Sam wasn't at her house. Sarah hopped out of the backseat anyway and ran to the front door. It was locked, and the house was completely dark inside. Sam's car was nowhere to be found.

Matt rolled down the passenger window. "Come on, get back in," Emily shouted over him. We've got to get back on the road before she gets any farther away."

Sarah reluctantly returned to the car.

"Where else would she be?" Emily asked as she backed out of the driveway. "Any ideas?"

Sarah pondered for a moment. "Her clinic?"

With Sarah directing them, they were then on their way to Sam's animal clinic. Since he didn't have their numbers, Matt texted Ashley and Mike with Emily's phone and let them know Sam wasn't home. He got a quick response from Ashley. We spotted her down near Silver Lake. We're following her now.

"Chris and Ashley saw her," he told Em and Sarah. "They're following her."

"Where is she?" Sarah grabbed the seat and leaned forward to read the text over Matt's shoulder.

"Near Silver Lake, apparently."

"Okay, then forget the clinic. Go there."

"It sounds like she's on the move," Emily said. "Maybe call Ashley so we can get live updates?"

Chris answered Ashley's phone. "Hey," he said, "that was actually me texting you. Ash is driving."

"Oh great, they'll never catch her," Em muttered.

"That's fine," Matt replied. "I'm actually using Em's phone right now, 'cause I didn't have Ashley's number."

"Oh, okay. Well, Sam turned down a side street. Ash followed her, but a truck pulled out in front of us and we lost sight of her for a minute. When the truck turned off we didn't see her anymore."

"Do you think she pulled over somewhere?"

"…Possibly? We don't know where, though. It's pretty much all residential on these streets, and we don't see her parked in any driveways."

Emily rolled her eyes. Fucking useless, the both of them.

"Well we're heading your way. Should be there in a couple minutes. Have you heard from Mike?"

"Asshole probably went home," Emily said under her breath. Sarah made a noise of agreement.

"I don't know about that," Chris said, "but yeah, no word from him yet."

"Well if we don't find her in a few minutes I'll text him, I guess." Matt turned to glance out the window. As he did so he startled a bit. "Hey, is that her car?"

Emily looked over his way. "Shit, it is." She swerved over to the roadside curb and punched the brakes. The tiny red car was driven clear off the road and tucked deep into some woodsy underbrush. It appeared to be empty.

"I bet she's deeper in." Sarah was already hopping out of Emily's car. "In the forest somewhere."

"Of course." Emily's muttering went unheard. Matt was telling Chris that they'd found her car, and where it was. Sarah was already running for the trees.

Matt hung up with Chris and gave Emily her phone back. "They'll be here as quick as they can. They're gonna tell Mike, too."

"Okay." Emily hardly gave a shit whether they were there or not, in all honesty. More people usually just meant more drama. And Sam already seemed like she wasn't in the mood to deal with people.

Do you think we're gonna be able to reason with her? she decided to ask Beth. The other girl had been unusually quiet on the ride.

There was some hesitation before Beth's response. I hope so.

Do you think she should try to exorcise the wendigo?

It's up to her.

But what do you think?

Matt was staring at her, waiting for her to get out of the car. Emily kept her eyes averted, waiting for a response from Beth.

I think it's an intense, invasive procedure that shouldn't be done unless absolutely necessary, because sometimes the spirit doesn't let go cleanly, and you can lose parts of yourself with it.

"What?" Emily accidentally spoke out loud instead of in her head. Matt seemed to take it as a response to his watching her.

"Um, nothing? I'm just, you know, waiting for you. So we can get Sam."

Emily mentally slapped her forehead. I didn't mean to answer you out loud. "…Right, yeah, okay. Let's go."

Emily locked the car behind them as she and Matt then pursued both Sam and Sarah.


"Ugh, we are gonna get so many fucking ticks." Emily pushed a branch out of the way, clearing the path for the two of them in the apparently trail-less small forest. "Why doesn't this stupid forest have a trail? For that matter, why did Sam have to choose to hide out in a forest with no trails, full of God knows what, so we have to blaze our own fucking…"

She noticed Matt was staring at her. He wore a tiny smile.

"What?"

"Oh, nothin'."

"You were smiling at me."

He shrugged. "I guess I just missed you."

For a moment she was a little stunned by his confession. When she recovered, she punched him lightly on the arm. "C'mon, don't get sappy on me now."

"Sorry." His lingering smile told her he wasn't.

A crunching noise startled both of them. They caught sight of Sarah some distance ahead, rushing through the piles of dead leaves and broken twigs underfoot. She didn't seem to be waiting for them.

"How the heck is she handling all this?" Em said, more to herself than to Matt. "I mean, if I found out Jess was possessed by some monster spirit I'd…well actually I'd probably still stay with her. But Sarah hasn't even known Sam that long."

Sam! They heard Sarah shout from somewhere up ahead. Emily and Matt quickened their pace. Eventually they spotted Sarah through the trees. She was crouching down to something. When they caught up to her they realized it was Sam. She was sitting against a tree, her eyes firmly closed. She wasn't moving.

"Sam." Sarah grabbed one of Sam's shoulders and shook her gently. That seemed to rouse her. Sam's eyes slowly opened, and she immediately leveled Sarah with an annoyed glare.

"Oh, thank God you're okay," Sarah said. "What are you doing out here?"

"I was meditating. Trying to communicate with the spirit."

"Were you able to?"

"I started to." Her tone was flat.

When Emily and Matt finally caught up, Sam lifted her gaze to them. "Oh. You followed me, too."

Sam? Ashley's voice resonated through the forest. She sounded some distance away.

Sam rolled her eyes.

"We're here," Matt called out.

They heard Chris' voice as well. He and Ashley yelled something back. They were drawing closer.

"Why?" Sam murmured.

"Why what?" Emily tried not to sound overtly hostile, but she was admittedly a bit annoyed with Sam's games.

Sam exhaled in exasperation. "Why do you keep at it? Why would you rather tackle me, and chase after me, and force me to burden you with all my problems? I don't want to talk about them. I don't want to sit around and be the star of a big group pity party. Why don't you just leave me alone?"

Ashley and Chris emerged from the trees. Mike was a few steps behind them. Before they could say anything, Emily spoke up again. "Because we're your friends? Because you were in potential danger? Because we don't want to see you get hurt? I don't know, what do you want me to say?"

Sam turned away. Emily scowled.

"Sam, having a successful marriage means talking about things that bother us. Sharing our troubles." Sarah knelt down to her and placed a gentle hand on Sam's knee. Sam would not look at her.

"I just want to deal with this myself. Why is that so hard for everyone…"

Can I talk to her again? Beth spoke for the first time. Just for a minute. I swear.

Emily sighed. Fine. I'm at the end of my patience anyway.

Emily reluctantly surrendered control over to the other girl. Once she had control over their body again Beth sat down opposite Sam. Sam hesitantly glanced over at her, then quickly averted her eyes again.

"Sam?"

"…What."

Beth paused, deliberating what to say. Then, in a moment of raw honesty, she decided to say, "It's Beth."

She could feel everyone's eyes on her. Even Sam reluctantly settled her gaze upon her.

"What's Beth?" Sam's tone was a little shaky. She eyed what she believed to be Emily uncertainly.

She stole a glance over at Matt. He was watching her with nearly as much confusion as Sam. Nearly, but not quite as much. Beth remembered that Emily had told him about summoning her.

Beth touched her fingertips lightly to her chest. "Me. I'm Beth. Um, for the moment, anyway."

Sam shook her head. "I…I don't understand. Emily, what are you talking about?"

"Wait." Matt cut in. "Jess and Emily said they summoned the spirit of Beth Washington while they were practicing channeling the other day. Are you…are you, like, using Em's…body, or something?"

"What?" Ashley said from behind them. Beth heard her, Mike and Chris all draw a little closer.

Beth nodded. "Emily let me share it with her for today. I wanted to be here to help you, Sam."

Sam drew back a little and studied her suspiciously. "And I'm supposed to just…believe this?"

"Do you remember the first time you came over?"

"Huh?"

"Hannah brought you home from school one afternoon. We were all playing outside, and it started to rain, but we kept playing anyway."

Sam watched her intently, waiting.

"Everything was wet, and I ended up slipping and falling in the grass while we were running around." Beth smiled to herself just the tiniest bit. "You offered to help me up. I refused, but you just went and pulled me up anyway. Then you came with me to get a bandage from our bathroom."

Sam's eyes were wide. Beth knew that story would be good evidence of her presence – it was far too minute for Emily to know, but important enough for Sam and Beth to both remember. Sam because it was her first time visiting the Washington estate, Beth because it was the first time she felt that weird, twisty, fluttery feeling in her stomach that would end up causing her so much stupid gay angst over the years.

"I was always taking care of my siblings, but you took care of me. All the time." Beth inhaled slowly. "I wanted to repay the favor. Emily does, too. She'd never tell you this, but–"

Whoa whoa, what are you about to tell her?

Nothing bad.

"–She considers that she owes you her life, and for better or worse you've earned her total loyalty. So please, Sam. Let us help you."

Sam glanced at each of her friends in turn. Then she turned to Sarah, who was still at her side.

"I recognize the…feeling that I get from the spirit," she said. "It was the feeling that kept me from giving up all these years. It was what pushed me to open my practice when I wasn't sure about it, and it's the feeling that gets me so excited whenever I just, you know, lose myself, in nature. It's a good feeling. I…don't want to lose it." She swallowed audibly. "So if you can all handle that as my decision, then fine. If not…"

She shrugged, trying to look apathetic.

"I think you'll be okay," Beth said. "I've met a lot of wendigos in my day – too many, honestly – and they don't usually act like this one. Wendigos, they're not – they're not sneaky, or devious, really. They're pretty upfront about what they want and what they're going to do. I think if this one had something planned it would have done it already. Or it would have at least let you, you know, when you tried, so it could be free again. I think this one has changed from the others." Her hands began to shake a little. She wasn't sure why. "I wouldn't be telling you this if I thought you were in danger. I don't want to see you harmed, Sam. I…I…I lo…"

Sam reached out and touched Beth's hand. Her eyes were shining, the way they used to look the very few times Beth had seen Sam cry. "I love you too, Beth."

Suddenly Emily was thrust back to the forefront of her body. Beth had retreated with lightning speed, and was hiding inside Em's body like an awkward, nervous teenager around their crush. An appropriate description, Emily supposed. She sputtered a bit, and looked around.

"You okay?" Matt whispered to her.

Em nodded. "Yeah, um – it's me again. Emily. Beth really wanted to talk to Sam, so I let her do it through me."

"All of this is just so much to process." Sam curled her knees up to her chin. "I'm sorry I ran away, though. That was stupid."

"No, I'd probably run away, too," Emily said. "It's a lot to deal with."

Sam looked to Sarah. "I'm sorry."

Sarah took Sam's hands in her own. "It's okay, hon."

"But will you…can you…accept me…like this?"

"I fell in love with you 'like this'."

Sam shook her head. "I just don't understand…how are you so okay with this? It's just so much…"

"Can I tell you something?" Sarah's tone dropped slightly, taking on a more serious note.

Sam studied her cautiously. "Um, sure?"

Sarah sat down beside her. Emily and the others kept their distance, trying to give them some space.

"When I was a kid," Sarah said, "I used to talk to ghosts."

Sam balked. "What?"

"Yeah. They used to appear to me all the time. I'd see dead relatives, old neighbors, all kinds of spirits. As I got older they appeared less often, but it still happens sometimes. So I know that kind of stuff is real. I've lived it for most of my life."

Sam stared at her. Her mouth was slightly open, as if she were thinking of saying something, but no words came out.

"Hey, maybe that's why I was so drawn to you in the first place." Sarah smiled just the tiniest bit. "You've got twice as much soul as everyone else."

"…Is that a joke?"

Sarah shrugged. "Sorry. I know I should be serious–"

"No, it's okay." Sam's lips curled upward a little. "It's kinda funny, to be honest. Maybe you have some degree of psychic awareness or something. Maybe you were drawn to me because of it. Who knows anymore. The world is such a strange place."

"Oh yes, it is."

Emily couldn't agree more with that statement.

Sam and Sarah linked hands and helped each other to their feet. Sam glanced over to Matt and Emily. "I won't do anything else to cause you all trouble," she said. "Sarah, do you want to head home?"

"I would like nothing more." Sarah squeezed Sam's hands. "And how about when we get there I make your favorite lentil & mushroom shepherd's pie as a Coming Home celebration?"

Sam perked up a little. "Yeah? I'll help–"

"No no no. It's my treat."

"Are you sure? I can–"

"Shh. You're gonna take it easy. I'll make the pie." Sarah fixed her gaze briefly on Emily. Emily noticed she seemed to be looking deep into her eyes, almost staring through Emily. "Thank you for your help." In a quieter voice, she added, "Both of you."

"You're welcome." The words fell from Emily's lips without her consciously deciding to say them. "I'd do anything for Sam."

Sam cocked a brow at her. "Heh, um, thanks?"

Emily shook her head vigorously. "Okay, it's time for me and Beth to split, I think. I'm starting to not be able to tell what's me and what's her."

Sarah was still watching her with a knowing look. If she could see ghosts, maybe she could see Beth hiding out inside Emily. Maybe she had known Beth was the one leading the séance. She'd had a look on her face then, too.

Emily wondered just what kind of otherworldly intelligence the woman in front of her may have held. Sam was right. The world truly was a strange place, full of even stranger forces. Emily would probably never learn the extent to which the universe was populated with creatures more powerful and more intelligent than ordinary humans.

"All right." Sam ran a hand through her scruffy blonde hair. "I'd like to go home, I guess. Maybe start figuring things out a little better."

"Sounds good to me." Sarah linked arms with her. Emily felt a strange sensation in the pit of her gut. It was the same feeling as all the other times she'd seen Sarah while Beth was sharing her body. She'd dismissed it before as petty jealousy, but as she gave the sensation more attention she realized it was partly envy and partly something else. Some kind of sense.

As Sam and Sarah took a step toward the edge of the thicket, Em touched Sarah lightly on the shoulder. Sarah paused and glanced back at her. There Emily searched her eyes, as Sarah had done to her just before. Sarah's body tensed as she acknowledged Emily investigating her.

"What are you?" Emily decided to ask.

Sarah's posture remained steady and tall. "Something that's keeping an eye on the balance of things here." She stole a glance back at Sam, who was waiting for her a few steps away.

"So you're not human."

"I'm looking out for all of humankind, but Sam's the one I'm charged with protecting for now. A special case, sort of."

Emily's eyes widened a little, but she didn't back down. "Is that why you look so much like Hannah, then? You just…"

"C'mon, Sare," Sam called. "You tempted me with the promise of food. I'm not letting you go back on that."

Sarah smiled at her. "One second, hon." Then, returning her attention to Emily for another moment, she said, "Your group knows more than most humans, but you still don't understand all the nuances of the universe. So just know that we're all on the same side here. Sam needs you all as much as she needs me. And if she wants to keep that wendigo around, well, I'll be there to make sure it doesn't get too rowdy."

Emily stood, dumbfounded, as the creature before her returned to Sam's side. They linked hands once again, and Sam nodded at the group as they shyly withdrew.

What the hell – what is she? Emily turned to Beth for answers as soon as Sam and Sarah separated from the group and began their trek back to Sam's car.

I – I don't know. I got a feeling from her right along, but I wasn't sure what it was. She passed so well for a human.

Is she, like, good, though? Could you tell?

I couldn't. But…if she's looked out for Sam all these years, then she can`t be that bad. I guess. Emily could still feel a small wave of saltiness from Beth at the idea of Sam being married to someone who wasn't her.

Could she be, like, a guardian angel or something? Do angels exist? Emily was never really big on Western religion, or really religion at all. But as she was currently communicating with the spirit of her dead friend, had felt her body move of its own accord as a result of possession, and had spoken to a wendigo spirit all within the course of one day, she was a little more open to believing the unbelievable.

I'm…not sure. I've never really left the mortal plane. Hannah and I have been looking out for Josh on Earth the whole time we've been dead.

Emily jumped at the feeling of a hand on her shoulder. She whipped around to find Matt startling a bit as well, his meaty paw drawing back from her. "Jesus, Matt." Emily laid a hand on her chest and exhaled dramatically.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I was just, uh, well, you were kinda just…staring off into the distance for a while. I said your name, but you didn't respond."

"Oh. Sorry." Emily looked around at the others, who all seemed to be waiting on her to say something. Since when had she become the leader in this mess? She didn't want to be the one with all the answers. Fuck, she didn't really have any answers. "I'm heading home. I think Sam will be okay, but I'll probably call her later and make sure." She blinked up at Matt, trying to look more innocent than she felt. "You coming home with me, Big Guy?"

"Uh, yeah. Okay. Let's go, I guess."

"We should try to visit her here and there," Emily overheard Ashley telling Chris as they returned to their vehicles. Chris nodded in agreement. Mike stayed mostly to himself, avoiding Emily and Matt in particular.

Sam's tiny car was already gone by the time the group emerged from the woods. Emily thanked the others for their help – uncharacteristic for her, and what she suspected was coming more from Beth and her desire to help Sam than from Em herself – and then slipped into her car before much more could be said. Matt joined her inside her Coup. Emily waited for the others to leave, and still then she did not start her car. Matt watched her uncertainly.

Leaning on the steering wheel, Emily sighed a deep, stress-filled breath. "That could have gone better."

Matt shrugged. "I didn't think it went too bad. I mean, I was kind of imagining that by the end of the day we'd have Sam locked in a cage and she'd be drooling and chewing on the bars and stuff. This is actually a pretty good ending, I think."

"Her wife's not human."

"Huh?"

Emily laid her forehead on the steering wheel. "Yeah, I…I don't know. Every time I think I have a little bit of a grip on the world at large it throws a fucking curveball right at my face."

Matt was quiet for a minute, but his expression said exactly what he was thinking. Eventually he said, "I remember when I thought dating was the most confusing thing in the world."

Emily's laughter surprised even her. Seemingly pleased with her reaction, Matt smiled.

"To be fair, dating is pretty fucking confusing. Probably right up there with channeling wendigos and meeting shapeshifting guardian angel-y things."

"Is that what Sarah is?"

"I don't know. She said she was here to "maintain the balance of things", and that she was "charged with protecting" Sam. Sounds kind of guardian angel-ish to me."

Matt nodded thoughtfully. "And the, uh, shapeshifting part?"

"I'm assuming she probably doesn't just happen to look exactly like Hannah."

"Ah."

Everyone else was long gone by that point. Emily knew they should get going as well, but she needed a moment to pause. Everything had been moving so quickly of late.

I should get going. Beth's soft voice in her head drew Emily's attention again.

Okay. A surprising mix of feelings gathered in the pit of Emily's stomach. Was she…disappointed that Beth was leaving? It was nice to have someone to help her shoulder all her responsibilities, but she didn't want someone inhabiting her body with her forever. She tried to squelch the feelings so Beth would not pick up on them, but it was already far too late.

I have to get back to Hannah and Josh. I'd stay if I could.

I know you do. It's fine, I'm fine. You can go.

It was nice to see you again, Emily.

Emily blinked, a little surprised at the kindness directed at her. Nice to see you, too, Beth. Or, um, sort of see you, anyway.

She felt a slight warmth in her chest. Hey, if you die while Hannah and I are still watching over Josh on the mountain, feel free to drop by and visit. We'll show you all the best viewpoints from the mountaintop.

I don't plan on dying anytime soon, but I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

She gasped as something tore at her chest. Clutching her hand to her heart, she winced and cried out.

"You okay, Em?" Matt was all over her immediately. His eyes were wide with concern, and his hands were hovering near her, unsure of what to do.

"Ow! What the fuck, Beth – argh – are you giving me a heart attack or something?" I don't want to visit the mountain that bad!

I'm sorry. I'm trying to – ungh, I'm trying to, like, separate myself from your body. I feel like I'm stuck.

A sudden thought occurred to Emily. The wendigo said they've never figured out a way to detach themselves from human bodies once they've possessed them. Her pulse quickened. Oh God, what if you're stuck inside me forever?

I think I'm smarter than a wendigo. But thanks for the vote of confidence.

Realizing Matt was still freaking out, Emily said aloud, through clenched teeth, "I'm okay. Beth's trying to separate us."

Matt didn't seem entirely convinced she was all right. He remained close to her, his phone in one hand. He must have been ready to dial an emergency number or something.

Another shot of pain wracked her body as Beth twisted and wrenched inside her. "Jesus, Beth – fuck!"

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm figuring it out.

Okay, can I maybe just drive? We can figure it out when we get home.

"Is she gone?" Matt asked.

"Not yet." Emily sighed. "She's kind of…stuck."

"Stuck?" Matt raised an eyebrow.

"We'll figure it out at home."

"Oookay."

Beth settled down enough for Emily to concentrate on starting the car and pulling out onto the road. She tried to suppress the nagging fear in the back of her mind, as she realized she was having more and more trouble distinguishing Beth's thoughts from her own.