The late summer sun beat down mercilessly onto a massive horde of students as they trekked from class to class. Among them was Lee dressed in a soothing pastel green set of scrubs. She gripped the straps of her backpack tighter with sweaty palms, exaggerating the turtle shell appearance it had.

A feeling of nausea erupted from deep inside Lee the closer she got to her first class. She was nervous. It had been a while since Lee was in school and she was positive that, at twenty-eight, she'd be one of the older students in the class. After a deep breath, Lee walked in and a continuous buzz of conversation greeted her.

Almost the whole class was filled with girls with the uncommon sight of a few guys scattered around. Lee quickly spotted an empty seat in the front row by the window and rushed to stake her claim. Curious eyes watched her sit down with her head tucked down.

Lee sat hunched with her legs crossed under her desk. Her hands slowly snaked up and fiddled with the ends of her hair. No longer did she have flowing locks of dark hair, instead there was a shoulder scraping bob in its place. Lee often caught herself shaking her head, still not used to the lightweight feeling after chopping her hair.

"You mind if I sit here?" Lee turned to her right as a girl motioned to the empty seat by her.

"No not at all," Lee drawled.

"I'm Esme by the way," She smiled, "And I dig that accent you got!" Her skin was dark like a starless night sky with eyes that smiled, and her hair shaped into a bundle of spirals.

"Haleli, but you can call me Lee," Lee said, "It's a Georgian accent by the way."

"Neat!" Esme responded, "Are you native or something? Your name sounds like it."

"Half Chickasaw actually," Lee answered.

"Yeah I think my great-great something aunt was Cherokee but that was a long time ago," Esme said and waved lazily.

Esme leaned back and drummed her pencil on the desk. She looked young, around twenty-three, with an air of liveliness swarming around her. Lee shrunk back and casted a sideways glance as Esme bolted upright and leaned close.

"You wanna grab lunch after class?" She asked. Lee felt herself instinctively shrink back from her piercing gaze, but there was no malice behind those eyes. Only an eager patience as Esme waited for a reply.

"Uh–"

"Good morning class," A graveled voice rang and their teacher entered the room, "I am Professor Greenwood so tidy up your things and pay attention." Their professor spun on her heels and began writing on the whiteboard. "The basic principles of nursing include…"

Lee turned to Esme, "Sure, why not?"

Her new friend flashed a smile and jiggled her head while pulling out a fresh piece of paper. Both girls raced their pens across the paper, trying to keep up with the speed of the professor's marker squeaks.

"So I noticed him checking me out ‑ I mean with that dress on who wouldn't? - Anyways I flashed him a wink and before you knew it, a free drink popped up in front of me…" Esme drabbled on while Lee only half listened as she sat with her eyes glued to the screen of her laptop.

It had been two months since Lee had started the nursing program, something she contemplated dropping every morning after a long night of studying. Since the start of the term, she had moved in with Esme into a small two bedroom apartment. With all the chatter Esme created, Lee had managed to learn how to tune her out with random nods and yeahs thrown in.

"Dammit Lee are you even listening!" Esme whined.

"Of course…" Lee drawled completely enthralled by an online medical journal.

"What this country needs is a widespread banning of guns!" Esme tested with a smirk knowing full well Lee's passion to bear arms.

"Yup…" Lee's eyes continued scanning across the screen.

"Lee!" The loud smack as Esme slammed her fists onto the table startled Lee. Tearing her eyes from the screen, Lee turned to glare.

"Sorry I just need to study," Lee said, slipping on a half grin once she saw her pouting friend.

Her apology was met with rolling eyes and a head shake, "Why? You've been the top student since day one. You need a break!" Esme's frizzy curls danced with excitement as she bobbled her head at the thought of going out.

As quickly as Lee's attention was on Esme, it was back onto the screen. A link with a news article flashed in the corner reading: "Massive Gas Station Explosion in Maine, One survivor Unscathed".

'A couple days ago in Waterville, Maine a massive riot broke out at the local gas station. The town's sheriff was quoted saying it was nothing he had every seen before. Just as police responders arrived at the scene, the gas station erupted in flames with a blinding white light. Sources report that it was the cause of an underground gas tank but nothing is confirmed at the moment…'

"White light?" Lee whispered. In a moment of clarity, Lee whipped out her hunters journal, flipping to a particular entry.

An indication of an angelic possession or an instance of an angel displaying a feat of power is commonly perceived as a brilliant white light… Aftermaths may be disastrous due to the raw energy an angel contains and range in severity depending on the rank of the angel.

Lee gripped her journal tighter and brought it closer. Reading and rereading her scribbled writing, she stared wide eyed and mouth slightly open. Esme was unaware that Lee had stopped listening to her and continued to wave her hands elaborately while she talked.

This was the first legitimate break Lee had in her search for an angel that could give her answers. An explosion that size could mean a very powerful angel that could have information on the angel that blessed her. If not, then surely they could have the power to take it away.

The article continued on:

'The only survivor was a man named Donnie Finneman who was the mechanic at the gas station where the explosion occurred. No reports have been released as to why he remained the only survivor, but he now resides at St. Peter Hospital in a permanent catatonic state…'

"Hey where's Waterville, Maine?" Lee asked, cutting off Esme mid sentence, "Is it far from here?"

"Just hit the 95 North all the way up, it's like a 3 hour drive," Emse replied with a frown, "But…why?"

"No reason," Lee wiped her nose and looked sideways," I-uh- have family up there. Yeah my uncle hasn't been doing well and my aunt has been begging for me to visit. This weekend. Family, am I right?"

Lee let out a choppy chuckle and Esme looked unamused.

"Does it have to be this weekend? Jason and Harold are throwing a party tomorrow night and you never come!" Esme whined, "You always have some lame excuse, like weird and random trips." She said with an emphasis on the word weird and eyed mysterious journal in Lee's hands.

"Hey I can't control family gatherings and… stuff!" Lee stammered and stood up to gather her things. "I'm going to bed. Have fun at the party because I'm leaving early tomorrow morning." Lee made a swift exit hoping to not continue the details being questioned by Esme.

"Fine." Esme grumbled, tracing the wood markings on the table.

Early that Saturday morning Lee managed to pack her bags in twenty minutes. She tiptoed out the door before shutting it gently, careful not to wake a snoring Esme. Sunrise had just started as it began to peak from over the apartment complex. In the old, green jeep, the trunk opened to reveal a wide variety of guns, salt, and knives. Lee searched through a wooden box and pulled out the ID badge she needed to get into the hospital.

"Alright, everything's here," Lee said out loud and closed her trunk.

Halfway down the 95 she noticed diner advertising bacon cheeseburgers and contemplated calling the Winchesters. They have more experience dealing with angel than she did. Plus they had Cas.

"No," Lee shook her head and continued to stare ahead, "They're busy." I reality, she had no clue. Lee never returned Dean's message since that night the apocalypse started. Every time she went out on her information hunts, she debated on calling but never did.

Although, that was partly due to all the studying Lee had done. Since starting the nursing program, her growing knowledge of the human body meant Lee could heal injuries more quickly and correctly; however, the mere act of healing continued to drain her of her energy. Often she gained cold-like symptoms after healing someone. All the studying had prevented her from worrying about nearby demons she could sense to the point where she was gaining more control over it.

The past couple months were the safest she had ever felt since meeting the angels, yet despite all her precautions and protection symbol, Lee always felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up late at night. It was like the shadows were following her, reaching out to grab her.

Lee parked her car a block from the hospital once she arrived in Waterville. Checking her reflection in the mirror she ran a hand through her hair and hurried down the street. Lee walked quickly with her head down, not noticing the sleek impala parked right in front of the hospital. The security at the door nodded to her politely as Lee walked through the doors.

At the front desk a bored secretary sat filing her nails and cracking her gum. "Hello, I'm here to drop off flowers for somebody…" Lee asked and held up a bouquet she bought not a minute ago from a street vendor.

"Who's it for?" The secretary asked with a sigh and popped another bubble.

"Donnie Finneman."

"Oh yeah poor guy," She said in a tone that indicated her feelings were otherwise, " Yeah he's been getting loads of guests lately. Second floor room 214." She waved Lee off and turned her attention back to her nails.

Lee headed for the staircase but slipped into a supply closet and quickly changed into her scrubs. She hurried out to the second floor and pinned her fake badge on her stethoscope.

"210… 212… 214!" Lee halted at the door when she saw two tall figures standing by Donnie with their backs to her, "Shit!" She muttered before spinning on her heel and sprinting down the hall away from the closed door. Dean and Castiel were there and Lee had no idea how long they could be there. Them being there meant complications, Dean trying to meddle into her business, and a sure way for demons to find them.

"Dammit, shit shit shit!" Lee said in a shrill whisper. Her head snapped up as she heard the familiar voices grow louder as Dean and Castiel walked down the hallway. Thinking fast, Lee slipped on a surgical mask and snatched up an abandoned chart.

Lee cringed slightly as they passed by her and tried to hide her nerves by flipping though the file in her hands in a determined and frantic manner.

"Hey nice hair," Lee jumped at Dean's gravelly voice and gripped the chart until her knuckles turned white.

"Dean, we don't have time to waste with your philandering," Dean let out a choked cry of protest as Castiel pulled him away by his collar. Lee dared a look out the corner of her eye as they left and saw Dean cast a curious glance over his shoulder.

She breathed a sigh and released the tension of her shoulders as they turned the corner. They hadn't recognized her but she had to be careful. She knew that Dean would demand to help her on her quest and take control, possibly even be angry at her lack of communication, but this was something she needed to do on her own. And either way, him being around meant danger and sticky situations were just around the corner.

Lee waited a few more minutes before returning to Donnie's room. He sat in a wheelchair facing the window. She crouched in front of him but he remained unresponsive. His arm rested on the arm of the chair while his hand drew erratic circles in the air. Lee reached up and touched his forehead with the back of her hand.

She felt nothing.

His mind was gone and there was nothing she could do to bring it back. Lee frowned as her arm prickled like pins and needles. An intense feeling of heat was growing in the pit of her stomach. She tilted her head as the feeling grew into a full body fiery sensation, causing sweat to bead and collect on her forehead.

Lee was pulled backwards, ripped away from the empty vessel, and immediately her temperature return to normal.

"What in the Sam Hill!" She yelped and turned around to find a familiar face stuffed into a trench coat. "Castiel! Wh-where's Dean?" Lee asked while peaking around the angel.

"He's in the car," Castiel said, "I told him I had business to attend to, so he will not be bothering us."

"Oh," Lee said looking at the ground, "Why did you grab me?"

"You were peering too deep into this man's mind. A piece of the angel that possessed him still resides in this vessel." Castiel stared at her intently, "Seeing the angel's true form, blessing or not, would burn you from the inside out."

Lee shivered and grabbed her stomach, realizing what that sensation had meant.

"Why did you not wish to be seen when Dean and I walked by?" Castiel asked.

"Wait how could you sense me?" Lee asked stunned and tried to steer the conversation a different direction. She revealed the tattoo over her heart, "I thought this was supposed to hide me!"

Castiel leaned forward and squinted at the marking, "You've done a lot of research lately… Yes it did hide you, but only partially. It was only when we left the hospital that I realized how familiar your presence was. Don't worry," Castiel assured when Lee frowned, "It is a powerful protection that will keep you concealed. Just not hidden."

Lee gritted in pain as Castiel touched her ribs, "This is an enochian sigil that will amplify its power to hide you completely from any angel or demon."

"You can do that?" Lee gaped and rubbed her chest as the pain dulled.

"The brothers have mentioned your quest and your…concerns of staying hidden."

"Thanks."

"But now I must ask why you are here?"

Lee shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, "It's stupid but I read an article about the explosion and thought it was an angel. I was hoping it was a powerful one that could give me answers about the one that blessed me…"

"You're right it is an angel, Raphael in fa-"

"An archangel!" Lee shouted and grabbed the flaps of his coat, "Are you sure?"

"Positive," Castiel frowned, "I have a plan to trap him to answer questions of my own. I'm sure Dean would be happy for you to join us."

"No." Lee cut in. "I-I just don't think it'll be a good idea. I don't want him to know I'm here."

"Why? I don't understand," Castiel looked at her downcast eyes.

"I just don't think it'll be a good idea…" She drawled and refused to go into further detail.

There was a steady silence as Castiel stood with a frown etched on his face and Lee hugged her arms as if trying to shrink away.

"There's an abandoned house on the edge of town." He said, breaking the silence, "Tomorrow at midnight Raphael will be there. You can wait outside while we question him and I will leave him there so you can talk to him once Dean and I leave."

"Thank you," Lee smiled, "this means so much. It could be the exact answer I need."

Castiel nodded, "With me as well. But I must leave, I fear Dean may be becoming anxious to continue our tasks."

With a flutter of wings, Castiel disappeared and Lee was left alone with a catatonic Donnie staring out the window.

It was the next night and Lee had hidden herself underneath the front window behind the overgrown bushes. She had been there since sunset, not wanting to risk missing her opportunity or being seen.

In the limited moonlight, Lee had her notes in an attempt to squeeze in any studying she could. The loud rumble of a car signaled the arrival of the impala and Lee quickly stashed away her papers.

The glossy black car pulled into the driveway with a crunch on the gravel and out stepped Dean and Castiel. Bright light emanated from the windows and sharp crackles of electricity shot through the air. Lee slowly raised her eyes above the windowsill to find Dean and Castiel talking with Raphael's vessel. Lightning crackled overhead and rain poured down. Within seconds, Lee was soaked through with ice cold water. She rushed to pull out her wool lined jacket to soothe her chattering teeth.

Lee returned to her spying and her jaw dropped when she saw Raphael trapped in a ring of fire. "Is that Holy Oil?" She muttered.

Their conversation was barely audible from where she sat, but Raphael appeared angry. Lee frowned when he appeared to be smiling as if telling a sick joke. She inched her ear closer to the window hoping to hear more clearly. With a sharp crack, the windows burst and showered Lee with shards of glass. She let out a muffled yelp and dropped to the ground clutching her ear.

The ringing slowly faded and her momentary deafness passed, only to find that Castiel had left the house with Dean still inside and Raphael still trapped.

Castiel leaned over the porch railing to where Lee was hiding. "We're done here now, Lee," He said and Lee nodded her thanks.

"Wait – Lee's here…"

Lee froze like a deer in headlights as Dean's head popped out from behind the apologetic angel.

"Lee?"

"Dean," Lee said, standing up from the shadows into the moonlight.

A smile jumped across his face and he raced around the porch to pull her into a hug, "Lee it's been ages!" She bit her lip and paused before returning the embrace. Noticing the hesitation, Dean pulled away with his hands still on her shoulders and looked at her, "You okay? Hold on – why were you hiding?"

Before Lee could reply, Castiel spoke, "She didn't want you to know she was here." Dean's arms drop and dangled at his sides.

Lee sucked in a deep breath and threw daggers at Castiel. She glared at him and ran her hand across her neck in a slicing motion. Dean whipped his head between her and Castiel before settling back on Lee.

"Is that true?" Dean asked. His jaw was clenched and Lee saw the hurt he felt as his eyebrows knit together.

"It's true."

Dean stepped back and rubbed his hand over his face. He opened his mouth but Lee cut him off.

"Look, sweet pea, I'm here to talk to Raphael," Lee said, "and he's gettin' angrier by the minute like a bull facing a red flag." Thunder rumbled overhead in response and Lee brushed past Dean who stayed rooted to the floor. Castiel frowned in confusion as she threw a venomous glare while passing him on her way into the house.

Raphael stood in the middle of the flames and his eyes flicked warily as they danced around him. Hearing Lee's footsteps, Raphael snapped his head up and narrowed his eyes. Lee flinched under his stare and her knees trembled as his heavenly power rolled off in waves.

"Who are you?" Raphael demanded, "We have not met before."

"You're right," Lee replied, "My name is Haleli Colt-"

"Ah yes," He interrupted and waggled his finger at her, "I've heard of you, you are the blessed child that my brother Uriel was not too fond of."

"Yes, that's me," She nearly shouted, feeling her stomach summersault into knots, "That's actually why I came here lookin' for you."

Raphael's head perked up with interest. "Go on."

"I-I want you to take away my blessing."

His eyebrows shot up and Lee shrunk under his wide-eyed stare, "You wish to deny your heavenly gifts? These sacred blessing?"

"I can't take it, my family is a target now that I realize I'm blessed!" Lee spat, "Thanks to whichever angel decided to ruin my life, my own family had to go into hiding. Demons follow me everywhere!"

The trapped angel looked at Lee with unsympathetic eyes, "You should feel fortunate – appreciative – of these gifts bestowed upon you."

"They've caused me nothin' but trouble," Lee argued, "So can you do it or not!"

"Being blessed, especially as a child, is nearly impossible to undo. Any attempt would result in death."

"There has to be a way," Lee pleaded with a shaky voice. "I can't live with this anymore!"

"Well perhaps if the angel who blessed you were to perform the extraction…" Raphael muttered curiously.

Lee rushed up until the heat from the flames blistered against her skin. Nearly eye to eye with the angel, she stared deep into his gaze, "Tell me who it is."

"Release me first," Raphael demanded.

A humorless chuckled escaped Lee, which seemed to anger Raphael. He ran his tongue over his teeth behind pursed lips and clenched his jaw while Lee smirked at him.

"I let you go," She started with a raised eyebrow, "And the first thing you're gonna do it pop out of here and leave me with nothing except this empty house and more questions."

"I swear to answer you're question," Raphael said.

Lee swallowed the lump in her throat and felt a surge of courage, "You will tell me or I'll let you stay trapped in this burnin' Holy Oil." She threatened.

"Release me." He said through clenched teeth.

Both stood unmoving and unwilling to back down from their demands. Lee felt her shoulders shag in defeat knowing that her wild goose chase was over. She turned to leave him still stuck inside the ring of fire without so much as another word.

"You do not want to make me an enemy!" Raphael shouted. Lee stopped dead in her tracks and turned her head towards him.

"It's not like you can find me anyways."

Lee left in eerie silence and didn't dare look back again at Raphael. The front porch was empty and Dean was nowhere to be seen, but behind a rusting shed where she hid her car was Castiel waiting patiently for her return.

"What in the Sam Hill do you want!" Lee snarled.

"You're angry," He said matter of factly.

"You're damn straight I am!" Lee leaned closer to Castiel, threatening him with a closed fist, "You can't keep your mouth shut! You knew I didn't want Dean knowin' I was here… And you blurted that fact out to him!"

"I didn't realize it would cause this much trouble," Castiel frowned.

"Yeah well now he ain't gonna leave me alone," Lee backed away and began pacing the small area between the shed and her car.

"That's actually why I'm here," Castiel said, "He wants you to meet him at a diner in town and sent me to make sure you didn't run off."

"For the love of all that is good…" Lee muffled into her hands. They slid down away from her eyes and she saw that Castiel was watching her intently.

"He said to hurry," Castiel made a motion to the car.

"Fine," Lee said curtly, "But you best keep your mouth shut."

Not ten minutes later Lee was sitting across from Castiel and Dean in a diner down the road. The vinyl booth squeaked under Lee as she sat down and she refused to look Dean in the eye. An older, motherly waitress set down three waters and flashed a tired smile.

"You folks ready to order?" She asked with a pad and pen at the ready.

"A slice of your best pie," Dean said. The waitress nodded and looked to Lee.

"Uh, just the sausage omelet, please."

Castiel stared at the waitress and she began to dart her eyes between the pad and him. "I don't need to eat," he finally said.

"I'll be right back," She smiled.

Once she had left, Dean cleared his throat and leaned forward, "So you cut your hair?"

"Yeah, I needed a change."

"Wow it's really short compared to before. It's nice though, I li – Wait, so that was you at the hospital…" Dean trailed off, muttering the last part to himself, and Lee dared a look and saw that his cheeks look like they'd been slapped.

"Yes, that was me," Lee smirked and watched him shift uncomfortably in his seat. "Hey where's your brother?" She asked, looking around half expecting the tall giant to round the corner.

"He's on a solo mission for the moment." Dean's were pressed into a thin line. His eyes flickered to her collar where they squinted and lingered for a moment.

"And you have ink now?" He stated with a stunned expression.

"It's like a protection symbol. Look, Dean, cut to the chase and ask me what you really want to know."

"Alright, let's start with something easy," Dean said and rubbed his hands together, "Why are you here?"

"To talk to Raphael," Lee shrugged and picked at the seat of the booth, "I told you that."

"Yeah but why?"

"Because I was hoping he could take away my blessing," Lee sighed, "I read the news article about the explosion and recognized the angelic signs, hoping that it'd be a powerful angel that could give me answers."

"So did you get what you needed?" Dean asked and the waitress came by and set down their plates of food, "Thanks," he muttered briefly.

"No, I didn't," Lee said with a small frown, "He said it's almost impossible for it to be reversed. Unless the one who blessed me did it, and of course he was so up front with all that information." Her said with her voice dripping of sarcasm.

Dean appeared to be deep in thought before turning to Castiel, "Hey Cas, would you know anything about that?"

"No, information like that is rarely shared," Castiel shot a look of apology to Lee, "And with Lee being given an unauthorized blessing, it may be impossible to ever know for sure who performed the ceremony."

"Lee look at me," She picked up her head and saw Dean focusing on her, "Look at me and explain why you've been awol and apparently don't even want to say hi."

"You wouldn't understand sweet pea-"

"No, you can't 'sweet pea' me and then continue to ignore me!" Dean argued, "Explain it."

"You want to know the truth, Dean?" Lee sneered and leaned forward over the table, "Demons have been followin' me everywhere! And I don't know why, it's not like I know anything! And ever since you and your brother failed to stop the apocalypse…" Lee stopped and shook her head, "Let's just say the amount of vermin I've had to protect myself from has quadrupled."

"You think I wanted this to happen?" Dean said roughly, "You think I just let all those seals break because I thought I'd be fun to watch the world end?"

"I told you that you wouldn't understand," Lee huffed and leaned back in the booth with her arms crossed.

"No I understand just fine," Dean sneered, "blame me for all your problems. Hey I'm not the friggin angel that blessed you okay!"

"It's not like you made it any easier!"

"I did everything I could Lee!"

" - The apocalypse was inevitable –" Castiel tried to cut in.

"Well obviously you coulda done better."

"Not like you were any help either."

"Hey I wasn't dicking around and relaxing on some beach Dean!"

"Oh yeah, that's right, your 'angel quest'!"

"You're failure has ruined my life! My family's life!"

"Then why are you still here!" Dean roared and slammed his fist on the table. Lee's jaw dropped and few stragglers in the diner all had their heads turned to them, watching as their voices rose with every word. Even the chefs had their heads poked through the service window.

"Everyone is staring…." Castiel noted curiously.

Lee bit her lip to stop it from trembling. She slipped away from the table trying to hide her tears and felt Dean's glare drilling into the back of her head. The bell at the front door chimed as Lee hurried as fast as she could to her car. Dean sat silently for a minute staring at Lee's untouched food. Deep in thought, he blinked rapidly and let out a deep sigh before pushing out the booth to follow her.

Outside, Lee fumbled for her keys trying to fit the right one into the car door. Tears stung her eyes and blurred her vision, making it difficult to guide her hand correctly. She tried to sniff back the snot starting to drip but her nose was growing too stuffed. The keys clanged onto the floor and Lee pressed her hands on her eyes and let out a silent sob.

"Lee?" Hearing Dean's voice behind her made her shoulders jump, "why were you really ignoring me?"

Lee wiped away her tears before turning around. Dean stood a few feet away with his arms dangling weakly at his sides. "I told you!" She hiccupped and fresh tears prickled her eyes, "Just don't ever talk to me, okay?"

Dean's eyes glistened for a split second before hardening. He stepped closer and Lee backed up until she felt the car blocking her way. Dean stopped until he was directly in front of her and looked defiantly down at her.

"I know that was all an act back there," Dean said. Lee hugged her arms together and squinted up at him.

"How?"

"You bite your top lip when you're feeling guilty," Dean answered and pointed at the diner, "Just like you did when you got up to leave."

Lee dropped her head in defeat, "I'm sorry," she whispered, "I just didn't know what else to do. It's just better if you or Sam never talk to me again."

"Why? Did someone threaten you!" Dean asked in alarm, "Did Zachariah- "

"Who? No!" She cried shaking her head, "It's not me I'm worried about, it's you and your brother. My family had to go into hiding for a reason. Right after I left, it was bad. I was mentally and physically about to reach my breaking point. I wasn't lying about the demons, Dean. They wouldn't leave me alone!"

"What does that have to do with Sam and me?" Dean asked.

"Once just followin' me around didn't work, they started to show me these horrible things," Lee grimaced as she remembered the grotesque images, "They invaded my dreams, showed my family torture… As long as you're in contact with me, you've got an even bigger target on your back."

"We can handle ourselves," Dean assured and Lee let out a laugh of disbelief.

"These aren't your run of the mill demons. They're on a mission but I have no idea why!" Lee cried out, "So for Christ's sake and yours, just stay away for a while! At least until I sort this all out."

"What are you going to do in the meantime Lee?" Dean questioned, "If you think these sons of bitches are too much for me and Sam to handle… We're experienced hunters and you've never really done it before."

Lee fixed him a stern look, "I know what I'm doin'."

"That's not what I meant," He replied quickly with his hands raised in defense, "All I'm saying is that maybe it's better if you're with us."

"Please Dean, they don't know that I consider you and Sam as some of my closest friends" Lee pleaded as tears threatened to escape once again, "So far they haven't been able to find me but I'm scared for when they do and find out I know you!"

"It's not going happen. They can't find us." Dean took a step closer but Lee looked away shaking her head.

"Look, I've been flying low on the radar for the past couple of months. I'm studying to be a nurse right now and doin' my best to throw every demon off my trail. I don't go hunting, I don't go looking for demons either, and so far it's been working. If I go with you… Sooner or later you and your brother end up running into demons." Dean hung his head at her words and Lee touched his arm with gentle comfort. His eyes flickered over to her and she gave him a soft smile. "It's not your fault sweet pea, it's just what happens, but I don't want me being there to make the situation even worse."

They were both silent. Lee still had her hand on his arm and was looking up at him, waiting for him to respond, but Dean had his eyes fixed on the uneven and cracked asphalt ground. The muscles on his jaw danced as he processed what Lee had just said.

Lee felt her phone vibrate in her back pocket. Pulling it out she saw a missed call from Esme. Lee noted the time and realized she was running out of it. Dean had yet to say anything and Lee felt her legs itch, anxious to depart and stop risking being found.

With a deep breath, Lee crashed into Dean and held on tightly with her arms locked around him. She leaned her head against his should and felt Dean rest his chin on her head, returning the hug with the same intensity.

"I have to go Dean," Lee whispered hoarsely, "I've got school and such, but this isn't good bye forever, just for now until I figure things out."

"Just promise you'll stay safe Lee, okay?" Dean replied. She shivered as his breath tickled her bare neck. Lee pulled away nodding, wearing a half smile as Dean continued to wrinkle his eyebrows in a weary expression.

"As long as you do the same sweet pea," She patted his arm before turning to unlock her car door. Before stepping in, she turned back to him, "I'm not promising anything, but if I can, I'll try to send you messages. Just to keep in touch."

"I'd like that," Dean said, managing a faint smile.

The apocalypse wasn't a threat anymore, it was now reality, and their lives were only going to get more difficult from now on. Lee knew it was dangerous for her to be around Sam and Dean, but she couldn't help but think in the back of her mind that she was supposed to stay. With a final wave, she drove away from the diner and away from Dean. And as she drove down the deserted highway, she couldn't help but wonder if she'd ever see them again.