The impala cruises down a random country road. "You probably missed something, that's what."

"Dude, I ran LexisNexis, local police reports, newspapers, I couldn't find a single red flag. Are you sure you got the coordinates, right?" Sam asks his brother.

"Yeah, Annie double checked. It's Fitchburg, Wisconsin. Dad wouldn't have sent us coordinates if it wasn't important, Sammy." Dean says.

"Well, I'm telling you I looked and all I could find was a big steamy pile of nothing. If Dad's sending us hunting for something I don't know what." Sam says as it was clear that he was getting frustrated.

"Well maybe he's going to meet us there." Dean says, as Ana raises her eyebrow.

"Yeah, 'cause he's been so easy to find up to this point." Sam says as Dean turns his head towards Sam.

"You're a real smart ass you know that? Don't worry I'm sure there's something in Fitchburg worth killing." Dean says.

"Yeah? What makes you so sure?" Sam says.

"Because we're the oldest, which means, we're always right." Ana pipes up as Sam looks at the red head in the back seat.

"No, it doesn't." Sam retorts to the red head.

"Yeah, it totally does." Ana says, as Dean glances at Sam, then back at the road with a grin. 

"Ana, just eat your Cheetos and shut it."

"Dean, Sam is being mean."

"I am not."

"Are to."

"Sam, you shut up and behave. Stop being mean to Annie. She is innocent, until proven guilty, so right now she is not guilty." Dean says as Ana stuck out her tongue at Sam.

Sam was going to say a snarky comment to Ana but stopped before the words left his mouth. He only scoffed along with a shake of his head.

───※ ·❆· ※───

Sam leans against the Impala staring ahead. Ana and Dean crosse to the road to him, Dean is holding two coffees and as per usual Ana has an iced coffee. 

"Well, the waitress thinks the local freemasons are up to something sneaky but other than that no one's heard about anything freaky going on." Dean says handing Sam a coffee.

"Dean, you got the time?" Sam asks.

Dean looks at his watch. "Ten after four. Why?" He asks.

"What's wrong with this picture." Sam says indicating ahead. Sam who had been watching a playground, it is deserted, with only one child climbing around.

"School's out isn't it?" Ana asks.

"Yeah. So, where is everybody? This place should be crawling with kids right now." Sam says as a woman sits on a park bench reading a magazine, as Ana approaches.

"Sure, is quiet out here." Ana says, as she takes a sip from her coffee.

"Yeah, it's a shame." The woman says.

"Why's that?" Ana asks.

"You know, kids getting sick, it's a terrible thing." The woman says.

"How many?" Ana asks.

"Just five or six but serious, hospital serious. A lot of parents are getting pretty anxious. They think it's catching." The woman says as they both watch the little girl play by herself.

───※ ·❆· ※───

The three of them enter and approach the reception desk. "Dude. Dude I am not using this ID." Sam says.

"Why not?" Dean asks.

"'Cause it says bikini inspector on it." Sam says as Ana grins.

"Don't worry, she won't look that close alright? Hel, she won't even ask to see it. It's all about confidence Sammy." Dean whispers as he spins Sam to face the desk and him, and Ana keep walking.

Moments later Sam approaches a grinning Dean giving him a look. "See. I told you it would work." Dean says still grinning.

Sam glares at Dean and shakes his head irritably. "Follow me, it's upstairs."

───※ ·❆· ※───

The three of them are walking down a corridor. Dean looks into a room they pass. An old evil looking woman is sitting in a wheelchair slowly turns her head to look at him. An inverted cross hangs on her wall. 

"Dean!" Ana calls out to her boyfriend as Dean follows Ana, as he glances back towards the room.

───※ ·❆· ※───

The three of them walk to a hospital corridor with a doctor. "Well, thanks for seeing us, Dr. Hydecker." 

"Well, I'm glad you guys are here. I was just about to call CDC myself. How'd you find out anyway?" Hydecker says as Ana is standing behind Dean, Sam and the doctor.

"Oh, some GP, I forgot his name, he called Atlanta and, uh, he must've beat you to the punch." Dean says.

"So, you say you got six cases so far?" Sam asks.

"Yeah, five weeks. At first, we thought it was a garden variety bacterial pneumonia. Not that newsworthy. But now..." Hydecker says.

"Now what?" Ana asks from behind the men.

"The ids aren't responding to antibiotics. Their white cell counts keep going down. Their immune system just isn't doing their job. It's like their bodies are...wearing out." Hydecker says.

"Excuse me, Dr. Hydecker." A nurse says as she hands him some forms to look over and sign.

"You ever see anything like this before?" Ana asks.

"Never this severe." Hydecker says.

"And the way it spreads...that's a new one for me." The nurse says as Dean has his arm snaked around Ana's back.

"What do you mean?" Sam asks.

"It works it's say through families. But only the children, one sibling after another." The nurse says.

"You mind if we interview a few of the kids?" Dean asks the nurse.

"They're not conscious." Nurse informs as Ana's eyes widen a little.

"None of them?" Ana asks.

"No." The nurse replies with a shake of her head.

"Can we, uh, can we talk to the parents?" Dean asks

"Well, if you think it'll help." Hydecker says.

"Yeah. Who was your most recent admission?" Ana asks.

───※ ·❆· ※───

The three of them are in the hospital waiting room as a man sits on a chair against the wall. Sam and Dean stand in front of him, as Ana is sitting in a nearby chair.

"I should get back to my girls." The man says.

"We understand that, and we really appreciate you talking to us. Now you say Mary is the oldest?" Sam asks.

"Thirteen." The man replies.

"Okay. And she came down with it first, right? And then..." Sam says.

"Bethany, the next night." The man says

"Within 24 hours?" Sam asks.

"I guess. Look, I, uh, I already went through all this with the doctor." The man says.

"Just a few more questions if you don't mind. How do you think they caught pneumonia? Were they out in the cold, anything like that?" Dean asks

"No. We think it was an open window." The man says.

"Both times?" Ana asks.

"The first time, I, I don't really remember but the second time for sure. And I know I closed it before I put Bethany to bed." The man says.

"So, you think she opened it?" Ana asks.

"It's a second story window with a ledge. No one else could've." The man says.

───※ ·❆· ※───

The three of them walk back down the corridor. "You know this might not be anything supernatural. It might just be pneumonia." Sam says.

"Maybe. Or maybe something open that window. I don't know man, look. Dad sent us down here for a reason. I think we might be barking up the right tree." Dean says.

"I'll tell you one thing." Sam says.

"What?" Ana asks.

"That guy we just talked to? I'm betting it'll be a while before he goes home." Sam says.

───※ ·❆· ※───

The three of them check the room, with EMF. "You two got anything over there?" Sam asks.

"Nah."

"Nada."

The three of them keep checking as Ana moves to the window. "Hey, baby? You were right. It's not pneumonia." Ana says as Dean comes over and they stare at the handprint rotted into the wood.

"It's rotted. Is that what I think it is?"

Dean stands at the window, looking a little sick. "I know why Dad sent us here. He's faced this thing before. He wants us to finish the job." Ana glances at Dean as Ana didn't say anything as she leans her head onto his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her keeping her close.

───※ ·❆· ※───

It is now nighttime as the impala pulls up to a motel and the three of them get out. "So, what the hell is a Shtriga?" Sam asks.

"It is kinda like a witch. In a way they were a long black robe thing, and they have these uh long arms. Honestly, I don't know much about them, 'cept that." Ana says.

"It's not in Dad's journal, either." Sam says.

"Dad hunted one in Fort Douglas, Wisconsin, about sixteen/seventeen years ago. You were there. You don't remember?" Dean says.

"No." Sam says.

"And I guess he caught wind of the thing in Fitchburg, now and kicked us the coordinates." Dean says.

"So, wait, this..."

"Shtriga."

"Right, you think it's the same one Dad hunted before?" Sam asks.

"Yeah, maybe." Dean says.

"But if Dad went after it, why is it still breathing air?" Sam asks.

"'Cause it got away." Dean says.

"Got away?"

"Yeah, Sammy, it happens." Dean says as he is starting to get frustrated.

"Not every often." Sam says.

"Well, I don't know what to tell ya, maybe Dad didn't have his wheaties that morning." Dean says as Ana is beside him as the three of them walks towards the hotel.

"What else do you remember?" Sam asks.

"Nothin', I was a kid alright?" Dean says as the couple enters reception and Ana rings the bell. A boy around 10-12 years old comes from the back room where a younger boy sits and watches TV.

"A king or two queens?" The boy asks.

Dean glances at Sam. "Two queens." 

The boy follows Dean's look and sniggers under his breath as Ana's small smile only grew. "Yeah, I'll bet."

"What'd you say." Dean says to the boy.

The boy is grinning. "Nice car!"

A woman enters smiling at the three of them. "Hi." The woman says.

"Hey." Dean says with a small smile.

"Checking in?" The woman asks.

"Yeah." Ana says.

"Ah, do me a favor and go get your brother some dinner." The woman says to the little boy.

"I'm helping guests." The boy says as the woman gives him, and he grimaces and turns to go. The boy turns to his mother while raising an eyebrow at Dean. "Two queens." He says emphasizing the word 'queens'.

"Funny kid." Dean says with a fake laugh.

"Oh, yeah. He thinks so. Will that be cash or credit?"

"You take MasterCard?" He asks as the woman nods her head. "Perfect. Here you go." Dean watches through the door as the boy pours a glass of milk for his younger brother.

───※ ·❆· ※───

Sam is on his laptop, as Ana is on her and Dean's bed. "Well, you were right. Heh. It wasn't very easy to find but you were right. More like Ana was right. Shtriga is a kind of witch. They're Albanian, but legends about them trace them back to Ancient Rome. They feed off spiritus vitae."

"Spiri-what?" Dean asks his brother.

"Vitae. It's Latin, it translates to 'breath of life', kinda like your life force or essence." Ana translates as Dean nods his head at Ana.

"Didn't the doctor say the kids' bodies were wearing out?" Dean asks.

"It's a thought. You know she takes your vitality maybe your immunity goes to hell, pneumonia takes hold. Anyway, Shtrigas can feed off anyone, but they prefer children." Sam says before he continues. "Because children have stronger life force. And Shtrigas are 'invulnerable to all weapons devised by God and man'."

"No, that's not right. She's vulnerable when she feeds." Dean says.

"What?" Sam asks.

"If you catch her while she's eating, you can blast her with consecrated wrought iron. Ahh, buckshot's or rounds I think." Dean says.

"How do you know that?" Sam asks, as Ana shrugs. 

"Don't look at me." Ana says.

"Dad told me, I remember." Dean says.

"Oh, huh. So, uh anything else Dad might have mentioned." Sam says as Ana shakes her head at hearing the two brothers.

"Nope, that's all." Dean says as Sam keeps staring at Dean. "What?" Dean asks. 

"Nothing. Okay. So, assuming we can kill it when it eats, we still gotta find the thing first, which ain't gonna be a cakewalk. Shtrigas take on a human disguise when they're not hunting." Sam says.

"Hang on." Dean says crossing the room.

"What?" Ana asks.

"Check this out. I marked down all the addresses of the victims. Now these are the houses that have been hit so far, all dead center?" Dean says checking a map as Ana looks at the map.

"The hospital." Ana says.

"The hospital. Now when we were there, I saw a patient, an old woman." Dean says.

"An old person huh?" Sam says.

"Yeah." Dean replies.

"In a hospital? Phew." Sam says shaking his head and sniggering. "Better call the Coast Guard." Ana tries not to smile even more, even if she probably shouldn't laugh it was very hard not to.

"Well, listen, smart-ass, she had an inverted cross hanging on her wall." Dean says as Sam looks up, serious, as Dean raises his eyebrow at him.

───※ ·❆· ※───

The three of them come down a hallway, as they are ducking behind when they see Dr. Hydecker. "Goodnight, Dr. Hydecker." The nurse says.

"See you tomorrow, Betty." Hydecker says.

The three of them hide until Hydecker passes, then they continue on to the old woman's room. They open the door and sneak in. Dean taking the front, Sam taking the middle and Ana is in the back all three of them have their guns drawn. The woman is in her wheelchair facing towards the corner. She seems to be sleeping, as Dean slowly leans in closer and closer to her face.

The old woman turns her head. "Who the hell are you?!"

Dean freaks out leaping back against a wall cabinet, pulling his gun up. "Who's there? You trying to steal my stuff?" The old woman says as she grumbles to herself. "They're always stealing around here."

Ana turns on the light, as the old woman has her cataracts. "No! Ah, ma'am, we're maintenance. We're sorry. We thought you were sleeping."

"Ahh, nonsense. I was sleeping with my peepers open." The old woman says as she laughs then gestures to the wall. "And fix that crucifix, would ya? I've asked four damn times, already!" Dean who is still currently freaked out, jogs the crucifix and it swings the right way up.

───※ ·❆· ※───The three of them pull up to the motel parking lot as they get out of the car. Ana and Sam are still laughing. "I was sleeping with my peepers open. God that was hilarious."

"I almost smoked that old girl, I swear. It's not funny!" Dean says to Ana as she continues to giggle. 

"Oh, you shoulda seen your face." Ana says as she is still giggling at what happened at the hospital, as Sam is laughing next to her.

"Annie. Laugh it off. Now we're back to square one." Dean says as he sees the woman's son sitting behind the office. "Hang on."

"Hey, what's wrong?" Ana asks the boy.

"My brother's sick." Michael says. "He's in the hospital. It's my fault."

"Hey, how is it your fault?" Ana asks as she is crouched down to Michael, as the brothers are standing behind her.

"I shoulda made sure that the window was latched. He wouldn't have gotten sick if the window was latched." Michael says as Ana's eyes looked down, for a moment before raising them back up to Michael. Dean looks away for a moment, as Sam watches Ana and Michael as he is frowning thoughtfully. "Hey, listen to me. I can promise you that this isn't your fault. Okay?"

"It's my job to look after him." Michael says as Sam and Dean look back and forth from Ana to the kid. Michael's mom hurries out of the motel towards her car.

"Michael, I want you to turn on the 'no vacancy' sign while I'm gone. I've got Denise covering room service, so don't bother with any of the rooms." His mom says as she goes to her car.

"I'm going with you." Michael says to his mother.

"Not now, Michael." She says.

"But I  gotta see Asher!" Michael says.

"Hey, Michael hey. You gotta go easy on your mom right now, okay?" Ana says to Michael.

His mom drops her handbag in her haste. "Damn it!"

"I got it." Sam says as he bends down and grabs the bag, and hands it to the woman.

"Thank you." She says.

"Listen, you're in no condition to drive -- why don't you let me give you a lift to the hospital." Dean offers.

"No, I couldn't possibly." The mom says.

"No, it's no trouble. I insist." Dean says as he takes her keys. Dean turns to Ana. "We're gonna kill this thing. I want it dead; you hear me, baby?" Ana only nods her head as Dean kisses her cheek as he gets into the woman's car.

───※ ·❆· ※───

Sam and Ana are in the library, as they sit at a microfiche machine. Ana picks up her phone. 

"Hey, baby." Dean says barely whispering.

"Hey, how's the kid?" Ana asks.

"He's not good. Where you two at?" Dean asks.

"The library. I've been trying to find out as much as even I can about this Shtriga." Ana says.

"Yeah, what do you got baby?" Dean asks.

"Well, bad news. I started with Fort Douglas around the time that John was there." Ana starts.

"Yeah." Dean says. "What about it?"

"Same deal. Before that, there was, uh, Ogdenville, before that North Havenbrook, and Brockway. Every 15 to 20 years it hits a new town. Baby, this thing is just getting started too, in Fitchburg. In all these other places it goes on four months. Dozens of kids before the shtriga finally moves on. The kids, just...languish in comas and then they die." Ana explains to Dean.

"How far back this thing go, baby?" Dean asks.

"Ah, I don't know. The earliest mention I could find is this place called 'Black River Falls' back in the 1890s. Talk about a horror show.... whoa." Ana says.

"Annie?" Dean asks.

"I'm looking at a photograph right now of a bunch of doctors stand around a kids' bed. One of the doctors is Hydecker." Ana informs.

"And?" Dean asks.

"And this picture was taken in 1893." Ana says.

"You sure, baby?" Dean asks.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Ana says as she hangs up.

───※ ·❆· ※───

The three of them are at the motel. Dean is actively pacing around which he doesn't do a whole lot unless he's stressed really. Then again, this job is stressful.

"We should have thought of this before. A doctor's a perfect disguise. You're trusted, you can control the whole thing." Sam says as Ana is on her and Dean's shared bed.

Dean throws off his jacket as he continues to pace agitatedly. "That son of a bitch."

"I'm surprised you didn't draw on him right there." Sam says.

"Yeah, well, first of all, I'm not gonna go open fire in a freakin' pediatrics' ward." Dean states.

"Good, call." Sam says as he nods his head

"Second, it wouldn't have done any good, because the bastard's bullet proof, unless it's chowing down on something. And third, I wasn't packing, which is probably a really good thing 'cause I probably would have just burned a clip in him on principle alone." Dean says.

"You're getting wise in your old age, Dean." Sam says, as Ana giggles under her breath from her sitting on her and Dean's bed.

"Damn right 'Cause now I know how we're gonna get to it." Dean says.

"What do you mean?" Sam asks, as Ana looks up at Dean as she was playing with her rings on her fingers.

"Shtriga, works through siblings, right?" Dean asks.

"Yeah, what about it." Ana says.

"Well, last night..." Dean says.

"It went after Asher." Sam says.

"So, I'm thinking tonight's it's probably gonna come after Michael." Dean says.

Well, we gotta get him outta here." Sam says.

"No. No, that would blow the whole deal." Dean says.

"What?" Sam asks.

"He's thinking about using Michael as bait to kill the damn thing." Ana butts in as Sam now looks at her, then back at Dean.

"Are you nuts? No! Forget it. That's out of the question." Sam says.

"It's not out of the question, Sam, it's the only way. If this thing disappears, it could be years before we get another chance." Dean says.

"Michael's a kid. And I'm not gonna dangle him in front of that thing like worm on a hook."

"Got any better ideas, college boy?" Ana asks Sam as he gave her a look before looking back at Dean.

"Dad did not sent me here to walk away." Dean says.

"Send you here? He didn't send you here -- he sent us here." Sam says.

"This isn't about you, Sam. I'm the one who screwed up, it's alright. It's my fault. There's no telling how many kids have gotten hurt because of me." Dean says as Ana's arm is snaked around Dean's back, as indinstinvely Dean rests his head on her shoulder. 

"Dean. You've been hiding something from the get-go. Since when does Dad bail on a hunt? Since when does he let something get away? Now talk to me, man. Ana too. Tell us what's going on." Sam says as Ana continues to rub Dean's back comforting him.

"Fort Douglas, Wisconsin. It was our third night in this crap room, and I was climbing the walls. Man, I needed to get some air." Dean says. "After, what happened with the Shtriga, Dad grabbed us, and we booked. Dropped us off at Pastor Jim's about three hours away, but by the time he got back to Fort Douglas, the Shtriga had disappeared, it was just gone. It never surfaced until now. You know, Dad never spoke about it again, I didn't ask. But he...ah...he looked at me different, you know? Which was worse. Not that I blame him. He gave me an order and I didn't listen, and I almost got you killed."

"You were just a kid." Sam says as Ana's arm was still on Dean's back softly rubbing, this is the most vulnerable that she has ever seen Dean, even after they started dating early on. Surely, he's been emotional before, but definitely not like this emotional before. If she is being honest, it breaks her heart seeing him like this. But like her, he can't keep his emotions in. Otherwise, he'd snap, and it gets ugly when Dean snaps. Given the fact, she has seen it a small handful of times, either way it scares her.

"Don't. Don't. Dad knew this was unfinished business for me. He sent me here to finish it." Dean says.

"But using Michael -- I don't know, Dean. I mean, how 'bout one of us hides under the covers, you know, we'll be bait."

"No, it won't work. It's gotta get close enough to feed -- it'll see us. Believe me, I don't like it, but it's gotta be the kid." Dean says, as Ana sighs knowing that Dean is right.

───※ ·❆· ※───

Michael is holding the phone up. "You're crazy! Just go away or I'm calling the cops."

"Hang on a second. Just listen to me. You have to believe me, okay? This thing came through the window, and it attacked your brother. I've seen it. I know what it looks like. 'Cause it attacked my brother once too." Dean says.

Michael slowly hangs the phone back. "This thing...is it...like...it has this long... black robe?" Michael asks.

"You saw it last night, didn't you?" Ana asks.

"I thought I was having a nightmare." Michael says.

"I'd give anything to tell you this, but sometimes nightmares are real." Dean says.

"So, why are you telling me?" Michael says.

"Because we need your help." Ana says.

"My help?" Michael asks.

"We can kill it. Me, him and her, that's what we do. But we can't do it without you." Dean says.

"What? No!" Michael says.

"Michael, listen to me. This thing hurt Asher. And it's gonna keep hurting kids unless we stop it, understand me?" Dean says as Michael stares at Dean horrified.

───※ ·❆· ※───

"Well, that went crappy. Now what?" Dean asks, as Ana is sitting on her and Dean's bed.

"What did you expect? You can't ask an adult to do something like that, much less a kid." Ana says to her boyfriend but before anyone could say anything there was a knock on the door, as Dean opens it to see Michael. Ana gets off the bed and walks closer to Dean.

"If you kill it, will Asher get better?" Michael asks.

"Honestly? We don't know." Dean says.

"You said you were a big brother." Michael says as Dean nods his head.

"Yeah." Dean replies.

"You'd take care of your little brother? You'd do anything for him?" Michael asks.

"Yeah, I would." Dean replies.

"Me too. I'll help."

───※ ·❆· ※───

Dean completes hooking up a security camera in the corner of the room, where Michael is in. He stares in the lenses. Michael is behind him on the bed, Sam and Ana are watching the security feed in the other room.

"This camera has night vision on it, so we'll be able to see clear as day." Dean says to Michael, as he turns his head to Ana. "Are we good, baby?"

"A hair to the right." Ana says as Dean adjusts the camera. "There, there."

"What do I do?" Michael asks.

Dean moves to sit on the bed. "Just stay under the covers." Dean says.

"And if it shows up?" Michael asks.

"We'll be right in the next room. We're gonna come in with guns. So, as soon as we do you roll off this bed, and you crawl under it." Dean says.

"What if you shoot me?" Michael asks.

"We won't shoot you. We've got good shots. We're not going to fire until you are clear, okay?" Dean says to Michael who nods his head. "Have you heard a gunshot before?"

"Like in the movies?" Michael asks.

"It's gonna be a lot louder than in the movies. So, I want you to stay under the bed, cover your ears, and do not come out until either one of us say so. You understand?" Dean says as Michael nods his head looking scared. "Michael you sure you wanna do this?" Dean asks as Michael doesn't answer for a long moment. "You don't have to, it's okay. I won't be mad."

"No, I'm okay. Just don't shoot me." Michael says.

"We're not going to let anything happen to you. I promise." Dean says.

───※ ·❆· ※───

The three of them are sitting watching the security camera feed in the room that Michael is in. "What time is it?" Dean asks.

"Uh, three." Ana says.

"You sure these iron rounds are gonna work?" Sam asks.

"Yeah, consecrated iron rounds, they are gonna work." Ana says.

"That's what Dad used last time." Dean says.

"Hey, Dean. I'm sorry." Sam says.

"For what?" Dean asks.

"You know, I've really given you a lot of crap, for always following Dad's orders. But I know why you do it." Sam says.

"Oh, god kill me now." Dean says as Sam laughs softly.

"Look." Ana says.

There is movement outside the window, and it slides open. The three of them pick up their guns. The Shtriga is now inside Michael's room.

"Now?" Sam asks

"Not yet." Dean says.

The Shtriga moves closer and leans over the bed. Michael is terrified but frozen, unable to move. The Shtriga leans closer and opens his mouth and starts to draw Michael's energy. Ana, Sam and Dean burst in the room.

"Michael down!" Ana orders, as Michael rolls off and goes under the bed, as Sam, Ana and Dean all open fire, shooting the Shtriga multiple times each, and it falls to the ground. "Michael, you alright?"

"Yeah." Michael says from underneath the bed.

"Just sit tight, okay." Ana says.

Dean approaches the Shtriga gun at the ready. There is no movement, he relaxes slightly and glances at Ana. The Shtriga suddenly rises, and grabs Dean by the throat and throws him against the wall.

"Dean!" Ana yells as the Shtriga moves and throws Ana to the wall along with Sam, temporarily knocking Sam out. Ana hits the ground, and the Shtriga comes on her and forces her mouth open. Ana struggles to reach her gun, the Shtriga begins drawing her energy as Ana is still and starts going gray.

"Hey!" Dean calls out getting the Shtriga's attention as it looks up and Dean shoots it between the eyes. The Shtriga falls backwards as Ana lies gasping for breath.

"You okay, sweetheart?" Dean asks.

"Super." Ana says.

The couple pull themselves to their feet and looks at the Shtriga. The energy of the shtriga stole begins to escape from its mouth. Dean raises his gun, shooting it three more times at point blank range. More energy escapes from the Shtriga, as the shtriga falls on itself and then finally disintegrating.

Michael peeks from the side of the bed. "It's okay, Michael you can come out now." Dean says as he picks up Ana and has her bridal style in his arms. He presses a soft kiss on her forehead. "I got you, baby. It's okay. It's okay. I got you."

───※ ·❆· ※───

The three of them are packing the Impala ready to head out, Michael's mom comes out of the back of the reception. "Hey, Joanna. How's Asher doing?"

"Have you seen Michael?" Joanna asks.

Michael runs up and hugs her. "Mom! Mom!"

Joanna hugs him back. "Hey!"

"How's Ash?" Michael asks

"Got some good news. Your brother's gonna be fine." Joanna says.

"Really?" Michael says grinning.

"Yeah, really, no one can explain it -- it's a miracle. They're gonna keep him in overnight for observation and then he's coming home." Joanna says.

"That's great." Ana says as Dean has his arm around Ana's back, keeping her close to him.

"How are all the other kids doing?" Sam asks.

"Good. Real good. A bunch of them should be checking out in a few days. Dr. Travis, says that the ward's going to be like a ghost town." Joanna says.

"Dr. Travis? What about Dr. Hydecker?" Ana asks as her head is resting on Dean's shoulder.

"Oh, he wasn't in today. Must have been sick or something." Joanna says.

"Yeah. Yeah, must have." Dean says.

Joanna turns to Michael. "So, did anything happen while I was gone?" 

Michael glances at Dean, before looking at his mom. "Nah, some old stuff."

"Wanna go see Ash?" Joanna asks.

"Now?" Michael asks excited as he glances at Dean who nods slightly.

"Only if you want to." Joanna says as Michael runs to the car. "I, ah, I'd better get going before he hotwires the car and drives himself." Joanna says as she leaves, the three of them turn back to the Impala.

"It's too bad." Sam says.

"Oh, they'll be fine." Dean says, as his arm is still around Ana.

"That's not what I meant. I meant Michael. He'll always know there are things out there in the dark -- he'll never be the same, you know?" Sam says as there is a long pause, before he continues. "Sometimes I wish that."

"What?" Ana asks.

"I wish I could have that kinda innocence." Sam says as the three of them watch Joanna and Michael drive to the hospital.

"If it means anything, sometimes I wish you could too." Dean says slowly, as the brothers exchange a look. 

Dean climbs in the car and starts the engine, as Sam and Ana also get in the car as they pull out of the motel parking lot and onto the freeway.

"Can we get food?" Ana asks after a long silence for a couple minutes. The sound of Dean chuckling refills the mood in the car and makes it not so tense.

"You always want food...." He says which isn't wrong. "Aw, is my babygirl, hungry?"

"Yeah." Ana says as she kisses Dean's cheek as after that she leans to the back of the seat.

"Figures."

───※ ·❆· ※───

hannah speaks!

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