Dean felt a pang of nostalgia as he followed Nadia's truck through her neighborhood. Only a few months ago, he'd come to Canaan desperate, searching for a way to save his life. In addition, he'd met Nadia Turner, the calm in the eye of his storm.

Unlike anyone else, Nadia knew how to steady him—knew when to call him out in a way that both sobered him up and built him back. And after everything they'd been through since he returned, it was hard not to feel something for her.

Nadia was fresh air compared to the women Dean usually met. The last time he'd had something real, something remotely like Nadia, was years ago—and he'd ruined it. That was why he agreed to stay friends. He couldn't bear to ruin a good thing, not again.

"You must really like her," Sam's voice broke his thoughts.

"Huh?" Dean glanced at his brother, caught off guard.

"Nadia," Sam said, motioning towards her cherry-red truck.

"Relax. We're just friends."

"I didn't say you were more than that."

"I like her as a friend, okay?" Dean replied, perhaps a bit too quickly.

"Sure," Sam replied, clearly unconvinced. "Though I will say, it's a bit out of character."

Dean cleared his throat, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "What is?"

"It's not very *you* to choose a girl's little brother's birthday party over hunting down another case."

Dean shrugged. "We could use a break."

Sam smirked. "Let me rephrase: her little brother's birthday party, where her dad and stepmom will be."

Dean gave him a raised brow. "So?"

"*So,* Dean, you hate meeting parents."

Dean rolled his eyes. "I hate meeting the parents of women I'm interested in. Nadia and I are just friends. She's one of the guys."

"So, you stare at your guy friends' asses too?" Sam teased, arching a brow.

Dean's face flushed, and he looked away. "Shut up, okay? Listen, you know me. No matter how hard I try, I'd mess things up with a girl like Nadia. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to save myself the embarrassment."

Sam grinned, finding his brother's sudden self-awareness amusing. Dean was usually fearless, the kind of guy who never hesitated to make a move. But Nadia was different, and even Dean knew his usual charm wasn't going to cut it here.

As they pulled up to the house, Dean felt his pulse quicken. Sam was right; he didn't do parents, and even as friends, he'd had to bribe her father with whiskey just to get through the door last time.

"How do I look?" Dean asked as they parked at the curb, glancing in the mirror to check his reflection.

Sam chuckled. "Why?"

"Just 'cause... do I look okay?" He adjusted his jacket, shifting nervously.

"You look great. Relax." Sam leaned in with a mischievous smile. "Wait... actually, you've got a little—" He reached out with a thumb, dampening it slightly.

"Don't you dare!" Dean batted his hand away. He quickly composed himself, flashing a slightly forced smile as Nadia approached them, carrying a duffle bag and a brightly wrapped gift.

"You all right?" she asked, noticing his unusually stiff stance.

"Oh yeah, yeah, I'm ready to party," he replied, pumping a fist in the air with forced enthusiasm.

Nadia narrowed her eyes at him, a bit suspicious, and Sam gestured behind her back, signaling that his brother was losing it.

"Right... okay," she said, clearly not buying it. "Follow me."

"Dude," Sam teased in a low voice as they followed Nadia up the path.

"Shut up," Dean whispered back, still trying to play it cool as he watched her from behind. Only this time, he noticed something he hadn't before—Nadia looked thinner than usual. Thinking back, he realized he hadn't seen her eat much lately. She'd also seemed more withdrawn, quieter, zoning out more often than usual.

Dean and Sam had noticed her change in demeanor, though they hadn't pried. They figured it was something to do with her meds, which they knew was a sensitive topic.

Unknown to them, Nadia had stopped taking her pills and wasn't planning to tell anyone—at least not until she got through the worst of her withdrawal. For years, people had decided what was best for her, imposing their opinions on her life. Now, she wanted the chance to figure it out herself. If she ended up back on the meds, it would be on her terms.

Before they reached the front door, Nadia turned to the boys. "One thing before we go in: don't mind Irene. She can be... intense. She's a bit of a perfectionist, especially when it comes to Ben."

"Got it," Dean nodded, preparing himself for whatever awaited them inside.

"What does Irene do?" Sam asked as they stepped into the quiet house.

"She's a freelance writer," Nadia replied, leading them through the foyer.

"What does she write?"

"Anything she's passionate about, really. She's done technical writing, business ghostwriting—has a good clientele too. When she's not driving me up a wall, she's usually working in her office."

"Must've been a pain to have her go over your homework," Sam chuckled.

Nadia rolled her eyes. "You don't know the half of it."

Before they could settle in, Irene appeared in the foyer, a flurry of excitement and energy. "There you are! What took you so long? Ben wouldn't let us do anything until you—" She gasped as she spotted Dean. "Dean?"

"In the flesh," he replied, accepting her enthusiastic hug.

"It's so good to see you!" Irene said warmly.

Nadia rolled her eyes at her stepmother's dramatic greeting. "Ben already told you he was alive, Irene."

"Yes, but seeing him in person is completely different," Irene said, brushing off Nadia's sarcasm.

"Right..." Nadia grimaced, glancing away.

Irene turned to Sam, shaking his hand, then pulling him into a hug anyway. "And you are?"

"This is Sam, Dean's younger brother."

"Younger brother? Wow, you're so tall!" she marveled, looking between the two of them.

"Yeah, yeah, we get that a lot," Dean muttered, pasting on a strained smile.

"Welcome to Casa de Turner," Irene said brightly. "Let's head to the backyard and join the party."

"I'm gonna put my stuff down," Nadia said, escaping up the stairs and leaving the boys in Irene's hands.

Everything felt so normal... until it wasn't.

One moment, Nadia was stepping into her bedroom. The next, she was standing in the middle of a desolate town, devastated by some unthinkable force. The sky hung heavy and gray, and the air seemed thick with the scent of ashes. Buildings lay in ruins, charred and broken. Cracks spread across the ground, splitting the earth and upending the once-sturdy foundation.

Scattered among the rubble were human remains, eerily frozen in the costumes of Halloween, surrounded by smashed pumpkins, spilled candy, and tattered decorations.

Nadia tried to take it all in, but something felt strange. She couldn't move, couldn't even smell the air—though she guessed it reeked of smoke, death, and despair.

Everything seemed so real... and yet it wasn't.

She looked down, spotting an intact hex bag on the ground amid the ruins. Her brow furrowed as she stared at it, a strange curiosity flickering in her mind.

Before she could make sense of it, Nadia felt herself yanked back into reality, her best friend Jo Harvelle standing before her, shaking her by the shoulders and calling her name.

"Earth to Nadia!"

Nadia snapped out of her daze, blinking up at Jo, who was studying her with concern. She gripped the blonde's arm tightly, glancing around as if the world around her was an illusion.

"You all right?" Jo asked, her voice full of worry.

"I don't—" Nadia stammered, stomping on the ground and reaching out to touch nearby objects, her hands frantically brushing over everything within reach. "I—I don't know."

"Nadie?" Jo's voice grew more serious as she placed a steadying hand on her friend's shoulder.

Nadia took a deep breath, feeling a wave of relief as she reached out and touched Jo's arm. "You're real too. Thank God."

Jo raised an eyebrow. "I'm real? What are you talking about?"

"I—" Nadia struggled to find words, her thoughts a jumbled mess. "I don't even know."

"You're scaring me, Nadia. Should I get your dad?" Jo's tone was hesitant, laced with genuine concern.

Nadia was silent, her mind racing. Normally, if she was experiencing something this strange, it would mean her meds were wearing off. But this time, she hadn't been taking them at all.

Noticing Jo's worried expression, Nadia straightened up and forced a smile. "I'm fine," she said, scooping up a mock gift she'd dropped on the floor.

Jo's eyes narrowed skeptically. "Yeah, 'cause that crazed look in your eyes definitely says, 'I am a-ok.'"

Nadia avoided the look, quickly closing her door.

Jo folded her arms, giving her a piercing stare. "What is up with you? You're acting like you haven't been taking your meds."

Nadia froze, her eyes widening involuntarily.

Jo's face softened with worry. "Nadia," she said slowly, "have you been taking your meds?"

"...Not... in a week," Nadia admitted, hesitantly meeting Jo's eyes.

"A week?" Jo's tone was more surprised than judgmental.

The two of them had been friends since childhood, bound by the shared experiences of growing up with fathers who were hunters, and away more than home. After Nadia's mom, Vanessa, passed, Jo's mother, Ellen, had stepped in like a second mom.

"I... I'll tell you everything later. But you have to promise it stays between us." Nadia extended her pinky.

"Of course," Jo linked her pinky with Nadia's, squeezing it.

"Okay, well—"

Before she could continue, Irene's voice echoed up the stairs. "Girls!"

"Coming!" Nadia called, shooting Jo a quick look. "I'll tell you later."

"And you can also tell me why I had to hear from someone else that you've been running around with the Winchesters," Jo added.

Nadia's brow furrowed. "You know the Winchesters?"

"Uh, yeah!" Jo rolled her eyes. "I told you about them sneaking into the bar like, what? Three years ago? My mom helped them close the Gates of Hell, remember?"

Nadia squinted, trying to pull the memory from the fog. Some memories she had locked away, and others were so fragmented, it was as if someone had taken an eraser to her mind.

"Girls!"

"We'll talk later," Jo said with a knowing look.

As they headed downstairs, Irene was waiting, her arms crossed and a bottle of Nadia's pills in hand. She held out a glass of water. "Your father picked up your refill for you."

Jo eyed the pills warily and made a hasty exit. "I'll see you guys outside."

"Here you go," Irene said, practically pushing the pills toward Nadia.

Nadia forced a smile. "Thanks," she said, taking the bottle but not moving to open it. "I'll... take them later."

"Why not now?" Irene pressed, catching herself and softening her tone. "It's been a few days, right? You're probably—"

"I'm fine," Nadia half-lied, pushing back the tension in her voice. Along with the strange visions, she still suffered from headaches, insomnia, and an unshakable sense of fatigue.

"Nadia, please. I really think you should take your medication."

"Irene, I told you. I'm fine."

"And I'm telling you, it's Ben's birthday. Let's not risk you... having a scene," Irene said, her voice lowering.

Nadia clenched her jaw but swallowed her frustration. It was Ben's day, after all. "Fine," she said, taking a single tablet and downing it with water.

"Thank you," Irene said, satisfied, before disappearing back into the kitchen.

The moment she was gone, Nadia discreetly spit out the pill and tucked it into a houseplant's soil. She'd get rid of it later.

Finally, she was free to rejoin the party. Ben nearly tackled her to the ground in a hug as she stepped outside. "What took you so long?"

"Just making sure I didn't give you the wrong gift." She leaned in and whispered, "I'll give you the real one later tonight."

"Benjamin!" Irene called from the door, eyeing the gift suspiciously. "Put that with the others, please."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, giving Nadia a quick fist bump before hurrying off.

Nadia smiled as she saw familiar faces—friends, family, and old hunting companions. Ellen and Bobby were there, and she greeted them warmly, feeling a pang of nostalgia. They didn't see each other much, given the nature of their lives, but it was always good to reconnect.

After a round of greetings, Irene clapped her hands to gather everyone's attention. "Now that everyone's here, we can start the Nerf war!"

Nadia's eyes widened at the sight of the backyard, transformed into a battleground of wood pallets and stacked tires. There was a table loaded with Nerf guns and foam bullets.

"How'd you talk her into this?" Nadia asked, leaning down to Ben.

"The famous Nadia puppy dog eyes, of course. I even shed a tear."

"Nice," she fist-bumped him with a grin.

Irene finished explaining the rules, and the crowd began forming teams. Ellen stepped up first, dragging Bobby along, while Rufus waved them off with a chuckle.

Jo laughed, looking around at the remaining players. "Looks like it's just us and the kids."

Ben's eyes landed on Dean, who was busy loading up on food. "Hey, Five-O! You playing, or what?"

Dean turned, cheeks stuffed. "What?"

The kids laughed, and Sam shook his head with a grin.

"Well?" Jo pressed, grinning. "Are you playing or still loading up?"

Dean scoffed, wiping his hands on his jeans. "Fine, count me in."

The teams were chosen, with Ben and Dean as the captains. When everyone had picked their weapons, they dove into the first round. Nadia tried to keep things lighthearted, but the kids had no mercy. By the third round, it was everyone for themselves.

In the final standoff, Nadia and Ben were hiding behind a barrier, hearts pounding. "We have to end this," Ben whispered.

"I know," she replied, trying to peer around the corner for Dean. "On the count of three, I'll run. He won't be able to resist shooting at me. You take him out."

Ben nodded, giving her a determined look. "Got it."

"One... two... three!" She stood, making eye contact with Dean, who was ready. She walked forward, hands up, trying to draw his fire.

"You really don't want to do this, Batman," she teased.

Dean smirked, narrowing his eyes. "I think I do, Robin."

She kept walking, laying her weapon down. "Truce?"

Dean tightened his grip. "Hands up," he ordered.

"Sure," she replied, slowly raising them as she edged closer. "You won't win, you know. You're not going to shoot me."

"Oh, I think I will."

*Click.*

The foam bullet hit her square in the forehead. Dean cheered, raising his arms. "That's how you win!" He turned back to his team with a grin, oblivious to Ben sneaking up behind him.

"Say hello to my little friend," Ben whispered, nailing Dean in the back of the head. His team erupted in cheers.

Dean looked back with a laugh. "Well done, birthday boy," he said, giving Ben a fist bump.

Nadia watched the scene with a smile, feeling a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.