Author's notes: I updated this earlier than planned, but mainly cuz I can, but yeah...I really wanna know what everyone thinks of this one more than most of the others :P This is the first big ep leading up towards the finale. So basically from this ep onwards...everything is huge, and you'll start to find out sthe answers to ome of your many questions.

I would like to give a huge thanks to Tuffman for not only his review but also cuz the answering machines in this ep, he came up with them (except Bela's). So yeah. There is more Kirsty throughout as she plays an important role in what's going to happen. Green-eyes (Amaranth) is a very mysterious character, you'll find out a bit more soon neough. And yes, the brothers will be back soon...I have an entire ep+ based on them cuz they're important characters too. There are so many more twists and turned coming up...so enjoy!! And please let me know what you all think! Plz Review!

A few spoilers from 'Dream a little dream of me' and 'Just in Bello'. Song from teaser is: Erin: Solas

19 Long time no seen

Milton, Vermont

The Impala was parked outside one of the motel rooms where the boys lay in their beds fast asleep. The moonlight was coming through a gap in the curtains, giving the room a calm glow. It had been a whole week since they'd received news of the Devil's gate being opened again and it was fair to say that both brothers were very tense. Sam still hadn't read his letter from Caroline and didn't intend to…ever, but little did he know…Dean had even bigger problems than he did.

--

The house was dark and quiet, in a way that made any hunter very nervous. The floorboards creaked beneath the man's feet as he held his machete at the ready; each step he took was taken with extreme precaution. He then froze and listened with so much concentration. After assuming it save to continue, he wandered past a large pile of books and then into the kitchen. It looked rather unused, but something about it gave him a gut-wrenching feeling.

'I've been expecting you' a voice spoke from behind him.

Bobby Singer turned around and stared eye to eye with a bald man, he then let out a scream of utmost pain…

--

'NO!!' Dean cried out so loud that Sam almost died in his sleep. He looked over at his big brother in alarm and saw the way Dean was shaking.

'Dean?' Sam asked, very concerned. He realized Dean was almost crying, so he got out of bed and went to his side. 'Dean, talk to me man' he said, placing a hand on Dean's shoulder.

'Argh!' Dean cried out and grabbed his head with his hands as the pain hit him and his eyes started to burn. The motel room faded in and out of view, but then was of the house again…Bobby's house.

--

'I've been expecting you' a voice spoke from behind him.

Bobby Singer turned around and stared eye to eye with a bald man, he then let out a scream of utmost pain. He fell onto his knees and held his chest tightly, coughing up blood as he did. Bobby was choking but managed to still scream in pain, which went on for several more minutes until he fell forward…dead.

--

'Aaarrrgh!' Dean screamed again and the moonlit motel room faded back into view. There was one last glimpse of Bobby laying dead in his own puddle of blood before Dean was able to make out Sam's face.

'Sammy' he sniffed, tears already soaking his cheeks as the image stuck with him.

'Dean, I'm right here' Sam told him. He was scared, terrified even…but he wasn't going to leave Dean's side until he knew he was okay. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Dean this broken up about something.

'He dies Sammy' Dean said and bit his lip. 'We can't let him die'

'Who?' Sam questioned, sitting closer since he could hardly hear Dean's voice.

'Bobby' Dean choked out, hardly being able to talk but Bobby was like a father to him now and to watch him die like that…so powerless to stop it.

Sam didn't question anymore since now was clearly not the time to get details.

'Dean, we're not going to let Bobby die, okay?' he tried to comfort him

'You okay bro?'

Dean sniffed again but shook his head honestly. 'You didn't see it' he said, his voice a bit stronger now. 'He was…screaming…and the…blood' Dean then felt very ill. He jumped up off the bed and raced into the bathroom, puking his stomach contents up into the toilet. Sam got off the bed as well and waited by the bathroom door.

Dean was in there for some time and then was rinsing his mouth, splashing water on his face and seemed reasonably okay…considering.

'Dean?' Sam asked and followed him once he left the bathroom. 'You're not okay, are you?' he stated more than asked.

Dean stared at Sam for a moment and winced slightly as his head hurt and he got a quick flash of Bobby dying all over again. He shook his head and tried not to cry again.

'First mum, then dad…even you've left me' Dean said. 'And now Bobby?'

'Dean, I came back' Sam replied. 'And we're not going to lose Bobby'

'You don't understand…actually, you probably do' Dean remembered.

'Premonitions?' Sam guessed.

'Dude, you really are psychic' Dean said in surprise.

'No Dean, it fits the symptoms' Sam replied. 'The bad headaches, lying about being okay…and I see the way you read the morning papers, like you were bracing yourself for the worst. But why…how?'

Dean shrugged, part of him relieved Sam knew what he was going through. 'I don't know' he replied honestly. 'How did you do it Sam?'

'Cuz, I had you' Sam shrugged and saw Dean was hardly keeping it together. He went over and pat Dean's shoulder, not sure what to do but wasn't surprised as Dean pulled him into a hug.

It was moments like these that reminded Sam and Dean just how dependent they were of each other and just how strong their bond was as brothers.

Dean moved away after another minute or so.

'I think I'm okay' Dean nodded.

'You better be' Sam gave him an understanding smirk. 'But if you're not, I'm not going anywhere'

It was 9:30 the following morning and Sam was out getting breakfast while Dean took his time to drag himself out of bed.

"Bobby here, I can't make it to my phone, or I don't wanna pick up. So leave a message and I may get back to you"

'Damnit!' Dean cursed. He was being paranoid but he also knew the Devil's gate was opened and wondered why no one had told them. He dialed another number and waited as it rung.

"This is Ellen. If it's important then leave a message. If not, hang up"

Dean was very concerned then, so he tried any other number.

"Hey, this is Jo…duh. You should know you called me. Okay ah…you know what to do…beep"

Sam came into the room and saw Dean looking like he was freaking out big time. He also remembered the Impala being in perfect condition so he had no idea what this was about to make Dean panicky like that.

'Bobby, Ellen and Jo…no answer on their cells' Dean panicked. 'You know anyone that knows our secret that you can call…now?'

Sam pulled out his cell phone then, also extremely worried.

"You have reached Bela. If this is important or involving business, then please leave a message…otherwise, I'm not interested in your call"

'Ah hey Bela, it's Sam' he said, leaving a message. 'Just…let me know if you get this, please' he closed his phone.

'Bela?' Dean pulled a face but that was the least of his problems right now.

'I'm sure they're fine' Sam said, but was uncertain. 'Besides, I think I've found a case'

'A case?' Dean replied, surprised that Sam could think of a case at a time like this. 'Fine, what?'

'Heart attacks' Sam sighed. 'A few random, healthy people have died of heart attacks in the last four years' he went to explain but Dean cut him off.

'We're hunters, not doctors, Sam'

'Yeah, but a few of the victims have had a witness or two. The recent victim, Peter, said he saw a woman wearing a white, ragged dress and she was standing over him. He died a few minutes later. I looked into it and turns out a few others have spoken of her just before they died'

'So we're thinking spirit?' Dean asked.

'Yeah, seems like the ones she's after are the only ones that can see her too, so it's going to be tough'

'Any connections between the victims?'

'No, nothing' Sam shrugged. 'Seems completely random'

'Dude, it's never random' Dean rolled his eyes and then placed his cell phone to his ear again.

"Bobby here, I can't make it to my phone, or I don't wanna pick up. So leave a message and I may get back to you"

'Okay look, I'm gonna stay here and try to get someone on the phone…think you can handle this case without me for now?'

'You sure?' Sam asked and sighed. 'Okay, yeah okay…call me if you get a hold of someone'

While Dean tried to get through to Bobby, Ellen or Jo…Sam went down to the local library to do some research since he really didn't have much to go by. He was reading over the death records for the last few hundred years when he heard a woman's voice from right behind him.

'Can I join you?' she asked.

'Ah yeah…I'm just-' Sam glanced up as she came around into his line of view and he utterly froze.

'Hey Sam' she said, sitting across from him. 'Miss me?'

'Hello?'

'Ellen! Thank God!' Dean breathed in relief. 'Why didn't you pick up?'

'Dean?' Ellen frowned. 'I was out back, not used to using a damned cell phone. Something wrong?' she guessed.

'You hear about the Devil's gate?' Dean asked, getting straight to it.

'Yeah, can you believe it?' she said in worried tone.

'No, I had to hear it from another hunter. How come you didn't tell us?'

'I thought you knew, got word from Bobby last week' Ellen told him. 'Hey, have you heard from Jo?'

'No, I've been trying to call her…been hitting message bank'

'Yeah' Ellen said, she was clearly very tensed at the moment. 'Look, I gotta go' she said. 'You call if you need anything sweetie' she then hung up.

'That was weird' Dean sighed and tried to call Jo again…nothing.

'Ruby?' Sam snapped in shock. He could not believe that he was currently looking at the last person he'd ever expected to see again.

'Yeah, that's my name' Ruby shrugged. 'You can't get rid of me that easily'

'What happened? And how did you get same body again? I thought if you were sent to Hell you-'

'Sam' She butted in, and only then Sam noticed she looked very edgy about being here. 'I don't have time, okay? And in case you haven't noticed…the gate was opened, again' she inhaled slowly and then leaned closer, lowering her tone. 'There are more demons out there than before, and I can say: they're not big fans of yours' she nodded. 'You may have escaped a war last time, saved Dean's sorry ass…but this is bigger than anything you've ever heard of before. Just…be careful' she said and got up. 'I can't stay…but Sam, don't tell Dean I'm back'

'Why not?' Sam wondered.

'If you wanna live: trust me' Ruby nodded and walked off.

Sam frowned and turned around, only to find she was gone…

Dean glanced up as Sam came back an hour or so later.

'Hey, find anything?'

'Yeah' Sam nodded. 'Um, local woman…died four years ago of heart attack. The doctors think someone had deliberately tried to kill her to cover up a secret, but it was never proved' he explained. 'Carlene White' he said her name. 'Cremated'

'Cremated?' Dean groaned. 'Our favourite kind!' he snapped sarcastically. 'Oh, I ah…I got hold of Ellen and Bobby. But no Jo. Ellen saids she can't reach her either, she's worried'

'I doubt Jo would answer Ellen's calls anyway' Sam told him. 'You know how those two are? Jo's more likely to kill Ellen than to answer her calls'

'And mine? Dude, she's not picking up' he thought for a moment and then sighed. 'Yeah, you're right…I'll try again later. How do we kill Miss White?'

'Ah, her grandfather left her a place in town, which is close to all of the deaths. Maybe it's an object? Or she's…I got nothing' Sam gave up. 'I can't find any link between the victims; I don't know how, man…I just. It doesn't make sense'

'Story of our lives' Dean replied. 'Okay, tell me about the victims'

'Ah, they're all aged from 16 to about 85…male and female. They were either alone or with a friend when they suddenly see a woman in a white but ragged dress and with long, dark hair. She watched him or her and then the victim would have a heart attack' he sighed. 'That's all I've got'

'And you said the woman Carlene died four years ago right? Round about when the killings started?'

'Yeah, she died the same way she's killing her victims' Sam nodded.

'And her doctor thought someone killed her to cover up a nasty little secret? So maybe…' he trailed off and Sam got it.

'Maybe her spirit is killing people that had hidden secrets? But it would have to be big enough to kill them right?'

'Yeah, like something that ended in tragedy, or…or a death' Dean got up and put one of his jackets on, grabbing the keys to the Impala after he pocketed his cell phone again.

'That house her grandfather left her? I think we better check it out' he told Sam.

FBI agent Judith Hall glanced up as her partner Bill McConnell headed toward where she was waiting in the car.

'Coffee, black' he said and handed it to her. 'So, got anything?'

'Not enough' she frowned. 'Seems they were last seen in West Virginia, and before that…Wisconsin' she said, getting increasivly annoyed. 'We lost them in Louisiana, they were then in Kentucky before Sam was comatose in Ohio…which I find very interesting. Guess they had a falling out? Hm…well they went to Maine for a really short time and Oklahoma…North Carolina…Mississippi…South Dakota' she continued to mark places on the map she had open on her lap. 'There is no pattern! It's like they picked some random place to show up next. But people have died everywhere they go, we've got to find them!'

'How?' Bill asked, more annoyed with Judith's obsession than those she was obsessed with. 'I mean it's like predicting…'

'I don't care how, but we will find them!' Judith said and tossed the map away, starting the engine and driving out of the gas station.

Sam and Dean had broken a window around the back of the house and gone inside, hoping that no one had seen them since it was late afternoon. The house was dark and very dusty. But it looked like it had been a very royal place to live in once. The antiques that were around the place, along with large mirrors on the walls and the long dining tables. There was also a large chandelier above the table that reflected some of the setting sun that shone through the partly open curtains.

'Oh man, I'd love to own a place like this' Dean grinned. 'Not live in it, but own it'

'What 's the point of having a house this big and not living in it?' Sam wondered. 'And you'd think this place could have some kind of alarm? Security cameras…?' Sam then glanced around the ceiling and at odd objects in case there were hidden cameras or motion detectors.

'Chicks dig places like these. Chandeliers, nice little cushions on the seats…freaky-ass paintings on every wall…and yeah' he also became cautious of hidden security measures. Dean went towards the front door where he found their alarm solution. The alarm keypad was yanked out, wires shredded and broken. He frowned and turned back to look at the room. Nothing seemed broken or stolen.

'I'm gonna have a look upstairs' Dean announced, pulling out his EMF meter from the pocket inside his jacket.

'Sure' Sam nodded but since they were looking for a spirit, he used an infrared thermal scanner. He used it to search for any hot or cold in the area. Since he knew that spirits would often change the temperature of an area, assuming that this was the area that Carlene White was haunting. It was worth a try.

Dean wandered around upstairs but there was nothing that caught his attention and the EMF meter wasn't giving off anything. He sighed and paused as he entered what appeared to be the main bedroom. Dean grinned a bit at the sight of things and imagined what he could do if he had the kind of money that could afford a place like this. He sat on the massive bed, just to get a feel of it, but there wasn't anything supernaturally interesting about this house. He glanced around the room, seeing the many paintings, wardrobes and desk, along with a part stone statue, and then on the bedside table was a vase thing.

Downstairs, Sam wasn't getting much more than Dean was. He put the scanner back into the inside of his jacket and sighed, this was a waste of time.

He heard footsteps behind him and assumed it was Dean.

'Hey, nothing here-' he stopped and gulped as he spotted a woman a few meters from him near the corner. She stared at him with her unblinking, dark eyes that had shadows around them. She didn't move, but just stood there in her ragged, slightly torn white dress. Her dark hair sat on her shoulders and looked like animal hair rather than any form of human hair. Sam also noticed the air was now cold and foggy when he breathed out.

'You' Carlene said in a deep, angry tone. 'You didn't tell him, you lied' she frowned and then appeared in front of him, forcing Sam to his knees as a pain reached his chest.

'Argh!' he screamed out as it was like a knife piercing right through him. Her hand was on his chest, right where he was sure his heart was.

'Sam?' Dean looked down and saw his brother alone, but in a terrible amount of pain. 'SAM!' he bolted down the stairs and grabbed him.

'She…' Sam pointed to the space above him. Dean shot the space with his rock-salt loaded shotgun. Sam gasped for air and the pain subsided.

'She came after you?' Dean asked, surprised and then felt a bit disappointed since that meant Sam was keeping a dark secret from his family, meaning him.

Sam couldn't reply as he was trying to breath. 'Argh!' he screamed out again as she grabbed him from behind.

Dean shot at her again, even though he couldn't really see her.

'How do we stop her?' Sam gasped, clutching his chest. 'She was…cremated'

'Cremated' Dean echoed and realized something. 'There's a freakish vase thing upstairs' he remembered and helped Sam up since he wasn't going to leave him to have a heart attack.

They reached the main bedroom again and Dean grabbed the urn. He held it and let it drop. It made Sam jump as it smashed to pieces on the wooden floor, ashes scattered around it.

Dean handed the gun to Sam and then raced downstairs to where they'd come in through one of the windows. Their bags were there so he went through his and grabbed some things he needed. Once he reached the room again, Sam was choking a bit, clutching his chest still. Dean fired his shotgun angrily.

'Leave him alone, bitch!' Dean screamed out.

Sam sat on his hands and knees, watching Dean tip salt over the ashes and then some liquid.

'You're gonna…burn ashes?' Sam asked, not too convinced that it was going to work.

'You get a better idea?' Dean frowned at Sam.

'Argh!' Sam yelped again.

Dean threw the lit matches onto the mess and it lit up, he also added a bit of Latin, thinking this had to be the stupidest thing they'd ever done.

Sam gasped for breath again and a woman materialized into view beside him. She stared at the ashes and dying flames in shock and hurt.

'No' she gasped and then screamed out, her body turned to ashes and swirled around the room before faded away altogether.

'You okay Sammy?' Dean asked, so relieved that his stupid plan had actually worked.

'It's Sam' his brother managed to say.

'Of course it is' Dean nodded and pulled Sam to his feet. Offering his support. 'Come on Sammy' he said and grabbed their stuff. The house was nice and all, but now they just wanted out.

Bela Talbot was in her apartment; she'd just gotten back from a meeting with a buyer. It had gone well and she had been able to sell a very valuable item for twice it's actual worth.

She closed the door behind her and then froze as a woman was sitting at her table.

'Who are you?' Bela snapped, pulling out her gun to aim it at the intruder. 'And how did you get past the alarm?'

Ruby turned around and smiled. 'That gun won't do much good' she smiled, her eyes blinking black for a moment. She got up and headed towards Bela, whom had lowered her gun.

'Bela Talbot' Ruby said, looking her up and down. 'Oh how I have wanted find and kill you for so long' she then frowned, clearly not in a good mood with her. 'Do you have any idea how much it took for me to save Sam and Dean's sorry asses without you stealing the colt from them? Mind you, it wouldn't even work if it wasn't for my generosity' she sighed. 'And no, I'm not lying. Yes, demons lie…but I am so not in the mood for any crap' Ruby said, standing right in front of Bela now. 'You have something I want'

'I don't work charity cases' Bela stated. 'What's in it for me?'

'Well, I don't have much to offer…other than your life' Ruby said.

'I don't respond well to threats' Bela told her.

'Oh I know' Ruby shrugged. 'But if I kill you, I'm going to find it anyway'

'What is it you're after exactly?' Bela asked curiously.

'You stole it recently…from a young boy about eight. Cute kid' she said. 'Yeah, the chain' she nodded, reading Bela's thoughts. 'I need it'

'In exchange for…what?' Bela asked, keeping her business tone even.

Ruby rolled her eyes and reached behind her jacket and pulled out a large magnifying glass, or so it seemed. It had an iron handle with small symbols engraved on it. 'See this? It's the foreseeing glass magnifier…or something' Ruby explained. 'Look into it and you can see right through it. Nothing can hide from it. No spirit, demon or otherwise. And it's worth well over five billion. There's only three in the entire world' she nodded. 'Now give me the damn chain, and we'll call it even'

Bela stared at the object for a moment and then smirked. She threw the chain to Ruby, whom caught it.

Ruby handed the object over to Bela and then turned to leave. 'Oh, and you tell anyone you saw me…it really will cost you your life…bitch' she then left the room.

Bela sighed and pulled out her cell phone, seeing she had a message.

'Ah hey Bela, it's Sam. Just…let me know if you get this, please'

Bela frowned a bit, confused as to why the hell Sam had left her a message. She shook her head and called him back.

'Yeah, okay thanks' Sam nodded and hung up. He glanced over to Dean and shrugged. 'What? Bela said she was busy, which is why she didn't answer my call. She then told me never to leave a stupid, cryptic message again'

'Oh yeah, she's a real people-person' Dean rolled his eyes. 'So Sam, you gonna tell me?'

'Tell you what?' Sam wondered, half honestly.

'Carlene White's spirit when after those that hid dark secrets from their family…and she went after you'

'So?' Sam frowned, turning away from Dean. 'Ah, any luck with Jo?' he tried to change the topic.

'No, she's still a no-go' Dean replied. 'Sam, since when did we have so many secrets between us?'

Sam didn't answer as he looked up and a bald man was standing on the other end of their motel room.

Dean was instantly to his feet and really mad.

'You' he glared.

'Yes' the man smirked, his eyes flickering emerald green. 'Me'

'It must be hard Dean, after all the faith you put in your little brother, after all the efforts you go to protect someone that doesn't need protecting…that he keeps such dark secrets from you. Secrets that would blow your mind'

Wake up, oh wake up, don't sleep, please
I had another one of those dreams
Where your feet are bound together
And the tin man is spinning again
Hold my hand, I will stand as the world turns around me

'I haven't been here more than five minutes and you're already trying to get rid of me' Jo rolled her eyes. 'I have some important information for you' she lowered her voice.

Who's gonna carry the blame?
Who's gonna take up the campaign?
When these injured streets are bleeding?

Ruby spun around in genuine fear. 'Leave me alone!' she pleaded. 'I swear, I didn't tell Sam! Just…leave me alone!'

And I am losing my hold
There are soldiers in the hallway
They will break down these walls

'Dean, where were you?' Sam asked. 'You were gone like an hour'
'I was?' Dean winced a little.

And I know you will try
But you cannot protect me from these shadows inside
'Cause these dreams I have are so much bigger
Than the blade of a knife or a shotgun's trigger

'He thinks he's heard of it before, but it is very ancient. He also said to be damn careful cuz it works with demons and only high-powered ones'

'Sam?' Bela's rushed voice replied instantly. 'I just heard from one of my contacts that a group of demons are looking for you and Dean' she said. 'They know about your ability'

Who's gonna carry the blame?
Who's gonna take up the campaign?
When these injured streets are bleeding?

'Bring it on, bitch' Jo smirked

Coming soon…