At the start of the series, 22-year-old Sam is a senior at Stanford, in the process of applying for law school. Sam also has a girlfriend, Jessica, with whom he lives and secretly plans to marry. One night, however, his brother Dean solicits his assistance after their father John goes missing. Sam eventually accompanies his brother. After defeating a woman in white and discovering a trail to lead them to their father, Sam returns to Stanford where he witnesses Jessica's death at the hands of a demon – exactly the same way his mother was killed. This incites him to go with Dean to find their father and to kill the demon in order to avenge the deaths of his mother and his lover. In the consequent episodes, the brothers deal with dangerous mythical creatures and urban legends such as the wendigo, Bloody Mary, and shapeshifters. During this time, Sam begins experiencing episodes of precognitive dreams and once displays telekinesis.