John and Dean packed up to head to the cemetery. Sam and Lexi had discovered that a murder occurred there. Very violent. John suspected it was the cause of the haunting, so a salt and burn was the solution. John left very basic instructions for Sam and Lexi: don't leave the motel room.

"Dean and I will check the building again before we come back, so we'll be a little longer than usual."

"Got it," Sam said.

They left, and Lexi sat staring out of the window. John had mentioned that the building, an old apartment building, had been buzzing with EMF when they were there before. It would be very easy to check for that after they burned the ghost's body.

Sam went into the bathroom to shower, and Lexi called for a cab. She dug through Sam's bag and found his EMF meter, grabbed her small bag, and walked out. The cab arrived a few minutes later, and she gave the address of the building. She would get there before John and Dean had a chance to dig up the corpse, so she would get to make sure the meter really worked.

She felt the drop in temperature as soon as she walked through the main door. There was no way it should be that cold. She pulled out the EMF meter and turned it on. The lights sprang to life, and she knew there was definitely a ghost. With the meter turned off and back in her bag, she walked casually around the building. Taking in the feeling of being in a place that was haunted, doing what her father did, let her feel close to him for a while. She wiped a tear that was about to fall and continued her walk-through.

When the temperature suddenly became warmer, she pulled out the EMF meter again. No activity. John and Dean had burned the corpse. She smiled a little, having had the experience. She made another walk-through, taking in the changes in the atmosphere, then went back to the main entrance to wait for John and Dean to get there.

The look on John's face when he saw her made Dean hang back a little. John went straight to her.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd save you time by checking the building for EMF. There's none. The temperature rose and the EMF readings were gone."

"Are you insane?"

"I wanted to help."

John grabbed her arm and pulled her toward Dean. "Take her to the car. Wait for me."

John pulled out his EMF and went into the stairwell. Dean glanced at Lexi, shaking his head.

"Come on," Dean said.

"I already checked the building," she said as she followed Dean outside.

"You should have stayed at the motel. Where's Sam?"

"He was in the shower when I left."

John climbed behind the wheel a few minutes later. "No EMF. It's gone."

"I told you," Lexi said.

John glanced at her in the rearview mirror, but didn't respond. The ride back to the motel was quiet, but that ended as soon as they got inside. Lexi ran in ahead of them and Sam seemed relieved.

"Where did you go?"

Lexi didn't have a chance to respond before John burst in. Dean followed quietly behind him, locking the door. Sam glanced at Dean, who raised his eyebrows and shook his head, and Sam stayed quiet.

"Don't you ever pull a stunt like that again," John said. His deep voice seemed to fill the room, though he wasn't really shouting.

"It wasn't a stunt. I wanted to help."

"I told you to wait here."

"You're not my father," she whispered.

"No one said I am, but you're father told you to listen to me like you would listen to him. Would you have defied him that way?"

Lexi just shook her. She wouldn't have, and she knew it, but she was tired of following orders. Tired of watching people get hurt while she wasn't allowed to do anything about it.

"Your dad wanted me to keep you safe," John continued, "and that's what I'm going to do. So, you will listen to me, and you will do as you're told."

The next few months went by much the same, and the same fight was had several times. Lexi was getting tired of fighting. She was ready to pack it in and get out of the life completely. She stayed only because she promised her dad she would go with John, and she wasn't eighteen yet.

Seventeen. Her birthday came and went, but she didn't bother mentioning it. She didn't care to celebrate anymore.

Another night found her and Sam alone in a motel room doing research while John and Dean were off hunting. She and John had a huge fight over her wanting to go with them, and she sat staring at the open book in front of her. Her eyes took in the words, but she didn't process what she was reading. She had to read the same paragraph five times before she gave up.

She was sitting on the bed. Sam was at the table. He heard the book hit the floor and turned to see her get up.

"Please tell me you're not leaving," Sam said.

Lexi saw the concern on Sam's face and sat back down. "No, I'm not leaving."

"Good," he said.

"Why is it good? I'm miserable, Sam."

"Well, I need help."

"No, you don't."

Sam stared down at his book before looking back at her. "I enjoy the company, okay?"

"Some company."

"Hey, I get that you're still hurting. Dad does, too, believe it or not." He walked over and sat on the other bed. "Can I make a suggestion?"

"Sure."

"Listen to dad." Lexi scoffed, but Sam continued. "No, just hear me out. Listening to my dad doesn't mean you've forgotten your dad, or that he's been replaced." Lexi looked up at Sam. Her eyes were moist. "You're just honoring your dad's last request," he continued.

"What if I just want out? Away from hunting for good?"

"Do you?"

"I don't know."

"If I tell you something," Sam said, "do you promise to keep it between us?"

"Sure."

"I applied to college... a couple of different ones. I don't want to hunt anymore. I want a normal life."

"John doesn't know?"

"No. I told him last year that I wanted to go to college and he flipped out."

"So, you went behind his back, but you're telling me to listen to him?"

"Good point."

Sam stood, feeling a little defeated, but Lexi stood, too.

"Hey, Sam... I get what you're trying to say, and I guess you're right. Thanks."

Lexi took a tentative step toward him, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Sam was caught completely off guard, and his return embrace was a bit awkward.

"You're welcome."