Sam's POV

"Sorry, the Sacramento Bus doesn't run again till tomorrow." The bus clerk stated. She looked down to check the schedule. "Uh, 5:05 PM."

"Tomorrow? There's got to be another way."

"Well, there is." She said and I gazed at her expectantly. "Buy a car." I look down, shaking my head before pushing off the counter. I take out my phone and select Dean's number, my thumb hovering over the dial button. I felt the nervous jitters run up my skin. 'Should I call him? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.... What am I thinking? Of course it was a good idea. Dad is closing in on this things and I want- No, I have to be there. But once call shouldn't hurt, right? I mean, Lottie's been blowing my phone up, but I just couldn't hype myself up enough to hear her and not want to come back immediately.'

"Hey." A feminine voice calls out. I look up to see the girl from earlier, sitting on the floor. I look at her in confusion before putting my phone away.

"Hey." I replied.

"You again."

"What happened to your ride?" I ask and she sighed, a smirk on her lips.

"You were right. That guy was shady. He was all hands." She gestured with jazz hands. I raised and eyebrow. "I cut him loose." She explained and I nodded before looking around, disappointed. "What's the matter?"

"Just trying to get to California." I sighed and looked back at her.

"No way." She said in surprise.

"Yeah."

"Me too." She exclaimed and stood, making her way over to me. "You know the next bus isn't till tomorrow."

I nodded my head and smiled. "Yeah. Yeah, that's the problem."

"Why? What's in Cali that's so important?" She asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

"Just something I've been looking for. For a long time."

"Well, then, I'm sure it can wait one more day, right?" She said and I laughed. She extended her arm out, letting me grasp her hand. "I'm Meg."

"Sam."

~*****~

Carlotta's POV

We stepped into Scotty's cafe after filling up the Impala, hearing Scotty speak to the couple that sat in the empty diner. "We're famous for our apples. So, you gotta try this pie." Scotty told them.

"Oh no." The woman said, wiping her mouth a little. "It.... please."

"It's on the house." Scotty said with a friendly smile. Certainly much friendlier than he had been with Dean and I earlier.

"Oh, hey, Scotty. Can we get a couple of coffee's? Black?" Dean called out to Scotty as we entered the cafe. Scotty walked away. "Oh, and some of that pie too, while you're at it."

"God, I needed some coffee right about now." I moan. Dean gives me a funny look before we sit down at the table besides the couple. "How you doin'?" I ask, the Bronx slipping right on out. They both waved and smiled at us.

"Just passing through?" Dean asked and the girl turned to him.

"Road trip." She replied, turning to her pie.

"Hm. Yeah, me too." He turned to me, grasping my hand in his. "My wife and I are headin' all over USA for our honeymoon." He admits, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. I felt my cheeks heat up as he gives me that classic All American Man grin.

"Newlyweds?" The girl smiled brightly at us.

"Where are your rings?" The man asked.

Dean tensed slightly, but thank god we already had matching tattoo's for this. "I'm not a big fan of jewelery. We got matching tattoo's instead, something that'll last a life time." I hum, showing the twisted arrow on my wrist while Dean pulled his sleeve up to show the matching one. The woman smiled at me. I looked over at Dean to see him staring at me, his eyes softening.

"Awe, look at how in love with her he is, sweetie." The lady whispered to her husband. I smiled bashfully and looked at my fingers in my lap.

"I'm sure these people what to eat in peace." I hear Scotty say in a slightly hostile tone as he came with our pie.

"Just a little friendly conversation." Dean assured him as he started to walk away again. "Oh, and that coffee too, man. The wife needs her caffeine." Scotty looked agitated with us, but Dean went straight back to talking to the couple. "So, what brings you to town?"

"We just stopped for gas." The girl replied. "And, uh, the guy at the gas station saved our lives."

"Is that right?" Dean asked as I took a bite of the pie in front of me. It wasn't great. I made a face before swallowing my bite.

"Yeah, one of our brake lines was leaking. We had no idea. He's fixing it for us." The man said, looking to Dean.

"Nice people." I hum, pushing the plate of pie away from me.

"Yeah." The man replied with a slight nod.

"How, how long till you're up and runnin'?" Dean asked, leaning forward a little bit.

"Sundown.

"Really?" I question, looking around for Scotty so I could get that coffee. "To fix a brake line? It shouldn't take that long."

"I mean, you know, I know a thing or two about cars. I could probably have you up and running in about an hour. I wouldn't charge you anything." Dean offered.

The girl seemed to get a bit nervous. "You know, thanks a lot, but I think we'd rather have a mechanic do it."

"Well, he may not be licensed for it, but he fixed up that cherry Impala out there. Just about anyone can fix one." I state.

"And these roads ain't real safe at night." Dean added. I fought to roll my eyes and I knew Dean had blew the entire thing.

The couple exchanged looks. "Sorry?"

"I know it sounds strange, but uh - you might be in danger." Dean warned. I let out a sigh and covered my face in embarrassment.

The man shifted, clearly annoyed. "Look, we're trying to eat. Okay?"

"Yeah." Dean muttered, looking annoyed as well. "You know, my brother could give you this puppy dog look, and you'd buy right into it." He says without thinking.

But, the bells on the door jingled as someone walked in, breaking Dean from grilling the couple any further. Scotty comes out of the back room. "Thanks for comin' sheriff." I look at Dean with a raised eyebrow. Scotty whispers something to the Sheriff and they both look over at us. The Sheriff wandered over to us casually, and stopped in front of our table.

"I'd like a word please." He said.

"Talk about lousy service. The pie could've been better, and Scotty never got me that coffee." I snap, pushing passed the Sheriff in a tizzy. The Sheriff escorted us our of town and made sure we left. We had to wait on the outskirts of town and loop back around at nightfall. "I seriously needed that coffee, Dean." I hum, leaning against his shoulder as I try to stay away. Dean patted his leg and put his arm over the seat. I smiled gratefully and laid my head on his leg, falling asleep within seconds.

~*****~

Sam's POV

Meg and I really hit it off. We were sat at a table at the bar, drinking a beer, and talking. "So, what, are you on some kind of vacation or something?" I ask, making her laugh.

"Yeah, right. It's all sipping Cristal poolside for me." We both laughed and then she turned more serious. "No. I had to get away from my family."

"Why?" I ask, my interest piqued.

"I love my parents. And they wanted whats best for me. They just didn't care if I wanted it. I was supposed to be smart. But not smart enough to scare away a husband." She started to rant and I smiled. "It's just.... because my family said so, I was supposed to sit there and do what I was told. So I just went on my way instead." She finished and I stared at her. It was off how much I related to what she said. "I'm sorry. The things you say to people you hardly know." She laughed, embarrassment covering her face.

"No, no. It's okay. I know how you feel. Remember that brother and friend I mentioned before, that I was road tripping with?" I asked and she nodded. "It's uh, it's kind of the same deal. I mean, not completely. Lottie's my best friend, and she's always made me feel like I was the most important person in the world when we talk. Like she gets me without even saying it. But lately? She's kind of been, I don't know. Obsessing? I don't think that's the right word for it. But she's been putting herself out there for Dean a little more than she used to. It used to be light flirting. Like maybe a cute comment or holding his hand just because, but now, the sexual tension between the two is almost suffocating." I rant, sinking down a bit.

"And that's why you're not riding with them anymore?" She asked and I shook my head. "Is Lottie still with him?" I nodded and she sighed. We raised our beer bottles. "Here's to us. The food might be bad, the beds might be hard. But at least we're living our own lives. And nobody elses." I smirked and tapped my bottle to hers.

"You know, I didn't even tell you the worst part of it." I start, feeling my cheeks start to get warm.

"Oh?"

"I think I'm falling in love with her."

~*****~

Carlotta's POV

Dean pulled up by the side of the road and got out, holding the door open for me. Dean grabbed some weapons and tossed me my shot gun before slamming the trunk closed. We made our way into the orchard. After a little ways in, the couple from the diner ran out, skidding to a stop in front of us. "Get back to your car." Dean ordered. The couple looked behind them and saw that the scarecrow was getting closer. The couple stood frozen. I grasped both their arms and tugged.

"Come on!" I shout, tugging them along as Dean fires his gun, shooting the scarecrow to slow it down. When we had finally reached the clearing, we all whirled around, relief washing over us as the scarecrow was no where to be found.

"What- what the hell was that?" The man asked, panting.

"Don't ask." I say, leading them to the Impala. "Let's get you guys somewhere safe, yeah?" I question as they nod gratefully. They slipped into the car and we drove them to the nearest motel out of the town and dropped them off, bidding them goodbye and received their thanks. Dean and I then settled into a motel for the night.

I sat on the bed in my nightwear, staring at Dean as he moved around the room, getting ready for bed. "So, think this could be a Pagan Sacrificial Ritual?" I ask, stretching my legs out and leaning back on the bed.

"Yeah, that about sums it up. I set up a meeting with a local professor tomorrow, so we could get more information." Dean told me. I nodded and cocked my head as I stared at Dean. He gives me a weird look as I continue to stare. "Whats up?"

"Call your brother." I state simply. He gives me the most stubborn look he can manage. I stand on my knees on the bed, grasping his face and stopping him from moving away. "Don't give me that malarkey. I've seen you nearly call him today fifty-six consecutive times. I have a tally in my jacket." He lets out a small laugh and rests his hands on my hips.

"Okay, okay." He finally agreed. "Sheesh, you get bossier and bossier everyday, you know that?" He retorts. I giggle a little as he pushes forward, crawling onto the bed and hovering over me. "You're beautiful, you know that?"

It feels like my cheeks were on fire by then. I look away from him, trying to hide that shy smile I've been wearing. "Sweet talker." I retort.

"And sassy." He hums, gripping my waist and running his nose along the shell of my ear. "And smart." I look back up at him, biting at my lower lip as he presses his forehead against mine. "You have no idea what you do to me." He hums, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. He pulls away and stands up. He tugs off his shirt in one motion and comes back down, kissing me again as I hold his cheeks, and hiking my legs up as he nestles down between them. His tongue delicately traces along my lower lip. One hand is smoothing out over my side, the other is delving deeply into my dark hair. My heart just keeps pounding as he pours his emotions out. My brain starts going fuzzy as he cherishes me, like only he could. Reluctantly, he pulls away. He's a little breathless as he presses his forehead against mine one last time. "We should get to bed." He sighs, kissing me one last time before pulling away and heading to the bathroom. I lay on the bed for a little while longer, tracing my fingers along my lips, still breathless and amazed.

"You have no idea what you do to me, either...." I sigh softly before pulling the blankets over me and turning on my side, holding my hand over my heart, feeling the powerful beats. My eyes slowly slip closed as I drift.