A/N: And it's finally here, another chapter...I hope you enjoy!
Katie stands in the elevator gripping the handle of the mail cart. She reaches up and straightens her over sized glasses.
"This is a big stinking pile of bull-" The elevator opened revealing Dean. Katie looked him over and barely recognized the man in front of her. His hair was slicked back and he wore a blue suit with a tie and he was carrying a brief case in one hand and a thermos in the other.
"Ma'am" Dean says giving Katie a nod as he got on the elevator. Katie wasn't sure of what to say, so she just gave him another nod. She kept her eyes forward watching as the numbers on the wall lit up. She could feel him staring at her, so she turned and gave him a smile. He just smiled back and turned to look forward. The elevator dinged and Dean got off, not before turning back to Katie. "Uh have a good day"
"You too Dean" Katie replied with a smile. The doors closed and the smile fell. Katie didn't know what was going on here. One moment she goes to sleep next to Dean in their hotel room and the next thing she knows she's waking up in the break room of this place. And now apparently Dean doesn't know who she is. "Where the hell is Sam?" Katie gets off the elevator and sees a bunch of people sitting at desks with headsets. She walks while simultaneously giving mail as she walks by. She has no idea how she knows where it goes but she does. She stops when she spots Sam. She stands there for a moment, not sure what to do. It's likely that like Dean, he will have no idea who she is. Just then Sam turns to stares right back at Katie. She awkwardly waves and so does Sam before turning back to his computer. Katie drops her head before grabbing the cart and continuing to walk about the floor.
Katie ended up in the mail room, after delivering her mail for the day. She sat there trying to figure out who had the kind of powers to send all of them to this alternate reality. The list was a little long. But an even bigger question Katie wanted answered was why she remembered, and not Sam or Dean.
"Hey" a voice said tearing Katie out of her thoughts. It was Brad her 18 year old boss. "It's getting kind of late, you should get home" Katie glanced at the clock and realized she'd been sitting for quite a while. "Do you need a ride or something?"
"No thanks" Katie replied standing to her feet.
"Well suit yourself" Brad said. "See you tomorrow" And with that Katie watched to man leave. Katie walked over to her own locker and grabbed her jacket and bag. She turned off the light and closed the door behind her before heading to the elevator. Katie pushed the elevator button and ran a hand over her face before hearing the ding of the elevator as it opened. When she opened her eyes she was bit shocked to see Dean standing there looking back at her. She just smiled and walked onto the elevator. The ride down was quiet.
"So are you new here?" Dean asked finally breaking the silence and Katie turned to him.
"Yeah, first day actually" Katie replied.
"So, how did it go?" Dean asked.
"It was… I'm still trying to figure that out" Katie said shaking her head.
"Well there are a few nut jobs in this place" Dean replied. "I mean I just off the elevator with some guy who insisted that he knew me"
"This guy?" Katie asked. "Wouldn't by chance be kind of freakishly tall, with shaggy hair"
"Yeah, why do you know him?" Dean asked as the elevator opened.
"Sort, you know I've walked passed him and all that. " Katie said before walking out of the elevator. Once outside the doors of the building Katie looked over at Dean once more. "Well see ya, I guess" Katie said. Where ever they were she didn't like it. Especially, them being separated like this.
"See ya" Dean said and Katie turned around and began walking. "Hey!" Katie quickly turned around at his voice.
"Yeah" She asked hoping he remembered.
"Uh, I didn't catch your name" Dean said with a lopsided smile.
"Oh" Katie replied. "It's Katie, Katie Win- Winters"
"It was nice to meet you Katie" Dean said holding out his hand. Katie looked down at his hand and then back up to him before grabbing it and shaking it. As soon as their hands touched there was a spark and they both quickly drew back their hands.
"What was that?" Dean asked looking at his hand.
"I have no idea" Katie replied looking at her hand and then back up at Dean.
"Well I guess I should get going" Dean said giving Katie a slight nod before turning and heading to his car. Katie turned and hurried to her bike, she had no idea how she knew exactly where it was parked but she just did. Katie stopped when she looked at her "bike".
"What the hell?" Katie said to herself. "I drive a Vespa?" She just shook her head before climbing on and driving off to catch up to Dean. She wanted to keep an eye on him, just in case this place wasn't as blandly normal as it seemed. She felt so uncool driving the motor scooter, but she knew her Dean would feel the same, about the Prius he was currently driving. Katie parked a good distance away as Dean got out of his car. She watched as he walked into a very nice looking apartment building.
Katie had spent an hour or so outside of Dean's apartment, but everything seemed fine. She couldn't even sense evil around. She was getting tired and hoped that maybe this is some terrible nightmare that she will wake up from. She started her "bike" and headed home, which just so happened to be a one bedroom apartment above a pizzeria.
The next morning Katie groaned at the smell of garlic, knowing that she was still in this awful dream. She got up and began getting dressed before heading off to work. Whatever was keeping them here must have a reason Katie thought as she rode her bike. Her only hope now might be Sam.
"He must be remembering" Katie thought. She pulled into her parking spot. She walked into the building. "Hey hold the ele-" Katie stopped when she caught a glimpse of the man who was on the elevator. I was the same bald man, she'd seen talking to Uriel. "You" Katie said. The man just smiled as the elevator doors closed. "Ok this can't be good" Katie pressed the elevator button furiously. "Ok I have to get to Sam, he seems to be remembering" The elevator doors opened and Katie got on, running right into Brad.
"There you are" Brad said holding the mail cart. "You're late"
" I know, I'm sorry" Katie replied.
"Here" Brad pushed the cart over to her. "Just don't let it happen again" The elevator doors opened and Katie watched as the man hurried out of the elevator. Katie just rolled her eyes at the man and pushed the button to Sam's floor. As soon as she was off the elevator, she pushed the cart to the side and went to search for Sam. She looked over to his desk, but didn't see him. She walked over to another one of the IT guys who seemed to be typing something.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for Sam" Katie said. "Do you know where I can find him"
"Coffee" The man said still focusing on him computer.
"He went to get coffee?" Katie asked.
"Yes" the man snapped. "Now would you leave I have to finish this"
"Hey" Katie touched the man's shoulder, and in that moment she could help but feel that something wasn't right. She quickly removed her hand. "I'm sorry to have bothered you" Katie walked toward the break room, but turned to glance back at the man, whose eyes never left his screen.
"So, Sam, had any of those dreams lately?" Katie heard from the break room. She walked over and stood by the door, so she could hear better. "What? Don't be like that. Come on. It's the highlight of my day."
"I never should have told you in the first place Ian" Sam replied.
"They're genius." Ian Said. " Don't hold out on me, dude. Share with the rest of the class."
"You're just gonna be a dick about it." Sam said.
"What?" with mock hurt feelings "No way. I won't say a word. Total respect. Go."
"I dreamt that I saved a Grim Reaper named Tessa from demons." Sam said and Katie's eyes went wide.
"He is remembering" Katie said to herself. She suddenly hears that Ian guys burst out laughing.
"Classic!" He says. "How much D&D did you play when you were a kid? Oh, my—okay, so you—rescuing the Grim Reaper. That's—you're a hero. I mean, thank God we got Harry Potter here to save us all from the apocalypse."
"Dick." Sam says.
"Totally" Katie says to herself.
"Wizard." Ian says before walking out of the break-room right into Katie. "My bad, wait you're the new mail girl right?"
"Uh, yeah" Katie replied. "I should get going"
"Wait, what's the rush" Ian said walking to stand in front of her.
"Ian don't" Sam said from behind Katie. She turned to look at him and he looked down at her. "Wait, it's you"
"You two know each other?" Ian asked.
"I hope so" Katie replied. "So do you know who I am Sammy"
"Hey!" a voice yelled and Katie turned to see Brad walking toward her pushing her cart. "Look what I found pushed in a corner"
"Look Brad-"
"It's Mr. Rodgers to you" Brad replied and Ian let out a bit of a laugh.
"Chill out B-Rad" Ian replied. " We were just introducing ourselves to the new girl"
"Well you can socialize on your own time" Brad said pushing the cart into Katie. If she hadn't of caught it, it would ran right into her. "Get back to work" Katie turned to Sam, and was about to speak when Brad interrupted her again. "Now!"
"I'm going" Katie snapped grabbing the cart and moving past the three guys.
"Look I know you guys" Brad said looking between Sam and Ian. "You think you're so much better than us, because you work up here, but stay away from Katie"
"Katie" Sam said. Why was that name so familiar? "That's her name?"
"You see, you don't even take the time to get her name" Brad said shaking his head.
"Maybe we would've if you did come running her off" Ian said.
"Whatever" Brad said before walking off.
"I swear that guy needs to get laid" Ian said and Sam didn't say anything. Ian over at Sam, who seemed to be in deep thought. " What's up?"
"Nothing" Sam said before walking back over to his cubicle.
Katie groaned the whole day. She really wanted to punch her pimply faced boss in the face, but she couldn't afford to lose her job, and separate herself from the guys. Something definitely was up here.
Once her route was done, Katie headed to the mailroom, when she knew everyone was gone, and waited until more people in the building cleared out as well. Something was here. She figured that much out, when she touched that one guy's shoulder. Once it calmed down a bit Katie decided she would go down to the cubicle barn to search the guy's desk and see if there was anything there that might help her.
Katie stood outside the elevator, waiting when suddenly the doors slid open revealing Sam and Dean. She was a bit taken aback, seeing as these supposedly didn't know each other. She stepped on to the elevator.
"Hey" She said. She looked between the two and she felt as if she walked in on something. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, good" Dean replied.
"Ok" Katie said turning to face the door. "So are you two related or something?" she asked.
"Who, us?" Dean asked pointing a finger between him and Sam. Katie looked back and nodded.
"Yeah, you guys sort of look like you could be brothers" Katie replied. Sam and Dean looked at each other and the word brother seemed to catch both of their attention. Suddenly the doors opened revealing the bald man from earlier.
"Mr. Adler" Dean says. "You're here late"
"Yes, well I have a meeting" Mr. Adler said looking down at Katie. "Ms. Winters" He held the elevator open with one hand, while extending his other arm out for her to come with him. Katie turned to Sam and Dean.
"You guys have a good night" Katie said and they both nodded. With that Katie stepped off the elevator. Katie walked and could hear the doors sliding close when she heard something slam and the ding of the elevators open again.
"Hey!" Dean called and Mr. Adler and Katie turned to him. He stared at Katie for a moment. For some reason he didn't want her to go with Mr. Adler. He didn't know why. Mr. Adler was a good man, who he's known for a long time. Then there was this woman, he met yesterday in the elevator. And for some reason, the last thing he wanted was for her to go with him. "Uh good night" Katie smiled back at him and nodded before turning back around to follow the man.
Once inside his office Katie turned toward him.
"So you're behind this!" Katie said. She took off the glasses and through them on his desk. "What is this?"
"This is insurance" the man said.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Katie asked.
"I need them to know that this isn't the life they want" he replied. " That hunting is in their blood and that there is no running from it"
"Who are you?" Katie asked.
"Oh, where are my manners" The man said before holding out his hand. "Zachariah, angel of the lord, or lack thereof at the moment"
"You're the one leading this angel tyranny" Katie said. "Killing angles for this war you see coming"
"Oh there is a war coming sweetie" Zachariah said. "I'm just making sure I'm on the winning team"
"What does Sam and Dean have to do with that?" Katie asked.
"You know for someone who's supposed to be so important, you sure not informed" Zachariah replied. "The three of you are going to be at the center of this war" He walked over to the window and looked out. "Now, I know Sam and Dean's part" he turned to Katie. "But yours is still a mystery"
"Well, have fun with that" Katie said. "Undo whatever you've done to us"
"Sorry, no can do" he replied.
"Why not?" Katie asked.
"Because I don't want to" Zachariah said with an annoying smile. "They need to realize that the lives they were given, were gifts, and when they finally realize that they can finally make a difference"
"That's a big pile of bull" Katie replied. "You're working an angle here, I don't know what it is, but I'll find out" Katie walked over and stood directly in front of the angel. "Just like, I'll find a way to break whatever you've done to us"
"I hope you do" Zach said and with those words, was gone.
"I'm really getting tired of these angels" Katie sighed to herself. She grabbed her glasses from the desk and walked out of the office. Katie was walking when suddenly she felt dizzy. She leaned against the wall, when suddenly the sight of the man from earlier typing flashed in her head. Katie ran to the elevator, furiously pushing the button for it to open. Once inside Katie prayed she wasn't too late. When the doors opened Katie ran out. The lights were off and the building was quiet. She ran to the man's desk, but he wasn't there. She sniffed the air noticing and odd smell. She turned to follow the smell that seemed to get stronger as she walked toward the break room. She clasp her hand over her nose and mouth, seeing the man with his head inside of the microwave.
The next day a crowd of people stand around the break-room as the police and EMTs survey the area. Katie recounts the story to the police officer for what seems like the millionth time.
"Thank you ma'am" the officer says. "We may contact you if we have any questions" Katie nodded before the office walked away. She looked into the crowd and spotted Sam, whose attention seemed to be away from the commotion. She followed his eyes and she saw Dean staring back at him.
"Damn" Katie said. "I get it now. He wants them to break the curse" Dean turned and looked at Katie and she just gave him a slight nod.
"Uh, hey" Katie turned to see Brad. "My Kowalski told me to give you the day off, just in case you were traumatized from this whole thing"
"That's not necessary" Katie said. "I'm fine actually"
"You sure?" he asked.
"Yeah, I just need to you know occupy my mind with work" Katie said. "Get my mind off this terrible tragedy"
"I understand" Brad says. "Work doesn't stop because people are dying, am I right?"
"Uh, yeah right" Katie said. " I'm going to go grab my cart and start delivering"
Later that day Katie was rolling her cart, absentmindedly while she tried to think of what could make a guy stick his head in the microwave. She was snapped out of her thoughts when that Ian guy from before runs right into her knocking her over along with her cart. She couldn't help but notice the feeling she got. It was the same she'd felt with Paul, the day before.
"No" Katie said.
"Hey" Dean said coming over to her. "Are you ok?" He reached out to take her hand and when she took it, there was that spark again, only this time neither one of them pulled away. Katie stood to her feet still holding Dean's hand. "I'm sorry" Dean said snatching his hand away and walking around to pick up the cart.
"Thanks" Katie said picking up the rest of the mail and tossing it on the cart. "So, what was that about?"
"I have no idea" Dean replied. "All I did was ask him to redo a form, and then he just went off on how he failed the company and went running out of my office"
"Extreme dedication" Katie said.
"Huh?" Dean asked.
"No, it's just yesterday Paul was working and he was totally into it, nothing could tear his attention from his work and today Ian threw a conniption over a few mistakes" Katie said.
"What are you saying?" Dean asked and Katie looked up at him, realizing this Dean had no idea, what she was getting at.
"Nothing" Katie replied when she got goose bumps.
"Hey you ok?" Dean asked.
"Uh, I gotta go" Katie said before running in the direction she seen Ian go.
"Hey!" Dean said running after her. She ended up outside the men's room, when someone caught her hand. "You can't go in there"
"Watch me" Katie replied before going in seeing Ian staring at himself in the mirror. Dean was right behind her and looked over at the man. They both turn as all the faucets began running by themselves. "Aw crap, Ian we need to get out of here now" Ian pulls a pencil out of his pocket and turns toward Katie and Dean before stabbing himself in the neck. "Ian!" Katie yells as blood spouts from his neck and he collapses to the floor. Katie runs and grabs his arm only falling to the floor as well.
Dean turns and sees an old man in the mirror before turning back to Katie and Ian. When he turns back to the mirror the man is gone.
"Dean!" Katie yells. "Go get help" Dean nods before running out of the bathroom.
Katie stands in front of the police officer, recounting her story, when she looks over at Dean who is talking to the coroner.
"Two deaths and both seem to have you as a commonality" the police officer said.
"Are you insinuating something detective?" Katie snapped.
"No, I'm just stating the obvious" the officer replied.
"Well how about keeping your statements to yourself, and do something more productive" Katie snapped. "Like your job, are we done here?"
"Yes, but Ms. Winters don't go too far" the detective said.
"Wouldn't dream of it" Katie replied before turning and walking away. She felt a hand grab her arm. She turned and was relieved to see that it was Dean.
"Everything alright?" Dean asked.
"Well as alright as one can be after seeing a man stab himself in the neck" Katie replied. "How about you?"
"I don't know, it's just I saw something in the mirror, but it couldn't be" Dean said.
"What did you see?" Katie asked.
"You're gonna think I'm crazy, but after what just happened and the crazy IT guy who keeps asking me if I believe in the damn things" Dean rambled.
"Dean" Katie interrupted. "What did you see?"
"I think I saw a ghost" Dean said and to his surprise, she wasn't surprised.
"Makes sense" Katie said more to herself.
"It does?" Dean asked and She looked up at him.
"Look I have to go" Katie said turning to walk away but Dean caught her arm again.
"No, come with me" Dean said and before she could say a word he was pulling her back to his office. Once inside Dean closes the door and points to the chair. "Sit"
"Look, -"
"Just sit please" Dean says and Katie nods and takes a seat. Dean walks over to his phone and dials a number. "Yeah, I need you to connect me to an IT tech named Sam" Katie watched. "I need to see you in my office. Now" Dean said before hanging up. Katie watches as he walks over to a closet and pulls out a clean shirt, and then she looks down at her own clothes which are still stained with blood. She sighs before pulling off the big glasses and sitting them on the desk. She rubs her eyes and looks up at Dean, who is staring back at her.
"What?" Katie asked.
"Have you always worn glasses?" Dean asked.
"Uh, no not really" Katie replies. "Why?"
"Nothing, you just look nice without them" Dean said.
"Thanks" Katie replied with a smile. Dean began unbuttoning his shirt but stopped and looked at Katie who was still looking at him. "Oh sorry" She replied turning her head away. A few moments later there was a knock on the door and in came Sam.
"Shut the door" Dean said and Sam did. Sam looked over at Katie and noticed the blood on her skirt.
"What happened?" Sam asked . Katie looked down at the blood stain and stood up.
"I should go home a change" Katie said. Right now she really wanted to find this ghost before it killed some one else.
"You're not going anywhere" Dean said and then he turned to Sam. "Neither are you until you tell who the hell are you?
"I'm not sure I know." Sam sighed and Katie looked between the two men. She could see their true selves were fighting to get out. She wish she could just tell them, but there's no way they would believe her.
"What the hell does that mean?" Dean asked.
"Sam Wesson. I started here three weeks ago." Sam replied. Katie snorted at the name Wesson, it was funny to her for some reason.
"All right." Dean said. " You cornered me in the elevator talking about ghosts. And now..."
"Now what?" Sam asked and there was a long pause.
"Now nothing." Dean said glancing over at Katie then back at Sam. " I, uh...so you started working here three weeks ago, huh?" Sam nods. "Yeah, me too" They both turn to Katie. "So, who are you?"
"I'm Katie" she replied.
"Ok, when did you start?" Dean asked.
"And how did you know my name that day by the break room?" Sam asked and Dean turned to him. "What?"
"It's just the first time I met her" Dean turned back to Katie. "She knew my name too"
"What do you want me to say here?" Katie asked.
"You tell us" Sam said. "Somethings going on here, and I get the feeling you know more than any of us do" Katie turned to Dean.
"What did you see in the bathroom?" Katie asked and Dean was silent. Sam turned to him. "Tell him what you saw."
"I don't know." Dean said. " I don't know what I saw."
"Wait." Sam said. " Are you saying that—did you see a ghost?"
"I was freaking out." Dean said shaking his head. "The guy penciled his damn neck."
"You did, didn't you? Okay, listen." Sam replied. "What if these suicides aren't suicides? I mean, what if they're something not natural?"
"So, what, ghosts are real? And they're responsible for all the dead bodies around here?" Dean asks. " Is that what you're telling me?" All three sit down. Katie watches the two hoping this could move along a little faster, because they seriously need to figure who this ghost is.
"I know it sounds crazy. But yes." Sam said. "That's what I'm telling you." Dean turned and looked at Katie.
"Why don't seem as shocked as the rest of us?" Dean asked.
"I- I am I just one of those conspiracy theorist who knew there was more to the world than just humans" Katie blurted out. She mentally kicked herself at how stupid that sounded. "Look it exists"
"Uh-huh." Dean nods " Based on what?"
"Instinct." Sam replies. Dean looks down shaking his head, still reluctant to believe and Katie watched. IT was harder for him to accept all of this then Sam. Maybe he really didn't want this life. He looks back up and glances between Sam and Katie.
"I've got the same instinct." Dean replied.
"Seriously?" Sam asks. " You know those dreams I was telling you about? I was dreaming about ghosts."
"Yeah." Dean says.
"And then it turns out that there's a real ghost." Sam replied and Dean shakes his head again.
"So you're telling me that your dreams are special visions and you're some kind of psychic?" Dean asked.
"No." Sam answered. " I mean, that would be nuts. I'm just saying something weird is definitely going on around here, right? So I've been digging around a little." Sam turned and pulled some papers out of his bag.
"Of course you have" Katie said to herself.
"I think I found a connection between the two guys." Sam says handing the paper to Dean. Katie rolled her eyes in annoyance. While these two were playing catch up, she could be finding out who this ghost was.
"You broke into their email accounts?" Dean asked looking over at Sam.
"I used some skills that I happen to have to satisfy my curiosity." Sam replied.
"Nice." Dean said with a nod.
"Right" Katie said. "Could I see those?" Dean handed the papers to Katie.
"Yeah. Okay." Sam says. " So it turns out Ian and Paul both got this same email telling them to report to HR, room fourteen forty-four."
"HR's on seven." Dean said.
"Exactly." Sam replied.
"Should we go check this out?" Dean asks.
"Like right now?" Sam asks.
"No like tomorrow" Katie says sarcastically standing to her feet. "The sooner we check this out, the sooner we can figure out what's going on here"
"No." Dean said shaking his head. " it's getting late."
"I am dying to check this out right now." Sam said standing up.
"Right?" Dean said standing as well.
"Ok" Katie said. "I'm just going to go change and then I'll meet you guys in a bit" Katie walked out of the office leaving the two of them.
"Why do I get the feeling that she's not telling us something?" Sam asked turning to Dean.
"I know what you mean" Dean replied. " But for some reason, I trust her"
"I know, me too" Sam replied.
Katie met the guys in the elevator, now wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt she stashed in her locker just in case. The elevator ride was quiet and Katie reached to fiddle with her ring. She wondered why the angel hadn't taken it away seeing as her and Dean weren't married in this reality.
"You're married?" Dean asked breaking Katie out of her thought. She looked over at him and then at her hand, before dropping her hand to her side.
"Well, that's a funny story" Katie said and the elevator dinged. "Oh here is our floor" Katie stepped off the elevator and Sam and Dean followed. They were walking down the corridor when they heard the sound of a man screaming. Without a second thought they all went running toward room 1444. When they reached the door, Katie grabbed the door knob but it was locked.
"Stand back" Sam says and Katie moves away from the door. He suddenly kicks the door open.
"Whoa." Dean says in a bit of shock.
"Guys" Katie says moving past them to check on the man. A shelf had fallen on him and they all begin to lift the shelf, when the ghost of the old man appears behind Dean. "Dean!" Katie yells before the ghost flings Dean into the wall. Katie runs toward the ghost but he throws her against the wall, hitting her head. Suddenly Dean gets up and swings a wrench at the ghost, causing him to disappear. Sam goes to lift the shelf off the man, while Dean goes to check on Katie. He kneels in front of her and notices blood dripping from her head.
"Hey" Dean says. "Katie" Katie eyes open and everything seems a bit hazy, but she focuses on Dean. She brings her hand to the side of his face and his eyes never leaves hers.
"Is he ok?" Katie asks. Dean glances over his shoulder at Sam and the man who is still on the floor. Sam gives him a nod that the man is alright.
"He's good" Dean replied. "How about you?"
"Never better" Katie said. "Help me up"
"We shouldn't move you" Dean said. "We should call an ambulance"
"No, no, no" Katie said shaking her head. "No hospitals, I seriously hate them with a passion" She began to stand, and Dean brought one of his hands to her waist, why the other supported her shoulder helping her stand up.
Sam lifts the man's limp body, and swings his arm around his neck.
"How'd you know how to do that?" Sam asked looking over at Dean.
"I have no idea." Dean replied.
"Dean" Katie said and Dean turned toward her.
"Yeah" Dean answered.
"You were right" Katie said. "I shouldn't be standing" Katie said before passing out. Dean quickly grabbed her before she could fall to the floor. He brought his arm under her legs and carried her bridal style.
Sam opened the door to Dean's apartment and move aside as Dean carried Katie in.
"Hey, can you get that switch on your right" Dean said. Sam flicked the lights on revealing a pretty expensive looking apartment. Dean walked over to his couch and gently laid her down.
"You sure we shouldn't have taken her to the hospital too?" Sam asked.
"She said no hospitals" Dean said taking off his jacket and tossing it aside. "It really doesn't look that bad, I'll go get a first aid kit" Dean ran into his bathroom, grabbed the kit and came back out. He kneels down in front of her and began cleaning the cut on her head. He glanced down at her ever so often. He stared to wonder why he couldn't stop staring at her. Once Dean finished cleaning Katie's wound he pulled a blanket over her and walked over to Sam.
Meanwhile in Katie's head
Katie stood in front of a big white family home. She noticed the tire swing that hung from the tree. She looked around for any sign of life.
"I know I'm the last person you want to see" Katie turned to see Urim now sitting on the porch.
"What am I doing here?" Katie asked walking over to the angel.
"We need to talk" Urim replied. "And this seems to be the only way we can talk, and I know you'll listen"
"Fine, I'm listening" Katie replied.
"You mustn't interfere with Sam and Dean's progress" Urim said. "They must come back to themselves on their own"
"So, you're backing your brother on this one?" Katie asked.
"No, it's just that when Zach doesn't get his way, he can be a bit of a brat" Urim said.
"Why isn't he dead, or his grace taken?" Katie asked.
"Zachariah is powerful" Urim replied. "And without our father taking his grace is next to impossible"
"Of course it is" Katie said. "Why does he want them to accept this life so badly"
"He doesn't want them to run from their destinies" Urim replied. "He wants them to there are things they will have to do, and they will have to do it"
"So why do I remember?" Katie asked. "I mean, I'm in the same boat as them, ready to just leave all of this crap behind"
"He didn't have to" Urim replied standing to her feet. "You want to believe that you could just walk away and leave all behind, but you can't"
"Why not?" Katie asked. "What's stopping me?"
"He's in there" Urim said placing a finger above Katie's heart. "He's that voice that tells you to keep going, to keep fighting, and as long as he's in there, you'll just walk away" Urim looked up at the sky and Katie followed her eyes. "I should go"
"But-" Before Katie could say another word Urim was gone.
"Ghost Facers" a voice say and Katie turns.
"Where did that just come from?" Katie asks herself.
"We know why you're watching." The voice said. "You've got a problem"
"A ghost problem" another voice said.
"Wait a minute, I know those voices" Katie says. "Ed and Harry?"
Katie suddenly sits up from the couch. She opens her eyes and grabs her throbbing head. She looks over and spot Sam and Dean watching something on the computer. They were so focused on what they were watching that they didn't notice her. And from the sound of it they were watching the duffus twins ghost hunting video. Katie blinked a couple of times before bringing her feet off the couch to the floor. She finally began looking around at where she was.
"This place is nice" Katie thought. She stood up and began looking over the pictures that hung on the wall. There were pictures of Dean, with random people. People he probably believed to be his family. The one thing that caught her eye was his smile. It was a smile she never seen before. Of course she'd seen him smile before but not like that. He looked so content and carefree. He looked as if he weren't carrying the weight of the world on his back. Katie accidentally knocked over a picture and Sam and Dean's eyes shot up to her. She turned to face them. "I'm sorry, I was just looking" Dean stood from his seat and walked over to her.
"Don't worry about it" Dean replied. "How's your head?"
"Hurts like hell" Katie replied. "But I'll live. So I thought I heard the annoying voice of Ed and Harry?"
"Yeah" Sam said. "You've heard of them"
"You can say that" Katie replied. "So you guys learn anything"
"Yeah" Dean and Sam said.
"Good" Katie replied. "Let's go get ourselves a ghost"
"Don't you want us tell you what we have to do?" Dean asked.
"No need" Katie replied. "I've seen the video before" Dean and Sam nod. "Ok we need to find out who this ghost is"
"Already done" Sam said. "P. T. Sandover. Died 1916. Devoted his life to his work. No wife, no kids."
"Guess where his favorite place was?" Dean asked.
"Room 1444" Katie answered.
"Yeah, the article said he believed he was the company and that his blood pumped through the building"
"Extreme dedication" Katie said.
"Exactly" Sam replied.
"So turn some employees into good little workers" Katie says.
"So devoted to the company that they would commit hara-kiri if they failed it." Dean added.
"Ok so now-"
"We have to finish the video" Dean says and him and Sam both return to watching the rest of the Ghost Facers video. Katie stood there annoyed as they watched to video.
"Guys!" She said finally getting annoyed. They really didn't have time for this. "Remember I've watched the video, so I know what we have to do" Dean closed the laptop and stood to his feet.
"Ok, so what do we do?" he asked.
"Ok, ghosts hate salt, and iron" Katie said. "They really hate when you put fresh rock salt in bullets and shoot them with it" Sam and Dean shared a look at the talk of guns. "Look, just go through this place and find all the salt and iron you can" Sam and Dean nodded and they all went on the search.
Dean placed everything they could use in douffle bag. Iron pokers, salt, and a bunch of other things they might need.
"So where do we get a gun from?" Dean asked looking over at Sam.
"Gun store?" Sam answered.
"Isn't there some kind of waiting period?" Dean replied.
"I think so." Sam said.
"How in the hell—"
"I don't know. Seems pretty impossible, honestly." Sam said.
"Maybe our mystery girl has a gun?" Dean said looking over to the kitchen where Katie was still searching.
"You think?" Sam asked.
"Well I wouldn't be surprised, would you?" Dean asked and Sam turned towards Katie.
"No, I don't think I would" Sam replied. Katie turned and walked back over to them.
"Forget the gun" Katie replied and both men were surprised that she heard their little conversation. "I could get us one, but that would take too much time" Katie looked around the in the bag. "This should be enough" Katie walked over and stood in front of the two of them. "Ok, something the two of you may not like, there something we're gonna have to do the get rid of this ghost for good"
"What do we have to do?" Dean asked.
"Dig up his body" Katie replied and both men shared a look before turning to her. "Oh but there is more, then we have to pour salt on them and set them on fire"
"That's really messed up" Dean said.
"It really is" Katie replied.
"But Sandover was cremated" Sam commented. "So what do we do then?"
"Well that just makes this all a lot harder" Katie replied before looking at her watch. "If there is no body, that means something else with his DNA is keeping him there" Katie said. "Maybe a piece of hair, or clothing, anything really that Sandover used could be keeping his spirit there, we just have to find it" Katie looked at her watch. "We should go do this, before people start coming into work" Katie said before walking past the boys out the door.
"Ok" Dean said grabbing the bag and looking over at Sam. "You ready for this Sammy?"
"Did you just call me Sammy?" Sam asked and Dean was also surprised.
"Yeah, I think I did" Dean replied. "I have no idea why"
"Yeah, don't" Sam said before leaving as well.
Sam, Dean and Katie walk onto the elevator. Sam and Dean shared a look, both unsure of what was going to happen, then they looked at Katie who seemed confident.
"Set your cell phone to walkie-talkie in case we get separated." Dean said and he and Sam take their cell phones. They look over at Katie who doesn't. "What?"
"I don't have a cell phone" Katie replied. "Because I'm a crazy hippy lady, who drives a Vespa, wears ugly clothes" Katie snatched the big glasses from her face. "And wears glasses that are extremely too big" She threw them on the floor and stepped on them. She turned to see Sam and Dean staring at her as if she were crazy. "Sorry, I don't have one"
"Ok" Dean said.
" How the hell are we gonna find some ancient speck of DNA in a skyscraper?" Sam asked.
"Well, that creepy storeroom used to be Sandover's office, right?" Dean said and they all nodded, so he pressed the button 14.
As soon as they walk through the door of the store room they begin searching. Katie walks to a far corner of the room and absentmindedly Dean follows behind her. Katie bends down behind some shelves and as Dean comes closer stops and stared at her butt. Katie stands up and turns and sees Dean behind her. She shines the light in his face.
"Were you just staring at my butt?" Katie asked.
"No, of course not" Dean said before turning and acting as if he was just searching the shelves.
"What the hell are you doing here?" they hear a voice say. Dean grabs Katie's arm and ducks out of sight.
"Nothing. I just—" Sam said trying to come up with a lie, but was failing.
"Come with me." The guard said grabbing Sam's arm and pulling him out of the room. He closed the door behind them and Katie and Dean stood up.
"What now?" Dean asked looking over at Katie.
"We continue searching" Katie replied. "Sam we be fine, he can take care of himself"
"How can you be so sure?" Dean asked. "What aren't you saying"
"A lot" Katie muttered. She looked over at Dean who was getting angry. "Look I'll tell you anything you want to know when we find this bastard and kill him, again"
Dean continued to stare at her, wishing he knew what it was she wasn't telling him. He knew they didn't have time.
"Fine, but I will hold you to that princess" Dean said and he was confused as to why he called her that. "I'm sorry, I have no idea why I called you that"
"Don't worry about it" Katie replied with a smile. She walked over to the other side of the room and began searching. There was a loud crash and they both froze. "Call Sam" Dean brought his phone to his mouth.
"Hey." Dean says. " You okay?" there was a long pause before Sam finally answered.
"Call you back" Sam replied.
Dean and Katie looked at each other before turning and going about their search. Dean went to the other side and began looking through drawers when he happened upon a picture of the Sandover bridge.
"I think I got it" Dean said and Katie came over and looked at the picture. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room.
"Dean" they heard from Dean's phone. It was Sam. "You there?"
"Yeah, listen, I think I got it." Dean answered "Meet us on twenty-two."
"Okay, yeah. Just take the stairs." Sam replied.
Dean and Katie shared a look of confusion before going toward the stairwell. Katie looked down at her hand which Dean was still holding then up at him and smiled. Dean turned and looked at her then down at his hand. "Oh" he released her hand. "I'm sorry"
"Why do you keep apologizing to me? Katie asked following behind him. She could tell he was fighting those feelings he was having and it kind of amused her.
"Because I'm being inappropriate" Dean replied. "Continuously, and we just met"
"It's fine" Katie said. "Sometimes, it's good to be a little inappropriate" Dean quirked an eyebrow at the woman. They finally reached the twenty second floor and Dean lead her to the wall cover with photos and other memorabilia.
"There it is" Dean said pointing to the gloves.
"Good job" Katie said slapping Dean on the arm. The heard footsteps and turned to see Sam walking toward them, covered in blood.
"Whoa." Dean said looking him over " That's a lot of blood."
"Yeah, I know." Sam replied with a shrug.
"Right. So, uh, in there." Dean said pointing to the gloves in the display case.
"P. T. Sandover's gloves." Sam said.
"Yeah, how much you wanna bet there's a little smidge of DNA in there?" Dean asked " You know, like a fingernail clipping or a hair or two? Something."
"So you ready?" Sam asked.
"I have no idea." Dean replied.
"Me neither." Sam said shaking his head.
"I am" Katie said and they both turned to her. "And so are you" Katie kneeled down and unzipped the bag and tossed them both a poker and tossed Sam the salt. She grabbed the wrench and stood to her feet.
"Go for it." Sam said gripping the poker.
"Right." Dean says before bringing the poker back to smash the glass. The air gets colder and every notices that their breaths become visible. Sandover's ghost appears behind Dean and flings him into the wall and does the same to Sam. Katie swings the wrench and the ghost dissipates.
"Oh. Nice." Dean says standing to his feet just as Sandover reaapears behind him.
"Dean!" Sam says tossing the poker to Dean who turns and swings it through Sandover, who once again disappears.
"Nice catch." Sam says.
"Right?" Dean says with a smile.
"Guys" Katie interrupts. "Focus" Suddenly Sandover appears between Sam and Dean who both swing their pokers through the ghost and he disappears. He appears in front of Katie and sends her flying into the wall. Dean goes over to her.
"You ok?" Dean asks and Katie looks up and gives him a nod.
"I'm good" she replies as Dean helps her to her feet. Sandover appears behind them, but Sam quickly throws some salt at him, and the ghost disappears again.
They run back toward the gloves, but the ghost reappears and a his hand sparks sending all three of them into the wall. Katie sits up and quickly reaches in her pocket for the lighter. She twitches her other hand toward the glass case and the entire thing shatters causing the gloves to fall to the floor.
"Sam!" Katie yells before tossing him the lighter. Sam catches it and quickly grabs the gloves as Sandover comes toward Katie. His hand starts to spark as he gets closer to her, but soon the ghost burns into nothingness. Katie looks over to see Sam drop the burning glove. She closes her eyes and leans her head against the wall. "Good work boys" She says and stands to her feet. She looks over at them, and notices the strange look they give her. "What?"
"How did you do that?" Sam asked. "You broke the case from all the way over them"
"Yeah" Dean said. "You flicked your hand at it and it just shattered"
"You guys, a lot has happened" Katie said shaking her head. "Maybe you're just confused"
"No we know what we saw" Dean snapped. "For once will you just tell us the truth" Katie looks between Sam and Dean. She wanted tell them, but she wasn't sure what Zachariah would do if she did.
"You guys are hurt" Katie said looking between the two. "We should get you cleaned up" She walked past them and they shared a look before following her.
They ended up back in Dean's office. He pulled a first aid kit out of his desk and walked back around to Katie and Sam.
"Man, I gotta tell you, I've never had so much fun in my life." Dean said.
"Me neither." Sam replied.
"Yes, that was something" Katie replied stretching her neck.
"Was a hell of a workout too, wasn't it?" Dean asked.
"We should keep doing this." Sam said and both Dean and Katie turned toward him.
"This was it" Katie thought. "This is what he wanted"
"I know." Dean says pulling out gauze pads and handing one to Sam and Katie.
"I mean it." Sam states. "There gotta be other ghosts out there. We could help a lot of people."
"Right, we'd be like the Ghostfacers." Dean comments.
"I hope not" Katie said placing the gauze on the cut on her forehead.
"No, really." Sam says. " I mean, for real."
"What? Like, quit our jobs and hit the road?" Dean asked. Katie shook her head. She never realized how drawn to this life they were. Hell she didn't realize how drawn to it she was. She was placed here just like they were, she could've chosen to ignore the strangeness and continued to go about her business. She could do that in her own reality as well, but she doesn't. None of them do.
"Exactly." Sam replied.
"How would we live?" Dean asked.
"Uh..." Sam says not sure.
"You gotta be kidding me. How would we get by?" Dean asks. " With stolen credit cards? Huh? Eating diner food drenched in saturated fats? Sharing a crap motel every night?"
"Well when you say it like that" Katie says. "Look those this are just details"
"Details are everything." Dean says. "You don't wanna go fighting ghosts without any health insurance." Katie laughs, because her Dean would never say anything like this. But her Dean was inside of this Dean, why was it so hard for him to just come back. "What's so funny?"
"You are" Katie replied standing to her feet. "I knew this guy, and he fought the good fight, and he didn't question why he should do it or how he would do it, he just did" Katie looked over at Sam. "Sam, those dreams you were having, what were they about"
"They were about ghosts and I was fighting them." Sam said and Dean looked over at him. "But it wasn't just me, it was all of us." Sam shook his head. "We were like these hunters" He turned to Dean. "We were friends, more like brothers" He turned to Katie. "And you were with us, fighting alongside of us" Sam looked between Katie and Dean. "I mean, what if that's who we really are? You saw us back there, working together. The ghost was scrambling brains. What if it scrambled ours?"
"That's insane." Dean said.
"Is it?" Sam asked. "Think about it for just one second. What if we think this is our life, but it's not?" Katie watched as they began figuring it out.
"The ghost is dead and we're still standing. I mean, I'm sorry, but— "
"The ghost isn't doing it" Katie blurted out. She wanted them to figure this out on their own, but she wanted to move this along. Both of them turned toward her. "I mean c'mon if ghosts are real, there could be lots of things out there that could mess with your heads"
"Look, all I know is this isn't who we're supposed to be." Sam said.
"No. I'm Dean Smith, okay?" Dean said " Director of Sales and Marketing. I went to Stanford. My father's name is Bob, my mother's name is Ellen, and my sister's name is Jo." Katie shook her head at his story Zachariah placed in Dean's head.
"Such an ass" Katie thought.
"When was the last time you talked to them?" Katie asked. " To any of them?"
"Okay, you're upset." Dean said. "You're upset, confused— "
"Yeah, 'cause I only moved here 'cause I just broke up with my fiancée, Madison." Sam replied. " But I called her number and I got a damn animal hospital."
"Okay. What are you saying?" Dean asked. "Are you trying to say that my family isn't real? Huh? That we've been injected with fake memories? Come on."
"Why are you fighting this so damn hard?" Katie asked. "Why are you holding on to all of this"
"Because this makes sense" Dean snapped. "This is normal, why would I want to leave this?"
"Because you're not happy" Katie replied taking a step toward him. "You wake up in your nice apartment and you drink your cleansing crap and you come here and you do a job that you absolutely hate. This-" Katie said gesturing to the office. "Isn't you, this tie and that suit, it's not you"
"C'mon Dean, deep down you know she's right" Sam replied. "This isn't you, I know you"
"Know me?" Dean says shaking his head. "You don't know me, neither one of you do, I think you two should leave" Sam looked over at Dean and then Katie before turning and leaving the office.
"If this is what you want, then I guess there's nothing I can say to change your mind" Katie said.
"There isn't" Dean replied and Katie turned toward the door, her back toward him.
"Goodbye Dean" Katie said as a tear streamed down her cheek. She walked out the door closing it behind her.
It took about a second after that door closed for Dean to run after her. He didn't know why, but he didn't want to say goodbye to her. He opened the door, but she wasn't on the other side. She was nowhere. He looked around the hall but she was gone.
The next morning Katie sat on a park bench alone, just watching a pair of squirrels fighting over a discarded piece of food.
"Shouldn't you be at work" Katie turned and cringed at the sight of the angel sitting next to her.
"I quit" Katie replied. "But you knew I would"
"Of course I knew you would" Zachariah replied. "Why do you think I let you keep your memories" he turned toward her. "Your destiny, whatever it is seems to be embedded deep in your soul, so no matter who messes with that head of yours, they'll never change who you are"
Katie turned to look up at him.
"That was sweet" Katie replied. "It was also crap" She stood to her feet and stood in front of him. "You tried poking around my head, didn't you?" A smile came to her face. "But you couldn't, you were blocked out" the angel didn't say anything. "And so Mr. I have a comeback for everything, goes mute"
"You're right" Zach said. "Your mind has some sort of force blocking it, probably extra precautions after the whole mind-breaker incident" the angel stood and towered over Katie. "But in the end none of that will matter, because this war is coming and you're not ready for what you have to do"
"I can get ready" Katie replied and the angel began laughing.
"Sure you will" Zach said. "You couldn't even convince your husband to leave his boring desk job to come with you and then you gave up and left"
"You think I gave up?" Katie asked. "You may want to hit the replay button on that scene Zachy" Katie looked up at him. "You placed a man, who's been beaten to death by this life he was forced to grow up in, into a life where he could be safe and happy and normal, how did you expect him to choose?"
"You want him to stay here?" the angel asked. "Behind that desk, when he's meant to be doing more"
"Don't you get it?" Katie asked. "I love him, more than anything in this world, and the only thing I want for him, the only thing I will ever want for him is to be happy and safe" Katie combed her fingers through her hair. "Whether it's with me fighting the evil bastards of the world, or its with him not with me sitting behind that desk, where he's safe more than he is happy"
"Well, it seems his happiness seems to be fighting those evil bastards with you" Zachariah said.
"What are you talking about?" Katie asked.
"Well, this morning Dean Smith gave Mr. Adler his two weeks' notice" the angel said. "He finally realized that he is a hunter, that's what he'll ever be, and that's when he got his memories back. Both of them did."
"That's not right" Katie said shaking her head. "Yes, he's a hunter, a damn good one, but this is not the life we will have forever, I can promise you that"
"You think you will really be able to just leave all of this behind, so the world can just fend for themselves against the evil they know nothing about?" Zach asked and Katie was silent. "See, I told you, embedded" and with that the angel was gone.
"Douchebag" Katie said before hearing someone yelling her name. She looked around but she didn't see anyone. That's when she realized the voice was in her head, and it belonged to Dean. In a blink of an eye Katie was standing in a motel room in front of Dean. "You rang?" Dean smiled before grabbing her and kissing her passionately.
"I'm sorry" Dean said. "I shouldn't have let you walk out of that door"
"Dean I was the crazy lady telling you to join me on the road so we can kill monsters" Katie said with a smile. "I understand the not stopping me from leaving"
"You know it was still hard for me to let you just leave" Dean said. "I had no memory of you or our lives together, but seeing you walk out of that door was still hard, hell I even went after you but you were gone"
"I'm here now" Katie said. "We all are" she looked around the room. "I think. Where's Sam?"
"He's on his way" Dean replied. "You know what I don't get, why did you leave?" Dean asked. "I mean you were the only one out of the three of us, who knew the truth, you knew I didn't belong there, so why did you just leave"
"Because you were given the choice Dean" Katie said. "This life, living with your life on the chopping block, watching people you love and care about die in an instant" Katie locked her eyes on his. "Or, the life that made sense, the life where you'd be safe, and could live a normal life, and you chose the one that didn't include me, and I understood completely, so I left" Dean leaned his forehead against Katie's.
"Princess, why do you think I quit that damn job?" Dean asked. "I was sitting behind that desk and I couldn't stop thinking about the weird mailroom girl, and the freakishly tall IT guy. My life will always include you, got it?"
"Got it" Katie replied as Dean wiped a stray tear from her eye with his thumb.
"Good" Dean said before leaning forward and kissing his wife.
A/N: Well there you go. ... summer vacation + me + my laptop = very happy readers. I get sucked in this story, and with much more free time, they'll be a lot more updates.