Lily decided to stay away from Dean. If he was trying to work out a life of hunting with Lisa and Ben still in it, there was no way she was going to tag along. She wouldn't put herself through that kind of emotional torture. The good news was that they weren't shutting her out anymore. The monster problem was on the rise, and everyone needed to pitch in. Bobby being out of his wheelchair definitely helped. He had surprised her with that good news when she first visited him after Sam jumped into the pit.
She worked a few jobs with Bobby when the boys weren't around. She worked one or two with Garth, but most of her time was spent solo as the next year passed. She thought it was better that way. She couldn't afford to become dependent on, or attached to, anyone else. Her dad, Ellen, Jo... all dead. Then Bobby called to tell her about Rufus. She had only worked with Rufus twice, both times with Ellen, but a loss was a loss. Rufus was a good hunter.
She got a frantic call from Bobby one night while she was on the road. The man rarely sounded scared, but he did that night.
"I need your help, kid."
"What's up?"
"I know you don't wanna be around Dean, but you're it. I called Garth and he's too far to make it here. He said you were close."
"Yeah, I'm about an hour away. I was meeting up with him in Washington. Headed there now. What's wrong?"
"Cas popped Purgatory. He let out some pretty nasty SOBs. Leviathan."
"Leviathan? As in the ancient Biblical beast Leviathan?"
"Yeah, you know it?"
"Know the name. Know they're not nice. Can't tell you much else."
"Well, we have some right here in Sioux Falls. Cas is gone, Sam is out of commission..."
"Why?"
"His hell wall broke... he's hallucinatin'."
"A lot's happened since we last talked."
"No kiddin'. You helpin' or what?"
"I'll get there as soon as I can."
When she finally pulled up to Bobby's, her heart sank. It had been completely gutted by a fire. She got out of her car and ran toward what used to be Bobby's home.
"Bobby!"
"I'm here!"
He came out of a hole in the wall.
"Everything's gone. Let's get outta here, quick."
They each got in their own cars. Bobby pulled out first and Lily followed. Once they were far enough away, they pulled over into a wooded area to talk. Bobby got out of the car, digging in his pockets.
"Dammit."
"What's wrong?"
"Dropped my phone back there."
"Why did we have to leave so fast?"
"'Cause that fire was no accident. Those monsters know who I am... by name. Looks like they're comin' after me."
"What about Sam and Dean?"
"Balls... they were supposed to meet me at the house." Bobby reached for his phone, forgetting he didn't have it. "Balls!"
"Here," Lily said, "use mine."
Bobby called both Sam and Dean, but got no answer. "We have to get back. You keep trying their phones."
He handed her phone back to her and they made their way back to the house. Bobby was going near ninety miles per hour. The road was empty. He slowed only once when they saw flashing lights ahead. It turned out to be an ambulance heading in the opposite direction, and Bobby picked up speed again once it was gone.
When they made it back to the house they found the Impala, but no Sam or Dean. They walked around the yard and Bobby saw that a car he had hoisted up was now totaled on the ground. As he got closer, he saw a hand and black goo beneath it. Lily walked up behind him and saw it as well.
"That's not blood," she said.
"No, it's not."
"You think this was Sam and Dean's work?"
"I know it was. Question is, where are they?"
A look of panic came over Lily's face. "Bobby, that ambulance..."
"Balls!"
He began a brisk walk back in the direction of his car. Lily jogged a few steps to catch up, then stayed with him."
"We gotta get over to Sioux Falls General."
"Is that where they would take them?"
"It's the closest... and it's got monsters on staff."
"Crap!"
"We need a cover goin' in, in case we get stopped. You got a suit with you?"
"Always."
"Good. We gotta get changed. Sun will be up soon, and we'll go in."
Bobby was able to find out which room Dean was in and went to him while Lily tracked down Sam's location. She found out he was in MRI and made her way to Dean's room. Bobby was helping Dean into bed when she walked in. Dean stared at her for a moment.
"I think I'm hallucinating," he said.
Bobby turned to see what Dean was looking at and saw Lily in the doorway.
"You're not hallucinating. That's really Lily."
"What are you doing here?"
"Saving your ass, Winchester." She looked back to Bobby. "Sam's in MRI."
"Okay, you get him dressed and meet me at the ambulance dock. I'll get Sam."
Bobby left and Lily got Dean's clothes together.
"Let's go. Hurry up."
"You're still pissed at me, aren't you?"
"Now's not the time, Dean."
He grabbed her arm and she looked into his eyes. "You know I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted to keep you safe."
She noticed his eyes were sort of glazed over, and his words were slurring. "Are you high?"
"Morphine."
"Great."
She got him dressed and they made their way down the hall, trying to seem casual. They made it to the ambulance dock and opened the passenger door just in time to see the doctor and his nurse come out. Lily shoved Dean in and climbed in after him.
"Go, go, go!" Dean shouted.
Bobby peeled out and they didn't stop until the were far away.