"Jessica, what do you want to talk about?"

Sam and Jessica are sitting together on the bed. She wants to have a discussion about what is happening between them, but she hasn't said anything yet. She doesn't know where to begin.

"All right, here goes. I just feel that since Ruby came back into our lives, everything has changed between us, and not for the better. I think we need to talk about where we're headed. If anywhere."

Jessica hates that she sounds like something out of a chick flick, but it's the best way to say what she needs to.

"What do you mean 'if anywhere'? I know things have been trying between us but. . . "

"Trying? That's what you call it? You have practically abandoned me, Sam. I understand how traumatic things have been for you, what with Dean's death, and his resurrection and everything, but I wanted to be here for you. You wouldn't allow me. I've been completely shut out!"

Jessica is taken aback by her own words. She didn't realise she had that much anger and sadness stored up inside her. From the look on Sam's face, he's equally as shocked.

Sam pulls her into his arms, relieved when she hugs him back. He relaxes into her arms, realising for the first time that he has really missed being close to her. He has been a total idiot, but now that things are a little bit quieter, he makes it his personal mission to win her back.

"It wasn't like that, Jess. I know I didn't go about it the right way. I'm truly sorry about that. I wish I could go back and do it all the way you wanted, but at the time, I thought it was the only way I could do it."

When they part, Jessica looks into his eyes, and for the first time in a very long while, she sees the man she fell in love with all those years ago at Stanford. Maybe there is hope for them yet.

"Can we try to make this work? Please. I know we have a lot of work to do to get back to where we were, but I want to do it. I know we can get back on track."

Jessica smiles. That is exactly what she wanted to hear.

Over the coming weeks, things get a lot easier between the four of them. Bobby continues to coach Jessica on everything she needs to be a good hunter. Things are getting a lot better between Dean and Sam also. Dean is proud of his little brother for his cessation of using his powers, and for not seeing Ruby again. He has made good on his promises, and he can't help but be impressed with that.

They have had some interesting cases over the past number of weeks. Jessica wishes she had been there for the most interesting one – Dean caught Ghost Sickness, which made him hallucinate. From what Sam told her, it became very intense with him. He admitted to her that he had been really scared for a while there, fearing that he was going to lose his brother again. And this time, there would be no coming back for Dean.

Bobby and Sam are out getting provisions, leaving Dean and Jessica alone at the house.

"How's the hunt training going?" asks Dean.

"It's pretty intense. I never thought my hand would hurt from holding a gun so tightly," she laughs.

"Yeah, that takes a bit of getting used to, but it does get easier."

"Glad to hear it. I love that Bobby is so dedicated to teaching me all that he knows. I don't think I could have survived the past few months without him."

Dean can only smile.

"Bobby is definitely the man you want by your side at all times. Do you think you'll be ready to head out on a hunt soon?"

If Jessica hadn't already been sitting down, she would have collapsed.

"You want me to go on a hunt with you? But, you've always resisted it."

"I know, but I think you might be ready. I'll still be the one in charge, and what I say goes, but I would like to give it a go. If you're interested."

Jessica glares at Dean for a few moments. What could cause this sudden turnaround?

"Dean, what's going on?"

He shakes his head, smiling.

"You know me far too well, Jessica, you need to stop doing that."

"Dean?"

"Has Sam seemed like his usual geeky self to you recently?"

"What makes you ask that?"

"Something happened when we were away. I saw Sam's eyes turn yellow."

"Yellow? Was this during your Ghost Sickness period?"

"No, this was after. I know it sounds insane, but I swear to you, that's what I saw."

"What did Sam say when you told him."

"I didn't. I told him I saw howler monkeys," he says, choking back a nervous laugh.

"I don't understand, Dean. What does this mean? Is the demon blood turning him into something else? We have been getting on so well recently."

"I wish I had an answer, but I don't know what it means. We need to keep an eye on Sam though. Make sure nothing happens. That's part of the reason I want you on the hunt. You know him almost as well as me, and if there is something strange going on, one of us will catch it."

Jessica looks at Dean. Things have been going so well between the four of them. So well in fact, that she's not going to allow it to change. Not ever!