Disclaimer: Still don't own anything...

A/N: A big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this story and especially to the two of you who left reviews, I love to hear what you think!

Chapter Two

"So where do you think we should look? Is there anywhere in particular that this thing likes to hide the kids?"

It was morning and it hadn't taken Dean long to convince Sam that they should abandon the idea of questioning the other parents and carers and focus on finding any surviving children. Having showered and eaten, they were now sitting at the small table in their motel room poring over maps of the area.

"Well there was some mention of caves but I think anywhere the kids wouldn't be found would be fair game."

"It looks like there's a wooded area here," Dean pointed at a spot a couple of miles east of Evanston, "Probably lots of places to hide a kid out there."

"I guess."

"Well let's start there then." Dean grabbed the map and Sam followed him out the door.

***

The first thing Dean noticed as he pulled the Impala off the road was that the wooded area was a hell of a lot bigger than it had seemed on the map. It could take a couple of days for him and Sam to check the place thoroughly. Days that the kids, if they were still alive, might not have. He could tell from Sam's expression that his brother was thinking roughly the same thing.

"Come on Sammy. We have to try." He opened the door with a creak and left the car as Sam did the same.

Meeting at the Impala's trunk they promptly began to argue over what weapons they should take. Dean wished they could take everything with them, given they didn't know how to kill the ijiraq, but unfortunately Sam took him seriously when he said as much.

"Dean, we can't carry everything. Not unless you're keen on having a broken back."

"Well then what do you suggest oh brainy one? Oh, wait – that's right. You haven't got a clue how to kill the damn thing."

"Dean, we're not kids and we won't be playing hide and seek. It's probably not going to go after us. Hell, it might not even be here for all we know."

"Yeah well, if it is around, don't you think it might be a little pissed that we're planning to rescue its little hostages?"

"Dean, I repeat – we cannot physically carry all those weapons…"

Dean cut him off mid sentence. "I realise I'm not the one who scored a full ride to Stanford but I'm not stupid! If it was possible to carry all those weapons at once I'd probably keep them in a bag instead of all over the trunk. Look, you've been reading about this thing so tell me – what do you think might hurt it?"

Sam thought for a moment. "Well it isn't a spirit so salt probably isn't going to do much… let's just take guns, a few different types of rounds, and some holy water. That should just about cover us don't you think? Oh, and knives."

Dean nodded. "Sounds good to me. Now let's get going, daylight's wasting."

Fully equipped, they jumped the fence and entered the trees.

***

Midday came and went. Dean's stomach was growling it's displeasure at the lack of food and he would have loved some caffeine. After reluctantly agreeing with Sam that they'd cover more ground more quickly if they split up the brothers had separated and despite their arrangement to call each other to check in every fifteen minutes Dean was feeling lonely. Right now he would have happily put up with whiny Sam, argumentative Sam or even prank pulling Sam just to have some company. He'd seen no trace of anything supernatural so far. In fact the only living thing he'd seen other than various trees and plants was a squirrelly looking thing that scooted up a tree at his approach. The trees all looked the same and if Dean didn't have a well defined sense of direction he would have had no idea which way it was to the Impala. It would be ridiculously easy to lose someone in here.

As he continued on, swearing a few times as he tripped on hidden tree roots, he became aware that he could hear something. It sounded like running water and it seemed to be coming from the general direction in which he was heading. He couldn't remember seeing a river marked on the map but that didn't mean much. He'd been looking for somewhere you could hide a child and a river just didn't seem like a likely place. Sam would probably remember; his brother seemed to absorb even details that Dean thought irrelevant.

Before long a stream came into view through the trees. As Dean drew closer he thought he could hear something other than the sound of water chattering over rocks. A human voice perhaps? It was faint and Dean couldn't make out what it was saying, but as he listened he was filled with fresh hope that at least one of the kids was alive. He set off, following the sound, hoping that it wasn't the sound of the ijiraq screwing with him. The ijiraq had better hope that it wasn't the sound of the ijiraq screwing with him. Dean might not know how to kill it but if it was messing with him he'd give it a damn good try.

The voice became louder as he went until Dean could just make out the word help.

"I'm coming!" He called, hoping that whoever it was could hear him. "Just keep calling so I can find you!"

Whether or not he'd been heard the calls continued, growing louder and louder, until Dean found himself opposite a cave where two little girls looked out, calling for help. The stream was separated him from them but it was narrow and didn't look very deep. Dean had no doubt he'd be able to cross it. He pulled out his cell to call Sam.

***

Sienna couldn't believe it when she heard someone reply to their yelling. She'd registered little beyond 'I'm coming'. Someone was coming to rescue them! She beamed at Evelyn.

"Did you hear that?" Evie nodded enthusiastically "Come on, big breath, we have to keep shouting so he can find us." She knew their rescuer was a man; the voice she'd heard was deep like Daddy's.

Finally he came into view across the stream. Sienna's heart sank. How would he get across the stream? She was way too scared to try swimming in that.

She watched as he pulled a cell phone out of his jacket and started talking to someone. Hanging up, he turned to face her.

"It's ok, I'm coming. I just have to find the best place to cross the water." His voice was soothing and Sienna immediately trusted him. This wasn't someone who'd let a bit of water stop them.

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