Chapter 32: An Angel's Rise

"Holy crap I can't believe how much better I feel," Dean said, stretching as he put on fresh clothes. Andy smiled at him as she put on her own clothes. They went to the kitchen to get some breakfast, Dean's arm around Andy's shoulder, and hers wrapped around his waist. Dean started the coffee and Andy went to see if Sam was awake. She found him sucking water out of the sink tap in the map room.

"Hey, you ok?" Sam turned startled.

"Yea fine," Sam said nonchalantly. Andy stepped closer to him. It was there, the faint sent that had been clinging to Sam over the past few days. Blood. Andy narrowed her eyes at him.

"Look Sam, I'm not your brother, and I know you're trying to put on a brave face, but you have to come clean. We can't help if you won't tell us what you need."

"Andy, I'm ok. I may not be 100%, but I'm still ok. Please, stop worrying," Sam sighed. Andy chuckled.

"Yea, like that's going to happen," Andy said under her breath. "Ok Sam, I'll stop fretting at you, but you have to say something to Dean…soon." Sam nodded as Andy held a hand to him.

"Come on, there's fresh coffee in the works."

It took all of two weeks for Dean to started threatening to climb walls. Andy did her best to keep him away from Kevin. As much as she knew Dean cared about the kid, he was a hoverer, and he would not have been good for Kevin's health. Luckily, Sam found a case that looked like a zombie. Andy has sent Dyson out on another case that could have been a rawhead so Sam and Dean headed out to catch a zombie.

When the boys brought Haley, Oliver, and fucking Prometheus back to the bunker Andy had an adventure searching through the library on everything Greek. She went to join the boys and Haley for Shane's funeral. It was just one of those cases that doesn't quite go the way anyone wanted it to. What it did do was bring Sam to an unnerving thought. What if I can't make it through these trials unscathed? That night, when they got back to the bunker, Andy was about to knock on Dean's door when she heard him say something.

"Cas, you got your ears on?" Andy stood outside Dean's door and listened. She felt bad for eavesdropping, but she had to know. "…this one was supposed to be on me…you keep a look out for my little brother…" Andy stepped away from the door. She figured Dean would have noticed that Sam was not running at full strength, and she was right.

The inventory of the bunker continued, and Andy was finally ready to start testing out some of the herbal remedies from the herblore book she had found in the apothecary. She had noticed that Sam was starting to cough a little bit more regularly and she wanted to see if she could make something for it. She had just finished her first attempt and was bringing it to Sam when she heard him cough.

"Hey, Doc Holliday you doing ok over there?" Dean tried to pretend that he wasn't concerned, but he was paying attention to each moment. Andy noticed the smell of blood as she walked in with a mug for Sam, and just noticed him throw a tissue into the garbage with what looked like flecks of red in it. She put a hand on Sam's shoulder and gave him the mug.

"Humor me," she said quietly to his questioning look. Sam took a cautious sip and looked at her in surprise.

"That's really good," he said quietly.

"Not all medicine has to taste bad," Andy said with a wink. "Finish all that ok? Let me know if it helps." Sam nodded and went back to his computer screen. Andy wandered over to where Dean was sorting through a stack of crates they had pulled up from storage. She was just in time to watch him pull out a file of what seemed to be old pin up magazines. Grinning evilly Andy snuck up behind Dean.

"What you got there?" she asked peaking around Dean's shoulder. He jumped and put the folder down.

"Nothing…" he said trying to sound innocent. Andy laughed at him.

"Those look like they could be worth something," Andy said. Dean's eyes went wide then he smiled sheepishly at her.

"Maybe," he said and put the folder down. "Hey Sammy, you find anything?"

The boys went off to Lincoln Springs to investigate the burnt out, liquified victims while Andy held the fort and kept Kevin eating. She sent Sam with a thermos full of her herbal decoction. She wouldn't know if the recipe had to be altered at all until he had been taking it for a few days, so she figured something was better than nothing. She kept herself busy preparing some base medicinal decoctions, infusions, and extracts. It was mid afternoon when Andy's phone rang.

What's up babe?

Andy, there is some crazy shit happening, Cas is here, Meg is here, and we might be looking for an Angel Tablet. Do you think you can get here fast?

How fast we talking?

Call Dyson.

I'll see you in a bit.

Andy called Dyson and he brought them both to Lincoln Springs. They met up with the whole gang.

"Meg, I can't believe I'm going to say this, but it's good to see you," Andy said reluctantly. She walked over to Cas and pulled him into a slightly awkward, on his part, hug. "Where the hell have you been?" she said looking up at the angel. Cas seemed more reluctant to be affectionate than usual. She thought they had gotten passed their previous tension, but it seemed like Cas had reverted to stiff and resigned acceptance rather than affection. Dean filled Andy and Dyson in about Lucifer's crypts and that Crowley was after another tablet.

"Never wished I had put a knife in a demon more than that rat bastard," Andy snarled.

"Amen to that," Dean said, "let's go campers."

The drive was a slightly awkwardly quiet one. Andy was squished in the front bench between Dean and Sam. She could feel Sam shifting uncomfortably in his seat. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and typed out a message and nudged him.

You doing ok? Did the decoction help at all? Sam read the message as sighed. He took her phone and typed something back.

It helped a bit – I'll push through. Andy gave him a small smile and leaned her head against his shoulder. He dropped his head on top of hers and sighed again, this time with a bit more contentment.

They rolled up to the spot Meg guided them to and took a cursory look around.

"Alright, Cas, Dyson, and I will head in and get our Indiana Jones on," Dean said "Sam, you and Andy stay out here and keep an eye on Meg."

"Wait what?" Sam said.

"Not a chance," Andy agreed.

"We've got this," Dean said.

"Dean, I'm not letting you go in there alone," Sam said roughly.

"He won't be alone," both Dyson and Cas said oddly in sync.

"That's not what I mean, Meg can hang here. Watch our backs."

"Now you trust Meg?"

"Hey, I got you this far,"

"Shut up Meg,"

"Dean I –"

"Sam I saw your bloody rag in the trash can."

Sam stopped short, and Andy closed her eyes. Busted she thought.

"Look that was –"

"Stop, Sam just stop. We don't know what's in there and you have been off your game since the first trial. And you," Dean turned to Andy.

"You knew about this? You knew he was hacking up blood?"

Andy nodded.

"After St. Louis…I could smell the blood in the car," she said quietly. Dean sighed and turned away.

"Dean, I'm telling you I am ok," Sam said staring at Dean intently.

"No" Cas said softly, "Sam you're not. You're damaged in ways even I can't heal."

Andy's eyes widened. She hadn't examined Sam fully, because he had asked her not to. Now she slipped into her sight and looked at him. She was sure she probably couldn't see all of what Cas could see, or feel, but she could see enough. It looked like every organ; every muscle was frayed. Almost fuzzy around the edges like they were out of focus. Andy gasped softly. Dean looked at her and he knew.

"You both should stay here and protect Meg," Cas said.

"Hey, since when do I need protecting?" Meg grumbled.

"Since you were held hostage and tortured for over a year," Cas ground out.

"Touché," Meg acquiesced.

The look Sam was giving Dean made Andy wince. Dyson put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll watch out for them," he murmured in her ear. She put her hand over his and squeezed it.

"We'll be back," Dean said roughly and the three of them left.

Andy occupied herself with painting sigils and warding with Sam and Meg. She stayed quiet, listening to Sam and Meg talk about Sam's realization of possibility over the year Dean and Andy were in Purgatory. It hurt a bit, listening to Sam talk about why he had not looked for them. It all felt like weak excuses to Andy. She had forgiven Sam, to some extent, for not looking for Dean, but it still hurt.

"And honestly I kinda get it," Meg said sadly. Andy sighed. The truth was she got it too, she just didn't want to admit it. Sam had always been the one who wanted out. He had always been the one who saw the light at the end of the tunnel. She suddenly understood why Dean had wanted the trials to be on him. He didn't care if they killed him, or if they didn't. He just wanted Sam to have a chance to walk away for good. He wanted Sam to have the life he wished for, yearned for. It was the same story they had always been playing out their whole lives. Usually, a realization like this would have made her sad. But this time Andy was just seething. Dean never seemed to realize that he was allowed to want things too. That he was allowed to have hopes and dreams and good things for himself. For a moment, Andy cursed John and the horrific sense of self worth he had beaten into Dean. Then she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up, and she heard Meg.

"We've got company."

The demons came quickly but were dealt with enough. Sam seemed to struggle a bit with the exertion, but he dispatched the demon easily enough. Suddenly there was a crack of thunder just overhead and frustratingly familiar voice came out of the dark.

"I believe they're playing my song," Crowley said. Before Andy could say anything, or go running at Crowley, to do what she had no idea, a vision stole her sight.

Castiel pointing to a warded box. Dean with a slab of rock in his hands. Cas, full strength, beating Dean to a pulp, the tablet on the floor. "What are you doing to me Naomi?" A blade in Castiel's hand, Dean brought to his knees. Can't get away. "Cas…Cas! I know you're in there. I know you can hear me. We're family. We need you…I need you."

The vision let her go. Where the hell was Dyson?

"Sam!" Andy said urgently. His hand was already on her shoulder. Meg looked back at them.

"Go save your brother, and my unicorn."

Andy didn't hesitate, she moved with the speed of panic. Sam was close behind her. They found Dean. He had no injuries. Andy rushed to him, touched his face gently.

"I saw…what happened?" Andy asked breathlessly.

"Where's Cas?"

"And Dyson?"

"Cas…is gone. Dyson got jumped by about 5 demons…he told me to go," Dean looked at Andy guiltily. She sighed.

"I'm sure he's–"

"What'd I miss?" Dyson said striding into the room.

"We need to go…now" Sam said. Dyson gathered them all together and zapped them back to the impala. They all piled in and watched as Meg, bloody faced, stabbed Cowley with her angel blade, and in return got one to the gut.

"Dean drive!" Andy shouted. He stepped on the gas, and they peeled away.

Once they were safely away enough Dean unloaded the Cas situation. Something was making him hurt Dean, but when Cas touched the tablet it seemed to break the connection. Then he left with the tablet claiming he needed to protect it, from both Naomi, who ever that is, and from Dean.

"What does that mean?" Andy questioned.

"I don't know. All I know is he is off the reservation with a heavenly WMD," Dean said shaking his head. Sam sighed. There was a moment of quiet then Dean said in a rush. "Listen, I can't take any more lies," he looked pointedly at Sam and glanced back at Andy, "from anyone." Sam shifted uncomfortably.

"Umm…yea. I know, I'm sorry. I should'a told you…I guess I just wanted to believe I was ok," he sighed.

"You are hurt in ways even Cas can't heal. Sammy…I need you to be honest with me, from here on out. Andy, that goes for you too."

"Dean, I asked her not to tell you. She didn't even use her healing vision on me because I asked her not to. It's not her fault." Sam said firmly. Andy was surprised and grateful to Sam for defending her like that. Dean sighed with frustration but gave Andy another glance in the rear-view mirror, eyes tights with worry.

"Listen, we all might not be able to carry the burden of the trials. But we can carry you." Dean said. Andy nearly burst her lungs trying to hold back a slightly hysterical laugh that threatened to tear its way out of her. Dean just quoted Lord of the Rings.

"You know…you just…"

"It's the Rudy hobbit, Rudy hobbit always gets a pass!"

That did Andy in, she cackled in the back seat and couldn't stop.

"Oh babe, you really are a closet nerd and I love you for it," she cried.

"Shadd up," Dean said with a small smile and turned on the radio.

They made it back to the bunker and crashed. Something was nagging at Andy. Something about the vision she had. Cas had stopped. Mid killing blow he had stopped. It was just after Dean had called him family, and that they needed him. That Dean needed him. If Cas had still been connected to Naomi enough to hurt Dean, what had stopped him from finishing the job before taking the tablet. Andy wondered if there was something in what Dean said that had gotten through to Cas when he was in his altered state. Maybe Dean had been able to interrupt the connection and then the tablet finished the job. Andy sometimes wondered about the connection Dean and Cas had. It was definitely a 'profound bond' as she had heard it described before. Andy shook her head. There was no way she was going to get jealous over Cas. He was Dean's best friend, and Dean had been right. They needed him. Not just for the convenience of having an angel on their side, but Cas was just a good person to be around, despite all of his poor choices and flaws, Castiel had become family even to her. Andy stripped off her dirty clothes in favour of loose pants and a soft tank top. She sat on her bed and grabbed her journal. She hadn't really kept one for a long time, but recently she had found it helpful to sort through some of the crap they had experienced. She was just finishing her final few lines when there was a knock on her doorframe. Dean stood there looking like he needed a talk. Andy nodded her head to the spot next to her on the bed. Dean closed the door when he came in and sat down next to her a little stiffly. Andy watched him as he seemed to struggle with what to say. She had a guess what was bothering him. She reached out and put her hand to his face and rubbed a thumb over his cheek bone. He leaned into her touch, like he did every time, and closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry for being so short with you."

"I know, you're worried."

"I just…I can't handle him hiding things from me."

"I'm sorry too, for keeping it from you. I was going to tell you if he didn't in the next few days."

Dean huffed and took Andy's hand and kissed it.

"We ok?" he asked.

"Of course, sweetheart," Andy leaned into him and kissed him softly on the lips. "That being said, stay or go, but I need to crash."

Dean grinned at her and left closing her door behind him again.

Andy woke early. In spite of being bone tired the night before she did not sleep well. She had had odd dreams. Flashes of visions that had never solidified into anything she could understand. She dragged herself out of bed and trudged off to the kitchen to have coffee and start on breakfast. Once she had a stack of pancakes warming in the oven for everyone to come and grab as they wanted she made a plate and went to check on Kevin. She knocked on his door and heard a muffled "What?" from inside.

"Hey Kev, I have some pancakes if you would like?" she said. Kevin nodded but kept scribbling away looking back and forth from the tablet to a book open on his desk to the piece of paper he was filling.

She put the plate down on his desk and glanced around. There were new warding marks all over his walls and the chaotic collection of papers that were his notes were looking more and more like the products of crazy. Andy knew none of them had been taking very good care of Kevin recently, but he was so focused and reclusive at the bunker that he made it easy for most of them to forget he was there.

"You've got some new graffiti I see,"

"For all the good it's doing," Kevin scoffed. Andy cocked her head in question. "I heard Crowley in my head."

"What? When?"

"A few days ago, when you were out finding the angel tablet. If he's in my head then he knows where I am, so…" he gestured at the markings on his walls, "extra protection."

"Kev, I think you need to get out of this room more often. There is no way that Crowley is in your head. Come on, why don't you come eat breakfast with me, we can chat."

"No, I need to get this done. I've almost got the last trial."

"The last…what about the second trial?" Andy asked startled. Kevin stood and pulled down a sheet of paper. Andy looked over it quickly.

"I'll go get the boys."

Dean burst into Kevin's room.

"Nice work Kevin!" He said nearly going in for a hug but stopped himself with a signal from Andy. Kevin was definitely not in the mood for hugs.

"So, what's the deal with the second trial?" Sam asked eagerly.

"An innocent soul must be rescued from Hell and delivered unto Heaven," he said.

"What?" Dean said confused.

"Unto, it's how God speaks. Basically, you have to get a soul out of hell."

"Like actually go to hell?" Sam stuttered. "How do you even get a soul out of hell?"

"I don't know…that's your guys' jobs. I just read the rock."

Dean and Sam exchanged looks.

"We're going to need an expert." Dean sighed. Sam cocked his head at his brother. "Crossroad."

"Probably our best bet," Sam agreed.

The boys took a short drive to the closest gravel crossroad to talk to a demon. Andy stayed with Kevin and tried to make a soothing concoction for him to help with his paranoia. The night felt long. Andy managed to convince Kevin to take a bit of a break and sleep, the draught she slipped into his tea might have had something to do with the ease that she convinced him, but he needed it.

A few hours later Andy's phone rang.

What've you got babe?

Rogue reapers.

Beg pardon?

Rogue reapers are the way into hell. We're heading to Kansas City to meet up with one.

Ok, I'll get Dyson and meet you there.

See you there, baby.

Finding Ajay was surprisingly simple. Negotiations were a bit sticky though.

"You say that like you know us," Sam said.

"Of course, you're the Winchesters, and the Devil's Prophet of course," Ajay said tilting his head at Andy. "I'm the reaper who took Bobby Singer to hell." The words nearly knocked Andy on her ass. There was no way Bobby was in hell. No way the world would let that happen. Bobby had been the kindest, most caring soul Andy had known in a long time.

"Fucking Crowley," Dean muttered, and Andy understood. Once again she seethed at the fact that she had never stuck a blade in that demon.

"Alright, how much for two tickets down and three tickets back?" Dean asked. Andy blanched.

"Dean…" she said slowly. Sam pulled Dean away for a moment. Dyson piped up.

"You mean for me right? As back up?" he asked. Dean shook his head and looked back to Sam.

"The hell are you thinking? Dean, I have to do these trials solo," Sam hissed.

"But this is Bobby, and you haven't exactly been up to speed lately. We can't miss on this."

"I'm not going to miss," Sam growled. His face was determined and set. For once, Dean backed down and Andy sighed with relief.

"I'm in, just me."

"24 hours exactly. Return for him then." Ajay said looking at Dean. "Follow me," he said to Sam. They watched the two men walk off into a near by alley way. Dean turned away and headed back towards the impala. Andy followed him.

"He'll be ok Dean, you know that," Andy said taking his hand and giving it a small squeeze. Dyson took himself back to the bunker and Andy climbed into the impala with Dean.

Kevin was becoming more and more paranoid by the hour. Dean decided to try and get some food into him and went on a quick supply run while Andy worked on another destress draught for Kevin. At one point, Andy thought she heard the door of the bunker open, but she wasn't sure, and she was mid brew and didn't want to risk ruining the batch. When it was done, she wandered back to the kitchen where Dean was just finishing a round of eggs and bacon on the stove.

"Hey, can you grab Kevin and see if we can get some of these eggs in him?" Dean said over his shoulder. Andy nodded and headed back towards Kevin's room. Just as she was heading through the library she heard the bunker door open and turned to see Kevin coming in.

"Where did you come from? What happened to being scared?"

"I am scared," Kevin said harshly as he trudged down the stairs. "So, I made a pre-emptive move."

"You made a what?" Dean said poking his head out of the kitchen doorway.

"I can't sit here with the tablet, and Crowley breathing down my ass…getting rid of the tablet takes off some of the pressure."

"What do you mean getting rid of the tablet?" Andy said carefully looking at Dean.

"I hid it, temporarily,"

"What? Where?"

"If I told you then it wouldn't be hidden would it," Kevin deadpanned and walked off towards his room.

"Kevin! Tell me where the damn tablet is, or I swear…" Dean growled. Andy stared at him.

"You'll what Dean?" Kevin turned and threw up his arms. Dean just glared back at the prophet. Kevin shook his head a walked away.

"Well, this throws a wrench in things," Andy sighed.

"Kids, am I right." Both Dean and Andy jumped slightly at the new voice. A tall, brown-haired, clean-cut woman stood next to the map table. She held out a hand to Dean. "We haven't been formally introduced Dean. My name is Naomi."

Andy wasn't surprised when Naomi didn't acknowledge her. Most angels still saw her as an abomination or something. So, Andy stayed and listened, and it had been a long time since she had heard such bald-faced lies come out of a mouth at one time. Trying to convince Dean that Purgatory had been the thing that changed Cas. While yes, it had made him a bit jumpy and rougher around the edges, but what little interaction Andy had had with Cas since they both got out, she could feel that he was even more different back than he was there. When she put Cas' loyalty into question Andy almost lost her shit, but she caught the flick of eyes from Dean and she managed to hold herself back, and then she dropped the little not about Ajay and the way to Hell being through Purgatory and Andy blanched. Sam, in his current state, was not the best combination for Purgatory. Then Naomi was gone.

"We have to go back, now!" Andy said and she went to find Dyson.

Later

"You called Benny? I mean, no offence Benny, it's good to see you and all, but what the hell Dean? Am I not good enough for you?" Dyson asked in mock hurt.

"I…honestly I didn't really think of you Dyson. Sorry. Also, you're kind of hard to kill…" Dean said under his breath.

"Touché," Dyson nodded. Andy looked between Benny, Dean and Dyson. It felt like it was happening again. Everyone was going to be at risk, and she was going to be helpless.

"Dean…I'd go to Purgatory too, if Sam needs back up send me with him," Andy said trying to make him see reason. Dean shook his head.

"Absolutely not, nope," he said vehemently.

"Not a chance," Dyson agreed.

"Dean we don't even know if we can kill Dyson. It took two of the most powerful archangels in the universe to take him down.

"I mean, it's different if I'm letting it happen…" Dyson mumbled. "Also, you don't really have to kill me. I can just soul walk and go with the reaper that comes for me."

"Not helping!"

"Andy, you're not going. That's all there is to it."

"They have a point darlin', you know that" Benny drawled. "You are worth so much more up here than you are in that blood bath." Andy looked at Benny stunned. She had no idea that he cared like that. She sighed and nodded.

"You both promise that you'll come back right? You're not going to make us lose either of you right?" Andy said resigning herself to the fact that she would be able to do nothing for them. Dyson and Benny nodded. "Ok, let's get this over with."

Dyson took a deep breath and smacked himself on the chest and dropped like a rock. Andy had seen him push his soul out of his body several times, but she still found it disconcerting to watch. By the time she had moved Dyson's body into the impala, Dean had taken care of Benny. They held onto each other for a long moment.

"We should get going babe, Maine is a fair drive," Andy mumbled into Dean's chest.

"Yeah, let's go."

The hike through the 100 Mile Wilderness was not one Andy thought she would care to repeat. She was impressed with the fact that Dean had made it out of there the first time, let alone that he made it back to the right spot again, but Winchester luck held out and Sam appeared not long after they found the right place. Dean took the first hug.

"Purgatory huh, nice garden spot right?" He said as Andy wrapped her arms around Sam.

"Yeah," Sam agreed.

"Did you get them out?" Dean asked hopefully. Sam gave him a sad look.

"Just Bobby," Sam said with a shake of his head.

"What?" Dean swallowed. Andy's eyes widened.

"Benny and Dyson, they got us out. As I was doing the spell to for Bobby, this…creepy woman showed up and told Dyson 'You shouldn't have risked coming back here,' and then they were just gone…" Sam looked at Andy shaking his head.

"Hel…" Andy sighed, her breath catching in her throat for a moment. She didn't miss the sidelong glance that Dean shot her, but for the moment she chose to ignore it.

"What about Benny, I mean. It's great about Bobby but…"

"A bunch of Vamps showed, and Benny used himself as bait. I'm not even sure if they hadn't he would have come back you know," Sam shrugged "I'm sorry."

"You're probably right," Dean agreed.

"How was Bobby?" Andy asked.

"He was good, all things considered – ornery as hell," Sam smirked.

"As he should be," Dean nodded. "Let's put that old man where he belongs."

Once again, Andy had the overwhelming wish that she had buried a blade in Crowley long ago. Trying to block Bobby from getting into heaven, where he belonged, was a new low in Andy's books. But Naomi surprised them all, but her last message of "I told you, you could trust me," rang of ulterior motives and an attempt at ingratiating herself with Dean. It was heartening to watch Bobby's soul float away to heaven.

"What was that all about?" Sam asked when Naomi had left looking between Dean and Andy.

"Let's get this trial done," Dean said. Sam spoke the words and almost immediately cried out in pain. He fell to his knees, one arm rigid and glowing.

"Sam! What? Talk to me what?" Dean shouted.

"It's ok…It's ok," Sam cried in response. It lasted all of 5 seconds and left Sam out of breath.

"That did not look fun," Andy said helping Sam up. He grunted in pain, and she and Dean supported him back to the Impala. They had to take a few breaks, but they made it in good time. Once they were driving and Dean had pointed them toward the bunker he finally broke and asked Sam:

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'll live," Sam answered heavily. Andy could tell the trial had taken it out of him. Not just the spell itself, he had just spent 24 hours trekking through Hell and Purgatory. Andy reached out and ran a hand through San's hair from the back seat. He sighed and leaned into her touch. As much as she wasn't as physically affectionate with Sam as she was with Dean, she usually could tell when one of them needed a bit of kind touch. Dean glanced at her in the mirror and smiled slightly. She reached out and ran a hand up his neck as well.

"We did it boys, 2 out of 3," Andy said with a bit of forced cheer. She gave Sam's shoulder a firm squeeze. "You did it kid," she said quietly.

"Well, let's go check in with prophet boy and see where he stashed that tablet," Dean said.

The rest of the drive was quiet. Andy and Dean traded off driving, and Sam slept most of the way back. When they got in the door Andy went straight to Kevin's room to check in with him. Except his room was empty. Not just of Kevin. There were no sticky notes on the walls, no papers on the desk. All of the obscure reference books he had been using were gone as well.

"Dean! Sam!" Andy called, panic rising in her. The boys came hurrying down the corridor and skidded to a stop in the doorway.

"Shit," Dean said under his breath. "Little geek made a run for it…"

"Where the hell would he go?" Andy asked. "He was safe here! We were keeping him safe…"