Part 2

Chapter 3: News Doesn't Always Travel Fast

Elliott aimed her glock. The barrel pressed into the back of the man's head. He froze halting his assault on the woman Elliott knew and cared for. He was straddling the brunette with the intention of killing her.

"Didn't your mom ever teach you not to hit a woman?" Elliott chide, pushing the barrel more forcefully to the back of the man's head.

"She ain't no woman." He grumbled before finding the woman's eyes below him again. "Her eyes were…" He trailed off watching the brunette under him confused. Using the man's muddled emotions to her advantage, the brunette threw her weight up and flipped them around so she was top of him. Without pausing she drove her elbow down into his temple hard enough to knock the fucker out cold.

"Thanks for the assist Ellie, but I had it under control."

"Right," She huffed. "Wasn't expecting to see you out here Ellen." Elliott smiled and offered a hand, helping her to her feet.

When Elliott had woken up from that awful dream, she grabbed her phone to call Sam and tell him right away but when she saw that there had been no new messages or miss calls from him or Dean her mind shifted. No contact for over twenty four hours was too long to go without hearing from Sam on a hunt. After a quick explanation to Bobby she had raced out to track the boys down and make sure they were okay. Of course, the ride there had been Hell worrying, and then she had to find an empty Impala by a busted bridge. So, she of course trekked over the creek and found the abandoned town. Just in time to help out her old friend.

Once Ellen was back on her feet and brushed the dirt off her jeans, she made eye contact with Elliott. For a moment Elliott thought she was about to yell and scold her but it was just the opposite. Ellen's shoulders fell and she took a step towards her closing in the space, her arms wrapped around Elliott embracing her in a tight hug.

"You and that brother of yours have a lot of explaining to do. We haven't got so much as a text in almost a year."

The air seemed to slip out of Elliott's lungs. She didn't know. How did Ellen not know about Max? The tight hallow pain in her chest that happened every time she thought of her big brother consumed her. She shouldn't have assumed Ellen would just know. That someone else would tell her. But Elliott just expected someone else would have told her. After all Ellen's daughter Jo and Max were such an on and off couple that she was bound to find out right? Heavy guilt began to mix in with the aching grief.

Not knowing what to say Elliott just tightened her embrace on the older woman, as if it could easy the ache in her heart.

"From now on you two better keep in touch." Ellen pulled away with a firm but warm smile. Elliott cleared her throat trying to find any words her guilt ridden brain could manage.

"Ellie?" Sam's voice called out breaking her of her attempt. He and his brother were making their way from across the abandon street to them. "What are you doing here? I thought you were taking care of Bobby." His pace picked up as he crossed the road to her. Almost taking her out as his arms engulfed her holding her close.

"You didn't answer your phone, I thought…" Elliott spoke softly finding her voice now that her giant was here. "-but it looks like you already handled it?"

Sam pulled away from the comforting hug, leaving her feeling a little empty. He gave her a soft smile but before he could answer Dean pipped in.

"You missed a Hell of a hunt Princess." Dean huffed.

"Ellie Anders? Is that you?"

Elliott spun on her heals to see Jo approaching the group of hunters.

"Jo," She breathed. The sight of her deceased brother's on and off again girlfriend had ice running through her veins.

"Wait you know each other?" Dean questioned genially surprised as the other blonde stepped up to them.

"Her brother and I used to date." Jo eyed Elliott suspiciously.

"Whoa, wait you and Max were-" Sam's large eyes landed on Jo.

"Well we did. After our last fight the jackass won't answer any of my calls." Jo scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

Elliott's heart clenched and her insides were doing somersaults. "Jo,…" Her voice cracked and eyes became watery with tears threatening to spill over. Emotion so thick in her throat it was making it hard to inhale enough oxygen.

"I mean sure we had a fight, yeah, but we usually make up in a couple months. Now he's been ignoring me for almost a year, and I don't even remember what we were fighting about." Jo continued her rant without noticing Elliott and the Winchester's broken reactions.

"Jo," Sam cleared his throat trying to step in and explain for his girl that appeared to be crumbling before their eyes.

"No, I don't want to hear it from you, Sam. When he decides to man up and talk to me again, I'll be waiting with open ears. Where is the jackass anyway?"

"Jo-" Elliott's voice broke again. A fat tear slowly made its way down her cheek. This time Jo caught her tone of voice and the false self confidant annoyance morphed into scared and cautious. "M-Max- He- He-" She nearly squeaked. "There was an accident. A werewolf-"

Jo stepped back shaking her head in denial reading Elliott and the Winchesters now. "No."

"He didn't make it." Elliott whispered thickly as another fat drop fell from her eye.

Hurt flashed across Jo's face before her watery eyes glazed over and jaw slacked a fraction. She was trying to process it was hard to watch but they all could see it. Elliott tore her eyes away from her not wanting to see her friend breakdown when all her own heart wanted to fall apart all over again. Unfortunately taking her eyes off Jo only made her notice Ellen. The older woman's jaw was clenched her head bowed in grief, as she rubbed at her temples.

"How did he… ?" Jo forced through her vocal cords not able to say much more.

"It was- I- We…" Elliott tried then forced herself to breathe in a slow and calm breath. "We were hunting a werewolf." She spoke quietly as vivid nightmarish memories of blood, and Max's chest torn to shreds whirled before her eyes and choked her words. "It- It was a werewolf-f, I was too slow, I tried- but I couldn't save him."

"No." Elliott could vaguely feel Sam's long arm wrapped around her waist that began pulling her to him. "It was no one's fault but the werewolf." Elliott didn't fight him, letting him turn her away from the others and to him. Gently cupping the back of her head and guided it down to rest on his chest. She felt his lips leave a soft warm kiss at the crown of her head, his voice soothing and reassuring. "We've been over this before, Ellie. You can't keep beating yourself up for Max. It's not your fault."

"When?" Jo demanded swallowing back her emotions. Now nothing but hallow and empty.

"It will be a year in a just a few months." Elliott answered into Sam's muscular chest.

"You should have told me." Jo's voice became deeper, and forced Elliott to pull away from Sam to see her, but Sam only let her pull so far away. Still keeping a supportive arm around her waist showing her that he was still there.

"I know." Elliott watched the anger flash across her face. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Jo huffed. "I've been hating him for so long because I thought he was ignoring me! And all this time he was-"

"Hey." Sam grumbled a warning, defensively tensing up. Dean to his right was in a defensive posture as well.

"No, Sam. She's right." Elliott nodded numbly, and tried to take a step away from him because she felt she didn't deserve his warm comfort and protection this time. Not when her slow moves had rid Jo of the same thing. Of course, though Sam wouldn't let her get any further, his arm tight around her waist holding her in place with her back to his chest. "I should have told you- I tried once actually, but when I heard you answer I froze up. Just the sound of your voice was too much. All I could think about was him when I heard it, you two have been going on for years now. You two were supposed to end up together and I was too slow to get to him-"

Sam's arm tightened around her waist and she felt his chest rumble with his disapproval at her choice of words.

"It's beside the point." Elliott mumbled more to Sam than Jo and the audience of hunters. "When I heard your voice, I chickened out. I couldn't have you to hate me too. So, I hung up and figured word would travel fast. Guess not." She let out a breath she was holding.

That made everyone pause. Jo's brows knit together. The moment of confusion had her emotions peek through the mask she was fighting to keep on. "Hate you?"

Elliott gave a wet huff and rolled her eyes. "Jo, you were such a big part of Max's life. I can't even look at you without thinking about him. If I lose you, if you hate me then I lose the biggest part of my big brother I have left."

Jo looked away her jaw ticking as her lids blinked rapidly, trying to keep her own tears back. Unable to find the words Jo took four big steps to get to Elliott and surprised her with a tight constrictor like hug.

"I could never hate you, Elle-Elle." She whispered into Elliott's ear. "You won't lose me."

That night was a tough one for all of them. They caravanned to the next town and found the nearest bar and got hammered. Well most of them did. Ellen and Sam being the responsible two only got a good buzz on.

"To Max!" Elliott slurred holding up another shot to toast. "He may be gone but at least he doesn't have to see the end of the world." She clinked her small shot glass with Dean's as he was the only one still drinking with her. Ellen had brought a drunken Jo back to the motel that was literally across the street two hours ago. Leaving Sam, Dean and her to the near empty bar.

"To Max." Dean repeated gruffly tossing back the amber liquid at the same time she did.

It was a Tuesday and the small town bar had only a couple regulars that were keeping to themselves. Sam had tried to get Elliott to leave when Ellen and Jo had, but she didn't want to and with Dean's help they convinced Sam she wasn't that drunk. Which at the time she wasn't, but as the night continued the room began to sway around her and her words slurred together more. It was getting harder to convince both Winchesters she wasn't that drunk.

"You know," She drawled sipping on the mixed drink in front of her. "I really am glad he doesn't have to see the end."

Dean to her right on the bar stool just huffed, and took another swig of his whiskey. Staring right into it. Sam on her left rubbed her back with a warm comforting hand. Her drunk body responding by leaning into him until her head was on his shoulder.

"I think it's time we head out baby." Sam murmured into her ear. His breath tickling the hairs around her ear.

"No, I don't want to go to sleep tonight." But let him pull her to her feet supporting her weight.

"I know Ellie, I know." Sam soothed knowing she would most likely have her nightmares about her brother's death again after what had been trudged up today. Although he hoped that the booze was enough to guard her mind from the awful memories just for tonight.

He hit his brother's shoulder with the back of his hand to get his attention, so he knew they were leaving. Dean just waved them off sulking at the bar alone as they made their way out of the bar.

Elliott stumbled and Sam's hold and bursted into a fit of laughter. His hold tightened around her to the point he was holding her up.

"What? What's so funny?" He mussed bewildered but happy to see her laughing.

"Max died before 'e could fi-ind-" She hiccupped loudly. "-find out what a freak I really am." She fizzled off into a sad sarcastic snicker. "-'efore he knows what I am supposs- ta be."

"Hey." Sam stopped in his tracks not finding this funny at all. "You're not a freak, Elliott."

She hiccupped again before snorting. "Okay, you don't like fr- freak? 'ow 'bout, Lucifer's bitch, his whore, or- or I know," She chuckled humorlessly before deepening her voice. "An abomination." Doing her best to impersonate the angel Castiel.

Sam stopped them now that they were safely across the street then stepped in front of her. In an effort to both hold her up and get her attention he grabbed her upper arms, his large warm hands holding her still. "Look at me." He ordered voice gruff but something in it made her insides twist and want to comfort him, like he was sad. "You aren't a chess piece for those assholes to move around the board, you hear me?"

She frowned and just blinked up at him taken aback in her drunken state.

"You and Dean don't have to live up to their plans. Screw the angels screw Lucifer. They don't define you Elliott. You do. You make the choices not them. Max would never think badly of you. Never."

The name drop of her brother had her bristling. "Max isn't h-" Elliott began but too slow in her drunkenness was cut off by Sam again his grip on her arms tightened.

"Damnit Ellie, I get that your hurt. I get that this has to be more than you think you can handle, but you are so strong. So strong. If anyone can get through this and come out on top it's you."

Elliott sighed leaning into Sam a little more almost giving in. Sam was warm and comforting, and always made her feel like she wasn't a freak. But she was a freak. She was beyond freak at this point, she contemplated, all the while absorbing the comfort and sweet lies that Sam was suppling her. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. Immediately he reciprocated and wrapped his warm arms around her. They stood there for a few minutes. Silent, only the sound of the cold wind. Even with her leather jacket it probably would be colder she supposed if it weren't the booze and Sam's furnace like body warming her.

He sighed. "We can take a break. Get away from this all for a while. Clear out heads. Dean and I were thinking about it."

"But we need to findd a'way to kill the devil, we can'tt take a break. The world is ending, he's getting closer, in my dream he-"

"Hey, hey, hey. If we are going to save the world, and find a way to kill the Lucifer we shouldn't do so without getting some rest, right? Alright."

"But Samm, I-" She shook her head drunkenly.

"Elliott, please don't do this to yourself. Just, don't put this all on you, okay?"

"Look ouh's talkin'." She quipped under her breath.

"Okay?" Sam asked expectantly.

She rolled her eyes done with this conversation, bust said 'okay' to get him to let it go for now. As long as he was going to be self loathing about releasing Lucifer than why should she be any different about being the devil's personal incubator.

When they finally got to their motel the clock read one, thirteen in the morning. Sam quickly helped Elliott change for bed while avoiding her promiscuous drunken attempts at getting some action. He went to get a bottle of water and some ibuprofen that he was sure she would need the next morning and when he turned back around, she was out. A sad smile graced his lips. She was so peaceful when she slept, but it hurt him to see her so broken. He hoped the break he and Dean had already agreed upon would help both of them.

"Uh, fuck." Elliott groaned holding her head and sitting up in bed.

"Not feelin' so great this morning hm?" Sam quipped. She squinted at him sitting at the little motel table already showered and dressed on his laptop and looking not at all hungover.

"You could say that." She gripped rubbing her temple before stretching her back.

"Water and ibuprofen on the nightstand." He smirked and nodded to it. "I figured we could pick up some greasy breakfast on our way out of town." She groaned again at the thought of being in the car this hungover, before taking the bottle of pills shaking four out and downing them with the full bottle of water. "Yeah, I know but we got to get as far away from that town before anyone questions us about what happen."

"I'm guessing 'it was one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse' won't go over too easy with the civilians." Elliott huffed, hearing all about the hunt last night at the bar.

"Nope." Sam said popping the p.

"Wait," Elliott's brow furrowed and eyes darted all over the small cheap motel room. "Where's Dean?"

Sam looked down to his lap, his shaggy hair falling in his face before he tucked a lock back behind his ear. "Uh, about that." Sam cleared his throat and brought his hesitant gaze up to her. "Do you uh, remember what I said about a break last night?"

"What did you two do." Elliott's eyes narrowed in on him suspiciously.

"We decided to take a break. Split up. Dean's going to continue hunting and we're going to find a place to lay low." Sam broke the news.

"What?" She almost shouted leaping out of the motel bed and flinching from the volume of her own voice. "That's ridiculous! No. You can't." She spoke much softer.

"It needed to happen, Ellie." Sam sighed.

"No. I promise last night was just a fluke! I'm fine, I don't need a break Sam. I can handle this. I won't fall apart again. Don't split the team up because of me. I swear I don't need a break." She pleaded, standing her ground near the bed.

"I do." Sam stood and made his way to her. He cupped the side of her head and smoothed her furrowed brows with his thumb. "Ellie, when War had taken over that town I- I wanted to cut into those teens because I thought they were demons."

She twitched, not expecting that before finding the right words. "They weren't demons Sam, and you didn't do it."

"But I wanted to Ellie. I shouldn't be around demons or hunting right now. Besides Dean and I are stronger apart." Sam voice dipped lower.

"Bull shit."

"I wanted to slit a fucking demon throat mid-hunt I could have-" Sam huffed.

"You didn't do anything back there, Giant. You resisted the urge. You are stronger that you think."

"Just barely. Elliott please, I need this right now. Please understand." Sam's puppy dog eyes bore into her soul making her concede. "I think it might be safer if we lay low and hide you from Lucifer… but if you want to leave me and go hunt with Dean or something I-"

"Shut up." Elliott sighed in defeat. The hurt look in his eyes crushed any argument she might have had. "You really think I could leave you now? I've fall way too hard for you Giant. I love you idiot." She mumbled the last part. "This is still stupid, and you're an idiot, but I'm never going to leave you. I'd follow you to Hell and back at this point-"

Sam's lips cut her off and his hands were tangled in her coppery blonde hair. He slipped his tongue in and it glided along with hers perfectly. Pulling apart for air he still held her face to look deep into her hazel eyes. "I love you." He bent down and kissed her again, all the while thinking he doesn't deserve her. Deepening the kiss once again because he knew he was too selfish to ever push her away. Dean may not trust him true, but for now at least he had Elliott. She was his only hope and he knew it.

When she found out that Dean had already left that morning while she was still asleep, she called him up to give him an earful. She would be lying if she said she didn't try and convince him to come back or change his mind, of breaking up the team. Just like his younger brother Dean was a stubborn ass. Insisting that they were stronger apart, and that he knew this was for the best. He did eventually apologize for leaving without saying goodbye. Which was enough at least for now. Elliott refused to believe that this was permeant. She would go along with it unhappily for now but she knew if they were planning on taking out the devil than they better quit their bullshit sibling whining and work together.

Jo and Ellen unlike Dean had the manners to stick around to say goodbye. They even offered to buy the couple breakfast but they were ready to hit the road. As Jo and Sam said goodbye Ellen pulled Elliott to the side.

"Hey kid, you better keep in touch. No matter what happens girl, you are family. I don't want to go another year without a peep." Ellen gave her a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Yes, ma'am." Elliott gave her a soft smile back, meaning it.

"I am so sorry about Max, honey." Ellen reached up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "He was a great hunter, and a great man."

"Thank you" Elliott said quietly. It felt like her heart was swelling and constricting at the same time.

"Max was always proud of you." She squeezed her shoulder before letting go. "His baby sister that could take on the world." She huffed the corner of her lips pulling up. "Now if I don't hear from you soon enough you are going to get a whoppin'."

Jo came over then and wrapped her arms around Elliott. "You better listen to her she's not all talk."

Elliott embraced Jo back and chuckled. "Oh, I don't doubt it."

"Call us if you need help with anything as well." Sam added as a last goodbye.

They drove all day before stopping in a small town as the sun fell. It wasn't anything special and looked just like any other Midwestern small town. Lots of cornfields, a few crummy bars, and too many churches. They found a signature run down motel and paid for a few weeks. The lady at the front desk and presumed owner looked like she might die of happiness to get a down payment that size. After such a long drive the couple were unable to do anything but crash in their 'home' for the time being.

There was blood everywhere. Elliott knew in that moment at least in the back of her head that this wasn't real but that couldn't stop her panic and fear.

"Max?!" Elliott shouted running to him and landing on her knees drenching her jeans in the pool of blood he laid lifelessly in. He lay there shredded and bloody. The thick dark red liquid rushing out of him too fast.

"No, no, no!" Elliott screeched. "Max! Max? Max, please!" She cradled him close trying to stop the never ending flow of red.

A shiver rippled through her spine bringing her out of her misery for a few moments. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled and a sense that she was being watched overwhelmed her. Her head whipped around in search for whatever was watching but found nothing. The body of the werewolf was a few feet away, there was nothing but storage space and yet she could feel it. Something in the shadows watching her closely, enjoying her pain.

She gripped Max's body looking down to him like he could help but when she was his lifeless dull green eyes turn blue, she gasped in horror and let him go.

Gasping for air Elliott sat up with a jolt. Waking Sam up as she did.

"What's wrong?" Sam shot up defensively until he saw no threat and sighed. "Nightmare?"

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry to freak you out." She panted getting control of her breathing. "I'm okay. Go back to bed."

"Baby you sure you're okay?" His voice thick with wanted sleep.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm good." She gave him a tired but convincing smile. Then laid down next to him knowing there was no way she was going to be able to sleep after that strange nightmare. He shifted under the scratchy motel blanket to pull her back to him and rested a warm arm over her waist. Within a minute he was softly snoring, but Elliott spent the rest of the night with eyes wide open.

It was almost fun at first. Elliott had to admit. Like playing house as a kid. Sam got them both jobs at a Podunk bar within walking distance from there 'home', another cheap motel. Even though Elliott said it might be too suspicious if they both worked at the same place, Sam didn't want her too far. Not when Lucifer was still after her. She knew he was sort of right, especially after that dream at Bobby's place and the recurring dream she had had on and off the first couple weeks. It got to the point that she was able to not freak out when waking up so Sam didn't have to know. They always ended so strangely. Like the feeling of someone watching her would alert her to something wrong and then suddenly Max's lifeless dark green eyes would morph until they were not his own. Or she would be screaming for help covered in her brothers' blood and would hear laughter in the shadows. It was different every time but always started out with her big brother's death.

Besides the crazy dreams it wasn't all that bad. They would wake up go to work at a normal non supernatural related job that wasn't dangerous or challenging in any way. Then they got to come back to their makeshift home and fuck each other's brains out. Unfortunately, most nights were nightmare ridden but the next day they got to wake up and do it all over again.

Yes if you didn't include the nightmares it was kind of fun playing house with her giant. At least at first. The excitement of being normal didn't last too long for Elliott. Not used to the nonnomadic life style Elliott became bored by week two.

It wasn't that she wanted to leave Sam, not at all. She was just bored with the dull repetition of normality. It made her grow anxious the longer they stayed in one spot. Elliott Anders was a hunter through and through. No matter how much she wished other wise she was not made for this 'apple pie' like life. As much as she might want it and as much as she wanted to prove to Sam that she could be what he wanted she just didn't fit. She simple wasn't normal enough.

That is why she approached Sam with an idea. Knowing full well that he would not like it.

Author's Note: Okay I super duper apologize for this chapter. I know it isn't that long or fun. I need feedback for this one because I have rewritten it a few times and still am not sure I like it, but felt I needed to get something out here for those amazing readers that are still reading this. Fuck 2020, it is throwing off my writing and motivation. I was trying to write a fun lighthearted bonding night at the bar but ended up with this mess… yikes. Again sorry.

As a sign of good faith, I have already hand written the next chapter and just need to type it up and go through a quick edit. Hopping to get it posted before next week. I am so beyond blessed and lucky to have anyone still reading this. Please if you don't mind a kudo and comment make my day and lets me feel valid for spending hours writing instead of reading up on Latin terms for my job training lol. THANK YOU and stay safe 3 .

PS: (Sorry I know long author's note) Ahhh! The last episode of Supernatural is on tonight and I am afraid I will hate it. I know that even if I don't like it this fandom will live on through fanfics, fanart, and social media.