Half Life (SPN,XO,ADULT,UC) Pro- Ch 25 2/27/10 [WIP]

[sixpacschic]

Title: Half Life
Author: Christina Buchanan
Email: SixPacsChic@hotmail.com
Rating: Adult
Category: Supernatural/Roswell- Liz/ Dean
Summary: Liz remembers things that Max made her forget over the years.
Spoilers: Post Graduation: Roswell/ Houses of the Holy: Supernatural
Disclaimer: I don't own either show or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. Don't sue. Lyrics are by Foo Fighters.
Author's Notes: This is my very first crossover. I just hope it turns out as good as my mind is making it out to be.

Chapter Ten: My Hero

Too alarming now to talk about
take your pictures down and shake it out
truth or consequence say it aloud
use that evidence race it around
-- Foo Fighters "My Hero"

The house looks plain except for the large curtain in the front window with a Celtic design and a rock by the front door that has an excerpt from Corinthians on it. How odd.

Dean knocks on the door and looks as if he's bracing himself for impact.

The curtain pulls aside briefly and then a girl around my age answers the door. "Do you have an appointment?"

"Can I talk to Maddie?" Dean asks ignoring her question.

She looks me up and down with irritation. "Why, so you can show off your latest one night stand?"

"Shel," he growls.

"She's in Georgia with her husband and she's not in the business anymore," she answers. "And it's Shelby."

"Okay, Shelby," Dean says trying his best to be patient. "Maybe you can help us."

She sighs. "Alright, but let's make this quick and don't wake the baby."

"You have a kid?" Dean asks in wonderment as we follow her into the house.

She glares at him. "And a husband with a shotgun."

"Nice."

Shelby sits down in an overstuffed chair. "So what's the emergency?"

Dean hands her the notebook open to the page with the picture of the charm on it. "I need two of those."

"Why didn't you go to Bobby?" she asks. "You know he has these."

"We're here and we don't have enough time to make it to Bobby's," Dean replies.

"You a precog or something?" she asks me.

I nod.

She turns back to Dean. "You toting along psychics on your magical journey now?"

"I was visiting," he explains. "She had a vision."

Shelby starts flipping through my notebook. "You an art student?"

I shake my head. "Learned from a friend."

She pauses to examine one of the sketches more closely. "Dean, could you go get my box from the dinning room?"

He shrugs and leaves the room.

"How long have you known each other?" she asks.

"Almost seven years," I reply, "but we haven't seen each other for about six."

She holds up the picture of the symbol burnt into my palm. "Better question would be, why do you even remember him?"

"John Winchester's dead," Dean answers as he re-enters the room carrying a large wooden box.

"I'm sorry," she whispers.

"Don't be," he says as he sets the box down in front of her. "You couldn't have talked him out of trading his life for mine."

"I couldn't talk that man into or out of anything," Shelby says as she hands the notebook to Dean and starts rifling through the box.

"Don't feel bad," Dean tells her. "Nobody could."

She pulls two charms out of the box and tosses them to Dean. "You sure you don't need another one?"

"I'll be fine," I tell her. "It's mostly for Sam."

She nods. "Well, I've got work in the morning so you guys need to vacate."

"Thank you Shelby," Dean says as he walks to the door. "Let me know when the kid starts talking and I'll teach 'em a few choice phrases."

She gives him a saccharine smile. "You do that, I'll cut your nuts off, and your welcome."

We leave the house and head back to Dean's hotel.

"What happened between you and Shelby?" I inquire.

"Not me and Shelby," he corrects me. "Me and Maddie."

"Okay, so why all the bad blood?"

"I left Maddie to be with you," Dean answers.

My heart gives a little jump in my chest. "Oh."

"Maddie never quite got me the way you did," he explains. "She wanted me to leave my dad and Sam, become a buttoned down white collar worker, have two point five kids and live happily ever after while people died all around the country because I wasn't doing the job I was raised to do."

"Do you ever think about settling down?" I ask.

"Not while the thing that killed my parents is still out there," he says, "Do you?"

"To be honest, I probably wouldn't know what to do with myself if I was tied to one place too long," I admit. "I'll probably hit the road again in a week or so since Maria's going back to Michael."

"Where you thinking about going?" he asks.

"This probably sounds stupid seeing as I'm from Roswell, but I always wanted to visit Truth or Consequence, New Mexico," I tell him.

"It's not stupid," he assures me. "I love visiting places with weird names. Makes for some really good jokes."

A few minutes later we're back at the hotel. Sam's waiting in the parking lot, with a grim look on his face. "I've been trying to call you for the past hour, Dean."

"Had some business to take care of." Dean tosses the charm to Sam. "Here, put this on."

"What the hell is it?" Sam asks, examining it.

"It's going to save you a lot of pain and me a week of looking for your ass," Dean snaps. "Now put it on."

"It's to ward off possession," I tell him.

Sam slips the necklace over his head. "That thing we've been tracking is on the move again."

"Okay," Dean says. "I'll drive her home and then we'll go."

"I want to go."

He looks at me sternly. "No."

"I'll stay out of the way and follow every order," I promise.

"It's too dangerous and you're not trained," Dean grinds out. "No."

"Jackass," I mutter as I get in the back of the Impala.

After they drop me off at my apartment, I jump in my car and follow them.

They park on a narrow strip, just off the causeway. Dean sits in the car as Sam walks up and down the coastline. A seal comes out of the water and watches him. I have a feeling that this is what they're waiting for. There aren't any seals in this part of Florida.

I creep along the guard rail to get a better look. Glass crunches under my shoe causing the creature to look over in my direction. Shit.

It starts to peel off its skin, revealing a human form underneath. It smiles at me and starts walking toward me. I can't move.

"Sam!" Dean yells. "It's going the other way!"

I tear my eyes away from the creature, scramble to my feet and make a break for the car. It's fast, faster than I am and tackles me to the ground seconds before I reach the door of the Z.

"You're coming home with me," he says.

"Does that line work on all the girls you've drowned?" Dean asks sarcastically, his shotgun trained on it.

It turns back to Dean and growls.

"Get off the girl," he says evenly.

"She's mine," it snaps as the thing picks me up and starts dragging me toward the water.

"The last guy who made the mistake of saying that nearly ended up dead," I snarl. "Put me down."

It ignores me and continues on.

Before I can even build up enough energy to blast it, Sam bull-rushes us.

I hit the ground with a hard thud, Sam's pistol landing beside me.

"You can't have her!" it bellows, taking a swing at Sam.

Sam dodges and fumbles around his waistband for his gun.

I whistle loudly to catch his attention and toss it up to him.

He catches the gun and fires off two rounds into the creature's chest in one fluid motion. It drops to the ground, motionless.

"Guess you were the wrong type of bait," I remark dryly as I rise to my feet and dust myself off.

"It's killed men too," he informs me.

"Only because they were competition," I say.

Dean squints at me in the darkness. "Liz?"

I half smile. "Couldn't let you boys have all the fun."

"That thing would have drowned you," Dean scolds me. "What the hell were you thinking?"

I scowl at him. "I was hiding by the guard rail until I stepped on some glass. I didn't know the thing had super hearing."

"Selkies communicate underwater the same way dolphins do," Sam inserts. "Good hearing is kind of a must."

Dean looks at me as if to say 'duh.'

"Well, sorry if I'm new to this whole Dungeons and Dragons thing," I snap as I stalk off to my car.

"Go after her," Sam says. "I'll take care of the body."

"Don't forget to burn the pelt," Dean reminds Sam as he runs up beside me. "Hey, wait up."

"Drop, dead," I mutter without slowing down.

"Come on, Liz," he coaxes as he pulls me to a stop. "I'm sorry."

I roll my eyes. "You're like every other man in my life who thinks they know better than I do about how to take care of me."

"You walked into that fight blindly, and you nearly got yourself killed," he says angrily.

"And if you had just taken me with you in the first place and given me a fifteen minute selkie tutorial on the way, I wouldn't have," I shoot back.

"I didn't want you to get hurt!" he yells.

"I've gotta learn sooner or later in case what your father told me is true," I tell him calmly, "but if you don't want to teach me, then I'll learn by myself."

I pull away from Dean and start toward my car. I feel sick to my stomach as I get in my car and start the engine.

Dean opens the passenger door and gets in the car. "You're right," he tells me. "I'm sorry."

I turn toward him. "I've been in constant danger since I was fifteen, and you didn't make my life any more complicated than it already is by telling me about what you do. There are things that you won't be able to protect me from and I'm just hoping you'll be there for the aftermath. If you can't handle that, then let's make a clean break right now and I'll get Shelby to put the memory spell back on me."

[sixpacschic]

Title: Half Life
Author: Christina Buchanan
Email: SixPacsChic@hotmail.com
Rating: Adult
Category: Supernatural/Roswell- Liz/ Dean
Summary: Liz remembers things that Max made her forget over the years.
Spoilers: Post Graduation: Roswell/ Houses of the Holy: Supernatural
Disclaimer: I don't own either show or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. Don't sue. Lyrics are by Lifehouse.
Author's Notes: This is my very first crossover. I just hope it turns out as good as my mind is making it out to be.

Chapter Eleven: Hanging by a Moment

desperate for changing
starving for truth
closer to where I started
chasing after you

I'm falling even more in love with you
letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

forgetting all I'm lacking
completely incomplete
I'll take your invitation
you take all of me now
-- Lifehouse "Hanging by a Moment"

"I don't want to say goodbye to you again," Dean says, his voice barely above a whisper.

I put my hand on his arm. "Then I'm in this for the long haul. No changing your mind later."

"Okay."

"Go tell your brother you're staying at my place tonight," I say after a moment.

He rolls down the window. "Hey, Sammy, don't wait up!"

Sam waves and gets into the Impala as I throw my car in gear and pull onto the road.

"So I guess you'll be heading out soon since the job is done."

"I wouldn't mind sticking around for a while," he says casually.

"You're brother would go stir crazy," I point out. "And after a while, you would too."

He sighs and looks out the window. "I know."

"Let's just enjoy tonight," I suggest.

"Yeah."

We ride the rest of the way to my apartment in comfortable silence. Maria's home from work and Metallica is steaming from the stereo as we approach the front door.

"Black Album," Dean notes. "Cool."

I unlock the door and let us inside. "Hey, Ria!"

"Hey!" she greets me. "Good news. You don't have to drop me at the bus station."

"Oh?"

"Michael's picking me up," she informs me. "He'll be here tomorrow night."

"What about the others?" I ask, getting the sinking feeling that Max will be tagging along.

She shrugs. "He didn't say."

"Great," I mutter. "We'll be in my room."

"Have fun," she says as she turns up the volume on the stereo.

'Nothing Else Matters' begins to play as I push the bedroom door shut.

Dean's hand trails down my arm, warm and reassuring. He pulls me to him and I tilt my head up to meet his gaze. The kiss is slow, deep and starts a burning ache in the pit of my stomach. It intensifies and we stumble over to the bed tearing off each other's clothes in the process.

I'm barely out of my underwear and he's inside of me, hard and hot. My back arches off the bed and a moan tears it's way out of my throat as he thrusts deeper. He keeps the pace slow and languid as he nibbles my collarbone, my neck and anywhere else he can reach with his mouth. I'm losing my mind, but I couldn't bring myself to care. I dig my fingers into his shoulders as a connection flares up between us. Pushing the images aside, I focus on feeling him and letting him feel me.

Green eyes full of confusion meet mine. "Wha-"

"Trust me."

He increases the pace, taking in the new sensation of being able to feel everything I'm feeling. Little panting moans escape my mouth as he drives us higher. His movements become more frantic as I tilt my hips to just the right angle and I grip his shoulders tighter.

Our climax washes over us with an almost blinding intensity.

Dean's head is buried in my shoulder, his body still shuddering with aftershocks. I kiss his shoulder and run my hands over his back as I come down from what has to be the best orgasm I've ever had in my life.

After what seems like forever, he withdraws and lays down beside me wrapping one arm around my middle. I turn and spoon against him. His fingers draw idle patterns on my cooling skin, lulling to sleep before he can ask any questions.

I wake up alone hours later to the smell of fresh coffee and cooking bacon. Smiling to myself, I get out of bed and pull on my bathrobe.

Dean's standing over the stove with a coffee mug in one hand and a spatula in the other, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans. I want to drag him back to bed, but opting to behave myself for the moment, I sit down at the bar and pour myself some coffee.

"Morning," he greets me.

"I didn't know you could cook," I say as I spoon a generous amount of sugar into my mug.

He shrugs. "Don't usually get a chance to."

"Thank you," I murmur as he sets a plate down in front of me.

He squeezes my shoulder and takes a seat next to me at the bar. "So about last night."

I blush. "Sorry about that. I should have warned you."

"You've got nothing to apologize for as far as I'm concerned," he informs me. "I'd just like to know how the hell you did it so it can be that good every time."

"It's complicated, but I'll do my best," I tell him. "How Max always explained it was that we used our energy to connect to other things or people. Connecting to living things is different than connecting to objects because on order to form a good connection, the other party has to be willing to accept the energy being given. The mind is more open during an intimate act such as sex which makes it easier to form a connection without really even trying."

"Okay, so why didn't it happen the first time we had sex?" Dean asks.

"I'd been drinking," I reply. "Can't form a connection when I'm buzzed. Too much interference."

He nods. "Got it."

"You're okay with all of this, right?" I ask. "I'd understand if you were freaked out."

"I'm good," he assures me. "Though I think you may have ruined me for other women."

The comment stings a little, but I don't say anything. Instead, I focus on my breakfast and try to rationalize why I'm so jealous that there could be other women in his future. It's not like we made a commitment to each other. I shake my head to clear my thoughts. I'm being stupid.

"Not that I mind," he adds with a grin.

I smile into my coffee cup. God, I love this man.

[sixpacschic]

Title: Half Life
Author: Christina Buchanan
Email: SixPacsChic@hotmail.com
Rating: Adult
Category: Supernatural/Roswell- Liz/ Dean
Summary: Liz remembers things that Max made her forget over the years.
Spoilers: Post Graduation: Roswell/ Houses of the Holy: Supernatural
Disclaimer: I don't own either show or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. Don't sue. Lyrics are by John Mellencamp.
Author's Notes: This is my very first crossover. I just hope it turns out as good as my mind is making it out to be.

Chapter Twelve: I Saw You First

She's perched like a parrot on his tuxedo shoulder
Christ, what's she doing with him, she could be dancing with me
She stirs the ice in her glass with her elegant finger
I want to be what she's drinking, yeah, I just want to be

I saw you first
I'm the first one tonight
I saw you first
Don't that give me the right
To move around in your heart
Everyone was lookin'
But I saw you first
--John Mellencamp "Key West Intermozzo (I Saw You First)"

Dean and I head down to the aquarium after breakfast and he explains how he and Sam look for jobs.

"So it's all really hit or miss for you guys," I realize.

"Unless we get a call from a contact," he says.

"You seem to get enough work to keep you busy through," I note.

"Especially these days," he confirms. "No end to the weird shit that keeps popping up."

"Does that mean you have another job lined up already?" I ask.

He nods. "We're heading out tomorrow morning."

"Where to?"

"Tennessee," he replies.

"Oh," I murmur.

We walk in silence through the rest of the exhibit.

I'm starting to realize that as much as I want him to be, that Dean isn't just a temporary distraction.

Dean and I take a seat on a bench in the main lobby. Drawing my leg up, I start to fiddle with the strap of my sandal.

"I can't believe you kept it," Dean comments as he touches the shell bracelet on my ankle.

"It's my good luck charm," I say. "Even when I couldn't remember anything, I had this really strong aversion to taking it off."

Dean smiles.

"We should probably head back," I say as I check my watch. "Maria will be leaving soon."

Dean helps me to my feet and we head toward the exit.

The drive back to my apartment is quiet except toward the end when Dean starts humming along with the radio causing me to sing the parts of the chorus that I know along with him. We're both laughing hysterically by the time we pull into the parking lot.

"This reminds me of that karaoke bar we went to," I say, giggling a little.

"You tricked me into singing," he points out.

"It was only fair after you made me get up there and belt out 'All I Wanna Do' by Sheryl Crow," I shoot back.

"But John Mellencamp wasn't even close to an even trade," he complains.

I pout a little. "But 'Key West Intermezzo' is one of my favorites."

He shakes his head, laughing. "That's the same face you used last time, too."

"We should drag Michael and Maria out to karaoke with us before they head out," I say. "It'll be fun."

Before Dean can respond, there's a tap on the window. I reluctantly turn around to see who it is. Scowling, I roll down the window. "Didn't I recently divorce you?"

"Real funny," Max snaps. "Get out of the car."

"Once again, Maxwell, we're not married anymore which means I don't have to love, honor, or obey you," I remind him acidly.

Dean reaches across me, offering his hand to Max. "Hi, I'm Dean."

"Can we talk for a moment? Max asks, ignoring Dean's introduction.

I roll my eyes. "I'll be just a moment," I tell Dean as I open the car door.

"I'll be here," he responds casually as he slips my Glock into my jacket pocket.

I get out of the car and pull Max a good distance away from the car. "So talk."

"Who the hell is he?" Max demands pointing to Dean who is now leaning comfortably against the side of my car.

"You know who he is," I answer evenly.

His eyes widen in realization. "The one from that summer."

I nod in confirmation.

"He's dangerous," Max tells me.

"No more than you are," I say.

"Liz, you've got to come back with us," he begs.

I shake my head. "There was a time when I would have followed you anywhere, Max, but not anymore, not after what you did."

"I didn't erase your memories," he tells me. "You've got to believe that."

"No, you didn't," I agree, "but you tried to prevent them from coming back."

He looks down at the pavement, shame evident on his face. "I thought I was protecting you."

"It's not your job anymore," I say.

"Is it Dean's job now?" he asks bitterly.

"No," I answer. "It's my job."

"But as a group--."

"We'll eventually self destruct," I cut him off. "And we'll get caught."

He puts a hand on my arm. "Liz, I'm sorry."

"I know," I tell him. "but it's time to let go."

His arm drops and he swallows thickly, nodding. "I know."

I embrace him in a brief hug. "Goodbye, Max."

"Goodbye, Liz," he says in return as he turns to walk toward his car.

I sigh deeply and walk back to Dean. "Dodged that bullet."

He raises an eyebrow. "Him or you?"

I chuckle. "Both of us, I guess."

"Still up for karaoke?" he asks with a hopeful expression.

"Sure," I say. "I'll get Michael and Maria."

[sixpacschic]

Title: Half Life
Author: Christina Buchanan
Email: SixPacsChic@hotmail.com
Rating: Adult
Category: Supernatural/Roswell- Liz/ Dean
Summary: Liz remembers things that Max made her forget over the years.
Spoilers: Post Graduation: Roswell/ Houses of the Holy: Supernatural
Disclaimer: I don't own either show or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. Don't sue. Lyrics are by Fleetwood Mac.
Author's Notes: This is my very first crossover. I just hope it turns out as good as my mind is making it out to be.

Chapter Thirteen: Go Your Own Way

Loving you
Isn't the right thing to do
How can I ever change things
That I feel
If I could
Maybe I'd give you my world
How can I
When you won't take it from me
You can go your own way
Go your own way
You an call it
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
Go your own way
Tell me why
Everything turned around
Packing up
Shacking up is all you wanna do
If I could
Baby I'd give you my world
Open up
Everything's waiting for you
You can go your own way
Go your own way
You an call it
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
go your own way
-Fleetwood Mac "Go Your Own Way"


Michael, Maria and I meet Sam and Dean for breakfast the next morning at some local dive Maria and I had become addicted to during our stay here.

Dean and Michael are joking around about something that's causing Maria to roll her eyes every few moments.

"Those two are dangerous together," Sam comments gesturing to his brother and Michael.

"You should have seen them at karaoke last night," I say wryly as I sip my coffee.

Sam smirks. "I can only imagine."

"I think hearing those two sing 'Whiskey in the Jar' is something you have to experience in person," I joke.

"I thought we were pretty good," Dean puts in as he steals a piece of bacon from my plate.

"We were awesome," Michael agrees.

"Awesomely bad," Maria snarks.

The three of us laugh as Dean and Michael's expressions turn sour.

I pat Dean's arm consolingly. "Poor baby."

"We should definitely get together like this again," Maria says.

"Yeah, so Sammy can get a chance to sing next time," Dean cracks.

She turns to me excitedly. "Your birthday's next month. What better way to celebrate turning twenty-four?"

"Twenty-four?"

It occurs to me at this very moment that I had told Dean I was eighteen when I first met him and suddenly feel very stupid for not telling him the truth sooner.

"Rob the cradle much?" Sam jokes.

"Wait a minute," Maria says. "How old are you, Dean?"

"Just turned twenty-eight," he answers still glaring at me.

I sigh. "Alright, I'm sorry I lied about my age when we met, but you were cute and I didn't want you to ditch me because I was still jailbait."

He smirks. "Can't argue with that."

I say goodbye to Michael and Maria after breakfast and then meet Dean at the beach.

"It's been an interesting couple of days," I say as I take a seat beside him.

Dean stretches out on one of the deck chairs. "Yes it has."

"I don't really know where to go from here," I tell him. "If I go to New Mexico, I'll be too tempted to visit my parents."

"Nebraska," Dean says.

I raised an eyebrow. "What's in Nebraska?"

He hands me a piece of paper. "A job and a roof over your head."

"Harvelle's Roadhouse," I read. "This some kind of hunter's hangout?"

"Something like that," he replies. "Talk to Ellen. She's the owner."

"You mentioned a job."

He nods. "She needs a waitress since her daughter decided to go off and play hero."

"Jo," I realize remembering the girl from my vision.

"Yeah," he confirms.

"Why are you really sending me to Nebraska?" I ask.

"I figure it'll keep you out of trouble until I get back from this hunt," Dean answers.

"It's not like I'm gonna run off and start hunting demons on my own," I say defensively.

"Consider this the first part of your training," he tells me. "Ellen knows a lot about this stuff and a lot of other hunters stop there."

"Okay," I agree. "I'll go."

"Good," he says. "Cause I already told Ellen to expect you."

I roll my eyes. "Figures."

Dean grins.

I look over my shoulder toward the parking lot where Sam is leaning against the side of the Impala. "Your brother's here."

He frowns and checks his watch. "Guess it's that time."

"Guess so," I say as Dean helps me to my feet.

"You remember everything I told you about protecting yourself?" he asks.

"I even took notes," I reply cheekily.

He smirks. "You would."

"I know you're a trained soldier in the war against evil, but be safe, okay?"

Dean gathers me up in a hug and we just stand there for a while holding each other.

"I'm really glad you remembered me," he murmurs.

I smile. "Me too."

[sixpacschic]

Title: Half Life
Author: Christina Buchanan
Email: SixPacsChic@hotmail.com
Rating: Adult
Category: Supernatural/Roswell- Liz/ Dean
Summary: Liz remembers things that Max made her forget over the years.
Spoilers: Post Graduation: Roswell/ Houses of the Holy: Supernatural
Disclaimer: I don't own either show or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. Don't sue. Lyrics are by The Postal Service
Author's Notes: This is my very first crossover. I just hope it turns out as good as my mind is making it out to be.

Chapter Fourteen: Such Great Heights

I am thinking it's a sign that the freckles
In our eyes are mirror images and when
We kiss they're perfectly aligned
And I have to speculate that God himself
Did make us into corresponding shapes like
Puzzle pieces from the clay
And true, it may seem like a stretch, but
Its thoughts like this that catch my troubled
Head when you're away when I am missing you to death
When you are out there on the road for
Several weeks of shows and when you scan
The radio, I hope this song will guide you home
-- The Postal Service "Such Great Heights"

I arrive at the Roadhouse around mid-day a week after Dean and I go our separate ways. The building is sturdy despite the fact that it looks like it's falling apart on the outside. I push the swinging door open and step inside cautiously. The place is quiet with the exception of the jukebox that's playing "Layla" by Eric Clapton in the corner.

"Hello?" I call out.

"Just a sec!" a muffled voice answers from the kitchen.

I take a seat at the bar.

A short while later an older woman emerges from the back. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm here to see Ellen," I answer. "Dean Winchester sent me."

"You must be Liz," she says. "I'm Ellen."

I shake her hand firmly. "Nice to meet you."

"How good are you at tending bar?" she asks, getting right down to business.

"I've waitressed since I was fifteen and tended bar on and off for a few years," I reply.

"Good," she says. "You can start tomorrow night. I'll show you your room."

Ellen leads me to the back of the bar and points to a door. "This one's yours. It's got a bed, a dresser and a lock on the inside."

I gesture to the door beside mine. "Who is Dr. Badass?"

"That'd be Ash," she answers. "You'll meet him later tonight."

"Okay," I say nodding. "I'm just gonna get my stuff out of the car."

A few hours later I have everything set up the way I want it in my small, but comfortable living space. It's early evening by the time I emerge from my room and the bar has gotten noticeably more crowded.

I slip onto a free bar stool and Ellen sets a plate in front of me. "You must be starving. Eat up."

"Thanks," I say as I eagerly take a bite of my burger.

"Got to appreciate a woman with a healthy appetite," the guy next to me comments.

I give him a sidelong glance and decide to ignore him in favor of my food. Mullets are not high on my list of turn-ons anyway.

He extends his hand to me. "I'm Ash."

"Liz," I return shaking his hand briefly. "We're neighbors."

He nods. "Which begs the question of why Dean sent you here in the first place."

"He's on a job and wants me to stay out of trouble," I explain. "He said Ellen could use the help and I'd be able to learn more about hunting."

"I seen a lot hunters," Ash says with a doubtful look. "And you ain't the type."

"I'm a psychic," I tell him, "I've been having visions since I was seventeen and they're currently leading me in this direction right now. I figure the more I learn, the easier it'll be to help Dean and Sam."

He furrows his brow. "How old are you now if you don't mind my askin'?"

"Twenty-three," I reply.

"Same age as Sam and those other kids, but you've been seeing things way too long to be one of them," he says.

"I don't really fit in with that equation," I say wryly as I sip my coke.

"You fit," he assures me. "Just not the same way as Sam. You're something else."

"So I've been told." I murmur.

My phone rings and Ash takes my empty plate into the back. I check the caller ID as I walk back to my room.

"Hey, stranger," I greet Dean over the phone.

"I know it's been a while, but we've been tied up on this case," he explains. "You at Ellen's yet?"

"Just got in today actually."

"Good," he says. "How do you like it so far?"

"It's interesting," I answer. "I just met Ash."

He chuckles. "Interesting is one way to describe him. He's not as dumb as he looks, by the way."

"I gathered that much from our brief conversation over dinner," I say.

"The man can find pretty much anything," Dean tells me. "So if you have a vision, be sure to tell him so he can find out what we're looking for faster."

"Sure," I agree.

"So what are you wearing?" he asks suggestively.

I roll my eyes. "I'm not having phone sex with you, Dean."

"Why not?" he scoffs sounding offended.

"Because I know for a fact that you and Sam are sharing a room and if he's not there now, he most likely will walk in," I reply curtly.

"Come on," he coaxes. "The only company I've had for the past week is a massaging bed."

I snort. "Pickup lines falling flat?"

"Haven't exactly felt like going out," he mumbles.

"Aww, you miss me?" I tease.

"Yes," he answers.

My heart skips beat. "Oh."

"We've got twenty minutes until Sammy gets back," Dean informs me.

I make myself comfortable on the bed and cradle the phone between my ear and shoulder. "I'm wearing those tight jeans you like and a little red tank top, no bra, lace panties."

I grin as I hear and audible groan over the line. This should be fun.

[sixpacschic]

Title: Half Life
Author: Christina Buchanan
Email: SixPacsChic@hotmail.com
Rating: Adult
Category: Supernatural/Roswell- Liz/ Dean
Summary: Liz remembers things that Max made her forget over the years.
Spoilers: Post Graduation: Roswell/ Houses of the Holy: Supernatural
Disclaimer: I don't own either show or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. Don't sue. Lyrics are by Massive Attack.
Author's Notes: This is my very first crossover. I just hope it turns out as good as my mind is making it out to be.

Chapter Fifteen: Safe From Harm

Lucky dippers
Crazy chancers
Seems to be moving fast
What happened to the niceties
Of my childhood days
Well i can't do nothing 'bout that, no
But if you hurt what's mine
I'll sure as hell retaliate
--Massive Attack "Safe From Harm"


"Wanna test the springs on your mattress?"

I arch one eyebrow at the obviously drunk hunter. "No thanks. I've already got someone for that job."

"With an ass like that, it's no surprise," he says appreciatively.

I walk behind the bar and take a swig of my beer before grabbing the bus tub.

"Ever think about letting 'em down easy?" Ash asks, looking up from his computer briefly.

"Hell no," I reply. "They take it as an invitation."

"True enough," he agrees. "Maybe if you told 'em who you were seeing, they'd stop hitting on you."

"And I'd be in for a whole other set of problems if I did that," I point out. "And it's not like it's an exclusive thing anyway."

Ash snorts. "Whatever you say, Parker."

I snap a dish rag at him as I walk around the bar and go to collect empty plates and glasses. "Behave yourself."

"How you doing, Liz?" Ellen calls from the back.

"I'm good," I call back. "I'll holler if I need you."

Last call finally rolls around and fifteen minutes later I shoo the last customer out of the roadhouse. I'm wiping down the bar, humming along with the juke box when a migraine hits.

"Aw, shit," I mutter as I collapse behind the bar.

Sam and Dean are tied to a wall in a warehouse. A woman is talking to them but all I can see is her back.

"Bet you thought I wouldn't find you," she sneers.

"Meg," Dean growls in response.

"How sweet," she says. "You remembered me."

"You should have stayed in hell," he tells her.

"And miss the opportunity to jump into this body," she says, catching her reflection in a nearby window.

Lonnie.

I come to on the floor behind the bar with Ellen standing over me, concerned.

"You alright?" she asks, helping me to my feet.

I nod. "I"m fine, but Sam and Dean are in trouble."

"He told me not to let you go after him," Ellen says.

"I know, but circumstances have changed," I tell her as I scribble down the name of the warehouse on a cocktail napkin. "Get Ash to look this up for me while I pack."

Ellen stands inside the doorway as I finish packing my bag. "You can't go after them alone, Liz."

"I have to," I insist. "The demon has taken over someone I know, a more dangerous someone, and if she gets free of the demon, Sam and Dean are dead and she'll come after me next."

"What's more dangerous than a demon?" she asks.

"A pissed off psychic who got her ride home stolen by my ex," I answer.

She stares at me, obviously confused.

I sheath a knife in my boot and tuck my Glock into the back of my pants. "I don't expect you to understand, but I have to be the one to do this."

"If you need any help . . ." Ellen offers reluctantly.

"If you don't hear from me in a few days, call this number and ask for Dr. Love," I say as I hand her a slip of paper. "Give him the address of the warehouse and tell him Shirley Temple needs help."

She raises an eyebrow. "Code names?"

"I'm on the run from the feds," I remind her as I pull on my jacket.

"You decent?" Ash calls from outside my door.

"What have you got for me?" I ask as Ellen and I emerge from my room.

He hands me a printout with a map. "Here you go."

"Thanks," I say as I head for the door. "I'll call you in a few days."

"Be careful," Ellen tells me.

I toss my bag in the back and jump in the car. The engine roars to life as I turn the key and I head south.

[sixpacschic]

Title: Half Life
Author: Christina Buchanan
Email: SixPacsChic@hotmail.com
Rating: Adult
Category: Supernatural/Roswell- Liz/ Dean
Summary: Liz remembers things that Max made her forget over the years.
Spoilers: Post Graduation: Roswell/ Houses of the Holy: Supernatural
Disclaimer: I don't own either show or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. Don't sue. Lyrics are by Slipknot.
Author's Notes: This is my very first crossover. I just hope it turns out as good as my mind is making it out to be.

Chapter Sixteen: Liberate

Liberate - My madness
(One of me, all of you)
Liberate - My madness
I just want to...

Section off myself
Put a wall up/What the hell have I done
Keep the dog at bay
Survive by saving me!
Values and the game
Not a fuck-up - Not a part of your lie
I am one, I am all - I'm above and beyond!

Back off of the shit
Stand off or I'll spit
So soft, you forget
Your garbage in is garbage out
You don't give a shit
I won't play the fit
Get off, get on this
Your garbage in is garbage out

Liberate my madness...

Liberate - My madness
(One of me, all of you)
Liberate - My madness I just want to...

I am not ashamed
What is vital, isn't always humane
You can break in vain
But you can't break away
Even in my face
Lotta bullshit, not alotta the truth
I can't see from here
But I can smell your fear

Back off of the shit
Stand off or I'll spit
So soft, you forget
Your garbage in is garbage out
You don't give a shit
I won't play the fit
Get off, get on this
Your garbage in is garbage out

Saved - You're such a slave - I don't expect a
Name - You don't care - I wasn't witness -
I can't be a part of a system such as this
Hard eyes - Glow right - In my - Darkness - Again
With the sickness, renegade blisters, sisters,
Salivate, litigate, liberate, madness, sadness
Fuck this - How long have I had this?
I don't need this - Outta my business
Insert, engage, betrayed, MY GOD
FRAUD

Liberate - My madness
(One of me, all of you)
Liberate - My madness
I just want to...
--Slipknot "Liberate"

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly as I approach the warehouse. The side door is open just enough for me to slip inside. I draw my weapon and enter the building, careful not to make a sound.

Lonnie is kneeling in the office clutching her head. "I'm gonna hunt down all your kind after I kill my brother. Get out of my fuckin' head."

I step around the corner with my pistol trained on her. "On your feet, princess."

A dry laugh tumbles from her lips as she rises from the floor. "Well, well, well, I shoulda known you was comin' to save the day, Lizzy."

"I'm a regular good Samaritan these days," I tell her. "Hands behind your head."

"I'm gonna enjoy takin' your mind apart," she says.

I ignore the threat as I push her out of the office, into the main warehouse. "So where's Rath these days?"

She snorts. "Wasted his ass years ago."

"Hell of a way to break up," I remark.

"You tryin' to talk me to death or somethin'?" Lonnie complains. "Cause this is borin' the hell out of me."

I chuckle. "Speaking of hell, how's the friend in your head?"

Her eyes narrow. "How'd you know 'bout that?"

"I have my ways," I say cryptically.

"You can get this thing outa me?" she asks.

"I could," I answer, "but then you'd kill Max, Michael, Isabel, and me."

She's weighing her options. "It don't have to be like that."

"You can't make any promises that I'll believe," I tell her. "Goodbye Lonnie."

"What the hell?"

I smile thinly. "Cristo."

Lonnie's back arches, and she brings her hands up to grip her head. "You fuckin' bitch!"

I take a few steps back.

Her eyes turn black and the demon is in control. "Thanks, Lizzy."

"Don't mention it," I say. "Where are the boys?"

"Don't worry, you'll be joining them soon," she replies.

"No, you're going to show me where they are."

"No," the Lonnie-demon says to me. "You're going to put that gun to your head."

I feel a familiar tingle in the back of my mind, like someone trying to force their way in, to move me against my will. I give her a quick mental shove and steady the gun in her direction.

"Are you deaf?" she snarls. "I told you to put the barrel of that gun against your pretty little temple."

"Honey, if you knew anything about me, you'd know that shit doesn't work on me," I say evenly as I fend of another mental attack.

Blood starts to trickle out of her nose. "What the-- "

I pull the trigger before she can get the rest out and she falls to the floor of the warehouse in a boneless heap. Cautiously, I walk over to her, my gun still trained on her lifeless form. As I reach down to check her pulse the body turns to dust. I holster my glock and make my way over to Sam and Dean who are tied up around the corner. "You guys okay?"

Sam nods. "You sure she's dead?"

"No pulse," I tell him as I cut his restraints. "I'm sure."

Sam grimaces and makes his way over to Lonnie after snatching a bottle of water from Dean's jacket. "No pulse doesn't mean anything in our line of work."

"Whatever," I say with a shrug as I cut Dean down. "You okay, soldier boy?"

"Just peachy," he says rubbing his wrists. "She toast, Sammy?"

Sam looks up from the body. "Yeah," he answers, then pins me with a questioning glare. "What the hell did you do to her, Liz?"

"I shot her," I reply testily, "What do you think I did?"

He gives me that knowing look. "There's nothing but a pile of ashes. Now I ask again, what the hell is going on?"

I start toward the exit. "You've got a lot of fucking nerve asking me those kinds of questions after I just saved your ass, Samuel Winchester."

Dean catches up to me, pulling me to a stop just outside the warehouse."He didn't mean it, okay?"

"Oh, he did," I say irately. "He thinks I'm one of them, or that I'm like him."

"Well?" Sam asks.

"Well, I'm not!" I snap."Something else made me the way I am, and it's not an angel or a demon or any of the other whacked out shit you've come into contact with in the last twenty-three years, so just drop it."

"Dean," Sam says turning to his brother. "she can't stay with us."

"Sam--" Dean starts.

"That's fine," I cut in, "I'm better off on my own anyway."

"Liz, come on," Dean pleads with me. "They'll be after you now."

"I've been on the run since I was seventeen," I assure him. "I think I can handle myself."

Dean sighs, resigned. "You've got my number,"

"If my gifts are as predictable as they've been lately, you'll probably see me again soon." I tell him as I make my way to the car. "See you around, soldier boy."

"So you'd rather go it alone than explain how you turned someone to ash without touching them?" Sam demands.

I nod. "It's safer that way, Sam. Trust in that, even if you can't trust in me."

He sighs, and says after a short pause. "Liz, I'm not sure I trust you, but I trust my brother. Maybe you should come with us."

"Some other time," I say. "I've got some unfinished business with the ex."

"Say hi for me," Dean says grinning.

I smirk and climb in the car. "I'm sure he'd love that."

Dean leans through the window and kisses me briefly. "Drive safe, okay."

I crank the ignition and the car rumbles to life. "I always do, Dean. Save the driving tips for your brother."

Dean pulls his head out of the car and waves as I pull out of the parking lot of the warehouse, heading in the direction of the highway.

[sixpacschic]

Title: Half Life
Author: Christina Buchanan
Email: SixPacsChic@hotmail.com
Rating: Adult
Category: Supernatural/Roswell- Liz/ Dean
Summary: Liz remembers things that Max made her forget over the years.
Spoilers: Post Graduation: Roswell/ Houses of the Holy: Supernatural
Disclaimer: I don't own either show or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. Don't sue. Lyrics are by Coldplay
Author's Notes: This is my very first crossover. I just hope it turns out as good as my mind is making it out to be.

Chapter Seventeen: Trouble

Oh no, I see,
A spider web is tangled up with me,
And I lost my head,
The thought of all the stupid things I said,
Oh no what's this?
A spider web, and I'm caught in the middle,
So I turned to run,
The thought of all the stupid things I've done,

I never meant to cause you trouble,
And I never meant to do you wrong,
And I, well if I ever caused you trouble,
Oh no, I never meant to do you harm.
--Coldplay "Trouble"

I pull of the freeway at the first rest stop and vomit as soon as I reach the bathroom. I'm starting to understand how Michael felt when he killed Pierce all those years ago. I feel like shit.

After I clean up and grab a bottle of water from the vending machine, I call Ellen and tell her the boys and I are alright and that I'll be home in a few days. I briefly consider calling Max, but decide it would be better to talk in person. He relocated to Missouri a few weeks ago and which was on my way back to the Roadhouse.

I hear the familiar rumble of the Impala's engine pull into the space adjacent to the picnic table I'm sitting on. Both car doors slam, but only one person approaches.

"Pretty good front you put up back there," Dean says as he takes a seat next to me on the table top.

"How'd you know?" I ask quietly.

"I know you," he answers putting an arm around my shoulders.

I lean on him and inhale the scent of his leather jacket. My nausea finally subsides a little.

"I only heard a little of your conversation, but it sounded like you knew the girl," he says.

"I met her a few years ago," I admit. "She tried to kill Max and she would have killed all of us if I had let her live."

"I'm still a little curious as to how she ended up as a pile of ash," he tells me.

"It's what happens to people like her and Max and the others when they die," I reply. "Guess it hides what they really are."

"And that is?" he prompts me.

"Aliens," I answer.

"Aliens," he repeats.

I spend the next few hours explaining everything in great detail and Dean does his best to keep up, asking lots of questions when things get confusing.

"So how'd you kill the demon?" Dean finally asks. "Cause normally when the body dies, the demon escapes."

"Well, I did some research and I figured out that demons are basically parasites on this plane of existance," I explain. "Most of them aren't powerful enough to manifest a physical form so they invade the mind of another living thing."

He shrugs. "No-brainer there."

"But what happens if the parasite is trapped in the mind of their host and the host dies?" I ask.

"Holy shit," Dean says. "You can do that?"

I nod. "I set up a series of psychic road blocks in the mind and the demon couldn't escape."

"Handy trick," he comments.

"Sadly it's not that practical in most cases," I say with a frown. "Most people who are possessed are innocent."

"Yeah," he agrees.

I look up to see Sam sitting in the grass beside the picnic table. I have to assume he's been listening the entire time. "You catch all that or do you need the Cliff Notes version?"

Sam half-smiles. "No, I'm good."

"I'm sorry about earlier," I tell him. "It's just been a really long day."

"I understand where you're coming from," he says, "believe me."

"It's getting dark," I note. "I should get to a motel."

"You gonna be okay to drive?" Dean asks me, noticing how unsteady I am on my feet.

I shake my head. "Probably not."

Dean glances over at Sam and they communicate nonverbally for a few seconds, then Dean turns back to me.

"I'll drive your car," Dean offers. "We've got a motel room a few exits away and you can crash with us."

"Thanks," I murmur.

Dean helps me to the car and I gladly hand over the keys. By the time we're on the interstate, I've passed out.

[sixpacschic]

Title: Half Life
Author: Christina Buchanan
Email: SixPacsChic@hotmail.com
Rating: Adult
Category: Supernatural/Roswell- Liz/ Dean
Summary: Liz remembers things that Max made her forget over the years.
Spoilers: Post Graduation: Roswell/ Houses of the Holy: Supernatural
Disclaimer: I don't own either show or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. Don't sue. Lyrics are by David Gray.
Author's Notes: This is my very first crossover. I just hope it turns out as good as my mind is making it out to be.

Chapter Eighteen: Please Forgive Me

Please forgive me
If I act a little strange
For I know not what I do.
Feels like lightning running through my veins
Every time I look at you
Every time I look at you

Help me out here
All my words are falling short
And there's so much I want to say
Want to tell you just how good it feels
When you look at me that way
When you look at me that way

Throw a stone and watch the ripples flow
Moving out across the bay
Like a stone I fall into your eyes
Deep into some mystery
Deep into that mystery
-- David Gray "Please Forgive Me"

I wake up the next morning with a warm body pressed against my back and an arm wrapped around my waist. Dean. I smile and snuggle closer to him, threading my fingers through his.

He presses a butterfly kiss against my shoulder. "Morning."

"How long have you been awake?" I ask.

"Not long," he answers. "How are you feeling?"

I roll over to face him. "Better."

"Good," he says.

"Thanks for staying with me."

"To tell you the truth, I kinda like having you around."

I smile. "I like having you around too."

"You're really going to see, Max?" he asks.

"I have to let him know about Lonnie," I answer, "and he deserves to hear it in person and not some cryptic phone call or text message."

He nods in understanding. "Want some company?"

"I don't know, Dean."

"I know you can take care of yourself," he says, "but there are things out there a lot more powerful than that demon and I'd feel a lot better staying with you at least until you got back to the Roadhouse."

"Okay," I relent. "You can hang out with Kyle while I talk to Max, I guess."

"Another husband?" he jokes.

"Ex boyfriend, actually," I correct him. "You'll get along great."

He rolls his eyes and tickles my side, causing me to shriek and giggle.

Sam stirs in the other bed. "Dude, not cool."

"What?" Dean huffs indignantly.

"You could at least wait until I'm out of the room," Sam grumbles.

I fling my pillow across the room, hitting Sam in the face. "Jerk, you think I'd let him jump me with an audience?"

He grins at me as he pegs me back with the pillow. "Dean's the jerk."

"That's right," I recall. "You're the bitch."

Dean chuckles. "Yeah, and the bitch gets the coffee."

Sam grabs his bag and heads for the bathroom. "You guys suck."

"He likes you," Dean tells me after the bathroom door closes and the shower starts.

"I guess," I say doubtfully.

"With a past just as weird as ours how could he not?"

I frown. "I noticed the marks on his face from Lonnie. She didn't hurt him too much, did she?"

"Winchesters are made of tougher stuff," he replies.

"She got to you too, didn't she?"

He doesn't answer, but I know that Lonnie tried her best to take apart his mind when she found out that he knew me.

"We don't have to talk about it," I tell him. "I know how it feels."

"It sucks out loud," he mutters.

I nod in agreement.

The drive to Missouri is short. Dean does most of the driving and I alternate between reading and sleeping.

When we pull into Sweet Springs, I give Max a call.

"You're here?"

"Yeah," I say. "Something came up and we need to talk."

He gives me directions and I relay them to Dean. A few minutes later we pull into a garage and Kyle comes out to greet us.

"What I wouldn't give to get my hands on this car," he jokes as Dean and I exit the car.

I smirk. "Only one man gets to touch this car."

"And no one touches that car," Dean adds gesturing to the Impala as Sam pulls up behind us.

"Got it," Kyle says. "And you are?"

"Kyle Valenti, meet Dean and Sam Winchester," I introduce everyone.

"The same Dean that Max saw you sucking face with?" Kyle asks.

"Yes," I reply. "I was surprised that you didn't go with Michael and Max to pick up Maria, too."

"Too much drama," Kyle says. "I've been trying to simplify."

Max emerges from the office of the garage.

"You guys talk about cars or something and I'll be right back," I tell them as I trot over to Max.

"You look tired," Max observes as I approach.

"It's been a long week," I say.

"Did they pull you into something?" he asks worriedly.

"More like I pulled them into something," I say.

Max looks at me as if to say 'explain'.

"They ran into Lonnie just outside of Memphis," I explain. "She'd been taken over by a demon, but when she was able to fight it off she found out that Dean and Sam knew me."

"Shit, Liz!"

I hold up my hand. "I'm not finished."

He nods and leans up against the side of the building.

"I got a vision and was able to track them down," I continue. "I killed her, Max."

"You're sure?" he asks me.

"Yes," I answer. "She turned to dust."

Max gestures to Dean and Sam. "Do they know?"

"I told them," I admit.

"We can trust them, right?"

"Of course," I reply. "They've got just as much to lose by getting caught as we do."

"Meaning?" Max prompts me.

"They're both wanted by the feds," I tell him. "Credit card fraud, grave desecrations, breaking and entering, and one murder charge that was actually a skinwalker that looked like Dean."

"Sounds like you jumped from the frying pan into the fire," Isabel comments, making her presence known.

I grin. "When have you ever known me to do things the easy way?"

She glances from me to her brother and smirks.

"What about Rath?" Max asks.

"Lonnie said she killed him years ago," I say. "She could have been lying, but I'm inclined to believe her at this point."

Isabel raised her eyebrows. "Oh?"

"It's hard to lie with a demon in your head," I tell her. "or so I've read."

"I'll take your word for it," she says.

I wave the guys over. "You should meet the new members of our family of fugitives."

Kyle, Sam and Dean approach and despite the fact that I warned them that Isabel and Lonnie were clones, both brothers flinch at the sight of her.

Dean's the first to extend a hand. "You must be Isabel."

She smiles and takes his hand. "And you're Dean, right?"

He nods. "I'm glad you're the nice twin."

She laughs and turns to his brother. "You must be Sam."

He shakes her hand briefly. "Nice to meet you, Isabel."

"Nice to see you again, Max." Dean says.

"Yeah."

I shake my head. "We should really get back on the road soon."

"What's the rush?" Kyle asks.

"I've left Ellen shorthanded for too long and these two need rest before their next hunt comes up," I tell everyone.

"At least stay for dinner," Isabel insists. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"I could eat," Dean pipes up.

Sam nods in agreement.

"Alright," I relent. "We'll stay for dinner."

Isabel and I are in the kitchen while the guys are watching TV in the other room.

"I'm surprised they didn't run screaming in the other direction when they saw me," Isabel says.

"If I hadn't warned them about you being a clone, they wouldn't have run," I tell her. "They would have shot you."

"Oh."

"I saw some of what Lonnie did to Dean," I say. "The rest, he's got buried so deep inside of him, I may never see it."

"Did you try to fix it?" she asks.

"She didn't get far enough to cause any damage," I answer. "I checked."

"What about Sam?"

"He says he's fine," I reply. "He doesn't even want me inside his head."

"I guess I can't blame him," she says.

"Me neither," I murmur.

[sixpacschic]

Title: Half Life
Author: Christina Buchanan
Email: SixPacsChic@hotmail.com
Rating: Adult
Category: Supernatural/Roswell- Liz/ Dean
Summary: Liz remembers things that Max made her forget over the years.
Spoilers: Post Graduation: Roswell/ Houses of the Holy: Supernatural
Disclaimer: I don't own either show or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. Don't sue. Lyrics are by Blues Traveler.
Author's Notes: This is my very first crossover. I just hope it turns out as good as my mind is making it out to be.

Chapter Nineteen: Hook

It doesn't matter what I say
So long as I sing with inflection
That makes you feel that I'll convey
Some inner truth of vast reflection
But I've said nothing so far
And I can keep it up for as long as it takes
And it don't matter who you are
If I'm doing my job then it's your resolve that breaks

Because the hook brings you back
I ain't tellin' you no lie
The hook brings you back
On that you can rely
- Blues Traveler "Hook"

The boys drop me off at the Roadhouse and tell me they'll be back in a few days after they visit Bobby.

There's a blond arguing with Ellen when I come in and Ash is in the corner hiding behind his computer. The fight is still going on after I drop my bags in my room and come back to the bar.

I grab a soda and take a seat next to Ash. "I take it that's Jo?"

Ash nods. "And they've been goin' at it like that for the past half hour."

"What are you working on?" I ask glancing at the monitor.

"Demon tracking program," he replies. "It compiles weather patterns, news paper articles and seismic readings, then zeros in on areas of heavy activity."

"Interesting," I comment. "Is it just for present day or could you search archives of a particular year?"

Ash give me a considering look. "I think I know where you're going with this and I like it."

I grin. "You think you could get me the data for 1983 in two days?"

"Yeah," he answers.

"Great," I say. "I'll give the boys a call."

I leave Ash to his search and wade past the fight to use the phone.

Dean picks up on the second ring. "Hey beautiful."

"Good news," I say. "Came up with something to speed along Ash's search for the kids like Sam."

"Should we turn around?" Dean asks. "We're not that far out."

"No, that's alright," I assure him. "It'll take a few days and that'll be enough time to get what you need from Bobby."

"Okay," Dean says. "What's all the noise?"

"Jo's back," I reply. "They're arguing the same way my mom and I did, only Jo uses 'fuck' a lot more than I ever did."

Dean chuckles. "Hopefully it'll be over by the time we get back."

"I'm about ready to put them in separate corners, here," I remark dryly. "I'll see you in a few days."

"Bye, Liz."

"Bye." I place the phone back in the cradle.

There's a pause in the argument and Jo is looking at me like she's just realized that I'm here. "Who the hell are you?"

I ignore the question and turn to Ellen. "I'm good to work tonight if you need me."

"You sure?" Ellen asks. "I know that hunt took a lot out of you."

"I'm gonna kill Sam," I mutter.

"Try the other one," Ellen suggests.

I grimace. "Dean's too paranoid for his own good sometimes."

"He's got good reason to be," Ellen says.

"If I show any signs of fainting you can haul me off and lock me in my room," I tell her, "but I really want to work tonight."

"Alright," Ellen agrees reluctantly.

"You hired someone to replace me!" Jo yells at her mother.

"I wasn't about to leave myself understaffed in case you decided to come to your senses," Ellen tells Jo. "And I'm not about to fire the girl because you've come waltzing through that door again."

"I'm gonna go sort out that shipment," I announce as I exit the bar and make my way down to the basement.

The argument picks up again and I turn on the radio to drown out the noise. A few minutes later, the basement door slams and the radio cuts out as Jo storms down the stairs.

"Whatever grudge against me you've developed in the five minutes since we've met, I don't want to hear it," I say with a quick glance over my shoulder.

"How do you know the Winchesters?" Jo asks.

"I met Dean summer of 2001," I answer. "He stole my coffee."

"So you must have known their dad," she says.

"He's more or less the reason I'm here," I tell her.

"You don't sound happy about that," Jo notes as she hops up on a crate beside me.

"An Enochian memory charm that makes you forget an entire summer for five years will do that," I say dryly.

"Why would he do that?" she asks.

"Because he thought I'd end up like Mary Winchester," I answer.

Jo frowns. "So Dean loved you."

"He cared," I corrected her, "and that was enough to make John worry at the time."

"So you guys are together?"

I shrug. "You'd have to ask him that question."

Jo snorts. "Like I'd get a straight answer."

"That's all part pf his charm," I remark. "Fortunately, I've earned my merit badge on how to read between the lines of jokes and bullshit."

"Haven't gotten that far yet," she says.

We work in silence for a few minutes, but something is nagging at me in the back of my mind.

"Why'd you come back, Jo?"

"Missed my mom," she answers, "and hunting isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially when the money runs out."

"Maybe you would have caught that if you had listened to Dean back in Philadelphia," I tell her.

"Yeah well, Harvelles are just about as stubborn as Winchesters when it comes to things like that."