I know it took me a while to post, but I'm trying to balance my schoolwork, v-ball, and writing as best as I can! Sorry about the long wait, but I hope it was worth it! R and R!

The next morning was slightly tense between Sam, Dean, and I. Not the I'm-so-mad-at-you tense. Just… tense. We had only a few hours to figure out what the thing was, how to kill it, where it would enter the house, when it would enter the house, and then kill it, all right under my mother's nose.

And unexpected guests didn't make it any easier.

"I have wonderful news!" my mother exclaimed, clapping her hands. "Kevin Barry and his wife and kids have decided to visit us for a week or two! Isn't that wonderful?"

I choked on my orange juice. "The Barry's are coming?" I sputtered. "Here?" The Barry's have been friends of my dad for years. Don't get me wrong, they're very nice. Joe and John are both about my age; Joe a little younger, John a little older. And then there's their daughter, Emma.

She's not the nicest person in the world on a good day. She's a little snobby, and is the normal, overly fashion-obsessed teenager you'll ever meet. But I have to admit, like a lot of snide people are, she's really pretty. She looks like a teenage Jessica Alba, with a sense of overdone fashion and accessories. All I had to do this morning was throw on a long-sleeved top, jeans, tennis shoes, and a baseball cap. Took me all but two minutes. It takes Emma an hour to get ready. It drives me insane.

"Berries!" Carrie shouted. She threw a handful of cereal at me. I ducked, with a yell of, "Carrie!" She's been a little monster today, unlike her usual sweet self. She kinda looks like one too. Her brown hair was sticking up in every which way, and a something red was all over her face, making her look demonatic.

"Don't throw food, Carrie. Yes, here. And I don't want any pranks while they're here, either," she threatened, pointing her spoon at me.

"Emma started it!" I protested. Dean snickered, but fell silent under my mom's glare.

"I don't care who started it. Just don't retaliate."

"When are they coming?" I asked glumly, stabbing a piece of hard-boiled egg with my fork.

"They said they were ten minutes away when I hung up."

"Ten minutes?"

Sam, Dean and I jumped out of our chairs and hurtled up toward the stairs. "Get the stuff, I'll get the coats!" I told them as I dashed up the stairs.

As soon as I had thrown them over my shoulder and came down the stairs, Sam and Dean were walking out the door. I caught sight of my mom, who was still sitting at the table, looking shocked and her jaw slacked.

"Sorry, mom! Dean, Sam and I have some things to get in town. See you later!" I shouted as I ran out the door. Sam and Dean were already in the Impala, waiting; Dean, impatiently. I dove into the back of the car, and Dean immediately sped out of the driveway with a squeal of tires, leaving black marks. I looked back at the house and saw my mother standing in the doorway, her mouth still open.

"Well, that was subtle," I remarked sarcastically.

"We'll only be gone for a few hours," Sam commented. "I have a pretty good idea on what it is already, so it won't be as hard as you think."

"Only a few hours?" I groaned.

"It'll be okay, Rickie. If Emma's really that bad, I can teach you how to shoot a shotgun. I might have an extra one I can give you," Dean offered.

I grimaced. "Nah, mom would kill me. But thanks anyway. Where're we goin' go?"

"To that bar we pasted on the way here. Are there any hot babes in this town?"

"Dean!"

"Jeez, just kidding, Sam! Besides, I want to teach the basics of hunting with Rickie, anyway. Keep up the family business!" He grinned.

"But seriously, where are we going?" I asked.

"To an abandoned shooting range. We need to teach you how to hunt. You know, how the shoot guns, how to bow-hunt, how to salt-and-burn, how to throw knives, stuff like that," Dean answered.

"So I'm not bait?" I asked hopefully.

"Well, not anymore," Sam said grimly. "We have someone who's bait already." He looked over his shoulder to give me a pointed look.

It didn't come to me at first, but I gasped as what he said dawned on me. "We're using Carrie?" I shrieked.

"It's the only way! It's attached to her; we can't use anyone else," Sam pleaded.

I sighed. "Alright, fine. But how can we get to it if it's attached to Carrie? We just kill it while she's sleeping and hope she doesn't wake up?"

Sam and Dean didn't answer.

"What! You have to be kidding me. We have to find out how to kill it, how it's going to come in, when, and then kill it. It's bad enough we have my mom on our case and visitors, but now we're going to have to do it in front of Carrie?" This is unbelievable. I demand to speak to my lawyer.

"You want to help or not?" Dean asked curtly.

"Duh! I can't wait to get rid of this jackass. I can probably do this with one hand tied behind my back. I mean, hunting runs through my blood."