SO sorry this is so short, but it is what it is. I know this story is getting kind of dark and gloomy, but that's what SPN's Season 5 was. And I hate to say it, but it really only goes down from here. But I have kind of changed the course of this story a bit, and I hope you guys like it as much as I am right now. Next chapter will be longer and more intense, I promise. XOXO

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"You scared me, you know."

Melinda smiled as she lifted a hand to her nose, feeling the oxygen tubes there and letting out a breath. Dean smiled at her, and she sighed, already sounding so much better than she had hours earlier.

"I didn't mean to. Scare you, I mean."

Her voice was quiet and raspy, the way it got when she was sick. Dean smiled again, speaking just as softly as he had.

"I know. How are you feeling?"

She took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

"Lousy."

Dean laughed, leaning up to kiss her forehead. She protested quietly, murmuring softly.

"You're going to get sick."
"I will take that burden with pride. But thanks to you, I got a flu shot. And a pretty purple Band-Aid."

Melinda smiled as Dean rolled up his sleeve and showed her. She closed her eyes as she sighed again. Dean reached over, setting his fingertips on hers.

"What is it, baby?"

She blinked her tired eyes open.

"We need to be hunting."
"Mel."
"No, I'm serious. This isn't some …"

She took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly, coughing when she did. Dean stood up, helping her to sit up, gently rubbing her back until she could breathe again. He helped her get comfortable back against the pillows before sitting back down beside her bed.

"I don't care if Jesus Himself stands before me, telling me Lucifer's exact location and how to take him out. You are more important to me."
"Dean—"
"I mean it."

Melinda let out a sigh, and Dean reached over, taking her hand and gently rubbing his thumb across the back of her knuckles.

"Get some rest. Checkout's not 'til Wednesday."

Melinda smiled, coughing again, but nodding. Dean pressed his lips to her knuckles, then sat back to watch her sleep.

Even with the flu shot and the prophylactic treatment, Kate, Wyatt, and Sam all got the flu. Peyton and Dean seemed to have developed immune systems of steel, and they were the ones who took care of all the ill. It took a while for them to recover, but by Thanksgiving, everyone seemed to be back to their old selves.

Other than an easy salt-and-burn in Oregon and a quickly taken care of vampire issue in Washington state, the Winchesters took it easy for Christmas. They stayed at the Manor, celebrating Kate's first Christmas/birthday with the family, and getting as much rest as they could. But by January first, Lucifer was really beginning to show his hand, and they hit the road again.

Paducah, Kentucky was a town Dean had made fun of for years, solely due to its name. The town was right on the Kentucky-Ohio border, and had a serious poltergeist problem. The boys had tagged along on a case with John when Dean was ten and Sam was six, and Dean came back by himself while Sam was at Stanford. And now, they'd just finished up another case of another poltergeist in another farmhouse. But at least it was over.

Melinda took a sip of her coffee and yawned as Peyton walked over. Peyton yawned as well, reaching out and smacking Melinda on the shoulder.

"You know yawns are contagious."
"Yeah, well."

Peyton smiled, holding out their receipt.

"Got two of the 'Paducah Slammer' breakfasts."

Melinda snorted.

"Dean's going to have a cow."

Peyton grinned, then leaned up against the counter.

"You doing okay?"

Melinda smiled at her and nodded. She reached up and laid her left hand on her right shoulder, moving her right arm back and forth.

"Full range-of-motion. No pops. Just a little sore."
"That bitch really threw you around last night."

Melinda shrugged.

"I'm good. Dean rubbed me down with IcyHot after you and Sam fell asleep, so…"
"I knew I smelled something."

Melinda rolled her eyes, then glanced at the door. Peyton looked towards the kitchen, then back to Melinda. She held up a hand, snapping her fingers twice, and Melinda blinked widely as she turned back to face her.

"What?"

Peyton held out a hand.

"What 'what'? You're the one zoning out."
"I'm fine, it's just …"
"Just something that's clearly not fine."

Melinda shook her head.

"Something's off. Don't you feel it?"

Peyton let out a breath.

"Mel, I don't feel any—"

Peyton gasped suddenly, one hand flying to her chest, the other gripping the counter. Melinda was by her side in an instant, after freezing the room.

"Peyton? Hey. Talk to me."
"Hurts."
"What does?"

Peyton looked down as she pulled her shaking hand back from her chest. She shook her head, eyes wide, then stood up slowly, entire body trembling. Melinda glanced around, and Peyton shook her head again.

"You're right. Something's—something's off."
"We need to get back to the—"

Melinda let out a cry, hand flying up to clutch at her own chest as she stumbled. Peyton caught her, leading her to a chair and sitting her in it. Melinda was moaning and gasping, and Peyton shook her head.

"Forget the food."

She grabbed Melinda's arms, and the girls disappeared as the room came back to life.

Outside the hotel, crouched down behind the Impala, the girls appeared. They looked at each other, then glanced around, standing up and hurrying towards their room. Melinda stopped short outside the door, causing Peyton to run into her back.

The door was only pulled to, not shut and locked the way it was when the girls had left.

Peyton took in a shaky breath.

"Oh, god."

Melinda laid a shaky hand against the door, slowly pushing it open, both she and Peyton slowly sticking their heads into the room as the world came to a screeching halt, crashing down around them.