The Winchesters and Nadia spent the rest of the day meticulously preparing their plan. Dean checked the shotguns, making sure they were loaded with salt rounds. Nadia dipped the rope in holy water, watching the liquid soak into the fibers. They'd need every advantage they could get to stop Dirk—whoever, or whatever—he had become.

"We've got our weapons, we've got our plan," Sam said, his voice calm but his eyes betraying the tension running through him. "Nadia, you keep an eye on Dirk, and Dean and I will handle the rest."

Nadia nodded, checking the salt rounds in her own shotgun. "Let's just make sure we're ready for anything."

Dean grinned, his usual cocky expression coming through. "Like anything's gonna stop me."

The hours dragged by, but as the night deepened, they were finally ready. They found the bus along a dark back road, the headlights of the Impala slicing through the misty night air.

Dean sped up, the tires screeching as he laid down the spike strip. Seconds later, the bus's tires exploded with a deafening pop, and it came to a screeching halt, swerving to the side.

The driver—a bald, burly man—stumbled out of the bus, shaking his head as ectoplasm dripped from his nose. His eyes darted around, scanning the empty road as if he could sense something was wrong.

"Something's off," he muttered, his eyes narrowing. He started walking around the bus, inspecting it.

"Dirk!" Sam called out, stepping out of the shadows, shotgun raised.

Dirk turned, a smirk twisting his features. "What are you gonna do? Shoot me?"

Sam's expression didn't shift. "Don't need to."

Dean was already behind Dirk, having silently moved in from the other side. He grabbed him from behind, slamming him against the side of the bus as Nadia stepped forward, shotgun aimed squarely at Dirk's chest.

With quick, practiced movements, Dean wrapped the holy water-soaked rope around Dirk's wrists. "This rope is soaked in holy water, Dirk. You're not going anywhere."

Dirk snarled, thrashing against the bonds, but the rope held fast, and the burn of the holy water made him flinch. "You think a little water's gonna stop me?"

"I think it's enough," Nadia said coldly, her gun steady as she trained it on him.

Dean moved quickly, hopping onto the bus to make sure the athletes were safe. They were all staring at him, confused and startled by the scene unfolding.

"Stay where you are," Dean ordered, his voice firm. "You'll be okay. Just stay calm."

"The bus driver sells pot," Dean said, shaking his head as if he were a disappointed parent. "Yeah. That's what I thought."

The athletes on the bus looked at each other, more confused than before. Dean ignored them, reaching for the glove compartment and flinging it open. His fingers dug through the contents, but when he opened the Bible, his heart sank.

"It's not here!" Dean's voice was tight with frustration.

Sam's gaze snapped to Dirk, still restrained, a dark grin spreading across his face. "Where is it?"

Dirk's voice was cold, biting. "No way you'll ever find it," he spat, looking up at Sam with pure contempt.

With a growl, Sam shoved Dirk against the side of the bus. "Where is it?!" His grip tightened around Dirk's collar, the tension thickening.

Nadia didn't flinch. Her shotgun remained aimed, poised to react at a moment's notice. The air between them was thick with animosity.

Dirk sneered, eyes blazing with hatred as he struggled in Sam's grip. "Still the same, huh? You, always the hero. Always the jock. You popular kids always thought you were better than everyone else." His eyes locked with Dean's, and his voice dropped to a venomous whisper. "And to you, I was just Dirk the jerk, right? Just another loser. Well, now you sons of bitches are gonna get what's coming to you."

Sam's expression softened for a moment, his voice steady despite the animosity. "I'm not evil, Dirk. And neither are you."

The words cut through the hatred like a knife. Dirk's eyes flickered with something—maybe doubt, maybe pain—but his walls quickly went back up. Sam took a slow step back, lowering his shotgun, his voice quieter now.

He glanced at Dean for a moment, before looking back at Dirk, his gaze firm but not unkind. "I've seen real evil, Dirk. But you weren't that. We were all just scared and miserable. We took it out on each other—us and everyone else. That's high school. That's how it is. You suffer through that and -"

Sam's voice was calm, sincere, as he spoke through the chaos. "I'm just sorry you didn't get a chance to see that... you or Barry."

Dirk's eyes burned with pain and bitterness. "Nothing's gonna get better for me. Not ever."

With a guttural growl, Dirk snapped the ropes around his body. He surged forward, catching them off guard. Sam shot twice, the loud blasts echoing in the night. Dirk crumpled to the ground with a harsh groan, his body momentarily still.

The three hunters exchanged a look, the tension palpable. Was he dead? Or was the spirit still fighting for control? It wasn't clear.

"It's gone..." the bus driver winced, clutching his chest, clearly in pain.

"Hey," Nadia moved toward him, her voice gentle but firm. "You're gonna be alright. Just hang in there."

But before anyone could process, a tall, burly student stormed off the bus. Ectoplasm streamed from his nose as he barreled into Sam, knocking him to the ground with a ferocity that took everyone by surprise. The student's fists pounded into Sam's chest, each blow making the younger Winchester gasp for air.

Dean grabbed the shotgun, aiming and firing salt rounds. But Dirk, now fully inhabiting the student's body, barely flinched. His rage only seemed to intensify.

"Dean, find the hair!" Nadia shouted, flipping her shotgun, holding it like a bat. "Sorry, kid." She swung with all her strength, but Dirk caught the barrel, using his momentum to fling her violently to the ground.

Sam, still dazed and bleeding, groaned as Dirk stood over him, eyes wild and furious. Nadia, already rising to her feet, met his gaze.

"I don't know who you are," Dirk spat, "but this has nothing to do with you."

Nadia stood tall despite the pain, her voice unwavering. "I beg to differ. Your father cried in my arms yesterday."

Dirk froze, his furious expression faltering for a split second. "W-what? M-my father?" For the first time, something other than hatred flickered in his eyes.

"Yeah," Nadia nodded, her voice softening. "He had nothing but good things to say about you. He loved you. You were his son."

Dirk growled, shaking his head violently. "Stop it!"

"He wants you to know he's sorry. He knows things were difficult for you, and if he could change—"

"I said shut up!" Dirk screamed, charging at her with terrifying speed.

Nadia vanished in an instant, teleporting behind him with a rush of air, feeling the familiar surge of relief. Dirk spun around, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Yeah," Nadia said with a smirk, "I got a few tricks up my sleeve too."

Dirk's anger exploded. He lunged at her again, but she dodged every swing, her focus sharp. Her eyes flickered over to the bus—Dean was still searching. Her gaze shifted to the bus driver, still lying motionless on the ground.

"Dean! The bus driver—" Nadia shouted, but before she could finish, Dirk landed a brutal punch to her face.

Her head snapped back with the force of the hit, and she hit the ground with a sickening thud. Dean, hearing the impact, fought the urge to run to her aid and went to the bus driver instead.

"Hey, buddy, this isn't what it looks like," he muttered, searching.

Dirk grabbed Nadia by the neck and lifted her off the ground with terrifying strength. Her breath hitched, but she gripped his arm, her voice a rasp as she spoke through the pressure. "Listen to me, Dirk. You can use these kids to avenge yourself all you want, but you'll never be satisfied. You're not gonna win. You can't."

Dirk let out a laugh, low and venomous. "Maybe not, but at least I get the satisfaction of making people like you pay."

He released her with a vicious shove, leaving Nadia to stumble back, trying to recover. Dirk turned his attention back to Sam, straddling him with a malevolent grin, preparing to finish what he had started.

At that moment, Dean's eyes locked onto something in the bus driver's shoe. With a curse, he reached down and pulled out the lock of hair. His fingers trembling slightly, he lit it on fire with a match, watching as it burned to ash on the ground.

Dirk looked up at the sky, letting out a scream as he ejected from the student's body.

Unconscious, the student stumbled forward, falling onto Sam.

Sam gasped, flailing his limbs like a fish.

"You okay?" Dean asks Nadia panting against the bus.

Nodding, she sat on the ground relieved. "I've never wanted to hit a kid so much in my life."

"I hear you," he chuckled.

They look at Sam, Dean frowning in disgust.

Dirk was finally put to rest, and with him, the supernatural threat over Truman was gone—hopefully for good. But even though the case had been resolved, Sam and Nadia still had some personal business to attend to. Sam wanted to check in with Mr. Wyatt, and Nadia was determined to make amends with Madison.

Dean sat alone in the Impala, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel to the classic rock tune playing in his head. Just as the boredom started creeping in, Sam returned to the car. His face was unreadable, distant.

Dean glanced over at him. "How'd it go?"

Sam hesitated before answering, his eyes lingering on something in the distance. "Dean... are you happy?"

Dean groaned, rolling his eyes. "Here we go."

"What do you mean, 'here we go'?"

"I mean, what's with you and Nadia getting all deep about life and crap lately?"

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Nadia asked if you were happy?"

"No. She asked what I wanted out of life after the magician case."

"And what'd you say?" Sam asked, his curiosity piqued.

Dean shifted in his seat, clearing his throat. "Well... I kinda shrugged it off. Told her I didn't expect much. You know, the usual—waiting for a bloody end."

Sam sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Don't tell me you gave her the whole 'martyr' speech. You know the one where you're just waiting to die?"

Dean winced. "Yeah... there was a little bit of that in there."

"Unbelievable," Sam muttered, scratching his forehead.

"What was I supposed to say?" Dean shot back. "Our lives are always gonna end in blood, Sam. You know that."

Sam leaned forward, the weight of his words settling between them. "You tell her what you told me. That since meeting her, you've started seeing a future beyond this life. It freaks you out, but you're thinking about it, even if you don't know how to handle it. And if you don't feel that way, if you're just gonna keep living in the moment and waiting for the next hunt, then... maybe you should break up with her."

"Break up with her?!" Dean barked, his voice rising. "Why the hell would I do that?"

"Because people need security, Dean," Sam said, his voice calmer now, but no less serious. "They want to know the person they're with is committed to them, to their future. You can't just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. You can't let your relationship be about hunting and waiting for death. When you care about someone, you make the most of the time you have. You make memories, you make plans. I mean—have you even gone on a date?"

Dean blinked at him, a little taken aback. "Who has time when there's always somebody to save?"

Sam scoffed. "Seriously, Dean? You're not the only one out here fighting. Nadia's a hunter too, remember? She didn't grow up fantasizing about meeting her prince charming, but she did meet you. And now she's experiencing all those feelings for the first time. You're not the only one scared by this."

Dean opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find the words.

Sam softened his tone. "Look, I'm not pretending I understand women, but I know what it's like to almost lose someone you care about. If Nadia makes you happy, then you need to fight for that. Fight for your relationship. Don't let your fear screw it up. We don't know how much time we have left, man. But you've got a chance for a future with her—don't waste it. I like her, a lot. So please... don't let this be the thing that falls apart."

Dean sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Yeah, I hear you."

Sam gave a nod, but his expression turned pensive again as he stared out the window.

Dean sat up straighter. "So... what's the plan now?"

Sam shrugged. "We stay another night."

"Another night?" Dean blinked, confused.

"So you can take Nadia on a date and make up for what you said."

Dean groaned, leaning back in his seat. "Yeah, I guess I should after she apologized for getting upset with me about my answer."

Sam gave him a pointed look, his expression stern.

"I know, I know." Dean sighed deeply. "She's great, and I'm an idiot. Thanks for the advice, Sammy."

Sam didn't respond right away, his thoughts still lingering. After a long pause, he just nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You're welcome."

While the boys were in the car, Nadia found Madison sitting alone on the bleachers, scribbling something in her journal. The cool breeze sent a shiver down her spine as she approached.

"Shouldn't you be in class?" Nadia asked, leaning against the railing.

Madison didn't even look up, her pen still moving. "Shouldn't you be gone?"

Nadia let out a long, exaggerated sigh, stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets. "I guess I walked right into that one. Can I sit?"

Madison gave a nonchalant shrug. "Yeah, whatever."

Nadia perched herself next to her, a bit stiff as the metal bleachers were cold against her legs. She shifted, uncomfortable, but tried not to show it.

"You a cop or something?" Madison asked, finally glancing up at her.

Nadia raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. "No, where'd you hear that?"

"Some stupid jock said you, your boyfriend, and the janitor were like 21 Jump Street. Saved their lives from some crazy bus driver or something. I stopped listening after they said 21 Jump Street."

Nadia let out a laugh, shaking her head. "Well, it's not a complete lie. We did save their lives. But no, we're not cops."

Madison huffed. "Let me guess. You can't tell me the full story."

"You won't believe me if I did."

Madison crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. "Try me."

Nadia paused for a moment, letting the silence settle between them. Then she sighed, her tone more serious. "Okay, we're hunters. We hunt monsters, demons, vampires—pretty much anything you can imagine. A ghost was haunting your school, possessing bullied kids and making them do... well, terrible things."

Madison blinked, her expression deadpan. "That is the most ridiculous lie I've ever been told."

"I told you, you wouldn't believe me," Nadia said with a shrug, but her voice held a hint of a smile.

Madison gave a short, sarcastic laugh. "Just tell me your actual name, at least."

Nadia extended her hand, her expression softening. "It's Nadia. Nadia Turner. Not Boyer. Nice to meet you."

Madison eyed her hand for a moment before shaking it firmly. "Gift from God. Mighty Warrior. That's what my name means."

"I knew it was something cool," Nadia said, nudging her with a playful grin. "How'd you feel when you found that out?"

"Like a badass," Madison answered with a grin, clearly proud.

"I bet." Nadia's smile softened. "Whenever you're angry or upset, remember you were born a warrior. You're a fighter. You can get through anything. And if you ever feel unworthy..."

"I'm a gift," Madison finished, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

"Exactly." Nadia smiled, watching Madison as she thought about her words. She turned her gaze to the field, her thoughts drifting.

Madison watched her quietly, a small smile tugging at her lips. Nadia reminded her so much of her mother—strong, wise, and unshaken. It was comforting in a way she didn't fully understand yet.

"So," Madison said after a long pause, looking down at her journal, "you're really leaving this time?"

Nadia's smile faded slightly, but she didn't hesitate. "Yeah. I've got lives to save."

Madison sighed, a mix of disappointment and understanding. "Riiiight."

Nadia glanced at the journal, noticing a dead flower lying in the center of the pages. "What's this?" She picked it up carefully, studying it.

Madison didn't look up, but her voice softened. "I collect flowers."

"Even the dead ones?" Nadia asked, intrigued.

"Yeah," Madison replied quietly. "There's beauty in death. At least... that's what I tell myself. I like to think my mom is somewhere better than here."

Nadia looked at the wilted flower in her hand, a soft expression on her face. "That's poetic. Beautiful, even."

She gently grazed her finger over the wilted petals, her eyes glowing faintly. Slowly, the flower began to bloom again, its petals unfurling with a vibrant life.

Madison's eyes widened in shock. "What—" She scrambled to her feet, nearly losing her balance. "How did you—"

"Magic," Nadia said with a wink, smiling mischievously. "Here."

Madison hesitated for a moment before slowly taking the flower from her, her fingers trembling. She examined it in awe, her jaw slack with disbelief. "That's... impossible."

"Believe me, don't believe me," Nadia said, her voice soft yet firm. "But I promise, if you pray for help, I'll be there."

"Pray?" Madison scoffed, eyeing her skeptically. "So, you're magic and crazy?"

Nadia smiled knowingly, her eyes glowing faintly. "Believe me, when you need me, I'll come."

With that, she gave Madison a wink, the glowing in her eyes flickering out as quickly as it had appeared.

Madison gasped softly, still staring at the flower in her hand. The bell rang, breaking the silence between them.

"Alright, get out of here. Go to class," Nadia said, giving her a gentle nudge.

"O-o-okay," Madison stammered, still in shock as she gathered her things. She hesitated, glancing back at Nadia as she started to walk away.

She bumped into Dean just as she reached the edge of the bleachers. He caught her arm to steady her.

"Whoa, you alright?" Dean asked, concern in his voice.

"Be careful!" Nadia called from behind them, chuckling at the scene.

Madison gulped, flustered, and quickly nodded. "Yeah, yeah, thanks," she muttered before hurrying off.

Dean shook his head with a smile and sat down next to Nadia, watching Madison leave. "What'd you say to her?"

Nadia looked at him, a smirk still on her lips. "That if she ever needed someone to talk to, I'd be there. Oh, and I might've shown her just a little bit of magic."

Dean raised an eyebrow. "That makes sense."

"Yeah," Nadia agreed, her tone shifting. "Did Sam come back?"

"Yeah, he's in the car. You know, I never got a chance to tell you why I hate it here so much."

Nadia turned her body toward him, fully attentive now, as she faced him.

Dean exhaled, as though letting go of something he'd been holding onto. "So, uh, I used to be a player. Started fooling around with this girl named Amanda. She was serious about me, wanted me to meet her parents. I don't do the 'meeting parents' thing. We weren't gonna be here long, but instead of breaking up with her, I got with another girl. Amanda found out, and she said she felt bad for me. That I was just... 'a sad, lonely little boy.' And I hate thinking about it because, well, she was right."

Nadia's eyes softened with empathy. "Wow. So, I'm not the first woman to see right through you."

Dean chuckled lightly, a little self-deprecating. "No, just the first one to stick around and give me boundaries when I need my ass checked. And the only one I've felt safe enough to open up to."

Nadia smiled, a gentle warmth spreading through her as she took his hand.

"Well, I'm honored." She paused, a playful glint in her eyes. "Also, isn't it funny how you met my father before you met me?"

Dean grinned, shaking his head. "Yeah, I just kind of ran into that."

"Yeah, you did," she replied with a laugh.

Dean paused as if thinking of something. "So, uh, I was thinking we should go out tonight."

Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Go out? Like... a date?"

"Yeah," Dean said with a grin. "I already talked to Sam. He's cool with staying another night."

Nadia's eyebrows furrowed slightly, her surprise obvious. Though they had been together for a while, most of their time was spent in motel rooms between hunts. They didn't often go out unless it was to grab food or handle a case.

"We don't have to," Dean added quickly. "I just realized we've never had an official date."

Nadia smiled softly, the idea taking root. "Let's do it."

"Yeah?" Dean asked, his grin widening.

"Yeah." Nadia leaned in and kissed him, her heart fluttering. "I'd like that."