"Nic, I saw it," he tells excitedly tells me.

"Saw what Sam?"

"The angel," he says. "It knew who I was. It gave me peace, grace."

"Sam," I say cautiously. "Whatever you saw, it...it just read your mind. Has to be some type of spirit. Angels aren't real."
"You're wrong Nic," he tries to argue. "It was an angel and it spoke to me. It chose me to do His will!"

"Sam, where is Dean?" I asked him exasperated.

"He's out. He couldn't take it. He couldn't understand that the angel chose me, ME!"

"What did you get chosen to do, Sam?"

"When I get the sign, I have to stop this guy from doing something bad. I don't know what but I know it's bad."

"Sam."

"You know what, Nic," I hear him say, irritated. "Just forget it. I thought you would at least understand. You and Dean are a perfect match." With that he hangs up on me.

I call Dean's phone and listen to it ring. When the voicemail picks up, I decide to keep calling back until he answers. After the fourth ring on the third try, he answers. I can hear the faintest sounds of music and laughter and it makes my blood boil. How dare he go out to a bar and leave his brother to deal with this.

"What the hell dude?" I try not to scream into the phone. "You're out living it up while something is telling you little brother to kill someone?!"

"I tried Nic. I swear I tried to understand what Sammy was saying. I tried to make him understand that angels aren't real, but he was so damn stubborn. I had to get out of there at least for an hour or it would have became a fight and Nic, I didn't want to hurt my brother." Dean sighs heavily. "I wish you were here to help."

"I get what you're saying Dean. I really do," I explain to him. "But what if he gets this supposed sign while you are out and does something you can get away from? I wish I was there too! God believe me, I wish I was there. But I'm stuck here on this stupid couch for who knows how long!" I take a breath to calm myself before I ask the next question on my mind. It's the little buzz in the back of my head and I can't ignore it. "Dean, are you at a bar?"

"Yea, why?"

I knew of his history of picking up one-night stands on hunts and I knew he hadn't picked any up since we got together but I am injured and almost a whole 24 hours from him. I know he was feeling down because of what's going on with Sam but if he chose to go out and get laid to take his mind off of it, we were going to have a problem.

Before I could answer him, he must have picked up on what I was thinking because he spoke up. "Nic, not like that. I am just getting a beer to take the edge off. I promise! 'Sides not much to pick from. The old guy at the end of the bar is so hammered, I don't think he could get it up even if he wanted to."
I couldn't help but laugh. I was feeling insecure about nothing apparently. Dean wasn't out prowling for sex. He was just out trying to unwind, the Dean Winchester way. I wasn't about to fault him for that.

"Nic, as soon as my beer is gone, I'm heading back to the hotel. Alone, I swear!"

"I know, Dean. I know. I'm sorry."

We hang up and I go back to reading the lore book I had had to grab when that hunter called about the Craitzen. I figured I could learn as much as I could about the monsters we knew of and the ones we had never heard of before while I was wounded and practically confined.

The next break I get from reading up on the lore is a call from Sam again.

"So, Father Gregory's grave is covered with wormwood. Dean wants to do a seance and summon his spirit."

"A seance?!" I exclaim, surprised that Dean is the one to actually suggest it.

"Yes, right there in the church. We've just finished getting the supplies. We got a Spongebob placemat for an altar cloth!" Sam says chuckling.

"So just put Spongebob side down," I offer, with a shrug of my shoulders that I know they can't see but it's just habit. "So if the angel is Father Gregory and he shows up, you'll just what? Put him to rest?"

"That's the plan, sweetheart," I hear Dean's voice through the receiver. Sam must have the speakerphone on.

"Ok, be safe you guys."

"We will," Sam says and then hangs up.

Bobby once again re-enters the house right when the sun is setting and begins making something for us to eat. Before he can protest, I grab my crutches staggering on them to the kitchen table. I watch as he stirs something in a pot until he's satisfied and then grabs a couple of bowls from the cabinet. "Chicken noodle ok with you?" he asks as he sit the bowl and a spoon in front of me.

"Only if you have crackers," I say, smiling up at him. Bobby was a good man. He had taken me in when I was left with no one. When my dad was murdered by demons and I was left to defend myself. Thankfully John Winchester had swooped in and saved me, bringing me to Bobby's because it was safe for someone such as me, new to the world of the supernatural. If it hadn't been for Bobby, I would have never really learned all I did about monsters and demons.

"I have a half loaf of bread," he tells me, pitifully. "I haven't made a supply run yet this month."

"It's okay," I tell him.

That night, as I'm getting settled on my temporary bed, I wonder about the boys. I haven't heard from them in about 4 hours and I was beginning to worry that something went wrong with the seance.

Around 2 a.m. you phone rings; Dean's name showing up on the screen.

" 'ello?"

"Hey sweetheart." In just those two words, I can hear the uneasiness in his voice.

"Dean, babe, how bad is it?" I ask, sitting up.

"Well, it turns out it was Father Gregory. We, or should I say Sam, took care of it. But I saw something Nic. Something I can't explain."

"What'd you see Dean?" I cautiously ask him.

"I think..." he pauses, collecting his thoughts. "I think maybe God's will."

Day 3: Born Under a Bad Sign

My phone wakes me up. It feels like I had just dozed off after talking to Dean about what he witnessed when chasing the bad guy last night. Whether it was God's will or just coincidence, no one would probably ever figure it out, but the bad guy got what was coming to him, so all in all everything turned out right.

"Nic, have you heard from Sammy?"

"Um, no. Why? Isn't he with you?"

"He was when I went to sleep but now he's gone again! I swear, it's like looking for my dad all over again. I'm losing my mind here."

"Have you tried calling him? Maybe he's just out for a run. You know how he is. Especially with everything that's happened. He wants time to himself when he gets too far into his own head."

"I've called him a thousand times, there's nothing but voicemail. I don't know where he went, or why. Sam's just gone, babe."

Well, keep calling. He'll eventually answer. Even if it's to tell you to fuck off."

"Yea, I'm gonna call around and see if anyone else has heard from him. Thanks sweetheart."

Let me know if you find him."

"Will do."

I sit my phone back down and lay back, staring at the ceiling. Dammit Sam, why do you keep taking off?

That afternoon, the 'Monster Hotline' phone rings and I pick it up to answer it. Before I can even get the 'Hello' out, Dean is screaming in my ear. "He stole the Impala! He fucking stole my fucking car!"

"What? Dean, calm down! Who stole the car?"

"Sammy. He called me and told me where he was at. When I got here, he was completely out of it, covered in blood. I thought it was his. Checked him over for wounds."

"Oh my god!"

"It wasn't his. Apparently he went on a bender and blacked out. Found a knife covered in blood in a car he jacked."

"Oh my god! Did he kill someone Dean?" I hesitantly asked.

"Yea, a hunter named Steven Wandell."

"Dean what are you going to do?"

"Well first, soon as I find him, I'm kicking his scrawny ass for taking my Baby. Then we'll go from there. If this boy doesn't keep running off, I might just have to hed Dad's warning."

"Dean Winchester! You quit talking like that right now!" I yell at him through the phone. My rant is met with silence. He knows I'm right.

"How'd he get the keys anyway. I know you, you don't just leave those lying around."

"He hit me over the head with the btt of his gun. Knocked me the fuck out, that's how," Dean sighs and I can imagine him running his hand over his face. "Nic?"

"Yea?"

"I'm sorry. Sorry I yelled at you. Sorry I suggesting ending my brother. I couldn't do that, you know."

"I know baby."

I hear some guy talking the background and the faint but distinct sound of computer buttons being pressed.

"Found him! Oh you ain't gonna like this," Dean says.

"Where's he at Dean?"

"The Roadhouse."

I see red.

I'm sitting up on the couch, feet in the floor, uninjured leg bouncing; waiting on a call, text, something from Dean. I hear a knock on the door and, knowing Bobby is still inside, listen for him to answer. I hear him welcome Sam into the house seconds before they enter the den.

"So what brings you?" Bobby asks Sam, trying not to act suspicious of his sudden arrival. I had informed Bobby of Sam's disappearing act after hanging up with Dean earlier.
"Working a job nearby, and thought I'd stop in and say hey." Lie #1.
"Well, where's Dean?" Bobby inquires, side eyeing me.
Sam laughs and answers with lie #2, "Holed up somewhere with a girl and a twelve pack." Sam looks directly at me and smirks. Bobby continues the facade by asking, "Oh yeah? She pretty?"
Sam, never taking his eyes from mine laughs and says "You ask me, he's in way over his head."

Bobby glances at me and I know he can tell I'm not believing a word that is being spoken.
"Beer?," Bobby turns back to Sam, who smiles at him and nods. The old man steps into the kitchen, grabs three beers and returns handing me one and the giving one to the younger Winchester.
"Well, it's good to see you," he says raising his bottle. "To John."

I raise my bottle in salute and take a long drink.
Sam mirrors my actions and adds, "To Dad."
I watch from my perch on the sofa as Sam swallows the beer. He spews suddenly, choking, falling to his hands and knees and coughing and gagging painfully. Bobby and I sip our beer, unconcerned.
"What'd you do?!"
"A little holy water in the beer. Sam never would have noticed," I tell the demon. "But then, you're not Sam are you."
Bobby speaks up. "Don't try to con a con man." before slamming his fist into Sam's face, knocking him out.

"Nic, see if you can get a hold of Dean. Tell him we have whatever is in Sam." My phone is on charge so I pick up the landline but it's dead.

Bobby is in the process of tying up demon!Sam so I get up to grab my phone. I dial Dean but am met with his voicemail. I hang up and type out a quick message telling him we have Sam and to get here as soon as possible.

Hours later, Dean finally shows up and I can tell he is hurt but he just shrugs my concern away. Demon!Sam is still out cold and tied to a chair in the middle of the den; the chair sat under a devil's trap on the ceiling. Dean, Bobby and I discuss the best way to handle the situation before Dean walks over and slaps his brother's body across the face. "Hey asshole!"

Sam's eyes open and immediately look up at the ceiling seeing the sigil painted there.

"Dean. Back from the dead. Getting to be a regular thing for you, isn't it? Like a damned cockroach."

"How about I smack that smartass right out of your mouth?" Dean mocks.
"Oh, careful, now. Wouldn't want to bruise this fine packaging."
"Oh don't worry, this isn't gonna hurt Sam much." Dean turns and picks up a bucket. "You, on the other hand ..."
Dean tosses a bucketful of holy water on Demon!Sam, who sizzles and roars.
"Feel like talking now?
"Sam's still my meat puppet. I'll make him bite off his god damned tongue.
"No, you won't be in him long enough. Bobby.
Bobby begins reading in Latin. "Exorcisamus te, omnes in mundus spiritus omnes satanica potestas, omnes incursio ..."
Bobby continues the exorcism while Dean speaks, "See, whatever bitch-boy master plan you demons are cooking up? You're not getting Sam. You understand me? 'Cause I'm gonna kill every one of you first. "
Demon!Sam struggles painfully, then throws back his head and laughs maniacally causing Bobby to stop the chanting and look at me, wonder and worry etched on both our faces.
"You really think that's what this is about? The master plan? I don't give a rat's ass about the master plan," demon!Sam says, looking up at Dean.
Bobby begins the incantation again. "Humiliares sub potente magnu dei..."
"Oops. Doesn't seem to be working," demon!Sam chuckles. "See, I learned a few new tricks."
He lowers his head and begins growling Latin. "Spiritus in mundus, un glorum suarum umitite palatum iram, domine ..."
The fire in the fireplace flares and the room shakes as he continues.
"This isn't going like I pictured! What's going on, Bobby?" I yell over the noise.
Bobby looks at Sam and then raises his eyebrows. "It's a binding link! It's like a lock! He's locked himself inside Sam's body!"
"What the hell do we do?"
"I don't know!"
Dean turns to look at me. "Nic, get out of here!" I shake my head but the look in Dean's eyes make me reconsider and I get up to grab my crutches.
Demon!Sam throws back his head and screams; the shaking walls and ceilings begin to crack, breaking the protective circle. Demon!Sam's eyes are black as he lowers his head.
"There. That's better," demon!Sam says as he jerks his head left; Bobby goes flying. He jerks his head right and Dean flies across the room, landing heavily against the far wall. Dean is flinching in pain from his shoulder so I try to make my way over to him. Demon!Sam rips free of the restraints and kicks one of my crutches out from under me. I fall against the wall on my bad side so I just lean against it and try to continue to get to Dean. But demon!Sam stalks over to Dean, stopping me. "You know when people want to describe the worst possible thing? They say it's like hell."
Demon!Sam kneels in front of Dean, fisting his left hand in Dean's shirt and clocks him hard with a right jab. Dean grabs onto Sam's shirt with his right hand, trying to get through the demon and into Sam's subconscious.
"You know there's a reason for that. Hell is like, um ..." he taunts and he hits DEAN again. Well, it's like hell. Even for demons."
I can't do anything but watch as demon!Sam hits Dean again. Dean is groggy and looks to be on the verge of passing out. He is bleeding heavily from his nose.
"It's a prison, made of bone and flesh and blood and fear." I cringe as he hits him again and grabs Dean's head holding it steady. "And you sent me back there!"

Dean and I speak at the same time, realizing just who is possessing the younger Winchester. "Meg."
Sam(Meg) looks over the shoulder at me. "No. Not anymore. Now I'm Sam. And you-," standing up and approaching me. "You are special to him. You know that? Sam feels something for you." A finger runs down my cheek and a hand grabs my chin. "Let's see how he feels about this." Suddenly lips are on mine, roughly kissing and a tongue is trying to pry my mouth open. I grit my teeth and press my lips harder together. Sam(Meg) pulls back and smiles eerily. "Nope. Nothing."
Sam(Meg) turns around and walks to Dean, hitting him one more time. Then digs his right thumb into Dean's bullet wound. "By the way. I saw your Dad there - he says 'howdy'."
He digs his thumb further into Dean's shoulder. Dean tries to pull Sam's hand away, groaning in pain. "All that I had to hold onto, was that I would climb out one day, and that I was going to torture you. Nice and slow. Like pulling the wings off an insect." He shoves Dean's grasping hand away. "But whatever I do to you, it's nothing compared to what you do to yourself, is it? I can see it in your eyes, Dean. You're worthless. You couldn't save your Dad, and deep down ... you know that you can't save your brother. They'd have been better off without you. You don't even think you're worth it for her," Sam(Meg) says motioning toward me with a thumb.
Sam rears back to hit Dean again but suddenly Bobby is there, grabbing Sam's arm. He presses a hot poker into the mark on Sam's arm. Sam(Meg) screams in pain, then screams again as black demon smoke billows out of him and up the chimney. Dean pulls himself up painfully. Sam falls back, then comes to himself, scrabbling and looking around in confusion, then grabs his arm in sudden pain.
"Sammy?" Dean asks the person on the floor.
"Did I miss anything?"
Dean rears back and right-hooks Sam in the cheek, "You fucking ever touch her like that again and I WILL kill you" then he rolls his eyes and collapses. Sam grabs his cheek and looks up at me, wide-eyed and confused.

Bobby comes over, leans down and picks up my crutch, helping me to keep my balance while I adjust it under my arm. I hobble to the table, sitting down. Sam sits across from me while Bobby is busy getting my foot situated on the extra chair. He then turned to DEan and pulled him up to a sitting/leaning position against the counter. I tell Bobby to get an ice pack, which he does and hands it to me. I gently lay it across Sam's arm where the binding link was burnt off. Sam smiles at me in gratitude. Dean groans and wakes up, pushing himself off the floor nd joining his brother and I at the table. Bobby promptly hands him an ice pack to put on his battered face.

"By the way, you really look like crap Dean," Sam tells his brother, testing the waters.

"Yeah, right back atcha," Dean smirks. "What was with the kissing Nic? You harboring feelings for her?"

Sam looks completely and honestly taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

"You. Kissed. Nic," Dean spat out. Sam looks at me and I nod. "Meg said she could sense that Nic was special to you. Said you felt something for her."

"No. God, no! Dean you know demons don't understand shit like feelings. I love her man," Sam says, causing Dean to growl and begin to stand up. "But like a sister!" Sam hurriedly adds. "Nothing more than a little sister, I swear."

"I'm older than you, you dork," I giggle.

"Ugh, you know what I mean," Sam tells me, grinning.

Bobby walks in slowly, looking concerned.

"What is it, Bobby?" I ask.

Bobby looks at Sam and Dean. "You boys ever hear of a hunter named Steve Wandell?"

"Why do you ask?" Dean asks, removing the ice pack from his eye.

Bobby explains, "Just heard from a friend. Wandell's dead. Murdered in his own house. You wouldn't know anything about that."

I notice Sam swallow thickly and look down in guilt. I wonder what is up there?

"No sir, never heard of the guy," a little too earnestly for my liking. The boys know something they aren't telling us.

"Dean -" Sam pleads, but Bobby interrupts.

"Good. Keep it that way. Wandell's buddies are looking for someone or something to string up, and they're not going to slow down to listen to reason. You understand what I'm saying?"

"We better hit the road. If, uh, you can remember where we parked the car," Dean looks at me solemnly. I was hoping to spend some time with him, but of course it doesn't seem I'm going to get to. Damn monsters and demons!

"Here. Take these," Bobby says, handing each of them a small metal charm.

"What are they?" Sam inquires.

"Charms. They'll fend off possession," Bobby explains. "That demon's still out there. This'll stop it from getting back up in ya."

"That sounds vaguely dirty," Dean says. Since he has scooted closer to me, I lean over and whisper in his ear. "I want you up in me." Surprisingly, Dean blushes.

"Uh, thanks," Sam smiles at Bobby but Bobby looks back at him seriously, not returning the smile. "You're welcome. You boys be careful now."

Bobby heads outside, leaving Sam, Dean and I in the kitchen.

"You okay? Sam? Is that you in there?"

Sam looks at his brother soberly. "I was awake for some of it, Dean. I watched myself kill Wandell with my own two hands; I saw the light go out in his eyes. "

"That must have been awful," I tell him, grabbing and squeezing his hand, trying to comfort him.

"That's not my point. I almost carved up Jo too," I'm stunned by his confession but hold no sympathy for the girl. Sam looks his brother in the eye. "But no matter what I did, you wouldn't shoot."

"It was the right move, Sam. It wasn't you."

"Yeah, this time. What about next time?" Sam counters.

"Sam, when Dad told me ... that I might have to kill you, it was only if I couldn't save you," Dean clarifies. "Now, if it's the last thing I do I'm gonna save you." After a pause, DEAN laughs softly.

"What?" Sam and I both look at him, questioning.

"Nothing."

"Dean, what?" Sam begs, frowning.

"Dude, you - you like, full-on had a girl inside you for like a whole week." And then he begins a full body laugh that is contagious because I start laughing too.

"That's pretty naughty."

Sam's frown cracks, and he laughs with me and Dean.