"Yeah, but you probably missed something, that's what." Dean argued as he drove down the road.

"Dude, I ran LexisNexis, local police reports, newspapers. I couldn't find a single red flag. Are you sure you got the coordinates right?" Sam questioned.

"Yeah, I double-checked. It's Fitchburg, Wisconsin. Dad wouldn't have sent us coordinates if it wasn't important, Sammy." Dean stated.

"Well I'm telling you, I looked. And all i could find was a big, stinking pile of nothing. If Dad's sending us hunting for something, I don't know what." Sam retorted.

"Well maybe he's gonna meet us there." You suggested.

"Yeah, 'cause he's been so easy to find up to this point." Sam grumbled.

"You're a real smart-a*s, you know that? Don't worry, I'm sure there's something in Fitchburg worth killing." Dean insisted.

"Yeah? What makes you so sure?" Sam questioned.

"Well, because I'm the oldest, which means I'm always right." Dean said as-a-matter-of-factly.

"No, it doesn't." Sam argued.

"Yeah, it totally does." Dean argued back.

After driving for a while you guys finally made it to Fitchburg. You guys stopped by a local diner to grab some coffee and get some info. You and Sam waited by the car while Dean went in to buy you each a coffee and ask if anything weird has been happening lately. "Well...the waitress thinks that the local Freemasons are up to something sneaky, but, uh, other than that, nobody's heard about anything weird going on." Dean shared as he passed out the coffee.

"Dean, you got the time?" Sam wondered as he stared ahead.

"Ten after four." Dean answered as he looked at his watch.

"Why?" You asked as you and Dean looked at Sam.

"What's wrong with this picture?" Sam gestured to the playground across the street. You noticed that there were only a couple of kid playing over there.

"Not a lot of kids out today." You muttered as you looked ahead.

"School's out, isn't it?" Dean asked.

"Yeah." Sam answered as he nodded his head. "So where is everybody? This place should be crawling with kids right now."

You three decided to split up and ask questions around the park about where all of the kids were. You noticed a woman sitting on a bench nearby watching her daughter play and you casually walked up to her. "Kinda quiet today, isn't it?" You speculated.

"Yeah. It's a shame." The woman agreed.

"Why is that?" You wondered as you looked down at her.

"You know, kids getting sick. It's a terrible thing." The woman replied as she looked up at you.

"How bad is it?" You asked.

"Just five or six, but serious. Hospital serious. A lot of parents are getting pretty anxious. They think it's catching." She explained.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I hope they get better soon." You mumbled as you looked over at her daughter who was playing by herself.

Once you were finished talking with the woman you met up with Sam and Dean and you three went to the hospital to investigate the sick children. "Dude, Dude, I am not using this ID." Sam stated as he looked at the ID while following you and Dean into the building.

"Why not?" Dean asked Sam.

"Because it says "Bikini Inspector" on it." Sam pointed out.

"Don't worry, she won't look that close, all right?" Dean smiled clearly trying to mess with Sam. "Oh, hell, she won't even ask to see it. It's all about confidence, Sammy." Dean said he shoved Sam towards the front counter while you and he walked a bit further away.

"Hi. I'm, uh, Dr. Jerry Kaplan. Center for Disease Control." Sam lied as he put the ID in his suit pocket.

"Can I see some ID?" The nurse asked him. Dean started snickering loudly as he looked away and Sam gave him a glare.

"Yeah, of course." Sam agreed as he pulled out the ID flashed it at her and quickly put it away before she could get a good look at it. "Now, could you direct me to the Pediatrics ward, please?"

"Okay, well, you just go down the hall. Turn left. Up the stairs." She directed Sam. Once he was done talking to the nurse he walked up to you and Dean giving Dean his B*tch-face.

"See, told you it would work." Dean smirked as he shrugged.

"Follow me, It's upstairs." Sam growled in a whisper as he led the way to the Pediatrics ward. On your way up there you passed by a room that had an old lady sitting in a wheelchair with a cross hanging upside down on the wall. You stopped and stared for a second as she slowly turned her head and gave you a look that sent shivers up your spine. Then she turned her head to look back towards her window. "Y/N." Sam called over to you gesturing for you to follow him and Dean who already walked ahead.

Once you got to the ward you split up, Sam and Dean went to talk to the Doctor while you went to talk to the father of the latest victim."I should get back to my girls." The father said as he was sitting down on the bench in front of you.

"I understand that, but I just have a few routine questions to get an idea of what we're working with." You explained. "Now, Mary's the oldest, right?"

"Thirteen." The father answered.

"Okay, and she caught it first, right? Then-" You asked.

"Bethany, the next night." The father shared.

"Within twenty-four hours of each other?" You questioned.

"I guess." The father muttered. "Look, I-I already went through all this with the doctor."

'I know, I just have a couple more questions, if that's okay with you." You asked. "Any ideas about how they could've caught the pneumonia? Did they staying outside in the cold too long? Anything like that?"

"No, we-we think it was an open window." The father replied.

"Both times?" You wondered.

"The first time, I-I don't-I don't really remember. But the-the second time for sure, and, uh...I know I closed it before I put Bethany to bed." The father explained.

"So do you think Bethany opened it?" You asked him.

"It's a second-story window, no ledge. No one else could have." The father pointed out.

"Okay, thanks for your time. I hope your girls get better soon." You tried to give him some comforting words.

"Thank you." The father nodded as he walked back into the ward. You met up with Sam and Dean since they were done with the doctor and you told them everything the father told you.

"You know, this might not be anything supernatural. Might just be pneumonia." Sam speculated as you were leaving the hospital.

"Maybe." Dean murmured.

"Or perhaps something opened that window." You suggested.

"I don't know, guys. Look, Dad sent us down here for a reason. I think we might be barking up the right tree." Dean stated as you turned a corner.

"I do know one thing." You voiced as Sam and Dean stopped.

"What?" They asked in unison.

"That father probably won't be home for a while." You hinted.

After you left the hospital you guys went over to that man's house to look for any signs of supernatural activity. Sam and Dean were using a UV light and EMF readers to scan the daughters' room while you investigated the window."You got anything over there?" Sam wondered as he shined the UV light on the doorway.

"No, nothing." Dean answered as he checked the EMF reader.

"Yeah, me neither." Sam sighed as he stopped what he was doing. The inside of the window looked normal no tampering or damage in any way, but you noticed something outside the window.

"Hey, guys." You called over as you opened the window and looked at the sill. You noticed a weird, claw-like hand print rotted into the windowsill. "Dean's right, looks like it's not pneumonia." You declared as the boys came and looked at the sill.

"It's rotted." Sam muttered as Dean leaned in closer to look at it. "What the hell leaves a hand-print like that?"

"I know why Dad sent us here. He's faced this thing before. He wants us to finish the job." Dean realized as you three looked at each other.


That night you guys decided to rent a room at "2400 Court" one of the local motels. Dean drove up and parked in front of the the office and you guys got out of the car. "So, what is a shtriga?" You asked as you got out of the car.

"It's kind of like a witch, I think. I don't know much about them." Dean replied as he opened the trunk.

"Well, I've never heard of it. And it's not in Dad's journal." Sam commented gruffly as he walked over to Dean.

"Dad hunted one in Fort Douglas, Wisconsin about sixteen, seventeen years ago." Dean shared. "You were there. You don't remember?"

"No." Sam answered.

"And I guess he caught wind that the thing's in Fitchburg and kicked us the coordinates." Dean continued.

"So wait, this..." Sam began.

"Shtriga." Dean repeated.

"Right. You think it's the same one Dad hunted before?" Sam wondered.

"Yeah, maybe." Dean mumbled as he closed the trunk as he walked towards the office door.

"But if Dad went after it, why is it still breathing air?" Sam questioned as he followed Dean around the car.

" 'Cause it got away." Dean answered as he looked back at Sam.

"Got away?" Sam repeated.

"Yeah, Sammy. It happens." Dean pointed out.

"Not very often." Sam stated.

"Well, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe Dad didn't have his Wheaties that morning." Dean suggested as he tried to walk away.

"What else do you remember?" Sam asked Dean.

"Nothing. I was a kid, all right?" Dean growled as he went into the office to pay for the room.

"Does Dean seem a little off to you?" Sam asked as he leaned on the car next to you.

"No, do you think he's hiding something?" You wondered as you watched a lady walk into the office.

"I don't know, but it feels like there's something he isn't telling us." Sam expressed as he flipped through John's journal.

"Well, if he is then I'm sure he'll tell us eventually." You said trying to ease Sam's worries.

Once Dean got the keys to the room, you guys settled in and got to researching."Well, you were right, Dean. It wasn't very easy to find, but you were right. A shtriga is a kind of witch." Sam shared as he sat on his bed looking at his laptop. "They're Albanian, but legends about 'em date back to ancient Rome. They feed off ofspiritusvitae."

"Like spirit life, or something?" You wondered as Dean passed you a cup of coffee. You sat down on the couch and took a sip of your coffee and winced a bit it was a little strong for your taste, but you drank it anyway. You had a feeling you guys had a long night ahead of you.

"Good guess Y/N, Vitae is Latin. It translates to "Breath of Life." Kind of like your life force or essence." Sam explained.

"Didn't the doctor say the kids' bodies were wearing out?" Dean brought up as he looked at his own notes.

"It's a thought. You know, she takes your vitality, maybe your immunity goes to hell. Pneumonia takes hold. Anyway, shtrigas can feed off anyone. But they prefer-" Sam read off his laptop.

"Children." Dean interrupted.

"Yeah. Probably because they have stronger life force. And get this: "Shtrigas are invulnerable to all weapons devised by God and man."" Sam went on.

"No. That's not right." Dean stated as he walked over and opened his duffel bag. "She's vulnerable when she feeds."

"What?" Sam questioned as he looked up at Dean.

"If you catch her when she's eating, you can blast her with consecrated wrought iron. Uh, buckshots or rounds, I think." Dean revealed as he pulled a case out and went back over to the counter.

"How do you know that?" You asked him.

"Dad told me. I remember." Dean answered as he glanced over at you.

"Oh. So, uh, anything else Dad mighta mentioned." Sam huffed as he looked over at Dean.

"No, that's it." Dean mumbled as he glanced at Sam and Sam just stared at him. "What?"

"Nothing." Sam muttered as he looked back at his laptop.

"Alright, so let's say we cankillthis thing when it's eating. We have to find it first, and I can't imagine that will be easy. Any ideas?" wondered.

"Well, shtrigas take a human disguise when they're not hunting." Sam explained as he walked over to the counter and poured himself some coffee.

"What kind of human disguise?" Dean asked.

"Historically, something innocuous. Could be anything, but it's usually a feeble old woman, which may be how the whole witches-as-old-crones legend got started." Sam shared.

"Wait a second!" You cried as you got up and grabbed a map of the table. "So, I marked down the victims' houses on this map and they are all near the hospital. When we were there, I saw this creepy, old lady in one of the rooms." You explained as you showed Sam and Dean the map.

"An old person, huh?" Sam wondered.

"Yeah." You answered as you folded the map back up.

"In the hospital? Whoo. Better call the coast guard." Sam retorted as he turned around.

"Alright, smart-as*!" You huffed as you lightly smacked Sam with the folded map. "She had an cross hanging upside down in her room." Sam stopped smiling as he looked over at you.

"Ha, she got you there." Dean smirked.

You three decided to make a quick trip to the hospital and you showed the boys the way to the old lady's room."Good night, doctor." You heard a nurse say around the corner. You suddenly stopped and pressed your back against the wall to stay out of their view.

"See you tomorrow, Betty." Dr. Heidecker said goodbye to the nurse as he passed her.

"Try to get some sleep." The nurse advised as they walked away from each other. Once the coast was clear you led the brothers to the old lady. When you got to her door it was closed and the light was off. Dean pulled out his pistol and turned the safety off as you got read to open the door. You and Sam gave him 'are you serious' looks and Dean just shrugged. You opened the door and Dean slowly stuck up behind the lady as you closed the door Sam pulled his own pistol out. Even after Dean walked up next to her she didn't respond so Dean started to lean in closer to her.

"Who the hell are you?" The old lady cried causing Dean and gasp and fall backwards against the wall. You jumped a little and Sam let out a gasp too. "Who's there? You're trying to steal my stuff?" She asked loudly as You turned on the light. "They're always stealing around here."

"No, uh, ma'am, we're maintenance. We're sorry, uh..." Sam stuttered as Dean wiped his face with his hand. "We thought you were sleeping."

"Ah, nonsense. I was sleeping with my peepers open." The woman laughed creepily which sent a few shivers down your spine. "And fix that crucifix, would ya? I've asked four d*mn times already." Dean quietly turned around as fixed the cross and you three looked at each other.

By the time you guys got back to the motel it was already morning.""I was sleeping with my peepers open"?" Sam laughed as he got out of the car and Dean let out a groan.

"I almost smoked that old gal, I swear." Dean grumbled as you guys walked towards your room. "It's not funny."

"I'm sorry that lead was a bust." You sighed.

"It's okay, you did a good job noticing her. I think you could handle your own hunts if you wanted too." Dean admitted which mad you smile.

"Oh, man. You shoulda seen your face, Dean." Sam continued to laugh as he unlocked your motel room.

"Oh, yeah. Laugh it up. Now we're back to square one." Dean pointed out as he looked over at a kid siting on a bench by the office. "Hang on." Dean said as he walked over to the boy with you and Sam in tow. 'Hey, what's wrong?" Dean asked the boy as he leaned down towards him.

"My brother's sick." The boy answered as he looked at Dean.

"The little guy?" Dean wondered.

"Pneumonia. He's in the hospital. It's my fault." The boy revealed.

"Oh, come on how?" Dean asked.

"I should have made sure the window was latched. He wouldn't have gotten pneumonia if the window was latched." The boy explained.

"Listen to me. I can promise you that this is not your fault. Okay?" Dean said to try and comfort the boy.

"It's my job to look after him." The boy stated as Sam just stared at Dean. The boy's mother rushed out of the office carrying some pillows and blankets.

"Michael." She called as she rushed over to SUV and loaded the stuff inside. "I want you to turn on the "No vacancy" sign while I'm gone. I've got Denise covering room service, so don't bother with any of the rooms."

"I'm going with you." Michael decided.

"Not now, Michael" His mom growled.

"But I gotta see Asher." Michael cried.

"Hey, Michael. Hey. I know how you feel, okay? I'm a big brother too. But you gotta go easy on your mom right now, okay?" Dean asked Michael as he walked over to them.

"Damn it." She shouted as she dropped her purse.

"I got it. Here." Sam said as he picked it up for her.

"Thanks." She spoke as she took the bag from him.

"Listen, you're in no condition to drive. Why don't you let me give you a lift." Dean offered.

"No. I couldn't possibly-" She began.

"No, it's no trouble. I insist." Dean insisted as she gave him her keys.

"And I can stay with Michael make sure he is okay." You offered as you nodded at Sam and Dean. You knew that the shtriga was working through families so Michael would be it's next target.

"Thanks. Be good Michael." She smiled sightly as she got into the SUV.

"We're gonna kill this thing. I want it dead you hear me?" Dean growled lowly to you and Sam. Something did feel off about Dean, like this was personal to him.

Sam went to the library to do research while you stayed at the motel with Michael."I don't need a babysitter." Michael grumbled as he sat on the couch pouting.

"I'm not babysitting you I just wanna keep you company. You are going through a really hard time and it helps to have someone there." You explained as you sat down next to him.

"What would you know." He huffed as he avoided eye contact with you.

"I used to be a big sister myself. I had to watch out for my little siblings while my parents went out on their business trips. There was my little sister Sarah who was sixteen, and the twins, Allie and Elliot who were six." You shared. "Sarah was always independent, she preferred doing her own thing or hanging out with her friends, she wasn't too keen on spending time with our family. I actually wasn't around for most of the twins' lives since I was at Stanford when they were born. I came around more in my senior year, and they would always cling to me and follow me around everywhere. I felt like I missed out on a lot so I was trying to make up for lost time."

"You said "used to be" though, what happened?" Michael asked as he sat closer to you.

"Probably about, what? Two years ago now I think. I was coming home to visit for the weekend and my flight was delayed so I didn't get to the house until late into the night and I saw something kill my parents, Sarah, Allie and Elliot. Sometimes I wonder if things would have been different if I was there to protect them." You explained.

"Oh," Michael muttered as he looked away from you.

"It's okay, I can't say I'm completely over what happened, but traveling with my friends has helped heal some of my wounds." You smiled thinking of Sam and Dean. For the rest of the time you just hung out with Michael until Sam and Dean came back to the motel.

You three returned to your room to figure out what to do next."We shoulda thought of this before. Doctor's a perfect disguise. You're trusted. You can control the whole thing." Sam sighed as he paced around the room.

"Huh. That son of a b*tch." Dean growled under his breath as he threw his jacket off.

"I'm kinda surprised you didn't shoot him then and there." Sam commented as he leaned against the counter.

"Yeah, well...First of all, I'm not gonna open fire in a friggin' Pediatrics ward." Dean stated as he wiped his face with a towel and tossed it on his bed.

"Good call, but I can imagine the look you were giving him." You mentioned as you sat on Sam's bed with your legs crossed.

"Second, it wouldn't have done any good because the bastard's bulletproof unless he's chowin' down on something. And third, I wasn't packing which is probably a good thing because I probably would've just burned a clip in him on principle alone." Dean ranted as he paced around.

"You're getting wise in your old age, Dean." Sam quipped as he looked over at Dean.

"You're d*mn right. 'Cause now I know how we're gonna get it." Dean decided.

"What do you mean?" Sam wondered.

"The shtriga works through families. He got Asher last night, so tonight he's gonna go for Michael, and I bet Dean wants to use him as bait." You figured.

"D*mn straight." Dean agreed.

"We can't, we need to get him outta here." Sam protested.

"No. No. That'd blow the whole deal." Dean refused.

"What?" Sam questioned.

"Yeah." Dean nodded.

"Dean, I can't believe you wanna use the kid as bait." You voiced as you got up.

"That's nuts! No. Forget it. That's outta the question-" Sam started to say as he walked up to Dean.

"It's not out of the question. If this thing disappears, it could be years before we get another chance." Dean argued.

"Micheal's a kid, and we're not gonna dangle him in front of that thing like a worm on a hook!" Sam shouted.

"Dad did not send me here to walk away." Dean growled.

"Sendyouhere? He didn't send you here. He sent us here." Sam pointed out.

"This isn't about you or Y/N, Sam. All right? I'm the one that screwed up. It's my fault. There's no telling how many kids have gotten hurt because of me." Dean admitted as he turned and walked away from Sam.

"What are you saying, Dean? How is it your fault?" Sam asked Dean. Dean didn't respond though so Sam just sighed.

"Dean, I get that this case is personal for you, but you should at least tell me and Sam what happened so we might try to understand even just a little bit." You voiced as you over at Dean.

"I agreed, I mean since when does Dad bail on a hunt?" Sam wondered. "Since when does he let something get away? Now, talk to us, man. Tell us what's going on."

"Fort Douglas, Wisconsin. It was, uh, the third night in this crap room, and I was climbin' the walls, guys. I needed to get some air." Dean continued to tell you and Sam about how he left Sam alone when they were children and a shtriga almost killed Sam, Dean had a chance to kill it but he hesitated and it got away. "Dad just grabbed us and booked. Dropped us off at Pastor Jim's, about three hours away. By the time he got back to Fort Douglas, the shtriga disappeared. It was-It was just gone. It never resurfaced until now. Heh. You know, Dad never spoke about it again. I didn't ask. But he, uh...He looked at me different, you know? Which was worse. Not that I blamed him. He gave me an order, and I didn't listen. I almost got you killed."

"You were just a kid." Sam pointed out as he sat on the bed next to Dean.

"Don't. Dad knew this was unfinished business for me. He sent me here to finish it." Dean stated as he just stared ahead.

"Well, I say let's finish it. We should explain the situation to Michael and let him decide if he wants to be bait or not." You suggested as you got up off the bed.

Dean agreed and Sam reluctantly agreed, so you went over to the office to explain everything to Michael. "You're crazy. Just...go away, or I'm calling the cops." Michael threatened as he held the corded phone.

"Hang on a second. Just listen to me." Dean pleaded as he leaned on the counter. "You have to believe me, okay? This thing came through the window and it attacked your brother. Now, I've seen it. I know what it looks like. 'Cause it attacked my brother once too."

"This thing..." Michael began as he reluctantly put the phone down. "Is it...like...It has this long, black robe?"

"You saw it last night, didn't ya?" Dean asked Michael.

"I thought I was having a nightmare." Michael mentioned as he looked down.

"I'd give anything not to tell you this, but sometimes nightmares are real." Dean stated.

"So why are you telling me?" Michael wondered.

"Because we need your help." Dean answered.

"M-my help?" Michael stuttered.

"We can kill it. Me and them, it's what we do. But we can't do it without you." Dean explained.

"W-what?" Michael questioned with a confused look on his face as he looked between the three of you. "No."

"Michael, listen to me. This thing hurt Asher. And it's gonna keep hurting kids unless we stop it. Do you understand me?" Dean clarified as he looked at Michael, but Michael refused to help.

So you guys went back to your room. "Well, that went crappy. Now what?" Dean murmured.

"What'd you expect? You can't ask an adult to do something like that, much less a kid." Sam pointed out as someone knocked on the door. Dean opened it to reveal Michael.

"If you kill it, will Asher get better?" Michael asked you guys.

"Honestly, we don't know." Dean admitted.

"You said you're a big brother?" Michael asked Dean.

"Yeah." Dean nodded.

"You'd take care of your little brother? You'd do anything for him?" Michael asked Dean.

"Yeah, I would." Dean answered.

"Me too. I'll help." Michael agreed.


"This camera has Night Vision on it, so we'll be able to see as clear as day. Are we good?" Dean called from Michael's room as he was setting up the camera.

"Move it just a hair to the right." You called back as you watched the camera on the laptop. "That's good." You called as you watched Dean move it slightly so the bed and window was in the frame.

"What do I do?" You heard Michael ask over the camera. He was tucked into bed about to go to sleep.

"Just stay under the covers." Dean answered.

"And if it shows up?" Michael wondered as Dean sat down on the bed.

"Well, we'll be right in the next room. We're gonna come in with guns. So soon as we do, you roll off this bed and you crawl under it." Dean explained.

"What if you shoot me?" Michael asked.

"We won't shoot you. We're good shots." Dean replied. "We're not gonna fire until you're clear, okay? Have you heard a gunshot before?"

"Like in the movies?" Michael asked.

"It's gonna be a lot louder than in the movies. So I want you to stay under the bed, cover your ears and do not come out until we say so. You understand?" Dean asked and Michael nodded. "Michael, you sure you wanna do this? You don't have to. It's okay. I won't be mad."

"No, I'm okay. Just don't shoot me." Michael shook his head.

"We're not gonna let anything happen to you. Promise." Dean promised him. Once everything was set up you and the boys waited outside Michael's room quietly for the shtriga to attack. The plan was for Dean to be on point with Sam backing him up. Then you were watching to camera to give them the signal to go in, and if things went bad you would intervene."What time is it?"

"Three?" Sam answered as he looked at his watch. "You sure these iron rounds are gonna work?"

"Consecrated iron rounds. And yeah, it's what Dad used last time." Dean explained.

"Hey, Dean, I'm sorry." Sam said.

"For what?" Dean wondered as he looked over at Sam.

"You know. I've really given you a lot of crap for always following Dad's orders. But I know why you do it." Sam expressed.

"Oh, God. Kill me now." Dean mumbled as he looked away. That's when you noticed the shadows on the window acting weird.

"Guys get ready." You whispered as you watched the shtriga open the window. Sam and Dean readied their pistols and stood by the door.

"Now?" Sam whispered.

"Not yet." You whispered back as you watch it creep over to Michael's bed, and it leaned over him to start feeding. You nodded and they bursted into the room.

"Hey!" Sam shouted.

"Michael, down!" Dean shouted as they aimed at the shtriga. Michael rolled under the bed and the brothers fired rapidly into it. You waited outside the door until you knew the coast was clear. "Mike, you all right? Just sit tight."

"Dean!" You heard Sam shout as you caught a glimpse of Dean getting tossed across the room. Then the shtriga appeared in front of Sam and knocked his pistol away and started feeding on him. You saw this white energy flow from Sam's mouth into it's mouth.

"Hey ugly!" You shouted as you stepped in the doorway causing it to look up at you. You fired a single bullet into its forehead causing it to collapse. "You okay Sam?" You asked him as he gave you a thumbs up. You guys looked at the shtriga as that white energy started flowing out of its mouth and Dean fired the rest of his clip into the thing.

"I'ts okay, Michael. You can come on out." Dean said as Michael crawled out from under the bed. There was nothing left of the shtriga besides its tattered ropes.


You and the boys were packing your things in the trunk to leave when Joanna ran over to you. "Hey, Joanna. How's Asher doing?" Dean asked her.

"Have you seen Michael?" She wondered.

"Mom! Mom!" Michael called as he gave her a big hug.

"Hey! How's Ash?" Michael asked her.

"I got some good news. Your brother's gonna be fine." Joanna answered.

"Really?" Michael smiled up at her.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Really, no one can explain it. It's a...It's a miracle. They're gonna keep him in overnight, but after that, he's coming home."

"That's great." Dean mentioned.

"How are all the other kids doing?" Sam asked Joanna.

"Good. Real good. A bunch of them should be checking out in a few days. Dr. Travis says the ward's gonna be like a ghost town." Joanna explained.

"Dr. Travis? What about Dr. Heidecker?" You wondered.

"Oh, he wasn't in today. Must have been sick or something." Joanna supposed.

"Yeah, must've had too much iron in his diet." You quipped getting a chuckle from Sam and Dean.

"Hmm, so did anything happen while I was gone?" She wondered.

"Nah, same old stuff." Michael stated.

"Okay. We're gonna go see Ash." She shared.

"Now?" Michael questioned.

"Only if you want to." Joanna smiled. Michael looked at you guys before running to her SUV and getting in. "I better get going before he hot-wires the car and drives himself." Joanna walked away as you guys smiled at them, happy to see that everything turned out okay.

"It's too bad." Sam muttered as he walked to his side of the car.

"Oh, they'll be fine." Dean mentioned as he closed and locked the trunk.

"That's not what I meant." Sam stated. "I meant Michael. He'll always know there are things out there in the dark. He'll never be the same, you know? Sometimes I wish that..."

"What?" Dean wondered.

"I wish I could have that kind of innocence." Sam shared as you guys watch them leave the parking lot.

"If it means anything, sometimes I wish you could too." Dean voiced as he got into the Impala. You and Sam got in to and Dean pulled out and drove off.