Chapter 2

"A mermaid? Come on Bobby, that's ridiculous," Dean says with a snort. He turns to Sam and shakes his head before continuing the conversation, "Mermaids don't exist."

Sam strains to hear Bobby's reply on the other side of the phone. Dean sits on a bed across from him in the latest crappy motel they have graced their presence with. Seeing his struggle, Dean motions Sam to sit next to him and places the phone between their ears.

"... gotta lotta learnin' to do. Mermaids actually do exist. Me and another hunter have been watchin' one for a while now, but he was just called away for an emergency hunt. There's a vampire nest in Maine, a big one. They need all the help they can get. I'm gonna go with him to help out. I don't wanna leave the mermaid free to do whatever she pleases though. So I'm askin' ya'll to keep a watchful eye on her. Be careful though boys. We don't know much about mermaids. That's why me and the other hunter have been observing her. Come to my place and I'll show you everything I know."

Dean sighs and hangs his head backwards.

"Can't we just handle the vampire nest? You can stay here and watch Ariel," Dean replies.

Sam's mouth falls open in response to Dean's Little Mermaid reference. Dean's eyes widen and he quickly breaks eye contact with Sam before clearing his throat. Sam smiles to himself as Dean stammers on the phone.

"B-Bobby let me and Sam go to Maine."

"Dean, I wasn't askin'," Bobby says softly, but sternly. Sam hears the finality in Bobby's tone. Dean must hear it too because he sinks further into the bed and replies in defeat.

"Where is she?"

...

"Thanks so much for comin' boys," Bobby says as Sam and Dean step out of the Impala. Sam smiles as he looks at the ramshackle house Bobby calls home.

"Glad to be here," Sam replies, "I don't think I could have taken Dean's singing much longer."

"You should be honored to witness my singing," Dean retorts with a grin.

"You boys don't change do you," Bobby mumbles to himself. He grunts and then motions Sam and Dean to follow him inside.

Once inside, Bobby immediately goes to his desk. The chaotic mess inside perfectly reflects the exterior. The pleasant framework of the house is littered with books and paper. Beer bottles and half eaten meals are the only evidence that someone actually lives in the disorganized mess.

"Here we go," Bobby grunts as he lifts a black binder from his desk. Multiple papers are sticking out of the binder and some fall when Bobby hands it to Dean.

"This is everything we know so far about the mer folk. I'll tell ya the basics though. We're almost positive that they have to swim everyday in order to sustain themselves. The one we're watching sneaks out of her dorm almost every night and swims in the lake on her college campus. As far as we can tell she doesn't possess any abilities, but we can't be positive. Other than her nightly swims she hasn't revealed much. Any questions?" Bobby finishes.

"Has she shown any aggressive behavior?" Sam asks after hearing Bobby's explanation.

"No, not yet," Bobby answers.

"Why are we watching her then? Shouldn't we give her the benefit of the doubt?" Sam questions.

"We don't have the liberty to take chances with monsters," Bobby answers quietly.

Why are hunters like this? Sam thinks, Why...

"Uh Bobby... Does she um... Does she have a tail?"

Sam snaps back to reality and stares at his brother. Dean's face becomes defensive.

"What? I'm just asking."