At Hell's Gates

by mrsemmettcullen12

What if Sam had a twin sister? This is the story of Dean and Sam with a sister, Alex.

24. Don't Fear the Reaper

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 I do not own any of the storylines.

Chapter 24

Alex sat up and took in her surroundings. She was in a hospital bed. Sunlight was streaming through her window in the corner of the room. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and walked out into the hallway. There were no signs of her family anywhere so she walked until she found the nurses station.

"Hi. I need to find my family."

The nurse sitting behind the desk acted like she didn't even see Alex standing directly in front of her. Alex waved a hand in front of the woman's face, but still nothing happened. Alex walked back down the hall into her hospital room and she immediately stopped in the doorway. Alex saw herself lying in a hospital bed. She was hooked up to a ventilator, unconscious. An IV was in her left arm and a bag above her head was dripping fluids into her body. Alex entered the room and stood off to the side of her body as Sam entered the room only a few seconds later.

"Sammy. You look great," she said.

Sam walked up to the edge of her hospital bed.

"Tell me you can hear me," pleaded Alex.

Sam said nothing and just stared sadly down at his sister in the bed. Dean entered the room then and walked over to Sam. They embraced and the doctor stepped into the room then as well.

"Your father's awake," said the doctor.

"Doc, what about our sister?" asked Dean, ignoring the doctor's initial comment.

"Well, she sustained serious injury. Contusions, broken limbs. But it's the head trauma I'm concerned about," explained the doctor.

"What can we do?" asked Sam.

"We won't know her full condition until she wakes up. If she wakes up," said the doctor.

"If?" asked Sam.

The doctor nodded sadly.

"Doc, you do everything that you can to fix her. Do you understand?" asked Dean.

The doctor nodded and then he left the room. Alex looked down at herself sadly.

Sam and Dean were in their dad's room. John sat up slowly in his bed. He had a Band-Aid over his right eyebrow and his lip was healing from where it had been busted open.

"What else did the doctor say about Alex?" asked John.

"Nothin.' But we'll find someone," said Sam.

"We'll check under every rock. Where's the Colt?" asked John.

"Your daughter's dying and you want to see the Colt?" asked Sam, his eyebrows raised as he scoffed at his father.

"It's in the trunk. Bobby's takin' care of it," replied Dean.

"You two go and meet Bobby and bring me back the Colt."

The boys left and Alex's spirit watched them go.

Sam, Dean, and Bobby stood in front of the crushed Impala, silent. They were at Bobby's house.

"Look. I say we empty out the trunk and throw away the rest of this crap," said Bobby.

Dean glared over at him and Sam grabbed his laptop from the passenger seat. He inspected it while he held it in his hands.

"No," said Dean.

Sam sighed as part of his laptop fell down into the dirt. He set the remaining parts on the hood of the Impala as Bobby and Dean began walking around the Impala, inspecting the damage.

"There's nothin' to fix. The frame's a pretzel, the engine's ruined. There's barely any parts worth salvaging," explained Bobby.

"Listen, Bobby. If there's only one working part, that's enough. We're not givin' up," said Dean, looking Bobby directly in the eyes.

Bobby sighed, but simply shrugged.

"Alright. You've got it."

Dean nodded curtly and Sam removed a list from his jeans pocket. He unfolded it and handed it over to Bobby.

"Dad wanted you to get this stuff for him."

Bobby took the list and looked it over, his eyebrows scrunching together as he read through it quickly.

"What's John want with this?"

"Protection from the demon," answered Dean.

Bobby looked up at him, his eyes finding Dean's from under the bill of his baseball cap. He said nothing, but resumed reading the list from John Winchester. Bobby looked guilty as he read the list.

"Bobby. What's goin' on?" asked Sam.

John sat in a chair at his daughter's bedside. He was staring off into nothing and he wasn't saying a word. Alex's spirit stood beside him.

"Come on, Dad. You've got to help me. I've got to get better. You haven't even tried. Aren't you gonna do anything at all?"

Alex walked over to the other side of the bed and began to hear a strange rumbling noise.

"What is that?"

She walked into the hall and something quickly brushed past her. She began walking down the hall, looking for the mysterious thing. She walked into a room and saw a nurse lying on the floor, gasping for breath.

Sam and Dean stepped into their father's hospital room. John was sitting up in his bed and he glanced at them as his sons entered his hospital room.

"Guys, tell me you can hear me. There's something in this hospital," said Alex.

"Dad, the stuff you asked for summons demons. Not protects you from them!" yelled Sam.

"I have a plan, Sam," said John calmly, ignoring his youngest son's outburst.

"That's exactly my point! Alex is dying and you have a plan!"

"You care more about killing this demon than saving your own daughter," stated Dean calmly.

"Don't tell me how I feel. I'm doing this for Alex," said John.

"How?" asked Sam.

"I thought that you would help. This demon killed your mother and your girlfriend," said John.

"She was my mom, too. Do you realize that Alex looks exactly like her?" asked Dean.

John nodded sadly.

"She's the spitting image of her," whispered John as a tear rolled gently down his cheek.

Dean looked over at Sam.

"I should've never let you come on this hunt," said John to Sam, his gaze now trained onto Sam.

"Shut up!" yelled Alex.

She knocked over a glass of water that was sitting on John's bedside table. The boys all looked at one another guiltily.

"Dude, I full on Swayzed that motherfucker," said Alex in shock.

Suddenly, she fell to her knees with tremendous pain and began flickering in and out. Nurses ran past the room and down the hall.

"Are they going to Alex's?" asked John.

Sam and Dean ran out into the hallway and over to the doorway of Alex's hospital room. Nurses and doctors were at Alex's bed, trying to shock her heart into beating once more. The screen said that she was flat lined, her heart not beating.

"No," whispered Sam.

Alex watched as a spirit floated above her body in the bed and tried to take her life force out of her.

"Get away from me!" yelled Alex.

The mysterious creature or spirit didn't listen.

"I said, get back!" yelled Alex.

The spirit creature flew out of the hospital room while Sam and Dean looked around the room, wondering why they had suddenly heard their little sister's voice.

Sam and Dean stood outside Alex's hospital room, looking at the nurses who were still tending to Alex.

"Don't worry. I'll get that thing before it gets me," said Alex.

She headed down the hallway when she heard someone yelling.

"What now?"

She got to the stairs and saw a very attractive man standing at the top of the stairs and waving his hand in front of everyone that passed by him.

"Can you see me?" asked Alex.

The guy whirled around.

"Yeah."

Alex hurried up the stairs.

"Just calm down. What's your name?"

"Jack."

"Good. I'm Alex."

"What's happening to me?" asked Jack.

Alex simply shrugged as she also bit her lip nervously.

Alex and Jack stood in front of Jack's room a few short minutes later to see Jack's body in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines.

"I don't understand. I just came in for an appendectomy."

"I hate to bear bad news, but… I think there were some complications," said Alex.

"It's just a dream," said Jack, closing his eyes.

"Jack."

Jack opened his eyes and looked at Alex.

"It's not a dream," said Alex.

"So, we're going to die," stated Jack.

"No. We'll be fine," said Alex.

"What do you mean, you heard something?" asked John.

"I mean, we heard Alex's voice," said Sam.

"Do you think that her spirit could be around?" asked Dean.

"Anything's possible," said John, shrugging his shoulders.

"Well, there's one way to know for sure."

Sam headed out the door, leaving Dean and John behind, confused.

Alex and Jack were walking down the hospital hallway together.

"Well, I've got to say, I'm impressed," said Alex.

"With what?" asked Jack.

"With you. You're taking this whole thing pretty well. Maybe even a little better than me."

They stopped walking when they reached the stairs and Jack looked over at Alex. He smiled.

"Don't get me wrong. I was pretty freaked at first, but now… I'm dealing."

"So, you're okay with dying?"

Jack scoffed.

"No. Of course not. But it's out of my control."

Alex smiled grimly.

"That's bullshit. You always have a choice. You can either roll over and die or you can keep figh…"

A team of doctors and nurses rushed past the two of them then and Alex ran after them, Jack remaining on the steps. Alex ran into a room where the doctors were trying to save a little girl. The same spirit that had tried to take Alex's life was hovering over the girl.

"Get away from her!"

Alex rushed into the room and over to the spirit, who disappeared. The doctors tried to save the little girl, but it was too late.

"Time of death: 5:11 P.M.," said one of the nurses sadly.

Alex sighed and ran a hand over her face.

Sam pushed open the door to Alex's hospital room and stood next to the bed, looking down at Alex's still form and sighing sadly. Dean sat in a chair on the opposite side of the bed, looking over at Sam.

"Hey," Sam said to Alex.

"I think maybe you're around. And if you are… there's one way we can talk."

Sam pulled an Ouija board out of a paper bag and sat in the middle of the room on the floor. Dean sat down next to him, smirking.

"I feel like I'm at a slumber party."

Sam glared over at him.

"Alex, are you here?"

Alex, in her spirit form, sighed, but sat across from her brothers on the opposite side of the board. She touched the end of the pointer and moved it to yes.

"Oh, my God," whispered Dean.

Sam smiled. Sam's hand that rested on the pointer was moved by Alex to spell out "hunt."

"Hunt? Lex, what are you hunting?" asked Dean.

"What is it?" asked Sam.

"I don't think it's killing people. I think it's taking them. When their time is up," said Alex.

"A reaper," stated Sam when Alex had spelled it out on the board.

"Shit. Alex, is it after you?" asked Dean.

Alex moved the pointer to "yes" once more.

"Fuck," whispered Dean.

"If it's here naturally, there's no way to stop it," said Sam.

Alex looked up at them.

"You can't kill death. I'm fucked, Sam."

"No. There's got to be a way. Dad will know what to do."

Sam headed for his father's room, Dean right behind him. They walked down the hall and turned the corner, stopping in the doorway. The room was completely empty, John Winchester nowhere in sight.

John pushed open the door to the hospital's boiler room. He walked far into it and set his large duffel bag down onto the cold cement floor. He took out a piece of chalk and began to draw symbols on the floor.

Sam and Dean returned to Alex's room and sat on the edge of her bed.

"Dad wasn't in his room, but I got his journal. Maybe there's something in here," said Sam, opening the journal.

He flipped through it, finally landing on a page about reapers. Sam and Dean skimmed the page as Alex looked over their shoulders.

"Son of a bitch," muttered Alex, leaving the room.

Alex walked into Jack's room to see Jack sitting on his now empty hospital bed. There were no beeping breathing machines and no Jack lying down, sick, in the bed.

"Hi, Alex."

Alex walked over to stand in front of Jack. He was wearing an Armani suit and he looked like a normal person.

"Did you know that reapers can alter human perception? I didn't. So, they can make themselves appear however they want. Like… a handsome, friendly guy."

"I was wondering when you'd figure it out."

"I should've known. But I still can't figure out the body."

"It's my sandbox. It was the only way you would talk to me," said Jack.

"Fine. What the hell do you want to talk about?" asked Alex, anger in her eyes.

Jack stood up then.

"It's your time to go, Alex."

Jack touched her cheek gently and Alex stepped back and glared over at him.

John Winchester sat in the middle of the symbol that he had drawn on the hospital's basement floor, chanting in Latin. He grimaced as he cut his palm with his pocketknife for the ritual. His blood dripped down into a small bowl and John stood up. He looked around and a hand touched his shoulder.

"What are you doing down here?" asked a man.

"I can explain," said John.

"Right. Follow me."

The man began heading toward the door, but John didn't follow. He pulled out the Colt and aimed it at the man.

"Hey."

The man turned around.

"How stupid do you think I am?" asked John.

The man smirked and his eyes turned bright yellow.

"Do you really want an honest answer to that? You conjuring me, John. I'm surprised."

"I could always shoot you."

"You could always miss."

The yellow-eyed demon laughed loudly.

"Did you really think that you could trap me?"

"Oh, I don't want to trap you."

John lowered the Colt.

"I want to make a deal."

Sam and Dean stood in Alex's room, looking at her non-moving body.

"Sis, are you here?" asked Sam.

He looked around the room.

"We couldn't find anything in the book. We don't know how to help you," said Sam.

Dean sighed and rubbed his face with his hands.

"But we'll keep trying, alright? As long as you keep fighting," said Dean.

"Alex, you're my twin. You've got to hold on. We were just starting to be a family again."

Sam looked over at Dean, who smiled sadly.

"You have to let me go. It's not my time," said Alex.

She looked at Jack.

"Stage Three. Bargaining."

"I'm serious. My family needs me. We're kind of in the middle of this… war."

"The fight's over," said Jack.

"No, it isn't."

"It is for you. Alex, you're not the first soldier I've taken. They feel the same. The battle goes on without them."

"My brothers could die without me."

"They might."

Alex walked behind Jack toward the window.

"It's an honorable death," explained Jack.

"There's no such thing. My corpse will rot in the ground. My family will die. I'm not going with you. I don't care what you do or say," said Alex.

"Well, I can't make you come with me. But you're not getting back in your body. So, you can stay here for years," said Jack.

"What are you saying?"

Alex whirled around then.

"Alex, how do you think angry spirits are born? They can't move on. And you're about to become one."

"It's very unseemly. Making deals with devils. How do I know this isn't a trick?" asked the yellow-eyed demon, eyeing John very carefully.

"It's no trick. I'll give you the Colt and the bullet, but you've got to help Alex. You've got to bring her back," said John.

"If only your kids knew how much their daddy loved them."

"It's a good trade. You care a hell of a lot more about this gun than you do Alex."

"Don't be so sure. She killed people very close to me. But you're right. She isn't a threat. Neither is Dean. Or Sam."

John looked down at the floor and the demon looked over at John.

"You know the truth, right? About Sammy and the other children?"

"I've known for a while," whispered John.

"But Sam doesn't, does he? You've been playing dumb."

John looked over at the demon.

"Can you bring Alex back? Yes or no."

"No. But it's not a problem. I know someone who can."

"Good. Before I give you the gun, I'm going to want to make sure that Alex is okay with my own eyes," said John.

"John, don't you trust me?" asked the demon.

John looked him in the eye and the demon smirked.

"Fine. You can see your precious little girl."

"So, we have a deal?" asked John.

"Nope, not quite yet. You have to sweeten the pot," replied the demon.

Alex was sitting on Jack's hospital bed with Jack sitting beside her.

"It's time to put the pain behind you," said Jack.

"And go where?" asked Alex.

"Sorry. I can't tell you. So, what's it going to be?" asked Jack.

Alex turned to answer him when she heard electricity buzzing. Alex stood up and so did Jack.

"What are you doing that for?" asked Alex.

"I'm not doing it," replied Jack.

Clouds of black smoke began to enter the room through the vent. Alex and Jack turned to face it.

"You can't do this! Get away!" yelled Jack.

A cloud of black smoke entered his body and he turned to Alex, his eyes now yellow.

"Today's your lucky day, kid."

He touched Alex's forehead with the palm of his hand.

Alex gasped as she awoke in her own body and sat up. She continued coughing as Sam and Dean quickly rushed into the room and over to their sister's side.

"Alex!" yelled Sam.

"Help! We need help!" called Dean out the door.

Alex was sitting up in her hospital bed, Dean and Sam by her side and her doctor at the foot of her bed.

"I can't explain it. You have some kind of angel watching over you."

The doctor smiled gently at Alex and left the room. Alex looked over at her brothers.

"You said a reaper was after me?"

Sam nodded.

"How'd I ditch it?"

"You got us. You really don't remember anything?" asked Dean.

"Nope. There's this pit in my stomach. I feel like something's wrong," said Alex.

A knock sounded on her door and all three turned to look over at i. John stood in the doorway. His arm was in a sling and his cheek had a healing gash on it. He smiled at his daughter.

"How are you feeling?" he asked in his rough, fatherly voice.

"Fine, I guess. I'm alive," said Alex.

"That's what matters."

"Where were you last night?" asked Sam.

"I had some things to take care of," said John.

"Well, that's specific."

Alex rolled her eyes.

"Come on, Sam," sighed Dean.

"Did you go after the demon?" asked Sam, ignoring his pleading siblings.

"No," answered John.

"You know, why don't I believe you right now?" asked Sam.

Alex sighed and counted the specks of dust on the floor. Dean looked between Sam and John. John stepped further into the room.

"Can we not fight? Please?"

Sam's forehead wrinkled with confusion.

"Sammy, I've always done the best that I could. I just don't want to fight anymore, okay?"

"Dad, are you alright?" asked Sam.

John smiled sadly.

"Yeah. Hey, Sam. Would you mind getting me a cup of coffee?"

"Yeah, sure."

Sam glanced over at Dean, who shrugged. Sam gently kissed Alex's forehead and then he left the room. John watched him leave.

"What is it?" asked Dean.

John looked over at him.

"You know, when you were a kid, I'd come home from a hunt and after what I'd seen, I'd be wrecked. And you'd put your hand on my shoulder and say, 'It's alright, Dad."

John had tears in his eyes and so did Alex, who was looking over at Dean.

"I put too much on your shoulders. You took care of me, Alex, and Sammy. And you never once complained. I am so proud of you."

"Why are you saying this stuff?" asked Dean.

John walked over to Alex. He smiled at her and gently kissed her forehead, his lips lingering and his eyes closing as he did.

"I love you, baby girl. So much more than you will ever know," he whispered.

"I love you too, Daddy," said Alex through her tears.

"I want you to watch out for the twins," said John, looking at Dean once he had pulled away from Alex.

"Dad, you know I will. You're scarin' me though."

John let a tear fall down his face and Dean looked over at him.

"Don't be scared, Dean."

John leaned down and whispered into Dean's ear. Dean looked at him, shocked once he was done. John smiled sadly and left the room.

John entered his now empty hospital room. He set the Colt down onto a table in the center of the room. He looked at the shadowy figure in front of him.

"Okay."

Sam walked down the hospital hallway with a paper coffee cup in one hand and his other hand in his empty jeans pocket. He passed by his father's hospital room and glanced inside. John was lying on the floor, unmoving.

"Dad?" whispered Sam.

He stopped in front of the hospital room's doorway and dropped the coffee cup, splattering it all over the bottom of his jeans and his shoes. He rushed into the room, yelling for help.

John was lying in a hospital bed with a team of doctors and nurses around him. Dean, Sam, and Alex stood in the doorway and watched as an oxygen mask was put onto their father's face.

"That's our dad!" yelled Alex.

She turned into Sam's chest then and sobbed while Sam held back tears of his own.

"Still no pulse," said one nurse.

She removed the oxygen mask from their father's face.

"Okay. I'm calling it. Time of death: 10:41 A.M."

Alex sobbed even harder and Sam stroked her hair. They slowly slumped down onto the ground in front of the doorway, Alex in Sam's lap as she sobbed harder.

Alex was lying on her side of the motel room bed that she and Sam shared. She was curled into a ball and staring off into nothing. She had been in a catatonic state for the last few hours, not sleeping, eating, or drinking anything at all. Sam and Dean were sitting down at the table as Sam stared at Alex on their bed.

"Dean, she's been like that since this morning. It's almost five now."

"I don't know what to do, Sam. We're going to give Dad a funeral tonight and she's going to freak out."

Dean looked at his little sister and sighed. He took a sip of his cold coffee and Sam sighed sadly. He stood up and walked over to his little sister. He knelt down next to the bed and looked her directly in the face.

"Alex, honey, you have to get up. Dad wouldn't want you to be like this. Dean and I are worried about you. Please get up," pleaded Sam.

He reached out and stroked her hair gently. She looked at him and nodded. She slowly sat up and brushed her hair off her face.

"You're right. I'm going to go shower and then we can look for a new gig."

She smiled weakly over at Sam and he smiled back. He kissed her forehead and she grabbed some clothes from her duffel bag. She walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. A minute later, Sam and Dean heard the water start to run and Sam looked at Dean, who smiled sadly.

Alex stepped into the steaming hot shower and she sighed as the hot water hit her aching muscles. She stood under the spray, thinking about the car accident that had cost her father his life. She began sobbing and she set her back against the shower wall. She slid down the wall slowly and sat on the floor of the bathtub. She put her knees to her chest and cried loudly, the shower hitting and pelting her body with water. After a few minutes of uncontrollable sobbing, she was soaking wet. She heard the bathroom door open and seconds later, the water was shut off. Someone wrapped her in a towel and pulled her out of the tub and onto the bathroom floor.

"Ssh, it'll be alright," whispered Sam as he stroked Alex's wet hair.

"No. It's my fault he's dead," said Alex.

"No, it isn't. He died protecting us. Don't ever think that it's your fault."

Sam sternly looked at her and Alex nodded, burying her head into his chest. He continued to rock back and forth as he soothed her. Sam's shirt was getting wet, but he didn't notice. Dean stood in the bathroom doorway and watched his younger siblings. He sat down on the floor with them.

"We have to stick together. We're all we have left. Each other," said Dean.

Alex looked at him from Sam's chest and nodded. She held out her hand and Dean took it, squeezing her fingers gently.

Alex stood in between Sam and Dean as they burned their father's dead body. They were giving him a Viking funeral, so the body was wrapped in cloth and set on a raised platform. Alex stared at the burning body, tears streaming down her face. She looked at Dean, who was showing no emotion and just staring at the rising flames. She glanced at Sam, who was crying. She stepped over closer to his side and hugged him, wrapping her arms around his middle. Sam put his arms around her waist and cried with her. After a few minutes, Sam stopped crying and straightened up.

"Before he…"

Sam broke down again and Alex looked at him sadly. Sam composed himself again and turned to Dean.

"Before he… did he say anything to you?" asked Sam.

Alex glanced at her oldest brother, biting her lip.

"No," said Dean.

His eyes never moved away from the flames and their father's dead body.

"Nothing."

Sam looked at Alex. She hugged him tightly one last time and then let go, returning to stand in between her brothers.

A week later, Dean was under the Impala. He was fixing the damage that had been done from the crash. His jean clad legs were sticking out from under the car as Alex and Sam walked outside and over to the car. They were both wearing jeans and t-shirts.

"How's your car coming along?" asked Sam.

"Slow," answered Dean.

Alex and Sam inspected the car.

"Yeah. Need any help?" asked Alex.

Dean dropped the wrench he was holding and part of the car fell to the ground. Alex grimaced as Dean cursed.

"What, you two under a hood? I think I'll pass," joked Dean.

"Need anything else then?" asked Alex.

Dean slid out from under the car and looked at her.

"Stop it, Alex."

He stood up and walked over to a table that had tools lying all across its surface.

"Stop asking if I need anything. I'm okay, I promise."

He began messing with some of the tools and Alex sighed sadly.

"Alright. But, Dean, it's just that we've been at Bobby's for over a week now and you haven't brought up Dad once."

Alex bit her lip as Dean set down the tools in his hands and turned to face her and Sam.

"You're right. Maybe I should lay my head on your shoulder and we can cry together."

He smirked sarcastically and walked back over to the Impala. Alex threw up her hands in frustration and Sam rolled his eyes.

"Dad's dead. The Colt is gone and it seems pretty damn likely the demon is behind all this and you're acting like nothing happened," said Sam, his voice rising due to his anger and his frustration.

"What do you want me to say?" asked Dean.

"Say something, alright? Say anything! But instead, all you do is stay buried underneath this damn car. Don't you want revenge?" asked Sam.

Dean looked at him while Alex looked between them.

"Revenge, huh? Well, you makin' heads or tails of Dad's research cause I sure ain't. We've got nothin', Sam, okay? So the only thing I can do is work on the car."

Dean bent down to look in the hood and began working on the car. Alex pulled out a cell phone and looked at Sam, who nodded. She walked up to Dean.

"Dean? I did find something. It's one of Dad's old cell phones. Sammy cracked the voicemail code. We think you should listen."

She held out the phone to him and Dean dropped everything he held, taking the phone from her. He stood up, put it to his ear, and listened.

"John, it's Ellen. Again. Look, don't be stubborn. You know I can help you. Call me."

Dean handed Alex the phone, his eyebrows raised.

"That message is four months old," said Sam.

"Dad saved that chick's message for four months? Who's Ellen? Any mention of her in Dad's journal?" asked Dean.

"No, but Sam ran a trace on the number. He got an address," said Alex.

"Ask Bobby if we can use one of his cars," said Dean.

Sam nodded and they all filed back into Bobby's little house.

Dean pulled Bobby's rusty blue van up to an old bar. He parked right in front, pulled the keys out of the ignition, and sighed.

"This is humiliating."

Sam patted Dean's shoulder comfortingly and all of the siblings climbed out. Dean slammed his door shut.

"I feel like a freakin' soccer mom," said Dean.

Alex laughed and Dean glared at her.

"It's the only car Bobby had running," said Sam.

He began inspecting the building as he walked around it.

"Hello?" he called.

Alex stepped onto the wrap-around porch and looked through the dark, dusty windows. Dean looked through the small window in the door. Sam came back around to the front and shook his head. Dean nodded and picked the lock using a nail file Alex gave him. He pushed open the door and they all walked inside. Sam shut the door behind him and followed his siblings to the poll tables. A man was lying on one of them, unconscious. He reeked of booze and smoke.

"I'm guessing that's not Ellen?" asked Alex, wrinkling her nose at the stench.

"Nope," said Dean.

They turned away and walked down a dark hallway. Alex was behind both of her brothers when she felt something pushing into her back.

"God, please let that be a rifle," she pleaded.

"Nah, I'm just real happy to see you," said a deep male voice.

Alex rolled her eyes.

"You know, you shouldn't put a rifle right against someone's back."

Alex quickly spun around and grabbed the rifle from the man's hands. She then brought back her fist and punched him directly in the nose.

"Sam! Dean!" she yelled loudly.

The man grabbed his nose and glared at her.

"Sorry, sis. We're a little tied up," said Sam.

He and Dean rounded the hallway corner with their hands on their heads. A woman had a rifle pointed at Dean and another boy had a rifle pointed at Sam.

"Nice job, Lex," said Dean, smirking at his sister as she held the rifle in her palms.

The man that she had punched was bent over, holding his nose and groaning in pain. Blood seeped through his fingers. Alex beamed brightly.

"Sam? Dean? Alex? Winchester?" asked the woman.

"Yes," said the siblings in unison.

The man holding a rifle to Sam's back peeked his head around Sam to look at Alex.

"Alex?" he asked.

Alex looked over at him and her eyes went wide.

"Kellan?"

He smirked and nodded. Alex set the rifle down on the bar and ran over to Kellan. He opened his arms and she ran into them. He hugged her close and closed his eyes, breathing in her scent.

"I knew he looked familiar," whispered Dean to Sam.

The woman lowered her rifle.

"Mom, you know these three?" asked the guy with the broken nose.

"I think these are John Winchester's kids," said the woman.

Alex finally let go of Kellan and stood directly beside him.

"I'm Ellen. That's my son, Joe, and his best friend, Kellan," said the woman.

"Hey," said Joe.

"I'm sorry about punching you," said Alex.

Joe now held a towel full of ice up to his nose. He smiled.

"Not a big deal."

Alex smiled.

"You told our dad you could help him. What did you mean?" asked Dean to Ellen.

"Well, the demon, of course," said Ellen.

Alex looked away from Joe then and over to her brothers.

"How do you know all this?" asked Dean.

"I just run a saloon, but hunters have been known to pass through now and again. John was like family once," said Ellen.

"He's never mentioned you before," said Alex.

"Why exactly do we need your help?" asked Dean.

"Don't do me any favors, but John wouldn't have sent you if-"

Ellen stopped, looking at all of their faces.

"He didn't send you."

Alex looked away nervously.

"He's alright, isn't he?" pushed Ellen.

Dean looked away, too. Sam leaned his elbows on his knees and looked at Ellen, Joe, and Kellan.

"No. No, he isn't. It was the demon, we think. It, um, just got him before he got it, I guess," said Sam.

Joe looked over at Alex.

"I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. We're alright," said Dean.

"We could use all the help we can get," said Sam.

"Ash can help. Ash!" yelled Kellan loudly.

The guy who was lying on the pool tables sat up very quickly, looking over at them.

"That's Ash?" asked Alex, her eyebrows raised.

Joe nodded, a smirk playing on his lips.

"He's a genius," explained Kellan.

The siblings were sitting at the bar with Ash sitting next to them. Ellen, Joe, and Kellan were behind the bar getting drinks for everyone. Dean slid a manila folder across the bar to Ash.

"This is about a year of our dad's work. Let's see what you make of it," said Dean.

He watched Ash pick up the folder and look through the contents. Alex snuck a glance at Kellan, who was looking at her also. She smiled and he winked over at her.

"This stuff ain't real. Nobody can track a demon like this," said Ash.

"Our dad could," shot back Alex.

"They're signs. Omens. Crop failures, electrical storms."

"Can you track it or not?" asked Sam.

"I think so. But it's going to take some time. Give me…51 hours," said Ash.

He grabbed the folder and headed towards the back of the bar, leaving the confused Winchesters at the bar. Ellen walked out from behind the bar and Joe followed behind her. Kellan watched as Joe smiled at Alex and his face fell as Alex smiled back.

"Ellen, what's that?" asked Sam, pointing to an old radio looking thing that sat on a dusty shelf.

"A police scanner," answered Ellen.

"No, the folder," said Sam.

Ellen looked at Sam. She grabbed the folder and walked over to him.

"I was going to give this to a friend of mine, actually. Take a look if you want."

She handed him the folder and Dean looked over Sam's shoulder at the contents of the folder. Joe and Ellen also leaned in to look and Kellan grabbed Alex's hand, leading her to the back of the bar where Ash had disappeared.

Kellan led Alex into a storage room. He flicked on the lights and Alex sat on a crate. Kellan turned to her and smiled.

"I thought I'd never see you again," said Kellan.

He pulled her close and Alex wrapped her arms around his middle.

"Kellan, can I ask you something?"

Kellan nodded and stepped away from her.

"Who was the girl I heard on the phone with you the last time that we talked?"

Kellan sighed, running a hand over his face.

"That was Bethany. She's an old friend. We're not together, I swear. We weren't together that day you called, either. She's a hunter, like you."

Alex smiled warmly.

"You know about this stuff then?"

Kellan nodded.

"How'd you get into this with Ellen and Joe?"

"Joe's dad was a hunter. He was like my own father."

Kellan looked down.

"He passed away."

Alex sighed and reached out, grabbing Kellan's hand and intertwining their fingers.

"I'm sorry."

"It was a long time ago. We were just kids."

Kellan looked up at her then.

"I'm sorry to hear about your dad."

"Yeah."

She looked up at Kellan and reached a hand up to gently touch his face. He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch.

"I've missed you so much," said Kellan, opening his eyes to stare into Alex's bright blue eyes.

"I've missed you, too."

Alex smiled up at him and she leaned up so that her lips met his in a tender kiss.

"Hey, Alex, come check this out," called out Sam.

When he heard no response, he turned around and saw that she wasn't in the room. Dean turned around as well.

"Mother fucker. Where did she go?"

"Maybe she's hanging out with Ash. I mean, she seemed pretty interested in the demon stuff," suggested Ellen.

"Um, maybe. But where's Kellan?" asked Joe, biting his lip nervously.

Dean and Sam looked around the bar again and now noticed that Kellan was gone as well.

"Shit," said Dean.

He tore out of the bar and Sam was right behind him.

Alex leaned her forehead against Kellan's and breathed in his scent as she closed her eyes.

"My brothers are probably looking for me," whispered Alex.

Kellan grinned.

"Yeah, you're probably right. We better go."

Kellan grabbed her hand and opened the door. Sam and Dean were standing right outside of the door and they both glared at Kellan.

"We need to talk to our sister. Alex, let's go," said Dean.

Alex squeezed Kellan's fingers and followed her brothers out into the bar.

"We wanted you to check this out," said Sam.

He spread the folder's contents across the bar and Alex looked them over.

"A few murders not far from here that Ellen caught wind of. Looks to me that there might be a hunt," said Sam.

He watched Alex read over the information.

"So?" asked Alex.

"So, I say we check it out," said Dean.

Sam nodded and Alex sighed.

"Okay."

"Alright. We'll leave in a few hours," said Dean.

Kellan and Ellen were stocking the bar as Sam read over the information from the folder and Dean nursed his beer at the bar. Joe was sitting at a table and Alex walked over to him, sitting across from him.

"So. I'm really, really sorry about your nose," said Alex.

Joe smiled and waved her off.

"It's fine. I've had worse."

Alex smiled too and Joe took a swig of his beer.

"So, how'd your mom get into this stuff anyway?" asked Alex.

"My dad was a hunter. He, um, passed away," said Joe.

Alex nodded.

"Yeah, Kellan told me that. I'm sorry."

"It was a long time ago. I was just a kid. Sorry to hear about your dad."

"Thanks."

She smiled at him and Joe smiled back. Kellan walked in from a back room of the bar and looked over to see Joe and Alex smiling at one another. He glared and set down the box that he was holding. He wiped off his forehead that was full of sweat and walked over to them.

"Hey, y'all. What's up?"

Joe quit smiling and Alex looked up at Kellan.

"Just talking. But I have to use the bathroom so I'll be right back," said Alex.

She stood up, gently kissed Kellan's cheek, and left for the bathroom.

"Joe, you're like my brother. But if you go after Alex, I'll hurt you, I swear."

Joe shook his head and stood up, slapping Kellan's shoulder.

"You have no worries, bro. She's all yours."

He walked over to help his mom at the bar and Kellan followed.

Dean was behind the wheel of the van that night as he and his siblings headed toward a small town to investigate a string of mysterious murders. It was storming and rain was pelting the windshield hard. Thunder shook the sky and lightning lit up the sky every few minutes.

"C'mon? A killer clown?" asked Dean.

"Yeah," said Sam.

He read the information in the file by the light of his flashlight.

"He left the daughter unharmed and killed the parents. Cut them into pieces, actually," said Sam.

Alex grimaced and stretched out on the backseat.

"And this family went to some carnival that night?" asked Dean.

"Right. The, um, Cooper Carnival," read Sam off a piece of paper.

"So, how do you know we're not dealin' with some psycho carnie in a clown suit?"

"The police have no viable leads and all the employees were tearin' down shop. Plus, the girl said she saw a clown vanish into thin air," said Sam.

"Well, I know what you're thinkin', Sammy."

Dean looked at him through the rearview mirror.

"Why did it have to be clowns?"

"Give me a break," said Sam.

Dean laughed.

"Sam's got a legitimate fear. Clowns are freaky sons of bitches," said Alex from the backseat.

"Right. You didn't think I remembered, did you, Sammy? C'mon, you used to bust out cryin' when you saw Ronald McDonald on television," said Dean.

"At least I'm not afraid of flying," said Sam, looking at Dean.

"Hey, planes crash," growled out Dean.

"Yeah, and apparently, clowns kill!" said Sam.

Dean shook his head and turned his attention back to the road while Sam looked over the papers in his lap. Alex remained stretched out on the backseat, falling in and out of sleep.

"So, these murders ever happened before?" asked Dean, after a few moments of silence.

"Um, according to this file, 1981. The Bunker Brothers Circus. Same M.O. It happened three different times. Three different locales," answered Sam.

"That's weird. If it was a spirit, it's usually bound to a specific locale. A house or a town," said Dean.

"Could be a cursed object. The spirit attaches itself to something and the carnival carries it around," murmured Alex.

"Great. Paranormal scavenger hunt," said Sam sarcastically.

"This case was your idea, brainiac," said Alex.

Dean nodded and they all lapsed into silence again, Alex beginning to fall asleep.

"Hey, Sam," said Dean.

Alex opened her eyes and listened to Dean. Sam looked at his brother.

"At least we're not afraid of spiders."

Sam laughed.

"Hey, those are nasty little fuckers," said Alex.

Dean and Sam both chuckled and Alex flipped them off. She turned around and faced the seat so she could fall asleep once more.

"Just shut up and drive, dick," said Alex.

Dean smirked.

Dean pulled up to the only carnival in the small town. They all got out of the car and Dean saw two police officers talking to some carnival-goers.

"I'll be right back," he said to his siblings.

They both nodded and Sam and Alex waited by a kiddie ride as Dean talked to the policemen. As they waited, a woman dressed as a clown walked past them. She looked at Sam. Sam grimaced and Alex looked at him. The clown walked away as Dean headed toward them.

"Did you get her number?" asked Dean.

Sam glared at him and Alex held back a laugh.

"More murders?" asked Sam.

"Two more last night. Apparently, they were ripped to shreds and they had a little boy with 'em," said Dean.

"Guys, looking for a cursed object is like looking for a needle in a stack of needles. It could be anything," said Alex.

"It's bound to give off EMF, so we'll just scan everything," said Dean.

Sam scoffed.

"Yeah, because that's real inconspicuous."

Dean looked around the carnival.

"I guess we'll just have to blend in."

He pointed to the "Help Wanted" sign that was stapled onto a pole.

"Fuck," muttered Alex.

Sam sighed.

The siblings walked into a large tent to see a man wearing thick, dark, and black sunglasses throwing knifes at a large target.

"Excuse me," said Dean.

The man turned to them.

"We're looking for Mr. Cooper. Have you seen him around?" asked Dean.

"What is that, some kind of joke?" asked the man.

Alex and Sam looked at each other, confused. The man removed his sunglasses and they saw that he was blind, his eyes white.

"Oh, God, I'm sorry," said Dean.

"I'd give anything to see. The sunset, Mr. Cooper…"

The man rambled on and Dean looked at his siblings.

"Wanna give me a little help here?" he whispered.

"Not really," said Sam and Alex at the same time.

Dean gave them a sarcastic smile as they laughed.

"Barry, is there a problem?" asked a voice from behind them.

They all turned and looked down at the man who had asked the question. He was a very short man.

"Yeah, this guy hates blind people," said Barry.

"No, I don't," said Dean.

"Hey, buddy, what's your problem?" asked the little man.

"It's just a little misunderstanding," said Dean.

"Little?" You son of a bitch!"

Alex and Sam cracked up laughing.

"No. Can someone please tell me where Mr. Cooper is?" pleaded Dean.

The siblings walked behind Mr. Cooper as they entered his office.

"You three picked a hell of a time to join up. You see, we've got all kinds of local trouble," said Mr. Cooper.

He took a seat behind his desk. Dean looked around and noticed that there were only two chairs. One chair was a normal size chair. The other chair was normally sized, but a clown's face leered up at them. Dean rushed over and sat in the normal-looking chair. He smirked at Sam's glare. Alex rolled her eyes at his immaturity. Sam looked at the clown face chair and grimaced. He sat on the very edge of it, not touching his back to the clown's face at all. Dean smiled and looked at Alex. He patted his thigh and Alex sat on his lap.

"What do you mean by trouble?" asked Dean.

"Couple of folks got themselves murdered. Cops seem to start here first. So, you three ever worked the circuit before?" asked Cooper.

"Yes, sir. Last year through Texas and Arkansas," lied Sam.

"Doin' what?"

"Oh, just a little bit of everything," said Alex.

Mr. Cooper looked them over.

"You three have never worked a show in your life, have you?"

He smirked.

"Nope, but we really need the work," said Dean.

Mr. Cooper nodded and pointed to a black and white picture hanging in a frame on the wall. It was of a young man with a Ferris wheel in the background behind him. The siblings turned to look at it.

"That's my daddy."

"You look just like him," said Sam.

"He was in the business. Ran a freak show till they outlawed him. You see, this place is a refuge for outcasts. You three should go to school. Have families. Live regular," said Mr. Cooper.

The siblings turned back to face Mr. Cooper once more and Sam leaned in toward him.

"Sir, we don't want to go to school. We don't want regular. We want this."

Mr. Cooper smiled.

"Well, alright."

The three siblings were walking around the carnival to get used to where they would be working.

"Sammy, did you mean what you said? About not going to school?" asked Alex.

"I don't know," said Sam, his back turned to his siblings.

"You don't know? I thought that once the demon was dead, you were going to take off," said Dean.

"I'm having second thoughts."

They stopped walking and Sam faced them.

"Really?" asked Alex, looking up at him.

"Yeah, I think so. Dad would've wanted me to stick with the job," said Sam.

"Since when do you give a damn about what Dad wants?" asked Dean.

Alex looked down at the ground, nudging the dirt with her toe.

"Since he died, alright? You have a problem with that?" asked Sam.

"Stop it," whispered Alex.

She pushed a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. Her brothers looked at her.

"Nah. I don't have a problem at all."

Dean grabbed Alex and kissed the top of her head before walking away, Sam and Alex sadly watching him leave.

Sam was now wearing a Cooper Carnival jacket over his black t-shirt. Alex and Dean were somewhere else in the large carnival, looking for the cursed object. Sam had one ear bud in his left ear and it was attached to an EMF reader. While he swept trash into his dustpan, he came across a House of Mirrors. He looked around and saw no one else around. He leaned his broom and dustpan against the nearest railing and entered the House of Mirrors. He slowly walked through it, his earbud always in his left ear and the EMF always in his hand. As Sam walked down a hallway, a fake skeleton suddenly flew down from the ceiling and Sam jumped back, startled. He sighed when he saw that it was fake and he continued through the exhibit quickly.

Dean and Alex were dumping their dustpans into a trashcan when Dean's cell phone began ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket and flipped it open, holding it to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey, man," said Sam on the other end of the phone.

"You okay? You sound like you saw a clown," said Dean.

He chuckled at his own joke and Alex rolled her eyes.

"Very funny. It was a skeleton, actually," said Sam.

"Like a real human skeleton?"

"In the Fun House. Listen, what if the spirit is attached to its own remains instead of an object?"

"Did the bones give off EMF?"

"Well, no, but-"

"We should check it out anyway. We're headed to you," said Dean, cutting off Sam.

He hung up, sticking his cell phone back into his jeans pocket and Alex and Dean began walking toward where Sam was located. As they were walking, a hand reached out and grabbed Dean's elbow. They both turned and saw that it was Barry, the blind man from before.

"What are you still doin' here, kid?"

"I was just sweepin'," said Dean.

"Bullshit. What were you talkin' about, skeletons?"

"Dude, your hearing is out of control," said Dean, surprised.

"Why were you talkin' about bones?" asked Barry.

"My brothers and I are writing a book about ghosts," said Alex.

Barry roughly let go of Dean's elbow.

Ten minutes later, Dean and Alex finally found Sam in front of The House of Mirrors/Fun House.

"What took you so long?" asked Sam, throwing his hands up in the air.

"It's a long story," said Dean.

"Mommy, look at the clown!" yelled a little girl standing a few feet away from them.

She pointed through the crowd of people. Sam, Alex, and Dean stepped closer to her.

"What clown?" asked her mother, who was looking towards where the little girl was pointing.

The Winchesters also looked in the same general direction, but saw nothing. The mother grabbed her young daughter's hand and led her away to a different part of the carnival as the siblings exchanged curious glances.

That night, the Winchesters were parked out front of the house of the little girl from the carnival who said that she had seen a clown. Sam and Dean were in the front and Alex was looking out the window in the back.

"God, I hate stakeouts. They're so boring," whined Alex.

She stretched out on the backseat and closed her eyes.

"Yeah, me too. But we've got to keep people safe," replied Dean.

Alex opened her eyes and sat up again, continuing to look out of her window.

Dean was asleep only a few hours later, his head resting against his window and a gun resting on his thigh. Suddenly, all of the lights turned on in the house and Alex sat up straight, looking at Sam. Sam hit Dean's shoulder and Dean shot up. Sam pointed to the house. The little girl walked past the front room window and opened the front door. Sam, Dean, and Alex climbed out of the car and quickly found the rain gutter on the side of the house, climbing up the rain gutter and entering through a guest room window. They hid behind a wall in the long upstairs hallway and listened for footsteps. The little girl and the clown walked past them and the girl was opening her parent's bedroom door when the siblings stepped out of the shadows.

"Hey!" yelled Sam loudly.

The clown froze and Dean shot at it. The little girl began screaming at the top of her lungs and the clown fell to the ground after being shot by Dean. Alex scooped up the little girl into her arms.

"Ssh," said Alex, comforting her.

The clown stood up quickly and jumped out of the hallway window, smashing the windowpane glass.

"What the hell is going on out here?" asked the little girl's father.

He and his wife emerged from their bedroom and looked at the Winchesters. Alex set down the little girl and ran out of the house with her brothers.

The next morning, Alex, Dean, and Sam were walking along the side of the road, having ditched the van. Each one of them had a duffel bag in one hand.

"Well, we're not dealin' with a spirit. That rock salt hit somethin' solid," said Dean.

"Say anything in Dad's journal?" asked Alex.

"Nope," answered Dean.

Sam took out his cell phone and Dean looked at him.

"Who you callin'?"

"Maybe Ellen or Ash will know something," said Sam, punching in the number.

"Do you think Ellen and Dad ever had a thing?" asked Alex.

"No way," said Dean, shaking his head.

"Then why didn't he tell us about her?"

"I don't know. Maybe they had a falling out."

Sam held his cell phone up to his ear, getting no answer. He hung up and stuck it back into his jacket pocket.

"Don't you think Dad had a falling out with everybody?" asked Sam.

Dean said nothing and Alex simply shrugged.

"Good point."

Sam looked over at Dean.

"You know? This strong, silent thing of yours is crap. I'm over it."

"Oh, God, back off, alright?" said Dean.

"Look, I don't care how you deal with this, but you have to deal with it. I'm your brother and I just want to make sure that you're alright."

"I'm okay! These are your issues. Quit dumpin' them on me."

Sam stopped walking and faced Dean then, who had also stopped walking. Alex stood beside Sam.

"What are you talkin' about?"

"I just think that it's really interesting the sudden obedience you have to Dad. Sam, you spent your entire life sluggin' it out with that man. Now, you want to make it right? Well, I'm sorry, but you can't. It's too late."

Alex looked between them, tears in her eyes.

"Why are you saying this to me?" asked Sam.

"Because I want you to be honest with yourself! I'm dealin' with Dad's death. Are you?" yelled Dean.

Alex's tears trailed down her cheeks as she looked at her family unraveling slowly directly in front of her.

"I'm going to go and call Ellen," said Sam, walking away.

He turned his back on his brother and sister and walked a few feet away. Dean looked over at Alex, pain in his eyes as he saw her tears.

"Oh, baby girl. I'm so sorry."

He pulled her close and she rested her head on his chest, her tears soaking his t-shirt.

"Why do you have to fight with him?" she asked.

"It just happens. I'm sorry," said Dean.

"I know you are. It's just, you two are all I have left. Every time you fight, our family starts to unravel."

"I know and I'm so sorry."

Dean kissed her temple, letting his lips linger. Sam rejoined them.

"Ellen's best guess is a rock shaza. Ancient Hindu creature. Disguise themselves in human form. They sleep on a bed of dead insects and feed a few times every twenty to thirty years," said Sam.

He looked at Dean and Alex, who were still embracing.

"Oh, Alex. I'm so sorry," said Sam.

Alex nodded sadly and stepped out of Dean's arms and into Sam's. He hugged her tight and Alex hugged him back.

"Cooper worked both carnivals. That's what Barry told us," said Dean.

"Right, but how do we kill it?" asked Alex.

She stepped out of Sam's embrace.

"Dagger made of pure brass," said Sam.

"I think I know where we can get one of those," replied Dean.

"We have to make sure that it's Cooper first," said Alex.

"Lex and I will get the blade. Make sure Cooper has bed bugs," said Dean.

Sam nodded curtly.

At the carnival that night, Dean and Alex were with Barry outside of his trailer.

"Brass blade? I think I have one of those," said Barry.

He unlocked the trailer door and they followed him inside.

"Check the trunk," said Barry.

Dean and Alex walked over to the trunk in the very corner of the trailer and opened the lid. They began rifling through the stuff inside. Alex paused as she came across the outfit that the killer clown always wore.

"Dean," she whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

He looked back at her and saw the outfit. He froze. They looked up in time to see Barry smirk evilly and then he disappeared into thin air.

Dean and Alex were pushing against the locked trailer door with no success. A sharp knife came flying at their heads and the knife landed directly above their heads, sticking into the door.

"Alright!" yelled Dean.

The door swung open then and they ran out into the cool air.

"Hey!" yelled Sam from a few feet away.

Alex relaxed when they saw him and they walked swiftly over to Sam.

"It's the blind guy. He's here somewhere," panted Dean.

"We didn't get the brass blade," said Alex, biting her lip nervously.

"I've got an idea. Come on," said Sam.

He led them over to the Fun House. They all entered together and began walking through it. Sam and Alex were walking behind Dean when a panel suddenly shot down from the ceiling, separating Sam and Alex from Dean.

"Dean!" yelled Alex, banging on the panel.

Sam and Alex tried to pry open the panel using their hands, but nothing worked.

"Dean, find him, alright?" yelled Sam.

"Got it!" yelled back Dean.

Sam looked over at Alex.

"Alright, come on."

He grabbed her hand and they walked through the maze, creepy music playing over the speakers as they walked. They entered a small area with an organ in the corner. The organ was emitting smoke from six brass pipes. Sam let go of Alex's hand and grabbed one of the pipes, but it was too hot to touch. He yanked his hand back and shook it.

"Hey," said Dean, walking up behind them then.

"Where is he?" asked Alex.

Suddenly, Dean was flung against the wall and pinned there by knifes in his jacket sleeves. Sam managed to pull an organ pipe free and turned to look for Barry. Alex ran over to Dean, trying to help him get free. A knife went whirring past Alex's head and barely missed Dean. Alex began pulling on the knives even harder.

"Where is it?" yelled Sam.

"I don't know!" yelled Alex, pulling Dean free. Dean looked up and saw a lever that if pulled, would emit smoke. Dean reached up and pulled it and smoke poured into the room.

"Sam, behind you!" yelled Alex.

Sam rammed the organ pipe into the killer clown creature and he screamed, disappearing.

"I fuckin' hate fun houses," said Dean.

The nest day, the Winchesters were with Ellen, Joe, and Kellan at Ellen's bar. Ellen handed them each a beer.

"Nice job. Your father would be proud of you," said Ellen.

She smiled at them and walked away. Kellan kissed Alex on the cheek and walked in the back of the bar to help Ellen unload boxes. Joe walked up to Alex and Alex raised her eyebrows at Sam.

"Oh! Dean, we need to go to the pool tables. Now."

Sam grabbed Dean's elbow, dragging him over to play pool.

"No, we do fuckin' not," said Dean, glaring daggers over at Joe.

"So. Am I ever going to see you again?" asked Joe.

Alex sighed.

"Joe, you're a great guy. But Kellan and I have a… thing, I guess, and I really like him," said Alex.

Joe nodded.

"I know. But I like you, Alex. Can we at least be friends?"

Alex nodded.

"Of course. I'd love that."

"As long as I don't get punched in the nose again, I think we'll be perfectly alright," said Joe, smiling.

Alex laughed and smiled with him. Kellan entered the room again and walked over to them.

"Joe, Mom needs you in the back," said Kellan.

Joe nodded and walked to the back of the bar.

"So…" said Alex.

"So…" repeated Kellan, smirking.

Alex rolled her eyes and grabbed Kellan by the front of the shirt, pulling him into her. She kissed him on the lips and he kissed her back. Sam approached and tapped Kellan on the shoulder after only a few seconds.

"Sorry to interrupt, but we just talked to Ash. He's got some pretty intense stuff."

"Yep, he's a genius," said Kellan.

He winked at Alex and walked behind the bar to help Ellen and Joe.

"Dean wants to go work on the Impala. We better go," said Sam.

Alex nodded and she followed her brothers out of the bar.

Back at Bobby's house, Alex looked out the kitchen window into the backyard to see Sam and Dean standing by the Impala talking. She went outside to join them.

"I miss him, man. And I feel guilty as hell. And I'm not alright at all," said Sam.

He glanced at Alex as she approached.

"I'll let you get back to work," said Sam sadly.

He looked at Alex and walked back into the house. Dean stood in the same place, unmoving. Alex walked up to him slowly.

"I love you, big brother."

She stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek gently. She went back inside. Once she was gone, Dean grabbed a metal crowbar from up off of the dirt. He smashed the driver's side window with the crowbar and beat the trunk with it as well until there were two large holes in the trunk. Dean threw the crowbar aside when he was finished and stared off into nothing, breathing heavily.