AN: Got a nice, long new chapter for you guys!! This is basically going to wrap up the "introduction arc" and bridges into the main plot of the story which we'll be getting into fairly soon! Hope you like it and don't worry, there's a lot more action coming up!! Thanks again to everyone who put this on their favorites or alerts and a BIG thanks to everyone who reviewed!!

Serena and Dean looked up from the papers and maps on the island top to see Mara walking in with Sam close behind her. Serena gave a small smile and went back to searching the map in front of her.

"So what're the Twins?" Dean asked as he got up to refill his coffee.

"No explanations until after I've had my Mt. Dew, dude," Mara said as she pulled a soda from the fridge and popped it open. After she chugged half of the can, she gave a happy sigh and set the can down on the counter. She turned and saw that she already had both of the boys' attention. She reached behind her and slowly pulled out the two curved six inch daggers she always kept at her back. As both of their jaws dropped, she laughed and handed one to each of them for them to look at.

"Those are the Twins. And before you ask…they're double forged silver. The knot work at the hilt is Celtic for passion and longevity. They were a gift from my father when I turned eighteen, he had them designed specifically for me," Mara said with a smile as she remembered the day her father had given these to her. She had been so excited that she had accidentally cut herself on them. And as her father told her, as he helped her clean her hands of blood, 'you bled on them, they're yours now. They will never be as good of a weapon for anyone else as they will be for you'. She watched with respect as both of the boys studied them carefully and handed them back to her.

"Ok…so. Mara…while you were being the undead snoring giant, Sam called their version of Yoda and found out how to kill this asshole," Serena said. "Sam and I both woke up a few hours ago and finally realized that this thing has developed a pattern. We've got a really good shot at cornering it today, we just have to decide where to start looking."

"Yoda huh? Is he small and green?" Mara asked with a laugh as she finished off her Mt. Dew and pulled another one from the fridge.

"Try redneck in a trucker hat," Dean countered with a grin.

"Nice. So….where should we start?" Mara said as she stood beside Sam, leaning on his shoulder.

"I think our best bet is for the park. I know it wasn't there yesterday but I have the feeling it'll be there today," Serena said as she shuffled different maps of the area around. She found the one she was looking for and handed it to Mara, knowing Mara would memorize it in a few minutes and hand it back.

"Good. We'll start there. What'd guru say about how to kill it?" She asked, looking over at Sam. She swallowed when she realized that he was so tall, he was at eye level with her even though he was sitting.

"Silver. Just like a shifter," Sam replied as he took the map from her to have a look for himself.

"You're kidding?! Really? That's all? Wow…" Mara said with a shake of her head.

"Alright…well let's go raid the stash and get a move on. It's about time we finished this," Dean said as he stretched and got up.

They spent an hour or so gathering weapons from the weapons cache and headed back up the stairs. On the way up, Mara hung back from the guys and pulled Serena aside.

"Laney…I need you to stay here," Mara said, looking at her cousin with concern.

"What do you mean stay?" Serena asked. As realization dawned on her, her blue eyes flashed furiously. "You didn't have a problem with me going out all those other times looking for it! What's different now?!"

"Look Laney…I know you're trained and you can take care of yourself," Mara tried to explain. "But you're not trained for this world. Not yet. After we knock this blip off the radar, I intend to train you and make sure you're ready for the next hunt. Today may be our only shot at this thing and I can't afford the risk to you right now. I need all my concentration. I can't be going after this thing and be worried about you at the same time."

"I can't believe you Mara! You dragged me into this world and now you won't let me fight?! How can you possibly even DARE to begin to do this to me?!" Serena screamed into her cousin's face.

Mara stayed calm and pleaded quietly, "Serena. Please. For me…just sit this one out. Just this once. Please. You know how I feel about things like this and this is pretty much one of the last things on earth I want you within 500 miles of. For my sake, stay this time."

Serena didn't know how to react to that. Mara had used her real name again so yet again, she meant business. Besides, she was always powerless against the pleading gaze of her cousin. She knew that Mara wouldn't keep her out of anything if she had a choice in the matter. Admitting defeat, she nodded.

Mara pulled her cousin into a hug. "Thank you, Laney. Just stay inside and lock all the doors and windows."

Serena nodded glumly and walked over to the door with Mara, handing her the bag she had been carrying.

Dean chucked her lightly under her chin as he walked by her. "Don't worry Shortie, there will always be other fights."

Serena could only nod as she told them all to be careful and to call if they needed anything. As she shut the door behind them, she decided to release her frustration in a productive manner by going to the workout room with her set of throwing knives. She needed the practice anyways and it was a good way to get her mind off of being left behind.

Mara called shotgun as they walked to the Impala, knowing she'd never be allowed to drive it. She gave directions to Dean on how to get back to the park and sat back, taking in the scenery and keeping her eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary. Thanks to traffic, it took them almost an hour to get to the park. Unfortunately it was packed with families and couples enjoying the day when they did arrive.

"Shit. How're we gonna know which one it is?" Dean asked.

"No idea…but we'll find it," Sam said as Mara shrugged.

They walked around for an hour or so, trying to look like a normal set of friends that were just out enjoying the day. Right as Dean's grumbles were starting to get to Mara, she got the feeling that someone was looking at her.

"Guys…it's here," Mara said trying to look around without looking obvious about it.

"How do you know?" They both asked her at the same time.

She rolled her eyes at their double-mint twins moment and replied, "I don't know exactly how…I just know it's here. It's the same feeling I got the other day when I was tossed across the yard." She took Sam's hand and swung their intertwined fingers between them. "Let's go this way, dear."

She looked down at the ground and spoke softly to Dean, "Please don't shoot any innocents."

"I'm not that trigger happy kiddo," Dean replied, insulted.

As they rounded a corner of the nature path, they saw it. It looked like a man, but at the same time not. There was something off about it. And it was feeding from a young woman who couldn't have been any older than Mara herself. As it saw them, it gave a nasty snarl and took off running, dropping the poor woman in a heap on the sidewalk. Dean fired three shots at it but missed, as the creature dodged and swerved around the trees and bushes.

"SHIT!!" Mara cursed as she let go of Sam's hand and took off running, with the boys following close behind her. She yelled back at Sam, "Check that poor girl and make sure she's ok!"

As Sam got close to the woman, he realized with dismay that she was already dead. It looked like the poor girl had been drained completely dry and her throat had been ripped or chewed to pieces. Giving the corpse a piteous look, he turned around to yell "Somebody-help!" before he took off running after Mara and Dean. Even though there wasn't anything he could really do for the woman, he hated the thought of leaving her there and he hoped someone would make sure her family was notified.

After what seemed like an eternity of near misses, Mara was getting damn tired of running. It felt like they were constantly two steps behind the thing and it was beginning to piss her off. She looked around and terror gripped her as she realized that the scenery was beginning to look familiar. Shit. She pulled out her phone as she made a quick decision to change directions and try to head it off.

Serena had just finished cleaning off her favorite gun when her phone started buzzing. She didn't even get the chance to say anything when she picked it up.

"Laney! Double check and lock all the damn doors and windows and stay the hell inside!" Mara screamed through the phone.

"What? What's going on, Mara? What happened?" Serena asked, getting worried.

"It's going through the woods heading towards the house. Just stay inside!" Mara shouted and then hung up. Serena did as Mara asked and double checked all the doors and windows, but she also loaded her gun with magazine full of silver rounds.

As Mara came up to the right side of the front of the house, Dean was coming up the left side. The creature should've been in between them. Sam ran up in between them a few moments later and they all looked to one another.

"DAMNIT! It's gotta be here!" Dean shouted. The three of them started searching the yards and surrounding woods, coming up with nothing. Mara started cussing under her breath, making Dean raise his eyebrows in appreciation for her knowledge of slang.

They started for the front door when Mara got that feeling again, the fissure of pressure going up her spine. She spun around, furious, yelling her frustrations to the thick air. "I know you're here you bastard. Why don't you show your ugly mug?"

There was a soft rustling noise followed by a strangled exclamation from Sam. Mara and Dean spun simultaneously, guns raised, to see the sickeningly white face of the incubus, it's thin, tapered fingers clutched around Sam's throat. It was incredibly tall, standing several inches over Sam and its orange-red eyes flickered quickly between the two guns pointed at it.

"You called?" it wheezed, its breathing ragged. "Watch it!" it instructed, as Mara shifted her aim slightly. "Make one move and I'll slice straight through lover boy's throat here," it cautioned, sliding a sharp nail along the bottom of Sam's chin for emphasis.

"Hang on Sammy," Dean called out. "Listen you big piece of ugly, if you put one scratch on him I'll…"

"Oh you'll do what?" the incubus laughed. "You may be a quick shot, but I promise I'm quicker. He'll still be dead before I hit the ground. Even though you interrupted my feeding, I'm still stronger than you. Speaking of which," he trailed off as he tightened one hand around Sam's throat and used the other to drag a deep cut where his neck and shoulder met. Sam grunted with pain as the incubus dipped his head down and sampled his blood. "Mmm…aren't you an interesting variety?" it purred, its voice becoming more like velvet than the ragged scratching it had been before. As Mara and Dean watched in horror, its form rippled and shifted as it fed from Sam. It remained roughly the same height but its hair and nails lengthened and when it finally looked up, it was a woman's face that now stared back.

"You know you things really are disgusting," Dean spat, infuriated.

Mara's gaze was practically aflame. The sight of some parasite feeding off of Sam, especially one that looked like a woman now, was enough to rattle her down to her core. As it was, she was having to exert an abnormal amount of energy to keep her aim steady as she was starting to shake violently. "You filthy piece of shit. Get the hell away from him…NOW!" she roared.

"Oooh…a little jealous are we?" the now succubus asked in a smooth, lilting voice. "Such a pretty face…I can see why you'd want to keep him around. He's just simply, delicious," it said, suggestively licking its lips. "I really don't have the time to deal with all of you right now, so just let me take him as a consolation prize for your disrupting my feeding grounds and we can call it even," it said, stroking Sam's hair with one hand.

"No way you bitch," Dean said, tightening his grip on his gun. "I'll see you rot in hell first."

"Oooh…after you handsome. You know, I think I may have to take you with me as we-"

It was cut off by the sound of a gun firing twice in rapid succession. The succubus jerked forward, pushing Sam away from it as the bullets tore into each of its shoulders. It turned, murderous intent in its eyes to see Serena standing on the front porch, the smoking gun still held in her raised hands.

"You know what happens when the bad guy starts up a monologue don't you?" Serena quipped sarcastically, cocking her head to one side.

The succubus screamed in rage and flung itself at Serena who simply fired off another shot that burrowed into the creature's chest. The flesh around the wound started to dissolved rapidly and when it looked back up, Serena quickly fired another shot that found its mark dead between its eyes. With a howl, it quickly dissolved into nothing.

No one moved for a pair of heartbeats, Mara and Dean could only stare in amazement at the woman on the porch who still had her gun trained on the spot the creature disappeared from. Then reality came rushing back to them, and they ran to Sam's side.

"Sammy?? You okay?" Dean asked as he dropped down beside him.

"Yeah…I'm fine. I just wish I hadn't let it get the drop on me like that," Sam said, wincing slightly as they helped him to stand.

Mara's voice was caught in her throat and she couldn't speak at first, she could only look at Sam, searching his face with worry written all over her own. He put a hand on her cheek and made her pause. "I'm fine. I promise," he soothed.

She nodded and then shook herself. "Okay, I'm good. I just…GOD! I wanted to strangle that thing with my own hands…I swear. But Serena…" she started, finally looking up at her cousin.

Serena had halfway lowered her gun, but looked completely stunned, like she couldn't believe what she had just seen.

"Laney?" Mara called, as she stepped away from the brothers to approach her cousin. "Laney, put Kitty away, God knows you scare me with that thing."

Serena finally looked back at Mara and lowered the gun all the way to her side. Then a wide grin broke out on her face and she seemed to light up. "How's that for training Mara? Think you'll try to keep me out of the next fight?"

Mara couldn't help but laugh as she hugged Serena. "Not on your life kiddo…you saved our asses there. I'm sending you in first next time!"

Serena kept grinning until her gaze focused on Sam. "Dean-help him up to the first bathroom upstairs. I'll grab my first aid kit and we'll try to clean him up. Sam you need something for pain? I've got some stuff that will knock you right out if you need it."

Sam smiled at her, glad that things truly did seem to be settled. "I think I'll be okay. I really could use a drink…or two though," he added.

Mara laughed, as she held the door open so Dean could maneuver Sam through it. "I think we've all earned a night out. Everyone up for that?"

"You know I am," Dean said over his shoulder.

"Me too," Serena agreed. "All right boys, who's buying my first drink tonight? I think I deserve it since I'm the one who dusted that thing," Serena teased as she followed them up the stairs.

"I think I should since you know, you actually did save my ass," Sam chuckled.

"Then I've got the second one," Dean chimed in.

"Works for me!" Serena laughed. "Hey Mara, come help me get all the stuff we'll need to clean your boy up," she called as she left Sam and Dean in the bathroom and headed to her own room.

"My boy? Where did that come from?" Mara questioned as she followed her cousin down the hallway.

"Dean?" Sam began once they were alone. "Should we really be staying? What about…"

"Save it Sammy. I know you want to stay for a while, just as much as I do," Dean interrupted.

"Yeah but what about what Cas…"

"Dude…we're staying. For a week or so anyways. It's about damn time we got a break. Something big comes up, he'll find us. He always does, whether we want him to or not," Dean mumbled under his breath. "So let the good doctor patch you up and who knows? You may get laid yet!"

"So not funny Dean," Sam muttered.

"Yeah well, she's definitely got it in for you so…"

"Who's got it in for you?" Serena asked as she and Mara stepped back into the bathroom, each carrying several items.

"N-nothing," Sam hurriedly said.

They shrugged it off and Serena moved to examine Sam's wound as Mara flitted around handed her whatever she needed.

"I thought you were a head doctor and not actually licensed to stitch people up," Dean observed as Serena carefully cleaned the wound.

"Since no stitching needs to be done thankfully, I think we'll be okay," Serena popped back. "But just so you rest easier, I did ace my gross anatomy lab. I know my way around the human body," she finished with a wink in Dean's direction.

Dean quickly shut up after that and there was silence for a few moments until Sam spoke up.

"I've got a question. Just what is this Kitty thing you keep talking about?" he asked.

Mara and Serena both laughed as Mara leaned over to grab the .45 Springfield 1911 Serena had tucked into the back of her jeans.

"Boys, this is Kitty," she said, turning the shining, deep gunmetal colored hand gun over in her hands.

"Why the hell do you call it that?" Dean asked.

"Cause of this," Mara answered, showing both boys the small, metallic blue etching of Hello Kitty that was placed right before the safety on the right side.

"That's kinda creepy," Sam grimaced.

"You're telling me," Mara said nodding in agreement. "Freaks me out just thinking about that damn thing."

"All right, if you don't stop making fun of my favorite gun, I'll have to whip all of your asses at target practice again," Serena interjected, standing up. "Okay Sam, I've got you all wrapped up so you should be fine. We'll keep an eye on it though. So," she said, gathering up her supplies, "let's go pay Charlie another visit."

About half an hour later, Dean jogged down the stairs as he rolled back the sleeves on his red and black plaid flannel shirt. He automatically headed for the kitchen and found Sam already sitting as his usual place at the island wearing jeans and his favorite crisp white button down, sleeves also rolled up, making his way through a bowl of cereal. Dean mentally paused for a moment, questioning how odd it was that he was already starting to think of their routine in this house as normal-as opposed to their actual lives that they would have to return to in a few days.

"You feeling okay still?" he asked Sam, forcing himself out of thoughts he'd rather not deal with at the moment.

"Yeah," Sam said after he washed down the last of his cereal with some orange juice. "I feel great actually."

Dean had been rummaging through the fridge but popped his head back out at that comment."Sam, you sly dog you finally went for it didn't you?"

"No Dean!" Sam protested. "Dude…you really have to get your mind out of the gutter."

"No Sammy, I don't," Dean said with a grin as he went back to searching for food. He finally snatched a few things and carried them over to the island where he sat, eating and chatting with his brother for a while before they heard someone else coming down the stairs.

They looked up and Dean whistled in appreciation as Mara stalked into the kitchen. She had on a deep green v-neck sleeveless shirt and jeans but what was really striking was the fact that she had finally let her fiery red hair out of its usual twist and it fell in wild curls down to her waist.

"Serena made me do it," she explained, sliding onto the stool beside Sam.

"Wow," was all Sam could get out at the moment. He reached out and gingerly touched a silky strand. "My god you're beautiful," he murmured. Mara blushed furiously at his comment.

"Oh please," Dean protested. "Not while I'm eating."

Mara fixed him with a mischievous grin. "Oh just you wait. I'm the one who picked out what Laney's wearing."

As if on cue, hesitant footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. "Mara?" Serena hissed from around the corner. "Mara get over here. Right now."

Mara sighed and walked to the stairs and the boys could hear them arguing in hushed voices.

"Mara MacKeltar, I'm going to kill you. I'm not walking out there in this."

"Yeah well you made me let this mop down."

"You look beautiful with your hair down!"

"And you look hot in that so get your ass out there!" This was followed by a muffled shriek and a thump and Mara shoved Serena through the doorway and into the kitchen.

Dean glanced up and promptly choked on the handful of chips he was trying to swallow. Serena was wearing a very low cut cobalt blue halter dress that showed almost every inch of her long legs. She was also wearing strappy black stilettos that put her close to Mara's height.

"I am NOT wearing this to the bar," Serena growled.

At that moment, Sam noticed his brother was turning a very peculiar shade of purple.

"Dean!" He jumped up and started smacking his brother on his back. After a few whacks, Dean coughed and started breathing normally.

"Thanks Sam," he said shakily, still not able to take his eyes off Serena.

Mara started laughing hysterically. "Laney, go upstairs and change. I'm not making you wear that to the bar. I just wanted to see Tonto here's face."

Serena vanished up the stairs while Mara and Sam had a good laugh at Dean's expense while he tried to recover.

"That is so not funny," he said, pointing an accusing finger at Mara.

"Yeah, yeah, but you can't tell me you didn't enjoy that," Mara retorted with a knowing glance.

"Hell yeah I did. Why'd you tell her to go change??" Dean asked, throwing up his hands in frustration.

Sam and Mara only laughed harder.

An hour later found them all arriving at Serena's favorite bar once again, with Serena wearing a normal red top and jeans much to Dean's disappointment. As soon as they walked in, the girls made a bee line for the crowded bar, and the scruffy-looking older man behind it called out their names, a smile lighting up his face. He came out from the bar to wrap an arm around each one, squeezing them to his sides.

"Well aren't you two a sight for sore eyes!" Charlie exclaimed as he finally released them. "This one's usually better at coming to keep me company," he said, pointing an accusing finger at Serena.

"Sorry Charlie," she said, putting on a pronounced pout. "Think you can forgive me?"

"Hell, I can always forgive you when you bat those baby blues at me darlin'," he chuckled. He looked up as Sam and Dean approached cautiously behind the girls, each nodding to him.

"So that's what's kept my girls away from me," Charlie admonished with a wink to them. "You can't tell me they can actually keep up with you though. I'll never believe that."

Mara laughed and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I don't think there's a man alive who can do that honey, but god help them, they surely do try."

"All right, well you just let ol' Charlie know if they step outta line. I'm not too old to whip their asses that's for sure. I'm assuming you're hitting up the pool tables if the damage you did last time is anything to go by," he said, grinning at Mara.

"You know it!" Mara said, smiling.

"I'll send over a round soon as you get settled. Now give me some love and go wipe the floors with your boy toys over there," he instructed, pointing to each of his cheeks.

Serena and Mara laughed and gave him big kisses on each cheek before finally turning back around to the boys.

"Who's gonna be my first victim?" Mara asked with gleaming eyes.

Dean raised an eyebrow at her and narrowed his eyes. "Oh you think you're getting off so easy this time huh? You and me sweetheart-I gotta win back some of my respect."

"Just don't play for money Dean," Sam urged, his forehead in his hand.

"Shall we?" Mara forced out between laughs as she offered her arm to Dean.

"It would be my pleasure," Dean replied, linking arms with her as they made their way through the mostly leather-clad crowd to the pool tables.

"Well, shall we go watch the carnage and make sure they don't get into more trouble than usual?" Sam asked, likewise offering Serena his arm.

"If we aren't there to pull them out of the fire who will?" Serena laughed, looping her arm through his.

"True, but you realize this pretty much makes us the sidekicks right?" Sam said, grinning down at her as they followed in Mara and Dean's wake.

"I guess so," Serena sighed. "All right Boy Wonder, let's go keep an eye on Batman and Wonder Woman."

They laughed the rest of the way to the pool table area and quickly claimed an open booth along the wall closest to the table Mara and Dean were setting up. Soon after they sat down, four shots and a bucket of beers arrived from Charlie. Mara hurried over to toss down her shot and blew a kiss to the bar tender after she did so.

"Man, I needed that," she said, smacking her lips. "You ready for this?" she asked Dean who was also tossing back a shot.

He slammed the glass back down and shot a wicked smile at her. "Oh you know I am."

Two games, three rounds of shots, and a second bucket of beer later, Mara and Dean were tied.

Dean tossed the last shot back and fixed Mara with a look. "I almost had you on that last one. I think you're losing your touch."

"Oh now you've done it," Serena groaned, leaning down onto the table.

"Laney's right Tonto, you've done it now," Mara said, smiling a little too brightly. "I was taking it easy on you so you'd look better in front of your woman but oh no…you had to go and say something. Round three –right now." She chugged the rest of her beer and crawled over Sam to get out of the booth.

Dean took a deep breath and stood up slowly. "Yeah…I am so screwed," he mumbled.

Sam laughed at the look on his brother's face as Mara sank two off the break. Dean's really got to learn to control his mouth he couldn't help but think as he tried to stop laughing. He had been doing a lot of laughing the past few days, in fact both of them had. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so, content. I know it can't last forever, but it's nice to see a small glimpse of what life could have been. What it should have been. As he finished off his beer, he noticed that he was feeling a little warm and his palms were slightly damp.

"Hey," he said, leaning across the table to get Serena's attention. "Where are the bathrooms in here?"

"Head back towards the bar and they're over to the right," she said, turning around to point out the direction he should go.

He thanked her and smiled at Mara as he passed by her. She winked at him and then turned back to watch as Dean lined up his next shot. Sam made his way to the bathroom and once inside he headed straight for the line of sinks where he splashed some cold water on his face. He glanced up as another man came in and entered one of the stalls. Sam splashed some more water on his face and was reaching for some paper towels when he heard someone say something he couldn't quite catch.

"'Scuse me? I didn't hear what you said sir," he asked out loud, assuming it was the man in the stall.

"Uh I didn't say anything dude," the guy answered hesitantly.

Sam shrugged and had begun wiping his face when he heard it again. "You sure you didn't just say something?" he asked again.

"Yeah…pretty sure. I think I'd know if I said something, buddy," the guy said, a hint of frustration in his voice this time.

Sam finished drying his face and stood there for a moment, completely confused. He could have sworn he heard something. Then he heard it again.

Oh Sam….it's time…

Sam knew that voice all too well. It was starting up again and it couldn't have come at a more inopportune time. Getting frustrated with himself, he crumpled the paper towels in his hands and threw them with more force than necessary into the trash can, sending the swinging lid flying around its hinge as he stormed through the door.

He made his way back to the booth and slid in across from his brother.

"Where'd Mara and Serena go?" he asked, looking around for them.

"They went to go grab some more drinks," Dean said, draining the last beer on the table. "Mara whipped my ass in record time and needed something to celebrate with."

Sam only nodded in response, still dwelling on what had happened a few moments before.

"Hey Sammy…you okay?" Dean asked, cocking an eyebrow at him.

"Yeah, yeah…I'm fine Dean. I could just really use another drink. It was a long day," Sam said, trying to push the incident to the far recesses of his mind.

"Well, they should…" Dean trailed off as he craned his neck, looking for the girls. He found them, but he also noticed the two men chatting them up. The old bartender saw him looking and jerked his head towards the girls sending the distinctive message of "Get your ass over here buddy!"

"Be right back Sam," Dean said, as he stood up and walked to the bar. Sam turned around in his seat, watching where his brother was stalking off to.

As Dean reached the spot where the girls were standing, each holding several drinks, he could hear what was being said.

"Why don't you come sit with us?" a shorter blonde man was saying as he leaned in close to Serena. "Couple of pretty things like you really shouldn't be alone."

"That's why they aren't," Dean interrupted, smiling down at the blonde man. He slipped an arm around Serena's waist and tugged her to his side. "I was wondering where you got off to sweetheart."

Serena flashed him a grateful smile. "Hi darling. Just getting us a few more drinks…would you be a dear and help me?"

"Sure thing babe," Dean said with a wink as he took most of the drinks she was trying to juggle.

"Well, Blondie here has a fella but I guess that leaves you baby," the darker haired man who had been standing there said, as he ran an eye up and down Mara.

She opened her mouth to say something smart to him, but he whirled around as someone tapped him on the shoulder and looked up into Sam Winchester's face.

"Sorry, but I believe she's taken as well," Sam said, smiling apologetically. "Better luck next time," he said, reaching out for Mara who swaggered over to his side.

"Nice talking to ya," Mara said sarcastically as Sam looped his arm around her waist and led her away.

As they reached the booth again, Serena couldn't help but laugh. "Thanks guys. We could have handled it but it was so nice to see the looks on their faces when you came up like that."

"Any time," Dean said, grinning. "Now, here's a toast," he said, distributing shots around the table, "to saving beautiful ladies." He lifted his glass to Serena and Mara.

"I'll drink to that," Sam agreed, smiling softly at Mara. There was a clink as they all set their empty shot glasses back on the table and then Mara quickly passed out another round.

"Here's another toast," she began, raising her glass. "To demon hunting knights in jeans, who happen to ride in an Impala instead of a horse." Everyone laughed before they tossed the shots back.

Mara and Dean's pool feud was quickly forgotten as they made their way through several more rounds of shots. They were extremely caught up in trying to determine who could come up with the most ridiculous toast when Jace Everett's "Bad Things" came over the speakers in the bar.

"Mara! Maaaraaa!!!" Serena exclaimed, her face cherry red as she laid down on the table.

"Laney? *hiccup* Are you okay?" Mara asked, her eyes slightly glazed over.

"Yes yes…it's a good song…let's dance!" Serena urged, crawling over Dean's lap to prop herself up at the end of the table. "Come on!" she demanded.

Mara sighed and extricated herself from the booth with very little grace, falling into a heap on the floor. Serena laughed and pulled her up, dragging her out onto the dance floor.

Dean's jaw dropped open as he watched the two women dancing to the song, and as he stole a quick glace around, he certainly wasn't the only one on the verge of drooling.

"Sammy…you watching this? DAMN! You know, I'm starting to think I hate Ruby a little less since she is the reason we came down here. Just a little less though…I may give her a head start when I go to kill her…but DAMN!" Dean said, shaking his head. When Sam didn't answer, he turned back to face him. "Sammy? You okay?"

"Uhh…yeah Dean. I'm okay. Are you okay?" Sam hiccuped. He threw back another shot, his head bobbing slightly.

"Oh damnit Sam, are you drunk?" Dean asked.

"Nope. I feel juuuust fine," Sam insisted with a goofy grin. "Hey Dean. Lean over here. I just thought of something really important."

"Uh…okay," Dean said, leaning forward. Sam leaned in as well and Dean could smell the liquor practically coming out of his pores. Sam always had been the light weight though.

"See Dean…I've been thinking," Sam said, looking at his brother's face intently. "And what I've been thinking is….you can be really cranky. I mean really cranky."

"Your point is Sam?" Dean growled.

"You…you need to get laid," Sam declared, sitting back and crossing his arms triumphantly.

"Excuse me? I need to what??!" Dean exclaimed, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh you heard me Dean. You need to…oh my god," Sam trailed off as his line of vision finally fell onto Mara and Serena on the dance floor.

"Sam! Sammy!" Dean called, but Sam just waved him off as he stared transfixed at Mara's drunken movements on the dance floor that were still sensual enough to have certain thoughts beating at his alcohol-soaked brain.

Dean sighed and pushed the beer in front of him away. If they were going to get home at all that night, someone was going to have to know what the hell was going on and it didn't look like anyone else was up for the job.

As the song ended, the girls stumbled back over to the booth, laughing hysterically. Mara tripped over her own feet and fell flat on her bottom yet again just as they reached the boys. She laughed even louder as Sam tried to help her up, but really only succeeded in sliding her across the floor.

"Okay okay, I think I'm done," she declared as she finally regained her footing. "A big glass of water please," she said to a passing waitress.

"Yeah well it looks like we're gonna have our hands full," Dean mused as Serena crawled back over him.

"Sam! Sam! Shot! We have to have another shot!" Serena yelled, slapping her hand on the table.

"Hey…it sounds like a good plan to me!" Sam agreed, picking one up. They tried to clink them together, but kept missing.

"Thanks," Mara said as the waitress returned with her water. She took a few gulps as she watched Sam and Serena repeatedly try to clink their glasses. They finally succeeded and tossed them back laughing. "Oh yeah, it's gonna be a long night. Once Serena gets going, it's hell to try and get her to stop," Mara observed.

"Great," Dean said, as he leaned back his seat. "I vote we just let them drink themselves into a coma and then we haul their asses out." He felt someone watching him, and he turned his head to see a very drunk Serena staring at him, mere inches from his face.

"Dean," she tried to whisper unsuccessfully. "Dean! I have a secret I need to tell you." He sighed and gestured for her to go on. She cupped her hands around her mouth and breathed, "I want to do bad things to you," in his ear.

Every nerve in his body was instantly aflame. Then realization kicked in and he laughed. "Oh, I see. You're just singing that song from earlier," he chuckled nervously.

"No no," she insisted. "I really want to do bad things to you," she said seductively, as she ran the tip of her tongue along the shell of his ear.

He jumped away from her like she had poured acid on his skin, scrambling out of the booth.

Mara had been too busy smiling at the goo goo eyes Sam was making at her to notice what was going on but she quickly turned around at that. "Yo, what got into your pants?" she asked.

"It's more like who's trying to get into them," he muttered. "I do not take advantage of drunk women, I do not take advantage of drunk women," he mumbled, pacing back and forth.

Mara's eyes darted from him to Serena and practically whooped when she noticed that Serena was the one on the offense.

With a sudden grace that completely belied her state of intoxication, Serena climbed out of the booth and sauntered over to Dean. She hooked her fingers into the front two belt loops of his jeans and pulled him to her suggestively. Dean swallowed hard as her gaze traveled from his crotch slowly up to his face.

"What's wrong Dean? I thought you liked me," she murmured softly, moving her right hand from the belt loop it held to trail lazily up and down his chest. "Don't you like me?"

"Oh hell yes," he blurted out. "B-but ya know you're a little drunk and I'm trying to keep your cousin from making good on her threat."

"Oh Mara won't mind," Serena promised, smiling sweetly at him. "I promise. Let's just you know, get to know each other a little better," she said, leaning in closer.

While Serena was trying to drunkenly seduce Dean, Mara watched in morbid fascination until a strong arm wrapped around her waist from behind.

"Hey beautiful," Sam whispered in her ear before he started pressing soft kisses to her neck.

The buzz Mara had been fighting off quickly dissolved as a new feeling filled her body. She turned around so she could face him, his goofy grin tugging at her heart. "Hey yourself handsome," she said, grinning back.

His glassy eyes began to close as he leaned in, pulling her towards him. Her brains were promptly turned to mush as he kissed the living daylights out of her, his hands traveling up the back of her shirt to press against her bare back. Electric shocks coursed through her, and she found herself wanting him like she had never wanted another man in her entire life. Part of her was screaming, Go for it! Who cares if he's drunk? It'll still be amazing! But the other part demanded she stop because it wouldn't be the same. Begrudgingly, she pushed herself away from him, silently cursing the infuriating angel on her shoulder.

"Whoa now," she cautioned. "Trust me, I'd really love to see where this goes but seriously, not tonight. You're just a little too drunk."

"Come on Mara, just a little taste?" Sam asked pitifully, freezing her with his gaze long enough for him to get close enough to nibble on her ear. "I want you Mara MacKeltar," he breathed to her between nibbles.

"Shit…shit….oh shit…" she cursed, trying valiantly to break the spell he was putting her under. Just as her will was crumbling, a yelp from Dean brought her back to reality.

"All right Mara, we've gotta get these two home. NOW!" a disheveled Dean with half his shirt buttons undone pleaded. "Seriously, if we don't get her behind a locked door I am not responsible for what I do…at this point I'm willing to take my chances with you yanking my balls through my throat," he said, pointing back to Serena who was blowing kisses in his direction.

"Okay, okay," Mara grumbled, extricating herself from Sam's grasp. "We should be responsible and get them home safely. And unmolested. Damnit, I hate it when my conscience kicks in," she growled.

Dean raised his eyebrows in confusion, glancing from Mara's flushed face to Sam who was still looking at Mara with the same look she had given him the first time they met-like he was about to pounce. He was about to make a smart comment when Serena wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled his back.

"Okay…drunks in the car…NOW!" he ordered, pulling Serena around in front of him. "Mara you grab her, and I'll get Casanova here," he said, pulling Sam out of the booth and to his feet.

Mara glanced over at Charlie as she ushered Serena to the door and he hurried out from behind the bar to hold the front door open for them.

"Thanks Chuck," she said. "I'll come by tomorrow to settle the tab."

"Take your time," he insisted. "Just make sure you get them home safe."

"I looooove you Charlie," Serena gurgled happily.

He chuckled and patted her on the shoulder. "I love you too darlin'. You kids be safe now."

Mara and Dean managed to manhandle Sam and Serena enough to get them settled in the back seat of the Impala before climbing in themselves. Dean cranked the engine and turned up the music, obviously trying to distract himself. It really didn't help as "I Need You Tonight" by INXS came on, which prompted Sam and Serena to begin singing at the top of their lungs.

After one of Sam's particularly loud declarations of "I'm LONEEELLLYYY!!!" Mara and Dean glanced at one another.

"Yeah, we're screwed," Mara grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Tell me about it," Dean muttered, as Serena draped herself over the driver's seat, wrapping her arms around Dean's neck.

"I need you tonight," she sang seductively in his ear, causing him to swerve. Mara had to untangle her arms and push her back down in the seat so Dean could drive properly.

After what seemed like an eternity to the two in the front, they finally reached Serena's house. Somehow they managed to get them in the front door without much mayhem, but afterwards, Serena latched on to Dean and all of Mara's efforts could not pull her off.

"Okay, you take her up, but no funny business, I mean it," Mara warned, as Dean scooped Serena up in his arms.

He glared at Mara for a moment, then sighed and began muttering "I do not take advantage of drunk women, I do not take advantage of drunk women," over and over as he made his way up the stairs.

Mara looked Sam up and down as he swayed back and forth. "All right Gigantor, what am I going to do with you?"

"I can think of a couple of things," he said, reaching for her.

"Whoa now tiger, if I made Dean promise to be on his best behavior I can't well rip the clothes off you now can I?" she said, putting an arm around his waist and leading him towards the stair case.

"I don't know, I think you can," he said, stopping and lifting her completely off her feet as he kissed her stupid again.

She was breathing heavily as he set her back down on her feet. "I do not take advantage of drunk men, I do not take advantage of drunk men," she growled as she shoved him forward up the stairs.

Dean finally reached Serena's room, which hadn't been easy with her nuzzling his neck and raining kisses along his jaw line. He deposited her on the giant four poster bed in the middle of the room and headed to her bathroom to get a trash can in case she needed it during the night. He walked back into her room and promptly dropped the one he was holding.

As soon as Serena saw him, she began crawling towards him across the bed singing, "Whatever Serena wants…Serena gets…and little man, Serena wants you." She sat up on her knees and beckoned him forward with a crook of her finger. Dean couldn't stop himself, in a flash he was across the room and had her pinned beneath him on the bed. She smiled broadly and wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer to her.

His heart was pounding in his chest and every sense he had was demanding that he follow nature's course and satisfy the fire that was threatening to consume him. She stretched up and entwined her arms around his neck, pulling his face towards hers. As he neared her lips, he knew that if he were to kiss her now, there would be no turning back for him. His eyes narrowed to slits as he threw caution to the wind and he was about to claim her lips with his own when a voice shot through his head that sounded a lot like the annoying angel that had forcefully perched on his shoulder.

Not now Dean. You must wait.

"Damnit Cas, you really do have the freakin' worst timing," he growled, pulling back from Serena.

"What's wrong?" she asked, propping herself up on her elbows.

"Nothing sweetheart, you just need to get some sleep that's all. Now get under the covers and go to sleep. If you feel sick, I'm going to put a trash can beside the bed, okay?" he instructed, as he climbed back off the bed.

Serena only nodded, her head bobbing a little too much as she scrambled under the covers. Dean retrieved the trash can and set it right beside her bed and was turning to leave when she called out to him softly. "Dean?"

"Yeah?" he asked, his heart still pounding in his ears as he walked back to her side. She looked up at him from her pillow and smiled warmly.

"Thank you," she said sweetly, as her big blue eyes and soft voice promptly smashed through the walls he had stacked around his heart.

His voice caught in his throat and for the first time, he was glad that his guardian angel had a penchant for butting in. "You're welcome Shortie. Now get some rest." Once she snuggled back under the comforter, he left and hurried to his own room where he locked the door behind him and put a chair in front of it…just in case.

Somehow, Mara managed to lug Sam up the stairs and into his room. She made him sit on the side of the bed as she tugged his boots off, and then she pulled back the covers and tucked him in. As she bent over to give him a good night kiss on his cheek, he grabbed a hold of her arms and dragged her into the bed with him.

"Sam, what are you doing?" she asked as he kicked off the comforter and draped a long leg over both of hers.

"Just stay with me," he asked, snuggling up to her back and inhaling. "You smell really good."

"I smell like biker bar," she pointed out, laughing.

"No, you smell like Mara. I like that," he corrected, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Sam, I can't stay here all night," she protested.

"Yes you can. I promise I'll be good, hunter's honor. Just stay with me tonight. When you're around me, I feel…at peace," he said with a sigh.

"At peace?"

"Yeah, you make me feel content; happy, like I'm not the freak everyone thinks I am," he said sleepily.

"Sam, no one thinks you're a freak," Mara said, but still she held on to his arms a little tighter. The yearning in his voice for acceptance was just about to break her heart and she couldn't imagine how someone could not love him.

"Oh you'd be surprised," he said, stifling a yawn. "You'd be surprised. But you're not like them Mara…you're different. Different from anyone I've ever met. I'm glad I met you."

She smiled into the dark and used her feet to kick off her own boots so she could settle in for the night. "I'm glad I met you too Sam Winchester. More than you'll probably know."

As the sun's rays fell across her face the next morning, Mara woke up in a state of panic. There was something heavy around both her waist and legs. She tensed herself to fight off whatever it was, but then the previous night's memories came flooding back to her, causing her to grin. She snuggled back into Sam's embrace for a few more peaceful moments before she realized he was snoring. She carefully extracted herself from his hold and saw that he was still completely passed out, mouth open, and snoring slightly. His disheveled hair was strewn around his face and the pillow in all directions and Mara felt a sudden rush of affection for him in that moment. He looked so innocent, so peaceful right then, more like a child than the man he was. After the little bit he had said the night before, she could only wonder what exactly he had been through and the possibilities caused her heart to ache again for him. Brushing his hair away from his face, she kissed his forehead before climbing out of the bed. Sam's only reaction was to grumble, roll over, and continue snoring.

Mara quietly made her way through the still house to the kitchen. After starting a pot of coffee she knew Serena would desperately need when she did wake up, she grabbed her customary two cans of soda from the fridge and set about scrounging up some breakfast.

She was just finishing up a stack of pancakes when heavy footsteps alerted her to Dean's approach.

"Morning," she called out as she flipped her fourth pancake from the pan to a plate.

"Morning," he croaked, pouring a big mug of coffee for himself and plopping down at the island.

Mara took one look at the dark circles under his eyes and slid the stack of pancakes in front of him.

"I think you need these right now more than I do," she quipped. He tried to wave her off, but she kept pushing them back to him. "Seriously, eat something. Then tell me everything that happened last night. If I'm going to have to disembowel you, I'd like for you to at least put up a bit of a fight."

Dean glared at her as he stuffed his mouth with pancakes. "Seriously," he said, pointing his fork at her, "after the night I had, I should be given a freakin' medal." As he made his way through the stack, he told her about what happened, conveniently leaving out the fact that it was only because of heavenly intervention that she didn't need to carry through on her threat.

Mara laughed as she leaned back on her bar stool. "Damn. I really do need to give you a medal or something. I just can't believe it…who would have thought she had it in her? I'm kinda proud."

"Yeah well you weren't the one who had to lock himself in his room last night," Dean grumbled as he finished off his coffee. "Which reminds me…what did you do last night? Please tell me my brother didn't wimp out on you."

"Only after he dragged me into bed with him," Mara said with a devilish gleam in her eyes.

A big grin broke out on Dean's face. "Thatta boy Sammy!!" he whooped.

"Just what kind of woman do you think I am?" Mara chided. "Nothing happened. I'm not going to threaten you with your life and then go have my own fun. Sam was way too drunk for me to do something in good conscience…but you'd better believe that if he puts the moves on me again while he's sober, it's on," she said with a grin. "And did you know he snores?"

"Yeah he does," Dean laughed. "He does that little whistling thing after too," he said, trying to imitate Sam's snores.

"Yeah well this morning it was more of a whistle, snore, whistle…like this," Mara said, doing her own impersonation.

"Just what are you two yelling about?" a sleepy voice addressed them from the door frame. Sam didn't wait for an answer as he staggered in, promptly sitting down and pressing his forehead against the cool marble top of the island.

Dean got up and grabbed another mug of coffee for him. "Here," he said, nudging it towards Sam. "I knew you'd feel like hell this morning."

"I feel worse than hell," Sam mumbled as he sat up to sip at the steaming liquid. "I've bypassed all seven layers and went somewhere much, much worse."

Mara rubbed his back sympathetically. "Cheer up Sunshine, in a few hours you'll start to feel human again."

Sam groaned and put his forehead back on the marble again.

"Oh Sammy, you never learn do you," Dean laughed. "I can always whip up my famous hangover cure ya know. You remember what it is…"

"Dean," Sam interrupted, holding up a hand. "Just stop right there."

Mara looked between the two for a moment, then just shrugged as she stood back up. "I guess I'll whip up a few more pancakes so Mr. Hangover can get something on his stomach."

After Mara had made several more batches and all three were making their way through them, Serena finally stumbled into the kitchen. Mara watched as Dean and Serena made eye contact, causing her cousin to blush furiously and pay an inordinate amount of attention to making a cup of coffee. What was most telling though, was the look on Dean's face. If she didn't know better, Mara would swear his whole countenance softened…must be the light.

"So Laney," Mara spoke up. "Just what did happen last night?"

"What?" Serena jumped, spinning around so fast, some of her coffee splashed over the sides of the mug. "N-nothing happened as far as I know Mara. I don't really remember anything to be honest," she stammered nervously, leaning back against the counter for support.

"Yeah…suuure you don't," Mara teased as she turned back to her breakfast. As she munched, she began humming "Whatever Lola Wants". As soon as they recognized the tune, Serena turned a whole new shade of red and Dean turned his full attention to his plate.

"I missed something, didn't I?" Sam asked, glancing around at the others.

"I'll tell you later," Mara promised in a quiet voice.

"There's nothing to tell," Serena snapped.

"Just drink your coffee Laney."