**Grace Awakening** Supernatural Fanfiction: Book Two

Part Five: A Strange Feeling

It was almost noon by the time the Impala pulled into Chelsea, Iowa. It was the more rural side of town, the population count on the sign reading no more than two-hundred and some odd people. Sophie watched the older buildings go by in her view, all the while trying to drone out Dean's hangry speech. He'd been going on since nine o'clock that morning- something Sophie could enjoy missing for so long. "Look, there's a diner down the street," Sam pointed, seemingly relieved. "We'll get some grub and then find a motel."

"I hope they have pie." Dean murmured, hopeful.

The entire ride, Sophie's Ella persona was almost completely ignored. For once, she didn't mind. Tagging along for the ride with the Winchesters was enough for the time being, and Sophie had thoughts of her own to sort out. They were here for a ghost haunting, but that wouldn't hold Sophie back from finding the nearest bookstore first. She hoped to find out just all she had missed out on in three years- answer some questions of her own since the Winchesters seemed to be tight lipped about it.

Castiel was on her mind, wondering just where he had been and why he hadn't been answering her prayers. It almost made Sophie sick to think that something bad had happened to him. Maybe the angels had brainwashed him again. If Cas was still out there, Sophie had a feeling that Sampson had most likely shielded her identity from him as well. It wouldn't have surprised her in the least.

The trio walked into the diner, the bell above their heads ringing a gentle greeting. A brunette waitress escorted them to a booth, next to the window, giving Dean a bashful look before walked away. Both Sam and Sophie rolled their eyes at Dean's sly grin, sliding into the booth together.

Sophie sat next to the window, feeling the sense of nostalgia hit her. It was bittersweet, as she looked between the brothers, wishing they could've known just who they were sitting with. She smiled softly, gazing over Sam and Dean as they looked through their menus- Dean chomping at the bit to find the best looking burger, no doubt. When it came to diners, Sophie often based her meals off of who she was sitting next to.

The brunette waitress had come by, taken their orders and served them in a timely matter. Dean's eyes grew wide with longing as he stared at the juicy burger on his plate. Sophie looked down at her meal, noticing the replication of her chicken salad next to Sam's. "Rub-a dub dub, thanks for the grub," Dean drooled.

"Really?" Sam jeered, giving his brother a dead-pan look.

Sophie giggled, sticking the fork into her fresh green leaves.

Dean moaned as he bit into his burger, his eyes fluttering close in delight. Sam and Sophie ate quietly, and not quite with the hungry force Dean had been. After a few more bites of his salad, Sam pulled out his laptop. "Dude, we're eating," Dean barked, mouth full of burger.

"We're also on a case," Sam reminded. "And it's gotten pretty bad."

"How so?"

"Six men have disappeared over the last two weeks. All of them widowers."

"A vengeful spirit, maybe?" Sophie chimed in, her eyes flickering to Sam.

"Well, look at you, Miss Observation," Dean teased. "Maybe you're not just a hunter wanna-be."

"Believe me, I've done my share of book work."

"About that," Sam interjected, looking over in her direction. Even sitting, the gigantic man had to look down to see her. "How long were you hunting before you got separated from your group?"

Sophie's expression fell and she bit the corner of her lip. "Um, well," she paused, trying to come up with a story that might make sense to them. Something that could drop as many details as possible so long as the spell allowed it. "It's kinda a long story. I was lost for the most part, and these hunters took me in. I spent a little over two years with them, but, in the mean time, did most of the research and book work. Long story short, though? I was taken from them... permanently."