Despite her better judgement, Leila followed Sam out to where Dean was struggling. She followed him a little too closely as her heart pounded—threatening to break free from its ribbed cage. Leila's breath caught in her throat as she spotted Dean.

Pinned against the side of the Impala, Dean was struggling to keep a humanoid at arms length. Around their feet was smashed beer bottles and wet cardboard—Dean's boots crackled the glass as he stepped on it. The air had picked up the scent of gas station booze that made Leila feel queasier than she already was.

It wasn't the same creature Leila had seen earlier but it was too close for comfort. The same void stared back where eyes would've been. Pale skin clung to the creature like it was holding on for life—each bone pronounced on the body. It made no sense that it was overpowering Dean despite how tiny it was built. Instead of an oversized mouth like the creature from Leila's room, this one was normal but foaming. Like a rabid dog. Dean was pushing it's head away from him. The creature snapped it's jaw at Dean.

Leila felt like she was frozen in place as the creature raked sharp nails across Dean's cheek, leaving four scratches across his cheek. Dean let out an exclamation of pain so quiet, Leila wasn't sure it had even escaped his lips.

"Gun—" Dean said through gritted teeth. He grunted as he continued to struggle against the creature. "—trunk."

Sam took a step forward and immediately dropped to his knees. Hands pressed against wet concrete and broken glass. He pressed a bloody hand against his temple, his body shaking violently.

Sam, a voice said. Leila looked around. Nothing was there.

"Sam?" Leila went to move forward but Sam held a bloody hand out in her direction.

"Don't move!" Sam yelled. He pressed his hand back to his temple and let out an anguish-filled scream.

Leila's eyes widened. Her heart beat faster. Dean was struggling against the creature still. What was she supposed to do if she couldn't move? She swallowed hard.

Sam made his way to his feet, eyes staring blankly into the morning sunrise.

"Sammy," Dean said. His cheek was bleeding down his jaw. "I could use an assist here!"

"Dean?" Sam asked. Even when he looked right at her, Leila's gut was telling her he couldn't see her. He was staring right through her. "Leila?"

"We're right here." Dean mustered enough strength to push the creature away with his boot. Like he was kicking open a door. "Snap out of it, Sammy."

Oh, Sam, a seductive feminine voice said. Leila tried to locate it but it felt like it was all around her. Swallowing her whole. You really haven't changed, have you?

"Sam, come on, man," Dean said. He put his hand on Sam's cheek, lightly smacking it. "Get out of wherever you are. We need you here."

Dean was taken down by the creature again. Glass crunched under his torso. He struggled against the creature, foam dripping into his open wound. Holding the creature away from him, Dean was still trying to yell at Sam to get him out of whatever trance he'd fallen into.

What? the voice asked, ringing in Leila's ears. No hello?

"Ruby?" Sam breathed. His voice was just above a whisper but loud enough for both Leila and Dean to hear him.

"Ruby?" Dean yelled. "Get out of wherever the hell you are, Sam! You're in Indiana! Not where that bitch says you are! Come on, man!"

The creature hissed above Dean, swiping at him again. Dean managed to catch the creature's arm and stop it from scratching him again. Leila wished her mind hadn't played Dean's no second chances speech. That was the last thing she needed.

Hey, Sam, the voice said.

Leila's breath caught in her throat as she jogged around the edge of the car. Frightened tears stung her eyes, but she couldn't let them block her vision. Popping open the trunk of the Impala. Inside was... nothing. Nothing but some creepy spray painted symbol on the roof of the trunk. Hadn't Dean said there was a gun in there?

"Dean?"

"Little busy, kid." Dean grunted as the creature swiped for him again. He managed to roll over, pinning the creature to the ground. Pieces of glass stuck to his back, glistening from the soft light of shitty lampposts nearby.

The creature hissed at Dean. A forked tongue slithered out from it's foaming mouth as it flipped Dean easily, glass crackled under his back once again.

"There's nothing in here, Dean," Leila said. She wished her voice didn't sound so shaky. Like a child scared of the monster under the bed. "Didn't you say—"

"There's a hatch," Dean said, grunting as the creature struggled in his grip. "Look for the strap. Pull up."

"How did you..." Sam trailed off. His voice sounded like it was in a dream. Leila was certain from his previous screaming it was more like a nightmare. "I sent you to Hell myself."

Well, Dean made it out of there, didn't he? the voice asked.

Leila frowned, her hands frozen around the strap that Dean had advised she grabbed.

What makes you think a demon can't do it herself?

The word demon snapped Leila out of whatever trance she'd trapped herself in. She tugged on the strap, pulling upwards and revealing more weaponry than she had signed up for. Guns, stakes, machetes, vials of water. Leila inhaled sharply. Who had she just agreed to stay with?

"You shouldn't be here," Sam said. He was reaching toward the back of his jeans. Leila really didn't want to know what was hiding back there. "I'll send you right back down."

Now, now, the voice said. A haunting laugh rang through Leila's ears. She could only imagine what it sounded like for Sam. Sam's arm jerked forward like it was being pulled away from whatever he was trying to grab. We can't have you ending my fun now, can we?

Sam fell to his knees again as the laughter picked up. Buckling like a ragdoll tossed away from a bored child. He pushed his hands against his temple, staining it with the blood from his hands. The laughter multiplied. Like whoever this Ruby woman—demon?—was had made more of herself. It sounded like the laughter was surrounding Leila, capturing her in a hurricane.

Science teachers used to tell Leila that the eye of the hurricane was the calm in the storm. But the cyclone around her was suffocating. Echoing laughter surrounded her. There was no escape. Leila didn't even know who Ruby was and she knew that the laughter was going to haunt her dreams. Nightmares. If Leila could even get to sleep that night or not. Every second that passed, the laughter intensified. Grew louder the longer Leila waited.

Grabbing a pistol Leila hoped was right for the situation, she held the gun out. Her thumb pulled back the safety. She could vaguely hear a small click over the sound of Ruby's laughter. Great. Now what?

Leila had no idea where Ruby was. Maybe Ruby was a figment of her imagination and Leila was the one trapped, not Sam. Was that possible? Was she going to overthink herself into Ruby blowing out her ear drums with her cackling? What had Dean said about the creature in Leila's room? Shoot first...

Leila swallowed hard, steadying her hold on the gun by holding it with both hands. Closing one eye and praying for the best she aimed at the creature that Dean was struggling to hold back. If there was something to say about adrenaline rushes taking over the brain, Leila would've said it was exactly what happened next.

Her hands didn't shake as she aimed the pistol at the creature. Taking a shot towards it with the best aim she could muster. Maybe being a police chief's daughter kicked in. Maybe being his daughter was scarier than the idea of holding a gun. Either way, Leila felt her arms jerk as she pulled the trigger—and the creature dissolved into dust on top of Dean.

The laughter stopped immediately. A headache pounded against Leila's skull. Warning that the demon knew how to get in there. Making sure she knew that maybe it wasn't going to leave.

Dean sat up and immediately rushed over to where Sam was. Covered in black dust, Dean looked like he'd come out of a fireplace. Sam let out a gasp like he'd resurfaced from drowning in a pool. Dean draped an arm over Sam's shoulders and placed a hand on his chest.

"Hey, hey, man, you're here," Dean said. "You all right?"

"Yeah," Sam said. Breathless. "Thanks. What happened?"

Dean shook his head and shrugged as he helped Sam to his feet. "Wasn't me."

Sam and Dean both looked in Leila's direction, eyes asking a million questions their lips were too shy to. Leila put the gun back in the trunk like it was burning her hands. Maybe it was. A smoking barrel. Leila gulped and stuck her arms behind her back.

"I—" Leila started. "Sorry."

The last time she'd held a gun was less than a year before. It hadn't been aimed at someone she'd just met. It hadn't been aimed at anyone else. The gun wasn't supposed to do damage to anyone else. No one was meant to be home.

Her father had come home early. Come up to see if Leila had come home from school yet—he didn't know she hadn't gone at all. Leila rarely went those days. Not when she had perfected her yes, Leila's sick today, we hope she'll be back to school tomorrow voice.

Leila had pressed the gun to her temple as her dad walked into her bedroom. She thought her heart had stopped the moment their eyes had met. Tears streaming down her face, Leila was frozen as her father talked her down. Off her bridge. Each word he said he took a step toward her. When he was close enough, he took the gun from her hands and held her tightly. He hadn't let her out of his sight for the rest of the night. Leila hadn't had that much attention on her in... forever.

"Don't be," Sam said, pulling Leila out of her intrusive thoughts.. "Thanks."

"Where'd you go?" Dean asked.

"You couldn't hear that?" Leila asked. Blurting it out before she thought about how insane she must've sounded.

"You could?" Dean asked.

"I mean." Leila rocked on her feet. "It was loud. Like... really freakin' loud."

Sam nodded. "Yeah. It was."

"She said her name was... Ruby," Leila said. "Does that mean anything to you? Is Ruby a person... or demon, you... you know, hunt?"

"Wait." Dean held his hand out like he was trying to make her be quiet for a moment. Which Leila didn't appreciate, but she did listen. "You could hear it?"

"I think we established this."

"You heard what was going on in Sam's head?"

Leila looked at Sam. "Does he have to hear it three times for it to register or something?"

"Did you hear anything else?" Dean asked.

"No." Leila shook her head.

"Did you?" Sam asked, looking at his brother. "I mean, what happened, man?"

"I..." Dean looked at the ground. "That thing came out of nowhere. Attacked me. I started seeing all these weird things. Stuff I never wanted to see again. Like Hell. The kid got rid of it. Shot it."

"Have you... ever shot a gun before?" Sam asked. "I mean, it's not rocket science but..."

Dean's eyes widened. "Please tell me the answer is yes."

Leila swallowed hard and looked at her feet. "Um, once. Twice, maybe. It was just... beginner's luck, I guess."

"You could've hit me," Dean said.

"But I didn't hit you," Leila said. She was curious as to where she'd found her voice. Her chest felt like it was pulling apart as it realized it could settle down. That the danger was gone. That whoever Ruby was wasn't near them any more. Leila crossed her arms. "And I think that's what matters."

"You were... unluck away from hitting me," Dean argued.

"But I didn't," Leila said. "Don't tie your dick in a knot over nothing."

"Dean," Sam said. Before Dean could protest. Which was better for everyone involved. Lights were beginning to turn on in hotel rooms. "We should get inside."

Dean nodded, patting Sam on the chest quickly. "Yeah."

Sam and Dean got to their feet, Leila closed the trunk of the Impala. Dean led the trio into the room and immediately went to the bed. Lying down face first, Dean's arms draped over the edge of the bed. Work boots and all, Dean seemed set on falling asleep even with his boots and full clothes on.

"Dean, you're bleeding," Sam said.

"People do that, Sammy." Dean's voice was muffled by the pillow. "The world's a bloodbath."

"At least clean it before you decide to pass out."

Dean sighed loudly, Leila caught a glimpse of him rolling his eyes when he opened them again. Making his way to the bathroom, feet dragging. Leila watched silently as he crossed the room and disappeared behind the door.

The tap ran, breaking the silence in the motel room. Leila could hear him suck in a breath as she assumed he was washing out the cut the creature had left on his face.

"How the stitching holding?" Sam asked.

"It... I mean..." Leila looked down at her arm and ran her finger along the stitches. "It's not bleeding any more."

"That's good," Sam said. "Are you... you said you could hear Ruby in my head?"

Leila stared at the ground. "Yeah. I didn't mean to. It just happened. She seemed... evil. No offense."

Sam let out a small chuckle. "None taken."

"What the hell?" Dean asked from the bathroom.

"Everything okay?" Sam asked.

"Um..." Dean trailed off. "Yeah. Sure. It's..." He walked out of the bathroom, rubbing his eyes with his fingers. "I thought I saw something."

"Did you?"

"I don't know. It didn't do anything if I did," Dean said. "Might just need to hit the hay." He gazed at the watch on his wrist. "It's been an hour? Shit." Dean looked around for a moment before grabbing a jacket draped over where he had been sitting earlier. "Anyone hungry?"

"I could eat," Sam said. "Leila?"

"I, um," Leila said. "Okay?"

She hadn't meant for it to sound like a question. Like she was unsure. But... well... she absolutely was. Leila wished she could've just slept. Through the night for once. If she wasn't conscious she wouldn't have to think about the creatures they had seen that night. At least, she hoped they wouldn't haunt her nightmares like they'd haunted her life. One that night would've been bad, two was worse.

"I just need to... go to the bathroom," Leila said. "First." Leila grabbed her backpack in a tight fist. She held it up. "Get changed. If we're... leaving."

Dean waved his hand dismissively. "Hurry up."

"Take your time," Sam said. Calmly. Less aggressive than Dean. A balm on a wound rather than rubbed salt.

Leila ducked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Her head was still pounding from Ruby. Whoever she was. Leila wasn't sure she wanted to know. Or cared. There wasn't a window in the bathroom, she noted. In case she decided that being with Sam and Dean wasn't what she wanted. If she just left them behind, it wouldn't have been the worst thing... right? They hardly knew her. And she could see the end of her plan. That was all she needed.

Doing her best to not look in the mirror while she changed, Leila pulled off her pyjamas and dug through her backpack to find clothes. Pulling out a shirt and pants, both too loose, along with fresh underwear and socks, Leila changed quickly.

Not quick enough to ignore Sam and Dean talking in attempted hushed tones. Leila pressed her ear to the door to see if it would help her hear anything she might need to know. Her heart sunk when she realized they were talking about her.

"We have to ask her," Dean said. "It's important."

"We're not asking a sixteen year old girl if she's anorexic," Sam said. "What the hell, man?"

"Look at her and tell me you weren't thinking the same thing," Dean said. "How come you're all high and mighty?"

"Because you don't just ask someone that, Dean."

"How come you didn't make sure she actually met up with her mom?" Dean asked. "Made sure she was safe."

"Because that's called stalking and it's illegal." Sam sighed. "How was I supposed to know this was going to happen?"

Leila walked out of the bathroom before she could hear anymore. She shouldn't have listened in the first place. It twisted her stomach in a knot. Made her feel even less inclined to eat anything from wherever her and the Winchesters were going. Leila had left to escape the people who liked to talk behind her back, not find more.

Swallowing hard and putting on her best I'm totally fine face, Leila quickly stepped into a pair of sneakers as she dropped her backpack. Sam and Dean were staring at her when she looked up again.

"Well," she said softly, as she pulled her hair into a messy ponytail, "are we going?"

She was certain she probably looked like she'd just rolled out of bed. Leila wished that were true. It would've meant she hadn't heard everything Sam and Dean had said. She crossed her arms.

Dean cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah, course." He slapped Sam on the shoulder and badly tried to hide his glare at his brother. Twirling his keys around his index finger, he tossed his jacket over his shoulder. "Kid's right. Let's eat."

"My name's Leila," she muttered under her breath.

If looks could kill, Sam Winchester would have murdered his brother in cold blood right that second. Instead of landing himself a maximum twenty-five year sentence, he sighed loudly through his nostrils and grabbed his jacket as Dean walked out of the hotel room.

Leila and Sam followed behind Dean, climbing into the Impala. Leila was in the backseat, which she had to admit was probably more comfortable than the motel bed, with Sam in the passenger and Dean driving. The Impala came to life with a clean roar of the engine, greeting her owner hello. Dean, clearly not wanting to finish his discussion with Sam in Leila's presence, quickly turned on the stereo before anyone could try and make small talk.

Leila was thankful for that. And even more thankful that it was Jukebox Hero playing. If Dean Winchester had one redeeming factor, Leila thanked God it was that he played good music in his car. Her head bopped lightly to the beat, lips barely moving as she mouthed every word like she'd been the one to write the lyrics.

Looking around because the scenery was boring, Leila spotted a pocket knife on the seat behind Dean. She looked at Sam and Dean; they were both staring intensely ahead. Not paying any mind to anyone except themselves. Leaning over, Leila reached her arm out and grabbed the knife in her fist. Albeit awkwardly, Leila pushed herself off the seat in order to shove the knife into her pants pocket. The Winchesters wouldn't miss it. Right?

The car stayed quiet in spite of the mixtape of Foreigner's greatest hits. (Leila considered that every song Foreigner produced.) (It was taking every inch of willpower she had not to belt out every lyric.) It didn't take long for the to reach a twenty-four hour diner that Dean pulled into without asking everyone if it was fine to stop. Leila respected that. Mostly.

The silence stayed with them as the exited the Impala. And while they walked into the diner. If Leila had had any sense, she would've brought her backpack with her. Maybe she could've made a break for it and left behind whatever had happened the night before. Was that how hunting worked? Or would whatever the hell the creature was follow her wherever she went? Could she have lived without knowing what it was, or was her curiosity going to make her stay with Sam and Dean Winchester longer than she'd intended?

When a hostess looked at Dean, he held up three fingers. She led them to a table after collecting three menus and sat them down. Informing them that their server would be right with them. Sam and Dean sat next to each other, Leila across from them. Dean thanked the hostess and as she walked away, Leila watched him give her a lingering stare. She couldn't really blame him. The hostess was cute. Probably too old for Leila and too young for Dean. Too bad for both of them.

Resting her cheek on a balled fist, Leila opened her menu lazily, letting the flap sit against the table rather than holding it up with her hand. Eyes scanned a variety of classic breakfast items. Eggs benedict. A traditional American breakfast platter. Pancakes stacked high with anything Leila could imagine. Various French toasts. Also piled high with anything Leila could think up. There were sides of bacon and eggs and hash browns and toast.

Leila closed her menu when she'd decided all she could stomach was possibly a plate of hash browns. Her stomach still felt twisted from hearing Sam and Dean's talk about her. Like she was something they needed to figure out and not a human being. A math problem. An unsolved equation. Leila hated feeling like that.

"Hello!" a waitress said, cheerfully smiling. She brushed her short brown side bangs out of her eyes. "How are we doing today?"

"Peachy keen," Dean said.

"Fantastic," she said. "Can I get you started with any drinks?"

"Two coffees," Dean said. "Black. No sugar needed."

"All right." She made a note on her notepad and looked at Leila. "And for you, sweetie?"

"Uh," Leila said. "Water. Please."

"Sure thing." She smiled. "Do you need another minute with the menu? Or would you like to do food now, too?"

Dean took a quick look around the table. "Order now seems fine."

"Great. What can I get you?"

"I'll have the special," Dean said.

"Pancakes," Sam said. "Plain."

Leila's eyes widened when the three of them looked at her. She knew what she wanted a minute ago. What was it again? Glancing down at her menu for a moment, Leila looked back up to the waitress. "Um, hash browns. Please."

"That all for you today?"

"Yeah. Thanks." Leila didn't like the look Sam and Dean exchanged as she handed her menu to the waitress.

Collecting the menus from the table, the waitress smiled. "Okay, I'll get those punched in and be right back with your drinks."

"Thanks," Sam said.

Walking away, the waitress went to a screen to put their orders in. Leila could see her doing it from where she was sitting. And since the conversation wasn't picking up—just like the car—Leila had to make do with that being her entertainment for the meal. Riveting, really.

When the waitress went out of Leila's range, she looked at her fingers. Knit together. Thumbs tapping on the table top. Even more riveting than the waitress punching in their orders. Leila almost let out a hallelujah when the waitress came back with their drinks. At least she could distract herself by guzzling water.

"Your food will be ready soon," she said, placing the last of the coffee mugs down. "Let me know if there's anything else you need in the meantime."

"Will do," Dean said. "Thanks."

Taking a few steps toward the kitchen, the waitress turned around and came back to their table. "Sorry, hi. I don't usually do this. But I'm really curious as to what it's like."

Dean frowned slightly. He looked at Sam, who looked just as confused as he was—something they'd finally agreed on. Dean looked back to the waitress. "It?"

"You know." She pushed her brown bangs behind her ear again. "Adopting. My wife and I are looking into it, but we don't know many people who have adopted before. We're looking for any information we can find. What's it like? I mean, if you don't mind my asking."

"Uh." Sam looked at the waitress's name tag. "Callie, we're not—"

"Come on, dad," Leila said. She needed to find entertainment somewhere, right? "Don't be shy just because we're not at a barbecue. Tell her what it's really like having adopted me." She looked at Callie, pressing her hand to the side of her mouth like she was having a one on one discussion. "He loves telling the story."

Dean cleared his throat. Loudly. Enough that Leila knew she'd struck a nerve. It took a lot not to laugh at him—Leila was enjoying this. "Oh, you know," Dean said. His tone the kind of fake happy that could only be perceived as angry. "She's just a bundle of joy."

Callie clapped her hands together. Her smile widened. "That's so wonderful to hear."

"Yeah," Dean said, "She's the light of my—of our freakin' lives."

"Thank you so much," Callie said. "That's great."

"Any time," Dean said.

Callie walked away when another table called to her and Dean looked at Leila. His fake smile seemed more menacing when it was aimed at her.

"What was that?" Dean asked.

Leila shrugged. "Don't know what you mean, dad."

Dean leaned forward, his forearms resting on the table. "Listen here, you little shit—"

"Dean," Sam said, "we're in public."

Dean drew in a stiff sigh and threw up a hand as he slowly sat back in his seat. "Fine."

Leila smirked and crossed her arms. Check, Leila Connors. Parry that, Dean Winchester.

*****

[ a.n. ] god, i missed this trio. they light up my life (not sarcastically, Dean) and i love them so much. their early days together are some of the best. hope you enjoyed, see you in the next revamped chapter!

Jordin