It had been a quiet day. It often was for the Winchester brothers after they killed something. Both were too tired to speak and often took turns driving to the next city that deserved their attention. Now they were pulling into the car park for Tricky Dicky's Diner – a late night diner Dean had insisted they go to so he could visit a friend.
"So who is this friend?" Sam had asked after Dean announced that Tricky Dicky's was the next stop. They were staking out a house for another supernatural nuisance from inside the Impala.
"Selina Kyle." Dean answered.
"Catwoman?"
"What?"
"That's Catwoman's true identity."
"Nerd." Dean murmured under his breath. Sam rolled his eyes and settled back into the chair. The clock ticked on.
"What did she call for?"
"She didn't say."
"Did you ask?"
"If 'Lina needs help-"
"'Lina?" Sam asked suggestively.
"What?" Dean was getting defensive. And he stayed that way about 'Lina the all the way to Tricky Dicky's. All Sam knew was Dean trusted her enough to know she wasn't pulling his leg for help. As he turned off the Impala's engine he nudged Dean awake. His brother grunted to life and followed his lead out of the car. Sam left Dean behind to stretch out and was half way to the doorsteps when he had to stop. A cold sensation came over him. His breath became visible before him. He looked left, then right and saw a girl – with eyes all too like the yellow-eyed demon's.
"Sam! Run!" Dean ordered, his voice hoarse from projecting it so urgently.
Sam took his brother's advice and headed back for the Impala. But Dean was running past it now, so Sam followed.
The streets in this town were quiet enough for the ghost or demon or whatever humanoid monster it was, to swoop past Dean and Sam as they ran, scrambling to find salt or iron. It knocked them to their feet, tore at their clothes and skin and roared awful things at them in their ear. They barely made it back to the Impala in one piece just under an hour later.
"What the Hell was that?" Sam barked at Dean as Dean took over driving and pulled out of the diner.
"Sammy," Dean warned, but Sam continued to holler about eyes and Hell Hounds, so Dean repeated his warning, "Sammy! Wrap up you arm."
"What?"
"It's bleeding."
Sam looked down, and sure enough, his arm was bleeding onto Dean's car seat. He shut up and tried to grip it and search for a make-shift tourniquet. Dean drove silently.
As soon as Dean was done cleaning himself up in the kitchenette of the motel, he left without a word to Sam who was still cleaning up in the bathroom. At the first bar he could find he saw 'Lina drawing and talking into a mobile phone. He ordered two whiskeys and took position on the stool next to her.