"That was amazing, Mary," I said. We'd had chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and biscuits. Like, a real chicken, too. "Thank you guys for having me over."
"I'm so glad you liked it!" I really liked the boys' mom. She was so nice.
"Do you need any help cleaning up?"
"Sam can help me. You're our guest. You shouldn't help clear the table." She took the dishes into the kitchen with Sam, leaving Dean and I alone.
"Need any help on your case?" he asked.
"You just won't let it go, will you?"
"What if he's luring you in and you get turned trying to kill him?"
"Then, we'd be on an even playing field. This is my case and my responsibility. I didn't kill him when I had the chance, and look what happened. An innocent woman is dead. I can't change the fact that she's dead, but I can make sure nobody else dies. I won't make the same mistake again."
"First rule of hunting: you can't save everyone. Even if you had succeeded last time, that lady still could've died yesterday from anything. Don't get yourself killed because you feel guilty."
"I will do what it takes."
"And that includes dying?"
"You and Sam were ready to die taking out Azazel."
"That's different."
"Is it?" My phone chimed, saving me from Dean.
Cara: Another death. Only three hours old. Scottsville, Kansas.
"Skylar?"
"I have to go." I stood up.
"What happened?" Judging by the look on his face, he already knew.
"Are you leaving already?" Mary asked.
"I'm afraid I have to. My friend was… in a car accident. She's fine, but I really should go."
"Oh. Alright. Be safe."
"Thanks for tonight. It was probably the best dinner I've had in a year and a half."
"It was my pleasure. Don't be a stranger."
"I won't."
"I can drive you back," Dean volunteered. "It would be faster than a bus."
"I don't want to trouble you." I tried to warn him to back off, but maybe that only encouraged him.
"No trouble at all." And that's how I ended up in the Impala with Dean.
"You really like to push my buttons, don't you?" I asked after a while.
"You should know that by now. Besides, maybe I can help at this crime scene."
"If I have any say, and I do, you're not going anywhere near my crime scene."
"Your crime scene? You're not a real FBI agent."
"No, but I can act it. When it comes to asking questions, subtlety is the one thing you and Sam don't have."
"We can be subtle."
"I haven't seen any signs of subtlety from you. You just ask for any weird smells or where the deceased is buried. Which, by the way, you can look up."
"Well…" I smiled. "Shut up." I looked out the window at the trees blurring past.
"Your mom is nice. I like her."
"Yeah, she's awesome." He smiled. I liked seeing Dean smile. "Anyway, we're almost to Scottsville. Another fifteen, twenty minutes, maybe."
"Good. I want to get on his trail before it goes cold."
"I bet."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Just that you're… motivated."
"Of course I am. He's killing people because I let him get away. And don't you dare tell me that it's not my fault."
"It's not."
"Dean."
"Alright, alright." Don't get me wrong, I appreciated his concern, but I didn't need a reason to back out, not now that I was close. "Just one more question."
"What?"
"Why didn't you say goodbye in person?"
"It wasn't as hard and you couldn't talk me out of it."
"So you just left the note and hoped we wouldn't try to find you?"
"Yeah. Although, part of me wished you would find me."
"Why?" I stared at him.
"It doesn't matter now. Things have changed and I have a job to do." He turned onto the street with police cars on it. "Thanks for the ride."
"Yeah, sure." He pulled to the side, and I climbed out. "Hey, Skylar?"
"Yeah?"
"You know where to find me if you need anything."
"Yes, I do. Bye, Dean."
"Bye." I ducked under the police tape, showed them my badge, and then continued into the house.
"I didn't think you'd be this long," Cara said. Her long brown hair was pulled into a ponytail and her matching eyes had dark circles under them. She wasn't a hunter, but a real FBI agent. I helped her out a while back, so she helped me find cases sometimes. I had asked her to keep a look out for these types of cases for me.
"Traffic. Where's the victim?"
"Kitchen, but brace yourself." Curious and slightly scared, I went into the kitchen.
As soon as I saw the body, I knew what he was doing. He was luring me in by killing people like his first victims. This one was a little girl, no more than six. She had jet black hair and her lifeless blue eyes were open and staring at me. I fought down the urge to vomit.
"That son of a bitch," I whispered.
"I warned you," Cara said, sounding sick herself. "So? Can you, uh, predict where he's going next?"
"I don't think he's going anywhere."
"Why?"
"You read the file. Who does this little girl look like?" She looked at the girl, and her mouth formed a silent 'oh.' "Yeah. I'm his end game. He's waiting for me."
"Are you going to find him on your own?"
"Yes. And I am going to take him out." I turned around, and walked out.