Thanks to the followers who jumped on this bandwagon early on! I hope I can keep you happy! I'm humbled! I would love reviews! Since this is the beginning of the story the chapters are kinda long because I wanna fill in bits and pieces from the past that play in later. Sorry if there's any typos! I work nights and I'm writing on limited sleep ;)

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but Emily.

I'm comfortably settled in the backseat of the impala listening to Dean sing along to hot-blooded. Sam on the other hand is sleeping, not peacefully might I add. He keeps wincing, making noises, its obvious that he's having another nightmare. They come all the time since Jessica. I feel sorry for him; I want him to get some rest but I also hate to watch him like this. Dean noticed too. He looked to me and I nodded. He quickly turned up the music loud enough to wake Sam. He expectedly jumped and began to look around before settling with watching out the window.

"Hey man you okay?" Dean asked.

"Yes Dean, for the hundredth time, I'm fine."

"Yeah, sure." Dean was heavy with the sarcasm.

"Would you wanna drive for a while? Sam looked at Dean like he had two heads.

WHAT?! Did I just hear that correctly? No one but Dean ever gets to drive baby! Dean threw a damn fit the last time I tried. Granted I snuck out and took her to a bar not long before that. It was karaoke night with a cash prize. At that point in time I still hadn't told Dean that I had started singing. I almost died when I was mid-performance and saw him standing at the back of the crowd.

(Flashback)

I stared into the mirror backstage trying to mentally prepare myself. I've only been in front of a crowd a few times. I was still getting used to the butterflies. "Come on Emily, you're fine. What's the worst that could happen?" I asked myself… although I really didn't want to consider that answer. I suppose even if I get on stage and choke, or vomit, or pass out then we're outta this town in a couple days anyways and no one here will ever see me again and vice versa.

Part of me wished Dean was here. He was my confidence boost. He always pumped me up before hunts, he broke down the plan and made it simple. Made me feel like I could do anything. The other part of me knew that he would drag me out by my ear if he saw the outfit I was wearing. Bars don't exactly allow 14 year old girls to wander in off the street. I grabbed my most recent fake ID and made sure to go a little heavy on the eye liner. I wasn't passing for 21 but I could pull off 18. What really aided in the age bump was the pleather skin tight black pants, black cowgirl boots, and the red tank that showed just enough of my full C cup to get me into any bar regardless of my age. Plus Dean didn't really know I started singing. He listened to me sing along in the car, but as far as putting in some actual effort and singing in front of people. Nope. He was clueless.

I'm sure you're wondering how I manage to get away from him long enough to pull this off. I told him that I felt bad for spilling chips in the impala and that I wanted to drive to the gas station a couple blocks over and clean her up real good. Then I offered to even run by the store and make a supply run. I figured that would buy me at least an hour or so. I was dressed in 2 minutes in the parking lot, my hair and make-up applied backstage in front of this mirror. When you're a hunter you learn to get ready in a hurry. Being the only girl in the family I earned a couple more minutes than the boys but It was occupied with hair and a little make up usually.

I'm up next, this is a 2 song competition. I've got a deadly combination of old and new under my sleeve. Pistol Annie's 'I Feel a Sin Coming On' followed by Bob Dylan's 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door'. These bars are full of middle aged and older men, men who love to hear a girl sing about sin, but can respect a girl who knows a good old school song when she hears one. I owe that to Dean and my Daddy.

"Emily Collins! 2 Minutes!" A voice hollered towards me. I almost didn't remember that's the name I'd given.

I walked towards the stage and listened as the crowd applauded loudly for the girl before me. She was good, but I need this money. At least the crowd is in a good mood. She walked off the stage and sized me up and down as she walked past. I kept a solid confident gaze pointed directly at her, I know better than to let the competition get into my head.

I stepped on stage, nodding to the band. I was lucky they knew the music, if not I'd be singing with that awful karaoke machine playing an instrumental version. Live bands just knew how to set the mood.

I stepped in front of the mic and could hear the cat calls and whistles, maybe I should have gone a little less revealing on the top. Too late now I suppose. The song starts with me and not the band so I turn and watch for the drummer to give me the nod saying he's set… there it is.

"I feel a sin coming on…. I feel a right that's about to go wrong. I've gotta shiver down to the bone… I feel a sin coming on." The first verse gets a few claps and whistles. I start to sway my hips side to side and snapping the fingers on the hand that doesn't have the mic.

"I got a buzz in my brain… drunk all alone going down like champagne..." The more I got into the song the more my confidence grew.

I don't know where I got the courage but as the chorus started I began to walk down the stage steps and up to some of the tables placed directly in front of the bar. Singing directly to the people in front of me. One at a time. Oh yeah, they were eating this shit up.

"And you can see it all over my face, sweet temptation all over the place… give me tall dark and handsome mix it up with something strong…"

I turned to a younger attractive man to my left and got down close on his level, one hand resting on his table. " I feel a sin coming on. "

I winked and walked back towards the stage turning back to the crowd to start the next verse.

The guitar was a beautiful sound. It pushed me even more.

"Please Jesus don't hold me back… I know it aint mine but I want it so bad.." I accented those words and slightly bent my knees. A few men threw out some inappropriate words and I tried to ignore them. If only they knew how old I really was.

"The smoke and the whiskey's got me feeling easy…" OH. MY. GOD.

As I opened my eyes back up and looked into the crowd a face at the back caught my attention. It was a pissed off face. A shocked face. A face that wanted to rip me out of this bar. It was Dean.

I quickly ascended the stairs back onto the stage and tried to keep my game face and tone down the flirt game I had been playing. I knew I was already in SO much trouble.

I finished the seductive country song without a problem, the crowd applauded. Some stood. Some whistled. My eyes were locked on Dean's. He stood there frozen. Not even blinking. Since the was a 2 song set the band allowed only a brief second for the crowd to calm down before starting the familiar melody of my favorite Bob Dylan song.

Dean's face suddenly broke a little. I could tell he was impressed with my choice. But he wasn't going to give in that easily. He was still gonna murder me. Might as well make my last few minutes on earth enjoyable.

I sat on the stool and placed the mic back on its stand.

"Momma take this badge off of me… I can't use it.. anymore."

"Its getting dark, too dark to see. I feel im knockin on heaven's door."

"Knock knock knockin on heavens door.. " I repeated the line again and again, taking a little liberty on the last one and playing with the melody. Dragging out the last note. The bar that was just full of rowdy horny men was silent. I hoped this was a good sign.

I closed my eyes pretending that Dean wasn't here. He was making me nervous. Not even because he was pissed, just because he was here. Watching me. The stage is a vulnerable place to be, and its not something I was ready to share with him yet. Guess I don't really get a choice now. I'll probably never get to do this again and I'm not gonna let him ruin the last song for me.

"Momma put my guns in the ground… I can't shoot them.. anymore."

"That long black cloud is coming down.. I feel I'm knocking on heaven's door."

I finished the song with a bow and a shoutout to thank the band. This feeling was a high. Not the same high as killing a monster. This high was peaceful. I was shocked to see the entire bar on its feet. Dean still stood motionless. Come on bro, not even a clap for your baby sister?

I walked back stage and knew it would be only minutes before Dean was back here. The manager told me there was 1 act left then they would announce the winner. I didn't figure I'd still be here for that. Dean was going to drag me out and kill me. I was DEAD.

Like clockwork I heard the door open and met Dean's eyes in the mirror. I immediately looked down.

"Sooo…" I tried to lighten the mood.

He glared at me for a total of about 8 seconds before ripping out of his jacket and throwing it at me.

"Put it on." He said coldly. He never tore his gaze away from me. I could feel it on my back.

I slid my arms into the sleeves and pulled it around my chest crossing my arms. I turned but kept my focus on the ground. I couldn't look at him yet. I was honestly scared of what he might do.

"Dean… please. Just let me explain"

"Oh Emily, I think you did enough explaining on that stage. Keys. NOW." He had his hand reached out towards me. I quickly handed over the keys and let out a low sigh.

"I can't fucking wait for Dad to hear about this one. I mean what were you thinking Emily?! You steal my car, you go to a bar, ALONE. Then there's this.. this… I mean what are you even wearing? Where the hell did you get it because you never had it before tonight! Do you even understand what those guys out there are saying about you?" His face had gone from angry to angrier as he said that last part. Great. Now he's pissed and he's gonna tell Dad. Who also doesn't know I sing. If you thought Dean was scary then you haven't seen my daddy angry. I was a daddy's girl, but I feared him as well as loved him dearly.

Dean just stood there and stared at me. I finally got the balls to look him in the eye and when I did he must have seen the guilt in my face. Maybe I did take things too far tonight, but I wanted this for me. His expression surprisingly softened a bit.

"Emily you're 14, not 24. This.." He used his hand to gesture to me, " it isn't you. It isn't my baby sister."

"I'm sorry De. I just wanted to bring in some honest cash for once."

"Money? You did all this for just the money?" He asked it like he already knew the answer, he just wanted me to admit it out loud.

"Okay, well maybe I wanted to do this for me. You wouldn't get it." My confidence found its way back to me and I threw my arms across my chest. I'm gonna stand my ground on this one. I had to sneak out, Dean would never have let me go if I told him what I wanted to do, he would have laughed at me.

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Dammit Emily. Get your shit and be in that car in the next 15 minutes or I swear I will drag you out by your ear." With that he went back out the door he came in. The act on stage was finishing up her set. They called all acts back on stage. There was 11 of us. All of varying ages, but I was almost positive I was the youngest one by a mile. I hoped standing up here didn't give me away. I was so busy thinking about how different I looked from them that I didn't even realize why they were all looking at me. Wait… what. I looked around as a man walked his way towards me with a hand full of cash. Holy. Shit.

I couldn't believe I won, the crowd was kind, even though I had Dean's jacket hanging over my shoulders like a poncho. Damn him. I felt like it made me look even younger. I quickly said thank you, took my cash and made my way off the stage and through the crowd with the rest of the girls. Catching glares from most of them.

I noticed Dean wasn't even inside anymore, guess he doesn't know I won. I should probably lie and stash the cash. He'd just take it away from me anyway as punishment for my little stunt. I climbed into the already warm impala. Thank God for that because it was cold as hell out here.

"So how much did you win." He asked bluntly as the car began rolling down the road.

"What?"

"The money. How much is it?"

"How did you know I-"

"Emily as much as I hate to admit it, I knew you won by the time you walked off stage. You got a set of lungs kid, and on top of that you know how to work a crowd." He threw a sideways glance at me. "As far as where you learned that I'm not sure."

I was kinda shocked to hear him say that.

"So you honestly think I was good?"

"Em why didn't you just tell me what you wanted to do? I would have taken you up there. I would have supported you."

I scoffed loudly. "Yeah okay, like I believe that for a hot second."

"Well I sure as hell wouldn't have let you dress like THAT, but I wouldn't care if you wanted to get up and sing for some cash. You looked so… natural up there, it was a side I've never seen before and I know you like the back of my hand kiddo."

I grinned and chuckled to myself. He did know me better than anyone.

"That didn't seem like you're first time, how many times have you done this?"

"Just a couple."

"Dad doesn't know I'm guessing."

"That'd be a negative."

"I suppose you wanna keep it that way."

"Roger that."

Dean let out a long sigh.

"Alright, on two conditions. First of all you're buying dinner, and boy am I hungry." I laughed.

"And the second one?"

"You're gonna burn those clothes tonight. In front of me."

"Awww come on De, at least let me keep the pants!"

"Hell no! We're keeping that ass covered, baggy jeans for the rest of your life. You are never wearing anything that tight again!"

"De! I'm not wearing baggy jeans! I hate baggy pants they make me look like a boy!"

"Exactly." Dean grinned to himself. I just rolled my eyes and scoffed.

(End flashback)

"Camping?! Seriously?" I asked my eyes wide.

Dean had come up with a brilliant plan according to him. After we got to Colorado we jumped into the case head first. A guy went missing at the exact coordinates that dad left us. We weren't sure exactly what was going on but It was obvious something was up. We visited the park rangers and the guy's family. Sad situation really. No parents, just close siblings. They want to come out in the middle of the woods and look for their brother, not that I blame them but they have no clue what could be out there.

"Emily I'm so not in the mood to hear your bitching. Besides we're on the job, it's not like I suggested this for fun"

"Dean you realize that we have to sleep on the ground… with spiders!" I was terrified of spiders. Monsters? No problem. I can kill em. Charlotte hanging out in her web? Oh. Hell. No.

"Come on Emily, Its fine. I wont let the spiders eat you." Sam laughed.

"Yeah well I'm bringing bug spray, lots of damn bug spray!"

"You do realize bug spray is for mosquitos and not spiders right?" Sam asked. Damn his know it all brain.

"Thanks for that fun fact there brainiac." Dean said sarcastically.

Dean turns to me and leans down on his knees like he was talking to 5 year old. "Alright princess, I promise I wont let the spiders get into your pink hello kitty sleeping bag and eat you up." He spoke to me like I was a baby. He knew this would piss me off, and by pissing me off it would make me shut up and go without complaint to prove I wasn't a titty baby.

"Fuck you." I said short and sweet with eyes wide.

Sam laughed and we all grabbed our bags out of the trunk before walking up to the guy's siblings, Hailey and Ben.

When we approach we see another man, an older man speaking with Hailey.

"I'm telling you, I don't think Ben should go." The man said.

"Roy—"

"Look, you're paying me good money to keep everybody safe. I think Ben's safest at home."

Dean speaks up and breaks the conversation. "You guys got room for three more?"

Hailey looked at us shocked. "Wait, you want to come with us?"

"Who the hell are they?" Roy asked.

"Apparently this is all the park service could muster up for the search and rescue."

Roy looks us up and down and stops on me. "She works for park services?"

I returned an offended glare to Roy before speaking. "I'm interning for a scholarship program." Hope he buys it. He rolls his eyes.

Hailey then looked Dean up and down in the same manner. "And you're hiking out in biker boots and jeans?"

"Well, sweetheart, I don't do shorts." Dean chuckles.

"What, you think this is funny? It's dangerous back country out there. Her brother might be hurt." This Roy guy was already on my nerves.

"Believe me, I know how dangerous it can be. We just wanna help them find their brother, that's all."

We walked past Roy and began to start up the trail.

A couple hours later I was walking behind everyone but Sam. I offered to bring up the rear but he said he wasn't gonna leave me to be the last in line. I think he knew my short legs were having a harder time keeping up with everyone who had a solid 5 inches or more on me. I had to take 2 steps to everyone else's one. I could hear Dean's voice up ahead.

"Roy, you said you did a little hunting."

"Yeah, more than a little."

"Uh-huh. What kind of furry critters do you hunt?"

"Mostly buck, sometimes bear."

Dean stepped to walk ahead of Roy and lead the pack.

"Tell me, uh, Bambi or Yogi ever hunt you back?"

Out of nowhere Roy grabs Dean by the shirt and pulls him back. We all froze. I discreetly reached around and had a hand on my gun. Sam was watching carefully.

"Whatcha doing, Roy?" Dean asked with a warning tone. Not breaking eye contact.

Roy reached down with a stick and stabbed it into a bear trap, the same bear trap that Dean's foot would be stuck in right now if Roy hadn't stopped him.

"You should watch where you're stepping. Ranger."

Roy just begins walking ahead again.

Dean turns to us and gives a nod like everything's under control. "It's a bear trap."

Well no shit Sherlock.

They walked on and I watched as Hailey approached Dean.

"You didn't pack any provisions. You guys are carrying a duffel bag. You're not rangers."

Dean just ignored her so Hailey grabbed his arm.

"So who the hell are you?"

We quickly caught up but Dean nodded for us to walk ahead. I could still hear him though. He's got a loud mouth. What can I say, It's a Winchester thing.

"Sam and I are brothers, Emily is our little sister, and we're looking for our father. He might be here, we don't know. I just figured that you and me, we're in the same boat."

Hearing dean talk about Dad caused my heart to race for a moment. I want him to be here so bad. I want to find him. I want him to wrap me in a hug and tell me he's sorry for disappearing.

"Why didn't you just tell me that from the start?"

"I'm telling you now. 'sides, it's probably the most honest I've ever been with a woman. ...ever. So we okay?"

"Yeah, okay."

"And what do you mean I didn't pack provisions?"

Dean pulls out a pack of M&M's and starts to quickly catch up. Damn my short legs. As he walked by I snagged the bag of candy and stole a handful.

"Hey!" Dean yelled before snatching the bag back.

We kept walking for what felt like forever. Finally Roy spoke up.

"This is it. Blackwater Ridge."

Sam was the first to step ahead and speak up. "What coordinates are we at?"

"Thirty-five and minus one-eleven." Just like dad's journal.

Dean and I walk over.

"You hear that?" Dean asked.

I was quick to reply with a nod. "Yeah. Not even crickets." I knew this was a bad sign. If dad was here he was in serious trouble. Part of me hoped he wasn't.

"I'm gonna go take a look around." Roy spoke up.

"You shouldn't go off by yourself." I quickly added.

He laughed. "That's sweet hunny. Don't worry about me." He waved his gun in the air and looked at me like a was a child. What the hell is it with people acting like im 4!

"Ya know on second thought Roy I hope something eats you." I said with a sarcastic smile.

"Emily!" Dean warned with a hard look. I knew that was my que to shut up.

"Alright," Dean said, "we'll go but we'll stick together."

We walked not far from where we started and I heard Roy yell.

" Haley! Over here!"

"Oh my God." I could hear the pain in Hailey's voice. I felt bad for her… I was missing dad but she was missing someone too.

The tents are torn open and bloody and all the supplies are scattered. It was right out of a horror movie, ya know the ones where a bunch of kids get drunk and go into the woods with no gun. Dumbasses. I can't stand those movies. Protect yourselves idiots!

"Looks like a grizzly." Roy tried to explain. But I knew this was no grizzly. It was something much worse. I looked up and caught Sam's eyes. He was thinking the same thing I was.

Haley started yelling out, "Tommy?"

"Shh." Sam rushed to silence her.

"Tommy!"

"Shh-hh-hh!"

"Why?" Hailey asked, clearly frustrated.

"Something might still be out there." Sam said the words apologetically, knowing she just wanted her brother.

"Sam! Emily!"

We walked over to where Dean called us.

"The bodies were dragged from the campsite. But here, the tracks just vanish. That's weird."

"I'll tell you what, that's no skinwalker or black dog." There goes our only working theories.

"Help! Help!" the foreign voice caught all of our attention. We looked around and tried to see where it was coming from.

"Help! Somebody!"

Suddenly Roy took off running in the direction of the voice and everyone followed suit. But we couldn't find anyone, the voice and whatever made it was gone.

"It seemed like it was coming from around here, didn't it?"

Realization suddenly fell over Sam's face. "Everybody back to camp."

When we got back to camp I got instantly pissed. All of my shit was gone.

"Our packs!" Wow. She's observant.

"So much for my GPS and my satellite phone." Roy said. I just rolled my eyes. The sound of his voice just got on my nerves.

"What the hell is going on?" Hailey asked shakily.

"It's smart. It wants to cut us off so we can't call for help." I could tell Sam was trying to put together all that had happened, like pieces of a puzzle.

" It?" Roy scoffed, "You mean someone, some nutjob out there just stole all our gear."

I went to speak but Dean threw his hand over my mouth. Sam quickly walked over to us.

"I need to speak with you. In private."

We walked away from everyone else. "Good. Let me see Dad's journal."

He quickly thumbs through it till he finds what he was looking for. "All right, check that out."

Dean and I skimmed over the page, ofcourse. Why didn't we see this sooner!

"Oh come on, wendigos are in the Minnesota woods or, or northern Michigan. I've never even heard of one this far west." Dean was skeptical.

"Think about it, Dean, the claws, the way it can mimic a human voice." I threw in, backing up Sam.

"Great." Dean took out his pistol and then waved it in the air, "Well then this is useless."

Sam put the journal back in Dean's hand and got serious fast.

"We gotta get these people to safety Dean." Sam walked back ahead of us.

"All right, listen up, it's time to go. Things have gotten...more complicated."

"What?" Hailey asked, confused.

"Kid, don't worry. Whatever's out there, I think I can handle it." Roy was so damn cocky.

I just couldn't resist.

"Ya know Roy no one gives a shit what you think." I spat at him.

Roy laughed at me before speaking again. "One, you're talking nonsense. Two, you're in no position to give anybody orders."

I made a step forward before I felt an arm pull me back.

"Relax." The voice was Dean's. He knew my temper wasn't helping but that I also had a hard time controlling it.

"We never should have let you come out here in the first place, all right? I'm trying to protect you." Sam picked up where I left off.

"You protect me? I was hunting these woods when your mommy was still kissing you good night."

Oh I know he didn't just speak of my mother. I jumped from Dean's grip and started back with my attidude in full force.

"Yeah? It's a damn near perfect hunter. It's definitely smarter than you, and it's gonna hunt you down and eat you alive unless we get your stupid sorry ass out of here ,but if you're so sure that you can "handle shit" then by all means go find the damn thing!

He laughed at me again, I was really getting sick of this clown. "You know you're crazy, right?"

"Yeah? You ever hunt a wen—" a hand fell over my mouth again and I was pulled away from the group.

"Dammit Emily chill out!" Dean growled at me.

"No! Screw him! Let it eat his ass!" I screamed loud enough to make sure he heard me.

I missed whatever words were exchanged but when Dean and I looked back Roy was approaching Sam, and not in a friendly way.

"Stop. Stop it. Everybody just stop. Look. Tommy might still be alive. And I'm not leaving here without him." Hailey broke up whatever I was missing.

"It's getting late. This thing is a good hunter in the day, but an unbelievable hunter at night. We'll never beat it, not in the dark. We need to settle in and protect ourselves." Dean tried to be the voice of reason.

It was dark outside now, Dean was finished drawing protection symbols on the ground while I sat with Sam. Far away from Roy. I looked over to Hailey and Ben. Poor Ben has been so quiet. Poor kid is terrified. I can tell.

Dean walks over.

"You wanna tell me why the hell you two are so pissy right now?"

"Dean—" Sam started, I know he was gonna lie again, say he's fine.

"No, you're not fine. You're like a powder keg, man, it's not like you. I'm supposed to be the belligerent one, remember? And you," He spun and pointed to me. "Watch that temper of yours."

Sam broke the silence. "Dad's not here. I mean, that much we know for sure, right? He would have left us a message, a sign, right?"

"Yeah, you're probably right. Tell you the truth, I don't think Dad's ever been to Lost Creek." Part of this made me feel better because he wasn't here in danger, but the other part was angry. Why are we here if Dad never showed up.

"Then let's get these people back to town and let's hit the road. Go find Dad. I mean, why are we still even here?"

"This is why," Dean held up dad's journal, "This book. This is Dad's single most valuable possession—everything he knows about every evil thing is in here. And he's passed it on to us. I think he wants us to pick up where he left off. You know, saving people, hunting things. The family business."

" That makes no sense. Why doesn't he just—call us? Why doesn't he—tell us what he wants, tell us where he is?"

"I dunno. But the way I see it, Dad's giving us a job to do, and I intend to do it."

I stayed quiet, I didn't wanna discuss this. So I just let Sam take this one.

"Dean...no. I gotta find Dad. I gotta find Jessica's killer. It's the only thing I can think about."

"Okay, all right, Sam, we'll find them, I promise. Listen to me. You've gotta prepare yourself. I mean, this search could take a while, and all that anger, you can't keep it burning over the long haul. It's gonna kill you. You gotta have patience, man."

"How do you two do it? How does Dad do it?"

I thought about it for a second… this is all I've ever known. I'd gotten pretty good at it. If you have to do something in the world to occupy your time might as well help somebody in the process.

"Well for one, them." I looked up to see Dean looking at Hailey and Ben as he spoke.

"I mean, I figure our family's so screwed to hell, maybe we can help some others. Makes things a little bit more bearable"

"I'll tell you what else helps." I added. I smiled at Dean.

"Killing as many evil sons of bitches as I possibly can." Saying it like I was quoting the words right out of his mind.

They both smile, then suddenly we heard twigs snapping close by.

"Help me! Please!"

I stood and grabbed my gun, not that It would help. You have to burn a wendigo to kill it.

"Help!"

"He's trying to draw us out. Just stay cool, stay put." Dean spoke calmly.

"Inside the magic circle?" Roy asked sarcastically.

"Roy.." Dean warned before I could speak.

"Help! Help me!"

Suddenly the cries turn to growls and I instinctively latch onto Dean's arm. I wasn't panicked or anything, but I knew that I was safe if I was close to him.

"Okay, that's no grizzly." Oh now he fucking believes us?

I could hear heaving breathing and looked over to realize it was Ben.

"It's okay. You'll be all right, I promise." Hailey tried to comfort him.

Something rustles in the bushes behind them and Hailey screams.

"It's here." Sam says.

The sound of gun fire makes me jump.

"I hit it!" Roy takes off running.

"Roy, no! Roy!" Dean breaks away from my grasp and runs toward Roy to save his stupid ass. Sam follows but looks back to me first.

"Stay here! Watch them!" He pointed to Hailey and Ben as he spoke to me.

I moved to position Hailey and Ben behind me protectively. It was quiet for a few minutes and then I could hear footsteps.. two sets. Only two. Oh no.

Dean and Sam walked back into the light of the campfire. I met Dean's eyes and knew what had happened without even asking. Dammit Roy. All I could think of were the words I spoke to him just hours ago. Guilt began to roll around in my stomach. I wanted to puke.

"Where's Roy?" Hailey asks. Is she really that stupid?

"He uh. He didn't make it." Dean said while looking down at the ground.

Sam sat with Hailey and Ben while Dean and I sat quietly on a log not far away. We didn't have to talk. He knew I felt guilty after what I said, and I knew he felt like Roy died on his watch and blamed himself. We sat like that a solid 20 minutes or more.

"Its not your fault Dean." I spoke so quietly I wasn't sure he could hear me.

"I shouldn't have let him come out here in the first place."

"De he was gonna do whatever the hell he wanted regardless what you said."

"Yeah. I guess you're right." He looked at me. Reading my face. He was good at that dammit.

"Its not your fault either Kiddo."

"I know but I shouldn't have said what I said to him. I just… get angry. And I say these terrible things sometimes. Its not like I really wanted the poor guy to get eaten."

"I know."

We left the conversation at that, the great thing about Dean and I is that we can snap each other out of a funk if we just talk about it. Its like we need to hear the words from each other to know they're true. Dean and I weren't always this close, but things have happened. Things I can't stand to think about, and as terrible as they were. It pushed me and Dean together. We became a team. Us against the world sorta thing.

We sat there and just listened to the silence. There should be bugs, little furry critters, frogs, all making noises. But instead it was dead silent. I think that was the scariest part of all. We took shifts till morning came, we might actually stand a chance against this thing in the daylight.

"So we've got half a chance in the daylight. And I for one want to kill this evil son of a bitch." Sam spoke the words like he just read my mind.

" Well, hell, you know I'm in." Dean quickly chimed in.

"'Wendigo' is a Cree Indian word. It means 'evil that devours" Sam explains them to Hailey and Ben.

"How's a man turn into one of those things?"

"Well, it's always the same. During some harsh winter a guy finds himself starving, cut off from supplies or help. Becomes a cannibal to survive, eating other members of his tribe or camp."

"Like the Donner Party." Ben spoke, I was almost shocked. He hardly said a word yesterday.

"Cultures all over the world believe that eating human flesh gives a person certain abilities. Speed, strength, immortality."

"If you eat enough of it, over years, you become this less than human thing. You're always hungry."

"So if that's true, how can Tommy still be alive?" Hailey asked.

"You're not gonna like it." I spoke softly.

"Tell me."

"More than anything, a wendigo knows how to last long winters without food. It hibernates for years at a time, but when it's awake it keeps its victims alive. It, uh, it stores them, so it can feed whenever it wants. If your brother's alive, it's keeping him somewhere dark, hidden, and safe. We gotta track it back there."

"And then how do we stop it?"

"Well, guns are useless, so are knives. Basically—" Dean picks up lighter fluid, a beer bottle, and a white cloth.

"We gotta torch the sucker."

We walked into the forest. Sam leading the way and Dean taking up the rear.

"Dean." Sam said.

"What is it?"

I came up behind to see what they were looking at, it was bloody claw marks and broken branches.

"You know, I was thinking, those claw prints, so clear and distinct. They were almost too easy to follow." I said. Both boys turned to look at me in agreement.

All of a sudden we hear a noise in the trees.

I notice something drip onto my arm, what the fuck? Is that blood? I reach up to my nose, I'm not bleeding.

"Dean?" I said quietly, confused.

He turns to look at the blood on my arm and before he can say a word all of a sudden something big and heavy drops on me from the trees. It took me a second to realize it was Roy's body. Bloody and torn.

"Oh god! Get it off!" I started to panic as dean pulled the body off of me and Sam quickly pulled me into his chest. I left his embrace to go to Dean's. He looked hurt but I couldn't help it. I didn't have these problems when Sam was around, he didn't know how to handle them. Dean did. We had to figure it out, together.

"Em, Emily. Look at me." He held my head in both his hands and my breath grew rapid and shallow, I wasn't getting enough air.

"Its okay, Its gone. Its gone. Just breathe. Breathe." I took in long deep breaths through my nose like he taught me.

"I promised okay? You remember? You're okay. Trust me?" He asked. I nodded and slowed my breathing back down. His eyes never left mine. Just when I began to catch my breath I froze, the growling was right behind us. I saw Dean's eyes grow a little wider and he let go and yelled.

"Okay, run, run, run, run, go, go, go!"

We took off running, even with my short legs I was fast and ahead of group. I ran till I stumbled on a branch and Sam caught me.

"Come on, I gotcha, I gotcha."

We hid behind a tree, and Ben quickly ran to our side. We hear Hailey scream.

"Hailey?" Ben said panicked as well.

"Dean!" Sam yells. I didn't even realize he wasn't with us until just then. Oh no.

We quickly began to walk back to where we were originally headed, just the three of us now. I wanted to cry, scream, I was so scared, but I stopped myself somehow. I was determined to get Dean back, nothing would stop me.

"If it keeps its victims alive, why would it kill Roy?" Ben asks us.

"Honestly? I think because Roy shot at it, pissed it off." Sam replied.

I couldn't talk right now, I needed to focus. I kept my eyes ahead looking for a sign. Anything.

"Hey." Ben called, "They went this way."

Sam and I turn to where Ben is pointing at something bright orange in the dirt. Dean you bastard you're a genius!

"It's better than breadcrumbs." Sam shakes his head in amazement.

We followed the trail of M&Ms to a mine shaft, looks like no ones been in here for years.

We walk in, Sam leading the way with a flashlight. Suddenly we hear growls and Sam has us pushed against the wall, lights out. We can hear it getting closer, Sam points to his left and mouths "go" we take off but suddenly the ground beneath me is gone. I landed with a thud in, what the hell… are these bones?!

"Sam!" But when I looked up I noticed Sam and Ben were already up and running towards something hanging from the ceiling of the cave. Dean! I jumped up terrified at what I saw, I went to run to him.

"Hey, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay." Sam says reassuring me he's alive.

"Dean!" Sam shook him awake.

"Hailey, wake up!" Ben shook his sister awake.

Dean's eyes open and meet Sam's.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah." Dean winced as he answered us. Oh thank you God! He's alive. He's okay.

We cut down Hailey and Dean.

"You sure you're all right?" I ask, I can tell he's in pain everytime he moves.

" Yeah. Yep." He grimaces. "Where is he?"

"Gone for now."

Suddenly we hear Hailey's voice, "Tommy... "

She starts to cry as she touches his face, he looks bad. Really bad.

"Cut him down!" She cried.

He fell to the ground and groaned, well he's alive. For now.

"We're gonna get you home." Hailey cried to him, stroking his face.

"Check it out." I turn to see Dean going through our missing packs along with others.

"Flare guns. Those'll work." Sam smiles.

We headed down the tunnel to find a way out, Tommy was barely able to walk so he leaned on Ben and Hailey heavily. We were moving too slow.

Growling. Its coming back.

"Looks like someone's home for supper." Dean adds in casually.

"We'll never outrun it." Hailey says looking to Sam.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Dean asks his eyes meeting Sam's. Dammit Dean. This is the stupidest plan ever!

"Yeah, I think so." Sam replies.

"All right, listen to me. Stay with Sam and Em, they're gonna get you out of here.

"What are you gonna do? " Hailey asks him worried.

Dean takes off running down the mine, screaming " I wanna be an airforce ranger!" What a smartass.

Sam made us wait till he was sure the thing was following Dean and not us.

"All right, come on! Hurry!"

Just when I thought we were getting close I heard the growling again.

"Sam, Get them outta here."

"Emily No! Let me go!"

"No Sam! I can't get them out of the forest, I'll just get them more lost. You can. Give me the gun, I'll be fine!"

"No!" He whisper yelled back, I don't have time for this. He was helping Ben carry Tommy in order to move things along a little faster, so I knew he wouldn't run after me. I grabbed the gun from his hand and took off running.

"Come on you big bitch! White meat! Hot and fresh!"

I ran as fast and as hard as I could, screaming, taunting the beast. I stopped and hid behind a wall. Listening. Dammit. It wasn't on my trail anymore. I ran back to where I thought Sam and the others might be.

I rounded the corner just in time to see Dean Standing behind the Wendigo about to attack Sam.

"Hey!" He yells. The wendigo turns and dean fires a shot straight into his chest. He bursts into flames.

"Not bad huh?" Dean asked.

Sam laughed.

"Wait, Sam where the hell is Em?"

I giggled and walked forward, "Right behind you mister airforce ranger. You're a dumbass."

"Why the hell aren't you with them?"

"Because you're a shitty distraction and the thing came back."

"Yeah well you must not be all that good yourself considering I showed up just in time to shoot the damn thing. And it wasn't your ass he was fixing to eat."

I rolled my eyes and punched him in the shoulder.

I was now standing at the back of an ambulance, assuring the guy that I was fine, just a few scratches, he was concerned because I was still covered in Roy's blood. I couldn't wait to get out of this shirt.

He finally released me and I walked past Ben as I heard him describe the "grizzly attack" to the park rangers. I winked and made my way to the impala where my brothers were talking.

"Sam, you know we're gonna find him right?" Dean asked not noticing I had walked up.

"Yeah I do." He nodded slowly.

"Pop the trunk De."

I walked back and pulled out a new shirt.

"Hey. You two giants come stand in front of me so I can change."

"What?! No! You're not changing out here with all these people. Just wait." Dean quickly told me.

"Unless you want me to get dirt and blood all over baby I need to get this shirt off. Its soaked." I stared him down, I wasn't giving in. He just stared back saying that he wasn't going to back down either. Then a smile grew across my lips. I knew exactly how to get my way.

"Okay, fine." I grabbed the bottom of my shirt and began to pull it off showing my bare stomach openly to everyone around us. It barely got up passed my belly button before Deans hands were on mine yanking it back down.

"EMILY! WHAT THE FUCK!"

He quickly pulled me against the impala and him and Sam stood on both sides of me, facing forward, it was like a makeshift changing stall.

"I can't believe you just did that!" Dean yelled while I finished pulling my new shirt down.

"I asked nicely, you said no. I had no other choice." I smiled at him the entire time.

He glared at me and pushed me towards the backseat. Sam shook his head at me before turning to Dean.

"Hey. I'm Driving."

Dean tossed him the keys without hesitation. What a load of crap.