You collapsed onto the bed right after Sam opened the motel room door; not even glancing at either of them, nor bothering to remove your shoes. Despite how fatigued you were, you forced yourself to semi-consciousness, in an effort to hear about the case you failed to keep up with.

Sam tossed his keys onto the small table and set down his case files. You assumed the silence was the boys glimpsing over at your 'sleeping' form. They spoke in hushed tones, as if you were a light sleeper (which they clearly knew you were not).

"(S/he) explain what the hell happened back there?" Dean asked.

"No, not really. Like I was trying to tell you before, something is definitely going on."

"Well, you should definitely figure out what that is, before (s/he) slows us down or gets (her/him)self hurt. I'm gonna head out and interview the rest of the families; give me a-. Actually, you've got this, never mind."

And with that, the world outside the door became muffled. Sam sighed and you heard him walk over to you. The bed dipped and you felt Sam's slightly colder, gigantic palm on your forehead. Unaware in your state of consciousness, you leaned into his touch. He smirked and briefly smoothed the hair away from your face, before straying back to his research.

At the absence of human contact, you unconsciously moaned and rolled over. Sam peered over his shoulder to see your back facing him. He brushed it off as nothing and resumed reviewing the individual cases.

Unbeknownst to him, nightmares would soon plague your brief rest.


Suddenly, you were in the old school hallways. The notorious mixtures of body odor, perfume, and wax flooded your nostrils as you observed the crowd of students moving past you. It was exactly like it was before, feeling lost and alone while life drawled on around you. Although, you could not differentiate that of the world around you from the physical world existing outside your dreams. You were a reprogrammed robot, running around like a headless chicken, but feeling as if everything was wrong. Before you had more time to think, you felt someone push roughly against your backpack. Turning around, you caught your two closest friends, Megan and Charlie, laughing and book-ending your sides.

"Hey (Y/N), whatcha thinking about? That cute (boy/girl) in History class today?" Megan chuckled.

"No, um, just thinking about what I'm doing later on." You said.

"Speaking of plans, you want to hang out later? It's Friday, after all." Charlie offered.

"Yeah, sure. I don't see why not." You replied.

"Sweet! I totally can bring out the good stuff too." Meg said.

You rolled your eyes as the three of you walked to Megan's SUV in the student parking lot. She blared the music all the way to her house while you weighed your options in the backseat. Did you really want you continue to go on this path that you didn't want to head down? Was it really worth it? Did you really want to be miserable anymore?

"You okay, (Y/N)? You're a little quiet back there." Charlie shouted after a while, bringing you back into the car.

You nodded in response, not bothering to yell over the music. She sent you back a concerned glance and returned to face forward in her seat.

You arrived at your friend's house and almost jumped out of the car in order to avoid the inevitable 'sharing and caring' with Charlie. You anxiously waited at the door until Megan unlocked it, then proceeded to nonchalantly follow them into the living room.

"Ugh, I have a week until my monthly payment comes about." Meg said, looking at an envelope from her mailbox.

"You're the one who chose to go to college." Charlie remarked.

"Yeah, but not for this shit." Meg said. "My mind is focused on the fun, not the blah blah blah."

She paused for a moment. "But now I'm wondering if it's even worth it.. I mean, I have my connections now, so... Maybe I'll just drop it after this semester?"

She seemed so set in her ways, you envied it. Maybe that's what you were missing, something solid to hold onto. Maybe that's why you weren't really feeling it, you needed something else. But what would that be?

"Anyway, screw the future. Let's be in the now and down some whiskey and weed, huh?" Meg said.

You and Charlie agreed quietly as Meg went to the pantry to grab everything. Your insides sunk as Charlie finally spoke up.

"Now, if you don't mind, what's on your mind?"

"I can't do this anymore Charlie." You said.

"What do you mean?"

"This." -You waved your hands wildly in the air- "This path, this life. I need something different; I don't want to be stuck here anymore." You explained.

"Well then change it, you're the only one who can." Meg added, walking into the room.

But you didn't know how; where to turn, who to go to.

"But there is one thing I can do, until I figure it out." You thought to yourself.

You stood up and started towards the door before Charlie ran to stop you.

"Where are you going?" They both asked with deep concern.

"I have to go."

"Where?"

"I just have to go, I'm sorry."

You turned to the outside and were met face to face with two bold officers. Your heart hammered and you slowly spun around to your friends, who were slightly more confused than you were.

"Not so fast, (Y/N)." The first officer said.

"You can't leave without them, now, can you?" The second officer added.

Suddenly, squad troops burst through the windows and snatched up Charlie and Megan, who both screamed in shock.

"(Y/N), what's going on?" Megan shrieked.

"And we'll be taking her as well." The second officer said, pulling your cuffed mother into view.

"Mom! No, don't take them, please." You begged.

"Then you need to decide, (Y/N)," the first officer responded, "or all of your dignities and weaknesses? They'll be gone. Forever."

You sobbed as you backed up through the broken window, already feeling the tinge of regret in your stomach as you fell to the ground.


Dean sighed as he entered into the motel room, causing Sam to glance up from his research. He glanced over to your slightly restless form on the bed, trying his best to ignore it for now.

"You find anything?" Sam asked, looking over his laptop.

"I think so, but I'm not sure," Dean replied. "All of the victims were taken in completely different areas; doesn't that sound weird to you?"

"Well, not really, since it could be a pack of werewolves that just spread itself out over a full community." Sam said.

"True, but what about the victims' corpses? Didn't they seem odd to you? I mean, they ate a little more than the heart, if you didn't notice." Dean pointed out.

"Maybe they were salvaging or something?" Sam guessed.

"I don't know man, this case feels a little off, and it isn't just because of the new addition over there." Dean said, gesturing over to you.

You moaned, causing them to look over in guilt; they were hoping they had not accidentally disturbed you.

"How has (s/he) been?" Dean asked.

"She's been a little fitful since she laid down, but I made sure to check that (s/he) didn't have a fever or anything."

Suddenly, you began to hyperventilate and scream out into the room. The boys instantly rushed over to see a sheen of sweat across your face and damp spots surrounding your restless body.

"(Y/N), hey, wake up!" Sam said loudly, careful to not frighten you.

It took a couple tries, but you eventually woke with a gasp. Looking frantically around the room, you sighed into your palm when you realized where you were. You sniffled and wiped your face, not even bothering to mask your emotions at this point.

"(Y/N), what's going on? I think it would be a good time to talk about it." Dean said.

You took a labored breath and swallowed. "Why does it matter? It isn't your problem."

"(Y/N), we can't help you if you don't let us in." Sam replied.

"It is our problem, because you are with us now." Dean added.

"Am I? Are you sure about that?"

The boys glanced at each other in confusion and focused their attention back to you. "What?" Sam asked.

"You sure I'm not dragging you down? And don't say I'm not; you saw what happened earlier. I'm slowing you down, and it isn't long before you kick me to the curb or vice versa!"

Sam furrowed his eyebrows while Dean raised his in shock, he didn't think you would catch onto the hunter mindset so quickly.

"(Y/N), we don't want to kick you out, you need us." Sam said.

"And you aren't doing this because you feel sorry for me?" You asked with certainty.

"This isn't about that, (Y/N). We actually want to help you." Sam said.

"Seriously?" You asked sarcastically.

"Yes!" Both of them responded in unison.

Your demeanor softened as you took in what was in front of you; they wanted to help you, at least you didn't think so.

"Wait, really?" You asked quietly.

"Why wouldn't we?" Dean responded.

"I'm not a hunter, and I'm absolutely not in the trouble you think I'm in."

"It doesn't matter, it looks like you could really use the help." Sam said.

"Hell, you strayed over to this life, which isn't a good sign. If it wouldn't have been because of us, you would have come across it eventually. This life isn't the best life, not for anyone." Dean added.

"Well it's better for you than for me.. Look at you guys! You've saved so many people, including the world. I'm weak, I'm not even fit for this job. I'm probably not fit for any job at this point. And even if I was? There wouldn't be a point. I can't run from this shit forever, and I'm pretty sure you guys, if anyone, know that." You explained.

Sam sighed. "You're right, you can't run forever. I know, I've tried, and it just comes back to you in the end. But we want to offer you help, because we've been there before; all we had was each other."

"You can leave at any time, but we won't be kicking you out, not anytime soon anyway. We honestly do care about you, (Y/N). Just give us a chance?" Dean said.

You smirked and gave them your best shot, realizing that they truly might give you the direction you need.