"So, she didn't know we were going to pretend that you called me from the desert." Sam looked at Dean's strained expression with a bit of sympathy. "I'm thinking we freaked her out nicely, then."

Dean nodded but said nothing, giving Sam a little more idea of the depth of his brother's concerns.

"Look man, we were going to have to talk to her about her abilities anyway. I mean, it had to have been either her or her sister that blew up my phone and I'm willing to lay odds it wasn't Drew- she clearly wants us in jail, so blowing up evidence that would have caught us in a lie would hardly be to her benefit."

Dean's game face reappeared. "You think Dani fried your phone?"

Sam looked unimpressed. "Dean, I'm hoping you're just malnourished or something because you're really off your game and it's starting to worry me."

Dean half-heartedly scowled at his brother. "Malnourished? Well dude, why don't you make yourself useful then and rustle me up some more pudding?"

Dani curled her knees up to her chest under the sheets of her hospital bed. She was freaked out alright, but not by anything Sam and Dean had said or done. Her mind was reeling and she squeezed her eyes tightly shut.

It wasn't me... I didn't destroy that phone. I couldn't have.

But she wasn't convincing herself of anything. She hadn't wanted Dean to get in trouble. And she also hadn't wanted to entertain the thought that maybe he was lying to her about what was going on. And in her mind, she'd envisioned the cell phone burning up. And that was exactly what had happened. That was beyond coincidence.

Fuck.

A knock on her door pulled her back to the present. She looked up, surprised to see Sam's face at the door.

"Hi. Is it OK if I come in?"

Dani nodded and he moved inside, closing the door behind him. She couldn't seem to stop from staring once more. It was so strange to be face to face with someone she'd only seen in visions before today.

Sam seemed to guess what was on her mind. "You've seen me before, haven't you?"

Her brows went up. "What do you mean?"

He smiled but his eyes remained serious. "I mean, you had seen me before we ever met, hadn't you? In a vision?"

Her eyes widened uncontrollably.

Now the smile reached his eyes, along with a dose of sympathy. "It's OK. I have them too, you know- the visions." He sat on the edge of the chair. "That's what brought us here. I saw you."

Her mouth suddenly dry, she tried unsuccessfully to wet her lips. "You're... you're crazy. I have no idea what you're talking about."

He nodded, still smiling. "I've heard that before too. From the others- the others like us." Sam could see that she was trembling slightly under the covers and felt a little guilty. "Look, Dani..." He blew out a stream of air and sat up a little straighter. "I'm really sorry. I'm not trying to scare you, I swear. I'm just trying to help you understand that you're not alone. And you're not losing your mind either, trust me."

She didn't say anything, but Sam thought he caught a glimmer of something behind her eyes... hope, maybe? So he kept going. "I know you're starting to wonder if you can trust us- Dean and me." She pursed her lips and he grinned again. "Especially Dean, I'm betting... Anyway, we did lie. You obviously know that. But only because we couldn't really tell everyone that I found you guys because I had a vision." He neglected to mention that the vision had been of a completely different timeframe, but he didn't think she was ready to hear about that right now- especially judging by the look on her face. "I swear to you Dani, we only came here to help."

She read the sincerity in his eyes and it made her feel a little better. She finally found the courage to speak. "I... I guess I'm scared."

Sam leaned forward and put a hand on her arm. "Yeah, I know."

"I just... I've never..." She shook her head and trailed off.

"What? You've never told anyone before- about your abilities?"

"No, that's not what... I mean, yeah, you're right. I've never told anyone before. Except maybe..."

"Your sister?"

"Yeah, I guess. Or, at least she always knew." She leaned back into her pillows, thinking for a moment. "But I've never wanted to talk about it. I just didn't want to believe it, I guess. And now..." She looked into his eyes fearfully. "Something's happening, Sam. I... I did something today I've never done before."

Sam nodded in understanding. "My cell phone."

She was surprised again. "You know? You know I did that?"

"I figured it must have been you." He smiled kindly. "You've never done it before?"

She shook her head. "No, never. Before now I just had the visions. And I can also... I can feel things, especially if I focus. Like, I can feel if someone is angry or... uncomfortable. But other than that..." She half shrugged, but then she remembered the sizzling cell phone and frowned at Sam. "Can you... do things like I did today?" She couldn't bring herself to say "destroy" things. It was all just a little too overwhelming at the moment.

"I pretty much only have the visions... but there was this one time. I was trapped in a closet and I saw a vision of Dean in trouble, and I moved the shelf that was blocking the door somehow. With my mind, I guess. I wasn't really trying, it just happened."

"Yeah... That's exactly what happened today. I wasn't trying to do anything. It just happened."

Sam sat back again. "What about your sister? Does she have the same abilities as you?"

The question made her instantly uncomfortable and she felt defensive, although she couldn't have explained why. "I don't really... I mean, I guess so. Yeah." She shifted under the covers. "Sam, I... I think I need some time to myself. I need to process all of this."

Sam stood up and nodded compliantly. "Yeah, of course. I'll leave you be." He started towards the door, but turned back towards her before he left the room. "But Dani, just know you're not alone. If I can help you, I will. I'm still trying to figure out what it all means but... I'll be around if you need me. And so will Dean."

He smiled kindly and then he was gone.

Dani hugged her knees again, slightly less afraid than she'd been before, but just as confused. But at least now she felt a little hopeful again.

And maybe Dean wouldn't think she was a monster after all.

Dean slept intermittently that night, his thoughts continually returning to Dani.

Between remembering the way she'd been when she'd left his room earlier, and the looming threat of Sam's vision, he was lucky he'd gotten any sleep at all.

How can I protect her is she doesn't trust me anymore?

He'd find a way. He had to.

Dani was finally ready to leave the hospital. She took a last glance in the mirror to see how she looked. She was nervous about seeing Dean again and she wanted to look her best. She grimaced at her many scratches and bruises.

I guess this is the best I can do right now...

"Hey there."

Dani turned around in surprise. "Jack? I thought..."

"That'd I run back to Boston with my tail between my legs?" He smirked. "I think you know I don't give up that easily."

"Look Jack, I told you it isn't going to work for us. It hasn't been working for a long time."

He nodded. "I know it hasn't. I know." He moved closer to her. "But I don't want to give up." He put his hands on her arms. "I just want a chance to prove I can be different. Just one chance. Please, Dani."

Dean leaned heavily against the wall outside Dani's room. He had to admit the guy sounded sincere. And he couldn't blame him- Dani was definitely worth fighting for. He stared at his shoes feeling numb.

Who was I kidding? There's no future for us.

He walked down the hall and out of the hospital.

Dani didn't think she could put it much plainer, but Jack was nothing if not tenacious. He guided her out the front doors of the hospital before she even realized what was happening.

When the daylight finally snapped her back into consciousness, she was about to turn around and head back inside with the hopes of finding Dean, but then she saw a familiar face climbing behind the wheel of a vaguely familiar large black car across the parking lot in front of the hospital. As Sam pulled the car out, she caught a glimpse of Dean in the passenger seat. Her heart sunk as the car pulled out of the lot and disappeared down the road.

Slightly numb with disappointment, she paid very little attention when Jack led her to back to his car and eased her into the passenger seat. And before long they were pulling up in front of her family home.

"So you didn't even see her?"

"Nope. She'd already checked out."

Sam laughed. "Dude, it's a hospital, not a hotel. You get released, you don't 'check out'."

Dean scowled humorlessly. "Whatever."

"What's up with you man? You're acting weird."

"Nothing's wrong. I'm just... tired."

Sam regarded his brother shrewdly from the corner of his eye as they parked in front of their motel. "I told you she wasn't upset about our lies, Dean. I told her pretty much everything."

Dean crawled out of the car and then gazed seriously at his brother over the roof of the Impala. "Yeah? Did you happen to mention the part where she's in danger?"

"You know I didn't. There's no point until we figure out what's going on." He shook his head, nonplussed. "Seriously, what's going on with you?"

Dean sighed heavily. "Nothing, man. I'm just really worried about her. I don't like the idea that we're not protecting her."

"Which is why we're going to take shifts and watching the house. I was going to let you take the first shift but if you're tired-"

"Gimme the keys and the address."

Dani had a feeling that Jack had finally gotten the message. He'd stormed off again and the next time she'd seen him he was heading out into his rental car in the driveway, suitcase in hand.

"I'll never understand you, Dani."

Her shoulders hunched involuntarily but she didn't bother to turn around to look at Drew. "Likewise, I'm sure." Her sister was clearly itching for a fight but Dani just wasn't in the mood. She looked down at the two cars parked at intervals on the street. "Are those security men?"

"Yes."

And then Dani heard Drew moving away down the hallway and she frowned. It seemed they were as close as ever.

She was turning away from the window when something caught her eye... A long, black car was pulling to a stop a distance from the security cars. Even though the street was a good distance from the house, she could see there was only one person in the car. She felt her heart speeding up as she wondered which Winchester brother was behind the wheel.

Dean glared at his reflection in the mirror. The thought of Dani in that big house was driving him-

The passenger door opened and she slipped into the car, closing the door behind her. "Hi." She smiled nervously.

His pulse started to thud quickly. "Hi."

Her eyes fell to his shin. "So, uh... how's the leg?"

"Excellent. I can walk on it, no problem." He moved to face her more directly. "How about you? How're you feeling?

"Well, I'm a little stiff and sore but otherwise I feel fine."

Neither of them spoke for a moment and then she looked around the car and then back at him. "This car is really you, Dean."

He couldn't seem to help himself, and he smiled wider. "What, because it's so manly?"

She laughed, nodding. "Exactly. But with a sense of humour."

He laughed. "I'll try to just take that as a compliment."

"It is."

Another silence descended and Dani shifted uncomfortably. Then she took a big breath. "Dean, I..." She gave him a bemused look. "I'm really sorry I was acting so strangely yesterday. I didn't mean to just take off like that, but I..." She looked at him helplessly, not knowing how to explain.

"I'm sorry we didn't tell you about our phone story Dani, but we-"

"It's OK, Dean. I talked to Sam."

"Yeah, he told me. Still, I should have been up front with you, especially after all we've been through... uh... together."

"Honestly, it's OK. I understand what was going on." Her expression became mildly perplexed. "Or, I sort of do. It's all a little... uh..."

"Crazy? Yeah, welcome to my world." He smirked. "But... are you OK? I mean, how are you handling all this?"

She was touched by the concern in his eyes and felt the sudden urge to throw herself into his arms and let him comfort her. "Well, I don't know if I am handling it yet, but I'll let you know how it goes when I do."

He nodded, smiling. "'Atta girl. You'll be alright. You're strong."

"I don't know about that... but anyway..." She rubbed her knee absently. "What are you doing parked out here?"

"Well..." He'd just apologized to her for not being totally honest with her, so he couldn't exactly back down now. But how much truth could she handle right now? He considered his words carefully. "I wanted to make sure you're safe. We don't know if this is all over yet."

"Ah. Right." She opened the door of the car and climbed out, surprising him. And just as suddenly she was standing at his window. He looked up at her in confusion and she smiled again. "So, it would probably make more sense if you came inside then, wouldn't it?"

He was out of the car in seconds flat. "Yes ma'am."

"My god. Is she single?"

Dean eyed the doorway where the 60 year old housekeeper had just been standing and Dani laughed.

"Seriously, this may be the best meal I've ever had in my life."

"Wait until I cut you a slice of the pie..."

Mouth full of food, he whimpered with longing and Dani laughed even harder. "Sorry, Dean: she's married."

They'd fallen into a comfortable routine as soon as they'd hit the kitchen and Dani was feeling happier than she could remember being in a very long time. But as usual, a shadow fell.

Drew stood in the doorway, frowning. "I really hope that this isn't the reason you sent Jack packing, Dani." She didn't look directly at Dean, but her meaning was clear.

But rather than be offended by her slight, Dean latched on to what she'd revealed: Jack was out of the picture. His elation brought out his usual boldness. "Don't worry, Ms. Archer. I'm actually a Wall Street trader and-"

"Honestly Dani, this is ridiculous. You barely know this man."

"Well, yeah, it's true. And we probably did sleep together a little early in our relationship. We probably should have gotten to know each other better first."

Dani looked at the look on her sister's face and burst out laughing. Dean smiled wickedly and she laughed even harder.

And then Dean tried to hide the fact that the look Drew had reserved just for him as she'd exited the room had caused a chill to run down his spine.