Author's Note: Once again, thank you, all you lovely little reviewers. You all help make this story happen, that and the never dying thoughts that keep me awake at three in the morning. I was on a role early this morning and it continued on into this afternoon. Lucky for you this chapter practically wrote itself. I'd like to thank my brain at this point of time for helping me write this and the inspiring Rolling Stones who played through my shitty computer speakers while I wrote. Lol. Anyway continue to read and hope you enjoy. This chappie has a bit more friendliness with Dean and Leah, a bit more sharp witted lines-I hope-, a few more questions that beg asking and that's about it. I'd also like to mention that a reviewer of mine brought up the trouble with Leah not really being a hunter and how she will ever get home and the entire Pastor Jim lie. Well don't worry, all this will play out soon enough. I wont rush anything but you'll find out all this in due time. And as a bit of a spoiler, the entire Leah being a hunter lie, will come back to bite her on the ass, just as most things do. Lol. So, whew that's a lot. Anywho, once again, lol enjoy and review!

Disclaimer: I don't own supernatural. But I do own Eric Kripke. Lol. Just don't tell him that.

Crash Course

By: Babyhilts

Chapter 4:

Meandering through racks of cheap clothing with a steadily growing headache was not my idea of a good time. Still there I was, pulling out pairs of jeans I thought only my mother owned. None of them were very flattering. They all sported those semi-elastic waistbands. I assumed the idea was that with an elastic waist women wouldn't have to buy belts. In theory that works, but that's just it, they're only theories and most of those are just wrong. Wrong just like the elastic mom jeans. Wrong like the neon pink fish net top. Wrong like every piece of clothing in the store.

Frustration was not very becoming of me. A sweat was starting above my upper lip and along the curve of my back. Two older women, who continued to shift their weight beside me, pushed their walkers further into the mess of clothing, reaching out greedily for the sweater that sported a bunch of kittens fighting over a ball of yarn. Part of me imagined diving in after them and pulling the precious shirt from their cold, wrinkled hands but it was only a thought. I watched instead as the more limber of the two grabbed hold of the blue sleeve and tugged it through a wall of t-shirts and jeans. Hangers and small shelving units toppled after it, hitting the ground with a series of metal thuds before spraying clothing in every direction. Unfortunately both women made it out safely. Had they not, then my time spent searching through the liquidation store would not have been a total waste.

Slung across sore arms were already two pairs of jeans, three plain t-shirts, a hooded sweater with a zipper, a package of socks-in bulk I might add-, a package of panties –also in bulk- that reminded me of the kiddie underwear I used to own when I was ten. Everything in the store appeared to be either tacky as hell or constructed to fit women who had no hips. For the first ten minutes it had been nothing but size zero's and ones. I nearly caught fire. I was cursing and kicking maliciously at the nearby display of recycled toilet paper-in bulk- and muttering phrases like 'What? Is this the Calista Flockhart clothing line I've stumbled upon?'

Eventually I calmed myself down enough to look past the return of bright spandex and the beaded shirts and managed to find the only few decent items of clothing. Before turning towards the counter, I grabbed one last pair of jeans and a loose fitting pair of sweatpants for when I went to sleep. I headed to the nearest exit and threw down the clothes, pulling out the forty dollar allowance given to me by Sam. He understood my need for clothes but not the need to ask Dean for it. I smirked and paid with the stolen cash. It wasn't as though Dean had worked very hard to earn it.

The store was just in the process of closing when I left. Outside the moon began to rise over the bruised clouds and settling dark. A motel room awaited me under half a mile down the highway. Dean hadn't offered to come pick me up after I was finished shopping, but I think that was only because Sam made it strictly clear that the longer his brother went without knowing we'd borrowed the hustled money, the better off we'd both be. Besides, I knew it wouldn't kill me to get in some much deserved exercise. It already looked highly suspicious that I was so chubby when I'd relayed a story to the boys about being this fancy hunter. If I hunted so often shouldn't I be as built as the two of them?

I walked all the way to the hotel without a single curse or thought of complaint. Actually, a part of my brain had begun to plan out this strict routine to help get me into shape. I'd have those luscious Janet Jackson abs I always wanted and the muscular calves of a marathon runner. It would take hard work, determination, but with a little effort…oh who was I kidding. I wouldn't bother going to all that trouble. For all I know, I'd be waking up soon anyway and then I'd have wasted all that time exercising. This waking up theory also brought about another problem. How would I get home? I figured sitting tight would be my best option because I couldn't just break through the fabric of reality and whatever the hell I was in. That would be impossible. I thought of calling up Michael Jay Fox and telling him of my predicament, then maybe he could let me borrow the time traveling DeLorean. That was only time travel though, not reality travel, if that even existed.

"Did you buy out the entire store?"

The door to our hotel room was standing in front of me, closed. I hadn't noticed that I'd even stepped across the blacktop of the parking lot. Dean was leaning casually a few feet from me. A leather jacket hung loosely off his well built frame. In the growing shadows of the door I let my eyes wander down the length of his body. For the first time since he'd rescued me from my dearly departed Jetta I checked him out. The strong chest, the thick muscular arms, the lopsided grin. What I wouldn't let him do to me. He'd managed to come across a bit more gentleman like after I nearly hyperventilated from the repeated abuse but I still noticed he never gave me that look that I'd seen him shoot so many women on the television show.

He stepped into the shadows catching me off guard. I could almost hear the smirk in his voice as he leaned down and whispered in my ear. My brain didn't acknowledge the words he was saying only the hot breath dispersing along the nape of my neck. Shivering like that nervous girl in high school, I held in the blush that dared stain my cheeks. Get your head in the game Leah. This is no time to go all Dawson's Creek.

"…bar would be more than adequate to suite our needs."

Oh, Dean, if you only knew of my needs, I moaned inside myself. Never did I let myself think such thoughts, but this was Dean Winchester. It may not have been the right person, but little did he know of the many fantasies of mine his body had appeared in.

"What do you say we let geek boy be alone with his laptop?"

Was he taking me out? To the bar, but still, taking me out, none the less. You'd have tp have no libido to turn down any Winchester.

"First round's on you?"

He laughed and laced his arm around mine. My heart fluttered childishly but I kept my cool. I think. Dean pulled me out of the shadows and towards the Impala.

"You're getting a little cocky, you know that?"

"Shouldn't have spilt my orange juice"

"You spilt it!"

"Well, you encouraged me to spill it."

"I encourage a lot of things sweetheart."

He was encouraging a lot of things in me that was for damn sure. I stopped a foot from the impala and dropped my bag of clothes on the asphalt. Dean looked at me with a glare and kicked the plastic off his foot. I only smiled. I reached into the sack and pushed around the pile of clothes until I came across a pair of jeans and a light pink t-shirt. It was nothing fancy, but it was better than wearing the over sized sweater Sam had leant me.

"Turn around" I told him, doing the universal finger gesture. His eyes gleamed and I could almost see the ideas running through his head. "Don't be a hormonal teenager Dean. I need to get changed."

"Then get changed."

"Don't look." A sigh floated to my ears and he turned his back to me. I grabbed the back door of the impala and went to climb in. The sound of scraping metal must have reached Dean. He spun on his heel and raced to my side, nearly jerking me out of mid climb.

"Not in my car."

"What?" I was shaking out sheer surprise at how fast he could move. He ran a hand gracefully over the top of the impala and closed the back door.

"You're not climbing all over the back seats to get changed. Just…go behind a bush or something."

I searched the parking lot.

"What bushes do you see genius? There are only cars."

"Nice observation hun. Pick one, and change behind it."

"You can't be serious."

"Just stand behind the impala. I won't look, okay?"

I nodded and scooped up my clothes, dragging the plastic sack with me. I quickly shredded my stained jeans and panties and slipped on a new pair of both. I looked up and saw only Dean's back, so I continued to get changed. I grunted angrily when I took off Sam's sweater and realized I hadn't bothered to buy any new bras. I would have to wear the one I still had on, because the pink t-shirt would be tight enough to accentuate some things I wouldn't like Dean to notice, out of sheer embarrassment. I wasn't embarrassed of them, but the mere situation I pictured in my mind was. Once I finished changing I tossed the clothes back into the bag and tossed it on the back floor of the impala.

"Ready?"

"Always."

He came to town like a midwinter storm
He rode through the fields so hansome and strong
His eyes was his tools and his smile was his gun
But all he had come for was having some fun

If it hadn't been...
If it hadn't been...

A swarm of country music and open bottles of alcohol consumed us the minute we stepped through the wooden doors. The tavern wasn't much but it was certainly the place to be on a Thursday night in the middle of nowhere. The parking lot had been full but inside it was nearly impossible to move around.

He brought disaster wherever he went
The hearts of the girls was to hell broken sent
They all ran away so nobody would know
and left only men cause of Cotton-Eye Joe

If it hadn't been...
If it had't been...

The song playing through the tavern finally connected with my brain and I smiled at the warm feeling of nostalgia it inspired within me. Cotton Eye Joe played from the worn Jukebox in the corner. Before I'd ever assumed the high life of living in Vancouver, I used to reside in the boonies of Northern Ontario, where every night was a party and every song that spilled through the stereo speakers was either classic rock or country. Cotton Eye Joe was the unofficial anthem. I remembered the night before I was to leave for Vancouver and getting up on my sister's coffee table, drunk on wine, and just dancing until the heels of my leather cow boots had scuffed the wood to death.

"If this doesn't just scream redneck" Dean laughed over the last few chords of the song.

"Yeah, all were missing is a banjo and maybe a mechanical bull."

Unconsciously I grabbed hold of Dean's forearm and let myself drag behind him as he pushed through the large crowd. We made it to the bar without any injury, which was more than I'd expected. The group of people that continuously filed in and out of the bar was wild. Those already drunk, would jump and sway dangerously in the middle of the room, while the rest just seemed to float aimlessly.

I leaned against the bar, scooting a rather petite brunette a few feet away so that there'd be room for Dean. He smiled and took the offered spot, but his eyes soon drifted to the girl I had just recently shoved aside. If jealousy were stock, mine had just skyrocketed. I felt the need to scream or slap Dean to attention but I just continued standing stock still. His attention moved back over to me and I smiled. I had won this time.

"What did you want?"

Dean was already reaching for the beer he'd ordered but I was feeling a little adventurous this evening.

"A shot of tequila."

"What, you don't want to ease into it? Maybe with a wine cooler or a…"

"Just pay for the shot Winchester."

He smirked.

"I knew there was a reason for why I pulled you from that car." He turned to the bartender. "Get the lady her Tequila my good sir."

The man behind the bar, with the stained apron and unshaved face was quick to oblige. A shot glass slid across the ceramic top and soon it was filled with one of my most hated enemies. Tequila. I hated it. Yet there it was, ready to be consumed by me once again. If it didn't taste so awful than maybe I could make an exception, but usually all my taste buds were burnt from my tongue by the third shot, therefore, my love for Tequila soon followed after.

I listened not all that interested in what Dean was saying and downed my shot. He smirked at the grimace that bore across my features.

"Don't you say anything." I coughed, feeling the shot catch up with me. "You just drink your nice safe beer."

"Oh, honey, I'm just getting started."

I ordered another shot but held the glass for much longer. The taste of death was still fresh in my mouth.

"So, you and Sam stole my money, huh?"

"Yeah, so?"

"And that's the best outfit you bought?"

I downed my shot. This was going to be a long night.

"Yeah, well the sales clerk said we just missed their sale on Gucci sweaters by a few days. God, what do you think? It was an outlet store smack dab in the middle of Hick Central."

"Ah, touché."

As the night progressed so did our drinking. Dean had finished his beer and soon switched over to the Tequila. We decided that it would be a good idea to just invest our money into a bottle- and by our money, I mean his, so it was a good idea-. The bartender didn't object and donated the shot glasses while we continued our fun. Dean was not feeling it as much as I was. After the third shot I already felt the pull of gravity as if somehow during the last fifteen minutes, everything was weighing me down. By the fourth shot I started in with the giggles and told a funny anecdote to the stranger next to me about a dog and a parakeet. I'm not sure what was so funny about it, but the two of us laughed by the end and I offered him a shot of our tequila. Dean was holding tight to the bar and I followed his lead, noticing how rubbery my legs were becoming.

I reached for my fifth shot with shaking hands and drew the glass to my lips. Dean caught my hand arm mid way and shook his head. What was he doing? He was in no position to tell me when to stop. I mean, he was drunk too.

"You've had enough Leah."

I laughed out loud and shoved him slightly.

"You cutting me off, Mr. hunter man?"

He smiled and nodded.

"I'll fight you for it" I cackled and placed the shot on the bar. Dean didn't respond. "Come on, I'll fight you for it. See, who the better hunter is."

Dean shushed me and I vaguely remembered that I couldn't fight. That I wasn't a hunter. This didn't seem too important and the logical part of my brain disappeared behind the fog of tequila induced reasoning.

"Come on, lets go. Lets go" I encouraged, shifting from foot to foot, just as the boxers would do. "Come on. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."

"Leah…"

I hummed Eye of the Tiger for a few seconds, taking air punches near Dean's head, before I realized I'd thrown myself at his chest. With the recent shots of tequila and my sudden weight bearing down on him, Dean toppled backwards. I laughed, not even caring when he pushed me from off his chest and stood me back up. Hard as he tried, Dean was laughing too and placed the shot in my hands.

"Last one Rocky Balboa."

I grinned and took my last shot and the moment it was down, I regretted it. Perhaps Dean shouldn't have given in so easily. I knew immediately that the sensation in my stomach would mean eventually getting sick. I could feel the sloshing around of the burning liquid and cringed, letting the thought disappear. I would worry about that tomorrow, I thought drunkenly and pushed past Dean.

"Where you going?"

"Ugh, the jukebox. Got a quarter?"

Dean fished through his jeans and handed me the silver coin. I grinned and stumbled towards the glowing box across the room. A few people bumped into me, one sent me sprawling on my knees, while at the same moment someone lost their footing and found it again on my unprotected hand. I cried out and got to my feet in a hurry. The pain sobered me up a bit. I found the jukebox and searched through the records. Lots of it was country, nothing too exciting. The song playing at the moment was country, but I needed something better. Something not quite so, Dukes of Hazard. I finally settled on The Steve Miller Band and put in the quarter to play Space Cowboy. I sang and stumbled all the way back to the bar.

"Dean…"I slurred and balanced myself against the bar. But the space that had been once occupied by the blonde, hazel eyed hunter was now being replaced by a large Shrek like man. I turned and searched the room wildly. The crowd had thinned out only slightly and I still could barely make out any one person from the other.

"Dean!"

Panic set in. I'm not sure why, but it was there. The tequila was taking its toll. I nearly face planted with the floor when I heard a woman chuckle next to me. When I looked up there he was. Dean Winchester, liar, drunkard, pursuer of women, with that same brunette hanging off his every quip. I went to reach for the Tequila bottle, because I would need something to smash over his head, but then suddenly there it was, in his hands and that brunette was taking a drink from it. It was our tequila bottle, I wanted to cry out, but somewhere through my drunken haze, independent Leah told me to get over it and move on.

"Dean!" I shouted over the song, still playing on the jukebox. I wasn't enjoying it anymore. "I'm heading back."

"Sure, just don't take the car. I might need it after" he smirked and made the quick gesture to the brunette. She shot me a winning smile. You no, the one that's usually followed with "nah nah, nah nah nah."

"Sexually driven asshole, thinks he can't ditch me for that anorexic hoe" I muttered while shuffling angrily through the bodies of hillbillies and truckers. "Those breasts probably weren't even real. No one that tiny can be that busty."

Without the impala it would be a bit of a walk back to the hotel, but I seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. It was just down the highway and over the hill, if I remembered right. I struggled the entire way, doing my best to keep upright enough so as not to walk into any oncoming traffic. The highway was quiet. Darkness surrounded me and the nearby fields. Stars lay strewn across the black tapestry above. It was the first time in a while that I was able to see all of them. I watched, still walking, but with my head pointed upwards, just gazing at the twinkling white orbs.

The hotel appeared in my line of sight and a little while later; I ended up on my knees in the ditch across from the parking lot. I'd known this was coming. I didn't fight the churning of my stomach or the vomit that soon free flowed from my mouth. My lips quivered when it was all over. Tears trickled down my face. I got to my feet and crossed the highway. Once I reached the run down building, it soon dawned on me I didn't remember which room we were in. I stood, hands on my hips, sighing loudly, while playing my eyes across each door. I could knock on each one until Sam eventually answered, but that was just stupid. I took a seat instead on the curb and then lied down on my back, just watching the stars.

"She's pretty as a daisy. But look out man she's crazy. She'll really do you in. If you let her get under your skin." What began as a familiar hum deep within my chest soon transformed into an old classic that I vaguely remembered the lyrics to. At the moment it didn't matter to me. I opened my mouth wide and sang loud and proud.

"Poison ivy, poison ivy. Well late at night when you're sleeping. Poison ivy comes a creeping all around"

I laughed harshly as the words rang out through the silent parking lot.

"You're gonna need an ocean, of calamine lotion. You'll be scratching like a hound, the minute you start to mess around."

Some man was shouting at the other end of the hotel. Jeez, he sounded mad. A door opened behind me and a soft voice laced with sleep disrupted me from my singing. I looked up and found a shaggy haired boy peering down at me. I grinned and in a quiet whisper said;

"Poison ivy, poison ivy. Well late at night when you're sleeping. Poison ivy comes a creeping all around"

"Leah?"

"La la la la. La la la la"

Sam took a seat next to me on the curb and helped sit me up. The parking lot swayed a moment, or perhaps it was me, I wasn't sure anymore. Something about him sitting there seemed to sober me up a bit more and I turned an embarrassed face towards him. He smiled and brushed away the stray hair from my eyes.

"Where have you been? Where's Dean?"

I clenched my teeth and grounded out "Bar" and pointed lazily down the highway. Sam nodded in understanding.

"Where did you come from."

"Bar."

"Same one as Dean? What, were his lips glued to a beer bottle or something? He couldn't walk you back."

"More like a brunette in leather."

"Oh, alright that makes more sense. Don't worry, he'll hear about it in the morning."

I smiled. I really could get used to Sam. The bad boys were sexy and desirable, but the nice ones, where the ones you took home to meet your mother. I let the younger man half carry me into the room and set me on a bed. A wave of fatigue washed over me as my body made contact with the soft mattress. Sam pulled off my Velcro sandals and let them fall to the floor before tucking a sheet around me. I mumbled my thanks. He laughed saying something about Dean having to sleep on the floor, but I wasn't listening anymore. Darkness was coming in fast, a reassuring darkness that I let take me away from the hotel room.

I startled awake. It felt as though I'd just fallen asleep only half a second before. My body still felt drained of all its resources and I wanted nothing more than to roll over and pull the sheets above my head and sleep some more. The problem was, I wasn't lying down. I was standing, leaning mostly. It was bright where I was. My eyes were shut, I kept them that way on purpose because the brightness stung. There were rushed voices. Scattered footsteps moved in and out of the room. I felt in the way of something and a bad feeling was filing into my stomach. I groaned and prepared myself for what awaited me once I opened my eyes.

White. That was the first thing I noticed. Just a very bright shade of white and it was everywhere and all consuming. I felt as though I were apart of the white until something else, not quite as white, caught hold of my wandering gaze. A bed. Tubes. Machines. The room buzzed with life and death and the rush of it all. I choked on the taste of latex and antibacterial soaps. I was in a hospital.

"Nurse, go get the sister."

I snapped to attention. A man, no more than thirty five held a chart and wore a bleak look on his face. He looked directly at me. No. Past me.

"Yes doctor."

Doctor? This was a hospital. Oh, my god, were Sam and Dean hurt? How did I get here so fast? Where were they? What was…

The nurse scooted out of the room, her shoes squeaking unprofessionally against the linoleum with every step. Cautiously I moved away from my spot against the wall, slowly standing next to the doctor. A door eased open from my left. I went to follow the sound and yet I was stopped. A bed, consumed in blue sheets and wires and tubes tore me away from the sound. Blonde curls, pooled around a pale, heart shaped face. A few freckles appeared on the pasty skin. There were harsh purple splotches, most likely bruises, which consumed the right side of the woman's face and uncovered arms. There was a bandage, made of thick white that wrapped a few times around her head, pressing the blonde locks up in awkward angles. Her chest rose and fell, but only because of the tube in her throat. A machine beeped quietly next to the bed.

I felt my legs weaken as I reached to the still figure.

"Oh, my god" someone cried and the doctor drifted towards the sound. "Oh, no! Leah, honey."

Tears rose up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I felt that tightening in my chest return. I recognized that voice and I recognized that person in the bed. I looked up and through the rising tears watched as Caitlyn-my baby sister- rushed to the bed. She picked up the lifeless hand with caution as to not pull out any wires or do anymore damage.

"You are the victim's sister, I take it?"

Caitlyn nodded soberly. I watched her and then myself, laying unconscious, breathing with the help of a machine. What the hell was this? Was I a ghost now too?

"Were you informed of what took place early this morning?"

"No." She was struggling to speak. I could tell by the tone of her voice. It was the same voice she'd used when I told her I was moving to Vancouver. A few months later, she'd joined me. "They said it was a car accident?"

"Yes. There were no internal injuries. A few minor cuts and bruises along her arms and more severe bruising around the abdomen…"

I zoned out whatever else the doctor had to tell my kid sister. I was still too shocked at what I was looking at. I wanted to hug Caitlyn and tell her I was standing right there, but I doubt that would help the situation and probably make it worse. I mean, how do you explain that you're now the incarnated version of Casper. Besides I didn't even know what I was anymore. Except unconscious that I was certain of.

"Ms. Carlson is in a coma right now. The damage taken to her right temple could mean some future problems, but none that you should worry yourself with at the moment."

"What sort of problems?"

"We can't be quite sure until your sister wakes up. It could be she just has a minor bump to the head or it could mean something more serious."

"Such as?"

The doctor sighed. "Such as memory loss, amnesia, possible brain damage…"

"Brain damage" the words cracked as Caitlyn's legs gave out. The doctor seemed prepared and caught her before she hit the ground. I stumbled back from the scene and let the tears continue to fall.

"There is nothing you can do for your sister at the moment. The only thing that can help her now is time. She will need time to heal and to wake up from all of this. The sleep she is in now is a light coma that I am certain will be over within the coming days. Until then, we can keep you posted on her condition and you are more than welcome to visit her…"

Out of nowhere a voice cried out. It was a harsh screaming sound that shook through the whole room but no one seemed to notice it. Then I realized it was me who was screaming. No one turned and I just kept on screaming until my lungs hurt too much. I screamed for help, for Caitlyn to stay with me despite what the doctor was telling her. I screamed obscenities and then my voice finally died out.

I took a seat in the corner of the room as another feeling of fatigue took hold of my body. My eyes fluttered and dark spots darted across my vision. Caitlyn stayed in the room, running comforting circles across my bruised arm and brushing my bangs off my face. She sobbed and I watched her until unconsciousness finally came to claim me.

"Caitlyn!" I cried out and shot up off the ground.

A cool breeze took me by surprise and I searched wildly about myself, looking for the hospital room. Was it all a dream? My heart thudded in my chest and I soon realized I wasn't in the hospital room anymore. But I wasn't in the hotel room either. I was in the parking lot, standing barefoot, next to a grey sedan that I didn't recognize. It was the same hotel as the night before, the same scenery, but I couldn't remember ever stepping outside.

"How did I get here?"

Suddenly, all the fears and questions I'd had, had increased ten notches during the night.

Author's Note-Part 2-: Okay, so hope that wasn't stupid or anything. Had to end it there and you'll soon find out what's going on. Not sure when the next chappie will be up but bear with me. I just tore through the longest muse and now I'm pooped. The song Leah sings in this chappie is called "Poison Ivy" and the computer says its by the Rolling Stones but the version I have downloaded is by The Coasters so I apologize, I'm not sure whose it was first. It's a real oldie and if you can listen to it. Lol. Okay, that's it. Hope you all enjoyed this chappie. I had lots of fun writing it and please kiddies review. :D