When Bee and I pulled up to Harvelle's Roadhouse, there weren't any other cars in the parking lot, but we knew Ellen, Jo, and Ash were likely inside and had probably heard their car. With some coffee and food in her, no one would be able to tell that Bee was super hungover. She may have still been slightly drunk. 

"Hello? Ellen?" I called as I walked into the restaurant while simultaneously making sure nothing was a trap.

On the pool table, a man with a mullet slept. Looks like Ash had as rough of a night as Bee.

A middle-aged woman with blondish-brown hair walked into the main dining area. "I thought that was your Roadrunner I heard."

Ellen hugged me. "How ya holdin' up, sweetie?"

"I'm okay." I nodded.

Even though she sent me a look saying she didn't believe me, Ellen hugged Bee and asked her the same thing. 

"Great as ever," Bee said.

"Do you mind if I steal Mel?" Ellen asked. "There's something I want to talk to her about."

"Not a problem. Is Jo around?" Bee asked.

Ellen pointed over her shoulder. "She's in the back getting ready for the lunch stragglers we'll have."

"Thanks." Bee walked toward the kitchen.

"I'm glad you're here." Ellen wrapped her arm around my shoulders and led me back toward her office. "Are you sure you can handle what I've got for you?"

"Ellen, have we failed you before?" I asked.

"No." Ellen shook her head. "But you look like you haven't had a good night's sleep or had a full meal since your momma died and we both know that Bee is tipsy at ten thirty in the morning."

I slumped into one of the leather seats in her office. "It's been a difficult year."

Ellen sighed. "Your parents—"

"Please," I whispered with tears threatening to spill over my eyelashes at any moment. "Just talk about the job."

"Okay." Ellen pursed her lips. "I don't have much this week. There haven't been many whispers around here, lately. I do have one case from Wisconsin. How do you feel—"

Movement outside caught my eye. "Ellen, are you expecting someone?"

"What kind of vehicle is it?" Ellen got up to look out the window.

"It was a beat-up van. Kind of creepy," I said.

Ellen rushed out of the office grabbing the pistol she kept in her desk drawer. "I don't know anyone who drives that vehicle. Were you followed?"

"No, Ellen. I'd never bring anyone or anything here." I stood up.

"Stay put," Ellen said, tossing me a shotgun that was fully loaded.

"Be careful," I said.

For what felt like fifteen minutes there was next to no noise. Then there was some shuffling and a guy yelled.

"Sam! Need some help in here!"

I leaped out of the chair leaving the rifle behind. By the time I banged into the main area of the restaurant, Ellen had her pistol aimed at Sam and Jo had her rifle pointed at Dean. Bee came busting into the room at the same time I did.

"Sam? Dean? Winchester?" Ellen asked.

"Yeah," the men said.

"Son of a bitch." Ellen lowered her pistol.

"You know them?" I asked.

Ellen shot me a look. "You know them?"

"They hustled us last night," Dean said, checking if his nose was bleeding. From the look on Jo's face, I guessed that she punched him.

"You hustled them." Ellen chuckled. "Boys, your daddy would be ashamed of you."

"Does someone want to loop me in?" Jo asked.

"These are John Winchester's boys," Ellen said. Then, to the men, "I'm Ellen. That's my daughter Jo. I think you know these other two."

"Hey." Jo took the rifle away from Dean's back.

"You're not going to hit me again, are you?" Dean actually looked a little scared. She must've packed a punch.

Jo glared at Dean before marching off. Ellen moved behind the bar to get some ice for Dean. I took this opportunity to talk to them.

"Are you following us? If you're that upset about the money I'll give it back." I dug into my pocket.

"Look here, half-pint," Dean said. "We're just as confused about meeting you here, alright?"

"He's just mad because you ran a better scam than him," Sam said.

Ellen handed Dean a dish towel with ice in it. "Here ya go."

Dean and Sam crowded around the bar. Bee and I leaned against the back wall. I wanted to hear this conversation, but I didn't need to be front and center. Jo stood at her mother's side.

"Thanks," Dean pressed it to the right side of his face. "You called our dad and told him you could help. Help with what?"

"Well, the demon, of course." Ellen shrugged. "I heard he was closing in on it."

My heart hammered in my chest. Was their dad hunting the same demon?

Sam and Dean exchanged a look. Dean pulled the towel off his face and asked, "Was there an article in the Demon Hunters Quarterly that I missed? I mean, who, who are you? How do you know about all this?"

"Hey, I just run a saloon." Ellen held her hands up in surrender. "But hunters have been known to pass through now and again. Including your dad a long time ago." Ellen paused. "John was like family once."

"You remember anyone talking about John Winchester?" Bee whispered to me.

I nodded. "Mom and Dad mentioned him to me a few times. There was a falling out. I'll tell you later."

"How come he's never mentioned you before?" Dean replaced the towel on his face.

"Y-you'd have to ask him that." Ellen bounced with nervous energy.

Dean pursed his lips and swallowed hard. "So, why exactly do we need your help?"

"Hey, don't do me any favors." Ellen's brows creased in anger. " Look, if you don't want my help, fine. Don't let the door smack your ass on the way out. But John wouldn't have sent you if..." Ellen's lip trembled as she stopped her speech. Her tone shifted as she said, "He didn't send you."

Sam and Dean both looked down before exchanging glances with each other. Chills ran down my spine. I'd seen that look every time I caught my reflection for the past year.

"He's alright, isn't he?" Ellen asked.

I felt my nose begin to burn as I watched Dean fight back tears.

"No, no he isn't," Sam said. There was a shine to his eyes, but the emotions weren't as raw as Dean's were. "It was the demon, we think. It, um, it just got him before he got it, I guess."

"That's not the whole truth," I whispered to Bee.

"I'm so sorry." Ellen looked like she was fighting back her own tears.

Just like that, Dean's tough guy exterior fell back into place. "It's okay. We're alright."

Ellen kept her expression unchanged. "Really? I know how close you and your dad were—"

"Really, lady, I'm fine." Dean's tone was even but intense.

"Boldface lie," I said to Bee.

There was a moment between Ellen and Dean as if they were trying to determine who would break first. Dean didn't know what was coming if he wanted to challenge Ellen.

"So, look, if you could help..." Sam rubbed his hands together. "We could use all the help we can get."

Ellen's eyes landed on me. I gave a subtle head shake. I needed to know that they could be trusted.

"Well, we can't." Ellen looked at Jo. "But Ash can."

I tried to stifle a laugh as I looked at Ash still sound asleep on the pool table.

"Who's Ash?" Sam asked.

"Ash!" Ellen barked.

Ash jerked to life, knocking around a few of the pool balls that were still on the table. "What?" He asked rolling around until he realized where Ellen was. "Closin' time?"

Bee and I giggled.

"That's Ash?" Sam asked.

"Mm-hmm." Jo nodded. "He's a genius."

"Get yourself cleaned up." Ellen pointed toward the men's room. "They're here about the demon."

I felt Ash's eyes land on me. It took everything in my body to just keep staring at the ground. Goosebumps rose on my skin, and it felt like the room was spinning.

"Breathe," I heard Bee say.

Ash leaped off the pool table and retreated to the men's room. 

"Do you need a smoke?" I asked Bee as my hands started to tremble.

Bee furrowed her brows. My face had to be pale as she quickly said, "Yeah." Then she looked to Ellen as I raced for the door. "We'll be right back."

As soon as I got far enough away from the door, I dropped to all fours and wretched. Everything that had been in my stomach was gone. Bee kneeled down beside me and pulled my hair out of my face. When I was done, I crawled over to the wall and leaned against it. It felt good to have the warm sun on my shivering body.

I mustered enough strength to say, "Thank you."

"Mel, what is going on?" Bee asked.

"You know what's going on," I said. "It's the same thing that's been going on for the past year. It's the reason you drink yourself to death every night."

Bee's face paled a little. "Mel, I—"

"Bee, we're both doing the best we can. I'd be the pot calling the kettle black if I pretended to be doing better than you." I shook my head.

"Maybe they'll be able to help. Maybe they'll have answers." Bee grabbed my hand. "We won't know unless we go back in there."

"I can't stop seeing their faces," I said, tears coming to my eyes.

"I know." Bee pulled me in for a hug. "I can't either."

We stayed like that for a few minutes while I recollected myself. When we came back into the Roadhouse, Sam, Dean, and Ash were looking through a brown folder on the table. Jo poured some water glasses. Ellen had been at the door, presumably trying to come get us.

"This guy's no genius," Dean said. "He's a Lynyrd Skynyrd roadie."

"I like you." Ash smiled.

"Thanks." Dean didn't return his grin.

Jo set glasses in front of the three men. "Just give him a chance."

Sam caught my eye as his brother sat down. I'm sure even a blind person could tell I had been crying. A troubled look passed over his face before he turned back to Ash and Dean. I made my way behind the bar to get a better look. Jo raised her brows at me, and I nodded slightly. She knew I would never be okay again, but I was as close as I could be for the time being.

Dean still looked skeptically at Ash. "Alright." He tapped the folder in front of them. "Well, this stuff is about a year's worth of our dad's work, so, uh, let's see what you make of it." He slid the folder over to Ash.

"Do you mind if I look with him?" I asked.

Dean did a double-take, then his face softened. "Yeah, sure."

Ash pulled the string holding the folder closed off and took the papers out of it. He scanned over the first few pages and then shook his head. 

"Come on. This crap ain't real." He held some of the papers up. "Ain't nobody can track a demon like this."

Dean looked at Sam. "Our dad could."

I slid some of the papers off the pile. "And he was on to something. Look, Ash. Certain things happen each time this thing pops up."

"I saw them," Ash said. "There are non-parametrics, statistical overviews, prospects, and correlations, I mean...damn!" He picked up one of the papers I examined. "They're signs; omens. If you can track 'em, you can track this demon. You know, like crop failures, electrical storms..." Ash looked at Sam and Dean. "You ever been struck by lightning? It ain't fun."

"Can you track it or not?" Sam asked.

Ash had refocused on one of the pages. "Yeah, with this, I think so. But it's gonna take time. Give me..." Ash closed his eyes, and I could see the wheels turning. "Fifty-one hours."

I chuckled, but Sam and Dean looked at each other like they were dealing with a crazy person. Ash might have a few nuts and bolts loose, but he was our best chance at finding this thing.

Ash scooped all the papers up and walked toward his office in the back of the restaurant.

"Hey man," Dean said with a grin.

"Yeah," Ash turned toward us again.

"By the way, I, uh, dig the haircut," Dean said.

Ash ran his fingers through his hair as he said, "All business up front, party in the back."

Bee showed up beside me. Dean lazily looked up and down her curvy body. "Where are we headed?"

"Uh, Wisconsin," I said. "Right, Ellen?"

"Wait, you two have a job?" Sam asked.

"What's it to you?" Bee asked. I slapped her arm.

"We do. Ellen gives us things to look into every now and again," I said. "Why?"

"Mind if we tag along?" Dean asked.

"Conference." Bee grabbed my shirt sleeve and pulled me into the kitchen.

I mouthed, "Sorry," as I was dragged against my will.

"We are not letting them come with us!" Bee shouted.

I sighed. "If you're going to call a private conference, you may not want to yell when the only thing dividing us from them is a swinging door." I pushed it to emphasize my point. "What's your problem with them anyway?"

"Are you kidding me? We stole from them and the pretty boy has a grudge about it. He's probably going to pick our pockets as payback. We can't trust these guys," Bee said, quieter this time.

I crossed my arms. "Dean will get over it. And Sam thinks it's hilarious. I think we're stupid if we don't accept their help. Mom and Dad said their dad was one of the best. Besides, you spend your best days hungover and I have panic attacks every other day. We need some additional muscle."

"You're crazy." Bee tried to walk away from me, but I grabbed her wrist.

"Listen to me, Bee. There is something going on here. They know about the demon and have a way to track it. Plus, that whole thing with Sam. I'm telling you, something happened. I need answers," I said.

"What you need is a good hunt with just you and me. Getting back out there will do you wonders," Bee said.

"I'm not going without them. So, either you go alone or we take the Winchesters with us," I said.

Bee rolled her eyes and sighed. "Fine. One hunt. If they do anything fishy, I'm putting my fists in both their faces."