Disclaimers - Usual disclaimers apply... Though, I'm thinking of annexing the show so it doesn't go on sabbatical. Hee hee.
Chapter 3
After breakfast the next morning, Sam and Dean had about an hour before going to meet Kaitlyn at her hotel room. That was the safest place they could think of if the boys finally agreed to let Kaitlyn try to help Sam gain control of his abilities. They used the hour to do research. Dean dropped Sam off at the library before heading to the police station. They wanted to see if they could find out anything else about their potential new ally – anything they should be concerned about.
Forty-five minutes later, Dean met Sam at the library bearing gifts - well, coffee, anyway. Sam took the coffee gratefully and immediately started in on his summary while consulting the various pages of information he'd printed out.
"Well, pretty much everything she's told us checks out. She was adopted by her aunt and uncle after the fire. She owns an art gallery where she also displays her own pieces. There's a website… not bad, actually… Uh, she also does freelance work as a sketch artist for the police. Huh. She was married at the age of 24, two years ago, but, about a year later, there was a car crash – drunk driver – and her husband died.
Dean picked up the summary here. "Yeah. I read the accident report that's on file. There wasn't much in it; just that her husband was declared dead at the scene and it was a drunk driver. Other than that, there was nothing else on file with the cops."
"I hate to say it, Dean, but she looks legit. I can't find anything that would indicate she can't be taken at her word or that she's in any way dangerous."
"Yeah, well, Meg looked good to, in more ways than one I might add, and we both know how that turned out…buckets-o-crazy."
"Maybe we should ask Ash to do more checking on her."
"No," Dean said rather forcefully. When Sam gave him a questioning look, he continued. "Look, I just…don't think it's a good idea to advertise we have a connection to another demon-related psychic in a bar full of hunters, especially when some of them got a good look at her last night. I might not trust her completely, but I don't want anything to happen to her, either. Or us, for that matter. And Ash isn't exactly good at keeping secrets."
"You still think I might be in danger there?" Sam asked a little incredulously.
Dean squirmed a little. "Yeah, maybe. I don't really know what to think right now, to be honest. I'm just hoping Ellen's 'a war's coming and we're all we've got' outweighs any desire to seek revenge on her part. Come on, let's go."
As they walked to the car Sam thought about what Dean had said. He would have just blown his paranoia off at one time. But Dad did keep us away from there for a reason. And, after Gordon…Dean might be right.
When they got in the car Sam remembered he had more information to share. "I did some digging through Alex's research on empaths. You know, true empaths are fairly uncommon."
"Unlike other psychic abilities," Dean interjected.
Sam chuckled in spite of himself. "Anyway, empathy usually manifests with other abilities. For example, psychics, like Missouri, can often pick up the moods of their clients, but they also sense energies and spirits and can see the truth behind situations and events. Other empaths have telepathic abilities, though, sometimes, it requires direct physical contact with the other person. And then, of course, there was Alex, who could actually see other worldly… things."
"Okay." Dean prompted Sam to continue.
"I just wonder if Kaitlyn can do more than she's aware…"
"Or more than she's letting on," finished Dean.
"Maybe," Sam frowned.
They had arrived at the hotel and Dean pulled into the nearest available parking place to Kaitlyn's room. When they knocked on her door, she opened it pretty immediately. The smell of coffee permeated the air of the small room. Kaitlyn greeted them with a warm smile and a wave of her hand, indicating they should come in. She had opened the curtains to the room to let in as much natural light as she could. She had an easel set up in one corner of the room and it appeared she had been working on a pencil sketch of a man's portrait. While she looked cheery enough, she also seemed tired.
"Welcome to my humble abode," she said with a smile. "I've got coffee. That's about it. I figured you guys would have already eaten breakfast, but, if you're hungry I can order something."
"No, we're good, thanks," said Dean.
"So, what are you working on there?" asked Sam conversationally.
Kaitlyn looked over at the portrait and wrapped her arms around her middle, protectively. "I… had a nightmare last night. Didn't get much sleep. Um… I find that, sometimes, drawing something out is good catharsis for me."
Curious about her reaction to the question, Dean asked, "Who is he?"
"Well…I think I'm connected to another psychic, but…" her voice trailed off. She still didn't feel ready to start divulging what little information she had, but, in the light of day and without feeling the malevolent presence, she felt more confident, not only about the situation, but her own sanity. She also recognized that hiding things from the men would only hinder any chance she had of helping them.
Dean spocked an eyebrow and asked, "But what?"
"He's…different. The connection isn't the same with him as with the others."
"What do you mean?" It was Sam's turn to prod.
"Well, the connection with the others, the others like us, it's kind of a give and take. I don't really know how aware the others are of me, but…I don't know; it's hard to explain." Kaitlyn gave a frustrated huff and tried again. "Um…Okay, something happens to you, Sam, and you get emotional about it."
Dean snorted in amusement at Kaitlyn's wording. "Yeah, Sammy, you get so emotional sometimes."
"Shut up," retorted Sam.
Kaitlyn smiled and continued, "I don't know if I'm technically already connected to you or if the connection starts at your side, but I get the impression from you and then it stops. But I can also find you in a crowd and follow our link to wherever you are. If I concentrate hard enough, I can pick up the feelings of the others, regardless of distance. This guy, whoever he is, is connecting to me. He's communicating with me, but I can't control it. I can't break the link and I can't locate him either. Now, granted, I haven't tried. He…creeps me out, to say the least."
"So…Is he connected to you right now?" Sam asked.
"No. I seem to be able to feel when he's…here, mentally. I think he prefers it that way. He's not here right now."
"Is he…" both men looked at each other, having started and cut off the question at the same time. Sam gave Dean a half-smiled and said, "Go ahead."
Dean still hadn't gotten used to how often he and Sam were on the same wavelength. He wondered how much of it was the time they spent together, what they'd been through together, and Sam's attempts at gaining control of his abilities. Laura had noticed Sam's abilities slowly developing. She'd encouraged him, probably more than Dean ever would. I just worry, Sam. I worry about you, too, Laura. Where the hell are you?...He was being carefully watched by both psychics, making him feel uncomfortably vulnerable even though, supposedly, neither one could read his mind. He reigned in his thoughts and asked, "Is he why you were jumpy last night."
Kaitlyn smiled, "You're very perceptive, Dean."
"It's what I do." Dean offered up one of his more charming smiles.
Kaitlyn chuckled lightly, "Yes, he's also the reason for the nightmare." Dean could change emotions in zero point three seconds flat. She figured it was a defense mechanism. Whatever he'd been thinking about a moment earlier had caused him enough pain to bury it, fast.
"But you have no idea who he is?" Sam again picked up the thread. For all intents and purposes, he was on a new job. Admittedly, he might have been trying to distract himself. He knew that trying to gain control of his abilities made Dean uncomfortable. And after their encounter with Andy, he had confirmed his suspicion that Dean not only thought he was a freak, but someone to fear, at least a little. This, in turn, filled Sam with self-doubt and fear, so it was best not to think too hard about his abilities. It was ironic, really, because of the reason they were meeting Kaitlyn in the first place.
"No. I know he's human. I'm not sure if that makes me feel better, but at least it's something. I figured once I had a good picture of him, I'd fax it to one of my cop buddies and see if he gets any hits on who this guy is. If not…"
"What?" both men asked.
"Well, I'll have to find him. See if I can get a lock on him, so to speak." Kaitlyn was obviously uncomfortable with the prospect of actually trying to get in the man's mind. She wasn't even sure if she would be able to since he wasn't like the others she connected with. But she'd have to swallow her fear and try or she may never be free of him…or worse.
"What does he want?" Dean asked.
Kaitlyn looked at Dean. She wasn't sure if she knew the answer, and she didn't really want to share what she suspected. "I'm…not…really sure."
"But you think you know." Dean stated simply. He really was uncanny in his ability to read people. It made Kaitlyn wonder if there was more to Dean than met the eye.
"He said, last night, in my head…He said I wasn't crazy, for hearing him…but I would be." Kaitlyn was a little surprised, though she later realized she shouldn't have been, by the men's reactions. It seemed that this information served to lessen their suspicion of her, while at the same time they were gearing up for something. She figured a hunt. It was interesting to watch as both men processed the information. She could almost literally see the wheels turning as both thought through this newest mystery. "Look, I'm glad you both find this interesting enough to want to help, but it can wait and we still haven't talked about why we're all here in the first place." The mood in the room shifted back to apprehension, nervousness, and a little fear.
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tbc.
Thanks again for the kind reviews and interest. I appreciate it.
A/N Thanks again to my beta-er and editors extraordinaire. Love you guys - J.A. Carlton, Mom, and Mei mei.
