Chapter 37

Bella looked around the house and her face took on an expression of shock.

"Dear God! Are you actually squatting?" she asked. "Charming."

Dean walked a few steps behind her and Sam appeared to be even more annoyed than before.

"So," she stopped in front of Sam. "How did things go last night with Peter?"

I realized that must have been the man's name. Both Sam and Dean refused to answer her. "That well, huh?" she observed.

"If you say I told you so," Dean warned. "I swear to God I'll start swinging."

I arched an eyebrow at that statement.

She played it cool. "Look, I think the three of us should have a heart to heart," she told them.

I knew that she hadn't realized that I was present in the house and enjoyed the advantage of observing her without her knowledge.

"That's assuming you have a heart," Dean retorted as he stepped past her.

"Dean," Bella said in a placating manner. "Please, I'm sorry about what I said before okay," she watched as Dean took a seat beside Sam and threw his gun on the table. "I come bearing gifts."

"Such as?" Sam asked disdainfully.

"I've ID the ship," she unzipped a folder.

Dean shot a sideways glance at Sam but said nothing. I realized that they were doing that silent communication thing that they've managed to perfect over the years. Bella took out a picture and gave it to them.
"It's the Espirito Santo, a merchant sailing vessel with quite a colorful history," she said. Dean took the picture from her and gave it to Sam. "In 1859 a sailor was accused of treason. He was tried aboard ship in a kangaroo court and hanged. He was 37."

"Which would explain the 37 year cycle," Sam theorized.

"Aren't you a sharp tack?" Bella said with a tone of condescension in her voice. "Got a photo of him somewhere," she murmured as she rifled through her folder. "Here," she gave them the photograph.

Dean looked at the picture. "Isn't that the customer we saw last night?" Dean asked Sam.

"You saw him?" Bella jumped on the question.

"Yeah, that's him," Dean replied. "Except he was missing a hand."

"His right hand," Bella said.

They both looked up at her and I frowned.

"How'd you know?" Sam asked.

"The sailor's body was cremated, but not before they cut off his right hand to make a hand of glory," Bella explained.

"A hand of glory?" Dean wondered. "I think I got one of those at the end of my Thai massage last week," he grinned.

I shook my head.
Bella rolled her eyes.

"Dean, the right hand of a hanged man is a serious occult object," Sam told him. "It's very powerful."

"So they say," Bella murmured with a tinge of disdain in her voice. Which instantly sent alarm bells off in my head.

"And officially counts as remains," Dean observed.

"But still none of this explains why the ghost is choosing these victims," Sam pointed out.

"I'll tell you why," Bella said. "Who cares?"
I watched her and recalled that she was a seriously screwed up little girl.

"Find the hand, burn it and stop the bloody thing," Bella continued.

"I don't get it, why are you telling us all this," Dean was suspicious.

"Because I know exactly where the hand is," Bella answered.

"Where?" Dean asked.

"At the Sea Pines Museum. It's a macabre bit of Maritime history," she explained. "But I need help."

I chuckled wryly. This was the other shoe dropping. The reason she had sought them out.

"What kind of help?" Sam asked.

She smiled at them. But then she looked up finally and saw me standing just outside the doorway.

"Who's this?" she asked.

Sam and Dean turned their heads. They looked at me and then back at her.

"Takeout," Dean answered.

Sam held his face straight and I remained silent.

"Takeout?" Bella stepped toward me.

Sam stood and blocked her path. "Is there a problem Bella?"

"I don't know Sam," she stared at him. "Should there be?"

"Not as far as you're concerned," Dean leaned back in the chair. "You were saying that you needed our help."

"Can she be trusted?" Bella demanded.

"A lot more than you can be," Dean answered.

Bella huffed. "But she can't come," she said.

"Where?" Sam demanded.

"There's a gala tonight at the museum," Bella told them. "Gert can get us in. However, Sam here needs to be her date."
"What?" Sam balked.

Dean chuckled. "Aw, Sammy."

"Dean," Sam's voice held a slight note of panic.

"She's easy to handle," Bella shrugged.

"So I guess I'm stuck with you," Dean muttered.

"Well," Bella smiled. "Yes."

"This just keeps getting better," Dean groaned. "All right, so we go to this thing."

"And we steal the hand and destroy it," Bella pronounced.

"Uh – huh," Dean mused. "Well what exactly does one wear to this gala?"

"A tux," Bella smiled sweetly.

Dean's eyebrow went up and Sam stifled a chuckle.

"We'll see you later Bella," Sam said.

"I'll meet you here," she told them.

Dean escorted her to the door and closed it firmly behind her.

He turned and faced his brother.

"Gert!" Sam moaned.

"Takeout!" I growled.

"What were we supposed to say Kelsey?" Dean asked. "This is our surrogate mom who happens to look around the same age or younger than us?"

I pursed my lips for a second.

"It's not like you had time to put on some wrinkles," Sam shrugged.
"You're taking his side?" I was incredulous.

"No," Sam shook his head. "I'm just saying that he has a point."

Dean grinned at me. I rolled my eyes at them. "That's taking his side Sam," I said.

Sam shrugged. "I've got bigger problems."

"Come on," Dean placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. "It won't be that bad."

"Within minutes of meeting that woman, she made strong sexual advances Dean," Sam glared at him. "What's going to happen when she has a chance to spend some time with me?"

"Well," Dean shrugged. "You gotta admit that it might make for some…" he stopped when he saw the expression on Sam's face. "All right. Look, remember, some times you just gotta take one for the home team."

"And this is it?" Sam grimaced. "I get to be pawed by a highly oversexed woman."

"It could be worse," Dean said.

"Yeah?" Sam scoffed.

"Yeah," Dean grinned.

"Oh," Sam closed his eyes for a second. "But you know. Somehow I don't think that I would have been on the receiving end of that kind of an advance."

Dean glowered at his brother and Sam grinned.

"That's it," Dean shuddered. "I got to go find a monkey suit."

"We both do," Sam said.
"Yeah," Dean nodded. "But you at least are comfortable in the whole suit thing…ya know…"

"Finish it Dean," Sam warned.

"I'm finished," Dean grinned.

"Let's go track down a tux," Sam said.

They headed for the door, opened it and stopped. They both looked at me.

"Uh," Sam began. "Kelsey, you're coming with us."

"To pick out the tux?" I asked.

"You're going to the gala," Dean said.

I looked at them. "She said that I wasn't to come," I reminded them.

"We don't give a rat's ass about that," Dean swore. "You don't need an invitation knowing you."

"Ah," I nodded. "So am I to be protecting Sammy, from the lecherous old woman?"

"It will make it easier," Sam murmured.

I chuckled. "You don't actually trust her to destroy that thing do you?"

"Nope," Sam said.

"That's why we're going to take precautions," Dean said.

"Uh – huh," I nodded.

"You don't believe us," Dean frowned.

"I didn't say that," I smiled.

"Let's go," Sam jerked his head.

I followed them out the door.

The Impala was parked out of the way so that no one would see it. I climbed into the backseat and nestled myself comfortably while Dean drove into the main part of town. He stopped at a store that dealt with both Men's tuxedoes and Ladies' gowns. I sensed Sammael nearby and she appeared around the corner.

"Kelsey!" she called.

Dean turned and smiled, "Hey Sandy."

Sam nodded to her.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Shh! We're hunting ghosts," I said in a stage whisper.

Sammael's eyes widened and Dean threw his head back and laughed.

"You're going to tell her about Gert?" Sam chuckled.

"Yes," I beamed.

"What about her?" Sammael asked.

"Sam has to escort her to this gala," my grin widened.

"Oh no!" Sammael placed her hands on her face. "Can we go? Please! Please!"

"Sandy!" Sam admonished. "This is going to be difficult enough."

"You must admit," Dean pointed out. "It's pretty funny."

"Ugh!" Sam groaned. "Come on let's go see if they have suits in our size."

I arched an eyebrow. "Yeah, I wonder if they have them…"
"Kelsey!" Sam turned on me.

"Hey, you took his side," I said.

"You're still upset about the takeout comment," Sam mused.

"Especially after the Thai massage comment," I made a face at them.

Dean opened the door to the store. "Come on, let's go see if they carry clothes for the um…big and tall variety."

"Ha, ha," Sam stepped through the door and held it open.

Dean steered both Sammael and myself through the door. We were faced with salespeople who immediately began to measure both of them to see if they had suits that would fit them.

Sammael and I tried on several gowns. Sammael twirled in front of the mirror. She ran her hands over the ivory satin gown and admired the way the fabric fell.

"Wow!" Dean whistled. "That looks nice."

Sammael looked over at him and laughed. "Yes, it isn't it. And they have the shoes to match!"

"She's decided," I said.

"You look nice too," Dean said.

I glanced at my reflection. I had opted for a pale blue gown that created a sharp contrast with my skin.

"I think this will work," I nodded. "Sam?"

"Yeah," Sam looked at me. "Wow," he repeated Dean's assessment.

"If Dad could have seen her like that," Sam mused.

"What?" I frowned.

"Nothing," Sam shook his head.

"So are we ready?" I asked.

"Yep," Sam nodded.

I looked at the bags over their arms. I indicated to Sammael that we needed to wrap up our purchases. Dean pulled out a credit card and proffered it to the salesman.

"There's no need sir," he said.

"Why not?" Dean was puzzled.

"The lady paid for everything already," he smiled.
Sam and Dean turned to me.

I shrugged. "I have means too," I said.

"Kelsey?" Sam frowned.

"I've been around a long time," I said. "Besides, I have held jobs."

"And patents," Sammael murmured.

"I don't hold patents," I glared at her.

"Sure you do," Sammael disputed.

"What kind of patents?" Sam asked.

"I have my own secrets too you know," I muttered.

"Thank you," Dean said.

"You're welcome," I nodded. "Takeout!"

Both of them laughed.

"Let's head back and get dressed," Sam said.

"Yeah," Dean grimaced at the bag over his arm.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I'm just not this guy," he waved his arm with the bag on it.

"It's okay," I nodded. "Even your dad wore a tux on an occasion or two."

"True," Dean agreed.

Sam chuckled.

We walked out of the store with our purchases and we headed back to the car.

"I should tell the others what we're up to," Sammael said.

"Go ahead," I told her. "Meet us at the gala."
Sammael walked away from us.

"How will she find us?" Sam asked.

"She'll find me," I said.

"Oh," Sam nodded as he got into the car.