A/N: So I realized as I was looking back at the last chapter that at the top, it says chapter 14... And then I was like... Where the hell did that come from? It was chapter 8, just to clear that up. Sorry XD I'm typing an original book, too, and I guess that I got the chapters mixed up. Anyways, thanks so much for reading! Y'all are awesome!

Also, I know it's been a long time, and I'm so sorry X( There was so much going on. I moved into an apartment, and had a falling out with the family. It's been rough. So... I'm back. I apologize for the leave. I'll update quicker.

Chapter 9:

Dean sat with Sam at the table in the hotel room they just purchased together. As off as things were between the two, Dean kind of liked the idea of feeling normal again by staying in the same room with his little brother. It was awkward because Candy and Dean were sleeping together in the same bed, while Sam slept in the other alone. Sam was obviously irritated by the lack of a body next to him, but he kept quiet about it. They were working together to help Cas find Azreth. Despite their problems, they both cared about Candy and wanted to make Azreth pay for everything that he did to her. Even everything that he tried to do.

"Any word from Cas?" Dean asked Sam to break the silence that had settled between them. "Has he gotten any new leads, or asked you for anymore favors?"

"Uh, no," Sam sighed tiredly, rubbing his eyes. "Cas has been MIA since Candy saw him the other night. It's been almost a week since I heard from him. Maybe it's for the best. I got involved with his war, and because of that, Candy was attacked."

"Well, I'm the one who brought her back into this life."

"She would have come back anyways," Sam shrugged. "She is probably the most stubborn woman I've ever met. That's one of the things I fell in love with, you know?"

"Yeah. I do."

"Plus, it was probably a good idea to get her away from the bars. I always hated the way that those drunks looked at her," Sam grumbled.

"She bartended for awhile, but I won't let her anymore. I hate it, too. Hell, I don't even like taking her to bars anymore," Dean admitted with a slight smile.

"And she wears those tight little shirts."

"And those tiny shorts," Dean added.

"Then, she has curves in all the right places."

"It's hard not to stare." Dean laughed, and surprisingly, Sam laughed with him. They sat together, reminiscing and talking about old times. It felt good to not be at odds anymore. To be making jokes and teasing each other like they used to before Sam went away. Then, Candy came into the room wearing nothing but a loose fitting flannel and drying her wet hair. Sam and Dean fell silent instantly, looking at her in awe. Their eyes drifted up from her bare, flawless legs up to her exposed neck and collarbone.

"What?" She asked, feeling awkward.

"Nothing," Sam cleared his throat. "So, do we want to talk about the case that's here? I know we're waiting for word from Cas, but might as well take care of this problem, right?"

"What's the problem, exactly?" She wondered.

"There was a man brutally murdered in the woods with his heart torn out of his chest," Sam read from his computer screen. "I'm thinking werewolf. Might as well check it out."

"Was there a witness?"

"Sure was," Dean answered her. "Charles had a little boy with him. The son said that his dad was teaching him how to hunt, but a bear came out of nowhere and attacked him."

"He actually said bear?" Candy questioned, sitting on the edge of Sam's bed. "Or is that just what the report says?"

"That's what we have to find out, isn't it?" Dean took a deep breath. "We're gonna drive down to the police station. Me and Sam will go in alone, but we're not leaving you here again. You can just sit in the car."

"To hell I will," Candy huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why can't I come in with you?"

"Because it'll seem odd for three federal agents to be asking questions about a bear attack," Sam explained. "Better that it's just two of us." It made sense to Candy, but she didn't like it. She hated being left out on cases, which used to happen a lot when Sam and Dean were together. Now that he was back, it was safe to assume that's how it would be most of the time.

"Alright. I guess I should get changed then." She stood, dropping her flannel around her ankles. Neither Sam or Dean could control themselves enough to keep from staring. She was wearing a matching red lace set of underwear that Dean had bought for her birthday. "I better find something kind of nice. We are going to the bar tonight? To ask around."

"Uh huh," Sam said mindlessly, trying to force himself to look away while Candy got dressed. He couldn't though. She was perfect. Not too skinny. Full and a little plump in the chest and hip areas, while her stomach and legs were slender. Her skin was a beautiful ivory that felt like marble at times. The longer Sam looked at her, the more he thought about all of the times that they had been intimate before. How it felt to be with her, holding her, running his hands over her skin. Soft and slow.

"Dude," Dean smacked Sam's shoulder. When Sam came to, he realized Candy was already dressed and looking at him with a confused expression on her face.

"Sorry. Just thought about something."

"What's that?"

"You remember Madison?" He asked his brother. Dean nodded, but said nothing. "We just have to be careful and inspect everyone carefully. Could be anyone, afterall."

"Agreed." Candy's eyes drifted to the ground. Sam had told her before about the time he had to kill Madison. How much it hurt him. Dean told her about it again while they were on the road together. It killed him to see his brother in so much pain. "I'm ready to go when you guys are."

"We've been dressed for awhile. We've been waiting on you, Candy," Dean teased her. "Grab your purse. Let's go."

They drove to the police station, stopping to get gas along the way, and Sam and Dean got out to go inside. After they were gone, Candy noticed that there was a coffee shop across the street. In desperate need of a chocolate chip muffin, Candy climbed out of the car and rushed across the road before any cars passed by. Once inside, she slid out of her oversized black sweater and took a seat at the bar in front of the register. An older woman appeared from the back room and came to take her order.

"I just want a muffin," she told her sweetly.

"Right away," the woman smiled, kneeling down to retrieve on from behind the counter. She set it in front of Candy, "That'll be two fifty."

"Two dollars isn't bad for a muffin."

"I'd like to think so," the woman laughed. "Enjoy. Let me know if you decide you want anything else."

"Yes, ma'am." Candy eagerly unwrapped her muffin and bit into it. Just when she did, however, she noticed the newstory on the tv hanging above the counter. It was the story about the little boy and the brutal attack on his father. "Do you know what happened there?" Candy asked the woman, thinking she might as well try and investigate a little herself.

"Another bear attack, I guess," she exhaled slowly. "Poor kid. It wasn't long ago that Hayden saw his mom get killed the same way. That family just doesn't have a lot of luck with the wildlife, I guess."

"Well, who's he living with now?"

"The mother of one of his friends is taking care of him right now," she said. "She's a good woman. Stops by regularly before work. One of my favorite customers."

"What's her name?"

"Vera Hopper."

"She is a good woman, then. For taking on a kid," Candy muttered, taking another bite from her muffin.

"Especially since she's a single mom," the woman added.

"What happened there?"

"Her husband went missing. Rumors are that he was having an affair and just left town with the mistress. Unfortunate. Vera's was an amazing wife and mother. She was always so excited. Love her family."

"What a shame," Candy frowned. "Well, thanks for the muffin. It's really good."

"Anytime, sugar."

"Bye, then."

"Have a nice day!" The lady called after her as she left the shop. Candy hurried across the street again, holding the muffin in her mouth while she ran, and leaned back against the Impala to wait for Sam and Dean. It wasn't long before they came out of the police station.

"Candy, you have some crumbs on your mouth," Dean told her with a playful grin. "Looks like muffin." As he got closer, he inspected her further. "Chocolate muffin."

"Leave me alone," she grumbled, wiping her mouth with her arm. Sam smiled at her, chuckling. He missed all of the little cute things that Candy would do. "What'd you guys find out?" She asked once her mouth was clean.

"We know where the little boy is staying," Dean replied.

"With Vera Hopper."

"How'd you know?" Sam wondered.

"I talked to the lady at the coffee shop that's conveniently located across the street from the police station," she beamed.

"It's good business," Dean looked around the Impala at the little shop Candy was talking about. "Good placement. What else did she tell you?"

"The little boy's mom died from an animal attack. I'm thinking it's connected to him somehow. Maybe someone he knows," Candy suggested. "If we go to talk to him, you should let me do it."

"We planned on it," Sam admitted. "Kids tend to take well to innocent looking women."

"Oh, honey, I'm far from innocent," she winked teasingly, pulling open the door to the Impala. "Come on. Let's go then." She slid into the car and waited for them to follow suit.

Candy knocked on Vera's door, waiting patiently for her to answer. Sam and Dean towered over her like protective bodyguards. After a moment, Vera answered the door, her hair pulled up in a messy bun with bunches of strands falling out lazily. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her skin was sickly pale.

"What do you want?" She asked as if she was in a hurry.

"My name is Tracy Tyler. This is David and Mark Perry. They're the federal agents investigating the animal attack that happened recently." Once Candy finished speaking, Sam and Dean pulled out their fake badges and showed them to the woman. "I'm a certified psychologist," she continued. "I was asked to come talk to Hayden about what he saw. See if I can help him understand it better and come to terms with it."

"He's fine," Vera sighed, leaning against the door tiredly. "I've got a lot to do right now. Can you come back tomorrow? Please? I really don't mean to be rude... I just-"

"I understand," Candy interrupted her. "I'll be back tomorrow around noon. Is that okay for you, Ms. Hopper? We don't want to be any kind of burden to you or Hayden."

"I would really appreciate that," Vera smiled half-heartedly. "Thank you so much. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Alright," Candy nodded. "Goodbye." When Vera closed the door, Candy rolled her eyes and trotted down her front steps. "I hate being all proffessional and stiff. Makes me feel so fake." She walked behind Sam and Dean as they lead her to the car. "So then... To the bar?"

"Isn't it a little early? The sun is just starting to go down," Sam noted. "Maybe we should wait until later."

"Nonsense," Dean scoffed, starting up the Impala. "Anytime is bar time. We'll go back to the motel and change first, though."

"Sounds good to me," Candy said excitedly. They pulled away from the police station and took off down the road towards the motel.