Lena looked over at the kitchen doorway when she heard a knocking. It was Sam. "Do you need any help?" he asked.

"No, I'm good", Lena answered picking up the large saucepan with one hand and started pulling the contents out with a spoon into a Pyrex dish. Sam went over and held out his hands for the pan.

"Let me", he said. Lena gave him the pan and continued to put the contents into the dish. She then stuck the dish in the oven and set the timer.

"I appreciate your help but I could've done it on my own", Lena said taking the pan from Sam and sticking it in the bubbly water that was in the sink in order to soak.

"I know, I just didn't feel right standing there when I could help", Sam told her.

"Well, again I appreciate your….help" Lena looked at Sam confused by the expression on his face "Sam, what's wrong?"

"Nothing", Sam answered walking toward her "I just missed you".

"It's been 4…no 5 days since I last saw you and your brother", Lena said "how could you have missed me in such a small amount of time?"

"I could not see you for a few hours and still miss you", Sam admitted. And that was something he was never going to confess to his brother despite Dean's constant badgering to 'get together' with her. Lena's breath hitched when he reached out and touched her cheek. Her heart started to beat a little faster as Sam slowly leant toward her. When their lips were mere inches apart there was a loud call of

"I'm home!"

Lena pulled away from Sam and hurried into the hallway where Jonah was standing. "Jonah", she greeted.

"Lena", Jonah said.

"Daddy!" came two voices from the stairs. Jonah looked up and smiled broadly at his two daughters. Anabel and Eliza rushed down the stairs and gave their father a massive hug.

"We've missed you", Eliza proclaimed.

"I missed you guys too", Jonah said "were you both good for Lena?"

"They were absolute angels", Lena told him.

"That's good", Jonah said happily.

"I got dinner in the oven. Should be about 10 minutes", Lena informed her friend who nodded. She walked back to the kitchen past Sam, missing the disappointed look on his face. However, Dean did notice. While Jonah was chatting to his children, Dean went up to his brother.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked.

"Nothing", Sam answered, his gaze shifting to the kitchen door.

"Uh huh", Dean said not really believing him.

Later…

Lena wandered around the house checking the wards while Jonah was putting his children to bed. Although she wasn't really paying too much attention to what she was doing as she was too preoccupied by the kiss that had almost happened between herself and Sam. Admittedly she was a little disappointed that they were interrupted. No doubt it'll be a while before it even happened again, if it did happen at all. Especially if the brothers find out what she was…Lena's hand movements stilled.

If this friendship between her and Sam became something more and they found out she was a witch… he would hate her, probably kill her for it. Lena shook her head and continued checking the wards. No, she wasn't going to let them find out.

"How's the wards holding?" Jonah asked making the young witch jump.

"Jonah! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Lena exclaimed.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you", Jonah said apologetically "So…how are the wards holding?"

"Just checking the last ward downstairs, now", Lena answered. She waved her hands at one of the windows and Jonah watched blue glowing symbol appeared. "Looks like I–" she broke off when the symbol turned red. And then one by one the wards appeared, bathing the whole room in a blood red glow. Lena and Jonah exchanged looks before they raced upstairs to the girl's room.

As they got nearer, they heard screaming. Jonah burst into the room, followed by Lena. Anabel and Eliza were huddled together on the floor in a corner of the room. "T-there's something scary at the window!" the older child cried. Lena rushed over to the window and saw hooded black figure hurrying away.

"Stay with the girls!" she ordered Jonah and ran out of the room. Lena raced down the stairs and out of the front door. She skidded to a stop by the road and looked around. The black robed figure was gone. "Damn it", she cursed.

Lena turned and started back toward the house when she stopped. Something didn't feel right but before she could move, she was knocked back. She rolled over only to be pinned in place by the hooded figure. Lena's eyes widened as she recognised what was holding her down. It was a Shtriga!

As such she clamped her mouth shut knowing that the thing would try to steal her life force. The Shtriga grabbed her face and slowly forced her mouth open, Lena fighting it all the way. But she wasn't strong enough and soon the creature was stealing her life force. Lena's eyes closed and her hands curled into fists as she summoned as much magic as she could currently tap into.

Her eyes flew open, pupils a brilliant blue. Lena shoved her now flaming hands into the Shtriga causing it to let out an unearthly shriek. It stumbled back, robes alight. Lena shakily got to her feet and watched the Shtriga scurry away, still burning. She knew that fire wasn't going to kill it but it would slow the creature down.

Lena extinguished her hands and then started back towards the house again, her steps slow and unsteady. As she approached the two story building, Jonah appeared in the doorway. The brunette witch swayed on the spot before she collapsed. "Lena!" Jonah exclaimed running down the steps. He went over to her, knelt down and pulled her into his arms.

"It's a Shtriga", Lena whispered "tell Sam and Dean". Her eyes fluttered shut and she went limp.

After learning about the Shtriga targeting the home of Jonah and his daughters, Dean decided that their house would be where they'd catch the creature. For bait they were using the two little girls…and Lena. And that didn't sit well with Sam at all. He hated the fact that the Shtriga had attacked the girl he was completely into just hours after they'd stayed over for dinner. He should've stayed! It was only pure luck, according to Lena that she managed to fight of the Shtriga before it killed her.

"I still don't think this is a good idea", Sam muttered eyeing the video feed from the camera they'd set up in the girl's bedroom. Anabel and Eliza were in one bed while Lena was in the other.

"Heard you the first time Sammy", Dean said "but this is the only way to catch the Shtriga". Sam huffed and sat back, arms crossed, clearly unhappy. "What time is it?" the older Winchester asked.

"Three", Sam replied, checking his watch.

"You two sure consecrated iron rounds are gonna work?" Jonah asked as he stood behind the brother's chairs. He was just as worried as Sam was about using his children and his very good friend as bait.

"They will", Dean assured him.

~Anabel's and Eliza's room~

Lena lay there in Eliza's bed, straining her ears for any noise of the Shtriga approaching the house. Her head snapped over to the window when her ears picked up faint scratching on the glass. She watched the window slide up before she turned her head away, closing her eyes. She had to make the Shtriga think she was asleep. The only time its vulnerable is when it feeds and it wouldn't likely risk doing that if she was awake, considering that she set it on fire the night before.

Lena's hands fisted the bedspread as she heard the Shtriga move over to the bed. She felt it grab her face but didn't open her eyes, not even when she felt it start to draw her energy out of her mouth.

"Hey!" she heard Sam shout.

"Lena move!" Dean ordered. The brunette's eyes flew open and with a bit of effort, she yanked herself from the Shtriga's grasp and threw herself off the bed. The second she was clear, Dean shot the creature right between the eyes.

The Shtriga fell back on the floor with a thud. Dean cautiously approached it while Sam stuck by Lena, the brunette leaning against him heavily. Eliza and Anabel huddled against their father, not making a sound. They jumped when Dean shot the Shtriga three more times, energy it had stolen from the numerous children escaping from its mouth. It falls in on itself, disintegrating. A little wisp of white energy floated over to Lena, slithering between her parted lips. She gasped, immediately feeling better as her stolen energy was now returned.

"Is it over?" Eliza piped up.

"Yeah Lizzie, its over", Lena mumbled, resting her head on Sam's shoulder.