A/N: Revised 4/22/15

After we had left Boston we were headed for right outside of New Paltz, New York. It would be about a four hour drive. I sat in the backseat, it was quiet, Dean didn't even have the radio playing. Sam had given trying to start a conversation a few good tries, but Dean's one word answers and grunts shot him down. He was pissed at me, but screw it, he would get over it eventually. It was after dark when we made it to town and were parked in front of the Telesca's house. We sat there for a moment looking up and down the street, it was quiet. I jumped out of the car and walked up to the house, and looked through the window. There was nothing. No furniture, no pictures, no nothing. Shit. Dean and Sam were watching me from the car, I just turned and shook my head. I pulled on a couple of the windows and one happened to be unlocked, I slipped inside.

These people definitely had had money when they were alive, the wood floors were mahogany, the countertops were granite. I pulled out my EMF meter and walked around, opening cupboards and closets. A whole lot of nothing turned up. I climbed back outside, down the steps and back into the Impala, "There isn't anything in the house, everything must have moved already. I swept it with the EMF just in case, it is clean."

"Great, " Sam said, "That means we need to track down their stuff, it could be an object."

Dean rubbed his forehead, "Why can't the stuff ever just stay put so we can get rid of it? That would make our job a hell of a lot easier."

He turned the key and the engine caught. We drove around town a little until we saw a shabby motel that looked like it was fairly cheap. Sam went to the desk and paid. When he walked back out, he threw me a set of keys, "Jen, you got the room next to ours. I think it is like fourteen and fifteen."

"Thanks."

We all grabbed our shit and walked across the lot, all I knew I was ready for some TV and sleep. And I could really go for a decent shower, it seemed like weeks ago but I realized how much shit had happened in one day. First, I woke up and had a major make-out session with Dean, then I got rid of my psycho ex and finally we drove all the way to New York and I swept the house for EMF. Talk about your jam packed day.

I slipped my key into the lock and opened the door, I looked at the room and couldn't believe the shit I was seeing. I dropped my bags and ran over to the boy's room and opened their door. Their room was the same as mine. Retro- 70s- disco- hell. Black and white décor with a fucking disco ball lamp, the old round hard mushroom type chairs.

"I physically cannot handle this." I said, staring blankly at the stuff.

Dean turned and smirked at me, "Come on, this is freaking awesome."

I knew my face was horrified, "This is the definition of hell, Dean. Hell."

Sam just ignored us and started to talk, "Well we need to find where the Telesca's estate went. Hopefully it all went to one place."

He pulled out his laptop and sat at the round table. I was still looking at the room, feeling nauseous. This was un-freaking real. Dean just leapt onto his bed and smiled, looking proud of himself. I rolled my eyes and turned to leave, "Night boys."

Dean sat up, "You aren't gonna stick around?"

"Nah, Sam has this covered and we can't do anything until morning anyways. So 'night" I walked back to my room and did exactly what I had planned on doing. I got a hot shower and put on comfy sweats. Then I turned on the TV and watched reruns of Cheers. Not two episodes in my door opened and Dean strolled in. I looked up, he had a six pack with him, "Sam kicked me out for awhile, something about me being annoying, I don't know what he is talking about."

He held a beer towards me and I took it, popping off the lid, "Thanks."

He stood there awkwardly for a few minutes, and I looked from the TV back at him, "You can sit down."

Dean furrowed his brow to which I said, "Don't think too hard, you might hurt yourself."

"Ah, you're freaking hilarious."

I laughed, and he snorted and sat down on the other bed, stiffly. I sighed, "You're still pissed at me, aren't you?"

"Ye-p." He said curtly.

I shook my head, "Dean for christ-sake. I made a decision that I have to live with. I didn't want to involve you in it. I get that you're pissed but could you yell or something? This not talking at all shit is driving me insane."

Dean looked down and thought for a moment, "What if he would have killed you? You didn't think about that."

"He was a sadistic bastard, but he wasn't a killer. I can handle myself."

He mumbled under his breath, but I caught it, "...like you handled yourself in the alley."

I was so fucking pissed I was seeing black spots. I stood up and faced him, "The fuck did you say?"

He stared back at me, unwavering, "I said 'like you handled yourself in the alley.'"

I stood right in front of where he sat, "That is really fucking low."

He stood and looked down at me, "But it is true."

I felt like my head was going to explode, "If you are gonna be an ass, get out!"

"Make me."

"What are we? Five? Get the hell out of my room!"

"Jen, you could have fucking died! You went in with no back-up!"

"Dammit, that is what we do. What we do is always dangerous. I could die tomorrow, and you know what, it doesn't matter. Because this is my job and this is my life. Nobody would give a shit. The world would move on."

He was turning red, "Dammit Jen it would matter to me. I'm sure it would matter to your family if I had to show up to their house and say 'hey you don't know me but I watched your daughter bleed out on the pavement' "

"Dean, get out of my room, before I strangle you."

"Fine." He walked out and slammed the door behind him.

"Urgh." I let myself fall backwards onto my bed. I laid awake for awhile, but eventually dozed off.


The next morning there was a knock on Jen's door. When she opened it it was Sam, "Hey, the Telesca's stuff is at an auction house. Can you be ready to go in thirty?"

"Yep."

Shortly, they were all in the Impala. Sam and Dean were in the usual plaid ensemble with light, plain jackets, jeans and boots. Jen wore skinny jeans with combat boots, a long sleeve black shirt and a vest. When they pulled into the lot of the auction house, Jen immediately realised their mistake. The lot was full of expensive cars: BMWs, Porsche, Jaguars, and everything else high end. When they entered the doors there was classical violin music playing.

"Guys, "Jen hissed, "I don't think we are going to be able to pull this one off."

Sam nodded but Dean said, "Don't worry about it, it is all in acting like you belong."

"Well I definitely don't think we belong here." Jen replied under her breath. They wandered around casually, looking extremely out of place. As Dean passed, reaching for food from a tray, he drew disapproving looks. Jen tried her best to shrink into Sam and Dean's shadows. All three of them were on the lookout for anything from the Telesca estate. Dean turned back to Sam and Jen, "Consignment auctions, estate sales. Looks like a garage sale for Wasps if you ask me."

He reached and took more food from a tray, Sam cleared his throat.

"What?" Dean said with his mouth stuffed. Jen snorted at how ridiculous he looked. All three of them jumped at a voice behind them.

"Can I help you two gentlemen?" He looked and saw Jen on the other side, "And lady?"

"I'd like some champagne please." Dean says in a mock high-class voice. Sam elbowed him in the stomach, "He's not a waiter."

Dean raised an eyebrow and Sam held out his hand to the man, "I'm Sam Connors. "

The man just stared between the three of them. When the man wouldn't take Sam's hand he pointed to Dean and then Jen, "That's my brother Dean and our assistant Jennifer. We're art dealers, with Connors Limited."

The man looked like he swallowed his own tongue, "You. Are...art dealers?"

"That's right." Sam said, maintaining composure.

"I'm Daniel Blake, this is my auction house. Now this is a private showing, and I don't remember seeing you on the guest list."

Dean responded, "We're there chuckles, you just need to take another look."

It was Jen's turn. She stepped on his foot, hard. Dean jumped away from her and almost collided with a waiter that had drinks on his tray. Dean reached out and grabbed one.

"Oh. Finally." Dean said and sniffed at the glass. Then he turned and walked away. Sam shot him a dirty look, smiled awkwardly at Blake and then followed Dean. Jen realized she was standing alone and scrambled after them. They received more disgruntled looks from customers. A painting catches Jen's eye as she rushes past, skidding to a stop, "Hey guys! Look at this."

It was a hideous freaking painting. Down-right creepy. It was a family with a few kids, real dark. Dean and Sam step behind her.

"That is just the creepiest this I have ever seen." Dean said with a face. Jen grabbed the tag and showed them, "It is a part of the Telesca estate."

Another voice startled them, "I fine example of American Primitive wouldn't you say?"

The three of them turned to see a woman in a black dress walking down the staircase. She was probably about the same age as Sam, and extremely pretty in the high society sense: sleek and model-like. Sam turns away to look at the painting, Dean slaps him on the back, Jen shakes her head at them. Sam was the first to speak, "Well I'd say it's more Grant Wood than Grandma Moses. But you knew that, you just wanted to see if I did. "

The woman smiled, "Guilty. And clumsy. I apologize. I'm Sarah Blake."

"I'm Sam. This is my...brother, Dean and our partner Jen." Another waiter passed and Dean stuffed his face.

"Dean. Can we get you some more mini-quiche?" Sarah asked.

"I'm good, thanks. " Dean said through the food.

"I think he is about cut off anyways." Jen said and Sarah laughed and then turned to Sam, "So, can I help you with something?"

"Yeah, actually," Sam responded," What can you tell us about the Telesca estate?"

"The whole thing's pretty grisly if you ask me, selling your things this soon. But Dad's right about one thing, sensationalism brings out the crowds. Even the rich ones."

Sam didn't miss a beat, "Is it possible to see the provenances?"

The old man came up behind them, "I'm afraid there isn't any chance of that."

"And why not?" Jen asked

Blake looked at Jen down his nose, "You're not on the guest list. And I think it's time to leave."

Dean made a face and grabbed some more food, "Well we don't have to be told twice."

Blake looked like he was looking at pile of worms, "Apparently you do."

Sam stepped up, "Okay. It's alright. We don't want any trouble. We'll go."

Dean and Jen shared a look and b-lined for the exit. Sam exchanged a look with Sarah and as he walked after them he heard Sarah, "Dad that was just rude."


We were scrambling for the car before Sir Stick Up His Ass called the cops on us. When we were all in the car Dean turned to Sam, "Grant Wood, Grandma Moses?"

"Art history course."

Dean started smirking,

"C'mon Dean. It's good for meeting girls." Sam complained.

Dean started the engine, "It's like I don't even know you."

Sam looked back at me, "Jen, help me out here."

"Dude, that's pretty feminine."

Sam exhaled loudly, the muscles in his face tightening. Dean laughed and pulled the car out of the lot.

"What was...providence?" Dean asked

Sam rolled his eyes and replied, "Prov-e-nance. It's a certificate of origin, like a biography. You know we can use them to check the history of the pieces, see if any of them have a freaky past."

"Well I don't think chuckles will give us anything, " I raised my eyebrows, "but Sarah..."

Sam chuckled, "Yeah, maybe Dean can get her to write it all down on a cocktail napkin."

Dean laughed, "I don't think she meant me."

"No no no, pick ups are your thing Dean." Sam said defensively.

"It wasn't his ass she was checking out." I said looking down.

Sam shot me a look over the seat, "In other words, you two want me to use her to get information."

Dean winked, "Sometimes you gotta take one for the team. Call her."

We were almost back at the motel. When Dean parked the car, Sam pulled out his phone and me and Dean crawled out of the car and went into their room.

"Setting your brother up?" I asked.

"Dude needs to get laid. I have been with that guy 24/7 since he left Stanford and he hasn't even had drinks with a chick. That girl seems his style."

Sam walked in, Dean looked at him and cocked his eyebrow, "Yeah?"

Sam got uncomfortable and then nodded, "Yeah, restaurant tonight at seven."

"Hey brother, I will even give you the car. And as a bonus, you text and I will clear out of the rom. Huh? Huh?"

Sam rolled his eyes and then went into the bathroom, Dean elbowed me in the ribs and I just chuckled. He was so freaking proud of himself.


Sam had picked up Sarah by 6:45 and she had directed him to an upscale restaurant, where they were sitting at a table across from each other.

"Nice place." Sam said, biting his lip.

"Yeah." Sarah smiled awkwardly and there was a long pause. And then she tried again, "Glad you called. Surprised, but glad."

"Yeah?" Sam half smiled.

"Although you seemed to have a hard time getting out the words "Would you like to have dinner".

Sam hesitated , "Ahh...yeah. I haven't really been on a date in a while."

Sarah rolled her eyes, relieved, "Welcome to the club."

Sam was surprised, "You're kidding me."

The waiter came over, "Here we are. The wine list."

Sam took the list and flipped through the pages randomly and uncomfortably. Sarah looked over at the waiter, "I don't know about Romeo here but I'll have a beer."

The waiter glanced at Sam, "And you?"

Sam smiled, "Make that two."

After that the conversation flowed a lot easier between them. Their dinner came, they ate and then they kept drinking and talking. "So you studied art in school huh?"

Sarah laughed, "It's true. I was an artist. A terrible terrible artist. And that's why I'm in the auction business. And you were pre-law?"

"Yep." Sam nodded

"But you didn't go to law school. How come?"

Sam got uncomfortable again, "Ahh, that's a really really long story for another time."

Sarah nodded, not pushing him, "You're not like any art dealer I've ever met."

They exchanged a look and then Sam cleared his throat, "So, what did you mean when you said you haven't been on a date in a while. Trying to make me feel like I'm not such a loser?"

"I'm sure you're many things Sam. I'm also sure loser isn't one of them." Sarah hesitated, and then spoke, "It was my Mom. She died about a year ago. Totally unexpected. It really threw me. I went into this shell. A nice warm safe shell. But lately I've been thinking. It's not what she would have wanted for me. So..."

She stopped again and then quickly changed the subject, "So what about you? You're a reasonably attractive guy."

Sam laughed, "Reasonably? "

"Why haven't you been out and about?"

Sam thought about what to tell her. Then he looked at her and his face fell. Sarah just watched him and then said, "Another long story for another time."

Sam nodded slowly.


Once Sam had left Dean and I ordered a large pizza with every kind of meat imaginable on it. We were chilling on the couch in my room, chowing down on the pizza.

"This is freaking awesome." I said.

Dean grunted in agreement, his mouth stuffed, "Wh-t -re we -nna do -nig?"

Against all odds, I got the message. "There really isn't anything we can do until Sam gets that history whatever."

Dean swallowed the piece pretty much whole, "Cards?"

I reached over and grabbed a deck out of my bag, "Gin?"

"I'm gonna kick your ass."

"Whatever Dean. You can't beat me at darts, I don't know how you even have a chance at cards."

"Well if you're so good, how about strip poker?" I just gave him a look, his face fell, "Fine...gin."

We sat side by side, and an hour and a half and fifty hands later I had won forty-three of them, not that I was counting or anything.

"Gin." I said again.

"Son of a bitch." Dean threw down his cards and leaned forward, "No one is that fucking lucky."

I smirked, "Why I am."

Dean turned his head and looked at me shaking his head.

"Another ass beating?" I asked.

He handed me the cards, "Deal it."

I dealt the next hand and as I went to draw he leaned back trying to look at my hand, "Don't look at my hand, cheater."

"I would never dream of it." Dean said innocently. Then he reached and tried to grab my cards.

"Give 'em." He grunted and attempted to pull the cards out of my hands. I leaned back, trying to get away and he started wrestling me for them.

"Dean, stop." I laughed. He poked me in the ribs, I couldn't breathe I was laughing so hard. He grabbed the cards out of my hand and tossed them across the room.

"Opps." He laughed.

"You are such a sore loser. I was winning." I punched him in the shoulder, "Asshole."

He chuckled. He was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He looked over and up at me. I smiled at him and he flicked the rest of the deck of the table.I groaned, what a bad loser. He kept looking at me, I search his face, "What?"

He shook his head, thought for a moment "Fuck it."

And suddenly he moved and kissed me. His hand was on my cheek, and then moved to behind my head, tightening in my hair. His lips pressed against mine harder, encouraging mine to respond. I did, leaning into it. His other hand moved to my hip and pushed me back onto the couch. I could feel him shift some of his weight on top of me, pushing me farther back into the cushions. This was different from the other times he had kissed me, this was freaking mind-blowing. He pulled his face back, biting my bottom lip lightly and tugging on it.

Dean shook his head, looking down at me, "This does not mean you are forgiven."

I couldn't conceal my smirk or my sarcasm, "Sure it doesn't"

"You are something else."

"You always say that."

"I always mean it." Dean didn't give me time to give a smart ass remark. He pulled my leg around his hip and continued kissing me. His hand slid up my hip and under the hem of my shirt. My lips stopped for a second, and he hesitated, I pulled his face against mine, encouraging him. His hand worked its way up my ribs, and his lips worked their way down my neck and over my collarbone. I didn't mean to but I moaned in response to him, and my back arched toward him. He chuckled and then moved back to my lips, his hand pushing my shirt up and right below my breast. 'Alright Jen. God hates a coward.'', I thought and I reached for the bottom of his shirt and pulled up. Dean narrowed his shoulders and arched his back to make it easier for me to slip his t-shirt over his head. His bare chest was against my body and his hand moved behind my back, tightening, moving me closer. His hand slipped down again and pushed my jeans lower and his hand slipped into the back of my pants, squeezing my ass. I reached down and tried to unbutton his pants, Dean bent at the waist, trying to give me more room. But the second I succeeded and started to push his pants down, I heard the rumble of the Impala engine. Dean groaned, putting his forehead on my chest,

"Hold up a second." He said. We listened and only one door shut,

"Fuck." Dean said under his breath. He drug his nose and his stubble up my sternum and then kissed me quickly one more time. He got off the couch, pulled his pants up and slipped his shirt back on. I laid there for another second, reveling in the bliss and then I followed suit. Dean opened the door and yelled out at Sam, "What? I set you up with a gorgeous woman and you still can't get the job done?"

I heard Sam, "Shut up." He yelled back. Dean turned to me, "Wipe that grin off your face and c'mon."

I passed him heading for the room, and I whispered, "I'll wipe the grin off my face when you wipe that boner off your crotch."

Dean laughed, but I saw him look down and then shrug his shoulders. When we entered the room Sam was fumbling through some papers. Dean closed the door behind himself and turned to Sam, "So she just handed the providences over to you."

"Provenances." Sam corrected

"Provenances?" Dean said haughtily.

"Yes. We went back to her place, I got a copy of the papers..." I smacked Dean in the chest, "See I told you your brother still had it."

"Nothing happened," Sam said annoyed, "I got the provenances and left."

Dean looked confused, "You didn't have to con her or do any...special favors or anything like that?"

Sam rolled his eyes, "Dean, would you get your mind out of the gutter, please?"

"They hold a room for him there." I said.

Dean laughed and began sharpening a knife, "You know when this whole thing's done, we could stick around for a little bit."

Sam looked up from the papers, "Why?"

"So you could take her out again. It's obvious you're into her, even I could see that." I took the papers off of Sam, this was definitely a bro to bro moment. I went halfway through the stack before I saw it. I snapped my fingers, "Hey guys, I got it."

Sam and Dean came over and I turned so they could see the pages too, Dean read out loud at what I pointed at, "Portrait of Isaiah Merchant's family, painted 1910."

"It is the same as the names in your dad's journal. It is that creepy ass painting that was at the auction house."

Sam picked up the journal to double check me and read, "First purchased in 1912, Peter Simms. Peter Simms murdered 1912. Same thing in 1945. Oh, same thing in 1970."

I saw the storage notice, "Right here, it was stored until last month for a charity auction where the Telescas bought it."

"So is it haunted or cursed?" Sam asked.

Dean got up, "Either way, it's toast."


We waited until well after midnight before we pulled out of the hotel lot and drove to the auction house. I was riding shotgun, we drove past it slowly. It was really foggy out. Dean spoke as we passed the auction house, "I'm gonna park 'bout a half mile down the road."

I looked at the auction house, "Minimal outer security, a few cameras. Bad thing is that that is a long run in the open with decent lighting. If I remember right from when we went in the doors are alarm wired and there are four levels of simple motion sensors."

Dean parked the car up the road. I grabbed my gun and slipped it into my pants, Sam grabbed a small thing of lighting fluid, Dean grabbed a canister of salt. We were all wearing dark gloves and dark clothes. Dean started trotting up the road first. Sam and I followed closely behind. When we reached the fence he paused, it was ten foot chain link. I took a step back and got a running start at it and made it part way up and scaled the rest of the way, dropping over the other side.

"Come on!" I hissed. Dean, followed by Sam came over the fence. I sprinted all the way to the main building, avoiding the few cameras that I saw. I saw the alarm box and pointed to it. Sam broke it open and disarmed it. That would take care of the doors at least.

"Go ahead." Sam said.

I squatted in front of the door and picked the lock. These industrial ones were always pretty easy because the pins slid well. I heard the last click and turned the handle. Dean walked in first, flashlight up.

"The first motion sensor is about ten yards from the door, I think the box is to your left." Sure enough it was, Dean pried the box open and disarmed the motion sensors as well. I went in and shone my flashlight around, looking for that freaking painting.

"Over here." Sam called. Dean jogged over and I followed, Dean pulled out his switchblade and cut the painting from the frame. We left, the whole thing taking less than five minutes. Running back across the lot, we all hit the fence at a full sprint. Once on the outside of the fence, we ducked into an empty storage lot. Dean laid out the painting, sprinkling it with salt. Sam sprayed lighter fluid on it. I took some matches out of my pocket, swiped them and let the creepy ass thing on fire, watching it burn to ash.

Dean grunted, "Ugly ass thing. If you ask me we're doing the art world a favor. "


The next morning we were eating breakfast in the boy's room. I had taken the Impala and gotten coffee and a ton of breakfast sandwiches from the local fast food chain. I was chowing down on a bacon, egg and cheese, chugging coffee when Dean rushed out of the bathroom, "We got a problem - I can't find my wallet."

Sam looked up, "How is that my problem?"

"Cause I think I dropped it in the warehouse last night."

I swallowed my food, "You're kidding, right?"

"No. It's got my prints, my ID, well my fake ID anyway. We gotta get it before someone else finds it. Come on." We drove to the auction house. Luckily it was an open viewing of pieces for the day. We began looking everywhere, hurrying. Sam was especially frustrated.

"How do you lose your wallet, Dean?", Dean just threw his hands in the air and kept searching. I looked up and saw Sarah approaching Sam.

"Hey guys!" She said. They both spun around and tried to act nonchalant. Sam recovered, "Sarah! Hey."

"What are you doing here?"

"Ahh, we... we are leaving town and, you know, we came to say goodbye."

Dean elbowed him, " What are you talking about Sam, we're sticking around for at least another day or two."

Dean pulled out his wallet and showed Sam, sly ass, I should have known,"Oh, Sam. By the way. I'm gonna go ahead and give you that twenty I owe you. I always forget, you know."

Sam looked at him in disbelief, and then looked over at me accusingly. I shrugged my shoulders.

Dean held out the cash to Sam, "There you go."

Sam snatched the cash and glared at Dean, "Well I'll leave you two crazy kids alone, I gotta go do something...somewhere. Jen, you coming?"

"Yep." We walked out and sat on the hood of the car.

"Dean, you are a little shit. Sam is going to kill you."

"He will thank me later." He said suggestively.

"I should have known you wouldn't drop that damn wallet."

"Had you going."

"Ass. You could have let me know."

"Nah, it was more fun this way."


Sam and Sarah stood there awkwardly. Sam finally broke the silence, " So..."

"I had a good time last night." Sarah blurted.

"Yeah, yeah. I did too."

"Maybe we should do it again sometime."

Sam shoved his hands in his pockets, "You know. I'd love to, I really would, but Dean, he was just screwing around. We really are taking off today."

"Oh. Oh. Ah that's too bad."

Then Sam saw two workers walking by with a painting. He did a double take, "Oh my God!"

It was THE painting, totally intact without so much as a scratch. Sarah jumped around, looking, "What?"

"The...that painting...looks so good!"

"If you can call that monstrosity good, then...yeah, I guess."

"So...what do you know about that painting?"Sam asked..

"Not much - just that it creeps me out. We sold it to the Telescas at a charity auction the night they were murdered."

Sam raised his voice, "Yeah, and now you're just going to sell it again?"

"As much as my Dad wants to, no, I won't let him. I think it'd be in bad taste."

"Good. Yeah. You know what? Don't. Don't. Make sure you don't, okay?"

Sarah was really confused, "Why? Don't tell me you're interested in that?"

Sam was flustered and back tracking, "No. No, God, no. Not in buying it, no. You know what, I gotta go, I gotta take care of something. But umm, I will call you back...I will call you, I'll see you later."

"Wait, so you're...not leaving tonight?"

"No-o-o, I guess not. I'll see ya." Sam ran out the door to the car. Jen and Dean were really confused when he jumped into the car panicking .

Jen laughed, "What did she do, threaten to take you on another date? Was it to the movies this time?"

Sam just shook his head, "That-that painting was there. Totally fine."

"What?" Jen asked.

Sam continued to shake his head, "I don't understand, we burned the damn thing."

Dean recovered, "Yeah, thank you Captain Obvious. All right, we just need to figure out another way to get rid of it. Any ideas?"

"Okay, all right. Well, um, in almost all the lore about haunted paintings it's always the painting's subject that haunts 'em."

Jen nodded, "So we just need to get all the information on that creepy-ass family in that creepy freaking painting."

"Where to?" Dean asked


The bell on the door rung as we entered a second hand book shop. An old man was behind the counter, "What can I do for you three today?"

Sam went up to the counter. I immediately got distracted. There was a whole case of books on war history and guns.

"We were told you have the best collection of local history." Sam said to the man.

"You were told right young man."

"Well me and my friends were wondering what you had on the Isaiah Merchant family?"

"If you have some time I can look." Sam nodded at the man, "Thank you sir."

I was still sifting through the books on the shelf. There was one on 19th century guns and the evolution of the revolver. I pulled it out and Dean snatched it out of my hands, "Hey!"

"Snooze you lose." He started flipping through the book and stopped at the page about Colt's first try at the revolver. I nodded at the book, "Colt's big equalizer."

Dean nodded, "Yeah, what was that west saying?"

"God didn't make all men equal, Samuel Colt did." I replied. The little old man came bustling back to the front with an armful of papers,

"You said the Isaiah Merchant family right?"

"Yep." I replied. He laid out everything he had on a table

"I dug up every scrap of local history I could find. So are you guys crime buffs?"

Dean nodded, "Kinda. Yeah. Why do you ask?"

"Well..."

He held up this paper from April 1912, I looked as he flipped through the pages, the front headline was about the sinking of the Titanic. He finally found the article he was looking for,

'Father Slaughters Family, Kills Himself'. I sighed and looked over at the boys, "That sounds like what we are looking for."

Sam furrowed his brow, "The whole family was killed?"

The guy got all serious, "It seems this Isaiah, he slits his kids' throats, then his wife, then himself. Now he was a barber by trade. Used a straight razor."

I asked the obvious, "Why did he kill them?"

The man cleared his throat, "Let's look. Ahh... 'People who knew him describe Isaiah as having a stern and harsh temperament. Controlled his family with an iron fist. Wife, uh, two sons, adopted daughter...'Yeah yeah yeah...'There were whispers that the wife was gonna take the kids and leave." Which of course you know in that day and age, um ...so instead, old man Isaiah'...well he gave them all a shave."

He drew his hand across his throat and made gurgling noises and laughed, I chuckled and Dean laughed. Sam turned, bitchfacing us all and Dean and I stop, looking away from him. Dean pointed to the stack, "Does it say what happened to the bodies?"

"Just that they were all cremated."

"Anything else?" Sam encouraged.

"Yeah. Actually I found a picture of the family. It's right here... somewhere. Right - here it is" Right in front of us was a picture of that damn painting.

"Could we get a copy of all this" Sam asked.

"Sure." We were outta there fifteen minutes later with all the information the old guy had on the Merchants. I kept looking at that damn picture, something was gnawing at me about it. Dean drove the car up to the motel and we were back to square one on leads. I sat down at the table, putting my feet up on it and crossing my ankles.

"Hey guys, something is funky about this picture. If I was used to crazy shit, and I am, I would say the two paintings are different." I slid the picture over to Sam who studied it for a moment.

"You know, you're right. The painting at the auction house, Dad is looking down. Painting here, Dad's looking out."

Dean popped open a beer and took the chair opposite of me, "All right, so you think that Daddy dearest is trapped in the painting and is handing out Columbian neckties like he did with his family?"

I shrugged, "That seems like a definite possibility. But if his bones are already gone and we can't destroy the painting, how are we gonna stop him?"

Dean sighed, "All right, well, if Isaiah's position changed then maybe some other things in the painting changed as well. You know it could give us some clues."

Sam made a face "What, like a Da Vinci Code deal?"

Dean gave Sam a blank look, " Don't...know. uhh...I'm still waiting for the movie on that one. Anyway, we gotta get back in and see that painting."

I looked at the picture again, "I'm pretty sure the background is different. I thought it was an old building in the picture frame before. Here it is a forest. "

Dean finished his beer and moved to the bed, dropping down onto his back and crossing his arms across his chest.

"I know one way we can get back in." He started, "And it would give Sammy some more time to crush on his girlfriend."

"Dude. Enough already." Sam said haughtily .

"What?" Dean was defensive.

"What? Ever since we got here, you been trying to pimp me out to Sarah. Just back off, all right?"

"But Sam, " I said, "you like her don't you?"

Sam shot me a look that made me wish I had kept my mouth shut. I looked down at the papers.

"Well?" Dean pushed, sitting up. Sam raised his arms, aspirated. Dean continued, "All right, you like her, she likes you, you're both consenting adults... "

Sam was getting frustrated, his body language edgy, voice rising, "What's the point, Dean? We'll just leave. We always leave."

"Well I'm not talking about marriage, Sam. "

Sam was really agitated now,"You know, I don't get it. What do you care if I hook up?"

I couldn't help it, "Well then maybe you wouldn't be so bitchy." Sam shot me another look, "Sorry, you two continue, I will read this stuff."

Sam stared at me and huffed. Dean got up all the way, "You know, seriously Sam, this isn't about just hooking up, okay? I mean, I, I think that this Sarah girl could be good for you. "

Sam sighed and refused to answer, I looked between both of them. Dean was trying to gauge his little brothers reaction, when Sam gave him none, he spoke softly,"And... I don't mean any disrespect but I'm sure this is about Jessica, right? Now I don't know what it's like to lose somebody like that... but... I would think that she would want you to be happy."

Sam started to well up. I felt bad for the guy, Dean had filled me in for the most part about Sam's girlfriend dying the same way their mother did, and I couldn't even imagine. Sam gave a half smile, "Yeah I know she would. Yeah you're right. Part of this is about Jessica. But not the main part..."

Dean looked concerned, "What's it about?"

Sam refused to answer.

"Not to be the party crasher over here," I smiled awkwardly, "but, we still gotta see that creepy painting. So, Sam you still need to call Sarah."

Dean laid back down and when Sam wasn't looking, winked at me. I just shook my head. Sam sighed and picked up his phone, I could only hear his side of the conversation, "Sarah, hey, it's Sam...Hey, hi... Good. Good, yeah. Umm. What about you?"

Dean turned his head to watch Sam who was still stumbling, "Yeah good, good, really good."

"Smooth." Dean whispered and Sam just waved him off.

"So, ah, so listen. We, were...uh...thinking that maybe we'd like to come back in and look at the painting again. I ..."

Dean shook his head at the 'we' part and shut his eyes again. I walked over and snagged a beer, popping the top off. Dean sat half up and mouthed, 'what the hell?' at me. I just flipped him off and he smiled. Sam was still talking, "I think maybe we are interested in buying it...What!?"

Sam's tone changed so dramatically that Dean bolted upright and I stiffened. This was going to be shitty ass news. And oh it was, "Who'd you sell it to?...Sarah I need an address right now."

It was always something. Sam was still talking as we ran out the door. Dean gunned the engine as soon as we were all in.


In record time we were pulling in front of this really nice house in an upscale neighborhood. It was pitch black. We all jumped out and I noticed the extra car parked out front. Shit, Sarah stepped out of it and ran towards Sam, "Sam what's happening?"

Me and Dean hightailed it past her. I heard Sam, "I told you, you shouldn't have come."

I started pounding on the door, "Anyone home?"

When there was no response Dean banged his hand against it a few more times, Sarah and Sam were now right behind us, and she was terrified, "You said Evelyn might be in danger, what sort of danger?"

Dean looked up and down the door, it was an old solid oak, he looked over at me, "I can't knock this sucker down."

I bent down and started trying to pick the lock, while I was scraping it Sam banged on the window, I heard Sarah speak up again, "What are you guys, burglars?"

Sam returned, "I wish it was that simple. Look you really should wait in the car. It's for your own good."

"Got it!" I stood back up and Dean pushed the door open. We quickly went inside, searching rooms. I heard an unfamiliar footstep and pulled my gun, swinging around. Facing me was a horrified Sarah. I tipped my gun back, "Sorry. Habit."

Evelyn!" I hear Dean yell.

"Over here." Sam called. Dammit. I entered the lounge followed by Sarah. Evelyn was sitting, slouched in a chair. There was blood on the front of her shirt.

"Evelyn? It's Sarah Blake...Are you all right?"

Sarah reached to touch Evelyn's shoulder, Sam reached and tried to grab her, "Sarah don't. Sarah!"

When her hand collided with Evelyn, the head rolled back revealing a severed throat. Sarah backed into Sam screaming, "Oh my God. Oh My God!"

Sam put his arm around her and corralled her out of the room. Just as she was leaving, the father in the picture moved, looking to the daughter. Dean looked over at me, I just bit my tongue and made a face.

"So who is calling this in?"

"It is definitely not our week Jen." Dean said as he headed out. When we walked outside Sam was already in the car and Sarah was in hers on the phone. I took it as a clear cut sign we were meant to leave. Dean seemed to agree cause he jumped into the driver's seat and revved the engine, driving us back to the motel.


It was the next morning and we were sitting in the motel room. Dean had Sam's laptop open and

was apparently 'surfing the web' which I am pretty sure is code for watching porn. Sam had been pacing nervously and I was just looking through the clippings again while listening to the TV. I jumped at the loud knock on the door. Sam opened it and Sarah stormed past him and into the room.

"Well come on in", I said under my breath setting the papers down, Dean heard me and smirked. Sam turned to her, "Hey. You alright?"

"No, actually, I just lied to the cops and told them I went to Evelyn's, alone, and found her like that."

Sam let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me, I'm about to call them right back if you don't tell me what the hell's going on. Who's killing these people?"

Sam looked to Dean who cocked an eyebrow and then at me who shrugged. I know, great moral support.

"What." Sam stated to Sarah, hesitantly .

"What?" She clearly thought he was mocking her

"It's not 'who'. It's 'what' is killing those people." Sam said slowly. She looked at him like he was insane. Sam sighed, " Sarah, you saw that painting move."

"No...no I was...I was seeing things. It's impossible."

"Yeah...well... welcome to the world we live in." I replied. Sam touched Sarah's shoulder, "Sarah, I know this sounds crazy...but we think that that painting is haunted."

Sarah started sniggering and tearing up at the same time, "You're joking."

She looked between all of us. We just stared back at her, "You're not joking. God, the guys I go out with."

Sam replied to her "Sarah, think about it. Evelyn, the Telesca's, they both had the painting. And there have been others before that. Wherever this thing goes people die. And we're just trying to stop it. And that's the truth."

Sarah took a deep breath, "Then I guess you'd better show me. I'm coming with you."

Sam was startled, "What? No. Sarah no, you should just go home. This stuff can get dangerous and...and I don't want you to get hurt."

I got up, "No offense but this isn't amature hour, this shit gets serious."

"Look, you guys are probably crazy, but if you're right about this? Well me and my Dad sold that painting that mighta got these people killed. Look I'm not saying I'm not scared because I am scared as hell but...I'm not going to run and hide either."

She turned and walked right to the door, " So are we going or what?"

"Sam, " Dean pointed at where Sarah just was, "Marry that girl."

I laughed and Sam just ignored him. We walked out to the car again, "Hey Sam, you get back seat with your girlfriend."

He gave me a nasty look, "She isn't my girlfriend."


They arrived back at Evelyn's house. Jen and Dean walked right up to the door, Sam trailed, keeping an eye on Sarah to make sure she didn't freak. Dean started picking the lock and Jen pulled out her switchblade and cut through the 'sealed crime scene' sticker. Sarah cleared her throat, "Ahhh... isn't this a crime scene?"

Dean shrugged, "You've already lied to the cops. What's another infraction?"

They all walked inside and to the painting. Sam lifted it off the wall and Jen pulled out the copy they had gotten from that second hand bookstore.

"Not to state the obvious...Aren't you worried that it's...gonna kill us?" Sarah asked. Jen shook her head and as she handed Dean the photo, started to speak, "It seems to like to give out Columbian neckties at night. As long as the sun is up, we should be okay. Well at least theoretically. I guess we will find out. "

Sarah scoffed, "Well aren't you a bucket of sunshine and rainbows?"

Jen smirked, "I give it my best shot."

"Hey guys, " Dean pointed, "check it out. The razor, it's closed in this one but it's open in that one."

Sarah looked, "What are you guys looking for?"

Dean answered, "Well if the spirit's changing aspects of the painting then it's doing so for a reason."

"I was right," Jen stated, pointing, "The painting in the painting is different. This one looks like a crypt or a mausoleum."

Dean looked around and grabbed a thick glass ashtray. Holding it up to the paper, he used it as a magnifying glass. Sure enough the inscription read 'Merchant'. He handed Jen the ashtray and she looked.

"We all up for a road trip?" Jen asked.


Five hours later I got out of the car at yet another cemetery. All of us started wandering through the headstone. I was starting to think this ghost was full of it. Dean must have been thinking the same thing because he said, "This is the third boneyard we've checked. I think this ghost is jerking us around."

I heard Sarah talking to Sam,"So this is what you three do for a living?"

Sam chuckled, "Not exactly. We don't get paid."

She stopped for a moment, "Well, Mazel tov."

I started up a small hill, once at the top I could see down into the a little hollow, "Guys! Over here."

Down the hill there was a mausoleum that looked like the one from the painting. Once we got there Dean broke the lock. On the inside there were cobwebs, lots and lots of cobwebs.

"Uck." Dean said as some fell in his face. I shone a flashlight on the wall. There were four nameplates, with four urns and four glass boxes. In each of the boxes was a different item, one of them was a doll.

"I lied before guys, " I pointed, "The painting is now officially the second creepiest thing I have ever seen."

Sam came over and looked, "It was a... sort of tradition at the time. Whenever a child died sometimes they'd preserve the kid's favorite toy in a glass case, put it next to the headstone or crypt."

As the wind blew in Dean pointed, "Notice anything strange here?"

Sarah replied first, "Ah ... where do I start?"

Sam sniggered, I saw what Dean meant, "There are only four urns."

Dean half smiled, "Yahtzee. Mom and the three kids. Daddy dearest isn't here."

Sam nodded, "So where the hell is he?"

I bit the inside of my cheek, hesitating , "There is one way we can find out."


"So Jen?," Dean said from the front seat, "How about you and me go get this job done?"

He winked, and then raised his eyebrows. He was still trying to give Sam alone time with Sarah. I got out and me and him walked up to the county office building, "You know, Sam is going to catch onto your little game and then kill you."

Dean turned to me and continued to walk backwards raising his hands, "I can't help it that I am the master."

I pulled the handle on the door and he followed me in. Behind the front desk there was a man in his early thirties. Dean whispered in my ear over my shoulder.

"You're up." And he shoved me forward, I flipped him off behind my back. I pulled my shirt down and pushed back my hair.

"Hi." The man looked up at me and smiled politely, "What can I do for you miss?"

"I was wondering, if it isn't a bother, to see the county death certificates."

He reached under the desk, "Fill out the form, we could probably get you in by the middle of next week."

Shit, I looked back at Dean. He just held his hands up to his chest and pushed up nonexistent boobs.

"Listen... " I read his nametag, "Tim, I'm only in town until tomorrow morning and I am doing some research, and this would really help for my dissertation."

"Ma'am there is nothing I can do."

"Oh, well it was worth a shot." I started to walk off and then I turned, "Would you like to get a drink tonight?"

The guy was totally shocked, "Umm...sure."

I walked back over to the desk, reached over and grabbed a sheet of paper. I wrote down Carrie and a fake number. The guy leaned forward, "At the risk of sounding like an ass, what about macho over there?"

"Danny?" I looked back, feigning surprise, laughing, "He bats for the other team, if you catch my drift."

"Oh...Oh"

"See you Tim." I turned again, walking.

"Hey Carrie!" Hook, line and sinker. Every damn time. I smiled a devilish grin before I turned, "Yes?"

"How about I see what I can do, getting you into the records. I'm really not supposed to but I could give you ten minutes."

I bounced up with a smile, "That would be fantastic." I reached down and touched his arm for good measure.


When Dean and Jen went into the county office, Sam and Sarah sat on a nearby wall, waiting, "So what exactly is your brother and Jen doing in there?"

"Searching county death certificates trying to find out what happened to Isaiah's body."

"How'd they even get in the door?"

Sam smiled, "Lying and subterfuge mostly. Though Jen and my brother are a little rough around the edges, they are very good at manipulating people."

Sarah looked over, and Sam got uncomfortable, changing the subject "You have a...uh...you have an eyelash on your right...no...uh...you know wha - t"

Sarah keep trying to wipe it off but had no idea where it was, Sam pointed at her cheek, "Do you mind if I - get it?"

"No." Sam grabs it between two fingers and then holds it out, "Okay, I got it. Make a wish."

Sarah laughs at first, but then concentrates and blows it away. There is a silence between them before she speaks again, "Sam, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure."

"I don't mean to be forward, but a girl could wait here forever. Is there something, here, between us? Or am I delusional?"

Sam looked at his feet and smiled, "You're not delusional."

Sarah nodded slowly, "But there's a but coming."

"But... I don't think this would be a good idea."

She furrows her brow "Can I ask why?"

Sam stopped smiling, "'Cause I like you."

"Wait. You lost me."

Both of them laughed and then Sam thought. It was hard for him to explain, "Look, it's hard to explain. Ah-It's just when people are around me - I don't know, they get hurt."

"What do you mean?" Sarah probed.

"I mean like physically hurt. With what me and my brother do, it's... Sarah, I had a girlfriend. And she died. And my Mom died too. I don't know, it's like, it's like I'm cursed or something. Like death just follows me around. Look, I'm not scared of much, but if I let myself have feelings for anybody... "

Sarah finally understood, "You're scared they'd get hurt too. That's very sweet. And very archaic."

She put her hand on his shoulder and he looked over at her, "Sorry?"

"Look I'm a big girl Sam, it's not your job to make decisions for me. There's always a chance of getting hurt."

Sam started to get defensive, "I'm not talking about a broken heart and a tub of Haagen Dazs. I'm talking about life and death."

Sarah shrugged, "And tomorrow I could get hit by a bus. That's what life is. Look, I know losing somebody you love - it's terrible. You shut yourself off. Believe me, I know. But when you shut out pain, you shut out everything else too."

"Sarah, you don't understand. The pain that I went through... I can't go through it again. I can't. "

He trailed off. Dean and Jen suddenly appeared. They looked between each other and Jen spoke, "Are we interrupting something?"

Sarah and Sam spoke over each other, "Nope." and "Not at all."

Jen nodded skeptically, "Sure thing."

Sam recovered, "What'd you guys get?"

Dean handed Sam a sheet of paper, "Paydirt. Apparently the surviving relatives of the Merchant family were so ashamed of Isaiah that they didn't want him interred with the rest of the family. So, they handed him over to the county, the county gave him a pauper's funeral. Economy style. Turns out he wasn't cremated; he was buried in a pine box. "

Sam got hopeful, "So there are bones to burn."

Jen nodded, smiling, "There are bones to burn."

"Tell me you guys know where." Sam got up.

"Well Jen here had to do some fancy footwork to get it, but we know where...Speaking of, what is that poor guy gonna do when he finds out that number is not to a co-ed dissertation writer?"

Jen gave Dean a bitchface. "Hopefully we aren't around long enough to find out."


It was dusk when the four of them snuck into a graveyard that was pretty far out in the country. Jen and Dean each carried a shovel and held flashlights, looking at headstones. Sam carried a container of salt and a can of gasoline.

"Hey!" Dean yelled. He was standing in front of an grave marked only by a number. "This should be it."

He took the shovel and struck the ground beginning to dig near the head. Jen plowed her shovel into the ground, about ten feet back. Sam and Sarah stood there watching as the other two worked quickly, holding flashlights so that they could see. When Jen and Dean were shoulder deep in the grave Sarah spoke, "You guys seem to be uncomfortably comfortable with this."

Sam put a hand in his pocket, and uncomfortably responded, "Well, ah, this isn't exactly the first grave we've dug. Still think I'm a catch?"

Sarah laughed and they heard Jen yell up from the hole, "Sam, I don't know where you are getting this 'we' shit at right now. I know it is awful hard holding that flashlight up, but..."

"Hey, I'm supervising." Dean and Jen laughed. Awhile later the grave was about five inches over Jen's head, and they finally heard something solid under the shovel.

"Think I've got something." Dean said. And then he cracked through the pine box and revealed the body inside.

"Yummy." Jen said dryly. "Sam! How about you make yourself useful and help me out."

Sam reached down a hand that Jen took and he pulled her so her shoulders were level with the edge. She swung a leg up and climbed out. Dean was tall enough that he swung out. Sam started shaking salt on the body and Jen poured the gasoline on top. Dean struck a book of matches and spoke,

"You've been a real pain in the ass Isaiah. Good riddance." He tossed the match in and they all stood there and watched the body burn to nothing.


Dean pulled the car up to Evelyn's house. Sam jumped out of the backseat, "Keep the motor running. "

"I thought the painting was harmless now?" Sarah replied

Sam started walking to the house, "Better safe than sorry. We're gonna bury the sucker. "

Sarah got out of the back on the opposite side, "I'm going with you."

Sam turned, "You sure?"

"Yeah." She said decisively . Me and Dean looked at each other and then back between the two of them Dean called to Sam, "Hey! hey hey. We'll stay here, you go make your move."

Sam rolled his eyes and scoffed, walking away again. "Sam. I'm serious!"

Sam and Sarah were walking up the stairs. There was a ballad playing on the radio so naturally Dean cranked it. I watched Sam grimace and turn to give us a 'what the fuck' look. Dean shrugged his shoulders and then quickly pointed at me. I punched him in the stomach, Dean doubled over. And then I waved for Sam to go on. Sam motioned for us to cut the music. Dean sighed and turned it down. The last thing I saw was them disappearing into the house.

I looked over at Dean, "You realize that Sam won't do a damn thing, right?"

"Yeah, but the kid needs something to go right. Maybe we could kick them out at a bar or something."

"Sam would kill you."

"He can take his best shot." We both turned as the front door of the house slammed shut. Dean and I flew out of the car and up to the door, both of us banging on it.

"Get back." Dean says and when I move he starts trying to kick it in. I run to the windows and try to break them but the damn things are barred on the inside. I can hear Sam yelling by the door but it is really muffled, "Dean! Hey! Is that you?"

"Sammy, you all right?" There was no answer. Dean was getting panicky, still trying to break in the door. Then his phone rang, he flipped it out on speaker phone and ask, "Tell me you slammed the front door."

"Nope, it wasn't me. I think it was the little girl."

"Girl? What girl?"

"Yeah she's out of the painting. I think it might've been her all along."

Oh shit. I answered this time, "The dad was looking down at her, he was trying to warn us about her."

Sam interrupted me, "Hey hey hey, let's recap later all right? Just get us out of here."

Dean was frustrated, "Well I'm trying to pick the lock, the door won't budge."

"Well, knock it down." Sam was yelling now. I grabbed the phone off Dean, "Alright genius, why don't you wait while we grab the battering ram that I keep shoved up my ass.

"Jen, the damn thing is coming."

Dean snatched the phone back, "Well you're just gonna have to hold it off until I figure something out. Get some salt or iron. Stay on the phone, we are going to see if we can find a way in."

I nod and take off around to the back. This lady must have been super paranoid because every single window was reinforced and all the doors were solid oak. Plus with that spirit running around, there was gonna be no way in until she let us in. I found a place where I could climb up to the second level. I pulled my way up but those windows were barred as well. Son of a bitch. I ran back around to Dean.

"Dean! There is no way in. This lady was batshit because everything is locked down."

I could hear yelling over the phone and a small scream. Dean got panicky again, "Sammy, you okay?"

"Yeah, for now."

"How we gonna waste her?"

"I don't know, she was already cremated. There's nothing left to burn."

I spoke to Dean, "Then how's she still kickin' and killing people?

I heard Sam reply, "There must be something else."

Then there were more mumbles over the phone. I could hear chirps of Sarah's voice and Sam mumbling because he was far away. Dean kept looking at me, both of us were trying to think of something. Then Sam spoke again,

"Dean, Sarah said the doll might have the kid's real hair. Human remains, same as bones."

I grabbed Dean's arm, "The Mausoleum!"

Dean and I sprinted to the car and we were racing down residential streets at over a hundred miles per hour. The car skidded onto the highway and never went below one-twenty. I kept the phone open so we knew what was happening, all I could hear was the static-y silence. When we reached the graveyard Dean didn't stop at the gates he just drove the Impala through them. The car hit a few headstones and caught air as it pulled up to the mausoleum. Suddenly there are screams over the phone. Dean and I run inside, he starts to pound at the glass container with his elbow. I reach behind me and grab my gun, standing beside him. I pull up the sight pattern as I hear more screaming over the phone, "Dean! Move your ass!"

Dean looks at me, surprised. He backs away and I put my face down in my arm to protect my face and fire a shot. The glass crack and I slam the butt of the gun into it. I reach in and grab the doll. Dean starts flicking his lighter, the wind picks up.

"C'mon! C'mon!" Dean keeps yelling at the lighter. Finally the damn thing caught and he held it under the hair. It started to smoke and then burn away. It really smelt rank and we both coughed. I dropped the doll as the fire got close to my hands. We watch it burn, I realized I dropped the phone in the corner. I picked it up and tossed it to Dean.

"Sam, you good?"

There was a hesitation, "Not bad."

"You guys bury that damn painting out back and then hang tight."

Dean looked at me and started breathing normally again. I started laughing hysterically,

"What?" Dean asked.

"Ah, " I stopped, "Just another day at work."

Dean let out a single laugh, "Alright smart ass, let's go get them"

We drove slowly back to the house. When we arrived Sam and Sarah were sitting on the front steps, banged up and bruised, but in one piece. They climbed into the car and Sarah directed Dean to her place. When she got out Sam got out as well, "You guys can go back to the motel, I will catch a ride back. I'm gonna make sure she's okay."

Dean raised his eyebrows suggestively , "Sure you are."

Sam just gave him a dirty look and walked away, following Sarah into her house. By the time me and Dean got back to the motel it was well after two in the morning. I just followed him into his room and dropped down on his bed. Dean dropped down on the opposite side and flipped on the TV.

"Hell of a day." He said absentmindedly . I knew it was hard on him when Sam got into a situation that Dean couldn't control. It showed on his face as he stared blankly at the wall. I just let him be and kicked off my shoes and socks and laid back on the pillows. I was just going to stay there for a little bit, but I felt my eyelids droop and every time I fought it, they got heavier.


Sam walked into the room a little after five-thirty. He had spent a few hours at Sarah's and then stopped by the county office and did some before hours digging through adoption records, making sure this spirit was gone for good. What he saw before him didn't surprise him in the least. Jen and Dean were both fast asleep on Dean's bed. They were on opposite sides and looked like mirror images of each other; laying on their stomach, facing one another, with the middle of the bed in between them. Even though that wasn't exactly scandalous, what he saw next made Sam smile. Jen's hand was out a little from her body and Dean's hand reached the rest of the way and covered hers.

Sam had known there was something between them but hadn't said anything to Dean, other than that shit at the bar. He knew Dean had a 'relationship phobia' and was a self-proclaimed lifetime bachelor and ladies man. Sam had known months ago back in Hibbing that something had happened. When Dean had gone to stitch Jen up, she had blushed so hard and attempted to hide it, but couldn't. Dean had taken way too long on the stitches. Then in Wisconsin, he had seen them holding hands after him and Dean had fought and Jen had broken it up. Then last weekend in Boston, the walls weren't exactly sound proof. But Sam could care less that they were keeping it from him, because he knew one thing, Jen was good for Dean. She gave him something to look forward to, someone other than family to talk to, and someone to joke around and just have fun with. Jen was someone he was never gonna have to lie to.

So Sam went over to the coffee maker and started up some and flipped through the adoption records, shaking his head at what he saw. Finally about an hour later Jen was the first to stir. She looked around sleepily, first looking at Dean's hand, then up seeing Sam glance over. Jen retracted her hand quickly, hoping that he hadn't noticed. Sam acted like he hadn't. She reached over and shoved Dean, "Get your lazy ass up."

"I need my four hours."

Jen glanced over at the clock, "Good, those are up. Let's go."

She stumbled out of the room and back to hers. She got a shower and got dressed into some clean clothes. By the time she returned, Dean had done the same and there was a cup of coffee waiting for her.

"So did you strike out again last night?" She asked Sam.

"We just talked for awhile."

Dean pushed him playfully, "Why does my little bro have to be such a gentleman. It makes for shitty stories."

Sam just ignored him, "I was just telling Dean that I found this."

He pushed the papers over to Jen and she read them, "Holy shit."

"Yep." Dean said and then turned to Sam, "You wanna say bye to your girlfriend?"


A little bit later we were at the auction house, giving Sam one last shot with Sarah. Sam held out the papers that he had showed me and Dean started talking, "The Merchant's adopted daughter Melanie. Know why she was up for adoption? 'Cause her real family was murdered in their beds."

Sarah looked astonished, "She killed them?"

I nodded, "Yep. Who is gonna suspect a sweet little girl like that. So she went and killed Isaiah and his family. The old man took the blame and his spirit was trying to warn people by changing the painting ever since."

Sarah turned to Sam, "Why?"

Sam thought for a moment, "Killing others? Killing herself? Some people are just born tortured. So when they die, their spirits are just as dark."

Dean shook his head, "Maybe. I don't really care. It's over, we move on."

"Ahh... I guess this means you're leaving." Sarah said. Dean looked from Sam to Sarah, and Sam stared down Dean. I got the message but clearly Dean wasn't. I elbowed him in the stomach, "We will go wait in the car. Bye."

Dean realized, "Oh, yeah, see you Sarah."

We walked over to the Impala, Dean was grumbling, "I'm the one that burned the doll, destroyed the spirit, but don't thank me or anything."

"Thank you Dean." I said sarcastically.

"You know what I meant"

"I also think you missed a 'we' in there."

We were sitting on the hood of the Impala now, "Fine then. We burned the doll. We destroyed the spirit. But with my lighter."

"You were gettin' your ass beat by a pane of glass."

Dean chuckled, "I would have gotten it eventually."

"S-ure"

He shoved me off the hood and I caught myself.

"Hey! That was uncalled for." I complained.

"S-ure." Dean replied, mocking me. I started laughing. I lean against the car and look up in time to see Sarah hold the door for Sam. She looks sad as Sam turns and she closes the door. Dean just shook his head and went to get into the car. I do the same, but turn when I hear a knock on the door. Sam has turned around and the door opened. Sam kissed Sarah.

Dean opens the driver's door, smiling "That's my boy."

I climb into the back and lean back into the seat. Dean watches his brother, but reaches behind him and grabs my knee. I see his eyes looking at me in the rearview. I smile and he smiles back.