The next 4 months are hell. Bobby drinks more then ever, Sammy barely ever answers our calls and I started hunting as much as I can whenever I can. I had to stay busy or I would loose it. Dean was gone and Sam wouldn't even answer my calls. I was taking riskier cases then I had ever before. Crowley didn't visit much, occasionally I would feel a presence but I would ignore it. The last thing I wanted to do was talk to that demon. Part of me blamed him for loosing Dean, he took the colt, and he kept me from sharing information that might have saved Dean. I think Crowley picked up on my mood a little and he rarely showed himself or interacted with me in any way.
I had just finished with a particularly hard case. Probably shouldn't have taken on those two vampires alone but like I said, I was taking risks. I had made it back to town by afternoon and my quick fix patch up of my wounds was starting to fail. I guessed that maybe I was a little worse off then I had thought. The slash on my leg was bleeding again and my head was pounding from when I was thrown into a wall. I finally made it to the junkyard and parked the car. Sighing, I closed my eyes when my vision blurred and I got dizzy. I needed to at least make it to Bobby. With all that was left of my energy I pushed myself out of the car and stumbled towards the door.
"Bobby!" I yelled once I had the door open and leaned against the wall. My leg hurt too much at this point. That slash must be deeper then I thought. My vision was blurring again and I felt weak.
I heard Bobby's footsteps coming from his office, "Ari! What happened?" I heard Bobby say when he saw me.
I probably looked a site, bruised and beaten up. I was on the brink of passing out when I heard more footsteps and Dean appeared next to Bobby, "Ari…" I heard him whisper with concern before I lost all consciousness.
I woke up on my bed a few hours later. Groaning as I sat up I noticed my leg was bandaged up and there was water and some painkillers on the nightstand. I reached out and grabbed the pills and swallowed them with water.
"Okay, count of three." I mumbled preparing to stand up, "One, two, three." I took a sharp gasp in when weight was put on my leg. Well, that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I hobble towards my door and down the stairs. As I reach the bottom I can hear voices. As I make it to the doorway to Bobby's office I see Dean sitting behind the computer. I paused there since they had not noticed me yet.
"Like I said. Last few months ain't been all that easy." I hear Bobby say.
"Apparently it wasn't a hallucination." I finally speak up drawing both mens attention to me.
"Ari…" Dean breaths getting up and walking over to me and embraces me.
"Dean" I let out a small sob, "What is going on?"
"I don't know Princess." We then hear the computer beep and we break apart. Dean goes back to check his results and Bobby glances at me.
"I'm fine Bobby, I'm sure you did all the tests before I even came home."
"You are not fine, you scared us half to death the way you came home."
I shrugged sheepishly, "Sorry, my last case turned out to be a little hard then I was expecting."
"Don't give me that bullshit Arianna. You have been taking too many risks for a few months now."
I slumped under Bobby's glare. I knew he was right. "Look, I'm sorry. But you haven't coped any better then I have." I say with a glance at all the liquor bottles.
"Ari, that is not the same." Dean interrupted giving me a look that said the conversation wasn't over, "Sam's in Pontiac, Illinois." He finished, glancing at Bobby.
"Right near where you were planted."
"Right where I popped up. Hell of a coincidence, don't you think?"
"You think Sam..?" I asked trailing off.
"Ari, why don't you stay here? You need the rest anyway." Dean suggested.
"To hell with that." I raised my voice, "I won't sit at home while you both solve the mystery of Sam."
Dean looked like he was about to argue but I stopped him, "Look, I am fine. I will be fine. I am not going to sit here alone waiting for a call."
I could tell Dean had caved and Bobby didn't look like he wanted to fight either so with a nod I started limping towards the door. Sighing Dean came up behind me and picked me up while Bobby got the door.
"Hey!" I went to protest.
"Just shut up and deal. We don't have all day to wait for you to get to the car." With that he placed me in the back seat while they got into the front.
"Well I guess wake me up when we arrive. I don't want to miss the fight."
"What fight?" Dean asked.
"The one when you and Sam see each other. So dramatic!" I finished with a laugh.
I saw Dean scowl through the mirror and it just made me laugh more. Finally calming down I settled into the back seat so I could rest up a bit more.
"Ari, wake up. We are here." I heard Dean say as he was shaking me awake. I groaned and sat up with a yawn.
"Man, I needed that."
Dean helped me out of the car and we made our way into the hotel. Dean figured out which room Sam was in and off we went. We get to the end of the hallway and I lean against the wall. My leg was starting to bother me some more. I leaned my head back and close my eyes while trying to control my breathing. I hear a knock on the door and then it opens. Then silence follows and I finally I hear a female voice ask, "So, where is it?"
At that I open my eyes in confusion.
"Where's what?" Dean asks.
"The pizza… that takes two guys and a girl to deliver?"
"I think we got the wrong room." Dean starts to say before Sam walks into view.
We are all silent for a minute, as Sammy seems to be processing what is before him.
"Heya, Sammy." Dean starts before stepping into the room. As he gets closer I see Sam pull out a knife and lunge at him but Dean blocks him. Bobby managed to pull Sam away and kept a firm grip on him. By this point I am leaning against the door frame hoping something good would happen.
"Who are you?" Sam shouts.
"Like you didn't do this?" Dean shouts back.
"Do what?" Sam yells again.
"Typical." I say with a laugh to the strange woman. She looks at me oddly and I just shrug.
"It's him. It's him. I've been through this already, it's really him." Bobby says trying to calm Sammy down.
Sam slowly stops struggling against Bobby, "What…"
"I know, I look fantastic, huh?" Dean says with a small smile as he stepped forward.
Bobby finally lets go of Sam once he is sure he won't attack again and the brother embrace.
"That was less dramatic as I was hoping for." I mumble and move into the room to find a place to rest. I hear more talking going on around me but tune it out once I crash onto the made up bed. Some time passes and I hear the door close as the woman left.
"Glad to know you are alive Sammy, didn't get a chance to say that earlier." I call out to Sam.
He looks guilty when he responded, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have ditched you like that."
I shrug my shoulders and close my eyes, "It's okay I guess."
"No, it's not Ari." Dean glared at me before looking back to Sam, "So tell me, what'd it cost?"
"The girl?" Sam asked, I could hear the smile in his voice, "I don't pay, Dean."
"That's not funny, Sam." Dean growled out.
"It is a little." I said smirking.
Dean ignored me and continued, "To bring me back. What'd it cost? Was it just your soul, or was it something worse?"
"You think I made a deal?" Sam asked.
"That's exactly what we think." Bobby interjected.
With a groan I roll over, this will last a while, might as well get some sleep. Wasn't fun to watch anymore now that no one was threatened with a knife.