Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Not even my house or car is in my name. My credit sux. Don't sue, kay?

AN: Hey, guys! Thanks for the love last chapter! Glad you're all hanging in there and enjoying the ride. New chapter! We meet some new girls along the way. Don't you all wish there were some kick-ass female hunters on the show? I do. And that's why I created them. I saw a manip of Danneel, Gen, and Victoria as hunters and that gave me a great idea. So, my character, Tory, looks like Misha's awesome wife. Just FYI in case you needed a picture in your head. :) See you at the bottom...


August Fifth,

A few months later, Bobby called. "How do you feel about hunting a Wendigo with the new kid?"

Ryan stepped into her office, closed the door, and sighed. "Which one?" She was working for [BIG]ersons as a GM outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. After the Rawhead, she and Hope had moved west for a while. She wasn't certain it was the best place to move, but it didn't have a lot of supernatural activity, so that's what sold her on the place.

"Garth."

"Damn it, Bobby…"

"Come on, I've got my own stuff going on, kid. I need a favor."

"You'll owe me."

"Put it on my tab."

She chuckled. "Fine. I've got a long weekend coming up. Where is it?"

"Up here, near me. Outside of Pierre."

"Tell Garth to get two flair guns. I'll bring my flame thrower."

"How's the kid?"

Ryan smiled as she looked at Hope's picture in the silver frame on her desk. The girl still looked like Dean. She was gorgeous. She was smart, too. She was already excelling at numbers and Ryan had fudged her birth certificate so she could start school early. She was in a great year-round school near their house. The kid didn't like the journaling that accompanied her schoolwork, nor was she particularly good at it, but the teachers seemed confident she would catch up. "She's great."

"Send me a new picture on email, girl."

She laughed. "I'll bring one. I'll pop in and see you after the hunt is finished."

"You got babysitting lined up?"

Her eyebrow rose. "You want to watch her?"

"I wouldn't mind."

She smiled. She wouldn't doubt that he would love to see her again. The last time he had visited, when she'd moved to Utah, he had thoroughly enjoyed spoiling the little girl. "Sorry to disappoint, but I have a friend, a hunter, who will look after her."

"Is that wise?"

"Hey, you're training Garth, I'm training Tory Allard, you remember me mentioning her?"

"Yeah, she's a decent hunter, quick witted, too. Seems to remember everything she's ever read."

"She's eidetic. She's got a photographic memory."

"Huh. No wonder she remembers everything. Guess that's what makes her such a good hunter, huh?"

"Yep. She'll look after Hopey while I'm gone."

"Alright. See ya in a few days, I guess. Be safe, Ryan."

She smiled. "Safety's my middle name."

He let out a snort. "Whatever you say, 'Safety'."

Five days later, she stormed into Bobby's house, covered in blood and mud and nursing a few burns. "God Damn you, Bobby Singer!" she shouted. "Damn your ass straight to Hell!" She was pissed the fuck off. "I need a shower, a shot of something, and a fucking spark plug for Demon. Where the hell are you?"

She paused as she saw a woman and a boy standing, frozen, at the kitchen counter. "Uh…"

"Troubles, girl?" Bobby asked as he walked in.

Ryan blinked and blushed. "Sorry…didn't know you had company…"

Bobby eyed the two civilians and sucked in a breath. "Well, this is Lisa and Ben Braeden. They're staying with me a couple of days."

She gasped as she dropped her duffle bag. No. Not here…they couldn't be. She didn't see the Impala. Dean wasn't…her eyes shot to Bobby's and he shook his head minutely. She sighed in relief. Good. Dean wasn't here. "Sorry for the outburst. I'm tired, I'm sore, and hey, look at that, I'm nursing a damn burn from your idiot friend."

Bobby chuckled. "Come into the office, kid, let me look you over, then you can shower."

She wrinkled her nose and picked up her duffle before she followed him into his office room. She slid the pocket doors closed and whisper-yelled, "What the hell, Bobby? Is Dean okay?"

His eyebrow shot up. "I knew you realized who they were, I just don't know how."

"The less you know, the better."

"I'm beginning to see that." They stared at each other a moment before he pulled out a glass and a bottle. He poured her a shot of bourbon and she drank it down gratefully. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and repeated, "What the hell, Bobby?"

"Dean got attacked by a djinn. He's fine, Sam's with him, but he wanted the woman and kid safe for a few days while he handled it."

She sank onto a chair. "I don't…I don't know what to say. What's going on? I thought Dean got out?"

"And best I can tell, something's trying to pull his ass back in."

"No…he can't. He's happy, isn't he?"

"Well, not at the moment, but, yeah, I'd say so."

She swallowed hard. "Okay. Okay, as long as he's happy…"

"Girl, you're going to drive me to drinking."

She smirked. "Thought you already did that, Bobby."

"Well, drink more in any case."

She smiled sadly. Her eyebrows quirked. "Is he really alright?"

Bobby took his cap off and rubbed a hand through his hair. "Damn it, girl, you could have admitted you were in love with him, told him about the kid. It would have saved you a hell of a lot of heartbreak."

She didn't question how he knew. She didn't make any bones about it to herself. She loved Dean, probably always had. "I can't, Bobby, now, more than ever, I can't. He's with another woman for crying out loud!"

"He wasn't, not until Sam fell in the hole. How old is Hope now? Four? Five? You've had at least that long plus a whole nine months before to tell him the truth." He paused, "What you been doing with her, anyway?"

"Keeping her safe," Ryan stated stiffly. "You know this. You've seen us."

"And you're doing a hell of a job raising her, but why haven't you told Dean? He's got a right to know he's got a kid."

"Like the kid in your kitchen?" At his look she rolled her eyes. "I'm not a complete idiot, Bobby. I know the kid's Dean's, he's got to be. He looks just like him."

"If he is, she ain't telling."

Ryan let out a snort. "Yeah, well, some things should be kept from him for his own good. Apparently knowing about illegitimate children is one of them."

"Damn you, Ryan, you're a pain in my ass."

She crossed her arms and stared at him. "Tell me something I don't know."

"Garth still alive?"

She glared at him. "Yes, no thanks to him."

"You alright? Really?"

Her body sank in defeat. "Well, before I was just tired, hungry and sore. Now I'm tired, hungry, sore, and emotionally scarred, but, yeah, I'm fine. I do need a shower, though. Rutting around in the muck and mire is less than fun. Being beaten to a bloody pulp isn't a walk in the park either. Then getting burned with my own damn flamethrower didn't make me any happier."

They were both silent a few moments.

"You sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine, Bobby," she ground out, but her tone held in the tears she didn't realize she had begun to shed. "It's a lonely job, you know?"

"Hunting?"

"Being a single parent," she replied softly as she stood. "Give me ten, then I'll come back, let you check my burn. It's not bad, nothing a little cream and some gauze won't fix."

"Ryan…"

She shook her head as the tears fell faster. "Don't," she whispered. "Please." She all but ran from the room and up the stairs to the bathroom, where she locked herself in. She turned on the water as hot as she could, stripped naked, and sank to the floor of the old claw foot tub as the sobs wracked her body. She should be happy for Dean. She was happy for Dean. But seeing Lisa and Ben just made her realize how badly she wanted that happily ever after.

I'm sorry, Gabriel comforted. I'm so sorry, Ryan. If I had known…

"I still would have done it, Gabe," she murmured. "You won't tell me the end of the story, but I get it, Dean's kids are a big deal. The second generation, right?"

They are very important, he replied guardedly.

"Well, he's got two, doesn't he? Ben's his, right?"

I don't know, sweetcheeks, not without testing him.

She didn't know what testing him would entail. "Doesn't matter anyway. Dean's happy, that's the main thing. And now, obviously, he has Sam back, too. So…he's good."

I hope, for his sake, it lasts.

That sounded ominous to her, but she left it alone as she quickly scrubbed herself clean and dressed in another pair of jeans and her favorite band tee. She contemplated the flannel shirt, but knew Bobby would need to check the burn on her arm, so she just tied it around her waist. She put her wet hair in a plait down her back, and hurried back downstairs. She found Bobby in the kitchen with Lisa and Ben again.

"I'm sorry for interrupting," Ryan stated again.

Lisa smiled at her. "No problem. Are you hungry? We're about to eat some sandwiches."

Ryan's stomach growled loudly, reminding her she hadn't eaten since sometime day before yesterday when the hunt began. Lisa laughed. "I'm guessing that is a yes."

Ryan chuckled. "Yeah, thanks. It's been a while."

"You like rock music?" Ben piped up.

Ryan glanced down at her AC/DC tee. It was a vintage one she'd found in a thrift shop in California, when she'd been out that way on a hunt. She smirked at the boy. "You could say that. I love music, but Classic Rock is my favorite."

"Mine too."

"Right on," she nodded as she held out a hand for a fist bump. He was a hell of a cute kid. What was he? Ten? Eleven? Almost a teen. Yikes.

"Are you a hunter?" Ben asked excitedly.

"Benjamin Issac! Manners!" Lisa chided.

Ryan ignored Lisa and answered him. "Yeah, I am."

"Do you know Dean and Sam?"

It killed her, but she nodded aloofly. "Yep, sure do. Everyone worth their rock salt knows the Winchesters."

"They're cool."

"Indeed," she mused.

"Let me go patch you up," Bobby stated gruffly as he stood and walked to his office again. She followed him and he made quick work of applying salve and a gauze pad to the burn. "It's not too bad."

She nodded. "Yeah, it hurt more because I wasn't expecting it, rather than anything else. It was my own fault. I shouldn't have given him the damn flame thrower in the first place, but I was afraid he wouldn't be able to aim the flair gun fast enough…"

Bobby chortled. "Probably a good idea. You don't need me digging one of those flairs out of your side."

She wrinkled her nose. "No, definitely not."

"You gonna be alright for this?"

She knew he wasn't talking about the patch job. She spared a glance into the kitchen at the pair working together, side by side, much like she and Hope did and nodded. "Yeah, I'm good. Say, you got a spark plug for Demon? She's acting funny, pretty sure that's all she needs."

"I'll go check her out. You go ahead and eat. I know you're eager to get back to Hope."

Ryan smiled. "Yeah, I miss the little booger."

"I bet."

Ryan stood and reached into her duffle. "As promised, a new picture."

Bobby took it with a smile. "Yeah, she beautiful, Ryan. Looks more like you. Her hair's got that red tone to it, your brown eyes, but the rest…"

She sucked in a breath. "I know." Dean was imprinted all over her features. Only the fact that Hope and Dean weren't in the same room saved anyone from knowing the truth of her paternity. She watched Bobby go outside and she steeled herself for the conversation she would have with the Braedens. Sack up, Ryan, she thought as she walked back to the kitchen. She watched as Ben sat down with a huge sandwich on his plate.

"Are hero sandwiches good for you?" Lisa asked her.

Ryan grinned and put on her bravado full force as she snagged a soda from the fridge. "If it stays still on the plate, it's good enough for me. I could eat a horse."

Lisa chuckled and began fixing the sandwich.

"I can do that…" Ryan started.

Lisa shook her head. "Don't worry. I've got it. You look exhausted. Will you stay and rest, or…?"

The thoughts of seeing Dean again were sending her into a frenzy of panic and she had to swallow down the nausea associated with the increased adrenaline coursing through her veins. There was no way she could be here when he got back. If he and Sam were hunting that djinn together, it would take no time at all for him to come back for his family. Her heart clenched. His family. Dean had a family, and it wasn't her and their child. "Nah, I've got to get going."

"Hunters don't stay anywhere very long, do they?"

"Not generally," Ryan mused as she took a large drink from the can. "But I have a home base. I'm only here as a favor to Bobby."

"I heard."

Ryan blushed and touched the cool can to her burning cheek. "Yeah, sorry about that outburst earlier. I'm normally not quite so…"

"Vocal?" Lisa supplied.

Ryan laughed. "No, I'm always vocal, but I do have the sense not to curse around kids."

"I'm not a kid," Ben murmured under his breath.

Ryan's lips quirked around the soda can as she took a drink. She swallowed and smiled. "No, you definitely aren't. How old are you? Fifteen? Sixteen?"

He shrugged indifferently and she held in a smile. The kid was good with the sullens. She should know, she had one at home that was the same way. A Winchester trait if she'd ever seen it.

"I'm eleven and a quarter," he stated stiffly.

Ryan's eyebrows shot up. "I would have pegged you for older."

"That classic car you drove up in yours?"

She smiled at him. Definitely Dean's. "Yep. 1965 Ford Falcon. She's a little small for hunting, but I don't have a partner, so she gets the job done."

"Is she okay? You said something about a spark plug."

She nodded. "Yeah, she's good. She's an old girl, so I have to keep her in top condition."

Apparently the thought of the car wasn't enough to dissuade Ben from what he really wanted to know as he asked excitedly, "What were you hunting?"

"Ben…" Lisa warned.

Ryan smiled. "It's okay. I was hunting a wendigo."

"Cool! I was one for Halloween. Dean helped me make my mask."

Her heart clenched anew. Halloween. The night kids and their parents go around the neighborhood, together, collecting candy. She thought of her and Hope's Halloween and she couldn't quite help the grin. "Good for you. My little girl went as a witch, but then, she's really little, so she's not really excited for masks. They freak her out. We settled for face paint instead."

"You have a child?"

Shit! I shouldn't have said anything… Ryan nodded as she turned back to Lisa to answer her question. It was too late to back out of it now. "Yeah, well, sort of. She's my cousin's, I'm her primary caregiver."

"I didn't think hunters…I'm sorry, none of my business."

Ryan cleared her throat. "Yeah, well, things happen. She's the light of my life. That's why I don't hunt often. And I wouldn't be hunting now if Bobby wasn't such a good friend."

"That must be terribly dangerous, hunting while you have a little one at home."

If only you knew, she had to keep up the hunting, it was part of what she considered her 'deal' with Gabriel. Luckily, she had him in her pocket, so to speak, to keep her safe. "It is, but she's safe, and I stay safe, mostly," she growled as she fingered the bandage on her arm. "I usually just step in from time to time, helping when I'm needed, and with occasions such as this, training the newbies."

"You can do that? Train to be a hunter?" Ben was just full of questions. So much like Hope, who never stopped asking this or that.

Ryan nodded guardedly. "Yes, but it's a decision that an adult has to make. It's not all fun and games. I know a lot of people who have died."

"But…monsters are real. Shouldn't everyone try to…?"

"It's dangerous," Ryan reiterated. "It's dangerous, and had it not been for the fact I had been really hurt by a monster when I was younger, I wouldn't have become a hunter, either."

"But you can quit," Ben stated coolly and her eyebrow rose. She had the distinct impression Ben didn't appreciate the fact Dean had given up hunting.

She sighed as she sank into a chair. She really should stay. She needed a rest. "Ben, it's Ben, right?" He nodded. "Well, Ben, it's like this…once you've seen so much bad stuff, once you've been hurt enough, once something or someone you care about gets hurt…it puts things into perspective for you. Eventually, you have to get out for your own sanity."

"I don't see how that's possible. How can you just give up knowing so many people are still getting hurt?"

Oh, he's definitely Dean's. That drive to make everything right…I've seen it, I've read about it, I love it.

"Ben," Lisa stated softly, "She's tired. Don't pester her anymore." She looked at Ryan as she sat her sandwich in front of her. "What did you say your name was?"

Ryan grinned. "Joan Jett." She sure as hell didn't need Lisa or Ben telling Dean they'd met her.

Lisa chuckled as Ben said, "That's not your real name."

Ryan winked at him. "I've got a kid to protect. I don't give out my name to just anyone, mister." Ryan glanced down at her sandwich. "Thanks, Lisa, this looks great."

Lisa sat, with her sandwich, and when Bobby came back in a few moments later, they were all eating in companionable silence.

"Got your ride all fixed up, girl," Bobby told her gruffly.

She looked up at the older man and smiled. "Thanks, Bobby. You're the best." She stood and stretched. "Thanks for the sandwich, Lisa. It was really great to meet you."

She paused and glanced at Ben, who was now playing on a gameboy or something. She really wasn't up on all that gaming crap and Hope wasn't really interested in that kind of stuff. Yet. She had the feeling the little girl would be, though. She already played on Ryan's smart phone half the time. "You look after him, okay?" She wasn't sure if she was talking about Ben or Dean.

Lisa smiled and ruffled Ben's hair. "I will. You take care of yourself, Joan."

Ryan smirked. "Safety's my middle name," she stated. Bobby rolled his eyes as she walked over and gave him a kiss on the cheek and quickly dashed out to her car before she could start crying again.


September Sixth,

"Come on, kid, let's go." Ryan had agreed to help out at the local homeless shelter, feeding everyone a Labor Day cookout. Hope was fascinated by the idea of helping the poor. Her daughter was one of the most giving children she'd ever met. They walked into the building and Ryan immediately headed for the kitchen. She loved cooking, always had, and she had agreed to help in the kitchen working the hot dog roller and making potato salad.

"Mama, you going to make Grandma Fawcett's famous potato salad?"

Ryan chuckled under her breath. "Sure am, sugar. Let's see how everyone likes it."

"I like it."

"You like everything Mama fixes."

"Except roast beef. Yuck."

Ryan's lip twitched. The kid loved meatloaf, hated roast or steak. It made dinners interesting sometimes. "Well, at least I don't make you eat it often." Or ever, she thought to herself.

Hope stuck her tongue out and Ryan just barely held in a giggle at her daughter's face. "Okay, you going to play with the other kids here, or are you going to stick with me?"

"With you," Hope whispered softly. The little girl was used to being with different people, it wasn't as if she was new with the whole school and friends thing but ever since the Rawhead, she'd been a bit more clingy. She was doing well with it, but she was still quite attached to Ryan. It was as if the child knew there were big bads out in the world and only Ryan could protect her from them.

Ryan gave her a quick hug and said, "Okay, wash your hands and you can help me with the potato salad, alright?"

Hope nodded and dashed to the sink. Ryan wasn't going to peel fifteen pounds of potatoes, and luckily, the crew ahead of her had cut them all up, so all Ryan had to do was cook them, chop the onion, then mix everything up.

Ryan quickly put three huge stock pots of potatoes on to cook and began cutting the onion. Once that was finished, she drained the potatoes and began mixing in the relish, mustard, mayonnaise, and a dash of black pepper along with the onions. It really didn't take that long, and soon, she and Hope were cleaning up the dishes. Ryan was just finishing washing the huge stock pot when she reached her hand into the hot water and slit her hand on the knife she'd used to chop the onions. "Crap!" she cried as she pulled her bloody hand from the water. It was bleeding pretty good. She winced and grabbed a kitchen towel.

"Mama! You okay?"

"Yeah, sweetie, just a little cut…" she pulled the towel away and blood seeped from the wound faster than Ryan would have liked.

"Here, I'll make it better," Hope stated softly as she grasped Ryan's hand in her two small ones. Ryan's eyes widened in amazement as she watched the skin knit back together and seal.

"Hope…what…?" but then Hope swayed on her feet and Ryan grasped her as she fell.

Gabriel! she cried.

She felt Gabriel take her over then and she watched like an outsider as he checked over her child with her arms and hands. "She's fine," she heard her voice say as her body lifted the girl and carried her out to the car. She heard her voice say to Francine, "Hope isn't feeling well. I'm sorry, I need to take her home…"

"That's fine, Ryan. Call me, let me know how she's doing."

"Thanks, Francine," Ryan heard her voice murmur as her body walked to the car and sat Hope in her booster seat.

Gabriel…is she…?

"She's fine," her voice repeated softly. "Trust me. She's fine. Let me get both of you home. We don't need you wrecking the car."

She would have taken a deep, calming breath, had she been in control of her lungs, but, since she didn't, she had to force herself to calm down through sheer will until they were safely back in their home. She watched as Gabriel put her daughter to bed and then, he released her body back to her. She's fine, Ryan.

"You never said she could do that!"

I said she might have some powers. The angel grace…it's finicky.

"Finicky? Finicky? Gabriel, she just healed a fucking cut on my hand!" She glanced down at her hand and flexed her fingers over the now pink scar. She had no doubts it would be completely gone by morning.

She's fine, Ryan. It's fine. She's got some angel grace. We knew this would happen, as I said…

"Fuck that, Gabe. You didn't warn me the kid was a miracle worker! What if she does that again? What if she's labeled a freak or something?" She felt the blood leave her face as she whispered, "What if she becomes hunted?"

She won't. Calm down. She's fine, Ryan.

"Easy for you to say. You're hanging out in Casa de Ryan, asshat."

She felt him chuckle. I'll keep you both safe, toots. You know that. I promised I would.

She sighed and ran a hand over her daughter's cheek. "Swear it, Gabriel. Swear my daughter will be safe."

I swear it. But maybe we need to tell her a thing or two about hunting…let her know she's got angel grace, something.

"I'll tell her parts of it. She's a child, Gabe. She isn't even six yet!"

Well, we'll be cautious, but she needs to know she can't do that in mixed company.

"Agreed."

She glanced at her unconscious daughter once more. "I didn't want this for her, Gabe. I wanted her to be normal."

She's a Winchester, Ryan. Normal went out the window with her paternity.

"Thanks," Ryan bit off.

You agreed to the terms. She's your reward.

"And I thank you for her, Gabe, I really do. I just…this is…"

It's the burden you have, Ryan. Accept it and move on.

Ryan blew out another breath just as Hope woke. "Mama?"

Ryan's smile was soft. "Hey, baby, are you alright?"

"What happened?"

"Hope…you healed my hand." She held it up for the little girl to see. "Did you know you could do that?"

Hope shrugged. "You got hurt. I wanted to make it better…"

"Hope…" She bit her lip as she thought. "Honey, what you did, it's awesome, it really is. But it's dangerous. This could have really hurt you."

"But I'm fine now, see?" To prove her point, Hope sat up in bed and gave her mom a hug.

Ryan hugged her for all she was worth. "I know, babe, I see. And that's great. But you can't do this again, okay? You're a little girl. You can't be doing these kinds of things."

"Why? Am I weird, Mommy? Is there something the matter with me?"

Ryan was cautious as she told her daughter, "No, baby, definitely not, but this…well…okay, see, before you, when I was with Daddy, I couldn't have kids. And an angel came to me and said he would give me you."

"You told me I was from heaven."

Ryan nodded. "And you are. You're a gift from heaven. I couldn't have babies, and Gabriel gave me you."

"And we can't be with Daddy because somebody bad might use us to hurt him, so we have to stay safe. Just like I can't tell people my last name is really Winchester and I can't tell people my daddy's name is Dean."

Ryan nodded again. "Exactly. But when the angel gave you to me, he gave you this gift."

"The gift of healing people?"

"He sure did. But it comes with a price. You have to be careful with it. It could backfire and hurt you. And if you healed someone and the wrong person saw, they might want to take you from me and we can't have that, okay?"

The little girl bit her lip as two fat tears rolled down her cheeks. "I don't want that, Mama. I love you. I wanna be with you, always."

Ryan hugged the little girl to her tightly. "And I want to be with you always, Hopey, but you've got to be careful with this, okay?"

"So…it's a secret? Just like Daddy and Uncle Sammy and my last name?"

Ryan nodded one last time. "I'm afraid so."

"Okay, Mommy."

"That's it? Just 'okay'?"

The little girl shrugged. "You take care of me. I take care of you. That's all."

Ryan smiled and kissed the girl's forehead. "Okay, then."


November Thirteenth,

Ryan sighed in relief as she let the last kid out of the house. The birthday party had been exhausting, but it was fun. To see Hope relaxing and playing with the other kids was something Ryan never got tired of.

She glanced in the living room and spied Hope playing with one of her newest toys. "Hey, kid, you ready to go?" Ryan had told her they were going on a little birthday trip overnight. Ryan had wanted to take a bit longer, but she knew this would work just as well.

"Yeah!" Hope jumped up and went to grab her small backpack that was already loaded for their night away. It took no time at all for them to lock up the house and get on the road.

Ryan bit her lip as she looked at her daughter in the rearview mirror. She was such an angelic child, all smiles and kisses and love. She knew she couldn't put this off, however, Ryan wasn't sure she was doing the right thing.

Gabe, are you sure she needs to know, now?

The kid's tougher than she looks, Ryan. Tell her some things, make her feel better…

Ryan had been on the fence about when to tell Hope about the supernatural, and she was fairly certain the child was still too young to grasp a lot, but she wanted Hope to feel safe. Even now, months after the Rawhead attack, it was evident that Hope was nervous, anxious. She needed a nightlight now and Ryan salted the girl's bedroom and closet doors every night because Ryan had promised it would keep the monsters out. At least she was sleeping in her own room. Ryan hadn't wanted the girl to become reliant on sleeping with her. The child had to be at least somewhat independent.

Ryan drove until they reached a small wooded area and the cabin she had rented for the weekend. She had gone up while Hope had been in school the day before and scouted it out before she paid, then she took all her gear inside for Hope to examine.

"It's pretty, Mama! Kinda like the Three Bear's house!" Hope exclaimed.

Ryan chuckled. "Yeah, it kinda is. Okay, short stuff, hop up here with Mommy. I wanna tell you a few things, alright?"

Hope smiled as she unbuckled and dove over the seat, causing Ryan to laugh again. She righted herself and shouted, "I'm here!"

Ryan smiled and pulled her daughter close for a kiss. "Yes, you definitely are." Ryan steeled herself, then began; "Okay, so, you know how Mom sometimes goes off for the weekend?"

"You help people, like Daddy does."

Ryan nodded. "Yep. I do."

"You're Wonder Woman!" Hope shouted.

Ryan winced at the sheer volume. "No, not exactly." She sucked in a breath. "There are monsters in the world, Hope. Real, live monsters."

"Like the one that tried to eat me in our basement?" she asked fearfully.

Ryan nodded. "That wasn't a nightmare, it really happened."

Hope was quiet for a moment, then she let out a small, "Oh."

"But, honey, that's what Mommy and Daddy do. We hunt monsters."

"You do?" the child's voice was full of awe.

Ryan nodded again. "Yes, we do. You know how Mommy never lets you into the trunk of the car?"

"Yeah?"

Ryan opened the door to the car and stood. "Come here and I'll show you why."

Ryan walked to the trunk, keeping an eye on her daughter as she climbed out of the car and walked behind her. Ryan opened the trunk and popped open the fake bottom to show off the weapon's cache.

"Whoa. What is all this, Mommy?"

"Tools of the trade, sweetheart. I have some other things in the cabin I'd like to show you." She grasped Hope's hand, slammed the trunk shut, and led her daughter into the building.

Hope held her hands behind her back as Ryan led her over to the small table loaded with gear. "Have a seat, sweetie."

The little girl plopped into a chair and Ryan's heart broke. She'd tried so hard to make this kid's life normal…

You're doing the right thing, Gabriel promised.

"Doesn't feel like it," Ryan muttered under her breath, but she put on a smile. "So, monsters. They're real. And I know how to kill them all, so don't worry, baby, you're safe with me."

"Promise?" Hope's small voice asked.

Ryan knelt in front of her daughter. "Hope Deanna Winchester, I promise, I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe. You're a gift from Heaven above. An angel brought you to me and I will die trying to keep you safe, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy."

Ryan sucked in a breath and blew it out. "Okay, so, the first thing you need to know is, most monsters are sensitive to salt and iron…"

On it went as Ryan explained the basics of hunting to her five year old daughter. Granted, she didn't get into a lot of detail. That would come, with time, but for now, she just wanted the kid to be informed.

When she finished, after answering questions and showing Hope the guns and knives and how to safely touch them, they snuggled in the small bed in the corner of the one-room cabin as the inky twilight made the dark seem safe, rather than something to fear.

"Thank you, Mommy. I don't feel as afraid anymore."

Ryan pulled her tight and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry I have to tell you these things, sweetie, but you need to know about them."

"I'm glad I do. But I can't tell my friends?"

"No, sweetheart, you can't. Most people can't know about monsters."

"Wouldn't they be safer if they did?"

Ryan thought a moment then said, "Well, baby, a lot of people are narrow minded. You know Kyle? How he has two mommies?" Hope nodded. "Well, a lot of people think that's wrong, that he should only have one mommy and one daddy. But his family just isn't made that way. Your family is just a mommy and a girl because Daddy's busy out there hunting these things, to keep us safe. And family isn't just someone you're related to. Bobby is like family, right?"

"Yep, he is. He's like my grandpa."

Ryan smiled. "Yeah, he sort of is. I wish you could have known your grandmas and grandpas, baby. You don't have a lot of family."

"But I got you," Hope stated as she wrapped her small arms around Ryan's waist. "And I've got a guardian angel, right?"

Ryan hugged her tightly. "Yes, baby, you surely do."


April (During Eve's Reign)

Ryan panted. She was exhausted. Monsters had been plentiful lately. So much so, she'd had to trust Hope's care to a civilian so Tory could hunt with her. Hope had been less than thrilled to be stuck with the older woman, but Ryan knew where they were now living was a fairly safe place. There had been no monster activity in or around their town, so she was confident her daughter would be okay for a little while. Besides, she had been teaching Hope how to take care of herself in case some monster came calling on them. And even at six and a half years old, she felt confident Hope could keep herself safe if she needed to.

"You good?" Ryan managed as she held out a hand for Tory.

The other woman winced and managed to stumble to her feet. They were both breathing hard, wounded in places, and more than a little worn out. "Yeah, he didn't bite me. I'm good."

Ryan gasped in a breath. She was certain at least one of her ribs were broken. They'd fought off a pack of skinwalkers and in the beginning, it had been a bitch deciphering who was who since they looked like dogs most of the time. She now had no desire to have a pet, ever.

Her phone rang and she winced as she reached into her back pocket for it. "Ryan," she muttered.

"Hey, girl, you alright?"

She blew out a breath. "Yeah, Bobby, I'm good."

"What are you doing? Did I call at a bad time?"

She shook her head as she and Tory trudged toward Demon. "Me and Tory Allard just finished taking out a pack of skinwalkers. Monsters, man, what's up? I got wind there's a shit ton of ghouls farther east off I-80."

"Yeah, I'm there now."

She paused. "Do we need to come over there?"

"Where are you now?"

She gasped as she sat behind the wheel. Maybe there were two ribs broken. She'd need Tory to bind her up once they got back to the hotel. She also had a nasty gash along her right bicep and her left leg. "Iowa."

"Iowa?"

She cranked the car and threw up gravel in her rush to get away from the crime scene. There were twelve bodies in there, all with silver bullets in their hearts. She had no desire to stick around. "Yeah, Des Moines. We've been following a trail of monsters all the way from Salt Lake City." She had moved, luckily, to Phoenix, Arizona over Christmas break. She hadn't really felt like Salt Lake City was where she wanted to be, and Hope, bless her, was cool with the move. She hadn't moved the kid too often, but she felt bad about it. However, Hope was thoroughly enjoying the already warming temperatures of the desert, and Ryan was thankful most monsters seemed to enjoy sticking north east of the cacti and dust storms. "We dealt with a rugaru and caught wind of this. What the hell is up with these monsters, Bobby?"

"We think it's something to do with a mother."

"A mother? Yeah, a bad ass mother," she muttered as she turned onto the side road that would take them back to their motel.

Bobby chuckled under his breath. "No, I mean, the book the boys found, it said something about a mother."

She was silent a moment. The monster stuff took a backseat as Dean's face swam in her mind. "The guys are with you?" she asked as she slipped the car into "park" in front of their motel room door.

"Off and on," he commented.

"Okay."

He sighed. "Damn it, Ryan…"

She stood and leaned against the front quarter panel of the car. "Bobby, do you need help, yes or no?"

"You'd come up here and help? What about the kid?"

She motioned Tory to go open the door to their room. "Hope is safe."

"You don't need to get hurt, girl."

She thought of Gabriel. He'd popped up to help her a time or two when she'd been near to giving death a kiss on the lips, but for something like healing her ribs or gashes, he would stay in the background, especially around other hunters. He'd been keeping a low profile. Everyone thought he was dead, he was planning on keeping it that way. "I'm good, Bobby. You guys need help, we'll help.

Bobby was quiet a moment before he said, "Nah, just…get well. You sound like crap."

"A couple of broken ribs will do that to you," she wheezed as she pushed off the car and headed toward the room.

"Look after yourself. Take care of the kid. That's the important thing. If it gets bad up here, I'll give you a call."

"Promise me, Bobby Singer. Don't let this thing he and I have mess up me helping you."

Tory raised an eyebrow, but remained quiet. Ryan didn't talk about her personal life, not even to her so-called best friend, so she knew Tory knew well enough to leave it alone.

Bobby sighed. "Yeah, alright, girl, I'll keep that in mind. Where you stationing out of, anyway?"

"The desert," she stated vaguely.

She could almost hear Bobby's eyeroll as he muttered, "Couldn't move any farther, could you?"

She chuckled. "I heard Hawaii was great this time of year, but I can't afford the cost of living."

"Ha," he stated flatly. "Look after yourself."

"You know it," she murmured as she punched the "end" button.

"Bobby alright?"

"Yeah, he's hunting more monsters farther on east."

"On I-80?"

"Yeah, seems like it."

"You wanna go?"

Ryan winced as she sat gingerly on the bed. "I need to sit this one out. I won't move fast enough. You going?"

Victoria grinned. "Hell, might as well."

Ryan snorted out a breath and winced. "Well, sleep on it, then you can take off tomorrow."

"Sounds good. Bobby got my number?"

Ryan nodded. "Yeah, Allard, you know he does."

"Good."


May Twenty-Seventh

Ryan growled out a breath. "What?!" she screamed into the phone. Damn it. She was having the shittiest day on the planet and answering the phone wasn't helping matters.

"Ah…Ryan Hunter?"

Ryan blew out a breath. She refused to give her real last name out to anyone except Bobby. Not even Tory knew her real last name, and Tory was one of her best friends, well, one of her only friends, in any case. "Yeah?"

"Sorry to bother you, I got your name from a guy named Garth Fitzgerald…"

Ryan rolled her eyes and blew her hair out of her line of vision. The stupid sink pipe was going to be the end of her. Sure, she'd managed to take down almost every monster under the sun, was raising a daughter on her own, and had an angel playing tag-along to her soul, but this damned pipe…

"Hello?"

Ryan sat up too quickly and bumped her head on the cabinet. "Fuck. Sorry," she murmured as she rubbed her forehead. "I'm doing a little home repair and it isn't working with me."

The woman chuckled. "I can call back…"

Ryan sighed. "Nah, it's good. I think I'm going to have to admit defeat on this one and call an actual repair man. What possessed my daughter to bathe her Rapunzel doll in the sink, then, let her hair get caught down in the garbage disposal, I'll never know."

The woman's laughter grew. "Believe me, I've seen it all. I'm a teacher."

Ryan smiled. "Sorry, had to vent. What's up? If Garth gave you my number, you must need something…out of the ordinary."

"About that…I prefer not to talk over the phone. Could we meet somewhere?"

Ryan sighed. After the broken ribs and the skinwalkers, she'd sat out a few jobs. She did trudge up to the Grand Canyon to help another hunter with an Arachne, which scared the fuck out of her, but outside of that, she'd stayed low. "As I said, I have a daughter…I don't want to leave her…"

"Oh! I don't need you for a job, I just need to know a few things."

"You're a newbie?" Ryan asked as she put the phone on her shoulder and wiped her hands.

"Yes and no. My sister…" the woman's voice caught and Ryan's heart went out to her.

"Okay, Okay. I get it. Where are you located?"

"Chicago, Illinois."

Ryan let out a whistle. "I bet it's still cold there, isn't it? Windy?"

The woman laughed. "You know it."

Ryan glanced over at the calendar on the refrigerator. "Look, the kid has school for a few more weeks. Can it wait?"

"I can come to you."

Ryan paused. There was something about the woman's tone…she seemed harmless, most normal humans were, and if she needed to know things about the supernatural... What do you think, Gabe?

You know I can protect you if you need it, Ryan. If she sounds as though she needs help, we need to give it to her. "I live in Phoenix, Arizona," Ryan stated finally.

"Ooooh. I bet it's wonderfully warm there."

Ryan chuckled. "It is, trust me."

"Could I come to you? We could meet somewhere. I promise, I'm not a psycho, I just need some answers about monsters, please."

Ryan blew out a breath. "Alright. Give me your email address, we can get things situated…"

And that was how Ryan found herself walking through the doors of Sky Harbor International Airport three weeks later, holding up a sign that said, "Andrea Blackwell" on it.

A shorter woman walked up with long black hair, porcelain skin, and ruby red lips. "Ryan?"

Ryan smiled. "Andrea?"

"Andy."

They shook hands. "Good timing. Your plane got in early."

"Yeah, who knew we would catch a tailwind?"

"So…" Ryan began.

Andy chuckled. "Well, this isn't at all uncomfortable, is it?"

Ryan chortled. It wasn't the most comfortable meeting she'd ever experienced. "My ride's upstairs. I don't like to park in the parking deck. I'm all the way up at the top."

Andy nodded and followed her as Ryan led the way to the elevators. "So, how do you know Garth? We didn't discuss that."

"He got rid of a ghost in my school. I was one of the ones that witnessed it."

Ryan nodded. "And all the other stuff?"

"I had an inkling about," Andy finished. "I've been doing research on the supernatural since my sister went missing."

"And you're pretty sure something unnatural got her? It wasn't just foul play?"

Andy bit her lip and shook her head. "No. Not with what information I have."

"Okay, well, I can take you to a hotel; let you get freshened up a bit…"

"Please. That would be wonderful. I know you don't want me near your child, for safety reasons, but I promise, I only want some answers, and I'm pretty sure you're the only one who can help me."

They walked out into the Arizona heat and Ryan slid behind the wheel of her car. "What makes you think I'm the only one who can help you?"

"My sister's name was Ariel, but she was possessed by a demon. A demon named Ruby."

Ryan's hand fell off the keys she had just put into the ignition. "What?"

Andy winced. "I figured you'd heard of her. Not a lot of hunters have, but, given your close relationship to Robert Singer…and, for obvious reasons, I can't just go up to the Winchesters…"

Ryan shook her head adamantly. "No…Andy…I don't…"

"Garth says you know a lot about the Winchesters, but you don't ride with them. I can't go to Robert Singer. That would be unwise because I look just like Ariel…"

Ryan blew out a breath. For fuck's sake. Why me?

Ever get the feeling fate is leading you places? Gabriel commented snidely.

Bite me, Gabe, she retorted. Besides, Fate is a capricious bitch, didn't you read The Gospel about the boy's meeting with her?

She's a nasty piece of work, Gabe agreed. You should meet her sisters.

Ryan's nose wiggled in disgust. No thanks. To Andrea, she said, "Andy, look, I…I have extenuating circumstances for knowing about the boys…"

"I just want to know about my sister. I have the doctor's reports and everything, I just need you to fill in the supernatural side of it."

Ryan blew out another breath. "Fine. I'll do what I can."

"Thank you, Ryan. I appreciate it."

Ryan scrubbed her hand across her face and cranked the car. "Let's get you checked into your hotel, then we can talk."

She took Andy to one of the hotels nearer to her house in North Phoenix and when they arrived in Andy's room, the first thing Ryan did was pull a bottle of tequila out of her backpack. At her gesture, Andy nodded. "Booze will make this conversation easier, I'm certain."

Ryan chuckled and poured them both generous glasses. "Rule one; when discussing the supernatural, always have alcohol present. It makes life easier. Usually the boys like whiskey or bourbon, Bobby drinks gin. Garth, of course, is a cheap drunk, he likes wine coolers, and my girl Tory likes Scotch, but I'm a rum or tequila girl, myself. I prefer rum, but I brought along my best bottle of tequila just for you."

Andy chuckled. "Tequila's my poison of pleasure, so that totally works." She downed her shot and winced as it burned, then shook her head. "Okay, so, you want me to talk?"

Ryan shrugged as she pulled out her laptop. She didn't keep The Gospels, but she did, however, keep a journal of the boy's exploits. It made it easier for her to go back through and look for patterns, keep up with their kills, that sort of thing. Frank Devereaux had helped her create an algorithm for her digital journal. It was an awesome piece of work, if she did say so herself. It was a hell of a lot better than keeping fifty million dusty books around like Bobby did. But, the only problem was, she had to read the books to input them into the system. She'd already logged quite a few books into her system, she just had about a million more to go. But this…it would be easy enough to find all she had on Ruby. "When we start this, there's no going back, Andy. Once you know, you can't un-know it."

Andy nodded slowly. "I realize that. But this…I have to find out the truth."

Ryan sat at the two person table and gestured for Andy to join her. "Sit, and spill."

Andy sat, poured another glass of tequila, shot it back, then began her tale; "Ariel and I weren't very close in school. We were identical in looks only. She was…sweet, I guess is the word. She wouldn't hurt a fly. I was more rambunctious, outgoing, I was the skater girl that hung out with all the boys, drinking, smoking, you name it. Ariel was the good girl, prom queen, president of the purity club…"

Ryan held in a snort. Poor Ariel's meatsuit had been used for all forms of debauchery with Sam, or, so she'd heard, in any case.

"So, Ariel was the good girl. However, she got in with the wrong group. She got mixed up in some kind of cult. I don't know the details. From what I've found out, it was a religious faction that thought the apocalypse was coming."

"They weren't wrong," Ryan mused.

Andy nodded. "No, they weren't wrong, I suppose. Anyway, I lost contact with her the year we left high-school. She left a note for Mom and Dad, said she wanted to save her soul. I searched for her, I couldn't find her. Mom and Dad were distraught. I didn't start college when I should just so I could look for her. I found the cult, but she wasn't there. I finally went to college, but she stayed in the forefront of my thoughts. It was like she vanished off the face of the earth. Finally, I managed to find her. She was a Jane Doe at a hospital in Ohio. I went to claim her body, only to find it was gone. The doctors…they said she woke up as soon as they cut the power and unplugged her. They said it was physically impossible. She was brain dead, had been, for days while they tried to find her family. She was shot in a drug store robbery."

"Andy, I'm so sorry…"

"Ariel got lost, somehow. I've…I've made peace with that. Our family wasn't overly religious, but I have to hope she's happy now, you know? But I couldn't let it go that she'd gotten up and walked away. So, I started digging. I'm an excellent researcher. I started looking and what I found…"

"Demons," Ryan replied.

Andy nodded. "Right in one. It was the only plausible explanation. So, then, I didn't know what to do with that information, and I knew I couldn't approach the thing in my sister's body, so, I waited for her to show up. Of course, she had been brain dead, so the…thing wouldn't find its way to me, I was safe. I found out enough to know demons use the bodies they inhabit and then, when they're finished with them, leave them behind, so I bided my time and began looking for her body. I found it in an abandoned convent in Maryland where some less than normal shit went down. I had my closure, we had a body to bury."

"But?"

Andy's sardonic chuckle made Ryan's heart hurt. "I couldn't give up. I had to know more."

Ryan blinked and her brows furrowed. "You know so much. What could you possibly want to know from me? And furthermore, again, how do you know I'll be able to help you, anyway?"

"I've found out about demons, and I've begun hunting them."

Ryan's eyes grew. "You…you're hunting demons?"

Andy nodded. "And I've gotten particularly good at torturing them."

"You do realize, the meatsuits they're riding are just like your sister, someone out there somewhere loves them!"

"And I let them live! I excise them, eventually. I get them medical help. I just…get information out of them first."

Ryan swallowed hard. This…this was a lot to take in. She had stayed clear of demons, outside a few she had to take care of. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the woman standing before her. "What do you want to know?"

"Was Ariel really dead? Or did she…was she hurt just like…" Andy sucked in a breath. "Look, I know I'm not a great person, okay? I've done shit and I'm not sorry. I'm an exorcist now. That's what I'm doing, going around, taking demons out of people. That's fine. My parents died last year, I have no family left, but I can return these people back to their families…"

Ryan felt a tear slip down her cheek. "You aren't doing them any favors, no matter what. Once that evil touches them…they're tainted forever."

Andy gasped. "You were possessed, weren't you?"

Ryan nodded. "As a girl. The Winchester Boys excised a demon from me and it almost killed me. Did kill me, in fact. I died on the operating table twice. Something kept bringing me back, and it wasn't my will to live."

"I've heard the boys are killing demons with some knife now."

Ryan nodded. "I've heard that, too. I haven't seen Dean Winchester in years. I saw Sam recently and hunted with him, for a monster, though, not a demon."

"What do you know about him and Ruby?"

Ryan opened her mouth and then snapped it shut. She blew a breath out of her nose and said, "It's none of your business what happened between them. Your sister was dead. I believe that. Whatever happened to her body was desecration, but it could have been so much worse for her, trust me." She paused, then added, "Give it up. Don't get sucked into the life, Andy. Go back, do whatever you went to school for."

"I can't," Andy whispered as tears fell onto her lap. "I can't now. I know too much."

Ryan's heart went out to the woman. "I know. It's a slippery slope." They were both quiet for a moment as Ryan felt a certain kinship to this woman. "You don't have anyone? No family? No friends?"

Andy laughed. "Who would want to be friends with me? I spend my spare time hunting for demons, Ryan."

Ryan smiled. "Well, it sounds like the kind of thing I'm interested in. I can be your friend."

Andy looked at her. "Really?"

Ryan shrugged. "Well, I mean, I'm not the most interesting person on the planet, but the number of friends I have I can count on one hand." She paused. "What is it you do?"

"I'm a teacher. I taught sixth grade, then I taught third. I love to teach, but this demon thing…"

Ryan nodded. "It can take over your life. However, you can hunt on occasion. You can have a semi-normal life."

"Do you?"

Ryan nodded. "More so than before, yes, and with a child, I have to."

"How did that happen?"

Ryan was cautious. This chick didn't need to know the truth. The lie had gotten easier over time. Bobby was still the only one that knew the truth. "I'm her caregiver. My cousin…she's unwell. I've had to adapt my hunting strategies."

"So it would seem."

Ryan went out on a limb and asked, "Would you like to meet her?"

"You'd let me meet your daughter?"

Ryan nodded. "For dinner. I know a great Italian place we can eat. You want some of the best chicken wings on the planet?"

Andy smiled. "Yeah, I think I'd like that."

Ryan stood and snapped her laptop shut. "Okay. I'll go get her, you freshen up, I'll come back and pick you up." She walked over and slipped her computer in her bag.

"Hey, Ryan?"

Ryan looked up at Andy. "Yeah?"

"Why are you doing this?"

Ryan gave her a crooked smile. "Because, I think we are a lot alike. I know how lonely life is when you're on the edge of all of this shit. You jump over into the ravine and you're nothing more than a killing machine. You back off from it, you feel useless, like you could be helping so many people, but you aren't. It's a knife's edge I balance on every day. I feel a certain connection to you in those regards."

"Thank you," Andy whispered.

Ryan smiled. "Okay, so, get your crap together. Me and the kid will be back in about an hour. Bring your appetite."

She walked to the door and smiled when she heard one more whispered, "Thanks."

Ryan blew out a breath as soon as she stepped back out into the hallway. Am I doing the right thing, Gabe?

His was reply was subdued, so unlike the angel she knew and had learned to love. She needs someone, Ryan, just like you do. I think wrestling with demons turns a person into something less than human. Killing monsters, like you do, is slightly different. You can't see nothing but evil without it affecting you. I think she needs you.

"Me too," she whispered.

She shook off her thoughts as she drove to her small home. She heard the laughter and splashing as soon as she stood from Demon. Her lips quirked as she unlocked the door, went through the house, and stepped back onto the patio in the backyard where Hope was swimming in the pool.

"How's it going?" she asked Tory, who was sunning in the lounge chair in her bikini. No one would know how gorgeous Tory really was underneath all the layers a hunter wore, but she had a body to die for. That, paired with her quick wit and biting attitude made her unstoppable, or it would, if she chose to pursue a relationship. Sure, she hooked up with guys (and girls, too, on occasion) but she wasn't the lasting relationship kind of person. She had drunkenly admitted to Ryan once that their friendship was the longest relationship she'd had outside of the six months she had been with her dead fiancé.

Tory pulled down her sunglasses to stare at Ryan with a half-smile. "I tell ya, Ryan, I could get used to chilling out here. No wonder you moved to Phoenix. It's terrific."

Ryan chuckled. "Yeah, it is." She sat next to her friend and watched Hope swimming for a moment. The little girl was a hell of a swimmer, just like Ryan had been. She had been on the swim team in school, before the demons ruined her life.

"So? How's the new girl? She a hunter?"

Ryan nodded. "She's a demon hunter."

"Whoa. Seriously?"

"Her sister was taken by demons, she was possessed."

"Well, you can relate."

Ryan just looked at her. Victoria had a way with words.

"What? It's true."

Ryan blew out a breath. "I know. But it gets better."

"Uh-oh. What?"

"Her sister? She was taken by Ruby."

Victoria blinked. Almost everyone in the hunting community knew who Ruby was, what she had done with Sam. And there were things Ryan had shared with Victoria, just on the off chance she hunted with the Winchesters. Victoria knew Bobby Singer. She knew enough. "You're shitting me."

"Nope."

"You mean…the Ruby?"

Ryan nodded. "She knew stuff. She's legit. She's that meatsuit's twin."

"Holy shit."

"Yeah."

They were both quiet a moment before Victoria snickered. "Better keep her away from the Winchester boys."

Ryan laughed flatly. "I know, right? Luckily, she knows it. She's found out some stuff, too. I don't know how much, yet. I'm going to pick her up for dinner. Thought we'd go to Oregano's…wanna come with?"

"Hell yes, I want to come with."

Ryan grinned. "Thought you'd say that. I'm going to take Hope with us."

"You sure about that?"

"I think she's lost, Tory. I think she needs some help with a few things, and I think we are the two to help her."

"I don't do awkward girlie scenes," Tory muttered.

Ryan chortled. Victoria Allard was a great monster hunter, a great friend, but she wasn't a feminine little flower. "I never asked you to," Ryan shot back.

"Good. Glad we got that settled," Tory said with a head bob. "Welp, guess I'll go in, get ready for din-din."

Ryan ignored her as she stood and walked to the edge of the pool. "Hey, angel-face!"

"Hey, Mama! Did you meet your new friend?"

Ryan grinned as she knelt down to the water. "I did. You wanna go to Oregano's with us for dinner?"

"Yes!" the little girl cried as she scrambled up the side and out of the pool. She ran to the chair sitting in the sun, and grabbed a towel to wrap around her shoulders.

Ryan made her way back to the shaded patio and sat back down. "Have you had fun with Tory?"

"Yep! I pretended to be a water monster."

Ryan chuckled. "You did?"

"Yeah, like Nessie."

Ryan had told her the legend of The Loch Ness Monster a few days ago. She'd heard Nessie was real, but she wondered if Bobby hadn't been pulling her leg. Of course, there were stranger things out there, so who knew? "Cool."

"So, did you make a new friend? Is she going to hunt with you like Tory does?"

Ryan shrugged noncommittally. "I don't know yet, sugar. I just met her. She's nice though. I think she needs a friend."

"We can be her friend!"

Ryan's smiled again. This little girl was always so damned happy. She had wondered if Dean would have had a normal childhood if he would have been this bubbly and sweet. She felt sure he would have. "Yep, we can be her friend. Come on, you are probably dry enough. Go get dressed. I'll comb your hair, then we need to vamoose."

She watched the girl tear into the house and she just shook her head as she walked in and locked the patio door behind her. This had been a good decision, to move. She hadn't liked the idea of moving when they did, but Hope had blossomed in the Arizona sun, just like a flowering cactus. Ryan had, too, for that matter. This was probably one of her favorite places they'd lived.

An hour later, almost on the nose, they turned into the parking lot of the hotel, all three of them singing along to Katy Perry's "E.T." on the radio.

Tory grabbed Ryan's shoulder from the backseat. "You didn't tell me she was gorgeous," Tory accused as they pulled up to the curb.

Ryan chuckled. "Sorry, forgot to mention it."

Andrea opened the door and slid inside. "Hey."

Ryan smiled at her. "Hey, Andy, this is my daughter, Hope, and one of my best friends and hunting buddies, Victoria Allard, or Tory, as she'd rather be called."

They all shook hands and Ryan pulled out into traffic. That night began something new for the three women…a lasting friendship.


July Thirteenth,

The knock on the door was out of the ordinary, and Ryan grabbed her gun from her holster as she made her way to the laundry room. Whoever it was, thought themselves familiar enough to come through the carport, instead of to the front door. She held the gun to the door, then peeped through the peephole. She blew out a breath as she stowed the gun and opened it, letting Andy in. "What?"

Andy smiled. "Hello to you, too. Sorry, I didn't want to talk over the phone. Got a minute?"

Ryan nodded and stood aside so Andy could come in. The woman had decided to move to Arizona after visiting the month before. "What's up?"

"Demons."

Ryan paused before she grabbed the bottle of Captain Morgan from the top of the refrigerator. "Is that so? Where?"

"Reno."

"And that concerns me…how?"

Andy rolled her eyes. "Come on, Ryan! Look, I know you're a monster girl, but this is…this is epic. I need backup. Word is there are a few demons taking over a casino over there. Word is, this Crowley guy is behind it."

Ryan swallowed hard. Crowley was nobody to fuck with. The Winchesters had dealt with him before and Ryan wasn't eager to tangle with him, especially since he was the King of Hell. She wasn't sure what was going on with him since she hadn't received a Gospel in the past two weeks, but she had the sinking suspicion the douchewad going to be a problem since she'd found out he wasn't dead. "I thought he was dead," she stated guardedly.

Andy shrugged and downed a drink before pouring herself another. "Word through the grapevine is he's still very much alive."

"Word through the…you mean you tortured a demon for information."

Andy smiled widely. "Naturally."

Ryan sighed. "I don't hunt demons, Andrea. I've told you that."

"But you never told me why, Ryan. I get that you're a monster specialist. I'm a demon specialist. Together, we'd make a great team."

"And I'm all for teaming up with you, just…" She bit her lip. "I'm terrified of demons, okay? There's a reason Bobby doesn't send me those cases. You know I was possessed once, right?"

"Yeah, you've got the anti-possession sigil tattooed on your back. You're safe, Ryan."

"That isn't the worst part. The possession was bad, but it was what happened before that…I was kidnapped and raped by three demons when I was eleven."

Andy gasped. "No…"

Ryan nodded. "Yeah. There were a string of attacks in our town, girls going missing. There were signs of demon activity, so the Winchester boys rolled in."

"They were kids, right?"

Ryan nodded. "Dean is my age, he's about three months older than I am. Sam's younger. Their dad came to town, brought them with him. They stayed with us because my mom knew their mom." She shook her head as she thought of her mother. "Anyway, I fit the profile. Long story short, I got taken. John managed to excise one demon, Bobby another. They didn't know about me…one hid inside me. Dean excised it and I almost died."

"You're kidding."

"I wish I was." She sucked in a breath. "So…I don't hunt demons much."

"But, don't you see? You need to! Come with me, I'll look after you! We'll make sure you get over this fear you have. They can't get you anymore, don't you see?"

She bit her lip again. "I don't know, Andy…"

"Come on. Let's take Tory and go to Reno. We'll make it a girl's weekend."

Ryan's eyes grew wide. "You seriously want to make this a vacation?"

Andy shrugged. "Why not? A monster vacation. Sounds like fun."

"I…I don't know what to say." Ryan was truly flabbergasted.

I'll protect you, kiddo. You know that, Gabriel soothed.

Gabe…I've excised demons since then, a handful of times, but to go willingly into this…to wade into the think of black eyed sons-of-bitches…

You'll be fine. Do it.

Ryan sighed. "Okay."

"You'll do it?"

"God help me," Ryan muttered under her breath. "Yes."

"Yay!" Andy jumped up and down, looking more like an eager teenager than an adult. "I'll go call Tory. We can go this weekend. Think you could take Friday off?"

"I'll need someone to watch Hope…"

"Okay, so, you check on that, I'll check on Tory, then we can decide which weekend works better. It's not like they're going anywhere."

"The things I do for my friends," Ryan moaned softly as she pulled out her phone to call babysitters.

Two days later they were zipping north on I-95 toward their destination. They were in Tory's beat up old VW van and Andrea was currently driving. They were going to switch off every four and a half hours so they could make the trip in one. They could have halved it, but everyone wanted to be prepared for what was to come. The back of the van was loaded down with holy water, iron knives, and five cans of spray paint for devil's traps. "I'm not getting the warm and fuzzies," Ryan commented to Andy, who was almost vibrating with excitement.

"Come on! Live a little!"

"I've lived enough," Ryan stated calmly as they passed a minivan full of kids.

"Come on, Ryan! It'll be fun!" Tory shouted from the backseat. She was sprawled out across the back seat, shoes off, propped up on a pillow, eyes closed, just relaxing.

Ryan grinned despite herself. "Well, at least we're all safe from possession." Andy had gotten herself tattooed a year ago, and Ryan had insisted Tory do the same before their first demon hunt together.

"So, we'll take care of these bastards, then I suggest we hit the casino. What do you say?"

Ryan's eyebrow rose. "If you think we can handle these suckers quickly enough, I'm completely game for some relaxation, gambling, and booze."

"Yes!" Andy giggled.

Ryan remained quiet as she observed her two friends. She wasn't sure how she had ended up with them both in her life, but she was grateful.

You deserve it, kid, Gabriel told her.

They made it to their motel by ten that night and quickly changed for the casino. "Holy shit," Tory muttered under her breath when Ryan emerged from the motel's bathroom.

Ryan smoothed the fabric covering her body. "What?"

"You're hot, Ryan."

Ryan blushed. The number of times she'd worn a dress she could count on one hand. Andy had bought this for her yesterday at the mall and surprisingly, it fit her perfectly. She had on a mid-length midnight blue number that flared at the skirt to hide her garter which concealed her gun. The dress had long sleeves to hide her scars, but the back was missing, showing off parts of her tattoo. "Thanks."

"No, seriously. Like…I probably should have hit on you by now."

Ryan laughed at that. Tory's bisexuality wasn't new to Ryan. Her friend had been in relationships with men, but that didn't mean she didn't also like having relationships with women, too. They'd gotten drunk and had an in-depth discussion about that very thing. It had fascinated Ryan, who'd only been with Dean, to find out the truth about how having a random hookup while on a case worked. It almost made her jealous. Almost. "Thanks."

"Are you bitches ready to do this?" Andy asked as she walked in. She had stepped out to the van a few moments before to grab the holy water so they could fill up their flasks.

"Damn. We are some sexy whores tonight," Ryan commented. Andy, like herself, was wearing a dress, but in a color that looked like liquid gold, while Tory was wearing a sexy pair of red leather pants and a white top that left nothing to the imagination.

Andy laughed. "We need to have someone take our picture. We look like we're just going to chill, not going to kill demons."

"Can you run in those heels?" Ryan commented as she looked at Andy's shoes. She, herself, was wearing a pair of fashionable boots. They had a heel, but they weren't so uncomfortable she couldn't run in them if she had to.

"Nah, I'm good. I promise. I'm short enough, I've gotten used to running in heels. I wear them everyday when I teach."

Ryan shrugged. "Okay. Whatever." She glanced at Tory, who was filling their flasks. Tory, too, had on a pair of chunky heels, but Ryan knew how Tory moved, so she wasn't worried about her. "Think we're good to go?"

"Everyone got their guns? Their knives?"

They all nodded and Tory passed out the flasks. "Okay, so, Andy, you're in charge of this thing. Any words of wisdom?"

"Don't get killed?"

Ryan chuckled flatly. "Thanks."

"Live long and prosper?" Tory supplied.

Andy laughed at that.

Ryan poured them each a drink and handed them the cups. "Nah, I got one better. Only the good die young."

Tory chuckled as she lifted her glass. "Well, hell, I guess we'll live forever then."

"Here, here!" Andy cried as they clinked glasses.

They all downed their shot, then made their way to the van. They pulled up to the casino at eleven o'clock that night. Ryan took a deep breath and blew it out. "You ready?" Andy asked softly. "You can back out, if you want."

Ryan's eyes narrowed. "I'm not a wimp, Andy. I trust you. I trust Tory. We're good. I'm good."

"Good. Now, let's go handle some demons."

They got out and walked into the casino.

Andy's intel had suggested there were only three main demons in the place, three owners. Andy hadn't been sure why demons were interested in a casino, but Ryan had her suspicions. It would be easy enough to make a crossroads deal without a crossroads if people were losing their life's savings. She'd be willing to bet that was how it worked. When she'd told the other two her idea, everything else had fallen into place.

Their plan was to go their separate ways, lose quite a bit of cash, then, find a way to get back to the demons. It wasn't that hard, actually. A little sob story here, a little sweet talk there, add a dab of flirting, and boom, you find yourself face-to-face with a demon. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

It was five hours later when Ryan admitted defeat. She'd lost every bit of her money. Now, the real fun began. She started sobbing as soon as the craps dealer took her last chips. "I…I can't! I…I need that money!" she started wailing and two security officers came over to her. She threw the waterworks on full force as she began begging for a loan, a second chance, something to help her win her money back. "I need rent money! I have a kid! I need…"

"A friend?" the smooth voice whispered as he handed her a handkerchief.

She took it and daintily wiped at her eyes. "Th-thank you. I-I'm sorry…I just…I thought it was going well, you know? I brought my last thousand. I was up by five grand and I bet…stupid…stupid, stupid, stupid! I needed that money."

"There, there, sugar," he whispered as he waved off the security men. "Come on, come to my office. Maybe we can work up a deal."

She stopped dead. "I'm not a hooker!"

The man chuckled. "Oh, no, I know that, sugar, I wouldn't think of accusing you of such. Besides," he lowered his voice and she had to lean in to hear him as he assured her, "I play for the other team."

She smiled at him through her tears and let him lead her off the floor to a hidden door in the wall. "Let's go into my office and chat, shall we?"

She bit her lip and nodded bashfully. She followed him in and examined every inch of the space as he made his way to his desk. "Sit, sit," he motioned for the winged back chair facing the desk.

She perched delicately on the edge of it, ready for action if the need arose. "So…you can help me?"

"I sure can. I can help make all your dreams come true, actually. You said you have a child? How old?"

"She-she's six, almost seven. She's not mine, my cousin's." Even pretending, she didn't want to take the risk of someone finding out the truth. "My cousin died, left me with this little angel…"

"Yes, yes, she's cute, she's sweet. Lovely." Ryan could hear the acid seeping into his tone. He blinked, though, and smiled. "So, you want the best for her, right? You want her to have a good life?"

"Of course I do! That's why I came to Reno from Santa Monica. I wanted to make some money quick, for her. But this thousand, it was my last…I need…I don't have the rent money…It's gone!" She began sobbing again and she really felt the need to pat herself on the back because she was totally rocking this whole acting thing, even better than she did as an FBI agent, and that said something, because she was terrific at that.

"I understand, dear. Well, I wonder if I can help?"

"How?"

"What if I said I could give you everything you ever wanted, all you had to do was sell me something of little importance to you."

"Little…like what?" she hiccupped. Yeah, she needed an Oscar for this performance.

"Your soul."

She let out a little hysterical giggle. "I'm sorry…did you say my soul?"

"It isn't something you use on a day-to-day basis. It just sits there. But if you sell it to me, I'll make sure to give you everything you want and even set your daughter up with a college fund for the future."

"I…I…"

Just then, there was a knock at the door. "What!?" the demon yelled as his eyes flashed red. Ryan's eyes narrowed. Got'cha.

One of the security workers popped his head in. "Sorry, sir, but there is a disturbance in Mr. Edison's office…"

Ryan barely hid the smile. She'd bet her last dollar it was Tory. That girl stirred up trouble everywhere she went. She hadn't hunted with Andy yet, but since Andy was so good with demons, she imagined she was a bit more…discreet.

The demon stood from behind the desk. "Would you excuse me for just a moment? I guess I need to handle this."

Ryan bit her lip and nodded meekly. "Okay," she whispered with her head down.

She heard the door shut behind her and she stood. She had noticed the bottle of vodka in the corner. That would work just as well. She drank down a shot, because, hey, why not, then quickly poured a devil's trap out of the alcohol on the carpet, grabbed her lighter from her small clutch, and waited. Yes, this was even better than paint. She could just do him right here.

It took him about fifteen minutes to return. "Sorry about that." He shut the door behind him and walked toward her. She held up her lighter and smiled.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

She lit it and tossed the lighter to the ground and he was trapped. His eyes flashed to red and she smirked. "We're working in threes. How many demons have been smoked tonight?"

"J-just one," he answered uncertainly.

"You're all toast."

"Please!" he shouted.

Her eyes narrowed as she began reciting, "Exorcizamus te omini imundis spiritus, omis."

"No!" he cried.

She barely held in a cackle of delight as she continued, "Omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursion infernalis adversarii, omnis iegio, omnis congretatio et secta diabolica…"

"Please don't," he whispered.

"Ergo, draco maiedicte, ecciesiam tuam securi tibi facias iiberatate servire, te rogamus!" She smirked anew. "Audi nos."

She watched as the smoke spiraled out of him and she blew out a breath. "Enjoy your trip back downstairs," she growled.

She grabbed her purse, made sure she'd wiped her fingerprints from the bottle of vodka, and the desk she had been perched against, then walked out the door, holding the knob with the handkerchief he'd given her. She flipped the switch to lock the door and strode out like she owned the joint.

She calmly walked out to where they parked the van and grinned at Tory, who was dabbing at a bloody nose. "Exorcism didn't go the way you'd planned?" Ryan asked as she approached.

Tory grinned. "Nah, it went just as I'd hoped."

Ryan rolled her eyes. "Masochist," she muttered.

"You know it. Should we go back in after Andy?"

Ryan shook her head. "We were to meet out here. Give her a minute…"

And a minute was all it took. About thirty seconds later, they heard the quick clip of heels on pavement. "Move your asses, ladies, I'm fairly certain security made me as I was walking out of the guy's office."

Ryan moved to the door and stopped. "Why does it look like your lipstick is smudged?"

"Oh, I weaseled my way behind the curtain of the great and powerful wizard by sucking off the guard. He was cute."

Ryan's mouth fell open. "Holy shit."

"Drive, Ryan. Save the speeches."

Ryan blinked as she got in behind the wheel. "And here I thought Tory was the whore."

"Hey!" Victoria cried, indignant. "Excuse you?"

Ryan laughed. "You two are guano, both of you."

"You love us," Tory reminded her.

Ryan smiled. "Yeah, I do."

"Come on, girlies! Let's go get drunk!" Andy giggled as she all but fell into the van.

"Where to?" Ryan asked as she pulled out into traffic.

"A bar!" came the chorused reply.

"Alrighty then." Ryan drove until they found a spot, a dump near their motel. "This good enough?"

"Yep."

"Works for me."

Ryan shrugged and stashed the keys in her clutch before she got out. She was momentarily surprised when Tory linked one of her arms and Andy the other, but she grinned as they walked toward the door. "Just so you know, I don't do this…I don't go to bars."

"We know," Tory said sagely.

"But we're with you," Andy added.

Ryan blew out a breath. It seemed as though this weekend was going to be full of different experiences.

They made their way to a small table near the stage where a band was set up and Tory began ordering them drinks. A handful of shots each, later, they were all feeling relaxed and Tory was dancing with some biker out on the dance floor.

"Thank you, Ryan," Andy said as she motioned for the waitress to bring them another round.

Ryan had switched to beer because she had the distinct impression she would be driving tonight. She took a sip, nibbled on a mozzarella stick and asked, "For what?"

"Being my friend. I've been lonely so long…this is nice. You and Tory are my friends."

Ryan smiled. "Hey, we're the lonely female hunters. We've got to stick together, right?"

"Right."

Just then, some dude came up and began hassling them for dances. Ryan swallowed hard. She had long since gotten over her fear of men. Gabriel was with her, she knew, and that made a lot of difference. But this guy wasn't taking 'no' for an answer. Finally, Andy said, "Buzz off, Butch. She's with me." She pulled Ryan close to her and planted a huge kiss on Ryan's lips.

Ryan's eyes widened slightly and she pulled away quickly. "What the hell?"

Andy looked behind Ryan and smirked. "It got that guy off our case. Besides, kissing me isn't the worst thing you've done, is it?"

"N-No, but…"

Andy laughed. "Relax, Ryan! I'm not going to hit on you. I don't swing that way, either. But it got the guy off our backs so we can enjoy ourselves and watch Tory hook this guy. Wonder if she's going to take him back to our room or to his?"

"He ain't coming to our room," Ryan muttered as she downed the rest of her beer. When the waitress came up with Andy's next shots, Ryan ordered a cheeseburger, fries, and a coke. She wanted some real food, and she needed it to soak up the alcohol in her stomach. Andy ordered the same and they people watched for a while before Tory came back to the table and stole one of Ryan's fries.

"Aren't you going to go hook up with the guy?" Andy asked.

Tory shook her head. "Nah, I banged him in the bathroom. I'm good."

Ryan almost choked on her bite of burger. "You…you…"

"Ryan, my dear, we seriously need to get you laid."

Ryan swallowed the rest of her burger and shook her head. "No thanks."

"I know you aren't asexual, I've seen you eyeing movie stars and stuff…"

"I'm not interested. I've got Hope. I've got you guys. I've got hunting. That's all I need."

"You need an orgasm."

Ryan's mouth fell open but she laughed. "I take care of that, too. Speaking of which, Castle is having a sale. When we get back to Phoenix, we need to go."

"Oh! I need a new vibrator."

"What's Castle?" Andy asked.

Tory grinned. "Only the Wal-Mart of sex shops."

"I feel that term is offensive. They're at least the Target of sex shops," Ryan shot back.

"Hell, they may even be the Macy's. They have everything under the sun, no matter what kink you're into. Lingerie, toys, books, movies…" Tory told Andy.

"Sounds like we need to stop in, then."

"Definitely. If we aren't going to get Ryan laid, at least we can make sure she's got enough toys to get the job done."

Ryan's face heated. "I'm not a prude, you guys. I just…I'm wary."

Andy's hand found Ryan's and she squeezed it. "We get it."

Tory's hand latched on top of the other two. "We're just busting your balls. It's your life, sweetheart. If you aren't ready for some lovin', we won't push."

"We just care about ya."

Ryan felt tears clogging her throat. "Thanks, you guys. I never expected to have a best friend, but now I have two."


September Seventeenth,

Ryan paced as the phone rang. "Come on…pick up, pick up, pick up…."

"Yeah."

"Bobby! Thank God. What the hell is going on?"

"Ryan?"

"No, Marilyn Monroe. Of course it's Ryan!"

"You've seen the news, I take it."

"Oh, yeah, I've seen it, and I'm having a hell of a time talking my daughter down about why her daddy and her uncle are all over the evening news! What the fuck is going on?"

"It's a monster, Ryan, a bad one."

"A shifter?"

"Worse. We don't know what the hell these things are. They're called Leviathans."

"What?"

"Creatures from Purgatory."

She blinked. "Purgatory? You mean, like, Purgatory." One of the last Gospels she had gotten had them destroying Eve, but the rest…she figured they'd handled it.

"Monster Heaven, yeah."

"Whoa," she leaned against the counter and took another generous sip of whiskey. Some days, rum just didn't cut it. "You're shitting me."

"'Fraid not, kid."

"O-okay, so, how do we kill them?"

"We don't do anything. And you certainly don't."

"Damn it, Bobby…"

"Don't you 'damn it, Bobby' me, girl. These things are dangerous and we don't know how to kill them and if they can't be killed, then you stay away from them. It's bad enough the boys are damn fools and think they need to go after them…"

"Dean and Sam went after them?" she squeaked.

"They're wearin' their faces, ain't they? Of course they went after them. I sent them to Frank to get some new I.D.'s but still…"

She chuckled despite herself. "You sent them to Frank?"

"Ha freaking ha, yeah, I did."

"Oh boy. That should be fun. Dean plus the man that thinks the government sabotaged Firefly."

"Still a damn shame that show went off the air…"

She smiled, but it slid off her face quickly enough. "Bobby…if these things can't be killed, and, obviously, they want Dean and Sam dead…"

"You the praying type, kid?"

She sucked in a breath. She had an angel in her pocket. She couldn't not pray. She believed. In all of it. "Yeah, I am."

"Good. Send some up. But in the mean time, you keep your happy little self at home, safe, keep that kid safe. And for God's sake, don't go hunting the damn things."

"How would I know I found one, Bobby, if they're like shifters?"

"Oh, you'd know. They bleed black goo, for one, and for two, you can't kill them. Don't let them touch you. That's all they need to copy you, then they know everything about you."

"Everything?" she breathed, thinking of all the secrets regarding Hope and Gabriel, and everything else, The Gospels…all of it.

"Everything," Bobby stated. He paused. "You still safe in the desert?"

She glanced outside, where Hope was splashing in the pool with Andy. Her newest friend had found a teaching job at Hope's school and Ryan felt infinitely better about the kid's safety. "Yeah. We're good down here."

"Stay there. And don't go hunting, ya idjit. I got a bad enough time worrying about Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum without having to worry about you, too."

Her lip quirked again. "I hear ya, Bobby. Don't worry, I'll keep my head down."

"Do. As soon as I know somethin', I'll call you, alright?"

She blew out a breath. "Okay." She punched a button on her phone, ending the call, then walked back outside.

"Well?" Andy asked softly. She didn't know Ryan's connection to Dean, and didn't know either of the boys, however, she knew enough to know they wouldn't go on a killing spree.

"Something wicked this way comes," Ryan murmured as she sank back into the pool.

"Like?"

"Monsters we've never heard of. Bobby's gonna keep me posted. They don't know how to kill them yet."

Andy's face was a mask of horror. If Bobby Singer didn't know how to kill something, it was serious. "And the rest?"

"You know Sam and Dean…Bobby says they're going to handle it."

"Good. I love your kid, Ryan. I don't want to see this upsetting her anymore than it already has."

Ryan sighed. Andy didn't know Hope was Dean's kid, however, she did know that Hope felt affection for them. That was one thing they couldn't hide. The past few days had been rough. When the news broke, Ryan had been washing dishes in the kitchen after supper. They'd had the TV on in the dining room while they ate, something they did on Thursday nights. Hope was cleaning off the table when the special bulletin came on and Ryan could hear Hope's anguished cry over the sound of the running water. She shivered as she remembered the hurt and pain on Hope's face at the thoughts of her father being a monster.

"Well, now, at least, I can tell Hope it's a doppelganger. That should help some, I think."

"So…what do we do?"

"We sit on our thumbs and wait for Bobby to call back."

Andy lowered her sunglasses to look at Ryan. "Are you shitting me? We're just going to sit back and let the boys handle this thing?"

Ryan's eyebrows popped up. "Excuse me? I'm sorry, I thought you hunted demons, Andrea. Look, you're a demon…specialist. We've been hunting demons recently. That's cool. But if Bobby says they can't handle these monsters…I'm out. Bobby says stay safe, I stay safe. I know he knows I'm a capable hunter, kid or no. I trust him." She smirked. "Besides I didn't think you wanted to run into the Winchesters."

Andy slid her glasses back up her nose with her middle finger, flipping her friend off. "I don't want to run into the Winchesters. But the hunting community isn't huge. Someone's bound to tip those guys off to the fact I'm Ruby's twin. I realize they'll probably shoot first then ask questions later. I'm just biding my time."

Ryan snorted out a breath. "So…you're waiting for death by cop, basically?" Ryan rolled her eyes. "I know we're new friends, Andy, but you have to trust me on this."

"Is this because you've got a thing for one of them?"

"What?!" Ryan shouted so loud, it caught Hope's attention at the other end of the pool.

This time, Andy rolled her eyes. "Come off it. The way you talk about them, you've got a thing for one of them. I just can't tell which, and honestly? Sounds like the two are a package deal, anyway."

Ryan swallowed the great lump in her throat. "It's…complicated."

"I guess so. Anyway, it's cool, I get it. You don't talk about your personal life. You've let me in more than I expected you to, so it's all good. And if you say trust Bobby, then, I have to trust you."

Ryan nodded. "Good."

A few days later, she got another all from Bobby. "Borax," he said when she answered the phone.

"Excuse me?" She smiled at one of her coworkers and excused herself from the break room. "What are you talking about?" she whispered. Life had to continue on, even though she was terrified of all of this Leviathan shit.

"Borax burns them. Burn them with the Borax stuff, then decapitate them."

"That kills them?"

"No, but it keeps them immobile for a while. Separate their heads from their bodies and make sure they can't find their ways back."

"You're serious."

"As a heart attack, kid. Pass the word, will you? I've got a feeling this is going to get worse before it gets better."

"Thanks," she deadpanned. "You stay safe, Bobby."

"You too. Say hello to the kid, will you?"

Ryan smiled as she thought of Hope. Her daughter had been having a much easier time since the news broke the Winchester boys were dead and she knew the truth, that her dad and uncle were just fine with Bobby up north somewhere. "I will. Talk to you later."

She blew out a breath as she sank back against the wall. Now, she just needed to call and spread the word to Tory and Andy. Who would have ever thought, monsters that couldn't be killed were susceptible to cleaning products?


AN2: Soooo...next week is the season 10 premier! I ill be writing a review of the premier at the bottom of next week's chapter. So if you haven't seen it, make sure you click away before you read. I'll make sure to post SPOILER ALERT before it's on there. See you next time! Don't forget to clicky the little button down there and show me some love (Or let me know if there is something you'd like to see in my story!)

Ta-ta, my lovelies!

Mischief