She didn't bother to get a hotel room. She hoped she wouldn't need one. The boys would have one and she would stay with them. Emily took a moment standing in the parking lot to try and understand what happened. He kissed her, it wasn't much but still no one had done that before. Emily ran her fingertips over her cheek where his lips had been. She closed her eyes and a small smile formed on her lips. She looked down at the paper in her hand that contained his cell phone number. Emily smiled and put it in her bag next to the picture of Sam and Dean with their dad. When they were done she would make sure she called him. When she found Sam and Dean and everything calmed down.
Emily sighed and looked around. She threw her backpack over her shoulder and took a deep breath. The sun was setting and Emily started down the street hoping to at least find their car. She searched for hours up and down every street she could find. What she didn't know was that she kept missing them just by a few minutes. Emily stopped at a small diner and got something to eat. She had taken so of Jim's money, he wasn't going to need it. She took a few moments to calm down. She was worried, what if they moved on? Did they know about Jim? Was Dean even worried about her? She took her cell phone out and hovered over Dean's number. She called and again there was no answer. Emily sighed and shook her head. She paid for her meal and left the diner. It was late by then but she didn't have anywhere to stay. She turned down a road that she knew she had been on before. Emily had given up on her search to find them when she heard a familiar voice down the street.
Emily looked up and saw a black car parked on one side of the street. On the other side she saw Sam and Dean run into a house. Emily's heart stopped for a moment. She felt the worst sensation in the pit of her stomach. It reminded her of when that woman showed up at the church only much, much worse. Emily did her best to run towards the house. She stopped just outside when she heard a gunshot. Emily looked up towards one of the rooms and just as she looked up it caught fire. She screamed and took a step back just as two people, a man and a woman, ran out of the house. Following behind them was Sam and Dean behind him. He was holding a baby. Dean handed the baby to the woman. He didn't even seem to notice that Emily was standing there.
Emily, like Sam stood staring through the window of the burning room. Dean still hadn't seemed to notice that Emily was there. She vaguely heard Sam say something and out of the corner of her eye she saw him move towards the house. Dean stopped him, he said something but Emily couldn't really hear it. She looked through the window and saw a figure of a man. She knew what it was, who it was. It wasn't until Dean pulled Sam back and he ran into her that Emily looked at them. It wasn't until that moment that Dean knew she was there. "Emily," he said staring at her.
Sam turned when he heard her name and looked down at her. They both seemed surprised she was there. "You're… you're alive," Sam said softly.
Dean stood there silent for a long time. Emily looked at him and she thought she could see tears in his eyes. After a long pause she finally felt what she had been searching for. Dean stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. Emily finally had a chance to let it all out. She buried her head in Dean's chest and Dean could feel her body trembling in his arms. "Shh," he whispered to her, stroking her hair gently. Dean understood what was wrong. Though he never said it part of him hoped she died to. If she were dead she wouldn't have to live with what Dean knew she had seen.
They took her back to the hotel. The ride was a long and silent one. Sam was upset, Emily could tell but she couldn't figure out why. Emily knew that thing took their mother from them but like her, Sam had been an infant. She didn't understand why he seemed so much more upset than Dean. Of course, Emily had no knowledge of Jessica. Even if she knew about Jessica she couldn't comprehend the relationship, the deep feelings that Sam had for her. It was beyond Emily.
They got back to the hotel and Dean sat down with Emily on one bed and Sam on the other. Emily kept looking over at Sam while Dean spoke. "Emily," he whispered. Finally he turned her head to face him. "Are you all right," he asked softly. "How did you get here?" Dean sighed and looked down at his cell phone. He noticed he had several missed calls, all from Emily. Dean sighed once more. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Then Dean stood and tried to call their dad again. Still there was no answer. Emily curled up and rested her head on the pillow. It was nice to hear their voices again, even if they were upset. She vaguely listened to what Sam and Dean were saying. Why was Sam so angry? Then Dean said something about Jessica. Emily sat up just as Sam slammed Dean against the wall. Emily immediately went into her normal, frightened position of hugging her knees to her chest and burying her head in her arms. Who was Jessica? Sam spoke and it broke Emily's heart. There was so much pain in his voice. So much hurt. Emily couldn't understand it but she could hear it and it killed her to hear Sam like that. What hurt worse though was what Dean said. Emily knew he meant his family but his words still hurt her. "The three of us, that's all we have. That's all I have." Why wasn't Emily included? Who did she have if not at least Dean? His voice broke through her and she found tears rolling down her face. Sam backed away from Dean and Dean looked over at her. He saw her tears and walked over to sit next to her. "Shhh," he whispered again wiping away the girl's crystal tears. Dean sighed and stood, picking up the phone and calling their father once more.
Emily sat straight when she saw the look in Dean's eyes. He hung up the phone and said they had his father. Who were "they"? Dean had never taken the time to explain why him and his brother do what they do so Emily was confused and frightened. Sam and Dean argued about whether or not they should go. In the middle of it Emily stood. "Why," she said quietly. "Where? Who… what's… what's going on," she asked quietly. She was frustrated and now that she was more articulate than the last time she saw the Winchesters.
Dean looked over at Emily. He was surprised that she spoke. She rarely spoke last time they met. Dean was caught off guard. He paused and looked down. "It's complicated," Dean said softly. "I'll tell you in the car," he said quickly as he finished packing up the car. Dean spent the entire ride to Lincoln explaining the last twenty plus years of their lives. Emily sat in the back seat of his car half listening. She hugged her knees to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. The ride was long and rather unproductive. They still didn't find their father. Dean decided it would be best to stop by an old friend of their father's. His name was Bobby. Emily followed them into the house. They passed by a black dog sitting on the hood of a blue pick-up truck. The dog barked at her and she jumped, clinging to Dean. Dean simply looked down at her and laughed. "Its ok," he said with a smile. They walked into the house and Emily took a seat in the corner behind some books. She didn't really listen to much of what they were talking about. In her mind it didn't involve her.
At least she thought that till she realized that Bobby had turned to look at her. "This includes you little lady," he said simply. Emily sat there hugging her knees to her chest and stared at him. "You're in this storm with those boys. You better take good care of them."
"Ye… yes… yes sir," she said softly. There was something amusing in her voice as it caused Bobby to start laughing. Emily looked at Dean and he just smiled. She didn't understand what was so funny. Emily looked up when she heard a dog yelp and then there was silence. Bobby looked out the window. Seconds later the door burst open and a woman walked inside. Emily stood quickly and stared at the woman. It was the same she had seen kill Jim. Emily moved to go after her and Dean held her back. She glared at the woman and Dean moved in front of Emily. He made a move towards the woman and she threw him back, knocking Emily over as well. Emily hit her head on a desk and her world went black. She woke a few minutes later, her head on a small pillow. She sat up and saw the woman tied in a chair. Emily took a spot on top of a bookcase and sat there watching. She liked spots like that, small places she could curl up in.
She was excited for a moment, and then she heard Dean speak. She saw Dean backhand the woman. Emily vaguely heard Bobby mention that she was possessed. Emily glared down at the girl and she looked up at her. "Name's Meg," she said with a smile. "I remember you. You were that tiny little girl hiding in the church." So she had seen Emily. Why hadn't she killed her? "Did you enjoy the show?" Emily tried her best to stay put and not react to Meg's words. It was hard though. Emily had only felt anger like this once in her life and that was in her basement with her father. Dean had been there to save her from losing herself in her anger. Dean walked back to them and Sam started reading something. She watched Meg writhe in pain. To her terror, Emily got some enjoyment out of it. Dean's voice terrified her though. He was so angry. There was a darkness coming from him that made him no seem like Dean. He wanted to know where their father was, Emily understood that, but there was a line that had been drawn and Dean passed it long ago. Finally he got his answer. Dean told Sam to finish it. Emily knew that would kill Meg. Somewhere inside her she knew that Meg was just a frightened girl like herself. She could hear it, feel it, and see it. Emily jumped down from her perched position on a bookcase and stood in front of Dean. She looked up into his eyes trying to find the comforting Dean she once knew.
"Sammy, finish it," he said looking down at her and not Sam. Emily looked almost devastated by his words. She looked back at Sam and saw fear in his eyes. Emily bit her lip and looked down she closed her eyes and heard Sam finish what he was reading. Emily watched the demon leave Meg and her entire body go limp. Emily backed against the wall as Meg slowly raised her head. She was alive. Emily was amazed. There was strength in the girl that made Emily smile. She watched as Sam and Dean carefully lifted her out of the chair and set her down on the ground with a pillow under her head. Emily looked down at the girl. Meg looked up at her.
She said she had been that way for a year, awake for some of it. Emily watched and the girl locked eyes with her. "I am so… so…s… so sorry," Meg struggled to say. Emily simply smiled. It was a comforting smile, letting Meg know it was all right. Meg told them that the demon wasn't lying and where they could find their father. Then she took her last breath. Emily watched with some kind of childlike fascination. Dean stood and took Emily away so she wouldn't look at the body.
Emily looked up at Dean. She saw pain, remorse in his eyes. It was the same look he had when he killed her father. Emily didn't know what to say. She wanted to comfort Dean as he had done so much for her but she couldn't think of how. Dean walked away from her and they gathered their things and left.
As Emily was walking out she glanced back at Meg's body and Bobby took her arm. "You take care of those boys all right," he said with a smile. Emily nodded and walked out the door following Sam and Dean. She sat in the car and the ride to Jefferson City was silent. Emily stared out the window. After a while she looked down at the piece of paper she held that had Tristan's phone number on it. She smiled as she thought about him. His eyes, the softest kindest eyes she had ever seen. Emily bit her lip and stared out the window. Dean looked through the mirror and laughed when he saw her. He had seen that look before, but he wouldn't bring it up.
It wasn't as long of a ride as she thought it would be from Lincoln to Jefferson City. She got out of the car with the boys and stood leaning against the car as Sam read the book Bobby had given him. Dean rummaged through the trunk. Emily stared out at the bridge in the distance that went across the Missouri river. She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. She heard Sam and Dean start fighting again. Emily rolled her eyes and sighed. She turned to face him as Dean tossed the Colt in the trunk and closed the lid. "Stop it," she snapped at them. "Both of you. That's all I've heard since I found you." Her voice was strong, commanding. Dean couldn't help but think that maybe Jim had been right when he said Emily was doing much better.
The two walked along the river and Dean noticed a sign that said "Sunrise Apartments". It took a while, and some scheming but they eventually devised a plan that involved Sam pulling the fire alarm to get all the people out, or at least the people that weren't possessed. The plan irritated the hell out of Emily though. She wasn't involved at all. Dean waited for the fire department to arrive then he distracted the firefighters as Sam stole some of their uniforms. When they were ready to go in Dean took Emily around to the back of the building. "Emily," he said looking down at her. "Stay here, I'll come get you." Emily nodded reluctantly and waited for the three of them to show and for them to leave. She stood there for a long time. Emily noticed a man walking down the street. She got that same sick feeling she had with Meg and she studied him for a moment. Emily turned the corner and walked down the street a little. She took a spot hidden under a staircase, thinking she would still be able to see where Sam and Dean would be coming from.
Dean helped their father get out the window and out the fire escape. Suddenly something threw him back with an unbelievable force. He slammed against the windshield of a car and sat up. He saw the man straddling Sam and punching him repeatedly across the face. Dean watched for a moment as bruise after bruise appeared on Sam's face. Finally he took the Colt out of his belt, aimed, and pulled the trigger sending a bullet through the man's head. He stood and walked over to help Sammy up. Dean carried Sam over to where their father was. He stopped when he realized that Emily was nowhere to be found. His heart raced. Dean set Sam down next to their father and looked around. "Emily," he shouted. "Emily!" Dean looked down at his father and brother. They were barely conscious and Dean knew more demons would be coming soon. He couldn't wait anymore. Dean had to get them out of there. He made a note in his mind to make sure that he came back to find her. Then Dean helped Sam and his father up. He put them in his car and tore off down the rode.
Emily waited and waited until the sun started to go down. Dean never did find her. She stood and walked back to where she was supposed to meet them and saw a body on the ground. It was that same man from before. Emily realized that Dean must have killed him then taken Sam and their father somewhere else. Tears filled her eyes. He didn't take her. She was lost and alone again. Emily closed her eyes and tears slowly fell down her pale cheeks. After a moment she felt that same nauseous feeling and she looked around. There were about four people coming towards her. Emily did the first thing she thought of. She ran. Emily ran as fast as she could down the street, down the highway into the middle of nowhere. It was dark now, very late at night when she finally stopped. She continued walking. It was as if something was leading her. She didn't know where she was going but at the same times he knew exactly where she was going.
Emily turned and walked down a side road. She followed it until she spotted Dean's car outside of a small old house. She walked over and glanced through the window, seeing Sam pinned against the wall. It wasn't until she saw Dean that Emily realized what was going on. Emily's heart stopped. She felt as though she was being torn apart from the inside. She looked through the window once more and saw Dean. She could hear his cries. Something took over Emily at that moment. She walked towards the door and kicked it open with all her strength. John turned to face Emily, his eyes an almost florescent yellow.
Emily stood in the doorway her head lowered a little. Her hair fell in her face and covered her eyes. There was darkness and strength that emanated off of her. She looked up at John with only her eyes her head was still lowered. There was a dark, menacing look in her eyes. John simply smiled and walked over to her. She turned and seemed to circle around him. "I know you," he said simply. "Ah, yes I remember. Emily Reynolds," he said with a hint of pride. "You," he closed his eyes and smiled. Emily glanced over at Dean and saw his head drop down and blood drip from his mouth. Anger and rage fueled inside her. It was far more than anything she had experienced. What Emily felt inside her was pure hatred. "I had so many plans for you Emily. You were… you were always one of the strongest. Even as an infant I knew your potential. The power you possessed. Don't you feel it?" John glanced over at Dean and smiled. "You care for him? He takes care of you."
Emily glared at him and stood between him and Dean's lifeless body that was still pinned to the wall. "He took care of me," she said softly, a malicious tone in her voice. "He's always taken care of me." Emily paused and raised her head to look John square in the eyes. "My turn," she said simply. A split second after that John slammed against the wall. Emily walked towards him. John tried to move but couldn't. "Its not so much fun now is it," she asked quietly. John tried to speak but found himself unable to breathe.
Sam watched from the wall and after a moment he dropped to his feet and Dean to the ground. He took a deep breath and Sam ran to his side. "Are you all right," he asked. Dean nodded and looked to their father. Sam looked over at them and he picked the Colt up off the table. He looked at the demon in his father's body.
The demon smiled and laughed. With a sudden push Emily flew back against the other wall where Dean had been before. Her head slammed against the wall and she fell to the floor again next to Dean. Emily stood up slowly and she glared at him. She wasn't able to stand for very long though. After a moment she fell to the ground next to Dean once more. Dean managed to move over and he rolled her onto her back, looking down to make sure she was all right.
Sam held the gun at his father and pulled the trigger, shooting him in the leg. He stood over his father with the gun, ready to shoot. Then he heard that voice. It wasn't the demon speaking. John was begging Sam to shoot him. Dean kept pleading for Sam not to shoot him. Emily was half conscious and she tried to follow what was going on but it was hard. Finally Sam lowered the gun and just after that the demon left John's body. Emily sat up slowly. She was stronger than Dean and she held him up. Emily looked over at him and smiled. "I took care of you," she whispered. He smiled faintly at her and nodded. Sam and Emily helped get John and Dean into the car. Sam drove, John was in the front passenger seat next to him, Dean was in the back on the driver's side, and Emily sat next to him, hugging her knees to her chest.
Dean had lost a lot of blood and Emily kept looking over at him. Her heart was racing. Dean was all she had left if he died she'd be alone, even if Sam was still here. Dean was her protector, her lifeline. Sam drove as fast as he could down the street. He fought with his father about the bullet and Emily noticed him looked through the mirror at Dean. She looked over at Dean and smiled, taking his hand in hers. Everything would be all right, she was sure of it. Then with a sudden jolt Emily flew across the car and landed next to Dean. She was able to curl up in a small enough ball that she didn't get crushed. She looked up and was the only one of them to see what hit them, a large semi-truck. Emily felt a warm red liquid flow down her face. She looked up and realized that it was not only her blood but Dean's as well. She looked up at his face and it was the last thing she saw before Emily clenched her hand around his and everything went black.