Author's Note: I received a comment about not overloading Lee's dialogue with too much phonetically written speech to show her accent, so I'm going to experiment with it this chapter and focus more on the words and phrases to represent her Southern-ness. Let me know what you all think and which is better! This chapter takes place in season 4 episode 16 "On the Head of a Pin". If anything sounds familiar, it's because I used the script from the episode as a guideline. I tried not to copy every line verbatim to make it more my own. I didn't want to end up just rewriting the episode.
Outside a large convention center, in a small town near Cheyenne, Wyoming, a tall woman hoisted 2 large bags into the trunk of her green and rusted jeep. As the bags hit the bed of the trunk, the handles of a few new edition rifles peeked out of an open zipper. The woman stretched her arms to the sky and let out a tired sigh before securing the guns.
She brushed her lengthy dark brown hair back into a loose braid, exposing golden skinned shoulders to the hot afternoon sun. A shadow passed overhead and she looked up, squinting dark honey eyes, to see a low flying hawk making its way home.
"Find something good Lee?" An older man passing by asked.
Lee spun around and gave a lazy smile to the stall owner she met earlier at the convention, "I sure did Walter, found me some good rifles for my store back in Georgia! You make any good profit?"
Walter gave a nonchalant shrug before replying, "Eh, I've done better at other gun shows. I've got to get going home to the wife though, have a safe trip back to Georgia," He waved before trampling down to a different parking lot.
Lee flashed a wave before tucking into the driver's seat of her jeep. After twenty minutes she pulled into the cheap motel where she had rented a room. The bag of guns weighed heavily at her shoulders, digging in and dragging her down to the ground. With a grunt, she shifted the weight to a more favorable position and noticed a Chevy Impala parked a few spaces down.
'Looks just like the Winchester's car,' She thought. Lee had met the brothers a year or two ago while bartending at her friend's pub. The boys had kept their promise to call every now and then, but Lee hadn't heard from them in almost six months.
A force crashed into Lee and she toppled backwards. One of her bags burst at the seams causing the guns to spill onto the pavement. "Boy you better be glad these puppies ain't loaded," She lectured as she tried to gather her things, "You better pray to Jesus that they ain't damaged either, I just bought them!"
"Lee?"
Lee froze when she heard the stranger call her name. She looked baffled as Sam Winchester himself stood before her. He held out a hand and smiled apologetically.
"Speak of the devil!" Lee beamed as she let Sam help her off the floor, "Come here and let me hug your neck sweet pea!" She pulled him in for a hug and felt a jolt send her goose bumps on fire.
Sam felt her cringe before pulling away. Lee bit her lip before swapping it for a huge grin, "It's been a while since I heard from y'all. Where's your pig of a brother anyways?"
"We've just been really busy," Sam studied her, curious about why he had seen worry flash over her face, "Dean's back in the room. Sorry about bumping into you by the way." He bent down to help her pick up the guns.
"Don't worry 'bout that," She honeyed, "I myself just got back from a gun show, found some real good ones. You can pick some out if you're in need."
"Nah, I think we're covered," Sam smiled as they made their way to Lee's room. She shoved the key in and clicked the lock open. Sam followed her into the musty, old smelling room as she barged in and placed the gun bag down.
"You down here for a job?" She popped open a water bottle and offered one to Sam. Taking a few gulps, she sat down on the edge of the bed.
"We were. Actually, uh…" Sam rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the floor, "One of our friends just died. We're heading to her funeral now in fact."
Lee stood up quietly and walked over to Sam. He looked at her as she blinked sympathetically and placed a gentle hand on his arm, "I'm sorry to hear sweat pea, who was it?"
"Pamela. Pamela Barnes," Sam answered, "She was a psychic, she was helping us on a job when she-"
He felt Lee's grip tighten on his arm as she gave a small gasp. Her eyes misted over and turned her head away, biting back tears.
"You knew her?" Sam asked. Lee only nodded.
"Right before my daddy quit hunting, he had me stay at her folk's house for a couple days while he did his last hunt. I got to know her, we kept in touch a bit," Lee whispered hoarsely, "Would y'all mind if I came along?" She pleaded.
Sam bit the inside of his lip but melted at her tearful gaze, "Yeah, I'm sure Dean won't mind…"
"Sam! Sammy!"
Sam looked out the door and then back to Lee, "Speaking of Dean…" He led Lee outside and saw his brother frantically looking around, "Over here! Look who I bumped into," Sam called.
Dean swiveled towards Sam and Lee walked out from behind the tall giant, "Hey sweet pea!" She greeted Dean with a hug.
"Well if it isn't Pocahontas in the flesh," Dean smirked. He pulled out of the hug and frowned as he noticed her watery eyes, "You okay?"
Lee nodded and blushed as she turned away to wipe the tears, "Yeah, Sam just told me about Pamela."
"She wants to come with us to the funeral." Sam chirped from behind Lee.
Dean nodded slowly, "You knew her?" He asked Lee. She nodded quickly trying to blink back new tears. "Well we're already late as it is. Let's get a move on."
The group jumped into the Impala and sped down the highway. At the service, Lee released a strangled cry as she said her final goodbye at the viewing. Her heart sank seeing Pamela in the coffin. She looked so pale and peaceful, as if she was sleeping, and at any moment she would wake up to greet Lee. They'd go hiking just like they used to.
She felt an arm give her a supportive hug around her shoulders. Lee gave a tearful smile at Sam as he squeezed her tightly before taking his turn to say goodbye. Dean stood off to the side stiffly with a stony grimace etched into his face.
They later introduced her to Bobby Singer, a scruffy man with a potbelly and a fading trucker hat atop his head.
"So you're the infamous Lee who pulled a fast one on Dean here!" He chuckled and slapped Dean on the back, "I've heard a lot about you."
Lee chuckled and fanned herself jokingly, "Aw shucks sweet peas!" She and Bobby chatted a while longer. He mentioned how he knew her father, how he helped him on a few vampire hunts back in the day.
"Didn't know he was a Colt though," Bobby stated with raised eyebrows, "Kept that secret real close, that man did."
"It wasn't somethin' he really liked people knownin'," Lee explained. Dean came up and tapped her shoulder.
"Hey we gotta go Pocahontas," Dean grunted, "See you later Bobby."
"Alright now, take care boys! Nice meeting you Lee," Bobby said. Lee waved before following the brothers to the Impala.
In the car, Lee lay sound asleep, slumped sideways in the backseat. Sam was driving and looked in the mirror to make sure she wasn't eavesdropping before speaking to Dean.
"Ruby said she would meet us later after tracking some leads-" Dean huffed and rolled his eyes, "Look, I know she isn't exactly on your Christmas list, but if she can help us get to Lilith-"
"Hey, man, work with Ruby, don't," Dean fussed, "I don't really give a rat's ass."
Sam shot a quick frown to Dean before returning to the road, "What's your problem?"
"Pamela didn't want anything to do with this," Dean muttered out the window, "And we dragged her back into it Sam."
"She knew what was at stake."
"Oh yeah, saving the world. Because that just makes it all okay," Dean scoffed and shook his head, "Cause we've just been doing such a swell job."
"Dean-" Sam started softly.
"I can't keep burying friends Sammy," Dean replied with a hallow voice, "I'm just getting tired of it… All of it."
"Well get angry," Sam ordered. He looked at his brother, but Dean refused to return a look and continued facing the window.
The Impala pulled into the motel parking. Dean leaned back and nudged a passed out Lee. With a startled gasp she bolted upright and clutched a hand to her heart. Lee flew into a panic when she noticed the brothers nearing their door. In a frantic flurry, she ran up and pulled them back.
"There's somethin' here!" She warned with wide eyes, "Sam, Dean…" The brothers glanced at each other, "There's somethin' in your room!"
"How do you know?" Sam asked while scanning the nearby area.
"I have this feelin'," Her skin tingled as if electricity ran through her body, "Look, sometimes I get a tingly feelin', and it usually means somethin'. I've never been wrong before. There's someone powerful in there."
"Just keep you eyes peeled," Dean whispered and took out a gun. Sam and Lee did the same and cock it at the ready.
Dean cautiously opened the door before stepping inside. Lee followed in behind Sam.
"I don't see anything." Dean said and Sam flipped on the lights.
Lee breathed in as she saw two figures standing in the corner. With a flash she barreled past the brothers with her gun at the ready, "Who are-" Her jaw dopped. The two figures stepped forward. Lee stepped back and lowered her gun. "Dear sweet Jesus, y'all are angels!" She winced and crossed herself.
"Winchester and Winchester," One of them said. He was tall and had skin as dark as night, "And… Haleli," He finished after studying her.
"How?" She muttered before Dean's disgruntled voice filled the room.
"You've got to be kidding me!" He punched the air, "This is seriously crappy timing!"
"How did you know we were angels?" The other stranger asked. His face was pulled into a frown and wore a long trench coat.
Lee gaped, struggling to find the words to explain, "Your wings," She choked. "I see your wings!" Both angels snapped their attention to the southerner, but her eyes were focused at the dark shadows fluttering against the backs of the strangers.
"Y'all can't see them?" Lee asked, turning to the brothers.
Before the angel in the trench coat could question any further, the other one faced Dean, "You are needed."
"Needed? We just got back from needed!" He cried.
"Who are they?" Lee whispered to Sam.
"The one talking to Dean is Uriel, the other is Castiel," Sam looked down at her and a deep crease appeared on his forehead, "How can you see their wings?"
Lee shrugged as Dean spoke harshly, "No, you mind your damn tone with us."
"We just got back from Pamela's funeral." Sam explained.
"Pamela. You know, psychic Pamela? Cas, remember you burned her eyes out!" Dean lashed out and Lee looked at the angel with horror, "Good times. Yeah, then she died saving one of your precious seals. So maybe you can stop pushing us around like chess pieces for five freaking minutes!"
Lee blinked, staring at the brothers and then the angels. She crinkled her eyebrows, thoroughly confused at what was being said. She looked to Sam for answers, but he was too busy studying the angels.
"We raised you out of hell for our purposes." Uriel said authoritatively. Lee reeled back and did a double take before peering at Dean. His jaw was clenched as tightly as his fists.
"Dean…" Lee breathed.
"What exactly am I supposed to do? What exactly do you want from me?" Dean continued, paying no attention to the utter confusion that Lee was encountering.
"Gratitude," Uriel growled, "Maybe some gratefulness and appreciation. You are in our debt."
Castiel stepped forward, "Dean we know this is difficult to understand…"
"And we," Uriel leered pointedly at Castiel, "don't care. An angel was killed earlier today. That makes it seven angels that have been murdered so far. All of them from our garrison."
"Demons?" Dean offered, "How are they doing it? I thought it was near impossible to kill angels."
"We don't know," Uriel confessed.
"I'm sorry, but what do you want us to do about it?" Sam pipped in, "I mean, a demon with enough juice to ice angels has to be out of our league, right?"
"We don't need help from hunters to handle whoever is responsible," Uriel sneered slightly, looking down on Sam.
"Once we find whoever it is," Castiel added.
"So you need us to help hunt a demon?" Dean asked.
"Not quite, we have Alastair." Cas explained.
Dean gulped before shaking it off, "Great. He should be able to name your trigger man." Lee noticed his face pale slightly and her stomach knotted in dread. She looked down with a frown, feeling as if she sensed the impending doom about to occur.
"But he won't talk. Everything we've tried has failed to break his strong will." Castiel said, "We've arrived at an impasse."
"Yeah, well, he's like a black belt in torture. I mean, you guys are out of your league," Dean said with a humorless chuckle.
"That's why we've come to his student. You happen to be the most qualified interrogator we've got." Uriel stated.
Dean looked down and wiped his face.
Lee's head shot up as flashes of Dean passed through her mind. Images of the torture he had endured and dolled out in hell appeared like a slide show. She looked at Uriel and realization dawned on her. Lee knew what he was implying.
"What's wrong with y'all!" She shrilled. All four men turned at her in surprise. Lee stepped towards the angels. "Someone just died, can't you respect that?" She stared at them unblinking. Her eyes widened and her eyebrows pulled together.
"Matters such as those don't matter," Uriel waved as if waving a fly, "Not when the threat of the apocalypse looms in our path."
Lee's mouth gaped before shutting it tight. Her eyelids drooped as her gaze flitted between Uriel and Castiel, "Y'all ain't like how I imagined angels…"
Castiel fixed Lee with a stranged look before turning to Dean, "Please, Dean."
"No, I won't do it." Dean crossed his arms in a fit of stubborness. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a slight shift in Uriel's stance.
"If he doesn't want to, he doesn't have to," Lee declared as she stepped in front of Dean protectively. Uriel looked down and flashed a look of annoyance.
"Stay out of this Lee," Dean ordered.
"Listen to him." Uriel attempted to push her aside. Lee glared in response.
"Touch me and I will snatched you bald headed and stick your head where the sun don't shine." Lee threatened.
"You just insulted an angel of the lord," Uriel glowered before swiping his hand to the side. He blinked and frowned before swiping his hand again.
When nothing happened, Lee looked at the brothers. They too shared a look of confusion. With a low growl, Uriel attempted a third swipe. This time Lee yelped as she skidded sideways, nearly crashing into the wall.
"Lee!" Sam yelled in shock. Both brothers rushed to her side and she waved them back.
"I'm fine, really," She assured.
Dean rounded on Uriel, "What the hell was that!" He demanded.
"I don't know," Uriel's studious gaze was fixated on Lee. Before either Sam or Dean could spring into action, Uriel appeared before Lee and grabbed her chin. Forcing her to look at him.
With a strangled cry, she struggled in vain to escape his grasp. Behind him, Uriel heard a click and the touch of cool metal against his head.
"That can't hurt me you imbecile," Uriel smirked before refocusing his attention to Lee.
"Dean, put down the gun!" Castiel pleaded.
"Not before he lets go of our friend," Sam answered for Dean menacingly.
"Uriel, we don't harm humans!" Castiel reminded him.
"You've been blessed," Uriel surmised. Lee stopped her struggles, jarring to a halt, and gaped like a fish, "by an angel."
Sam and Dean gave each other a side glance as Lee stuttered, "What do you mean? That's impossible! I would remember if somethin' like that happened to me!"
"Not if you were an infant," Uriel studied her a moment longer before roughly shoving her away, "Only a powerful angel can bless a child. Congratulations, you are now on mine and heaven's radar." He said flatly.
Sam caught Lee before she could fall and she shook her head, "What in the Sam Hill does that mean?"
She looked at Sam and Dean, hoping they could assure her it meant nothing, but they only looked at her. Sam's lips were pressed into a thin line as her breathing became ragged and panicked.
"Dean, you are our best hope," Castiel blurted, returning to the previous subject.
Dean patted a comforting hand on Lee's shoulder, "No. No way." He said and squared off to Castiel, "You can't ask me to do this, Cas. Not this."
Uriel walked up to Dean and stared deep into his eyes, "Who said anything about asking?"
"No!" Lee cried with a hand outstretched to what was now an empty space. She acted too slowly, realized Uriel's moves too late, and now they had disappeared with Dean.
"Damn it!" Sam punched the wall and turned to Lee, "Can you find him? Sense him like you did with Uriel and Cas?" He pleaded with puppy eyes.
"I'll try," She answered shakily. With trembling legs, she sat on the edge of the motel bed. The mattress sank under her weight and Lee proceeded to take in a deep breath.
Lee shut her eyes, scrunching her face. She tried to sense Dean, tried remembering everything she knew about him, but she felt nothing. Griping the comforter in her hands, she continued her attempt before collapsing in anguish.
Panting heavily, she lifted a hand and felt a trickle of blood ooze out of her nose. Sam looked at her with worried eyes, waiting for her answer.
"I'm sorry Sam," She whimpered tearfully, "I reckon that I can't sense that far."
Sam whipped out a phone and walked out the motel room, "I'm gonna make a call…" he informed, leaving Lee to sit alone, upset that she let the angels take Dean away.
"I'm sorry," She said aloud to the lonely room.