The Winchester brothers and the fallen angel went into their room. Dean began talking to himself about how a girl could ever slap that hard, despite having met Jo. Sam only sat on the bed with no interest in what Dean was saying. Castiel as always was just standing, doing nothing but half listening to Dean's rant. A scream had Sam and Dean on their feet.

"Madisen," Sam rushed out the door and into the one next to his. Dean and Castiel were right on his heels.

The doorway was slightly ajar when the trio burst in, worried at the sight before them. Their fellow hunter was on the ground writhing in pain. It looked as if she was having a spaz-attack. She suddenly stopped. Sam knelt down next to her and so did Dean. Castiel stood in the doorway, eyes narrowed in confusion and curiosity. He was confused as to why this skinwalker was in pain, but curious as to what was causing it.

"What the hell?" Dean narrowed his eyes.

Dean went to try and wake her but Castiel stopped him. "Dean, wait," he said, walking towards the woman on the floor.

He took Sam's place and kneeled down to her side, placing two fingers on her forehead. The woman's movements immediately stilled. Although her face still showed pain she was as still as a rock. Dean put his arms around her legs and back before carrying her to the bed across the room. He set her down gently and looked to his brother and friend.

"What the hell, Cas?" He repeated.

"I have no idea," came his response. Only the angel want looking at Dean, he was looking at Madisen with curiosity. "I will need to talk to her when she wakes up."

Castiel immediately disappeared with a flutter of wings. Sam and Dean were confused as to why the angel had left so quickly but they stared at the hunter in front of them, Sam coming to stand next to Dean. Both wondered what had happened. Sam's best guess was just short of a monster hurting her and booking it right after. But what could be there waiting for them and leave straight after besides a demon or angel? He hadn't had a clue. Dean didn't even bother thinking about it. He just knew the woman was suddenly on the floor in pain.

"Hey Dean -" Sam began.

"Hey why don't you stay here while I look for Cas?" Dean interrupted.

Sam went to object but Dean was already out the door. He sighed at his brother and went to sit at the table. His mind began to wander at the scenarios the might have happened. One of them even being demonic possession but there was no trace of sulfur, not even the smell. Sam dozed and eventually fell asleep around 1 a.m..

**********

Madisen's thoughts were jumbled and her mind ached in pain, and it was drowsy, barely picking up anything she could hear. Her body had stopped hurting but it felt like it had gone numb. She could only imagine the state she was in. And she knew what happened. When someone like her doesn't shift in a long time, their bodies attack them so as to make them shift. It would look like a seizure, and feel like being tazed and being boiled alive at the same time. It could potentially kill a skinwalker given enough time and the strength of the person.

But after a year of not shifting for Madisen, she was surprised she hadn't died any sooner. See, most skinwalkers are forced to shift around eight or nine months. But to last four or five months longer, it must've been a record of some sort. A twisted record in a way. Madisen's mind once again jumbled as she came back to coherence. She could hear two, maybe three voices talking over her. Of course they were blurred but they sounded familiar.

"I still think we should take her to the hospital," said one voice. It was obviously male, slightly gruff and the man couldn't have been older than thirty-four or thirty-five.

"And say what? 'Hey our hunter buddy just had some sort of seizure and we need you to check her out so she can get back to killing ghosts'?" said a second voice. It too was male, but his voice was slightly smoother and he sounded younger than the first.

"I don't know! We'll have to think of something!" said the first man.

Wait, she knew those voices. Who were they again? Sawyer and Jean? Slappy and Seam? No, wait. Sam and Dean. That was it! Sam and Dean where their names. And she had met them on a hunt, which they just finished. Then she blacked out after entering her room. A groan escaped her lips.

"Wait, dude, I think she's waking up." That must've been Dean.

There was a shuffling noise and two sets of steps came towards her. A weight came down next to her side, as if someone was sitting next to her.

"Hey, can you hear me? Say something if you can hear me." It was Sam. Maybe, she thought.

There was a moment before she replied. "Ow," she said.

She took in a breath and tried to open her eyes. It worked, but not without difficulty. Her vision was blurred and she immediately shut her eyes at the assaulting light. She slowly opened them again and adjusted to the brightness of the room. Two faces appeared in her vision and they of course belonged to the Winchester brothers.

Madisen sat up and looked at the two men standing next to her. Sam was the one sitting on her right. She took in another breath and swallowed. Her throat was dry and Madisen immediately began coughing. Dean reached over and handed her a glass of water which she downed easily.

She cleared her throat and looked at the boys. "How long was I out?" Her voice was still hoarse.

"Almost eleven hours, and it's nine in the morning now," answered Sam.

She nodded, "What happened?"

Dean pulled up a chair on her left and Sam stayed on her right. Dean began, "Well we heard you scream around ten last night and when we come in you looked like you were having a seizure." Dean gave her a suspicious look. "Any idea why?"

"Well I've only gotten twelve hours of sleep in three weeks," Madisen quickly lied. "Not counting the ten I just got." It's wasn't a complete lie.

Sam gave a small sympathetic look, as if he understood. "Why?"

She gave a small shrug, going with her lie. "Just the dreams I get."

"What dreams?" Dean pushed on.

Madisen rolled her eyes. "The kind that usually keeps people up, Dean. Nightmares."

"Any other reasons?"

"No."

"There must be something. Give me a good reason besides nightmares."

"Dean," Sam warned. "She has nightmares, that's enough."

A flutter of wings alerted the three hunters of the angel that had appeared. All heads snapped towards the sound.

"You're awake, good," Casiel said. "I need to speak with you." Casiel wasted no time in crossing the room, grabbing Madisen's arm, and disappearing with another flutter of wings.

"Dammit, Cas!" Dean yelled into nothing.

"Just wait till he gets back," Sam waved his arm dismissively.

Madisen groaned as she was dropped on her arse and onto the grass now beneath her. Castiel stood above her looking around at the field around them. She forced herself onto her legs and glared at the angel before her.

"What happened?" Castiel asked before she could ask her questions.

Madisen raised an eyebrow, "Why does it matter to you?"

Castiel narrowed his eyes. "I don't. But I want to know why a skinwalker would suddenly drop to the ground."

"Why so you can know more weaknesses of ours?" She snapped back. Castiel only narrowed his eyes further. Madisen gave an evil grin. "You don't know. Angels, the all supreme beings, can't even figure out a skinwalker," she taunted. "Oh this is fantastic!"

"Enough!" Castiel's voice boomed.

Madisen immediately stopped her prancing around him. "And why would I do that?" She circled him once more and stood in front of the angel. "What will happen if I don't?"

Castiel's head tilted and he looked down at her. "I will torture you myself."

Madisen turned and slowly walked a few steps. "You know I'm no expert, but I don't think skinwalkers end up in heaven when killed." She went to look back when suddenly Castiel was in front of her, holding his angel blade to her neck.

"Tell me," Castiel said.

"Fine," she growled out. "If we don't shift in a long while it would kill us. Usually between eight and nine months. I'm lucky I even lasted a year."

Castiel put his blade down and took a step back. Madisen took the opportunity to take a long breath and glare at the angel.

"Why?" He asked.

"I don't know," she glared.

"Why?" Casiel pressed harder

"I don't know!" She yelled back. "Ask the person who created us! Or at least the Alpha, but last I heard, he's dead!"

"Alpha? You mean the first skinwalker?"

"Yes you fucking twit!"

Castiel was silent as he stared at her. Madisen would have been lying if she said she wasn't a little concerned. The skinwalker stood for a few moments before waving her hand in front of the angels face. Castiel's gaze focused and he looked at her questionably.

"Why are you waving your hand in my face?" He asked.

"Well you were kind of out of it. Your mind get lost or something?"

Castiel turned from her and looked around the clearing again. "Or something," the angel responded.

Madisen stood for another moment before asking, "So can we get back to the motel?"

Just as soon as the words left her mouth the two were back in her room. Sam and Dean had jumped a little when they appeared but they weren't really bothered. Madisen however was once again on the ground taking deep breaths. Her thoughts were screaming for her to never do that again.

Dean appeared in her field of vision grinning down at her. "Knocks the wind outta you, huh?"

She gave a half-hearted glare back at him and held her arm out. "Yeah. Now help me up."

Dean grabbed her hand and hauled her to her feet. He gave her a slap on the back and went back to the table where he was sitting.

"So where did you go?" Sam asked, sitting up from the bed she had woken up from.

"Some field," she shrugged.

"What did you two talk about?" Dean asked after swallowing something. Pie was what her nose told her.

"I was asking her if she wanted to come with us," Castiel hastily said.

"And why not do that here?" Sam questioned.

"And why would we let her come with us?" Dean added.

Castiel went to speak but Madisen cut in. "Oh I told him no," she said. "I usually work alone and I'm sure you guys wouldn't need me, much less want me around."

Sam looked at her, "Why wouldn't we need you?"

"Well you've done good so far and no offense to your brother over there," she gave a pointed look at Dean, "he'd probably only want me around for one reason."

Dean looked like he was about to object but decided against it and quickly ate another bite of his pie. Sam made a face yet agreed with her.

"We're going to go check up on Fred? You coming Cas?" Dean asked.

"I don't see why I wouldn't Dean," Castiel replied.

"You coming?"

It was directed towards Madisen. "Ah, no. I think I'll just leave before you guys get back."

Dean shrugged and finished his pie, tossing the plate into the trash can. Sam got up and followed Dean from the room. Castiel stayed behind at looked at Madisen.

"Why didn't you tell them what we talked about?" He asked.

"Why didn't you tell them what I was when you found out?" She countered. Castiel was silent. "You, won't tell them, will you?"

"No." His reaction was immediate.

Madisen hesitated. This might have hurt her pride a little. "Thank you." Yep, that hurt. It was unnatural for her to thank someone, much less an angel.

Castiel stood there awkwardly before leaving the room and closing the door behind him. Madisen listened to the sound of Dean's car leaving before she began packing her things. She turned in her key and left town, hoping not to meet another hunter again.