The rest of the day remained uneventful as Lee was hustling between all her patients in the psych ward. There were several patients with severe schizophrenia, a couple bipolar disorders and crippling anxiety, a poor girl who attempted suicide, and Sam. Lee felt her thoughts drifting back to Sam and always made sure to walk past his room every half hour.
Each time she glanced in he seemed to look worse and worse. The lack of sleep was apparent on his face and he could barely move, from what Lee could tell. At noon she walked in with a cup of pills but halted at the door. Sam sat hunched on the edge of the bed with his back to the door. She slowly turned her head to the side, trying to see if she could notice anything, but nothing blipped on her radar.
"Time for meds sweet pea," She chirped in an attempt to brighten the atmosphere. Sam barely nodded and swallowed it all at once with a gulp of water.
"Thanks," he managed.
The next morning could have been better. Lee was in the cafeteria with Charles and her morning cup of coffee when the intercom call overhead:
"Paging Doctor Kadinsky and Nurse Samuels, urgent code 891 in room D-14, psych ward. Repeat, urgent code 891…"
Lee jumped out of the booth, unbothered by the coffee spilling onto the floor from her now empty cup. Racing full speed, she swiped the access card and was the first to arrive at Sam's room.
"Just stay the hell away from me!" Sam shouted on repeat. Lee tried to step forward but was bowled over as Sam paced the room frantically. His eyes were wild as if trapped in a terrifying daydream.
"Sam," She tried to grab him, "Sam, listen to me! You're in the hospital, please I'm here!" Finally, her hand caught hold of his and Sam visibly calmed momentarily. He continued pacing but was less erratic about it and Lee was able to keep up.
Doctor Kadinsky reached the door and leaned on the frame to catch his breath, "Nurse Samuels, report?" He panted.
"It's fine doctor," Lee said, continuing to cradle Sam's arm as he walked the perimeter of the room, "I suspect it was a hallucination and walking nightmare."
"So he slept!" Kadinsky gaped but shifted to a frown when Lee shook her head.
"No sir, just an effect of the mental break I suppose," She explained. Sam began to slow his pace more before eventually deciding to sit back on his bed, "Sir, you can return to your other patients, Sam is back under control. I'll stay an hour just to observe his vitals."
Kadinsky nodded, "Alright, and good work." Lee smiled and sat next to Sam.
"Sweet pea?"
"I'm better," Sam cut in, "I mean not really, but better than….just now."
"I understand," Lee nodded and bit her lip, "Just rest, I'll sit with you for a bit."
A few days later Lee was back at Sam's room with the usual noon medication, except that the dosage was a lot higher. Dangerously high Lee noted as she saw the amount of milligrams it contained.
"Kadinsky is recommending surgery," Sam said in a hollow voice. He didn't even bother turning around to face her. He knew it was Lee.
"I heard," Lee muttered, "How d'you feel about it?"
"I don't know," He confessed, "I feel like it's all for nothing."
Lee walked closer, "At least it's something, at least there's an action." She tried to point out, but deep down she knew it would take a miracle to fix Sam. "Hey, sweet pea, I'm pulling a double shift tonight so just push the button if you need anything. Even if it's just a friend to talk, okay?"
Sam nodded and Lee placed the cup of medicine on his nightstand before exiting the room.
Later at the nurse station, Lee felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see Charles baring a wide grin. She laughed and hugged him around the neck.
"I thought you had the night off?" Lee managed to say through her smile.
"Well I knew you were pulling a double shift and with your friend Sam…" Charles shrugged bashfully, "I don't know I asked to switch so I could keep you company."
"Well that is as sweet as honey," Lee drawled and lightly punched his shoulder. She laughed again as Charles pretended to wince in pain.
"So how about we meet at the cafeteria around 8?" Charles suggested, "It's about 1 right now and I've got a couple patients to visit before I have a gap in time."
"Sounds perfect."
"The office is too the best show!" Lee shouted and stabbed her fork into her vegetables. Charles sat across from her, choking on his Chinese takeout, laughing as she ranted.
"Three words," Charles sputtered, "Parks and Recs." Lee uttered a gag.
"I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that," Lee rolled her eyes and stuffed a piece of chicken into her mouth, chomping fiercely.
"Come on, you've only seen the first episode! Not even the whole thing!"
"I didn't think it was funny…"
"It gets better, trust me," Charles pleaded, "Just watch the rest of season one please!" He exaggerated a lean forward and clasped his hands in intense prayer. Lee refused to look up but curiosity got the best of her and she melted under his wishful gaze.
"Fine!" She sighed and he pumped his fist in success, "But don't think it'll ever replace the Office."
Charles nodded, "Oh no that's fine. I mean…you're in denial of the inevitable but that's fine!" Lee stuck out her tongue and kicked the side of his leg gently.
Silence fell between them and Charles looked at her intently, "So how do you know Sam and Dean?"
"My daddy and their daddy were old huntin' buddies," Lee explained and fiddled her hands under the table. "And they've helped me through tough times before. I feel like now's my chance to repay them for all they've done, but there's nothing I can do and Sam is heading for the worst."
"Hey you're doing the best you can Lee," Charles stretched his hand over the table and Lee took it gratefully. "What did they help you with exactly?"
Lee swallowed and thought carefully, "A few years ago my cousin was attacked and Dean, and Sam, stopped me from going down a dark path."
"Why was she attacked?" Charles tightened his grip in comfort.
"That doesn't matter Charles," Lee said, "All that does is they helped me and they are some of my closest friends."
"Oh so they're just friends, huh?" Lee recoiled her hand and Charles sucked in air immediately regretting his outburst.
"What in the name of Sam Hill is that supposed to mean?" She spat.
"I'm just saying that Dean looked a little friendlier than I thought he would, you know, if you were just friends," He said, deciding to spill what had been on his mind this past week.
"Are you shitting me?" Lee stood up roughly, shaking the table as she did.
"Now I know why he's always texting you!" Charles laughed humorlessly, standing up as well, "You don't think I notice? I see the name, Lee, don't deny it!"
"So you've been sneaking peeks on my phone!" Lee shrilled. Charles stepped back but she closed the gap, "How dare you!"
"I had a right to be concerned-" He tried to argue but Lee held up her hand.
"No, you didn't! I text him because I like to know he and his brother are safe, that's it!" Lee punched her fist in her other hand, imagining it was his face, "Sweet Jesus is that what you were really thinking?" Lee shook her head and stalked out the cafeteria.
"Lee, wait, I'm sorry…"
"Screw you!" She roared over her shoulder, "I shouldn't have to explain myself."
Lee didn't dare look back as she walked through the empty hospital until she reached her computer at the nurse station. She sat down staring off into the distance, replaying the argument over and over. There was no reason for Charles to be mad but deep down she understood his wariness.
Shaking her head clear, Lee dived into her patient file and typed away on the computer. Her fingers began to ache and grow stiff after an hour of nonstop work. She leaned back and fiddled the ends of her hair. It had been a year since she last cut it and the ends now scraped past her shoulders.
"Should I cut it again?" Lee mused out lout. She shrugged and readied herself to continue working when a sharp and stabbing pain throbbed behind her eye. The pain grew and Lee gasped as her vision began to see double. "Help…" She muttered, trying to stand.
The pain started to fade when a new feeling ripped through her gut, "Demons!" Lee realized and she scrambled for her phone on the counter. She fell sideways off her chair but was able to grab it and punch in a number.
"Lee?" Dean's gruff voice answered after a few rings.
"Oh thank God!" She choked from her spot on the floor.
"What's wrong!" He said, his voice laced with urgency and concern.
"Dean there's demons here, lots of them," She whimpered, her vision slowly returned to normal, "I can feel them, it hurts too much…"
"Hey, calm down, just give me 5 minutes tops alright?" He coached, "Just breathe and find some salt. You got a knife or something?"
"Yes," She breathed thinking of her special knife in her purse. Lee felt the pain numbing as Dean continued to talk her through the panic.
"Okay good," He continued, "Go to Sam and protect yourself and him. You'll be alright Lee, I'm coming with help."
"Okay." They both hung up. Lee tucked her phone in her scrubs and picked herself off the floor. "Salt, where is the salt!" She thought out loud. Lee raced back to the cafeteria and burst into the back kitchen. Pots and pans fell on the floor with loud clangs as she ransacked all the drawers for salt.
Lee shouted in triumph and grabbed the salt cartons. She reached for her access card to enter the psych ward when a voice from behind startled her. "Lee what are you doing?" She jumped at the voice and turned quickly to see Charles.
"Sweet Jesus, Charles you need to get out of here!" Lee cried feeling the pain starting to return, "Look I'm sorry about the fight, let's just forget about it. Go to your office and pour this salt." She shoved a carton into his hand, "I don't have time to explain, it's not safe right now!"
Lee turned to run to Sam's room when Charles grabbed her wrist, "I know."
Wham.
Lee crumbled onto the floor in a sprawled heap and blood trickled from a cut on her hairline. Charles casually stepped over her, tossed the salt aside, and smirked at her limp body. His eyes flickered black as he made his way to Sam.
Outside the hospital, bodies of demon vessels littered the floor. Dean stood by the Impala trying to reason with Castiel.
"I deserved to die!" Castiel's voice shook as he continued, "Now, I can't possibly fix it… All I've done. So why did I even walk out of that river?"
Dean's lips pressed into a thin line as Cas turned his pleading gaze to him, "Maybe to fix it. Or at least try." He popped open the trunk and tossed him the trench coat, "Here. Now lets go help Lee and Sam."
Meg remained outside as Dean and Castiel entered the hospital. Dean held his gun, aimed and ready to shoot. He led them down the hall. Castiel touched the wall and winced.
"Something isn't right here." He said.
They continued on, "Sammy's up this way," Dean said. They turned the corner and Dean felt his heart sink as he saw Lee's body lying on the ground, "Lee!" He ran to her side, disregarding his surroundings. Her eyes were glued shut but her breathing was soft and even.
"She's alive, Dean," Cas said, crouching beside him he placed his fingers on her head. A soft glow emanated from her injury when Lee eyes shot wide open with a gasp and bolted upright.
"What happened?" She cried, turning her head in all directions, "Charles?" She called. Dean cupped her face with his hands to calm her.
"Easy, it's me Dean. What happened?" Dean asked, "Who hurt you?"
"Charles," She answered her eyes brimming with tears, "He's been possessed. I think he went after Sam!"
"I'm on it," And Castiel disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"No!" She protested, struggling to stand up.
Dean lent his arm for support, "Don't rush yourself, Cas is gonna save Sam."
"You don't understand, Charles is gonna end up dead!"
"So you want Sam to end up six feet under instead?" Dean asked, hurt by her focused concern on Charles.
"Dean he doesn't deserve this," She cried, the tears now flowing down her face, "It's all my fault, I should have never talked to him!"
Lee ripped herself from Dean and hurried to find Charles. Dean swallowed his anger and followed suit. He lost sight of her, but a cry echoed from the back of the ward and he arrived in time to see Charles fall to the floor, eyes burnt out.
A wail of despair escaped from Lee, who fell to her knees and cradled his head. Dean grimaced but flocked to Sam's side first. He ripped of the straps from the electroshock therapy bed. Cas walked over and touched Sam on the head but his healing touch did nothing.
"You're not real!" Sam stuttered out, staring at Cas. Dean bit his lip in frustration as all hope of him getting better vanish.
"Oh, Sam…I'm so sorry." Cas muttered and turned to Lee who was crying silent tears, "And Lee…"
"Oh you're sorry!" She snapped, glaring at the angel. Cas shrunk under her fiery gaze, "He was an innocent man. A good man!" Every word felt like another punch to Dean as she continued to hold Charles. "Heal him." She ordered.
"I can't it's dangerous," Cas said, unwanting to meet her gaze.
"Fine," She sniffed, "Then I will."
"You can't!" Dean burst, "If Cas can't then you'll die for sure. Don't be stupid!"
"Then I die saving someone who deserves life," She answered. Dean opened his mouth to continue but shut it knowing that her mind was set. Lee placed a kiss on his forehead and touched her hand to his heart.
Both Dean and Cas looked on in worry as a yellow light engulfed Lee and seeped into Charles. Blood poured from her eyes and panic gripped Dean as she continued to try and heal the doctor.
"Lee stop, you're dying!" Dean pleaded.
"I can do this," She said, coughing up more blood. Then the light blinked out and Lee fell forward over Charles, her breathing ragged and uneven. Charles eyes blinked open.
"Where am I?"
"Charles?" Lee smiled and sat up to face him. She hugged him but he pulled away.
"Why did you save me?" He cried. Lee's mouth gaped open, confused by his anger.
"Hey, buddy," Dean growled, "You should be grateful. She risked her life!"
"You're a freak!" He continued, ignoring Dean. Charles stared at Lee in horror, "You're like a demon lighthouse, they always find you!"
"It's okay, I can fight them off," She breathed desperately, trying to hold his hand, "I can protect you, this was just one mistake."
"Lee I died!" He shouted, cutting her off. Lee fell silent and Charles stood up, backing away from them all. "That demon told me everything! Who you really are. Who they are!" Charles pointed to Cas and Dean. He held his hand up stopping Lee from inching closer, "All you'll ever do is bring pain and suffering to those around you!"
"Charles, stop…" She pleaded. Dean came up behind her and tried to pull her into a hug while Charles scoffed in disgust and left. Lee buried herself in Dean's shoulder but he all he could feel was her heavy breathing as she tried to contain her pain.
It was the next morning and Sam was finally cleared to leave the hospital. All the staff was calling it a miracle, but they both knew it was thanks to Castiel.
"I don't know. I mean, we can't just leave him." Sam said, thinking about the weight Castiel took on when he relived him of his hallucinations.
"Well, we can't bring him with us. Everything on the planet's out for us, okay?" Dean argued, adjusting the duffle bag on his shoulder, "Word gets our, we can't protect him. Not really. This is safer."
Sam nodded and then exited the hospital, "Any word form Lee still?" After the rescue, Lee had fled the hospital without any notice. Kadinsky had even asked the brothers of her whereabouts, but they were in the dark.
"Nothing yet, but I'm sure she'll pop up soon." Dean said. "Maybe sooner than you think," He spotted Lee resting against the side of the Impala as the neared the car.
"Hey!" Sam shouted and hurried over with a big smile. Lee looked up at him with a sad smile.
"Hey yourself sweet pea," She said, "glad to see you all better."
"So what's your next move?" Dean asked, eyeing her own bag sitting on the floor.
"I'm taking y'all up on your offer," She sighed and both brothers raised their brows, "I'm gonna join y'all on the hunt. I get the feeling that stuff's brewing out there and not in a cozy tea kind of way."
"Lee it's not safe out there with us," Dean said.
"He's right," Sam joined in, "Just stay, you're on a great path. You're an amazing nurse, you don't have to throw that away."
"Look around you, this isn't me! It never was," Lee explained, "Charles was right, I can't stay…"
"Well then welcome aboard," Dean said after a minute of silence. Lee nodded and slid into the back seat. At the door, Sam caught his eye. He knew what he was thinking, that Lee should stay away from hunting, but Dean shrugged it off. "I'll explain later."
Sam rolled his eyes unsatisfied but got into the car anyways. The car rumbled to life and pealed down the road. Dean looked into the rear mirror, seeing Lee staring with an empty gaze out the window.
All she had known these past two years was studying and nursing… and now it was all down the drain. It was time for her to face reality and now she was ready to embrace who she was and what she was fated to become: a hunter.