Stranger then Fiction

Chapter 2: The Girl with Dark Hair

By 5 am Sam was awake and returning from the local coffee shop. He walked into the hotel room, clumbsily closing the door. Dean woke with a start.

"Sorry," Sam apologized. "Ok, not really. We need to get going. I bought coffee". He held up the two cups as a peace gesture.

Squinting his eyes, Dean glanced at the clock. "Five o'clock? You have to be kidding me. We should still be sleeping." Dean slowly sat at the edge of the bed. "Why are you up so early? Couldn't sleep? Another nightmare?"

Silently, Sam walked over and sat down on the second bed, facing his brother. He handed off one of the steaming coffees. "Drink and let's get going. We need to head to El Paso."

After taking his first sip, Dean asked, "Why El Paso? You found us a hunt?"

Sam began packing his suitcase. "Well, I think the hunt found me. There is another person like me there."

Dean wanted to question Sam. He wanted to know what last night's vision revealed. He had a hundred questions, but Sam's diligent packing told him that his questions would not be well receipted. So, he finished his coffee and packed the suitcase. The brothers were checked out of the hotel and on the road by 5:30 am.

The two drove straight through to El Paso. The drive was uneventful. Sam had not remembered much about the vision last night. All he could remember was a Welcome to El Paso sign and a girl with cropped dark hair. Sam couldn't make head or tails of the vision. The only thing he knew was that he had to be in El Paso. Dean didn't push the topic; he had learned Sam's visions had an uncanny way of coming true. Plus, they had no other hunts. And quite frankly, Dean was getting antsy sitting in Phoenix waiting for a hunt.

After settling into the room, Dean headed to the bar and Sam attempted to relax in the room. It was 4 pm and the bar was basically dead except for a grumpy bartender, some local bar flies, two weary travelers and a young kid barely old enough to be in the bar. Dean settled himself close to the pool table waiting for an unsuspecting victim.

Two hours later, Dean returned to the hotel room having earned $300 from a couple of games of pool. He found Sam watching the local news. "Tomorrow at noon we need to go to Cozy Cove. We should find a young woman with short dark hair." Sam's hazel eyes were filled with concern. His most recent vision was grim and very strange. The vision showed a Cozy Cove sign, the girl with dark hair and images of Jess. Sam did not know what Jess had to do with the visions. She was dead. He saw Jess die.

"You had another vision?" Sam nodded his head as Dean continued, "Are we saving the girl? Or is the girl another crazy, mental case?"

"Saving her, I hope."

Dean hoped so, too. Ever since his brother's vision starting coming more frequently, Dean had become worried that maybe this gift was not a gift. Each time one of the demon's children was found creating havoc, Dean's concern for his brother grew. I hope this girl is good, wholesome.

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The Winchesters pulled the black Impala into the Cozy Cove water park. The park was filled with tourists and locals trying to get a break from the heat.

This place is pretty busy for her to attacked, Sam thought. Maybe I have the wrong place.

Despite Sam's internal questioning,the brothers paid the entry fee and walked into the pool area searching for the girl in Sam's visions. A group of girls wearing bikinis strolled by, Dean let out a low whistle of approval. The girls continued walking, giggling and whispering among themselves.

"Not a bad place for a hunt." Dean's eyes focused on the backside of the girls.

"Stay focused. Help me find the girl." Sam searched the crowd and found a thin woman with short black hair twenty feet away. "Over there," Sam nodded his head in her direction.

"At least she is a hottie. I can't object to helping a hottie". A smile filled Dean's face as the approached the woman.

"Hi. I couldn't help but notice you. I had to come over and introduce myself. My name is Sam and this is my brother Dean" He gave her his best puppy-dog eyes.

The girl smiled sweetly, "Hi. My name is Carla. And this is…" She turned to look behind her, "well, that is Cindy." Carla nodded her head in the direction of a brunette in a purple bikini.

An engagement ring shined on Cindy's left hand. "When's the date?" Dean asked.

She giggled as she joined the group, "You are quite observant. Next weekend. Carla is my maid of honor."

Several minutes of polite conversation went by before Sam found a way to suggest the four of them hang out for the day, "You know we are new in town and wondered if you girls would show us around?"

"Ummm….. You know, we avoid strangers. It is not safe to go riding off with every good-looking man who approaches us." She winked at Sam, "How do we know you are not psycho killers?" Carla asked flirtatiously.

"Aww, yes. We certainly look the mean type. I mean we didn't even wear our swim trunks to a pool. Pretty suspicious." Sam charmingly convinced the girls to give them a quick tour after Cindy checked in with her fiancé. He had hoped the girls would start the tour right away, but they insisted on going home first. The group planned to meet at Three o'clock for a tour and dinner.

Author's note: Kind-of boring and slow right now, but it will pick up. I hope it is not too painfully slow. Thanks for reading. Leave me a note and let me know what you think so far. I appreciate any and all feedback.