Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural, just stopping by to play.

Bloodlines

Chapter 1

The phone was ringing insistently. It had stopped once, beeped to indicate someone had left a message, then a few minutes later it started ringing again. "Dude, get your phone," Sam said to his brother's back.

"I'm busy, if it bugs you so much, you get it," Dean said, continuing to rummage through his bag.

Sam picked up the phone "Hello?"

"Uh, um, hi," a female voice answered. "Is this Dean Winchester's number?"

"Yeah."

"Is he there?"

"Is he here?" Sam repeated. From across the hotel room Dean said, "Take a message."

Laughter from the other end of the phone, "Nice to know he's still Dean."

"I think she can hear you."

"She? Dude, then tell her I will get her number from the caller ID and call back later."

More laughter from the phone. "Before the king of commitment can get you to hang up on me or take a hit out on me, would you tell him it's Hilly? I need help. Tell him I am calling about Mary, I think she's in trouble, the kind of trouble he handles."

"She said it's Hilly," Sam said looking at his brother. Dean stood up and turned around. "She needs help and said she is calling about Mary, who is in our kind of troub…Dean?" Sam stopped. All the color had drained from his brother's face. He seemed to shake himself out of it and walked over. He took the phone from Sam.

"Hey," he paused, "Is she ok? Yeah, you still in the same place? Just checking, a lot can change in a year. Ok, we'll be there in the morning." Dean flipped the phone closed and looked at Sam. "Pack, we're leaving. It's going to be a long night. You drive first shift." He picked up his things, and before Sam could stop him he was out the door.

Four hours later Dean was fast asleep in the passenger seat and Sam quietly reached for Dean's phone. He scrolled through the phone book, he couldn't find a "Mary" but he did find two numbers for "Hilly" one said work, so he hit talk.

"Thank you for calling the Desert Observer the only alternative newsweekly serving the tri-state area. For news press 1, circulation 2, columnist John Young 3, columnist Hildergarde Owyn press 4…" Well that could be a Hilly, he pressed 4. "You have reached the desk of Hilly Owyn. I am out of the office, but if you leave a number…" The voice was the same, he flipped the phone closed.

He looked over and found his brother looking right back. "Find out what you wanted?" Dean said as he reached his hand out for his phone.

"Not really, no. You want to tell me what is going on?"

"She's an old friend, she needs help, we go."

"Another old friend, huh?"

"Shut up and pull over, my turn to drive."

The car slowing down woke Sam from a fitful sleep. Dean had pulled into gas station. He flipped his phone open and dialed. "Hey, it's me. We're about ten minutes from you, so you might want to get your lazy ass out of bed." He paused for the reply. "If I am up at six, you can be, too." Another pause, a laugh, "Yeah, well right back atcha."

Sam looked around, the soft light of pre-dawn colored the otherwise drab landscape around him. "Where are we?"

"About five minutes out of Kingman, Arizona."

"Can you tell me where we are going?" Sam asked studying his brother's face. Dean was tense, he could tell that much.

"We'll be there in a few minutes."

"Can we get some coffee?"

"She'll probably have coffee when we get there."

"Dean, who is she?"

Dean looked over at his brother. Sam could tell he was struggling for the right thing to say—he took a deep breath, almost started to say something and shook his head. "I think it is up this street," he said turning into a residential neighborhood sporting the worst kind of Southwest style houses, cheesy adobe painted "desert colors."

Dean turned at the fourth house, as he pulled the car into the drive the front door opened. Sam saw a woman standing on the top step. Dean got out of the car and she walked down the path towards them.

"Hey," Dean said, casual and a little cold. Oh no, this is starting just great, Sam thought.

"Hey."

Dean stepped towards her and Sam was actually shocked when his brother pulled the woman into a tight embrace. She returned it. After a moment she pulled back to look at him, still in contact but far enough to see his face. "You look like shit."

"I drove all night, what's your excuse?" He said. She laughed and hugged him again. Sam cleared his throat.

Dean recovered. "Hilly, this is my baby brother, Sammy."

Sam extended his hand, "It's Sam"

"The infamous brother. Sam, it's a pleasure." She took his hand and then pulled him into a quick hug. "I'm glad you are here." She looked at both of them, "I set up a meeting with Mary's parents at 10, but that gives us time to have breakfast at The Hotel. I called Pete and he is firing up the grill early in your honor."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Tempt me with breakfast after a grueling night and then just stand there? Get your purse," Dean said. He wandered down to wait by the car, Sam trailed after him.

"Dean?"

"Not now Sam. Later. I promise." Dean said looking at him, then smiling as Hilly approached. Sam sighed, but a promise was a promise.

"Still have her?" Hilly said as Dean held the back door open for her.

"Of course, couldn't live without her, you know," he laughed. Dean pulled out of the driveway and headed back down the street. He patently knew where he was going, making turns without hesitation or prompting from Hilly, who was sitting quietly in the back seat, singing with the music.

"You still listen to this crap?" She said.

"You're the one singing back there. At least it's not World Music."

"One Enya CD, just one, and I got it for review, and I never get to live it down?"

"Yeah, and your point is?"

She laughed and smacked his head.

After winding through the town, Dean pulled up in front of an older building with a large, horrifically gaudy neon sign "The Haunted Beale Street Hotel, Café and Gift Shoppe" the sign actually had a neon ghost floating up and down on it.

"With a sign like that, they better have good food," Sam said getting out of the car.

"The best food," Dean said.

They were greeted by a large man in an amazingly dirty apron. He shook Dean's hand so hard it looked like it hurt. "Great to see you! Breakfast is on the house." Dean introduced Sam and they sat down.

A pretty waitress in a faux saloon girl outfit waited to take their order. She stood by the table while Sam glanced at the menu—Dean and Hilly had already ordered. "Just order the steak and eggs. He'll have the steak and eggs," Dean said to the waitress. She nodded, apparently approving his choice and brought the coffeepot to fill their cups.

"I should have let you two shower and shave before dragging you out to breakfast," Hilly said. "You look like you slept in your clothes."

"We did, but food is more important. Especially this food. You know I have hallucinated about this food," Dean said.

"Did it ever occur to you that you hallucinate because you live on M&Ms and grease?" Sam asked.

"Food of the gods."

"Food of the heartburn gods," Hilly interjected. "You still eat like that? One would think you'd grow out of that."

"One would think so, wouldn't one," Dean shot back.

"One would."

Sam looked from one to the other. They were obviously friends, even close friends, but there was none of the tension he had sensed the last time he and his brother had helped "an old friend" of Dean's. They were comfortable together. It made Sam a little uncomfortable, it just didn't seem like Dean.

The banter continued as they were served, as they ate and as they sat drinking their coffee. They included Sam in the conversation, but he felt like he had come into the movie halfway through.

"Tell me what's going on," Dean said suddenly.

"Katherine called me about a week ago, she said since they moved into their new house Mary has been terrified to go to sleep. She claims there is something in the closet that visits her at night and says it is going to take her away or something. She refuses to sleep in her own room now, and has been sleeping in her parents bed," Hilly said.

"How old is Mary?" Sam asked

That got him a long appraising look from Hilly, "You don't know?" She looked at Dean and Sam caught a slight head shake, "Really?" Nod. "Sorry," she said laying her hand briefly on Dean's arm, then turned back to Sam. "She's about four."

"And you think there is something supernatural going on?" Sam said.

"Yep, it's why I called Dean. I thought if anyone could figure it out, he could and now I have two for the price of one!" She grinned at Sam. "If you two are finished, though we might want to get going, they live in the valley and it is a good half hour drive out there."

It was closer to forty minutes later that they pulled up in front of an enormous house. "Wow," Dean said.

"Yeah, they just built it and moved in. He is the builder/designer for this whole development, so they got the pick of the litter." Hilly said as they walked up a long winding path to the front door. She rang the bell.

A woman who looked to be in her early forties opened the door. "Hilly, it's good to see you, and Dean! What a surprise."

"I called Dean when you told me what was going on, he's the expert, you know."

"I remember of course," she said and looked pointedly at Sam.

"This is my brother, Sam," Dean said. "Sam, this is Katherine Terry."

"Please come in," she led them through the house to a small den that opened up on the back yard. "Jim will be right here and then we can talk a little. This really has us flustered. I didn't think anything of it, really, until the other night when all the pictures came off the wall in Mary's room—all at once."

"Scared us to death," said a large man coming into the room. "Hilly, Dean! Thank you for coming. Knew we needed an expert, knew Hilly would know where to find one."

"She brought two, Jim. This is Sam, Dean's brother."

Jim sat down beside his wife and told the story Hilly had told them in the restaurant all over again. There was a little more to it, but it was essentially the same story. They thought it was nightmares, but had come to doubt that. When he finished Dean asked to see Mary's room. Katherine led them upstairs to a brightly painted room.

It was the perfect little girl's room, Sam thought. Pink with a princess theme. A picture of a bright-eyed child and a large dog sat on the desk. "That's Mary with her uncle's dog, Lobo."

"Thanks for showing us up her—we need to poke around a bit." Dean pulled out his EMF as Katherine left the room, it lit up like a Christmas tree, he looked at Sam with raised eyebrows. "Well, I guess she's not just having nightmares."

"We need to find out what it is," Sam said.

"A new house, though, isn't that kind of unusual for paranormal activity?" Hilly asked.

"Not always, we'll need to look into the property, and maybe the family a bit." Sam said peering at the walls, under the bed and in the extremely neat closet.

"You think family might have something to do with it?" She exchanged a long look with Dean.

"Probably not," Dean said. "We'll check out the property first."

They spent another fifteen minutes looking around the room, but could find nothing obvious. (What would be obvious anyway? Hilly had asked) They said their good-byes and headed back into town. Dean pulled into the parking lot at the library.

"I have to pop over to work for an hour or two, that should give you time to start a little research. Sadly a lot of the old stuff is still hard copy or microfiche only, no electronic access. I have Internet at the house, but you might have to do a bit of slogging here." She smiled at them and led them up to the reference desk. A gray haired woman sat behind the desk. "Hi Caroline, these are friends of mine, and they are helping me out with some research. Can you set them up?" Sam noticed how she didn't lie, but it wasn't quite the truth either.

"Of course, anytime dear."

She smiled at them and walked out of the library. "Let the fun begin," said Dean and they started asking for various items from the stacks.

"Hey," Sam looked up when Hilly approached some hours later. Dean was snoring softly in the chair next to him. "Find anything?"

"I have a couple of leads, I need to do some follow up online, but I can't take the books out of here."

"I'll fix that, be right back." She walked out of the reading room and over to the reference desk, Sam watched her talk to Caroline, cajoling, smiling and then she crossed her heart. She came back in. "Take the ones you want, leave the rest, we have them for two days." She kicked Dean's chair "Wakey, wakey sleeping beauty."

"Bite me," Dean said.

"Not now, we're in a library."

They were heading back to Hilly's house when she smacked Dean on the shoulder. "Pull into the grocery store."

"Why?"

"Because I have a brand new barbecue, there is no beer in the house and we probably should eat again today, don't you think?"

The three of them walked into the grocery store and stopped just inside the door. "I will get food, I don't trust what you'll bring back. You are in charge of beer."

"And tequila," Dean said.

"It's going to be one of those nights is it? I thought you were working."

"Alcohol fuels the mind." Dean said and turned to walk away.

"Dean, I know it is a little late, but don't forget the…"

"Way ahead of you. What do you think I am, dumb or something?"

"You really want me to answer that?"

Dean laughed and flipped her off and looked at his brother. "What are you staring at?"

"Who are you and where is my brother?" Sam asked, Dean grinned at him. "What aren't you supposed to forget?"

"This," Dean said pulling a $50 bottle of champagne off the shelf. He gathered up beer and, yes, a bottle of tequila, and walked towards the front of the store. Hilly was waiting for them.

"I got New York steak, is that ok?" She smiled, "And chips and salsa and salad and breakfast and more coffee, because judging by the amount of booze you just put in my cart, we will need the coffee.

Sam carried the groceries in when they got back and Dean brought their bags. "I put your stuff in the guest room, Sammy. I am going to grab a shower and fire up the grill. The office is last door on the left. I think I saw Hilly go in there if you want to use the computer or whatever."

Sam walked down the hallway and into the office. Hilly was sitting at the computer. "Hey, I'll be done in a sec."

"No problem," Sam said and walked to look at the framed articles on the wall. Next to these was an award plaque from the National Newsweekly Association for "Best Series: Through the Haunted West with a Demon Hunter." There were other articles—and awards—on the wall, including "Best New Syndicated Columnist." There were pictures too, Hilly with a rock star or two, a nice landscape shot and two of Dean, one a younger Dean and one that must be about a year—maybe a little more—old. Hmm, Sam thought.

"Ok, Internet is all yours," Hilly said rising. "You are welcome to my computer, or you can plug yours in, sorry no Wi-fi, I am in a hole, or so they tell me."

"I'll plug in, thanks." Sam said pulling his computer out of its satchel. Sam was sitting at the desk going through pages of development plans, maps and everything else he could think of when Dean walked it.

"Find anything?"

"Not yet, I might have a lead—but I need to chase it down a bit more. I emailed the county assessor's office. I hope they get back to me today, it's still early."

"Too early to start drinking?" Dean said with a smile.

"A little. Maybe we should eat first?"

"Hey," Hilly said coming into the office, she looked at Dean. "Katherine just called. She told Mary that you were here to help and she wants to tell you about it herself."

"Mary does?" Sam asked, Hilly had mixed up pronouns quite a bit.

"Yeah, I told Katherine we could meet them at the park in half an hour if it was ok with you."

Sam could sense the tension in Dean again. He couldn't put a finger on it. He didn't think it had anything to do with Hilly, so maybe it was Mary? Sam wasn't sure. "Well, dude, what do you want to do?"

"We go, I guess." Dean said walking out of the room. Sam and Hilly followed him.

They pulled up at the park within twenty minutes. Sam again noticed on the drive there that Dean seemed to know where he was going. Dean parked in a gravel lot and they walked across the grass towards the swing sets. Katherine Terry was standing under a tree watching the children play. They came up beside her.

"Thank you for coming. She just had to tell you herself. She was pretty excited about it. It's really the first time she has been herself since we moved."

"Uncle Dean!" Sam looked up as the girl jumped off the swings and pelted towards Dean. His brother squatted down so he could catch her as she threw herself in his arms. "You came!"

"Sure I did. As soon as your Aunt Hilly called."

"Good. Are you going to make her go away?"

"That's why we're here." He set her down and turned her towards Sam. "This is my brother Sam."

She stuck out a small hand, Sam looked down into moss green eyes and a freckled face. "Very pleased to meet you," she said solemnly shaking his hand. "Is Sam short for Samantha?"

Dean sniggered. "Not really," Sam said.

"My middle name is Samantha. Are you Uncle Dean's big brother?"

"Well I am bigger, aren't I?" Take that.

"Can I tell you about it now?" She asked looking up from one to the other.

"Sure," Dean sat down on the grass. Sam followed suit. Mary sat in front of them.

"It's scary," the child said. Dean nodded. "She came to my room the first night. She isn't nice. She said they killed her baby. Then she said she wanted to take me away so I could be her little girl. I was so scared," She looked at them, tears formed in her eyes, then they started running down her cheeks. "I told her I didn't want to go away and she said she would be back and take me away one night. I don't want to go away."

Sam waited for Dean to say something. He waited another beat and then said, as gently as he could "Dean and I won't let anything happen to you. We will make her go away."

Her face brightened and she awarded them both with a smile. "I know. I knew it would be ok as soon as mama told me." She reached over and patted Dean's knee the way you pat a dog. He smiled at her, she looked at Sam and smiled again and then stood up. "I want to swing some more." She looked slyly at Sam, "You are really tall, even taller than Uncle Dean, I bet you could push me really high!"

"Probably," Sam stood and let her lead him to the swing set. He could feel Dean watching them as they walked away.

TBC