8:I:Penance

by Kaoz

He made a deal. She took matters into her own hands. They both had to suffer the consequences but what if the choices you made led to a different life than the one you'd lived so far? Where would you be? Who would you be?

13. On the Road Again

On the Road Again…

Interstae 90 North Dakota...

"Take Highway 9 up to Interstate 29." Jaden ordered from the back seat. Dean glanced in the rearview mirror watching her plug her ears again.

"What?" he questioned because Dean couldn't have possibly heard Jaden give him an order. In his car. About where to go next. "Jaden." He raised his voice but she was huddled in the corner, the dark aviator glasses obscuring her eyes. "Yo!" Dean reached back and waved his arm unable to reach her but it got her attention.

"Que quieres?" Jaden questioned annoyed with the blond.

"What the hell- since when are you telling me where to go?" Dean demanded half turning in his seat.
"Since now." Jaden replied scooting forward so he could keep his eyes on the road. "What's your deal?"

"Let me clear somethings up for you." Dean began in a tone of voice he knew would rub her the wrong way but right then he didn't care.

"Driver picks the music, passenger shuts his cake-hole." Sam muttered.

"What?" Jaden snapped turning to Sam with a glare.

"Car rules, Jaden." Dean cut in. He reached over, grabbed her chin and turned her face back towards him. He did it without thinking and Jaden kept her mouth shut for a long moment trying to get the feel of his hand on her skin out of her mind. The soft thump of classic rock playing on the radio was the only sound in the car until Jaden spoke up.

"Devil's Lake. I have to stop in Devil's Lake."

Dean pulled his arm away and kept both hands on the steering wheel. The palm of his hand tingled, as if he were holding on to a small charge of electricity.

"What, got a hot date?" he quipped trying to keep his tone light and teasing. In reality Jaden couldn't help but wonder why he was such a jerk sometimes.

"Yeah, Dean." She replied, eyes narrowed. "I need to get my jolies."

"What's in North Dakota?" Sam asked before they could start arguing. Irritation colored Jaden's voice as she answered. She scooted back into her corner behind Dean, as far away from the evil brother as she could get.

"Nothing big and scary."

"Haunting?" Dean questioned glancing in the rearview mirror.

"And they say blonds are ditzy." Jaden quipped with a fake smile at his back. Once again Sam intervened before the interrupted argument could get started.

"How do you kn-."

"Pastor Jim." She replied. "I had to pry the info outta him, said we'd take care of it."

"We?" Dean echoed because he hadn't heard any of this before.

"I meant me but Pastor Jim wouldn't have liked the sound of that." Jaden cleared up the misconception that she had entertained the thought of working a case with them.

"Do you know what we're dealing with?" Sam asked half turning in his seat.

"I'm pretty sure it's a salt & burn." The emphasis wasn't missed by Dean. "Easy peasy."

Dean laughed. Anytime he thought a hunt was going to be easy it ended up anything but.

"Funny?" Jaden questioned.

"Easy, right." he shook his head. "Because its always easy."

Baltimore, Maryland...

"So I'm like the Cavalry." Faith cut in. The flash of annoyance that crossed Xander's face didn't go unnoticed by her but she didn't comment on it.

"Yeah. You're the Cavalry." Xander agreed because as far as he knew that's all Valkyrie had told Buffy and him before she'd left.

"I'm glad we were wrong about her dying." She murmured. Xander glanced at the dark Slayer in surprise. A lot about Faith surprised Xander lately. "The look on their faces..." she shook her head then leaned forward resting both elbows on her legs. Dark locks of hair cascaded over her shoulders to curtain her face. Xander couldn't see her muddy eyes staring at the shaggy carpeted floor. He wondered what she was thinking but knew himself well enough to know he wouldn't ask her. Not that Faith would've given an answer.

She wasn't going to tell him guilt had been eating at her since they'd gone to drop of Maya at the Hyperion. It had been her call, her decision to lie to them but Faith hadn't counted on Phade's Father being there. It was the old man's reaction that had been gnawing at Faith's gut for the last year and a half. Finally knowing that Phade hadn't died, that she'd actually made it out of her ordeal in one piece and had been there to back up Angel for the last Apocalypse was a relief.

The fact that nobody from the Slayer's camp had lent a hand left Faith feeling as if she'd taken from Angel in her hour of need but when it was time to return the favor she whelched. As if she were some parasite that just took and took and took-.

Why hadn't anyone mentioned it to her? Did Buffy still think she had some sort of thing for Angel? Or was it Giles who was trying to keep his original Slayers from killing each other. Again. The trying part...

Interstae 90 South Dakota...

The inccesant chirping was getting on Dean's last nerve. He reached to the back seat barely able to reach her shoulder. He grabbed the material and yanked calling her name as he did.

"What?" Jaden snapped. She scowled but only heard Rob Zombie singing about his 'Living Dead Girl'. Yanking out the eraphones only put her in more of a bad mood because for some reason the left earbud yanked out some of her hair. "Hijo de puta." She grumbled hissing a couple more curses under her breath.

"Its been twenty minutes and I'm sick of hearing the same chirping-." Dean let out a grunt of breath as once more her phone started with its annoying chirp. Jaden reclined on the seat and grabbed her cell.

"What!" Jaden yelled even before it reached her ear.

"Dont yell at me." Garth's voice was just loud enough Dean could hear him.

"Bitch you've been blowing up my cell. Why the hell shouldn't I yell at you?" Jaden demanded.

"You weren't answering. How do I know you're still alive?" Garth demanded much louder than before. "I told you to wait for me, J. Why the fuck are you on the move?"

"Yeah, well there was a change in plans." Jaden replied. She glanced up and saw a set of curious green eyes in the rearview mirror. "Oyeme." Jaden put the phone against her shoulder and glared at Dean. "Eyes on the road, chismoso. I'd like to get there in one piece."

"This coming from you?" Dean scoffed, more because she'd caught him eavesdropping than a desire to be mean.

"Yeah, me." Jaden snapped. "One accident is more than enough for this year."

Sam reached over and put up the volume on the radio. Jaden took up her cell again lowering her voice.

"Where are you going because I know you're in South Dakota when you should've been in Minnessota." Garth demanded.

"On my way to see Uncle RJ now quit with the nagging old lady routine." Jaden answered with annoyance. She had no intention of telling Garth she was on her way to a haunting and he had to know she was with the Winchester's but he hadn't asked. At least not yet...

"You're going to RJ's..." Garth echoed while Jaden crossed her fingers in hopes of avoiding more questions. Dean couldn't help his curious glance into the rearview mirror but Jaden's head was bent down. Still, he couldn't help the grin though he was quick to wipe it off.

"Wasn't the plan me taking you to get the Mustang?" Garth questioned.

"So I'll meet you in Sioux County. I'll take a look at the Mustang and get it ready to move. Jack's got the shop ready to take it in." Jaden replied.

"You're with them aren't you?" Garth questioned. It was the one subject she was trying to avoid and talking about the Winchester's while they were whithin hearing distance wasn't going to happen.

"I don't want you blowing up my cell, Garth."

"That's not an answer-."

"No. Knock it off." Jaden ordered. "I'll see you in a couple of days and try not to get sidetracked how ever difficult that might be for you." She shook her head letting out a frustrated breath.

"Hey, I'm not the one associating with evil dudes. Besides, I gotta spend the night somewhere-." Garth continued and it was clear he was starting on the teasing.

"More than I want to know. Bye." Jaden slid the phone shut, her free hand pinched the bridge of her nose.

'Not even a minute and I'm already gettign a migraine from talking to the blond ditz.' Jaden thought in annoyance.

"Get her!!" flannel shirt ordered. Phade laughed thinking the situation was just too stupid to really be happening. She had to be dreaming.

"You get her." the one to her left said. She laughed which might have pissed them off more but Phade really didn't care. Really, how stupid was this?

"Sometime before dawn, you dead things. I'd like to get some sleep." She shook her head. Phade wasn't annoyed, yet but it wouldn't take much.

"Oh, you'll sleep. You'll sleep like the dead!"

"Blah, blah, blah. You know that's the problem with half breeds. There isn't enough of a brain between all you put together." That must've really pissed him off because he came at her full vamp face and fangs…

Jaden grabbed her nose feeling the wet trickle flow over her lip. She hunched forward, right hand searching for napkins, anything to wipe her nose with. Her mind whirled because there was no doubt it was her, she'd been there but she couldn't have. She had no idea where that place was or what she'd been doing and goading those-those-.

'My God they were vampires.'

"What's wrong?" Sam asked turning around as he noticed Jaden partially hiding her face. "Jaden?" but she slapped his hand away when he reached over the seat.

"What?" Dean questioned trying to turn around and drive at the same time. "What's going on? J?"

"Nothing." Jaden said though her voice was muffled behind her hand. "Leave me alone."

Dean shook his head wondering when she'd get it through her's that he wasn't going to leave her alone.

"What are you doing?" Jaden demanded feeling Dean start to pull off the road. "No-dude, keep driving." She ordered keeping her hand over her nose and mouth. He wasn't listening so she took her hand away and let him see. "It's a fucking nose bleed alright. You don't have to pull over just gimme something to clean up with." Her hand was stained red as was the top of her lip.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Dean demanded shoving his foot on the brake. The Impala skidded to a halt in the gravel on the side of the road. Jaden was pressed into the leather seat in front of her then tossed back.

"For a nose bleed?" Jaden grumbled. Her face felt hot, she was more embarrassed by their overreacting. It was just a nose bleed, every one got nose bleeds, it wasn't a big deal.

'Except I don't get nose bleeds. I'm not that delicate a little flower…' so what was really going on? And what was with the vision? Was it a vision? Is that what they were called? Was she turning into some sort of psychic? Or was she just going crazy?

'Yup, crazy sounds about right.'

"Nose bleed, scratch, any ache or pain- you've been out of the hospital a week, Jaden." Dean retorted leaning over the seat and handing her a soft towel. She took it rolling her eyes and lay down.

"Just drive, Dean. I'm not dying." Jaden sighed, one arm draped over her eyes effectively blocking any sight of the blond.

"You're not dy- sure…" Dean trailed off turning around again. He gripped the steering wheel, jaw clenched. "So, car games anyone?"

The Hyperion Hotel…

"We used to play 'Out of State Plates' all the time." Sebastián grinned.

"What's that?" Jericho questioned also smiling. He was pleased to see his brother finally accepting their presence. Even Ryan had noticed the change. He could breathe a sigh of relief in regards to his step-son, now all his focus was on helping find his wife.

"Well, it's easier on the freeway because there's more cars. California plates don't count because we live here but if you see one with a different state you call it." Sebastián explained.

"Huh." Jericho grunted. He didn't see the point of the game. "Why is this a game?"

"Because driving around gets real boring besides," Bastían shrugged. "Anytime you get one you can slug the other person." At the arched look on his brother's face Sebastián quickly amended. "I never hit Mom. We never- it was a rule. We just played to see who got more, no slugging."

"Mom told you that, huh." Jericho grinned because he'd heard the same thing from his Mom all the time.

"Oh there's also buggy hit. That's when you count VW's. You gotta call the color too but if you get it wrong that's two slugs instead of one."

"A buggie?" Jericho echoed. "As in the horse and buggie-."

"No." Sebastián laughed. "Dude we really have to check out LA and get you up to date."

"Que hacen, niños?" Franco asked coming into the suite. Both his grandsons craned their heads to look over the couch.

"Hablando de Mamá." Jericho answered which brought a smile to the old mans face. He rounded the couch and sat in the chair facing the door.

"Nunca les conté las travesuras que hacían su Mamá y tíos?" Franco questioned though he knew the stories of Phade's escapades with Guy and Lui hadn't been told to her children.

"I've seen some of the faces but I don't know who's who." Jericho leaned over and mumbled to Sebastián.

"Right. Abuelo we gotta tell Jericho about the family." Bastían got up and headed to the shelves in the living room.

"Tienes razón." Franco agreed. He started by listing the oldest as Sebastián came back with the photo album.

Armando Vartan was the first child born to Franco and Evangelina Aldama. He was a quiet boy who somehow managed not to get in trouble though Franco was sure his son had pulled plenty of pranks. He earned himself scholarships and that helped get him through College. Now his first born was an Architect, owned half his business and had married his College girlfriend Alena. They'd had two children, Adan and Andres.

"So I have cousins." Jericho said with mild pleasure.

Nicolas was born a year and a half later, was much more outspoken than his older brother was. He worked for a firm doing something with computers that Franco couldn't understand and had long ago given up trying to. Nicolas was also married and his son Fausto looked to be heading in the same direction as his Father.

"Three boys and there's two of us." Jericho pointed to Sebastián then himself. "I'm starting to see a pattern."

"Muy chistoso." Franco muttered but he continued listing the family members Jericho had never met and most likely never would meet. How would Franco explain to his children that the youngest had some how brought into the world two more children but they were much older than her first child?

"Aurora siempre fue mandona." Franco stated with a shake of his head. It was true that his oldest girl was bossy but it only served to her advantage. Things always got done with Rora. She married young, mostly because she'd never aspired to more than what she got. A husband and children. Evan managed his own restaurant and providing for Rora, Belen and Emilio wasn't a concern.

"Hey, a girl." Jericho quipped with a grin for his Grandfather.

"There's a couple more girls in the family." Sebastián confided.

Ellis started working with his Father every summer from the age of 16 but it was clear he wouldn't do that for the rest of his life. Ellis always seemed to know what to say to convince Evangelina or anyone else to come around to his point of view. It's what made Nadia agree to a date and then marriage. It didn't last long and in the end Ellis JR got two of everything, except parents.

Joe also took up working with his Father and now owned half his business in partnership with Armando, the oldest Vartan boy. He married fast as well, saying he'd known Mina was 'the one' the first time he saw her. Then again she worked for a client of theirs…

"Leonél looks more like Aunt Mina. Ophelia and Mathias look more like Uncle Joe." Sebastián commented quickly piping down at his Grandfather's look.

Teresa always followed Rora's lead and like the oldest girl stayed home and took care of her family. Franco didn't find anything wrong with that because her husband could provide a very comfortable living for them. Anthony owned his own company and it was through Armando that Tere met and married. She named her first child after her Father; Franco II though it caused a bit of friction between the couple. Gael and Anibál both teased their older brother because of that.

Sometimes Franco wished Phade had also married and followed in her sister's footsteps. He could see now that Dante wouldn't have made her happy, if anything Lui and Guy would've been the first one's on her side. The fact she'd left home as soon as she'd been able to and had struggled to make her own way without their help, alone with Sebastián… Franco worried about Phade more than any of his children; it was to her that evil came and she worked for a vampire…

"Uncle Lu was here when Mom came back from the HellMouth." Bastían cut in. He'd heard Guy teasing Lui about his reaction to Phade's revelations.

Luis Joel, the only one of his children to have colored eyes which made him the butt of many jokes with his siblings. Like his other brothers he stuck to what he knew best, construction. He made good money inspecting the building sites, most of which ended up in alimony checks addressed to his ex-wife, Yasira.

Franco still could not understand how two of his sons could fail in their marriages. He'd told them from the very first, they needed to be sure of the step they were taking and once there were children, leaving or giving up wasn't an option.

"Noél is way cooler than Ysolda." Sebastián revealed. "She's way too stuck up, especially cus she's got Uncle Lu's eyes."

"His eyes?" Jericho questioned.

"Yeah, see Uncle Lu's got blue-green eyes unlike the rest of us beaners who got brown eyes. So she thinks that makes her 'special'." Here Sebastián swirled a finger around his ear and rolled his eyes.

Franco didn't think that was funny but it was true that Ysolda was extremely vain and selfish.

Guy was the youngest in the family. He was the loud one, the adventurer, the one everyone worried over because of his dangerous job only because Franco wouldn't and couldn't tell his older children about Phade. Most of the time no one knew where Guy was stationed or if he was even alive, not even his wife knew. That had been a major argument because Franco didn't think his son was ready to get married, not at the age of 19. Still, nothing the old man said would change his mind and it wasn't as if he needed permission… Gia had apologized, tried to convince Guy they could wait and that had almost been the end of their relationship.

"It was Mom." Sebastián said. He knew the story because Aunt Gia had told him plenty of times she'd never have married Guy if Phade hadn't stepped in. "Uncle Guy was pissed off because he though Aunt Gia wanted to 'have fun' while he was on tour. Mom told him he was an idiot and basically made him see nobody else was going to put up with him and his attitude then she made Grandpa back off."

"Entre tu Tia Aurora y tu Madre no hay nada que se puede hacer si ellas no quieren." Franco grumbled with a shake of his salt & pepper head.

"No kids?" Jericho questioned.

"No way. Uncle Guy's an ARMY Ranger and Aunt Gia's still going to school." Sebastián said.

"Timo y RJ." Franco said softly. He sighed and settled into his chair while both his grandsons looked on curiously. As far as Sebastián knew they weren't Uncles, he'd never heard of them before.

"Who're they?"

"RJ…" Franco closed his eyes remembering the day his little sister brought home the policeman. He'd been hesitant, not trusting RJ but the man had been immediately accepted by the kids. RJ and Luciana dated for a while but the problem arrived in the form of an 8month old squalling baby named Timothy. Of course Franco had made a fuss, what kind of man hid a child? Only it wasn't that simple an explanation.

RJ had been married before. That revelation had brought up more protests from Franco who'd been ready to throw the liar out of his home. Luciana had put her foot down, said it was up to her to decide what to do. She let RJ explain himself.

RJ had made a mistake, life with Lily hadn't worked out and so both had gone their separate ways. Almost a year after that he'd met Luciana, he hadn't heard from Lily and certainly didn't know about Tim. It didn't take Luciana long to make up her mind, especially once she held Tim in her arms.

"Luci siempre quiso tener hijos." Franco murmured with a sad smile.

"How come Mom never spoke about them?" Sebastián asked. "I never heard her mention either one."

Franco shook his head; there was no need to tell them about the past. He didn't want to bring up his mistakes and he hadn't heard from RJ in years. Wherever he was, Franco hoped RJ was happy. Both of them…

Rough Rider Hotel, North Dakota…

"You." Jaden glared tearing her eyes away from the sign to look at Dean. He opened his mouth with some denial or excuse but ended up grinning, very pleased with himself. "Eres un niño." She sighed partly disgusted with the blond, turned right and headed down the open hall to the room.

Dean turned back to the sign above the Hotel and snickered. He felt Sam at his side and turned.

"What?" he asked seeing the look on Sam's face.

"The Rough Rider hotel?" he questioned. Shaking his head he turned and followed Jaden.

"What's wrong with the name?" Dean called to his back moving to follow them. He couldn't help his grin.

"You know what's wrong with it Dean. Look," Sam looked over his shoulder and sighed. "Just try to get through the rest of the day without annoying each other. Please."

"Sure Sammy." Dean replied much too easily. Sam closed his eyes and let his head fall back as Dean passed him. He could just picture the loooong night that awaited them and he knew being stuck in one room with both of them was going to tax his patience. A day on the road, confined inside the Impala with both of them was bringing back those headaches he'd suffered more than a year ago.

Sam walked faster catching up to his brother as Jaden opened the door. She walked in, absently kicking the door closed and turning when she heard Dean protest. He walked in, heading straight for the bed closest to the door and watched him toss the graying duffel on it.

"Oye, que haces?" Jaden questioned frowning.

Sam walked past, leaving the explanation of the single room for three people to his brother. It was Dean's choice and the lack of room's was his fault as well. He turned his back to them and started unpacking his clothes avoiding the bed.

"Huh?" Dean played stupid though he actually didn't understand what she said the meaning was clear.

"So… I'm in the wrong room…" Jaden tilted her head urging Dean for an answer she'd like to hear.

"Nope. One room." Dean replied ignoring her and the shift of her body as Jaden fully turned towards him.

"One?" she echoed softly and Dean nodded.

"It's an old Hotel, Jaden. All the rooms are rented out, got leaky ceilings or got a hole in the wall. 'Least that's what the guy at the desk said. So we got the one room." Dean finished with a quick grin in her direction before turning back to his duffel and the assortment of clothes he was pulling out.

"Hijo de…" Jaden bit her lip and glared at Dean for a moment then turned to look at the room. It was bad enough the damn place was named after a condom brand but they only had two beds in the room.

The room wasn't bad, it was big, more than she'd expected it to be and the wood had a smooth worn look, very warm and almost homey. She let her eyes wander over the trellised partition that separated the beds from the rest of the room. An old scarred wooden table sat in her way, to her right was a couch. She arched en eyebrow in surprise noticing it looked almost like a daybed. The TV sat on another dresser facing the beds but the guys had left it alone. Jaden realized that if she turned the couch toward the TV she'd effectively form another partition to the room. At least no one coming in the room would see her sleeping on the couch.

"You can have the bed." Sam said walking towards the couch with a pillow and extra blanket in hand.

"Forget it." Jaden scoffed. Dark brown eyes skimmed over the lanky brunette. There was no way Sam would fit in the couch, sparing Dean a glance she knew he'd be uncomfortable as hell sleeping there as well and perversely wanted to make him suffer through a night. "You're too big for the couch." Stamping down the urge of torture on the blond Jaden moved into the 'bedroom' and started unpacking her clothes into the last empty dresser. "Just turn it so it faces the TV."

"Jad-." Sam began to protest throwing a glare at Dean's back.

"I swear, if y'all snore you're gonna find a whole bunch of nasty surprises come morning." Jaden threatened scowling over her shoulder at the Winchester's and ignoring Sam.

"Sammy snores." Dean volunteered with a grin.

"Do not." Sam snapped taking a step in his brother's direction.

"Whatever you say." Dean agreed still grinning.

Baltimore, Maryland...

"Valkyrie." He cocked his head to the side feeling ridiculous but she had told him to 'call for her' which is what he'd been doing for the past two days.

"I think the stress of the job is getting to him." Brooke said in a loud whisper that carried over to Xander. He glared but didn't bother acknowledging the girls. It's what they were after.

"Yo, we leaving anytime soon?" Faith asked. They could all tell she was running low on patience, which Xander knew she didn't have much of to begin with.

"We're just waiting for the Fury." Cey answered. It was the same as the day before.

"Valkyrie!" Xander hissed a bit lower though all the Slayer's heard him.

"Incoming." Faith warned. She was the first to the front, Brooke and Cey flanked her, each girl reached to their side or back for their concealed weapons. Faith was once again armed with a wicked looking knife. It was a shiny weapon with a curved blade and serrated edge for more damage.

"Ooh, more mini you's." Valkyrie grinned but her smile turned to real pleasure seeing Xander. "I'm sorry, ke'raihm but there were… obstacles in my way." she took his hand watching his face grow a shade darker. "Now that I'm here…" Valkyrie looked around the room taking in the Slayers but her focus was on Faith. She remembered her from the Væxça'táÿ, the hours she'd spent with her Mother just watching this Slayer. There were plenty of mistakes ahead for Faith and there was nothing Valkyrie could do to change that.

"You cannot change what is…"

"Liking the leather…" Faith admired. Her smile was pleasant as she took in the cream colored leather which looked very supple. Her fingers itched to feel the soft material as she walked around the Fury admiring the weapons strapped to her sides and back.

"Mom always said you were like a younger sister." Valkyrie said with a soft smile. "You shouldn't blame yourself for my family's mourning."

"Wh-." Faith jerked to a stop in front of the little brunette, brown eyes narrowed and darker. Valkyrie's soft smile didn't waver but if she was anything like Phade, bursting into flame would give her the confidence to do just that. "Did you just...?"

"Of course." Valkyrie chuckled. "But I won't anymore. Mom wouldn't like it so don't tell her I peeked. Pretty please?"

Faith took another appraising look at Phade's daughter. She looked and behaved like any of the mini-Slayers, the teeny boppers- full of energy, always smiling or laughing- didn't any of them get the danger they were in?

'What the hell did I expect from this one? She's a Fury…' Faith thought.

"You're a lot like her." Faith said, her lips slowly curved into a smile but there was one difference she noticed. Phade's brown eyes had somehow been replaced with that hubby of hers.

"Got Dad's eyes." Valkyrie quipped with a coy smile as she pointed out the dark hazel eyes. She turned to the other Slayers waving them towards the shimmering disk at her back. "So, let's get you gals settled."

The Rough Rider Hotel, one hour later…

"Anyone hungry?" Dean asked though he pointedly eyed the kitchenette then looked at Jaden. He watched her calmly flip another page of the book she was reading completely ignoring him and Sam. He frowned; heard another rumble in his gut and decided waiting around for Jaden to cook something would kill him before he was supposed to die.

Dean got up grumbling about the lack of food clearly hinting but he got no response from her and headed to the door. It closed sharply behind him leaving Sam and Jaden alone. Ten minutes later Jaden was shifting uncomfortably on the couch until finally she too got up and walked out without a word to Sam.

He sat for another thirty minutes in front of his lap top before he gave up trying to figure out why Jaden was so different with him. He got up and paced the length of the room, both hands clasped over his head. The fact was Jaden always got quiet around him; she never wanted to be around him, refused to accept help when he offered it- no, Sam didn't like Jaden's suddenly weird attitude towards him. What was so different now?

The knock on the door jerked him to a stop in the center of the room. Sam grabbed his gun from the drawer he'd shoved it in and headed to the door. He checked the peep hole before slowly stepping away and opening it.

The hazel eyes were narrowed, the brief flash of black suffusing them warned of her anger. Sam took note of the faint burns on her face as Ruby walked into their hotel room. She stopped in the middle, hands clenched at her sides before whirling around to face him.

"Thanks for the help." Ruby snapped sarcastically.

"You're welcome." Sam replied completely out of character. He crossed his arms and waited for Ruby to say what she'd come for. She couldn't help him save Dean that much was clear and he wasn't going to pretend otherwise. She'd told Dean, told him because she was evil, because she wanted his brother to suffer, because she hated him- they all hated him…

"You don't seem to understand, Sammy." She took a menacing step in his direction. Sam felt as if he were dodging a venomous snake in a field of tall grass, just then. "You're running out of time and your brother is off playing with her." Ruby's eyes went completely black again, the pinkish burn marks on her face stood out in her pale face.

Sam's jaw clenched, annoyed that even a demon could find fault with Dean's behavior towards Jaden. What was it with everyone? He looked at Ruby again, wondering if maybe…

"What do you care? Are you jealous?" he scoffed though his eyes never left her face.

Ruby was taken aback by the question. Jealous? Of Dean and that-. Ruby laughed, saw that it wasn't the reaction Sam had been expecting and laughed harder. Why were these humans so blind to what was in front of them? Why couldn't they see?

"Sammy, Sammy…" Ruby turned away, settled herself into a kitchen chair and looked up at him with a smirk. She could afford to play, they had no clue and if she wasn't talking… "Are you jealous?"

Sam stiffened. He frowned, mind trying to form an answer when he should've had one ready. He should've been able to deny it, say he didn't care one way or another but he didn't say any of that. He didn't deny Ruby's accusation.

Why?

Ruby's smirk grew and she sat forward on the table.

"Why Sam, do you have a crush? How sweet." Sarcasm dripped from every word.

"No." Sam snapped. He didn't have a crush; he didn't feel that way towards Jaden. What bothered Sam was the way Dean focused solely on her. There was a clock ticking, Dean didn't have much time left, something Ruby loved to remind him of.

"Doesn't look that way." Ruby replied, one hand rose to cup her cheek and winced as her fingers touched a tender burn.

"What do you want?" Sam demanded in annoyance. "You can't help save Dean so what are you doing here?"

What was she doing there? Well, she'd been looking for some answers, wondering what they knew about Jaden. Wondered if Jaden had told them her reasons for hunting Ruby. Had been making plans and thinking of what to say if the hunter had talked but they knew nothing.

"Lilith." Ruby's lips twisted into a nasty smile as she sat back in the chair.

Devil's Lake, North Dakota…

The city wasn't all that big or bustling. It wasn't any different from all the other little towns she'd passed through, even the name wasn't so weird.

'Except for the hotel.' Jaden thought with a scowl. 'This is a first.'

As far as she knew, The Amity had been the weirdest hotel name yet but leave it to Dean to find one-. Jaden shook her head, annoyance and humor warred inside her but in the end humor won out and she couldn't help the slight smile on her face as she walked down the street.

It was late afternoon; a couple of locals gave her a second look, no doubt wondering about the 'freak'. Jaden glanced down at her jean skirt; there was a snag on the left side from where her pocket was poking through. It was cold but she was wearing her leggings, thin and bright red. Maybe that's what was drawing the attention? Jaden didn't care either way. Shrugging, she shoved her gloveless hands into the pockets of her military styled jacket and kept walking. The heavy scuff of her Harleys finally registered and she picked up her feet. A flash of annoyance passed over her features and she deliberately scuffed the heels of her boots as she walked.

Her Father hated the sound of scuffing shoes, always told them to pick up their feet and walk like normal people.

'Well, he's not here.' Jaden grumbled but the habit was so ingrained she couldn't keep it up for long. She let out a frustrated breath and pulled her hair back from her face stopping on the sidewalk.

"'Scuse me."

"Sorry." Jaden mumbled moving out of the way of an older woman. She looked up and rolled her eyes. "Can anyone say 'divine intervention'?" she muttered. Looking up and down the street she faced the local library and made up her mind. There was no harm in spending a couple of hours in there. She'd have to do it soon anyway and while Dean was busy stuffing his face and the Boy King was back at the hotel she was going to get something productive done.

Jaden walked up to the information desk, the librarian was another old woman though she didn't look as if she'd drop dead anytime soon. Pasting an amicable smile and thankful she hadn't drawn on her face out of sheer boredom, Jaden enlisted the woman's help getting information on the Wishek family's WolfHouse.

The Rough Rider Hotel…

Dean opened the door to their room managing not to drop his carton of food. He was smiling, which was new to Sam. Then again food tended to have that effect on his brother, especially bacon. Dean loved his bacon.

"Get it while it's hot." Dean called looking up. He set the carton on the table, green eyes searching the room for Jaden. The knowledge brought a scowl to Sam's face. "Jaden?"

"She left." Sam replied sullenly. He didn't bother getting up from his perch on the bed and ignored the smell of food.

"Gone? Where the hell did she go, Sam?" Dean demanded. A thread of worry crept into the words because he knew there were demons out there. Some of them wanted her dead. Why, was something he hadn't figured out yet.

"She didn't say, Dean." He snapped. "She doesn't talk to me. Hell, she won't stay in the same room with me more than five minutes."

"Wh- of course she does." Dean replied. "She sat in the car almost two days with you."

"Right, because that's the same..." Sam scoffed. "You were there too and she sat behind you the entire ride."

Dean opened his mouth for another denial but realized Sam was right. Other things started to come into focus, the way Jaden never let Sam help her with anything, she wouldn't let him near her and she tended to ignore his questions or directed her answers to Dean.

"Well, you still shouldn't have let her go out alone." Dean stated heading back to his food.

"Let-." Sam bit his tongue and just glared at Dean's back. There was nothing Sam could or would have done to stop her. Didn't Dean remember the LakeFront?

"Waffles are gonna get cold, Sammy." Dean called from the table. He ate with one eye on the door. He'd give her ten minutes before calling-.

Sam barely looked up from his laptop hearing the familiar chirp. He did notice the sharp scrape of Dean's chair as he got up. Two strides and he was at the couch tossing the pillow aside and tearing off the sheet. He came up with her cell still chirping and glared at Sam as if it was his fault she'd left without the damn phone.

The call went to voicemail and looking through her call screen noticed the same number showed up continuously for the last ten minutes.

"You didn't hear it ringing?" Dean demanded already striding towards the door.

"I wasn't paying attent- where are you going?" Sam questioned half rising from his bed.

"To look for her." Dean snapped.

"She hasn't been gone that long." Sam protested getting to his feet. Annoyance, it was lace in every word and stamped on his face.

"How long is that, Sam? Where you paying attention?" Dean questioned. He reached the door and yanked it open. Dean took a half step into the hall and pulled up short at sight of Jaden.

She stood with her hand outstretched, the room key in her fingers. Dean stood a foot taller glaring at her. The first thing that crossed her mind was that somehow she'd done something else to piss off the blond. The problem was, Jaden didn't care to figure out what that was. They were the ones insisting on tagging along on her hunt.

Ok, so she was technically being chauffeured by Dean but that still didn't mean she had to be all submissive.

"Why the hell did you leave without telling Sam? Why'd you leave your cell phone?"

Instinct had Dean reaching for her arm as he spoke; he pulled her into the room triggering a sense of deja vu for both of them. Of course Jaden had a completely different experience than Dean's.

When the door opened Phade was unceremoniously yanked in. She bounced off Dean's chest and glared up into the flashing green eyes.

"Where the hell have you been?" he growled pulling her aside and slamming the door closed. Phade moved to the door only to be pulled up short by Dean's unyielding frame blocking her way.

"I left my ke-." Phade began only to be cut off by an angry Winchester.

"What the hell where you thinking? What the hell happened to you?" Dean glared at her pink cheeks and pale complexion seeing the dark smudges under her eyes.

Jaden felt the sharp stab of pain in her temples and quickly pinched her nose and threw her head back. She didn't bother answering any of Dean's questions let alone listen to what he was saying. All Jaden could do was try and puzzle out the image in her head. It had been Dean in the vision, she'd heard his voice and like now his tone was concerned and annoyed but that wasn't unusual. He was always annoyed with her, very rarely did she see the concern but Jaden tended to ignore it anyway. She didn't want to think of how that made her feel-.

'You're going crazy. That's what this is.' Jaden told herself. Why else would she be thinking about Dean? Why would she be seeing him in her head in places and situations she knew couldn't possibly have happened or even exist.

No, Sam was evil. The demons wanted him, called him the Boy King but most importantly he'd set Ruby free. That she couldn't forgive and no matter how much Dean, Pastor Jim or Ellen kept insisting Sammy wasn't evil, Jaden knew better. Something was wrong with him, Jaden could feel it and she wasn't going to ignore her instincts.

'Ignore at your own risk, then you're dead and it doesn't matter so much. Would I go to heaven?' Jaden wondered but she pushed that whimsical thought away. There was no heaven, not for her because she'd killed and wasn't that one of the major rules?

Nope, if there was a place for Jaden after this life it would be hell, maybe she'd get lucky and end up in purgatory though how that was gonna work was confusing. She'd read Dante's Inferno and hadn't been too keen on the idea of what Dante described. Jaden could only hope it really was just fiction, all of it.

"Jaden?" Dean peered into her face; he pressed a soft towel to her nose which she took from him. She sat on the couch where he'd led her. He watched her lean back on the brown cushions and close her eyes. "How do you feel? J?"

"Fine." Jaden mumbled clearly annoyed with his incessant questioning. She wasn't going to say anything about the vision, about any of them. The last thing she needed was the Winchester's thinking she was loosing her mind.

'But you are. You're loosing it J, because this isn't normal.'

Of course it wasn't. Getting visions of things that had never happened definitely fell in with the 'loosing your mind' and 'going crazy' categories. Now, where did those people usually end up… where o where?

'You need a distraction. Something that's gonna get them off your ass…'

There was only one thing she had that would definitely get their attention.

"It's called the WolfeHouse and its been in the Wishek family since the early twenties." Jaden pulled the towel away from her face to inspect it completely ignoring Dean.

"What are- You didn't go-?" Dean scowled, an expression Jaden caught out of the corner of her eyes.

"Library blondie. You should check one out; get familiar with one so you can find out what you need to know about a haunting. First thing John should've taught you about investigating…" Jaden trailed off seeing the tense jaw and haunted look in the green eyes.

'Well that did it. You got him off your ass and all you had to do was bring up his Dad and the fact that he's dead because he sold his soul to save Dean and you definitely got him off your ass. Yup, you sure did…'

Jaden felt like the worst- there wasn't a word for how she felt. She almost reached over unsure of exactly what she wanted to do just knowing she needed to offer some sort of comfort. Instead she pulled her legs up onto the couch, shoved her back as far into the cushions as they'd let her and clenched her hands together so they wouldn't reach out to him.

'Pastor Jim shouldn't have told me a damn thing. Fucking loose lips and sinking ships- what a God damn moron you are J. Fucking brilliant.' Jaden berated herself.

"WolfeHouse?" Sam's voice interrupted their staring contest and for once Jaden wasn't annoyed by the evil brother's question.

"Uh-huh." Jaden nodded glancing over at Sam. He came around the bed with his lap top but Dean suddenly grabbed at her hands. Jaden flinched, brown eyes wide as he took the towel from her.

"You did this again. You went out knowing you're in danger." Dean accused. Monte Rio came to mind again, the way she'd just appeared on the beach, the ghostly woman who'd been unable to move on and then waking up to find Jaden gone. He never heard her get up, felt her leave the room but just the same she hadn't been there when Sam came back. Worry filled him almost immediately knowing there were more of those demon worshipping KKK freaks… Now it was different. There were demons hunting her and though he hadn't, exactly, in those words, or not at all, told her what he'd figured out he knew she was in danger, he knew. "How many times are you just going to run out like you're invincible? What's it gonna take for you to see you're just like the rest of us? Another -."

"Whoa!" Jaden glared rising to her knees on the couch. "Big girl here, white boy." She jabbed a finger towards her chest never looking away from Dean. "I know how to take care of myself-."

"Apparently not good enough to stay alive!" Dean yelled looming over her, loosing patience and wanting very much to shake some sense into her.

"I am alive, pendejo!" Jaden yelled back. She jumped up, slightly bouncing on the couch, finally able to glare down at Dean.

"ENOUGH!" Sam's voice echoed in the room. Both turned their glares on him but Sam didn't care. He'd had enough of them, their bickering, the sarcastic comments, the snide remarks- they were both behaving like little kids, pulling pranks on each other… No. Sam had enough of them but it was more than their arguing because he knew how Dean felt about Jaden. His brother was in love with this woman. A woman who had no idea she had another life, a family she'd left behind and apparently was powerless. Even without her extra abilities, the fire thing and- though he'd never seen it she'd told him- the stone thing.

'You're jealous.'

Sam started to deny it, tell himself he didn't care but he'd be lying. He was jealous, jealous of Dean because he was in love and however much Jaden behaved as if the blond annoyed her, Sam could see Jaden cared about him too. If he were really honest, he'd admit the signs had bee there in LA, back at the Hyperion. Jaden cared about Dean a little too much, more than she wanted to admit. Sam could only be grateful that Dean wasn't aware of her true feelings because then…

Would he really loose his brother? Would Dean still let himself die if he knew how Jaden really felt about him?

The beginnings of an idea formed in his brain but Sam had to be careful, he had to consider every possible drawback before he did anything. Maybe Dean wouldn't die at the end of the year…

"Get this straight, bitch." Jaden hopped down from the couch and put herself between the brothers. "You do not order me around. EVER!" she yelled jabbing a finger in his chest.

Sam blinked, watched as Jaden stormed off in the direction of the bathroom. The door slammed closed while Sam stared, his mind trying to pick up the threads of the 'conversation' they'd been having before he'd gotten sidetracked.

"Something's wrong." Dean muttered staring at the closed door with a worried frown. Sam rolled his eyes, once again annoyed and frustrated with him.

"Dean-." But what was the point? Anything Sam said would fall on deaf ears because Dean was too focused on the bloody towel in his hand to care about anything else. "Forget it."

Devil's Lake, North Dakota…

After her shower, Jaden didn't say a word to the Winchester's as she got ready for bed. She was making up her couch again when Dean started asking about the haunting but Jaden wasn't in the mood to play nice. She wasn't in the mood to keep fighting either so Jaden grabbed the flash drive from her jacket pocket and tossed it at Dean.

Now in the clear morning light she sat at the table with a steaming cup of coffee Dean had brought back. She'd been surprised to see a small carton of milk, more because the brothers took their coffee's black.

"You got all of this from the library?" Dean questioned though his attention stayed on the screen between them.

"That's what I said, blondie." Jaden quipped before taking another sip of her café con leche. Dean didn't bother with a remark though he watched her from the corner of his eye. She was relaxed, the ghost of a smile lingered over her mouth and there was dreamy look in her brown eyes. Dean attributed it to her still not being fully awake and let his eyes wander over her body. She still hadn't dressed; her bare legs were pulled up and braced against the table. Dean admired the bare legs; a creamy bronzed tint to her skin he'd just assumed had to do with the sun was in fact natural. His lips quirked up in a smile while his eyes roamed lower, to the red shorts barely deserving of that title. Not a mark, not a single black mark…

Dean's appreciative look turned to a frown. He looked up turning towards her knowing she'd notice. He didn't care though, because there were things they needed to talk about. He'd been wanting to bring up the subject before, to tell her about her family and if she didn't believe him then he'd show her the news clippings they'd found on the internet regarding LA. He wanted her to be careful as well, if anything were to happen…

"What?" Jaden asked frowning. "I got something on my face shouldn't be there or what?" she demanded more from discomfort at finding him just staring at her than a desire to pick a fight with Dean. It was too early for fighting.

"You need to be more careful." Dean replied with a wince because he wasn't telling her about LA like he'd been thinking of doing.

'You're afraid she'll go back to them. You're afraid she'll leave you all alone with only the memory of Kentucky and go back…'

His jaw clenched tightly, a wave of anger washed through him but it was true. He was afraid she'd leave him.

'You're not even together, Deano!'

Dean scowled.

"According to whom?" Jaden questioned taking another drink. She refused to look at him, didn't want to hear him either but short of putting a gag on his mouth she'd have to sit it out until she came up with something else. Jaden thought it was too bad Sam had been sent out to get breakfast because he sure as hell would've been interrupting them right then.

"Lincoln, Nebraska." Dean bit out. With a heavy sigh Dean set his cup on the table. "J…"

"So I found something interesting." Jaden interrupted. Ignoring how close he was to her was harder than Jaden had thought. The tone of his voice implied some sort of- well, Jaden didn't want to hear anything 'mushy'. She didn't want to bring up Lincoln because she didn't want to think about who was missing and why she was riding around with the Winchester's. Jaden didn't want to get anywhere near the subject of Kentucky because that would bring up memories and – no. She certainly didn't want to bring up that night or anything to do with Dean making her insides feel like she had butterflies in her stomach or her skin tingle as if she were touching a low wattage electrical wire.

"Lily Franco."

Dean sighed and let it go because really, what was the point? He was dead in a couple of months anyway. All he was going to accomplish was to cause her more pain. In the end he'd leave her just like he was leaving Sammy.

"She married young. Literally." Jaden arched a dark eyebrow. "Fourteen is considered old in some cultures." She would know and the scowl on her face had Dean asking why. Jaden hedged but decided it wouldn't hurt to reveal how when she was sixteen some old man at one of her Dad's jobs had told her she was too old. "He had the nerve to tell me I shoulda been married with four kids by then."

"What'd you say?" Dean asked trying not to laugh though he was clearly amused by her anecdote. There was no way Dean would believe Jaden if she said she didn't somehow tell off the old guy.

"I ran to my Dad freaked out. What'd you think I'd do?" Jaden glared.

"Well, something along the lines of a-."

"Insult the old man?" Jaden questioned and seeing that's exactly what Dean had assumed shook her head. "Nope, gotta respect the old dudes. Besides Dad said it was normal-expected even to get hitched to an old guy and if we'd been living in the rancho that's probably how my life would've ended up. I have never been so grateful to have been born in the US, Dean." Jaden shook her head clearly the thought of that kind of life didn't appeal to her. "No way."

"Really, you didn't…" Dean couldn't picture Jaden running off without saying something. Jaden noticed him open his mouth obviously with another question that had nothing to do with their haunting.

"You're much prettier quiet so don't." Jaden warned raising a hand. Dean looked confused for a second then he was scowling.

'Our? Why the hell- no, when the hell did it become our haunting? This one's all mine!' Jaden scolded herself. Hadn't she been the one in the library prying out the names of the people asking Pastor Jim for his help? Hadn't she convinced Pastor Jim to give it to her? Of course she let him think the Winchester's would be part of the hunt but Jaden had never considered involving them aside from the driving part.

No, the WolfeHouse was her haunting.

'Then why are you sharing information?'

Jaden chose to ignore the taunting little voice and continued.

"The perv they shackled her with strung her up- get this." she turned to Dean once again all business. "She's accused of 'enticing' the brother in law during a visit." Anger colored her tone.

"You don't think so?" Dean questioned and as soon as the words left his mouth he knew they were totally wrong. He could've smacked his head on the table…

"Seriously? The girls fifteen, Dean!" Jaden exclaimed. She set her feet on the floor and the coffee on the table. "Barefoot, pregnant, waiting on the pig hand and foot- no way." she shook her head. "If anything I'm sure the brother tried to force her, maybe he did and she told the husband but he doesn't believe her. Of course the brother lays the blame on her because it's always our fault you can't keep it in your pants." Here she smacked Dean, brown eyes darkening with anger.

"And I get smacked for being the nearest man." Dean grumbled slightly pulling away from her.

"So he hangs her." Jaden glared at the screen and typed a new address. "Fuckdick goes off and gets himself a new wife a year later."

"What's this got to do with the haunting?" Dean finally asked choosing to ignore the 'fuckdick' though he clearly remembered the demon dogs from that hunt in LA. He would have been much happier to sit there and listen to her tell him more funny stories about her childhood.

"The local paper, Dakota Gazette, had some interesting articles. A couple unexplained deaths all on the Wishek property. All of them men but this one… the brother was found in the back yard, neck broken." She typed another address and pulled up a different window. "A couple of years later there's an obit- really another article for the murder of Robbie Wishek." Jaden smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. Dean didn't like it, it was a satisfied smile. "The s.o.b died in his sleep but then I found another article. The 2nd wife was also hanged."

"What's with all the hanging?" Dean muttered as he skimmed through the next article.

"Guess it was their block party." Jaden replied then opened another window. "She poisoned him." This time Jaden really did smile.

"Go on, gloat." Dean grumbled as he sat back in his chair. He'd sifted through some of the information on her flash drive but she'd somehow managed to gather too much. Dean had actually fallen asleep reading through some of the articles and he'd never even reached the ones she'd just shown him. Of course he'd opened up some documents detailing the building of the WolfeHouse, the history of the town- what the hell all of that had to do with their haunting was making more sense now than it had last night. "We still don't know if this is our ghost." Dean grumbled.

"Just because the M.O. changes a bit doesn't mean its not." Jaden snapped and shuffled through other articles. Anything she'd found relating to the Wishek's and the WolfeHouse had been saved to her flash drive.

"We're not dealing with serial killers, J." Dean retorted. "These are ghosts, spirits and they stick to their pattern." Dean glanced at the door again wondering where the hell Sam had gone for breakfast.

"It's our ghost." Jaden repeated knowing she was right though she'd be crazy to tell him how she was so sure.

'Crazy… lock you up, toss away the key. Put you in a straightjacket and leave you in a padded room… If you're really lucky they'll dope you up and let you sit in front of a window and drool on yourself. Won't that be great?'

The door opened startling them both. Dean was half out of his chair, one hand at his back reaching for the colt when Sam backed in, his arms loaded with Styrofoam containers. Jaden didn't wait to be asked to move, just got up and took her lap top to her couch. The cushions sank with her weight conforming to her shape while the brothers set up the food.

"Jaden." Dean called sounding exasperated by her sudden departure. He was starting to notice the little things Sam had already seen. "Dude, she thinks we're chasing some girl-."

"I know, Dean." Jaden snapped setting her lap top aside and striding over to the table. With both hands grasping the back of a chair she stared him straight in the eyes. "There's no guessing, no doubts, this is my ghost."

"Yours?" Dean questioned with a raised eyebrow. Sam stood between them wondering how two people could argue so much and not physically hurt each other.

"I got omelets." Sam said but neither was paying attention.

"Yeah, mine. I'm the one doing the leg work here." Jaden retorted.

"I got bacon." Sam tried again. He reached for the container and popped it open but even that failed to get Dean's attention.

"I still say-."

"Otra vez!" Jaden cut in, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "I'm sure alright."

Dean gritted his teeth.

"Breakfast anyone?" Sam asked though he wasn't hopeful it would get their attention.

"Fine." Dean suddenly sat down taking the container with his bacon and omelet. "Let's take a look around the place. Jaden can introduce us." He offered up a perfunctory smile then started eating much to Jaden's disgust.

'How can he eat? Doesn't anything ruin his appetite?' she wondered because she certainly wasn't going to eat more than one of those slices of bread. For some unexplained reason Jaden was angry and mixing that with food wasn't the best idea. She rubbed at her stomach feeling it shift uncomfortably and glowered.

"You're not eating?" Sam called to her back but again Jaden didn't bother answering him. Sam glared at the closed bathroom door stabbing his plastic fork down into the omelet.

"Let it go." Dean said between mouthfuls. "Eat your food Sammy." He nudged Sam's arm and kept eating.

By the time they were done Jaden had showered and dressed. Dean was surprised to find himself disappointed to see her wearing jeans. He'd gotten so used to her in the skirts and gone were her harley boots. She walked towards her dresser, her Converse making no sound on the wooden floor. From the top drawer she pulled out a thin red long-sleeved sweater which she slipped on over the black t-shirt. The sleeves were too long but Jaden didn't seem to notice. From her duffel, Jaden took the toy she called the Walther Model 5 and checked the clip. Satisfied she grabbed her military styled jacket and slipped it on, the gun going in the side pocket and lifted out the hood of her sweater.

Dean watched her take a small knife and tie the sheath to her leg then wiggle it but there was no bulge. He couldn't even tell she had it strapped; she must've thought the same because she grabbed another one, a switchblade and slipped that one in her back pocket. Dean thought she was traveling light considering the huge three pronged knives she'd had with her in Monte Rio. Then again she wasn't super strong or bursting into flames either.

"You planning on sitting there all morning?" Jaden asked striding over to the table. She stopped, one hand on her hip, head tilted and dangled his car keys. "They're waiting."

The Wishek Wolfe House…

Jennet Wishek opened the door to three strangers. She'd called Pastor Jim Murphy at her wits end hoping he would be able to help them. Jennet had been under the impression he would be come himself but when she'd spoken to him two days ago he'd told her to expect a young woman and two young men. Jennet hadn't been sure about letting in three strangers but Pastor Jim had reassured her.

Now, Jennet took a moment to assess the help Pastor Jim had sent to her home.

Her eyes immediately went to the taller of the two men. His dark brown hair was just a little too long and messy. His brown eyes had that innocent puppy dog look she had no doubt came in useful in reassuring and calming people. Her youngest boy tended to put his pretty green eyes to use every chance he got, which was too often in her opinion.

Beside him, the sandy haired blond with green eyes exuded confidence, his smile came too easy which gave Jennet the impression he was used to charming his way around obstacles. She wondered what the young man did when charm didn't work.

Lastly, Jennet focused on the young woman standing between them. Her black hair was loosely braided; the long bangs had been swept aside but stubbornly kept getting in her eyes. Jennet watched her sweep them aside again and noticed that her eyes weren't black as she'd fist assumed but a deep, dark brown. She wore black eye shadow, her eyes lined in black kohl and Jennet wondered why some women were blessed with extraordinarily long lashes and others had to scrape by on fakes.

"Can I help you?" Jennet said softly.

"Mrs. Wishek?" at her nod the young woman continued. "Pastor Jim sent us. I'm Jaden, this is Dean." Jaden pointed to her left and after a second Dean introduced Sam.

"Please come inside." Jennet stepped out of the way. Dean held the door open letting Jaden go in. Sam followed Dean annoyed and listening with half an ear as Mrs. Wishek described their supernatural symptoms.

"We don't go in the backyard anymore." Jennet said leading them into her living room. "We can't because someone always gets hurt." She smiled stiffly and sat in a rose colored chair. Dean set his hand on Jaden's lower back absently guiding her to the matching couch. They sat down leaving Sam on the chair opposite them.

"What exactly happens?" Jaden asked trying to ignore the fact that Dean's arm was draped over the back of the couch or that his leg was touching against hers. She sat forward to get away from the distracting warmth of Dean's arm at her back and focused on the woman.

"Well, it's only recently things have gotten worse. We'd always heard about the- the history of WolfeHouse. Strange deaths, people getting hurt but we just never thought there was any truth to it." Jennet took a deep breath and licked her lips. "About three months ago the boys started complaining; they were getting bruises and couldn't remember how. I just thought, they're boys. They were roughhousing and- and… Then my husband, Drew- he had these awful bruises all over his chest and ribs. We didn't know how or why… Last month we had a bar-b-q." here Jennet sighed. Jaden noticed how pale she suddenly got then felt Dean lean forward as well, his arm somehow resting around her waist and Jaden had to fight the urge to lean into his side. "I wasn't sure but Drew insisted."

"Why is that?" Dean questioned.

"Because it was Nolan's birthday. We'd promised him a party this year, Drew didn't want to break our promise." Not for the first time did Jennet wish they had. "Everything was fine, the kids were running around all over the place, Drew was manning the bar-b-q…I don't know what happened."

"Mrs. Wishek how long have you lived here?" Sam asked curiously. The question seemed to draw Jennet from her memories of that day. She sat up straighter and looked at Sam.

"We moved in about five months ago. Nana Izz owned the house. She lived here her whole life, never married. All she had was the house… when she died we found out it was ours. We were the only family Nana Izz knew, nobody else bothered to visit. Drew would plan weekend vacations for us, mostly because he didn't like that she lived alone." Jennet finished with a sad smile.

"Can I see your back yard?" Jaden asked getting to her feet before Jennet had a chance to decide.

"I'm not sure…"

"You've never been hurt, have you?" Jaden questioned because as far as she knew it was only the men who were found with broken necks. She didn't like the fact that the boys were sporting bruises, they were just kids after all but there had to be a reason why Lily would do that.

"N-no." Jennet's hesitation didn't go unnoticed by Jaden and if she'd caught it then it was certain Dean had as well.

"Is it this way?" Jaden pointed to the arch heading into the hall and moved towards it with Dean on her heels.

"Y-yes but-." Jennet got up with Sam behind her and headed to the hall. "I'm not sure this is-."

"Don't worry." Jaden reassured with a soft smile and a gentle hand on the older woman's arm. "I've got bodyguards." Jaden winked and got a ghost of a smile from Jennet.

They headed to the rear of the house passing through the kitchen and out the back screen door onto the porch. Jaden took in the huge space, the green lawn and the few trees ringing the yard.

"This is nice." Jaden murmured thinking of Uncle RJ's huge yard in Helena. It was fenced but beyond the gate was the Helena National Forest, just a little piece bordering the houses on the block.

"Yes, it's a big difference from our little apartment." Jennet agreed which is what made the situation so difficult. The boys couldn't play in the yard but she consoled herself with the fact they had more room in the house than they'd ever had in the apartment. Still, if this thing wasn't fixed they'd have no choice but to leave. They'd decided together, they couldn't risk the boys being hurt.

"So, where…" Jaden tuned out Sam's voice and slowly went down the steps into the backyard. She looked left and right taking in the yard, the porch, the steps and then the trees. There was so much to do here, wards and safeguards to set up but first they had to get rid of this ghost.

Dean walked into the yard which made Jennet very uncomfortable. Her gaze kept straying to the couple in her yard, worry marred her features and she bit her lip.

Jaden winced, her hand absently rubbing at her forehead as she strode towards the big tree at the far end of the yard. It looked old, the perfect place to put up a tree house, she'd always wanted one…

Jaden rolled her shoulders feeling a stiffness creep towards her neck and then she got a sharp pain at the base of her skull. She grabbed the tree wanting to slam her head against its trunk and tried to breathe past the pain.

The sun burned down on her arms. She tried to pull away but he was stronger. Her bare feet dug into the dirt, little rocks cut into her heels but there was no escape. They weren't listening, he didn't believe her…

Jaden shook her head, turned around so her back pressed against the tree trunk and clutched at her head with both hands. Her fingers dug into her skull trying to relieve the pain by pressing harder.

Her cheek stung and the coppery taste in her mouth confirmed what her brain was still trying to figure out. Again, her head swung to the side, ears ringing with each blow. Her wrists burned from the rope he'd tied them with but that was nothing compared to the humiliation she'd endured a few days before…

"Jaden?" Dean's voice barely registered as she re-lived Lily's last moments. "Jaden." He held her up, one hand brushing hair out of her face. Jaden grabbed her nose as she felt the trickle slide down and over her lip. "Come on." Dean wrapped his arm around her waist and practically carried her back towards the house.

"I'm ok." Jaden muttered but she didn't pull away from him. Dean didn't say anything though Jennet let out a gasp.

"Oh my God." Jennet stood on the porch, a hand over her mouth.

"I'm fine. It's just a nose bleed." Jaden reassure her but the look on Jennet's face was far from reassure. "I get 'em all the time. Ask him?" Jaden rolled her eyes towards Dean but he was upset as well.

"Yeah, all the time." He echoed coming up the steps. "You think we could use your bathroom?"

"Of course, I'm sorry I just-." Jennet held the door open for them pointing the down the hall. "To your left."

Sam took Jennet's arm and held her back as Dean hurried Jaden into the bathroom. He hoped that this one time they wouldn't argue or if they did they'd have the presence of mind to keep their voices down.

"She'll be fine." Sam reassured with one of his smiles. "This isn't the first time."

"I just thought- Drew and the boys…" Jennet trailed off. It was clear to Sam she'd thought the ghost was starting to hurt women as well. Sam wondered if it was.

Dean closed the door behind them before lowering Jaden onto the only seat in the bathroom. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes still pinching her nose. The sound of running water cut out and then Dean placed the wet towel to her nose gently pulling her hand away. She tried taking the towel from him but Dean wouldn't let go.

"And you think I'm stubborn." Jaden mumbled through the towel on her face.

"I know. There's a difference." Dean replied removing the towel. Jaden opened her eyes barely smiling though Dean couldn't see what was so funny.

"El burro hablando de orejas." Jaden quipped and getting a glare for her trouble. "Meaning you're just as bad."

"What's going on, J?" Dean asked. Jaden sighed heavily letting her body relax for a moment.

"Nothing." She murmured closing her eyes.

"This is not nothing, Jaden. This isn't normal. I don't remember you getting any nose bleeds in LA-."

"Otra vez." Jaden glared. "Quit with that bull shit story alright. No, I'm done with the 'Help the helpless' krap and the souled vampire shit. I don't want to hear it anymore." She was glad her voice didn't betray any of her doubts but telling him she'd 'seen' a vampire in her head was just going to egg him on, unless he decided she was crazy because then it was straightjackets and little blue pills or maybe they were white?

"I don't care." Dean leaned over her one hand on either side of Jaden, his face inches from hers and it took her breath away. "You're going to listen because something is definitely wrong with you. Something happened that wiped out everything from last year. You don't remember putting us up at the Hyperion. You don't remember tagging along on a hunt with us or helping Sam get over those headaches. You even forgot coming to my rescue in Monte Rio and helping us save that little girl from those demon worshipping KKK or the bar…" Dean grinned remembering that night but focused again on Jaden. She wasn't glaring at him; she didn't look at all upset, just sat there quietly looking up at him with those big brown eyes… He wanted to say- he wasn't sure what words would come out of his mouth and decided it was better if he didn't say anything.

Jaden had nowhere to go as Dean slowly inched closer but she didn't want to go anywhere. She wasn't about to admit that out loud but for a couple of seconds Jaden could let down her guard. What was the harm in one little kiss? It was just a kiss anyway…

Dean smiled, watched her eyes flutter closed and stopped.

'What are you doing?' His brain screamed. Where was the hesitation coming from? Why wasn't he kissing her? Jaden obviously didn't have a problem else she'd be causing him some pain.

'Kiss her! God damn you, kiss her already!' his brain ordered. Dean jerked into motion just as Jaden frowned. She opened her eyes starting to sit up and collided with Dean.

"Ow! What-." Jaden frowned reaching up to rub her nose while Dean grimaced.

Determined, Dean cupped his right hand behind her neck and pulled her towards him.

"Mmph!" Jaden blinked in surprise, her hand starting to push on his chest when she felt her stomach flutter and just… relaxed.

'It's just a kiss.' She reminded herself…

Devil's Lake, North Dakota…

Jaden hadn't said a word since getting in the car but Sam was doing all the talking choosing not to comment on the silent pair.

"It is a woman. One of the boys says he's seen her which no one believed at first but then their oldest also saw her. After that they started getting the bruises, the dead neighbor at the bar-b-q and the bruises on her husband were enough to call Pastor Jim."

"How'd they know to call him?" Dean asked flicking his glance into the rearview mirror but Jaden was wearing those dammed aviator shades and he couldn't see her eyes.

"They used to live in Blue Earth. Part of Pastor Jim's flock until Drew got a new job closer to old Nana Izz." Sam answered turning to Dean. "Salt & Burn?" he questioned.

"Gotta find the body and we don't know who this girl is." Dean replied turning right.

"We know who." Jaden said just loud enough they heard her over the soft music playing.

"No." Dean retorted. "We have two names you dug up from God knows where."

"I know its Lily Franco." Jaden snapped.

Dean pulled up to a red light stubbornly refusing to go on her hunch without more proof. The problem was Jaden wasn't going to admit having 'seen' Lily being hanged because then there would be more questions.

"No, we're not digging up a bunch graves until we're sure." Dean insisted.

Jaden clenched her hands, more frustrated than she should've been by his pigheadedness. Her hands itched to smack him, instead Jaden reached for the door handle and got out of the Impala.

"Woa-hey!" Dean swiveled in his seat then back to the window as the back door slammed shut. "What the hell!" he glared at Jaden's retreating form. "Get back in the car, J!"

As answer, Jaden raised a hand and there was no mistaking her reply.

"Dean," Sam place a hand on his brothers arm. "Just let it go."

Dean threw a glare at his brother hearing those words but Sam's expression was sincere.

"Like hell…" Dean reached for his cell and started dialing. He didn't expect her to pick up but he wasn't going to stop dialing until she did. The light changed and Dean crossed two lanes to make a left turn but he didn't see Jaden anywhere on the street. "Where the hell did she go?"

"We need to find out who this girl is, Dean." Sam reminded him. After a moment of hesitation Dean agreed. It was a small town, he'd give Jaden an hour to cool off in the meantime he was going to check the GPS on her cell and track her.

Medora Hills Cemetery, Devils Lake North Dakota…

Jaden held the flashlight steady as the Winchester's dug in the soft earth. She'd been feeling weird for the last two weeks, uncommonly moody, snapping at everyone for anything, she was easily pissed off and the urge to hit 'things' was strong. She had to stop herself from reacting which hadn't been a problem before. Dean tended to annoy her beyond reason and it wasn't like he played the same pranks on her that he did to Sam. Jaden had blamed her unreasonable mood swings on the medications and the accident but she'd stopped taking those a day after the Winchester's had left on their hunt because the pills made her sick.

A hollow thunk caught her attention and Jaden moved closer to the edge of the grave.

"Pay dirt." Dean grinned pulling himself out of the grave. She watched Sam scoop more dirt off the coffin before cracking it open. The wood groaned before splintering, Jaden sat down heavily on a mound of dirt the guys had piled on the side.

"Puta madre, para nuestra suerte." She muttered lowering the flashlight. Dean peered over the side, a canister of salt in one hand and lighter fluid in the other.

"What the hell?" he frowned then glanced at Sam who was leaning on the side of the grave.

"That bastard…" Jaden murmured grabbing her head with her free hand. "He didn't bury her." in the back of her mind she had the feeling she'd somehow known Lily wouldn't be there. It wasn't going to be that easy; Jaden just didn't know why she was so sure.

"If we don't have a body to salt and bu-."

"She keeps haunting." Jaden snapped cutting Sam off. "I know."

"He had to put her somewhere." Dean retorted. "Where the hell is he going to bury a dead woman if not here?" But none of them had an answer to that.

Dean chucked the canister back at the duffel and grabbed his shovel. He muttered under his breath cursing as he shoveled dirt back into the hole they'd dug, apparently just for fun.

The Rough Rider Hotel…

She felt tired, sore and of all things hungry not to mention thirsty. When Phade opened her eyes the first thing she noticed was the ceiling which she didn't remember being white. Her Hers was a creamy pale pink just so it didn't clash with the deep red walls. At first Phade had thought to use a pale yellow but that hadn't worked out the way she'd planned so, the pink and Phade was not the pink type. This room was definitely not Phade's and as she turned her head to look around she noticed the sounds, beeping and the monitor then the stand with the liquid bag and the tube coming down attached to a needle that was in; "MY ARM!" Phade yelled sitting up so fast her head spun. Phade hurt herself as she grabbed at the IV and yanked it out. Her arm bled and she fell out of the bed.

Jaden let out a grunt of breath as her body hit the floor. She cursed softly but still heard the Winchester's stir from their beds.

"What?" Dean whispered suddenly very alert.

"Nada." Jaden grumbled. She sat up and rubbed her shoulder which had taken the brunt of her weight. "Go back to sleep." She ordered and glared towards Sam who was half sitting up, hair sticking up at odd ends and rubbing his face to cover a yawn. Had they been under attack… Jaden was disgusted to note his lack of preparation. At least Dean had his colt in hand.

"…back to sleep, Sammy." Dean whispered and obediently Sam lay down again. After a moment of rustling covers to settle in again Sam was silent. Dean turned towards Jaden who still sat on the floor, head cradled on her raised knees, both hands threaded through the inky mane.

"Jaden?" he questioned softly. She didn't answer, didn't even move. Dean wondered if maybe she'd fallen asleep but didn't think it was possible in her current position.

Jaden heard the sheets rustle then the soft pad of Dean's bare feet on the wooden floor. She'd barely noticed the lack of carpet in their room and couldn't help thinking that her fall would've hurt less had there been one.

"Jaden…" she felt his hand on her forearm, knew he was kneeling in front of her and didn't want to look up. Why was it so hard to get a full night of sleep?

"I'm fine." She mumbled into her knees hoping he wouldn't pretend not to hear her.

"You're not." He protested. "I know you're not… what is it Jaden?" he asked softly running his fingers through her hair. She felt him sit beside her, the warmth of his body seeping into her side…

"It's nothing, ok." Jaden raised her head and pulled out of his reach. She didn't want to admit his touch relaxed her, made her feel comfortable-. "I…guess I…rolled too far left. Hit the floor." She flicked her eyes toward him and quickly back at her hands now clasped over her knees.

"Ok." Dean sighed, he already knew she was stubborn and if she wasn't talking to him now she wasn't going to if he kept insisting either. "That's how you want it." he stood up ignoring her furrowed brow. Bending down he grabbed her arm and easily got her to stand.

"What are you doing?" Jaden demanded in a whisper. She didn't even pull out of his hold but Dean slid his hand down her arm until his fingers threaded with hers.

"Nothing." Dean replied slightly smiling as he led her towards his bed.

"Whoa." Jaden pulled back and shook her head. "If you think I'm- that I-." Her face felt suddenly hot. She glanced over at the still form in the other bed and glared at Dean. "You're brothers in the room!" she hissed.

"We're just going to sleep, J." Dean couldn't help his amused smile, he almost laughed but then she'd likely hit him and he wasn't up to dodging blows with her.

"Sleep?" Jaden echoed as Dean slid in first. She was confused because sleep was the farthest thing from a guys mind whenever they had a girl in bed.

Wasn't it?

Dean grabbed her hand again and pulled her into the bed. She went meekly, settled in a bit stiffly but after Dean pulled the blankets over them she turned towards him. He hesitated only a second before putting his arms around her and closing his eyes. He could feel her breath on his chest; she shifted and then settled down. He could tell she was tense but he kept his eyes closed and concentrated on breathing normally. Eventually they both fell asleep. This time Jaden didn't dream, she didn't have the nightmares or the memories torture her. There was nothing but peace surrounding her…

The Wishek Wolfe House…

They were back. It had been Sam's idea to check the property thinking it was the next most likely place to bury a body. Once there it was Jaden who convinced Jennet to take her boys out for the day. The boys pounced, all three sandy heads bouncing around their Mother in excitement.

"Alright." Jaden came back into the living room. "They're off. Any ideas?" she crossed her arm and glanced at the brothers.

Of course they had an idea. At least Sam had an idea. He led them through the hall and out to the backyard. Jaden stopped them on the porch grabbing at Dean's sleeve.

"Are you nuts?" she demanded. They gave her the 'Huh' look and again Jaden found herself unaccountably furious with the pair. "Did you not hear the lady say her husband got bruises? How men tended to end up dead in her backyard? Par de pendejos, no entiended…" she mumbled glaring at Dean.

"How else are we going to dig her out from under the tree?" Sam demanded but Jaden crossed her arms and didn't bother answering.

"The tree?" Dean echoed because that was the first he was hearing of digging a corpse from a tree.

"I just figured…I mean there was that ghost on Route 66." They both remembered. It hadn't been that long ago.

"I'll get the shovels." Dean sighed and headed back through the house leaving Jaden alone with Sam on the porch. As soon as the door closed behind him Jaden turned and found a seat at the farthest end of the porch on a rocker. She slipped on her aviator shades again and did her best to ignore him.

Sam wasn't sure if he should try talking to her, he didn't want to get any closer without Dean around. Jaden tended not to hit when his brother was there.

It was a long five minutes for Sam but maybe it had been longer for Jaden. The heavy sound of Dean's boots was a welcome relief and Sam opened the back door just as Dean was reaching for it.

Jaden stayed were she was and watched the guys dig. Her eyes kept moving form one end of the yard to the other worried something would happen. If it did she was hoping the ghost would go for the Boy King and make life a little safer. Still, she knew Dean wouldn't be happy about it…

Jaden turned towards the door, brow furrowed. She shifted in her seat leg swaying until finally she got up and headed inside. In the kitchen she caught the shadow of a person in the hall and quickly followed it. Jaden turned the corner and found a door recessed into the wall. She looked over her shoulder but there was no one else in the house. Frowning she twisted the doorknob and had to push on the wood to get it open. The dark wood swung inward on creaking hinges. If there was anyone in the basement then they'd know she was coming in.

The stairway was dark, only the first four steps were clearly visible. Hesitation, its what got a hunter killed, that and being careless or too eager. Jaden grit her teeth and started down the steps glad she hadn't worn her boots. Still, the wood creaked with her weight. Jaden trailed her hand on the brick wall her other hovering over the banister. A square patch of light showed her the dirt floor; apparently no one had ever poured cement. Stepping off the last step Jaden turned towards the only window, eyes going wide.

There, haloed by the sun streaming in through the dirty panes stood Lily Franco. There was no mistake; the girl was the same as she'd been in the 'vision'. Her dress was torn and dirty; blood was caked on the collar and at the sleeves where the rope had cut her delicate skin. It still hung off her limbs, a constant reminder of what was done. She was pale but Jaden had never seen a ghost with a sunny complexion. The more Jaden stared the more the light grew brighter; the stains in her dress faded and Lily looked like some angel the way the sun shone behind her.

They hurt her. Got away with it. He laughed when she cried, said no one would believe her, that she was nothing, he'd done it before and he would do it again. Every time he felt like it.

She tried to fight… but he was stronger. He hit her, careful not to touch her face but it hurt none the less.

Jaden moved closer, her steps slow. She reached a hand towards the young girl while in her head she could see what they'd done to her.

He forced his way. Pushed into her and when she screamed he muffled it with a pillow.

Jaden clutched her stomach, grimaced and bit back a groan. She felt her body tense- the girl's pain filled her. It was her…

"Stop." Jaden grunted hunched over.

She closed her eyes spilling a couple of tears for her suffering, the humiliation but it only brought the scene into vivid detail.

It was no longer this pale girl, face shove into the mattress but Jaden. The sounds, the creaking springs, the grunting pervert beh-.

"No…" Jaden tried to draw a breath, fingers digging into the soft comforter. "Please…"

"They have to be punished…."

Jaden gasped, she blinked the tears from her eyes looking up at Lily's ghost. The figure shifted, like a TV screen shorting out and then she was gone.

"They have to be punished." She murmured confused as to why she was on the dirt floor. The words flitted through her head until her brain finally grasped the meaning. Jaden scrambled to her feet and ran to the stairs in a panic.

"Dean!!"

In the back yard…

"Anymore bright ideas, genius?" Dean asked. He leaned on the shovel, one hand wiping the sweat from his brow. So far they'd dug all around the damn tree and they hadn't found a body. Clearly, he was not happy by their lack of success.

"Where's Jaden?" Sam questioned looking at the empty porch.

"Making lemonade…" Dean hoped then wondered if that was considered cooking because apparently this version of Phade didn't cook. He shook his head and scowled at the mess they'd made of the back yard.

"Dean!"

Both men jerked around at the sound of her voice. They glanced at each other then started running. They were halfway across the yard when Dean felt a blinding pain in his side. He clutched at his ribs stumbling and seeing that, Sam reached to steady his brother. A sharp pain shot up his arm; it felt as if his bones were splintering.

Neither heard the back door bang open or Jaden come out onto the porch.

"Dios mio, Dean!" she cried seeing him knelt on the grass, one arm wrapped around his middle. She started down the steps but even if she managed to get him out of the back yard it wouldn't make Lily stop.

'Salt! You need salt!' her brain screamed. Turning back to the house Jaden ran into the kitchen and looked around. She kept mumbling under her breath when she finally saw the canister of salt sitting right in front of her. The dark blue background with the girl in the umbrella sat on the counter. Jaden lunged for it and almost knocked it on the ground. She ran out to the yard again pouring out the white grains into her palm.

"Get up!" she ordered tossing it over their heads. "Get inside, hurry!"

Dean felt immediate relief, the pressure on his ribs eased enough he could get to his feet. Sam helped him up the back porch while Jaden tossed another handful of salt. They stumbled into the kitchen, sweaty, panting and each one suffering Lily's punishment.

Jaden went directly to Dean where he stood by the table.

"Where are you hurt?" she questioned softly, her hands already pulling his arm away from his rib cage.

"Its not bad." Dean denied through clenched teeth and trying to hide a wince.

"You're hurt!" Jaden snapped. She glared at him, angry because he was too stupid to listen and worried because… what if Lily had killed him?

Dean was surprised to see the shine of tears in her brown eyes. They glimmered in the late afternoon sun… he cupped his hand behind her head just like he had the day before and offered a smile.

"We've had worse." He revealed but Sam could see his brother had once again said the wrong thing.

"You knew." Sam stated before Jaden could snap at his brother. "Jaden, what happened?"

Jaden pulled herself away from Dean with a shake of her head. She didn't want to talk about what she saw, what Lily had shown her.

"She's in the basement."

"How do you know-." Sam took a step in her direction.

"Because I know!" Jaden snapped glaring at Sam. She wiped her eyes angrily then turned away. All she had to do was remember it wasn't her, those things never happened, not to her. The memory of what those men did wasn't hers. It didn't change the fact that it still hurt- her body…

Jaden clenched her jaw and resolutely headed to the basement. She was going to set the girl free, give her the peace she deserved and should've had a long time ago.

At her back Dean followed with a shovel, he clutched his side feeling as if hot pokers were shoved between his ribs…

The Rough Rider Hotel…

"Phade." His hand took her elbow and as she turned, the half smile questioning he touched his lips to hers. He felt her stiffen and thought she'd punch him for this. Dean stepped back his hands once again going in his pockets as Phade just watched him in silence.

It was late, the dark hotel room silent except for the 'snores' on the opposite bed. Jaden couldn't sleep; when ever she closed her eyes there were more of those visions though she thought of them more as nightmares. Her brain just wouldn't obey her commands to block them out and she didn't want to think about them.

Jaden shifted again, the wooden frame creaked. She gritted her teeth, annoyance and frustration washing through her body. She had heard that sound. It would be a miracle if they hadn't.

Jaden rubbed her face again, dug the heels of her palms into her eyes but the images seemed to be permanently burned into her brain. She turned on her side ignoring the creaking wood. The TV reflected the room, dark and silent. The sting of tears shown in her eyes and Jaden wrapped her arms around herself.

It wasn't the same.

Jaden knew where she'd find peace, where she could finally sleep and not dream, not have to see any of them…

Sitting up Jaden stared at the unmoving shape on the bed to her left. She bit her lip and sat. The debate in her head went back and forth until she decided to ignore it. Standing, Jaden padded over to the bed before she could come to her senses. It wouldn't be any different than before. She just needed to sleep.

Jaden hesitated with her hand inches from his shoulder.

Dean jerked awake; the hand under his pillow clutched the colt half sliding it out when Jaden's face came into focus. He shoved the gun back under the pillow and pulled the covers back, grunting some sort of invitation. Silently, Jaden slid in beside him and as before she fit herself against his side. Her head nestled in the space between his shoulder and neck. Dean felt her sigh as his arm wrapped around her and then she was still.

Dean lay there, listening to her breathing even out while his fingers played with her hair. She hadn't said a word and likely would pretend nothing was different in the morning but for Dean it was.

Sam had noticed and eventually he would say something, a reminder and Dean could care less.

This was the glimpse of a life Dean could've had. The life he'd wanted and set aside for another time, for when they were done. His family needed him, they had the YED to hunt and kill. His life had been spent doing the right thing, following his Dad's orders… Wasn't it time Dean was selfish? Just for a little while…

Morning…

Sam was the first one up and like the day before he had to bite his tongue. On silent feet he went around the bed and stared…

They lay face to face, the top of her head snuggled into the crook of Dean's neck. She had her hands folded between them, one lightly clutching his shirt while he wrapped his arm around her waist and pillowed her head on his other arm. Jaden was huddled into Dean's body with his leg thrown over hers and both completely unaware of the cozy picture they presented.

Sam shook his head.

'…glutton for punishment…'

W