Family Secrets Chapter 8
I don't own Supernatural or the characters. Just enjoy writing about them for fun, no profit here. I hope you enjoy reading my story.
Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things but nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind if I don't find something to pacify
Can you help me occupy my brain?
Oh yeah
I need someone to show me the things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make true happiness, I must be blind
Make a joke and I will sigh and you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel and love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life I wish I could but it's too late
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Sam was staring out of Bobby's window, thinking. He'd been weighing his options all night and he was about to make up his mind.
"These things take time, Sam. You can't rush it." Bobby looked up from the book he was studying.
"Not trying to rush it, Bobby. Just trying to be realistic."
"I don't know if I like the sound of that." Bobby watched Sam for a reaction. "You obviously care for Alta. She's in love with you. Although I think I should have a long talk with her about that! Seems to be a might unhealthy."
So much more than you know! "I know."
"What? That she loves you or that it's unhealthy?"
"Both." Sam didn't turn from the window. He didn't want to see Bobby's reaction.
"Well, it could be worse. She could have died. Seems she came pretty close." He took a long drink from his now cold coffee. "So she might not be able to hunt with you. It doesn't mean you can't still have a life together. You still love each other." He waited for a reaction from Sam. He got none.
Sam continued staring out the window. Bobby's argument didn't have the effect that he intended. I don't love her. It would be easier if I did but I can't. I don't know how.
"Maybe it'd be good for you to get out. I got a little something here I've been looking into. I need some ground work done but Kat is coming this weekend and I'm kinda looking forward to that." Finally Sam looked away from the window. Bobby gestured to the papers scattered on his desk. "You want to take care of this for me. Alta will be fine here with us. Kat wanted to check on her anyway."
Alta stared into the bathroom mirror. Her face appered much clearer this morning. Still blurry but she could actually make out features. She was able to see more than just light and dark shapes. Hope began to shine in her soul. She toweled her hair then combed it out, all the while watching her reflection get a little clearer. When she came out of the bathroom she was humming. Sam was standing in the doorway. She looked at him, saw his features but not clear enough to see the grim expression on his face.
"My vision is still not clear." Over the past week she'd come to expect his first question of the day... every day. "It's a little improved, though."
"We'll give it some more time. Kat is still hopeful." He closed the distance between them and laid his hands on her shoulders. A man with a soul would have been hopeful. But Sam didn't have a soul and he didn't hope. He watched and waited. After a week with so little improvement he believed it was too late for her eyesight to get back to normal... for her to be able to hunt. He gazed down at her. I need you hunting and you will never hunt again. That makes you useless to me. I should just get this over with now. "Kat is staying for the weekend. She and Bobby will both be here for you."
"But you're not?" She leaned against him.
"No. I got some leads on a case. I'm hunting." he waited for her reaction.
"I know. Is it the person who nabbed me?"
"Yes." He lied. He and Bobby had searched the house, the yard, everywhere and could find no trace, no clues to follow. Truth is he had to hunt... needed to hunt. He had to get out.
"You're going alone. Shouldn't you have backup?"
"I'll be alright. I'm just doing research." He lied. "I'll be back in a few days." Sam lied again. "We can talk about getting back to the Compound when I get back. You need to be with the Clan." He turned away from her and began packing his duffel. "I need to hustle up some cash while I'm out too."
He's saying good bye. She could feel it. He had grown progressively cold over the past few days. What? I'm broken now and he doesn't want me anymore? Honestly, he is a man of extremes. Extreme hot and extreme cold. Right now he's as cold as they come!
"Be careful."
xxx
"Looks like a shape shifter, Bobby."
"That was my first guess." Bobby poured some coffee into his cup holding the phone against his shoulder. Sam had been gone three days and Bobby was beginning to wonder if he would check in. "It fits the pattern. Bizarre suicides…"
"Yea, robery-suisides, murder-suicides... missing persons. The clincher... I saw him on a security tape... eye flare."
"Well don't go after it by yourself! I'll come out tomorrow and we'll gank it together."
"Yea, alright. I'll see how it goes here."
"Sam!"
"I got it, Bobby... How's Alta?" He needed to get Bobby off this track.
"She's doing better. Kat's feeling real good about her progress. Her vision's getting better, Sam, a lot better. Why don't you come on back today? You can see Alta and we can go back together tomorrow."
"Maybe." Maybe not. Sam flipped his phone shut.
"Hey, Bobby." Alta's voice floated to him from the door. Sam didn't even ask to speak to Alta. Bad move son. She heard enough to know it was Sam on the phone. He hadn't called her while he'd been gone… hadn't checked on her progress… didn't ask to speak to her when he called Bobby… Sam had distanced himself from her and it hurt. It felt like a stab to the heart and it showed on her face.
"Alta." Bobby sighed. "How you doing this morning?"
"I'm better. Much better. I was just admiring these faded bruises on my face. Almost gone."
"Nice to be able to see them, uh?"
"Why didn't you tell Sam the whole truth? Why didn't you tell him my vision's back to normal?" She nailed Bobby with a look. "You said 'much better'. Not the same thing."
"No reason. Just didn't pick the right words, I guess." Bobby smiled at her. "Breakfast?"
"Sure. I'll cook."
"I won't turn you down. Kat should be out in a minute."
xxx
Alta pulled out onto the two lane highway in front of Singer Salvage headed east. Sam wasn't the only one who could use a GPS. She'd known he was tracking her since he first started tracking her cell's GPS. She'd done the same to his. Tit for Tat as the saying goes. She wasn't a total imbecile.
I look like a soccer mom in this minivan! She wasn't crazy about her ride. It was worse than Samuel's old van. She had gotten used to Sam's Charger. But the minivan was the most reliable thing Bobby had running except his Chevelle and that wasn't an option. She pushed the minivan as much as she dared. It looked like she would get to Sam by late afternoon. She knew Sam wouldn't want her to come so she didn't call him and she made Bobby promise not to tell him. Better to ask forgiveness than permission. Especially with Sam.
xxx
"Bobby Singer! Who knew you were such a mother hen!" Kat laughed as she took sip of her coffee.
"Yea. Well, if you got any antidotes I'm in need of one. Honestly it was bad enough with Sam and Dean. But now apparently I've inherited another head strong idjit to worry me to death."
"Honestly Bobby, I think she's good to go. Hunting's risky at best and you can't make it safe. She's as good as she ever was." Bobby noticed how soft Kat's brown eyes were. The few lines she had crinkled at the corners when she smiled. He liked that about her. And she had a beautiful smile, confident but gentle. "Hunters are a tough lot. I've learned that over the years." She understood the life… accepted it for what is was.
Bobby sat next to her on the sofa. "I know. I've been through so much with the boys. Hell, I never thought I'd see Sam again. And he's changed since he got back. Not that I'd expect him not to be different." Bobby rubbed his hand across his eyes. "He had Lucifer eating away at his insides and then he jumped into the cage with both Lucifer and Michael. There's no telling what they did to him…" Bobby cringed.
"You're really are close to them, Sam and Dean, aren't you?"
"Hell, my place is like a second home to them. I watched them grow up. And believe me their childhood was not a Norman Rockwell existence, not by a long shot. Their Dad was hard on them. Raised them like soldiers. But they're good boys, in spite of everything."
"Maybe because of everything."
"Maybe. There's nobody else could've done what they did. I went through the whole apocalypse thing with them. It was unimaginably hard…"
"But that part's finished."
"It is." Bobby sighed. "I wish you could meet Dean. He's retired from hunting. Has a girlfriend and he's a father to her eight year old boy. Oh, Kat he's a good father, too. I'm so glad for him. I wish…"
"You wish Sam could have the same thing." Kat put her hand on Bobby's. "How about you, Bobby? What do you wish for?"
"Kat, you're a very insightful woman."
xxx
Sam finished his fourth game and picked up his winnings from the pool table. He moved to the bar and ordered a beer. The woman that eased in beside him and leaned on the bar was well on her way to drunk. She gave Sam a smile. He knew what she was offering. He looked her over. She was nice. Pleasant enough face… decent figure… a little older than him but he didn't mind that… Might as well. He didn't care that he was being watched from both sides of the bar. He was usually being watched. It was nothing new to him.
He picked up his beer and gave the woman a nod. She followed him out into the alley. He maneuvered her out of sight, in the shelter of a dumpster. He didn't notice the shadowy figure that slipped silently out of the bar and blended into the shadows watching. That one he missed, but he knew the other would be out soon.
"Make it fast." He pushed the prostitute to her knees and waited while she unzipped his pants. It was clear what he expected and she knew how to do her job. She'd had plenty of practice. He held her head and forced her to take him as deeply as she could into her mouth. He growled with each thrust until he released his hot cum down her throat. He pulled out quickly and zipped up then reached into his pocket and handed her three bills.
"Don't think that's enough. I'll just be taking your wallet." The voice came from behind him. Sam expected the pimp to make an appearance. Foolish man. He turned to face the pimp and stepping up to within inches of him, Sam was an imposing figure. His face was dark, his lips a thin line, his eyes piercing. The pimp waved his gun carelessly, smiling a toothy grin… figuring he had the advantage here. Sam laughed and moved to within inches of the man. All the pimp could see was Sam's eyes boring down on him and he felt Sam breathe hot in his face.
Sam's hand was immediately on the pimp's gun swinging it away and twisting until the he released it. He glared down at the man and laughed again. Sam thought the terror on his face was comical and the smell of his fear began to feed his passion for the kill. He landed a hard punch to the pimp's face. His head jerked back from the force of the blow and blood spurted from his nose and mouth. He was stunned. Sam hit again twice in rapid succession. His head bobbed back and forth like a punching bag. The woman screamed and pulled on Sam's arm. He shoved her to the ground and turned to finish off the man, but he was halfway down the alley running.
Sam glared after the pimp and let out a low growl as he heaved a heavy sigh. He wanted to finish him off… he was thirsty for the kill. It had been over a week since he'd killed the demon and he missed the high. He looked down at the woman cowering behind the dumpster. "Looks like he left you to fend for yourself."
Sam hovered over the cowering prostitute for what seemed an eternity to her and she wondered if she would die in this alley tonight. She raised her arm to fend off the blow she expected and squeezed her eyes shut. But he turned away and went back into the bar. Close by the shadowy figure had watched the whole scene. As he smiled, his lips began to change until they looked strangely like Sam's. Sam's dimples appeared… and the mole on the left side of his face. His eyes became Sam's eyes. He stepped out of the shadow and walked down the alley. The woman peeked around the dumpster… her eyes wide in amazement.
The shifter began making connection with Sam's memories. He reveled in the flood of emotions that came with Sammy's memories … and dark brooding feelings of Sam's… A hunter! He'd shifted into a hunter. This was a new experience for him and it was exciting. All the skills and strength of this hunter at his disposal. He would be unstoppable. He walked toward the prostitute. She scrambled to her feet and lunged toward the door to the bar, but he grabbed her. She tried to scream but his hand clamped across her mouth before the sound could escape her lips. She struggled to no avail as he pulled her down the alley.
Alta entered the bar and scanned the room for Sam. GPS led her here but he was not in sight. She eased onto a bar stool positioned where she could see the room and ordered a beer. She had only one sip before she had company.
"Hi. I'm Jack. I haven't seen you here before."
She almost laughed. "That's a good line, Jack." He was handsome. She had to admit that. His smile showed beautiful white teeth and sweet dimples beneath the stubble of a light beard. His eyes were warm… very expressive… kind. She was attracted to him. "Sorry, I'm Alta. I didn't mean to be rude."
"It's ok. I guess I'm not very original with my pick-up lines. Do you mind if I join you?"
When Sam entered the bar he immediately became aware of Alta's presence. He caught her scent and he could feel her. He scanned the bar and saw her… and saw Jack. He was still pumped from the fight in the alley and rage began to build in him as he moved quickly across the room and stood behind Jack. Alta could feel the rage radiating from Sam like heat from the sun and she looked at him. Sam returned her look. He cocked his head to one side and glared at her. His question was as clear to her as if he spoke it out loud. Jack felt his presence like a dark shadow.
"Sam!" Alta looked into his face and was immediately aware of the differences between the two men. Sam's eyes were hard, cold, and emotionless. He was clearly in a dangerous mood. "Jack, this is Sam. I'm here to meet him." She stood and moved between the two glaring at Sam. Her answer was as clear to him as if she spoke it out loud.
Jack turned and raised his beer to Sam in a placating gesture. "How're doing Sam." Sam didn't respond. He watched Jack's actions sizing him up and deciding how much of a threat he was. Not much. "No harm meant." Jack said as he vacated the bar stool and bowed his way past Sam.
"Well, that was a nice display." Alta took a long pull on her beer. "I need a shower to get all the testosterone off me."
"You shouldn't have come."
"And you don't get to tell me what to do!"
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to help you with the hunt. Aren't we supposed to be a team?"
"Not if you can't see."
"Hello!" she waved her hand toward her face. "Eyesight's back. 100 percent."
"One hundred percent?"
"Yes, you want to do a vision test?" She sipped her beer and looked at him defiantly, daring him. She had some rage of her own and it was already directed at him. "Did you find the man that took me?"
"No, I'm after a shape-shifter."
"I knew you lied."
Sam didn't bother to answer and he didn't bother to sit down. "If you're going to hunt with me, it's time to go underground."
Sam's research indicated the most likely place for the shifters lair to be in the neighborhood of the bar. They armed themselves from the trunk of the Charger. The silent ritual was so familiar to them. It was calming. Alta put on her belt and checked her pistol before placing it in its holster. She placed extra silver bullets in her pockets and handed the box to Sam. He checked his pistol and slid it in the back of his jeans. Each took and extra pistol loaded with silver. Alta opted to forgo a machete, but she took a silver knife. Sam took his machete along with his silver knife. Silver bullet to the heart was the favored way to kill a shifter but most anything would die if it was beheaded. Sam liked options and he liked blades.
Sam dropped in first, from a manhole in the alleyway outside the bar. He motioned for Alta to follow. Then he motioned her to take the lead. She went down the tunnel low and he followed above her and covering the rear. They made it to the first intersection. They went to opposite sides of the tunnel staying low and each checking the direction they faced. Motioning the way clear, Sam crossed first and then covered Alta to cross and they resumed their way down the tunnel with Alta in front and Sam behind and over her head. They moved together like a dance. Each one knowing their part. Sam couldn't help but be impressed. He liked falling back into this routine with her. It felt right. It felt like home.
Alta stopped and motioned to Sam. He saw the gooey slipped skin lying to the side of the tunnel. They had the right place. The shifter had been here. At the next intersection they stopped and Sam seemed to study for a moment. He could smell the putrid smell of the slimy rotting slipped skin everywhere. It was evident in every direction. He came to a decision.
"You take right and I'll go left. Ten minutes… we meet back here." He nailed her with his eyes. "You good?"
"I got it."
"I know you do."
Alta moved down the right tunnel… cautiously, silently. Evidence of the shifter was scattered all along the tunnel. Bits of slipped skin… bits of discarded clothing and the ever-present stench of rotting flesh. As she neared the end of the tunnel an echo of a whimper came from an alcove tucked off to the left. She eased around the corner to see a mass of discarded clothes, jewelry and wallets, and in the midst was a woman tied to a pipe, gagged and barely conscious. Her head hung to her chest and her breathing was shallow.
Sam made his way down the left tunnel. As he moved further down the tunnel the smell of the shifter began to fade and there was no evidence of its presence. He knew he was headed down a dead end. Sam turned and headed back toward Alta.
Alta knelt before to woman and removed the gag. "I'm here to help." Suddenly her eyes widened in fear and she gasped looking up beyond Alta. A sinking feeling burned in Alta's gut. She swung around with pistol ready to fire. "Sam! God! You scared the Hell out of me!"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you."
"Give me a warning why don't you… damn! I almost shot you!"
"It's ok." He smiled. His dimples so sweet, his eyes seemed so soft. Not Sam… this is not Sam… Sam would never be this sloppy during a hunt. He was always serious, especially during a hunt. Every move calculated and she'd never seen his eyes so soft, his smile so sweet. She didn't know she was seeing Sammy, not Sam. The shifter didn't know how to separate them and didn't know that they were two different people in one. She didn't know how, but she knew this wasn't Sam.
Alta quickly spun around to put the woman between them. "Let's get her freed." She took out her knife and cut the bonds on the woman's wrists. As the woman struggle to stand, Alta quickly stood and leveled her gun at the shifter.
"Alta, it's me. Sam!" He held his hands up in surrender. "Don't shoot me! I'm Sam, Alta." Once again, that smile that wasn't Sam's. Still she hesitated. Then she saw him easing into the alcove behind the shifter. His gun was leveled at the shifter's heart. But he gave Alta a look… one eyebrow raised and a nod toward the shifter. She read the meaning. You want to take him… or shall I? In that instant she was sure. She knew exactly which one was Sam. She emptied three shots straight to the heart. The shifter slumped to the floor.
Sam lowered his gun and gave her an approving smile. She holstered her gun and turned to the woman who was standing in stunned silence. This would take some explaining. "You take this one." Sam nodded to the woman not even recognizing that she was the prostitute from the alley. "Let's get out of here." Alta knew she would be the one to explain. Somehow she knew Sam would not have the patience or the tact to deal with her.
"Come on." She put her arm around the woman and helped her step around the shifter's body. "My name is Alta. This is Sam. Have you ever heard legends of a shape shifter?"
TBC
Hope you enjoy. Comments and R&R are welcomed and appreciated.
