The back porch door slowly opened, and Alicia quietly stepped out, dressed in jeans, boots, dark t-shirt, and an opened black button-down long-sleeved work jacket. Her hair was pulled back, and she had the strap of a worn-out duffle bag slung over her shoulder. She held up her wrist, checking the time on her wristwatch; it was close to five in the morning. She glanced back toward the house, a bit of sadness in her eyes, but she took a deep breath and quietly closed the door before making her way down the porch steps and through the salvage yard.

She turned the corner where her car was parked and marched quickly over as she pulled her keys from her jean pocket. She opened the trunk and dropped her bag in—and stopped short when she saw movement out of her peripheral and quickly deduced it was two separate shadows. She swiftly closed the lid as she drew her weapon from her waistband and pointed it at the figures.

"Easy, Lara Croft," Dean replied, holding up his hands. "Just us."

Alicia's eyes darted to her right and saw Sam standing next to his brother, hands up. She slowly lowered her weapon and replaced it. "What are you doing out here?" she asked.

"We could ask you the same," Sam replied as he and Dean lowered their hands. "Where are you going?"

Alicia closed the lid of the trunk. "Out," she replied. She headed toward the driver's seat, but Dean stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "Seriously?"

"Gonna need a little more than just 'out'," Dean said.

"Fine," Alicia replied curtly. "I'm heading out on a job."

Dean raised an eyebrow. "Didn't know you had a job lined up."

Alicia looked annoyed. "Didn't realize I needed your permission or approval."

"We could come with you," Sam offered.

"Any other time," Alicia replied, "I'd take you up on that, but I'm flying solo on this one."

Dean tilted his head, studying her. "You found something in your mother's journal."

"I did," Alicia answered after a few moments, "and it's nothing that concerns you."

"Azazel concerns all of us, Alicia," Sam replied. "He killed our mother, too."

Alicia opened her mouth, then her eyes grew bright as she looked away, almost ashamed. "That's why I don't want you involved." The brothers appeared confused. "If it wasn't for me, your mother would still be alive."

Dean glanced at Sam briefly. "You really think we blame you for that?" he asked the young woman.

"Why wouldn't you?" Alicia asked. "My mother stopped hunting the day she found out she was pregnant with me. She was a good hunter—and a really good witch—but even with everything she could do, she barely managed to fight off Azazel the first time, and that scared the crap out of her. She knew he would come after me one day, and she wanted to be ready for him."

"She was your mother," Sam said gently. "She was protecting you. We don't blame her or you for that, and neither should you."

"And what good did it do protecting me, Sam?" Alicia asked. "Your mother died—and so did mine." She shook her head. "I need to take care of this myself."

"Those demons want your magic, Allie," Dean said, "and you said yourself you're not up to the level your mother was. If your mother at full power couldn't stop one demon by herself, what makes you think you can go up against four without leveling up, without any help—or without the Colt?"

"Well, no offense," Alicia retorted, "but the last time you confronted Azazel—with the Colt, I might add—you didn't exactly do so hot yourself. And I never said anything about going after Azazel or his brothers, especially now; I'm not stupid."

"Then where the hell are you going?" Dean asked.

"To find this Cass person," Alicia answered. "He's mentioned in every single entry in my mother's journal—just his name," she reached into an interior pocket in her jacket, pulling out her mother's journal, opening it, "but I sensed something else there, something she wanted only me to see." While holding the journal in one hand, she placed the palm of her other hand down on the opened pages. Her eyes glowed purple. "Illuminia." A purple light briefly glowed under her hand, and unusual glowing purple symbols—once invisible—suddenly appeared sporadically on the pages. Alicia held up the journal for the brothers to see. "This sigil shows up wherever Cass's name appears, so there must be a connection. I don't recognize it, and I looked through all of Bobby's books."

"When did you have time to do that?" Sam asked.

"After I cast a heavy sleeping spell on the house," Alicia replied, "which you two were supposed to be in so I could leave without having to go through Twenty Questions," she saw the annoyed expressions on their faces, "but that's irrelevant now. Anyway, it's harmless and I'll lift it once I'm a safe distance away, but it gave me enough time to do some research and copy things, so no harm no foul, and why the hell weren't you two inside?"

"We were going for an early morning stroll," Dean replied.

"Dean, if you're gonna lie to me," Alicia said as she closed the journal and put it back in her jacket pocket, "at least give me a little credit and come up with a story that has less bullshit in it." Dean looked almost wounded, but Sam simply grinned.

"Bobby had a hunch you might bolt," Dean explained.

"And he sent you to stop me?" Alicia asked in disbelief.

"To talk to you," Sam corrected. "To convince you not to go after the demons."

"Which I've already established I'm not," Alicia replied. "This Cass…whoever he was, it was obvious in my mother's journal that he and my mother really cared for each other." Dean raised an eyebrow. "Not like that. They were just friends, nothing more."

Dean didn't look convinced. "You know, this Cass person disappeared over twenty years ago, no trace. You sure he's even still alive?"

"No," Alicia replied, "but if there's anything on him, I know someone who'll be able to find it. That's where I'm heading, so if you'll just step aside…." Dean and Sam didn't budge, and Alicia sighed, annoyed. "Guys, seriously, do you really think you have what it takes to stop me from leaving?"

"Well, as good a hunter as you probably are," Dean retorted, "there's no way you can take the two of us on at once without some extra mojo, so the question we should be asking you is 'do you really think you have what it takes to use magic against us'?" Alicia narrowed her eyes, but didn't reply.

"Look, you wanna go," Sam said, "we won't stop you, but you're not going alone."

"And we can all ride in the Impala," Dean added. "Save gas and everything."

"Look, if you guys want to bullshit me," Alicia replied, "don't insult my intelligence in the process. I'm not a helpless little girl who needs protecting."

"No, you're not," Dean replied, "but given the situation, it doesn't hurt to have a couple extra pairs of eyes. Besides, three heads are better than one," he smirked a little, "and we're more than a little curious to see if your skills live up to the hype."

The corners of Alicia's mouth curled up a little. "Not bad," she replied after a few moments. "You're still full of it, but I'll accept a little flattery every once in a while." She exhaled sharply. "And if you two insist on chaperoning, I'm going to insist on bringing my stuff—all of my stuff."

"Look, sweetheart, if you include the grenade launcher," Dean replied, "you can bring your whole damn apothecary for all I care—as long as you don't stink up the car."

Alicia rolled her eyes, amused. "Whatever."

"Dean, you get the car," Sam said. "I'll stay with Alicia."

"Behave," Dean warned, pointing a finger at the young woman before walking away.

"And if I don't?" Alicia asked teasingly. Dean paused momentarily, sighing, before muttering under his breath while Sam stayed with the young woman, looking uncomfortable as she smirked.


The sun was coming up over the horizon as the Impala sped down the two-lane road. Dean sat in the driver's seat, while Sam was on the passenger's side, and both brother's just stared ahead in silence while Alicia sat behind Sam, staring out the car window, watching the scenery fly by. They drove without talking for about half an hour before Dean broke the silence.

"So, I think we're far enough away," he said, glancing at Alicia knowingly.

Alicia nodded before taking a deep breath. "Surgere." Her eyes glowed purple. "Okay, they should be awake." She cleared her throat. "Bobby ad imaginem meam mitte." The sudden silence caused the brothers to glance at each other before Sam looked over his shoulder. Alicia, eyes still glowing, stared straight ahead as she sat stiffly.

"Alicia?" he asked, a little concerned.

"Hi," Alicia replied.

"Uh, hi?" Sam asked, confused.

"Allie, you okay?" Dean asked over his shoulder.

"Look before you get angry," Alicia said, "give me a chance—," her eyebrows suddenly furrowed as her tone changed, "—what does it look like I'm doing, the Hokey Pokey? Of course I'm astral projecting."

"What the hell?" Dean asked Sam, looking like he was trying not to freak out at Alicia's sudden change. "Should I pull over?"

"I don't know," Sam replied. "Who is she talking to?"

"Who do you think?" Dean asked. "She's with Bobby—sort of—and I don't think they're having a nice chat."

"No, I'm not gonna tell you where we are!" Alicia shouted, causing Dean and Sam to jump. "Wait, what are you—don't you dare call him! Don't you—"

Sam's phone suddenly rang, and the brothers' eyes widened as they glanced at each other. "Should I answer it?" Sam asked.

"You want Bobby pissed off more than he already sounds?" Dean asked. "Answer the damn phone."

Sam looked like he was being led to his execution, but he quickly reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his cell phone, flipping it open. "Hello?"

"You better tell Dean to turn that damn car of his around right now," Bobby threatened over the phone, "or I'll track you three down, haul all of your asses back here, and personally skin you alive myself."

"Bobby, maybe you should calm down a little—"

"Calm down?!" Bobby interrupted. "You said you would talk with Alicia, and John and I wake up to find out she not only used another spell on us, but she's run off—and instead of talking her down, you're both with her!"

"You lied to me about my parents!" Alicia shouted in the car, a split moment before Sam heard her voice in the background through the phone. Sam was so thrown off by hearing her voice twice that he ended up covering his ear to drown out Alicia's voice in the car so he could hear everything through the phone. "I'm just trying to get some answers!"

"You're gonna get yourself killed!" Sam heard John's voice yell. "You're gonna get my sons killed!"

"You lied to them about why the demon came after them, John," Alicia retorted, "and I seriously doubt Dean and Sam are helpless!"

"It was for their own protection," John spat. "It kept them focused on what needed to be done, but ever since the crash, I've seen how they are: they've lost sight of what I've taught them. Hell, I never really had any problems with Dean, because he always stayed focused on the mission, but ever since that crash he's more interested in sleeping with the woman whose mother couldn't be bothered to save my wife!"

Sam's eyebrows nearly shot off his head, and he glanced briefly at his brother. He heard his father's and Bobby's voices talking and shouting, and he slowly hung up his phone and put it away. He cautiously glanced back and saw Alicia in the back. Her eyes were no longer glowing, but they appeared bright as she leaned back, staring at the window.

"He's wrong," Sam said.

"I'm fine," Alicia muttered, wiping her cheek, embarrassed.

"You sure?" Sam replied.

"I said I'm fine," Alicia repeated with more force.

"What?" Dean asked, glancing at his brother. "Sam?"

"Dad and Bobby are pissed," Sam answered. "Really pissed."

"Really?" Dean muttered sarcastically. "Never would have guessed. So, fill me in."

"Not now," Sam said. Dean gave him a look, and Sam shook his head.

"Your father thinks you've lost your focus," Alicia replied curtly. "That I'm distracting you from the demons because you're, and I'm quoting him here, 'more interested in sleeping with the woman whose mother couldn't be bothered to save my wife'."

"Wait, Dad actually said that?" Dean asked.

"Yep," Sam replied . "I heard him myself."

Dean glanced at Alicia in the rearview mirror, the sun reflecting off the tears blotting her cheeks. The young man's jaw set as his grip tightened around the steering wheel. "Well, to hell with what he thinks," he said bluntly. He saw Alicia glance briefly in his direction. "Still want to kill Azazel, that hasn't changed," he shrugged, "but it doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves along the way."

"And he was wrong to blame you for what happened to our mom," Sam added.

"Definitely," Dean replied. Alicia didn't say anything as she stared at the window, and Dean cleared his throat. "So, uh, where are we going?"

"Anselmo, Nebraska," Alicia replied quietly. "It's about four hours away. You ever been there?"

"Nope," Dean answered, "which means you get to be our navigator. So, where to, m'lady?"

Alicia glanced over and saw Dean giving her a small smile in the rearview mirror. The young woman couldn't help but return the smile as she sighed and shifted, becoming more comfortable. "Okay, so you're gonna go west until you come to Route One Forty-Five, then you're gonna head south, going through Lennox, until…."

(End of Chapter 4)