Thanks to my single reviewer, ChaiGrl, for giving me some confidence to post the next chapter. This part of the story picks up where "Asylum" left off, but Sam was never in bed in the end, nor did he and Dean receive a call from their dad. This is slight OOC on Dean's part, but I tried my best. Hope everybody enjoys it! Please review!

Chapter 2

Huntington Lodge

Hot water worked its way down Sam's sore body, soothing his cramped muscles. He had been in the shower for15 minutes, dwelling on what had happened the night before. Before they had left the asylum, Sam had tried to apologize to Dean and explain to him that he really didn't mean what he had said while possessed. He had even taken the chance of asking Dean if they needed to talk about what happened. Sam should have known that Dean would shrug it off as if nothing had happened and change the subject. He knew that Dean was stunned and unsure about the way Sam had acted. He wanted to make it up to Dean, but he didn't know how.

Sam sighed deeply, turning his back toward the warm spray. It felt like it had been weeks since he last had a long, relaxing shower. He couldn't seem to get to sleep after they had checked into the motel. He left Dean asleep in in his beg and made a point to be quiet as he dug in his bag for a change of clean clothes. Sam hoped that sleep would do Dean some good. Maybe it would even erase some of the memories of last night.

Sam was beginning to feel the heaviness of sleep come over him. The more time he spent in the shower, the more drowsy he seemed to get. He didn't want to sleep. He didn't want to have another nightmare about Jessica or a premonition of their next case. Sam just wanted to push all of this out of his mind, out of his life. He didn't want to hunt anymore. The only good thing that had come out of all of this was that he had gotten closer to Dean and now, he had put that in jeopardy.

Turning off the water, Sam stepped out of the shower. He dried himself off and wrapped the towel around his waist, wiping the fog from the bathroom mirror. Sam was shocked at his appearance. He looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. Dark circles had formed under his eyes. He was pale, his eyes slightly bloodshot, reflecting a look of sadness and regret. He couldn't believe that a night in that place had taken such a toll on him. He had dealt with more difficult cases before, but, clearly, this was different. He could've killed Dean! Sam shuddered at the thought. How would he have been able to live with himself? He tried, desperately, to shove those thoughts out of his mind as he got dressed.

Sam cracked the door open, slightly, in an effort to rid the room of steam. He could hear Dean's phone ringing on the stand beside the bed. Who was calling them now? Sam really didn't feel like answering it; starting another case right now. Instead, Sam decided to let it ring. HE shut the bathroom door, blocking out the incessant jingle of Dean's phone.

Dean rolled over, groaning. What had woken him up? He sat up in bed, reaching for his cell phone when he heard it ring. Not bothering to look at the caller ID, he answered it.

"Hello."

"Uh, hi," a young woman's voice came over the line, "is this Sam Winchester?"

"No. No it's not. Who's this?"

"Uh, my name is Kira McGrath. I called to ask for Sam's help. Is he there?" Instinctively, Dean's eyes darted to the bed opposite him. Sam wasn't there and the sheets were untouched.

"He stepped out for a minute," Dean lied. "Can I help you with something?" There was a moment of silence before Kira spoke up again.

"A-are you Sam's brother?" Dean was surprised at this. The girl seemed to consider Sam more than an acquaintance. He didn't think Sam had told many of his friends about their cross-country "road trip".

"Yeah, I am. I'm Dean."

"Then you look into...special cases, too?" She sounded almost reluctant asking this. Dean could hear the fear in her voice.

"Yeah. Yeah, I do."

"I have a problem. I don't know what else to do. I can't call the police. They'll think I'm insane. I spent a week with Sam when he came to NIU for spring break. He's friends with a guy I work with. Chris introduced us at a party and he told me a little about his family. We've also been keeping in touch by e-mail, and he's been telling me about going on a road trip with you. He's also alluded to what you...do. He gave me this number. I would really like your help. Please."

"Where are you Kira?"

"I, uh, I live in Sleepy Hollow, Illinois.

"What happened? What made you want to call Sam?"

"Yesterday, I was at my best friends house. We were studying for our midterm when the fuses in the house blew. I went into his basement to turn them back on and...something attacked me."

"What attacked you, Kira?"

"I didn't see it, well, none of it except for its eyes. It talked to me, whispered some strange rhyme to me. This has never happened before. I really don't know what to do." Her voice trembled more as she went on. Dean felt sorry for the girl. She sounded young and very vulnerable. They would have to take the case.

"It's going to be all right. We'll be there this afternoon." Kira proceeded to give him her address and told him what time she would be home after school.

"Dean, thanks so much. I'm forever grateful." With that she hung up the phone. Dean sat there for a moment with the silent phone still pressed up against his ear. What had he just gotten himself into? He needed to find Sam, so he could explain to him about this girl.

For the first time since he had woken up, Dean noticed that the bathroom light was on. Sam had been taking a shower. Untangling himself from the blankets and putting his phone on the bedside table, he got up, walking toward the closed door.

"Sammy, if you don't come out, I'm coming in." The door opened suddenly, revealing to him a battered looking Sam.

"What do you want?" The irritation in his voice was unmistakable. He had foreseen this happening and he really didn't want to get started on another case so soon.

"Your little girlfriend called. Jeez, I really never thought of you robbing the cradle, but I guess I was wrong."

"What? Who was it?"

"Kira McGrath." Recognition shown in Sam's eyes.

"What did she want? Is she okay?"

"Well, for right now. She sounded freaked on the phone, though. It seems as if she got attacked yesterday by a ghost. It singled her out, talked to her. I told her we could help. She's only an hour and a half drive away. What do you say?"

"Sure, sure. Um, let me just get my stuff together and then we can leave." Dean nodded his head. He knew that Sam would put aside his feelings for a friend. That's just how he was. As Dean walked away, he was stopped by a hand on his arm.

"Dean, thanks, for agreeing to go. I know how you feel about me still having friends. It means a lot." Dean just smiled, slightly, turning away, muttering under his breath,

"Anything for you, Sammy. Anything for you."