Outfits in the external link

Previously on Worlds Colliding (Supernatural):

From 1.11 "Scarecrow", in the motel room, Catty sat up in bed, alert, confused and surprised, on the phone. "Dad?"

John was on the other end of the line, standing in a payphone. "This is bigger than you think. They're everywhere."

From 1.02 "Wendigo", in the woods, Dean spoke to Sam and Catty. "He wants us to pick up where he left off."

From 1.10 "Asylum", in the asylum, Catty, Sam and Dean walked down the wall. Catty had a shotgun and a bag of weapons. Sam had a video camera and a flashlight. Dean had the EMF reader.

Dean: (voice over from 1.02 Wendigo) "Saving people."

From 1.06 "Skin", in the sewers, Sam, Dean and Catty were searching, tracking for the Shapeshifter, a gun in one hand, a flashlight in the other.

Dean: (voice over) "Hunting things."

From 1.02 "Wendigo", in the woods, Dean spoke to Sam and Catty. "The family business."

From 1.11 "Scarecrow", in the Impala, Sam looked at Dean. "I don't understand the blind faith you have in the man."

From 1.11 "Scarecrow", outside the car, Catty was trying to keep Sam and Dean from fighting. "Dean."

"You're a selfish bastard, you know that?" Dean asked. "You just do whatever you want. Hey, I'm taking off. I will leave your ass." He looked at Catty. "And if you want to go with him, I will leave yours, too."

Sam turned to face them. "I want you to leave me, Dean."

Catty looked between them in exasperation. "Are you guys kidding me?"

Dean got into the Impala.

Sam looked at Catty. "You take care of our brother. I'll take care of our dad."

Catty hesitantly got into the car.

The Impala drove away, leaving.

From 1.11 "Scarecrow", in the bus station, Meg was introducing herself to Sam. "I'm Meg."

Sam shook her hand. "Sam."

From 1.11 "Scarecrow", on the side of the road, Sam looked at Meg. "So, where you headed?"

"No way I'm telling you," Meg told him.

"Why not?" Sam asked.

Meg tilted her head. "You could be some kind of freak."

From 1.11 "Scarecrow", in the van, Meg slit the guy's throat, using his blood to make a call in a bowl. "It makes no sense. Hell, I could have taken all three of them. Why let them go?"

§

Chicago, Illinois

Day One

Night - Street

(Song:) You Got Your Hooks in Me - Little Charlie and the Nightcats

A young brunette woman walked down the sidewalk, listening to music on her iPod.

A tall, burly man bumped into her.

The woman looked at the man in disgust, continuing to walk. She turned around a corner onto another street.

Her iPod stopped playing music.

(Song Ends)

The woman took off her headphones. "Great." A strong wind began to blow around her. Garbage and leaves scattered everywhere. "Hello?"

There was no answer.

The woman tried to ignore the window, continuing to walk. She neared an apartment building, looking over her shoulder to see the shadow of a man on the wall of a building.

The silhouette began to follow the woman.

The woman started to run away, across the street, finally reaching the apartment building.

§

Apartment Building - Hallway

The woman frantically grabbed her keys, trying to find the right one. She found the right key, using it to unlock and open the door, walking inside.

§

Woman's Apartment

The woman walked into her apartment, closing it in a hurry, locking it behind her. She entered a code into the alarm system on the wall.

Alarm system: "System disarmed."

The woman entered another code.

Alarm system: "System armed."

The woman walked into the kitchen right off the door, setting down her bag and keys on the counter, opening the fridge to get a beer.

§

Living Room

The woman walked into the living room, playing the messages on her answering machine.

Woman: (voice mail) "Hey, Meredith. It's Kristen. You have to tell me what happened last night call me."

The woman, Meredith, opened her beer, taking a drink.

There was a beep from the machine.

Man: (voice mail) "Hey, Meredith. It's Derek." The shadow began to form on the wall of the apartment. "Where you been? I've been trying to get ahold of you. 'Cause I've got a friend who really wants to meet you." The shadow began as a swirling cloud of smoke, morphing into the silhouette of a tall, skinny, monstrous creature. It had claws and fangs. "So, if you want to solve that mystery, call me. All right, bye."

The shadow stalked closer to Meredith.

Meredith was oblivious, playing the next message.

Woman: (voice mail) "Hey, Meredith. Listen. Don't say I don't got your back. I know that guy ripped your heart out last time. But this time..."

The creature plunged its hand into Meredith's back, gripping her heart, making her scream and blood splatter on the wall.

Meredith's shadow could be seen falling to the floor.

§ Worlds Colliding (Supernatural) §

One Week Later

Day Two

Morning - Apartment Building - Outside

The Impala pulled up to the building across the street.

Dean, Sam and Catty got out of the car, posing as electricians.

"All right, guys, this is the place," Sam told them.

"I've got to say Catty, Dad and me did just fine without these stupid costumes," Dean told him. They walked toward the building. "I feel like a high school drama dork." Catty smiled, chuckling. "What was that play that Catty did? What was it, 'Our Town'? Yeah, you were good. It was cute."

"Look, you want to pull this off or not?" Catty asked. 

"I'm just saying these outfits cost hard-earned money," Dean told them. 

"Whose?" Sam asked. 

"Ours," Dean answered. "You think credit card fraud is easy?"

§

Meredith's Apartment

A manager, a woman, led Sam, Dean and Catty into the apartment.

"Thanks for letting us look around," Catty told her. 

"The police said they were done with the place, so..." the manager trailed off. They looked at all of the blood on the carpets. "You guys said you were with the alarm company?" 

"That's right," Dean told her. 

"Well, no offense, but your alarm is about as useful as boobs on a man," the manager told them. 

They looked at her in amusement.

"That's why we're here," Dean told her. "To see what went wrong, to stop it from happening again." 

"Now, ma'am, you found the body?" Sam asked. 

The manager nodded. "Yeah."

"Right after it happened?" Sam asked. 

"No," the manager answered. "A few days later. Meredith's work called. She hadn't showed up. I knocked on her door. That's when I noticed... the smell."

"Any windows open?" Catty asked. "Any sign of break in?" 

"No," the manager answered. "Windows were locked. Front door was bolted. Chain was on the door. We had to cut it to get in."

"And the alarm was still on?" Catty asked. 

"Like I said," the manager told them. "Bang up job your company is doing." 

"Did you see any overturned furniture, broken glass, signs of struggle?" Catty asked. 

The manager shook her head. "Everything was in perfect condition... except Meredith." 

"Well, what condition was Meredith in?" Sam asked. 

"Meredith was all over, in pieces," the manager answered. "The guy who killed her must have been some kind of a whack job. But I tell you, if I didn't know any better, I'd have said a wild animal did it." 

Sam, Dean and Catty exchanged a look.

"Ma'am, you mind if we take some time, give this place a once-over?" Sam asked. 

"Go right ahead," the manager answered. "Knock yourself out." 

The manager walked out, leaving.

Dean opened a box, grabbing the EMF.

"So the killer walks in and out of the apartment, no weapons, no prints, nothing," Sam told them.

"I'm telling you, the minute I found that article, I knew this was our kind of gig," Catty told them. 

"I think I agree with you," Dean told her. 

"So, you talked to the cops?" Sam asked. 

"Uh, yeah," Dean answered. "I spoke to Amy. A, uh, charming, perky officer of the law."

"What did you find out?" Sam asked, using the camera to find orbs. 

"Well, she's a Sagittarius," Dean told them. "She loves tequila. I mean, whew. Oh, and she's got this little tattoo."

"Dean," Catty told him. 

Dean turned to look at Sam and Catty. "What? Yeah. Nothing we don't already know, except for one thing they're keeping out of the papers." 

"Mm?" Catty asked.

"Meredith's heart was missing," Dean answered. 

"Her heart?" Catty repeated. 

"Yeah, her heart," Dean answered. 

"So, what do you think did it to her?" Sam asked. 

"The landlady said it looked like an animal attack," Dean told them. "Maybe it was. Werewolf?" 

"No, not a Werewolf," Sam answered. "The lunar cycle's not right. If it was a creature, it would've left some kind of trace. It was probably a Spirit." 

Catty looked at the pattern of the blood on the carpet. "Mm. See if you guys can find any masking tape around." 

They found the masking tape.

Catty started to play connect the dots of blood on the carpet with the masking tape. 

It connected into a symbol, a circle with what looked like a Z running through it, standing in confusion.

"Ever see that symbol before?" Sam asked. 

"Never," Catty answered. 

"Me, neither," Dean told them.

Sam, Catty and Dean exchanged a look, looking at the symbol.

§

Night - Bar

Sam and Catty were sitting down at a table, looking through John's Journal and the articles about Meredith's murder. Catty was drinking.

Dean approached them, sitting down. "So, I talked to the bartender." 

"Did you get anything besides her number?" Catty asked. 

"Cat, I'm a professional," Dean told her. "I'm offended that you would think that." Catty raised her eyebrows at him, unconvinced. "All right."

Dean smiled, raising a napkin with the bartender's phone number. 

Catty nodded. "You mind doing a little bit of thinking with your upstairs brain, Dean?" 

"Hmm?" Dean asked. "There's nothing to find out. Meredith worked here. She waited tables. Everyone here is her friend. Everyone says she's normal. She didn't do or say anything weird before she died. What about that symbol? Did you find anything?" 

"Nope," Sam answered. "Nothing. It wasn't in Dad's journal or in any of the usual books. We just have to dig a little deeper, I guess." 

"There was a first victim, right, before Meredith?" Dean asked. 

"Right, yeah," Catty answered. "His name was, uh..." She looked through the articles until she found it. "His name was Ben Swardstrom." She handed it to Dean. "Last month, he was found mutilated in his town house. Same deal. The door was locked. The alarm was on."

"Is there any connection between them?" Dean asked. 

"Nothing I could tell," Catty told them. "Well, not yet, at least. Ben was a banker. Meredith was a waitress. They never met, never knew anyone in common. They were practically from different worlds." 

"So, to recap, the only successful intel we've scored so far is the bartender's phone number," Dean told them. Sam looked behind them curiously. "What?" 

Sam stood, walking away.

Catty turned after him. "Sam?" 

Sam walked toward a girl with short blonde hair. "Meg." 

Meg turned to face him. "Sam."

Sam looked at Meg in confusion.

§

Meg stood. "Sam, is that you? Oh, my God." She embraced Sam, pulling back, sighing. "What are you doing here?" 

"I'm just in town, visiting friends," Sam told her. 

Meg looked around. "Where are they?" 

"Well, they're not here right now," Sam told her. "But what about you, Meg? I thought you were going to California." 

Dean and Catty walked closer.

"Oh, I did," Meg told him. "I came. I saw. I conquered. Oh, and I met what's-his-name, something Michael Murray, at a bar."

"Who?" Sam asked. 

"It doesn't matter," Meg told them. "Anyway, the whole scene got old, so I'm living here for a while."

"You're from Chicago?" Sam asked.

"No," Meg answered. "Massachusetts. Andover. Gosh, Sam, what are the odds we'd run into each other?" 

"Yeah, I know," Sam told her. "I thought I'd never see you again." 

"Well, I'm glad you were wrong," Meg told him. Dean cleared his throat loudly. "Dude, cover your mouth."

Catty smirked.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, Meg," Sam told her. "This is, um, this is my brother, Dean, and my sister, Catty." 

Meg looked at them as if in shock, looking at Sam. "This is Dean and Catty?" 

"Yeah," Sam answered.

"So you've heard of us?" Catty asked. 

"Oh, yeah, I've heard of you," Meg answered. "Nice. The way Dean treats you and your brother like luggage, Catty, and the way that you try to intervene in any and all fights between family, trying to keep the peace."

"Sorry?" Dean asked. 

"Why don't you let Sam do what he wants to do?" Meg asked. "Stop dragging him over God's green Earth. Stop blaming Catty when all she's trying to do is stand up for her family, not just Sam, but you, too. Just because Catty wants to keep the peace when all you want to do is pick a fight—" 

"Meg, it's all right," Sam told her. 

Catty whistled. "Okay. Awkward." She chuckled. "I'm gonna get another drink now." 

Catty walked away to get a drink. 

§

Outside

Sam, Dean and Catty walked out of the bar. 

"Who the hell was she?" Catty asked. "Bitch stole my birthday thunder. I deserve to know."

"I don't really know," Sam told them. "I only met her once. Meeting up with her again? I don't know, guys. It's weird."

"What was she saying?" Dean asked. "I treat you like luggage, and I blame Catty for trying to keep the peace when all I want to do is fight? Were you bitching about us to some chick?" 

"Look, I'm sorry, guys," Sam told them. "It was when we had that huge fight when I was in the bus stop in Indiana. But that's not important." 

"Is there any truth to what she's saying?" Dean asked. "Are we keeping you against your will, Sam?" 

"No, of course not," Sam answered. "Now, would you listen?" 

Catty turned to face them, making them stop. "What?" 

"I think there's something strange going on here," Sam told them.

"Tell me about it," Dean told them. "She wasn't even into me."

"No, I mean like our kind of strange," Sam told them. "Maybe even a lead." 

"Why do you say that?" Catty asked. 

"I met Meg weeks ago literally on the side of the road," Sam told them. "Now I run into her in some random Chicago bar, the same bar where a waitress was slaughtered by something supernatural? You don't think that's weird?"

"I don't know," Catty told him. "Random coincidence. It happens."

"Well, yeah, it happens, but not to us," Sam told them. "Look, I could be wrong. I'm just saying there's something about this girl that I can't quite put my finger on."

"But I bet you'd like to," Dean told him. Sam looked at him in slight exasperation. "But maybe she's not a suspect." Sam looked away. "Maybe you got a thing for her, huh? Maybe you're thinking too much with your upstairs brain, huh?" 

Sam looked at Catty. "Do me a favor. Check and see if there's really a Meg Masters from Andover, Massachusetts and see if you can't dig anything up on that symbol on Meredith's floor."

"What are you gonna do?" Catty asked. 

"I'm gonna watch Meg," Sam answered. 

Dean smiled, laughing. "Yeah." 

"I just want to see what's what," Sam told them. "Better safe than sorry." 

"All right, you little pervert," Catty told him. 

"Catty," Sam told her.

"We're going, we're going," Catty told him. 

Catty and Dean walked away, leaving.

§

Motel Room

Dean was looking up anything he could about the symbol from Meredith's floor in his and Sam's side of the room, on the phone. "All right. Thanks, Ness. Yeah, you, too." He listened, smiling a little. "Well, I don't know. Maybe I'll see you soon. Yeah, all right. Bye, Ness. Thanks."

Dean smirked, hanging up.

§

Catty's Side of the Room

Catty was on her laptop, looking up for Masters in Andover, Massachusets.

Masters, Edward

2289 Fifth Avenue

Andover, Massachusetts 

(978) 555 - 0145

————————————

Masters, Meg

13 Oakwood Drive

Andover, Massachusetts 

(978) 555 - 0103 

Catty called Sam. 

Sam was sitting in the Impala outside of an apartment building. He answered. "Hey." 

"Let me guess," Catty told him. "You're lurking outside that poor girl's apartment, aren't you?"

"No," Sam told her. Catty looked up, unconvinced. Sam hesitated. "Yes."

Catty nodded. "You've got a funny way of showing your affection."

"You find anything on her, or what?" Sam asked.

"Sorry, man, but she checks out," Catty told him. "There's a Meg Masters in the Andover phone book. I even pulled up her high school photo." Dean walked into the room with a book. Catty saw him, turning her phone on speaker. "Now, look, why don't you go knock on her door and invite her to a poetry reading or whatever it is you do, huh?" 

"No, don't do that, Sammy," Dean told him. "Lame. Don't take advice from Catty." 

"Actually, I might have more expertise on what a girl wants, you jackass," Catty told him. "What about the symbol? Any luck?" 

"Yeah, that I did have some luck with," Dean told them. "Turns out it's Zoroastrian. Very, very old school, like, 2,000 years before Christ. It's a Sigil for a Daeva." 

"What's a Daeva?" Sam asked. 

"It's translates to 'Demon of darkness'," Dean told them. "Zoroastrian Demons, and they're savage, animalistic, nasty attitude, kind of like Demonic pit bulls." 

"How did you figure that out?" Catty asked. 

"Give me some credit, Cat," Dean told her. "You don't have a corner on paper chasing around here." 

"Oh, yeah?" Catty asked. "Name the last book you read." 

Dean hesitated. "I called Ness. She told me, all right?" 

Catty chuckled. "Yeah. Bobby's always one for knowledge. Comes as no surprise that he would teach all of that to Ness. And you finally called Ness. I've been trying to get you to call Ness for weeks."

"Yeah, yeah, shut up," Dean told her.

"How did it feel to talk to Ness again?" Catty asked.

"If I say that talking to Ness again felt good, will you please shut up about Ness?" Dean asked.

"If I am satisfied with the conversation you and Ness had, yes," Catty answered. "If the conversation was just Ness telling you about this symbol, then no, I am not satisfied."

"Why are you so obsessed with me and Ness, Catty?" Dean asked.

"Maybe because I want my older brother Dean to find love worth something more than a one night stand, and I think you can find that with Ness," Catty answered.

Sam was listening, laughing silently. "Catty's got a point about Ness, Dean. I could see you and Ness together."

"Both of you shut up about Ness," Dean told them.

Sam smirked. "What did Ness say about this thing?"

"Here's the thing," Dean told them. "Ness said these Daevas, they have to be summoned. Conjured." 

"So someone's controlling it?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, that's what Ness said," Dean answered. "And from what Ness and I gather, it's pretty risky business, too. I mean, these suckers tend to bite the hand that feeds them. And the arms and the torsos."

"What do they look like?" Sam asked.

"Nobody knows," Dean told them. "Nobody's seen them for a couple of millennium. Summoning a Demon that ancient, someone really knows their stuff. I think we've got a major player in town." He spoke directly into the phone. "So, Sam, here's a little payback from me to you when you won't leave me the hell alone about Ness. Why don't you give Meg a private strip-o-gram?" 

"Bite me," Sam told him.

"Bite her," Dean told him. "Don't leave teeth marks, though." 

"Don't listen to him, Sammy," Catty told him.

"Yeah, I got it, Cat," Sam told her, hanging up.

Catty chuckled, shaking her head, hanging up. 

"'Don't listen to him'?" Dean asked skeptically. "Seriously, Catty?" 

"What?" Catty asked. "You told him not to listen to me, Dean. And your way and Sam's way might get him filed under a restraining order." 

"Uh-uh," Dean told her.

"Lurking outside of her apartment like a creep, following her around town?" Catty asked. "Private strip-o-gram?" 

Dean opened his mouth to argue, but stopped, realizing that she was right, turning around, walking away. 

Catty smirked. 

§

Apartment Building - Outside - The Impala

Sam sighed, looking toward Meg's apartment window. He looked away for a moment, looking toward the window.

The light turned on.

Meg walked toward the window, shirtless, wearing only a black bra.

Sam looked around uncomfortably, looking toward the window, seeing Meg pull on a shirt.

A woman stood next to the passenger window, clearing her throat in disapproval to get Sam's attention.

Sam looked at the woman, realizing what she must have thought. "No, no, I'm just—"

"Pervert," the woman told him, walking away, leaving. "What a creep."

Sam scoffed softly.

§

Outside

Meg walked outside, fully dressed, walking across the street, past the Impala.

Sam was hidden. Once he knew she was gone, he sat up, getting out of the car, following Meg.

§

Street

Meg stopped at a graffiti-covered wall. She looked around, opening a door, walking inside, closing it behind her.

Sam peered out from behind a building, walking to the door, walking inside.

§

Warehouse

Sam walked up a flight of stairs. He reached a door at the top, trying to open it only to find it locked. He looked around, seeing a broken down elevator gate. He walked into it, beginning to climb the side of it, using different bars as footrests. He reached the top, able to peer through the gate into a dimly lit room.

There was a black altar in the middle of the room.

Meg walked in, walking toward the altar.

Sam watched silently, hanging on to the bars of the gate.

Meg reached the altar, picking up a silver bowl filled with blood. She swirled her finger around in the liquid, speaking in an ancient language. "Tire quiero patern me a di." She started to speak to someone only she could hear. "I don't think you should come. Because Sam, Dean and Catty Winchester, they're in town. I didn't know that—Yes, sir. Yes, I'll be here. Waiting for you."

Sam looked confused.

Meg set down the bowl, blowing out the candles at the altar, walking out of the room, leaving.

Sam moved to the wall, where there was a space through which he could crawl. He hoisted himself up, climbing into the room. He walked toward the altar, observing it. He saw several human hearts on the table, along with other ancient items. He saw in the middle of the altar was the Zoroastrian symbol, drawn in blood. "What the hell?"

§

Day Three

Morning - Motel Room

Sam walked into the motel room, walking toward Dean and Catty.

Sam, Dean and Catty spoke together. "Dude, I've got to talk to you." 

§

Later

Sam had explained everything.

"So, hot little Meg is summoning the Daeva?" Dean asked. 

"It looks like she was using that black altar to control the thing," Sam told them. 

"So Sammy's got a thing for the bad girl," Dean told them.

Sam rolled his eyes, looking away. 

"So what's the deal with that bowl again?" Catty asked. 

"She was talking into it, the way Witches used to scry into crystal balls or animal entrails," Sam explained. "She was communicating with someone."

"With the Daeva?" Catty asked.

"No, Ness said those things were savages," Dean told them. 

"No, this was someone different, someone who's giving her orders, someone who's coming to that warehouse," Sam told them.

Catty sat at the table, looking through a folder, looking at them. "Holy crap." 

"What?" Sam asked.

"What we were gonna tell you earlier," Dean told him, sitting down across from Catty. "I pulled a favor with my friend Amy over at the police department. Complete records of the two victims. We missed something the first time." 

"What?" Sam asked, walking closer.

"The first victim, the old man?" Catty asked. "He spent his whole life in Chicago, but he wasn't born here. Look where he was born." 

"Lawrence, Kansas," Sam stated. 

"Mm-hmm," Catty answered, flipping to the next file. "Meredith, the second victim? It turns out she was adopted. And guess where she's from?" 

Lawrence, Kansas. 

Sam sighed, sitting down next to them. "Holy crap." 

"Yeah," Dean told them.

"I mean, that is where the Demon killed Mom," Sam told them. "That's where everything started. You think Meg's tied up with the Demon?" 

"I think it's a definite possibility," Dean answered. 

"But I don't understand," Sam told them. "What's the significance of Lawrence? And how do these Daeva things fit in?" 

"Beats me," Dean told them. "I say we trash that black altar, grab Meg, and have ourselves a friendly little interrogation." 

"No, we can't," Sam told them. "We shouldn't tip her off. We've got to take out that warehouse. We've got to see who... or what is showing up to meet her." 

"I'll tell you one thing," Catty told them. "I don't think we should do this alone."

§

Later

Catty was on the phone, sitting on a bed, leaving a voice mail. "We think we've got a serious lead on the thing that killed Mom. So, uh, this warehouse, it's 1435 West Erie. Dad, if you get this, get to Chicago as soon as you can." 

Sam and Dean walked closer.

"Voice mail?" Dean asked. 

Catty hung up. "Yeah." Sam and Dean tossed bags onto the bed she was sitting on. Catty stood, turning to face them. "Jeez. What'd you get?" 

Dean sighed. "We ransacked that trunk. Holy Water, every weapon that I could think of. Exorcism rituals from about a half-dozen religions. I'm not sure what to expect, so I guess we should just expect everything, huh?" 

Catty went through the bags, pulling out a shot gun.

Sam tossed a rock salt bullet shell to Catty.

Catty caught it, putting it into the gun, cocking it. "It's a big night." 

Sam and Dean prepared weapons, too.

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "You nervous?" 

"No," Dean told them. "No, are you?" 

"No," Sam told them. "No way."

Catty cocked another gun. "Can we get real for a second? I think that we all know that us saying that we're not nervous is a lie."

Dean and Sam nodded in acknowledgement.

"God, could you imagine if we actually found that damn thing, that Demon?" Sam asked.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, all right?" Dean asked. 

"I know," Sam told them. "I'm just saying... What if we did? What if this whole thing was over tonight? Man, I'd sleep for a month,  go back to school, just be a person again." 

Catty looked at Sam curiously. "You want to go back to school?" 

"Yeah, once we're done hunting the thing," Sam answered. 

"Huh," Catty told him.

Dean didn't seem happy about this, putting the gun down.

"Why?" Sam asked. "Is there something wrong with that?" 

"No, no," Catty answered. "It's great. Good for you. Sammy, you should do what you want to do. You only got back into the game to hunt this thing, and once we kill it, you have no reason to stay in it. Your job is done. You should have the life that you want." 

Sam looked at Dean and Catty. "What about you guys? What do you want to do? What are you gonna do when it's all over?" 

"It's never gonna be over," Dean told him. "There's gonna be others." Catty wrapped a weapon around her arm with Velcro. "There's always gonna be something to hunt." 

"But there's got to be something that you want for yourselves," Sam told them.

"I don't know," Catty told him. "I've never really thought about it. I always thought that this would be my life. The family biz. I want to be able to do those things." 

Dean looked at Sam. "I don't want you to leave the second this is over, Sam." 

"Dude, what's your problem?" Sam asked. 

Dean turned away from them, sighing. "Why do you think I drag you everywhere, huh? Why do you think I came and got you at Stanford in the first place? That's right. It wasn't Catty's idea. She wanted to leave you be to live the life that you wanted. She just wanted to make sure that you were okay, because you didn't write, you didn't call, you didn't even come to her high school graduation, and you didn't even know about it, because you didn't pick up the phone when we called." Catty sighed, closing her eyes. "It was my idea to convince you to come." 

"'Cause Dad was in trouble," Sam told them. "'Cause you guys wanted to find the thing that killed Mom." 

"Yes, that, but it's more than that, man," Dean told him, sighing, turning to face them.

Sam looked at Catty. "Wait. If you wanted to leave me be, then why did you help convince me to come with you?"

"Because..." Catty trailed off. "You and me and Dean and Dad. I want us to be together again. I want us to be a family again." 

"Catty, we are a family," Sam told her. "I'd do anything for you. But things will never be the way they were before." 

Catty nodded slightly. "They could be." 

Sam nodded slightly. "I don't want them to be. I'm not gonna live this life forever. When this is all over, you're gonna have to let me go my own way." 

"I know," Catty told him. "And I wasn't lying. I want that for you. I just..." 

Catty couldn't finish. 

Sam nodded understandingly. "I know." 

Dean still didn't seem to like this. 

§

Night - Warehouse

Catty, Sam and Dean got to the warehouse, climbing up the empty elevator gate by the bars on the walls with bags of weapons over their shoulders to the floor where they could see Meg standing there at the black altar, chanting a foreign language. "Tire quiero patern me a di."

Catty climbed through the opening between the wall and the bars first, remaining completely quiet, looking toward Meg, making sure that she wasn't looking toward them.

Meg continued to chant. 

Catty helped Sam climb up to this side.

Dean handed a gun to Catty.

Catty took it, standing, aiming at Meg.

Sam helped Dean climb up to this side. 

Dean led the way further back into the warehouse so they could stay hidden from Meg. He pulled out two shotguns, handing them to Sam and Catty.

Catty handed the smaller gun to Dean, taking the shotgun, aiming toward Meg.

Meg didn't have to look toward them to know they were there. "Guys. Hiding is a little bit childish, don't you think?" 

"Well, that didn't work out like I'd planned," Dean told them.

Meg turned to face them. "Why don't you come out?" Dean, Sam and Catty slowly stood, aiming the shotguns toward her, slowly walking closer. Meg walked closer. "Sam, I have to say, this puts a real crimp in our relationship." 

"Yeah, tell me about it," Sam told her. 

"So, where's your little Daeva friend?" Catty asked. 

"Around," Meg answered. "And that shotgun's not gonna do much good."

"Oh, don't worry, sweetheart," Dean told her. "The shotgun's not for the Demon." 

"So, who is it, Meg?" Sam asked. "Who's coming? Who are you waiting for?" 

"You," Meg answered.

The Daevas' shadows appeared on the walls, showing that they were attacking them.

One Daeva pushed Sam to the ground violently.

Another Daeva threw Dean into the crates.

A claw-like scratch appeared on Catty's temple.

§

Dean, Catty and Sam were tied to three beams a few feet away from each other.

There were slashes in Sam's cheek.

There were slashes in Dean's stomach, but not deep enough to kill him.

Along with the slash on Catty's temple on one side of her face, there was another slash at the corner of her eyes on the other side, allowing blood to trail down the sides of her face, making it look like she was crying tears of blood.

Meg stood nearby, smiling.

"Hey, Sam, don't take this the wrong way, but your girlfriend is a bitch," Catty told him. 

"This, the whole thing, was a trap," Sam realized. "Running into you at the bar, following you here, hearing what you had to say, it was all a setup, wasn't it?" Meg chuckled. "And that the victims were from Lawrence." 

"It doesn't mean anything," Meg told them. "It was just to draw you in, that's all." 

"You killed those two people for nothing," Sam told her. 

"Baby, I've killed a lot more for a lot less," Meg told him. 

"You trapped us," Dean told her. "Good for you. It's Miller time. Why don't you kill us already?"

"Not very quick on the uptake, are we?" Meg asked. Dean looked at her in confusion. Meg leaned closer to him, speaking against his lips, that close to a kiss. "This trap isn't for you."

Meg kissed Dean.

Catty looked at Meg in realization. "Dad." Dean and Sam looked at her. "It's a trap for Dad." 

Meg smiled, pulling away from Dean. "And we have a winner. How would these boys function without you, Catty?" 

"You know, I ask myself that everyday," Catty told her. Dean gave her a look. Catty chuckled, ignoring him, looking at Meg. "But, oh, you're dumber than you look. 'Cause even if Dad was in town, which he is not, he wouldn't walk into something like this. He's too good." 

"He is pretty good, I'll give you that," Meg agreed, crawling closer to Catty, coming as close to her as she did with Dean. "But, you see... he has one weakness."

"What's that?" Catty asked. 

"You," Meg answered. "He lets his guard down around his kids, lets his emotions cloud his judgment. I happen to know he is in town, and he'll come and try to save you. And then the Daevas will kill everybody. Nice and slow... and messy."

Meg kissed Catty to make both her and her brothers uncomfortable.

"Well, I've got news for you," Dean told her. "It's gonna take a lot more than some... shadow to kill him." 

"Oh, the Daevas are in the room here," Meg told them. "They're invisible. Their shadows are just the only part you can see." 

"Why are you doing this, Meg?" Sam asked. "What kind of deal you got worked out, here, huh? And with who?" 

"I'm doing this for the same reasons you do what you do," Meg told them. "Loyalty, love. Like the love you had for Mommy... and Jessica." 

"Go to Hell," Sam told her. 

"Baby, I'm already there," Meg told him, smiling, crawling closer to Sam, sighing. "Come on, Sam. There's no need to be nasty." She knelt next to Sam, whispering into his ear. "I think we both know how you really feel about me. You know... I saw you, watching me... changing in my apartment. It turned you on, didn't it?" 

Catty rolled her eyes. "Get a room, you two." 

Meg chuckled, looking at Sam. "I didn't mind. I liked that you were watching me. Come on, Sammy, you and I can still have a little dirty fun." 

"You want to have fun?" Sam asked. "Go ahead, then. I'm a little tied up right now." 

Meg smiled, kissing Sam.

Catty looked away, toward Dean on the other side of her.

Dean had his switch blade. 

Meg heard it click, standing, walking toward Dean, kneeling next to him, taking the switch blade away, tossing it aside, turning to face Dean. 

Dean chuckled nervously.

Meg crawled around Catty toward Sam. "Now, were you just trying to distract me while your brother cuts free?" 

"No," Sam answered, shaking his head. "No. It was because I was trying to distract you while Catty did." 

Meg looked at Sam in confusion.

Catty lunged forward, free of the ropes, punching Meg in the face, grabbing her shoulders, headbutting her, making her fall to the floor, groaning in pain.

"Catty, get the altar," Dean told her.

Catty stood, running toward the black altar, pushing the table over completely to destroy it. 

The Daevas' shadows appeared on the walls, but they couldn't see them. They grabbed Meg, dragging her toward the window, making her scream.

§

Outside

Meg shattered through the window, falling to the ground seven stories below.

§

Inside

Catty walked toward Dean and Sam, grabbing her knife, kneeling next to Dean, cutting him free, helping him stand. She turned to Sam, cutting him free. 

Dean, Catty and Sam walked toward the broken window, looking outside to the ground below, where Meg's body laid broken and dead in the middle of the road.

Catty chuckled. "So, I guess the Daevas didn't like being bossed around."

"I guess not," Sam agreed. 

"Hey, Sam?" Dean asked. 

"Hmm?" Sam asked.

"The next time you wanna get laid, find a girl that's not so buckets of crazy," Dean told him. "Huh?" 

Sam gave Dean a look.

Dean smirked, walking away. 

Catty and Sam looked down to Meg down below, turning and following Dean. 

§

Motel - Hallway

Sam, Catty and Dean walked toward the room.

Catty had a bag of weapons over her shoulder.

"Why don't you just leave that stuff in the car?" Dean asked. 

"I said it before, and I'll say it again," Catty told them. "Better safe than sorry." 

Sam unlocked the door, leading the way into the dark room.

§

Room

Dean and Catty followed.

Catty closed the door behind them.

Sam looked at a man looking out of the window. "Hey!" 

Sam turned the light on.

Catty opened the bag, reaching for a weapon. 

The man turned to face them, stepping out of the shadows.

It was John.

Catty stopped.

Catty, Dean and Sam were in shock.

"Dad," Catty told him.

John smiled a small, regretful smile. "Hey, Catty." Catty, Dean and Sam exchanged a look. John walked closer. Catty let the bag slide off her shoulder, walking toward him, embracing John. John smiled, returning the embrace. After a moment, they pulled away. John smiled a small smile, looking at Dean. "Dean." Dean and John embraced, pulling away. John looked at Sam. "Hey, Sam."

"Hey, Dad," Sam told him. 

"Dad, it was a trap," Dean told him. "I didn't know. I'm sorry." 

"It's all right," John told them. "I thought it might have been." 

"Were you there?" Dean asked.

"Yeah," John answered. "I got there just in time to see the girl take the swan dive. She was the bad guy, right?" 

Catty, Dean and Sam answered together. "Yes, sir." 

"Good," John told them. "Well, it doesn't surprise me. It's tried to stop me before." 

"The Demon has?" Sam asked.

"It knows I'm close," John told them. "It knows I'm gonna kill it. Not just exorcise it or send it back to Hell, actually kill it." 

"How?" Catty asked. 

John smiled a small smile. "I'm working on that." 

"Let us come with you," Sam told him. "We'll help." 

John shook his head. "No, Sam. Not yet. Listen, try to understand. This Demon is a scary son of a bitch. I don't want you caught in the crossfire. I don't want you hurt."

"Dad, you don't have to worry about us," Sam told him. 

"Of course I do," John told them. "I'm your father. Listen, Sammy, the last time we were together, we had one hell of a fight." 

"Yes, sir," Sam agreed. 

John hesitated, nodding, looking down, looking at Sam. "It's good to see you again. It's been a long time." 

Sam nodded, tears in his eyes. "Too long." 

Sam and John embraced, pulling away.

Catty smiled a small smile to herself.

John shed one tear, looking at Catty and Dean. He was suddenly thrown back into the wall behind him, falling to the floor. 

The Daevas' shadows appeared on the wall, but they couldn't see it as it attacked Sam, slashing into Sam's face, making him fall to the floor.

Another slashed into Dean's stomach, making him fall.

Catty looked around desperately, angrily. "No!"

A third slashed into Catty's arm, trailing up to her chest and chin, making her fall to the floor. 

§

John was pinned to the wall, slashes appearing in his skin, making him scream.

Dean was thrown back toward the window, slashes appearing over his forehead.

Sam had slashes over his chest, stomach and leg.

Catty was thrown toward the bed, falling to the floor. She slid toward the bag, having slashes over her arms and neck. She looked at the bag, getting an idea. "Shut your eyes! These things are shadow Demons, so let's light 'em up." 

Catty took out a flare, closing her eyes, lighting the flare, letting it roll onto the floor.

The whole room was overcome with the bright, white light. 

The Daevas' shadows disappeared. 

Smoke came from the flare, making all of them cough.

Catty grabbed the bag, standing weakly, leaning against the wall for support. 

Sam stood next to Catty, helping Catty stand. 

"Dad!" Dean called.

"Over here!" John told him. 

Dean helped John stand. 

They walked toward the door, opening it, walking out, leaving.

§

Outside - Back Alley

Sam, Catty, Dean and John walked down to the truck and the Impala below.

"All right, come on," Catty told them. "We don't have much time. As soon as the flare's out, they'll be back." 

Catty opened the back seat, tossing the bag of weapons inside.

"Wait, wait," Dean told her. "Catty, wait." He looked between them painfully. "Dad, you can't come with us."

"What?" Catty asked. "What are you talking about?" 

"You're beat to hell," John told them.

"We'll be all right," Dean told him. 

"Dean, we should stick together," Sam told him "We'll go after those—" 

"Sam, listen to me," Dean told him. "We almost got Dad killed in there. Don't you understand? They're not gonna stop. They're gonna try again. They're gonna use us to get to him. I mean, Meg was right. Dad's vulnerable when he's with us. He... he's stronger without us around." 

Catty looked away, tears in her eyes, knowing he was right.

"Dad..." Sam trailed off, putting a hand on John's shoulder. "No." He shook his head. "After everything, after all the time we spent looking for you, please. I've got to be a part of this fight."

"Sammy, this fight is just starting, and we are all gonna have a part to play," John told him. "For now, you've got to trust me, son. Okay? You've got to let me go." They were all near tears. Sam hesitated, reluctantly nodding, letting go of John. There was a moment of silence where none of them did anything. John walked past them, toward his truck further down the alley. Catty, Sam and Dean turned to watch him go. John turned to give them one last, regretful, longing look. "Be careful." 

John got into the truck.

"Come on," Dean told them, opening the driver's seat.

John started the truck, driving away. 

Catty, Sam and Dean got into the Impala painfully, watching John's Truck turn around a corner, leaving their sight. They exchanged a look, looking ahead, none of them speaking. 

Dean put the car into reverse, turning down a road, driving away. 

Meg walked up a flight of stairs. She turned, watching the Impala drive away.