Here's the next chapter! As always feedback is welcome. I'm trying to keep everyone in character as best as I can. If you feel anyone is too out of character just let me know. This will probably be the last chapter I upload until I can get more chapters typed. I have quite a few written; I just have to get them on my computer.


Chapter 9- Scarecrow

-"Charlotte." Spinning around Charlotte tried finding whoever said her name. Like always there was nothing there. She was standing in the same library as every other time. "Charlotte."

"Who's there?!" The voice laughed; it never answered her questions. It was really starting to annoy her. Charlotte almost wished she had the nightmares again. Almost. "If you won't tell me who you are then tell me why. Why am I having these dreams?"

To her surprise the voice actually answered. She could feel someone standing behind her. Charlotte fought the urge to turn around; it might scare the mystery person away.

"I'm showing you the life that should of have been yours."

Charlotte frowned; none of this made sense. What did he mean? She'd always assumed her parents were killed by random.

"What does that mean? What did you want with me?"

"The why will come in due time my Dear. It is your destiny to be here. It is and will always be."

"If it's me you wanted, why did my parents have to die?"

The mysterious voice paused. Warm air hit the back of Charlotte's neck. She was in the process of turning; to finally confront this mystery person when he finally spoke.

"Your parents were … collateral damage."

"Collateral damage?" Charlotte couldn't believe he had said that. Her parents were innocent; they died because of her.

A chill ran down her spine. All of it was her fault.-

Sitting up abruptly Charlotte glanced around the room. Dean had shifted at the movement but stayed slumbering next to her. Sam was still asleep as well though it didn't look to be pleasant.

With a sigh Charlotte rested her head in her hands. This was becoming too much. The dreams; the nightmares she'd had, that's all they were. Nightmares. But now?

Charlotte wasn't naïve enough to actually think she was only having a dream. Whoever the strange voice was, was real. They were some how entering her dreams; taunting her.

She'd been stupid enough to believe Dean when he told her she wasn't at fault for her parent's death. Deep down she wasn't surprised.

The vampire had called her a special little girl; right after he'd drained her mom and dad of their blood. It was all her fault.

The thought had Charlotte's stomach churning. If I wasn't for her they might still be alive. Jumping up she made it to the bathroom in just enough time to empty her stomach. Her ears were ringing.

Or maybe it was a phone. Charlotte could hear voices in the next room.

"Charlie are you alright?" Leaning away from the toilet she saw Dean's reflection in the mirror. Just great. She forgot to shut the door.

Normally Charlotte would have told him what was going on. About the dreams. About the strange voice. But she was still upset and Dean had yet to apologize.

"Why do you care?"

She'd hurt his feelings. It was clear from the look in his eyes but Charlotte was too drained to care. She'd been up barely an hour and was ready to go back to sleep. Without another word Dean left her to clean herself up.

After taking a quick shower Charlotte found the room empty. Sam and Dean were leaning against the impala when she finally exited the motel.

"What's going on? Is there a case?"

Dean grumbled under his breath but Charlotte didn't catch what he'd said. With a frown he tossed the keys to Sam and climbed into the passenger seat. Sam looked at Charlotte with a bewildered look. She was just as confused as he was; Dean rarely let anyone drive his precious baby.

"Uh yea, Dad called. He's sending us to Indiana."

"John called? Where is he? Is he alright?" Sam shrugged clearly annoyed with the topic of his father. He started walking toward the driver's side.

"Don't really know. He's tracking the demon."

Charlotte paused halfway to the car. John was tracking the demon that killed Mary and Jess?

"He's going alone?" Pulling the impala out of the parking lot Sam peered at Charlotte in the mirror.

"Seems like it."

"I don't get it. Why aren't we going to help? This is what you three have been waiting for."

Charlotte could see Sam giving his brother an expectant look. Crossing his arms Dean turned to look out the window. He was refusing to get drawn into the argument.

Sam rolled his eyes. He shot an annoyed look over his shoulder. "He doesn't want our help."

Opening her mouth Charlotte started to voice her thoughts. That it was stupid they were going to Indiana and not helping John. Thinking about John reminded her of her conversation with the eldest Winchester.

He'd made her promise not to tell Sam or Dean that he'd been in Kansas. It wasn't safe. At the time Charlotte didn't know what he meant. If John was hunting the demon it was dangerous.

"What's the case about?" Reaching back Dean handed Charlotte a small stack of papers.

They were missing person reports for three separate couples. Each couple had disappeared a year apart on the same road. There was no doubt something supernatural was going on.

Charlotte understood why John was sending them on another case. He'd been doing it for months, but the demon was dangerous. John wouldn't be able to do it alone.

"Are we sure not going to help John is a good idea?"

Sam looked at Charlotte in the mirror. He had a hopeful look; maybe she could help him convince Dean. Dean didn't bother to look away from the window.

"We have our orders."

"I know but this is dangerous Dean; what if John can't do it alone?" Charlotte didn't have to see Dean's face to know he was sulking. He didn't like to be questioned. Especially when it concerned orders from John.

Sam suddenly jerked the impala off the road. The gravel crunched as he pulled the car to a stop.

"What the hell Sam?!"

"We're not going to Indiana."

Charlotte's head snapped toward Sam. He was gripping the steering wheel tightly. Dean had turned to face his brother.

"We're not?"

"No. Listen, Dad called from California; this is what we've been waiting for Dean."

"Dad's already told us what he wants Sammy. He doesn't want us there."

Charlotte glanced back and forth between the brothers concerned. This was going to turn into an all out fight. Leaning forward she stuck her head between them.

"Okay; everyone needs to take a deep…." Glaring at his brother Sam climbed out of the car. Dean quickly followed suit. "…Shit."

She quickly rushed out of the back seat hoping to stop the impending fight. Instead of a fight Charlotte found Sam pulling his duffle from the trunk.

"Where are you going?" Ignoring her question Sam started walking back the way they'd just come. "Sam! Where are you going?"

Again Sam chose to ignore Charlotte. Dean stepped beside her with his arms crossed.

"It's obvious. He's going against Dad's orders."

At his brother's comment Sam stopped. He glanced over his shoulder with his eyes narrowed.

"Not everyone can be the perfect soldier like you Dean."

"Stop it! Both of you! We have to stick together. We're a team." Sam had started walking again. Running forward Charlotte grabbed his arm trying to stop him. "Sammy we're supposed to be a team."

Grimacing at his nickname Sam looked into Charlotte's blue eyes. She was silently begging him to get back in the car. Glancing away from her he peered at Dean.

"Obviously that isn't true."

Charlotte's hand dropped from his arm in shock. He wasn't being serious right now was he? Kicking gravel across the road Dean threw his hands in the air.

"I will leave your ass, you hear me!? I mean it Sam!" Sam chuckled softly.

"That's what I want you to do." Charlotte glanced back at Dean. He was giving her an expectant look before storming back toward the impala. "Go on."

Turning back toward Sam Charlotte shook her head softly. "Sam…"

"It's what you want." Sam pulled his bag higher on his shoulder and started walking away.

Running her hand through her hair Charlotte turned back to the car. Dean was standing by the driver's side staring at her. He had a concerned look in his eyes; as soon as he realized Charlotte wasn't leaving too it quickly changed to indifference.

Had Dean been worried Charlotte was going to leave? Why should he care? He'd been acting like a dick for weeks. Getting into the passenger seat Charlotte shook her head. These boys were making her head spin.


The two sat in silence for most of the car ride. Without Sam there they weren't forced to converse. Charlotte was starting to get really frustrated.

They were on a case; Dean would have to talk to her eventually. Looking at the missing person reports again a thought occurred to Charlotte.

"Dean.."

Dean stayed quiet for so long that Charlotte was convinced he was ignoring her. She was about to make a snide remark when he finally answered.

"Hmmm?"

"Everyone that has disappeared have been couples right?" A frown appeared on Dean's face. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"Yea…why?" Charlotte pointed at him and then herself.

"Wouldn't that put us at risk of being next?"

"Son of a bitch. We're going to have to split up." Smiling triumphantly Charlotte silently patted herself on the back. She knew she could be useful to the case. Her smile quickly fell at Dean's next comment. "I'll drop you off at a motel and go investigate."

"Why am I being dropped off? It was my idea!"

He had another thing coming if he thought she was going to sit on the sidelines. She was just as capable as him.

"Because you're better at research. When it comes to actually ganking the thing I'll make sure you're there."

Charlotte opened her mouth to argue but was silence by Dean's glare. He had a 'don't test me' look in his eyes. With a huff Charlotte leaned back.

"Fine. Whatever."