"So get this, we have a wealthy couple, the Garners, slaughtered in their bedroom two nights ago."

Piper towelled her damp hair and came to stand behind Sam, looking over his shoulder at the laptop. They had just gotten back from a run. "Signs of forced entry?"

Sam shook his head and looked up at her. "No, and there's an overnight staff who heard the screams, but they say the door wouldn't open."

Dean grumbled and rolled out of bed. The sight of him, still sleepy and running a hand down his face, made her breath catch. Good grief, he's gorgeous. "Sounds like a vengeful spirit to me," she said, turning back to Sam. He was grinning smugly at her, so she smacked him on the back of the head. "Any recent deaths in the family?"

Sam shrugged, rubbing the back of his head. "Dunno. I think we should talk to the staff."

Dean came out of the bathroom and pulled Piper close, burying his face in her hair and breathing deeply. "Who are we talking to? Can we eat first? Why are you two up so early?"

Piper leaned back into him. "Witnesses, yes, and we went for a run while you slept in, lazy."

"You didn't think I was lazy last night," he murmured, nuzzling her ear. She shivered at the reminder.

"Let's go eat before I lose my appetite," Sam muttered darkly.

xxxxx

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Mrs. Barone." Piper said sympathetically. The woman gave her a sad smile.

It never failed to amaze Dean when victims responded to Piper. She just hit them with those big hazel eyes, and they told her everything. Sam was the same way. It made things go a lot quicker, but it did make him rather useless.

He spent his time watching Piper's ass as they walked through the house with the victim's live-in maid. That skirt was giving him thoughts he would have to kick Sammy out of the room for.

"It was terrible," the maid was saying, "They were screaming, and the door wouldn't open."

"I'm so sorry, it sounds awful."

The maid pointed to one of the rooms. "That's where it… Happened."

Piper placed a hand on the woman's arm. "It's okay, Mrs. Barone, my partner and I will look around on our own. You can go back downstairs." The woman shot Piper a grateful look and went down the steps.

Dean had already stepped into the room the couple had died in, and was holding the crime scene tape up for Piper to come through. "Jesus," he muttered, dropping the tape and placing a hand at the small of her back.

There was blood spatter everywhere, with heaviest concentration centering on the bed. Dean wrapped an arm around Piper's waist when she stepped closer to him.

"It's an actual bloodbath," she whispered, horrified.

"Come on, kitten, let's look around."

He kept an eye on Piper as they examined the room. Things had been awkward after what he'd said in the diner for a while, but they had smoothed out. She had to have known, he thought for the millionth time since then.

Piper picked up a photo that showed the victim, smiling at the camera, arms wrapped around a woman of similar age and features. "Sisters?" she asked, looking up at him when he joined her.

He nodded. "Maybe." He pointed at the other woman in the picture. "Necklace looks expensive."

She nodded. "Let's go, this place is giving me the heebies."

They made their way downstairs to find the maid. "Mrs. Barone?"

The woman's eyes widened and she looked at Dean. "Yes, sir?"

"Was there anyone who wanted to hurt Mr. and Mrs. Garner?"

Mrs. Barone shook her head. "No, no, they were lovely people. Very generous, and very involved in the community."

"Did they face any recent tragedy?"

Mrs. Barone's eyes swung to Piper, her eyebrows wrinkling. "What does that have to do with what happened to them?"

Piper smiled reassuringly. "We're just trying to look at every angle."

The maid didn't look convinced, but she nodded. "Okay, um, yes. Mrs. Garner's sister died a few months ago. It devastated Mrs. Garner, she was depressed for weeks."

Piper nodded. "Were they close?"

"Very. They were very important to each other. Victoria, Mrs. Garner's sister, was a little bit… Unstable, sometimes. Mrs. Garner was extremely protective of her younger sister. She insisted that Victoria move in here at the end of her life. She deteriorated quickly after that."

Following his intuition, Dean asked, "How did Mr. Garner feel about his sister-in-law?"

Mrs. Barone's lips pursed. "I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, but… Mr. Garner appreciated his wife's unstable sister a little too much, if you catch my drift."

Piper frowned. "Did he take advantage of her?" At the woman's panicked look, Piper smiled reassuringly again. "Mrs. Barone, no one needs to know how we go this information. We're trying to find justice for your former employers."

Mrs. Barone searched Piper's face. Whatever she saw there apparently satisfied her, because she spoke. "I think so," she said in a horrified whisper. "I heard them a few times, when the Mrs. was out doing charity work. They were… Um, shouting."

Dean flicked his eyes to Piper's. She met them for a moment, then turned back to smile at the other woman. "I think we have everything we need, Mrs. Barone, thank you so much for your cooperation."

"Let me see you out."

xxxxx

They drove in silence for a while. Dean reached across and grasped Piper's hand, pulling it up to press it against his lips before interlacing his fingers with hers and resting their hands between them. The screaming in his head quieted. "So, that's pretty messed up."

Piper nodded. "Rat bastard, I hope it was the sister who killed him."

He nodded. "Let's go see if Sammy found anything."

xxxxx

"Nothing," Sam said as they walked in the door, still holding hands. His eyes flicked down to that, then back to his computer screen. "The couple was at a charity auction the night they died, so there's some pictures, but nothing else."

"Let me see the picture," Piper said. Dean let himself be pulled along to look over her shoulder. When he saw the portrait of the dead couple, he frowned. "Isn't that Victoria's necklace that her sister's wearing?"

He watched the back of her head bob up and down. "Yeah, it is. Think that's it?"

Sam was looking at the two of them. "Who's Victoria?"

"Dead woman's sister. She was a loon." Piper elbowed Dean in the ribs and he winced. "Uh, she was 'unstable.' The charitable Mr. Garner took advantage of it to screw the sister."

Sam's eyes widened. "Jesus."

Piper nodded. "I'm kind of glad he's dead."

"What's with the necklace?"

"It was Victoria's," Piper answered as Dean stepped away to take his coat off. "She probably left it to her sister. Can you find out where it is now?"

The clack of keys sounded through the motel room. Dean signed and fell back onto the bed, folding his hands behind his head. "Good to know that rich people have problems, too."

Piper sat next to him and leaned back on her hands, smiling down at him. "'Rich people?' We steal money for a living, Dean. What is it that you want that rich people have?"

Dean grinned. "Maids."

Piper's outraged gasp was the only warning he had before getting smacked in the face with a pillow. He launched himself at her, rolling so she was underneath him, struggling to free the pillow trapped between them. "Slut," she muttered, mock glaring at him, fighting the smile tilting her lips upwards.

He grinned and caught her mouth with his, reveling in her. "You like it."

"For Christ's sake. I looked away for thirty seconds. Pull it together, people."

Piper blushed and pushed Dean off of her. He went willingly, catching her around the waist and pulling her on top of him. She laughed. "Dean!"

She scrambled away from him and hit Sam with a winning smile. "Sorry, Sam."

He pointed a finger at Dean. "I expected this from him," his finger moved to point at Piper. "But I expected better out of you, Finley."

She rolled her eyes. "Shaddup. Whatcha got?" Dean grinned and stood next to her, tuning most of what Sam was saying out. Pipes would listen.

He couldn't remember being this content. Of course, they were facing insane odds. They still didn't know why God had commanded that Dean be dragged out of hell, and something was going on with Sam. But Piper made it all fade away, made it all seem unimportant.

The only dark spot was his inability to tell her that. He'd had dozens of chances, and it still caught in his throat. Why couldn't he tell her?

Her fingers snapped in front of his face. "Earth to Winchester. Have you been listening at all?"

He blinked. "Nope. What's the plan?"

Sam rolled his eyes. "Mrs. Garner bequeathed the necklace to her daughter, Olivia. We need to get it from her."

xxxxx

Piper knocked on the door to the lovely home of Olivia Garner, hoping this would be easy.

No such luck.

A pretty young woman answered the door in a maid's uniform. "Can I help you?"

Piper flashed a badge, sensing the guys doing the same behind her. "Hi, we're with the FBI. I'm Agent Roth, these are Agents Stone and Malloy. We have a few questions for Olivia."

The maid frowned. "I'm sorry, Miss Garner isn't here. She's preparing for the gala tonight."

"Gala?"

"It's a farewell gala to her parents. It's very exclusive." The maid sniffed at Piper condescendingly.

"When will she be back?" Piper asked tightly, fists clenching at her sides.

"Tomorrow morning," she said calmly, already closing the door on them. "I'm sure she'll be happy to see you then." The door shut firmly in Piper's face.

Piper growled, and turned to glare at Dean when he chuckled. He raised his hands in submission. "Hey, don't come at me, I didn't shut the door on you."

"What are we going to do now?" Sam asked as they turned. "Maybe the ghost is at rest?"

Piper nodded. "I mean, she killed the guy she wanted to kill, so she should be, right?" She sighed and shook her head. "I don't know, though. I don't want to risk it."

"Well, what are we supposed to do?"

Sam grinned. "How hard do you guys think it is to get into a fancy party?"

xxxxx

"This is stupid. We look stupid. Where is Piper? This is stupid." Dean was muttering under his breath as they moved between people at the gala. He hated tuxedos that Piper had insisted they wear, they were worse than the money suits they used for FBI work. He hated that Piper wasn't with them. She had insisted they go ahead and she would catch up. And he hated the stupid look on Sam's face.

"What?" he bit out.

"Dude, chill. It's just a suit, and this is just a party."

Dean glanced around. All of the men were in suits, the women in fancy dresses. There was no beer, or cheeseburgers, just tiny food on tiny plates and all he could see was champagne. "Some party."

"Let's look for Olivia, she'll probably be wearing the necklace."

They mingled for a while. Dean tried to put on his charming face, but he was still irritated. Tuxedos were not made to hide guns, and the one he had hidden in his waistband was uncomfortable. Piper wasn't here, and she had been weird when they'd left. This whole thing was bullshit.

He went to the bar, hoping for a whiskey, eyeing people on his way there. His eye caught on a slender woman in a black dress with long sleeves, but no back. Raven hair was piled on top of her head, her shapely legs in black heels. Hello. Just because he was with Piper didn't mean he couldn't flirt, right?

He sauntered up next to her, feeling better about the evening. He didn't look at her, just up at the menu. He flicked his eyes to her, and the line he'd had prepared died on his tongue as amused hazel eyes crashed with his green ones. "Piper?"

xxxxx

Worth it, Piper thought smugly, examining the gobsmacked expression on Dean's face. She had stayed behind to dye her hair and change, a small part of her hoping for this exact situation. "Hi, handsome," she said softly.

"Holy shit, Piper. You look… Amazing."

She beamed. "Thank you." She ran a hand up the lapel of his jacket, smiling wider when she felt his breath catch. "You don't clean up too bad yourself, Winchester."

He fingered one of the black curls framing her face. "Is this why you stayed behind?"

She nodded, eyes wide. He grinned. "I like it."

She raised up and pressed her lips against his jaw, unable to help herself. His hands settled at her waist. "Don't get used to it, it's gone as soon as I can."

There was an irritated noise behind her. "Dean, come on, Piper is going to-" Sam's eyes widened as Piper turned around, smiling again. "Piper?"

"You know, I'm going to start getting offended," Piper said mildly as Sam stuttered.

"No, no! You look great, you always do, just…" Sam looked down and rubbed the back of his neck. "You look great, Pipe."

She grinned. "Come on, Winchesters. Let's go hunt a ghost."

xxxxx

Dean watched as Piper tried to calm Olivia Garner down, and failed.

"My parents are dead, and there are crazy people in my home. And now you… Want my mother's necklace?"

"Miss Garner, I know this sounds nuts," Piper said soothingly. "But you have to believe me. I… I think your aunt had reason to be angry at your father."

Olivia put her hands to her mouth. "Oh, God. He really was raping her." She looked down. "I suspected, but… How could he do that?"

"He was a Dick, Olivia." Dean said, not seeing the point in beating around the bush. "But your aunt isn't thinking anymore. And she's not your aunt. She wants revenge on everyone for the pain she suffered in life."

"We can help," Piper said softly. "Your aunt was cremated, but we think she's attached to the necklace."

xxxxx

Dean watched the necklace burn, squeezing Piper's hand. "It's kind of sad," she said quietly, laying her head on his shoulder. "I hate cases like this."

He moved to wrap an arm around her. "Me, too, Pipes."

She stood. "I'm going to head to the car." She wrapped her arms around her middle and walked away.

Dean met Sam's eyes. "She okay?"

"I'm sure she'll be fine." The fire burned out, ashes blowing in the gentle breeze. "Come on, Sammy."

They walked back to the Impala. Dean frowned and looked into the empty backseat. "Piper?" He looked around the car. "Piper?!"

Sam drew his gun and looked around. "Piper?"

She was gone.

"Piper!?"

xxxxx

"Well, find her, Bobby!" Dean shouted. The trace on Piper's phone hadn't worked. They had gone back to the motel after she had disappeared, and immediately called Bobby.

"Don't you take that tone with me, boy. You're not the only one who loves Piper." Bobby snarled.

Dean flipped the phone shut, trying to control his emotions. Trying to think around the shrieking in his head, now joined by shrieking in his heart.

Luckily, Sam chose that moment to walk through the door. But his strained face and tight shoulders told a bad story. "No EMF, but I found traces of sulfur. It could be a coincidence, but-"

"Demons," Dean said darkly, the hunter in him focusing on the threat. "Demons took her."

"But why?" Sam held his hands up defensively when turned to glare. "Dean, you know I want Piper back as much as you do. But let's be smart."

It was too much. Dean grabbed the closest thing to him and flung it across the room. He watched the lamp shatter dispassionately. The storm in his chest was raging. They took her because of him. He knew it. They were going to hurt her because of him.

He would tear them apart limb from limb.

"We have to find her, Sammy."

xxxxx

Sam stepped outside and flipped his phone open, dialing her number from memory.

"Sam?"

"Ruby. Piper's missing."

"Bummer." Ruby hadn't forgiven Piper for the sheriff's office incident.

Sam sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Find her, Ruby."

"With what? I'm a demon, not a psychic, Sam."

Sam flipped his phone shut, angry and desperate. Where the hell was Piper?

xxxxx

Hi, everyone! Here's my notes:

I own only Piper Finley, the original character. I don't own Supernatural or the characters. (heartbroken)

Reviews and comments give me the warm fuzzies and keep me going.

If there are any mistakes in continuity, canon, or geography, blame me.