Summary: It was just a matter of time timing. Five times Chloe could have met the Winchesters (and Crossing Kansas wouldn't have happened). Chapter 3/5


2006

"Dean. Dean? Dean!"

Sam rolled his eyes at his brother, oblivious to anything but his music and vibrating bed. He grabbed a piece of the rock-hard candy hearts and lobbed it at Dean's forehead. Bull's-eye.

Dean sat up with a grunt and glared at Sam. "What?"

"Happy Valentine's Day," he mused, holding up the box of candy hearts.

His brother huffed. "Funny." He brushed the candy onto the floor and made a show of grounding it into the carpet. "I think those are a few years old. And it's not even Valentine's Day anymore."

"So? They're still good for ammunition." Sam set the box back down and turned his laptop so Dean could see the information on the screen. "I've got a case. Demon, I'm pretty sure."

Dean stood up eagerly. "Why didn't you say so, Cupid?"


Man goes nuts and kills his girlfriend of five years. And I'm on the story, because I need to remind myself that my life could be worse, Chloe mused as she shook her head. Her press badge was in place and her notebook was ready, she just needed to get to investigating and she could completely forget about a certain photographer back in Metropolis—and his constant jealousy of Clark Kent.

Sometimes, she was grateful she was so low on the press totem pole, because it allowed her to leave and pursue her own stories without worrying about being missed in the office.

The front door to the murderous boyfriend's house opened before she could reach it and she paused, watching two men in suits walk out. They both spotted her and slowed, the short-haired one offering her a flirty smile. "Good evening," he greeted with a tip of his none-existent hat.

She smiled back and put herself in their path, blocking their exit. "Are you working on this case?" she asked, keeping her tone light.

"Yes ma'am." He gave her a brief once-over, his gaze lingering on her press badge. "We can't answer any questions at this time."

She frowned and stepped forward, looking up at the taller man. He wasn't smiling at her like he was mentally undressing her. He was just watching. She could handle that. "What's there to question? The man murdered his girlfriend in cold blood. Seems to me, the case is pretty easy to report on."

He shook his head. "Nothing's ever that simple."

"Well, what else could it be?" she pressed. "It was really the boyfriend's evil twin?"

"No, we already—" the taller man shot his partner a glare, silencing him.

"We'd be happy to answer questions later, but now just isn't the time. Not in the middle of an investigation."

Chloe nodded, but remained in her spot, sensing something off. "Can I see your badges? Gotta have sources, right?"

The taller man smiled tightly. "Right."


When the reporter—Chloe Sullivan, according to her press badge—showed up at their motel room, Sam was more worried than surprised. He'd been expecting a visit from the reporter, since they'd left her on the steps of the possessed man's house. There had been something in her eyes that had warned him of a possible repeat appearance.

"You two aren't cops," she stated as soon as he opened the door. She frowned up at him before moving inside. "I should turn you in."

"And yet, you're here," Dean pointed out from his spot across the room.

Chloe's frown deepened. "That's because I have questions that need answers, and I think you two are the only ones who can answer them."

"So, we're no good to you in jail?"

"For the moment, no."

Sam held up a hand, halting the verbal sparing between Chloe and Dean. "I don't know what we can tell you."

She cocked an eyebrow and returned her attention to him. "How about the truth? I interviewed the boyfriend, and, while I know murderers lie, I get the feeling there's more to this case than just a crazy boyfriend." She paused as if reading his expression. Sam tried his best to remain neutral. "You said that nothing's ever simple."

"Trust me," Dean started, moving to stand beside Sam. "Izack Palmer killed his girlfriend."

She nodded and Sam felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe she'd finally drop the investigation—

"True, but does it count if he wasn't in control of his body at the time?" she asked, cutting his hope off at the knees.

Sam faltered and shared a look with his brother. He was used to reporters giving them a disbelieving glare and demanding the truth. No matter how much evidence they were faced with, no reporter had ever come to the supernatural conclusion on their own—if they ever did. And yet, Chloe had done just that. "Wasn't in control?" Sam questioned, deciding he'd misunderstood and she was simply implying Izack had had some sort of mental breakdown.

"He was possessed," Chloe answered simply.

Crap.


"So, demons are real?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

Dean shook his head, looking between Sam and Chloe as they talked. The way they sat at the room's small table, comparing notes and shuffling papers, they looked like they were studying for a test, not discussing possessions.

He still couldn't believe they were giving Chloe thenightmares are real speech. Unless they came face-to-face with evil, he and Sam liked to keep civilians in the dark (figuratively, of course). Though, there wasn't much they could do when the civilian was asking specific questions about their case. Chloe already had the case figured out. She just needed them to fill in some key details.

And Sam was more than happy to help.

"Wow," Chloe breathed. "And I thought ghosts and witches were bad enough."

Dean perked up at her statement, his attention momentarily diverted from the gun in his hands.

"You've dealt with ghosts and witches?" Sam asked, voicing Dean's question.

She nodded. "And been possessed by both."

"Christo," Dean muttered, earning a glare from Sam.

Chloe frowned. "What?"


The man writhed and screamed, and Chloe clamped a hand over her mouth to keep from crying out with him. The entire scene gave her the chills, and she wanted to leave, but knew she wouldn't.

For the most part, the brothers had sounded honest as they'd told her about demons and possessions, but she had to see for herself that they weren't lying. And so far, she had no reason to doubt their words. The man was clearly possessed, if his black eyes were any indication, and the words Sam was speaking were definitely Latin.

She kept her hand clamped over her mouth until Sam was done and the demon was expelled. She'd been possessed three times in her life, but she'd never seen anything like a demon exorcism.

Before she could collect her thoughts, Sam moved to her hiding spot and looked down at her like he'd known she was there the entire time. "You can come out now," he assured, offering his hand and a small smile.

She accepted both and stepped into the dark room. Her eyes wandering from the design on the floor—devil's trap—to the unconscious man bound in the center of it. "Is he dead?" she asked, realizing her hand was still wrapped in Sam's when he felt him squeeze reassuringly.

"No."

Chloe squeezed back as the man took a stuttering breath.


"We can stay a little longer," Dean bargained, watching Sam as he watched Chloe.

Sam shook his head. "No. We should go."

Dean shrugged, deciding against an argument. "Alright. I'll be in the car. Don't take forever, okay?" he teased.

Sam ignored him as the motel door opened and Chloe stepped out. Dean made his way to the driver's seat, leaving the reporter and his brother to say their goodbyes.

From the rearview mirror, he saw them exchange notes—those two geeks and notes; it was sad—then hugs. Chloe said something that made Sam smile, and Dean felt himself open up a little more to the nosy reporter.

They had to leave, but they'd be back. Sammy needed to smile more.


Two months later, the brother's will return, reuniting the reporter and the younger hunter. They'll talk, laugh, and grow closer, sharing stories of supernatural experiences. A bond will form and grow, offering a new ally to the sibling duo.

Histories will be shared, secret powers revealed, and a certain demonic-figure's plans will slowly unravel. The reporter will forget about her broken heart courtesy of a certain photographer. The brothers will hunt down a couple of werewolves without either getting attached. Investigating and hacking skills will come in handy when the brothers face Hendrickson in jail.

But on his last visit, Sam will vanish, leaving behind sulfur, questions, and a scene that will remind Dean of Ava's bloody bedroom. Dean and Bobby will do their best to track him down—neither mentioning the reporter that would have been a help in the search.

They'll find him in a ghost town, moments too late to save him.


Dean will make a deal for his brother's life and never look back—though he'll make a point of paying his respects to her grave before his year is up.

Sam will return with grief clouding his senses, before he even learns the truth about the woman he'd held before vanishing.

Chloe will not stand in the way of the yellow-eyed demon's plans for the apocalypse, despite—or thanks to—her early intrusion into the brother's lives.


In spite of all that, Sam will smile again. Dean will make sure of it.