This is my first story, so please be nice. Tell me what you think.

I do not own any of the characters (except for Alex and any other original characters) and I do not own any of the storylines.

Chapter 19

Dean drove into Chicago, rain pounding down hard on his front windshield. He glanced at Sam, who was asleep. His head was leaning against the window and his mouth was wide open. Dean smiled and looked in the rearview mirror at Alex. She was also asleep, curled up into a ball on the backseat. Her head was resting on one of Sam's sweatshirts, using it as a pillow. Dean turned his attention back to the road and the rain. He began looking for a motel.

The next morning, Sam, Alex, and Dean were dressed up as maintenance workers. They entered the apartment building where the victim that they were curious about had been killed. They walked up to the front desk.

"Hi. We're with the alarm company. We wanted to inspect the murder victim's apartment," said Alex.

"Follow me," said the landlord behind the front desk.

"You said you're with the alarm company?" asked the landlord as they all walked down the hall.

"Yes ma'am," said Dean, nodding.

The landlord opened the apartment door and they all filed inside.

"We're here to see what went wrong," explained Sam.

He and Dean began walking around the apartment's perimeter while Alex continued talking to the landlord by the apartment's front door.

"You found the body right after it happened?" asked Alex.

"No, I found it a few days later. Meredith's boss called. She hadn't shown up. I knocked on the door. And that's when I noticed the smell."

The woman's forehead wrinkled as she recalled the unpleasant memory.

"Any windows open?" asked Alex.

"No, nothin'. Everything was in perfect condition. Except Meredith."

"And what condition was Meredith in?"

"She was… all over, in pieces. I'd tell you, if I didn't know better, I'd say a wild animal did it."

"Ma'am, do you mind if we look around a little bit?" asked Alex.

"Knock yourself out."

The landlord left and Dean took out his EMF, which lit up and went crazy instantly.

"I think we're dealing with a spirit," said Sam.

Alex looked at the bloodstains on the beige carpet, tilting her head in thought as she looked down at all of them.

"Hey, see if there's any masking tape," she said, her eyes never leaving the carpet.

Sam walked into the kitchen and opened a drawer, grabbing the black tape from inside the drawer. He walked back into the living room area and handed Alex the tape. She bent down and began pulling out the tape and connecting the bloodstains as Sam and Dean watched silently. She stood up after a few minutes and looked down at the symbol that she had just created.

"Ever seen that symbol before?" asked Dean.

"No, never," answered Sam and Alex.

Sam held open the bar door for Alex. She stepped inside, the stench of smoke overwhelming. Sam stepped in behind her, the door swinging shut behind him. They walked forward into the bar, scanning the place for Dean. Sam saw him first, tapping Alex on the shoulder. He pointed and Alex rolled her eyes as she saw Dean flirting with the bartender. She led Sam to a table in the middle of the very smoky bar, sitting down. Sam sat across from her and reached into his pocket, pulling out the article about Meredith's death. Alex watched as Dean walked away from the bar and joined them at the table.

"So, I just talked to the bartender."

"Did you get anything besides her number?" asked Alex, raising her eyebrows.

Sam chuckled.

"I'm a professional and I'm offended that you would think that," scoffed Dean.

He looked between their faces and grinned.

"Okay, fine."

He took a napkin out of his pocket and set it down on the table.

"Can you use your upstairs brain a little bit more?" asked Alex.

"Look, there's nothing to find out about Mered… Sam, what are you doing?" asked Dean, watching as Sam got up from out of his seat and walked over to a petite, blonde woman.

He looked over at Alex, who simply shrugged. Dean sighed and followed Sam, Alex right behind him.

Sam tapped the girl on the shoulder and she turned around, her drink in her hand almost spilling. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Sam? What are you doing here?" she exclaimed excitedly.

She reached up and hugged him, Dean and Alex exchanging confused glances behind Sam.

"I'm just in town visiting some friends. What about you, Meg? I thought you were goin' to California."

"I did. The whole scene got old, so I'm living here for a while."

Sam smiled and turned to his siblings.

"Um, this is my brother, Dean, and my twin sister, Alex."

Dean smiled and Alex looked Meg over. Meg shook both of their hands.

"So…" began Dean.

Alex rolled her eyes and grabbed Dean's sleeve, pulling him over to the bar with her.

A few minutes later, Sam joined them at the bar.

"Alright, let's head out," said Dean.

They walked outside, heading for the car.

"Who was that?" asked Alex.

"I don't know. Some girl I met once," said Sam, his hands in his jacket pockets.

"Well, I think there's somethin' weird with her. I mean, you met once and now she's here?" said Alex.

"I agree. Why don't you two check and see if there is a Meg Masters and I'll keep an eye on Meg," said Sam.

"Alright, you little pervert," said Dean, winking over at Sam.

Sam scoffed and rolled his eyes. Dean laughed and led Alex down the sidewalk outside of the bar while Sam got in the car and discreetly followed Meg.

Alex and Dean were in their motel room, sitting at the table. Dean was on the laptop while Alex flipped through some books, looking for the symbol that they had all seen at the apartment earlier.

"Hey man, she checks out," said Dean, who was now on the phone with Sam.

"Okay. What about the symbol?" asked Sam.

Dean looked over at Alex, who motioned for the cell phone. Dean handed it over to her and she began talking.

"Um, it's very old school, like before Christ. It's used to summon a demon of darkness."

"So, someone's controlling it?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm sayin'. Here's Dean again."

Alex handed the phone back over to her oldest brother.

"So, someone really knows their stuff," said Sam.

"Yeah. Now, why don't you go give that girl a private stripogram?" asked Dean.

"Bite me," said Sam, rolling his eyes.

"No, bite her."

Dean laughed as he hung up his cell phone. He threw it down onto the table and leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head.

"Why are you so immature?" asked Alex.

"Just the way I am, Lex. Deal with it."

Alex rolled her eyes as Dean leaned back too far in his chair and fell flat on the floor. She stood up and laughed, going to her bed and pulling out her I-pod. She put her headphones in her ears and flopped down on the bed, closing her eyes. Dean got up and flopped down next to her on the bed.

"I hope we figure this out soon. That Meg chick is not right," said Alex.

"Agreed."

Sam sunk down lower in his seat in the car as he watched Meg pass by on foot. Once she was far enough away where she wouldn't see or hear him, Sam got out of the car and followed her. They walked a few blocks to an abandoned warehouse. His eyebrows rose, but he went inside, entering a broken-down elevator shaft. He climbed up the elevator shaft to the top. Once he was at the top, he looked out into the room there. Meg was standing at a table that held many different dark objects. She grabbed a cup that was full of some sort of liquid and began speaking to it.

"Yes, sir. I'll be here, waiting for you."

She set the cup down and leaned forward, blowing out the four black candles that were resting on the table. She inspected the room and then left, never laying eyes on Sam. Once she was gone, Sam climbed out of the elevator shaft and walked over to the table that Meg had been standing at. He looked into the cup and saw that it was full of blood. He also saw the symbol that they had seen in Meredith's apartment drawn on a piece of paper. It was also drawn in blood.

"What the hell?" he asked himself, whispering.

Alex sat up as the motel room door swung open much later that night. Sam entered the room. He relayed everything that he had seen in the room.

"So, Meg is summoning the demon," stated Alex.

"Yeah. And someone or something is coming to that warehouse," said Sam.

"Holy shit. Look at this," said Dean.

Sam and Alex walked over to him at the table and looked at the papers that he was holding.

"Meredith's from Lawrence, Kansas. And so was the first victim," said Dean, shuffling the papers around in his hand to read them.

"Okay. We gotta stake out the warehouse," said Sam.

"Yeah, but we shouldn't do this alone," said Alex.

"Call Dad," said Sam and Dean at the same time.

"Yeah, but will he answer?" asked Alex.

Dean looked over at her.

"Why do you doubt the man so much?"

"I don't. It's just… Dean, how many times have you called him when we've needed help in the past few months and he hasn't answered? Or called back?"

Dean sighed sadly.

"I guess you're right. But we still have to believe in him. We're a family."

"Right," said Sam.

Alex nodded and smiled slightly.

Later that night, Sam, Dean, and Alex were at the warehouse. Light was streaming out of the top floor window, so they quietly headed inside and began climbing up the abandoned elevator shaft. Alex climbed in first, Sam and Dean following right behind their little sister. When she reached the top, she quietly hitched her leg onto the floor and pulled herself up into the room. Meg was standing at the table and Alex kept her eyes on Meg's back as Sam and Dean climbed up into the room. Once they were all safely in the room, they pulled out their guns and aimed them at Meg's back. They hid behind a large stack of boxes, peeking around the stack at Meg.

"Guys, hiding is kind of childish," said Meg, never turning around to look at them.

"Meg, who are you waiting for?" asked Sam.

"You."

Suddenly, Alex was flung across the room into the wall. Sam and Dean watched as she slumped to the floor, unconscious. Meg turned to look at them, grinning evilly. She waved her hand and Sam and Dean were flung into the wall as well.

Alex's eyes opened a few minutes later and she winced at the pain in her head. She felt dried blood on her cheek, but she couldn't touch it since she was tied to a pole. She looked to her right side and saw that Sam and Dean were also tied up and that they were glaring at Meg, who was smiling evilly.

"Hey, Sammy," said Alex.

Sam looked at her, relief flooding his features knowing that she was now awake.

"Your girlfriend's a bitch."

Meg looked over at Alex, the evil smile never fading from her face.

"So, the whole thing was a trap," stated Sam.

"You trapped us. Good for you. Why don't you kill us already?" asked Dean.

"This trap isn't for you," said Meg.

"Dad," whispered Alex.

Dean chuckled.

"Sweetheart, you're dumber than you look. My dad wouldn't step into a trap like this."

"Well, he does have one weakness. His children."

Meg smiled and walked over to Sam. She straddled his lap and sat down, Sam looking away from her.

"Get off of him, bitch!" yelled Alex.

Meg rolled her eyes and stood up, walking over to Alex. Sam used the switchblade that was in his hand and began to cut himself free of his bonds, glancing over at Meg ever few seconds. Meg knelt down in front of Alex.

"I was just havin' some fun," whined Meg, sticking her lips out in a pathetic pout.

"Yeah, well. Go to hell," said Alex.

Meg's smile faded and she slapped Alex across the face. Alex's head flew to the side and Meg strutted back over to Sam. Alex brought her head back to the front and glared at Meg's retreating back, spitting blood onto the floor from out of her mouth. Sam had now cut himself free and was waiting. When Meg was close enough, Sam leaned forward and head butted her. Meg fell to the floor and Sam stood up, running over to the table. He flipped it over, the cup full of blood spilling everywhere. Meg stood up, her eyes wide as she watched the shadow demons come towards her from out of the darkness. They grabbed her and drug her to the floor length window, throwing her out of it. They disappeared back into the shadows and Sam helped Dean and Alex get free as well. They walked over to the window and looked down. Meg was lying on the concrete sidewalk, blood pouring from out of her mouth and her body angled in a very weird way.

"C'mon, let's get out of here," said Sam, wiping the blood away from the cut on his left cheek.

Dean opened the door to their motel room. He walked in first and stopped in the entryway. Sam and Alex entered behind him, stopping right behind him. A man was standing by the window, his face shrouded in total darkness.

"Hey!" yelled Dean.

The man turned around and smiled at them, his teeth very bright in the complete darkness. Alex gasped and her eyes instantly filled with tears. There in front of them was their father, John Winchester.

"Dad," said Sam, his own eyes a little misty.

"Hey, kids."

John walked toward them and stopped in front of Dean. They embraced. John then turned to Alex next, smiling at her as her tears fell down her face and mixed with the blood from the cut on her cheek.

"Hi, Alex."

Alex smiled and hugged her father tight. He kissed the top of her head and let her go after a few minutes to look over at Sam.

"Hi, Sammy."

Sam smiled warmly.

"Hey, Dad."

"Dad, it was a trap. I didn't know. I'm sorry," said Dean.

"It's okay. I thought it might've been."

"Were you there?" asked Alex, wiping the blood from off of her face using her jacket sleeve.

"Yeah. I saw the girl take a swan dive. She was the bad guy, right?"

"Yes, sir," said Sam and Dean at the same time, in unison.

"Good. Doesn't surprise me. It's tried to stop me before."

"The demon has?" asked Sam.

"It knows I'm close. It knows I'm gonna kill it," said John.

"How are you gonna kill it?" asked Alex.

John smiled.

"I'm workin' on that."

"Let us come with you. We'll help," said Sam.

John shook his head and looked down at the floor.

"No, Sammy. Not yet. This demon is one scary son of a bitch. I don't want you in the crossfire," whispered John.

"You don't have to worry about us," said Sam.

"Yes, I do. I'm your father."

He looked up at Sam, smiling warmly at his middle child.

"Sam, last time I saw you, we had one hell of a fight. It's good to see you. It's been a long time."

"Too long," said Sam, hugging his dad once more.

Alex smiled and looked at Dean. John and Sam separated and John was suddenly flung across the room. Sam fell to the floor and Alex flew into the door. John was groaning as the demons tortured him. Alex crawled over to her brothers, brand new small cuts on her face now oozing blood.

"Shut your eyes!"

She grabbed a flare from the duffel bag beside her leg and set it off. She stood up with the bag on her shoulder and ran outside with her family right behind her.

Alex threw the duffel bag that was resting on her shoulder into the passenger seat of the Impala. She shut the car door and turned to look at her family.

"We don't have much time," said Alex.

She turned to get into the car, but Dean put a hand on her shoulder and turned her around.

"Wait. Dad, you can't come with us," said Dean.

Alex shrugged his hand off of her shoulder and stared at Dean.

"What are you talking about?" asked Sam.

"Listen to me! We almost got Dad killed in there. They're gonna use us to get to him. Meg was right. He's vulnerable when he's with us. He's stronger without us around," said Dean, looking at the ground as Alex began to cry softly.

Sam put a hand onto John's shoulder.

"Dad, please. I need to be a part of this fight."

"You gotta trust me, son. You've got to let me go."

Sam removed his hand from his father's shoulder and watched as John walked over to his car. John climbed inside and rolled down the driver's side window.

"Be careful, kids."

He drove away, his tires squealing.

"Come on," said Sam gruffly.

He got into the car and looked through the windshield at Dean and Alex. Dean stepped toward her, but Alex stepped back from him.

"Alex, don't do this."

"Why would you do that? We can't keep him safe if he's gone!"

Alex looked over at Dean, tears on her cheeks.

"I just want my daddy, Dean. I miss him."

She burst out into heart breaking sobs and Dean grabbed her then, pulling her into his chest.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry," said Dean, rubbing her back gently.

They stood there for a few minutes until Alex was able to get into the car. She climbed in the backseat and laid across it, crying softly as Dean drove.

Sam looked at his cell phone and saw that it was 4:15 A.M. He sighed and glanced in the backseat. Alex was asleep, curled up into a ball. He looked straight ahead out of the windshield.

"She asleep?" asked Dean.

"Yeah, finally. She cried herself to sleep."

"Not the first time," said Dean.

Sam grimaced.

"Sorry. I forget. Well, if you wanna sleep, go ahead."

Sam nodded and closed his eyes, falling into a restless sleep almost instantly.