WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS!

Dean sighed as he stepped out onto the back porch. After Starina had stormed out of the house he, Sam and Donovan had agreed to give her a little time alone to cool off, thinking that she'd soon be back once she'd calmed down. That had been more than an hour ago and she hadn't returned. Donovan was starting to fret so Sam stayed with him while Dean volunteered to look for her and check that she was alright. Before he even had to contemplate on where he should look first he spotted her out in the paddock standing with Josey, the chestnut mare. As he stepped up to the fence he noticed that Starina had her arms around Josey's neck and had her face buried in the horse's mane. Dean slipped between the rails and slowly approached them, careful not to accidently startle them.

"Hey Starina, you okay?" he asked quietly once he was close enough.

Josey's ears pricked forward at the sound of his voice and she turned her head towards him, peering at him with soft brown eyes and flaring her nostrils as she caught his scent. Starina lifted her face but didn't look at him, choosing instead to look at the ground, but Dean could still see that her eyes were red and puffy from crying.

"Donovan's worried about me," she muttered. It wasn't a question.

"Well you've been out here for over an hour," Dean pointed out. "And you did kinda take off without tellin' us where you were goin' so yeah, he's worryin' his ass off."

Starina closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "I nearly lost my mother once," she said matter of factly as she threaded her fingers through Josey's mane. "Breast cancer, just after I turned fifteen."

Dean backpedalled sharply and his demeanour softened. Of all the revelations he'd never expected that.

"She beat it, Ériu be praised," Starina went on. "But there were many occasions when it seemed as though she wouldn't survive."

"I'm sorry, that must've been really tough," Dean said sincerely.

"Yes it was, for all of us," Starina nodded. "Dad had to work twice the hours to pay the bills, the riding school had to be closed, and I had to take care of my brothers," she chuckled a little at this. "Do you know how hard it is to try and get two hyperactive five year olds to go to bed?"

A smile tugged at the corners of Dean's lips as memories from his and Sam's childhood flashed through his mind's eye. "No, but I know what it's like tryin' to get one hyperactive five year old to go to bed."

"Mum couldn't go back to running the school full time after the chemotherapy," Starina wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "So I still had to help out with the boys a lot, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. Mum was in remission and that was all that mattered," she swallowed thickly. "But then last year...when she crashed the car... I thought for sure that we'd lost her..."

"Well you didn't, did you? Your Mom survived," Dean told her.

Starina's body trembled with suppressed sobs. "When I saw her in that hospital bed, all battered and broken," she whispered, shaking her head. "It tore me apart. After the cancer I made a promise that I'd make sure she was always safe. But then... the Wraith turned up... and I... I failed her."

Dean blinked. Now he understood why Starina had been so bent on killing the Wraith and gotten so upset when they'd tried to talk her out of it. She felt as though she'd let her mother down and now had to make up for failing to protect her. Dean stepped up to her and gently tilted her chin up so that she was looking him in the eye.

"Hey, don't you think that for one second," he said sternly. "Now you listen. That car crash wasn't your fault. The Wraith's the one who caused it. You didn't even know he'd escaped again, did you?"

"N-no," Starina sniffled, more tears pouring down her cheeks. "I-I didn't know until Mum told me."

"Exactly, so how can it be your fault, huh?" Dean asked with all seriousness. "It's not, so stop beatin' yourself up about it. C'mere."

He pulled her into a hug and that was it. The floodgates opened and Starina began sob brokenly into his shoulder, months of guilt finally being poured out. Josey tossed her head and wandered off into the paddock as Dean held Starina patiently until the sobs calmed to sniffles. After a few minutes she gently pulled away, using her sleeve to dry her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Dean," she said quietly. "I just... I wanted to get justice for my mother before the babies were born. But I found out the truth too late and now... how can I bring them into the world while he's still in it?"

Dean sighed, seeing her dilemma. "I don't think you have much choice," he told her with a shrug. "I mean, do you really think you can fight the Wraith like this?" he asked as he gestured to her belly.

Starina's brow furrowed with worry as she wrapped her arms protectively around her swollen stomach. "Realistically, no," she admitted reluctantly. "Irene told me yesterday that the babies have dropped into my pelvis so labour could start any day now. I can't risk it happening in the middle of a fight."

"'Course not, that'd be insane," said Dean. "Look, you said Rhiannon sent Sam and me here to help you, right? Do you trust her?"

Starina nodded without hesitation. "Yes, with my life."

"Then you can trust us, too," said Dean, and Starina could tell by the tone of his voice that he meant it. "Sam and I can help protect you until the twins come and then we'll deal with the Wraith, okay?"

Starina hesitated for a moment and glanced at the ground again. Dean could tell she was still conflicted about the whole situation and that she was scared, even if she tried not to show it. Then she looked back up at him again.

"Alright, I'll wait until after they're born before we go after the Wraith."

Dean inwardly sighed with relief and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's gonna be okay, Starina," he promised. "Sam and I aren't gonna let anything happen to you or your babies. We'll keep you safe."

Starina smiled a little but Dean could still see a flicker of doubt in her eyes. "I trust you, Dean," she said sincerely. "I trust you both."

"Then it's settled," Dean smiled back. "C'mon, let's head back so we can tell the others."

"Listen, Dean, I... I'm sorry I yelled at you before," said Starina, looking down guiltily. "You were only trying to help and I practically bit your head off. I had no right."

"Look, its okay, really," Dean said earnestly. "Trust me I know what you're goin' through, wanting payback for your Mom. And we're gonna help you get it, alright? We just haveta wait for your kids to make their entrance and then we'll have at it, deal?"

"Okay," Starina nodded, but she still sounded hesitant.

"Alright then. Now let's go, Donovan's waitin' for you."

When they got back to the house and stepped in through the sliding door Donovan and Sam looked up from where they'd been sitting at the kitchen table. Donovan sighed with relief upon seeing his mate and immediately stood up and went over to her.

"Starina, I-"

"I'm so sorry, Donovan," Starina said, throwing her arms around him and burying her face into his chest. "Please, forgive me."

Donovan looked a bit surprised for a moment before smiling and returning the embrace. "No apology necessary," he told her quietly as he stroked her hair.

Sam stood up as well and went over to his brother to talk quietly with him. "Hey, everything okay?"

"Yeah I think so," Dean nodded, also speaking quietly. "She was upset because she wants revenge for what the Wraith did to her Mom."

"D'you think we can talk her into waiting until after the twins are born?" Sam asked.

"Already got it covered," Dean told him.

Sam's eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

"Yeah, she said Irene told her the twins could come any time and she doesn't wanna risk goin' into labour during a fight so she's gonna wait," Dean explained.

"Okay, great," said Sam, feeling relieved. "That gives us a chance to come up with a plan. Starina knows the Wraith better than any of us so we're gonna need her input."

"Are you really? You're going to wait until the babies come?" Donovan asked Starina, making Sam and Dean glance over at them.

Starina nodded. "You guys are right, Donovan," she told him. "I'm too close to giving birth to confront the Wraith. It'll be safer for everyone if I wait until afterwards."

Donovan's eyes lit up as he hugged her, looking as though a great weight had just been lifted off his shoulders. "Oh thank you, Starina, thank you."

Starina pulled away after a few moments and stepped up to Sam, a look of shame on her features.

"I owe you an apology too, Sam," she said quietly. "You have a valid point, I should be thinking of the babies first before anything else. I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't worry about it," Sam said understandingly. "We get it, okay? We know you want justice for your family, but we want you and the babies to be safe, too."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Starina's lips. "I know that now. Thank you, Sam. You too, Dean."

"Thank us when that Wraith's dead and this whole thing's over," Dean said as he glanced out the kitchen window. "Right now we've gotta make sure the Wraith can't get to you. Will the seals on the fence hold til those kids come?"

"So long as no one breaks them, yes," Starina replied as Donovan draped an arm around her shoulders and she leaned into his touch. "Donovan's been checking them every day and they've never been touched."

"And there's been no sign of that creature since the pylon fell," Donovan added. "But I'll start checking them more frequently, just to be on the safe side."

"Okay, that's a start," said Sam. "Starina, you know the Wraith better than we do so we're gonna need your help to come up with a plan to kill him."

Starina nodded and took the little cloth bag containing Dubhshláine's hair out of the pocket of her jeans and handed it to him. "It's best if you hold onto this," she told him as he took it. "It's vital for ensuring our success so guard it with your life. Oh, and here," she added as she placed a hand on each of their shoulders.

The brothers weren't sure what she was doing at first until they felt the intense tingling sensation of being healed. The cut on Dean's temple disappeared and all their aches and pains from being thrown back when they broke Lucrecia's Shield Knot vanished.

"I didn't get the chance to do that earlier," said Starina as she drew her hands away again.

"Thanks Starina," Sam said gratefully as he shifted his shoulders with ease.

"Starina, Irene told you not to use your magic," Donovan reminded her, looking anxious as though he thought she might pass out again.

"The Shield Knots I painted on them took the brunt of the backlash so their injuries were minimal," Starina assured him. "I promise you I'm okay. Now, you guys head into the living room, there's something I need to get from upstairs."

A few minutes later Starina returned with something that was wrapped in cloth and bound with a length of twine. It was just over foot long and it made a dull clunking sound when she set it down on the coffee table.

"What's this?" Dean asked curiously.

Starina untied the twine from around the bundle and carefully unwrapped it. Lying amongst the cloth was an ancient looking dagger with a slightly tarnished blade and a bronze handle engraved with intricate patterns. On the Blade itself the ever familiar Pentagram was engraved along with a few words that neither Dean nor Sam could read.

"This is the Blessed Blade," Starina explained. "The same one that Rhiannon used to kill Dubhshláine more than a thousand years ago."

"Holy crap," Sam couldn't help saying. "How'd you get it?"

"It's been passed down through the family over the centuries," Starina went on. "It was passed onto me when I turned twenty one. Be careful," she warned as Dean went to pick it up for a better look. "The Blessed Blade is still as sharp today as it was a thousand years ago."

"Alright, so how come Sam and I can't take this and kill that bastard?" Dean asked.

"Because the Blade is engraved with a spell that'll only work in the hands of a Mage," Starina replied, watching Dean like a hawk as he passed it to Sam to look at. "The spell was created to purify Dubhshláine's corrupted soul. Once we kill Lucrecia and destroy that spell bag, the piece that Lucrecia forced into his soul will die with her and the Wraith will have nothing left to anchor him to this world, so this time the Blade will fulfil its purpose."

"How powerful will he be once Lucrecia's gone?" Sam asked as he examined the writing on the Blade carefully.

"That's something I'm not sure of," Starina shifted in the recliner uncomfortably. "The angrier the Wraith gets the more powerful he becomes. And like Lucrecia said, he's got a thousand years of frustration and hate holed up inside him so even after we kill her and burn the hair he's still gonna pack a punch."

"Which is why I'm here, right?" asked Dean.

"Right," Starina nodded. "Castiel's presence residing within you is what we're going to need to weaken the Wraith to the point that I can pierce his heart with the Blade. The problem will be preventing him from killing you before you're close enough for that power to take effect."

"So do we kill Lucrecia beforehand?" asked Donovan who was leaning against the wall next to her. "That way the Wraith won't have the ability to take anyone's life force."

"But won't he feel it when she's dead?" Sam asked as he put the Blade back on the coffee table.

"I doubt it," Starina shifted again and rubbed her belly. "Lucrecia's gone to a lot of trouble to keep him bound to her without his knowledge, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if she came up with some way of hiding that connection so that he can't sense it."

Dean frowned a little as she shifted yet again and winced. Starina had barely been still since she'd sat down and every now and again she would clench her jaw as though she were in pain. Donovan seemed to have noticed this as well because he was watching her very closely.

"Are you okay Starina? You don't look too comfy there."

Starina stood up and stretched. "Just feeling a bit achy and restless," she waved his concern aside as she rubbed her back. "Not unusual at this point in pregnancy."

"Are you sure?" Donovan asked as he pushed off the wall. "Do you want to lie down? We can take a break and come back to this later."

"I'm fine, really," Starina said earnestly. "I just need to move around a bit, that's all. It's about time to bring the horses in anyway, it's getting late."

"I'll come with you," said Sam as he stood up.

"There's no need-"

"I think he'd better go with you," Dean cut her off. "It's not a good idea for you to be alone right now."

"He's right, Starina," Donovan nodded in agreement. "Let him go with you. I'd feel a lot more comfortable if you did."

Starina sighed and nodded, clearly reluctant to admit that Dean had a point but not willing to argue about it. "Okay, c'mon Sam."

By the time the horses were safely in their stalls the sun had almost set behind the horizon, painting the sky with shades of blue, gold, pink and orange. So much had gone on that day that everyone had completely lost track of the time. Somehow Dean talked Starina into letting him and Sam cook that night and much to theirs and Donovan's surprise she didn't argue. All throughout dinner they watched her closely as they chatted about anything and everything, but she showed no further signs of pain or discomfort. And nobody brought up the subject of the Wraith.

-SPN-

Dean was suddenly jerked awake from a deep sleep. Blinking rapidly he tried to determine what had disrupted his slumber. Looking over at the other bed he saw that Sam was still fast asleep, snoring away with his back to him and not about to wake up anytime soon. Squinting in the darkness at the clock on the wall he saw that it was just after two o'clock in the morning. He was about to shrug it off and just go back to sleep when he heard muffled footsteps and floorboards creaking outside the room.

"The hell?" he muttered to himself sleepily.

He threw back the covers and swung his feet over onto the floor, careful not to make any noise as he padded over to the door and opened it just enough to see out. Peering through the near-blackness he saw Starina pacing restlessly up and down the hallway. He couldn't really see her face but he got the impression that she was deeply troubled about something. He watched her for about ten minutes before he heard her let out a frustrated sigh and she went back into her room. Wondering what the hell that had been about, Dean quietly shut the door and shuffled back to bed.

The next morning Dean awoke again to the sun shining through the curtains, only this time he wasn't waking up from a freaky dream-message from a long-dead priestess. It was nearly seven and Sam was still dead to the world so Dean decided to let him sleep and got dressed. As he exited the bedroom the delicious smell of baking wafted up the stairs and it made his stomach growl. Heading downstairs into the kitchen nobody was there.

"Hey Starina? Donovan?" he called out, poking his head into the living room and finding no one there either. "Hello?"

Thinking for a moment that something must have happened he went out through the sliding door and onto the back porch, half expecting to find a bunch of dead bodies or something to the like, but there was nothing of the sort.

"Have you lost something?"

"Holy crap!"

Dean nearly jumped out of his skin as Starina spoke to him from where she was sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat on the floor below the kitchen window. Her hands rested on her knees and her eyes were closed as though she were meditating, apparently unfazed by his outburst.

"Jesus Christ, Starina! Don't do that!" Dean exclaimed, trying to get his rapidly beating heart to settle back into a normal rhythm. "You gave me a freakin' heart attack!"

Starina smirked a little but kept her eyes closed. "Sorry about that. I thought you'd get a fright if you turned around I was suddenly just there in your face so I spoke up to let you know I was here. Clearly that wasn't the way to go about it."

"Ya think?" Dean glared at her even though she couldn't see.

"I am sorry Dean, really," Starina told him sincerely, still keeping her eyes closed. "It should've occurred to me that you'd spook easily. I won't do that again."

Dean felt heat rising in his cheeks. "Look, I wasn't scared, okay? You just...caught me off guard, that's all."

"I said nothing about you being scared," Starina pointed out. "I said you spooked easily."

"What's the difference?" Dean asked as he crossed his arms across his chest and leant against the railing.

"You're a hunter, and you're always expecting to be attacked at any moment," Starina explained. "So your 'fight or flight' instinct is constantly turned up to the max. Your reaction just now was your body gearing up to either fight or run away from what your subconscious perceived to be a threat. It's basic survival instincts, Dean. A reflex, if you will. That's being spooked."

"Alright, fair enough," Dean allowed himself to relax some. "So what're you doin' out here, anyway?"

"Thinking," Starina replied simply. "I find sitting outside helps me see things more clearly. I can let my mind open and release unnecessary thoughts and ideas and focus on the matter at hand. You should try it sometime, Dean. You may benefit from it."

"Yeah, I don't really go for all that hippy New Age stuff," Dean huffed a little.

"Come sit by me," Starina invited as she petted the floor beside her. "We can talk better that way."

"Okay, if you say so," Dean shrugged and moved to sit next to her. "So what're you thinkin' about?"

Starina sighed but kept her eyes closed. "Something keeps nagging at me," she admitted. "It's been bothering me since last night and I can't shake it off."

"Was that why you were awake and pacing the hallway at 2am?" Dean asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

Starina grimaced. "Sorry Dean, I didn't mean to wake you. It was really bugging me and I couldn't sleep. I hoped that sitting out here for a while would help but it hasn't."

"So what's buggin' you so much?" asked Dean, genuinely curious.

"I wish I knew," Starina replied, opening her eyes at last. "You know that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you just know something's not right?"

"Yeah," Dean nodded, knowing exactly what she was talking about.

"That's what I keep feeling," Starina explained with a nervous edge in her voice. "The last time I felt this way was just before I was told Mum crashed the car."

Dean's brow furrowed with concern. "You think something bad's gonna happen?"

"I don't know, and that's what bothers me," said Starina. "I can just... feel it in my gut that something's wrong, but I can't put my finger on what it is."

"Sure it's not the twins?" Dean asked.

Starina looked down and rubbed her belly. "Actually the babies seem very calm today. They're wriggling around a little but they're not kicking very much. Wanna feel?"

Dean coughed and turned away so that she wouldn't see his blush when he realised she'd seen him staring at her swollen stomach. "Aw no, I couldn't-"

But Starina cut him off by gently grasping his hand and pressing it against the side of her belly. Dean flushed with embarrassment for a moment but then a look of awe crossed his features when he felt distinct movement beneath his palm.

"Whoa, was that...? Holy crap," he muttered, eyes full of wonder as one of the babies nudged hard against his hand. "Is that, what, a foot?"

"Maybe, but it could be an elbow too," Starina smiled warmly. "Or a wing, if they're dragons. And if you move your hand here," she guided him towards the front of her belly. "Feel that pulsing sensation right there? That's their hearts beating."

"Wow," Dean marvelled, his face splitting into a goofy grin. "That's so awesome."

Starina didn't miss the wistful look in his eyes or the deep longing he felt in his heart. She almost cried when she saw flashes of memories, of a young beautiful woman with dark brown hair and a boy who couldn't have been much older than nine or ten. She felt how Dean blamed himself when they were attacked by vampires. Starina had to bite her tongue to keep herself from sobbing when she felt Dean's sadness at his decision to leave them behind so that he would no longer draw danger to them. And now she could sense that he felt because he was a hunter that he didn't deserve to be happy or have the family he longed for. It pained her as much as it pained him and it was a struggle not to burst into tears for him.

Dean glanced up and removed his hand as he heard Starina take a deep breath to keep her tears at bay. "Hey, you okay?"

"Y-yes Dean, I'm fine," Starina rubbed her eyes quickly and sniffled. "Just a bit of hay fever, that's all. There must be dirt blowing around or something."

Dean was about to ask her if she was sure when her watch started beeping, making them both flinch.

"Oh, guess that means breakfast's ready," said Starina as she turned the alarm off, glad to have an excuse to not answer the question she knew had been coming.

"Do you wanna hand?" Dean asked as she moved to get up.

"Would you?" Starina looked a bit embarrassed. "You'd think I'd have learned by now not to sit on the floor when I've got two babies weighing me down."

So Dean got up and offered his hand, which Starina gratefully took as he pulled her to her feet, helping to steady her while she regained her balance. As she was tugging her T-shirt down to straighten it he glanced at her belly again. He found himself thinking about Lisa and what life would have been like if they had been able to stay together. Maybe they would've ended up giving Ben a little brother or a sister to dote on at some point. But of course he was a Winchester, and since when do Winchesters ever get their happily after, he thought bitterly. This didn't go unnoticed by Starina and she placed her hand on his shoulder, making him look at her.

"Before we go inside I need to say this so please listen," she said seriously, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Despite what you may think, you do deserve happiness. After everything that's happened and all that you've done for the world you've more than earned it."

Dean shifted uncomfortably, trying to mentally deny who and what he'd just been thinking about. "I dunno what -"

Sarina gently pressed her fingers to his lips to silence him and looked him square in the eye. "Remember these words Dean; if you want something badly enough, anything is possible."

Dean frowned as she cupped his face, smiled knowingly, and went through the sliding door back into the kitchen. For a moment Dean just stood there wondering what the hell she could have meant by that before he shook himself and followed her inside, fully intending to ask her about it. But whatever questions he had flew out the window when he realised that Starina had not only made a batch of muffins, she'd also baked a huge pie.

"Whoa, you made pie?"

"Cherry pie," Starina smiled widely as she placed it on a wire rack to cool. "I'm not very good at making pastry but I picked up that you like pie and decided to make one. I would've done it yesterday to make up for yelling at you, Sam and Donovan but the day got away from us."

"Well, better late than never," said Dean appreciatively, nearly drooling at the sight of the rich, ruby red filling covered with latticed pastry and sprinkled with a little sugar.

"Not for breakfast," Starina said sternly when she caught him eyeballing it. "Touch it and I'll cut your fingers off."

Dean nearly laughed but the look she gave him intoned that she was deadly serious and just might relieve him of his digits if he went anywhere near it so he decided not to push his luck and promptly shoved his hands as deep in his pockets as he could get them.

"Morning guys," Sam yawned as he shuffled into the kitchen a few minutes later.

"Mornin' Sammy," Dean greeted.

"Good morning Sam," Starina smiled, placing a big plate of blueberry muffins and some butter on the counter. "You didn't get woken up last night too, I hope?"

"Huh? No, I slept right through," Sam replied as he sat at the counter opposite her. "Why, did something happen?"

"No, nothing happened," Starina assured him. "I was pacing the hallway last night and accidentally disturbed Dean. I thought I might've woken you as well."

Sam shook his head. "Nope, didn't hear a thing."

"Dude, with your snoring it's a wonder the neighbours don't complain when we stay at hotels," Dean teased, chuckling as he accepted a mug of coffee from Starina.

"Shut up, Dean," Sam glowered at him. "I don't snore that badly."

"I haven't heard him snore," Starina piped up, handing Sam some coffee as well. "Although I'm a heavy sleeper so I guess it doesn't bother me."

"You're not talking about me?" Donovan asked, sounding a little offended as he entered the kitchen through the sliding door. "Because I can assure you I do not snore."

"It's okay Donovan, we were talking about someone else," Starina assured him, winking at Sam as she placed some dishes in the sink.

"So how goes it with the seals?" asked Dean.

"Same as always, they're untouched," Donovan replied. "And still no sign of the Wraith. I'll check them again in a couple of hours."

While they were talking Starina gripped the edge of the kitchen sink as she looked out the window over the paddock and further out to the place where the pylon once stood. To anyone else it was a perfectly normal day, warm with a light, cool breeze blowing with a few fluffy white clouds in the sky, but for her it was too perfect. She rubbed her belly as she felt an unpleasant chill run down her spine and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. No, something was definitely wrong here, she was sure of it.

"You okay, Starina?" asked Sam, noticing that she was staring off into space.

Starina flinched and looked away from the window and back at Sam, her train of thought disrupted. "Huh?"

"You were spacin' out for a second there," Dean told her, frowning a little.

"W-was I?" Starina asked and they all nodded. "Sorry, I guess I was lost in thought. What were you saying?"

SMASH!

Before anyone could answer a loud crash and the sound of breaking glass came from the living room, closely followed by a heavy thud as something hit the wooden floor.

"Whoa what the Hell?!" Dean shouted as Starina yelped with fright at the sudden noise.

He and Sam jumped off their stools and rushed to the living room. The front window was shattered and there was broken glass everywhere. On the floor just near the couch was a large, flat stone that had scratched the polished timber surface.

"Ooh, that's not gonna buff out," Sam winced.

"What was that?" Donovan demanded, in full protective mode as he came out of the kitchen with Starina wrapped up in his wings.

In answer Dean went over and picked up the stone, about to pass it off as some douchebag playing a joke when something on the stone stopped him."Uh, Starina? Think you'd better come and look at this."

"What is it, Dean?" Sam asked as he went over to look as well, closely followed by Starina and Donovan.

Sam peered over Dean's shoulder at the stone and his eyes widened in astonishment. Somehow words had been scratched onto its surface, words that neither of the brothers could read.

"What is that?" Donovan frowned.

Starina angled the stone in Dean's hands to get a better look. "It's Gaelic," she muttered after a few seconds, sounding stunned. "But what..."

As she read the words further the colour drained from her face and she suddenly gasped and stumbled backwards, hitting the backs of her legs on the coffee table so hard she knocked it over. Donovan was next to her in an instant to stop her falling.

"Whoa! Starina, are you okay?" Sam asked in alarm as he and Dean rushed over as well.

Starina was nearly limp from shock in Donovan's arms, pale as a sheet and her hands over her mouth as though she was trying to stop herself from being sick.

"What is it, Starina? What's wrong?" Donovan asked urgently, wrapping protective wings around her. "What did the message say?"

Starina swallowed thickly and lowered her hands. "It-it's him," her voice shook when she spoke. "T-the Wraith, he... he knows we have Lucrecia."

End Chapter

A/N: Apologies for taking so long to update. I've been dealing with a VERY painful ailment (AKA severe nerve pain in my foot, it had me on crutches for several days).

The part about Ben and Lisa was hard to write because I felt soooo bad for Dean when he told Cas to erase their memories to protect them TT^TT Seriously, why does Dean get such a raw deal?

Anyway, the pain in my foot's eased off for now so hopefully I'll have the next part up quicker than this one!