"How could she just disappear like that?" Dean snapped, tossing his bag on his bed.

Sam didn't respond, just moved past Dean to claim his own bed. He looked about as tired as Dean felt, probably more so considering what he had gone through recently at the Mystery Spot. He still didn't know the details about his brother's encounter with the Trickster, but from the looks Sam gave him— not counting the hug— it was obvious the encounter had been hard.

Ever since the events at Mystery Spot, he and Sam had spent all their energy trying to track down Bela. As soon as he found her, Dean was going to shoot her then take a vacation. Maybe he'd finally head over to Atlantic City.

"Maybe Bobby or Chloe have had better luck," Sam suggested, untying his boots as he sat at the edge of his bed.

"Maybe," Dean agreed. Sam had been the one to suggest they get Chloe's help finding Bela. And Dean had surprised him by agreeing. He had no problem with Chloe researching for them. She was good at it, and they could use all the help they could get. If he had his way, she would never have to deal with the supernatural, but— as she'd proven previously— she was going to encounter supernatural trouble even when she wasn't looking for it. Dean knew he could keep worrying about her, or he could just accept the fact that she could take care of herself and let her help out.

Taking its cue, Dean's phone ran from inside his pocket. He glanced at the caller ID and gave his brother a hopeful look. "Tell me something good, Chloe," he said, answering.

"I think I found something."

"So Chloe thinks Bela's in there?" Dean asked as the Impala pulled past the dark, tree covered lot.

Sam nodded, although his brother wasn't looking at him "Yeah. She said she tracked down large amounts of money exchanging hands here. It might not be Bela, but we could at least check it out. It's the closest lead we've had so far."

"Maybe she already sold the Colt and whoever's in there has it."

"Maybe…"

Dean pulled the Impala to a stop about a block down from the house.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

Together, the brothers stepped out of the car and hurried towards the house, their guns safely tucked into their waistband. As they reached their destination, Sam slowed, sensing someone in the shadows. He pulled his gun out and glanced at Dean, who'd slowed too.

The street and yard were dark, making it hard to spot anything clearly, but as Sam watched from behind a thick oak, he knew he saw a small frame of a person move between some trees.

No way. Sam glanced at his brother, wondering if Dean had seen the same thing. As if in response, Dean walked out from behind his own tree and marched towards the figure. Even in the dark, Sam could see the frown on his face.

Sam kept his gun out as he followed close behind— he was going to need some way to defend them when Dean gave away their position by yelling.

As soon as they reached Chloe, she turned calmly, proving that she'd been watching them. "What the hell are you doing here?" Dean asked, his voice quiet, but harsh.

"Don't you dare try playing my keeper again, Dean," Chloe snapped back, in a sharp whisper. "This isn't a hunt and if I'm right, you're going to need my help."

"We don't need your help."

"Yeah? How do you plan on getting the Colt back? Threaten her?"

"If it helps, yes."

"Trust me, people like Bela don't respond to threats."

Sam cut in, sensing his brother's anger— and just as likely his tone— rising. "Chloe it's dangerous."

"Yeah, I got that, but I know what I'm doing." Chloe pulled back her coat revealing a pistol holstered to her hip. "If Bela's in there, you're going to need more than fire power to get the Colt. I've got something to trade for."

Sam looked back at the house anxiously. They were wasting time arguing. "Okay," he said.

Dean looked at him then back at Chloe. "Fine."

As the Winchesters prepped to sneak into the house, Chloe started doubting her decision to help them. She could practically feel Dean's annoyance seeping from him as he took his position in front of her.

She'd met her share of protective men, but the Winchester brothers— especially Dean— took the prize. She knew it was mainly because she'd never teamed up with them. They had read and searched up on her, but they still weren't willing to trust her capabilities until they saw her in action. And so far, her performance had been questionable. I really hate ghosts. Chloe thought, remembering the last 'hunt' she'd been on.

Sam and Dean had been sure to fill her in on everything she'd need to protect herself from another ghostly attack. Judging from the look Dean had given her, though, it was obvious the boys still didn't trust her on a hunt. But this wasn't a hunt and they were going to need her. She knew they would.

As if reading her thoughts, Dean glanced back at her with a stern look. "Stay close," he ordered.

Chloe nodded, resting a hand over her coat, unconsciously reminding herself that the gun was still there. She still wasn't completely comfortable with the pistol, but she knew she was safer with it than her mace. She didn't have to just worry about a mugger here. She had to worry about a trained gunman.

Luckily for her, she had a cousin who had been trained by an Army General. Lois had been more than happy to train Chloe on gun use, knowing the kind of trouble the younger cousin tended to get into.

Maybe I should have explained my training to the guys first. Chloe mused, as she followed Dean to the dark house. She felt Sam take up position behind her and was torn between rolling her eyes and smiling. Even if she didn't think she needed it, it was nice to have the guys protecting her.

Sam carefully stepped into the house, following Dean and Chloe. Normally, all his attention would have been focused on the room in front of him: making sure no one was going to jump out at them. But with Chloe around, he felt his attention split between surveying the room and making sure the reporter didn't blow their cover.

He had to hand it to her, though, so far she hadn't made a peep. Even her steps were soft, barely noticeable. It made him wonder how many times she'd snuck into a room uninvited.

Up ahead, Sam noticed a flickering light underneath a door. He saw Dean pause, knowing his brother had caught the light too. His brother looked back at him, silently asking for permission to move forward. Dean thought they were in the clear, but he needed Sam's agreement.

Sam almost nodded, but stopped himself. Something was off. Instinctively, he grabbed Chloe's arm and pushed her behind him, against a wall. She didn't argue, just moved with him.

Once she was guarded, he pulled out his gun, training it into a distant shadow. Someone was there, watching.

I never should have let her come. Sam thought as he caught sight of the figure moving across the room from him. It was hard to tell in the dark, but it looked like the person was moving in front of a doorway, probably trying to find the best position to aim for them.

Bela wasn't here. They hadn't surveyed the entire house yet, but Sam would bet money the Brit wasn't anywhere to be found. Chloe's contact had been wrong.

"Get out!" The figure barked finally making himself known verbally. Sam tensed as he saw a flash of a gun barrel. He pushed Chloe towards Dean, hoping he'd get the hint and get the two of them out of there. Chloe wasn't getting hurt on his watch, not after he'd been the one to agree to let her come with.

As if sensing his movement, the man in the shadows fired. From the sound of it, the bullet was aimed into the air, but Sam got the hint loud and clear. Even if the Colt was here, these weren't the people who were into negotiations— unless they were done with pistols. Normally, he and Dean would have been able to take the gunmen down, especially since it sounded like there was just one, maybe two men. But now they had Chloe with them.

Behind him, Sam heard Dean tell Chloe to get out. He pressed himself against the wall in an attempt to stay out of the line of fire, but still cover Chloe and Dean as they hurried to the door.

Sam cocked his gun, wordlessly warning the gunman to watch his aim. In response, another shot was fired, this time closer.

"Get out!" The voice barked again. The man sounded desperate and Sam feared what he might do. Desperate men were dangerous when they thought they were cornered.

"Sam now!" Dean barked, suddenly next to him.

His order triggered another round of shots and Sam flinched.

"Come on, come on," Chloe mumbled, watching the door she had just run from. Dean had told her to leave, practically pulling her outside, and she'd complied without an argument, but now Dean wasn't next to her and she was alone in the middle of the dark yard.

She flinched as another shot rang out, silently cursing her contact that had led her to the house. If the boys didn't make it out, she and her contact were going to have words.

"Please be okay," she whispered. At this rate, she might as well shoot the boys herself the next time she decided to go on a mission with them. Maybe her place really was behind a desk. Everyone stayed safer that way.

Before she could let herself wallow in more self-pity, the door flew open and Dean emerged, pulling Sam by the arm. Chloe wanted to ask what was wrong, but Dean cut her off.

"Go!" he barked, reaching her side.

Together, the three of them ran towards their respective cars. Chloe watched the Impala speed past her and quickly followed. She was so on edge, she hardly noticed the scenery pass by until she pulled into a motel parking lot next to the brothers.

"Is he going to be okay?" Chloe asked as they walked inside and Dean helped Sam sit on a chair.

"He was shot," Dean replied by way of answering.

"I can see that. But is he going to be okay?"

Sam cringed, gripping the chair tightly. His torso was bleeding where a bullet had caught him. Chloe didn't like the look of the wound. It reminded her too much of the bullet wound Clark had from the time he was human.

"He needs to go to the hospital," Chloe said.

"No," both brothers stated in unison. Sam's voice sounded weak, though, compared to his brother's stern tone.

Dean turned his back on Chloe, grabbing a first aid kit and pulling out a pair of scissors. He carefully helped Sam out of his coat and button-up shirt, so he was just wearing a t-shirt. Chloe watched in silence as Dean cut open the shirt instead of pulling if off and hurting his brother more.

As he worked, Sam sat still and silent. Chloe felt like she was intruding, until she noticed Sam begin to pale and caught a good look at the wound in his chest.

"Dean, he needs help. I'm sure you're good at this, but that wound is bad."

"Chloe! You're not helping!" Dean snapped, but Chloe caught something in his tone. He was worried.

Chloe watched Sam's face continue to pale and took a tentative step forward. She knew she'd told Clark she'd be more careful with her powers, but what good was her gift if she didn't use it to help people she cared for. And as scary as the thought was, she knew she cared for the Winchesters.

She wasn't going to watch Sam die and not do anything about it.

"Back up," she ordered Dean, surprising herself with her forceful tone.

Dean looked up and seemed to sense her meaning right away. "No, Chloe."

"Dean, if I don't your brother's going to die. Now, shut up and let me heal him." She pushed past him and stepped towards Sam, who looked ready to pass out from blood loss. He barely blinked as she approached.

"Chloe…" Dean started, reaching to grab her shoulder.

She looked at him. "Please, Dean," she asked softly. "Trust me."

Dean looked at his brother then back at Chloe and nodded finally.

Dean stepped towards his brother as Chloe did. He'd seen Chloe heal Sam before, but that'd been different. An injured fingernail was nothing like a bullet wound to the chest.

Chloe reached out, holding her hand inches from Sam's exposed chest. After a second, her hand began to glow.

Dean kept his eyes on Sam's chest. It was hard to see because of the glow Chloe was emitting, but he thought he saw the wound healing itself. Sam's pale face gained back color and he blinked looking more alert than he had.

Finally, the glow died and Chloe pulled her hand away. Dean smiled, at Sam's newly healed chest. His brother looked like he'd never been shot— save for the blood still staining his chest and pants.

Before he could relax too much, something clicked in his brain.

"Chloe?" He turned to the small blonde, just in time to see her eyes roll back as she passed out. He cursed, shifting quickly to catch her.

"Chloe!"