Tripping in the Darkness

Chapter 5: A Shared Life

disclaimer: seriously, if u ppl dont get the fact that i dont own this by now, you are really really slow.

a/n: woohoo another chappie already! im on a roll. and i have the whole week off school so cross your fingers. umm i dont think i really have anything to say about this one so...

The town was always quiet. A random dog barking was the only sound heard past ten in the small community.

And right now, the quiet was wearing on Ashley's nerves. She was again alone in the diner. But this time she wasn't bored. She was wide-awake. She couldn't believe what had just happened. That Dean and Sam were hunters just like she was.

Her thoughts drifted back to less than an hour before. She had snuck back into Walter Morrison's house after the police had left, intent on finding what killed him. But that hadn't been so simple.

Just as she had found something that might help her, she had heard noises coming down the hallway. She froze, hoping whatever it was hadn't heard her too.

Then the door had been thrown open and her world had been turned upside down. After that, events had become sort of a blur. Arguing with Dean. The spirit appearing. Her bullet hitting it. Running.

Then being outside and finding out the truth. Dean and Sam were hunters. She hadn't even been able to ask any questions before the sound of police sirens fell over them.

She had told them to meet her at the diner and left quickly. And now she was wondering if she really wanted to talk to them.

She had only met a handful of other hunters in the past few years. All men much older than she was.Most of them had taken little interest in her, dismissing her easily.

But she knew Sam and Dean wouldn't do that. That they would want to know about her, know her story.

And that was what scared her.

"You know," Dean began, irritated, as he swung his car around a turn. "Every time I think I know what's coming, something even more freakin' unbelievable happens."

"This is pretty incredible," Sam agreed.

"Holy shit," Dean exclaimed. "Ashley's a hunter."

The statement was followed by a stretch of silence as the two brothers fully began to process what had just occurred.

Sam looked out the window, sighing. He was in shock. Of all the things that could have happened, this definitely was the least expected. Randomly running into another hunter. Or maybe it wasn't random? Maybe Ashley could help them find their dad.

Dean loosened his grip on the steering wheel, realizing his hands were getting sore from holding on so tight. He honestly wasn't sure what he was feeling. It seemed that his brother was leaning more towards shock. But somehow, Ashley being a hunter didn't surprise him as much as he thought it should. He had always known there was something different about her. He remembered seeing it in her eyes that first night. And though he had never admitted it, Ashley had been the thing the kept him in this good-for-nothing town.

Dean had never believed in fate or any higher power that governed what happened in the world. He had seen too much bad to believe anyone would knowingly let it happen. But tonight, as he drove closer and closer to the diner, all he could think was that maybe he was supposed to meet Ashley. That maybe she would hold some answers.

Ashley looked up as she heard a car pull in front of the diner. She watched barely breathing, as Dean and Sam climbed out. She still wasn't sure what she was going to tell them. The truth about her family was too much for her most days. How was she supposed to tell someone else?

Dean and Sam walked through the diner door, the bell above it ringing loudly in the silence and harsh fluorescent lighting.

They approached the bar, both taking a seat on a stool and looking at Ashley who was leaning against the counter behind her.

The silence filled the space between them as the three sat, looking anywhere but at each other. Finally, Ashley looked up, only to find Dean studying her intently.

"Guess you're on more than a road trip, huh?" Ashley asked still looking at Dean.

"Guess you move around a lot for a reason, right?" Dean countered, challenging.

Ashley smirked, feeling the tension left from the air. She was glad Dean had allowed this conversation to be played on their usual field. The one where he bullshitted and she called him on it. It was easier that way.

"I've never seen a girl hunt," Dean added, raising an eyebrow.

"Me neither," Ashley shrugged. "Only me. But I've never met a hunter my age at all."

"How long have you been hunting?" Sam asked, jumping into the conversation.

Ashley sighed, appearing to think about it for a second. "About six years, since I was eighteen. But I've known about it for longer."

"Do you know John Winchester?" Sam inquired.

"I met him once," Ashley answered, confused. She had meet John on a case in Idaho two years back. Why did Sam want to know about him?

Seeing Sam's face fall at her answer she continued. "Why?"

Sam didn't answer, only getting up and leaving the diner.

Dean took a breath, watching his brother's retreating form and then turning back to Ashley. "He's our father."

"John Winchester is your father?" Ashley repeated, understanding slowly dawning on her. She had heard that John had gone missing a few months ago. It was sad, she had liked John in the few days she spent with him. But, unfortunately, losing people was part of the job.

This time she spoke softly. "You're looking for him aren't you?"

Dean just nodded, looking down at the countertop. He saw the concern in Ashley's eyes and it threw him for a moment.

"I'm sorry," Ashley added.

Dean looked back up, putting his usual confident mask back on. "We'll find him."

Ashley gave him a small smile. "You will."

Dean looked at her for a second. Somehow, he knew what she said was true. Almost like she could see it somehow.

"So," Dean started over, shaking the somber mood. "Six years?"

"Yeah," Ashley confirmed. "You?"

Dean laughed a little. "Eight years. More if you count the cases my dad brought me along on."

"Wow," Ashley smiled.

"So how did you find out about it all?" Dean asked as Ashley turned around to grab the coffee pot.

Ashley froze for a second. She had known this was coming, but it still shook her. Deciding to lie, she repliedvaguely."I just saw this guy get hurt when I was younger."

Dean nodded, accepting the cup Ashley offered. "My mom was killed."

Ashley looked up, surprised that he offered the information. "I know."

Dean sighed. "Just about everyone in our little circle does."

"This one," Dean offered, showing Ashley anfaded scar on his forearm. "Spirit in this old house. Pushed me right through a window."

"Ouch," Ashley laughed.

"Yeah," Dean went on, laughing too. "At least the window was on the first floor."

Ashley pulled up the hem of her jeans, revealing a thin scar on her ankle. "Possessed twelve-year-old. The little brat had a knife hidden under her pillow."

"Ugh," Dean replied, grimacing. "I hate possessions. It's all I can do not to just smack the little suckers."

Ashley laughed again. She and Dean were sitting on the diner floor, backs to the bar. They had been here for almost an hour, trading hunting stories. It was good to talk to someone, to not have to keep all her life to herself.

Dean glanced over at the girl next to him, watching her laugh. For some odd reason, making her laugh felt good. Like it would all be okay somehow.

The bell above the diner door startled Dean out of his thoughts. Both he and Ashley looked up to seeSam standing in the doorway.

"Hey college boy," Dean said, standing up. He offered Ashley a hand, helping pull her up off the floor.

"Hey," Sam answered, looking sheepishly at Ashley. "Sorry, I freaked."

Ashley shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans, giving him a small smile. "Not a problem."

"So," Sam began. "Since you know about all this stuff, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't work together on this case. Do you?"

Ashley started to respond but Dean cut her off.

"Well, how do we know she's any good?" Dean asked, smirking at her.

Ashley just threw Dean's smirk back at him. "You mean, besides the fact that I shot that spirit before you?"

...and there ya go. i tried to make it longer but i seriously have a problem with writing short chaps. bear with me. or is B-A-R-E with me? idk. anyways, PLEASE REVIEW!

p.s. to ophelia: dean says hi and we both miss you!

-rylie