Disclaimer: Not mine.
Do you have any idea how hard some of this is when Dean doesn't have a partner? It feels weird to keep using Bobby so Dean's doing these hunts solo.
Also small warning – short bit of Siren/Dean.
Chapter 6
"So did your boss have any enemies that you know of?" Dean asked the woman trying not to sound as bored as he felt. Magicians had always been Sam's interest, not his. He was only looking into the guys' death as a favour for Bobby anyway. He'd originally planned to do it and had promptly come down with the flu. Mighty hunter felled by a common virus, now that was amusing.
"Vance had plenty of enemies." Vance's assistant told him as she bent down to grab a series of tied-together handkerchiefs so she could pack them away in the trunk.
"How so?"
"He would steal from other magicians. All the time." She answered, sounding a bit disgusted.
"What would he steal?"
"Stage effects, close-up techniques, anything he could get his hands on." Was the answer and Dean frowned.
"Is that enough to get him killed?" He pushed and she rolled her eyes.
"These guys take this stuff pretty seriously." She snorted and then smiled as she moved a cloth only to find a white rabbit under it. She picked it up, petting it gently.
"There you are."
"Did you find anything weird in Vance's stuff? Well, weirder?" He asked, despite figuring there'd be nothing.
"Matter of fact, I did." Well there went the hope it was nothing. She put the rabbit down and pulled out a tarot card – the Ten of Swords.
"I'm guessing this didn't belong to Vance." Dean commented as he took it gingerly to look over.
"He hated card tricks. Never wanted them around. Let alone in his precious cape." She admitted and Dean pocketed it.
"Well, thanks for the help. Have a nice day." Dean told her and then left the room. Looked like he needed to find a place to stay.
"You gonna tell me how you did it?" Charlie asked and Jay looked at him.
"Did what?" He asked, despite knowing what his friend was talking about.
"You know what." Charlie stated and Jay grinned.
"The great ones never give away the how."
"Yesterday you were sad, old, and dying. Today you're one of the great ones? Come on. This is me you're talking to." Charlie pushed and Jay stared at him.
"You didn't think I could do it." Jay stated flatly and Charlie sighed.
"No, Jay, I didn't. You're my friend, my best friend. I just didn't want to see you get hurt." Charlie told him even as Jay went back to playing with his cards.
"Charlie, you want to see something? Look at this." Jay cut the deck several times and extracted three cards from it, all aces.
"Not bad." Charlie told him.
"'Not bad'? I've been working to pull an ace out of the middle of the deck for years, just one, and now I can pull three." Jay argued and Charlie shrugged.
"Still missing the ace of hearts."
"I want to do the Executioner tonight." Jay sated and Charlie stared at him in shocked horror.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he demanded angrily.
"It's just a rope slip." Jay argued.
"Houdini wouldn't try the Executioner." Charlie shot back.
"Exactly. Think about it, Charlie. If I can pull this off..."
"I think you're pushing your luck." Charlie told him, worried for his friends' mental health.
"It wasn't luck. It wasn't. Here, stand over there." Jay moved Charlie over to where he wanted him.
"Let's not end up like this, Charlie, a couple old farts doing birthdays and bar mitzvahs."
"Beats dying." Charlie argued.
"Does it?" Jay argued.
"I would do anything for you. You know that. But I will not watch you die. I'll miss that show."
"No, you'll be there. You're always there for me. Check your pocket." Jay told him, smiling slightly and Charlie checked his coat pocket. It was empty so he checked his shirt pocket and pulled out the ace of hearts. Charlie laughed as he held the card up.
"That's good, Jay. That's pretty damn good."
"I can do it, Charlie. I want to do it." Jay pushed and Charlie nodded, making Jay laugh happily.
"It's a lame gig. I'm in a fleabag hotel doing this man-of-the-people crap, and freaking Angel's in Vegas doing Cirque du Soleil! That should have been mine." Jeb sat down at a table, still talking on the phone. Dean approached the adjacent table where Charlie and Vernon were sitting.
"You Vernon Haskell?" Dean asked as he joined them
"Who's asking?" Vernon asked and Dean pulled out an FBI id.
"Federal agent. Ulrich. Looking into the death of Patrick Vance." He told the man and then watched as Jeb sat down opposite Jay.
"I'm Jeb Dexter. This is Devil Twist. We're chilling at the International Magicians' Convention, which is a dope chance to tip my hat to the wicked cats who came before me. Smoking hot effect last night, Jim."
"Jay." Jay said and Jeb stared at him.
"Huh?" Jeb asked.
"My name is Jay."
"Yeah, whatever. We can loop it later." Jeb told him, not seeming to actually care.
"What a douche bag." Vernon muttered and Dean nodded.
"Couldn't agree more. Is this familiar to you?" Dean asked, pulling out the card he'd gotten off Vance's assistant.
"Should it be?" Vernon asked him.
"Well, I heard that you used tarot cards in your act."
"My act?" Vernon asked and then laughed.
"That was a long time ago. I haven't touched a deck in years, you know..." Vernon held up his shaking hands.
"Do you know someone that might use them now?"
"Well, there was a guy down on Bleeker Street." Vernon offered, thinking it over.
"Oh, yeah. He, he peddles that kind of specialty stuff." Charlie offered.
"Did he have a problem with Vance?" Dean asked them and Vernon nodded.
"Matter of fact, Vance crossed him about a year ago. Probably cost him fifty grand in royalties." Vernon explained and Charlie nodded in agreement.
"You know the exact address?"
"Four twenty-six Bleeker."
"Ask for Chief." Charlie added.
"Chief. Thank you." Dean told them and then he got up from the table to leave. He turned back at the door and stared at the gathered magicians. He felt kind of sorry for the old guys trying to recapture old glory.
"He's crazy, and you know it." Vernon snapped at Charlie as they looked around the room.
"He says he can do it." Charlie answered and Vernon just stared at him.
"Did you even try to talk him out of it?" He demanded.
"Till I was blue in the face. But I tell you, Vernon, there was...there was something in his eyes."
"'In his eyes'? You're both nuts." Vernon snapped as Dean approached.
"The Chief, huh?" he grumbled.
"What's the matter? Chief not your type?" Vernon asked and Charlie smirked making Dean smirk back.
"You know, I could have you both arrested for obstruction of justice." He told them and Vernon snorted.
"How? You're no Fed."
"We con people for a living, son. Takes more than a fake badge to get past us." Charlie added and Dean laughed.
"You got me. Yeah, I—I am actually—an aspiring magician." Dean mumbled, not sure what else to say and Charlie grinned, slinging an arm around his shoulders.
"You want to learn something? Stick around." The older man told him and Dean relaxed a bit, seeing they bought the lie.
"Ladies and gentlemen, what you're about to witness is a feat so daring, So dangerous, even the great Houdini dared not attempt it. I give to you...The executioner!" Jay suddenly announced. Dean watched as Jay explained what was going to happen, calling someone up form the audience to verify the jacket was genuine.
"Now, sir, as you can see, this jacket is the real article. Thank you, sir. You may take your seat. Now, I will have one minute - 60 seconds -To escape certain death. Let's see if I can do it." The curtain fell and Jay's silhouette could be seen struggling to get out of the straightjacket.
"I don't think he's gonna make it." Dean whispered. Jay pushed the curtain aside, unharmed and Dean grinned.
"Oh! That was amazing! That was freakin' amazing!" And then it hit him and he frowned.
"That was...not humanly possible." He mumbled, looking around.
"Looks like this guy Jay was a pretty big deal in the '70s." Bobby told him and Dean frowned, not that his friend could see it over the phone.
"Which in magician land means what, exactly?" he asked as he dug his dinner out of the bag.
"Big enough to play radio city music hall. And yes, that was a big deal back then."
"What got him stuck in their "where are they now?" File?" Dean asked, taking a bite out of his burger.
"He got old."
"Okay, so maybe incredible Jay is using real magic to stage a comeback." Dean took a swallow of beer.
"It's possible. Some kind of spell that works a death transference." Bobby told him as he searched though his books. He had to stop to sneeze and Dean chuckled.
"How does the tarot card mix into it?"
"I don't know." Bobby answered.
"Man...hope I die before I get old. Whole thing seems brutal, don't it?"
"Watch your tongue boy." Bobby grumbled at him and Dean smiled.
"What?" Dean asked innocently and Bobby was happy to hear him playful. It wasn't something he'd heard since before Dean had died.
"Very funny. I'll see what I can find. You keep looking." Bobby told him and Dean nodded.
"Yes sir."
"Got something?" Bobby asked as he picked up the phone and Dean shook his head, how had Bobby known it was him?
"Maid found Jeb hanging from the ceiling fan. Police think it was a suicide." Dean pulled the tarot card out of his pocket to look at.
"I beg to differ. Pulled a little sleight of hand myself, found another tarot card, the hanged man."
"On Dexter's body?" Bobby asked for confirmation.
"Yeah, so I'm thinking if this spell is a death transference, then these cards work like black-Magic targets."
"Any connection between the victims?" Bobby asked him as he found the section on death transference in his book.
"Jeb was a total douche bag to Jay yesterday."
"What about the first vic? Vance?"
"Asked around. Apparently, Vance was heckling Jay at the bar the day he was killed." Dean answered.
"Okay, so Jay sneaks a card into Vance's pocket, does the table of death and Vance takes 10 swords to the chest. Then Jay slips a noose and Jeb doesn't. Hell of a trick."
"I think it's time you had a little chat with Jay. Any luck tailing him?" Bobby asked and Dean felt a flash of embarrassment.
"He slipped me." He admitted and there was silence on the other end of the line.
"He's what? Over sixty and you lost him?"
"He's a magician." Dean argued and Bobby sighed.
"Well you better find him and fast."
"I know, call me if you find anything useful." Dean hung up and grabbed what he needed before heading out to find Jay.
"Up against the wall!" Dean snarled as he slammed into Jay's motel room. The old man staggered to his feet and backed away, seeing the gun in Dean's hand.
"God, who are you? What do you want?" Jay stammered.
"Now! I know what you've been up to. You been working some real bad mojo to jump-Start your act." Dean spat and Jay just stared at him.
"What? I don't know what you're talking about." Jay argued.
"Look, I know you put a spell on those tarot cards. Messing with real magic?" Dean pushed.
""Real magic"? Come on, there's no such thing as real magic." Jay argued, staring at Dean like he was nuts.
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yeah, believe me. I've been around this stuff my whole life. It's all just -It's - its illusions. Its tricks. It - It's all fake." Jay told him.
"Jeb Dexter strung up -was that just an illusion?" Dean snapped and Jay paled.
"What? Something happened to Jeb?"
"He was found hanged in his room. Right after you slipped the noose last night." Dean told him and Jay just stared at him, horrified.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Please...Just let me go."
"Something's not right." Dean muttered even as he went to work tying Jay to a chair. He pulled out his phone and called Bobby, explaining what Jay had said.
"All right, so, if it's not him, who is it?" Dean asked when Bobby stayed quiet.
"Even if Jay's not working the magic, he's still getting the reward. His shows are selling out, right?" Bobby answered and Dean sighed.
"All right. So, then, whoever it is, they're obviously in Jay's corner."
"All right, so we got Vernon and Charlie on the list. Anyone else?" Bobby asked.
Uh...I suppose I could always ask him." Dean turned around only to find the chair empty.
"Guess I should have seen that one coming." Dean muttered angrily.
"What?" Bobby asked and Dean grumbled, looking out the window.
"He's gone."
"He said my act is killing people. He said that I was using real magic, that I was casting spells on tarot cards." Jay told Charlie and he shook his head.
""Real magic." That guy is nuts. You're lucky to be alive." His friend told him sympathetically.
"You don't think..."
"What?"
"Well, the things that I can do now - The cards." Jay said and Charlie looked at him.
"You've been working the cards your whole life."
"Well, what about the escapes? I haven't been able to slip a pair of cuffs in 30 years. And then there was the way that - that Patrick Vance died. And that Jeb Dexter." Jay argued.
"Yeah, no great loss there." Charlie answered and Jay stared at him.
"Oh, Charlie, he didn't deserve to die."
"You had nothing to do with it." Charlie assured him.
"He was hanged the same night that I performed the executioner." Jay argued angrily.
"Wait a minute. Are you telling me that you actually believe that guy? That there was some kind of "real magic" involved?" Charlie asked in disbelief.
"No. I don't know. I don't know, maybe. I shouldn't go on tonight, Charlie." Jay answered sadly.
"Are you kidding me? You have a sold-out house out there. Sold out! When was the last time that happened?" Charlie argued.
"The other night...When I was doing the table of death, I was, um...I was gonna kill myself. And I have no idea how I got out alive." Jay admitted, staring out over the stage.
"But you did. Somehow, you did. Jay...when you were in your day you were incredible. "The incredible Jay." You were the best I ever saw. And now you got it back. I don't know how, but it doesn't matter. Just to see you at the top of your game again. Hell, it makes me feel young." Charlie told him.
"But."
"No buts, Jay. This may be mana from heaven, I don't know, but whatever it is, you don't throw it away." Charlie assured him and Jay sighed but nodded.
"Better get ready then."
"Jay. Thanks for dropping the charges. You mind telling me why you did it?"
"We have to talk." Jay told him sadly. Dean nodded and followed him into the bar. They sat down and ordered their drinks.
"I was just a kid when we first met. All I knew was how to cheat at cards. Charlie got me out of more scrapes than I can count. Hell, I would have been dead by the age of 20 if it hadn't been for him. He was more than my friend. He was my brother." Jay sighed sadly, swirling his drink around in the glass.
"I'm sorry, Jay." Dean told him.
"Look, I should have listened to you when you told me that my show was killing people." Jay admitted.
"Well, you weren't the one pulling the trigger." Dean assured him.
"Yeah, but someone did, and I want to find out who did this to Charlie, so I'll do whatever you say. Just tell me what to do." Jay told him firmly.
"Jay, whoever's doing this...They like you. They're probably close to you. Did Charlie and Vernon get along?"
"No. No, it's not Vernon." Jay argued.
"He's the only one that makes sense. Charlie and Vernon were your family, Jay and now Charlie's gone." Dean argued as gently as he could.
"Yeah, but...they butted heads sometimes, but Vernon could never do something like this."
"See, the thing about real magic is it's a whole lot like crack. People do surprising things once they get a taste of it." Dean told him and Jay looked down.
"You better be damn sure about this. Vernon's all I got left."
"Just talked to the head of the convention. Headliner gig is yours." Vernon said as he walked onto the stage. Jay turned around sadly.
"What? You don't want it?"
"A day ago, if you told me I'd be standing on this stage...No, I can't do it, Vernon." Jay told him softly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Charlie's gone." Jay whispered.
"Charlie would have wanted you to go on. This is your shot. It's our shot."
"Really? This is what Charlie would have wanted? Charlie's dead." Jay argued.
"Hey, he was my friend, too, you know." Vernon told him and Jay stared at him.
"It's a hell of a way to treat a friend."
"Again, what are you talking about?" Vernon asked.
"You killed him, didn't you? And for what? So that I - So that we could be back on top?" Jay demanded and Vernon stared at him.
"That's insane." Vernon said and then chuckled.
"No, you're scaring me."
"First it was Vance, then it was Jeb . Even if you thought you were doing it for me, how in god's name could you kill Charlie?" Jay demanded angrily.
"Oh, you are crazy."
"You used me, and you used my act to do this to him. If you think –" Jay kept going, almost yelling.
"I wouldn't be so hard on him, Jay. He didn't do it." A familiar voice called and they both stared in shock.
"Sweet Mary and Joseph." Vernon whispered in shock.
"Charlie." Jay choked.
"It's really me, Jay." Charlie assured him.
"How the hell..." Vernon muttered.
"God, you forget what it feels like to be young. It's amazing." Charlie told them, walking closer.
"How old are you?" Jay asked shakily and Charlie smiled.
"Oh, it depends on what you mean by "old." Right now, technically, about 28, but I've been around a lot longer than that."
"How long?" Jay demanded.
"Long enough to have shilled for Barnum. And he gave me something."
"What's that?" Jay asked.
"The grimoire -A book of real magic. At first, I thought it was a scam, but then I tried one of the spells, and it worked. In fact, they all worked. So when I got to the end and there was one for immortality..." Charlie explained and they both stared at him.
"My god, Charlie." Vernon said.
"And my show, the things that I can do."
"Different spell. But it gives you a little taste of what's possible." Charlie pulled out a deck of tarot cards.
"Oh, no, I wouldn't touch those, Vernon. They're -They're still radioactive."
"You killed Vance and Jeb Dexter."
"What, you think this is a parlour game? You were being humiliated by those punks. A washed-up old man who couldn't even defend himself." Charlie told him and Jay just stared at him.
"You used me to do these terrible things."
"I used them to give you a gift. And you wanted it, Jay. I saw it in your eyes."
"No, I never wanted this." Jay argued.
"You were ready to kill yourself. I saved your life."
"Is that right, Jay?" Vernon asked, turning to Jay.
"I was there for you, like I've always been. Like I'll always be. Come with me, both of you. You think the first time around was good? The second time's even better. All the know how, none of the aches and pain." Charlie told them.
"No, I won't do this. I won't." Jay argued.
"I've never made this offer before. But, then again, I've never had friends like the two of you before. Let me do this for you." Charlie told them.
"And who else has to die so that we can live forever? What's the price tag on immortality? This isn't right, Charlie, what you're doing. You know that. Somewhere, you know that."
"I know I don't want to come back alone, to start all over, alone." Charlie told him.
"Jay...We can be young again." Vernon said in awe.
"The three of us together - Vital and alive...forever." Charlie assured him.
"Not so fast! I ain't Guttenberg, and this ain't "Cocoon." Immortality. That's a neat trick." Dean said as he walked into the theatre.
"It's not a trick. It's magic." Charlie said as a noose appeared behind Dean, dropped around his neck and then lifted him. Dean managed to shoot Charlie but he caught the bullet in his teeth.
"Hey, bullet catch -Been working on that." Charlie grinned.
"Let me down!" Dean choked out.
'Sam if you can hear me…..' Dean tried to pray.
"Just leave me and my friends alone. All right, I will give it up -The spells, the hexes. This is the last time. I promise." Charlie grinned as the noose began to tighten and Dean dropped the gun to clutch at the rope. Charlie suddenly clutched at his stomach, seeing the blood soak into his shirt.
"Jay...You picked these strangers over me?" Charlie whispered, staring at Jay who nodded.
"Are you okay?" Vernon asked as Dean scrambled to his feet, coughing.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm all right."
"Hey, Jay. I wanted to thank you for what you did yesterday." Dean said as he joined Jay at the bar.
"I killed my best friend yesterday, and you want to thank me?"
"Where's Vernon?"
"Oh, he's gone. He said he didn't want to speak to me again after what I did to Charlie." Jay answered, taking another drink.
"Listen, Jay...you know Charlie was never gonna give up what he was doing. Ever. You did the right thing." Dean tried to offer him some sort of comfort.
"Are you sure about that? You know, Charlie was like my brother. And now he's dead... because I did "the right thing." He offered me a gift, and I just threw it back in his face. So now I have to spend the rest of my life old and alone. What's so right about that?" Jay argued, getting up to leave.
"Jay...your cards." The bartender called after him.
"Throw them away." Jay told him, leaving the bar. Dean just watched him go sadly, feeling sorry for him.
Dean sat at the table, thinking over what Jay had said and really he couldn't blame him for being upset. By following what Dean had said the man had lost the two people he saw as family. It wasn't fair but neither was Charlie killing people to stay young.
"Are you alright?" Dean looked up to see Sam standing beside a familiar symbol on the wall.
"Good thing that thing fades cause I'd hate to try and explain it." Dean commented and Sam frowned.
"What happened? I heard you but you cut off." Sam said and Dean sighed.
"Well I was trying not to black out since I was being hung at the time." Dean answered and Sam moved to his side, gently touching his neck to look for injuries.
"I'm alright Sam, just moping." Dean told him, looking up at his brother's vessel.
"How have you been? Any of the older angels giving you a hard time?" He asked and Sam's lis quirked into a small smile.
"No, Castiel does a pretty good job of making sure they leave me alone and most of them are happy to help me learn. Uriel…."
"Is a dick." Dean stated and Sam shook his head.
"Castiel said he has not always been like this but….there is something about him I don't trust. Don't let him get you alone Dean, pray for me or Castiel if he does." Sam warned and Dean nodded.
"I don't trust him either Sammy." Dean reached out and took Sam's hand, happy that Sam didn't pull away.
"I miss you so much. Hunting alone…"
"I know. I think I actually miss hunting actually." Sam told him and Dean laughed.
"Never thought I'd hear you say that." He admitted and Sam pulled him to his feet.
"Sam?"
"I can stay a while and you need to sleep. I'll keep the nightmares away." Sam told him, pushing him down onto the bed. Dean lay down and stared at him as Sam removed his boots for him. He nearly jumped when his jeans and shirt vanished and Sam smiled again before pulling the quilt up over him. Sam sat beside him on the bed and Dean shifted closer so his head was beside Sam's leg. Sam reached out to run his fingers through Dean's hair and Dean sighed, eyes slowly slipping shut.
"Hey." Mr. Benson greeted as he entered the kitchen. His wife gave him a slightly nervous smile and there was a tense silence between them. He set his coat down and turned to her.
"What?" He demanded angrily.
"Ted's kinda crackin' the whip, isn't he?" She asked him.
"Think I like comin' home late? I'm workin' my ass off." He ground out and she looked away.
"Ok. Sorry." She picked up a tray of food and headed to the table. He sighed and his expression became apologetic.
"No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He told her, kissing her cheek and she relaxed.
"Long day." He excused his actions as he went to the fridge. She continued to set the table.
"Oh, hey, I ran into Jill Martin today. Gary's turning forty on Saturday." She told him.
"Yeah." He was uninterested as he looked for a beer.
"Ah, she invited us to the party."
"What did you tell her?" he asked.
"That we'd go." She answered and he slammed the fridge door, startling her into looking up.
"You're kidding."
"What? You like Gary."
"Yeah, that doesn't mean that I wanna waste my Saturday night with him." He snapped.
"I thought you'd want to go."
"I don't believe you."
"Fine, I'll call Jill and tell her we can't make it." She told him calmly, wanting to avoid and argument. She started to leave but then stopped to turn on a lamp, her back to her husband.
"What's with you tonight?" She asked.
"It's like you wanna fight or something." She turned around only to be hit in the face by the meat mallet she'd been using earlier. She fell to the ground, knocking the lamp over and stared up at him fearfully. He hit her, again and again.
"Found a job for you. Bedford, Iowa. Guy beat his wife's brains out with a meat tenderizer." Bobby told him over the phone and Dean shuddered.
"Yikes." Dean muttered.
"Yeah, well this is third local inside two months to gank his wife for no reason. No priors on any of 'em; all happily married." Bobby explained.
"Sounds like Ozzy and Harriet." Dean commented.
"More like The Shining."
"Alright, then I guess I better have a look." Dean agreed.
"Be careful and stop by when you're done. Okay?" Bobby pushed and Dean sighed.
"Okay." He hadn't been by for a while but going to Bobby's without Sam….it wasn't right.
"Why does the PD keep sending you guys? I already said I don't want a lawyer." Mr. Benson stated.
"They're lining up the firing squad." Dean told him and Mr. Benson shrugged.
"I'm pleading guilty."
"Alright, look, you don't want me to represent you; that's fine. In fact it's probably a good idea, between you and me. I just wanna understand what happened. That's all."
"What happened was...I killed my wife...and you wanna know why?" His apparent lack of emotion was long gone and he appeared deeply disturbed by what he'd done.
"Because she made plans without asking me."
"Now; when it happened, how did you feel? Disoriented? Out of control? Like something possessed you to do it?" Dean asked as gently as he could.
"I knew exactly what I was doing. I was crystal clear."
"Then why'd you do it?"
"I don't know. I loved he-her. We were ha-happy." Mr. Benson told him, trying to hold it together. Dean sighed and pulled a receipt out of his briefcase.
"Nine G's. That's a hefty bill." He commented and Mr. Benson stared.
"Where did you get that?"
"Doesn't matter; I have it. See certain charges, ones you don't want the Mrs to know, the show up under shady names like M&C Entertainment."
"Yeah; I don't know what you're talking about."
Well, you droppin' plastic at a nudie bar for instance. I just...wanna know the truth, Mr. Benson." Dean pushed and Mr Benson dropped his head in shame.
"Her name was...Jasmine." He admitted.
"She was a stripper I didn't mean for it to happen; I-I don't like to go strip bars. My buddy was having a bachelor party. And...there she was."
"Jasmine." Dean fought back a chuckle.
"She came right up to me...and I-I...I dunno, she was just...perfect. Everything that I wanted"
"Well, you pay enough anybody will be anything."
"It wasn't about the money. It wasn't even about the sex...it...I dunno...I don't know what it was. It's hard to explain." Mr Benson told him.
"And...your wife found out?"
"No; she never had a clue."
"Then why'd you kill her?" Dean asked in confusion.
"For Jasmine. She said we would be together forever. If-if only Ja...Vicky was..."
"Muerte."
"Afterwards, me and Jasmine were supposed to meet and she never showed...I don't know where she lives, I don't know her last name, I don't even know her real first name. I'm an idiot." He whispered.
"And you didn't think to tell this to the cops?" Dean asked.
"What for? The stripper didn't do it; I did it. And I know what I deserve. Judge doesn't give me the death sentence; I'll just do it myself."
Some hard rock and roll music with heavy beat was playing as a stripper in a silver bikini spun around a stripper pole. Various women in various states of undress were dancing on a number of stages. Drunken men hollered at them as they danced. Couple of years ago Dean would have loved it. Now he just wanted out but he was stuck trying to get information out of the owner.
"I'm looking for three girls. Jasmine, Aurora and Ariel."
"You seriously think those names mean anything to me?"
"One's a redhead, about 5''9, the other one's Asian about-"
"Do you have any idea how many girls I deal with? Fake names, fake hair, fake..." The owner gestured at his chest and Dean rolled his eyes.
"Well, you gotta have some sorta paper work. Check stubs, some way to keep track of the strippers."
"Please. Exotic dancers. Independent contractors working for cash." That made Dean roll his eyes again.
"I stay out of their hair; they stay out of what little I have left."
"Three of your customers murdered their wives. And you don't think that that's weird?"
"Yeah. I think that's super-friggin' weird. But you know what it ain't? My problem." With that he walked away.
"Sounds like you're dealing with a Siren."
"A siren? Like Greek myth Siren? The odyssey?" Dean asked and their was surprised silence on the other end of the line.
"Hey, I read." He grumbled.
"Yeah, actually, but the Siren's not actually a myth, it's more of a beautiful creature's that prey on men. Entice 'em with their Siren Song."
"Lemme guess, Welcome To The Jungle. No, no, Warrant's Cherry Pie."
"Their song is more of a metaphor. Like their call. Their allure, y'know?" Bobby explained.
"So they do their thing and the guy's zombie out." Dean said and he could practically hear Bobby nod.
"Basically, yeah. Siren's lived on islands, sailors would chase 'em completely ignoring the rocky shores and dash themselves to pieces." Bobby explained.
"Sounds like Adam and his buddies."
"Yeah. If you're a Siren in '09 looking to ruin a bunch of morons where would you set up shop?" Bobby asked and Dean nodded, yeah the bar made perfect sense.
"So whatever floats the guys boat, that's what they look like?"
"Yeah, you see, Siren's can read minds. They see what you want most and then they can kinda, like, cloak themselves, y'know, like an illusion."
"So it could all be the same chick? Morphing into different dream girls?"
"Yeah. Actually; probably. Siren's are usually pretty solitary."
"How do I kill it?"
"I'm workin' on it. But even if we figure that out-"
"How the hell am I gonna find her. Could be anybody. Well thanks, let me know when you find something."
"Dr. Roberts." Dean called out, seeing her standing near the admissions desk.
"Agents Murdoch. Can't stay away, huh?" Cara asked with a smile and Dean grinned.
"Actually, I'm here on business about the blood samples. The ones with the high, ah...y'know, oxytocin? You still have them?" Dean asked and Cara frowned but nodded.
"Good, I need them."
"What for?" She asked as a man came up to them.
"'Scuse me, Dr. Roberts?" He asked and she turned to him.
"Yeah?" She asked.
"'Scuse me, ah, we're a little busy here buddy." Dean flashed his badge.
"Yeah, so am I, pal." The man showed his own FBI badge and Dean felt a flash of shock.
"Doc, can you give us a sec, please?" Dean asked.
"Sure." She said suspiciously but stepped away.
"Thanks. What's your name?"
"Nick Monroe, what's yours?"
"I'm Special Agent Dean Murdoch. What office you from?"
"Ah, Omaha. Violent Crimes Unit, my AC sent me down here to see about the murders."
"Hm."
"You?"
"D.C. My Assistant Director assigned me." Dean answered.
"Which AD?" Monroe asked sceptically.
"Mike Kaiser."
"What is your badge number?"
"You're kidding, right?
"I'm just following protocol." Monroe answered.
"Look, man, whatever, just calmly AD and, ah, he'll sort things out, huh?" Dean pulled out a business card and handed it over. Monroe took it and moved away to make the call.
"Bureau." A male voice answered.
"Ah, yeah, Assistant Director Kaiser, please." Monroe asked.
"Well, that would be me. What can I do for you?"
"Yes, sir, ah, hello. It's Agent Nick Monroe, I'm calling about, ah, one of your men. Murdoch. Ah, it seems that they've been put on my case...by mistake."
"You questionin' my authority?"
"No, no, no, sir, I'm not questioning your-"
"Well, you coulda fooled me. Last time I checked, son, D.C. has jurisdiction. Or am I wrong?"
"Ah, no sir." Monroe answered.
"Well, good. Well, the next time you wanna waste my time with stupid questions, don't." With that Bobby hung up the phone labelled FBI on his wall.
"That idgit." He muttered to himself.
"I'm sorry." Monroe said as he hung up and walked back to Dean who shrugged.
"Just don't let it happen again."
"So, where are you at with this?" Monroe asked.
"Where are you at with this?" Dean asked back.
"Well, I was just about to run the, ah, perps blood work." Monroe admitted.
"Ah, already checked, it's a dead end." Dean told him.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah."
"But get this, I feel like I've found something that, ah, connects all the murderers."
"Really?" Dean asked, something about the 'agent' felt a little off to him.
"They were all banging strippers...from the same club." Monroe said and Dean made it look like he didn't know that already.
"You don't say."
"What do you say, ah, we go down there and check it out?" Monroe asked and Dean hesitated. He'd already checked it out but something was really bugging him so he agreed and they headed out to the parking lot.
"We're takin' my ride and no complainin' about the tunes." Dean stated as Monroe stared at the car.
"No way...you drive an Impala?"
"Yeah."
"This is a '67 right? It's a 327 4-barrel." Monroe stated, clearly impressed.
"Yeah, actually."
"It's a thing of beauty."
"Thanks." Dean told him proudly.
"How the hell did you talk the Bureau into letting you drive your own wheels?"
The club was pounding with music just like the last time Dean had been inside. He sat at a table doing shots with Nick Monroe and enjoying himself.
"Nobody's Fault But Mine?" Dean asked.
"Oh, oh, oh! Zeppelin recorded it in '75...it was the cover of a Blind Willie Johnson tune." Nick answered.
"Nice!"
"You Shook Me?"
"Oh; '69, debut album written by Willie Dixon." Dean answered, that one was too easy.
"And...?"
"And what?"
"Written by Willie Dixon and JB Lenoir." Nick told him and Dean laughed.
"Dude! Dude! Y'know for a Fed you're not a total dick." Dean told him.
"Aren't we both Feds?"
"Yeah; I know, I just...y'know, not a lotta Feds as cool as us, huh?" Dean said and Nick seemed to believe him, going back to looking at strippers.
"So what the hell with this case, man, how does a girl talk four different John's into murder." Nick asked as Dean spotted a woman whispering in a man's ear across the bar. She clocked eyes with Dean for a second and something about her made Dean keep watching.
"It's a crazy world." Dean answered Nick.
"Yes. Hey, can I level with you?"
"Mm."
"I found something kinda weird."
"Well, you've brought your weird to the right spot. Lay it on me." Dean offered.
"I went to the crime scene this morning. Saw 'em baggin' this up." He removed a plastic evidence bag from his pocket and handed it over to Dean. Inside was a small Hyacinth flower.
"So I went back, ah, through all the files. It turns out a flower just like that was found at every crime scene."
"Like it was left on purpose?"
"I mean, y'know, sometimes a serial killer'll leave an object behind like a calling card but with this case? To tell you the truth, I got no idea what's going on." Nick admitted and Dean stared intently at the flower.
"I think I might. I've seen a flower like this before." Dean said.
"Hey, man, what's up?" Nick asked as he answered his phone.
"I need your help." Dean told him as he drove.
"Ah, sure. With what?"
"Canvassing. We gotta find somebody." Dean told him and Nick took down the details.
It's was a relatively quiet night at the pub, there are some cars parked out the front and a couple walked towards the bar holding hands. Nick waited alone in his car on the other side of the road. He heard a car door open and turned around to see Cara exiting a taxi and heading into the bar. Dean suddenly appeared and climbed into Nick's car.
"She went in just a second ago." Nick told him and Dean nodded.
"Nice work."
"Should we follow her in?"
"No, no, no. I don't wanna tip her off. I'm just waiting to see who she comes out with." Dean answered.
"So you think, what? She's druggin' these guys?"
"Pretty much."
"Ah-huh."
"I know how it sounds."
"You sure about that? Cos it sounds like crazy on toast. All these different strippers, they're magically the same girl but then they're not strippers at all, it's Dr. Quinn."
"It's kinda hard to explain. But I have my reasons and they're good ones so you're just gonna have to trust me on 'em."
"Yeah, ok. I guess." Nick told him and Dean looked at him.
"Thank you. That's actually nice to hear."
"What do you mean?" Nick asked.
"It's just….my old partner, he was my baby brother. Went into the work together. He always had to be right."
"What happened?"
"He died on a case not even a year ago." Dean took a swig out of his flask and offered it to Nick who chuckled but took a swig before handing it back to Dean who drank some more.
"So let's say she is druggin' her vics. How's she pullin' that off?"
"She could be injecting 'em. Y'know, or passing the toxin through, ah, physical contact."
"Or it could be...her saliva." Nick offered and Dean considered it for a second before glancing down at his flask and something clicked.
"You really should've wiped the lip of that thing before you drank from it, Dean." Nick told him. And Dean suddenly understood, Nick Monroe was the Siren.
"I should be your little brother." Nick stated and Dean looked over at him slowly.
"You can trust me. I'm here for you Dean." Nick told him before looking at his reflection in the rear-view mirror. It revealed a greyish white bald head and dead, purplish eyes.
"In fact, I really feel like you forget your dead brother...so we can be brothers. Forever." Dean stared at him with glazed eyes, under the Siren's spell completely.
"Yeah. Yeah, you're right." Dean answered vacantly.
"But first, you're going to tell me all about him, aren't you?" Nick asked and Dean nodded.
"Did you love your little brother?"
"Yes, more than anything." Dean answered vacuously.
"Well that's very interesting." Nick smiled maliciously but Dean didn't react to the expression.
Samuel frowned even as he finished with the demon he'd been dealing with. Something was wrong, very wrong…Dean. He went to where he could feel his brother only to find him talking with some sort of creature, his eyes glazed as he stared at it like it was his world. There was nothing he could do, he could hear Castiel calling for him so he quickly went to Bobby's and left a note.
Bobby nearly jumped as he heard something bang in the kitchen. He grabbed a gun and walked in to find a piece of paper pinned to the fridge.
Dean's in trouble. Under something's control. Save him.
Bobby frowned, he recognised Sam's writing but why didn't Sam act? The contents of the note were not good. Under control….obviously the Siren had gotten to Dean.
"You'd do anything for me, wouldn't you big brother." Nick practically purred and Dean nodded, staring at him adoringly.
"Do you love me?" It asked, touching Dean's face.
"Yes." Dean answered and the Siren leant in, kissing Dean who kissed it back. It moved so that it was straddling him and Dean moaned, arching against it. It kissed him again and Dean's hands went up to hold it's waist. They parted for air and then Dean frowned.
"S…Sam?" He murmured, shaking his head and the Siren's eyes went wide.
"No! You're mine Dean. I'm what you want, a little brother looks up to you, adores you." The Siren told him and Dean blinked, shaking his head. The Siren was shocked, no one had ever managed to fight its venom before. He grabbed Dean's mouth, holding it open and then opened his own mouth, hissing almost like a snake. Dean began to struggle weakly but then Nick squirted the venom right into Dean's mouth, many times the amount of the original dose Dean had been given and Dean slowly calmed, eyes glazing over again as he smiled up at Nick lovingly.
"My Dean." Nick whispered and Dean nodded.
"Yours." Dean answered soullessly. Nick went back to kissing him and Dean responded. Nick began unbuttoning Dean's shirt, so involved in what he was doing that he didn't hear the door opening. He screamed in pain as a shotgun went off and then he was pulled off Dean and flung aside. Dean just looked blankly up at Bobby who winced but stabbed Dean with a bronze dagger and then turned to Nick.
"No…..no.' Dean slurred and Nick scrambled up.
"Help me Dean!" Nick called and Bobby tensed, going to move but then Dean slammed into him.
"Damn it Dean, that's not your brother!" Bobby grunted as he fought to keep control of the knife. Dean didn't hear him, too lost to the Siren's venom to even recognise who he was fighting.
"Sorry kid." Bobby muttered and then slammed the knife handle into the wound he'd made. Dean moaned in pain and his grip loosened a bit so Bobby hit him again and Dean's eyes rolled back, his body slumping as he passed out from the pain. Bobby scrambled up and the Siren ran. He took aim and hurled the knife, hitting it in the back. Nick stumbled and clutched at the wall before slowly sliding down it to lay unmoving on the floor. Bobby double checked to make sure it was dead and then went back to Dean who hadn't moved.
Bobby worked quickly to staunch the blood and then packed up and wiped down the room. Getting Dean out was not easy and then he was left with the dilemma of which car to take, but Dean would kill him if he left the Impala behind. He got Dean back to his place as quickly as possible , worried by the fact that he still hadn't so much as twitched. Bobby got him onto the couch and then stitched the knife wound closed. He lifted one of Dean's eyelids, noting that Dean's eyes were still glazed and swore. Killing the Siren should have broken the spell.
"Castiel? Samuel? I could really use some help here! It's Dean, something's wrong with him. Can you here me?" He called out, praying one of them would answer. He nearly jumped at the sound of feathers moving and then Castiel was there.
"What happened?"
"He was hunting a Siren and it got him. I killed it but…." Bobby explained and Castiel nodded, placing his hands on Dean's body. Dean moaned and his eyelids fluttered before he settled again.
"He was overdosed on the venom. He will be alright when he wakes. I healed the knife wound as well." The angel told him and Bobby relaxed, nodding.
"Thanks." Bobby said and Castiel nodded before vanishing. Bobby checked on Dean and then decided to call it a day, heading for his own bed.
Dean groaned as he woke, his body aching slightly as he forced his eyes open. He looked around to find he was on Bobby's couch. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out how he had ended up on Bobby's couch. He frowned, forcing himself to focus and it slowly came back the hunt…..searching for the Siren….and then…..it was vague and blurry but it made him feel sick. He staggered to his feet and into the downstairs bathroom, emptying his stomach.
'I'm sorry Sammy, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. Please.' He cried mentally, a few tears slipping free. He practically crawled down the stairs and into the panic room, curling up on the cot, fighting sobs.
"Dean?" Sam's voice called to him and he curled up tighter, hiding his head.
"Castiel said you were hurt. What happened?" Sam called softly, laying a hand on Dean's shoulder and Dean whimpered.
"Dean!" There was pure alarm in Sam's voice, something he hadn't heard in a long time. Then Dean felt the arms of Sam's vessel wrap around him, tugging him into Sam's embrace. He struggled briefly but then relaxed, letting Sam hold him.
"Shh, it's okay Dean, you're alright." Sam whispered and Dean finally looked at him, green eyes bright with unshed tears.
"So sorry Sammy, so sorry." Dean muttered and Sam gently stroked his hair.
"What are you sorry for Dean?" Sam asked softly, he could feel the pain and guilt radiating from Dean and it worried him. All Castiel had told him was that Dean had been injured but was now healed.
"I screwed up, the Siren got me, he…..he made me forget you. Made me think he was my brother, my lover. He…I…..Sammy." Dean stammered out but Samuel understood. Dean felt like he had betrayed him, despite the fact they were no longer together. But he also felt like he had betrayed him as a brother and no matter what they were still brothers.
"It wasn't your fault Dean, no human can fight a Siren's venom. It's alright big brother." Sam soothed, holding Dean close, letting a little of his Grace flow into Dean, soothing him.
"Still feel dirty. Have you seen one of those things and I let it…" Dean shuddered in disgust and Sam agreed Siren's were not attractive at all.
"It wasn't your fault. It can't hurt you anymore." Sam told him and Dean relaxed in his arms, finally smiling slightly at being held by Sam. Samuel knew he would not be needed for quite a while so he just sat on the cot and held Dean, offering what comfort his presence could give.
TBC…