Sam was the first to wake the next morning. His eyes fluttered open just as the sun rose. He turned his head, and was surprised to see Dean. On nights when John was out late, Dean usually took the other bed, and John ended up sharing with Sam. He used the heel of his hands to rub his eyes as he sat up. He blinked a few times, then saw John in the sleeping bag on the floor. That drew his attention to the other bed, where he saw the face of a girl. Sam nudged Dean's shoulder and whispered.

"Dean..." When Dean didn't respond, Sam nudged harder. "Dean..."

Dean groaned, but Sam kept nudging. "What?" Dean grumbled.

"There's a girl in the bed."

"I wish," Dean said as he shifted his position to get comfortable again. Sam got frustrated and punched Dean's arm. "Ow! What the hell, Sam?"

Dean sat up and Sam held a finger up to his lips. He pointed to the other bed. "Who's the girl?"

The back of Dean's hand rubbed at his eye. "Oh, that's, uh... Lexi, I think dad said."

"Who is she?"

"A hunter's kid," Dean said as he lay back down. "Dad'll fill you in."

Sam decided to stay in bed. He knew how to make his way around the room without waking John and Dean, but he didn't want to wake up the girl. It wasn't just that we wanted to let her sleep. What would he say to her? He didn't even know why she was there.

Sam never got back to sleep. John woke almost an hour later. He rolled up his sleeping bag before shaking Dean.

"Wake up."

Dean grumbled, but sat up, once again rubbing at his eyes. Sam sat up as well, and John motioned to the door.

"I wanna talk to you two outside."

They followed John outside and closed the door behind them. Neither of the boys spoke. They waited for John to fill them in.

"Dean, you already know the basics. Her name is Alexandra Evans."

"Wait," Dean said, "she's Mr. Evans daughter?"

"Yes. I know it's been a long time since you two have seen her."

"Yeah, like six years."

"Well, I've run into her and her dad a few times since then. I even helped with a couple of their hunts. That's the reason Rob asked me to look after her. She knows me."

"Why do you have to look after her?" Sam asked. "Where's Mr. Evans?"

John looked at Sam. "He got turned by a vampire. He asked me to take care of him, and look after his daughter."

"You took off his head?" Sam asked.

"Yeah."

"Does she know?"

"She knows. She may not be too talkative for a while. I need you two to go easy on her." John looked to Dean. "I need you to look after her just like you look after Sam."

"Yes, sir."

"When Sam hangs back, she does too."

"Understood."

"Time to hit the road. Pack your bags. I'll wake Lexi."

The three went back inside and John sat on the edge of Lexi's bed. Dean watched as his dad ran a hand over her back and softly said her name. Her eyes connected with John's before she turned onto her back and stared at the ceiling.

"Time to go, Lexi. I need you pack up."

Lexi stretched before she sat up and threw back the covers. Dean averted his eyes, not wanting John to catch him looking at her again. Sam was busy packing his bag.

In the car, Lexi sat in the back seat behind John. Sam sat behind Dean. The ride started out quiet, but John and Dean soon started discussing the case they had been headed to when John got the call from Rob. Lexi stared out her window at the passing landscape. Sam did the same through his window, occasionally glancing over at her. He pulled a pack of gum from his pocket and folded a stick into his mouth. Before picking it up, he held it out to Lexi.

"You want some gum?"

Lexi turned and glanced at Sam before her eyes fell to the pack in his hand. He pushed a stick out with his thumb, and Lexi pulled it out.

"Thanks," she said. She slid the gum into her mouth, then returned her eyes to the window.

John watched the exchange in his rearview mirror. He knew it wouldn't take long for Sam to try to reach out to Lexi. His son was naturally a compassionate person.

They drove into a city a few miles south of Omaha. John found the first motel that didn't look like a total dump and went in to book a room. He climbed back into the car and drove to the local library. John parked the car and handed the extra room key to Sam.

"Dean and I will go check out the haunted building. You take Lexi inside and see what you two can find out about the history. We should be back in a few hours, but if you two finish, take the bus back to the motel."

"Yes, sir."

Sam got out, but Lexi hadn't moved. John turned in his seat so he could face her. "Lexi, sweetheart-"

"Don't call me sweetheart," she said without looking at him.

"Okay... I won't. Stick with Sam today, okay?"

She stared at him for a moment before getting out. She waited next to Sam until John drove off, but she walked away from the library after he was gone.

"Hey," Sam said, "where you going?"

"To the building. I'm not getting left behind."

"Look," Sam said following her, "I know how you feel, but the research is important."

"I grew up with that excuse." She stopped dead in her tracks and looked at Sam. "That's all my dad ever told me. He wouldn't let me hunt... only research. If I had been with him when he went after those vampires-"

"You might be dead, too."

"I might have been able to save him." A tear slid down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away.

Sam was quiet for a moment, thinking of what he could possibly say to her. "Your dad wanted you to stay with my dad, right?"

"Right."

"He must have trusted his judgement. It's just your first day with us... and I'd like the help. Research goes faster with two people."

He gave Lexi a small smile, and she silently walked past him, back toward the library. Several hours passed before they gathered all the information they needed about the building. Sam paid for their bus fare back to the motel and they put everything together to give to John when he got back.

Lexi lay on top of her bed, curled on her side. The research had helped occupy her thoughts for awhile. Now her father was back on her mind. Sam could hear her crying as he sat at the table against the wall. He glanced back at her and bit his bottom lip. He wished there was something he could do.

By the time John and Dean made it back, Lexi had cried herself to sleep.

"Is she okay?" John asked.

"I think so," Sam said. "She was crying before she fell asleep, but she helped with the research back at the library."

"Did you two eat?"

"No."

John threw Dean the keys to the car. "Go get pizza."

Dean turned to leave, but Sam spoke up. "Shouldn't we find out what kind she likes?"

"Just cheese," Lexi said.

They all looked her way in surprise. None of them had realized she was awake.

"Just cheese," Dean repeated as he opened the door.

Lexi sat up. "Can I come with you?"

Dean looked to John for the answer. John's eyes went from Dean, back to Lexi. "You don't wanna help Sam fill me in on what you two found?"

"I wanna get out of this room."

John nodded. "Okay."

Lexi slipped on her shoes and walked out the door. John caught Dean's eye and gave him a hard look. Dean understood every silent warning that was implied.

Once they were moving, Lexi rolled down the window, folded her arms on the door, and rested her head on them. The wind blew her hair back, and Dean fought to keep his eyes on the road. She looked more mature than sixteen. He repeated his dad's warning in his head. Under age. Under age.

They got to the pizza place and Dean noticed she didn't make a move to get out of the car.

"Let's go," he said.

"I'll wait in the car."

"Not while I'm looking out for you. Inside."

"I don't need a babysitter, Dean."

"That's fine, but I have to answer to my dad for you, so you're not leaving my sight. You wanted to tag along, you gotta listen. You're coming in, or I'm brining you back."

Lexi rolled up the window and went inside with him. Dean ordered their pizzas and they sat and waited. Neither spoke, and the ride back to the motel was just as quiet.