Extra posting as a Thank You to mb64who spotted my "deliberate" error when I
posted chapter 6 - I posted a chap 6 from the other fic I have on the go right now!
A good reason not to try posting more than one fic at a time in future! :) Enjoy...

Chap. 7
-oOo-

Sat together on an old fashioned park bench style seat set in the shade of a pear tree, Jean stared up at the house.

"This is the only home Julia ever knew until her and Barry moved in together. She was born here. Betsy was the midwife and Julia was her final delivery before she retired, we asked her to be Julia's Godmother. She's taken that role very seriously all Julia's life. Julia loves...Loved her, and the feeling was mutual."

Jean turned and studied Bobby's face.

"You lost your wife, didn't you?"

Surprised at the turn in the conversation, Bobby nodded.

"Karen...Yeah. I did."

The short period of silence which followed was broken by Jean.

"How did you cope Bobby? How shouldI, you know, cope?"

Bobby bowed his head before answering.

"Well see, I didn't cope Jean. After Karen...It wasn't a good period in my life. I started drinkin' heavy, got me a reputation. Some folks round aboutstill think I'm that same wasted drunk. It won't be like that for you Jean. You're not like I was. You've got family around you, friends, people who care an' wanna help. Use them, let them help you, don't turn 'em away... Barry an' Julia had plans to wed?"

It was Jean's turn to look away, her eyes wet with tears.

"Yes. They were so happy together. Barry...He loved her. And she loved him. That's what I don't understand Bobby. Both families agreed, they were soul mates. They belonged together. When they told me that Barry had...I couldn't believe it. ... What would you say if I told you I still don't? Despite the evidence. Bobby?...I truly don't believe that Barry Farrell murdered my daughter."

-o-

Bobby's answer wasn't the one she was expecting.

"You're right Jean. He didn't...I'm absolutely certain of it. ... In all honesty? You'll likely think I've had a couple of bottles for breakfast, but I don't actually think it's any...human...responsible for killing your daughter."

The second period of silence seemed to stretch on into an eternity as Bobby waited for Jean to decide how she was going to respond. He figured the fact that she hadn't immediately slapped his face already put him ahead! At last Jean stood up and looked back down at Bobby.

"Come with me Bobby. I want to show you something."

-o-

When Dean set out that morning, he hadn't expected to end up having to give a statement to Jodie about the events leading up to the unexpected death of a murder suspect with whom he was the last person to have had direct contact with. The only upside was that one of her own officers had confirmed seeing Barry alive when he unlocked the door and let Dean out of the interview room. He also substantiated the final words Barry said to Dean as the officer himself was closing the door and preparing to lock it again, with the living Barry Farrell still inside the room. Both men's statements from that point read as an impossibility, but they matched almost word for word. Jodie herself was amongst those who would confirm Barry was hanging from a height he couldn't have reached from floor level, with no signs of him having climbed up onto anything, even if he had got the time he needed to carry out his suicide, which of course he didn't have. Dean felt bad about leaving Jodie to try to explain the events, but he had to get out of there before the arrival of the state police, trusting Jodie's promise to keep him out of any further involvement and off the state police radar. A day or so later, when the state police finally did try to contact Agent Dean Sumners regarding his statement, their search for the agent kept coming up blank. It was always destined to come to a dead end. Eventually, the only conclusion they could come to was that the ID was a fake and that, whoever Agent Sumners really was, it was obviously him who killed Barry Farrell, the theory being that Agent Sumners himself was the serial killer. The explanation made easier reading than the truth.

-o-

Sam had come across a reference to a little known race of vampires who, if a human drank some of their blood, were then able to project their own spirit into the human's body, rather like an unwelcome hitch-hiker. While sharing the human's body, their empty physical form would remain motionless, unresponsive, and extremely vulnerable to physical harm, unable as they were to defend themselves whilst their spirit inhabited and exerted control over the chosen human host. It was possession, of a sort. The reference material made no mention of whether the host could recall being used by the vampire afterwards. To be on the safe side, Sam added the vampires to the list on Bobby's wall. While he was doing that, his phone rang, the caller ID indicating it was Dean trying to contact him.

"Hey Dean. How you doin'?"

"I'm on my way back. Farrell's dead."

"Wha...How?"

"I'll explain when I get back. You heard anythin' from Bobby yet?"

"No. No word. You want me to ring him? See if he's on his way yet?"

"Leave it till I get back. How's it goin' your end? You figured out what's doin' this?"

"Not quite. I've added to the list of possibles though."

"Right. Well, if it's any help, seems like the things a fast mover.!"

"Fast mover, gottit. Anythin' else?"

"It might be invisible."

Sam stared at his list, focusing on Spirit. It moved to pole position in his head.

-o-

Curious, Bobby followed Mrs Cole back inside the house.

"Hang on a sec?"

Bobby waited while Jean stopped by an open door, the sound of solemn voices drifted out of the room. Bobby recognised the female's as being Betsy's. Jean popped her head into the room.

"Betsy? Carl honey? I'm just taking Mr Singer upstairs to show him Julia's room if you want me for anything."

On hearing where Jean was taking him, Bobby's stance instantly straightened. Each of his senses became more heightened, more alert, responding to the rush of adrenaline that accompanied the almost instinctive switch into full Hunter mode. Turning, Jean paused for the briefest of moments and Bobby saw a puzzled expression flit across her face as she looked at him. Then, moving past him, she headed for the stairs. A telephone began to ring.

"Carl? Could you answer that darling? If it's for me tell them I'm taking a shower or something. This way, Mr Singer."

-o-

Bobby followed on behind until Jean came to a halt outside the door to a bedroom. She smiled sadly at Bobby.

"This was always Julia's room, it looks out over the garden. I don't know if I'll ever be able to..."

Jean was interrupted by the sound of her husband calling her. Rolling her eyes, she pushed open the door to Julia's room.

"Please, have a look around, I'll be back shortly."

Her husband shouted again and Jean hurried back towards the stairs.

"I hear you. Who is it?"

-o-

It felt odd, and slightly uncomfortable, to be left standing alone in the doorway of a young woman's private refuge. In any other circumstances Bobby would wait politely until Julia's mother returned. Right now though Bobby appreciated the opportunity to cast his Hunters eye around the room, looking for anything that appeared unusual or out of place. The first thing that struck him was the wall with floor to ceiling shelving, most of which were neatly stacked with books. Julia clearly had a love of reading; hardly surprising then that her job had been in Sioux Falls' main library. Bobby smiled to see one shelf devoted to children's classics, Black Beauty, Grimm's Fairy Tales, Hans Christian Anderson. The majority appeared to be illustrated versions. Scanning along the shelf, picking out stories that he himself had read as a boy, Bobby suddenly frowned. Walking across to the shelf, he stared in confusion at the sight of water steadily dripping from it and landing on the rug below, where there was already a visible damp patch. Bobby raised one eyebrow when he spotted the title on the spine of the book from under which the water appeared to originate. It read, The Water Babies.

-o-

"That same thing happened the day Julia died...Now it's for Barry. Barry Farrell is dead Bobby. That phone call was his father letting us know. They haven't got any details yet, apparently the Sheriff's on her way to their place now. Ted...Mr Farrell...Is going to keep us updated."

Bobby's initial reaction to the news was an almost instinctive "Balls!" and the need to speak to Dean. He apologised to Mrs Cole for his cussing, and pushed away his worry about Dean, the greater need being to maintain his focus on what was in front of him. The possible key to the whole messed up case.

"Jean, I know that right now, like as not you want me to leave; an' I'm truly sorry to hear about Barry, I am. But...I think this here could be real important, it might even help me figure out this whole mess, maybe give me a shot at stoppin' whatever this is, before any more innocent folks die."

Jean considered Bobby, looking into his eyes as though she were trying to read his thoughts. Bobby waited, seemingly patiently.

"You've dealt with this kind of thing before, haven't you Bobby Singer. You already knew something crazy was going on. It's really why you came here today."

It was a statement rather than a question.

"Yes ma'am. You're right. I've come across this kinda thing, and other strange stuff, more than once. They call folk like me Hunters. Fightin' supernatural things like this is what we do, tryin' to stop 'em from hurtin' people. I became a Hunter after Karen...Was killed"

Head tilted on one side, Bobby considered Jean Cole for a couple of seconds.

"You know, I have it in mind that you would likely have made a fair Hunter Mrs Cole. You have good instincts."

Jean gazed back at the man in front of her, then gave a slight nod.

"I'll take your complement but, no offence, I'm rather glad I never had a reason to find out whether I would or not when I was younger. And while I truly hope you find the thing that killed my daughter and her fiancé? I'm thankful I am too...Mature in my years to consider the possibility now Mr...Bobby. Here...Look."

Jean walked over and carelessly lifted the book down from the shelf and stood aside.

"You see?"

Moving forward, Bobby glanced into the gap on the shelf where the book had been. Turning away, he held out his hand. Jean passed the book to him and Bobby began to inspect it, while Jean quietly awaited his verdict.

-oOo-
Chick xxx