July 16th 2006
Somewhere outside Boulder, CO
"If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now. It's just a spring clean for the May Queen."
"That's me," Dani said, giving the gas station clerk a grin, popping the remains of her hot dog into her mouth, and raising her can of Pepsi into a salute before she walked out.
"Yeah?"
"What the hell is this?"
"Oh good, you got the ticket." Dani ignored her sister's lack of greeting. "So...leaving now?"
"Maybe, if you tell me what the fuck this is about."
Dani sighed; it sucked to admit it. "I kind of need your help."
There was no answer, there was only an expectant silence. Dani took a long drink of her soda.
"There's a problem. A job. I thought you might want to give me a hand."
"I'm kind of in the middle of a thing here."
Dani listened to the low rumbling of male voices. "Oh. Far be it from me to ruin your fun, but I kind of think this might be big. And I dislocated my shoulder on a job two days ago, so it might be nice to have some backup, since I'm all wounded and stuff." She chewed her lip, waiting to see if the guilt trip would work.
"Your guilt trip isn't going to work. I actually have a job going here and I'll need at least a week to get out of it."
"Well, this thing is shredding through Arnold, Nebraska pretty quick. It's big news...well, not big... the town is like podunk or something, but it's made the local papers. But fine, do your thing. I'll go alone, with my recently dislocated shoulder. And I might die. What's your thing, by the way?"
"It's kinda science-y. I don't know if you want me to get into it."
"Mm, good point." Dani made a face. "But come on! Can't someone else science it up for you?"
"I don't think you know how to science."
"Come oooooonnnnn! It's been, what? Three years since we've seen each other?"
"It's been a year," Jenny began, and then her words dissolved into giggles. "Stop it," she whispered. "I'm on the phone!"
"That doesn't sound like science," Dani said dryly. "You're lying to me about science."
"I would never lie about science! I can take a small break from science and participate in other activities if I wish!"
"Great! So you'll come out to Colorado then?" Dani cranked her car with a grin and glanced to her left before pulling onto the road.
"I don't have that much time. I have tonight, and that's it."
"Think of the children!"
"What children?"
"I don't know. There are 500 plus people in Arnold. A few of 'em are probably kids."
Jenny gave a long sigh. "Do I have to leave tonight?"
"Yes. It takes forever to get here from where you are." Dani made her voice authoritative.
Her sister gave another sigh, this one infinitely more long suffering. "You have no idea how much sex I'm getting! But I'll give it up for you. Because I do love you."
"I knew it! I'll meet you at the airport in the morning!"
"Why can't I just meet you in Nebraska?"
"Because I'm in Colorado."
"But the job is in Nebraska. By the time I get to Nebraska, you can be there too."
"It's easy enough to pick up 76 and run right in from the airport in Colorado." When her sister didn't seem impressed by the news, she went on, making her voice more pathetic. "I don't want to drive all the way to Nebraska alone!"
"Fine, fine, fine. I'll see you in the morning. In Colorado. So I can ride in your junk bucket."
"Hey now! Sally can hear you!" Dani rubbed the dashboard affectionately. "She didn't mean it, baby."
"I did mean it. I meant every word of it. All two of them!"
"Either way, you'll be in Colorado tomorrow, so I win!" Dani hung up quickly and grinned. One year or three, it had been way too long since she'd seen her sister.
The next day, she waited impatiently outside the airport terminal, tapping her booted foot on the cracked asphalt and leaning against the Mustang. Maybe there was time for a cigarette before Jenny...nope. Her sister was walking out, a neat black rolling suitcase pulled behind her, her clothes just as impeccable as the bag.
Dani waved when she glanced around the parking area. "Don't tell me you didn't notice the most beautiful car in the lot! Just washed and waxed. Shiny as a new penny." She patted the Mustang's hood affectionately. "And also, I'm wearing a new tee shirt in your honor." She pointed at her, "Never trust an Atom. They make up everything." shirt. "Good, right?"
Jenny grumbled, "Yeah, whatever."
Dani opened the trunk and Jenny tossed her suitcase into it.
"You look nice," Dani offered, opening the car door and sliding behind the wheel. "All fancy." Flattery was the shortest road to...well, anything concerning her sister.
"The benefit of having a real job. With real money. That comes from a real paycheck."
"Yeah, well, I'm free." Dani cranked the car and sang, "Free as a bird now!"
"You're also off key." Jenny said, clearly trying not to grin. Then she joined in the song.
Dani gave her a thumbs up and pulled onto the road.
"Not that it wasn't fun," Jenny said seven hours later when they pulled up at a budget motel. "But why couldn't I have just flown here? Then we could have stayed in a place that's not infested with...something."
"A. Because then you would have missed out on seeing the guy in the tin foil hat at the 7-11. B. Because you would have missed out on hearing how I dislocated my shoulder. And C...I don't have anything else, but I doubt there are any infestations. Other than the thing, that is."
"A. Yeah, tin foil hat guy was pretty funny, I'll give you that. B. You're getting sloppy. I can't even believe you let that demon get the best of you." Dani opened her mouth to protest that the demon was dead and she was alive, but Jenny went on. "And C...please tell me we can go stay in a different hotel because this is awful!"
"Nope. It's the only one in Arnold. It's this..." She gestured at the motel. "Or this." She patted the seat of the Mustang.
Jenny sighed disdainfully.
"That's what I like to hear," Dani said, opening her door and grabbing her duffle bag, then pulling her sister's suitcase out of the trunk. "What's in here? Bricks?"
"They're called books. And if I'd known that you didn't want to research, I wouldn't have brought them."
"Do I ever want to research?" Dani asked, pulling open the door and walking inside, where she nearly choked on the stale cigarette smoke that permeated the lobby. "See?" she said, rubbing her nose vigorously. "Nice, right?"
Jenny nodded in a defeated way and Dani tapped the bell on the desk and leaned against the counter.
"Not only are there numerous and luxurious amenities, the service is top notch," Jenny said, giving her sister a thumbs up that radiated pure sarcasm when no one answered the ring.
"Well..." Dani said, trailing off and smacking the bell again, this time with feeling.
The door opened and Dani glanced over her shoulder at the two guys who had walked in.
"Please tell me that you work here."
"Uh, no, sorry," the taller one answered, holding up a duffle bag as if proving his status as a fellow traveler.
The other guy stepped up and smacked the bell authoritatively.
"Yeah, I tried that," Dani said. "Shockingly, it didn't summon anything either living or dead."
Jenny snorted derisively, but Dani noticed the way her eyes kept traveling over the bell smacker. She caught her sister's eye and raised her eyebrow with a grin. He was pretty cute. Dani wagered with herself that Jenny would wait no less than 24 hours before tapping that.
Jenny rolled her eyes in response. "I'm going to go find someone who resembles an employee."
"Good thinking," Dani said, propping on the desk again and hitting the bell once more for good measure.
"So," the bell smacker asked casually. "What brings you ladies to Arnold?"
Dani allowed her expression to slide from polite interest to deep sadness. "Funeral. Our uncle Bart just passed away."
"Oh, I'm sorry," the taller man said. He actually looked sorry, even though he didn't know her from Adam. It was a little heartwarming, even if Uncle Bart was completely fake. Still, she had to sell it. There was no other reason to go to Arnold.
"Yeah, yeah, it was so..." Dani swallowed hard. "I can't say it was sudden and in a way, I guess it was a blessing." A tear spilled down her cheek and she wiped it away with the back of her hand, giving them both a shaky smile. "But you know how it is, when you love someone, you just never expect to...to...lose them."
Jenny walked back over. "I couldn't find any...are you crying?"
Dani put on a brave face and squared her shoulders. "Just thinking about Uncle Bart. I don't know how I'm going to get through the funeral tomorrow."
"I didn't think you were that close to Uncle Bart."
"Not as a kid," Dani said. "But you know how it was after Aunt Lisa died."
"Pretty sure Aunt Lisa hated you."
"Which is why Uncle Bart loved me so much." Dani sighed. Sometimes her sister just refused to play along. "And seriously? No employees?" She turned around and walked back behind the counter. "What do you think? Any room number in particular that you...stop googling things! This is it, dang it!"
"It really is," the taller man said. "I've looked."
"This place is charming as hell," the other guy said. "I don't know what you're complaining about! Look at those couches! Vintage."
"Pure vintage!" Dani agreed. "See, this guy's smart. I'll give you a nice room."
"If by vintage you mean dirty..." Jenny said.
"Charmingly worn," Dani corrected.
"Um...what are you doing?" a man asked from behind Dani.
"Oh, now that I'm getting the hang of it, you show up," Dani said, grudgingly stepping out from behind the counter so that the sleepy eyed employee could take over. It was 3 in the afternoon, for Pete's sake. "We need a room," she pointed from herself to Jenny and then continued, "And I guess this couple wants one too."
"Couple of brothers," the taller one said quickly. "We're not...we're brothers."
The clerk shrugged and took the cash Dani held out, exchanging a key after she signed in.
"Catch you guys later," Dani said, giving them a grin and pulling Jenny and her suitcase after her.
"Yeah, hey, we didn't uh, catch your names," bell smacker said.
"Dani Van Halen. This is Jenny. And you?"
"Jim Morrison," the bell smacker answered, appraising her quickly. He'd had a feeling about her from the minute he met her and that almost confirmed it. She was a hunter too. "This is my brother, Van." If she took the bait, he'd be sure.
Dani cocked her head to the side for a second and then said, "Okay. Good to meet you guys."
"I think we should probably get going," Jenny said. "We've got that big day tomorrow...dealing with the funeral and such."
"Right," bell smacker...Jim...said, "Well...have fun."
The taller brother, Dani was prepared to accept that much of their story if nothing else, smacked fake Jim on the shoulder.
"Dude, they're going to a funeral," he said in a undertone.
"Right, right...uh, condolences." He gave them an insincere smile and turned back to the desk clerk as Dani pulled open the door.
"I don't care who he is," Jenny said as they opened the hotel room door. "Or who he says he is, I'd do him anyway."
"They're both pretty cute."
"Yeah, but Van seems kind of like an oversized puppy."
Dani laughed as she flopped onto the bed furthest from the door. "Thank God he's about seven feet tall, or I wouldn't have been able to resist ruffling his hair."
"So what do we know about this thing?" Jenny asked, turning the subject.
"Well," Dani said, sitting up again. "People around here keep getting carved up." She pulled several printouts from her pocket and handed them to her sister. "See? Three families in the past month. The only connection I can see is that they all had high school students, and all of them were butchered. It sounds like it was pretty graphic."
"We should probably check out the houses, talk to the neighbors."
"Yeah, two of the houses are empty now, but one of them is still occupied...whatever it was missed the mom. I'm thinking we check out the empty houses tonight."
"All right. Then I'm taking a nap." Jenny plopped down on the other bed. "With any luck, the Morrisons will stay out of our way."
"Maybe they're normal guys. You know...on vacation. In Arnold. Nebraska. Corn huskers for the win!" She didn't believe what she was saying for one second. Dani had a feeling about them. They were either cops or they were just like her. Either way, she didn't want them hanging around messing up her investigation.
"Uh huh." Jenny closed her eyes. "If they do get in our way, maybe I'll get stuck alone with Jim."
"You're all hopeful sounding," Dani said with a smile. If Jenny ended up alone with fake Jim in the next 24 hours, Dani could smoke an extra cigarette.
Jenny nodded and then dropped off to sleep. Dani decided that a shower that didn't involve a truck stop bathroom would be a nice thing. She gathered her soap and shampoo and resolutely ignored the odd stains in the corners of the tub. The shower itself was pretty good. The water pressure left a little something to be desired, but the hot water was everything it should be.
Once she'd dressed in clean clothes and dried her hair, she turned on the television, lowered the volume so that she didn't disturb her sister, and propped herself against the headboard while she waited for night to fall.
Dani turned into the driveway, swigging down the last of her Pepsi. "So, this is...a beautiful car," she trailed off when she saw a gleaming black Impala parked in front of the split level house. She got out from behind the wheel and walked over, eyeing it reverently. "Oh wow. It's pure lovely."
Jenny sighed. "You have a car! It's right there. You're going to make it jealous."
"Sally knows I have needs."
They walked up to the house and Dani stepped back to allow Jenny to pick the lock.
"I could just kick the door in," she said after a second. "I finally learned how."
"Shhhh!" Jenny said and seconds later, the door swung open.
"Good job, little sister."
Jenny shushed her again and waved her into the house.
"Pretty standard so far, right?" Dani whispered as they looked around. "Happy family pictures, evidence of healthy habits." She pointed at a tennis racquet leaning against the wall. "See anything?"
"Not yet," Jenny began and then she slipped and fell on her ass with a sound thud.
Dani laughed and then clapped her hands over mouth to muffle the noise. "Are you okay? What is that?"
"It's so gross!" Jenny sobbed. "It's soooooo gross!"
"Yeah, it stinks too," Dani said unsupportively. "You should get up."
"Help me up."
"But you're covered in...stuff."
"I thought you loved me!"
"Fine." Dani extended her hand and tugged Jenny to her feet. "Ew. Ew. Ew. Oh! You know what I bet this is?"
"Other than disgusting? I need a moist towelette!"
"Fresh out sweetheart," Dani drawled. "And this is shifter stuff. You slipped in shifter stuff. Slippery shifter stuff."
"Impressive, Van Halen," a voice said from a dark corner.
"Yeah, well...I liked it." Dani wiped her hand on her jeans and then made a face. "The alliteration, not the shifter stuff. So what brings Jim and Van to this...wait. Is that your Impala out there?"
Jenny rolled her eyes.
"What? It's a beautiful car and if it's not spoken for I'm taking it with us."
"It's mine," Fake Jim said quickly.
"It's beautiful. I can't believe I missed seeing it at the hotel."
"Yeah, I parked her down the street," he said with a nod at his brother. "He was sure he'd find another hotel before we walked all the way to that one. He was wrong."
"Yeah, it's the only one in the whole town," Dani said with a shrug. "And frankly it's fantastic. It's got magic fingers!"
"Right?" Fake Jim said enthusiastically.
"Well magic fingers don't mean shit if you don't have someone to share them with! Or if you're covered in bedbugs and...oh my God. I'm covered in shit." Jenny stomped away to look for a towel.
"So," Fake Van said. "You want to tell us why you're out here?"
"Not if it's not obvious," Dani answered honestly. They weren't trying to arrest her, so they weren't cops. Which meant that they were after her job. She wasn't going to make it easier for them.
Jenny came back with a towel and said, "We're hunting. Duh."
"And I'm thinking that you guys are too," Dani said. "I'm not buying this Morrison business."
The brothers ignored her attempt to get information.
"So, we know what it is," Dani said, ignoring them right back. "Why this family?"
Jenny handed her a small photograph. A very pretty girl about fifteen years old smiled out of the shattered, blood covered glass.
"Pageant girl?" the taller one asked, looking over Dani's shoulder. "Hey, I think that...hang on a second."
He pulled some notes out of his pocket and smoothed them out, squinting in the sudden light of his brother's flashlight.
"Yeah," he said, skimming the pages. "Melissa Turner was part of the homecoming court at Lincoln High. The second victim, Sandra Bowman, was the junior winner and the third vic, Natasha Regan, was the homecoming Queen."
"So...shifter hates pageantry?" Dani asked, her annoyance with them fading in the face of important information.
"Sounds more like jealousy," Jenny said quietly.
"When do shifters start...shifting?" Dani asked. "Do you think this is actually a high school kid?"
"Seems likely," Fake Van said, still going over his notes, angling them down so that Dani could see too. "Next step is to talk to the mother."
"Hey!" Dani protested. "This is my investigation."
"'Fraid not," Fake Jim answered.
"'Fraid so," she countered.
"Based on what? You didn't even know the pageant stuff."
"Yeah, but got to the motel first." Dani crossed her arms and tapped her boot on the floor. It made a squelching noise because of the shifter skin, but it got her point across.
"That doesn't-" the taller one began.
"No, no," Fake Jim answered. "She's got us there. But I think that you might find that we're a little better at interrogation than you."
"Based on what?" Dani demanded.
"Arrogance maybe?" Jenny suggested. "Why exactly can't we work together on this?" She asked looking 'Jim' up and down, "It isn't as if this is a contest. Lives are kind of at stake here."
"Don't you think that four people are a lot to converge on the one survivor of this attack?" Fake Van asked.
"Yeah maybe," Dani said. "But Jenny has a trustworthy face." She pointed helpfully at Jenny's face. "She can always get the people to talk."
"Not to mention actual training in the interrogation department. I kind of read tells professionally." She shrugged. "But I didn't mean that we all had to go talk to the mother together… someone needs to talk to the other girl too… a high school homecoming court should have four girls wearing sparkly crowns that this shifter would have been jealous of, who was the freshman princess?"
"Becky Morgan," Fake Van answered readily.
"So, you're saying that we work together, but we split up?" Dani asked, leaning against the couch and chewing her thumbnail as she eyed the brothers. "Should we vote on this, or what?"
"I vote that you two princesses go on home and let the adults take care of this," 'Jim' replied. The last thing he needed was them messing up his investigation.
"So, what you're saying is that you want to go talk to a bunch of high school girls by yourself?" Jenny scoffed. "I had you made as a pervert the second I saw you."
"Creeper," Dani said under her breath, but loud enough for him to hear.
"That's not what I said!" 'Jim' sputtered. "Sam… I mean, Van… tell these ladies what an upstanding citizen I am."
"I...you do want to go to the school, don't you?" Sam asked, shaking his head when Dean only shrugged in a what are you gonna do kind of way. "What about a compromise? One of us goes with one of them and I get the school."
"Yep, because I came all the way from Japan to be tied together with a pervert." Jenny muttered. "I'm going to see the mother, who's driving me?" She asked as she made for the door.
"Pervy McPerverson I guess," Dani said. "But I think we should go back to the motel first. Lay our cards on the table, you know?"
"Gambling? Tsk." Jenny shook her head playfully. "If that is what you think is best; it's your job after all."
"And I'm damn good at it," Dani said. "I got Fake Van's real name in less than 24 hours, didn't I?"
"That is because Jim is an idiot." Jenny giggled. "But sure, I'll give that one to you."
"Dean," Sam said, determined not to be the only one under the bus. "His name is Dean."
"Thanks, Sammy," Dean muttered.
"Aw… they're so cute together." Jenny giggled mischievously. "Don't you think?"
"Yeah. We should keep them." Dani grinned and pushed Sam into the Mustang. "You ride with me so I know that we both end up in the same place. And you," she pointed at Dean. "Drive careful. She's important both to the future of this investigation and to me."
Dean watched ruefully as Dani drove off with his brother in tow. "Come on, kid." He growled and slid into the drivers seat of the Impala. Jenny plopped into the passenger side and smiled wryly at Dean's discomfort.
"Got the separation anxiety there, buddy?" She asked
"What?" Dean asked.
"You know, if you aren't careful, people are going to get the wrong idea about you two." She giggled.
"What!?" He asked, looking at her in horrified disbelief.
"Just sayin'." She shrugged and they rode the rest of the way in silence.
"You drive like a granny," Dani said, allowing Dean to walk past her into the motel room. "I got here a whole lot faster than you."
"You're terrifying," Sam corrected before walking over and putting both hands on Dean's shoulders. "I swear to you, Dean, I will never complain about your driving again."
"Damn right you won't. You shouldn't be complaining in the first place, bitch."
"You're overcompensating," Jenny said helpfully and Dean shot her an angry look.
"So, who's hungry?" Sam asked quickly.
"Are you buying?" Dani asked pragmatically. "Because if so, I am. If not, I'm good."
"Scrooge," Jenny teased. "I can pay for yours if you've been down on your luck."
"Oh yeah. I always forget that you've got money now. Sounds good to me then...pool hasn't been paying off lately. I keep running into guys more interested in watching me bend over the table than the friendly competition. I am so tired of kicking guys in the nuts."
"Uh huh. You little slut." Jenny winked.
"That's me. Oh! There's a gas station down the road. We could get hot dogs!"
"Ugh." Jenny sighed.
"Hot dogs? Do they have pie?" Dean asked seriously.
"Obviously they have pie," Dani said. "Have you ever been to a gas station that didn't have pie? Let's get some pie, too!"
"I… do we have to eat from… I don't wanna… ugh…" Jenny muttered, following everyone as they left her behind.
"There's a diner," Sam said. "We passed it coming in, remember?"
"Yeah, so?" Dean asked, pulling his keys from his pocket.
"So we could eat real food," Sam pointed out.
"Real food sounds really good." Jenny nodded emphatically.
"Okay," Dani said with a sigh, seeing how eager Jenny was to eat somewhere that wasn't a gas station. "We have eaten at the gas station twice today...and it is your money. We can go to the diner."
"Yay!" Jenny squealed. "I love you so much!" She wrapped her arms around Dani in a bear hug, pressing their cheeks together. "You're my favorite sister!"
"Shut up, Jenny, I know it," Dani said with a grin.. "So...Impala?"
Sam looked from Dani to Jenny and then glanced at Dean, clearly confused.
"What?" Dani asked.
"What?" Jenny asked. "We're practically twins."
Dean snorted. Sam shrugged. Dani suddenly realized what their confusion was and held back a grin. This part was always fun.
She raised an eyebrow and said, "What? It's so obvious."
"I mean, yeah, sure," he said. "I can, um, see the, uh, the resemblance."
Dean looked at him blatant disbelief. One of the girls standing in front of them was average height, with shoulder length hair that didn't seem to be any particular color. She had blue eyes and several facial piercings, which he found sexy as hell. She was dressed in what he considered work clothes: worn and faded jeans and a black tee shirt with a scuffed leather jacket over it. She also wore motorcycle boots. All together, it was a very nice, all American package. The other girl was prettier, shorter by about 4 inches, skinnier by at least a few sizes, and Japanese. Clearly, obviously, no questions asked, Japanese. There was no way in hell that those two were sisters.
"Is it the Japanesity that's throwing you off?" Jenny asked.
Sam glanced at Dani, clearly hoping for her to save him. She gave a good natured shrug. "I always forget. If you must get technical, I'm the best half sister in the world."
Jenny nodded emphatically.
"So, now that we've figured out that I'm related to the hot Japanese chick, can we please go eat?" Dani asked. "In the Impala? Pretty please?"
Jenny patted her sister on the head. "You can't say no to that."
"I thought we were splitting up," Dean said gruffly. "How about Sam rides with me, you two ride with each other? Then we can go our separate ways after dessert."
"Because your car is a thing of beauty and riding in it would be a joy forever," Dani said with a look at the long black vehicle. It was all she could do not to drool. A person just didn't find many Impalas on the road anymore. Especially not in such good condition.
"Well…" Dean looked a little abashed at the compliment. "I can't deny that. All right, just this once."
"Don't spoil her." Jenny scolded. "She needs to know her limits."
"That's crazy talk," Dani said with a wave of her hand as she slid into the car. "This is all original isn't it?" She gasped in surprise, running her hand over the seat.
"You know your upholstery." Dean nodded appreciatively from behind the steering wheel.
"I know my American muscle cars," she corrected. "You are one lucky son of a bitch, by the way."
"Yeah well…" Dean grinned and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Are you blushing?" Sam asked, suddenly leaning forward and looking at his brother intently.
"Of course not," Dean replied quickly, forcing his face into a scowl as he looked at the road in front of him. "It's just nice to finally hear some decent praise for the car that works for us day in and day out, Sammy. Take some notes."
"I know how you feel," Dani said. "My sister called Sally a junk bucket." She pointed at the Mustang as Dean pulled out of the parking lot. "I think she was kidding but it still...it hurts, you know? Gets you right here." She thumped her fist over her heart.
"I wasn't kidding." Jenny shrugged. "I'm used to luxury cars, you know."
"Luxury cars are a waste of road if you ask me." Dean scoffed.
"Super comfy wastes of road." Jenny sighed. "And filled with men with money."
"So are bars," Dani pointed out. "Filled with men with money I mean. What about you, Sam?" She turned around and looked at him with a smile. "Where do you stand on the luxury vs. perfection argument?'
"I guess I can see both sides," Sam began.
"If you're not with me, you're against me." Dani gave a sad shake of her head before turning back to talk to Dean about horsepower.
"So," Sam said, that avenue of conversation clearly gone. Maybe he'd have better luck with the other sister. "What is it that you do, Jenny?"
"I'm a consultant," she said simply.
"Oh. Okay." His luck had not improved.
"What kind of consultant?" Dean asked bluntly.
"Oh, I guess I'm just a higher rated hunter." Jenny shrugged. "I do the things that you do, only better and I get paid for them."
"Paid?" Dean asked, to incredulous about getting paid to hunt to be more than a little offended at the fact that she was saying she was better than him. He wasn't the one who had landed on his ass in shifter goo. "By who?"
"The government," she said.
"That's why she makes the big bucks," Dani said, giving Jenny a smile. "She even has health insurance!"
"Yep, dental and all." She beamed at her sister.
"It's impressive...Way more impressive than this diner, by the way," Dani said as they pulled up in front of the place and took in the view. The tin roof was rusty and the rust had tracked like copper tears down the sides near the downspouts. The wooden handrail looked rickety at best and like attempted murder at worst and the windows were foggy.
"Well, it has to be better than convenience store crap," Jenny muttered.
"Who cares as long as they have pie and cheeseburgers?" Dean got out and slammed his door.
"I'm not going to admit it to him," Dani muttered to Jenny. "But that sounds perfect."
"Are you going doe eyed for him?" Jenny asked with a wry grin.
"They always do." Sam sighed from behind them. "Rumor has it that he has," He made air quotes. "A perfect face."
"But you look like a puppy," Dani said, wanting to make him feel better. From his heavy sigh, she could tell that she'd been off the mark. "Anyway, no, I'm not going doe eyed for Dean. I just like his car and his food choices." She held the diner door open for her sister.
"I'm sure he has more going for him than just his face, car and eating habits." Jenny winked and slid into a booth.
"Hmmmm," Dani said speculatively, sliding into the other side of the booth.
Dean sat down beside Dani and Sam dropped down beside Jenny. Sam was surprised that Dean hadn't made a bigger play for Jenny, personally. She was...well, hell. She was a busty Asian beauty.
The waitress walked over slowly, looking down at her order pad.
"What can I getcha?" she asked in a monotone.
"Pepsi," Dani said.
"Coke okay?" the woman asked.
"Would you substitute heaven for hell?" When the waitress didn't even react Dani sighed. "Make mine coffee."
"Water with lemon." Jenny said.
"We don't have lemon."
"But you do have water, I hope," Jenny responded sweetly.
"Sure. And you boys?" The woman looked back and forth between them.
"Coffee," they answered.
She started to shuffle away but Dean said, "And you have pie, right?"
"Apple and cherry," she said without looking over her shoulder.
"She's my cherry pie," Dani sang under her breath.
"Taste so good make a grown man cry," Dean responded.
"Sweet cherry pie!" they sang together.
"Oh no." Jenny dropped her head to the table. "I had to listen to this all the way from Boulder."
"I had to listen to that for 18 years," Sam said sympathetically. "And now I've come full circle and the music hasn't changed."
"There's a jukebox." Jenny said enthusiastically. "Move! I'm going to put on something to make the horror go away!"
"Hey!" Dani said as Sam stood up to let Jenny leave her seat. "That was some beautiful music!" Her sister ignored her. "For the love of God, no J-pop!"
"I wasn't gonna… as if they'd have that here." Jenny made a face at her sister. "Why don't you come help me pick something good?"
"For the good of the land, I shall." Dani pushed Dean's shoulder and he stood up. "Any requests?"
Dean grinned. "Anything from before 1985 should be fine."
She gave him a thumbs up and walked over to Jenny. "So. What do you think of them? And this?" She discovered that the ride in the Impala had soothed her worries about the brothers "Morrison" interfering with the investigation.
"I think that it could end up being… entertaining if we work with them, but don't expect me to count on them," Jenny said, pushing the sticky buttons on the jukebox forcefully with a grimace.
"No, counting on them would probably be silly," Dani agreed. "And what in the sweet hell is on this jukebox?"
"I'm trying not to think about it." Jenny rubbed her fingers on Dani's shirt and turned to walk back to the table, then stopped. "Hey… seriously, do you have your eyes on the chiselled one? Because I think he kind of likes you."
"You don't think they both could qualify as...okay, yeah, they don't both qualify as chiselled do they? We should give them nicknames so we can talk about them right to their faces. It'll be like high school all over again." Dani wasn't sure how to answer the question. She liked Dean. A lot more than she'd liked anyone she'd just met in a long time. But she was pretty used to not getting involved. And she wasn't prepared to give it up over a shared love of good music, classic cars, and pie. And she'd never really been into the cocky type. In the end, she'd sort of be dating herself. She wasn't quite ready for a trip that far down the narcissism hole.
"What do you have in mind?"
"I dunno. Milo and Otis? Snoopy and Woodstock? Moose and squirrel?"
"Well, at least we know which would be which! But would they?" Jenny grinned. "Milo and Otis brings back good memories… do I want these two to ruin that for me? You pick." She patted her sister on the head. Dani gave them a once over, considering the options.
"I think that the cute one likes me," Dean said conspiratorially to his brother.
"Which one's the cute one?" Sam asked, glancing over his shoulder at the girls. "They're both pretty."
"The one with the piercings." Dean grinned. "I bet she's a naughty little thing in the bedroom."
"Come on, Dean. There's no way you can know that based on a few lip rings."
"It is a well supported fact that girls with piercings are more… active when it comes to their sexual needs and desires," Dean said somberly.
"You...no it's not! And anyway, what makes you think she wants you?"
"Did you see the way she was petting the Impala?" Dean said knowingly. "That was just begging for it."
"In what universe is that begging for it?" Sam crossed his arms and leaned back, eyeing his brother. There had to be at least one woman on the face of the Earth who didn't want Dean. If opposites really did attract then the girl with the piercings had to be the one. Anyway, he thought she was really cute and he didn't want Dean getting his cooties all over her.
"This one, Sammy!" Dean said. Then he rethought the situation."Or did you want to… get a piece of that? I thought you were more of a girl next door type, but I'm willing to let you have this one."
"Let me have this one?" Sam repeated, his voice rising in indignation. "I don't need you to let me have girls, Dean!"
"Aw, don't be like that. I know that I radiate smooth sexuality, but you don't have to be jealous."
"Jealous of what? The way she wants you drive her around and get crappy pie?"
"What?" Dean asked incredulously. "I think you need to get your eyes checked because she was definitely asking for more than a piece of pie."
"Yeah," Sam scoffed, opening his menu and wrinkling his nose when his fingers were instantly sticky. "We'll see."
The bassline for 'Legs' filled the air and the girls came back over to the booth. Sam gallantly stood up for Jenny to let her back in and she flashed him a big grin.
"Thank you, sir."
"You're welcome," Sam said. "And if you know what's good for you, you will not touch the menu." He slid his over in front of her so she could see the uninspiring list of choices.
"Not even one salad." She sighed. "I guess a salad from here probably wouldn't be the best idea anyway." She sighed again.
"Salads are...salads are silly," Dani said. "Look at the cheeseburger!" She started to hold up the menu and then remembered Sam's advice. "It looks greasy and delicious."
"I guess I've got no choice in the matter." Jenny groaned and slid the menu back over to Sam.
"You folks ready?" the waitress asked through a yawn.
"Well, we can't keep you on the edge of your seat any longer," Dani said. "It just wouldn't be right. Cheeseburger and fries and a slice of cherry pie and a glass of milk." She held up her cup and said, "And top me off."
"I'll have the same." Jenny said blandly.
"Yeah, me too," Dean said.
"What the hell," Sam said. "Me too."
"What a diverse group we are." Jenny said cheerfully as the waitress walked away. "So, shall we sit here not trusting each other or is actual conversation in order?"
"Actual conversation!" Dani said, taking the last sip of her coffee.
"Well," Jenny prompted. "Do go on then."
"Oh, I'm starting? Okay fine. My name really is Dani," she said, shifting in her seat so that she faced Dean and Sam. "I never lie about my first name. I'm 25...I have one sister...Um...this is hard to do, dang it. I pretty much only introduce myself to things that end up dead lately. What about you?"
"Sounds familiar, only without the lying about our first names part." Dean nodded. "How long have you been hunting?"
"Ummmm, well, it's hard to say. I killed my first demon when I was seventeen. It took me a little while to figure out that it was a lot more common than people would have you believe. I started doing it full time about two years after Jenny left me." She threw puppy dog eyes at her sister and then smiled in a take over the conversation for the love of God way.
"I went to school," Jenny said, seeing how uncomfortable her sister was getting while everyone looked at her. "My dad does this thing for a living so I went to Japan to study near him. Well, that and because their government is a lot more willing to pay for odd occurrences. And the guys… so many hot guys that have all of the money. And I'm pretty spoiled but you'd have figured that out soon enough I suppose."
"You're all of the spoiled," Dani corrected with a grin.
"Don't agree with that," Jenny scolded playfully. "It's rude."
"She's adorably accustomed to living in fabulous wealth," Dani rephrased. "Better?"
"Thank you." Jenny beamed. "Now… you go." She looked expectantly at the men.
"Well, Sammy went the college route," Dean said. "I kind of took up the family business. At least till lately when shit's gotten pretty damn weird."
"So what happened to college?" Dani asked Sam.
"It's, uh, it's on hold for right now," Sam said.
"People who say that never go back." Jenny said sadly.
"Well, you never know," Sam said a little defensively.
"It doesn't mean a damn thing to a hunter anyway," Dean said. "I mean, unless you live in Japan...I guess."
"Our uncle lives in Boston and gets paid for it too… I'm pretty sure his multiple MBAs have helped." Jenny shrugged.
"Yeah?" Sam asked. "Maybe we could look into-"
"You don't want to," Dani said shaking her head. "He's great, but you wouldn't believe the paperwork. If I kill a monster all I have to worry about is hiding the body. Jenny has to file things."
"The number of zeroes that fill up the paperwork they have to do for me makes it soooo worth it," Jenny said wistfully. "So many zeroes. But yeah, I guess I fall into the 'carry on the family business' category too. Poor Dani here just kind of got forced into the whole thing."
"Forced?" Dean asked. "How?"
"Well, it was either kill or be killed and...you know what they say. Only the good die young." Dani's lips quirked into a half smile. "It's how I got this." She rolled up the sleeve of her tee shirt to show off the five inch long scar that started at her shoulder and ran downward in a jagged line. "The demon had a worse day though."
"What'd you do?" Dean asked, stretching his arm along the back of the booth and grinning at her. "Shotgun? Knife?"
Dani unwrapped her silverware and held up a bent, dishwasher cloudy fork.
"No shit?" Dean asked.
"None whatsoever," she assured him. "It cornered me in the kitchen and this was the first thing that I could reach. It makes a good argument for not doing your breakfast dishes. And for learning your Latin."
The waitress dropped burgers in front of Sam and Dean and then walked off to get the other two plates. Sam slid his plate down to Jenny.
"Here you go."
"Aw, a gentleman Hunter," Dani said with a grin as Dean took a hearty bite of his own burger.
"Want a fry?" Dean asked once he'd swallowed.
"Yeah," Dani answered, reaching out and stealing two. "Just to piss you off."
"Now, now children. Play nice," Jenny said through a mouthful of burger. "So, I'm thinking I would put money on this shifter being a guy at the school. It seems to be the big connection the vics share : pretty high school girls."
"How do you know it's not just some crazy jealous high school girl?" Dean asked. "Girls get jealous all the time, don't they?"
Dani and Jenny shrugged.
"I don't," Dani said honestly.
"I don't hang out with girls," Jenny pointed out. "All my friends are boys."
"All your friends come with a healthy benefits package," Dani said, taking a sip of her coffee.
Jenny tipped her glass in her sister's direction. "Truer words have never been said."
"I think she's right, Dean," Sam said.
"Have you been spying on me and my friendly activities?" Jenny questioned, pretending to be horrified.
"What? I...no! I was just saying that I agree about the jealousy angle, not, not any of your..."
"Calm down. I was just joking about how you said that right after I said... ugh, it isn't funny if I have to explain it." Jenny sighed, offering her sister the rest of her food.
Dani laughed at Sam's confused expression and took a handful of fries. "Thanks. I'm so hungry!"
"Hang on," Dean said, standing up.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Sam called.
"Relax, Sammy," Dean said. "I'm getting the lady her food."
"It's like he thinks I won't notice that he waited until he was done with his burger," Dani said with a grin.
After the pie and once they were settled back in the Impala, Dani said, "Okay, so tomorrow, you two," she pointed at her sister and then at Dean, "Are gonna talk to the mom and Sam and I will head to the school, right?"
"Right," Sam said.
Dean only nodded.
"Hey," Dani said. "No tricks, okay? I will go crazy ex all over your investigation if you do."
"Crazy ex?" Dean asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's that look like?"
"It's not a good look," Dani said with a sigh. "But I wear it well."
"Yeah, well, you can trust me for at least one night," Dean said as he pulled the car into the parking space in front of his room door.
"That's awesome," Dani said with a wink. "But it's the morning after that I'm looking for. Thanks for the ride."
A/N: Jenny belongs to my friend, who can be found here as Gw3nhwyfar. She is doing this to humor me, so there will be chapters where Jenny does not make an appearance. Other than that, I have nothing important to say, except that if you follow Lend a Hand, there should be a new chapter of that will be up shortly :) It's just that I finally started watching Supernatural and then I got all these ideas…and then I had to write them down and here we are with this.