Disclaimer: Supernatural and all its characters belong to Kripke and the CW. I own nothing. Don't like, don't read!
Previously on Supernatural- Walking in behind the sheriff Dean gasped at the scene that met his eyes. Papers lay scattered across the floor, furniture was overturned, and broken glass was everywhere! And in the middle of it all was a pool of blood!
SPN
"Mr. Harvelle, I've just determined this situation too dangerous for a civilian. Go back to the car and wait for me there." Sheriff Mills calmly instructed as she slowly made her way across the room eyeing the open doorways warily.
"No happening, sheriff." Dean replied. Tearing his gaze away from the pool of (not Sammy's) blood he looked the woman in the eye. "I'm staying. There's no way I'm leaving you to handle this by yourself."
"Mr. Harvelle…"
"Shhh, did you hear that?" Dean whispered spinning to look towards the kitchen at the far end of the room where the slight scuffling noise had come from.
Nodding the sheriff motioned the young man behind her and then silently crept to the closed kitchen door. Taking up position on one side of the door she was surprised to see her companion do the same. Grateful to have an apparent competent backup she turned her attention to the wooden door beside her. Putting a finger to her lips she held her breath for a moment listening for the slightest sound. Hearing nothing Mills slowly reached for the doorknob. Grasping the handle she took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
SPN
Shirley watched through the window as the sheriff and the brat's father walked out of sight. Ducking down she hurried back to the old shed where her partner was waiting. "We gotta go, Jeb. The police are here." She muttered pulling the younger man to his feet.
"But ma, I didn't get the girl yet!" the thin bearded man complained. "You told me I could have the girl!"
"Jeb Ezekiel Taylor, you get you're a$$ moving right now before I beat it black and blue!" Shirley threatened pulling a long thick switch off of a nearby bush.
"Y-yes m-m-ma'am" Jeb stammered backing away from his mother. Covering his backside with his hands he motioned towards the front of the house. "I-I'll go get the tr-truck and, and, OWWW! What was that for, ma?"
"You stupid brat! We can't take the truck now! The police'll be all over it!" Shirley huffed raising the switch menacingly.
"But, but how are we gonna get home, ma? Uncle Paul's cabin is too far away to walk." the red haired young man pointed out staying far enough away to avoid another strike.
"We ain't got a choice boy. We gotta walk at least till we can find another car to borrow." Shirley informed her son.
"But ma! My leg's hurting something fierce! I ain't gonna be able to get through the woods!" Jeb whined grabbing the bloody bandana covering his thigh. "Can't we take that there four wheeler that was in the shed?"
"No, we can't you little shit! They'd be on us before we could make it to the trees." Shirley growled raising the switch once more. "Now quit your bellyaching and get moving! I ain't about to be caught casing the place!"
"Y-y-yes ma'am" Jeb replied. Turning he limped into the woods with his mother close behind.
SPN
Dean sighed as he glanced around the empty room. They had completed a thorough search of the entire house now and there was still no sign of Sammy. The only thing they had found was a hungry kitten in the kitchen. The black bundle of fluff was lucky the sheriff hadn't blown its head off when it latched onto the woman's leg. Smirking at the memory of the very unpoliceman like squeal the cat's actions had caused Dean had to stifle a laugh. He couldn't wait to tell Bobby that one.
"Looks like we were too late." Sheriff Mills muttered as she walked towards the back door careful to give the little furball hissing at her a wide berth. "We'll check around out back and then call it in."
Dean patted the now purring kitten on the head before following the sheriff out the door and down the porch steps. Slipping into hunter mode he scanned the surrounding grounds frowning as something by the partially open shed door caught his eye. Breaking formation he made a beeline to the discovery ignoring Mills' repeated orders to stop. Once there he glanced at the bloody fingerprints on the shed door before squatting down to examine the small brownish red puddle on the ground. "Its blood" he announced as the sheriff came up behind him. "There's more going that way."
"Good job Mr. Harvelle" the police woman praised. "But I suggest you follow my lead next time. If the kidnapper had still been in that shed, he could have gotten the drop on you and there would have been nothing I could have done about it." Giving the oldest Winchester an "I know best" look Mills turned on her heels and started following the trail.
Rolling his eyes at the arrogant woman's scolding Dean bit down the sarcastic reply that was just dying to come out. He had to be part of the search; Sammy needed him. He'd do anything to make sure the little guy came out of this unharmed even if it meant being nice to the she witch. Course once Sammy was safe all bets were off. This Mills lady had been asking for it ever since she came into the picture and he was gonna be the one to give it to her. Tabling the thoughts of revenge for now Dean stood and turned readying himself to follow the sheriff's lead again. He had only taken a few steps before a sharp bark stopped him in his tracks. Spinning around he noticed a small black and white puppy by the far side of the house. He watched the animal for a moment as it ran a few feet towards the side of the house and then raced back frantically barking at them the whole time. Wondering what the pup was trying to tell him he hollered for the sheriff and then quickly walked over to the agitated animal. "What is it fella?" he asked kneeling down in front of the dog. Looking down into a very familiar set of blue eyes Dean started at the brief glimpse of wings that shadowed the ground. "Cas?" he asked staring wide eyed at the tiny puppy. Getting a nod in reply the eldest Winchester shook his head. Leave it to Castiel to take the form of a small defenseless puppy instead of something bigger and meaner. Hearing the sheriff getting close he leaned down and whispered, "You know where Sammy is?" He smiled as the angel pup nodded again.
"Now comes the hard part; convincing miss know it all." Dean thought as he stood and turned to face sheriff Mills. "Sheriff, I think the dog wants us to follow him." he announced pointing the pup who was doing his Lassie impression once more.
Sheriff Mills sighed as she glanced from the hyper puppy to the kidnapped boy's father. She had known letting him tag along was a bad idea. "Mr. Harvelle, we do not have time to go chasing after some dog that wants to play." She told him not bothering to hide the exasperation she felt. "We have a fresh blood trail that leads to the woods. That is where we need to be headed. Now you can come with me or you can stay here and play with your new friend. It's your choice but I refuse to allow you to sidetrack my investigation to play with some mutt."
"That mutt happens to have my son's bracelet." Dean angrily stated pointing down at the tiny black band the puppy was now holding in its mouth.
"Oh" Sheriff Mills replied. Leaning down she reached out to retrieve the bracelet only to have the puppy growl at her and step out of reach. "Here, puppy, puppy. Nice doggy" she called scooting closer to the skittish animal. Frowning as it turned and dashed across the yard she huffed. "Well, what are you waiting for? Help me get the stupid thing."
Grinning Dean followed the sheriff and the puppy around the house and across the lot. He had to bite back more than one laugh as the dog allowed the sheriff to get close only to run off at the last second. Castiel was certainly showing the lady who was boss.
Sheriff Mills leaned over hands on knees as she tried to catch her breath. Glaring over at the little pup she resisted the urge to scream. An outhouse; the stupid dog had led them to a crumbling wooden outhouse. "So much for a good lead." She thought as she studied the dilapidated structure. Deciding she needed to get the investigation back on track she took a deep breath and stood. Sheriff Mills shuffled closer to the puppy before lunging at the animal intent on getting the black band. But the little pup was too quick. It dodged her hands running into the outhouse and out of reach. Frustrated the woman dashed after the dog determined to get the evidence. She skidded to a stop at the door cocking her head as she watched the small puppy jumping at the bench and barking. Seeing the bench's seat lift as the puppy's paws hit it the sheriff hurried inside to investigate.
Walking into the outhouse Dean was surprised to find Sheriff Mills pulling up the bench. Wondering what the fu** she was thinking he stepped up beside her. His mouth dropped open as the bench was lifted out of the way revealing a staircase. He glanced at the sheriff for a moment before helping her secure the plank of wood to the wall by hanging the handles on hooks that were jutting out of the wall.
Together they knocked the front of the bench down, took out their flashlights, and carefully walked down the dusty, rotting stairs. Getting to the bottom they flashed their lights down the narrow passageway. Seeing nothing the two slowly made their way through the tunnel alert for any sign of trouble. Several minutes into walking they were pleased to find the tunnel widened allowing them to walk side by side. They went further and further into the passage pausing every once and a while to listen. After about fifteen more minutes of silently trudging through the tunnel, they came to a narrow part of the passage.
Motioning Dean behind her Sheriff Mills shuffled on ahead stopping right before a sharp turn in the passage. She glanced back at Dean and then turned the corner hitting the ground as a fireplace poker whooshed through the air aiming for her head!
Seeing the sheriff threatened Dean jumped into action. He grabbed the end of the poker yanking it and its holder towards him. Catching the young auburn haired woman that stumbled out of the corner the oldest Winchester twisted the poker out of her hands dropping it to the ground. "Where's Sammy?" he growled easily holding the struggling woman in his arms.
"Somewhere you can't get him!" Rose yelled as she fought to free herself. "I'm not gonna let you take him and hurt him again! I've called the police and they'll be here any minute!"
"Ma'am, I am the police." Sheriff Mills said stepping in front of the young lady and shining the flashlight on herself so Rose could see her uniform. "I'm Sheriff Mills and the man behind you is Mr. Harvelle. You called my office about the missing boy."
Rose studied the woman's clothing and badge and then stopped her struggling. Breathing a sigh of relief she said, "Thank goodness! I was starting to think you'd never get here."
"Where's Sammy?" Dean asked again as he released his hold on his brother's rescuer.
"He's right around the corner. I hid him when I heard you coming and told him not to come out until I came to get him. I thought you were the ones that broke into my home." Rose explained with a shrug. Walking into a nice sized room she went over to the wooden cabinet against the far wall and opened the door. "Sammy, it's safe to come out now." She whispered as she helped the toddler climb out.
Seeing his little brother crawling out of the cabinet Dean hurried forward. "Sammy!" he called.
Sammy's head popped up at the sound of his name being called. Seeing a very familiar figure on the opposite side of the room the little boy wiggled out of Rose's arms and raced across the room. "Daddy!" he squealed throwing his arms around his father's neck.
Dean knelt down and embraced his little brother snuggling him to his chest. Sammy was safe!