Epilogue

"What's the matter?" Sam asked Dean.

The elder Winchester had done nothing but brood silently for the last day or so. Sam had assumed that it was their father's hasty good-bye after he had known that his son's would be okay, but now he felt that it might be something else. Dean had paused over his half-packed bag and stared off into space.

"Well?" Sam asked.

"This isn't over," Dean muttered.

"Excuse me?"

"It's not over," Dean answered as he faced his younger brother. It just didn't feel right leaving this way. "I'm sorry, Sammy, but there's something I gotta do."

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"Jessica Hoffkins?"

The young woman turned in her chair. Her small asylum room had only seemed smaller over the past day or so. She had seen the world through Sam and Dean's eyes and now she wanted nothing more than freedom. But now with her mother and dead and her father missing, she had no hope of leaving. She found solace in one fact: her sister's soul was free, all thanks to Dean.

"Yes?" she asked the nurse who came into her room.

She had begun speaking more and more to the strangers around her, ever since the spirits had begun to slowly leave. They were still there, only since the gateway had been destroyed, they were no longer concentrated in one area and so left her at peace a good deal of the time.

The nurse smiled warmly at her. "Gather your things. You're free to go."

"W-What?" she stammered, rising from her chair.

"Your cousin. He came and signed you out."

"My cousin?"

Jessica followed the nurse, her heart racing. What obscure member of her family had decided to take an interest in her? It wasn't until she stepped outside, into the sunshine, that she understood.

Dean Winchester stood grinning next to his old car, Sam on the other side. Jessica smiled, then broke into a run.

"Dean!" she cried, flying into his arms.

"Oh, Jess!" he said with a laugh, catching her in a strong hug.

"Cousins, huh?" she asked with a knowing smile.

"It's the best he can do," Sam answered, coming up and also hugging the young woman. "Thank you. For everything."

"No, thank you," she answered, "You got me out."

"You saved our lives," Dean replied, "This was the least we could do."

"Where's your dad?" Jessica asked.

Sam frowned and Dean cleared his throat before answering.

"He had somewhere to be."

"Oh," she replied, sensing that the brothers did not want to talk about it, so she changed the subject. "Am I coming with you guys? On the road? Hunting?"

"Well, actually…" Dean began, "Our job's dangerous, and-"

"But I have nowhere else to go," Jessica interrupted softly.

"We have somewhere for you to stay," Sam answered, "A good friend who's agreed to let you stay with her. She can also help you with your abilities, train you to use them."

"So, you can come along as far as Kansas," Dean finished, "if that's alright with you."

"Will I ever see you again?" Jessica asked.

"Of course. We'll check in."

"So, who is this person?"

"Her name's Missouri," Sam answered, opening the car door for the girl, "What do you say?"

"Alright," she answered, "on one condition."

"What's that?" Sam asked.

"I get shotgun!"

Dean laughed as she leapt in the front seat before Sam could stop her. When his younger brother gave him a pleading look, Dean replied:

"Sorry, Sammy. She called it."

"Screw you," Sam answered with a laugh.

"Everybody wants to!"

So, maybe the future really can't be told. Or maybe it really is always in motion. I don't know. One thing's for damn sure, though. Endings are so much easier than beginnings.

End.