Chapter Two

Sitting in a motel room staring at the walls, all I could think was, Cas was right. What I dreamt was true, what he showed me in his dream, which meant there was hope for him. Hope for him in purgatory. Which tortured me, knowing he was still there, by himself, being hunted and torn by monsters while I wasn't there.

But what the hell had he got me in to? Who the hell was this Beth lady and what the hell was I meant to do now that I had found her. She seemed pretty reserved and happy being by herself.

And yet, there was something, something in those soulful eyes that drew me in and made me think about her. They were sad, what had they seen, them seemed too old those eyes for such a young girl. Except she wasn't that young, late twenties, perhaps but she had seen a lot, a little enigma in a blonde British chick.

I had to find out more.

Beth was taking Carl's order when she saw the two men from yesterday lunchtime arrive for breakfast; she smiled politely jotting down Carl's usual pancake order with eggs and bacon and poured him some coffee, while ignoring his roving eyes over her body. She really did feel like accidently pouring the coffee over his crotch.

Dean and Sam sat down in a booth, facing the table where Beth was taking an order from a guy of similar age, she was smiling but it wasn't reaching her eyes. Dean felt his gut seize when he noticed that the jerk she was serving was eyeing up her body, but he wasn't sure what he was feeling in his gut. He chastised himself, he barely knew the chick and besides wasn't he guilty of doing it himself to numerous diner waitresses in various states? But something in his gut made him want to go and rip that jerk's throat out or smash his pearly white teeth in when he smile appreciatively at Beth. And he could not tell a reason why, it felt like a natural reaction.

He stopped glaring at the jerk when Sam coughed; he looked at his brother "What?" he asked shrugging

"Did you just hear what I just said?" Sam asked, slightly annoyed but bemused, already guessing that Dean hadn't by his blank reaction, he sighed, "So what's the plan, we find out everything about this girl?"

"Yeah," Dean replied, "We need to find out who she is, what she is?"

"Exactly, I mean we know she is British and she is called Beth, but apart from that we haven't got much to go on, have we? I mean we don't have a surname to go with? But what is a British woman doing working in a diner in Iowa?" Sam replied, foreseeing that getting information about this mysterious girl was going to be difficult.

"Well here's your chance to ask," Dean replied, looking sideways, Sam did the same and saw Beth was on her way over.

Beth smiled, "Morning guys, back so soon?"

"We thought we could check out the breakfast here," Dean replied, "What would you recommend?"

"Apple cinnamon pancake stack," Beth replied, "It's amazing!"

Dean grinned, "Well one of those and a coffee thanks,"

"So forgive me for asking how does a girl from England, get to a diner in Sioux Falls?" Sam asked blandly as he looked at his menu, then up at Beth who was a little suspicious by the question surprised herself by answering "Oh you know, I got sick of the normal 9 to 5 and decided to take some time off travelling, besides my dad was American, so I wanted to see where he came from."

Shit! What the hell had she just said? What had happened to the usual travelling around America, full stop, no she had to go mention the father she had never known ...what the hell! But something made her think that these guys weren't here to hurt her, but still she knew should be more careful, they seemed very curious...Shit, think for God's sake Beth she chastised herself.

"Sounds cool, hope you are enjoying America," Sam replied, smiling "Sorry you must get asked that a lot!"

Was it their smiles that disarmed her she really didn't know, she continued writing pancake wide eye's order down, who was watching her then saw his eyes drift behind her; she looked behind and saw Carl watching intently. "You get guys like that often?" he asked.

Sam glared puzzled at Dean, what the hell?

Beth laughed faintly, "Regularly," she paused, "Well really just Carl, he won't take the hint, but you know comes with the job," she looked at him coolly appraising him the guy oozed self confidence and cockiness; don't tell me you think you can do better, she thought to herself. Better yet, she wasn't sure she wanted to see if he could do any better. This must stop; she looked to the tall guy, "What can I get you?"

"Oatmeal please and a coffee please," Sam replied, noticing the change in her voice.

"Ok no problem, coming right up." Beth jotted down their orders before spinning on her heel, thank god that was over. It was almost painful and now her nerves which had been everywhere since yesterday were truly raised to the rooftops yet again. She just had a bad feeling that something was going to happen. And those two guys, she didn't really know what to make of.

"Well done Dean," Sam chastised, "Why you go ask her that?"

"Just asking the obvious, trying to determine how open she is and how much snooping we are going to have to do," Dean replied, glaring at his brother, "which is a lot,"

Beth put the order in and waited patiently, Kacey bounced over "Those guys are so hot! So jealous you are getting to serve them!"

Beth rolled her eyes, yes they were both cute and Kacey was ten years younger and thought various members of one direction were hot...

"Yeah they are nice, but listen Kacey will you do me a favour, I can't be dealing with Carl today, will you take over serving him?" Beth said, rubbing her forehead, she was starting to feel very weary and her head was starting to throb.

"Yeah sure, you ok Beth?" Kacey asked concerned.

"Yeah just bit of a headache," Beth replied, "Nothing really, my shift is almost over, will get to go home and have some rest"

The bell rang to announce that food was ready, Kacey took Carl's order while two cute guys orders over, Beth ignored the dark look that Carl have Kacey, then Beth as she walked over to the booth "Pancakes and Oatmeal, with two coffees, hope you enjoy!" placing the plates down on the table.

"Looks great," Sam thanked, "Listen hope you didn't mind us being too nosy before," trying to make amends as he noticed her manner was nervy and cool.

Beth felt Carls dark gaze made her skin prickle, "Oh no don't worry, seriously I get it a lot," she smiled, "You guys in Sioux City for long?" she asked distractedly.

"Ah just on some business, waiting for some information at the moment," Dean replied, sipping his coffee, "Dean by the way and this is my little brother Sam."

Beth chewed her lip, to stop herself smiling, at the little brother Sam comment, "Nice to meet you guys, well hope you enjoy your breakfast. Just shout if you need anything else."

The boys ate their breakfast, "I dunno how to judge her," Dean sighed

"She is a bit cagey, but we have got little to play with, her dad is American," Sam said tucking into his oatmeal, "But perhaps she is just being cautious if she has to deal with jerks like Carl every day."

Dean glared at Carl who was finishing up his breakfast, he stood and stalked over to the counter throwing his money at Beth before storming out, slamming the door, man he wished he had ripped his throat out.

It took all of her resolve not to throw the money back in Carls face before breaking his nose, but Beth didn't, she swallowed he growl and threw the money in the cashier. Kacey looked to her for explanation but she shook her head and Kacey knew better than to annoy her when her temper was starting to crack.

Her nerves were making her jumpy, what with what Sam and Dean had said about business, something just wasn't added up with them and the way they watched her, and then with Carl, she was starting to get that feeling in her gut that it was almost time to move, she did have a bit saved, perhaps she had got too comfy in Sioux City. The fact Sam and Dean stuck around even after their had finished their breakfasts, drinking coffee and working on their laptops made her even more suspicious of them, when her shift finally came to an end she couldn't wait to get out of the diner, her usual safe haven was driving her mad.

Dean nodded to Sam as he noticed Beth was putting her jacket on to leave, "Right I need to stretch my legs, I'm gonna follow her, find out where she lives, you speak to that Kacey see what she knows about Beth."

Dean watched Beth leave then Dean, keeping a distance between him, pausing when she paused; he followed her in to a drug store. He stood with his back to her while she bought some painkillers when he noticed out of the corner of his eye that he wasn't alone in following her. He watched Beth leave the store and saw a car pull away following her, "Son of a bitch" he cursed.

Sam had discovered a lot about bubbly Kacey and only a little bit more about Beth. He learnt that Beth Simpson was 28 very shortly, had been in Sioux City for 6 months and had worked at the diner the whole time. She had not spoken of any family to anybody at the diner, which surprised him that she had mentioned her father before at breakfast.

Beth was English, had no boyfriend, never went out for any dates that she was invited to (this seemed to disturb Kacey a lot). But Kacey had the impression she had been travelling for a while in the US as she had mentioned once being in LA and agreed that New York had better coffee and also that she was a Chicago Bears fan.

But he also learnt that Kacey was a Scorpio, was only 19 and was saving up to go to LA, her favourite band was One Direction and she loved someone from Teen Wolf. Sam left the diner with her number and a rather confused expression on his face. He didn't learn much about Beth, from Kacey or his later searches online.

Beth Simpson was a mystery.

Beth knew someone was following her, she could sense it and this time she knew it wasn't her nerves making her paranoid. She had turned off down the alley that led to her bedsit and she closed her eyes trying to steady her breathing. She stopped and bent down, pretending to do up the laces on her trainers, while gently undoing her bag.

She then stood and walked further, knowing that she was being followed she didn't increase her speed, she just gently walked, listening to the beat of her own heart, hearing the footsteps behind her getting closer and closer to her, she took a deep breath and turned.

"Listen, you are really doing a crap job of following me you know," she said as turning then her eyes widened "Carl! What are you doing here?!"

Carl didn't really looked that shocked that she had turned around "Whoa Beth, sorry there" he said holding his hands up.

"Carl! What the hell?!" Beth said, suddenly feeling nauseas, "Listen, I am not interested in you, I have tried being nice about letting you down, but this is seriously creepy behaviour for someone who I believe is someone who probably married but just FYI I am so not interested."

Carl didn't say anything shifting on one foot to the other, then he looked down to the ground, after a painfully long silence he spoke again but in a different voice "Yeah I was married, before I killed her by peeling her skin off her body shred by shred." He looked up and Beth felt her heart seize when she saw his eyes were black.

Quick as a flash she whipped the bottle of water out of her opened handbag, spraying it in Carl's face, he hissed in pain as his face smoked and Beth took her chance to run further down the alley but she knew she wasn't quick enough when she felt his hands yank her hair, she screamed as he pulled around and threw her against a wall.

"Silly bitch!" he seethed, "I tried being nice, you know repeatedly, tried asking you nicely, but it seems you responded to the nasty way"

Beth reacted quickly punching him in the face, and kneeing him as he went down, she knew it was pointless, she couldn't kill him but all she needed was him to go down long enough to get away. But Carl was quicker, pinning her back against the wall, his hands around her neck. Beth tried to claw at Carl's hands as he grinned, pressing hard and harder and she started to gasp.

So this is what it feels like to die.

Suddenly Carl flinched and almost appeared to flash before he slumped down dragging down to the ground her vision going blurry, she started to gasp for fresh air, each breath like water soothing dry skin. Two firm hands grabbed her arms and pulled her up and she found herself face to face with Dean Winchester.