Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or any of the characters. I think you get the genreal idea by now!
AN: Ok, chapter 11 up and running. Not that many major changes in this one but I promise, there will but a lot more in the next couple. So stayed tuned. Enjoy!
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The Winchester's… Plus One
Chapter Eleven: Scarecrow
SYNOPSIS
Sam, Dean and Emma finally make contact with the boy's father, but he tells them to stop looking for him and sends them on another ghost-hunting job. Frustrated with their father's evasiveness, Sam sets out alone to find him while Dean and Emma stay back to obey his father. Dean and Emma investigate a small town in Indiana where couples have gone missing the same day each year and discover the farmers are sacrificing them to a Pagan God who takes the form of a scarecrow. While en route to California, Sam meets Meg, a young backpacker, who unbeknownst to Sam is working for a demon.
ooooOOOOoooo
Burkitsville, Indiana. A small town with very few visitors. And now, at the darkest time of night, a young married couple, Holly and Vince Parker, are ready to leave. They are thankful to these people who, while they had passed through the town, had manage to fix a major problem on their car they had known nothing about. Leaving the small diner into the gas station, they are followed by the sweet elderly owners, Harley and Stacey Jorgeson, and their equally sweet niece, Emily.
"And before you leave, one of our apple pies," Stacey said, handing Holly a box containing the pie. "On the house."
"Oh, my God, thank you so much!" Holly exclaimed.
"You're welcome," Stacey said with a sweet smile.
"Hey, we should get lost more often," Holly said to her new husband. "I mean, everyone in this town is so nice."
"Yeah, what's the catch?" Vince joked while Harley finished filling their car with gas.
"You're all set," Harley said, turning back to them.
"Thanks," Vince said, shaking his hand. His sleeve on his shirt rolled up slightly, Emily noticed the intricate Celtic tattoo travelling up his arm in black.
"That's a cool tattoo," Emily said.
"Thanks," Vince said with a smile at the pretty young girl.
"So, let's get you back to the interstate," Harley said.
"Yeah, please," Vince said, turning his attention back to him,
"Take Laskey straight out of town," Harley began.
"And then you're gonna turn right on Orchard Road," Stacey finished for him.
"Ok. Thank you," Vince said, him and Holly getting into his car as the elderly couple and their niece waved goodbye to the newlyweds as they drove off.
ooooOOOOoooo
Going by Harley and Stacey's directions, the couple made it to the orchard along Orchard road before their car broke down, spluttering to a stop.
"What happened?" Holly asked.
"I don't know. Car just died," he said, taking out his cell phone to find no signal. "Cell phone, too."
"How is that possible?" Holly asked as they got out of the car, looking out across the dark orchard.
"Come on," he said to her, starting to walk towards the orchard. "Looks like a house over there."
"No, I'm not going down there," Holly said, clearly terrified.
"Holly, we need help, we can't just wait here," Vince told her.
"Ok," she said, reluctantly following him through the orchard and keeping close. A little way in, they came to the orchard scarecrow tied to its post. Exchanging a look, they moved a little closer to it.
"Check it out," Vince said with a cheery smile. "If I only had a brain…."
"We wouldn't be lost," Holly mocked.
"Thanks," he replied to his wife's sarcasm. "That has got to be the freakiest damn scarecrow I've ever seen."
"It scares me," she told him, beginning to walk away. But a quick glance back at the scarecrow and Holly could have sworn she saw it's hand move, jumping towards Vince with a gasp.
"Please, let's just hurry, okay?" Holly said, the pair walking away again at a quicker pace.
A few more seconds of walking and there was a definite rustling behind them that wasn't from their feet. Turning, they found nobody.
"Did you hear that?" Vince asked Holly, her answer a quick nod.
"Hello?" Vince called into the darkness. "Who's there?"
Still nobody.
Knowing they heard something and both their fear levels on the same pitch now, the couple turn back and starting running for the house at the back of the orchard, needing to get out of her as quick as possible.
Running ahead slightly, Holly turned back round for Vince only to find him no longer behind her. Stopping in her tracks, she looked round for her husband.
"Vince?" she called out. "Vince?"
When there was no answer, she turned, heading back towards the house and hoping to God Vince was either not too far behind, or not too far in front.
Her hastily retreating feet didn't take her very far before tripping over something in the dark and sending her flying to the ground. Turning to see what she had tripped over, a scream escaped her throat as she saw it was Vince's mutilated corpse, his skin scraped from his flash.
Her scream grew louder as her attack loomed over her.
The scarecrow, freed from its post.
ooooOOOOoooo
One year on from that day, now in the present day, the demon fighting Winchester and Gray trio are asleep in their hotel room. On the table beside them, Dean's phone trilled into action, but Dean didn't wake to answer it. He simply stirred slightly, gripping tighter to Emma in his arms. Sam, however, was woken by the sound.
"Dean," he called to his brother, but still got no response. Reaching out, Sam answered the phone himself.
"Hello?" he said sleepily in the receiver.
In a payphone in California, John Winchester responded to his younger son's voice.
"Sam, is that you?" his dad answered, sleep now forgotten from Sam's mind as he sat bolt upright in his bed.
"Dad?" he said in shock. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," John replied.
"We've been looking for you everywhere," Sam said softly. "We didn't know where you were, if you were okay."
"Sammy, I'm all right," John said. "What about you, Dean and Emma?"
"We're fine," Sam said, the pair behind him now beginning to wake. "Dad, where are you?"
"Sorry, kiddo, I can't tell you that."
"What? Why not?"
"Is that Dad?" Dean asked, him and Emma now sat up in their beds.
"Look, I know this is hard for you to understand," John said on the other end. "You're just gonna have to trust me on this."
"You're after it, aren't you?" Sam questioned. "The thing that killed Mom."
"Yeah. It's a demon, Sam."
"A demon? You know for sure?"
"A demon?" Dean questioned at the word. "What's he saying?"
"I do," John said to Sam, who was still ignoring his brother's questions. "Listen, Sammy, I, uh… I also know what happened to your girlfriend. I'm so sorry. I would've done anything to protect you from that."
"You know where it is?" Sam said.
"Yeah, I think I'm finally closing in on it."
"Let us help."
"You can't. You can't be any part of it."
"Why not?"
"Give me the phone," Dean said, holding out his hand.
"Listen, Sammy, that's why I'm calling," John said. "You, your brother and Emma, you gotta stop looking for me. Alright, now, I need you to write down these names."
"Names?" Sam questioned. "What names, Dad… talk to me, tell me what's going on."
"Look, we don't have time for this. This is bigger than you think, they're everywhere. Even us talking right now, it's not safe."
"No. Alright? No way."
"Give me the phone," Dean demanded again.
"I have given you an order," John said to his youngest. "Now, you stop following me, and you do your job. You understand me? Now, take down these names."
Giving up on asking, Dean snatched the phone from Sam, who simply let him.
"Dad, it's me," Dean said into the phone. "Where are you…? Yes, sir.… Uh, yeah, I got a pen. What are their names?"
From behind him, Dean failed to notice Emma sigh deeply and bow his head, already seeing exactly what she saw every time Dean got around his father. Him falling into line.
ooooOOOOoooo
After the conversation with their father, the brother's and Emma were now packed into the Impala, driving to where John had led them to.
"Alright," Sam said. "So, the names Dad gave us, they're all couples?"
"Three different couples," Dean said. "All went missing."
"And they're all from different towns? Different states?"
"That's right. You got Washington, New York, Colorado. Each couple took a road trip cross-country. None of them arrived at their destination, and none of them were ever heard from again."
"Well, it's a big country, Dean. They could've disappeared anywhere."
"Yeah, could've. But each one's route took 'em to the same part of Indiana. Always on the second week of April. One year after another after another."
"This is the second week of April," Emma said from the back seat.
"Yep," Dean told her.
"So, Dad is sending us to Indiana to go hunting for something before another couple vanishes?" Sam said.
"Yahtzee," Dean said, looking down at the information they had gotten from their father. "Can you imagine putting together a pattern like this? All the different obits Dad had to go through? The man's a master."
Clearly pissed to the max, Sam abruptly turned the car off to the side of the road and shut the engine off, making both Dean and Emma stare at him.
"What are you doing?" Dean asked.
"We're not going to Indiana," Sam stated.
"We're not?"
"No. We're going to California. Dad called from a payphone. Sacramento area code."
"Sam…." Dean began.
"Dean," Sam cut him off. "If this demon killed Mom and Jess, and Dad's closing in, we've gotta be there. We've gotta help."
"Dad doesn't want our help."
"I don't care."
"He's given us an order."
"I don't care. We don't always have to do what he says."
"Sam, Dad is asking us to work jobs, to save lives, it's important."
"Alright, I understand, believe me, I understand. But I'm talking one week here, man, to get answers. To get revenge."
"Alright, look, I know how you feel."
"Do you?" Sam said coldly, shocking his brother at the tone in his voice. "How old were you when Mom died? Four? Jess died six months ago. How the hell would you know how I feel?"
"Dad said it wasn't safe. For any of us. I mean, he obviously knows something that we don't, so if he says to stay away, we stay away."
"I don't understand the blind faith you have in the man. I mean, it's like you don't even question him."
"Yeah, it's called being a good son!" Dean yelled, his anger filling up. Hitting the last straw, Sam aggressively jumped out of the car, Dean and Emma following as he went to the trunk.
"You're a selfish bastard, you know that?" Dean continued. "You just do whatever you want. Don't care what anybody thinks."
"That's what you really think?" Sam asked.
"Yes, it is."
"Well, then this selfish bastard is going to California," Sam said, hefting his backpack over his shoulder and turning to walk away.
"Come on, you're not serious," Dean called after him.
"I am serious," Sam yelled back.
"Guys, come on," Emma piped up, trying to be the mediator as always, but knowing it was probably hopeless in this case. "This is ridiculous."
"It's the middle of the night!" Dean yelled at his brother. "Hey, I'm taking off, I will leave your ass, you hear me?"
"Dean!" Emma grated out, turning to him as Sam stopped and did the same.
"That's what I want you to do," Sam said.
"Sam!" Emma called out, this time turning to him, watching as the two brothers stared each other down, waiting to see what the other would do. This was a game they played often. One usually without a winner.
"Goodbye, Sam," Dean said, closing the trunk and heading back to the car.
"You guys can't be serious," Emma screamed to the both of them. "Sam, don't do this."
"I've got to Emma," Sam told her. "I'm sorry."
"But…. I'm mean come on, we're meant to stick together," Emma said, getting desperate.
"Not this time," Sam said.
"Well what am I suppose to do with both of you going off in opposite directions?"
"Emma, I have to find my dad."
"But I can't be expected to choose between my boyfriend and my best friend?"
"And I'm not asking you to."
Emma stood where she was, no idea what she should do next. She looked between Sam and Dean, both of them stood either side of her but a bit apart. And neither was pleading with her, telling her she had to come with him. They were just waiting, letting her make her own decision. The problem was, the choice was and always had been already made. Sam was like her baby brother and she loved him so much….
But she loved Dean more.
With tears in her eyes, Emma turned to Sam, softly mouthing the words 'I'm sorry', before she turned and headed back to the Impala, silently slipping into the passenger seat while Dean got in beside her and drove off, Sam watching after them before walking his own way.
The opposite way.
ooooOOOOoooo
Pulling up in Burketsville for the case, the car was how it had been for the entire trip. Silent.
Emma was sat staring vacantly out of the window, seemingly not even noticing they had stopped. She was thinking about Sam and just where he was right now. She had hated leaving him on the side of the road, but there was nothing else she could have done. Sam was determined to find his dad and the demon that had killed Jessica, while Dean was determined to be a good little boy, always following his father's orders. She had been with the boys long enough to know that not even she would be able to change their minds when they got stubborn ideas in their heads.
Dean, sat behind the driver's wheel, was also thinking about his brother. Scrolling through the names on his phone, he stopped when it hit Sam. This was his little brother, and he wanted to know if he was all right, but what would he say? Whether it seemed so or not, the pair were so alike in many ways, including their stubborn nature's. Sam wasn't gonna stop until he found dad, and Dean wasn't gonna let his father down when he gave him an order. Talking now would just cause another argument between the two, probably making things ten times worse.
Snapping his phone shut, Dean made up his mind and shut off the engine, getting out of the car. The engine stopping and the car door slamming shut finally knocked Emma out of her trance, stepping out of the car and following Dean to a small café. Scotty's Café, with Scotty said on the porch in front of it.
"Let me guess. Scotty," Dean said, gesturing up to the sign.
"Yep," Scotty said, glancing up at the sign above his head.
"Hi, my name's John Bonham and…." Dean began.
"Isn't that the drummer for Led Zeppelin?" Scotty said before Dean could try and come up with an alias for Emma, shocking him a little.
"Wow. Good. Classic rock fan."
"What can I do for you, John?"
"I was wondering if, uh, you'd seen these people by chance," Dean said, handing two flyers to Scotty. They are missing person posters for Holly and Vince
"Nope," Scotty said, looking down at them. "Who are they?"
"Friends of ours. They went missing about a year ago. They passed through somewhere around here, and I've already asked around Scottsburg and Salem…."
"Sorry," Scotty interrupted, handing the flyers back to Dean. "We don't get many strangers around here." Dean and Emma just nodded slightly.
"Scotty, you've got a smile that lights up a room, anybody ever tell you that?" Emma said with a bright smile of her own. Scotty just stared at her, not taking the bait.
"Never mind," Emma said with a small chuckle as her and Dean began to walk away. "See you around."
ooooOOOOoooo
Out on the highway, Sam was still walking, trying to hitch a ride unsuccessfully. And the whole time, he couldn't help wondering if he really had made the right choice.
Finally hearing after his father after this long had been almost a God send, especially when he had told him he was on the trail of the demon who had ruined his life twice. And there was no way in this world, despite was his father told him, was he not going to be involved in this fight. Dean, however, was another matter.
Dean was the good son, always doing as father said. Not the son who had wanted a life of his own and gone off to college. And Sam knew Dean would never ignore a direct order from their father. He also didn't blame Emma for going with him. She loved him, he knew that, but it wasn't like the way she loved Dean. Sam was her little brother, Dean was the guy she had chosen to be with, spend her life with. He'd never expected her to turn around and go with him. But still, he wondering if separating right now was the right thing to do.
Emma had been right when she said they needed to stick together, especially with all the things that were after them. They were numero uno on the demonic hit list after the countless evil plans they had stopped. But that still didn't stop both him and his brother from being stubborn and wanted what they wanted, even if it meant separate things. Maybe he and Dean were a little more alike than they seemed on the surface.
Turning, Sam was knocked out of his thoughts as he saw another hitchhiker. A young girl with short blonde hair sat with her back to him and headphones in her ears.
"Hey," Sam called to her, but she couldn't hear him over the music in her ears. Walking up behind her, he gently placed his hand on her shoulder, shocking the girl enough to make her jump up and pull out her headphones.
"You scared the hell outta me," she screamed at him.
"I'm sorry," Sam said. "I just thought you might need some help."
"No, I'm good, thanks."
"Uh, so where you headed?" Sam said, trying to make conversation.
"No offense, but no way I'm telling you," the girl said with a smirk.
"Why not?"
"You could be some kind of freak. I mean, you are hitchhiking."
"Well, so are you," Sam said. The girl laughed slightly just as a van honked its horn and pulled up beside them
"Need a ride?" the driver said.
"Yeah," both Sam and the girl said together.
"Just her," the van driver said to Sam as the girl gathered her things. "I ain't takin' you."
"You trust shady van guy and not me?" Sam muttered softly to the girl as she climbed into the van.
"Definitely," the girl said with a wide smile as the van drove away, leaving Sam to stand on the road as a ride drove away from him again.
ooooOOOOoooo
Back at Burkitsville, Dean and Emma stood in the general store showing their flyers to Harley and Stacey
"You sure they didn't stop for gas or something?" Dean asked.
"Nope," Harley said as his wife shook her head. "Don't remember 'em. You said they were friends of yours?"
"That's right," Dean said just as Emily came out from the back carrying a load of boxes.
"Did the guy have a tattoo?" Emily asked.
"Yes, he did," Dean said, looking down at the picture of Vince, where you could clearly see the tattoo on his arm, before handing it to Emily.
"You remember?" Emily said to her aunt and uncle. "They were just married."
"You're right," Harley said, suddenly remembering. "They did stop for gas. Weren't here more than ten minutes."
"You remember anything else?" Emma asked.
"I told 'em how to get back to the Interstate. They left town," Harley said.
"Could you point us in that same direction?" Emma said.
"Sure," Harley said.
ooooOOOOoooo
Going by Harley's directions, Dean and Emma were now driving down Orchard Road.
"Aren't you a little worried?" Emma asked Dean.
"About what?" he replied.
"Whatever this thing is, it seems to have a likin' for couples. Now, if you and Sam were investigating this, there wouldn't be a problem. But as it, it's you and me. Perfect targets."
"Emma, after everything you and me have faced, I think we can take on whatever this is."
"You better be right, because I don't fancy dying in Hicksville, Indiana."
"Burkitsville," Dean corrected her.
"You know what I mean," Emma said, making Dean laugh slightly. Just as the car came past the orchard, a noise emitted from the back seat.
"What the hell?" Dean muttered, pulling over the car while Emma dug through the bag in the back. She came back with the EMF meter, beeping frantically. Seems they had found whatever they were looking for, and it was in the orchard.
Getting out of the car, the pair explored further, walking through the orchard.
"You know, I think Sam was right about a couple of things back there," Dean suddenly said.
"Things like what?" Emma said, not willing to start an argument by saying yeah, she agreed with Sam and what he said about Dean and his father.
"Like when he said I don't know what he's going through," Dean said, ducking his head slightly as if embarrassed by his sudden show of emotions. "I don't. I mean, his girlfriend was murdered in front of him. That's gotta hurt."
"Yeah, but you went through the same deal with your mom," Emma said.
"I can hardly remember that," Dean said. "Sam's pain is still there. I mean, I've just got you, and you're still here. Something I'm very thankful for by the way. I'd rather not lose you just yet."
"You won't," Emma said with a smiling, leaning up to kiss his cheek. When she pulled back, she kept her hand laced through Dean's as the pair continued walking.
A little further in, they walked past the scarecrow who, in the light of day, was securely on his post.
"Dude, you fugly," Dean muttered to the scarecrow. Noticing a pattern on his arm, Dean took a ladder from a nearby tree and held it against the post.
"What are you doing?" Emma asked.
"Just hold the ladder," Dean told her. With a roll of her eyes at his tone, Emma did as he requested and held the bottom of the ladder while Dean climbed up it. Moving aside the scarecrows robe, Dean looked closer at the design. It was a tattoo, and one he recognised.
Taking out the flyer from his pocket, Dean compared the tattoo on the scarecrows arm to Vince's. it was exactly the same.
"Nice tat," Dean said to the scarecrow before turning to Emma. "Recognise this."
He moved aside slightly, holding the picture beside the scarecrows are for her to compare them. Emma sighed, exchanging a glance with Dean as both of them were coming to the same conclusion.
ooooOOOOoooo
Up in the town, Emily was outside in the garage when Dean and Emma pulled up again.
"You're back," Emily said with a bright smile.
"Never left," Dean replied.
"Still looking for your friends?" she asked. Dean nodded, the nameplate around Emily's neck catching his eye. Well, at least a name would make things a little more formal and polite now.
"You mind fillin' her up there, Emily?" Dean said. The young girl happily obliged, grabbing a pump and filling Dean's car with gas.
"So, you grew up here?" Dean asked.
"I came here when I was thirteen," Emily told them. "I lost my parents. Car accident. My aunt and uncle took me in."
"They're nice people," Emma said with a slightly sarcastic smile.
"Everybody's nice here," Emily said.
"So, what, it's the, uh, perfect little town?" Emma replied.
"Well, you know, it's the boonies. But I love it," Emily said with a small smile of her own. "I mean, the towns around us, people are losing their homes, their farms. But here, it's almost like we're blessed."
"Hey, you been out to the orchard?" Dean asked, changing the subject after a slight nod. "You seen that scarecrow?"
"Yeah, it creeps me out," Emily said, making Dean and Emma laugh slightly.
"Whose is it?" Dean asked.
"I don't know. It's just always been there," Emily said. Nodding behind Emily, Emma motioned to the red van parked in the garage.
"That your aunt and uncle's?" she asked Emily.
"Customer," Emily said. "Had some car troubles."
"It's not a couple, is it?" Emma asked. "A guy and a girl?"
"Mmhmm," Emily said with a nod, a look of concern now crossing over Dean and Emma's faces.
ooooOOOOoooo
Out in a bus station, Sam had finally managed to hitch a ride and was talking to the clerk behind the desk.
"Sorry, the Sacramento bus doesn't run again till tomorrow," she said, checking her schedule. "Uh, 5:05 PM."
"Tomorrow?" Sam said. "There's got to be another way."
"Well, there is. Buy a car," the clerk told him. Throwing an annoyed glance her way, Sam turned his back on her and took out his phone. Scrolling through the names, he selected Dean's, the word's 'Call Dean?' flashing on the screen as well as a selection. Yes, or no? Right now, that was the pinnacle question.
Was he really gonna go running back to his brother when he ran into his first hurdle? He was determined to find his father, while Dean was determined to look the other way and do what he said. What would happen if he went running back to him now?
"Hey," a familiar voice called out to him. Looking up from his phone, Sam saw the girl he had met on the side of the road sat against the wall.
"Hey," Sam said, turning off his phone.
"You again."
"What happened to your ride?"
"You were right. That guy was shady. He was all hands," she said, Sam raising an eyebrow at her. "I cut him loose."
Sam nodded, but wasn't really listening. He was looking towards the buses, his mind making up and praying for a quicker way to California.
"What's the matter?" the girl asked him.
"Just trying to get to California," Sam said.
"No way," the girl said, surprise in her voice.
"Yeah," Sam said.
"Me too," the girl said, getting to her feet and walking over to Sam. "You know, the next bus isn't until tomorrow."
"Yeah. Yeah, that's the problem."
"Why? What's in Cali that's so important?"
"Just something I've been looking for. For a long time."
"Well, then I'm sure it can wait one more day, right?" Meg said, Sam laughing lightly.
"I'm Meg," the girl said, extending her hand to him.
"Sam," Sam said, taking her offered hand.
ooooOOOOoooo
In Scotty's café in Burkitsville, the young couple whose van broke down were sat at a table, Scotty serving them each a plate of apple pie.
"We're famous for our apples. So, you gotta try this pie," Scotty told them.
"Oh, no," the woman said. "It… please."
"It's on the house," Scotty said as the bell on the door rang and Dean and Emma walked into the café.
"Oh, hey, Scotty," Dean said cheerily. "Can I get a coffee, black?"
"Make that two," Emma called after Scotty as he walked away.
"Oh, and some of that pie, too, while you're at it," Dean yelled as he and Emma sat at a table beside the couple.
"How ya doin'?" Dean said to the couple, who waved and smiled their way. "Just passing through?"
"Road trip," the girl told them.
"Hm. Yeah, us too," Emma said. The couple gave a small nod as Scotty walked over to their table to refill their drinks.
"I'm sure these people want to eat in peace," Scotty said to Dean and Emma.
"Just a little friendly conversation," Dean said, Scotty again walking off with an agitated look. "Oh, and those coffees, too, man. Thanks."
"So, what brings you to town?" Emma asked the couple.
"We just stopped for gas," the girl said. "And, uh, the guy at the gas station saved our lives."
"Is that right?" Dean said.
"Yeah, one of our brake lines was leaking," the guy said. "We had no idea. He was fixing it for us."
"Nice people," Emma said for the second time today.
"Yeah," the guy agreed.
"So, how long till you're up and runnin'?" Emma asked.
"Sundown," the man answered.
"Really, to fix a brake line?" Dean asked, to which the guy nodded. "I mean, you know, I know a thing or two about cars. I could probably have you up and running in about an hour. I wouldn't charge you anything."
"You know, thanks a lot, but I think we'd rather have a mechanic do it," the girl said.
"Sure. I know," Dean said, pausing slightly and thinking just how to say the next line.
"You know, it's just that these roads. They're not real safe at night," Dean continued, making the couple exchange a look
"I'm sorry?" the girl said.
"I know it sounds strange, but, uh… you might be in danger," Dean said.
"Look, we're trying to eat. Okay?" the guy said.
"Yeah," Emma said, wondering what the hell they could say now to convince them while the couple just threw worried glances their way.
"You know," Dean began again. "My brother could give you this puppy dog look, and you'd just buy right into it."
The bell above the café door jingled again, signalling that someone was walking in. Someone Scotty was expecting as he came out from the back.
"Thanks for coming, Sheriff," Scotty said, Dean and Emma looking up nervously as Scotty muttered something to the Sheriff they couldn't hear.
"Great," Emma said softly as the Sheriff walked over to them.
"I'd like a word, please," the Sheriff told them.
"Come on," Dean groaned out. "We're having a bad day already."
"You don't wanna make it worse," the Sheriff said so only they could hear.
And the Sheriff's way to make all this better was for Dean and Emma to leave town with an armed escort, turning back into town once the 'Now Leaving Burkitsville' sign flashed past the window.
ooooOOOOoooo
At the bus station, passing time while he waited for his bus to California, Sam was happily sat making conversation with Meg over a few beers.
"So, what, are you on some kind of vacation or something?" Sam asked her.
"Yeah, right. It's all sipping Cristal poolside for me," Meg said, the both of them laughing slightly. "No. I had to get away from my family."
"Why?"
"I love my parents. And they wanted what's best for me. They just didn't care if I wanted it. I was supposed to be smart. But not smart enough to scare away a husband. It's just… because my family said so, I was supposed to sit there and do what I was told. So I just went on my own way instead."
Sam stared at her for a second, everything she said eerily familiar. Hadn't that been what he had done most of his life, and was doing now? He dad hadn't wanted him to go to college, but he had, cutting all ties with his family at the time. And now he was running out on Dean because he didn't want to have to always follow his lead now. The only problem was… family always found its way back into your life in the end.
Lost in thought, he was still staring and hadn't even noticed.
"I'm sorry," Meg said, seemingly misjudging the look on his face. "The things you say to people you hardly know."
"No, no, it's okay. I know how you feel. Remember that brother I mentioned before, that I was road-tripping with and his girlfriend?" Sam said. Meg nodded in answer. "It's, uh, it's kind of the same deal."
"And that's why you're not riding with them anymore?" Meg said. Sam didn't answer. He wasn't sure how to.
Seeing his hesitation, Meg lifted her beer bottle in a toast
"Here's to us," she said. "The food might be bad, and the beds might be hard. But at least we're living our own lives. And nobody else's."
With a smile, Sam tapped his bottle against her, taking a swig. This girl made an awful lot of sense.
ooooOOOOoooo
Dean and Emma, as a couple, were far too alike. Anyone could see that. And neither had much of a liking for the law, or lived their lives by rules.
Which is why, once night rolled in, the pair were on the interstate, making their way back into Burkitsville.
ooooOOOOoooo
Already in Burkitsville, the young couple who Dean and Emma had unintentionally scared at the café were now wandering through the orchard, their car broken down on the side of the road.
"I can't believe it. We just got the car fixed," the girl mumbled.
"This way," the guy said to her, walking further into the orchard. What neither noticed was the scarecrow, off his post, running quickly behind them. The girl did, however, did sense, turning round with a gasp.
"Steve?" she said, gripping onto the boyfriend's arm when they heard another noise.
"Who's there?" Steve yelled into the clearing. Getting nothing in return, he turned, only to come face to face with the scarecrow, slithering out from behind the trees and walking towards them. Without a second's hesitation, the pair turned and ran into the opposite direction, almost at the clearing when something, or someone else came out in front of them. Dean and Emma.
"Get back to your car," Emma told them. The couple didn't move, but simple turned, watching as the scarecrow got closer to them.
"Go! Go!" Emma screamed at them again. This time they ran, leaving Dean and Emma to take care of the living, walking scarecrow.
Cocking his shotgun, Dean aimed at shot of rock salt at the scarecrow, hitting him dead in the chest. The scarecrow stumbled, but didn't fall, still advancing on them. Dean and Emma began running backwards now, Dean still shooting at the scarecrow. Two more shots and it still did nothing.
"I really don't think that's workin' Dean!" Emma screamed at him as they caught up with the couple. Dean couldn't help but agree.
"Go! Go!" he screamed at the couple, the four now running and finally making it out of the orchard, stood just outside of the gates. Turning, Dean's shotgun up just as a precaution, the saw the scarecrow had already vanished. It seemed they were safe outside of the orchard gates.
"What… what the hell was that?" Steve stammered out.
"Don't ask," Dean and Emma said in unison.
ooooOOOOoooo
Later that same night, different area code, Sam was sat in the bus station, Meg asleep on the floor nearby. The phone call that had been edging towards happen was now in process, Sam on the phone to Emma who was sat beside Dean in the driving seat of the Impala.
"The scarecrow climbed off its cross?" Sam repeated after Emma had told him everything.
"Yeah," Emma said. "I'm tellin' ya. Burkitsville, Indiana. Fun Town."
"It didn't kill the couple, did it?" Sam asked.
"No. We can cope without you, you know," Emma joked.
"So, something must be animating it. A spirit."
"No, it's more than a spirit. It's a God. A Pagan God, anyway."
"What makes you say that?"
"The annual cycle of its killings? And the fact that the victims are always a man and a woman. Like some kind of fertility right. And you should see the locals. The way they treated this couple. Fattenin' 'em up like a Christmas turkey."
"The last meal. Given to sacrificial victims."
"Yeah, we're thinking a ritual sacrifice to appease some Pagan God."
"So, a God possesses the scarecrow..." Sam began.
"And the scarecrow takes its sacrifice," Emma finished. "And for another year, the crops won't wilt, and disease won't spread."
"Do you know which god you're dealing with?"
"No, not yet."
"Well, you figure out what it is, you can figure out a way to kill it."
"I know. We're actually on our way to a local community college. We've got an appointment with a professor. You know, since we don't have our trusty sidekick geek boy to do all the research," Emma said, making Sam laugh slightly. Beside her, Emma noticed Dean holding out his hand, motioning for the phone.
"Hold up. Dean wants to speak," Emma said, passing the phone to Dean.
"Hey bro," Dean said into the receiver.
"Hey," Sam replied. "You know, if you guys are hinting you need my help, just ask."
"We're not hinting anything. Actually, uh… I want you to know…. I mean, don't think…." Dean stuttered out, making Emma smile slightly, although she hid it. She knew Dean well enough to know what he was trying to say, and just how hard it was for him. Luckily, she knew Sam as well, and knew he would get the message from his brother loud and clear.
"Yeah. I'm sorry, too," Sam said, proving Emma right and understanding completely what his brother was trying to tell him.
"Sam. You were right. You gotta do your own thing. You gotta live your own life."
"Are you serious?"
"You've always known what you want. And you go after it. You stand up to Dad. And you always have. Hell, I wish I…. Anyway… I admire that about you. I'm proud of you, Sammy."
"I don't even know what to say."
"Say you'll take care of yourself."
"I will."
"Call me when you find Dad," Dean said.
"OK. Bye, Dean," Sam said. Just like she had, Dean placed the phone back into Emma's outstretched hand.
"Sam?" Emma said to him.
"Yeah," Sam said.
"Keep in touch. Phone whenever you can. I mean it," Emma said, making Sam laugh again. The tone in her voice, the slight joke to her words, made him realise how much he was gonna and already was missing her. Both of them.
"Of course," Sam replied. "Bye, hun."
"Bye Sammy," she said as she hung up, going back to her vigil of staring blankly out of the window, missing her surrogate little brother more now she knew he was gone for good.
In the bus station, Sam stared down at the phone in his hands, thinking about the family he had just got back out on the road without him again. He was in such a daze he didn't notice Meg wake up until she was sitting beside him.
"Who was that?" Meg asked, motioning to the phone in his hand.
"My brother and his girlfriend," Sam answered.
"What'd they say?" she said.
"Goodbye," he replied sadly.
ooooOOOOoooo
At the Burkitsville community college, Dean and Emma were with the professor for their appointment.
"It's not every day I get a research question on Pagan ideology," the professor told them.
"Yeah, well, call it a hobby," Dean said.
"But you said you were interested in local lore?" the professor asked.
"Mmhmm," Dean replied.
"I'm afraid Indiana isn't really known for its Pagan worship."
"Well, what if it was imported? You know, like the Pilgrims brought their religion over. Wasn't a lot of this area settled by immigrants?"
"Well, yeah."
"Like that town near here, Burkitsville. Where are their ancestors from?"
"Uh, northern Europe, I believe, Scandinavia."
"What could you tell us about those Pagan Gods?" Emma finally spoke up.
"Well, there are hundreds of Norse Gods and Goddesses," the professor told her.
"We're actually looking for one. Might live in an orchard," Emma said. With this information, the professor took the pair into his classroom, opening a large book in front of them.
"Woods God, hm? Well, let's see," he said, flicking through the pages. Two pages in, he came to a picture of what looked like a scarecrow tied to a post in a farmers field.
"Wait, wait, wait," Dean said, stopping the professor's flicking fingers. "What's that one?"
"Oh, that's not a woods God, per se," the professor said.
"The V… Vanir?" Dean stumbled out, reading from the book. The professor nodded, so he carried on reading. "The Vanir were Norse gods of protection and prosperity, keeping the local settlements safe from harm. Some villages built effigies of the Vanir in their fields. Other villages practiced human sacrifice. One male, and one female. Kind of looks like a scarecrow, huh?"
"I suppose," the professor said.
"This particular Vanir, it's energy sprung from the sacred tree?" Dean said.
"Well, Pagans believed all sorts of things were infused with magic," the professor told them.
"So what would happen if the sacred tree was torched?" Emma said. "You think it'd kill the god?"
"Guys, these are just legends we're discussing," the professor said with a small laugh.
"Oh, of course," Emma stammered out, trying to cover up and holding out her hand for the professor to shake. "Yeah, you're right. Listen, thank you very much."
"Glad I could help," the professor said, shaking Dean's hand as well before the couple turned to leave. As they opened the class room door to leave, the first thing they saw were the sheriff and Scotty before they were knocked to the ground by the butts of their riffles, out cold before their bodies hit the floor.
ooooOOOOoooo
Outside on the streets of Burkitsville, the rain was pouring down and the sky was covered in dark clouds for the first time in a long time. Stood in the centre of this huddled underneath umbrellas, were Harley, Stacey, Scotty and the sheriff.
"You don't understand, Harley," Scotty was trying to reason with him again. "All of us here, it's our responsibility to protect the town."
"I understand. Better than all of you," Harley said. "I'm the one that gives 'em directions. I'm the one that sends 'em down to the orchard."
"Harley, please…." the sheriff began.
"We all close our doors," Harley continued. "Look the other way. Pretend we can't hear the screams. But this is different, this… this is murder."
"It's angry with us," Stacey said, trying to make her husband understand. "Already the trees are beginning to die. Tonight's the seventh night of the cycle. Our last chance, and it wants more this time."
"If the boy and girl have to die, they have to die. But why does it have to be her?" Harley asked, thinking just what a sacrifice this would entitled this time.
No one could answer him. They simple looked away, the only sound in the silence that of the rain pounding against the umbrellas and the street around them.
ooooOOOOoooo
Dean and Emma had finally woken up, but they had found themselves alone in a cellar, both with killer headaches.
Since they had woken up, they had been trying to figure an escape plan. That was until the cellar door had been opened. Looking up they saw Emily, tears streaming down her face, being held between her aunt and uncle.
"Aunt Stacy. Uncle Harley, please," Emily begged as she was roughly dragged downstairs and stood next to Dean and Emma. "Why are you doing this?"
"For the common good," her Aunt Stacey answered as she closed the cellar door again, leaving Dean, Emma and now Emily in the dark again.
ooooOOOOoooo
In the bus station, the bus to California had finally arrived, but Sam wasn't so concerned anymore. While Meg was gathering her things together, Sam was trying to call Dean for about the fifth time… and still getting no answer. It was the same story with Emma's cell phone, which he had already tried repeatedly.
"Hey. Our bus came in," Meg told him.
"You better catch it. I gotta go," Sam said, hefting up his backpack.
"Go where?" Meg asked.
"Burkitsville," Sam answered.
"Sam, wait."
"I've been trying to call my brother and Emma for the last three hours. I'm just getting their voicemail."
"Well, maybe their phones are turned off."
"No, that's not like them. Meg, I think they might be in trouble."
"What kind of trouble?"
"I can't really explain right now. I'm sorry, look, I don't want you to miss your bus."
"But I don't understand. You're running back to your brother and his girlfriend? The ones you ran away from?" Meg cried out.
"I never ran from Emma," Sam said defensively, knowing how much it broke his heart to know he might have left her in danger he could have stopped.
"Still, you're going back to your brother. Why, because they won't pick up their phones? Sam… come with me to California."
"I can't. I'm sorry."
"Why not?"
"They're my family," Sam replied, knowing now without a doubt that Dean and Emma were two of the only people in the world he would do anything to save. Risk anything to get back, which he was gonna do.
ooooOOOOoooo
In the cellar, Dean was trying to break his way out of the door, unsuccessfully, while Emma and Emily watched from the bottom of the stairs.
"I don't understand," Emily said, going over everything Dean and Emma had told her again. "They're gonna kill us?"
"Sacrifice us. Which is, I don't know, classier, I guess?" Emma said as Dean walked back over to them.
"You really didn't know anything about this, did you?" Dean said.
"About what? The scarecrow God?" Emily cried out in disbelief. "I can't believe this."
"Well, you better start believing, cause we're gonna need your help," Emma told her, wanting to be sensitive, but really needing to knock this girl back to reality if they were gonna get out of this.
"Okay," Emily said softly.
"Now, we can destroy the scarecrow, but we gotta find the tree," Dean said.
"What tree?" Emily asked.
"Maybe you can help us with that," Dean said. "It would be really old. The locals would treat it with a lot of respect, you know, like it was sacred."
"There was this one apple tree," Emily said, everything starting to click slowly into place. "The immigrants brought it over with them. They call it the First Tree."
"Is it in the orchard?" Emma asked.
"Yeah, but I don't know where," Emily said. Before they could ask more, the cellar door swung open, Harley, Stacey, Scotty and the sheriff stood in front of them.
"It's time," Stacey said. All Dean, Emma and Emily could do was exchange a nervous glance, the shotguns aimed their way stopping them from making a quick escape.
ooooOOOOoooo
Making sure their victims couldn't escape, Harley, Stacey, Scotty and the Sheriff tied Dean, Emma and Emily to two trees in the orchard.
"How many people have you killed, Sheriff?" Dean asked him as he tied his hands together. "How much blood is on your hands?"
"We don't kill them," the Sheriff answered.
"No, but you sure cover up after," Emma said as she was tied beside Dean, their hands locked together. "I mean, how many cars have you hidden, clothes have you buried?"
The Sheriff had no answer for them this time. He just walked away, letting Harley and Stacey finish tying Emily to the other tree.
"Uncle Harley, please," Emily sobbed.
"I am so sorry, Em," Harley told her. "I wish it wasn't you."
"Try to understand. It's our responsibility," Stacey said. "And there's just no other choice. There's nobody else but you."
"I'm your family," Emily told her.
"Sweetheart, that's what sacrifice means. Giving up something you love for the greater good," Stacey said, tears now springing to her eyes. "The town needs to be safe. The good of the many outweighs the good of the one."
With that final statement, the four walked away from their sacrifices.
"I hope your apple pie is freakin' worth it!" Dean screamed after them.
"So, what's the plan?" Emily asked, calming down a little.
"I'm workin' on it," Dean said.
However, hours later, once darkness had fallen, they were still tied in the same positions.
"You don't have a plan, do you?" Emily said.
"I'm workin' on it," Dean said yet again.
"You can stop saying that anytime soon," Emma grated out from beside him.
"Can you see?" Dean asked Emily, ignoring Emma's comment.
"What?" Emily asked.
"Is he moving yet?" Dean asked.
"I can't see," Emily said craning her neck. That statement was soon questioned as she did see something. A shadow moving their way through the trees.
"Oh my God. Oh my God!" Emily sobbed out. Hearing the fear and panic in her voice, Dean and Emma pulled harder on their ropes, trying to free themselves to no avail. It didn't matter though, because the shadow was now standing beside them.
And it was Sam.
"Dean? Emma?" he said, the pair breathing a heavy sigh of relief.
"Oh! Oh, I take everything back I said. I'm so happy to see you," Dean said as Sam began to untie them. "Come on."
"How'd you get here?" Emma asked, not that it really mattered how right now.
"I, uh…. I stole a car," Sam answered almost nervously.
"Ha ha! That's my boy!" Dean said as Sam finished untying them. "And keep an eye on that scarecrow. He could come alive any minute."
"What scarecrow?" Sam said. Now free from their ties, Dean and Emma jumped to their feet to see the scarecrow post already empty. Too late.
Making quick work of the ropes round Emily's wrist, the four now started running quickly through the orchard, eager to get out of here before the scarecrow came jumping out of the shadows.
"Alright, now, this sacred tree you're talking about…." Sam started.
"It's the source of its power," Emma explained.
"So let's find it and burn it," Sam said.
"Nah, in the morning," Dean said. "Let's just shag ass before Leather Face catches up."
But they didn't get too far as they ran into a clearing and came face to face with townspeople and shotguns aimed their way.
"This way," Dean said, turning the group in the opposite direction. But it was no use. They were surrounded from all angles.
"Please. Let us go," Emily begged of her aunt and uncle.
"It'll be over quickly, I promise," Harley told her.
"Please," Emily continued to beg.
"Emily, you have to let him take you. You have to…."
Harley's words were quickly cut off as the elusive scarecrow appeared behind him, piercing his sickle through his stomach while at the same time capturing a screaming Stacey and dragging them away. Emily herself screamed, turning and running into the nearest pair of arms, which happened to be Dean's.
Not wanting to be the next victims, the rest of the townspeople ran, fleeing in fright.
"Come on, let's go," Dean said, the four of the running for the exit now they could. Turning once they were out of the gates, the group found nothing but empty space and silence. The scarecrow, along with Harley and Stacey, was long gone.
ooooOOOOoooo
Next morning, Sam, Dean, Emma and Emily were ready to get this over and done with for good. With gasoline and a lighter, they stood in front of the sacred tree Emily had led them to. While Sam poured gasoline over the trees surface, Emma picked up a long branch from the floor, Dean lighting the end.
"Let me," Emily said, reaching out to take the branch from Emma.
"You know, the whole town's gonna die," Emma told her.
"Good," Emily said, throwing the lit branch onto the tree, standing back with the trio as the tree, as well as the towns future, burnt to the ground, leaving nothing but ashes.
ooooOOOOoooo
With no home and no family left, Emily was now prepared to make it on her own. Climbing onto a bus for Boston, Emily turned one last time, looking out of the window at Sam, Dean and Emma watching her leave. Taking her seat on the bus as it drove off, Emily smiled a thankful smile at Dean and Emma, a small wave from both of them given in return being the last thing she saw.
"Think she's gonna be alright?" Sam asked.
"I hope so," Dean replied.
"And the rest of the townspeople, they'll just get away with it?" Sam said.
"Well, what'll happen to the town will have to be punishment enough," Emma told him.
"So, can I drop you off somewhere?" Dean asked Sam as they walked back towards the car.
"No, I think you're stuck with me," Sam said as they stopped beside the car. The next thing he knew, Emma had jumped into his arms, a wide smile plastered across her face as she hugged him tightly.
"What made you change your mind?" Dean asked.
"I didn't. I still wanna find Dad. And you're still a pain in the ass," Sam said, dropping Emma to her feet again as Dean nodded. "But, Jess and Mom… they're both gone. Dad is God knows where. Us three. We're all that's left. So, if we're gonna see this through, we're gonna do it together."
For a second, there was a pause between the three, Dean staring up at Sam.
"Hold me, Sam. That was beautiful," he replied sarcastically, placing his hand against Sam's shoulder. Sam just pushed him away, the three laughing as they starting climbing back into the car.
"You should be kissing my ass," Sam said. "You were dead meat, dude."
"Yeah, right. I had a plan, I'd have gotten out," Dean said.
"Right. That would be what, the tenth time you've said 'I had a plan'?" Emma said smirking at Dean as, with a small laugh, Sam followed the two into the car, things how they should be again.
ooooOOOOoooo
Out on the highway, Meg had managed to peg a ride with another shady van driver who was looking her up and down in her seat, leering at her.
"So, where to, pretty lady?" the van driver asked.
"How about you pull over?" Meg answered.
"Okay. That works," the van driver said with a smug smile as he pulled over to the side of the road. Once the van had come to a stop, Meg reached inside her bag, pulling out a small silver bowl.
"What's that?" he asked her.
"I've got to make a call," she told him.
"I've got a cell phone you could use," the driver said.
"It's not that kind of call," she told him.
With almost inhuman speed, Meg whipped a knife out from the bowl, slicing it across the drivers throat and letting his blood pour out into the bowl she held beneath him.
"Thanks for the ride," she muttered to him as his life quickly drained away with each drop of blood he lost. Pulling the bowl back into her lap, Meg stirred her finger round in the blood.
"Tire quiero patem me a di," she spoke softly, the blood now swirling without the aid of her finger as a silver orb appeared in the centre.
"It makes no sense," Meg spoke into the bowl. "I could've stopped Sam. Hell, I could've taken all three of them. Why let them go?"
She listened intently, a voice that only she could hear talking back to her.
"Yes," she said, pausing to listen again. "Yes."
Again she listened, her voice softening slightly as she spoke one last time.
"Yes, Father."
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tbc...
AN: Ok, what do you think of this chapter. Please review. I always love to hear from you guys.
