Author's note: I do not own anything having to do with Supernatural, only Leah belongs to me. Just a reminder SUPERNATURAL signifies a break in time. As always please remember to ~Read and Review~

Oh my God so many people to give shout outs to, so give me a second. EmilyRose475 and 16Marigold I hope I did your suggestions justice. As always I will take suggestions on what you all want to see happen! I have a general idea and if it doesn't go against that I'll do my best to add it in.

SPNxBookworm is a goddess. I'm this horrible person who has huge spans between updates and this girl gets me back my chapters in less than 24 hours.

Ispiltthemilk and SPNxBookworm have been kind enough to let me bounce some ideas around with them and have encouraged me to keep going when I get stuck or want to be distracted. PLEASE go check out their stories! They are just as amazing and awesome as the writer's themselves.

I did change the ending to this episode purely for the fact that I'm going to focus on it in the next chapter. Hope you enjoy my lovies and thank you for sticking with me. You ready for this…in the past 5 chapters my views have jumped by 10,000! Holy crap! You're all wonderful!

Chapter 45- I'll Be There For You

"Yes, of course he is one of mine," Bobby answered in an exasperated tone, "And I don't appreciate you impeding on our investigation. Now if that will be all please let Mr. Mathers do the job he was assigned or I will be contacting your supervisor." Bobby hung up the phone labeled F.B.I. and walked over to the refrigerator taking out two beers. He handed me one before making his way back into the living room where his desk was, as always, covered with old books and piles of research.

Sam was down in the basement doing our laundry, after a very heated match of rock, paper, scissors, while Dean was out changing the oil in the Impala and giving her a tune-up. I had made some joke about him staying away from the tailpipe earning me a smack in the back of the head. I popped the top off with my teeth and ignored the head shake Bobby gave me. It was a habit so sue me.

"So," I started trying to sound as causal as I could as I thumbed through a few of his books, "What's Dylan working on?"

"Some case in Missouri," Bobby replied offhandedly or so I thought until he placed down the map he had been going over and gave me a long hard look. "How'd you know that call was about him? You and that boy have something going on?"

"No," I sighed rubbing the back of my neck uneasily before taking a long sip of my beer. "Just know some of the names he likes to use when working a case is all. But you said Missouri?"

"Look at that, your ears are in proper working order," he replied sarcastically.

I scrunched my face up in mock, such a comedian this guy. "Big job?"

"Don't know. Why do you seem so interested?" The look on his face told me he wasn't going to let it go without an answer.

I shrugged but he wasn't as easy to dodge questions with as my brothers were. "It's…it's probably nothing but when he called us about the whole storage unit thing he was in Missouri. It just seems unlikely that he would still be there." My hand suddenly went to my mother's ring as I slid it back and forth across my chain. "Speaking of the storage unit. You knew about it didn't you?"

"Yeah, of course I did, I helped your dad build a lot of those curse boxes. Who do you think painted that devil's trap on the floor?" He answered going back to the map he had been studying before.

"Bobby, are you a fan of baseball?" I asked sitting down in one of the wooden chairs he had in front of his desk.

I kind of felt like I was back in high school sitting in front of the principle explaining why I had passed the test with flying colors when I had skipped the class to hangout with the stoners under the bleachers. But that was different times, I wasn't planning on getting in trouble or being interrogated with grueling questions, instead I was hoping for some guidance.

"I've caught the occasional game here or there on TV over the years but I don't know if I would consider myself a fan."

"Oh," I nodded at his response and took another long swig of my beer. "Dad didn't…I mean he hated sports…didn't he?"

Bobby set the map back on the desk and leaned forward in his chair. I was almost nervous about what he was going to answer and shifted to the front of my seat a little like I was about to be let in on some big secret.

"What's with all the baseball questions?"

I couldn't help but be disappointed with the lack of answers I got. "Nothing, Bobby, never mind," I sat back in the chair.

"What's running through that mind of yours?" Bobby questioned with such concern I had to look up to make sure it was still the same gruff hunter sitting there across from me. "It's not like you've never been able to talk to me before."

*FLASHBACK*

Dad had taken Dean on a hunt while Sam and I were to stay at Uncle Bobby's. We were supposed to be practicing our skills, everything from memorizing exorcisms to shooting cans in the back of the salvage yard.

"I don't understand why I couldn't have gone with dad," I huffed as I rested the shotgun on my shoulder, aiming at the bottles Uncle Bobby had set up before pulling the trigger and hitting my mark.

"Because training is so much fun," Sam replied sarcastically as he barely aimed the pistol he was using and totally missed his target.

"You need to straighten your arm out more," I tried to give Sam some pointers. "And if you need motivation picture someone you hate on the label of the bottle."

I reloaded the shotgun, rested it back on my shoulder and shot Sam's target before quickly spinning and shooting my own target as well shattering the glass.

"Do I want to know who you hate that much?" Sam questioned shaking his shaggy hair out of his eyes.

"No," I smiled ejecting the empty shells on the ground and placing the gun back on the table of guns Uncle Bobby had set up for us to practice with.

I was rubbing my lower stomach as Sam finished his clip and turned with a worried expression on his face. "You alright?"

"Yeah, probably ate too much at breakfast or something," I shrugged off his question as I went inside to use the bathroom.

I was horrified at what I discovered. Certainly, this wasn't supposed to happen for another year, right? Isn't that what they told us in health class? What was I supposed to do? It's not like Uncle Bobby would have anything I needed in the house and dad wasn't due back for another three days. Oh God, dad. How was I supposed to tell my dad? I could try and sneak into town but if I ever got caught Uncle Bobby would skin me alive not to mention what dad would do when he got home.

I made my way back downstairs and found Sam sitting at the kitchen table with a book of Latin exorcisms he was supposed to translate. Nope. There was no way in hell I was going to tell my twelve year old brother. I peered into the living room and didn't see Uncle Bobby. I eventually found him in the dining room cleaning the guns we had just used.

"Uh, Uncle Bobby," I spoke up and hated how much of a little kid I sounded like.

"Grab one," he motioned to the table, "I know you can do this with your eyes closed."

"Yes, sir," I nodded taking one of the gun in my hands and automatically taking it apart without really paying attention. "Umm…Uncle Bobby…I was wondering…I mean…it's just…"

"Spit it out, ya idgit, I ain't a mind reader."

"I need to go to the store," I stated and watched as his hands never stopped what they were doing as he looked up to meet my eyes.

"I'm sure whatever you need you will find somewhere in this house. Now, help me finish this up, then you are to join your brother and maybe later you two can pick out a movie."

That was the one thing I always liked about Uncle Bobby's house. We trained, learned what we had too, which I loved but he also remembered we were eleven, twelve and fifteen. We got to play catch in the yard after dinner or have movie marathons with tons of candy.

"Uncle Bobby, I really need to go to the store…like now…please…sir."

"Stop with the sir," he shook his head. "That's as bad as calling me Mr. Singer and I ain't my father."

"Sorry," I mumbled placing the gun I had been taking apart back on the table.

"Now what do you need that's so important at the store?"

Oh God, this was just mortifying though I sent up a silent thank you that Dean had been out of the house. He'd without a doubt have some kind of comment to make. If not have a coronary.

"Supplies."

"Supplies, for what?"

"I got my period," I blurted out before I really thought about what I was saying and felt the heat rise in my cheeks as Uncle Bobby dropped the gun he had been cleaning.

Uncle Bobby quickly pilled Sam and me in the car and we were off to the closest convenient store. Sam's nose was still stuck in whatever book he had been reading and didn't pay any attention to where we were going or why. Uncle Bobby on the other hand tried to give me 'the talk'.

I sat and listened to him stumble over his words as he tried using salt, rosary beads and holy water as metaphors until I couldn't take it anymore. I explained that I knew all about that from health class I just needed someone to take me to the store.

*Present*

When my dad first started leaving us with Bobby as he hunted things he deemed too dangerous for us to be around I was beyond livid. Even at a young age I hated the fact that my dad didn't see me as a strong and capable part of this family. It didn't matter to me that Dean and Sam also had to stay. I only saw it as him leaving me behind.

My anger only grew when Bobby pulled a shotgun on my dad shouting at him for not being around as much as he should. Some where along the line, some how, I found myself less angry and more excited to go to Bobby's. There were so many things to learn from the old hunter. I figured if I could surprise my dad with my new found knowledge and skill he would take me on more hunts.

Then one day it happened. My dad went 'missing' and the one man that had always been there for the three of us, for me, stepped up to the plate again. Now that my dad was gone for good I could only think of Bobby as the closest thing I had to a parent.

"Yeah, I guess not," I agreed. "I found some baseball ticket stubs in dad's lockup. It was always a set of two, always the same date and always the same team. I mean year after year. You'd think I would remember that, remember him leaving, but I don't. You don't know anything about that do you?"

"No," Bobby answered a little too quickly for my liking, "Sorry, darlin'."

Dean walked through the back door wiping his hands on a rag to rid them from the oil. It never ceased to amaze me how covered in grease he could get.

"I mean don't you think it's…" I tried to continue Bobby and mine's conversation when he cut me off.

"Dean, fight with your sister."

Dean stopped dead in his tracks looking to me with confusion written on his face that matched my own before turning his gaze to Bobby. "What?" We both questioned at the same time.

"When is the last time you two have sharpened your sparring skills? You're going to get rusty. Go on, clear a space," Bobby instructed motioning to the middle of the room.

I silently got up from my chair and set my beer on Bobby's desk before helping Dean move the couch as far back as it would go.

"What are you doing?" Sam questioned coming up from the basement and seeing us moving furniture around.

"Fighting," I answered pulling my hair up in a pony tail to keep it out of my face, "Because, you know, we haven't done it in awhile."

Sam looked over to Bobby to make sure he had heard right and the old hunter just readjusted his hat. "Trust me; they go at it all the time on the road."

"Well, go on," Bobby waved his hand at us ignoring Sam's comment. I couldn't help to think he was just trying to get me off the topic of the baseball stubs but he was basically giving me permission to kick Dean's ass and I wasn't going to give that up. Though, apparently, he had something else in mind. Role playing. "Alright, Dean, you're the shapeshifter. Now, try and attack you sister."

"We've done this already," I mumbled but positioned my feet nonetheless.

Dean lightly swung at me and I ducked just in time. He tried again and this time I just moved to the side with no enthusiasm whatsoever.

"Come on, Leah, you have to try!" Bobby scolded.

"I don't do hand to hand, Bobby," I argued with a growl. "If he was a shifter I would have shot him already and been done with it."

"Fine," the old hunter sighed, "Switch positions. Leah, you're an angry spirit. Try and take down your brother." It was much of the same. I did a few kicks and he carefully caught my foot so he wouldn't hurt me. It was all very methodical and boring. "What is with you two? I'm giving you permission to fight in my house, in my living room now put some effort behind it!"

Dean and I played it up a little more for Bobby's benefit but still held back. We were in a good place for the first time in what seemed like forever and I didn't want to risk messing that up. There were too many questions still rolling around my head and to add the stress of Dean and I arguing wouldn't help anything.

Sam, on the other hand, was happy to add fuel to the fire.

"Dean, remember when you had a flat tire and was late for your date with the bartender from Sandusky? You were pissed but shrugged it off as bad luck. It was Leah. She poked a small hole in the tire before you left."

Dean's calm face quickly disappeared as it flashed with anger. "You did that to my baby?!"

"You were being an ass!" I defended and had to move quickly as he tried to put me in a chokehold.

"I missed my date because of that!" he shouted trying to grab me again. "You could have bent the rim or screwed the alignment all to hell!"

"You put peroxide in my shampoo! My hair was fucked until I was able to die it back!" I smirked, "What was her name? The bartender."

"Barbara," he stated confidently with a nod.

"Brenda," Sam corrected as he leaned against the door frame with a laugh. "Leah, remember when dad left you at Pastor Jim's while the three of us went to hunt down what we thought was a werewolf? Dad only left you behind because Dean told him you were having 'feminine problems' when in reality he just wanted a guy's weekend."

I saw red. Dean knew how much I hated being left behind but apparently that didn't matter to him. This time as I swung at him I didn't hold back and put all of my weight behind the punch I landed on his jaw. Play fighting was over. Now we were pissed and both trying to teach the other one a lesson. He snaked one arm around my neck trying to take me down and before Sam could intervene I kicked my leg back catching him square in the balls. He quickly released me with a painful grunt as he tried to stay standing. While he was hunched over I pushed him making him fall to the ground.

"That good enough for you?" I angrily directed my questioned towards Bobby before storming up to 'my' room in the house and slamming the door behind me.

I took a few deep breaths and pulled my hair tie out letting my hair fall down my back. I sat down on the bed, trying to calm myself down but the constant tick of the clock was only building the anger I had already bubbling beneath the surface. The sound seemed to get louder, more daunting, as every second passed until I couldn't take it anymore and snatched it off the wall. I opened the window and threw it as far as I could into the salvage yard with a satisfying crunch.

I shouldn't have gotten as mad as I had at Dean. Hell, it was years ago. But I already had my own demons I was dealing with though he didn't know that. Time was ticking. A year seemed like a good amount of time in the beginning but now as every day, every hour, every minute that passed I realized I was much closer to going downstairs. Two months had already flown past. I was terrified and this wasn't something that Dean, Sam or Bobby for that matter would be able to make better with a piece of candy or a good chat.

I was still waiting on the D.N.A. results I had sent out. Was I leaving behind more than two brothers? What would Dean do depending on what they said? I had less than a year. This kid, if he was Dean's, had much longer. Would Dean leave?

Sam. Sam had my stomach turning in knots. If he wasn't one hundred percent himself I would know, wouldn't I? I mean I had been with him everyday of his life except for when he went off to college. When he was hot I was cold. When he saw blue I saw red. We were opposites, argued about hunting and school and futures. But he was my best friend, my scarecrow and the one person I could sit up with eating gallons of ice cream. Why then did I feel like he was betraying my trust by talking to Ruby?

All this thinking was driving me insane. I had never felt so alone. I had started going on hunts a few years back by myself and loved every minute of it. The power that came with knowing I could handle things on my own but the security of having Dean or my dad on speed dial just in case. A phone call wasn't going to change this, wasn't going to make me feel safe again.

There were so many things I realized I would never get to do in my life. I would never get the chance to get married nor have children. I laughed a little and shook my head. Me and marriage have never even been in the same sentence together. It's never even been a brief thought but now it's all I can think about. Though I suppose the world wouldn't be able to handle any little Leahs running around.

Lost in a daydream I took my mom's ring off my chain and put it on my left hand. I stared at it for awhile trying to imagine it as my own but it only made the memory of her more real for me. There was a knock at the door and I went to take it off before I answered except it wouldn't budge. Holy crap. I started freaking out as I pulled and twisted with all my might.

"Leah, can I come in for a minute?" I heard Sam call through the door.

Crap. Crap. Crap. It won't come off! I quickly scanned the room for something, anything, that could help. My eyes landed on a bottle of hand cream on the nightstand. I ran over and nearly dumped the whole bottle on my hand not caring if I made a mess. Even with half the bottle on my hand and the other half on the floor the ring wouldn't come off.

"Le?" Sam knocked again but this time I saw the door knob turning.

"Wait, I'm naked!" I shouted the first thing that came to mind and mentally kicked myself. Why the hell would I be naked? Oh who cares it stopped him from coming in. I grabbed the pillow case off the pillow and wiped up as much of the cream as I could before tucking it behind the headboard. Doing a quick sweep of the room I thought it would be alright if he came in now. I stuck my left hand in my back pocket and opened the door. "Sorry, what's up?"

Sam looked at me like I was nine shades of crazy before scanning the room. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah," I nodded wanting to get this little conversation over with so I could get back to the little problem I was having.

"Good, 'cause I wanted to talk to you for a minute," he started as he walked into the room. If he didn't have such a serious look on his face I would have made him leave but curiosity had gotten the best of me. He motioned for me to sit next to him on the bed and I wondered how I was supposed to do that without showing him my left hand. I pondered it for a minute before sitting down next to him and instantly shoved my hand under my leg. "I want to talk about the deal."

"Sam," I warned not wanting to get into this yet again. I mean how many times were we going to go over this? How was I supposed to push down my feelings if he kept bring them back up?

"Just hear me out," he almost pleaded. "You sit there and tell us over and over again to just leave it alone." I nodded along wondering why if he already knew what I was going to say that we were having this conversation again. "But I don't buy it. I know you're scared. How could you not be? I couldn't even imagine what it must feel like…"

"Stop," I cut him off, painfully aware of how I was actually feeling about the whole thing. "Sam, please…"

"Just leave it alone," he finished for me with a sigh. "But I can't, especially not after I found this," he pulled out a folded up piece of paper from his pocket.

"No," I whispered snatching it out of his hands and opening it to reveal the bucket list I had written out a few weeks back. "How?" My voice cracked a little as I stared at the paper in disbelief. "Where did you get this?!"

"I was doing laundry and…" he started to explain but again I cut him off.

"No!" I shouted getting off the bed, completely forgetting about my left hand, as I waved both hands around in frustration. "This wasn't with my clothes, you went through my things?! Sam, this was zippered in the side pocket of my duffel. Not even a pocket big enough to hold a pair of socks so do NOT sit there are tell me you found it while you were just doing laundry!"

"Leah, what's the big deal?" Sam questioned his voice still calm as he sat on the bed as I paced back and forth. He wasn't supposed to read this. No one was. I didn't even want to write it down. I shouldn't have. Ugh.

"What's that big deal?!" I screeched my voice going up about twelve octaves. "You went through my stuff Samuel! How?...How could you do that?! That was personal! I'm happy you are in touch with your feelings Dr. Phil but some things are meant to stay private!"

"Babe, I didn't," he went to explain but he stopped seeing Dean leaning in the doorway.

"Just making sure she didn't kick you in the jewels too," Dean gave me a pointed look. Oh shove it big brother, you deserved it. It was then I noticed something different about him. Anyone else wouldn't have caught it, his facial expression never changing but there was something different in his eyes. Guilt? Concern? Whatever it was it wasn't the anger I was expecting.

It suddenly all pieced together and the realization came crashing down on me. I spun on my feet and shoved the piece of paper right under Sam's nose. "You…you showed him?! God, Sam, what the fuck is wrong with you?!"

Dean wasn't there to make sure I didn't hurt Sam. He was there as backup.

"Leah," Sam let out a long breath. "Dean's wish was to go find Lisa. You know what mine is?"

"For me not to kick your ass from here to Mars?" I growled.

"No," he replied softly giving me those sad eyes. Damn him and those eyes. Why did I have to get Dean's eyes, Sam's could have gotten me out of so much trouble in the past. "My wish is that you would talk to us. To me. Tell us what's really going on. Tell us that you don't actually want to go to hell."

"Of course you couldn't just wish for something easy like going to see the Museum of Natural History or for me to sit and watch a marathon of Bruce Lee movies with you," I muttered with a sigh.

"I'm serious, Leah," he stood for the first time and though nothing changed I felt as if the room was getting too small for the three of us.

"So am I, Sam," I grounded out as I made my way towards the door and purposefully hit Dean with my shoulder as I pushed my way out. "And stay out of my stuff!"

SUPERNATURAL

I had wandered down the dirt driveway towards the road where the mailbox was. I flipped through the junk mail until I saw it. It had finally come, the results.

"Leah!" I heard Bobby calling me from the front porch. "Leah, you out here?"

I don't know if it was out of spite for Dean reading my wish list or just the fact that I wasn't ready to know the truth but I folded the envelope and stuck it in my back pocket.

"Coming," I called back as I made my way to the house and handed over the mail as he waited for me on the front porch.

In true Bobby fashion he carelessly tossed the mail on the closest table and motioned for me to follow him to his desk. "I could use your help, if you don't mind."

I nodded and started taking apart the colt. After I took each piece off carefully I would pass it over to Bobby who would go over every little detail. The gun hadn't been properly cleaned and I had a hard time getting a few pieces off so I used a small brush Bobby had to try and dislodge some dirt and rust, not wanting to break it by forcing it apart.

I knew Bobby could have done this on his own but I was thankful for the distraction as I focused all my thoughts and energy to the task at hand. We worked in silence until Dean joined us setting up a little station on the corner of the desk to melt silver down into bullets.

"Um," Sam cleared his throat as he joined us, "I might have found some omens in Ohio; dry lightening, barometric-pressure drop."

"Well, that's thrilling," Dean commented.

"Plus, some guy blows his head off in a church and another goes postal in a hobby shop before the cops take him out," Sam continued. "Might be demonic omens."

"Or just suicide and a psycho scrap booker," Dean added as I handed the last piece to Bobby.

"But it's our best lead since Lincoln," Sam tried again.

I got up to grab myself a beer and as I passed Sam I muttered, "Does that mean it's your best lead to see Ruby again?"

"What?" he questioned in a loud whisper following me into the kitchen.

"Don't give me that innocent look Sam. I know you have that demon whore's number in your phone," I whispered back angrily.

"You went through my phone?!"

"Not nice when people go through your things now is it?" I smiled sarcastically and we both shut up as Dean came closer to us.

"Where in Ohio?" Dean asked oblivious to the conversation Sam and I were just having or the daggers we were shooting at one another.

"Elizabethville," Sam answered giving me one more glare. "Half-dead factory town in the rust belt."

SUPERNATURAL

The car ride was uncomfortable. You could cut the tension with a knife but it had become the new normal lately. Who the hell knew what Dean's problem was but there would be no way I was going to ask. I was halfway through the tabloid magazine I had bought for the trip when he spoke up.

"So…you really want to go skydiving?" Dean questioned turning the music down a little so he could hear my answer.

I groaned and shifted in my seat. "It's really none of your business."

"But skydiving," Dean continued as if I hadn't said anything at all. "I mean you really want to jump out of a plane, thousands of feet up in the air and what free fall to the ground?"

"Why not?" I shrugged and hated myself that he had baited me into conversation. I swear he was as bad as Sam sometimes. And that was saying something as Dean never engaged in the heart to hearts or as he liked to call it, 'chick-flicks'.

"What happens if your 'chute doesn't open?"

"You become a bloody pancake," Sam replied and I couldn't help but think he was being a little overdramatic about me going through his phone. For one, he handed it to me. It wasn't like I stole it. And two, I wasn't planning on finding her name there as I scrolled through his contacts. It was just kind of…there.

"You know," I sat up straighter so I could talk between their shoulders. "The odds of a parachute not opening is like one in a thousand, not to mention that the reserve, your backup, has the odds of one in a million for not opening."

"Or you could just learn to fly," Sam rattled off another thing I had written on my list like it was nothing.

These were personal. These were my hopes, dreams, and wishes for my life before it was over. It was not to be used as a crutch to hurt me because I had gone through his phone. It was not open to discussion and I was certainly not going to sit back and let them belittle any of the things I had written down. I felt violated. These were things they would have never known, I would have never shared with either of them if they hadn't invaded my privacy.

"My favorite was that you wanted a tattoo," Dean continued the conversation blissfully unaware of the volcano that was about to erupt in the backseat. "Any ideas of what you would get? Better yet, where? Don't think I'm letting my sister get a tramp stamp."

The word 'letting' was the last straw. "Fucking stop talking about it!" I screamed, my breathing labored as my hands shook with anger and my eyes watered. "You know what?" I pulled the list from my pocket careful to keep the envelope in its place and tore it into pieces before tossing it out the window. "There…it's gone."

They had crossed the line.

SUPERNATURAL

We pulled into Elizabethville and let's just say it wasn't the small no name town I expected it to be. It looked more like spring break meets the Jersey shore minus the Doritos colored tans. And was that? No it couldn't be. Oh God, this chick was walking down the street in ankle boots, fishnet stockings under her shorts and a florescent green halter-top.

Dean and Sam stumbled over their words as they said they would go talk to the pastor of the church where the guy committed suicide. They knew they messed up but until I heard those two little words I wasn't going to let it go. While they were inside the people walking around the town had kept me from getting bored. I actually felt over dressed in my jeans and plain shirt under my button up.

"Two months ago, we open up the devil's gate and all of a sudden this town turns into Margaritaville? It's no coincidence," Sam said as he slid into the front seat.

Great, just something else we screwed up.

We headed to a motel we would be calling home for the time being. Dean had just gotten the door open and started laughing at the mirrors on the ceiling when the door across from our room opened. I rolled my eyes seeing a woman come out dressed like a school girl with pigtails and everything.

"Leah?" the guy asked as he gave the girl some money and smacked her ass as she walked away.

Sam looked over to me in shock probably thinking the worse when Dean poked his head out in the hallway. "Richie? I don't believe it."

Richie? No, fucking way!

"I knew it was you," Richie smiled walking over and throwing his arm around my shoulders as Dean held the door open so we could come inside the room.

Dean motioned to Sam who was just standing there looking like he was in the twilight zone. "This is our brother, Sam."

"Hey, how ya doin'?" Richie nodded.

"Not too bad," Sam replied still looking between the three of us, probably confused as to why Richie and I were basically hanging all over each other and Dean seemed to have no problem with it whatsoever. "How do you guys know each other?"

"You were in school," Dean replied claiming his bed closest to the door.

"It was that succubus, in Canarsie right?" I questioned trying to remember.

Dean nodded as Richie replied, "Oh, man. You should have seen the rack on this broad. Freakin' tragedy when I had to gank her."

"Whoa, whoa," Dean cut in, "Who killed her? If I remember, your ass was toast until I showed up."

I loudly cleared my throat, "Excuse me? Don't you mean until I showed up? You two were slipping in the piles of drool coming out your mouths from staring at her chest."

"Girl was stacked," Richie exclaimed shaking his head at the memory. "But you," he pinched my side, "missed."

"You didn't even take a shot!" I argued pinching him back harder and twisting my fingers to make sure it hurt.

"Richie, Richie," Dean sighed. "I told you then and I'll tell you again, you're not cut out for this job. You're going to get yourself killed."

"F.Y.I. Winchester, words hurt," Richie commented as he sat down on the small couch our room had and pulled me to sit with him.

"You, uh, you don't look like any hunter we've ever seen," Sam said still standing in the same spot as he gave Richie a once over. I saw his eyes shift to me ever couple of seconds and I couldn't tell if he was happy that I was smiling again or pissed that Dean didn't seem to care that this guy was all over me.

Richie popped his collar, "'Cause I know how to dress."

"Yeah something like that," I laughed as he tickled my side and put the hat he was wearing on my head.

"So, what'd you find around town?" Sam asked unpacking a few of his shirts and setting them on the other bed in the room.

"Eh," Richie shrugged. "A couple of cheap tricks, nothing you'd bring home to mom but hell, who wants a good girl anyways, am I right?"

"He meant the job," I whispered and tried to stop myself from laughing at his response.

"Oh…I've got nothing. Church guy and hobby shop guy were lunch meat by the time I got there. Maybe they were possessed, but I can't prove it. The only other nice guy turned douche in the town is this guy Trotter. He used to be the head of the Rotary Club. Then he turned bastard all of a sudden; brought in the gambling, the hookers. He practically owns this whole town."

"See, he knows how to do his job," I told Dean who rolled his eyes.

"Know where we can find him?" Sam questioned still in 'hunter mode'.

"Oh, he'll be at his bar in a few hours," Richie answered getting up from the couch and pulling me with him. "But until then your sister and I have a little catching up to do. Like explaining to me when she got hitched."

Both brothers stopped what they were doing and froze in their spot. Great, I'm with these two idiots twenty four seven and they never noticed mom's ring. I'm with Richie for five minutes and he calls me out on it. Story of my life.

"She's not married!" Dean nearly shouted the little vein in his forehead quickly making its appearance.

"You married Dylan?" Sam questioned with shock.

I thought of the possibility of having some fun with this since apparently Dean thought it would be absurd for me to even contemplate marriage and Sam thought I would have chosen Dylan if I did. However, I didn't want to waste my time that I had with Richie.

"I'm not married," I looked between them before my gaze fell to the worn carpet. "It's mom's." Dean's anger all but dissipated as he gave a very subtle nod almost as if he was letting me know it was ok with him. Sam turned on the sad eyes again. "Don't say anything, Samuel. I didn't want to wear it…it just got stuck."

"Alright, come on, Trigger." Richie and I walked out the door and into his room but not until he told my brothers we would meet them at the bar later.

*Flashback*

"I'm not going in there," Dean argued as we made our way closer to the door of the night club.

The music was so loud you could hear it from the street and the line to get in was wrapped around the block.

"Dean, all the victims have been young dudes who their friends said they went out partying the night before. If you take away the run down bar and the bowling alley this is the only place that they would be hanging out," I pulled out my fake I.D. and flashed it to the bouncer who checked it and let me through.

I stood on the other side of the rope waiting for Dean to do the same but we just stood there in some intense staring game to see who would break first.

"Fine," I huffed and Dean smirked a little thinking I was giving up. "I'll just do this myself."

Within mere seconds he had his badge out and was walking with me through the crowds of people with his hand on my back so we wouldn't get separated.

"Maybe it is a good thing we took this one and dad took the Wendigo," Dean commented motioning for the bartender to get him a beer.

"Why's that?" I asked scanning the crowd when my eyes fell on a guy who carried a gun. It wasn't uncommon, especially in this part of town but there was something about him that caught my eye.

"Could you see him in a place like this?" Dean questioned but I was already weaving my way through the people on the dance floor to get closer to the guy who had sparked my interest.

He was standing off to one side. "Hey," I smiled looking up at him through my lashes, "want to dance?"

"Sorry, suga, I'm working."

"Please," I pouted before turning my back to him and swaying my hips to the music. "Just one dance?"

His hands made their way into the front pockets of my jeans as we moved together to the song. My back was pressed up against his chest as he rested his head on my shoulder to whisper in my ear. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing with a gun?"

"You've got one too," I replied glancing over to where I had left Dean just in case things got out of control and I saw him chatting up some blonde.

"Yeah, well, there are things…evil things…that I need to protect people from. That I could protect you from." He followed my line of sight. "Boyfriend?"

"Brother," I corrected as I reached my arms up and interlaced my fingers behind his neck. "I don't need protecting though, I take can take care of myself."

"Trust me, suga, you don't know what you're talking about," he bit the side of my neck before kissing the same spot.

I wasn't complaining that Dean hadn't interrupted us like he normally would have done but it sure started an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. When I scanned the crowd for him again I saw the blonde leading him out to the alley way.

"Shit," I cursed letting go of the guy I had been dancing with as I tried to get to Dean.

"Wait up, princess," he called after me.

I didn't reply or slow down as I saw the dazed look in Dean's eye as he went out the door. Something wasn't right. By the time I had gotten through the crowd and out to the alley the blonde was standing over Dean who lying on the ground unconscious.

"I was hoping you would show tonight," I heard the guy I was dancing with speak up as he went to reach for his gun but it was like the moment he looked into her eyes he was in a daze.

"Oh for the love of God," I mutter pulling out my gun and shooting at the succubus but she moved before I could get a hit.

Then as she was advancing on me I heard a bang and then her chest started bleeding before she fell to the ground. I looked over and saw Dean sitting on the ground out of breath with the gun in his hand.

I tucked my gun back in my jeans and went over to help him up. We were about to go back inside when he grabbed the other guy by the collar and shoved him against the brick wall. "You watch your hands on my sister or the next bullet is going through you."

"He for real?" the guy questioned as Dean walked back into the club.

"Deadly," I replied in all seriousness.

He seemed to think about it for a minute before taking his chances anyway. "Richie."

"Leah," I smiled.

"Nu-uh," he shook his head as he held the door open for me. "Trigger."

*Present*

"Where the hell have you been?" I genuinely smiled for the first time since we had left Bobby's. "I've missed you."

Richie was the kind of guy you could shamelessly flirt with because you knew it would go no farther than that. There was the occasional kiss here and there but that's where it stopped. He was the closest thing I had to a best friend and I couldn't get enough of his laid back attitude.

"Eh," he shrugged. "Here…there…you know around. Something different about you though."

"Yeah? What's that?"

He rubbed his thumb over my cheek almost as if he was studying my face trying to figure it out. "Your eyes. That spark is gone."

I pulled away and sat on his bed as we chatted about what we had been doing the last couple of years. We talked about everything and anything from my dad to Ash and how I really felt about Dylan. Though I did leave certain aspects out like the deal and whatever was going on with this Ruby chick. He told me all about his latest conquests and a few boyfriends that he had run-ins with but he added that none were as bad as Dean when we first met.

While Richie was in the bathroom changing and freshening up for his date with the bartender later that night I took that opportunity of being alone to pull out the envelope that had come in the mail. I double checked that Richie wouldn't be coming out anytime soon before ripping it open carefully. I scanned the through it ignoring the unimportant words when I saw the results.

D.N.A. gathered is a 99.9% match.

I was an aunt. Dean was a father. Crap, how in the hell was I going to tell Dean? Why did I even do the damn test in the first place? No one would have known the difference. Dean was convinced he wasn't the father, Lisa was unsure and Ben didn't know there was even a possibility.

"You changing before we go?" Richie opened the bathroom door but before he could come out I stuffed the paper back in the envelope and shoved it back in my pocket.

"Uh, no," I replied after clearing my throat to make sure my voice didn't give anything away.

SUPERNATURAL

"That's Trotter over there," Richie motioned to a bald guy dressed in a nice all black suit. "He sits there all night. Can't touch him."

"I'm sure I could…" I started thinking of the many ways I had 'distracted' men in the past.

"No," Richie, Sam and Dean all cut me off simultaneously. Well, jeez guys thanks for the vote of confidence.

"So, what do we do now?" Sam questioned side stepping so that this Trotter guy wasn't even in my line of sight anymore.

Relax, Sasquatch, what was I going to do? Seduce him with my eyes? Well I suppose I could I mean my eyes are gorgeous but…crap. Focus, Leah, focus. You're working a job you don't have time to think about how beautiful you are or the fact that you're an aunt and have to break the news to your unsuspecting brother. Oh thank God we're in a bar I definitely could use a drink because let's face it all good decisions come after a couple of shots.

I broke out of my thoughts when Richie kissed me on the cheek. "Don't worry, Trigger, you're still my favorite girl." He looked around to make sure no one was listening before leaning into the small circle we had created. "Winchester, you got a condom? 'Cause I'm sealing the deal tonight and I didn't have time to swing by the store."

"Yeah," He chuckled and I thought Sam's eyes were going to fall out of his head as Dean pulled two out of his wallet. "Don't want any little ones running around. But there's no way you get a girl like that. You could fit that ass on a nickel."

Yup, needed that drink now. What the hell? Wasn't Dean the one who said the kid deserved to know the truth? He doesn't even want this kid to be his. Why did I have to be the messenger? Certainly I couldn't just hide the truth, could I? No. That wouldn't be fair. It wasn't my decision to make. I had no right.

"Back off Winchester, she's mine."

"I need liquor," I blurted out not waiting for a response as I walked over to the bar sat down and waited for the bartender to be free.

It wasn't until after my second shot that I switched to beer remembering that we had to keep an eye on this Trotter guy. Dean and Sam chatted with Richie until the bartender had her shift covered and they left to go back to her place. I sent Richie a text reminding him that I wanted to meet for lunch tomorrow while Dean and Sam made small talk with some locals before joining a game of pool. I thought about joining them when I realized that I was sitting next to the reverend.

He let out a deep breath and I looked around. Of course I was the only one around. I couldn't just ignore him. I mean wouldn't that put me in a worse hell? Were there even different levels of hell?

"Everything alright, padre?" I questioned and hated how much I sounded like Dean sometimes.

"Still waiting on my confession from Casey," he answered and I watched in awe as he took his shot. This was my kind of father.

"Casey?"

"The bartender," he explained.

"Ah," I nodded as I picked at the label on my beer bottle.

I thought about giving the father my confession. I'd never been truly religious but Sam was always rattling on about how much better you feel after you talk to someone and I mean confessions are confidential, aren't they? So it wasn't like I had to worry about him going and telling Dean.

I was about to turn and start talking to the father when I heard a gun shot go off before I saw Dean tackling a guy to the ground. I made my way over to my brothers to make sure they were alright as I saw Sam toss some holy water on the guy but it had no effect.

"What are you doing?" the guy shouted. "He slept with my wife! That bastard slept with my wife!"

And that people is why I don't mess with married guys. That poor bastard is dead. Infidelity literally cost him his life.

SUPERNATURAL

"He still didn't show?" Dean questioned as he walked over to the table I had claimed in the bar the next day with three beers in hand.

"No," I sighed checking my phone again.

"Maybe he just bailed," Sam offered not knowing Richie the way I did.

"No way," I shook my head. "He wouldn't stand me up."

"I agree with Le on this one. He's a moron. He's a sweet moron, but he's not a coward. He wouldn't just bail," Dean sat down next to me and took a long swig of his beer.

I clicked onto the internet on my phone and typed in Richie's number trying to locate him by the GPS in his phone. "I've got to find him."

"We will," Dean assured patting my knee as I waited for the stupid little circle to stop going around as my screen flashed 'loading'.

"Alright, meanwhile I think I'm going to trail this Trotter guy. There was something about the way he looked at me last night, maybe there is something going on here," Sam stood up and placed his beer between Dean and I knowing that it wouldn't go to waste.

"Take Dean with you," I replied not looking up from my phone as the stupid little circle mocked me as it spun around still trying to load.

"No," Dean spoke up, "If Richie is in trouble you're going to need backup."

"And if Trotter is the problem, Sam is going to need the backup," I countered.

"Sam can take care of himself."

"And I can't?"

"I didn't say that, but I'd feel better if I was with you."

"And I would feel better if I knew Sam wasn't fighting baldy by himself."

Sam loudly cleared his throat, "I am still here guys."

"I don't like this," Dean disagreed running a hand through his hair in frustration. He was right and I shouldn't have put him in this situation where I made him feel like he was choosing between Sam and me.

"Dean, please," I almost begged. "Just go with Sam." I need to see if I can do this without you, I added silently remembering the results I still had placed securely in my back pocket.

"Anything, and I mean anything," Dean pointed a finger at me as he finished his beer and stood up. "You call, you hear?"

"Yeah, yeah," I nodded barely paying attention as my phone finally loaded. "Good luck."

"You too."

I followed the directions on my phone to an old stone mansion on the outskirts of town. I checked and double checked the address but it said this is where Richie was. I did a quick sweep of the grounds making sure I was alone before walking inside. I tried to call Richie's number to see if I could hear it ringing but I realized I had no service. Damn hick towns. I'm sure the stone walls didn't help either.

"Richie," I loudly whispered hoping to only alert him of my presence and not whoever owned this place. "Richie, come on, this isn't funny."

I walked down a stone staircase to see him lying dead on the floor his head completely twisted the wrong way. I gasped and backed myself up against the wall as my phone dropped carelessly from my hands shattering as it hit the concrete floor.

"No, no, no, no," I whispered as a few tears escaped but they didn't last long as my sorrow turned to pure rage.

That bartender, Casey, was going to regret the day she ever messed with one of my friends.

I tried to move Richie's body, give him the proper hunter's funeral but I couldn't lift him on my own and I couldn't call for help because my phone had shattered. I looked around the basement and found some old white wall paint and a flat head screwdriver to pop the top off. Using an old rag I started my masterpiece then it was time to put my plan in action.

I had just replaced the carpet so the devil's trap was covered when I spun around and heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I didn't have time to hide before Casey appeared in front of me.

"You shouldn't be here," her eyes flashed black as she walked further into the room.

I walked backwards matching her steps until she went to lunge at me but she met an invisible force field.

"Gotcha bitch. See, Richie was a friend of mine and while I doubt you care who you decide to kill you just pissed off a Winchester," I nearly growled in anger. "And now your ass will be going back to hell where it belongs. Exorcizamus te, omnis santanica protestas, omnis incursio infernalis…"

She tutted and shook her head, "I don't think so." I stopped chanting as it became windy in the basement and I had to cover my eyes to block out the dust and before I knew it the entrance caved in with a mass of boulders.

"Think that's going to work?" I questioned hiding my fear as well as any Winchester could. "You're still stuck in your little circle bitch."

She laughed and sat down resting her arms on her knees, "So are you…bitch."

SUPERNATURAL

I had circled the basement for the seventh time trying to find a way out when I gave up and sat down leaning against the wall. Damn it, I hate it when Dean's right. He's never going to let me live this down now. I couldn't understand why the exorcism didn't work. There were others I could try but I was so used to that one working that I hadn't as easily memorized the others.

"This is a fun game," she commented. "I wonder who will show up first."

Don't socialize with the demon Leah. That would make you as bad as Sam with Ruby. "What do you mean?" I questioned ignoring my inner conscious.

"What, you thought I was flying solo?" she smirked. "We just have to see who shows up first the Calvary or the Indians."

"I hate history," I spat. God, Dean was really going to kill me now. Not only was I stuck with a demon in the basement in the middle of nowhere but there was another demon just chilling in town and I had no way to warn them. "How do I even know you are telling the truth? Demons lie."

"Some do," she nodded. "Some are just true believers."

Stop having conversation with the demon spawn from hell, you idiot, your turning into your brother. "Believers in what?" Good job, asshole, keep chatting. It's not like you're going anywhere. Might as well have tea and cookie with the bitch.

"You think humans have an exclusive on a higher power?"

"You have a God?" I sputtered out not trusting what I was hearing.

Casey sat up a little straighter as our conversation continued. I hated it but she was actually being civil. "Sure. His name is Lucifer."

"The devil?"

"Your word, not ours. Lucifer actually means 'light bringer'. Look it up. Once he was the most beautiful of all God's angels, but God demanded that he bow down before man and when he refused God banished him," she explained. "Tell me, Leah. How do you like bowing before lesser creatures?"

"Lu-Lucifer's really real?" I didn't bother to hide the worry behind my voice anymore. I had many images and thought about what would be waiting for me in hell but the devil himself had never been one of them.

"Well, no one's actually seen him, but that say that he made us into what we are and they say that he'll return. You talk like human's are such a loveable bunch but I have two words for you, Leah. Dick Cheney. He has a special parking spot reserved for him downstairs."

I clenched my fists so tight I could feel my nails digging into my skin but it didn't stop me from asking the one question that had been rolling around in my head for the last two months. "What's it really like down there?" I hated how curious I sounded and that we were chatting like old friends.

"That's right," she smiled moving so that she was lying on her stomach propping herself up by her elbows like we were having a slumber party instead of being trapped in a basement. "You booked a one-way ticket with that deal. You're not going to like it, Leah. And, um, judging from the trouble you've caused, I don't think you'll be getting the presidential suite. No, it's a pit of despair. Why do you think we want to come here?"

Lovely, hell was so torturous even demons wanted out. My mind tried counting all the demons I had exorcised over the many years of hunting. They would all be waiting for me down there and they would all get their chance to return the torture I had imposed on them.

"That deal you made to save Sam…a lot of others would mock you for it; think it was weak or stupid. I don't."

A demon thinking making a deal was good thing, big shocker there.

"You know it's been kind of liberating, actually. What's the point in worrying about a future when you don't have one?" I half smiled, thinking about how if either of my brother's were here they would be hounding me questions or demands to snap out of it. It was kind of nice to talk to someone, demon or not, and feel like I wasn't being judged on my answers. Oh who was I kidding, she was a demon and when it came down to it, it was all mind games anyways.

"You're not scared?"

"Nope," I answered quickly easily lying through my teeth.

That's when I really thought about it. I was beyond terrified and not about just what would be waiting for me in hell. I'd miss working on the Impala with Dean when it would undoubtedly need repairs. I'd miss arguing with Sam over what constellation was where when we would lay out under the stars on the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere while Dean would make snide comments about how nerdy we were. I'd miss their protectiveness. I'd miss them.

I made my decision as I got up and walked over to one of the candles that were lit and pulled the results out of my pocket. Without a second thought I lit the corner on fire. I watched as the fire danced around the edges consuming the paper until nothing was left but a small pile of ashes. "Forgive me father, for I have sinned," I whispered.

"What was that?"

"My grocery list," I lied again pushing the guilt down that had already started settling deep within me. I sat back on the ground, cross legged this time and looked over to Casey. "Can I ask you a question?"

"I'm an open book."

"Yeah, I'm sure," I scoffed. "But seriously, the gate opened. The demon army was let out. What now? I'm not really seeing some big plan."

"Honestly, there was a plan. Azazel was a tyrant but he held us all together."

"Azazel?"

"You think his brothers just called him 'yellow eyes'? He had a name. After your brother did him in, it all fell apart."

"But I don't get it," I hated that I was confessing. "Shouldn't there have been some kind of backup? There was no chain of command?"

"There was," she confirmed. "It was Sam. Sam was supposed to be the grand pooh-bah and lead the big army but he hasn't actually stepped up to the plate has he?"

"No," I answered softly while internally I was screaming, I hope not.

Was this why he was talking to Ruby? Was she recruiting him for some demon army? No, there is no way. He is still my Sammy. There's nothing he could do that would make me give up on him. He's as smart as it gets. He's just using the blonde whore for information. He is being protective, he thinks he can get me out of my deal. Idiot, is going to end up getting himself and Dean killed.

"For the record I was ready to follow Sam."

"Awesome," I replied sarcastically.

"Leah!" I heard Dean's voice and it was like music to my ears.

Casey shrugged, "Looks like you win."

"Leah!" Dean yelled again.

"Dean!" I screamed as loud as I could near the grate so he could hear me.

"Leah?" I heard his voice getting closer but I still couldn't see him.

I stood on the tips of my toes as if the extra few inches it gave me would make a difference. "Dean, down here! The basement caved in!"

"Leah," I finally saw his face and my body flooded with relief. "Are you alright?" I glanced over to Casey who had stood up off the ground and shrugged. All in all things could have been worse. "Hold on, okay? We're all here."

"Who's we?" I questioned automatically assuming it would be just him and Sam.

"We're here with the father."

I turned and looked over to Casey again who smirked. Oh you've got to be kidding me. How could a demon even possess a man of faith? Wouldn't they have problems walking onto church ground since they were supposed to be holy?

"De, be careful," I warned giving him a knowing look and he nodded before sneaking out of my line of sight.

"Well, this has been real," Casey commented.

"Yeah…" I trailed off not knowing what else to say and I groaned how superficial I was about to sound but said it anyway. "I like your shoes."

All of a sudden the rocks that had caved in were flung to the side as the father came walking down the stairs.

"Sit a spell," he smiled over to me as I was thrown against the wall.

"Don't," she tried to stop him but his eyes burned black and I felt as if there was a hand around my neck cutting off my air supply.

Just as spots started to form in my eyes my brothers were down the stairs and Sam started reciting the more powerful exorcism that I had forgotten and as the last word left his mouth I slid down the wall as the black smoke escaped both bodies.

SUPERNATURAL

We had given Richie the proper hunter's funeral and we were on our way back to Bobby's. Sam lost in thought as he watched the scenery pass us by and Dean drummed his fingers along the steering wheel to the beat of the drums. I was almost surprised when he turned the music off and glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

"So, I've been on edge ever since you sent in that test. You get the results yet?"

"Yeah," I nodded giving him my best sad smile. "No match, looks like you're off the hook."

He let out a sigh of relief as he turned the music back up, "Thank God."

It was the most selfish thing I would ever do and the moment I burned the paper the guilt started to settle deep within me but being Winchester pushing down your emotions was part of the job. I needed Dean and I wasn't going to let anything or anyone get in the way of my last ten months with him. My gaze shifted over to Sam. This Ruby chick had to go, if I was willing to keep Dean away from his son I certainly wasn't going to let Sam go have play dates with her.

But that would be tomorrow's problem; today I just had to worry about getting this ring off my finger and back on my necklace.