Author's Note. Whew almost done with this one. Thanks for the reviews. They keep me going with my silliness. Love you all...Really (maybe more than I love the show). Enjoy and catch you all soon.

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"Ugh…what now, Sammy."

"This was your idea."

"And you followed me….what were you thinking..." Dean snarked out despite the circumstances.

"Back away slowly…" Sam took one step back, forcing Dean to take a step with him..."Got your gun ready?"

"Oh yeah… That's right princess, I got a nice rock salt present for you."

"If we can keep it at bay until we get to one of the exits, we are home free. "

The spirit focused it hollow green eye slits like a camera lens, almost robotic yet predator. The neon green iris narrowed in completely taking over the pupil. She sized up the two men as if she was waiting for the precise moment to strike.

"Dean… I don't think she like us."

As they took three more steps back, hoping to make it to the back exit, the flags poles that adorned the back exit flew like Olympic javelins toward them. The air whooshed as the wooden skewers disturbed the air. Parting and dodging, the Winchesters avoided being human sis-ka-bobs by inches. A furious noise resounded as the apparition came at them full tilt. Dean fired the salty blast into the spirit's gut as the creature attempted to descend upon them. Screeching filled the empty courthouse hall.

Taking the momentary opportunity, they both sprinted for the back exit. Mere steps from escape, their nemesis returned. "She's not going to let us out. We have to get back to protection circle in the basement." They halted and ran down the same adjacent hallway that Sam has witnessed the couple be executed. He gulped at the memory, but his tenacity for this battle kept his mind on the danger at hand. "Dean, get to the door and go. I'll make sure you get there."

"Go Sammy. I'll cover you." Having faced this thing once before, Dean knew she was a bitch in battle. He wasn't going to leave Sammy to defend him.

"No. You move your ass and don't even think of arguing with me…GO NOW." Sam's voice shook with a force he seldom used. In fact, he had never known such power to his timbre before the events that night at the Devil's gate.

"Sam! ARGHG!" Taken aback by the harsh sound coming from his brother, Dean jolted. He didn't argue, but took off and grabbed Sam to follow him.

Sam shadowed close behind his brother, taking guard of their flanks and Dean taking watch of the path before them. Both men waited and watched for their attacker to reappear. They had progressed the hallway without incident until they reached the basement access door.

Sensing that her prey was alluding her incensed her anger further. The thick black ectoplasm dripped below her and covered the marbled floor. A tar like puddle oozed over the entire floor surface as she moved. The spirit's mad locks sparked as if they were alive with electric or wind, but no air blew through the empty hallway. Twitching in the ungodly way that seemed to be reserved for the dead, perhaps just to warn the universe that something obscene happened to this woman death, the woman flickered and took on a eerier green glow. The illumination sparked the hallway to light, reflecting the tint down on the slick black covered floor. Moving with the speed of a cougar, ready to devour its prey, she hurdled a new attack at the Winchesters. The spirit swooped down with her sword drawn ready to strike. Simultaneously, the items in the hall whirled in all directions. Portraits flew from the walls, chairs crashed in the hallway, and glass shattered and flew from the windows.

"SAM!"

"Got it" The rifle in Sam's hand aimed true and slammed the spirits forehead with a powdery stinging repellent. "She is persistent."

"Hell yeah… Move it." Dean yanked the door open so hard, a few stitches on his shoulder blade popped open. Ignoring the pain, he pulled Sam in behind him and slammed the door to close. His shoulder ached, but he closed it in time to hear objects clank, clutter, and smash upon the closed. "Come on." The sounds of their running footsteps echoed down the stairs. He started to tromp down the stairwell, leaving Sam to trail his footsteps.

Sam whirled around a few times, checking to see if they were followed in the cramped space. He shoved more shells in his weapon, watching behind him and before him carefully. As he looked at his brother's back, he noticed a red hue soaking through the white t-shirt, dribbling from Dean's upper shoulder. He was sure that the spirit had not yet drew blood this night and surmised the previous wound had opened during the battle. The fact that Dean had not expressed pain or had not favored the reinjured wound was a sure sign his brother was doing okay. The next sound Sam heard was the click of Dean quickly reloading his weapon in anticipation of another attack. Both Winchesters transgressed the stairs in mere second, heading for the safety of the altar, at least until they could come up with a new plan. As they entered the dank basement, the men skidded to a stop.

The deadly creature was already in wait for them. Her mighty sword drawn for retribution, calling for more blood.

"Oh… come on! You have got to be kidding me."

"Guess, it's that Dean Winchester charm that keeps her coming."

Ignoring his brother, Dean's newly loaded shotgun flung another barrage in defense. When the spirit dissipated, Dean yanked Sam to run. "GO..."

Dean's foot hit the edge of the circle and he whirled around to see the spirit reform near his brother's head. "No, Sammy!" He grabbed his brother's shoulders, pulling him back and down and toppling down inside the circle together with him. The spirit blade managed to only nick Sam's chin and he fumbled downward. Still the boys fell to the cold, vile, blackened floor. Dean's back thudded against the hard surface as Sam landed on top of his brother's torso. "ERGhhhkhhh." The move saved Sam's life, but broke the salt circle pattern- the only haven the Winchesters had.

"Dean…..Dean.." Sam swiftly recovered. "Bitch!" Sam screamed in the most gruesome tone as he unloaded a round into the charging spirit. Each round seemed to enrage her, increasing the strength of her attack and fury. She barreled towards them as Sam attempted to reload. Dean grabbed for anything to protect his brother. As the blade came down again it met one of the frame portraits from Sue's wall. The makeshift shield broke into shard of glass and canvas, but it was long enough for Sam to reload and aim.

The creature screamed before Sam could pull the trigger. His expulsion found air instead of the target. She twitched violently and screeched at a blinding pitch. Both men could only stare as she retreated into the darkness. Sam quickly repaired the salt ring. "Dean…Dean… are you okay?...Dean." Sam started to assess his brother.

"Check the circle….check…uggghh…." He rolled pain, holding his shoulder

"It's fine. I fixed it… Let me check you."

"Sam, watch for it to come back.…I'm…fine." Dean rolled in agony. The stitches that had popped before pulled new ones open during the fall. More sanguine hues stained his white t-shirt.

Ignoring Dean's command and platitudes that he was fine, Sam eased his brother up. He pulled the shirt out enough to peer at the wound. New drops of blood trickled down from the shoulder. "You pulled some stitches…….. What were you thinking!!!…You..."

Dean's hand grasped Sam's chin and wiped away blood from the thin slice. "I was thinking I like having you around."

"Dean? …uh…..uh…huh……Thanks." The sheepish tone that was signature Sam Winchester spilled over the thank you. He smiled apologetically at Dean.

"What are big brothers for…..so…uh…" Obviously uncomfortable with expressing anything else, Dean knew Sam and he were alright now. Whatever had kept them at odds disappeared in one single second. "…Okay…so…..yeah… so, why did our justice bitch freak like that?"

Sam looked confused, still wondering if now was the time to talk to Dean about the past weeks, but figured Dean needed more time to think it thorough. He let the moment pass and focused on the direction Dean had led him. "Don't know…do you think the binding spell worked…maybe connected her to the paintings. Just not in the way we expected."

"Maybe, but can we use them against her?" Dean rifled through the pieces of the demolished art work. He pulled the demolished wooden frame from the image. As the fabric canvas broke free from the frame a folded piece of newspaper fell from one of the corners. Dean eyed the paper curiously as he grabbed it, unfolded it, and began to read. A frail piece of newspaper flapped in his large hands. "Oh… Sammy….I….I'm sorry."

"What?... What is it?"

"I…" Dean didn't want to say anything to his brother. Sam had enjoyed being in the law world so much and now that was about to be crushed. "I know you…and I wanted to let you have this normal world too…so much…that I…." He didn't want to say he was willing to let Sam go and be normal again. It hurt him too much to say it.

"Dean, are you…"

"I think I know why she got pissed when she destroyed the painting….she was concerned about this…" Deciding it was best for Sam to read it for himself, he handed the paper clipping over.

"How old is this…."

"I'd say fairly old….it's about a very young teen, who was implicated in rape and murders….Sam, look at the picture. I know he's very young, but who does that look like?"

"Dean….it's…..Martin!!!"

"Yeah… Sam… I know you liked him, but…I think…"

Sam clasped the article as he read aloud in disbelief. "Local boy suspected of being connected to local rapes and murders…13 year old boy….beheadings…"

"And our ghost chic just happens to get her head removed…and takes up the same MO… Sam … I'm sorry … I know you liked him… you looked up to him….but..."

"It's okay Dean.…if….if this is true, we have two evils to stop… and I don't need to look up to Martin to have someone to have pride in…" Sam tapped his brother's shoulder lightly. "Grab those paintings… our ghost hasn't made a reappearance, let's get outta here before she decided she wants to give it another try."

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