Author's Note: Geez! I'm on a roll today! That's always how it goes though, isn't it? You get going and it's really good for a while then when you stop, you can't get it back. XP Guess I just have to keep going, huh? XD Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Supernatural, I'm just a lowly writer that needs something to do.

Chapter Four

There was one time, when Nicole was only about six or seven, that she'd stayed with Sam and Dean Winchester while their father's were working a case. They were already in their teens and knew their way around the business enough to not want to be stuck babysitting. At least Dean was. He left her and Sam in the hotel room while he went out to scope out the local girls. Sam soon fell asleep and Nicole was left wide awake, worrying about her father who was facing monsters outside the hotel. She was too young to realize that they weren't in the line of fire; her father never left her in the same town he was hunting in, but it didn't stop her from thinking that outside the hotel door, there were bad guys trying to hurt people.

While Sam slept, she scared herself into thinking the bad guys were closing in, she just couldn't see them and there was no way to stop them.

That's how it felt keeping an eye out for danger while eating ice cream with Adam. Sure, the danger might not be right up in her face, but it was out there somewhere and would eventually find them. She felt like a sitting duck, waiting for the spooks to find her instead of her finding them. It was discerning.

But then, Adam sat down, handed her a cone with mint chocolate chip ice cream bulging from the top and gave her a smile that brought the sunshine.

"So," He said, licking the chocolate scoop of his own cone, "You play with a chemistry set, you play wicked defense, what else do I need to know?"

Nicole grinned, "That's not fair, you know more about me than I do about you. You should be the one talking."

Shrugging, Adam rattled off, "I'm a fair enough student, get good grades, do my homework, participate in extras so I can look good for college. My mom is a nurse at the clinic. She met my dad while he was in town on business, one thing led to another and here I am, free to listen to you."

"That's it?" Nicole snorted.

Adam nodded, "In a nutshell."

"Well then, in a nutshell," Nicole licked her ice cream, "You already know we move a lot. It's just me and my dad who loves to hunt," Which was true enough, "and is out of town a lot. So far it seems I'll get good grades, though I can't vouch for how well I'll get along with the other kids."

Adam laughed, "Hunting, out of town, alright, I can dig it. But why don't you think you'll get along?"

Just then, Carla and her squad ambled into the ice cream parlor. Several guys turned to look their way. Nicole glared, "Just a hunch."

Adam followed her gaze, "Carla? Yeah, she can be a little hard to swallow. Has she been giving you a hard time?"

"It's nothing," Nicole turned her attention back to Adam and smiled, hoping that she looked calm and not like she wanted to take out the head cheerleader as she ordered her ice cream. Just then, Nicole's cell phone rang. A quick glance told her it was her father. "Excuse me, I need to get this." She apologized to Adam and retreated outside.

"Dad, is everything ok?" Nicole forgot her father would be calling. When he was on a job, as he was now, he always called to check in.

"How's the weather out there?" His gruff voice responded.

Nicole rolled her eyes. It was their code, their way to insure that they were talking to the real thing. She responded as she always did, "It's hot in Topeka."

A sigh of relief met her ears, "This job is going to take longer than I thought; I'll be a few more days. How are things in high school?"

"Different," Nicole glanced into the ice cream shop where Adam sat, watching her through the window. He grinned, waved. She waved back as her gaze slid to the cheerleaders, who now sat at the counter, flirting with a group of guys. "But I've got in under control. It would help if I knew what to look for. Did John give you any information other than we had to keep an eye on Adam?"

"Sorry, Sweetie," Her father's voice was tired, "He didn't say what was coming. For all we know, nothing is coming, he just wanted the kid looked after. I've been asking around, seems like something big is going down but no one knows for sure what it is. John probably knows but Hell if I can get him on the phone. Just be on guard and I'll be home soon as I can."

"Dad," Nicole hurried before he could hang up, "What's John's connection to this kid? Why does he want him protected?"

"Didn't say," Was all her father said before hanging up.

As Nicole rejoined Adam, she made a mental note to do some snooping. Finding out Adam and John's connection just might shed some light on her protection detail.

…

Nicole made sure Adam was home safe and spook free for the night before retiring to her apartment. It was a small, single bedroom with scant hand-me-down furniture they got at Salvation Army. Nicole got the room for herself while her dad would sleep of the sofa when he was home. The kitchen was stocked with microwave dinners and hunter essentials: caffeine, tons of salt, the occasional bottle of dead man's blood and an assortment of herbs and spices that no hunter could be without. Hidden in the closet behind a fake wall were the other hunter essentials: guns of all sizes, machetes, rock salt rounds, silver rounds, flamethrowers. Less conspicuous items were stored where normal people would store them, like the fully stocked first aid kit under the sink.

Nicole dropped her bag beside the sofa and glanced around the room. She'd already salted the windows and drawn a Devil's Trap under the welcome mat. Unbeknownst to the kids at school, she kept a .45 in her bag with rock salt and holy water. If she didn't know any better, she'd think she was paranoid.

With a heavy sigh, she pulled out her laptop and fired up the internet. Her paranoia was going to keep her and Adam alive. The thought comforted her as she began researching a connection between Adam and John.