Even though she had only went to sleep less then two hours ago, Freya was already up and doing research. Freya looked tired but had convinced Dean that she would sleep better when this thing was over and he should just go back to bed.

So he did, Dean went back to bed but he didn't go back to sleep, he lay there awake and listened to her type and click, for the best part of two hours before getting up and sitting next to her. "Hey, I thought I told you to get some sleep?" she stroked his cheek and smiled, he flashed her his classic cocky smiled and she planted a kiss on his cheek. He glanced at the screen.

" A shtriga?" he raised an eyebrow,

"Feeds on peoples souls, their life force, prefers kids cause theirs is stronger apparently." she looked back at the screen. "So their immune system turns to pot and they die, the common cold could kill them." she looked at Dean.

"It also says that it can't be killed and takes on a human form." Dean read her notes on the computer screen,

"It can actually, be killed." Sam said groggily from the bed. "You can kill it when it's feeding." he was wiping sleep from his eyes and started to walk over to them. He leaned on the table between them and looked from one to the other. "you both look like hell." he whispered.

"Gee thanks Sam! Now I feel all warm and fuzzy inside!" Freya said with a sarcastic smirk. Dean giggled as Freya playfully slapped Sam's head "I better go get dressed, I said I'd get to the hospital at eight." she pushed her hair out of her eyes and went to get to her feet when Sam pushed her down, she tried again but Sam pushed her down again. "Look jackass! I don't have time for your games!" Sam moved away but as she got up Dean pulled her onto his lap and held her tight.

"Look, Frey I think you should stay here with me and we'll work on the case and maybe you could get some sleep?" Dean's voice was like his grip on the struggling girl, firm but gentle. She stopped struggling and turned to look him in the eye,

"I know you two mean well in some warped way but there are twelve kids on that ward who need me! If I don't get to the hospital I can't help them and they'll die and so will Ella. Haylyn's all she's got! She loves that little girl like her own!" her voice was a high pitched squeak but she sounded like she was trying to swallow tears.

Dean brought one of his hands up and cupped her face, stoking her cheek bone with his thumb. He placed his forehead against hers then gently kissed the tip of her dainty little nose.

"I'll go to the hospital and sit with Ella if you like." Sam remarked running his fingers through his longish hair. Freya looked at Sam then to Dean and back to Sam again,

"Ok!" she breathed "but you better tell Ella that it was your stupid idea that I stayed here." she crossed her arms over her chest giving up all hope of Dean letting her go.

"I'll leave in ten minutes" Sam called as he closed the bathroom door.

XoX

It was quarter to nine when Sam got to the room where Ella and little Haylyn were. He knocked gently on the door and slowly opened it, Ella looked up and smiled. "Freya is at home and she told me to tell you it was my stupid idea she stayed there and I came here." he sounded like a child and Ella couldn't not laugh as he pulled a chair over. He gazed around in the nervous silence, "so you're a hunter?" he gazed at the beautiful blue eyes.

"Used to be, it's not easy to hunt and help bring up a kid you know." she continued to stroke the little girls head.

"How did you convince them to let you keep the salt?" Sam was intrigued,

"I told them it was a religious thing." she said with a smile. "Sam?" Ella's blue eyes met Sam's once more

"Mmm?" She felt his answer vibrate through the air

" Does Frey know what this thing is?". Sam nodded

"Well she thinks it might be a shtriga, a kind of witch that feeds on the kids life force. It takes on a human form and an only be killed when it's eating so, she has to find out who it is first." Ella looked up as another woman came through the door.

"Hey Sharleen" she stood up and gave her friend a hug. Sharleen was about five foot eight, a little on the larger side of life, her hair was in a short black bob, and she had pale skin and even paler grey eyes.

"How's the little mite?" Sharleen gazed at the bed

"No change, this is Sam by the way" Sam stood up and shook Sharleen's hand. "Ella do you want some breakfast?" Sam asked when he saw Sharleen's massive sandwich.

"I cant really leave here until mum gets back I promised I wouldn't " she trailed off as she gazed at the little girl in the bed.

"Hey doll! I can stay here and you can go to the canteen and I will get you if anything changes." sharleen had the biggest grin on her face. Ella smiled.

"If your sure?" Sam could tell that Ella wasn't very convinced,

"I could go and bring breakfast up to you if your more comfortable than that?" He ginned as well.

"No, I'll come with you" Ella picked up her bag and jacket, kissed Haylyn on the head,

"Ell' will be back soon sweetheart," she looked at Sam who had a surprised look on his face "come on then! Before I change my mind" She called as she walked out the door.

Sam and Ella were sitting in the café with a sandwich and a cup of coffee. "I know this is really none of my business, but where is Haylyn and you're dad?" Sam asked once again needing something to break the silence. Ella looked up and sighed heavily

"He died last year just after Haylyn was born." Ella looked sadly out of the window.

"I'm sorry," Sam said sincerely and meant it.

"yeah me too," She smiled softly at Sam,

"How did he, you know," His gaze followed hers out of the window,

"Well seen as you're a hunter I can say. He was in Peoria in Illinois on a hunting trip. He was with his brother and cousin and they were after some fangs. He had discovered a trial, I didn't want him to go but he said it was to wet the babies head. I remember telling him I loved him as he left and asking if he couldn't just go to the pub like everyone else. I remember him laughing and kissing me on the head. That was the last I saw of him." she continued to look out the window. "They were using him as bait to lure the vamps out" she whispered so as no-one else could hear them

"What did the other two come out too early?" Sam tilted his head to one side, Ella laughed quietly

"The other two came out to late, they were arguing about who should go first and the vamps got my dad." tears shone in her blues eyes and Sam reached out a hand.

"I'm so sorry Ella." he moved round the table as she began to cry and enveloped her in a massive hug. "I know how it feels to lose someone that close." he whispered into her hair, she gazed up at him as the tears glittered in his eyes.

"You lost someone?" he nodded and reached in to his pocket and took out a ring box. Ella opened it. It was a simple one diamond white gold ring. She looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"I went on a hunt with my brother the night I got that and when I got back it was late." Ella signalled for him to continue as she wiped her eyes, "she had left me a note on some cookies she had made me. I assumed she was in bed and I was too tired to see so I just flopped down and closed my eyes," he shuddered "when I woke up she was pinned to the ceiling and the room burst into flames, Dean, my brother, had to pull me out." he smiled a soft sad smile at her and she stroked his cheek.

"I've been hunting the thing ever since". Sam almost hit the ground when Ella reached up and pulled him down towards her. She gently brushed her lips against his. Sam was shocked and took a few seconds to respond and then deepened the kiss, Ella was running her fingers through his hair as he cupped her face.

When they eventually pulled away Sam still had a shocked look on his face. He opened his eyes very slowly and smiled making sure that he wasn't dreaming. She laughed at the look on his face and grinned softly tracing his lips with her thumb. She handed Sam the ring box back and he carefully put it in his pocket.

"I guess we should probably get back, any money she's ate Haylyn." Ella got to her feet and picked up her coffee in one hand and took Sam's hand in her other. She grinned as Sam tightened his grip on her hand as he put the rubbish in the bin.

"How long have you know sharleen?" he asked as they walked up the corridors to Haylyn's room.

"Since Haylyn got brought in she's a new nurse here." Sam's eyes widened"WHAT?! How long was she here before you?" he had stopped and turned to face her , she looked at him.

"She said she was sent here as an extra resource when this whole thing began, but she is the only…." Ella's mouth feel open "She's the.. Isn't she?" her face filled with horror as realisation dawned.

"I'll call Freya and Dean." Sam whispered as the opened the door where sharleen was sitting stroking Haylyn's head.