A/N.

I remember posting this about two years ago and thinking to myself, "This could be awesome." I don't watch Supernatural as much as I should and TVD has lost its appeal. But I re-read the original story I wrote and could not help myself. It seemed pretty decent and I never gave myself much credit when it came to writing. So, I was genuinely surprised that I found myself interested in picking up writing again let alone trying with this story once more.

I decided to upload it again under a new title. I will be editing the chapters that others might recall. I want things to flow and I don't want to rush the connections, which I feel I might have done before. This is still an idea in the works and I am just getting back to writing and finding my passion again, so please be patient with me. Offer criticism. Give me reviews. Let me know that you are with me, that you are enjoying this, and I will do my best to keep updating.

For those who read the original, I sincerely apologize. As you all were aware, I recently dealt with a loss of someone very close to me and it surprised me how deeply the death impacted me and my studies. But I am back now and for those who were waiting patiently for updates, I do sincerely apologize again and hope that I can get such amazing and patient followers and reviewers.

Summary: After being resurrected from Hell by Castiel, Dean finds himself along with Sam traveling to Mystic Falls to find a weapon that could possibly destroy Lucifer once and for all. And then he encounters nineteen year old Elena Gilbert – a stubborn and independent young woman who just so happens to drive Dean up the wall the second they meet. And who just so happens to be that very key that Castiel told them of. Despite reluctance from both Dean and Elena respectively, the trio along with Elena's mysterious best friend, Bonnie Bennett, find themselves on the road, hunting demons and trying to stop the end of the world as they know it all the while trying to ignore their own problems. But how long until tensions become too unbearable? Why is Castiel so damn elusive? And why is Elena so important?

Disclaimer: As much as I would love to own myself some sexy Winchester, I don't. I don't own the characters, the storyline, and I definitely don't own anyone mentioned from The Vampire Diaries. They belong to their prospective owners, whom I respect for their creativity, and I am using them because well, I'm bored and writing helps during breaks. Enjoy and don't forget to review.

Prologue

Secondhand White Baby Grand – Smash Cast

Through missing keys and broken strings the music was our own

Until the day we said our last goodbyes

The baby grand was sent away

A child all alone, to pray somebody else would realize

That something secondhand and broken still can make a pretty sound

Even if it doesn't have a place to live

Oh, the words are still unspoken now that Mama's not around

But that Secondhand White Baby Grand still has something beautiful to give

It was almost always terrifying when one awoke after emerging from a deep slumber. The thin skin of Elena Gilbert's eyelids fluttered as her brain slowly returned to awareness, a slight twitch alerting anyone who paid attention that she was in the process of awaking. Slowly but surely, small and almond-shaped eyes opened on their own only to close just as quickly. Her body felt heavy yet light, as if she were atop a cloud in the dark sky of the night. However, the slight jerk of the car from the wheels driving over a bump in the road alerted her to the fact that she indeed was not in the sky and that although she herself could not move at the moment, she was in fact moving.

At least, whatever she was in was moving.

It took moments longer than Elena would have wanted for her body to regain its ability to move. She hated it. There was an instinctual panic that seized her chest, causing for a small moan to escape her dry lips. She blinked once, twice, before her eyes were able to focus long enough to recognize the ceiling of her father's SUV. Moments later, her hands were able to move and groggily, Elena managed to push herself up into a sitting position, relief flooding her system at finally being able to move once more.

Only for her eyes to fall upon her quiet parents who sat in the front two seats, concentrated on their two individual tasks.

"Mom…Dad?" Her voice came out raspy and dry, her throat parched. Normally and if her body was correct, it was some time past three in the morning and Elena typically found herself in the kitchen drinking water at this time. She coughed gently to clear her throat, brow furrowing just slightly at not receiving a response from either of her parents. "M-mom?"

"Hold on, Elena," Miranda Gilbert finally responded, eyes trained solely on what appeared to be a map from Elena's position. Elena leaned back sleepily against the cushioned seats, mind flooded with images which conflicted with the blurry scene outside the dark tinted windows. The steady and heavy pitter-patter of the rain outside the vehicle nearly lulled Elena back to sleep and her eyes fluttered close for two seconds before they opened, wide and alert.

"Jeremy." Jeremy was not in the car. In fact, how did she get in the car? And when did she even get dressed? The last thing Elena remembered was her mother barging into her room demanding that Elena get up and Elena groggily complying only to fall back onto the mattress, still in her shorts and tank top. Now, she wore a hoodie over the tank top and jeans. And her brother was nowhere to be found. "Where is Jer?" Miranda shot her daughter a solemn look through the rear view mirror and Elena's heart stuttered.

"We had to leave him behind, Elena." Elena's breath caught in her throat. "Don't worry. He is safe."

"Safe from what?" Miranda did not reply. Instead, she turned back to the map and appeared to concentrate on it. The thunder rolled ominously over their heads and Elena flinched. Thunderstorms always set her on edge and her parents' silence only managed to make her feel even warier. "Mom, where are we?"

"Virginia," Grayson offered gruffly and Elena met his piercing gaze in the rear view mirror. "We're about five miles from Mystic Falls." Elena just stared, shocked.

"But why? I don't have to be at school until September." Elena would be attending Mystic Falls College. It was a relatively small school, obviously by the name, but a decent one at that. It was near her childhood friend, Bonnie, Bennett, and Elena received a full scholarship.

None of this made sense. She should not be in a car on her way to Virginia and not with her brother. She should be back at home, in a warm room and under soft sheets and a heavy blanket. She should be doing her final shopping excursion with Madison and watching out for Jeremy. She should be asleep right now, damnit. Why the hell was she awake? Why was she heading towards Virginia? And why were her parents being so fucking elusive?

"Things are…complicated right now," Grayson explained cryptically, his tone sharp and words causing fear to burn at the pit of Elena's stomach, and right hand moving over to the glove department of his truck. When he pulled out a revolver, Elena gulped, a flutter of nerves erupting in her belly. When he extended the gun towards her, that was when Elena knew something was seriously wrong.

"What do you mean by complicated?"

No response.

Lightning flashed across the dark skies and the thunder crackled along with it, louder than anything Elena had ever heard. She didn't even attempt to hide her flinch and stared at her parents, fearful. "What do you mean, complicated?"

Miranda hurriedly shoved the map to her floor before her feet, a frantic sound akin to a whimper escaping her throat as she seemed to be searching for something. She obviously gave up because she stopped, grasped the gun in her husband's hands, and shoved the weapon into her daughters. Elena glanced at it offensively, tears pooling in her eyes.

"Elena, listen to me and do exactly as I say," Miranda said and Elena nodded. A few tears managed to slip out, dripping onto her cheeks. "Something bad is about to happen and I cannot protect you anymore. No matter what happens – no matter what you see – you have to find Bonnie. Promise me."

"B-Bonnie?" Elena was incredulous. "Wh-what…why would I need –

"Elena, promise me," Miranda demanded and Elena's breath hitched in her throat.

"Yes, yes…I promise. F-find Bonnie." She sobbed at that last syllable. Miranda nodded, pleased that Elena was actually listening.

"Good. She is the only person you need right now." Grayson muttered something under his breath and turned the vehicle, rolling into a wooded area but still on the road. "Follow the path. Don't stray. And if you have to use that," she gestured to the gun in Elena's shaky hands, "use it."

"Mom, please…" Elena shook her head repeatedly, steadily crying and disbelieving that this was happen. An all-consuming sense of dread and fear filled her and her mother's saddened eyes and the smile that should have been comforting only made her cry harder.

"I know, baby. I wish you could understand." Miranda reached back for just a few moments, her fingertips grazing Elena's cheeks, leaving a whisper of reassurance and affection that caused a horrid sob to erupt. "I love you…so much. We both do. You…you know that, right?" Miranda's rather doubtful, almost fearful inquiry caused Elena to meet her gaze steadily, nodding slowly and surely.

"I love you –

A flash of lightning struck the ground before their vehicle and Grayson's foot slammed down on the brake hard. Elena screamed as the vehicle skidded to a stunning halt only for the truck to tilt forward until it flipped all the way onto its back. It crashed onto its back heavily, glass shattering around them. When Elena was finally able to regain focus, she found herself on the roof of the vehicle, body sore. For a moment, all was silent save for the raindrops that stabbed at the pavement as if they could somehow break the ground and reach the innermost part of the Earth. Then Elena coughed and raised her head only to wince. Her right hand instinctively shot out and her fingers grazed over a cut on the right side of her head, right at her hairline. Her fingertips were wet and when she pulled them back to inspect the digits, she found blood.

Coughing again, Elena struggled to raise herself on her elbows and glanced at one of the back windows. It was the only semi-intact one and the one she was closest to. Shards of glass pricked her skin through the long sleeves of her hoodie and Elena, gritting her teeth at having to move her heavy and pained body, kicked at the glass, breaking what remained of it. At the last second, she grabbed the gun, which lay beneath her body. After forcing herself to find enough strength, she crawled out of it only to fall into a heap of flesh on the wet, cold ground.

"Mom?" Elena croaked. "Dad?" Neither responded. Her vitality slowly returning to her, Elena crawled to her feet, at least into a crouching position. She crawled over to the passenger side of the car only to gasp, falling onto her butt at the sheer shock of what she saw. Her father was draped over the wind-shield, not having worn his seatbelt. Glass was embedded along his forehead because of the crash and his eyes were wide open, the light having faded perhaps immediately. It did not take a genius to know that he was dead. Miranda Gilbert was still strapped in her seat, though now she was upside down. There were cuts all over her, one in particular dripping heavily of blood on her temple. Elena made out a piece of glass in the wound and cringed. Miranda's right arm was bent t an awkward angle, a silver chain peeking out from her hand. The rain soaked up Elena's hair and clothes, but she stayed and shook her mother.

"Mom!" Elena cried. Miranda did not stir, not at first, and Elena shook her harder, mindful of her mother's arm. "Mommy!" Miranda moaned at that. In her mind, she recalled Elena younger, more innocent and in a time where freedom was her future, not this darkness and despair. But the frantic insistence of her daughter's voice did not match the vibrant smile on the baby girl in her head's face and she moaned again, blinking back into awareness. Miranda hissed and Elena stopped shaking her, scanning her mother's face.

"E…lena…" Her voice was quiet, hoarse almost, and Elena could detect the pain. "Go." She shook her head vehemently.

"N-no…no, I can't. There has to be some way to –

"Leave now!" Miranda was more forceful this time around and Elena sobbed, a shaky hand rising to her mouth to stifle the sounds she made. The lightning cracked once more and she out-rightly jumped.

What in God's name was out there?

"Wh-what…what did I tell you? What do you need to do…?"

"F-find…find Bonnie." Miranda nodded and gestured to the chain in her hand. Elena snatched it up, not even bothering to look at her mother's beloved necklace for fear of crying harder. The tears she was already shedding mixed with the rain.

"Good. Keep it with you and God will always protect you." Elena shook her head, not willing to leave. "Go!"

Her feet moved without permission.

Panting heavily, Elena disappeared into the dark and woody area. The sound of the rain and the raging storm were drowned out by the sound of her feet on the wet and cold Earth and her heavy breathing, quickened despite her athleticism only because of her crying. Before she could get too far from the road, an explosion behind her startled her enough to make her halt and Elena whipped around, eyes wide and frightful.

"NOOOOOOO!"

But her cry fell on deaf ears.

Her mother was gone.

After what felt like hours, Elena collapsed into a heap against a tree, sinking onto her bottom and onto wet ground. Days before, when her life was normal, Elena would have thrown a bitch fit for getting her jeans wet or boots ruined by mud. However, none of that mattered. She was lost, cold, wet, and alone and still needed to do the last thing her mother asked her to do.

Find Bonnie.

With that resolve, Elena stood on shaky legs, body heavy from both physical and emotional exhaustion. Her lungs greedily sucked in air, her chest rising and falling quickly. Her calves burned and her entire body felt grimy from head to toe. But she had to keep going. Just as she was about to turn left, a hand shot out and fingers gripped her throat harshly. Before she knew it, Elena found herself pressed against the nearest tree, the back of her head hitting the bark.

Piercing black eyes returned her frightened gaze.

"Please…" She pleaded tearfully, fear causing her heart to constrict painfully. "Please don't kill me." The man before her didn't say or do anything, not at first anyway. He stared at her impassively, head tilted to the right just barely as if he were taking her in. Ever so slowly, a grin formed onto his face and his lips parted just slightly to reveal the yellowing teeth behind them and his hand tightened on her throat.

In response, Elena's left leg rose to kick him.

Only for the leg to be caught and Elena to be swung on the muddy ground, skidding into the dirt until her head slammed against another tree. This time resulted in a cry of pain and black spots danced across her vision. She barely made out him approaching her.

"Help…" The first cry was weak. "HELP!"

Without warning, the man began to cough and Elena watched in mild disgust and curiosity as a black smoky substance passed the man's lips. He gagged repeatedly as the cloudy substance pooled around him, his skin pale and his body barely able to handle the force of the extraction. Moments later, his body crumpled to the ground and the dark clouds faded away. Elena glanced to her left almost immediately at the sound of approaching feet only to meet understanding, sad green eyes.

"Bonnie," Elena breathed, relief and confusion seeping into her cold bones. Bonnie nodded solemnly, eyeing her best friend's soaked and shivering body.

"It's been awhile, Elena." Was all she heard before Elena's vision was overtaken by a dark cloud and then she knew no more.