NBTS: Ch14

After about an hour, Dean and I heard Bill and Maureen leave their room. A few minutes later, we then heard Sam leave his and I remained cuddled into Dean's chest.

"Ready to get up and start the day, Lay?" He asked into my hair.

I shook my head and said into his chest, "No, I still just want to stay in bed."

Dean rolled over and sat up on the edge of the bed and riffled through his duffle bag. As he pulled out a fresh change of clothes he said, "Well then I guess you don't want to hear about the new plan."

My head perked up a bit. He had stripped off the clothes he had slept in and was standing as he pulled on his jeans and t-shirt.

"No. I want to know," I said while looking up at him and batting my eyes.

He turned around as he buttoned up a black and white flannel top and said, "Well, I guess you'll have to get up and come down stairs to hear about it."

"But Dean…" I said playfully as I sat up and crossed my arms across my chest, adding as seductively as I could, "Why don't you tell me now and I'll make it worth your while?"

He walked over to my dresser and was going through the drawers to find something for me to change into.

"No deal Lay. You wanna hear about it, you put this on and you get your cute little tush downstairs." He finished by tossing a long sleeve baseball tee with red arms and a black body with a pair of jeans on my feet and legs.

I pouted and flashed him my best "wounded puppy" look in an attempt to get him to reconsider. "Come on Dean…"

For a second his face softened slightly, but then he shook his head and in a very firm, almost fatherly tone said, "Adelaide Victoria Jones, don't you try to use that look on me young lady."

"But Dean…" I patted the side of the bed that he had just vacated.

He shook his head and said, much more seriously, "Addy…I'll see you downstairs."

Then as he left the room, he turned and added in the same firm tone, "Don't make me have to come back up and get you."

After he left, I begrudgingly got out of bed and started to get dressed. I still wasn't totally prepared to face everyone downstairs, but I knew that I had to eventually and that there was no point delaying the inevitable.

When Dean walked into the kitchen, the scene was almost identical to the day before: Maureen was cooking (albeit less food than yesterday) and the three other men were sitting around the table eating.

As soon as Maureen saw Dean walk into the room she asked, "Oh Dean, how's Adelaide doing today? Did she sleep well?"

He picked up a plate and started loading it up with the food that was laid out buffet style on the island and said, "She slept pretty well, considering the circumstances. But, I think she's still pretty depressed that we didn't find anything yesterday."

He then sat beside Sam and started to dig in.

"Well son, I think your suggestion yesterday could work," Bobby said in a hopeful tone. "I think I have almost everything I need and anything we don't have here can easily be found in town."

"So what was Dean's brilliant suggestion?" I asked from the doorway as all eyes turned to focus on me.

Maureen rushed over and gave me a huge hug. "Oh Adelaide! Did you sleep well darling?"

"As well as can be expected," I said. I held her cheeks in my hands and warmly continued, "You look like you slept better too."

"Oh, I did darling. Please, come, sit. I'll fix you a plate." She grabbed my right hand and led me to the table.

Dean flashed me a cocky grin between bites, obviously feeling smug that his plan worked.

I retaliated with a begrudging smile. In a mock annoyed tone I said to him, "Don't be such a FIGJAM."

Sam almost choked on the coffee he was drinking as he started to laugh. He apparently knew what the acronym stood for.

I then turned to Bobby and asked very earnestly, "Bobby, will you please tell me what Dean's plan is?"

"Oh sorry Koala Bear, I thought this idjit over here would have told you all about it." He finished his response by smacking Dean in the back of the head.

"Hey!" Dean said.

Bobby ignored his protest and said, "Dean here actually came up with a good suggestion yesterday and I found a locator spell. He figured we might be able to pin point where Toby is being held that way. I have pretty much everything I need except for a few herbs, a map of the area and some candles."

"Hmm…well I know we've never had a map of town here at the house… and candles… hmmm… did you look in the dining room?"

Maureen and Bill nodded and frowned. Maureen then said, "Yes we did and there were none."

"Okay," I said. "So… no candles. Good thing we haven't had a power outage. I'll drive into town after breakfast and get those for you. Ooh, while I'm there, I'll pop by the sheriff's office too and check out what Don's come up with so far."

"Sounds good, Koala Bear. I'll make you a list of everything I'm missing."

I looked up to smile at Bobby and caught Dean's cocky grin again instead.

"Seriously Dean, stop it! I would have come down eventually!"

"Uh huh…sure," he said. "Whatever you need to tell yourself."

"Sam, how would you feel about being an only child?" I asked while trying to ignore Dean's comment.

Sam laughed as he finished his mouthful of food then said, "I'm not touching that one with a ten foot pole. You two can duke this out on your own later."

"Geez thanks a lot for the support Sammy. Some brother you are," Dean said in a half-serious tone.

"Hey! I've heard what she can do, I'm not dumb enough to cross her," Sam defended himself with a chuckle.

"Any word from your angel about new revelations regarding the ritual?" I asked in an attempt to get us all back to business.

"No, nothing. None of us have seen him since we left him at Bill and Mo's the other night. But, I'm sure he'll pop in when he finds anything new."

I furrowed my brow and cut into my pancakes saying, "So no news is good news then."

"Usually," Dean said as he squeezed my knee encouragingly under the table.

Bobby had finished eating most of his breakfast before I had come downstairs, so he made his shopping list while I finished my food.

"Okay, that should be everything," he said as he passed the list to me.

I was finishing my last bite of pancakes when he handed the piece of paper to me. I looked over the list and said, "Mmmm Bobby, I should have all of these herbs in the garden. They're all marked, I could…"

"I'll take care of that for you," Sam quickly said.

"Thanks Sam," I said and passed the ingredients list to him.

Maureen had already started to clear my plate, so I got up to get my jacket to head into town. Dean beat me there and started to help me into my jacket saying, "Okay, so are we ready to go then?"

"Huh? Pardon? Umm… you're coming with me?" I asked, somewhat taken aback and stunned.

"Well I thought that you would want some company while you go to town. I guess I was wrong," he said sounding kind of hurt and surprised.

I noticed how wounded he looked at my reaction, so I said, "Sorry Dean. I would really love your company, but I don't think that would be the best idea."

"What? Why not?" He sounded more confused as he caught me exchanging worried looks with Bill and Maureen. While looking between the three of us, he continued by asking, "Why not? Come on, what aren't you guys telling me?"

I led him by the hand back to the table and sat him down before saying, "Well Dean… uh, it's probably not the best idea that you come because…well the sheriff really doesn't… he really doesn't like you."

"He doesn't like me? But I have done anything to him!"

I sat across from him and couldn't help but chuckle before continuing, "Uh, yeah you technically haven't done anything to him, but umm… do you remember that guy in my class who really liked me? Uh… I think you called him 'Dweeby Don'?"

Dean laughed softly as he remembered the person to whom I referred. "Ha! Yeah! I remember him."

"Well… 'Dweeby Don' grew up to become 'Sheriff Don'. When I was pregnant, he really wanted to take care of me, but I wouldn't let him. I was convinced that you were going to come back and when you didn't he got really mad at me. He was so upset with my faith in you that he refused to speak to me until after Toby was born."

Maureen was now standing behind me with her hands on my shoulders, while I held both of Dean's hands in my own.

Maureen then continued the story, "When everyone in town saw Bill and me with our new baby son, they all knew right away what our Adelaide had done and all was forgiven."

"But only for her? They all hate me?" Dean asked sounding so upset.

"No Dean," I said him. "Pretty much everyone else hasn't given you a second thought. It's just Don. He always had a crush on me and has never forgiven you for owning my heart." I tried to give him a strong smile, but I was unsure if my words were helping to ease his pain at all.

"Oh," he finally said as he nodded. "So I guess if I was there he'd be pretty distracted then."

I laughed softly under my breath and said, "Yeah, you could put it that way."

"Okay…I guess I'll stay here then. I don't want to make this all any harder on you than it has to be."

I gave him a sincere smile and walked around the table to give him a hug. "Thanks Dean. I appreciate that."

Dean and Sam then walked me out to my car on their way to the garden.

"Drive safe. Call me if you need anything," Dean said as he gave me a tight hug.

"You know I will," I said as I hugged him back.

Then just before I got into my car, I heard Dean ask Sam, "Dude, what the hell is a 'FIGJAM'?"

I saw Sam's shoulders shake as he laughed then explained to his brother that I was basically calling Dean a cocky jerk because it stands for "Fuck I'm Good Just Ask Me".

On the drive in I decided to stop at the sheriff's office first. I was hoping that I would find something, anything that they may have missed in their notes of the police report. I was thankful to see the sheriff's Tahoe parked in its designated spot. To my relief, I now knew that Don would be there for me to talk to because I really didn't want to have to stop on my way home.

After I opened the door and stepped into the building, I was immediately greeted warmly by the office assistant/secretary as she said, "Hey Addy! How are you holding up?" The bubbly blond 29 year old ran around the desk to pull me into a hug. "How are Bill and Mo? Don and I stopped by their place yesterday, but it didn't look like anyone was home."

While she was still holding me tight I said, "We're all doing okay, thanks Veronica. Bill and Maureen have been staying at my place to… you know, make things easier."

"Oh of course they would! That totally makes sense!" She stepped back and I was finally able to get a good look at the petite woman. She still had the looks of the head cheerleader who feuded with me throughout our high school years for reasons still unbeknownst to me, but all those issues seemed to be resolved after graduation.

"Oh my goodness! It looks like I owe you and Don my congratulations!" I said as I unconsciously grabbed her pregnant belly.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot that you didn't know. You've been away for too long Addy!" She good-humoredly said, "I'm six months along now. We're finally starting that family we've always wanted." She was absolutely glowing as she rubbed her belly.

"Well congratulations again. Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"

She looked around the seemingly empty office before bringing her right index finger to her lips. She then whispered, "Don doesn't know yet, but…" She pulled open her drawer to reveal a tiny Chicago Cubs jersey, indicating she was having a boy.

As we smiled at each other, we heard a door handle click behind us. Veronica slammed the drawer shut and whipped around and said, "Hey Don! Look who's here!"

The sheriff's face look very serene and full of loving concern as he greeted me, "Hey Addy. I'm so sorry… I don't really have anything new to tell you. But why don't you come in so we can talk?" His focus remained fixed on me during the greeting.

I gave Veronica another quick hug and promised something about getting together soon to swap "war stories" before stepping into Don's office.

"Can I get you anything?" He offered as soon as the door was closed.

"No, thank you, I'm fine." I took a seat in front of his desk. "I'm sorry to just drop in like this, but I was kind of hoping that maybe…"

Don passed me a manila folder off of his desk.

"Addy, do you really think you owe me an explanation? I thought you would have been here yesterday to look that over," he interrupted with a warm smile on his face.

"Oh, well we… I was taking care of Mo and Bill and…" I was stumbling horribly over my words trying to think up a lie.

"It's okay Addy," he said as he chuckled cheerfully. "You really don't have to explain. I just meant that I anticipated you wanting to read the file. Just take your time. I'll grab you a coffee… just a touch of cream, right?"

"Yeah, thanks." I refocused my attention on the file in my lap and started reading it as I said, "Oh… and congratulations Don."

He stopped cold in his tracks and reacted as if I had I had smacked him in the back of the head.

"She told you," he asked quietly, almost sounding stunned.

"It's kind of hard not to notice, Don. She's pretty round and all." I finally looked up from the folder and gave him a warm smile.

His face then softened and he smiled saying, "Thanks Addy. I'll be right back with your coffee."

I was so engrossed with the paperwork in front of me; I think I mumbled a "Thank you".

In the four years that Don had been in the Sheriff's office, he had gotten very used to me wanting to look over the case files for any abductions or strange deaths. He stopped asking questions about my 'hobby', as he called it, three years ago when I helped find his sister. She had been abducted and I helped rescue her from the coven of vampires that sired Jax. I made myself comfortable and ready to do my research by pulling a pen out of the cup on the desk and slid a blank pad of paper off the edge of the of the desk so that I could start taking notes.

After I had the page half filled, Don returned with the coffee. He placed it on the desk saying, "Here Ads." Then he went around and sat on the other side in his chair.

Without looking up from my notes, I started questioning him about his report. "It says here that you found a pendant on the bus?"

"Yeah, it was a rose cared out of stone. I wish I could show it to you Addy, but ummm…it's gone missing," he meekly said.

"Oh." Uncle Bill must have stolen it before heading to the bar. I smiled to myself then said, "That's no problem. What about the driver? She just 'woke up' behind the wheel at the end of her route?"

"That's how she described it. Toby is usually her last drop off before she heads back to the school to park the bus. It's the same thing every school day… except for the day before yesterday. Instead she says she woke up to the smell of rotting eggs, just down the road from the Henderson's place."

"Anything else strange?"

"No, not really. Although…I had originally thought that Toby's bag had been torn off his back by the abductor, but his teacher thinks he just left it behind accidentally. She said that the strap has been broken for a while, so he got in the habit of leaving it on the ground. I don't know if that's at all helpful."

"The strap was already broken?" He said. "But why didn't Auntie Mo fix it for him?"

"Bill said that Toby wouldn't let her fix it. Apparently the strap broke the day he was named to the starting lineup."

We both shared a knowing smile.

"Superstition," I said.

He nodded and said, "That's what Bill said. Toby thought you would be proud."

Don grabbed a tissue from a box on his desk, walked around to sit on a chair beside me and gingerly patted the tears that were dribbling down my checks.

"He really looks up to you Addy and he loves you so much. I think he just wanted to do what he thought you would do."

I just stared at him as he spoke and wiped my tears away. When a smile spread across as my memories of Toby flooded my mind, Don took it as an invitation and he leaned in to kiss me.

"Dean," I said.

He sat up straight and glared at me, saying through a sneer, "Who?"

"Dean… and Sam. I need to tell them about this," I finally managed to say as my head felt like it was coming out of a fog.

"He's here? Back in Kidder? Does he know…?"

"Yes, he's here. And yes, he knows everything… about Toby. That's why he stayed in town. He and his brother are helping me find him." I got up to leave, saying softly, "I'm sorry Don if I… I should go. Umm… I'm so sorry… uh… Congratulations again…" I had the door open at this time. "…to you and Veronica. Please… let me know if you hear anything new."

Then I turned and left as quickly as I could. Luckily Veronica was away from her desk, so my escape route was clear. I got to my car and took a deep breath behind the steering wheel.

Don still has feelings for me? Oh God! Is that why Veronica hated me? Oh God…oh man I…

"You have to get the supplies Adelaide. And then you have to find Toby. That's what you HAVE to do. The rest can wait." I finally said to myself in the rearview mirror just before I slipped my car into reverse and continued to the General Store to get the supplies Bobby needed.

Whenever I was out on the road, small towns and their charm fascinated me. On one hand they were great because all you had to do was find one person that loved to talk about their hometown and you basically all the background information you needed for a hunt. But on the other hand, the majority of people in a small town had an instinct to protect their own. That could prove tricky as an outsider because if you ask too many questions, you could raise suspicions and make the investigation that much harder on yourself.

Now, when it's your own hometown that you're dealing with, there's a whole new set of complications. There was no way that I could go into the General Store as "Adelaide Jones, Monster Hunter" because for me to be that woman, I would have to completely detaching myself from "Addy Jones, Freaked-Out Family Member". That was a disconnection that no one would react well to.

"Ok Addy, just like Dean said, 'one step at a time'," I said myself as I got out of the GTO.

Before I entered the store, I had made a mental plan of action to ensure maximum efficiency to complete this task. But for this plan to work out perfectly, I had to have minimal disruptions from well-wishers.

"Adelaide! Darling! I had heard you were home!" I heard a voice exclaim from behind me as I tried to duck down the aisle with candles at "Neely's General Store".

I turned as I mentally cursed myself for not being stealthier. Ok Addy, game face. "Hey Bea. Yeah, I got into town the night before…well the night before last."

She pulled me into a hug saying, "I'm so glad you're home to be with Bill and Maureen. It's so great that you all are staying together to comfort each other right now."

How the…? Oh, that's right, you tell Veronica anything and the whole town will know in less than an hour, I thought to myself as I embraced the 65 year old, graying Grandmother of three.

"Yeah, we figured it would be easier if we stayed together," I said with a smile.

She looked very intensely into my eyes and asked in a very stern tone, "And I hear that boy is back. He hasn't…"

Before she could finish her thought, I said, "No Bea, he's a dear friend. He and his brother are… they're kind of specialists and they're helping with the… situation."

Her face immediately softened as she said, "Well if you can forgive him, then who am I to hold a grudge?"

She then wrapped an arm around my waist and walked me down my original path in the aisle asking, "So what are you looking for today, Darling?"

"Well, I heard there were some storms around town before I got here and I'm severely lacking some supplies in case of a blackout."

"Oh Adelaide, I'm disappointed in you. I thought your mother raised you better than that," she playfully said. "So you need candles?"

"Yes, please. That and bottled water." I threw in the second item to keep up the charade. Plus, it was a useful item to have on hand during hunts.

"Well, why don't you get the water and I'll find you the best candles I have." She pointed me towards the refrigerated section.

"Okay Bea, I'll meet you at the cash." I shook my head, smiling at her kindness.

I easily grabbed a case of water and carried it over to the cash. While waiting for Bea to return, I was looking at all the 'Impulse Items' and grinned when I found an illustrated map of town that would fit our needs nicely. "I guess that will work," I said to myself with a soft laugh.

"Does anyone actually work here?" A gruff sounding female voice asked behind me.

I turned to see a rather attractive woman, roughly the same age as myself with tightly waved auburn hair and a distinct "rocker chick" look.

"Oh, sorry, but Bea is just helping me find some supplies. She should be back over here and second."

She sighed and said, "Small town charm, right?"

I chuckled before I said, "Yeah. Sorry."

As I shifted my stance so that I was facing her square on, her pendant caught my eye instantly. Quickly maintaining my composure, I put on a bubbly persona and said, "Wow! That is just THE most beautiful pendant I've ever seen! Where did you find such a gorgeous piece of artwork?" I almost made myself want to vomit with the sugary tone I used.

She smiled as her right hand caressed the carved emerald rose. "I didn't. My guy has made me one for every month that we've been together. New month, new pendant in that month's stone."

"Wow! That is just absolutely amazing!" I really was awestruck by the care that must have gone into making the intricate piece of jewelry. Then I chuckled before attempting to tease her by saying, "But it's June. He's slipping."

She offered an almost sinister grin, "No, he hasn't. I just haven't been able to take my emerald off lately. It reminds me of something that just makes me smile."

Before I could probe further, Bea approached us saying, "Okay Addy, here you go. Some sturdy three inch pillars. They're good for moving from room to room. And I found these, just in case you and… in case you and you know who want some alone time."

I blushed unconsciously. I guess she really isn't holding a grudge. "Thanks Bea. Those are great. But, umm why don't you help this young lady first." I point to the new-comer.

"Oh? Okay. What can I do for you darling?"

"I was just hoping you'd have a pack of Marlboro Lights."

"Tsk tsk tsk," Bea clucked her tongue. "Such a beautiful girl. Why would you want to kill your beauty with those things?"

The out-of-towner and I chuckled.

"Well, Ma'am, I'm not a very patient woman and waiting for my car to be fixed is driving me beyond crazy."

"Well if it saves your sanity," Bea said with a playful smile. "That'll be 9.56."

Bea was handed a $10 bill with the offer to keep the change. After the stranger left the store, I paid for my items and tried to make a speedy exit. I promised Bea that I would call her when I needed anything and went out to my car. I was secretly hoping that I could run into the woman with the rose pendant again. There was no way that her being in town when one just like it turned up on Toby's school bus could be a coincidence. Like Bobby says, I believe in a lot of things, but coincidence ain't one of them.

I was beyond relieved to find her taking a long drag of a cigarette while leaning against a wooden pillar by my GTO. I awkwardly opened my trunk while trying to balance the flat case of water and the paper bag filled with candles.

"She's yours?" The new arrival asked without even trying to hide her surprise behind a large plume of smoke.

"Yeah. Well for the last 13 years at least," I weakly joked.

After I got my purchases into the trunk, I took a deep breath to help me regain my game face.

"So… since you're car is in the shop, can I offer you a ride somewhere, uh…?" I stalled trying to get a name.

"Meg. My name is Meg. You know my feet are killing me and small towns like this kind of freak me out, so a ride to the mechanic's would be great. I can take it from there…" She lingered too for the same reason I had previously.

"Adelaide. I'm Adelaide."

I unlocked her door and walked around to the driver's side. Meg, Meg, Meg, Meg, Meg, Meg, Meg… I silently repeated her name to myself because I had heard somewhere that if you repeat a person's name seven to eight times after meeting them it would help you to remember it.

When I looked at Meg her lips were moving, but all I heard was, "Thanks again Adelaide."

"Oh, no worries Meg. Nothing worse than being rooted without wheels." I offered a weak smile as I guided my care to Luke's, the only mechanic in town.

"Rooted?" She asked while cocking a well groomed eyebrow.

I chuckled and said, "Sorry. My mom was a total 'Aussieophile", you know obsessed with Australia. Basically, I meant to say that I know what it's like to be screwed and without wheels."

"Oh… 'Rooted'. Ha! That's kind of funny."

"Sorry. Most everyone around her is used to my random vocabulary."

"Uh… yeah, 'no worries' Adelaide," she said.

"So Meg? Did Luke set you up with somewhere to stay while he's working on your car?"

"No, it wasn't needed. I'm staying with my guy just outside of town."

"Oh, okay. Well that's good."

We reached Luke's quickly and easily. Yet another downfall to the 'charm' of small towns, you get EVERYWHERE quickly. That doesn't really give some of us enough time to interrogate our possible suspects.

"Well… Thanks again Adelaide."

"No worries, Meg. Maybe we'll run into each other again soon," I said with my sincerest attempt at a friendly smile.

"With the size of this place, I'm sure we will." She laughed quietly.

She got out and headed into the garage. When Luke caught a glimpse of my GTO, he rushed over to the driver side. I had already gotten out to give him a hug.

"Addy! Welcome home beautiful! You and Phantom (my car) are looking well."

"Thanks Luke, as are you."

I turned to check that we were alone. "So, you're working on Meg's car?"

"Yeah, poor thing. Her transmission blew out by the Henderson's farm three days ago. Be another day at least 'til the part comes in."

"Oh that's horrible… for her. But I know you'll make her baby good as new."

He beamed and hugged me again, saying, "Addy you really do need to visit more often. You always know how to make an old man feel appreciated. Damn that Granddad of yours for teaching you to take care of this beast on your own."

"Oh Luke. I promise, when I'm home, she's all yours."

"I'll hold you to that!" He said as we hugged one last time. "Don't be stranger. If you need anything… anything…"

I touched his cheek and smiled saying, "I'll call. See you soon."

As I drove home, faster than usual, I had an idea and I pulled out my cell.

"Hello?"

"Hey Luke! It's Addy. Umm… Meg left her phone in my car. Is she still there by chance?"

"No, sorry Addy, she's gone."

"Oh…"

"But I could give you a call when she picks up her call and let her know for ya."

"Oh, would you? That's perfect. Thanks so much Luke!"

And I continued to share my news with the rest of the group.