voice sounded…"Hey, stay frosty Dean. We're not a threat to you."

Dean's hand dropped as he looked up, not wanting to, and saw that it was Hicks speaking. He knew the moment he heard him say, stay frosty. "Cat…you've got a lot of explainin' to do…but before we do that…" Dean paused in his words, grabbed his chair and carefully sat back down, his eyes never leaving the wolves. "I'm gonna need more of that whiskey."

"Drink up Dean, you're gonna need it." Cat replied softly and found their reactions rather entertaining.

Dean popped the top off the whiskey, and downed three gulps. He ignored the terrible burn ripping through his stomach as he set the bottle down with a slight clang on the table, his hand clenched tightly around the neck. Once the burn settled enough for him to breathe, he added, "Alright…explain."

Sam furrowed his brow and motioned to Dean for the whiskey and Dean answered by pushing it over the table toward him. Before he could rethink his actions, Sam took another two gulps of the Jack Daniels and dropped it back on the table, his face contorting from the fire in his throat.

Cat sighed, knowing this was going to be a long story. "Lea and Angel over there, can't speak human tongue. But they can understand us. Those two are born of wolf decent." Lea and Angel, hearing their names, trotted up to her, tails wagging and laid out near her feet.

"And…" Sam said, looked to the wolves, addressing them as people. "You three are…something else?"

"We are flesh and blood manifestations of her spirit guardians." Ripley stated in her soothingly calm tone of voice and added with a slight hint of humor, "too bad I'm stuck in this form, I'd kill for a cigarette."

"Yea no kiddin'." Hicks added and shared a look with Ripley; an obvious show of affection between them.

Cat looked at Dean's expression and couldn't hold in the laughter anymore. The giggles flowed freely from her smiling lips at the dear in headlights look dawning across his handsome features. He looked like he was close to pissing himself at the way Hicks and Ripley acted like they'd been married for years.

It was all too fucking weird to him. Here were three wolves that sounded and acted exactly like characters from movies! Hell they even shared a slight resemblance through the color of their fur and eyes. "This just doesn't make a damn bit of sense…" Dean thought aloud and shook his head, his brain close to a meltdown.

"How's it possible? I've never heard of any spell or incantation that even remotely stems to this level of manifestation. You'd have to be some kind of powerful Shaman to achieve this…right?" Sam asked and watched as Cat bit the left side of her bottom lip, her forehead creased.

"Wow, this kid's got more then two brain cells fightin' for dominance." Riddick chimed in a dark tone and got a glare from Cat. "I'm impressed."

"Cut it out Riddick." She snapped at him and he furrowed his furry brow.

"Easy there princess, it was a compliment." The black wolf replied in a slightly cocky growl. Riddick let his eyes fall on Sam, "bet you're dying to know how we're here, huh pretty boy?"

Sam was a little stunned at everything that was happening, but he figured to go along with it… Besides, he had dealt with some pretty crazy shit in the past. So what would make this any different? "I'm very interested, yes." He replied carefully, a little unnerved at the sheer velocity of Riddick's human voice…that didn't seem all that human.

"Well we've been around for a very long time, since Aiden here was born. She didn't give us any real form until she watched Aliens and then Pitch Black. And you don't want to know what I first looked like…" Riddick mused in a dark tone that Dean caught as suspicious. The wolf looked to Dean, "you know what a Xenomorph is?" Dean nodded slowly, and then his eyes widened drastically. Riddick smirked, "exactly."

"We…have been her surrogate parents…Hicks and I." Ripley added and gave Cat a warm glance, filled with pure and unconditional love.

Sam followed what they were saying and looked to Cat, who's eyes were averted as she took another drink from her coke and found himself asking, "Hey Cat…think it would be okay if I watched these two movies?"

She looked to him and canted her head at the question. She then chimed, "You have no idea what a Xenomorph is…do you?"

Sam grew an expression that could only be described as a little boy that just got caught lying about flushing his goldfish down the toilet. "No…I don't." He replied honestly, inwardly thankful for the strong whiskey numbing his system.

Cat shot Dean an accusing look, grabbed the empty coke can from the table and threw it at his head. It barely missed him and caused him to jump.

"What the hell was that for?" Dean barked in surprise at the sudden assault.

"All this time, you haven't sat down and had Sammy watch these movies?" Cat said with a disappointed tone and shook her head. "You selfish bastard." She teased as she just smiled at him. "Depriving him of the classics…for shame."

Dean tried to give her an angry look but had a slight curve at the edge of his lips as he leaned down, picked up the empty can and threw it back at her, completely missing her on purpose. "Yea well, don't get mad at me." He mused and motioned to his baby brother, "It's Sammy's fault he never watched the classics. Too busy with his computer."

Cat looked to Sam, who had a confused look on his face when out of nowhere she flicked his ear and caused him to wince. "Hey!" He spat with a slight pout and rubbed his ear. "Be careful…I'm fragile."

"Fragile my ass!" Cat scoffed with a laugh and flicked him a few mores times before he finally fell into a fit of laughter and started smacking her hand away from the assault on his ear.

"Dean! A little help here!" Sam exclaimed between laughs and just couldn't get himself to keep a hold of her. Every time he'd latch his large hands on her wrists, she'd manage to clench her small hands in a very unnatural fashion, slipping easily from his grasp.

Dean let out a laugh and just shook his head. "Hey man, you're on your own." He mused and then an idea dawned across his face. "Oh Cat, he's really ticklish on his sides and the back of his neck."

Sam shot Dean a look of death. "Traitor!" He barked in defense and suddenly felt her small fingers tickling the back of his neck, causing him to literally squirm in his chair. "Oh that's it! You are in so much trouble!"

"Shit!" She squeaked and before he could retaliate Cat was on her feet and started to book it onto the grass, toward the back of her property while Sam shot up and was hot on her heels as she made her way into the darkness. Cat knew he could out run her with no problem, but he didn't know the grounds as well as she did…especially in the dark.

Dean had taken in the backyard earlier in the day when he finished his third sandwich. It was like some kind of fortress as the fence of wood and brick towered into the sky as high as the house itself. While massive and obviously ancient oak trees lined the inner walls as though warning any and all that were foolish enough to approach. The area within the backyard itself, was large enough to park at least Ten '67 Impala's with enough room to still be able to have a group of people on the grass. When Lewis bought the house, he wanted his space…a lot of space. Which eventually became a home to a pack of wolves and various other nocturnal animals.

Dean smirked to himself as he took another drink of his coke and eyed the wolves looking off into the darkness as Cat and Sam's laughter danced into the air. "You're not gonna follow them?" He asked softly after swallowing the cold soda.

Riddick shook his head, "naw, she's okay. It's that brother of yours I'm worried about." His deep voice rumbled in reply.

"Sammy? He's harmless." Dean added and watched as Riddick craned his head to him, this time his eyes were glowing.

"That's obvious, but he doesn't know the grounds like Aiden does. One wrong turn, he'll trip over a root and be ass over elbows before he knows what hit'em." The wolf replied with a hint of humor in his voice and saw Dean wear a smirk.

"Now that…" Dean trailed off, the smirk growing into a devious grin. "Would be a Kodak moment."

-End Chapter Eight-