Carry on my wayward son, they'll be peace when you are done. Lay your weary head to rest. Don't you cry no more.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
Red Sky At Morning (3x06)
November 6, 2007
The Winchesters stood in the living room at Shia's brother, Michael's, house. Dean found a case and thought it would be better if Lynx stayed with one of her uncles, only because Bobby was busy with a hunt of his own and Tanner is now located in England for her schooling. Shia gently and slowly gave Lynx to Michael's wife, Katie, so she could place Lynx in a room they have for her.
"Take care of her. Okay?" Shia told her brother. Michael nodded at her and smiled at her.
"You three have a safe hunt." He told the Winchester trio to which they all nodded and made their way out of his home.
~Six hours later.~
Dean was driving down a dark road late at night , Sam was in the passenger's seat and Shia in the backseat. There was a tense silence in the car between the brothers, which Dean broke.
"So, I've been waiting since we left fairy tale world, but then decided to wait...but had enough of waiting after we dropped Lynx off. You got something to tell me?" Dean asked as calmly as he could make himself as the spark of being upset stirred in him.
"It's not your birthday." Sam said playing dumb, he knew what Dean was talking about he just chose not to acknowledge it. Shia sat up to listen to the boys, she also knew Sam's little secret but said nothing because it wasn't for her to tell.
"No." Dean plainly said.
"Is it your 3rd year dating anniversary with Shia?"
"No, that's next week. You're getting off subject."
"... Happy Purim?" Sam asked then after a pause he laughed. "Dude, I don't know. I have no idea what you're talking about—"
"There's a bullet missing from the Colt. You want to tell me how that happened? I know it wasn't me. So unless you were shooting at some incredibly evil cans..." Dean said as he cut Sam off from his sentence. Shia sensed an argument coming so she sat back and pulled out a book about what to expect from a baby during the first six months of life.
"Dean ..." Sam said softly.
"You went after her, didn't you? The Crossroads Demon. After I told you not to." Dean asked as he looked for Sam to the road.
"Yeah, well..."
"You could have gotten yourself killed!"
"I didn't." Sam simply said.
"And you shot her." Dean said more to himself than Sam.
"She was probably being a smartass." Shia said out loud as she flipped the page in her book. Sam nodded agreeing with Shia.
"So, what? Does that, does that mean I'm out of my deal?" Dean asked almost hopefully, he tried to cover it up but he couldn't fool Sam or his wife.
"Don't you think I might have mentioned that little fact, Dean? No. Someone else holds the contract." Sam said as he looked out the window, watching the trees as they passed them.
"Who?" Dean asked.
"She wouldn't say."
"Well, we should find out who. Of course, our best lead would be the Crossroads Demon. Oh, wait a minute..." Dean smarted off with a scoff.
"That's not funny." Sam said.
"No, it's not! It was a stupid freaking risk, and you shouldn't have done it."
"I shouldn't have done it? You're my brother, Dean. And no matter what you do, I'm gonna try and save you. And I'm sure as hell not gonna apologize for it, all right?" Sam said ending the conversation. Dean was silent. Sam shook his head in exasperation.
~November 7, 2007 (approximately 10:45 a.m.)~
Sam, Shia and Dean were impersonating officers of the law to interview a witness. She was holding a framed photograph of the shower-drowning victim. The witness' name is Gertrude Case, an elegant and well-groomed and approximately 70 year old woman. As the interview continued, she began to flirt shamelessly with Sam.
"But I don't understand. I already went over all this with the other detectives." Gertrude told the Winchester trio.
"Right, yes. But, see, we're with the Sheriff's Department, not the police department – different departments." Dean lied smoothly.
"So, Mrs. Case..." Sam began.
"Please." The older lady said looking intently at Sam. "Ms. Case." Shia couldn't help but look up at Dean with a small grin on her face, Dean shared her humor in this situation.
"Okay. Um, Ms. Case, um... you were the one who found your niece, correct?" Sam said a little taken back by the older flirting woman.
"I came home, she was in the shower." Gertrude said sadly as she looked down. Shia then felt really bad for her, she assumed that it was the only piece of family she had left that was close to her.
"Drowned?" Shia asked finally speaking up in the interview.
"So the coroner says. Now, you tell me, how can someone drown in the shower?"
"How would you describe Sheila's behavior in the days before her death? I mean, did she seem frightened? Maybe she said something out of the ordinary, or ...?" Sam asked as he wrote small notes on his notepad.
"Wait a minute. You're working with Alex, aren't you?" Gertrude asked with a small smile. Shia raised an eyebrow at the older lady. 'Who's the fuck Alex?' Shia thought.
"Yep. Absolutely. That Alex and us, we're like this." Dean said thinking it was an opportunity to twist the truth with a lie.
"Why didn't you say so? Alex has been such a comfort. But I'm sorry. I thought the case was solved."
"Uh... Well, no. No, not yet." Sam told her.
"I see." Gertrude said with a nod as she looked down again.
"So, anyways, we were talking about your niece."
"Well, yes. Sheila mentioned something quite strange before she died. She said she saw a boat."
"A boat?" Shia asked as she placed a hand on her hip when she noticed the white haired lady wouldn't look at her.
"Yes. One minute it was there, then it was gone. It just disappeared right before her eyes. You think it could be a ... ghost ship? Alex thinks it could be a ghost ship." Gertrude said addressing all her comments to Sam, staring at him intently.
"Well, um ... Could be." Sam said a bit thrown off by the intent stare from Gertrude.
"Well. You let me know if there's anything else I can do for you." She said as she traced a finger slowly along Sam's hand; Sam looked uncomfortable, and Dean cleared his throat, smirking broadly. Shia looked at Dean then back at Sam and Gertrude, she shook her head at the situation but also smiled just as wide as Dean. "Anything at all."
Dean, Shia and Sam walked along the docks. The water was crowded with pristine, moderately sized boats.
"What a crazy old broad." Dean stated as he intertwined his fingers with Shia as they walked along the dock.
"Why? Because she believes in ghosts?" Sam asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Look at you, sticking up for your girlfriend. You cougar hound." Dean said with a laugh following. Shia shook her head but laughed a little also.
"Bite me." Sam said with a serious frown on his face.
"Hey, not if she bites you first." Dean said.
"Honey, stop teasing your brother." Shia said as Dean pulled her closer to him.
"So, who's this Alex? We got another player in town?" Dean asked both Shia and Sam.
"Maybe, maybe not." Shia said.
"Either way, it doesn't change our job."
"And what looked like a ghost ship, right?"
"Yeah. It's not the first one sighted around here, either." Sam told his brother.
"Really?" Dean asked, suddenly getting interested.
"Yeah. Every 37 years, like clockwork, reports of a vanishing three-mast clipper ship out in the bay. And every 37 years, a rash of weirdo, dry-land drownings. Shia read about it with me." Sam said nodding towards Shia.
"So, whatever's happening is just getting started." Dean said finally catching wind of the whole 'clock work' thing.
"Yeah." Sam simply said.
"What's the lore?" Dean asked either Sam or Shia.
"Well, there are apparitions of old wrecks sighted all over the world. The S.S. Violet, theGriffin, the Flying Dutchman – almost all of them are death omens." Shia said as she recited what she read and already knew.
"So, what happens? You see the ship and then a few hours later, you pucker up and kiss your ass goodbye?" Dean asked.
"Basically." Shia said with a shrug.
"What's the next step?"
"We gotta I.D. the boat." Sam said.
"That shouldn't be too hard. I mean, how many three-mast clipper ships have wrecked off the coast?"
"Me and Shia checked that too, actually. Over one hundred and fifty."
"Wow." Dean said he shook his head.
"Yeah." Sam and Shia agreed. Dean kept walking but then stopped and turned to Shia and Sam.
"Crap." Dean said finally realizing the amount of boats that Sam just told him. Sam and Shia simply nodded at Dean.
They approached an empty parking space; Dean looked around, confused.
"This is where we parked the car, right?" Dean asked his wife and brother.
"I thought so." Sam said sharing the same confusion as Dean.
"Where's my car?" Dean asked mostly himself.
"Babe, did you feed the meter?" Shia asked as she looked around again.
"Yes, I fed the meter. Sam, where's my car? Somebody stole my CAR!" Dean said as Hus voiced raised in panic.
"Hey, hey, hey! Calm down. Dea—" Sam started to say.
"I am calmed down! Somebody stole my ca—" Dean began hyperventilating, bending over to clutch his knees to calm down. Shia went to his side immediately to try to get him to calm down.
"Whoa. Dean. Take it easy, okay?" Sam said after looking around, heard Dean gasping and ran over to the other side of him trying to calm him down with Shia.
"The '67 Impala? Was that yours?" A familiar British accent asked as the young lady walked up towards them.
"Bela." Shia said bitterly as she looked up.
"I'm sorry. I had that car towed."
"You what?!" Dean asked.
"Well, it was in a tow-away zone." Bela said with a sneaky grin.
"No, it wasn't!" Dean said surly.
"It was when I finished with it." Bela said. Shia was about to walk up to her but Sam grabbed her, not wanting to cause a scene.
"What the hell are you even doing here?" Shia asked trying to mask her anger.
"A little yachting." The British woman said flippantly.
"You're Alex. You're working with that old lady." Sam said with realization.
"Gert's a dear old friend." Bela said half heartily.
"Yeah, right. What's your angle?" Dean asked.
"There's no angle. There's a lot of lovely old women like Gert up and down the eastern seaboard. I sell them charms, perform séances so they can commune with their dead cats."
"And let me guess, it's all a con, none of it's real."
"The comfort I provide them is very real." Bela said but Shia calls bullshit.
"How do you sleep at night?" Sam asked as he shook his head.
"On silk sheets, rolling naked in money." Bela said. Dean visualized and nodded slightly. Shia saw what Dean did and hit him on the shoulder. "Really, Sam. I'd expect the attitude from him and the powerless demi god, but you?"
"I'll show you powerless." Shia mumbled. Dean touched her hand trying to calm her down and not hurt Bela.
"You shot me!" Sam reminded her.
"I barely grazed you." Bela told him. Sam looked exasperated, while Dean shrugged in mute acknowledgement of Bela's point. Shia still stared at her with pure hatred. Bela then turned to Dean and Sam. "Cute. But a bit of a drama queen, yeah?"
"You do know what's going on around here. This ghost-ship thing, it is real." Dean told her a little bit calmer then he was, but we all know that he's still highly pissed at her.
"I'm aware. Thanks for telling Gert the case wasn't solved, by the way."
"It isn't." Shia said to her as she balled her fist trying hard not to kick the brown headed woman's ass.
"She didn't know that. Now the old bag's stopped payment and she's demanding some real answers. Look... just stay out of my way before you cause any more trouble. I'd get to that car if I were you... before they find the arsenal in the trunk." Bela said as she walked back to her car but turned around. "Ciao." She then was gone.
"Can I shoot her?" Dean asked in a serious tone. Sam and Shia knew he meant it.
"Not in public." Sam told him.
"Can I kill her with me powers?" Shia asked and it was clear that she was serious.
"Again, not in public."
~November 8, 2007 (approximately 10:15 a.m.)~
The last victim's house had become a crime scene. Bela, impersonating a reporter, was interviewing a distraught man who was the victim's brother.
"No. The police said that he drowned, but ... I don't u-understand how..." The brother if the victim said with a sad expression.
"I am so sorry for your loss, Mr. Warren. Now, if you could just tell me one more time about the ship your brother saw." Bela said as sympathetic as she could. Dean, Shia and Sam approached, wearing suits and flashing badges.
"Ma'am, I think this man's been through quite enough. You should go." Dean told Bela glaring at her slightly.
"But I just have a few more questions."
"No, you don't." Shia said firmly send the death glare at Bela.
"Thank you for your time." Bela said as she turned to the young man she was once interviewing, then she made her way pass the Winchester trio but sent daggers with her eyes at each one of them...especially Shia.
"Sorry you had to deal with that. They're like ROACHES," Dean said, his voice rose so that Bela, walking away, could hear she turned and looked back at him.
"So, we heard you say your brother saw a ship." Sam said leading the young man, Mr. Warren, away from the situation at hand.
"Yeah, that's right." Mr. Warren said with a nod.
"Did he tell you what it looked like?" Shia asked.
"It was, uh... like the old Yankee clippers. A smuggling vessel. The rakish topsail, a barkentine rigging. Angel figurehead on the bow."
"That's a lot of detail for a ship your brother saw." Sam said with a raised eyebrow, exchanging glances with Shia and Dean.
"My brother and I were night diving. I saw the ship, too." Sam, Shia and Dean looked at each other. On the other side of the parking lot, Bela was talking to the real uniforms and pointing in Dean, Shia and Sam's direction. Sam noticed first and nudged Dean while Shia continued to think about the problem at hand.
"All right. Well, we'll be in touch." Dean said wrapping the interview up.
"Thank you." Sam said with a nod and began to walk away along with Dean. Mr. Warren looked at Shia, as she looked at him, she nodded at him and walked quickly to catch up with her husband and brother in law.
Dean, Sam, and Shia were loading shotguns at the trunk of the Impala. Bela approached from behind.
"I see you got your car back." Bela said as her British accent filled the ears of the trained hunters.
"You really want to come near me when I got a loaded gun in my hands?" Dean said not even turning around, then he turned to look at her. Shia just smirked at her husband instead of speaking.
"Now, now. Mind your blood pressure. Why are you even still here? You have enough to I.D. the boat."
"That guy back there saw the ship." Sam told her.
"Yeah? And?" Bela said heartlessly.
"And, he's going to die, so we have to save him." Shia said, she could feel her blood start to boil slowly.
"How sweet."
"You think this is funny?" Dean asked the brown haired woman.
"He's cannon fodder. He can't be saved in time, and you know it."
"Yeah, well, see, we have souls, so ... we're gonna try."
"Yeah, well, I'm actually going to find the ship and put an end to this. But you have fun." Bela said as she started to walk away. About to get in their car, Sam, Shia and Dean paused. Shia continued to stare at Bela and decided to speak.
"Hey, Bela, how'd you get like this, huh? What, did Daddy not give you enough hugs or something?"
"I don't know. Your daddy give you enough? Oh, I forgot, you don't have a real daddy." Bela said with a smirk. Shia walked over her and got in her face, she was about slap her before Sam and Dean stopped her. Bela backed away from Shia.
"You bitch." Shia mumbled. Dean placed his hand over his wife's mouth trying to get to be quiet and let the comment go.
"Don't you dare look down your nose at me. You're not better than I am." Bela told the demi god as the boys were still trying to clam her down.
"We help people." Dean told her.
"Come on. You do this out of vengeance and obsession. You're a stone's throw from being a serial killer. Whereas I, on the other hand, I get paid to do a job and I do it. So, you tell me – which is healthier?"
"Bela, why don't you just leave? We've got work to do." Sam told her after he scoffed softly at her.
"Yeah. You're 0 for 2. Bang-up job so far." Bela said before she turned to leave. They stared at her go, and Dean officially let go of Shia's waist and took his hand away from her mouth.
"Why didn't you let me kick her ass?" Shia asked.
"Because you're better than that. Let her say or think what she wants. Yes, I want to shoot her but come on..." Dean said before he grabbed Shia's hand and pulled her closer to him. Shia snuggled in the crook of his neck as he hugged her tightly.
"Guys, we have to go." Sam said, he felt bad to have to break up the intimate moment between his brother and Shia.
~November 8, 2007 (approximately 10:55 p.m.)~
The Winchester crew were staking out the home of Peter Warren, the victim's brother. They were seated in the impala with Sam doing research, reading papers in the backseat while Shia and Dean were hugged up together in the front seat.
"Anything good?" Dean asked Sam as he wrapped his arm around Shia and intertwined their fingers.
"No, not really. I mean, both brothers are Duke University grads. No criminal record. I mean, a few speeding tickets. They inherited their father's real estate fortune six years ago." Sam told his brother as he continued to read his research.
"How much?" Shia asked out of curiosity as she leaned into Dean more, getting warm.
"$112 million." Sam said casually.
"Nice life." Dean said after he whistled, then he looked at Shia and smiled. "You know how many toys we could my chunky monkey for Christmas if we had that type of money."
"Dean, trust me, she has enough toys." Shia giggled as she thought about all the toys that were delivered to her dad's house, sent from Julius and Michael. "She can't really play with them yet anyways."
"They totally had a nice life. I mean, nice, clean, aboveboard. So why did they see the ship? Why Sheila, too? What do they all have in common?" Sam said as he thought about the case while his brother and wife thought about their child.
"Maybe nothing." Dean said with a shrug.
"No, there has to be something." Shia said as she shook her head at Dean's comment.
"Shia's right, there's always something." Sam said, firmly agreeing with his sister in law. Just then Peter spotted them, and had came out of his house toward them, stopping inside his security gate.
"Hey, you!" Peter said more extremely annoyed then angry.
"I think we've been made." Dean commented and he untangled himself from Shia. They all got out of the car and approached him.
"What are you guys doing?! You watching me?" Peter yelled from his gate.
"Sir, calm down. Please." Sam said as they stopped about 10 feet from the gate.
"You guys aren't cops! Not dressed like that. Not – not in that crappy car." Peter said insulting Dean tremendously. Shia looked at Dean and smirked at his hurt face from the comment about the car.
"Whoa, hey. No need to get nasty." Dean told him seriously.
"We are cops, okay? We're undercover. We're here because we think you're in danger." Sam explained calmly, not wanting to freak him out completely.
"From who?!" Peter asked.
"If you just settle down, we'll talk about it." Shia said calmly but deep down she was getting annoyed by with this guy.
"Look, you guys just stay away from me!" Peter then ran to his own car and started to drive it toward the gate.
"Wait!" Sam called out.
"Hey, you moron! We're trying to help you!" Dean said getting really annoyed with the future victim if they don't help. As Peter's car approached the gate, the car shuddered, coughed, and died.
"That's never a good sign." Shia said as she made her eyes go to her power color, which is a blue white color. She was ready to help the guy if something is after him.
"You're right. Dean, get the salt gun." Sam said. Dean ran back to the Impala as Sam dashed to help and Shia tried to orb inside the car but something was not letting her. Inside Peter's car, a spirit dressed in old seaman's clothes and a navy coat, his long hair dripping into his eyes, appeared in the rear seat. Peter turned to look but the spirit is gone; then it re-appeared in the front passenger seat. It turned to Peter and glared, then reached out to touch his cheek. Peter convulsed, choking on water that spilled out of his mouth and struggling to get a breath. He scrabbled for the door, which locked itself, and he slumped over. Sam arrived at the car as Shia finally figured that she can't get in the car so instead she orbed outside of it.
"Peter!" Sam yelled out for him as he tried to get in the car. Peter doesn't respond, but the spirit glared straight at Sam and Shia. Dean arrives on the other side and aimed the salt gun at the spirit.
"Sam! Babe!" Sam ducked and pulled Shia down with him as Dean fired. The spirit disappeared, and Dean reached through the shattered glass to unclock the car doors. Sam yanked the drive-side door open. He pulled Peter back and checked for a pulse, but after a few seconds his shoulders slumped and he sighed, shaking his head at Dean and Shia. Dean kicked the door in frustration. Shia only stared at the dead body of Peter Warren.
"Instead of trying to get inside the car, I should have just orbed outside the car to help him out." Shia said, but it was more of a mumble. Dean looked at her and walked over to her, he grabbed her face to look at him.
"Don't go blaming yourself, he was going to die whether we wanted him to or not." Dean told his wife, she nodded at him and leaned her head in his shoulder. "Sam call the cops, so we can go."
~Five minutes later~
Sam, Shia, and Dean were driving along in the Impala with the radio going, talking about the incoming weather. Sam and Dean sat in the front, of course with Dean driving, Shia laid in the back trying to get some type of rest.
"When what started out as a mild severe weather front headed in from the Northwest. Expect heavy lightning and thunder, with suddenrainfall—"
"Do you wanna say it or should I?" Dean asked Sam as he turned off the radio.
"What?" Sam asked, slightly confused.
"You can't save everybody, Sam."
"Yeah, right, so – so what, you feel better now or what?"
"No, not really." Dean said honestly.
"Me neither." Sam said as he shook his head.
"You gotta understa—"
"It's just lately, I feel like I can't save anybody." Sam said cutting Dean off. Dean decided to end the conversation there because he couldn't think of anything else to say. Dean looked in the rearview mirror to get a look at Shia, who was sound asleep, he smiled softly and continued to drive.
~November 9, 2007 (approximately 11:36 a.m.)~
Inside the house Dean, Shia, and Sam were staying in the younger Winchester was reading, Dean was on his phone with Bobby. Shia sat near a table reading a text from Michael about Lynx.
'She's doing just fine. I recently noticed that Julius was right, she is growing into her powers because every time she's hungry instead of crying, she'll make all the lights blink in the house. She's sure a happy baby, I'm glad to call her my niece. Stop worrying about her because I know you are. You'll get to see her soon, okay? Love you, baby sis.'
Shia smiled softly at the text and couldn't help but re read it. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Dean hung up his call and checked the door and saw that it was Bela. Sam and Dean shared a long look before Dean opened the door. Shia just stared at her phone, not looking up.
"Dear ... God." Bela said, Sam sighed. "Are you actually squatting? Charming." Shia rolled her eyes and picked up her gun beside her and cocked it, aiming it at Bela but managed to still not look up from her phone. Bela stood there wide eyed, until Dean walked over to Shia and took her gun away and whispered "Behave," in his wife's ear. "So how'd things go last night with Peter?" Sam, Shia and Dean didn't respond.
"That well, huh?" Bela said after noticing the silence.
"If you say 'I told you so', I swear to God I'll start swinging." Dean said a little annoyed with the woman.
"I was going to shoot her but you took my gun." Shia mumbled loud enough for Bela to hear.
"I'm debating on giving it back to you." Dean told Shia honestly.
"Look, I think the four of us should have a heart-to-heart." Bela said trying to show the Winchesters that she doesn't fear them, so she remained bold.
"That's assuming that you have a heart." Dean said with a soft scoff.
"She doesn't." Shia said.
"Shia, darling, please... I'm sorry about what I said before, okay? I come bearing gifts."
"Such as?" Sam asked raising an eyebrow.
"I've ID'd the ship." Bela told them, she started to unzip a portfolio file.
~A short while later~
"It's the EspíritoSanto, a merchant sailing vessel, quite a colorful history. In 1859 a sailor was accused of treason. He was tried aboard ship in a kangaroo court and hanged. He was 37." Bela told them. Dean and Sam was buying into the thought of Bela wanting to help but Shia still didn't trust her.
"Which would explain the 37 year cycle." Sam said thoughtfully.
"Aren't you a sharp tack?" Bela said with a small grin, but then she saw their unamused glances. "There's a photo of him somewhere ... here."
"Isn't that the customer we saw last night?" Dean asked his brother and wife.
"You saw him?" Bela asked wide eyed.
"Yeah, that's him, except he was missing a hand."
"His right hand?" Bela asked. Shia saw her excitement even though Bela tried to mask it.
"How'd you know that, Bela?" Shia said slightly trying to trap her in some type of way to get her to admit that she could be playing them to get what she wants.
"The sailor's body was cremated, but not before they cut off his hand to make a hand of glory."
"A hand of glory? I think I got one of those at the end of my Thai massage last week." Dean said with a quick laugh.
"Dean, the right hand of a hanged man is a serious occult object. It's very powerful." Sam told his brother who obviously doesn't read up on much. Dean rolled his eyes, Shia just softly smiled at him and wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned into him.
"So they say." Bela said as she dismissed the intimate moment that Dean and Shia quickly shared.
"And officially counts as remains." Dean said and Shia nodded at him.
"But still, none of this explains why the ghost is choosing these victims." Sam said placing his hands on his hips.
"I'll tell you why. Who cares? Find the hand, burn it, and stop the bloody thing." Bela said quickly and determined. Shia wasn't buying her bullshit.
"I don't get it. Why are you telling us all of this?" Dean said placing his arm around Shia's shoulder.
"Because I know exactly where the hand is." Bela said with a small grin.
"Where?" Shia asked with an eyebrow raised.
"At the Sea Pines Museum. It's a macabre bit of maritime history. But I need help."
"What kind of help?" Sam asked and Bela smiled.
~Later that evening~
The house was filled with lit candles. Bela was waiting in the living room of Sam, Shia, and Dean's house; no one else was around. Bela was wearing an evening gown with quite a lot of glittery necklace.
"What is taking so long? Sam's already halfway there... with his date. I really hope you two aren't having sex." Bela said as she got her necklace on.
"So not okay with this!" Dean said.
"What are you, a woman? Come down already, both of you." Bela said with her arms crossed. Dean descended the stairs in is tux, Bela sighed in appreciation.
"All right, get it out – I look ridiculous." Dean told Bela with a frown.
"Not exactly the word I'd use." Shia said coming from behind Dean with her shirt and jeans on, she couldn't go with them because Bela only had two extra tickets.
"I agree with your wife." Bela said with a small amount of lust settled in her eyes.
"Hey, don't look at him like that." Shia told Bela as she noticed the look she was giving her husband, she didn't like that at all. Bela then looked at Shia and smirked.
"What?" Shia asked with a glare.
"You know, when this is over, we should really have angry lesbian sex." Bela grinned.
"You are so barking up the wrong tree." Shia said with a scoff as she shifted uncomfortably.
"Okay, let's go." Dean said breaking up the awkward silence. Dean then leaned over to give Shia a kiss, but then Shia grabbed him and kissed him passionately. When they pulled away Dean stared at her.
"I just wanted you to remember me while you go out with Bela." Shia told him. Dean smiled and kissed her once more before leaving with Bela. Shia watched them leave and smirked to herself, she looked at her watch and ran upstairs to get ready to go to the ball party.
Dean and Bela pulled into the Sea Pines Museum parking lot in the Impala. Bela and Dean walked in, arm in arm. Bela hands an invitation to the doorman.
"Are you chewing gum?" Bela asked Dean as she looked at him. "Try to behave as if you've lived this life before, yeah?" Dean looked around, took out his gum, and stuck it under the flowing champagne fountain. Bela looked appalled and rolled her eyes. Dean gave her a thumbs-up and they walked into the gathering.
Gertrude, the older woman from a couple of days ago, was handing her invitation to the doorman. Her hair was down, and she walked over to Sam, also in a tux, lacing her arm through his.
"This'll get their tongues wagging, eh, my Adonis?" She said to Sam.
"Just remember, we're on business." Sam told her with a sigh.
"Ooooh, but sometimes business can be pleasure, hmm?" Gert said as she slid a hand up his chest seductively.
"Right." Sam said through his teeth, it was obvious that Sam was very comfortable but he tried to mask his feeling for the sake of the case. They walked arm-and-arm into the room. Gert ran a hand over Sam's back possessively. Sam chuckled nervously.
"You know, uh, could you excuse me for a moment?" Sam asked.
"Of course." Gert made a sort of coochie-coo expression at Sam.
"Great. Thanks. Thanks." Sam patted her hand and walked over to Bela and Dean. "Exactly how long do you expect me to entertain my date?"
"As long as it takes." Bela told him.
"Look, there's security all over this place, all right. This is an uncrashable party without Gert's invitation, so..." Dean said with a shrug.
"We can crash anything, Dean." Sam said with an eye roll, he really didn't want to go over there back to the older woman.
"Yeah, I know, but this is easier and it's a lot more entertaining."
"You know there are limits to what I'll do, right?"
"Ah, he's playing hard to get, that's cute. Come on." Dean said then sighed. "I want all the details in the morning!" Sam smiled tightly.
"Thank you." Bela told Sam. Dean and Bela walked off. Sam adjusted his tuxedo considering his next move. Two glasses of champagne appeared before him, followed by Gert's hand, offering him a glass and a toast.
"To us." Gert said rather seductively. Sam looked at the champagne reluctantly than swiged the whole glass. Gert looked excited by his enthusiasm. Just then Sam noticed that most of everyone's eyes were facing towards the door, he then turned to see what everyone was looking at, he smiled softly seeing Shia stand there in dark red dress with sparkling jewelry in the middle, the way the dress hugged her curves were perfect. Sam thought that she looked absolutely stunning, she didn't look that beautiful since the wedding.
"Uh, Gert, will you excuse me? I have to go greet my friend over there." Sam said to the older woman.
"Hurry back, don't want to miss the party with me." She told Sam with a seductive wink. Sam smiled very tightly at her and quickly but casually walked over to Shia.
"Hey, come here often?" Sam said as he walked up to Shia, and she giggles at him and took a look at him.
"My, my, my. Sam, you clean up nice." Shia told him as she quickly fixed his tie. Sam looked back at Gert to see her watching them. Shia followed his gaze and smiled softly. "How's your date going?"
"She's very handsy." Sam said with a small frown.
"Awe, she likes you."
"No, she lusts me."
"I guess that is a more accurate term to use." Shia said with a small chuckle, she looked around the room and frowned softly. "Where's my husband and Bela?"
"They went to go get the hand, I had to stay down here and entertain my date." Sam said shifting comfortably. "You know, as a brother asking his sister...would you like to dance?" Shia smiled and took his hand, Sam led her to the dancefloor and they slowly danced to the music. Shia had her head on his chest with one hand on his shoulder and the other in his hand, to the unknowing eye they would look like a young couple in love, but for them the dance brought comfort, it was like a long hug just to let each other know that things that are happening now will work out fine and a change will come soon.
"Um, excuse me? May I cut in?" Sam's date, Gertrude, asked as she glared softly at Shia. Sam whined a little inside, and Shia just smiled.
"Yes, of course, he is your date after all." Shia said as she made her way over to the bar, to watch Sam and Gert from a far. She occasionally chuckled when she would see the older lady try to grope Sam.
~Moments later~
Gert was still leaning into Sam's chest, clutching an empty champagne flute. She seemed perhaps a bit tipsy.
"Man, this is one long song." Sam noted as he continued to look around.
"I hope it never ends." Gert said as she breathed deeply, she paused while Sam looked deeply pained. "How's the investigation going?"
"These things take time."
"People are talking about the Warren brothers' deaths. Strange. Do you think it's connected to Shelia's?"
"Yeah. Yeah, we think so." Sam told her.
"I think they had it coming, you know. In a Biblical sort of way." Gert slurred slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"You know about their father?"
"No?" Sam said with a raised eyebrow, slightly confused.
"Come here, I'll whisper it to you." Sam tried to object as Gert pulled his head down to her mouth. "People say that the old man didn't die ofnatural causes."
"Then how?" Sam said as he grimaced.
"Rumor is the boys did it. Nothing was ever proved, but, uh, people still whisper." She told as she was caressing him, whispering and blowing into his ear.
"Okay, okay, okay." Sam said wincing and pulling away. "Um, um, so did, did, did Sheila have any connection to them?"
"Well, none that I know of."
"Did Sheila have any kind of tragedy in her life?"
"Yes. As a matter of fact there was a ... car accident when she was a teenager."
"What happened?"
"Her car flipped over. She was okay but her cousin Brian was killed. Why, is that important?" Gertrude said sadly as her eyes travelled from Sam's eyes to the floor.
"Uh..." Sam stumbled just as Bela and Dean approached.
"Well! Having a nice time?" Bela asked with a genuine smile.
"He's delightful!" Gert said but then whispered to Bela. "He wants me!"
"Oh!" Bela said surprisingly. Dean had a look of surprise on his face and Sam looked abashed.
"I'm going to get Gert into a cold shower." Bela told the boys low enough that Gert couldn't hear.
"Great idea." Sam said with a nod.
"See you at the cemetery." Bela nodded at them both and left with Gertrude. Dean checked his pocket, then turned to Sam.
"You stink like sex." Dean said seriously. Sam frowned and started to sniff himself.
"Dean, stop picking on your brother." Shia said making herself known as she walked up to the brothers. Dean then turned to look at his wife and his eyes went wide, as she made her way over to him his stomach was filled with butterflies and he began to sweat slightly. It felt like he wedding day all over again.
"You look so beautiful." Dean said almost inaudible, but Shia heard him and blushed slightly.
"We should get going Dean, we have to meet that tramp soon."
"Ah, damn, I wanted one dance." Dean joked but inside he really wanted one dance with her.
"You'll get your dance some other time, we have a case at hand." Shia said as she turned around but then stopped to look at the boys with a goofy grin. "Get it? At hand? You know with the ghost hand? No? Okay." Sam and Dean watched her walk off, they exchange a grin. 'Haven't seen that side of Shia in a long time.' Sam thought.
Outside the Sea Pines Museum, in the parking lot. Sam, Dean, and Shia were getting into the Impala.
"You got it, right? Tell me I didn't get groped all night by Mrs. Havisham for nothing." Sam pouted as he sat in the impala front seat.
"I got it... Mrs. Who?" Dean asked as his eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"Never mind. Just let me see it." Dean pulled something out of his pocket and starts unwrapping it, looking uptight.
"What, babe?" Shia asked seeing his expression. Dean held up the ship in the bottle that Bela had been looking at in the office.
"I'm gonna kill her." Dean said in the most serious way possible. Shia rolled her eyes and sat back.
"You should have let me kill her earlier today."
~Thirty minutes later~
The house Sam, Shia, and Dean were squatting in was lit by candles. Dean was examining the ship-in-a-bottle by the light of one of the candles.
"You know what, you're right. I'm not gonna kill her. I think slow torture's the way to go." Dean said with pure anger. Shia didn't say anything but instead she hugged him from behind as she laid her head on his back.
"Dean, look, you gotta relax." Sam said trying to calm his brother down.
"Relax! Oh yeah, yeah, I'll relax. I can't believe she got another one over on us!"
"You." Sam and Shia said in unison.
"What?"
"I...I mean, she got ... one over ... on you, ... not us." Sam said as honestly, Shia walked over to Sam and sat beside him and looked at Dean with a grin.
"Thank you! Sam and Shia. Very helpful." Dean said loudly as he shook his head. Just then there was rapid knocking at the door.
"Hello? Could you open up?" Bela said in almost a panic tone. Dean opened the door. "Just let me explain." Sam, Shia and Dean all looked pissed at her.
Inside, a short while later. Bela was sitting, Dean was leaning over her, looking like, "I knew it!" Sam was leaning against the mantel, Shia beside him, with serious bitchface.
"I sold it. I had a buyer lined up as soon as I knew it existed." Bela confessed. Dean and Sam looked surprise but Shia wasn't shocked at all. Dean, furious, walked around her and made a shooting motion with his fingers. Shia shook her head but couldn't help but smile a little at his seriousness about killing Bela.
"So the whole reason for us going to the charity ball was...?" Sam asked with a slight frown of the time he had to spend with Gert.
"I needed a cover. You were convenient."
"Look, you sold it to a buyer. Just go buy it back." Sam told her, but Bela shook her head.
"It's halfway across the ocean. I can't get it back in time."
"In time for what?" Dean asked slightly confused. Bela looked down, without answering right away.
"What's going on with you, Bela? You look like you've seen a ghost." Shia commented noting how Bela was acting.
"I saw the ship."
"You what?" Dean asked and then paused. "Wow, you know, I – I knew you were an immoral thieving con artist bitch, but just when I thought my opinion of you couldn't get any lower—"
"What are you talking about?" Bela asked clearly confused.
"We figured out the spirit's motive." Sam said, he showed Bela a photograph. "This is the captain of our ship. The one who hung our ghost boy."
"So?"
"So, they were brothers. Very Cain and Abel. So now our spirit, he's going after a very specific kind of target – people who've spilled their own family's blood." Shia told Bela extremely pissed, but didn't speak to her as harshly as she wanted. Bela looked stunned. "See, first there was Sheila who killed her cousin in the car accident, and the Warren brothers, who murdered their father for the inheritance. And now you."
"Oh my God." Bela said as she looked down.
"I always knew you were low, Bela, but really?"
"So who was it, Bela? Hmm? Who'd you kill? Was it Daddy? Your little sis, maybe?" Dean asked leaning closer to her, interrogating her.
"It's none of your business." Bela answered sharply.
"No? Riight. Well, have a nice life – you know, whatever's left of it." Dean said as he stood straight, he slapped her on the back. "Sam and Shia, let's go." Dean walked towards the door, picking up his jacket. Bela stood up.
"You can't just leave me here." Bela cried out.
"Watch us." Shia said as she grabbed her books, ready to leave.
"Please." Bela said grabbing Sam's arm. Sam looked down, moved. "I need your help."
"Our help? Now how could a couple of serial killers possibly help you?" Dean said reminding her what she called them earlier.
"Okay, that was a bit harsh, I admit it, but it doesn't warrant a death sentence."
"That's not why you're gonna die. What'd you do, Bela?" Shia asked crossing her arms.
"You wouldn't understand. No one did. Never mind. I'll just do what I've always done, I'll deal with it myself." Bela turned to leave.
"You do realize you just sold the one thing that could save your life." Dean told her.
"I'm aware." Bela said sadly.
"Well ..." Sam said with a sigh. "maybe not the only thing." Dean and Shia looked at Sam.
~Cemetary, November 9, 2007 (approximately 11:35 p.m.)~
Sam was setting up a kind of ritual circle: five candles, a pentagram, a bowl into which he poured a jar of red liquid. Another jar is on the opposite side of the circle, with what appeared to be herbs in it. Sam placed something else into the center of the circle.
"Do you really think this is going to work?" Bela said tightening the grip of her jacket.
"Almost definitely not." Dean said leaning on a tombstone, with a gun across his shoulder and Shia under his arm on the other side of him.
"Dean, don't scared the poor girl." Shia smirked up at Dean and he leaned down to kiss her quickly.
"Disgusting, in a graveyard?" Bela asked the couple and they both shrugged at her. Thunder crashed; wind whistled; rain started pouring. Sam zipped up his jacket but inexplicably fails to pull up his hood. Dean stood up straight, looking around.
"Sammy! You better start reading." Dean said as he took in the weather change. Shia went over to stand beside Bela ready to use her powers if she can to protect her.
"Aziel, Castiel, Lamisniel, Rabam.
Ehrley, et balam, ego vos conuro, per deum verum, per deum vivum cuivos cuiaves eos supermontes et per eum, qui adam, et avum formovit. Et per eum," Sam shouted more Latin over the stormy weather.
"Stay close to me and Shia." Dean shouted at Bela as he cocked his gun.
"Behind you!" Bela shouted to let them know that she's listening to them. The phantom approached and threw Dean through the air, he hit an object with a painful thud. Shia tried to use her powers to stop him from walking forward, he somehow dodged her powers and threw her in the opposite direction as Dean. Sam looked up and continued reading Latin. The phantom reached out to Bela and placed his hand on her face. Bela began coughing up water. The spirit watched. Bela fell to her knees. Dean staggered over to her, to help support her through her heaves. Shia got up slowly, touching the back of her head wear she hit an object during her fall.
"Sammy, read faster!" Dean shouted. Bela continued to cough. Suddenly the rain dies down. Bela was coughing but it didn't seem so bad. A creaking sound is heard. The spirit's head slowly turned toward the source of the noise. He saw his brother.
"You... hanged me!" The phantom said to his ghostly brother.
"I'm sorry." The brother cried sympathetically.
"Your own brother."
"I'm so sorry!" The phantom charged his brother's ghost, and the two dissolve into screamed, and a splash of water. Bela was no longer coughing water.
"That was horrible." Shia mumbled as she walked over to Bela and helped her up. Bela nodded at her in thanks and Shia smiled softly.
~November 10, 2007 (approximately 9:17 a.m.~
The Winchester trio were packing, getting ready to leave their squatted residency. The door opened and Bela walked in.
"You all should learn to lock your doors. Anyone could just barge in." Bela said as she walked through the door.
"Anyone just did." Shia said as she continued to pack.
"Did you come to say goodbye or thank you?" Sam asked as he looked up at her.
"I've come to settle affairs. Giving the spirit what he really wanted, his own brother – very clever, Sam. So here." Bela said as she tossed them each a packet of money. "It's fifteen thousand – that should cover it. I don't like being in anyone's debt."
"So ponying up fifteen grand is easier for you than a simple thank you?" Dean asked with wide eyes. Bela smiled faintly. Dean shook his head. "You're so damaged."
"Takes one to know one. Goodbye lads and lass." Bela said as she turned around and left.
"She got style. You gotta give her that." Sam said with a smirk.
"I suppose." Shia said with a shrug.
"You know, guys, we don't know where this money's been." Sam said looking his money.
"No, but I know where it's going..." Dean said with a smile.
"Yeah? Where?" Shia asked as she crossed her arms.
"Baby toys for Lynx's first Christmas, more baby clothes for the next couple months, baby bottles and cups, diapers. After that, we can go out and have a good time at a bar." Dean said as he continued to pack up. Sam and Shia exchanged a look that said 'He's getting so soft.'
~November 10, 2007 (approximately 8:26 p.m.)~
In the Impala, Sam was reading some newspapers. Dean was driving and Shia was looking at text messages on her phone in the backseat.
"So, we're laying low for a couple days at Michael's house?" Sam asked as he leaned back in his seat.
"Hell yeah, I miss my baby. They also have great bars in their town." Dean said as he continued to drive. Sam looked at him and smiled, he knew that Dean loved Lynx more than anything, he'd choose Lynx over the impala and that says a lot. "Hey listen, I've been doing some thinking. Um ... I want you to know I understand why you did it. I understand why you went after the crossroads demon." Sam looked away and sighed. "You know, situation was reversed, I guess I'd've done the same thing. I mean I'm not blind, I see what you're going through with this whole deal, me going away and all that. But you're gonna be okay."
"You think so." Sam said tonelessly.
"Yeah, you'll keep hunting, y'know, you live your life. Help Shia with Lynx. You're stronger than me. You are, you are... you'll get over it. But I want you to know I'm sorry, I'm sorry for... putting you through all this, I am." Dean told Sam, he then looked in the rearview mirror to see Shia staring at him. "I'm sorry, babe, I am. You shouldn't have to go through this. I'm sorry I'm going to leave you with a baby, by yourself. I really am sorry."
"You know what, Dean? Go screw yourself." Sam said with an annoyed tone.
"What?" Dean asked taken back, almost.
"I don't want an apology from you! Shia doesn't need one either. And by the way, I'm a big boy now, I can take care of myself."
"Oh, well, excuse me."
"So would you please quit worrying about me? I mean that's the whole problem in the first place. I don't want you to worry about me, Dean, I want you to worry about you! I want you to give a crap that you're dying!" Sam said as he raised his voice a little. Dean said nothing but smirked annoyingly. "So, that's it? Nothing else to say for you?"
"We're almost at Michael's house, I can't wait to see Lynx, I heard she's grown a little." Dean said with a smile as he continued to drive. Sam and Shia stared at him. Sam shook his head and sighed in exasperation. Dean's smile faded once his brother and wife were no longer staring at him. They drove on in silence.
~November 11, 2007 (approximately 5:08 p.m.)~
Shia was holding Lynx close to her as the baby started babbling non sense at her mother, Shia smiled at the baby as she placed her down on the changing mat. Dean walked in as Shia changed their daughter.
"Michael wasn't lying when he said she grew a little this pass week." Dean said as he walked over to them.
"Yeah, he definitely wasn't." Shia said agreeing with Dean, she picked up Lynx and threw away the dirty diaper and put Lynx in her walker that she now can fit in and attempt to touch toys in front of her.
"She can keep her head up now? Since when?"
"Dean, she's three months old, of course she can hold herself up a little now. She's doing that and also trying to talk to me all the time." Shia said with a proud smile as she spoke of the activities her daughter can now do.
"She tries to talk to me too, ain't that right chunky monkey?" Dean asked Lynx, and slowly she looked over to her daddy and smiled for a second or two as she started to nibble on her hand.
"There's no denying she's a daddy's girl." Shia said as she leaned back on Dean's shoulder as they watched their baby sit there in her walker that's made for babies her size. Dean wrapped his arms around Shia's waist and pulled her towards him. "I love you, Dean."
"I love you too, babe." Dean said as he kissed Shia passionately. Lynx said babbling as she looked at her parents, Dean looked over at her and picked her up. "I love you too, Lynx. Your daddy big girl, right?"
"Guys, Kate said dinner is ready." Sam said walking into the room his brother, sister in law, and baby share. Sam heard Lynx babble at him and he walked over to her and smiled. "Are you fussing at me, Lynx?" Dean gave Sam his niece and Sam smiled at her with his dipoles showing. Lynx started to drool all over his shirt. "Lynx, I just changed this shirt."
"She likes to get you dirty, Sam. Yeah, she's definitely my kid." Dean said as he walked pass Sam to get to the dinner table. Shia shook her head at Dean and looked at Sam and motioned for the door to go to dinner.
It was moments like this that made Shia, Dean, and Sam forget about all the bad in the world and focus on small special moment with their family.
~so, I'm so sorry that this took so long to write. I started to procrastinate as I began writing this. I'm just really excited for the Christmas episode. Oh, and do you all like me keeping up with the time in the story or no? Let me know what you guys think, okay? I like hearing from you guys. Okay, see ya next time. Byeeee~