A/N: hello all, back again. thank you all for the reviews. i only got one for the last chapter :(. i hope you all still like the story. let me know.
D: i have nothing to do with the show.
BY THE WAYSIDE
Chapter 7
Sam and Dean ran back to the now empty salt circle, both me cursing as they neared the area where they had last seen the wayward filmmakers. The hunt was going downhill quickly. Both brothers knew that the element of surprise was essential, once your target knew you were there things became much more complicated. Add to that the fact that no one seemed to know what the ghost did with the missing men, and their night was getting more dangerous by the minute. All four men were targets, and the brothers would be damned if they all became the victims of an imaginary entity.
They had fought demons, werewolves, rawhides, poltergeists, and more in their days, but the Hell Hounds had put everything in a class of its own, and the Winchesters weren't too sure how to deal with it. Both brothers knew how to hunt, and while Sam chose to ignore his abilities, Dean prided himself on them. But Ed and Harry were slowly and successfully undermining everything he had known. And he was getting tired of it. The Winchesters were not going to be taken down by two twitchy men and a ghost with emotional problems.
He had been raised a hunter, trained to do his job since elementary school. It was who he was, who he always would be. And above all else it was something he understood, a community and a lifestyle that accepted him. He knew that he would never be like Sam, his younger brother having a way with the world that Dean could barely even grasp, and that never really bothered him. Sam had a chance, had the ability to be more then his older brother, understood the normal world more then Dean ever cared to. Dean just didn't know how to tell him that, how to explain to his stubborn brother that he would never be able the have a normal life, that hunting was who he was. And that fact ate at him everyday.
"Do you see any sign of them?"
"No." Sam began, searching the ground around the circle, looking for some trace of the missing men. "How do you think it got them out of the circle?"
"I'm guessing they left of their own free will."
"Why would they do that?"
"Because, this is us, Sam. Nothing can ever be easy."
"Yeah, I guess."
Both brothers continued to search the ground when a loud scream brought them both to attention, staring out over the forest for some sign of the distressing call. They were both expecting to see a deranged ghost crashing towards them through the brush, or a dark entity descending upon them from above, what they hadn't expected to see was Ed and Harry racing towards them, being chanced by nothing more then the silent night.
"What?" Sam started, catching Harry by the shoulders as the two men ran frantically back to the brothers. "Where is it?"
"There... There was this wind, and then, man, I thought I heard something."
"What did it sound like?" Dean began, sharp eyes searching the dark forest, shotgun raised before him, his tense body positioned slightly in front of Sam, Ed and Harry.
"The leaves rustled, you know, like when something is walking around, but it was above us." Ed spoke as though he were retelling some riveting tale from the dark side as he tried to catch his breath.
"What did it look like?" Sam asked, his voice all business, as he released Harry, the smaller man jumping immediately into the protective circle of salt.
"We didn't see anything." Ed stated as though it was something everyone should know.
"What do you mean you didn't see anything?" Dean asked, turning towards the man as Sam's brown eyes continued to scan the darkness.
"Uh, nothing was in front of my eyes." Ed spoke slow and deliberate, waving his hand over his bespectacled eyes, looking at Dean like he was nothing more then a curious child.
Sam had to restrain Dean as he made a move towards the irritating man, his strong body tensing, eyes on fire, as Ed screeched and jumped back into the salt circle, as though it would protect him from the advancing hunter. Dean stared hard at both Ed and Harry for a few more minutes, Sam glad he still had a hold on his big brother, the older man looking like he was seriously contemplating stepping into the circle and ringing both their necks.
"Leave it, Dean." Sam whispered as he squeezed his brother's arm, Dean relaxing slightly at the sound of his voice. He scowled once more at the Hell Hounds, the two men cowering slightly at the stare, before he turned his attentions back to the forest, slowly circling the other three as Sam turned to talk to their two unwanted quests.
"Why did you guys leave the circle?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Ed began condescendingly.
"Enlighten me." Sam began, suddenly feeling the overwhelming urge to throttle them. 'Great, now I'm channeling, Dean.'
"We're ghost hunters. We were hunting the ghost."
"You're not ghost hunters, you're not anything hunters."
"I take offense at that. We helped fight off Mordechai"
"No you didn't."
"I seem to remember that it was our web site that said how to kill him."
"Yeah, and then it crashed as we had to burn the whole place down."
"Semantics."
"Sam." Dean began, watching as his brother inched closer and closer to the patronizing little man as the conversation progressed. "If I don't get to beat them up then neither do you."
"Anyway, last I checked, we were the ones in the salt." Ed motioned to the ring in which he was standing, a cocky grin plastered on his face.
"That's for demons and ghosts you idiot." Sam spat back as he fought to regain control of his temper, finally leaving Ed and Harry to their own devices and walking over to Dean. "You see anything yet?"
"No. Something isn't right, Sam. This whole place just seems off."
"I know. I feel like I am waiting for something. Well, you know, more then the actual waiting for something that we're doing."
"Dude, that actually made sense to me."
"Really?"
"Yes, and it's creeping me out."
"Why?"
"Because you're making me think like you. Twisted college boy brain."
"Can we focus here, please. We still have a ghost to toast."
"Hey, you're a poet and you didn't know it."
"That's not really focusing." Sam commented as they made their way to the lake.
"No, but it's observing."
"Tomatoes, tomatoes, Dean."
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
"Stay in the god damn circle." Dean yelled as he turned back to the Hell Hounds, where, sure enough, Harry was holding onto Ed as he leaned to try and grab something outside the salt.
"How did you know?" Harry asked, startled by Dean's loud voice, Ed falling forward as he let go.
"I'm amazing." Dean shrugged, raising both arms, letting is guard down for barely a minute. But that was all it took. The instant those words left his mouth Dean's feet were pulled violently from beneath him, sending him face first into the hard dirt of the forest floor, his shotgun falling just out of his reach. And as quickly as he was knocked to the ground he felt himself being pulled into the darkness, his body twisting and fighting against the cold grip that wrapped itself around his legs, his arms grabbing for anything that would stop his progress.
Sam watching in horror as his brother disappeared from his side, the older man a good ten meters away before his mind had even registered what was going on. Sam ran towards Dean as fast as his long legs would carry him, but he was still no match for the spirit, the ghost attacking with a lightning speed, ripping his brother away, dragging his family off into the night. Sam aimed the shotgun as he ran, firing at where he hoped the ghost was, its form still not visible in the cold night. The shot rang out like a cannon, shaking the too silent forest with its force, slicing the thick air with a burst of sound. As quickly as the ghost had attacked it release Dean, the older hunter coming to a dead stop at the edge of the tree line, Sam tripping over him as he continued to run, not having the ability to stop on a dime as Dean had.
"Son of a bitch." Dean mumbled as he pushed himself up off the ground, his body aching and bruised from the recent encounter. "You all right?" He called to his brother, noticing Sam laying a few feet away, still sprawled on the ground from the fall.
"Yeah." He began, letting out a long sigh as he looked at his brother and then the forest. "That was a close one."
"You're telling me. Another few feet and I would have been Casper chow."
"Casper chow?"
"Nice shooting by the way, Tex."
"Yeah, well, what can I say."
"Geek boy saves the day."
"Dean." Sam said, staring out over the banks they had just been propelled across. "Look. The lady's back."
"I'll be damned. I guess Romeo only shows up when she's around."
"Makes sense."
"Why?"
"Well, the frontiersman was supposed to marry her. Then that same guy was hailed as hero for killing her lover."
"Yeah, so?"
"Well, maybe the Native American guy is trying to prove himself to her, killing guys like the guy that killed him."
"Sam, it's a Tulpa, it doesn't matter what happened because it didn't actually happen."
"Maybe not, but Tulpas are thought forms, maybe different ideas can influence them, more then just the stories."
"So, if someone is reading the story and thinking that the Native American lost his honor, then the thing would want to redeem itself in his girl's eyes."
"And, maybe a lot of people think that way. Ed and Harry said they had to be reunited."
"Yeah, but Sammy, I'm a hunter not a shrink."
"Well, then, you watch my back, I'll go and meddle."
"All right, Gramma Sam, work you magic."
Sam gave Dean one last 'bite-me' glare before turning back towards the ghostly woman as she glided along the banks, weeping silently in the moonlight, Dean moving stealthily behind him, his eyes scanning every inch of the lake shore.
They approached the woman slowly, taking care not to startle her, fearing that if they lost her they would lose the only leverage they could muster. The ghost was strikingly beautiful and, had she been living, Sam had no doubt that his brother would have been all over her. She was small and slender, soft brown hair falling down to her waist, large blue eyes staring out, transfixed at the large lake, her gaze lost to the still water. And she was crying silently, her petite body trembling, face drawn, though nothing but the light wind could be felt or heard. Even though she was imaginary, the product of a million minds, Sam still felt for the spirit, understanding her deep sorrow. Nothing in the world was worse then losing the people you loved, nothing.
Sam drew in a deep breath as he approached the figure, her eyes still looking out over the lake, attention still off on some distant horizon. "Hello." He began softly, the spirit turning to him so quickly that Sam had to take a step back, his heartbeat beginning to rise. "Do you need help?"
"You shouldn't be here. Nothing can help me." Her voice echoed though the forest and mountains, faint as snow, yet still surprisingly strong.
"I think maybe I can."
"He will take you too."
"Are you afraid of him."
"No, I am ashamed of myself."
"Why?"
"I should never have given my love to him, I should have respected the ways of society. This is all my fault."
"Listen to me, I can assure you that this isn't your fault."
"Do you know what it feels like to be responsible for someone's death?"
"Yes." Sam said softly after a moment. "I do."
"Then you can understand my torment. No one can help me because I don't deserve help."
"Sometimes what we don't deserve is what we need the most. I can help you, you won't have to be here anymore."
"But what of those who have died?"
"They won't harm you."
"Are you here to take me away?"
"No, but he is." Sam pointed over her shoulder and the woman turned slowly to see the spirit of the Native American standing solemnly behind her.
The woman stared deeply into the man's eyes, as though speaking to him from a distant life, neither moving their lips, yet both still understanding.
"They hooking up yet?" Dean whispered into his brother's ear, making Sam jump, the younger man turning to him with a 'shut the hell up' look plastered on his young face.
"Dean."
"What. This is boring dude, I feel like I'm stuck on a bad date."
"Just give it a little while, all right. They've been at this for over a hundred years."
"No they haven't. Sam, they're not real."
"They don't know that."
"So."
"So, their actions are based on what they know, not what they really are."
"Huh?"
"You know, I think you play dumb just to avoid talking to me."
"Nah, Sam. That's not the only reason."
Sam was saved from replying when a sudden gale began to grow from the center of the lake, the wind blowing with a deafening roar, drowning out all other sounds as it grew stronger with each passing moment. The trees bent and swayed with its force, strong gusts sending the brothers to their knees, both men covering their heads as smaller rocks and branches began to swirl around them. And there, in the center of it all, was the ghostly couple. Still staring deeply into each other, both figures untouched by the wind, as though they were locked in another time, experiencing another life. And suddenly they were gone, the wind dying quickly as a silence fell once more over the remote lake, all signs of the supernatural gone from sight.
"Wow, that was something new." Dean stated evenly a few moments later, the brothers still laying on the cold ground, staring at where the ghostly pair had been. "I'd still rather do the whole salt and burn thing though."
"Yeah, it seems a little less..."
"Girly?"
"I guess that would be one way to describe it."
"Hey." Two voices called out from the edge of the forest as Dean and Sam continued to lay motionless on their backs, both staring up at the star filled sky.
"Oh, man. I forgot about them."
"They're the reason we're here, how could you forget them?"
"Don't lie, you forgot about them too, college boy."
"Maybe, but for, like, a minute."
"Liar."
"Jerk."
"Bitch."
"Hey, hey. Are you guys ok? Harry, get ready dude, they might need CPR."
"Don't you come one step closer." Dean shot up like a cobra, his body tensing, arms outstretched as though the simple action could ward off all. Ed and Harry stopped dead in their tracks, Dean's movement making both men nearly jump from their skin.
"What the hell, you scared us to death."
"Hey, I try."
"We thought you were dead." Harry nearly shouted, and Sam was surprised by the amount of concern he heard in the other man's voice.
"Yeah, well, we're fine." Sam stated as he pulled himself slowly from the ground, pulling Dean to his feet a few minutes later.
"Why were you laying on the ground like that?"
"Because we were tired. We just battled a ghost if you two hadn't noticed. It tends to take it out of a guy." Dean voiced angrily as he tried to stretch his sore and bruised muscles, his tired body feeling ever inch of the ground he had been drug across.
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"So, how many more?" Sam asked as all four made their way along the trail, Sam leading the way as Dean brought up the rear, they were still not entirely convinced that the reunion had destroyed the spirits. Dean still wanted to salt and burn the bones, but since there were no bones he settled for huffing and cursing at the two men walking in front of him instead.
"Uh, how many more what?" Ed asked, not looking up from his broken camera equipment, Harry steering him around any obstacle that may lay in his path.
"Tulpas." Sam stated shortly as he continued on. He was very, very tired of the Hell Hounds.
"Well, this was the last violent one. Some hunters got the other two animals. That just leaves the Leatherman."
"The Leatherman was a real person, he used to walk a 365 mile route around Connecticut, stopping at the same towns every 34 days for the exact same food. There is nothing supernatural about him."
"There wasn't. But now our Leatherman wanders the same area, finding lost hikers during storms, sheltering them. Then, when they wake up, they find they are on a main road right near the ranger stations."
"So, he's a good guy. No killing every third person he rescues or stuff like that?" Dean asked, genuinely curious.
"Nope, just the ghost of a good guy."
"What about the animals?" Sam began, needing to know what else these two had cooked up.
"The Jersey Devil and a jackolope."
"God damnit, I missed a jackolope hunt!"
"Dean, can we focus? Are you guys telling me that someone killed the Jersey Devil and it didn't make the papers?"
"The Tulpas dissolve after they're killed, at least the ones with bodies do, no one believed the guy without a corpse."
"Wait, Sam said there were twelve stories. I've counted seven bad guys, what about the other five."
"They didn't have sigils. We wanted to see what took and what didn't before we went through all the trouble of trying to make Tulpas. It isn't easy you know." Harry stated matter-of-factly as they walked, earning a slap in the back of the head from Dean.
"All right." Sam began before either of the Hell Hounds could further provoke his brother. "So there are no more Tulpas to worry about?"
"Unless leather guy starts killing people, no."
"Then that just leaves one more piece of business." Sam began as they approached the cars, Sam and Dean having used the GPS in Harry's phone to track the men's movements. "Our information. We want it off the sight, now."
"And we want all the documents you have about us."
"Gentlemen, I think you are forgetting a little thing called, freedom of speech." Ed began pushing his glasses back up his nose, his demeanor smug.
"I think your forgetting a little thing called, freedom to breath." Dean vented approaching the small man.
"Dean. Don't."
"Come on, Sam."
"We don't need to hurt them."
"Yeah, you don't need to hurt us." Harry began, moving towards his car, hiding slightly behind Ed.
"Why not?"
"Because, I took the liberty of hacking their web site and computers. I am in complete control of the site. Anything I don't like, gone. Any more sigils, wiped out. Any of our information, site goes down in flames."
"You can't do that." Ed shouted indignantly, watching all his hard work wash away.
"Oh, I already have."
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Forty five minutes later Sam and Dean pulled up outside a fairly small mountain motel, the only one they had seen since leaving Lake McDonald. Sam killed the engine and got out to get a room, Dean still sifting through the many papers they had acquired from Ed and Harry. His knee was once again throbbing, his trip along the forest floor having aggravated a number of his injuries, both new and old. "This getting old stuff sucks."
"What?" Sam asked climbing back into the car, bringing the impala around to their room. It was a long way from tourist season and as a result the brothers were the only occupants of the dingy motel, Sam finding the idea both comforting and a little foreboding. 'No one to hear you scream.' Sam mentally shook himself, he had been listening to too many scary stories.
"Nothing. Just a little tired."
"That's an understatement. Man, how do you drive all over all the time. It's exhausting."
"I like driving."
"Well, to each his own. I just can't wait till you can drive again."
"You and me both, Sammy." Dean said longingly as he pushed open their door and dropped his bag and papers onto the nearest bed, the only thing his tired body wanted was food and sleep. "You hungry."
"Yeah. I saw a little diner not far, I think it's twenty four hours."
"Nice. Food always tastes better in the middle of the night."
"Never really noticed." Sam mumbled as he sorted through his bag, his back to his brother.
"You seem more then a little distracted."
"It's just, everything that has been happening. I mean, Dad possessed by the Demon, Joshua turning on us, and now all this crap with the Hell Hounds. How do we know who to trust anymore, Dean?"
"Well." Dean began, his trademark smirk forming across his face, as he looked at the back of his brother. "We could always just walk around saying 'Christo' to everyth..."
The air seemed to freeze in Dean's throat as his eyes grew wide with fear, his brother's body flinching at the sound of the name, the younger man slowly stretching to his full height, back still to his brother. And then, very slowly Sam turned to face the stunned man standing behind him, terrified green eyes meeting cold gray.
TBC
yes, i added in the jersey devil, why, because i was raised in the area where it lives. just a little shoutout to my home area. also, the Leatherman was a real guy, if anyone wants to look it up, it is a pretty cool story.
