Chapter 20
As he drove north, the reality of what happened in Cape Girardeau sank in. Not only were they struggling to avoid demons, leviathans, and the FBI, apparently his past wasn't going to give him a pass either. Either Tim didn't think throwing himself into Lucifer's cage was enough to let him be forgiven for starting the apocalypse, or he just didn't care because of what had happened to Steve. He guessed they had been lucky, at least he hadn't run into anyone he had screwed over when he was soulless.
Amelia heard him cataloging his burdens, past and present. She wanted to tell Sam that all the great men she had known, humans and gods alike, had struggled with such matters. Their brief moment of joviality had not done much to lessen the great weight on him. Amelia just let him drive, sensing the cathartic release it provided.
It was early afternoon when they were getting back to St. Louis. Sam knew they needed to ditch the van Missouri had obtained for them. It shouldn't be too difficult, her friends had done a very thorough job; they had all the necessary paperwork, ID and cash to trade-in the van at a legitimate car lot. Two hours after they had found lot that advertised 'Generous Trade-Ins' they were driving off in a hybrid Chevy Tahoe. If it had been just him, it would have been an hour, a half hour for the purchase and a half hour to transfer his gear. Amelia had fussed about the fossil fuel consumption of the large vehicle he had wanted. He reminded her of the need for room to carry the 'family heirlooms' that were in the back of the van. They discussed the issues, fuel efficiency versus potential need for speed and handling, in cryptic coded words.
When Amelia had assumed the same stance she had used back at Missouri's when they had discussed sleeping arrangements, he had just given up trying to convince her about his choice. The salesman had treated them like a bickering couple, winking at Sam in sympathy at one point. Even with the trade-in, the almost new SUV was more than he had ever paid for a car in his life. Mind you, he had only bought a few cars in his life. But he just couldn't risk getting stopped in a stolen car.
They made great time on the I-70 through Illinois. Sam was used to travelling the smaller highways; they'd just always done it that way. There were fewer cameras and state troopers. He hated to admit the hybrid was good idea; there were fewer stops for gas. Knowing she had probably just heard him think that, he said "Don't wait for me to admit it out loud; it is not going to happen."
Amelia smiled at his mock consternation from where she had climbed into the back seat so she could spread out the sheets of information Cassie had given them. They included the last few printouts Cassie had made but Sam hadn't had time to look at before their quick exit. "Sam, did you notice that Cassie found all but two names on your list?"
"Yeah? I knew she had most of them before I told her about the new mother part." He turned to glance back at her and the papers. "Who couldn't she find?"
"A young woman named Jamie, from Pennsylvania; and a Haley Collins from Colorado. Is that a man of woman?"
Sam's mind was filled with images of the pretty young women; one a statuesque blonde and the other a naturally pretty brunette. That worried her. She hadn't been trying to look at his thoughts. The emotional connection she was forming with Sam was creating an involuntary psychic bond between their minds. It also worried her that she was feeling what could only be described as jealousy as he thought of the other women.
"I thought Jamie might be a hard one to find. Dean said she never stayed in one place long, that she liked seeing new places." He glanced at her in the rear view mirror and saw the troubled expression on her face. "Don't worry. I think we still have plenty of people to ask to help Dean." He glanced at her again in the mirror but she had turned her face back down, like she was looking at the papers. He risked a quick turn to look at her; she was obviously avoiding making eye contact and he'd swear she was blushing. 'What is that all about' he thought to himself as he turned his attention back to the road.
They stopped for dinner in Terre Haute, Indiana. Whatever had been bothering Amelia had passed and they both enjoyed pork tenderloin sandwiches from a roadside place with outside seating. They took time to review more of the information Cassie had gotten for them. It turned out the girl Sam and Dean had saved from a vengeful spirit trapped in a mirror, Charlie, had relocated to Columbus, Ohio with her husband. Missouri and Amelia had both felt she would be a good choice when they saw Sam's memories of the teenager. Sam checked his map and thought they could get to Columbus by late that evening.
They were back on the road debating if they should try to make contact with the young woman. "I know we weren't going to make contact with any of them until we had a better idea of how this was going to work out. But we seem to have changed that plan." Amelia paused before adding, "Cassie already knows the plan and you're going to tell Jody when we see her in Canton, aren't you?"
"What do we say? Oh Hi Charlie. You remember me? Oh, by the way, Dean is in Purgatory; can you spit or pee on this little piece of metal?" She could hear the frustration in his voice. At least she thought it was frustration. Since she was now really trying to not see into his thoughts and feelings, she could only guess. "There is still so much we don't know. We don't have the seven people picked out; we sure haven't found a nursing mother. I think we stick to the plan."
"Sam, I'd like to meet her. I could sense if she'd be receptive to our need." She paused and pointed to the amulet. "We could make sure he found her acceptable." She paused again, before adding, "Maybe we don't even have to tell her if Apsu rejects her."
Sam thought about it. She was right; they needed to make sure the people they asked would meet the trapped god's needs. "Okay. We'll grab a room when we get there and call her in the morning." Assuming Charlie was acceptable to Amelia and …Apsu, 'crap', he was still having trouble thinking of the amulet as having the essence of a god in it and an even harder time referring to it by name, Charlie would make four. Amelia had already told him that Jody and Cassie had been approved by the nominating committee.
When Amelia didn't laugh or even smile at his joke he assumed she didn't understand the reference to the political season already in full swing. He turned to her to explain the joke when he noticed she was deep in thought, again, and probably hadn't heard him. It seemed like she wasn't reading his thoughts since they had gotten the new car. He hoped it was because it was what he had asked her to do, and not because of some nasty thing she had seen up there in his head. He'd wait. He had a lot of practice at waiting for strong, silent types to be ready to talk to him.
For her part, Amelia hadn't heard the reference. She was enjoying watching the verdant farmland pass on either side of the highway. The last few days had been so hectic she hadn't really taken time to see the bounty this part of the world possessed. Even with dusk approaching she could see field after field of bright green crops thriving from fertile soil and water she had given this place. That made her think of Sam's joke about her being older than dirt. She supposed she should apologize to him for trying to get even, when he was basically right. Oh well, 'no woman wants to be reminded of her age' she said to herself.
X
They rolled in to Columbus very close to 10 PM, just as Sam had predicted. Amelia guessed a lifetime lived on the road had made him pretty good at meeting an itinerary. It had been another long day and despite spending most of it sitting in a car they were tired. Sam found a decent-looking motel, in a safer-than-the-usual neighborhood because of the high-end car they were driving. He wasn't crazy about how expensive the motel turned out to be, but he was pleased to find out it had a laundry room and served a continental breakfast in the lobby. It meant he could wash his clothes and get some breakfast without having to drive anywhere. They were both glad to have their own bed, too.
"I'm going to wash up some of my clothes." He said sorting his few clean things out of his bag and throwing them on his bed. The pile of dirty stuff on the floor was considerably larger. He looked up her and was going to ask if she wanted to throw hers in with his; when he remembered she didn't have anything but the clothes she was wearing.
She smiled softly at him and looked down at her simple outfit. There it was again, she was seeing his thoughts without trying, at least when his emotions were stirred. She was touched by his concern but really didn't care about what she wore. "I'm good. Sam, you do know I'd just as soon be naked, right?" She had been joking and regretted it as soon as she said it. His mind had immediately started flashing the memories of what he had seen this morning and he blushed deeply. She saw what he was thinking about, and felt the reaction it stirred in him and she blushed, too.
After several very uncomfortable seconds when Sam realized she had seen everything he just been thinking, he grabbed up his clothes and said, "Okay. I'll be back as soon as I can." He was out the door before she could tell him she could wash and dry his things here in the room. Amelia didn't try to stop him, though. After her mistake had caused him to be so embarrassed, it was probably better for them to spend some time apart.
It had been a long, hot day; and she really wanted to clean up. She was just sliding the dress over her head to take a shower when Sam burst through the door saying, "I forgot to lay down the salt lines." His eyes had gone directly to the other, equipment duffel on the floor as he entered. He looked up and saw her standing there...