Chapter 4- The Exorcist

Dean and Sam both glanced at the door, then at each other. She was too close to outrun, which meant she had to be outsmarted. They turned to her, smiling while tucking their weapons behind their backs.

She slowed to a stop in front of them. She switched her gaze between them, then said quietly, "Is there a reason you'll be needing that?" She looked down at the shotgun poking behind Dean's back, then back to him.

Now that Dean got a good look at her, he saw how young the woman was. Her commanding presence made her seem much older at first glance, but up close, he saw she couldn't have been past twenty-five. She's hot too. Her deep red hair cascaded down in big, lazy curls, stopping at her chest. She wore a dark green shirt that intensified her crystal blue eyes. Her nose was slightly crinkled, drawing attention to the fading freckles on her cheeks.

Giving her one more look down, Dean slowly brought both arms out in surrender, then placed the shotgun down on a nearby pew. Sam did the same with the demon knife. Dean said suavely, "Nah. We just like to stir up trouble." Out of the corner of his eye, Dean saw Sam roll his eyes.

The pastor perked up at the sound of Dean's voice, stood, then yelled, "I want them out of here!"

The woman spun around and said indignantly, "Excuse me?"

The pastor stomped down to the threesome and pointed his finger at Sam and Dean, their arms still up. "I want these devil-worshipers out of here now!"

Dean snorted and even Sam cracked a smile. Dean asked, "You think we're devil worshipers, pastor? C'mon. Do we look like the blood-chugging, spell-chanting type?"

The pastor glared at Dean. He growled, "That infernal thing knew your names: Sam and Dean. I have never heard a demon use names before."

The woman turned to Dean and whispered inquisitively, "Is that true?"

Dean opened his mouth to answer when the pastor grabbed his shirt and pulled him close enough to touch noses. He snarled, steadily growing louder, "I know something is not right about you two. Are you Satanists? Are you affiliated with it? Did you summon it into Lucy?"

The woman stepped in between the two men, just as Dean was going to rip the old man a new one. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder and her voice softened. "Pastor John, your granddaughter is going to be fine. These men are not the enemy. That demon and the evil it serves is."

The pastor's eyes were shining with tears as he stared back at Dean. After a moment, the anger faded and he released Dean's shirt. He whispered, "I'm sorry, son." Dean was unsure what to do next. The old man looked pitiful and worn out, which made it near impossible for Dean to hold a grudge against him. However, actually exhibiting this was the hard part. Handling the people part of the job effortlessly again, Sam put a hand on the pastor's other shoulder and said consolingly, "She's going to be okay, Pastor John." He hesitated for a moment, then added, "She'll be weak, but she'll be okay. We've seen this before."

Dean clenched his jaw, knowing his brother had given too much away. The pastor didn't seem to notice, sniffing as he patted Sam's shoulder in gratitude before walking back to the family. Dean knew that last statement wouldn't get past the red head so easily, so he clapped his hands together. "Well, we have to be going. Nice meeting you. Hallelujah and all that." He snatched up the shotgun and strode out of the building, hoping Sam had followed suit.

He opened the trunk of the Impala, placing the shotgun back in its proper place. He heard the heavy clomp of Sam's stride behind him, then beside him. Sam was placing the knife back in its pouch when Dean whispered over to him, "You nearly gave us away, dude. I don't care if the Pope is crying on your shoulder, you don't make rookie mistakes like that."

Sam turned to his brother and smiled. "I know what I'm doing." Dean was about to ask for an explanation when he heard someone say behind him, "Well, you guys take the Boy Scout's motto pretty seriously."

Dean glared at his brother before turning around, coming face to face with the woman again. She was grinning, making the Boy Scout hand gesture with her right hand, her left tucked behind her back. "Be prepared and all that."

Dean's mouth twinged upwards at her recycling his joke. He wore a mockingly serious expression and said solemnly, "Haven't you heard? The zombie apocalypse is happening any day now. We have to be ready."

The woman smiled, then peered around Dean. "So, holy water is the way to do zombies in? Wouldn't have guessed that…Dean."

Dean replied as he snapped the trunk shut. "Like I said, we have to be ready. For anything." She's a quick one too.

She smirked, putting her hands on her hips. She asked, "Your brother had said you hadn't eaten for a while. Would you guys like some breakfast for dinner? I know a great spot…I'll even cover the bill."

Dean looked to his brother and found him smiling smugly back. Sam knew he had baited her well and had even succeeded in getting a free meal out of it. Dean rolled his eyes at him, then looked back to the woman. He shrugged nonchalantly and said, as he walked to the driver's side door, "We'll follow you…" He looked over his shoulder. "Um, didn't catch a name."

She had already started walking to her car. She tossed over her shoulder, "Naomi."

Once Sam was in the Impala and Naomi in her Honda Civic, Dean said, "Well, this is a first. I'm going to dinner with a class A exorcist."

Sam grinned. "Who comes with the highest of recommendations."

Dean rolled his eyes. "Too far, Sammy. Too far."