I'm gonna be real messy with the timeline. Just know this episode happens before the black and white episode. I've also had an incredibly busy month, like you wouldn't believe! But I've decided to recycle chapters. With a few edits here and there. Hopefully I haven't missed anything.

Extra Long Chapter for you all because it's near the end of the month and I feel bad for not updating much!

While in Sioux Falls, Zoe spent time in the gun range where the sheriff would also spend some time. It was Sheriff Mills who recommended Zoe get a handgun for protection and even offered to take her gun shopping. Gabriel used some of his own magic and managed to give Zoe a proper identity. Zoe didn't know any of this until the state of South Dakota sent her an ID, and a lot of paperwork Zoe needed to fill out. Bobby didn't even bother trying to help her fill it out. Thus, Zoe sought out Jody to help her.

The Sheriff was more than happy to help her fill out all of the complicated forms. Zoe bemoaned the fact she'd have to fill out taxes. She supposed, however, if she was going to live here, she might as well make sure she exists. Even then, she had Gabriel help her understand some of the forms that were too complicated for her.

It was near then end of the September when Bobby and Sam finally convinced Dean to let Zoe go on a hunt with them. Bobby found them a small haunting in Texas, and suggested they take her on it since it was a low risk hunt and wouldn't put her in a lot of danger.

Dean kept his interactions with her to a minimum, and focused his attention on Sam and Bobby. The latter two were annoyed with this, but didn't bother and Zoe didn't seem to care either way. While at Bobby's, the brothers did some minor research on the house so they would know what they were getting themselves into. The house owners had contacted a hunter friend of Bobby's who in turn contacted the boys. The hunter in the area was dealing with another hunt and didn't have the time. The ghost didn't unsettle Zoe. She dealt with the Witnesses. Ghosts she could handle. It was the location of the hunt that made her anxious.

Houston, Texas was a large city. One of the largest in the state and the country. The hunt could have been in any other location, any house, to anyone, but it had to be in that city. Zoe could feel cold dead creeping up her spine, her blood running cold as Bobby gave the address to the haunting, confirming her worst fears. The house was her neighbor's home. Zoe hoped (prayed) that in things would be different in this world, perhaps a few things changed, and she wouldn't have to confront her still painful past. She had made it this far without much of a breakdown, but Zoe wondered if the visit to Houston would be enough to bring the dam down.

She managed to hide it from Bobby and Sam. Zoe thanked their inability to read her, and her ability to hide her emotions. Hiding it from Gabriel would be another matter entirely since the angel was incredibly good at reading her. Zoe wondered if this had anything to do with the fact that Gabriel was her patron saint back home.

"You okay?" Sam asked after he noticed Zoe's tense silence. His eyes widened, and he cursed though he got no reaction from Zoe who seemed to be staring at nothing, deep in thought.

"What?" Dean asked, confused at his brother's reaction.

"Zoe's from Houston," Sam explained. "Taking her now might bring back some memories. I don't think she thinks she's ready for that. Are there any other hunts, Bobby?"

"I can check," Bobby said. "Don't expect me to come up with something right away though."

"No," Zoe said, her voice shaking.

"Zoe, are you sure?" Sam asked.

She nodded, "I need to do this. I mean, it's not like it's home, right?"

Sam didn't seem convinced and glanced at Bobby who just shrugged. If Zoe wanted to go, then what say did they have? Sam didn't want to put her through more strain, especially since the trip would already be difficult given her still tense relationship with Dean. He hated being the mediator between his brother and the girl he'd come to see as a good friend, maybe a little cousin.

..

They stopped twice on their way to Texas, and all the while Zoe prayed they wouldn't go there. She ate in silence which did little to dissuade Sam's worried looks.

"If you don't want to come, then we can drop you off," Sam said. "There's a hunter who lives not too far from here."

"I'm fine, Sam. Promise."

Dean muttered under his breath, unconvinced with her. Sam shot him a look before turning his attention back to Zoe. She had taken to staring at the blurry trees of the forest. Sometimes the trees would give way to a small town, and it would be gone just as quickly. Most of the drive was quiet. Zoe didn't want to risk angering Dean any further since he had put up the most protest against her joining them. Sam was the only one who she talked with. The two became wrapped into a deep conversation on gender and hunting. Dean got uncomfortable when Zoe brought up the fact that in the show women were treated as nothing more than damsels in distress who's only other purpose is to have sex with the boys.

…

Why was she dreading it? She had nothing to fear, not really.

Her parents probably didn't even know her, and her friends probably thought she was some sort of weirdo. Well, they weren't really her friends if they didn't know she existed, or her parents if they technically didn't raise her.

She could do it.

They didn't know her, so there wasn't really nothing for her to worry about. This was just her worrying over nothing.

Her stomach didn't unclench; if anything the knot tightened, and Zoe fought the urge to throw up. She doubted Dean would appreciate it, especially in the car.

Deep breaths.

She was strong. Nerves of steel, her mom used to say. Zoe could live through anything, even the goddam apocalypse if she needed to.

Zoe frowned slightly as they entered the Houston city limits. She sat up straighter, and turned a critical eye towards the city, a sense of familiarity washing over her.

Home. She was home. They passed through the downtown area, and Zoe looked up at the skyscrapers, recognizing the Jones Hall, the hospitals, the zoo. Nothing had changed. True this was Houston in 2008, but it was all there. Her stomach twisted and tightened further. She was home. She didn't have to try too hard to pretend that it was home.

"I'm guessing you recognize this place?" Dean asked.

Zoe nodded, "It's not too hard not to reco

She trailed off, biting her lip slightly as her heart clenched.

Right. Not home. Not her real one anyway.

Sam looked apologetic, "Zoe. I'm sorry. We should have asked-"

Zoe waved him off, "It's fine, Sam. I kinda missed being here. Besides, it's not like I told you. And it's not like I'm in unfamiliar territory. Especially in this neighborhood" she motioned around her, "They won't trust official looking white guys. No offense, but the cops aren't necessarily nice here. Feds are just going to send some people running."

The rest of the ride was silent, broken only when Zoe recognized a building and regaled the boys with stories of her childhood. The boys checked into a motel before they headed to the police station where Bobby had called in beforehand. While the boys changed into their suits, Zoe kept glancing outside, eager to be out and explore the city. This part she recognized easily. Her dad had often driven past here in the morning on the drive to school.

Zoe passed the time rifling through John's journal, skimming through the pages until she found the ghost hunts. It was...enlightening to say the least, especially now that she was in one. The boys had gone to the police station to see the reports and get more information on the hunt. Zoe stayed in the hotel room, half listening to the television while reading John Winchester's notes on a ghost hunt. It was helpful to learn the man's tactics and mostly Zoe wondered if they would be dealing with the garden variety spirit or if it would be a poltergeist. Vengeful spirits she could do, but the murderous version of Peeves? No thank you.

She sighed, and leaned back on the seat, before she considered calling Castiel or Gabriel for a chat. The archangel liked to talk to her, finding it a welcome distraction from his usual duties as a trickster god. Though he didn't often show up because of those duties.

Zoe briefly wondered if she should get a journal. Or a diary.

"Hey Gabe," she said, closing her eyes, "Me again. You're not gonna show up anytime soon are at ya?" She paused, listening for any changes, and continued, "Yeah didn't think so. So anyway, update on my life. The boys let me join them on a hunt, picked a nice haunting in Houston, only problem is that I'm from here.

"You know how hard it is? Going back to the place that was home but now it isn't? Course you never went back, and I don't blame ya. I mean, half the time I didn't even want to think of home because it hurts. My Mom. My Dad. My sisters and dorky little brother. I'm not going to see them again, and..." she laughed, wiping a few stray tears from her eyes, "Well, it's stupid. I keep thinking someone's going to recognize me and I'll be stuck having to explain why I'm hanging out with two adult men rather than be in college. I'd be labeled a runaway or something. I'm sure I don't exist here, or my parents. But it feels so familiar, you know? Like I can pretend I'm back home, back in my own reality and this was nothing but a really long dream." she glanced out the window, "Anyway, the boys are coming. Talk to you later."

Sam and Dean walked into the kitchen, case files in hand. Sam called her over and the three of them began to look over the case file. Dean almost made a comment on Zoe going through John's journal, but Sam gave him a sharp look. Zoe needed something to keep her mind off of things, and if going through their father's journal gave her something to do, Sam wasn't going to stop her.

Sam opened the file, and pulled out crime scene phontes, "A Lidia Smith was found dead two days ago in her bedroom. No signs of break-in. Police think suicide."

"But?" Zoe asked.

"According to her friends and family, Lidia was a very cheerful person," Dean said, "Led a happy life. No signs of depression. Wasn't seeing a therapist."

Zoe nodded, and frowned, "Wait...Lidia?"

Sam nodded, "Yeah. Why?

"She was my neighbor," Lidia said, "Did she had curly hair, tattoo on her back, and an infinity sign on her upper arm?"

"You know her?" Dean asked, frowning.

"Well she and her family moved out a few years ago," Zoe said, "I heard my mom once say that the house was haunted."

"Huh," Sam said, "Anything else?"

"Well I know for a fact that I'm going to be joining you on the interviews." Dean opened his mouth to protest but Zoe cut him off, "Any of you fluent in Spanish? Like you can make yourselves coherent enough to speak Spanish? A year of Spanish doesn't count Sam. That was like what? Four five years ago?"

"I don't think the language barrier is going to be an issue," Dean said.

"Eso es lo crees, no? ¿Haber pues, me puedes entender, Winchester? ¿Oh no lo vas a decir por qué te crees muy macho? ¿Tecreesmuy machon no?"

Dean blinked at the rapid fire Spanish Zoe threw at him. Sam who only caught half of what Zoe said, kept quiet. Both of the Winchesters knew she hadn't said anything nice. Both of them shared a look, but didn't say anything. Zoe crossed her arms and raised a smug eyebrow.

"Fine," Dean said, "but you do as we say, got it?"

Zoe rolled her eyes, "Roger that, boss."

…

Cold fear began to course through her body as the streets became more familiar. Zoe stared out the window. There's the Ninfa's restaurant her aunt worked at. They gave out good candy on Halloween. There's the place the school bus dropped her off. There's her church. Zoe arched her neck to look at the large fountain and the statue of the Lady of Guadalupe. There was her street.

Zoe rested her chin on her fist, heart hammering away.

There was her house.

"Hey," Sam said, shaking her out of her trance, "You okay?"

Zoe took a deep breath, trying to calm herself before she answered.

"Look," Sam said, "If you don't want to do this, then we can find another hunt, a few states away if you want. You know, make it easier."

"I'm okay," Zoe said, "Just my luck for my first hunt to be where I was raised."

The last part was muttered, but the boys heard it all the same. They shared a look, holding a silent argument with each other while trying to figure out what to do.

"Zoe-"

"I'm fine," she snapped, "Let me introduce you to my neighbors."

She could see them, her neighbors, looking in their direction, at the professional looking men and the small girl trailing behind them, refusing to look anywhere else but ahead. Her uncle, staring at them while he ushered Zoe's cousins into the house. Her sister's godmother, watching her with a critical eye. Their eyes were on her. She could see as recognition flashed in their eyes. The godmother retreated into her house, phone already in hand.

And her mother. Zoe spotted her, looking through the blinds while three small dogs barked in their direction. If she could, Zoe would have yelled at them to be quiet, or called their names in hopes that they would recognize her, but they didn't. She could already hear the calls. Did you see the two suits? That girl. She's Mexican. She looks like your daughter. Don't look. Go to your room. Poor Lidia, and her poor mother. They'll be having the funeral soon.

Zoe knocked on the door, and greeted the woman with a smile. Mrs. Garcia, her neighbor before she moved that is, opened the door and studied her and the Winchesters warily. An elderly woman, mid-sixties, her hair tied in a messy bun, and wearing an apron. She was preparing for the vigil of her daughter.

"Mrs. Garcia?" Zoe asked in Spanish, and the woman nodded, I'm Zoe and these are Agents Miller and Smith from the FBI." The brothers flashed their badges, "We're here about you daughter, Lidia."

Mrs. Garcia frowning in confusion, "But I already talked with the police."

"We just want to confirm your story and ask some questions of our own," Sam said in heavily accented Spanish.

Zoe resisted the urge to face palm at said Spanish. She shared a look with Mrs. Garcia, raising her eyebrows slightly before entering the house, glancing at the green walls occasionally, but found nothing of interest. They were led to a green living room with aged furniture, and sat down at the largest couch.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Mrs. Garcia asked.

Zoe repeated the question and the boys declined. They turned their attention to Mrs Garcia, who had ushered everyone out of the living room, and into the other rooms.

"Mrs. Garcia," Dean said, "What can you tell us about your daughter?

Zoe translated, and repeated Mrs. Garcia's answer, "She says Lidia was a good girl. She always did good at school and even at work, she never caused any trouble. She says that something killed her."

"Do you have any idea what?" Sam asked.

"The woman in white!" Mrs. Garcia cried out, "She took my daughter!"

Dean exchanged a look with Sam who was frowning.

"Uh Zoe?"

"She says the woman in white took her daughter," Zoe said.

As if to prove her claim, Mrs. Garcia rolled up her sleeves to show them five long scratches on her arm. Zoe frowned and turned to the brothers, unsure of what to do. Sam leaned forward and inspected the scratches, comparing them with his own fingers.

"Where did you get these?" he asked.

"The woman," Mrs Garcia said, rolling her sleeve down "She attacked me at night when I stopped her from harming Lidia."

"Why would the woman in white harm you and your daughter?" Sam asked.

Mrs. Garcia shook her head, dissolving into sobs, claiming that the woman in white was simply a bad spirit, and didn't care who she harmed. Dean excused himself to the restroom while Zoe stayed behind with Sam. Mrs. Garcia showed them Lidia's room, which had been blocked off by the police. Zoe poked her head inside, and saw a bloody mattress on the bare bed frame. Sam studied the bed closely, and made a small motion to Zoe who nodded.

"Could we go back to the living room?" Zoe asked.

There the two quickly slipped into easy small talk, with Mrs. Garcia asking Zoe about what it was like to work with the FBI. Zoe lied easily, claiming that translating was a side job for her until she returned to college. Mrs. Garcia called one of her sons, Simon, and told her that he too was in college.

Unfortunately for Zoe, the boys where done too quickly for her to have a proper conversation with Simon, and left.

…

"Oh man, this is delicious."

Zoe raised an amused eyebrow as Dean ate his pupusas, at Zoe's recommendation. They had stopped by a small food truck, after listening to Zoe's raving reviews, and went back to what they knew about what happened.

"Did you get any EMF readings during your little exploration?" Sam asked.

"Yup," Dean said, "Definitely a spirit."

"But who?" Sam thought for a moment before turning to Zoe, "Has anyone died in that house?"

Zoe thought for a moment, "That I know of, no. My mom said that the ghost attacked one of the daughters, always a specific one and left bruises and scratches until Mrs. Garcia drove her off."

"And your mom knows this because-?"

"The secret of woman's gossip, Dean," Zoe said with a smirk, "The neighborhood is small enough that we know everything there is to know about anyone. Like how I know for a fact a stakeout will be impossible because they'd spot your car right away. Any new car and no one will be coming out unless they have to."

"Why would they do that?" Sam asked.

Zoe sighed, "Y'all deal with a lot of white people, right?"

"You bringing race into this?" Dean asked.

The teenager rolled her eyes, "Dean, you're parked in the East End of Houston, one of the biggest Latino communities in the city, in a state known for being rather prejudiced, yes I'm bringing race into this. You are a white man, and a government agent according to them. They're not going to risk anything if they see you or Sam there, no offense Sammy, but I can hear not-Dad making a comment on your height."

They were silent, as they mulled this over.

"So what do we do?" Sam asked. "You know this neighborhood better than we do. What do you suggest?"

Zoe closed her mouth and frowned. She hadn't really thought about that, especially since the boys were usually the ones with a plan.

"Well," Zoe said, "I can give you the schedules, and the best times to check out the place if you really need to."

"Which are?" Dean asked.

"Between noon and two on weekdays," Zoe answered, "There's hardly any cars there, but the dogs will raise the alarm so you'll have to work quickly. Mom's a stay at home spouse, and I'm betting so's this one, so one of us will have to distract her so she doesn't see you breaking into her neighbor's house."

Dean raised an eyebrow, impressed, "For someone who doesn't go out much you sure know a lot about what goes on in the neighborhood."

Zoe grinned proudly. They returned to the motel to research, well Sam and Zoe researched while Dean prepared the salt rounds, but after twenty minutes he got bored and declared he was going to take a nice long shower, and left Sam and Zoe alone. Zoe returned to her phone, continuing to search the history of the house, as well as of her dead not-neighbor.

"So how are you holding up?"

"Hm?" she glanced up, not catching the question.

Sam had lowered the lid on his laptop, and had turned so he could better talk to Zoe.

"How are you holding up?" he repeated.

Zoe frowned, "What do you mean? I'm fine."

The youngest Winchester shook his head, "A hunt where you were raised, right in your own neighborhood? And you're fine?"

"Hell of a coincidence if you ask me," Zoe said, scrolling through the information on her phone. Sam continued to wait, and Zoe sighed, "What, Sam? What do ya want me to say? I show up moments before you drive up with the Impala at the very motel you were holed up in, and somehow I survived living with you, and then the Witnesses which I still don't know how I survived, and-and my first real hunt is in a city I both dreamed and dreaded to visit? I don't know why I'm here Sam. Cas doesn't know. Ga- The Trickster doesn't know what I should do. I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing!

"A-am I supposed to be helping you or...or stopping you?" she took a shaky breath, "I don't know. Fate is real. I know that. Atropos is real. Her sisters are real. So did I majorly piss them off? And I can't go home, Sam. I tried."

"What do you mean you tried?" Sam interrupted.

"A spell," Zoe said, "It was when you where gone for that week, when we stayed at that old house. I got my hands on the ingredients for this spell an angel uses to send you two to an alternate world. It doesn't work, Sam. I can't go home, and now God, who I'm guessing is merely sitting back and watching all this unfold, isn't letting me leave. It hurts Sam. My neighbors don't recognize me. The dog I raised since it was a newborn doesn't recognize me. I'm no one, and I hang out with you and Dean, and...and I feel like I'm just the third wheel or something, and both of you are wonderful, putting up with me despite my lack of contribution."

And cue the waterworks. It was bound to happen, she reasoned. Sam could always figure out when she was on the brink of collapsing under the emotional weight. Surprisingly, he never used it to his advantage, and for that Zoe was glad. He never did find out how that door got broken after he came back from that hunt, and Zoe swore up and down she hadn't the faintest clue. He never left her alone for longer than three days after that.

"We don't put up with you," he said after a silence, "Hell, you've been helpful even when we don't listen to you. You where right about the angel pulling Dean out of Hell, the Witnesses, and the Seals. I don't know how what it's like to go back home knowing it's not home, and I can't imagine what it must feel like, but you can't just keep this bottled up. It's not healthy. If you're not comfortable with the hunt, like Dean said, we can find another possible hunt, but you have to tell us, alright? Like you said, we're all you got."

Sam pulled her into a hug, which Zoe returned, burying her face into his shoulder. He had learned fairly easy that Zoe liked physical contact from people she knew, but never started it. Hugging it out always seemed to work, especially during Zoe's first few weeks, and she always hugged as if it was the last hug she'd ever get. And when Dean exited the shower, Sam dared him to say something, but the elder Winchester didn't, preferring to give them their privacy on the pretense that they needed more beer.

…

Zoe opened her eyes, taking in a deep breath as her eyes focused on the blurry face of Dean Winchester. Once her mind began to properly work again, Zoe frowned, squinting slightly.

"Dean?" she glanced at the bed to find Sam missing. "Where's Sam?"

"Out getting food," Dean said, and then he frowned slightly, "You okay?"

She nodded, and arched her back, stretching her arms as she did so, and reached for her glasses. Dirty again. As she cleaned them, Dean took a seat on couch.

"Look," Dean said, "I know we haven't had time to bond and stuff, but you know you can tell me or Sam anything, right?"

"I know," Zoe said, "but are you going to tell Sam about Hell anytime soon?"

"You know about that?" said Dean hesitantly.

"Hello, Supernatural Fangirl," Zoe said motioning to her face, not unlike the Trickster, "I know everything. I'm like God or something."

Dean chuckled.

"So are you going to tell him?" Zoe asked.

The elder Winchester, the most beloved of any character in the show, didn't answer. Zoe sighed, "He's going to find out, you know. If not from you, then from someone else. Hey, don't give me that look, I'm not telling him, but he's going to find out Dean. It's better you tell him before someone else does."

"I am," Dean said, though Zoe could feel a but coming, "just not right now."

"I graduated from the Dean Winchester school of bottling up my feelings," Zoe muttered, though Dean heard her, and so explained, "It's a tumblr thing. Your whole character arc revolves around you bottling up your feelings. It ain't healthy."

"Now you sound like Sam," Dean said, though there was no anger in his voice.

At that moment Sam entered the room with breakfast tacos. Zoe immediately made grabby hands at the tacos, maturity be damned and claimed the bacon and egg pair while giving Dean the rest.

"What took you?"

"I was checking out the history of the house," Sam said, pulling out a manila folder, "And turns out that a lady did die there."

"Let me guess," Dean said, "Murdered?"

"Yep," Sam said, pulling out a second file, this one older, and more yellowed, "Police arrested her boyfriend and charged him with murder after Vivian Morales was found drowned in her bathtub."

Zoe grimaced, "Where's she buried?"

"Glen wood cemetery," Sam said.

"Should we check it out?" Zoe asked, "So we don't waste time at night...or do you guys do that already because the show never specified."

"A show about two hunters and they never show you their methods?" Dean asked incredulously.

Zoe shrugged, "Hey, I just watch the show. I don't write it. I always thought you guys winged it."

"When we're not in a hurry, no," Dean clarified.

They spent the rest of their day searching for Vivian Morales's grave, and memorizing the landmarks. And when Zoe got tired of walking on their way back to the car, she climbed onto Sam's back and declared him her horse, much to Dean's amusement. They got stared at, tall man giving a teenager a piggy back ride while another shorter man trailed behind them, laughing his head off.

The rest of the day was spent visiting the places Zoe had pointed out, one of them being a small park she used to go to on Easter. Upon arriving, Zoe had then proceeded to jump on Dean's back, much to the elder Winchester's surprise.

"Are you high?" Dean asked, as he adjusted the teenager on his back.

"I may have had some really sugary treats," Zoe admitted, "Sugar makes me do weird stuff. I'm hyper, Deanerino, and Sammich is carrying the food."

"So?"

"It'd be rude Dean-o," Zoe said simply and raised her fist, "Onward! I see a good spot that-a way."

Surprisingly, Dean could carry her. Unsurprisingly, Zoe refused to let Dean sit.

...

Zoe groaned slightly as her arms began to get sore. She'd forgotten the digging up graves part of the wonderful world of supernatural. The sun had set and the trio got to work. They sneaked into the empty graveyard, with Zoe practically bouncing with excitement. A salt and burn. She almost didn't think this day would come. Of course, to show her that the hunting life wasn't as glamorous as it was made to be, Zoe was given shovel duty with Sam. Stupid Dean, leaning smugly against the stone angel.

Every now and then Zoe would cast a look at the statue, even after she had been assured that weeping angels didn't exist in this world, not that it was very reassuring. Zoe had hoped she could call the Doctor to help her with her predicament.

Either way, Zoe blamed Dean for her sore arms.

"Don't look at me," Dean said, "I didn't want you to get into this life."

She cast him a glare and continued to dig until both she and Sam reached the coffin. Sam broke the wood, and the two of them poured salt and lighter fluid into the coffin before Dean helped Zoe climb out of the six foot hole and Sam threw in the match.

"Dude, you're short," The eldest Winchester commented as Zoe brushed off soil from her pants.

"At least I'm not considered the short one in the show," She remarked.

That shut Dean for a while, and as Zoe made her way to the impala, he turned to his brother, "Your kid's mean, Sam."

The boys dropped her off at the motel with a celebratory frappucino and McDonald's while they themselves went in search of a good bar to celebrate. As usual, Sam had made Zoe promise to keep her phone with her at all times should something happen.

The teenager leaned back on the couch watching Star Trek show re-runs. Halfway during the show, the lights flickered and screen turned to static and a pink screen appeared with the words 'Casa Erotica.' To the reasonable person, this would have been considered freaky at most, and would have gone for the nearest shotgun. Zoe, on the other hand glared at the smug archangel on the screen.

"Dude," she groaned, grimacing in disgust, "Really?"

Gabriel grinned and snapped his fingers, appearing next to Zoe, still looking smug.

"First Salt n' Burn, eh?" Gabriel asked, "How was it?"

"Yup."

Zoe yawned as she tried to look past the dark outlines of the trees. The moon was out, a nice crescent moon, though the stars were more appealing. It was one of the perks of driving around the country at night. Cities had so much light pollution it was considered a miracle if a star shined bright enough to be seen. But out in the country, away from cities, and civilization, it was beautiful. Sam once stopped at a nice clearing and gave her a brief astronomy lesson, pointing out the constellations and some of their history.

They were on their way to Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, a small town in the midst of Oktoberfest and Zoe couldn't have been more excited, not even Dean especially when he heard of the case. Both she and Sam had been rudely woken by Dean and had blearily piled into the Impala. Sam had called beforehand that they would be arriving, not that Zoe cared. She planned on exploring the festival while trying not to get too lost, after a height joke by Dean.

Zoe made sure to 'accidentally' drop her food on the backseat of Baby that day.

"The radio around here sucks," Dean groaned and turned off the radio. "Come on, man. Jobs don't get much sweeter than this, you know? Dead vic with a gnawed-on neck, body drained of blood, and a witness who swears up and down that it was a vampire."

"No," Sam agreed, "I agree. It's a hell of a case."

"A little more gusto, please," Dean said.

"It's just... the world is coming to an end," Sam said, "Things are a little complicated, you know?"

Zoe grunted, and shifted her position so her feet rested on the window.

"Hey, hey," Dean said looking at the rear view mirror, "Get your dirty feet off my window."

Zoe stuck out her tongue, but lowered her feet.

"Yeah, well, we can't save the world," Dean continued, turning to Sam, "not today anyway. But what we can do is chop off some vamps' heads. Come on, man, it's like the good old days, an honest-to-goodness monster hunt. It's about time the Winchesters got back to tackling a straightforward, black and white case."

"He's got a point," Zoe said, "Normal cases become rare especially after season six. Usually the cases have to do with the whole narrative arc of the season. Loner cases tho. I love loner cases. They have a nice simplicity to them."

"Exactly," Dean agreed.

Zoe stared at the roof, listening to her own music, until she got bored.

"Are we there yet?

"No."

A pause.

"Dean-o, I'm bored."

"Shut up."

Silence.

Five minutes later.

"Dean. Dean. Dean. Dean-o. Squirrel. Not Moose. Short one. Deanerino."

"What?"

Zoe grinned, "nothing."

Silence fell once more.

"Dean-"

"If you ask me one more time if we're there yet, or so God help me I will make you walk to Canonsburg."

"I was just going to ask why you don't wear iron rings so you could just punch the ghost and it'd disappear."

Dean said nothing.

"Dean?"

"Zoe," Dean tried to keep his voice calm.

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

Beside Dean, Sam tried to muffle his laughter, earning him a Dean Winchester Bitchface.

"Really, Sam?" he asked, "Don't encourage her."

"Much anger. Wow. Many stress"

Sam Winchester dissolved into a fit of giggles, leaving a grinning Zoe in his wake.

Silence. And then...

"I need to pee."

...

Zoe took in the sweet autumnal Pennsylvanian air. It smelled of junk food and earth and with a dash of pollution. After an uneventful dream -Gabriel failed to show- and the arrival of a nice cold frappucino with a good American breakfast at the nearest diner, the young adult was ready to take on whatever was thrown in her way. Finally a good ol' festival since the Renaissance festival in Texas she planned to go with her best friend didn't seem to be in her near future. Zoe supposed Oktoberfest with her favorite fictional characters made up for it.

"We still got to see the new Raiders movie," Dean said as they exited the Impala.

"Saw it," Sam said.

Dean stopped, looking at his brother with an incredulous look "Without me?"

"You were in Hell," Zoe said.

Personally she didn't like it. They had gone to the movies after a successful hunt and Zoe almost slept through it. Personally, she preferred The Avengers and Mad Max.

"That's no excuse," Dean argued, earning him a shrug from Zoe.

"Big pretzel!" they said in unison once they spotted the bender and ran off towards their pretzels, leaving an amused Sam behind.

Dean bought one for Sam and Zoe changed her mind and got popcorn instead. She slapped Dean's hand away with a loud hiss and cradled her popcorn closer to her. The eldest Winchester made a face to counter her own.

Sam sighed, "Can you two act like mature adults for two minutes?"

"I'm the youngest, Sammich," Zoe said, "I have every right to cling to my childhood."

Dean pointed to Zoe, "She started it."

Sam shook his head and accepted his pretzel, taking a bite out of it while Zoe went off to explore. She spotted a vendor selling a German sausage, Bratwurst, and bought it, and took a tentative bite and deemed it acceptable before wandering off to other games, not that she wandered for long since straying too far from the Winchesters made her uneasy. At some point during which Zoe tried the rides, Sam called her that he and Dean would be going to the morgue to check the victim before they regrouped at the bar. An hour later he called to tell her that they have returned and to head to the bar. Zoe, unfortunately, had a bad sense of direction, but thankfully, a nice vendor was kind enough to point her to the bar, after Zoe explained she was with her cousin and had gotten separated and in no way wanted to have a drink.

Hunting or no hunting, Zoe refused to touch alcohol.

Sam waved her over when she entered the bar and Zoe squeezed into the seat, plate of Bratwurst in hand. Dean studied the plate curiously.

"Is it good?" Dean asked.

"Hella," Zoe said taking a bite. "How's the case going?"

"The victim has two bite marks on his neck," Sam said, "And the witness claims Dracula did it."

"Dracula," Zoe repeated, raising a disbelieving eyebrow.

"Cape, medallion and everything," Dean added,

"huh," Zoe said frowning, "I think I remember this episode."

"Good, then it's a case," Dean said, "What are we dealing with?"

Zoe furrowed her brow, "I saw this episode only once Dean, but it's not a vampire."

Dean shrugged, deeming the information good enough, and smiled at their waitress, Jamie according to her name tag, who had arrived with the beers.

She placed the large glass of beer in front of Dean,"There you go."

Zoe resisted the urge to vomit at the stench of the alcohol, and declined buying anything. When Jamie turned to Sam, Dean continued his attempts to flirt.

"Oh, he doesn't drink," he said, "He's a Christian scientist. Doesn't even take aspirin. He's a real drag on stakeouts."

Jamie laughed, "You're funny."

"I'm a lot more than that," Dean added. "I'd love to get a chance to show you the rest. What time you get off?"

Zoe face palmed, mouthing a sorry at Jamie. One day. All she wanted was one day of not dying of embarrassment for being associated with playboy Dean Winchester.

Jaime didn't seem all that impressed, and before walking away said, "Ha ha. Like I said, funny."

Dean turned to Sam, grin still on his face, "Man, it is time to right some wrongs."

"Come again?" Sam asked.

"Look at me," Dean motioned to himself I mean, I came back from the furnace without any of my old scars, right? No bullet wounds, knife cuts, none of the off-angled fingers from all the breaks. I mean, my hide is as smooth as a baby's bottom. Which leads me to conclude, sadly... that my virginity is intact."

Zoe choked on a piece of German sausage and Sam shot her another look of concern but she assured him she was fine.

The Moose frowned, "What?"

"I have been re-hymenated," Dean replied.

Zoe dissolved into a coughing fit that sounded suspiciously like a mixture of choking and laughter.

"Re-?" Realization dawned on Sam and he laughed, "Please. Dean, maybe angels can pull you out of hell, but no one could do that."

"I...agree with the Moose," Zoe said, in between coughs.

"Brother, I have been re-hymenated," Dean grinned, "And the dude will not abide."

"All right, dude," Sam said, "You go do whatever you got to do, and I'm gonna go back to the room and get some sleep."

Zoe followed Sam to the Impala. Dean could get a taxi if he wanted to get laid so badly. Sam left to change while Zoe claimed the smallest bed for herself. She smiled in happiness as she enjoyed the sweet sensation of a warm bed underneath her.

...

She dreamed she was riding shotgun in the Impala, before Dean's return from hell. The driver, to Zoe's surprise, was Gabriel, and not Sam as she could've sworn was driving a few moments ago.

"Hey Gabriel," she said.

"Evening, kiddo," the archangel said, "How's Oktoberfest?"

"Dean wants to get laid with our waitress," Zoe said.

"And what about you?"Gabriel asked.

Zoe blinked, "Should I really be having this conversation with an archangel of all people?" she paused, "Then again, you are a porn star. That'll go well with the Pope."

"What he doesn't know can't hurt him," Gabriel pointed out, and then turned to Zoe, "Well? Do you or do you not want to get laid?"

"I'm asexual," she answered.

Gabriel shrugged, "Whatever floats your boat kiddo."

Zoe raised an eyebrow as she studied Gabriel, "You're going to find me someone aren't you?"

the archangel looked appalled, placing a hand over his heart, "Why would I ever do such a thing?"

"Because you probably will," Zoe argued.

"I would never," Gabriel defended, "I'd just send an appropriate human being who is a perfect match."

The teenager sighed, "Why?"

The archangel didn't reply, instead waggling his eyebrows mysteriously while Zoe shook her head.

"You know you love me," Gabriel grinned.

"No," Zoe said, "You're annoying and a prick."

"But I'm your annoying prick."

Zoe wrinkled her nose, "Now you made it sound like we're dating."

The archangel leaned forward, purposefully smiling knowingly, "Do you wanna?"

The teenager wrinkled her nose and pushed Gabriel away, "Ew. No."

Gabriel leaned back, placing his legs on a table, "So whatcha doing kiddo?"

"Waiting for the boys to bring food."

The archangel tilted his head slightly, "That would be them."

…

Dean's arrival meant food, and the smell of meat was enough to bring Zoe out of her dream. Sam was already up, though he was busy researching so instead Zoe surfed channels while sipping her soda. The elder Winchester plopped right next to her with his burger and the two watched settled on cartoons.

"There's this episode," Zoe said, "Where y'all deal with cartoon logic, season eight I think. And Cas figured he'd become a hunter in that episode, in fact he's the one that finds the case. So Cas being Cas he doesn't know what cartoon logic is-"

"Wait," Dean interrupted, "Cas has never seen a cartoon?"

Zoe shook her head, "He's not well versed in pop culture. Anywho, so you try explaining it and he doesn't understand so you show him some cartoons and he says something about Wile E. Coyote being like humanity and the Roadrunner is God and the cartoon is humanity's chase for understanding the divine and that it's hilarious. He's not wrong. It is hilarious, but not in the sense that you meant."

"Huh," Dean mulled over this, "And do we catch whoever is behind it?"

"Yup," Zoe said, "It was this psychokinetic being used by this other guy. Psych guy refused to be used and makes other guy kill himself, course then psych guy didn't want to be used like that again so Cas removes that part and stays behind to watch over him for a bit."

"Wow," Dean said.

"On Tumblr, the Supernatural fandom is known for having a gif for everything," Zoe said.

"Everything?" Dean asked.

Zoe nodded solemnly, "Every-thing. Ten seasons and over two hundred episodes filled with stuff that can be applied for any and all events."

"Wow."

"I know," Zoe sighed, "We're a crazy fandom. Not as crazy as Superwholock of course. Tumblr makes fun of them."

"Superwholock?" Dean asked, knowing he was probably going to regret the question.

"Supernatural, Doctor Who, and Sherlock," Zoe said, "The Holy Trinity of the Tumblr world, as well the main fandoms. Supernatural reigns supreme what with it being so popular and all. The fans are weird though. Like really really weird. Some people like to provoke them, but we all know that if a movie where to be made where you meet a time traveling alien and a high functioning sociopath detective, we'd all watch it."

Dean frowned, "Why?"

"Because it'd be fun," Zoe grinned, "You and Sam facing off against weeping angels." Dean opened his mouth to ask and Zoe said, "Angelic stone statues that always cover their face and move faster than the blink of an eye, but they can't move if you're looking at them. Blink and you die." Zoe paused for a moment, tapping her chin thoughtfully, "Well, you get sent back in time and the angels feed off your time energy."

"How do you kill them?" Dean asked, hoping to file this away in case they did come across one of the things.

"Well the doctor usually poisons the timestrean with a paradox," Zoe said, "Like in this one episode, Rory, one of the companions, gets sent back in time so the Doctor, River (Rory's kid), and Amy (Rory's wife) go back in time and Amy finds this old Rory who promptly dies soon after. Now there are a bunch of angels in New York, like they have literally taken over the city, so to kill them, Amy finds young Rory and both of them jump off a building, and since-"

"Rory died of old age rather than suicide, it creates a paradox," Dean finished.

"Zoe nodded, "Yup. You could also try quantum locking them. Basically have the angels facing each other so they are unable to move. The Doctor did it once when they tried to take the TARDIS. They're really terrifying and if you look at an image of one in the eye, you turn into one too."

"Huh," Dean said, "Can't we just blow them up?"

Zoe shook her head, "They're tough. Not even heavy artillery works against them. And there's the Vashta Nerada."

Dean raised an eyebrow at the name, "What is that? Some sort of band?"

"Well according to a superwho theory they're demons," Zoe said, "or this creature who lives in the shadows and you can only see it's shadow. Anyway, basically they are like piranhas. The Doctor once threw a chicken leg at it and it was bone before it hit the ground. They like to latch on to a food source so always count your shadows."

"Anything else?"

Yes Dean was curious. So sue him.

"The silence," Zoe said, "They're like these alien things that have been shaping humanity for a long time, and if you see one you won't remember because when you look away you forget about encountering them. Doctor defeated them by using suggestive thought sorta. Basically if you come across one of the silence. You kill it, but you won't remember doing so."

"Well that's...reassuring," Dean said, vaguely wondering if he's ever come across one of the things."

"And then there's the Daleks," Zoe said, "Who are talking trash cans with extermination beams."

"Well that doesn't sound so bad," Dean said.

"They were a huge part of the Time War and basically are partly to blame for Gallifrey's destruction."

And so Zoe spent the better part of her evening explaining Doctor Who to Dean Winchester while Sam tried to pretend he wasn't listening.

…

The next day, Zoe woke to an empty motel room along with a note and lunch from the boys explaining to her that they received another call and would be home by noon. Well. In that case, the teenager turned on Sam's laptop and began to surf the internet, while searching through her mental files of supernatural.

"Dracula...Dracula...Dracula," she muttered, "Fake vamp...fake everything...yes...fake everything...someone who wants to pass off as a vamp and only has old monster movies...monster movie."

She stopped. That was it. Monster Movie. Episode five. She frowned. Something was behind it. A creature. Not a vamp. Not a werewolf...what was it?

Zoe took out her phone and dialed Sam's number.

"Yeah?" Sam greeted.

"Sammich," Zoe said, "Definitely an episode. It's something pretending to be a vampire and a werewolf. I think a mummy is next."

"A mummy," Sam repeated.

"Yup," she said, "It's the same thing, but I can't remember who's behind it."

"You think we're dealing with a shape shifter?"

Zoe nodded, "Well they're the only shape shifting creatures that are out there right now, and Leviathans don't come out until season seven."

"Leviathans?"

"You live," she assured, "Anyway Shape Shifter. Don't know who it is, but it's definitely behind all of it."

"Anything else?"

She thought for a moment, "Bring me real Mexican food. I won't eat the fake stuff."

"How about I bring you drive thru fried chicken?" Sam suggested.

"Buy hot sauce," Zoe said.

"Anything else?"

"Nope," she said.

"Alright. See you when we get back."

"Bye Sammy!"

She ended the call and placed her phone beside her. What to watch. What to watch,

She was bored again, and there was nothing fun to do. True she could go to Oktoberfest, but that would involve going outside and Zoe didn't feel like dealing with the outside. No she wanted to stay in doors and watch something that wasn't Doctor Sexy re-runs. She'd already seen that episode anyway.

So she liked the show. So what? She needed some sort of show to obsess over if she was going to survive in this show with her fangirling still intact.

"Wonder if Gabriel's busy," she wondered aloud.

The archangel didn't show which meant that he was, in fact, very busy. Probably giving people a taste of their own medicine as usual. Zoe wondered how she was going to deal with Changing Channels, assuming she survived that long, but then again, she had an archangel for a guardian angel so her chances of survival sky rocketed.

When the Winchesters finally did arrive, they confirmed that yes, it was not a werewolf and that she was right. They also came bearing food which Zoe wolfed down while the boys tried to figure out what was going on.

"So a shape shifter," Sam said, "Any idea who it is?"

Zoe shrugged, "I saw this episode only once out of curiosity. All I remember this was the black and white episode because it was made in the style of old movies. The shape shifter liked old movies."

"So he is acting out his own movie," Dean said.

"Yup."

…

Sometime during the night, when Zoe couldn't sleep (courtesy of a coffee she had bought half an hour ago, the boys got a call of a murder at the Museum. And Zoe wanted to go.

"No," Dean said as he adjusted his tie.

"Pleeeaaaaassseeeeee?" Zoe whined, "I'll be good I swear. I'll even stay in the impala."

"No."

Zoe pouted and turned her eyes to Sam who simply did not want to be pulled into this conversation. He glanced at Dean.

"Sssaaaaaaammmmm," she pleaded, "Please?"

"Uhm..." Sam looked at Dean for any sign of what he should do.

"I'm booorrreeeeddddd!" she added, "I'll probably even draw a smiley face on the wall and shoot it."

Sam looked alarmingly at Zoe and then at his brother, who still refused to allow the teenager with them.

"Dean," Sam began, and Zoe grinned.

"What?" Dean asked, "The kid is not coming with us. No matter what she says."

Zoe widened her eyes slightly as she turned to Dean and he held up his hand, "No. Do not use those on me."

"I'll stop if you let me come with you," Zoe bargained.

Dean still wasn't budging, "No."

Zoe turned the puppy eyes at Sam, who quickly looked away, so she crawled over to him and placed her chin on his shoulder.

"Saaammyyyyy," she whined.

Sam looked at his brother who raised an eyebrow in disbelief, before he growled in defeat, "Fine, but you stay in the car."

Zoe grinned and fist pumped, before pulling on her shoes and jacket, and followed the boys to the car, practically skipping with excitement. Perhaps out of spite, and judging by Sam's face it probably was, Dean left the window down, "So she won't get hot."

And about half an hour later, Dean hurried towards the car, and made her get out, saying she could catch a ride with Sam before he drove off. Well then. Since Dean clearly didn't want her around while he saved Jamie from the vamp, Zoe wandered into the building, only to be held back by the police officers.

"I'm just waiting for someone," she assured, and leaned against the wall.

Sam poked his head out from the crime scene, and Zoe waved, giving him a thumbs up and, once assured that she was fine, he turned his attention back to the crime scene. She sighed. It was one thing to wait in the Impala; it was another to wait in the lobby of a museum because someone kicked you out of said Impala. So like any normal teenage girl with a phone and a tumblr, Zoe turned to fanfiction, and almost didn't hear Sam stand in front of her.

"Dean says he found the shifter," he said as he called for a taxi.

"Did he kill it?" Zoe asked.

"It escaped before he could get a clear shot," Sam said.

Dean probably tried having a conversation with the thing, trying to get it into a monologue. Zoe frowned, wondering if the universe just had to follow TV canon. It certainly seemed that way at times.

The taxi arrived shortly after and headed towards the Oktoberfest bar. Neither spoke, Sam out of habit, and Zoe because she was using Sam's arm as a pillow.

They found Dean with the bar waitress from earlier, who seemed pretty shaken up since last Zoe saw her.

"Hey," he said once he approached them, "You guys all right?"

"Yeah, I think so," Dean said, and turned to Zoe, "You were right. It was a shape shifter."

"Did you kill him?" Sam asked.

At this, Dean's face turned to one of anger, "Son of a bitch got away before I could get a clear shot, but I clipped him, and I got this."

He tossed forward a folded up towel, which Sam took and opened to show an ear. Zoe wrinkled her nose in disgust and quickly looked away from the ear.

"Skin of a shape shifter," Dean confirmed, "Just like St. Louis and just like Milwaukee. Of course this one's all holding buckets of crazy. Oh, and, uh..." he dug through his pocket and showed a medallion, "This, I uh, pulled it off during the fight. Look at the label on the ribbon."

Zoe stood on her toes to see the label. "The FX shop prop house. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania," she read.

Sam oh so brilliantly deduced,"It's a costume rental."

"All three monsters the Dracula, Wolf Man, and the mummy," he listed, "all the same critter, which means we need to catch this freak before he Creature From the Black Lagoons somebody."

Zoe mentally victory danced at having correctly remembered the creature they were dealing with. Finally.

Jamie, however, was still confused, "So, you guys are like Mulder and Scully or something and The X-Files are real?"

"Nah," Zoe said, "The X-Files is a TV show. This is real…unfortunately."

"Oh."

Well, she seemed to be taking it well. Most people in her situation would have called them crazy or threatened to call the police. Zoe silently thanked Jamie for not acting like her predecessors.

"Okay, so, the stagecraft, the costuming," Sam paused for a moment to think, "it's like he's trying to re-enact his favorite monster movie moments, right down to the bloody murders."

"Wait a second," Jamie said, "Who the hell is Mina?"

"Mina?" Sam frowned.

"That's what he called Jamie," Dean explained, "And he called me Mr. Harker."

"Jonathan Harker!" Zoe explained, though Sam was the only one who got it. At Dean and Jamie's confused looks, she continued, "They're characters from the old Dracula movies. Originally from Bram Stoker's Dracula. Mina," she waved a hand in Jamie's direction, "Dracula's intended bride/love interest because plot reasons, and J. Harker is the fiance that stands in the way. He works with Van Helsing to kill Dracula. Sam, I think that makes you Van Helsing!" She frowned, "So what does that make me?"

"Renfield," Sam said smirking.

Zoe stuck her tongue at him.

Jamie wasn't amused. "Wow. Lucky me," she sarcastically replied.

"But to fixate on you," the smarter of the Winchesters added, "my guess is that the shifter has to have seen you before or been around you."

"Jamie," Dean turned to the elder woman, "has anybody strange come to town, somebody that has taken a specific notice of you?"

"I don't know, Dean," Jamie admitted, "It's Oktoberfest. I'm a bartender. There's lots of people. I... wait a second. There is Ed."

"It's not Ed," Zoe said, causing Sam and Dean to turn their attention to her, "Trust me. Sam tried ripping his ear off and fails. It's Lucy."

"Lucy?" The boys asked.

"My friend," Jamie said frowning, "She's another bartender but why would she be behind this?"

"Honestly," Zoe shrugged, "It's like the Phantom of the Opera. The misunderstood monster is taken by the beautiful young girl, but a handsome man is his competition so he attempts to gain her favor and kidnaps her later on."

Dean frowned, "Meaning?"

"Jamie is Christine," Zoe said, "You're Raoul. Sam is the Persian and I'm Darius."

She grinned, happy to have found a good role.

"Where does Lucy live?" Sam asked.

…

Both Zoe and Sam left for Lucy's house, after stocking up on silver bullets and leaving the affectionately dubbed lovebirds at the bar.

"You remember how to shoot?" Sam asked as they pulled up to Lucy's home.

The teenager nodded and followed Sam out of the car.

It was rather exciting, if Zoe had to be honest with herself. A part of her was terrified, but another was excited at the prospect of hunting one of the bigger more popular monsters. Though Zoe favored demons, shifters came at a close second.

And so with adrenaline pumping through her veins, Zoe stuck close to Sam, watching him with growing curiosity as he picked the lock and sneacked inside. Sam motioned for her to check the rooms, but neither found the shifter in either. What they did find was what seemed to be a bed straight out of an old movie, as well as the portrait of a woman.

"That's Lucy," Sam said, and Zoe nodded.

"The third bride," Zoe said, and then she frowned, "Could've sworn she'd be here. Unless..."

"Unless?" Sam prompted.

Zoe cursed and slapped her forehead, "Merlin's pants. She's at the bar...with Dean and Jamie...fudge."

"What?" Sam demanded, "Zoe, what is it?"

The teenager began cursing in English and Spanish, "She's at the bar. That's how we find out she's actually Lucy. I'm so stupid."

"So we go back to the bar," Sam assured.

Zoe shook her head, "The Shifter brings them here. Dean to a dungeon, I'm guessing it's basement...don't ask," she added at Sam's look, "And takes Jamie to a bedroom. So we wait for them here, and take down the guy when he comes."

They hid well in the house, behind a couch after assuring the other that they would not be seen unless someone is purposefully looking for them. They heard the Shifter arrive and for a moment, Zoe realized just how dangerous the situation was. Here was a creature who could change itself into a werewolf and have the strength to destroy a person without trying. And only a silver bullet to the heart could kill it.

Perfect.

It grunted as it dragged two unconscious people into the house. When Zoe dared peek, she saw Jamie slung over the shifter's shoulder while Dean was dragged. Either the shifter didn't care for subtlety or it's neighbors just didn't care that he dragged two unconscious people into it's home.

When the Shifter left Dean on the floor to tend to Jamie in a separate room, the youngest Winchester began to move, checking his brother for life. He sighed in relief when he found Dean was merely sleeping.

"What-?"

Zoe froze, and she dared turn to see a Dracula staring at her in shock, surprisingly, the shifter resembled Bela Lugosi.

The Shifter lunged forward with a growl and Sam fired, emptying three bullets into the shifter's chest before it fell dead to the ground. Zoe calmed her breathing, and went to check on Jamie while Sam attempted to wake his brother.

The bar waitress frowned in confusion when she woke, especially when she saw Zoe non-chalantly sitting on a chair while the Winchesters made sure the other was safe while debriefing the other on what happened.

…

The next day, they stopped at the town square to say good bye to Jamie...well, for Dean to kiss Jamie goodbye. Zoe aww-ed at the sight from where she stood with an awkward looking Sam Winchester.

'Well, thank you, G-Man," Jamie said softly, "You have been a great service to your country.

"Oh, yes, I'm very, very patriotic," Dean replied with a smile, and glanced at Sam who was eager to leave. Dean turned back to Jamie, "Bye."

The blonde smiled softly, "Bye."

"You guys saved my life, you know?" Jamie added rather awkwardly, "So, thanks."

Zoe gave her a two finger salute before the older woman left.

"I like her," she said, once she was out of sight.

"Feels good to be back on the job, doesn't it?" Dean said.

"Yeah, it does," Sam said.

Zoe snorted, "You were unconscious half the time. Sam and I had to save your sorry ass."

Dean closed his mouth and glared at Zoe, "What's that supposed to mean, pipsqueak?"

Zoe grinned, "I mean that Dracula drugged you and carried you around like a doll."

"Sammy control your kid," Dean said to his brother.

Sam didn't spare them a glance and said, "Zoe leave Dean alone."

"I call shotgun!" Zoe called as they approached the impala.

Dean immediately said "No."

"Yes."

"No."

"SAM! Your brother won't let me ride shotgun!"