My name is Amber and this is how I met the Winchesters.

Normal day, completely normal, rainy, but normal for my usually uneventful town. I say usually because there has been a string of… well violent crimes, always against females and always men that did the crime. I know these facts because I'm a busy body not the annoying kind that everyone hates, though. I'm the curious person I love knowing things, learning things, and figuring out puzzles. It certainly helps that people like talking to me, I've been told that I'm a wonderful at listening always have been. It has come in handy many times…

I'm getting off track here let me get back to telling it as it happened it's always easier that way rather than worry about tenses isn't it?

I'm sitting in the diner its right across from the police station so there is always cop chatter. It being Saturday and me not having friends it is my hang out, best place to hear all the good stuff. When I first started coming here to do school work, as a freshman in high school, I found the sweet spot where I could sit and see everyone and it wasn't too hard to tune into other people's conversations. Today I sit in the sweet spot with a book I've read a million times listening to a couple officers talk about the latest case, the 5th of its kind I've surmised. Another girl was attacked this one survived but only barely. I focus a little harder peering from behind my book so I can see their lips as they talk. Have you noticed how that helps when you are ease dropping?

"Raped the docs say, she won't talk to anyone not even a female officer…. they….…. nightmares…. monitor…... Hear.…. blames herself. That's the only information they got." The officer said, I didn't catch it all because he was talking with his mouth full. Gross.

I flick my eyes to the door when I hear the jingle of the bell. Two men in suits walk in one is very tall with kind of shaggy brown hair and the other man was also tall but shorter than the first with short dark blondish hair and broad shoulders. Very handsome men I must say and very much out of place amongst the officers they walk different I don't how to describe it maybe it's a level of confidence that I don't see often. I notice they start to do a survey of the place; I avert my eyes back to my book quickly I keep my eyes down. I already know what they see; the two cops at the center table not far from me, no one at the counter besides staff, and one table away from the door full of secretary types. You know the hair so tight up they don't need Botox and the catty gossip. I know the harpy's as Kim, Alyssa and Alison. Then of course there's me the plain nondescript women with a book in her hands and a water on her table.

I take a sip and glance around to see that they have taken a seat in the booth farthest from everyone. Interesting, that usually means people want a private conversation. I smile a little, those are always fascinating. I don't bother tuning back in to the police officers again. The tall one is facing me almost directly, best keep my eyes down. I hear what I think could be the shorter of the two begin speaking.

"Are you sure this is a case? I mean all the guys were caught and from the length of their files it's not the first crime they have committed." He asks the taller man even though his back is to me in the sweet spot here his voice is clear as day since bounces off the slight curve of the booth that the tall man with him is occupying. I snort softly at the thought that their knees must be touching with how tall they are. There is a small pause before he is answered.

"Look I am sure it's a case, the vics are all women between 20 and 25 years old all of their friends say that they would never be in those areas. It just feels like a case Dean." They go silent as Carol the waitress comes to take their order. Carol is really my only friend which people my age find weird given that she is almost 40 years old and I'm only 22. She is a very understanding women. The one with his back to me, Dean, orders a pie. I'd warn him that it's terrible but that would mean he would know I was listening.

My watch alarm went off, rather loudly, telling me it was time to go outside. The staff didn't even flinch they are used to it going off, I'm here that often and they know why it goes off by now. It means I have five minutes to get outside before I have an attack. I shut it off and stand when I look up the two men are looking at me I give them a small apologetic smile. I have to walk past them to leave, maybe I should tell Dean the pie sucks. On my way to the door I stand next to their booth under the pretense of putting my book in my messenger bag. I look up from my bag Dean isn't looking at me but the tall one is looking at me annoyed. It would probably be frightening to anyone else. I guess I'm holding up their conversation. "The pie is horrendous, just a warning." I say simply and move on. I see a flicker of confusion on the tall guys face before he's out of my sight.

Only a few tables to pass until I'm at the door.

4 minutes.

I trip over nothing. Wait not nothing Kim's big ass gaudy designer bag. I put my arms out just a fraction to late and slam, my forehead kisses the floor. None to gently. I shakily push myself up to my knees breathing through the pain. Good thing I'm wearing jeans today. My vision is a little funny, but I hear Kim screaming just fine. "You ripped my bag! Do you know how much this cost!?" She is up standing in front of me. Of course, no concern that I just gave the floor an enthusiastic greeting.

3 minutes.

I grip the table and stand my vision slowly clearing. "Calm down, I'm sorry I'll pay for it." It's been like this since high school. These three the queen bees and I refused to be a drone in their hive. I read a lot and always carried a sketchbook. I never was popular it was hard to make friends and even harder to keep them, I gave up. Having a sketch book to work on or a book to read helped to discourage people from talking to me. I move to walk around her, she blocks me. "Kim," I sigh "how much is it?" she tilts her head up all snooty.

"$400" Kim answers me looking at me like she is above me.

"Fine, I'll give it to you tomorrow. Now move." Who would pay that much for something so ugly?

2 minutes.

My head is getting that thick feeling, it always comes before the pounding pain and laughter, the face that laughs. "Move please." It's certainly not a question it's a demand that I grit out. I look at her with my hardest stare. Through the thickness I notice Carol coming from behind me I smell her shampoo she must have dropped off that horrid pie. Kim is about to move in surprise at my tone and probably that I agree to pay for a $400 bag, when Alyssa pipes up.

"No Kimmy, remember that was what it was for last season's bag, that's this seasons. It's actually $600." I glance at her I feel my chest begin to burn and get tight. A sign I don't have much time before I can't breathe. Normally I would argue but I really have to get outside. Kim needs to move now. Right now.

1 minute.

Move move move just move

"Fine whatever $600." I glare at the bitch pushing past Kim with the help of Carols hand on my back I make it a few steps away before it happens. The lunch rush of officers coming off shift and the nearby small office buildings on their lunch breaks. Everyone comes here. There's at least 5 officers coming in and 10 people in their office best Blocking the door. Why can't this place have double doors!? With more I'm sure walking down the street on their way. Blocking my escape with their slow walks as they chat, stopping in front of the door twisting and turning to greet each other like they weren't just cooped up in an office together. Oh god there is not enough time. I can't wait for them all to walk in. I look at Carol eyes wide pleading for her to help me somehow. Please just help me. She quickly turns me around and we rush back the way I came past the two men around the counter and into the kitchens away from the crowd.

0 time has run out.

I drop to my knees on the hard tile my hands automatically fly to my ears my eyes are forced shut I hear the terrible screeching, high pitched ringing and see that ghoulish face twisted in delighted laughter. His luminescent eyes gleaming. I manage a scream of agony before my chest tightens so much that my only priority is to breath in short gasps. I only hope that my yell was lost in the noise of bustling people. I feel like my body is being squeezed and my head ripped apart and all the while I hear the sharp ringing a somehow laughing sound. "It's been so long little one. Soon, soon" He growls delighting in the pain he causes me.

"Come on sweetie. Come on come back to us." I finally hear Carol. My head clears and I look up; my eyes burn from unshed tears. I see the sky past her head, we're outside. How? I'm much too heavy for her to carry now. "There you are sweetie." She smiles at me my breath still panting, it always takes longer to get my breath back. It's like he steals my air right from my lungs. She pulls me to her chest her arms around my body as I slowly calm. All my energy gone he steals that too. My hand fists in her apron "Lou has called in Kay, I'm not leaving." I nod as best I can and listen to her heart. She knows I can't move. My breathing slows even as my lugs still burn for air.

I terrified her the first time this happened. I was so engrossed in studying that I forgot the time. I can never spend more than 4 hours inside or this attack happens. As you can imagine I don't sleep much. The world falls away when it happens the only thing I managed to say to her was outside. She half carried me outside into the fresh air, worried. She stayed with me then too, held me as I sobbed with energy I really didn't have. I've since stopped crying from the pain and emotion of it. I learned that crying only means that he has more power over me. Tears only take more energy from me meaning that I am helpless just that much longer.

During school I could go outside at lunch time. I'd spend the whole hour of lunch and study block outside under the tree in the court yard and meditate. The doctors call it panic attacks. At least ever since I stopped mentioning the laughing man freshman year. They thought I was crazy then, so I don't mention it anymore. Carol and Lou are the only people who don't think I'm crazy in fact they bought me the watch with the 4-hour timer. I hit it every time I step inside.

I don't know why this happens, I can't remember a time when it didn't happen. I just know that if I'm outside in the fresh air I can meditate bring up walls to keep the laughing man away. For some reason when I am inside the walls begin to crumble. The imaginary barrier of nature that I build for myself withers in the stifling air of buildings. She is still talking, but not to me. She's talking about that first time she saw this happen. Why would she be talking about that. Then I hear a man's voice.

"Why does this happen?" He asked. Oh, it's the new man the taller one, not Dean. I feel Carol shake her head unwilling to tell them all she knows. Not that we know why it happens but she doesn't like lying so she won't just tell them it's claustrophobia or something.

"The doctors say Is just a panic attack, she'll be alright." She insists rocking me slowly. She must be awfully uncomfortable crumpled on the ground like this, but I still can't move. I'm looking at the brick of the building next to the diner when all of a sudden bright green eyes are staring at me. I blink slowly at him and his brow creases. He is very handsome up close, he has a lovely face, very well structured, and a few almost invisible scars here and there, he's looking at me like I'm a puzzle. From the stern set of his lips I can just tell he hates puzzles. "What?" I manage to force out. I want to know how I got out here and why they are here. He stares into my eyes and somehow seems to understand what I am looking for. Maybe I could draw him later he has so much expression. Even with just the tiniest changes, like a slight squint or the little quark of his lips.

"We heard you scream and helped," he paused to glace at Carols name tag right by my face "Carol get you outside. I'm Agent Plant and that's my partner Agent Page." Dean introduced pointing to his giant of a partner. So, its Agent Dean Plant and Agent Mystery Page.

"Can you tell us what you just experienced?" Agent Page asked me. I couldn't answer him of course I could barely get out asking Dean what. I let out a heavy sigh. I must have slumped more on Carol because I hear her let out a little pained groan. I frown she shouldn't be on the ground with me, we are both too old for this. She shifts uncomfortably beneath me.

"She won't be able to answer you yet, it takes her some time to recover. It may be near a half hour before she can move and speak properly again. These attacks sap everything out of her." Carol answered for me. I feel her keep trying to shift into a better position. I tilt my head back until it falls far enough that I can see her face. She is still stroking my hair in a gesture of comfort. It works she always comforts me. "Up, ok" I tell her. I want her to get up off the ground. Dean is still crouched on my level he too has noticed her ache I'm sure. "No, Babycakes I'm here for you." She protests I smile softly at her mothering.

"We'll take care of her until she is alright again." Agent Tall tells her as I feel Dean, I know he said he was an agent but his eyes don't say agent to me, slide his hand between Carol and me his hand coming to rest between my shoulder blades. I let my head drop forward again and I can see him. He looks pretty intense like he needs to know something. I have seen that look on my own face. I'm not sure I will have his answers though.

"Yes." I agree using up the little energy I had gathered at this point. Carol relents at my permission and knowing that her husband needs help in the diner winning her over. I smile when she kisses my forehead and relinquished her hold on me to Dean. He guides my head to his shoulder his arm now fully around my upper back. I hear her telling them to take good care of me and telling me to call her later. She knows I will. I think she just wants them to know that she expects me to call. Such a cautious women and I love her all the more for it. I hear the back door open and close again.

Dean slips his other arm carefully under my legs. "I'm going to pick you up okay. We are going to sit in our car. We don't much like camping out on the damp ground in an ally." he jokes. I move my head the barest amounts against his shoulder to acknowledge him. As soon as I did he lifted me as if I were nothing. He smells good. Like berry hotel shampoo, leather even though he isn't wearing any and a thick scent that is defiantly masculine and natural it's not wholly pleasant maybe he showered a couple days ago. I think if he was fully clean it would be nice. He doesn't wear any cologne I hate that chemical stuff. I can see out of the corner of my eye that his partner is walking ahead of us and looking around discreetly. I can feel Deans chest muscles tight against my shoulder his arms securely around me not even shaking with the strain of my weight. The two are silent as we walk. Well they walk I'm just along for the ride. The nice warm comfortable swaying ride.

I must have fallen asleep. Which is very abnormal, I never fall asleep after an attack. I always stay awake I never feel safe enough to sleep. I'm always afraid that the vision will come back again. I don't open my eyes just yet I take in a deep breath. The smell of leather, salt and car fill my nostrils and what I think might be gun powder I hadn't been around guns much just the one time my dad took me to the shooting range and this is what it smelt like. I begin to take notice of the feeling of a car seat against my cheek and forehead and all along my side. I guess I am curled up in their car. The leather does smell a bit like Dean. Or is it that Dean smells like the car.

I must have been asleep for a while because as I turn over onto my back I feel normal again. I finally open my eyes and see the ceiling of the car and just to my right the heads of the two Agents looking at me. I smile a bit shyly and reach my hand up to grip the middle front seat, the fact that there is a middle means this is an old car, pulling myself into a seated position with a groan. Urgh, my body ached, my head still had a faint irritating tingle.