Devil's Trap

You three really screwed up this time. My eyes snapped up as I heard Meg's voice on the other line.

"Where is he?" Dean demanded, anger and fear lining his words.

You're never gonna see your father again. Dean slowly pulled the phone away from his ear and snapped it shut, looking at us and swallowing hard.

"Dean," I prompted gently, seeing his eyes grow unfocused as he stood rigidly by the wall where Sam had released him. At the sound of his name, Dean's eyes focused on me, and he strode towards us quickly.

"They've got Dad," He walked past us before turning back, a look of fear in his eyes.

"Meg?" Sam asked, even though he already knew the answer to that question.

"Of course it was Meg," I whispered as Dean remained silent. My heart was pounding while thoughts raced through my head in rapid succession. He could already be dead. They could be torturing him. He could be injured. Bleeding. Dying.

"What did she say?" Sam's voice grew urgent as he understood more clearly how screwed we were.

"I just told you, Sammy," Dean snapped gruffly, raising his eyes to give Sam a harsh look that wasn't really directed at him. "Okay," I could see Dean starting to freak out as he ran a hand over his face, and to be honest, I was starting to freak out. They had John. The man who is my father. The man who raised me. The man who taught us every trick we know. With a massive effort, I reigned in my emotions and collected my thoughts, focusing on the issue.

"Okay," I took a deep breath as I began speaking. "We just need to calm down and figure out our next move," Dean's eyes met mine for a second before they dropped to the colt that was lying on the end table. My heart dropped as he picked it up in one quick movement, looking down at it determinedly before shoving the barrel into the waist of his jeans.

"What are you doing, Dean?" Sam demanded as Dean passed us and grabbed the dark green duffel bag.

"We got to go," He spoke in a rushed, tense voice, throwing the bag over his shoulder. I snatched my duffel off the floor without hesitation before throwing Sammy his.

"Why?" Sam challenged, setting down the bag to put a rough hand on Dean's shoulder and stop him from moving towards the door. I paused next to him, facing Sam.

"The demon knows we're here," I replied for Dean, knowing where his head was at. "We can't stay. We've got the colt. It'll come," I explained in short, choppy sentences, my mind already three steps ahead of my body.

"Good. We've still got three bullets left," My eyes shot to Sam's face, and my hands froze from where they were fumbling with my jacket. He couldn't be serious. "Let it come,"

"Listen, tough guy, we're not ready. We don't know how many of them are out there. Now we're no good to anybody dead. We're leaving… now," Dean ordered him, leaving no room for arguments. Sam's eyes went to me, and I just simply raised my eyebrows at him before walking out the door after Dean. He started the car just as Sam was getting in, and we drove in silence until we were a good twenty miles from that hellish town.

"I'm telling you, guys, we could've taken him," By the tone of Sam's voice, he was still pissed we'd made him leave. I knew he was angry about Jess' death. But I doubted she'd have wanted him to sacrifice himself just for an opportunity to shoot the damn thing.

"Are you crazy?" I lost my temper. "Sammy, we need an actual plan, not just some half brained plan that results in one, if not all, of us dead!" A moment of stunned silence followed my words; I rarely lost my temper in front of both of them. I took another deep breath, leaning forward from the backseat to put a light hand on Sam's tense shoulder. "I get that you're angry, okay? I get it, but you have to calm down or you're going to get us all killed. Do you think you can do that?"

"Fine," I hadn't really expected him to reply, but the begrudgingly muttered word was at least a start.

"Look, John's most likely alive. We just have to figure out where he is," I went on, taking his 'fine' as an okay to go ahead.

"Right, they're gonna want to trade him for the gun," Dean followed my train of thought, and I glanced at Sam to see him shaking his head slightly. "What?" Dean's voice was edged with apprehension, clearly he saw Sam's defeated expression as well.

"If that were true, why didn't Meg mention a trade?" I clenched my teeth together in an effort to hide my pain and fear as the truth of Sam's words sunk in. "Dad, he might be -"

"Don't," Dean interrupted him, and I was glad for it. I felt as though if someone voiced the thought aloud, it would make it real. And I didn't want that reality. John couldn't be dead. He just couldn't.

"I don't want to believe it anymore than you, but if he is, all the more reason to kill this damn thing. We still have the colt," Apparently 'fine' doesn't mean what it used to.

"Sam-" I broke in, trying to get him to shut up. Those words were the last thing any of us needed right now.

"I'm sorry, Mel, but it's true! We can still finish the job," He insisted adamantly.

"Screw the job, Sam!" Dean snapped furiously.

"Guys, I'm just trying to do what he would want. He would want us to keep going," Sam's words made me flinch.

"Stop talking about him like he's already dead!" I grew angry at Sam's blatant disregard for anything save for his own vengeance. "We just need to focus on getting him back. Then we worry about killing the thing," A heavy silence followed my words until finally Sam spoke up.

"So how do we find him?" I let out a breath at his complacent tone.

"Maybe we go to Lincoln," Dean suggested. "Start at the warehouse where he was taken,"

"Come on, Dean. You really think these demons are gonna leave a trail?" I had to agree with Sam on that point; these suckers were many things but sloppy wasn't one of them.

"He's right," I glanced down at where my phone was jutting out of my bag.

"We need help," Dean voiced my opinion before glancing at Sam and then back at me. "Which one of you wants to call Bobby?" Sam took out his phone and started dialing while I leaned my back against the door, not bothering to listen to the call. I knew that Bobby would say yes. He'd always been there for us in the past, no reason to stop now. I stared off into the night sky, and I couldn't help but wonder how we could get lucky enough for all of this to work out okay.

I watched the eighteen-year-old walk along the sidewalk with his backpack slung over his shoulder lazily and two textbooks in his hand. I rolled down the passenger's window of the Impala and slowed the car as I approached where the kid was walking. The boy was too engrossed in his thoughts to even notice the black car that was following him. How would someone that oblivious ever be a hunter? I gave a small shake of my head at the thought before I decided to alert him to my presence.

"Hey, kid," Sam glanced at the car, stopping his walk to lean down and look through the window at me. "You need a ride?"

"My dad says I'm not supposed to talk to strangers," I chuckled lightly at his joke.

"I have candy," I stretched out the word candy in an appealing way, making him laugh before he opened the door and slid in next to me, slamming the door shut behind him. I reached for a bag from the backseat and tossed it to him. He caught it deftly and gave another laugh as he took in the bags contents with surprise.

"You actually do have candy?" I glanced at the bag of M&Ms and grinned. They were Sam's favorite, and I figured since I had time to kill and I needed gas I may as well pick up some.

"Hey, have I ever lied to you?" I questioned him rhetorically as I pulled back onto the road. He gave a derisive snort, and I shot him another brief glance.

"What about the time you accidentally burned the soup and then told me it was Dean?" Sam brought up the most recent cooking incident that had happened about a week ago.

"That wasn't a lie; that is called covering your ass. There's a difference," Sam laughed outright at my answer, and I couldn't help but join him.

"Speaking of Dean, where is he?" My laughter died in my throat, and I focused on hitting the directional and getting into the left lane. "Sorry, forget I asked," Sam mumbled quickly, probably seeing my expression.

"No, it's fine. I've been over it for awhile," I knew he could see right through me, but I had to try anyway.

"Are you?" I didn't look at him as he challenged my statement.

"Does it matter?" I retorted, turning onto Mulberry street. "He's at a bar picking up some blonde bimbo. Judging by how it looked when I left, he probably won't be back tonight," I tried to play it off as if it were nothing, and I succeeded for the most part. I'd had three and a half years of practice at hiding my feelings, by now I was almost a pro.

"Want some?" My eyes flicked to where Sam was offering me some M&Ms, and I smiled as I took some.

"So, how'd the game go? You win?" I asked him, knowing that he'd had his third basketball game today. Despite my wishes, I hadn't been able to go, for I'd actually gotten a job as a waitress at the diner down the street from the motel. I worked from four till nine, and Sam's game ended at nine fifteen.

"Yeah, sixty to forty-seven," He answered brightly, and I held up a hand without taking my eyes from the road. He high-fived me with a laugh as I reached into his bag and ate some more M&Ms. Those things were addictive. "I scored eleven times,"

"Of course you did. You're becoming a giant," I teased him, even though it did hold some truth to it. In the last two years alone he'd grew at least five inches. He was much taller than me now, and it was annoying when I wanted to intimidate him. "So, what's this," I nodded to the books that were in his hands as I pulled into the parking lot of the Days Inn.

"Nothing," He replied too quickly, covering the book with his bag. I put the car into park before making a grab for the books. Sam tried to snatch them back, but I was quicker. I grinned at him in victory before looking down at the cover of the book. Discovering Colleges. My blood ran cold in my veins as I read the title of the book before slowly raising my eyes to meet Sam's uncertain ones. "It was just… it was just something I was looking into. It's not like I'm accepted or anything," He stammered out as I tried to process it.

"Does John know?" He lowered his gaze at my words, giving me all the answer I needed. I'd thought as much. "Does Dean?" No answer. "Do you want to go to college?" That captured his attention, causing him to turn his brown eyes on me in surprise.

"I don't know. I don't want to be a hunter my whole life," His voice started to pick up speed as he grew more passionate about what he was saying. "Look around you, Mel. This life - it's not good, and it's not what I want. But…"

"But what?" I prompted him as he trailed off and helplessly shrugged.

"I don't know," He admitted. "What if I don't get in?" I looked down at the book and flipped it open to a dogeared page. Stanford. I flipped the book around to show him the page.

"Sam, you're smart. You'll get in," His eyes slightly widened at what I was implying, and I took a deep breath before actually saying it. "You should apply," I pointed to the page. "Stanford would be lucky to have you,"

"You think?" I nodded as he smiled slightly, taking the book before getting out of the car. "Thanks, Mel," I got out as well, slamming the door behind me and regarding him as he walked into our motel room. What had I done?

Dean drove the car under the familiar, decrepit 'Sing's Auto Salvage' sign that let us know we'd reached Bobby's, and he parked in front of the house. The house itself was a pitiful pile of wood, but it was the closest thing to home that I had besides the Impala. We walked up to the front door, and I knocked loudly, strangely excited to see the old man again, even if it was under such dire circumstances. The twenty-seven year old who answered the door, however, was definitely not Bobby.

"Max?" My voice betrayed my astonishment, and Maxwell Stith gave me a crooked smile from where he was leaning against the doorframe.

"Melody Fay Scott," I just stared at him, my mouth forming a perfect 'o' of shock, as he looked me up and down, the smile widening into a smirk. "You look good,"

"What the hell are you doing here?" Dean's words were almost a growl, and I knew that it wasn't just Max being here that was getting to him. Max was just the last thing any of us needed right now.

"Where's Bobby?" I felt Dean's arm slip around my waist as I spoke to Max, hoping he'd hear the urgency in my voice. He sighed, stepping aside and gesturing us inside.

"Hey, old man! They're here!" Bobby came into view, setting down a pile of books down on a table before turning a glare on Max.

"Who you callin' old man, idjit?" Max grinned affectionately, and under different circumstances, I would've smiled at the sudden wave of nostalgia that overtook me. As it was, though, I could only think of John's safety and getting him back. "Well, don't just stand there. Get busy," Bobby instructed impatiently, and Sam quickly sat down beside the books, getting to work while I took a few for me to read and spread them out on the table a few feet away. I could hear Bobby and Dean speaking in low voices as Bobby came back into the room, and I couldn't help their words drifting to me. "Here you go," Bobby spoke, handing Dean one of the two flasks he was holding.

"What is this - holy water?" Dean questioned as he studied the one in his hand.

"That one is. This one is whiskey," Bobby informed him, taking a long swig of the whisky flask that he held in his hand. I heard Dean take a gulp as well, and I frowned, trying to focus on the reading and not Dean and Bobby or the fact that Max had just sat down beside me.

"Why didn't you tell me he was going to be here," Dean's words caught my attention again.

"Would you have come if I had?" Dean didn't respond to Bobby's question. "Besides, he was working a case nearby, and I figured we could use the help,"

"Really? What case?" Skepticism lined Dean's words.

"Poltergeist," Max answered for Bobby, and I glanced sideways at him as he entered the conversation. "You two aren't being as quiet as you think. It was up near Brandon. I took care of it,"

"Yeah," I shot Dean a pointed look, and, with one last distrusting glance at Max, he turned his attention back to Bobby. "Bobby, thanks. Thanks for everything. To tell you the truth, I wasn't sure if we should come," His eyes flicked to Max and narrowed for a split second before focusing on Bobby again.

"Oh, nonsense. Your daddy needs help," Bobby waved off Dean's uncertainty.

"Well, you did chase him off with a shotgun the last time we were here," I pointed out, and Dean and I both grinned slightly at the memory of John storming out the front door.

"Yeah, well, what can I say? John just has that effect on people," I shrugged in acknowledgement of Bobby's words.

"Yeah, I guess he does," Dean conceded, and I let out another small grin.

"None of that matters now. All that matters is that you get him back," I smiled slightly at Bobby's words.

"Bobby, this book - I've never seen anything like it," Sam mused, looking up with an expression of awe splayed across his features. Well, I hoped his book was good because mine was giving me nothing, and by the frustrated look on Max's face, neither was his.

"Key of Solomon? It's the real deal, all right," Max and I walked over to where Sam was flipping the pages.

"And these protective circles - they really work?" I studied the page that Sam was pointing to, committing the symbol to memory, for I had a feeling it would come in handy later on. When I glanced up, I saw Dean standing a little ways off, his jaw set in a tight line.

"Hell yeah. I painted one up there right before you arrived. Traps them," Max was answering, and I straightened from where I was looking over Sam's shoulder, stepping away from the three boys and going over to Dean.

"Look, I didn't know he would be here," I lowered my voice as I spoke to Dean. "Just play nice until we make a plan," Dean scrutinized me for a moment before his face relaxed, and he sighed in defeat.

"Fine," He agreed, and we turned back to the three at the table. "Man knows his stuff," Dean commented as we walked back to them.

"I'll tell you something else, too. This is some serious crap you three stepped in," Bobby told us, and my stomach dropped at his words.

"Why do you say that?" I asked, even though I was fairly certain I already knew the answer. We weren't playing in the minor leagues anymore.

"Normal year, I hear, say, three demonic possessions, maybe four, tops. This year, I heard of twenty-seven so far. You get what I'm saying? More and more demons are walking among us - a lot more," I tried to process that and develop a theory, but it was nearly impossible.

"Do you know why?" Sam inquired, and Bobby turned to face him.

"No, but I know it's something big. The storm's coming - and you boys, your Daddy, and you," -Bobby nodded to me- "You are smack in the middle of it," Suddenly, there was a barking that was abruptly cut off, and I heard footsteps from outside, making me take a cautious step back as Bobby went to the window.

"Rumsfeld, what is it?" Bobby breathed, looking out at the junkyard. "Something's wrong," He declared at the same time I warned, "Someone's here," The door was kicked in with a loud crash, and there stood Meg.

"No more crap, okay?" She looked pissed, and Dean started forward purposefully, unscrewing the cap of the flask with holy water. Meg tossed her arm to the side, and Dean slammed into a pile of books before falling to the ground with a dull thud.

"Dean!" Instinctively, I made a move in his direction only to be caught by Max, who pushed me behind him and Sam.

"I want the colt, Sam - the real colt. Right now," Sam didn't answer as we backed away from Meg. "No? What about you, Mel?" She spoke my nickname mockingly, and I pushed Max's hand off my waist in annoyance as he tried to guide me away from her. I didn't need a protector.

"Why would we bring it here, knowing you're coming after us?" She raised an eyebrow at me as if to say she knew I was lying. I didn't let her arrogance faze me as I kept taking measured steps back. "We hid it,"

"Didn't I say 'no more crap'?" Meg pursued us. For every one step we took backwards, she took one forwards. "I swear - after everything I heard about your family, I've got to tell you, I'm a little underwhelmed. First Johnny tries to pawn off a fake gun, and then he leaves the real gun with you two chuckleheads and your bitch. I mean, did you really think I wouldn't find you?" My eyes slid past her and focused on the man who leaned against one of the beams, looking stormy.

"Actually, we were counting on it," Meg rolled her eyes and turned to face Dean expectantly. He raised his eyes to the ceiling, and she followed his gaze to see the pentagram Max had painted. "Gotcha," Max, Sam, and Dean tied her down to a chair while Bobby and I salted all the entrances to his house that a demon could potentially get through.

"You know, if you wanted to tie me up, all you had to do was ask," Meg's coy statement was the first thing I heard as I walked into the room and set my can of salt on the table.

"We salted the doors and windows," Bobby informed the three boys. "If there are any demons out there, they ain't getting in," Dean nodded before straightening and walking towards Meg slowly as I leaned on the table next to Max and Sam.

"Where's our father, Meg?" Dean articulated the question calmly to her, which worried me more than if he'd yelled it.

"You didn't ask very nice," She pouted, and Dean's jaw tightened.

"Where's our father, bitch?" I pushed myself off the table; if Dean was getting irritated this early in the interrogation, there's no telling what he would do later.

"Jeez. You kiss your mother with that mouth?" A sick smile overtook her lips. "Oh, I forgot. You don't," I balled my hands into fists at her jab, but I managed to keep my temper.

"Hey, you think this is a freaking game?!" Dean leaned his hands on the armrests of the wooden chair, looming over Meg threateningly. "Where is he? What did you do to him?"

"He died screaming. I killed him myself," Surprisingly, Meg's words comforted me a bit. She was lying. I could hear the lie in her voice as if it were an undertone. Dean backhanded her across the face, making her head snap to the side. I swallowed hard, not sure if I should intervene. "That's kind of a turn on - you hitting a girl," Her dark eyes flicked past Dean to land on me with a cruel, sadistic glow about them. "What do you think, Mel?" Dean grabbed her by the throat, pressing her back into the chair and leaning closer to her.

"Don't talk to her," Dean spoke in a low, intimidating voice.

"Dean," I put a light hand on his shoulder, and he turned, walking away from Meg while I glared at her before following Dean. Bobby, Sam, Max, and I stood next to him as we talked in low voices.

"She's lying. He's not dead," Dean insisted instantly.

"He's right. She is lying," I backed Dean, who threw me a grateful glance.

"Dean, you've got to be careful with her. Don't hurt her," I glanced at Bobby in shock at his defense of the demon.

"Why?" Dean questioned confusedly.

"Because she really is a girl. That's why," Bobby explained ambiguously.

"What are you talking about?" Sam asked the question all of us wanted to know.

"She's possessed. That's a human possessed by a demon. Can't you tell?" Bobby asked us like we were the crazy ones here. I glanced at Sam, Dean, and Max, taking in their equally confused and surprised faces.

"So there is an innocent woman in there somewhere?" Max reiterated, pointing at Meg, who was grinning evilly at us. Bobby nodded his confirmation, and I looked back at Meg. Poor girl.

"That's actually good news," I turned my eyes on Dean and furrowed my eyebrows. "Get Dad's journal," Sam obeyed without question, and it only took me half a moment to realize what he wanted to do. Exorcise it. A minute later, Sam was standing with the book open in his hands while Bobby, Max and I watched Dean pace in front of Meg.

"Are you gonna read me a story?" She questioned, fluttering her eyelashes, and I suppressed the urge to punch her in the nose. First, she plays Sam. Then, she kidnaps John. Not to mention the friggin' shadow monsters that she set on us.

"Something like that," Dean answered calmly. "Hit it, Sam," Sam began reading from the book, and Meg just grinned, turning back to Dean before glancing at Max and then me.

"An exorcism? Are you serious?" She mocked the idea, but I heard the undertone of fear in her voice.

"Oh, we're going for it, baby, head spinning, projectile vomiting, the whole nine yards," Meg let out a painful groan, and Sam paused his exorcism.

"I'm gonna kill you," She threatened emptily. "I'm gonna rip the bones from your body," She turned to face Dean and then me and then Max.

"You'll have to crawl out of hell first," I responded, flashing her a smile that seemed to infuriate her more.

"Unless you tell us where our dad is," Dean added, and I glanced at him, trying to mask my uncertainty. No matter what, I couldn't leave this girl to rot in her own body. Meg was silent.

"Well, at least you'll get some color. You're looking a little pale," My mouth twitched at Max's jab, and Meg glared at him. Sam kept reading the latin, and Meg started shuddering uncontrollably before finally letting out a yell of pain.

"He begged for his life with tears in his eyes. He begged to see his boys one last time. He begged to see her too," She jerked her head at me while barring her teeth at Dean. "And you know what I did? I slit his throat," Dean turned his eyes on me, and mine flicked to Sam, nodding for him to continue. She was still lying. Sam kept reading, and Dean crouched down to be eye-level with Meg.

"For your sake, I hope you're lying. 'Cause if it's true, I swear to god, I will march into hell myself, and I will slaughter each and every one of you evil sons of bitches, so help me god," The pages started to blow over in the book that was lying on the table, and Sam paused briefly before continuing. Meg let out another cry, and Sam stopped.

"Just tell us where he is," I told her, knowing that even then we wouldn't let the demon go.

"You just won't take dead for an answer, will you?" She quipped, and I saw Dean's face tighten with suppressed rage.

"Where is he?" He yelled, leaning down to her.

"Dead!" She shouted back the same answer she'd been giving.

"No he's not! He's not dead! He can't be!" I swallowed hard at his words, but I knew I couldn't intervene. I felt Max stiffen beside me and swear softly, but I ignored him. Dean looked up, his eyes finding Sam, who looked unsure. "What are you looking at? Keep reading," Sam's eyes flicked to me, and I bit my lip for a moment before nodding.

"Do it," He went back to his book, and I knew he was worried about Dean. Dean had never really lost it while Sam was around, so Sam had never seen him like this. Meg's chair began sliding across the floor, jerking this way and that, and I took an involuntary step backwards.

"He will be!" She screamed, and I straightened as Dean held out a hand for Sam to stop.

"Wait! What?" He questioned, and Meg regarded him with hatred.

"He's not dead, but he will be after what we do to him," She revealed, giving a choked laugh.

"How do we know you're not lying?" Max stepped forward and asked her, a grim look on his face.

"Her," Meg looked directly at me. "She knows,"

"Knows what?" I faked innocence. "Sam," I prompted, and she tensed.

"A building!" She cried. "Okay? A building in Jefferson City,"

"Jefferson City, Missouri?" She glared harshly at me but nodded reluctantly. "What's the address?" I demanded, done with her bullshit. We needed an address if we were going to find John.

"I don't know," If I hadn't known better, I'd have said she sounded scared.

"And the demon - the one we're looking for - where is it?" Sam questioned, and she shook her head.

"I don't know. I swear," I glanced at Sam, not wanting to believe her. "That's everything. That's all I know,"

"Finish it," My eyes snapped to Dean as he spoke lowly to Sam, who looked at him in surprise before looking back at the book.

"What? I told you the truth," She protested.

"I don't care," Dean told her.

"You son of a bitch. You promised," Dean paced around her in a circle as she argued, furious at him for tricking her.

"I lied!" He yelled, getting in her face. "Sam?" Sam's eyes flicked to mine hesitatingly, and I wished there was some comfort I could give him. "Sam!" Dean walked away from Meg, giving his brother an expectant look. "Read," I bit my lip and looked away.

"We can still use her," Sam caught Dean's shoulder, and my eyes were drawn to Meg's angry form, gripping the armrests tightly. "Find out where the demon is,"

"She doesn't know," Dean argued, glancing at Meg and then me. In two steps I'd crossed to the boys, hearing Max following behind me. "Sam, there's an innocent girl trapped somewhere in there. We've got to help her,"

"No, if you exorcise it, you're going to kill her," Max broke in, and I turned my eyes on him in surprise.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, and he opened his mouth to reply but Bobby interrupted.

"He's right. You said she fell from a building. That girl's body is broken. The only thing keeping her alive is that demon inside. You exorcise it the girl is gonna die," Bobby explained, and I felt heart tighten. I knew what we had to do; we didn't have any choice.

"Listen to me, all of you. We are not gonna leave her like that," Dean hissed, growing irritated.

"She's human," Max argued, his voice rising a little. "We can't just kill her,"

"We're not killing her. We're putting her out of her misery," Dean glared stormily at Max, daring him to speak again.

"Sam, go ahead," I interrupted just as Max opened his mouth, leaning closer to Dean with a furious look in his eyes. Sam's eyes snapped to me, and I nodded surely. "Do it," Sam started reading again, and Meg convulsed once, groaning all the while. Meg began whipping her head back and forth, and she looked up at us with eyes that were solid black, making me shrink back a step. Sam read the last words, and Meg's head jerked back, black smoke shooting out of her mouth and nose and hitting the pentagram. Finally, the black smoke disappeared and her head hung down, a trail of bloody saliva falling from her mouth. I rushed to her side, kneeling down and beginning to untie the bonds.

"Mel, don't. We don't know if she's really gone," As if on cue, Meg let out a soft wheeze, slowly and painfully lifting her head.

"Someone call 911," I ordered, undoing one arm and working on the other. Meg turned her head shakily to look at me with dark eyes full of pain and torture now. "Hey, you're going to be okay. Hang on,"

"Get some water and blankets," Dean was beside me then, untying her feet.

"Thank you," She mumbled hoarsely.

"Shh, shh, just take it easy, all right?" Sam told her as I slid the ropes off of her wrists.

"Put her over here," Max had cleared an area in the far corner of the room, and I stepped back as Dean and Sam picked her up. The murmured comforting words to her, and I flinched at the sounds of bones crunching as they moved her to the floor.

"A year," She whispered softly, her eyes locking on mine as she spoke, and I frowned uncomprehendingly.

"What was a year?" I asked, and her eyes rolled a bit before focusing again.

"It's been a year," Horror rose like bile in my throat.

"Just sit back, all right? The ambulance should be here soon," Max knelt beside her as well, and she regarded him.

"I've been awake for some of it," She gasped for air brokenly, and I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing beyond a doubt that she was going to die. "I couldn't move my own body," My eyes found Dean's sad ones before I forced myself to look back at Meg. "The things I did - it's a nightmare,"

"Was it telling us the truth about our dad?" My eyes snapped to Dean, angry at his callousness. The girl was freaking dying.

"Bloody hell," Max muttered, disbelief lining his words. "Dean," He snapped the word angrily.

"We need to know," Dean ignored his indignation and focused on Meg instead.

"Yes," My attention was grabbed by that syllable. "But it wants… you to know that. They want you to come for him," They set up a trap, and we couldn't not try to rescue John.

"If dad's still alive, none of that matters," Dean sounded more as though he was trying to convince himself than us or her. Bobby came back with the blankets and water. Max propped Meg's head up while I gave her some water that she could barely drink.

"Where is the demon hiding?" I questioned, hating the fact that she was hurting but knowing we needed the answer.

"Not there," She shook her head, groaning. "Other ones. Awful ones,"

"Where are they keeping our dad?" Dean asked as she gasped and gagged.

"By the r-river," She coughed softly; she was dying. "S-sunrise,"

"'Sunrise'? What does that mean?" He looked at her vacant face as if expecting an answer. "What does that mean?" He demanded again harshly. The room was silent as I closed her eyes and drew the blankets over her head. All five of us stood, and Bobby began walking to the door with Sam and Dean while I grabbed Max's arm to stop him from following.

"You have to stay here," I told him, and he turned his dark eyes on me in shock.

"Look, if that demon's really after you, you need all the help you can get," He reasoned, and I shook my head.

"You are going to stay here and protect Bobby. He's good, but we both know he wouldn't stand a chance in a fight," I insisted, and Max scrutinized me for a moment before his expression cleared with understanding.

"Dean won't let me into his car, will he?" I bit my lip to hide the smile.

"Probably not," I agreed reluctantly before turning serious. "I need you to do something for me,"

"Anything, love," I rolled my eyes at his tone and wink.

"Go to a random pay phone, any one, it doesn't matter, and call this number," I bent down, hurriedly scrawling ten digits on a piece of paper and handing it to him. "A woman will answer. Tell her to go out of town for the weekend," He frowned, looking down at the number and then back at me. "Please, Max. I need your help,"

"Fine," He relented, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"And be careful," I gazed at him earnestly. "Don't do anything unusually stupid,"

"No promises," He winked, and I rolled my eyes again, turning to go back to Dean. "You too," I faced Max again as he spoke up. "Don't go getting yourself killed," My mouth twitched into a small smile, and I stepped forward to embrace him. "Dean, on the other hand," I smacked him on the shoulder as I stepped out of the hug.

"Mel," I glanced back to see Dean and Sam standing by the door, and I turned back to Max.

"Call it. Warn her," I walked back over to Sam and Dean, pausing only to hug Bobby. "Take care,"

"Keep an eye on him, would you?" Bobby jerked his chin at Dean, and I smiled softly.

"Always do," I joined Dean at the door, and he slipped a loose arm around my waist as we walked to the Impala. Sam took the back this time, and I was left in the passenger's seat as Dean drove away from the house.

"I didn't get accepted," Sam spoke with an odd layer of hesitance in his voice. None the less, my heart dropped at his words, and I felt the frown tugging at my face.

"Their loss, then," We were in town hunting a ghoul, and we had it narrowed down to a few people. Dean and John were checking them out now, and they said they'd call us when they found something. I glanced towards the door warily, debating the idea that had just sprung into my head. "Here," Sam's eyes widened as I set down the bottle of vodka on the nightstand.

"Why do you have a bottle of vodka?" He questioned incredulously, and I laughed lightly.

"The woman down the street is having a party tomorrow night. She asked me to pick some up," I explained, shrugging. "I can always buy another, and besides, you look like you need it," Sam glanced towards the door before a grin spread across his lips. He was a rebellious teenager, more than Dean had been. Truth be told, Sam worried me more than a little. He was outspoken towards John, which was not a good way to be, and he challenged him whenever he got the chance.

"Let's do it," He grabbed two glasses and set them down while I poured a bit into each. "That is way more than a shot," He laughed, and I shrugged, grinning.

"I'm your best friend. It's my duty to get you drunk after you hear bad news," I informed him, picking up my glass as he picked up his. We clinked glasses before downing the shot, which was really two shots. Sam's face pulled into a sour expression, and I coughed but enjoyed the warm feeling that bloomed in my throat and chest. "Chaser?"

"Yep," Sam coughed, and I got him a coke from the fridge, tossing it to him. He drank it greedily, which made me laugh. We took a couple more shots until we were laughing at almost everything we saw. Sam stood unsteadily, stumbling over to the TV and trying to find the on button while I laughed at how confused he was. I could hold my liquor better than Sam, which was hilarious for he was taller, more muscular, and weighed more than me. He finally got it on, and the glowing screen showed Dr. Sexy walking into the OR.

"Leave it," I pulled him away from the screen, and he stumbled back and onto the bed. Suddenly, I got an idea, and I made my way over to the table where his laptop was resting.

"What're you doin'?" I frowned at how worried Sam sounded.

"I want to see the email," I opened the computer and typed in Sam's password.

"No," I clicked on the one from Stanford, ignoring Sam's protests; he was probably embarrassed. All of a sudden, I was half sober, my eyes scanning the email, not knowing what to say.

"You got in," I muttered numbly, and Sam sat heavily on the bed, looking down at his hands.

"Yeah," He agreed softly.

"Why'd you lie?" I prompted, wanting to know how he could even think about keeping that from me.

"Cause I'm not going," I frowned at him. "I don't want to leave you alone with Dean and Dad," He explained before I could ask him why. Sam had been my best friend the past three and a half years. Dean had been there too, and we'd gotten closer but not like we were before. I could tell Dean anything, but Sam was the person I confided in. It was too painful to be close to Dean like I used to be. It was too hard.

"I'm fine, Sam. Besides, it's not like we can't email," I reminded him, giving a small smile.

"I want to go," He confessed reluctantly. "I just don't know,"

"Everyone has to be selfish at one point or another. You have to do something for you, Sam," I advised even though the words hurt me more than I could say.

"Alright," Sam raised his head determinedly. "I'll go,"

Dean slowing down snapped me out of my memories, and I focused on the abandoned patch of dirt we were pulling onto. We needed to stop and make a plan before continuing. I got out of the car, going around to the trunk and checking the guns with Dean as Sam flipped through a book that he set on the roof.

"You two've been quiet," I glanced at Dean but didn't speak, knowing he would.

"Just getting ready," He replied gruffly without looking up from the gun he was loading. I regarded him for a moment, my hands pausing in their work.

"He's going to be alright," I told him, and Dean's eyes flicked to me. I could see the fear, anger, and apprehension all mixed into his green depths before he looked back at the gun.

"I know," He murmured softly as though trying to convince himself. "Dude, what are you drawing on my car?" I looked up to see Sam was drawing a symbol in white chalk on the trunk of the Impala.

"Is that a devil's trap?" I questioned, looking across the car at the symbol he was writing.

"Yeah. Demons can't get through it or inside it," Sam explained, not even glancing at us.

"So?" Dean asked, still pissed that Sam was drawing on his car.

"So the trunk becomes demon proof," I caught on, and Sam nodded as he went around to my side of the Impala.

"So?" Dean asked again angrily.

"So we have a place to hide the cold while we go get dad," I turned my eyes on Dean, trepidation building in my stomach. I knew he wouldn't like that, and, judging by the look on his face, I was right.

"What are you talking about? We're bringing the colt with us," Dean's voice held an edge of anger to it.

"We can't, Dean. We've only got three bullets left. We can't just use them on any demon. We've got to use them on the demon," Sam reasoned logically, glancing at his brother.

"No, we have to save Dad, Sam, okay? We're gonna need all the help we can get," Dean argued, coming around to our side of the car.

"He's right," I agreed with Dean. "Just because we're bringing it, doesn't mean we'll use it. It's just precaution," Sam seemed to consider my words for a moment before shaking his head.

"You know how pissed Dad would be if we used all the bullets? Guys, he wouldn't want us to bring the gun," Sam told us calmly.

"I don't care, Sam! I don't care what Dad wants, okay? Since when do you care what he wants?" Dean's voice rose to a yell.

"We want to kill this demon. You two used to want that too. Hell, you're the ones that came and got me at school!" Sam's eyes stopped flicking between Dean and I and just focused on Dean. "You're the one who dragged me back into this. I'm just trying to finish it,"

"Stop it," I snapped, having had enough of this pointless argument.

"You and Dad are a lot more alike than I thought, you know that," Dean went on, ignoring me. "You both can't wait to sacrifice yourself for this thing, but you know what? I'm going to be the one to bury you," I was now standing in the middle of the two with a hand on each of their chests, making sure they didn't jump at each other.

"Dean, that's enough," He tore his eyes from Sam to gaze at me for a moment before turning back to the car. "We're bringing the gun," I told Sam, and he opened his mouth to argue but I went on. "Stop being so selfish and try caring about something other than revenge,"

"I do care about something other than revenge," I raised my eyebrows at him in disbelief as Dean scoffed. "I want Dad back, but they are expecting us to bring this gun. They get the gun, they will kill us all. That colt is our only leverage and you both know it. We cannot bring that gun. We can't,"

"Fine," Dean conceded, and I turned back to him in surprise. We needed the gun. It was the only way we had a chance of getting out of there alive.

"I'm serious, Dean," Sam tried, and Dean turned a glare on him.

"I said 'fine', Sam," Dean glanced at me with a look I knew all to well.

"Mel?" Sam prompted, his eyes turning to me, and I sighed in resignation.

"Fine," Dean threw the colt into the trunk, and Sam passed us, heading up the road. When the three of us headed away from the locked car, the colt was no longer in the trunk. Dean had a backpack slung over his shoulder and one arm around my waist while Sam walked next to me as we headed up the stairs. A sign caught my eye, and I put a hand on Sam's shoulder, stopping him as I did.

"Look," I pointed to the sign that read 'Sunrise Apartments'. "Sunrise. That must've been what Meg meant," Cautiously, we walked closer to the building to see some kids playing outside.

"Son of a bitch. That's pretty smart. I mean, if these demons can possess people, they can possess almost anybody inside," I nodded in agreement with Dean's assessment. This wouldn't be easy.

"Yeah, and make anybody attack us," Sam added.

"We can't kill them in a building full of humans," I pointed out, knowing that we were all on the same page here. "They probably know our faces, too," I realized how hard this would be. If they knew our faces we needed something to put over us. A costume or something that would fit in where they couldn't see us.

"This sucks out loud," Dean complained, glancing away from the scene.

'Yeah, tell me about it," Sam agreed. "All right, so how the hell are we gonna get in?"

"I have a plan," I announced, studying the building as both boys looked at me. "We pull the fire alarm," I grinned as my plan fell into place. "We can get out all the regular, non-possessed people,"

"Okay, but then the city responds in seven minutes," Sam figured, and I nodded in agreement.

"Seven minutes, exactly," Dean responded, catching on. Four minutes later, the fire alarm was going off in the building, and seven minutes after that the fire department was trying to get things under control. Dean walked up to the one that was by the cars and began talking in a scared ramble, allowing the firefighter to push him backwards lightly.

"Hurry up," Sam whispered to me as I knelt by the lock, picking it deftly. It popped open and I grabbed three uniforms before Sam and I made it out of there. Dean, Sam, and I slipped the uniforms on quickly over our clothes before we walked into the building. Thankfully, no one stopped us. Dean scanned the door to apartment thirty-one and then thirty-two while I tried to hear any voices in the hallway.

"I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up," I smiled slightly, remembering when Dean had confessed that to me back when we were in high school.

"You never told me that," Sam's voice betrayed his surprise. That's when I heard the muffle groan coming from down the hall. I hit Dean's chest lightly before hurrying down the hall, skipping the other doors before I arrived at thirty-seven.

"This one," Dean banged on the door urgently. No one answered. He banged again, and I heard soft footsteps from inside.

"This is the fire department. We need you to evacuate," I heard the clicking of locks, and Dean kicked the door open just as the woman was opening it, sending her stumbling back with a cry. There were two demons, and Sam and Dean hosed them down with holy water while I headed straight for the other rooms, opening all the doors in an attempt to find John. I glanced back to see Sam putting a line of salt around the door that Dean was holding shut. I ripped off my helmet, setting it on the table before opening the last door. John.

"Guys, I found him," I rushed into the room, yanking off the cumbersome firefighter jacket and kneeling beside John while I took out my knife and flipped it open. "He's still breathing,"

"Dad," Dean breathed, going over to John and shaking him. "Dad, wake up! Dad,"

"Wait," Sam held out a hand, and I paused, realizing what Sam was getting at. We had to check him.

"What?" Dean questioned incredulously.

"He could be possessed for all we know," Sam pointed out.

"What, are you nuts?" Dean scoffed, shaking off Sam's concern.

"He's got a point, Dean," I walked over to the duffel and grabbed the flask of holy water, unscrewing it hurriedly. "It doesn't hurt to check," Dean nodded, and I poured the water over John, letting out a relieved breath when nothing happened. John's head rose, and he squinted at me groggily, frowning in confusion.

"Mel?" His head rested back on the pillow as he let out a groan. "Why are you splashing water on me?" I let out a relieved half laugh as I felt my throat closing. I'd been so damn scared. I met Dean's eyes and smiled again, breathing shakily.

"Dad, are you okay?" Dean asked as he cut the ropes.

"They've been drugging me," He told us before raising his head to look at Sam. "Where's the colt?"

"Don't worry, Dad. It's safe," Sam assured him, and I didn't argue. Instead, I went around to cut through the ropes that were holding John's other wrist.

"Good, good," He muttered, and I moved to free his foot as Dean cut loose his other one. My head snapped up as Dean and Sam each slung one of John's arms over their shoulders, heading for the door.

"Stop!" I pulled them back just as the front door of the apartment crashed open, and I slammed the door to the bedroom, locking it and grabbing the salt. An axe head jutted out inches away from where my head was hovering behind the door. I knelt down, putting a line of salt across the bottom of the door, prohibiting them from getting in.

"Mel, come on!" I whipped around to see Dean had already went through the window and onto the fire escape with John. Sam threw him the bag, and I jumped through the window, landing with a clang on the metal. Sam followed me a moment later, and I salted the window behind him, ignoring Dean and Sam's shouts for me to hurry up. We ran down the fire escape, Dean and Sam balancing John between them. The last twenty feet or so was a ladder, and I went first, quickly followed by Dean, then John and then Sam. John landed with a grunt and almost fell to the ground, but Dean caught his arm, staggering. I walked in front of them as Sam landed, and I came out from behind the ambulance, looking both ways. That's when heard rushed footsteps. There was no time, and all I could do was whip around to face whoever was coming.

"Mel!" I heard Dean yell my name, and for a fleeting moment, I was airborne. Then I wasn't anymore and there was a heavy weight on top of me, pinning me to the ground while the world spun around me. The demon reared back to punch me clean across the face, but someone caught his wrist. Dean. I saw his furious features as he slammed his knee into the creatures face. The demon spun, taking Dean down with him, and slamming his fist across Dean's face.

"Dean!" The cry barely left my lips before Sam was on him, tackling the demon, who was getting irritated. Dean jumped to his feet, taking a step towards where the demon had Sam pinned to the ground. The demon simply looked at Dean and jerked his head, causing Dean to fly into the nearby car. I forced myself to my feet, kicking the demon in the face, and he jerked his head a second time, sending me rolling away. I could hear the flat thud of skin on skin contact as the thing punched Sam. I was lifted into the air again and dropped on the hood of the ambulance with a painful thud, and I heard a groan that may have come from my own lips or Sammy's. I turned, and my eyes met Dean's before I was thrown to the ground, and all I could do was shield my head from the impact.

The bang from the gun may as well have been thunder, for it sounded as loud to me. I pushed myself onto my hands and knees, knowing without looking that the demon was dead. Ignoring the protests of my muscles and bruised bones, I crawled over to Sam, grabbing his collar and shaking him a little.

"Sam, hey, come on," He let out a groan, and I felt hands cradling my face. I looked up at Dean to find him gazing down at me in worry. "I'm okay," I assured him, but he still looked uncertain. "Dean, we've got to get out of here," I placed my hands on his wrists lightly, and he finally nodded, turning to Sam. The three of us stood, and it didn't take long for me to regain my balance.

"Come on, we've got to get out of here," I glanced at Dean to see him staring at the dead body on the ground as he spoke urgently.

"I've got him," I slipped Sam's arm around my shoulders and placed mine around his waist, holding him up. "You get John," Dean nodded at me, and we managed to stumble our way to the car, and I got into the back with Sam while John was placed in the front. I checked Sam for injuries before using the first aid kit to bandage his face.

"I'm fine," He insisted, and I rolled my eyes.

"Just hold still," I didn't bother arguing with him, and instead just cleaned the small cuts and scrapes. I held up three fingers in front of his face, letting out a small grin. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Uh, seven?" He squinted, and I shook my head at his joke. At least, I hoped it was a joke. We drove for the rest of the day and some of the night until we reached a motel-like place where you could rent a small cabin. We got one and drove out to it, parking in the grass. Dean and Sam helped John inside while I grabbed the duffel full of supplies and carried it inside after them. Dean helped John onto one of the beds as I gazed out the murky window, lost in my own thoughts.

"We need to get in the car and head to West Texas next. A buddy told me there was multiple beheadings somewhere up there," John explained as we packed our stuff. I avoided eye contact with Sam at all costs. It was now or never, and a part of me, a big part, was praying he wouldn't say anything at all.

"No," John turned his eyes to look at his youngest son as Dean and I stopped moving. "I'm not going,"

"What?" John's voice had taken on that deadly tone that the three of us had learned to be wary of a long time ago.

"I got accepted into Stanford with a full ride," Sam swallowed hard when he saw John's glare.

"College?" He scoffed. "You can't be serious. Get in the car," He turned, picking up his bag and hauling it over his shoulder, heading towards the door.

"No," Sam repeated defiantly, his voice gaining strength. "I told you, I'm not going," John froze and turned back to face Sam. "I'm going to college,"

"After everything I've taught you. After your mother. You're just going to walk out on us?" John's tone was deadly, but Sam didn't seem to care. I glanced next to me at Dean to see he was watching the scene unfold with a look of stiff uncertainty.

"It's not my fight-" Sam tried, and I winced at the slip up.

"Not your fight!" John bellowed, fury turning his face red. "Your mother died! We hunt this thing-"

"Yeah, Dad! We hunt this thing! But we never freaking find it! I don't want to be a part of this jacked up world anymore!" He yelled at his father, and John took a deep, shaky breath.

"We help people!" John yelled at him. "Is saving lives not important enough for you?!"

"I just want to live my own life!" Sam shouted at the man. "Without you controlling every detail of it! I don't want to hunt! I've never wanted to hunt!"

"You want to go to college?" John demanded furiously.

"Yes!" Sam snapped back. "And I'm eighteen. You can't stop me," He challenged, snatching his bag and stalking towards the door.

"If you walk out that door, don't you dare come back!" Sam froze, looking back at us. "If you want to go, fine. But you better as hell make sure you stay gone," Sam slammed the door behind him.

"Is he alright?" I questioned as Dean came back into the room.

"He just needed a little rest, that's all," Dean reassured me, coming to stand next to me and hand me a beer. I leaned my head on his shoulder, all of a sudden needing to be close to him.

"How are you?" I looked up at him to find him already gazing at me in concern.

"I'm okay," I repeated my words from earlier.

"What about you?" Dean turned his eyes on Sam, who glanced away from the window to regard us for a moment.

"I'll survive," He told us heavily. "Hey, you don't think we were followed here, do you?" He asked, glancing around.

"We weren't," I assured him, closing my eyes for a brief moment. I couldn't shake this feeling of terror in my stomach. It was almost like… like everything was about to fall apart. "I would've heard them if we were," Sam nodded, and a moment of silence followed my words.

"Hey, Dean…" I knew what was coming, so I just closed my eyes and waited. "You saved my life back there,"

"So I guess you're glad I brought the gun, huh?" I let out a breathy laugh at his quip.

"Man, I'm trying to thank you here," Sam complained, and I laughed again but it was a strained noise. Something was very very wrong, and I couldn't figure out what it was.

"You're welcome," Dean replied seriously, and I smiled as Sam sighed and headed into the bathroom.

"Are you okay?" I asked Dean softly, looking up at him. He didn't meet my gaze, instead he looked straight ahead with a haunted look in his eyes.

"You know that guy I shot?" He began quietly. "There was a person in there,"

"Dean, if you didn't he would've killed Sammy and me. You had to," I reminded him gently, taking his hand.

"I 's not what bothers me," His hand tightened around mine, and I ran my thumb over the back of his hand.

"Then what?" I questioned, uncertain if I wanted the answer.

"Killing that guy, killing Meg. I didn't hesitate. I didn't even flinch. For you or Sammy or Dad, I'm willing to do or kill, it's just…" He trailed off, looking down at our joined hands. "It scares me sometimes,"

"That's what love is, Dean," I murmured to him. He finally turned his eyes to face me, and I pressed my lips against his softly. Somehow, I felt like if I didn't kiss him now, I may never get another chance. It wasn't an urgent, desperate kiss, but it was soft and sweet, and I tried to convey how much I loved him, how much I needed him all into that one kiss. I pulled away, both of us breathing hard as I looked up into his eyes. "It scares me too," I confessed.

"It shouldn't," I turned in Dean's arms to see John walking out of the other room just as Sam came out of the bathroom. "You did good," I frowned, a bad feeling gnawing at my stomach.

"You're not mad?" Dean questioned cautiously, surprised at John's praise.

"For what?" He asked, and my frown deepened. Something was definitely off.

"Using a bullet," Dean reminded him uncertainly.

"Mad? I'm proud of you. You know, Sam and I, we can get pretty obsessed, but you and Mel - you two watch out for this family. You always have," His eyes flicked from me to Dean, and my eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Thanks," Dean responded, still unsure, and I offered John a small, wavering smile. That's when the lights began to flicker wildly, and John rushed to the door.

"It found us. It's here," That was impossible. I would've heard something.

"The demon?" Sam breathed, sounding almost excited.

"Sam, Mel, lines of salt in front of every window and every door," John ordered brusquely.

"Already did it," Sam informed him quickly. That had been among the first things we'd done.

"Well, check it, okay?" He nodded to me. "Go," I grabbed Sam's arm and we went into the back rooms to make sure no salt lines were broken.

"Something's wrong," I whispered lowly to Sam, who glanced at me sharply.

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

"Something's not right," I grabbed his arm to stop him from checking the salt lines. "We have to go back," Then I hissed as pain exploded in my head, and my knees buckled. I felt Sam's arms catch me before I hit the ground, and I fisted my hand in his jacket tightly, biting back the scream. There were voices coming from every direction, but I focused on the room next to us. This was the first time I'd tried to control it when I got a flash. Pain seared through my skull, but I fought against it, honing in on the man next to Dean. I couldn't hear the words; they sounded garbled and warped, but I could definitely make out the darkness in them, like a drink that was laced with poison.

"I'm going to get Dean," I gasped, the world snapping back to me in an instant, and I shot to my feet, almost falling back down in the process. "Mel, are you okay? What happened?" I pulled Sam behind me, ignoring his questions. We stopped short to see Dean pointing the gun at John - or the demon's- chest. "Dean? What the hell is going on?"

"Your brother's lost his mind," I slowly walked towards Dean, my eyes never leaving John.

"He's not Dad," I reached Dean as he spoke.

"What?" Sam asked, his eyes flicking between the three of us and the gun clutched in Dean's hands.

"He's right, Sam. It's not John. He's possessed," I didn't look at him as I spoke surely. "He has been since we rescued him,"

"Don't listen to them," John told Sammy, who glanced at us uncertainly.

"How do you know?" Sam asked us, trying to remain calm.

"He's different," Dean struggled to explain, and I knew that if I tried, I would sound insane, even to Sam.

"We don't have time for this," The demon spoke irritatedly.

"Sam, you want to kill this demon, you've got to trust me," Sam swallowed hard glancing from Dean and me to John. "Sam?" The thing demanded, and I shook my head, praying Sam wouldn't go for it.

"No," The word was small and fragile at first, and I let out a breath as Sam began to move towards us. "No," He reached us, and the creature who looked like John smiled cruelly.

"Fine. You three are so sure. Go ahead. Kill me," I glanced at Dean's tortured face and then at the thing. He couldn't kill it without killing John. All three of us knew it. John bowed his head and when he looked up, his eyes were yellow. I flew back and hit the wall painfully, a small cry escaped my lips as a sharp pain shot up my spine. An invisible force held me against the wall, and I looked around wildly until my eyes found John's form picking up the gun. "What a pain in the ass this thing's been," He spoke almost tiredly, glancing at Sam.

"It's you, isn't it?" Sam phrased it like a question, but it wasn't really. "We've been looking for you for a long time,"

"Well, you found me," He smiled at Sam, and then glanced across from him at me.

"Nice trick with the holy water," I ground out, glaring fiercely at him.

"Trick?" He scoffed at my choice of words. "You think something like that works on something like me?" The creature narrowed his eyes at Sam, and he was pushed farther back into the wall with a grunt.

"I'm gonna kill you," He threatened, rage lining his words.

"Oh, now that would be a neat trick," He glanced at me and then Sam before placing the gun on the table. "In fact, here," He looked at each of us in turn before gesturing to the gun. "You two are psychic, make the gun float to you," I clenched my teeth and focused on the gun. It trembled, and the yellow eyes turned to me in amused surprise. I let out a shaky breath and my concentration broke, my entire body going limp as the energy drained. "Well, this is fun. I could've killed you a hundred times today, but this… this is worth the wait," He turned to look at Dean with dislike written in his eyes. "Your dad - he's in here with me, trapped inside his own meat suit. He says 'hi' by the way. He's gonna tear you apart. He's gonna taste the iron in your blood,"

"Let him go, or I swear to god-" Dean began in a low, threatening tone.

"What? What are you and god gonna do?" He sneered as Dean didn't answer. "You see, as far as I'm concerned, this is justice," He stalked towards Dean, and I strained against my invisible bonds. "You know that little exorcism of yours? That was my daughter,"

"Who, Meg?" Dean's face showed actual surprise.

"The one in the alley? That was my boy," The demon went on, ignoring Dean's shock. "You understand?"

"You've got to be kidding me," Dean muttered.

"What? You're the only one that can have a family? You destroyed my children. How would you feel if I killed your family?" Dean's mouth formed a hard line, and his eyes grew furious. "Oh, that's right. I forgot, I did. Still, two wrongs don't make a right,"

"You son of a bitch," Dean snarled at him, and the demon grinned.

"I want to know why. Why did you do it?" Sam called to him, making him turn away from Dean. The knot in my stomach loosened slightly but tightened again when he faced Sam.

"You mean why did I kill mommy and pretty, little Jess?" The demon turned back to Dean, smiling.

"Yeah," Sam agreed, rage lining the word.

"You know, I never told you this, but Sam was gonna ask her to marry him. Been shopping for rings and everything," He backed away from Dean and faced me. "But, of course, you already knew that. Melody Scott, Sam's best friend," He sneered at me, and I glowered back, refusing to rise to his jab. "You want to know why?" He turned back to Sam. "Because they got in the way,"

"In the way of what?" Sam snapped.

"My plans for you, Sammy," He faced me as he said his next words. "You… and all the children like you," He walked towards me slowly, and I didn't flinch, even as he leaned in so his lips were right by my ear. "If I killed Jess because she was in the way of my plans for Sammy, who do you think is in the way of my plans for you?" Anger and fear pumped through me, and I struggled against the constraints.

"You son of a bitch, don't you-"

"I have big plans for you too," He interrupted me as he pulled away and smirked at me. "You were the first one, you know. My guinea pig. You turned out better than I could've hoped,"

"Listen, you mind just getting this over with, huh? 'Cause I really can't stand the monologuing," My heart dropped as I heard Dean's voice, and the demon turned away from me.

"Funny, but that's all part of your M.O., isn't it?" He stalked over to Dean, and my mind was still dealing from what he'd told me. Dean. He couldn't kill Dean. "Mask all that nasty pain, mask the truth,"

"Oh, yeah? What's that?" Dean asked, bravado in his voice.

"You know, you fight, and you fight for this family, but the truth is they don't need you. Not like you need them," The demon jerked his head in Sam's direction as he spoke his next words. "Sam - he's clearly John's favorite. Even when they fight, it's more concern than he's ever shown you. Hell, Mel's not even really his daughter, and he still likes her more than you. He listens to her," I saw it then. The snap. Fear jolted through me as Dean smirked at the demon.

"Yeah, I bet you're real proud of your kids, too, huh? Oh, wait, I forgot. I wasted 'em," I could barely remember to breathe as I watched the demon back up and look down. Then his eyes snapped back to Dean, and he let out an agonized yell.

"Dean!" I screamed his name as he groaned and gagged while blood oozed from his shoulder. "You son of a bitch!" I hurled the insult at the demon without tearing my eyes from my bleeding boyfriend.

"Dad!" He yelled between moans of pain. "Dad, don't you let it kill me!" The monster looked back up at him, and his back arched as more trails of blood poured from his shoulder.

"Dean!" I couldn't distinguish my screams from Sam's any longer. All I knew was that he was dying. Dean was dying, and I couldn't do a single, damn thing. He looked up, his mouth bloody and his eyes loosing their light.

"Dad, please," He begged brokenly. The demon narrowed his eyes for a third time, and more blood stained his grey shirt. Dean's unfocused eyes found mine.

"Dean, hang on. Please, please," Dean blinked, trying to focus on me, but his eyes fluttered closed, and his head went limp. "DEAN!" The demon jerked back, and Dean slumped to the floor. My eyes were now trained on the thing that was possessing John, and I channeled my hatred and rage at the thing, hearing it inside John. Instinctively, I locked on the sound, drawing it out, forcing it to release it's hold on John's body. Suddenly, my body was pressed flat against the wall, and something was being crammed down my throat, making me choke. Then, I was on the ground on my hands and knees. My mind caught up to what happened right as I felt a massive tug from inside my body. I looked up, meeting Sam's eyes. He had the gun trained on me.

"Dean," I managed to choke out, and I didn't need to say anymore. Sam kept the gun trained on me, but knelt by Dean, feeling his pulse. "Is he…" Tears stung my eyes, and Sam shook his head and Dean's eyes opened, looking around.

"Dean, hey. Oh, god, you lost a lot of blood," I convulsed as I felt another, more powerful wrench in my stomach. Shutting my eyes, I pictured a box in my stomach where all the black smoke was sucked into, and my arms lost their strength as my energy sapped. I needed to hold on to whatever control I had on it… keep it in that box.

"Where's Mel? And Dad?" His eyes fixed on me, and all I could do was look back at him. Another tug, and I let out an involuntary groan. "What happened?" He looked to where Sam was holding the gun aimed at me. "Sam!" He snapped when his brother didn't respond.

"She took the demon on herself," My eyes snapped to John, who was looking at me cautiously with a certain sadness.

"It's still…" I let out a strangled groan, arching my back to try to dull the pain of the fourth wrench in any way possible. The box was breaking apart. "It's still alive. It's inside of me," My gaze moved from John to the gun in Sam's hands and then back, and an unspoken understanding passed through us. John snatched the gun from his son, who let out a cry of protest, and he cocked it, aiming it at my heart.

"Dad, don't do it," My eyes locked on Dean's terrified ones, and I held his gaze.

"It's okay," I took a shaky breath, knowing I was giving John permission to kill me. "It's okay. It's okay. Do it," Another wrench, and I screamed through clenched teeth. "I can't hold on much longer,"

"Dad, no!" Sam and Dean were both protesting, but their yells got jumbled together in my mind as I focused on keeping the demon inside the box. John was looking at me with a mixture of horror, fear, and determination while I just kept looking into Dean's eyes, a small tear running down my cheek.

"It'll be over," It'll be over and everyone will be safe. Because the demon told me that Jess was tying Sam to an ordinary life, and Dean wasn't the only one who was tying me to an ordinary life. There was also Jez. And I couldn't risk loosing either of them. "You have to do it now," Dean was shaking his head, but I just kept looking into his green eyes. They were home. He was home. And if I tried, I could pretend that none of this was happening and we were safe in some motel, planning out our next hunt or kissing or laughing. Anything except this.

"I love you," I wasn't sure if I whispered the words or mouthed them, but either way Dean understood that I was saying goodbye. I did close my eyes then, for I didn't want to see Dean's face when John pulled the trigger.

Bang.

My eyes shot open. The box broke, and the demon came pouring out while I yelled in pain. I turned my head to the side to see the bullet hole in the floor inches away from my ear right ear. He missed? John didn't miss.

"Melody!" Sam was there above me, and I saw that his face was tearstained. He pulled me up and crushed me in a hug while I fought the urge to cry or scream. It was out there. If it had been talking about Jez, my sister was dead. Her family was dead. My eyes landed on Dean's bloody form, lying on the floor, and I pushed myself up.

"We have to get Dean to a hospital," Sam and John propped Dean up between them and got him out to the car, setting him in the backseat while I threw the green duffel into the trunk before sliding into the backseat next to Dean. "Hand me the first-aid," I ordered numbly, and John passed me the kit. Dean groaned as i slid off his jacket.

"Look, just hold on, alright? The hospital is only ten minutes away," Sam's voice was tense with worry, and I didn't speak as I flipped open my knife and cut Dean's shirt.

"You shouldn't have missed," I spoke quietly, but my words sounded like the pounding of drums in the silent car.

"You think I missed?" John turned his eyes on me, and I saw the fury hidden there. "I didn't miss. I didn't shoot you,"

"I thought killing this thing is the most important thing?" I reiterated his words bitterly.

"What the hell is your problem?" Dean snapped, breathing shallowly. "How could you do that?" I met his eyes and saw the betrayal and fear written in them.

"I did what I had to do," I told him softly, not able to meet his gaze.

"Yeah, for who?" He challenged, his voice was soft and tired, but his words cut me deeper than a sword.

"For Jez," I whispered, and the car went dead silent. "He's going to kill her," Or you. I added in my mind but didn't speak the words aloud.

"Look, we've still got the colt. We still have two bullets left. We just have to-" My head snapped around as I heard the rumbling of a truck growing louder.

"SAM!" I screamed, catching sight of the thing heading straight towards us. I wrapped my arms around Dean as I tried to shield him from the blow, knowing he wouldn't be able to take another injury. There was a shattering of glass and a jerk and then a sharp pain in the back of my head. Darkness descended.

**Season Finale! Tell me what you think! I'll post another update to this story when I publish the first chapter to the sequel! Hope you guys liked it! PM or review anything you have to say; I love the feedback! I'll try to get the next season out as fast as possible! Hope everyone's excited! Thank you to everyone who's read this story! Review!**