One Week Ago…

Eli tossed himself into his car with frustration. He'd intended on staying at the library until closing to get more studying done. He had a test tomorrow. Of course he already read the book completely through twice now, but he wanted to make sure he wasn't missing anything. He got a full ride to Harvard Medical because of his grades. He couldn't start to falter now… except that he forgot his school book. Eli knew exactly where it was too – sitting on the kitchen counter right next to his now extremely cold full cup of coffee.

After several weeks of begging, Lex finally caved and allowed Eli to go on a hunt with her. Eli had been on hunts before both with her and John but since he started college, Lex became adamant about him and his schooling. She wanted him to have as normal of a life as possible. She wanted him to concentrate completely on his education. He loved Lex for it, but he hated that she would leave for days on end and him never knowing if she would be coming home.

Since the sudden appearance of Sam and Dean Winchester, Eli began to see the possibilities. He saw what they had, what they were. He wanted that. He told Lex as much. He didn't want her to deal with the burden of this world alone. He wanted to be able to help her when he could. He wanted to share half of the weight she carried.

The deal was simple, he had to continue with his college and keep up on his grades and he would be allowed to go hunting. So far he was doing well, except of course when he forgets his book at home….

The hunt had been a three tonight event. There was a demon terrorizing a small community out in Pinckney Michigan. After a twelve hour drive there, two nights of stake outs, a crazy showdown, and a twelve hour drive home, both siblings were beyond exhausted. Eli was lucky to have a sister unwilling to waiver and forced him to sleep on the way home. He was able to get a few hours of studying in and a couple of hours of shut eye before they got home earlier in the morning. However, his exhaustion caught up to him because not only did he forget his coffee and school book, he forgot his laptop too. Taking handwritten notes sucked.

But Eli knew there was nothing he could do. He would just have to make it home, have a quick dinner and then spend the rest of the night studying. All the while making sure Lex never found out. He wasn't sure how he'd pull it off but he had to or else Lex wouldn't allow him to come with her next time.

A cold shiver went down his back as he saw the dark clouds looming up the road. Eli didn't recall there being a storm tonight, but the clouds were close and he did live in New England. The only consistent thing about the weather – it always changed. He wouldn't be surprised if it didn't start to rain before he reached the house.

The house grew over the horizon. To Eli's surprise it was pitch black. Eli typically expected this when Lex was on a hunt, but as far as he knew, she was supposed to be home tonight. Eli hit the garage door button with some annoyance because Lex bailed without telling him. But strangely he was a little relieved that he wouldn't have to hide from her all night. As he pulled into the garage he noticed Lex's car was still there. Strange, he thought stepping out. The only time Lex left her car behind was when she was on a hunt with someone else. But besides John, she only knew Sam, Dean and Bobby. John was dead. Bobby and Lex never hunted together as far as he knew. Eli could only speculate that Lex was working with the Winchester brothers.

Like Lex, Eli grew up hearing amazing tales about the infamous Winchester boys. The stories John would tell. Before meeting them, Eli suspected there was some creative storytelling on John's part. After meeting them, Eli wondered if anything was made up at all. Unlike Lex, who was enthralled with them, Eli was still a bit unsure. It didn't help that the first time they met, Lex ran off intending to die for them without giving a thought to what he would do without her. Even now, it was a sore spot between them. But if Lex was going to go off hunting, he much preferred she did it with someone to watch her back, even if it was the Winchesters.

Eli also didn't like their hot cold relationship either. He could see how Sam made Lex feel. She tried to hide it, but when she talked with him, even about cases, her voice was get a little higher and smile would creep across her face. They were desperate to stay away from either. Yellow Eyes made it very clear he wanted Sam and the other children, for god knows what, and then there was Lex… Yellow Eyes also made it known he was interested in her too, yet they'd been unable to determine why. It was a good idea they stay away from each other, but yet, no matter how hard they tried, they always ended up bumping into each other in the end.

Eli knew he was just going to have to get over it. But this was his big sister. It was his job to worry. And he would make sure she knew he was angry too. He quickly pulled out his cell phone and dialed Lex's number as he strolled into the house. The hairs on the back of his neck started to rise as he heard "Livin' on a Pray' by Bon Jovi go off upstairs. Lex would forget her phone when she went into town for groceries but never for a hunt. Perhaps she went to grab food, he thought. But even then his heart started to race. He couldn't shed this feeling like something bad happened.

He dashed up the stairs and down the hall to her room. He threw her bedroom door open and saw her still sound asleep. He laughed at himself and flicked on her bedroom light. "Geez Lex! Get your lazy ass out of bed. It's almost six!" No response. Eli's brow furrowed. Lex was a light sleeper. She woke up to pretty much anything. "Lex, come on, this isn't funny." He said stalking over to her. "Lex!" He reached out his hand and shook her. "Lex, seriously." He shook her even harder. "Lex! Wake up!" Eli slapped her cheeks a few times. "Lexi wake up, please." In desperation, Eli hit her across the cheek. Still nothing.

Eli raced to his room and grabbed a small medical bag he carried on hunts. He always made sure to bring smelling salts with him just in case someone was knocked out, which happened more often than not. He brought it back to her room and opened the vial. Nothing, it was like Lex was Sleeping Beauty. Then Eli remembered the hunt. Fear gripped at his heart as he reached for his phone.

A sound from behind caused him to jump. He ran to the window only to realize it was just thunder. The storm finally landed. Eli let out his breathe began to dial Sam's number when he caught a reflection in the window. A man was standing behind him, a ghost… Eli barely moved out of the way as the man's fist went through the window. Eli fell to the floor. His phone slid from his hand and across the floor.

Eli spun around to see the ghost standing before him. The ghost shifted in and out of existence, but Eli got a good enough look to know who he was. James McTolli. James had a drunkard father who beat his mother and him. After so many nights of being the man's punching bag, James ran to get the ax from the garage. He wasn't strong enough to his father on. The bastard was able to get the ax away and in a single swing, cracked it over James's head. Instead of calling the police, James's mother helped bury the body in their basement. Six month later, both parents were found dead. After a year on the market and the house sold. Within the week, the father was dead. Lex and Eli hunted James down and burned his body.

James was Eli's first hunt, and the one he remembered the most vividly, even in his nightmares.

Eli scrabbled to his feet as an ax landed right where he just was. He scooped up his phone and ran out of the room. Just as he closed the door, James vanished. Eli pushed himself against the door in relief that was short lived. A screamed echoed through the house. Lex. Eli ran down the hall only stop in a dime. This hall… it was… different. Pictures hung that had long since been taken down, and the color was almost new. Eli's heart started to race as he ran down the hall frantic about what he was about to find, hoping he'd be wrong.

But he wasn't.

Mom, Andrew their step father, Leon and his younger self were there. They were tied down. And a man, a man he now knew as Yellow Eyes, walked behind Leon as he screamed out in pain. His arm had been stripped of his flesh. Gashes and cuts littered his body. Blood was soaking into his clothing. Mom and Andrew were begging the man to stop. Lex – twelve year old Lex – was crying. She was still wearing her soccer uniform. Even though Eli remembered this night, the vision was far too vivid to be his. This was Lex's nightmare, the one she relived over and over again.

Yellow Eyes smiled taking the knife and running it across Leon's other arm. He screamed out. "Don't do it Lex! Don't let him win!"

"Lexi, you can make this stop. All you have to do is make a deal with me."

Lex's eyes filled with tears but her voice was stern. "Screw you!"

Eli made a move forward. Yellow Eyes shot up and titled his head in curiosity. "It seems I've missed one. Come have a seat with the rest of them…" He said using his power to drag Eli to the ground. Eli couldn't move. Yellow Eyes smiled grabbing him by the throat. "And who might you be?"

Eli glanced over and saw Lex – no longer twelve years old – tied to the chair. She was fighting her restraints with utter desperation.

"Lex!"

"Eli! No please! Leave them alone…." Lex screamed pulling and pushing even harder. "Please I'll mak…."

"No!" Eli screamed. "Don…"

"Shut up!" The demon screamed throwing Eli. He crashed through the back door and fell into the pool. He pulled himself to the surface and got out as quickly as he could. He ran back to the door only to find it completely intact, and the room just as it always was. Eli ran back into the room and found his cell phone where it fell. Before something else could appear, Eli ran out of the house and down the driveway. When he reached the gate, he turned around to see the clouds looming over the house and expanding.

He dialed Sam's number.